Bollywood Is For Lovers

We welcome Elizabeth Spencer and Karen Unland of That’s A Thing?! to discuss two films about teen girls, and their moms. Show Notes: Thanks Sri Rao for the Nimbu Pani recipe, get his book Bollywood Kitchen (sorry for all the noise our metal straws make) That’s A Thing?! Erin knows nothing about teens Do teenagers even watch movies anymore? The Lobby Are today’s teen movies as good as the ones from the ‘90s? The YA genre Why aren’t there a lot of Bollywood films about teenagers? The best joke Gippi SO MUCH SMOKING Fat jokes “It’s nice to watch a movie” Twilight parallels? Blackface… (more here on Bollywood and blackface) Realistic portrayal of teen life? The Kraz (INTERVAL (“Main Kaun Hoon” from Secret Superstar) Secret Superstar Meghna Mishra Age appropriate songs Songs: “Nachdi Phira,” “Meri Pyaari Ammi,” and “Sapne Re” Box office and popularity in China Domestic violence Daughters supporting mothers An inaccurately positive p

With his biopic in theatres, we’re discussing Bollywood bad boy Sanjay Dutt’s life and work. Show Notes: Thank you Sidhu177! South Indian cinema we watch Mahanati and Aruvi, also Arjun Reddy Split Screen Podcast Not Just Bollywood, it actually doesn’t start till September Sunil Dutt and Nargis Sanjay Dutt Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 Episode 52: Rats in a Maze: Anurag Kashyap’s Black Friday and No Smoking Rocky Munna Bhai M.B.B.S Rajkummar Hirani What are candy stripers? Hazing Songs: “Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.”, “Chann Chann”, “Apun Jaisa Tapori”, and “Dekhle Aankhon Mein Aankhien Daal” Sequel (INTERVAL (”Baba Bolta Hain Bas Ho Gaya” from Sanju) Sanju Propaganda? Good performances, terrible wigs Little behind the scenes scenes Tim Meadows in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story The media and authenticity Comparisons to Citizen Kane Fictionalized non-fiction Father/son relationship Props to Jim Sarbh, Vicky Kaushal, and Sonam Kapoor Songs: “Main Badhiya Tu Bhi Badhiya” and “Kar Har Maida

With Netflix’s first original Indian series, Sacred Games, we’ve snuck in a quick supplemental episode to discuss the first season of the highly anticipated adaptation of Vikram Chandra’s novel from Phantom Film maestros Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap. Show Notes: NYT: “Review: The Criminal Life in Mumbai in ‘Sacred Games’” “Sacred Games on Netflix: Decoding the intricate title credits and logo design” NEXT TIME: Sanju, we promise Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out the Edmonton Community Foundation and The Well Endowed Podcast Listen to City of Champions Find us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! and Google Podcasts! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! #SacredGames, #VikramChandra, #VikramadityaMotwane, #AnuragKashyap, #SaifAliKhan, #NawazuddinSiddiqui, #RadhikaApte, #NeerajKabi, #JatinSarna, #KubraSait, #JitendraJoshi, #RajshriDeshpande, #ElnaazNorouzi, #SunnyPawar, #Bolly

In this episode we discuss three films produced by and starring Anushka Sharma. Just a note, we discuss some mature subjects in this episode including sexual assault, honour killings, and infanticide. There’s also a fair amount of spoilers. Show Notes: We hope all our fellow Canadians had a happy Canada Day Thank you karenrayan and Airia101 Eros Now, Hotstar, and Amazon Prime Video We can finally watch Aisha Amazon isn’t a great company, Amazon Prime Video in Canada versus America Access Bollywood Anushka Sharma Clean Slate Films Kaneda NH10 Women can be complicit in toxic masculinity Deadly Road Trip Comparison to rape revenge films and honour killings Urban versus rural India Violence and grindhouse aesthetics (INTERVAL ( “Naughty Billo” from Phillauri) Phillauri Suraj Sharma This is not magic realism; Shaandaar might be considered MR Paranormal romance Poets and poetry Jallianwala Bagh massacre and unfinished business Commitment issues The modern day is so weird! Sexy ti

To celebrate the release of Veere Di Wedding, we welcome one of our closest gal pals on to the show to discuss the hit film along with Ladies vs Ricky Bahl. Show Notes: We’re back from vacation, for good this time Welcome back Dr. Juliet Franklin Margaritas in a can Matt loves girls’ night Thank you to Dteaj and Hey.Vero for your reviews! We forgot to invite Juliet’s mom to VDW Ladies vs Ricky Bahl Maneesh Sharma Dimple really likes Pringles Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less Parineeti Chopra’s debut Sisterly bonds Sunny wears so many layers “Jigar Da Tukda,” “Fatal Attraction,” “Aadat Se Majboor,” and “Thug Le Song” Beach King Is this a prequel to Race? (INTERVAL ( “Laaj Sharam” from Veere Di Wedding) Veere Di Wedding Cookie’s partner is named Keshav #imnotachickflick and inclusive representation Class issues Bhaskar’s big scene Meera’s weight and love of drinking Editing, pacing, and cinematography issues The fashion Is the f

