Bollywood is For Lovers

In this episode we welcome our first friendly, Juliet Franklin, to discuss two recent releases, Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani, and to reflect on some of the highlights and lowlights of the past year of Hindi cinema.  Show Notes: Juliet knows more about Indian culture than us, by virtue of being South Indian Watching bootlegs and the rise of digital distribution  Matt forgot to plug in the mic, and broke his chair Netflix, please fix the subtitles on Chak De! India  Dilwale (Rohit Shetty, 2015) with Shah Rukh and Kajol We are wrong about the translation of “Dilli Wali Girlfriend” it means “Girlfriend from Delhi”  Johnny Lever SRK & Kajol’s beautiful song set in Iceland,"Gerua”  “Tukur Tukur” the end credits song Kriti Sanon INTERVAL (”Pinga” from Bajirao Mastani) 2015 in Bollywood Anushka Sharma produced NH10 Deepika Padukone dominated with Piku, Tamasha, and Bajirao Mastani Kangana Ranaut proves she is a box office draw with Tanu Weds Manu Returns Zoya Akhtar’s Dil Dhadakane Do Varun Dhawan establishes himself outside of the Dharma Productions banner Salman Khan continues to reign supreme Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet bombed, adding to Ranbir Kapoor’s string of failures Alia Bhatt releases her first flop with Shaandaar and Vikas Bahl might be a one hit wonder Aishwarya Rai’s comeback, Jazbaa, underwhelmed Sanjay Leela Bhanslai does not disappoint with his magnum opus Bajirao Mastani The Maratha Empire Ranveer Singh as  Bajirao I, Deepika Padukone as Mastani, and Priyanka Chopra as Kashibai Freedom to love Box office battle “Malhari” and “Deewani Mastani” NEXT TIME: The work of director Anurag Kashyap Find us on iTunes!  and Stitcher! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!

In this episode we discuss director Sanjay Leela Bhansali with an in-depth look at three of his films Show Notes: This episode is late, we’re sorry (but our next episode will be out soon) Matt and Boman Irani are becoming pretty close Shout out to Shah Shahid and the Split Screen Podcast Sanjay Leela Bhansali, director of Devdas and Ram-Leela Vidhu Vinod Chopra, director of Broken Horses Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Who can tell the difference between Italy and Hungary? Kissing will not get you pregnant  Erin doesn’t watch the songs before seeing the film Oprah lied to us INTERVAL (”Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje” from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam) Black When Matt was a child he didn’t know the difference between Helen Keller and Anne Frank Rani Mukherjee evokes Chaplin When does SLB set his films? Guzaarish, a about euthanasia or “ethanasia” Hrithik Roshan, without the use of his body He does dance with a giant bubble though and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan claps Don’t replay Action Replayy Auteurism NEXT TIME: we go to the movies to see Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani with our good friend Juliet Franklin  Find us on iTunes!  and Stitcher! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!

This week we take an in depth look at Aditya Chopra’s landmark romance Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, or DDLJ Show Notes: Thanks to (the attractive) Allan Mott for reviewing the show Matt's podcast roundup on The Pulp Celebrating DDLJ's 20th Anniversary December 18th is stacked with movie releases Erin makes a Rocky reference We recognize Amrish Puri from his iconic role in Temple of Doom Kajol's unibrow So much Switzerland Shout out to Pretentious Movie Reviews Raj is an asshole, but charming “Tujh Dekha To”, the song in a canola field (canola stands for: Canada Oil Low Acid) INTERVAL ("Zara Sa Jhoom Loon Main" from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge) Simran is a handful while drunk We are familiar with snow Shah Rukh Khan's star-making performance (and terrible fashion sense) and his iconic jodi with Kajol DDLJ is the longest running film in Indian film history, maybe ever Take the YRF Enchanted Journey in glorious Switzerland "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: The Record-Breaking Bollywood Rom-Com Celebrating 1000 Weeks in Cinemas" by Scott Jordan Harris We discuss the lack of film criticism and popular awareness in the west Poptimism Next Episode: we discuss the work of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali

