Umrao Jaan (starring Rekha)

Umrao Jaan was one of the first Bollywood movies I'd seen, so I decided to revisit it the other day to see if my opinion had changed a year (and several Bollywood films) later.

Two things came out of this experience. First, I realized I didn't remember much about it all, because I sort of felt like I was viewing it for the first time. Second, I actually enjoyed and appreciated the film much more.

During my initial viewing of Umrao Jaan, I lost interest towards the middle of the movie. Not so this time. In fact, I was quite absorbed in Umrao's woeful life, from beginning to end. I don't know, maybe I wasn't used to the length of a Bollywood movie back then, because this time I actually thought the movie flowed together pretty well...the script stuck to the story and the ending wasn't dragged out. That's something to applaud in Bollywood!

And although I must have thought Rekha was a natural as Umrao Jaan, this time I was actually mesmerized by her performance. Technically, she's not one of my favorite actresses, but I definately have a girl-crush on her! She was Umrao Jaan...Every bat of her long black eyelashes, every alluring glance, every purse of her ruby lips...she had it down to a science. Rekha made the perfect courtesan as she bewitched men with her charm, drawing them deep into her web of seduction.

Naweb Sultan illustrates this for us with this smitten stare...



Wow, look at the intensity in his left eye! How could Umrao resist?

But all jokes aside, Farooq Shaikh portrayed Sultan appropriately. He was refined and composed, yet had a weakness for Umrao he was unable to shake. His role was minor in comparison to Rekha's, but his entrance in the film was a relief because I was beginning to fear her love interest would end up being Naseeruddin Shah's annoying character. And thank God it wasn't.

Besides the performances, I also couldn't resist taking a bunch of screenshots for this blog's banner...there's just something about the look of the film. So classic yet not forced. I could watch the movie just for the visuals alone.

I'm aware that Umrao Jaan's music is considered timeless in Bollywood. Since I don't speak Hindi, I have no right to argue, but I really only enjoyed them because of Rekha's dance moves.

Poor, poor Umrao Jaan. She had such a tragic and lonely life, and my heart just bled for her. Yet her character seemed so human to me because she was longing for love more than anything else. I'm so glad I decided to watch her story again, because I literally saw it in a whole new light. Note to Bollywood: Give me more stories with a female at the center!

Text © Copyright 2008 Nida Nazir
Bitten By Bollywood

Water

Any movie with a topic like this is bound to be disturbing. It's just a given. I knew I was going to sit through Deepa Mehta's portrayal of a widows' colony in 1938 India and want to throw things at my tv screen. I knew I was going to get so deeply invested in the characters that a knot would form in the pit of my stomach, making me want to stop watching, yet keeping me glued to the screen at the very same time.


Water was all that and then some. Heartbreaking, yes, but also very engrossing. It's the type of film I won't soon forget, both because of the eye-opening message and the compelling way the story was told. I've seen other movies depict oppression or inhumane treatment, with nothing but tragedy after tragedy occurring to the bitter end. Those movies left me feeling as if the characters would have been better off if I'd never tuned in, since the minute I started watching things went from bad to worse.

I'm not saying these films don't have a right to be this way--most of the time they are based on history or cruel realities in our world that don't need to be sugarcoated. But there is another alternative, and Deepa Mehta found it in Water. In this film, the characters did experience hardships one after another, but Mehta made the wise choice of giving us a glimmer of hope at the end, right when we need it the most. The burst of love by two of the main characters for Chuyia's well being in the final scene sealed the movie as being more than just another heart sinker.

Perhaps it was because she reminded me of my own daughter, but Sarala's performance as Chuyia was my favorite by far. From the opening scene I wanted to swoop in and carry this child away from her devastating life.

Lisa Ray turns out an exquisite performance as Kalyani, but John Abraham could have emoted more as Narayan. Two glaring examples of the latter (***that contain spoilers***)were 1)John's poor display of what was supposed to be grief in the scene by the river after Kalyani's death and 2)the blank expression on John's face when Chuyia is handed to him on Gandhi's train at the end. The bright note to this was that John's character was extremely likable and, of course, hopelessly dreamy. And I am happy to say that in the more recent Salaam-E-Ishq, he appears to have improved somewhat.

