"The Guru" is not a Bollywood movie though Jimi Mistry is a Bollywood
star but doing some US films.
Deepa Mehta is Canadian and does some of her movies in India but not
necessarily with Bollywood. Her ex-husband was on the Rishikesh course
with the Beatles and published a book of the photos he took while
there. Mehta got thrown out of India after upsetting them with her film
"Fire" which mocks Indian spiritual practices.
Gurinder Chada is from London though she was in San Francisco for a
while and made a few other films here in the US. One of my favorites
was her early film "Bhaji at the Beach" which takes place in London (as
does "Bend It With Beckham").
Mira Nair was US trained in film making at USC (or UCLA, it's not on
IMDB but she mentioned it in an extra on one of her films). Her films
are also done outside the Bollywood system. I'm a fan of many of her films.
You need to watch some purely Bollywood movies including some of the
classics. Netfilx does have some of those. I have a few award winners
and some just curiosities I purchased used at the local Indian grocer.
On 01/05/2014 04:12 PM, Richard Williams wrote:
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There are several Bollywood movies that we enjoy. Here's a list of
good Indian-themed movies to get started and then a list detailing the
major stars of Bollywood.
*'The Guru'*
Starring Heather Graham, Marisa Tomei and Jimi Mistry
Director: Daisy von Scherler Mayer
Universal Studios, 2003
Trailer:
Movie Trailer:
http://youtu.be/lEIEb5jPhhA
Heather Graham does a great job as a warm-hearted woman of debatable
morals. Marisa Tomei also does a great job as a warm-hearted woman of
debatable judgement. Jim Mistry has some really funny lines. A superb
indie-like studio picture that benefits from bright dialogue and the
impressive cast.
*'Bollywood Hollywood'*
Staring Lisa Ray, Rahul Khanna, Moushumi Chatterjee, Dina Pathak
Director: Deepa Mehta
Lionsgate, 2005
Movie Trailer:
http://youtu.be/js3N8e8InnY
"This is by far the best satirical movie on Indians in the west. If
you live in Canada, you will appreciate the humor of the Indian
Bollywood movie audience and family parody." - Amazon review
*'Bend it Like Beckham'*
Staring Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
Director: Gurinder Chadha
20th Century Fox, 2002
Movie Trailer:
http://youtu.be/J2Dv9f6bCwg
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Despite it's soccer-themed title, "Bend It Like Beckham" is a fabulous
and heart-warming story about family, traditions, friendship, love,
fulfilling your dreams, and - yes - soccer (or football to non-US
audiences)." - Amazon review
*'Marigold'*
Staring Ali Larter, Salman Khan, Ian Bohen and Gulshan Grover
Director: Willard Carroll
Echo Bridge, 2008
Movie Trailer:
http://youtu.be/34j9ChkjK6w
"The film has Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and American actress Ali
Larter from the TV show "Heroes". The musical numbers are done pretty
well as is the dancing. Overall, the movie is a lot of fun. The two of
them make a nice couple, and I actually bought the love story. I
highly recommend the film."- Amazon review
*'Bride and Prejudice'*
Lionsgate 2005
Staring Aishwarya Rai, Naveen Andrews, Anupam Kher and Indira Varma
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Movie Trailer:
http://youtu.be/nFYwqts1_TI
Aishwarya has been referred to as the most beautiful woman on the
planet. "A clash of cultures in the spirit of My Big Fat Greek
Wedding, this modern musical retelling of Jane Austen's classic Pride
and Prejudice is a hilariously entertaining tale of one girl's
unlikely search for love!" - Amazon review
*'Monsoon Wedding'*
Starring Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, and Shefali Shetty
Director: Mira Nair
Focus Features, 2001
Movie Trailer - The Criterion Collection
http://youtu.be/sjQjw-UyAX0
"This is another outstanding film by director Mira Nair, who has
previously directed such wonderful films as Academy Award nominee
"Salaam Bombay", the lush and erotic "Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love", and
"Mississippi Masala". This is a director whose very touch turns all
her films to gold. She is truly an artist, and her films are palpable
with feeling and emotion that move the storyline." - Amazon review
*Notes:*
Lisa Ray:
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Lisa Ray is a Canadian actress, model, host, philanthropist and social
activist. A Times of India poll named her the "ninth most beautiful
woman of the millennium," the only model in the top ten. She is often
compared to Aishwarya Rai.