In this episode we discuss global Bollywood sensation Priyanka Chopra and take an in depth look at three of her iconic films. Show Notes: Thanks to LizC (@lizcook) who caught a mistake in the previous episode We went to TD Presents Diwali Bollywood Dance Night at Northlands Matt learns the difference between Diwali and Dilwale  Award-winning actress, model, and singer Priyanka Chopra Too many segues about Miami rapper Pitbull Dostana (2008, Tarun Mansukhani) “Shut Up & Bounce” and Will Smith’s “Miami” Discussion of queer representation and gay panic “Maa Da Laadla”  (Pitbull featuring Chris Brown “Fun” because Matt promised) INTERVAL (“Desi Girl” from Dostana) Matt invites Boman Irani to the show What’s Your Raashee? (2009, Ashutosh Gowarikar) PC plays 12 different characters and we ruin them all for you “Aa Le Chal” shot in Chicago and “Aaja Lehrate” shot in one take, though it is clearly edited in the film “Chehre Jo Dekhe Hain” shows all 12 characters in one song “What’s Your Raashee?” a Bond-esque opening Another hilarious disclaimer! Mary Kom (2014, Omung Kumar) Five-time World Amateur Boxing champion and mother of three MC Mary Kom Don’t underestimate strong women Work-it PC! “Ziddi Dil” & “Salaam India” NEXT TIME: we fall in love with SRK and Kajol in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Find us on iTunes!  and Stitcher! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!

In this episode we discuss three Bollywood horror films featuring popular and familiar supernatural creatures. Show Notes: Happy Halloween! Matt plugs John Carpenter’s Halloween (not a Bollywood film) Shout out to Edmonton’s DEDfest Ranging MMS is the found footage horror film we mention Bipasha Basu, Bollywood’s scream queen Nagini, Indian snake women Pretentious Movie Reviews Bhoot (Ram Gopal Varma, 2003) Shout out to 90s Canadian classic Due South Film Studies Students Alert: we discuss shots Ajay Devgan (the slap master) Urmila Matondkar and Rekha INTERMISSION (“Bhoot Hoon Main” from Bhoot) Ek Thi Daayan (Kannan Iyer’s, 2013) Emraan Hashmi as Bobo the Magician Illusions, not tricks Elevator to hell Indian witches Huma Qureshi, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Kalki Koechiln Dance sequences! Gothic elements Go Goa Gone (Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K., 2013) Saif Ali Khan (from Race!) India’s first zombie film Blonde Saif Ali Khan isn’t fooling anyone Pre-film disclaimers NEXT TIME: Three films with international superstar Priyanka Chopra Find us on iTunes! and Stitcher! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!

In this episode we discuss some of the biggest rising stars in Bollywood by looking at four recent films. Show notes: Matt is getting old, and he would like Priyanka Chopra to attend his birthday Quantico is doing well, go Pranks! Band Baaja Baaraat (Maneesh Sharma, 2010) Ranveer Singh, party catalyst, fashionista, and major object of affection   Anushka Sharma  “Dum Dum” and “Ainvayi Ainvayi” Ranveer’s gym Uncle Student Of The Year (Karan Johar, 2012) Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... came out in 2001, but it feels so 90s Alia Bhatt (as SHANAYA!) “The Disco Song” Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan Shout out to Tiny Rick! INTERVAL (”Kukkad” from Student Of The Year) Shuddh Desi Romance (Maneesh Sharma, 2013)  Erin’s favourite modern Rom-Com Sushant Singh Rajput Parineetti Chopra Tevar (Amit Ravindernath Sharma, 2015) New to us sport: Kabaddi Arjun Kapoor, Ranveer Singh’s Bro Sonakshi Sinha  NEXT TIME: We watch a trio of spoooooky Boooollywood mooovies Find us on iTunes!  and Stitcher! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!