There were also many relevant references to Gandhi in Water. After recently watching the Benjamin Kingsley movie and reading a book on Gandhi's life, I'm struck once again on the impact this man made on India. He used the simple concept of love to tackle some of the world's most controversial issues. Because of the effects his teachings had on his followers, he reshaped the thoughts of many. Would a man like John Abraham's Narayan have taken the stance he did on the treatment of widows if not influenced by a man like Gandhi?


Because of Water's subject, I expected to have all of these reactions. I did not, however, expect it to be such a well done film, with deeply developed characters and an ending that shows the difference a little bit of love can make. This film will stick with me for a very long time. Earth and Fire are next.

Text (c) 2008 Nida Nazir Bitten By Bollywood

Dil Chata Hai

Just when I thought I couldn't love Bollywood any more than I already do, my friends at Jaman recommend a movie like Dil Chata Hai to remind me that I ain't seen nothing yet.




Dil Chata Hai is a rare story about three male friends and their personal journey into a little thing called love. It's not too sappy or melodramatic,but it has has its touching moments. There's just enough romance for the chick flick lover in you, but the real heart of the movie lies in the changing relationship between the three friends played by Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna, and Saif Ali Khan.

These guys have an onscreen chemistry that I haven't seen between three men in a long time(I'm thinking since Three Men and A Baby. Quite a different film, but...humor me). Their personalities are each so different and balance the story out to perfection.

Aamir Khan as Aakash dazzles me with his talent once again, but I'm sure that's no surprise to those of you who grew up watching his films. Saif Ali Khan as Sameer continues to make me laugh by his voice, facial expressions, and body language alone. But it was Akshaye Khanna(who has the cutest chin ever)as Sid, the artist with a heart of gold who falls for a divorced woman with a drinking problem, who really caught me off guard. I had no idea Bollywood had it in her to come up with a story like this, but give me more! Being a single mother(and half Pakistani herself, a culture where this is seriously frowned upon), it always bothers me that women are labeled so harshly once divorced or widowed, and I loved that Sid was man enough to stand up against the ridicules and jokes from his own best friend because he just didn't care what people would think. How many men would do that?

The feud that situation created between Aakash and Sid is also brought to a moving end when Aakash admits he was wrong and Sid forgives him wholeheartedly. I'm embarrassed to think back to some of the friendships I had, particularly when I was a teenager, that ended on a stupid argument which I had too much pride to repair. I'm glad Aakash grew up and realized that was not going to happen to him, and happy that Sid didn't let things change their friendship after that. Just another beautiful touch to an already perfect film!

I have to mention Dimple Kapadia as Tara(Sid's love interest). She's amazing. Simply amazing. I won't say anymore, but if you see the movie, I won't have to.

Wow. When I come across a movie like this, it reminds me why I write about Bollywood in the first place!

Text (c) Nida Nazir, 2008 Bitten By Bollywood

Dor

I'm finding that in Bollywood its pretty rare to see a movie that doesn't rely on a male character to tell the story.

I'm happy to report that Dor is the exception.

Dor is a beautiful movie about a friendship between two women, with a powerful message of forgiveness. I warmed to both actresses instantly, and the final scene moved me to tears.I don't want to say too much and give any of the movie away, but its definately a gem. I recommend it to anyone!


I already knew a bit about how widows can be treated in India and Pakistan. My stepmother's sister was recently widowed and lives in Pakistan. She's very young and going through a very difficult time...I've never met her but she's always in my prayers. Knowing the reality she faces and watching the scenes with Ayesia Takia, I kept thinking how heartbreaking this must be for any woman already grieving her love.


On a lighter note,does Ayesia Takia slap someone in all of her films? Because this is the second one I've seen with her in it, and she's hit someone both times. Granted, they may have deserved it(Akshaye Khanna, I'm looking at you), but watch out, Bollywood!

Text (c) 2007 Nida Nazir Bitten By Bollywood