Viedma directed me here, as I'm a happy Bollywood drone. The constructs are so dissimilar to US films. (In Hollywood, the drama/comedy arises out of misunderstandings and lies, in Bollywood, the conflict comes from people telling the truth. Devdas was a great example of that, and even the cornball ending to KKHH. It's no better or worse -- certainly not backwards, the way some critics dismiss it -- just a different set of constraints.) So many movies are being shot outside India now, and it's wonderful to see the U.S. (or Canada or Brazil) with fresh eyes.
I loved DDLJ and used it to pimp a couple people at work. The scene with Kajol (one of my favorites) and her mom, when she's about to be unhappily married, is devastating.
I'd add Swades to the list above, too. It's predictable in the way every SRK movie is, but it's powerful, and moving. I read Indian newspapers every day, and the concept of NRIs (non-resident Indians) is a vital one; the definition of NRIs (non-returning Indians) is the threat Swades addresses. With songs!
Hai Hai
I loved DDLJ and used it to pimp a couple people at work. The scene with Kajol (one of my favorites) and her mom, when she's about to be unhappily married, is devastating.
I'd add Swades to the list above, too. It's predictable in the way every SRK movie is, but it's powerful, and moving. I read Indian newspapers every day, and the concept of NRIs (non-resident Indians) is a vital one; the definition of NRIs (non-returning Indians) is the threat Swades addresses. With songs!