Indian Drag Queens, Gulabi Aaina, and “In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke” from Umrao Jaan (1981)

I have been fooled by official looking film festival palm leaf logos before. Haven’t you?  Those palms make something look legitimate and award worthy. So when a friend sent me Gulabi Aaina (2003) and I saw those leaves on the DVD I thought it would be great.  It’s a movie about drag queens who perform some Bollywood hits.  [...]

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Ever wondered about those huge homes in Bollywood movies?

I recently read Motiba’s Tattoos, a memoir by Mira Kamdar. Kamdar is an American born Jain woman and her book traces the life of her grandmother. I was reading along, not expecting anything Bollywood, but when describing her time spent in Mumbai as a kid Kamdar served up some spicy Bollywood dish:
The slum was still cloaked [...]

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Video of the Day: Asha Bhosle’s “O Saathi Re” from Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978)

It’s day 3 of “O Saathi Re”!

Two days ago it was “O Saathi Re” from Omkara, OK different song, but same title, so it still counts.
Yesterday we had “O Saathi Re” with Kishore Kumar singing
Today’s version of “O Saathi Re” has Asha Bhosle as the playback singer

Look at the young Amitabh trying [...]

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Video of the Day: “O Saathi Re” from Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978)

Yesterday’s video from Omkara was the song “O Saathi Re” and here’s a different “O Saathi Re” song, this time Kishore Kumar is the playback singer, and Amitabh Bachchan is pretending to sing. Amitabh’s speech before the song is so touching, even though I don’t understand too much of it, he still makes the point. [...]

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Video of the Day: “Mohabbat Dil Ka Sakoon” from Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002)

As mentioned in yesterday’s video, I haven’t seen the movie Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002) English: My Heart Is Yours; starring Rekha, Preity Zinta, Mahima Chaudhry, Arjun Rampal, Jimmy Shergill and Alok Nath. I now MUST see this! At the very beginning of the song, a part is played by a puppet, named Rangeela, which is [...]

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Video of the Day: “Dil Laga Liya Maine” from Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002)

Today’s video is “Dil Laga Liya Maine”  from Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002). I’ve never seen the film, but after seeing this song, I’d love to watch it!
Dil Hai Tumhaara  (Hindi: दिल है तुम्हारा, Urdu: دل ہے تمہارا, English: My Heart Is Yours) is a 2002 Bollywood romantic comedy and family film starring Rekha, Preity Zinta, Mahima [...]

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Video of the Day- “Salaam-e-Ishq Meri Jaan” from Muqaddar Ka Sikander, 1978

Muqaddar Ka Sikander

Starring
Amitabh Bachchan
Vinod Khanna
Raakhee
Rekha
Amjad Khan

Music by
Kalyanji Anandji

Orphaned and abused at a very young age, a young boy faces the harsh side of life as he struggles to make a living by slaving day and night. He gets empathy from a little girl, Kaamna, in whose house he works. Her dad, Ramnath, does not like [...]

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Video of the Day: “Chura Liya Hai” again, this time at Filmfare awards in ‘05 with Shahrukh Khan

Check out Shahrukh Khan at Filmfare 2005 awards tearing thru many hits, including “Chura Liya Hai”—from Yaadon Ki Baaraat with Zeenat Aman. He also performs with Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, and Rekha. Watch how Amitabh Bachchan looks on as Rekha dances and wife Jaya Bhaduri politely applauds. Classy.

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