Late Summer Viewing

First Time Viewing:
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007)  3/5 stars
Parts of it were unappealing,  but it has two excellent songs and great performances by Priety Zinta and Abhishek Bachchan.  

Janatha Garage  (2016)  4/5 stars

Mainly a predictable vehicle for Jr. NTR, but enjoyable nonetheless, and with a strong performance by Nithya Menen.

Delhi 6  (2009)  3/5 stars
Started off really good, but by the end I was rather puzzled.  Abhishek Bachchan gave a good performance, but Sonam Kapoor was unimpressive.

Dhoom 2  (2006)  3/5 stars
Action packed and fun, except for Aishwarya Rai's performance --she was so unsuited to the character that it was painful to watch.

Rewatched:
Raavan (2010)  5/5 stars (my review here)
My husband watched it with me this time, and he felt pretty much the same as I did.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)  5/5 stars (my review here)
This was my third viewing and, if anything, I cried even harder.

While You Were Sleeping  (1995)  5/5 stars
I first watched this in the theater, and I can't tell you how many times after that.  This was the first time in a decade or so, though, and it stands the test of time.  It's a fantastic movie.

Funny Face  (1957)  3/5 stars
I loved this as a teen, but wasn't as impressed this time around.  The plot was thin, Astaire and Hepburn seemed mismatched, and her singing was weak.  Costumes were fantastic, though, and Kay Thompson gave a stellar performance.

Veer Zaara  (2004)  5/5 stars  (my review here)
I cried so hard this second viewing that I gave myself not only a headache, but a stomach ache as well.

Summer Viewing

I changed my routine this summer, so I've not been watching as many movies, and most of what I have watched have been repeats.  Here are the new ones I have seen:

Good Newwz  2019  2/5 stars  Akshay Kumar, usually quite talented and funny, couldn't salvage this movie with it's unappealing "humor", stale acting, and lack of resolution.  It didn't live up to the hype, and frankly, I felt like I wasted my time.

Banarasi Babu ("The Gentleman from Banaras") 1997 3/5 stars  Govinda and Ramya Krishnan had good chemistry, and, both talented actors, gave good performances.  The plot was mostly good, though a bit racy and did get too silly at times.  Veteran supporting actor Shakti Kapoor's role and performance was off-putting, a definite detriment to the movie. The music was average, with "San Sanana Sai" being the exception.  Overall, it was fun to watch once, but not particularly memorable.

Aunty No. 1  1998  3/5 stars   This Govinda - Raveena Tandon classic has an extremely convoluted plot, is often too silly, and wraps up unrealistically.  However, the principals have good chemistry and that, along with a talented veteran supporting cast and a few good songs, makes it mostly enjoyable overall.

Rajaji

Rajaji
1999
3/5 stars

Rajaji (played by Govinda) is an unscrupulous, lazy wastrel who decides that he will marry a rich woman, so as not to have to work.  He meets Payal (Raveena Tandon), daughter of a millionaire, and deceives her into falling in love with him.  It is only after they marry, that Rajaji discovers that Payal is actually the daughter of a gardener.

(Cast also includes Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Satish Kaushik, and Aruna Irani.)

The plot of this romantic comedy/drama is predictable, but still enjoyable.  The costumes are beautiful, and most of the scenes look lovely.  The music is average, with the exception of the memorable " Tere Pyar Ne" which is used twice in the film.  Govinda was convincing, nicely balancing between comedian and hero. He had good chemistry with Raveena Tandon, who gave an average performance.  The veteran supporting cast was solid.

The problem with the movie was the last twenty minutes or so, when an unnecessary subplot emerged, creating chaos for the last scenes of the movie.  The ending could have been strong, had this been absent and the emotional impact left intact.  Overall, though, it's worth watching once, especially for Govinda fans.

Dulhe Raja

Dulhe Raja
(translates as "the bridegroom Raja")
1998
3/5 stars

The oh-so-cute Govinda plays Raja, owner of a small eatery located beside a luxury hotel.  The hotel's new owner, K.K.Singhania (Kader Khan) feels it lowers the value of his property and attempts to buy out Raja.  When Raja refuses, the two become sworn enemies, even though Raja has fallen in love with Singhania's daughter Kiran (Raveena Tandon).  In the meantime, Singhania and Kiran argue over the man (Rahul, played by Mohnish Behl) that Kiran wants to marry, so to get revenge, Kiran becomes engaged to Raja, who thinks she is sincere.

