Bollywood On Strike? So What…

The wolf just got greadier and wants a bigger share in the kill. Well, I’m talking about the producers’ strike that’s about to start any minute in Bollywood. Now why they’re going on a strike just when there’s a slump only they would be able reason out. Looking at the conditions that they’ve laid out to the multiplex owners, 50:50, it looks like we, the audience, are in for a long dry spell without any major releases. Many may tell it’s time to hit the couch and park yourself in front of the idiot box and watch IPL. Well, if at all you’re hitting the couch you may as well do it in style and watch movies. “DVDs at your service, sir,” says one of the DVD rental services. Why not, I mean, they’re bringing movies right at your doorstep and save you the trouble of going out. Oh yeah, moms would be complaining that this is just another tool in making their already lazy offspings even more lazier. But what the heck, it’s making my life easier. So why not?

Ok here’s the thing, why would anyone want to pull the plug out of the “near to death” film economy when all they should be doing is make sure that more and more projects earn money what with Bollywood dishing out total, complete duds since the starting of this year? Shouldn’t they be understanding that even a Nagesh Kukanoor movie like 8×10 Tasveer has been trashed? What hope do they have, when they give out dampners like this and expect a lion’s share? Looking at the quality of the movies, do they even deserve it when they’re not able to give a decent hit. All I’ve got to tell these producers is that you’re losing out, cause if you think that the audience is sitting and waiting for the releases to happen, then think again. In this day and age, entertainment is not restricted to just theatre. And I, as a viewer, can give you five very good reasons as to why I’m not bothered about this strike…

1. I’ve got a huge collection of DVDs to chose from with DVD rental companies like Seventymm.
2. I don’t have to go out, cause I can opt for home delivery. Lemme leave the hassle of dealing with Bangalore traffic to those delivery boys. (My sympathies for them but, hey, it cuts out my travel time and hassle)
3. I would be spending just about Rs.250 or something like that (Cost of a single ticket in a multiplex) and watch more than 5 movies. (Though Iwould still say that movies with special effects SHOULD be watched on big screen)
4. I’m not at the mercy of the producers to release movies. I can catch up with the “multiplex released” movies since they’re already out on DVDs.
5. And I still get to watch those Hollywood movies that aren’t released in Indian theatres and some movies which were not allowed to be screened. The best of all classics.

So shouldn’t the producers be thinking/knowing that they can’t really dampen the spirit of a movie crazy soul like me? Instead they’re losing out on money.

 Whatever it is, here’s my list of movies to watch on DVDs should the producers be going on an indefinite strike…

1. Kung Fu Panda - My favorite genre, animation. If I miss out on this one, it’s a total crime. come on, you’ve got to watch it, just for Jack Black. He’s unbelievably hilarious.
2. The Dark Knight - Of course one of the movies to watched on big screen but very entertaining on small screen as well. A tribute to Heath Ledger’s Joker, which was once played by Jack Nicholson. And of course a posthamus Oscar for Ledger
3. Billu Barber - It didn’t really drag me to the theatre. One of the movies which I reserved to DVD watching. Let’s see how it goes, though the reviews weren’t really positive about this one.
4. Dil Hain ke Maanta Nahin- One of the best romantic movies that Bollywood has given us. Rich girl, poor boy, love story. I don’t really mind all the mush that’s there in this. In fact I love it.
5. Made of Honor - A modern day My Best Friend’s Wedding. Only with a slight twist. It’s not the girl who’s out to wreck her boyfriend’s wedding but a man who’s out to get his best friend back. Would love to watch this Rom-Com the earliest.
6. Raaz 2 - Fizzled at the box office but nonetheless a good horror flick to watch at home. Hope it’s entertaining enough and scary enough.
7. Pretty Woman - My all-time favorite. I’ll never get tired of watching this movie. Richard Gere’s the ultimate romantic hero in this. And Julia Roberts? Beautiful. Loved that scene when she’s thrown out of the boutique just because she’s unaccepted by the high society and she just returns back, polished, sopisticated and loaded with her shoppings bags and tells that shop manager, “You people work on commission, right? Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now.” A bag of pop corn, loads of tissue to wipe the tears would go for this without saying.
8. A Fish Called Wanda - Man, this is what they call dark, sarcastic humor. You need special kind of sense of humor to enjoy this one. One of the best movies I’ve seen. And Kevin Kline is mind blowing. It’s a tale of murder, lust, greed, revenge and seafood. That’s the tag line of the movie, BTW. It’s so full of double crossing that it’s impossible not to laugh at each and every scene.
9. Roman Holiday - Another mushy movie but a classic. Wanna watch it even if it’s a Black and white movie.
10. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - The origin of the Sundance Film Festival. One of the best Western movies I hear. Paul Newman and Robert Redford. A big, big, treat.
11. Madagascar - Come on guys, how can anyone miss this one? I like to move it, move it… A MUST watch.
12. Khatta Meetha - What happens when two different families are forcibly brought to live together as a family? You got to watch it. This is the Indian version of Brady Bunch for you. Nevertheless it’s not to be missed. What’s fascinating is that when Indian cinema looked at teenyboppers for love stories, this one looked at an aged Ashok Kumar and Pearl Padamsee for a very refreshing story.
13. Chashme Buddoor - Ok by this time you would’ve guessed that comedy is my weakness and I tend to pick and choose movies of this genre. Another of the ’70’s gems.
14. Dostana - Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham are a hoot…
15. Sleepless In Seattle - Best for the last, it would be a sacrilage if I don’t watch this one. So beautiful is the romance in this movie that.. Oh, yeah let’s get back to bag full of popcorn and cartloads of tissues. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are just too beautiful.

