This weekend: Udit & Aditya Narayan LIVE IN CONCERT in Minneapolis

Hello friends in the Twin Cities area, thought you’d like to know about this:

Coming to Minneapolis, Saturday May 10th

Udit & Adita Narayan

Event Hours: 7:30pm Ticket Prices: $37.00, $50.00, $75.00 VIP $100.00 - Includes Dinner VVIP $200.00 - Includes back stage pass and Dinner For more information please contact: Desi Entertainment Shashi Tiwari (612) 978-3040 Email: tiwari22us@gmail.com Website: www.desientertainments.com

Video of the Day: “Hoton Pe Aisi Baat” from Jewel Thief (1967)

It’s been a Jewel Thief (1967) week. 3 videos featuring 3 of the women stars have been featured earlier this week. 

• First it was “Rula Ke gaya Sapna Mera,” featuring Vyjayanthimala
• Next was “Raat Akeli Hai,” picturised on Tanuja 
• Then it was Helen, in “Baithe Hain Kya Usike Paas”

I asked which of the women was the best match the jewel thief, Dev Anand: super spunky Anju (Tanuja), sensitive Shalu (Vyjayanthimala) or the vivascious Helen?  All through Jewel Thief  I kept wondering how Vyjayanthimala could be in a movie without dancing?

 

Then finally at the movie’s climax she delivered in this fantastic number “Hoton Pe Aisi Baat” with Lata Mangeshkar  as the playback singer. Once again the music is by S.D. Burman.  It’s because of this number that I officially choose Vyjayanthimala as my match for the jewel thief:

Thanks to crandallmcgee for the video

And for a little extra fun, since I love to see Johnnie Walker used in Bollywood movies, not to be confused with Johnny Walker, who I also like to see in Bollywood movies, I’ll include a few screen images from the movie featuring Johnnie Walker.

Food and whisky for days!

  

Video of the Day: “Baithe Hain Kya Usike Paas” from Jewel Thief (1967)

If the last 2 numbers featured from Jewel Thief (1967) I posted here don’t make you want to see the movie, this one will. Two days back there was the heartfelt “Rula Ke gaya Sapna Mera,” then there was the upbeat “Raat Akeli Hai.” I posed the question about who you think Dev Anand, the jewel thief, should choose: super spunky Anju (Tanuja) or sensitive Shalu (Vyjayanthimala)? Well now there’s another lady in the film to consider:

Helen, queen of the nautch girls!

Once again here’s playback singer extrodinaire, Asha Bhosle, and music by S.D. Burman with the madcapped, over the top,“Baithe Hain Kya Usike Paas.”

Warning: this video is hot!

Thanks to crandallmcgee for the video.

 

Video of the Day: “Raat Akeli Hai” from Jewel Thief (1967)

Yesterday’s video was also from Jewel Thief (1967). Today I was inspired by Shweta who commented about yesterday’s sad scene featuring a tearful Vyjayanthimala:

“Vayjanti bores me to tears (by her tears) in this one-Dev actually had the option of going out with Tanuja in the movie, who is far more cheerful and peppy- and he chose the former! it boggles the mind.”

Take a look at Tanuja’s attempt to seduce Dev Anand here in “Raat Akeli Hai” with playback singer extrodinaire, Asha Bhosle, music by S.D. Burman. Yes, Anju (Tanuja) is certainly more spunky and enthusiastic than the sensitive and weepy Shalu (Vyjayanthimala), but more importantly, Anju has a super cool house! Who do you think is a better choice for the jewel thief, Anju or Shalu?

Video thanks to subhashanurag

Since I love the talent shows of India, here’s SVOI Chote Ustad’s 2008 winner Aishwarya Mujmudar’s version of “Raat Akeli Hai,” the sound quality is poor, but she does a fantastic job. Plus, you get to see Alka-ji give the young girl a necklace and many tears of gratitude flow.  I love Alka!

Video thanks to looking4u84

Video of the Day: “Rula Ke Gaya Sapna Mera” from Jewel Thief (1967)

It’s possible for me to love the costumes, characters, sets, and music of a film, without actually loving the film. That’s what happened to me with Jewel Thief (1967). What a such a stylish movie! It’s nonstop eye candy. Philip’sFil-ums has a compact, but power packed synopsis of the film here.

Jewel Thief is a 1967 Indian Hindi film. The film is a crime thriller, and stars Dev Anand, Vyjayantimala, Ashok Kumar, Tanuja, Anju Mahendru, Sachin and Helen. Vinay, an ordinary young man who finds himself constantly mistaken for a look-alike jewel thief named Amar. Vinay works with the police to impersonate Amar and crack his crime ring–but it seems that Amar has decided to impersonate Vinay, as well, and soon their true identities are thoroughly muddled. (wikipedia)

Here Shalu is perplexed about who she thinks is her fiance ignoring her. Is he Vinay or Amar? Watch the scene HERE.

This confusion drives poor Shalu to this:

Ah, Shalu, we’ve all been there! It’s always darkest before the dawn. To the rescue comes Dev’s character to deliver the wisdom of Bollywood:

I don’t mean to bring you down with such a sad song, but hey it’s Sunday, the time to reflect on life, get a bit melancholy about going back to work tomorrow, so this is really a perfect song for that mood: “Rula Ke Gaya Sapna Mera” by playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, picturised on Vyjayanthimala with Dev Anand lurking in the background. The music is by S.D. Burman.

video thanks to 19Awara51

Lyrics

Remember dosto, like Vinay/Amar says,

“night is passing by, and soon it will be morning.”

Amitabh’s Blogging

Yes, it’s true.  Like Amir Khan, (and me) Amitabh Bachchan now has a blog.