(Johnny Lever also stars, as Singhania's personal assistant.)

The movie is predictable but often funny, with catchy songs, lovely costumes, and mostly strong supporting actors.  Kader Khan and Govinda give excellent performances, with great chemistry between the two.  Raveena Tandon is the weak link in the film, being stiff at times and never fully believable.  Over all, Dulhe Raja is an average movie that will be enjoyable for Govinda fans, but won't draw viewers back for a rewatch.

English Babu Desi Mem

English Babu Desi Mem
(translates as "English sir, Indian madam")
1996
3/5 stars

English businessman Vikram Mayur ( Shah Rukh Khan) learns that his deceased brother left a son, eight-year-old Nandu (Sunny Singh).  Nandu has been raised in India by his young aunt, Bijuriya (Sonali Bendre), who supports them both by dancing in a club.  Vikram goes to India to bring Nandu back with him, an event which leads to many emotional complications.

This movie was declared a flop at release, but it's really not bad.  The plot is predictable, but at times quite moving.  The acting from the leads was solid, but the child actors were fantastic.  Young Sunny Singh gave a compelling performance and the actress who played the child Bijuriya was a natural.  (Unfortunately, I've been unable to find who this child was for certain, but it may have been Baba Brahmbhatt.)  Bijuriya's near-vulgar dance routines are particularly unappealing, however, giving the film a sleazy feel not compatable with the innocence of the rest of the movie. While English Babu Desi Mem is not a stand-out movie, it's mostly enjoyable, and the child actors make it worth watching once.

Dil Se. . .

Dil Se. . . 
(translates as "from the heart")
1998
5/5 stars

Amar (Shah Rukh Khan) meets a young woman (Manisha Koirala as Meghna) on a train platform and is instantly smitten.  This infatuation turns to obsession, as he tries first to trace her, then to convince her to love him.  As his passion slowly consumes his reason, he becomes entangled in a terrorism plot designed to bring attention to the insurrection in Northeast India.

This thriller is riveting, intense, and, for the most part, realistic.  Khan and Koirala have good chemistry and are convincing in their roles.  With her infectious smile, Priety Zinta makes a debut that is most natural. The music is unique, and quite good, and some of the choreography most impressive.  Not typical of Bollywood, the film work is gritty and is appropriate for the feel of the film.  This gripping, emotional drama comes highly recommended.

Malaika Arora features in the item number "Chaiyya Chaiyya"

Chhote Sarkar

Chhote Sarkar
(translates as "small government")
1996
4/5 stars

Aman (Govinda) is mistaken for Rohit, the deceased fiance of Seema (Shilpa Shetty). Seema has become mentally unsound from grief, and her father (Kader Khan) persuades Aman to pretend to be Rohit to help Seema recover.  Aman falls in love with Seema, but after professing his love to her, is arrested for the murder of his uncle.  Aman, then sets out to discover the true facts about his uncle's death.

Govinda and Shilpa Shetty

Oh-so-cute Govinda plays both the serious and comedic roles well in this film.  He and Shetty have good chemistry, and Shetty is convincing in her part. The choreography is not extensive, Govinda not being the best dancer, but at times was quite cute.  The music, while obviously 1990s, ranges from average to above.  The plot is quite good, and delivers two clever surprises.  Overall, it's a suspense/comedy that is well-worth watching.

This movie is available on YouTube:

The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice
(TV Movie)

Bob Peck as Shylock

1996
4/5 stars


Antonio (Benjamin Whitrow) takes out a loan from money-lender Shylock (Bob Peck) for his friend Bassanio (Paul McGann), promising a pound of flesh if he can't repay. When disaster strikes and Antonio looses everything, Shylock is determined to make him pay in full. Bassanio's new wife, Portia (Haydn Gwynne), dons male garb and takes on the role as lawyer, to teach Shylock mercy.

Peck played Shylock well, and with much emotion, though his best speech was somewhat rushed.
McGann was an earnest Bassanio, but his unattractive costumes and terrible hair style were quite distracting.  Gwynne played Portia with grace, giving her famous speech in fine style.  The rest of the cast also acted naturally and elegantly.  The costumes and sets are those of Shakespeare's intended era of Venice, and for the most part, looked lovely.  Overall, though it left out some less important scenes, it was a fine performance and worth watching.