Lisa Ray - Bollywood Hollywood:
http://youtu.be/vQuqYdGsOXo
Aishwarya Rai:
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Aishwarya Rai is an Indian film actress and model. She was the first
runner-up of the Miss India pageant, and the winner of the Miss World
pageant of 1994. Rai is regarded as one of the most popular and
influential celebrities in India, and is often cited in the media as
the "most beautiful woman in the world."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aishwarya_Rai_Bachchan
'God bless the high n mighty!
By Anjali Chandra
The Times of India, July 29, 2005
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1185090.cms
*Notes from the Indian Bollywood press:*
Juhi Chawla: - Juhi won "Ms.India" crown and "The Best Costumes" award
in the Ms. Universe competition in '84 well before her debut in films
and while she enjoyed her place in the BOLLYWOOD, she won the "Best
Actress" award from Filmfare in '94 for "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke" and
"Most Sensational Female" award in '99 from New York's Bollywood for
her performance in "Duplicate".
Sonali Bendre - Fresh faced, born on January 1st 1975. She is 50kgs
wieght and 5'7" height with three sisters. Sonali Bendre started out
as a model before being selected for the "Stardust Talent Search". She
switched to Bollywood with Aar Aur Narztz film in 1994. Her innocence
and fresh charm are indeed just part of her costume - two more ways of
getting ahead in a perilous profession.
Riya Sen - The 5'1" tall, budding actress, Riya is a grand daughter of
legendary film actress Suchitra Sen and daughter of Moon Moon Sen. She
lives with her mother and sister Raima Sen in a cosy apartment in
Juhu, the north Mumbai suburb.
Bipasha Basu - This 5' 8", light-eyed, Calcutta girl, came into the
limelight when she won the Famous Ford Supermodels Contest at the age
of 17. Bipasha was the second daughter in the family and her pet name
was Bonny. She also won the Tulips Miss Super Vivacious in the same
contest.
Lisa Ray - India's Sweet Heart, 5'5" tall, Green eyes, Gorgeous model
turned actress Lisa Ray, was born on April 4th to Polish mother and a
Bengali father. She was born and brought up from Canada. About
modeling as a career decision, her family was involved in a car
accident in which her mother was seriously injured. She couldn't join
the university then because she missed the term. Then, She came back
to India and it continued from where Bombay Dyeing left off.
Kajol - Kajol was born on 5 Aug to "Tanuja", an ex film-personality
and "Somu Mukherjee", a producer. So, naturally, it comes to her as
hereditary not to forget the tremendous input she applies to enact the
roles she's given and there's quite an impression in the Bollywood too
that she's born to act and perform on screen. She's got a sis
"Tanisha" who acts for TV and now is working for BPL.
Mahima Choudhary - Mahima - the screen name of Ritu, was born on 13
September. in Delhi. She is the new discovery of the Bollywood. A
model she was before making her debut into the films, Mahima saw
everything with her first movie. A big time hit, an award and a
nomination for the best actress. No newcomer has begun a career as
promisingly as Mahima and she's now in the throes of ecstasy.
Shilpa Shetty - She is 5'10" tall, model turned actress, Shilpa was
born in Tamil Nadu. Shilpa is a sizzling starlet, who has mesmerized
audiences with her devastating , unconventional looks and stunning
figure, almost worked with all top actors both south and North film
Industries. Even the former Chief Election Commissioner of India named
her as his favourite actress.
Sri Devi - As a faery's child, an unravished beauty and darling
Daughter of Indian cellulloid she left an Indelible impression on the
minds of cinema goers with gentle action and made them adorned by her
arresting beauty. Is it Sri Devi? Yes.
The Queen Of The Indian Film Industry - The One and The Only. Sri is
incomparable, an angelic appearence on and off the screen and
unreachable at any point of the given time the she lived on the screen
as well as in the millions of hearts of the class and mass audience of
Mother India.