In this episode we discuss how Bollywood presents itself in cinema by looking at a few films that take use behind the scenes of the Hindi film industry. Show notes: Om Shanti Om (Farah Khan, 2007) Arjun Rampal makes a great villain New term: Junior Artist “Dard E Disco” a.k.a. “The Pain of Disco” So Many Good Dance Scenes Luck By Chance (Zoya Akhtar, 2011) Nepotism and gender imbalances Opening sequence showing the production process Representation of filmi gossip INTERVAL (”Love Mera Hit Hit” from Billu) Billu (Priyadarshan, 2009) Hairstylists in India found the term “barber” derogatory SRK’s celebrity persona Matt wants Bollywood Star Wars Heroine (Madhur Bhandarkar, 2012) It’s hard out there for a heroine “Main Heroine Hoon” The Dirty Picture (Milan Luthria, 2011) Based on the tragic life of Silk Smitha Vidya Balan gives an acclaimed and sexy performance Double standards and the objectification of women NEXT TIME: The Next Generation of Bollywood Stars! Find us on iTunes! and Stitcher! Follow us on Twitter!

In our second episode we discuss some of the biggest actors and actresses in Hindi cinema, as well as introduce a few common Bollywood terms and tropes. Show notes: We already have reviews! The dance scene for “Gallan Goodiyan” from Dil Dhadakne Do is here The Heroes Amitabh “The Big B” Bachchan Shah Rukh Khan, aka King Khan Aamir Khan (his show is Satyamev Jayate) Salman Khan Abhishek Bachchan Human special effect Hrithik Roshan Akshay Kumar Saif Ali Khan Ajay Devgan Ranbir Kapoor INTERVAL (“Deewangi Deewangi” from Om Shanti Om) A few terms Leading actors and actresses are referred to heroes and heroines A cameo, and there are a lot of cameos, is known as a friendly The Item number (Matt’s favourite is “Ram Chahe Leela” from Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela) Double Role! The Heroines Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the most beautiful woman in the world ‘90s Goddess Kajol Kareena Kapoor Vidya Balan Priyanka Chopra Katrina Kaif Bollywood’s current it-girl, Deepika Padukone NEXT WEEK: Bollywood on Bollywood! Find us on iTunes! Follow us on Twitter!

In our inaugural episode we discuss who we are and why we love Hindi cinema, aka. Bollywood. As well as dispelling some common misconceptions about Bollywood, we reveal some good picks for films to watch if you’re new to Bollywood and where to find them.  Show notes:  Erin lists her credentials  Matt failed to major in Bollywood in University  Shout out to The Pulp (where we first publicly exposed our respective interest in Bollywood)  First mention of Shah Rukh Khan  Mother India and Lootera Bollywood’s global popularity Dhoom 3, India’s The Fast and The Furious The open secret that is Hindi cinema   Misconceptions dispelled:  Bollywood ≠ Indian Cinema How many movies come out of Bollywood every year? Medium, not genre All Hindi films are not musicals Not every movie is three hours long The importance of marketable songs and a shout out to Will Smith Surprising Michael Bay analogy  INTERVAL (“Gallan Goodiyaan” from Dil Dhadakne Do, note: the dance for this song is done in one 5 minute take) Our picks for the best Hindi films for newcomers Using iTunes and other legal ways to watch your Hindi films So much drama Is there anything Farhan Akhtar can’t do? Matt lays down a fancy film studies term: “diegetic” Erin discusses feminism (take a drink?) Political controversies Canadians should launch a smear campaign against Argo Shirtless dudes, part one of an ongoing series at BIFL  Reading list:  Tejaswini Ganti’s Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema  Kush Varia’s Bollywood: Gods, Glamour, and Gossip  Mihir Bose’s Bollywood: A History  Thanks to all our friends who encouraged us to do this!  NEXT WEEK: The biggest and brightest stars in the Bollywood galaxy!  Find us on iTunes!  Follow us on Twitter!