St James Court Hotel Crowne Plaza, London May 2, 2008 7:05pm (GMT) Asthma’s gone, interviews over - time now to spend some moments with you !!

That means YOU! ME! US! Everyone!  Bilkul exciting!

My blog will allow me to express myself, share and reflect my emotions, thoughts, opinions and listen to what people have to say to me. Now I can share consequential replies to the inconsequential gossips that keep doing the rounds. My adda (blog) will be the only destination where I’ll openly state my views and also discuss the same with all. (ReadersZone)

Read all about it!

The Na Me Sa Ke a.k.a. “The Namesake” (2007)

When I drove by the movie marquee reading Mira Nair’s The Namesake (2007) last spring, in my head I accidentally said, “Na Me Sa Ke.”   Since I read Mira Nair’s name first, I figured it must be a Hindi word.  DUH!  I was fully into my Bollywood hobby (obsession) so my mind eager for all things filmy, tried to morph the title into a more appropriate title.   Even though I know Mira Nair’s movies aren’t Bollywood, my brain would not accept it!  I did rather quickly figure out my amusing mistake and treasure it as one of my best ever!   I finally saw the movie this week and was hypnotized by Tabu’s character’s strength and vulnerability.  The scene where she receives the phone call about her husband and runs through her split level suburban home flipping on all the lights and finally emerges through the open garage onto the lawn was brilliant!  I have a non-homsexual-homosexual crush (from George Costanza on Seinfield) or girl crush on Tabu, which has grown stronger from her work in this film. Irfan Khan’scharacter was equally fabulous. 

 

   

THE NAMESAKE is the story of the Ganguli family whose move from Calcutta to New York evokes a lifelong balancing act to meld to a new world without forgetting the old. Though parents Ashoke and Ashima (Irfan Khan, Tabu) long for the family and culture that enveloped them in India, they take great pride in the opportunities their sacrifices have afforded their children. Paradoxically, their son Gogol (Kal Penn) is torn between finding his own unique identity without losing his heritage. Even Gogol’s name represents the family’s journey into the unknown. (FoxSearchlight)

On behalf of all Americans, I extend an apology to all Indians, NRIs, and Bengali immigrants in particular, for Maxine’s (Jacinda Barrett) behavior, especially her behavior at the funeral.  

 

Fine Maxine, you’ve got truffles, but do you have ladoos? Doubt it.

Time I spent crying during the film = 10%. 

Time I spent sobbing during the film = 5%. 

I thought Jhumpa Lahiri did a fabulous job capturing the immigration experience. 

Use this clip to jog your memory and tell me what you thought of The Namesake, or what I like to call…The Na Me Sa Ke.

 

Video of the Day:USA fan club dinner meet - Dr. K.Chaudhry’s message

Here at the Bollywood Food Club, we LOVE Dr. K. Chaudhry.  He has uploaded many (500+!) fine videos and leans toward covering Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar tunes. We haven’t posted one of his cover tunes in a while, and stumbled upon this tonight.  Obviously others in the USA have a love for Dr. K. and started a fan club.  How do I sign up?  Where was this dinner? Here’s what Dr. K. Chaudhry says:

Hi friends in USA
About 310 of you inauguated fan club on April 5, 2008 with a musical evening. Parnav, Varun, Mathews and you all have always been sacrificing their sleep to call me during my day time. Just after 17 days you are celebrating dinner meet at a restautrant.That cannot be described just as a sentimental relationship between a man in Delhi and some hundreds in America. That is a carry forward relationship from some past lives. I remained away from you for 63 years. Now we shall remain together until we live together.

 Enjoy Dr. K Chaudhry:

Video thanks to drkchaudhry

More of Dr. K. Chaudhry from BFC here.

Pope Benedict XVI’s U.S. visit & “Dholi Taro Dhol Baje” from Hum Dil Chuke De Sanam(1999)

I have spent much of the weekend watching live coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the U.S.. I have fallen in love with him like I’ve fallen in love with Bollywood! He was adorable and his papal coat of arms reminded me of India’s emblem, for no particular reason other than it looks very official. I even think it looks like the Pope feeling the bhangra beat in this photo, doesn’t it? I thought he was German, not Punjabi. I watched the coverage on EWTN and got so enthralled I missed my weekend dose of Bollywood. I did however think of my favorite portrayal of Catholicism in a Bollywood movie: Ajay Devgan in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). I love the wisdom of Bollywood and Devgan’s characer gets to the heart of his views of what love is. Here’s one of my favorite Bollywood scenes of all time and shows the beauty of purification through suffering. I think that Pope Benecidt said nearly the same thing while he was here, but Bollywood said it fewer words:

I’ve posted about Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam two other times here before, and The Bolly Blog has a great synopsis of the film here. As an extra bonus, the film has a tight slap to the face that takes place in a church of all places! Talk about sacreligious. Now back to the religious, today’s video: “Dholi taro Dhol Baje” with music by Ismail Darbar. The playback singers are Karsan Sagadia, Kavita Krishnamurthy, and Vinod Rathod. It’s picturised on Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan and is one of the many excellent songs from the movie.

Thanks to laradutta01 for the video.

Bollywood Insider: Latest reports from March & April, 2008

Time to check in with The Bollywood Food Club’s favorite entertainment correspondant, Suzi Mann with the latest Bollywood chugli:

 

From April 4th:

Shahrukh and Hrithik dance off for Krazzy 4, One Two Three too many rude gags? Will Smith ever ask Aishwarya Rai to work with him again?

From March 28th:

Shahrukh and Amitabh pals after Bhoothnath shoot, Race a winner but how permanent is Saif’s Kareena tattoo?