These are my current picks...always adding more. Enjoy!Click on "More Details" to see IMDB's full movie info, including a synopsis.Click on "Promo Poster" to see some cool promo material I found.Like any of these actors? Check out my Bollywood Men page!Also, be sure to check out my Sellers Page, as you can get great deals on the DVDs listed below.
ASOKA (2001): More Details | Promo Poster | Official Site
Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Rahul Dev
Why? Found this one at Blockbuster (of all places) a few years ago, before I really knew what Bollywood was. It was a great "first Hindi" movie for me to see, because I was unfamiliar with the scope of a Hindi film @ the time. I did not realize the way an epic tale unfolds, nor the idea of interspersing musical sequences along with dialog & storyline. And, of course, I spent the first time watching this movie oggling Shahrukh & Rahul...had to watch it again just to get the bigger picture!
DIL CHAHTA HAI (2001): More Details | Promo Poster | Official Site | Official Site
Cast: Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta, Sonali Kulkarni, Dimple Kapadia
Why? Just lookit that cast! All (or at least most) of my favorite actors. 3 love stories, VERY catchy soundtrack, a Hindi movie with a bit of an edge for a twenty-something crowd. Who would guess that Aamir is over 40?! Freaking amazing; the man is looking incredible, and he is just as popular to me -even more so now- than he was in the past. This movie is great!
EAST IS EAST (1999): More Details | Promo Poster | Official Site
Cast: Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Jordan Routledge, Archie Panjabi, Emil Marwa, Chris Bisson, Jimi Mistry, Raji James, Ian Aspinall
Why? Technically, this is not a Bollywood flik since it did not come out of India...but I think it should go here, regardless, because of its take on Indian culture as it relates to "the West". No musical sequences here - just romance, solid comedy and the seriousness that accompanies losing a national identity & customs. Watch this one! I watched it when it first came out & I was spellbound...it's a keeper.
KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM / K3G (2001): More Details | Promo Poster | Official Site
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee
Why? Ok, so my obvious initial attraction to this movie was the star-studded cast. But I really liked what the plot said about family & society: and I think the actors all did a beautiful job. Though it paired Kareena & Hrithik in their usual fashion, it also brought back Kajol & SRK in a classic, very comedic and romantic, way....even though the actors were typecast into their usual roles (i.e. Amitabh was stern, wealthy father). The soundtrack was very moving (one of my favorites, actually) and memorable.
MISSION KASHMIR (2000): More Details | Promo Poster | Official Site
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta, Puru Rajkumar, Sonali Kulkarni,Jackie Shroff
Why? It had a lot to say about terrorism and the evils of conformity. I think that both Hrithik & Preity showed a very serious side to the camera, one that was not bogged down into their usual heartthrob/sex symbol status. I also loved Jackie Shroff's role as a terrifying puppetmaster - to me, he is always smiling, so to see this slow, direct way of talking through his hair -and that piercing glare of his- well, it was chilling. Here's a guy that gets into character. I loved the movie! It had everything I like: action, danger & romance.
MOHABBATEIN (2000): More Details | Promo Poster | Official Site
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Uday Chopra, Jugal Hansraj, Jimmy Shergill, Shamita Shetty, Kim Sharma, Preeti Jhangiani, Aishwarya Rai
Why? A few reasons. 4 love stories for the price of 1! I loved the soundtrack & the way the special effects (i.e. the leaves) made me reflect on destiny. The cast was excellent & believable. SRK was at his best, I think - serious, but also very humourous and poetic. He managed to outshine the younger actors, in my opinion, though they also did a great job. Also featured Amitabh (as the stern overseer that he does so well) and Aishwarya as SRK's dead lover - which was done beautifully, also...even took away some of the horror of their love story, the way they were still so close. Makes you wonder...
MUJHSE DOSTI KAROGE! (2002): More Details | Promo Poster | Official Site
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Rani Mukherjee, Satish Shah, Kareena Kapoor, Uday Chopra, Kiran Kumar, Sachin Khedekar, Smita Jaykar, Himani Shivpuri
Why? Ok, ok. I KNOW this movie tanked @ the box office...do you think I give a $%&@? Heh. It still has one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard AND it was a totally sappy childhood-to-adult love story, which I love. I think the music blended very well with the story - didn't suddenly pop out & shock you as some movies tend to do. Uday was very convincing (maybe TOO convincing) as the heartfelt playboy-like rich boy. I think Rani & Hrithik make a great couple & it was nice to not see Kareena paired with Hrithik...for a change. And my MOM even liked it! Now, if THAT doesn't persuade you to watch this movie, then I don't know WHAT will.
NA TUM JAANO NA HUM (2002): More Details | Promo Poster | Official Site
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Esha Deol
Why? I must confess to being a wee bit shallow...initially I watched this movie because Hrithik & Saif were main cast members. But it turned out to be much better than I had hoped! It was the first time I had seen Esha (period) and she shocked me: in terms of looks and personality, she was not at all like the majority of other Hindi actresses. She was more like Preity Zinta: down to earth, a bit of a tomboy & bohemian. She is not afraid for the world to see her flaws (watch the scene of the movie where she & Hrithik are discussing their flaws - CLASSIC!). The director obviously has a very unique approach to movie making, and the soundtrack was pretty good. The Soulmate concept has always captured my attention & this movie is done so beautifully that it makes the idea of "soulmates" not just another cliche.
ONE 2 KA 4 (2001): More Details | Promo Poster | Official Site
Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Jackie Schroff, Nirmal Pandey
Why? I love Juhi + SRK! They are very dynamic on-screen couple. Can't say a lot about the plot w/o giving a few things away, so I won't! Basically, there is a lot of comedy & romance, a lot of action (some good, some bad)...and a LOT of Shahrukh! Jackie is great in his role, and both he & SRK are well-cast as cops. The soundtrack is nice, but I did not understand the lyrics as they were not subtitled. Gah! Such is life. X_x
© Leanne Anysia 2004