Twelfth Night (Live From Lincoln Center)

Twelfth Night 
(Live From Lincoln Center)
1998
5/5 stars


This is a tale of twins, Viola (Helen Hunt) and Sebastian (Rick Stear), who are separated by a shipwreck. Viola disguises herself as a man (Cesario) and becomes an attendant to Duke Orsino (Paul Rudd), with whom she falls in love. He loves Olivia (Kyra Sedgwick), who in turn falls in love with Cesario. The plot is further complicated when Malvolio (Philip Bosco), Olivia's steward, is tricked into believing that she is in love with him.

This production is superb, played naturally and with joy and verve, emphasizing the humor of the play.  Hunt and Rudd have good chemistry, adding spice to their relationship.  Bosco is wonderful as Malvolio, playing comedy and drama with equal skill.  David Patrick Kelly made an entertaining fool (Feste).  The best performances were from Brian Murray (as Sir Toby Belch) and Max Wright (as Sir Andrew Aguecheek); their comic timing, expressions, and gestures were perfection.

My only complaint is with the play itself: so many subplots have to be tied up in the last act that it feels unwieldy at times.  This was handled well by the director (Nicholas Hytner), so that it wrapped up smoothly.

This can be viewed on Internet Archive:
https://archive.org/details/TwelfthNightLiveFromLincolnCenter1998

Hunt and Rudd

Sangdil Sanam

Sangdil Sanam
(translation: "heartless beloved")
1994
3/5

Kishan and Sanam are childhood sweethearts, and are officially betrothed by their families.  However, Kishan's father (Alok Nath) is framed by Sanam's father (Kiran Kumar) for a bank theft, and Kishan and his mother (Reema Lagoo) are left with nothing and retire to a village.  Twelve years later, Kishan (Salman Khan) goes to retrieve Sanam (Manisha Koirala) and bring her home as his bride.  Unfortunately, Sanam has changed for the worse and wants nothing to do with him.

This romantic drama/comedy starts off well with a great premise, but dissolves into a ridiculous slapstick in which Kishan ignores the fact that "no" means "no"; the film then becomes serious again, and quite interesting (despite the Stockholm syndrome plot line), but even the solidly good songs can't make it better than average.

Judaai

Judaai
(translates as "separation")
1997
5/5 stars

Kajal (played by Sridevi) is obsessed with money, and as a result begins to disrespect her upstanding, honorable husband, Raj, (Anil Kapoor) for not giving her what she wants.  When rich Janhvi (Urmila Matondkar) falls in love with Raj, Kajal bullies him into marrying Janhvi in exchange for a large sum of money.  Kajal soon discovers that the wealth she has so desired will not bring the happiness she expected.

The incomparably beautiful Sridevi gives an outstanding performance as Kajal, easily working the audience for and against her as the scene required.  Matondkar is also excellent in her role.  Kapoor, though playing his part well, is overshadowed by the two strong performances by the actresses, but that is as it should be for this film.  The direction is superb, the music is good, the choreography average, the traditional costumes stunning, and the supporting cast some of the finest.  I was surprised at just how fantastic this movie was, and it is written well enough that I was uncertain as to how it would finally end.  I highly recommend this film, if for nothing else than Sridevi's performance.

The star-studded cast also includes Kader Khan, Farida Jalal, Johnny Lever, Paresh Rawal, Upasana Singh and Saeed Jaffrey

Sridevi, Kapoor, Matondkar

Deewana Mastana

Deewana Mastana

1997
3/5 stars

In this comedy, two small time crooks, Raja (Anil Kapoor) and Ghafoor (Johnny Lever) get lucky and rob a payroll delivery.  They go to Bombay with their loot, and Raja immediately falls in love with psychiatrist Dr. Neha (Juhi Chawla), and pretends to be a rich American to woo her.  In the meantime, Bunnu (Govinda) comes to Dr. Neha for help with his many phobias; he, too, falls in love with her.  Raja and Bunnu then begin a vicious rivalry to win her.

The energetic and oh-so-cute Govinda, undoubtedly the star of the show, is a delight to watch.  His antics are well timed and nicely executed.  Johnny Lever won an award for his performance in this movie, but I felt it wasn't up to his usual standard.  Kapoor does a well enough job, but isn't a strong enough comedian to play opposite Govinda.  The music is nice, with average choreography.  The plot is fun, light, and occasionally silly, but though it does contain a twist, is not memorable.