Ahead of the release of his latest film, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, we discuss the work of Vikramaditya Motwane. Show Notes: We were in Chicago, we’re back but we’re leaving again Thank you narmeensaiyed and Kvoltage2017 for your reviews Vikramaditya Motwane Paanch, which it seems has never been released because of the producer Bhavesh Joshi Superhero Udaan Kanti Shah’s "Grapes" The 400 Blows Themes of alienation Differences between father and son Amit Trivedi La Haine (INTERVAL ( “Manmarziyan” from Lootera) Lootera This is Erin’s favourite Bollywood film O. Henry and “The Last Leaf” Zamindari Abolition Acts The period setting Classical elements Trapped The dark Love per Square Foot Rao’s resourcefulness High-Rise Urban alienation Edward Hopper We would not survive this premise, though Matt would drink his own pee NEXT TIME: we’re joined by a surmise gal pal to discuss Veere Di Wedding and female friendship in Bollywood Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta

In our fifth supplemental episode we’re speaking to author Nisha Sharma about her upcoming young adult novel My So-Called Bollywood Life, available May 15th. Show notes: Nisha Sharma’s website and Twitter Check out Nisha’s book tour Preorder MSCBL from Penguin Random House, Indigo, or Barnes & Noble The actress from Good Luck Charlie is Bridgit Mendler NEXT TIME: TBA Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out ATB’s The Branch for Arts and Culture Listen to That’s A Thing?! Find us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! #Bollywood, #YA, #YoungAdult, #MySoCalledBollywoodLife, #NishaSharma, #Author, #Interview

In this episode we’re joined by Paul Blinov and Fawnda Mithrush of I Don’t Get It to discuss two films about performers. Show Notes: Welcome Paul & Fawnda So many wind machines! Erin is still mad that Oprah lied to her The early Shah Rukh Khan film with the steamy love scene is Maya Memsaab with Deepa Sahi Dil To Pagal Hai Baby Shahid Kapoor 90s+ fashion Shiamak Davar The Baxter) Opening song: “Le Gayi" Dance telepathy “Rhythm Nation” Art and ego What is Maya? Karisma Kapoor deserves better Fritz Lang’s M and whistling Europa-Park (INTERVAL (“Taal Se Taal Mile” from Taal) Taal Amrish Puri) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Roger Ebert’s review Hot take: Aishwarya Rai is gorgeous So much Coca-Cola Obligatory Clone High reference: song taking Comparisons to Dil To Pagal Hai Opening dream Art versus commerce and rural versus urban and tradition versus modernity Anil Kapoor’s rules The SkyDome Brownie Is Akshaye Khanna a good match for AR? “Ramta Jogi)” Links t

In this episode we discuss three mid-'70s films starring Amitabh the “Big B” Bachchan. Show Notes: We did not come up with a series name Our previous AB episode We still can’t find some of Bachchan’s big '70s hits Thank you Edmonton Public Library Bachchan: The Early Years Namak Haraam Hrishikesh Mukherjee Social justice and class struggle themes The persuasiveness of poets Ken Loach (INTERVAL (“Aa Raat Jaati Hai Chupke Se” from Benaam) Benaam Horror and thriller tropes RIP Johnny Comparisons to Don Newsflash: Helen is attractive) AB’s nasty streak Mili Erin wants a butlertron Bachchan’s creepiest scene The terminal romance genre The Fault in Our Stars Switzerland! Bobby NEXT TIME: Paul Blinov and Fawnda Mithrush of I Don’t Get It join us to discuss Taal and Dil To Pagal Hai Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out ATB Cares) Listen to The WorkNotWork Show Find us on Ap

In this episode we discuss a pair of films that dramatize deadly dealings between the Bombay police force and the criminal underworld. Show Notes: Mayaanadhi “Tollywood goes to Texas)" by Suchin Mehrotra Encounter killings Sicario Starlight tours Shootout at Lokhandwala 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout Police brutality propaganda Sanjay Dutt Processing how the film fictionalizes real life Comparisons to Clint Eastwood The ends justifying the means Songs: “Unke Nashe Mein,” “Mere Yaar,” and “Ganpat” Narrative structure Comparisons to other Hindi crime films (INTERVAL (“Babli Badmaash” from Shootout at Wadala) Shootout at Wadala It takes A LOT of bullets to kill John Abraham Item numbers: “Laila" and “Aala Re Aala” Criminal motivations A kill or be killed world (according to Matt, Mastizaade is still the worst film ever featured on this podcast) Clichéd dialogues and one-liners John Abraham’s “guns” Mildly sexy sex How much do t

