Nozomi's Favorites 2007

Here's a review of my favorite Bollywood films so far. My favorite Bollywood films usually deal with working through the problems of marriage to find stronger love. I also like films that deal with the religious and political conflicts in South Asia. I watch Bollywood films mostly for the music and the picturizations, but I fall in love with the ones that also have a heart-wrenching plot. 99% of the movies I've seen so far are made after 2000.

Nozomi's Favorite Bollywood Films (2007):
1. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
2. Vivah (Though it's not a classic, it was the first time I met a classic Bollywood storyline. I love Shahid, the music, and the cute story)
3. Rang De Basanti
4. Fanaa
5. Salaam Namaste

Other favorites: Jab We Met, Saathyia, Kal Ho Na Ho

Films I'm Looking Forward To:
Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Kismat Konnection, Milenge Milenge

Favorite Music Directors (modern-classical fusion typified by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy) :
1. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
2. Himesh Reshammiya
3. A.R. Rahman
4. Pritam

Favorite Playback Singers:
1. Shreya Ghoshal
2. Udit Narayan

Favorite Directors:
1. Karan Johar
2. Kunal Kohli

Actors
My Favorite (aka, if he is in them, I will watch it no matter how horrible the story is): Shahid Kapoor
Best Technical Actor: Aamir Khan
Best Emotional Actor: Shahrukh Khan
Most Promising Upcoming Actor: Shahid Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan
Cutest Lead & Best Dancer: Shahid Kapoor

Actresses (Technical Skill)
1. Rani Mukerji, the Queen
2. Kajol

Kabul Express

Starring: John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, Salman Shahid
Story: Kabir Khan
Story: 6.5/10 Music: Soundtrack only, hip techno tracks mixed with vocals

Two reporters go to Afghanistan after 9/11 to get an interview with the Taliban. They get hijacked by a member of the Taliban who forces them to drive towards the Pakistani border. Things aren't as simple as they seem, and enemies might become friends.

John Abraham is a bit of eye candy, and he's a good enough actor. The American actress is a nobody, and it's obvious that she wasn't hired for her acting skills. The guy who plays the Taliban soldier is the best actor in this movie. There were no musical scenes or picturizations in this film, but that's actually better because of the subject and content.

The best thing about this film is it's subject matter--life in Afghanistan after America busted in and screwed up like soldiers playing hero. I absolutely love to see criticism of America from people who live in the region. Basically: The Taliban was supported by Pakistan until America paid Pakistan more money than the Taliban could. Some Pakistani soldiers even fought in the Taliban until Pakistan sold itself out to America. America's foreign policy is based on one thing: MONEY, Paise. American policy makers use their greenbacks to buy bombs, fickle alliances, and oil. Oil is sucked out, coke is poured in. Pas.

I'm American, and I love this movie. I also liked Turtles Can Fly, a 2004 film written and directed by the Kurdish filmmaker from Iran Bahman Ghobadi and the 2001 film Kandahar. These are special because they are films by local directors who want to show the world the state of modern life in the Middle East. If you like these films, I also recommend one of my favorite American movies, Three Kings with George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jones.

If you are looking for John Abraham to show his stuff, this is definitely not for you. If you are interested in the state of the Post-Cold War Middle East, then Kabul Express is for you. Recommended.

Dus (2005): The Feature Film that Gave Us a Music Video

Starring: Zayed Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
Story: 4/10 Music: 2/10 (except for the major hit "Dus Bahane")

It's about counter-terrorism. Zayed is really cute and often hot. Abhishek wasn't given a lot to do, and he has done a lot better before. If you really like Bollywood action movies, then you'll probably like this one. Dhoom was way better because it had rocking music. Dus is notable for it's single hit "Dus Bahane" which has absolutely nothing to do with the plot but it does rock. Skip Dus, watch Dhoom and the music video "Dus Bahane".

Dil Se

Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Manisha Koirala
Music: A.R. Rahman
Story: 8/10 Music: 8/10 Picturizations: 9/10

Dil Se is subliminal. While watching it, I wanted to keep taking huge breaths but the air was stopped in my throat. Wonderful! The picturizations are shockingly beautiful and weird. The music is classic, too. The picturization of "Satrangi Re" is my number one favorite in this movie followed by the music of "Chaiyya Chaiyya". The story of Dil Se asks the question "who is a terrorist and especially why?" Does Meghna love to kill or will she die for love? Recommended.

Bunty Aur Babli

Starring: Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Story: 7.5/10 Music: 9/10

This film is really great fun, and the music is amazing. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy always give a fun and beautiful soundtrack. The picturizations and camera work is great, too. The whole thing turned out to be so much more interesting and fun than I thought it was going to be. Recommended!

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

Starring: Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan
Story: 4/10 Music: 6/10

Many people love this movie because of it's support of traditional values and beautiful presentation. Rai plays a character who doesn't seem to know what she wants--she's madly in love with her lover and then she traipses around the world with her husband who she feels nothing for and is suddenly like, "oops, I think I love you instead." It's good to be able to fall in love after you get married in an arranged marriage, but this whole thing just seems so haphazard and fickle. But maybe that's love, he?

The one area where this film excels in the art and art direction. This movie is classically beautiful. I get the feeling that it is old royal style or an even more modern DDLJ. The camera angles, colors, and costumes are real art.

Saathiya

Starring: Rani and Vivek Oberoi (Rani won the 2002 Filmfare Best Actress Award)
Music: A.R. Rahman
Story: 8/10 Music: 6.5/10 Picturizations: 8.5/10

If you like movies like KANK, Salaam Namaste, Vivah, and Chalte Chalte, you'll like this one too. The story is about what people do for love when traditions are blocking their love. After infatuation and marriage, will they be able to discover true love?
The songs are a lot of fun, and some of the scenes are gorgeous. I sighed so much when I was watching it. Rani is exquisite as always, and Vivek is cute sometimes. Recommended.

Fanaa

Starring: Aamir Khan, Kajol
Music: Jatin-Lalit
Story: 9/10 Music: 8.5/10 Picturizations: 9.5/10
Legendary Picturization: "Mere Haath Mein"

Fanaa rocks!! It's one of my favorites. The music and especially the scenery is great. Aamir Khan is wonderful again--he is the best actor in Bollywood. SRK is good, but I think he's good because he knows when to overact in just the right places (it works on me, too). The twists and turns and moral dilemmas make me want to scream and cheer and cry and shout all at once. Also, the snow and scenery in Fanaa are so beautiful. Of the music videos/picturizations I've seen in my life, "Mere Haath Mein" is in the top five. Watch it and feel your heart melt and burn at the same time. Nozomi highly recommends Fanaa!