Govinda (l) and Anil Kapoor (r)

Nishchaiy

Nishchaiy
1992
3/5 stars


Ravi Yadav (Vinod Khanna) works as a servant for a harsh man (played by Rajiv Verma) and his kind wife, Renuka (Moushumi Chatterjee), and takes care of his much younger brother, Rohan. Ravi is framed for crime and sentenced to twelve years in prison. Renuka promises she will take care of Rohan, and gives him to a friend (played by my favorite Mummy, Reema Lagoo) who adopts him, and renames him Vasu. When Ravi is released from prison, he seeks out Renuka, who has lost her memory and cannot tell him where Rohan/Vasu (Salman Khan) is now. In the meantime, Vasu grows up into a successful lawyer, falls in love with Payal (Karisma Kapoor), and dreams of being reunited with Ravi. Unfortunately, Vasu has made an important enemy, and his future happiness, if not his life, is at stake.

The best part of this melodrama is the light romance between Vasu and Payal.  The main plot, which should be  moving, is convoluted at times, and the acting not convincing.  Even Karisma Kapoor does not display the enthusiasm and energy of her later movies.  The songs are average, and the choreography unremarkable.  Reema Lagoo's beauty and elegance shine through, but otherwise this is a mediocre movie that does well enough for a time-pass, but is not memorable in the long run.

Saeed Jaffrey, Salman Khan, Reema Lagoo

Baazigar

Baazigar
(translates as "gambler")
1993
4/5 stars

The less known about the plot, the better the viewing experience for this drama.  Briefly, Shah Rukh Khan plays a man who is courting two sisters (played by Shilpa Shetty and Kajol) under two different personas.  He has pressing reasons, which the viewer learns through well-told back story as the film progresses.

This often tense film delivers an impressive surprise early on, and keeps the viewer on edge through out.  Khan delivers an excellent performance, and Kajol and Shetty do well, also.  The music and choreography are only average, keeping the movie from a full five stars.  Otherwise, this is an impressive, suspenseful, and emotional film (reminiscent of Hitchcock) that is well worth watching.

Cast also includes: Master Sumeet, Johnny Lever, and Dalip Tahil.

Yeh Dillagi

Yeh Dillagi
(translates as "this romance")
1994
3/5 stars

Sapna (Kajol), the chauffeur's daughter, goes to Mumbai to become a model so that she can earn money and be on equal footing with her father's rich employers.  She matures and gains confidence, and as a result turns the heads of both of the sons of the house: Vicky, unprincipaled playboy (Saif Ali Khan) and hardworking buisnessman Vijay (Akshay Kumar) Their mother (Reema Lagoo) is a stickler for social position, and refuses to allow either son to consider an alliance with the daughter of a servant.  They woo Sapna in their own way, and when one wins her love, he faces the difficulty of brotherly conflict and parental disapproval.

On the face of it, this romantic comedy (loosely based on Hollywood's Sabrina), is a love triangle that pits brotherly love against romantic love.  The story goes deeper than that, though, and becomes an evaluation of social snobbery.

Kumar, Kajol, Khan

It is a mostly fun film, but to my surprise contained two somewhat steamy scenes that didn't seem typical of a 1990's Bollywood movie, and detracted from the experience.  I also had a difficult time enjoying Lagoo's performance.  She's my favorite Bollywood mummy, and I'm not used to seeing her in an unsympathetic role.  The acting of the three main characters was good, and they had fine chemistry together.  The music was average, but there were some entertaining dance scenes.  Were it not for the two detractors mentioned above, this would be a 4 star movie, but as a result, I could only find it average.

This movie is available to rent on Google Play.

Dil Tera Aashiq

Dil Tera Aashiq
(translates as "heart is your lover")
1993
3/5 stars

Sonia (Madhuri Dixit) is in need of money to support her ill mother.  She disguises herself as Savitri, an older governess, and is hired by Chaudhary (Anupam Kher) for his young niece and nephew.  His older nephew (Vijay, played by Salman Khan) meets her as herself and is immediately love-struck, little knowing she is also the governess.  Chaudhary eventually falls in love with "Savitri" and Sonia finds herself in an interesting situation.