In honour of her upcoming release Hichki, we look at three recent films starring leading lady Rani Mukerji. Show Notes: Hi Kimberly! We’re changing our release schedule Thank you PSC27 Matt’s looking for some feedback Rani Mukerji (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rani_Mukerji) Biyer Phool (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BiyerPhool) and Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RajaKiAayegiBaraat)  Ghulam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghulam(film)), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KuchKuchHotaHai), and Saathiya (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saathiya_(film)) Hum Tum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hum_Tum) and Yuva (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuva) Veer-Zaara (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veer-Zaara) and Black (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black(2005film)) Hichki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hichki) Comparisons to Vidya Balan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VidyaBalan) and No One Killed Jessica (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NoOneKilledJessica) Dil Bole

Writer and Magic of Bollywood (http://magicofbollywood.com/) founder Suchin Mehrotra (https://twitter.com/suchin545) joins us to discuss a pair of English-language black comedies. Show Notes: The desperate need to share your opinion with the world Anupama Chopra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anupama_Chopra) and Film Companion (http://www.filmcompanion.in/) The role of the film critic Badrinath Ki Dulhania (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BadrinathKiDulhania) The difference between portrayal and endorsement Indian cinema’s global reach Perception and expectations Kaalakaandi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaalakaandi) Black comedy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_comedy) and the state of comedy in Hindi cinema Humshakals (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humshakals) English Bollywood (INTERVAL (“I Hate You (Like I Love You)" from Delhi Belly) Being Cyrus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Being_Cyrus) Homi Adajania (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homi_Adajania) Saif Ali Khan channels

We ring in the year of the dog with a discussion of everyone’s favourite canine, Tuffy in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! Show Notes: Sorry for the tardiness of this episode Happy Lunar New Year! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChineseNewYear) Our favourite movie dogs HAHK’s iconic status and our outside status The wedding film “Here’s An Accurate And Honest Summary Of ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’ (https://www.buzzfeed.com/imaansheikh/their-blood-group-is-definitely-alcohol?utm_term=.ci1xp3EWj#.vvgZnDNYB)” A celebration of traditional Indian values and culture We’re coming for your shoes Torrey Dance What are Bum Chums? (http://www.brucelawson.co.uk/images/bumchums1.jpg) Tuffy saves the day (https://media.giphy.com/media/dgB5ibvyMHrEY/giphy.gif) (INTERVAL (“Didi Tera Devar Deewana (https://youtu.be/2V56f0xZNqw)” Matt doesn’t love baby showers Prem love family (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9dOSy5EGnqQ/maxresdefault.jpg) “Cool Rider (https://youtu.be/RYB317pljts)” Erin has a giant family Tuffy: True

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s long awaited epic Padmaavat is finally out, but is it any good? Show Notes: The Movie Wala Podcast (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/movie-wala-podcast/id1335885547?mt=2) Padmavat by Malik Muhammad Jayasi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padmavat) Swara Bhaskar’s open letter: At The End of Your Magnum Opus… I Felt Reduced to a Vagina - Only (https://thewire.in/218456/end-magnum-opus-i-felt-reduced-vagina/) Reviews to check out: · Sal Salam at The Daily Star (http://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/murder-and-love-scenes/the-rousing-troubling-spectacle-padmaavat-1528444) · Suchin Mehrotra at Magic of Bollywood http://magicofbollywood.com/padmaavat-review-underwhelming-lifeless/ · Kathy Gibson at Access Bollywood (https://accessbollywood.net/2018/01/26/movie-review-padmaavat-2018/) · Shah Shaid and Kathy Gibson on the Split Screen Podcast (https://audioboom.com/posts/6633492-the-long-awaited-padmaavat-movie-review) · Simon Abrams for rogerebert.com (https://www.roge

In honour of Padmaavat’s release, we discuss a pair of epic romances. Show Notes: We’re ranked number 3 on the Indian iTunes podcast chart (at the time of recording)! Thank you so much to all of our listeners! Erin invented a cocktail (https://www.instagram.com/p/BegwIBogvuY/?taken-by=erinefraser) 63rd Filmfare Awards (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/63rdFilmfareAwards) Padmaavat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padmaavat) The epic genre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_film) Our episodes on Lagaan (https://audioboom.com/posts/5083740-lagaan-ball-so-hard-the-british-wanna-fine-me) and Mughal-e-Azam (https://audioboom.com/posts/5855659-the-great-epic-mughal-e-azam) Aśoka (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C5%9Boka_(film)) Emperor Ashoka (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashoka) Darth SRK Songs: “San Sanana (https://youtu.be/75mx2r5EC9k),” “O Re Kanchi (https://youtu.be/wCbOu0LSpy0),” and “Raat Ka Nasha (https://youtu.be/q7Mn3KrTrNg)” Using violence to promote non-violence Is historical accu

We recap the most notable Bollywood films of the back half of 2017, from July to December. Show Notes: Erin is sick, as always Our episode on the first half of 2017 (https://audioboom.com/posts/6074501-2017-midyear-review) Padmavati is now called Padmaavat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padmaavat) and it’s coming out on January 25, 2018 Mom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mom_(film)) The rape revenge genre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapeandrevenge_film) Jagga Jasoos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagga_Jasoos) Our episode on Anurag Basu (https://audioboom.com/posts/6153927-life-in-a-red-circle-the-films-of-anurag-basu) Sung-through musical (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sung-through) “Galti Se Mistake (https://youtu.be/05TA9jNnCdU)” Lipstick Under My Burkha (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LipstickUnderMy_Burkha) Our episode on the India Film Festival of Alberta (https://audioboom.com/posts/6120218-supplemental-episode-2-bifl-at-india-film-festival-of-alberta-2017) Munna Michael (ht

To finish off 2017, we discuss Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s explosive spy series, Ek Tha Tiger from 2012 and Tiger Zinda Hai, currently blowing up box offices around the world. Show Notes: Happy Holidays Thank you Deborah Kaplan Ek Tha Tiger (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EkThaTiger) RAW (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ResearchandAnalysis_Wing) What is Pinocchio’s Son? All things Irish in “Banjaara (https://youtu.be/7QF7z76ehyo)” ISI (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-Services_Intelligence) Havana in “Laapata (https://youtu.be/3PqxT1VqyNc)” Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s chemistry (https://media.indiatimes.in/media/content/2014/Sep/katrina%20laugh%20ek%20tha%20tiger_1410525967.gif) A cute dog As a Kabir Khan film The film’s real villain (INTERVAL (“Mashallah (https://youtu.be/9_BUZaTcozs) from Ek Tha Tiger) Tiger Zinda Hai (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TigerZindaHai) Based on a true story? Take Off (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TakeOff(2017_film)) Ryan, our favourite ter

Since we can’t see Padmavati, we discuss three Bollywood films that have been mired in controversy. Show Notes: Padmavati (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padmavati_(film)) ‘Padmavati’: Incidents that made headlines about the Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh-Shahid Kapoor film (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/padmavati-incidents-that-made-headlines-about-the-deepika-padukone-ranveer-singh-shahid-kapoor-film/Ranveer-Singh-reveals-why-he-cried-during-Padmavati-shoots/photostory/62047771.cms) Historical Fiction (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_fiction) Billu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billu), Aamir Khan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanaa_(film)#Controversy), Gunday (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunday) Trends in Bollywood controversies (https://www.scoopwhoop.com/entertainment/controversial-bollywood-movies/) This Film Is Not Yet Rated (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThisFilmIsNotYet_Rated) Making sense of these controversies The Wind Rises (https://

To cap off #Noirvember, we look at two Noir-inspired films from one of Hindi cinema’s most acclaimed and controversial directors, Anurag Kashyap. Show Notes: It’s still #Noirvember Our misadventures in film sourcing Ittefaq (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ittefaq(1969film)) never showed up Subtitle issues on Eros Now and iTunes The failure of Bigflix Scarecrow Video (http://blog.scarecrow.com/) Anurag Kashyap (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anurag_Kashyap) Paanch (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paanch) Black Friday: The Shocking Truth Behind the ’93 Bombay Blasts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackFriday(2007_film)) The 1993 Bombay bombings (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993Bombaybombings) and the Bombay riots (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombay_riots) Sanjay Dutt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Dutt) Digital film aesthetics Michael Mann (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MichaelMann) and Danny Boyle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DannyBoyle) “An eye for an eye makes the whole

To celebrate #Noirvember, we discuss two contemporary neo-noirs that focus on the femme fatale archetype. Show Notes: Will we or won't we do an episode on Ittefaq (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ittefaq(1969film)) Erin’s mother watched Dangal, and she loved it! We miss Neale (https://twitter.com/nealpolitan)! Listen to last year’s #Noirvember’s episode (https://audioboom.com/posts/5339719-dev-anand-s-bombay-noir-with-neale-barnholden) Film noir (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir) and Neo-noir (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-noir) #Noirvember and @oldfilmsflicker (https://twitter.com/oldfilmsflicker) Bollywood noir What songs are they using in Ishqiya, let Matt know Femme fatale (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femme_fatale) Ishqiya (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishqiya) LMFAO (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LMFAO) “Dil Toh Bachcha (https://youtu.be/_DosLkRn3xg)” Uttar Pradesh (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttar_Pradesh) Dedh Ishqiya (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedh_Ishqiy