MetaFilter posts tagged with India and film

Hazel Eyed-Chic-Sleek-gorgeously glamorous twinkle Toed Charmer of the Silver Screen

bookish — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:58:41 -0800

Bollywood, the 1960s and 70s: "For years, the favorite setting for the big dance number has been a cabaret, with its atmosphere of forbidden liquor and sexual permissiveness, with its mixed audience of privileged Indians, industrialists, playboys, princes, and its foreign decadence..." And no one was more at home this exotic milieu than an Anglo-Burmese refugee who began dancing in films at 13 to support her family. Her pale skin and vaguely foreign looks, along with a collection of colored contacts and wigs, allowed her to play white women, Asian women, whatever titillating role was called for. She was Helen, Queen of the Nautch Girls (part 2, part 3, part 4). The Merchant Ivory documentary is sometimes painfully condescending, but it has some great footage and gives a good primer on the phenomenon of Helen. Although she performed in hundreds of films and was quite famous and well loved, she never had success as a leading lady-- perhaps because she was too foreign or too provocative for Indians at the time to relate to. Mostly retired since the 80s, she still does occasional cameo roles. A few of her finer moments, courtesy of YouTube: Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo, from Howrah Bridge, 1958: The song that made Helen famous. Hum Kaale Hain To, from Gumnaam, 1965: A crazy comic/horror number, against glowing-eyed tiki statues and fog machines. Aa Jane Ja, from Inteqam, 1969: Helen lusciously taunts men in black-face (one of whom is actually in a cage) at a nightclub. Muqabla Humse Na Karo, from Prince, 1969: "Western" Helen has a spectacular dance-off with a traditional Vyjayanthimala. Piya Tu Ab To Aaja, from Caravan, 1971: Classic Helen cabaret. Breathy, drunken, and lovelorn. Mehbooba Mehbooba, from Sholay, 1975: Gypsy Helen dances for a camp of ragged outlaws. Yeh Mera Dil, from Don, 1978: Helen tries to seduce Amitabh Bachchan, who somehow retains his characteristic cool. Helen on Wikipedia; rediff.com profile.

Brimful of Kumar

Kattullus — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:07:50 -0800

Rare Kishore Kumar Songs is a website dedicated to the music of legendary Bollywood playback singer and comic actor Kishore Kumar. There are hundreds of songs, many with other Bollywood legends, such as Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar. There are also songs by Kishore's son Amit. All songs and videos are in Real Player format and in low quality.

Directors Behaving Badly

hadjiboy — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:40:37 -0800

The Cheating of Salim Baba [video | projector]

Love, Bollywood style

infini — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:33:52 -0800

It seems apropos today to post about Bollywood and its style of romance and love. Songs are often the equivalent of a bedroom scene, a fact I didn't believe until it was pointed out to me that there were numerous instances of extremely suggestive songs followed by pregnancy. Bollywood also uses songs to arouse patriotic fervour, a trait that master music director A.R. Rahman takes to new heights with his release of the classics Vande Mataram [Motherland, I salute thee] and Jana Gana Mana [India's national anthem]. But even before him, there were classics of public service advertising such as "Mile sur tera hamara..." a fuzzy video but inspiring nonetheless of the myriads of voices and languages spoken in India. Other loves that hindi cinema celebrates through its songs is that of a mother for a child, god, love across cultural boundaries and what is politely termed as "conjugal love".

Indian Superman

rks404 — Tue, 17 Aug 2004 09:15:17 -0800

Indian Superman is a movie of questionable legality released in India in the mid eighties. Perhaps it should have had a wider release since it has a great deal of humorous appeal for Western audiences. Check out this review from Stomp Tokyo. I'm looking forward to a crossover when Indian Superman meets Indian Spider-Man. via Sepia Mutiny

Pavitr Prabhakar. Say it out loud.

Tlogmer — Mon, 21 Jun 2004 13:57:57 -0800

Forget translations. Spiderman gets remade, bottom-to-top, for the subcontinent.

Same tree, different branch

Mossy — Tue, 30 Dec 2003 19:16:18 -0800

BollyWhat. Making Bollywood accesible to all. Including such wonders as lyrics translations, newcomer's guides and intriguing articles such as Masculinity, Bollywood-Ishtyle and a Hollywood FAQ for a different perspective. Explore and enjoy.

mathowie — Mon, 16 Aug 1999 22:58:48 -0800

From the You Learn Something New Everyday file: I had no idea there was such a huge move industry in Bombay, India, known worldwide as Bollywood. I need to get out more, I'm becoming quite the ugly american lately...