This is my list of movies which I want to watch, some which I’ve already watched but still want to watch again… If you have any more to be added to this list, feel free to do so, it would make the “dry spell” time all more better…

 

Oh, oh, and before I forget, here’s my customery video… Total mush but beautiful…

 

World of Animation

Haven’t actually been able to write for last few days. But then how many things make our fingers itch to furiously type on that finger-numbing keyboard. Well, here’s something, which, if I missed writing on, it would be a crime. Totally, completely. And being the Girl Guide that I once was, I couldn’t exactly commit any kind of crime, could I? (Well, at least few times. Ok, fine. Countable times. Ok fine, all right already, at least this once. Phew! That makes me feel a lot better.)

Now you may ask what made me come out of my comatose state of writing. Well, it’s the question of how young are you really at heart? It differs from person to person I suppose. For some it may be sitting on that swing even if you’re 30 years old, for some it might just be a visit to Disney World. For me, it was not only these two but enter the magical world of Walt Disney and the rest of children’s movie. Oh, yes, I’m talking about the cartoon movies. And, boy, what a world it is. Don’t you just wish you were there doing those magical things?

I mean, imagine how drab the world would have been without Mickey Mouse. Or for that matter, if we didn’t have that totally whacked out Genie from Aladdin tickling our funny bones. Ugh… I wouldn’t even want to imagine that. It would make me old before my age.

Just imagine this, a world where any character can burst into a song and jig at the drop of the hat, without a worry in the world. A world where you can set the wrong things right. Well, even if it is in the end. A world where things are colorful, bright and cheerful. A world which has hopes and dreams alive even though situations are ugly. A world that rewards for the good deeds done. (Whoever said that no good deed goes unpunished, needs to think again)

I guess I want my world to be just that, full of dreams, hopes and a belief that things will be good no matter what. Wanting it may not necessarily be or become reality, for all the ugliness around us, but then we’re talking about the world of animation, aren’t we?

As long as we’re talking about animation, here’s some which are my favorites. I sure hope you like it too. If not, come on, wake that kid up in you. And grab the secret to stay young, just like Mickey. (Have you noticed how he never grows old even though he is 80 this year?)

These are all my favorites and hence I’m not gonna list them in any particular order. If it makes you want to watch even one of them, then that kid in you is still intact.

Horton Hears a Who – An elephant who believes in giving a chance to even the smallest creature which you may not be able to see. Loved Jim Carrey as the elephant.

Lion King – A classic. All about courage and survival.

The Little Mermaid – Where else would you find such selfless love?

Finding Nemo – Tells you to listen to your parents and not go wild. Well, at least a few times.

Aladdin – Magic, princess, pauper and a genie. Want more? Watch it.

Beauty and the Beast – All about how to stick to your word and oh, yes, a happy ending. J

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s something nice to look at…