This romantic comedy has an uneven plot, being quite good in the beginning, then turning too silly.  The songs, with the exception of the title song, are average.  The dancing/choreography is a bit below average.  The cast is good, and Dixit and Khan have good chemistry together.  Kher, as always, gives a great performance.  Dixit does a nice job balancing her two roles, but Khan is just average in this film.  Overall, it's fun to watch, but not memorable.

The cast also includes Kader Khan and Shakti Kapoor.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
(translates as "the big-hearted will take away the bride")
1995
5/5 stars

Simran (Kajol) lives in London and is betrothed to the son of her father's best friend in Punjab. The summer before she is to be married, she takes a European rail vacation with friends, and meets Raj (Shah Rukh Khan). They don't realize that they have fallen in love until they have parted. Raj then follows Simran to India, determined to win her father's approval for their marriage.

In this romantic comedy/drama, family values and respect for elders is placed in high regard, even while portraying that the most hardened of hearts must be softened in the face of true love. Both Kajol and Khan are excellent in their roles, maturing their characters perfectly. The supporting cast is stellar. While there is no breath-taking choreography, the songs are lovely and memorable. The costumes, cinematography, locations, and sets are all beautifully done. Overall, this is a funny, sweet, and serious movie that is a must- watch for any Bollywood fan.

Movie available through Amazon Prime.

Suryavanshi

Suryavanshi 
1992
4/5 stars

The wicked princess Suryalekha (Amrita Singh) falls in love with the one man who is able to defeat her champions. This man, Suryavanshi Vikram Singh (Salman Khan) deceives her, then leaves her in disgrace. Incensed, she kills herself and her ghostly self torments the area as she waits for Suryavanshi to be reborn and return to her.

Hundreds of years later, an archaeologist uncovers part of Suryalekha's palace. His team, including his daughter Sonia (Sheeba) and son-in-law Vicky (Salman Khan), visit the palace grounds. Suryalekha's spirit is convinced that Vicky is Suryavanshi reincarnated and calls to him. It is left to Sonia to overcome the evil with her love and protect her husband.

This is, at times, a silly movie, and sometimes overly dramatic. That said, it's still an enjoyable tale, full of action, romance, the supernatural, and music. There is much more to the plot that can be explained in a brief synopsis, and the romance was a good story. Singh was fantastic as the beautiful and evil Suryalekha, and Sheeba's portrayal of the opposing pure and lovely Sonia was equally good. Both of Khan's characters were less than three-dimensional, but still appealing. The most unfortunate aspect of the entire movie was the light brown hair/beard of Suryavanshi, which looked simply goofy on Khan. The music and choreography were good, as were the costumes for these numbers. Overall, while bordering on the ridiculous in parts, it was an entertaining movie and a good example of the Bollywood of the 1990s.

Movie available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/sh1wwILGvp0

Chandra Mukhi

Chandra Mukhi
(translates as "moon-faced beauty")
1993
3/5 stars

The lovely Sridevi plays Chandramukhi, a princess from another planet. She has fallen to Earth, and during that fall lost her magical-power-granting leaf. She meets Raja, a boy of around 10, who is being abused by his step-uncle. To help Raja, she uses the remains of her powers to age him so that he can defend himself. After this, she and the adult Raja (Salman Khan), go on an adventure to find her leaf.

This is a truly silly fantasy flick, but mostly enjoyable nonetheless. While the songs are average, the choreography is good and Sridevi is truly a fine dancer. Khan's part is odd in that, at times Raja seems to have matured as he aged (particularly when wooing Chandramuhki), and at others seems to still have the mentality of a child. This made the romancing feel a bit awkward, but nonetheless, Khan and Sridevi had good chemistry. Khan was charming, but overacted at times. On the whole, it is an absurd plot, but one can't help but like it anyway.

(movie not currently available)

Karan Arjun

Karan Arjun
1995
4/5 stars

Durga Singh (Raakhee) has two sons, Karan (Salman Khan) and Arjun (Shah Rukh Khan) that are the joy of her life. When they are murdered, she prays to Kali to reincarnate them, and restore them too her, so that they can take vengeance on her enemy. 

This is both a poignant story of a mother's love and faith, and an action packed tale of revenge. The music and choreography are average, but the costumes are spectacular. The fight scenes are well staged and exciting. The supporting cast is quite good. Khan and Khan are both great in their roles, and it is fun to see the superstars act together. It's a solid movie overall, and will please fans of either Khan.

Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan