Bollywood me!
May 18, 2018 8:50 PM Subscribe
I have Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. I do not have any normal TV or cable service. What should I be watching?
I have seen almost nothing. I wound up watching Krrish because I went looking for "superhero movies" on Netflix. Later, I tracked down the prequel Koi... Mil Gaya (and was very annoyed that Netflix didn't have the sense to introduce them to me in chrono order; I noticed the sequel was Krrish 3, thought there was a missing Krrish 2, and wound up googling to discover I'd missed the first one.)
I'm happier with subtitles than dubbed movies. (I have no idea if "dubbed Bollywood" is a thing, but if it is, I'd prefer to avoid it.) I love science fiction, fantasy, and mythic settings, but am happy to try anything. Assume I have seen nothing other than the two I mentioned above (Krrish 3 is on the to-watch list) and the wedding dancing in Sense8; if a movie requires more cultural context than those, I don't have it.
(This question was inspired by this video, which made me realize I'm missing out on a huge world of awesome sexy dancing.)
I have seen almost nothing. I wound up watching Krrish because I went looking for "superhero movies" on Netflix. Later, I tracked down the prequel Koi... Mil Gaya (and was very annoyed that Netflix didn't have the sense to introduce them to me in chrono order; I noticed the sequel was Krrish 3, thought there was a missing Krrish 2, and wound up googling to discover I'd missed the first one.)
I'm happier with subtitles than dubbed movies. (I have no idea if "dubbed Bollywood" is a thing, but if it is, I'd prefer to avoid it.) I love science fiction, fantasy, and mythic settings, but am happy to try anything. Assume I have seen nothing other than the two I mentioned above (Krrish 3 is on the to-watch list) and the wedding dancing in Sense8; if a movie requires more cultural context than those, I don't have it.
(This question was inspired by this video, which made me realize I'm missing out on a huge world of awesome sexy dancing.)
Best answer: I can branch out and recommend good Bollywood movies in general, if you like.
Start with something iconic and essential, something that's Peak Bollywood, and yet reasonably good watching. Suggestions:
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (romcom from the mid-90s, Amazon Prime)
Sholay (gangster flick from the '70s, YouTube)
Move on to "better" examples of the genre. Suggestions:
Band Baaja Baaraat (romcom, 2010?)
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (romcom, 90s)
Johnny Gaddar (crime/suspense, 00s)
Omkaara (00s, gangster)
Ishqiya (2010, possibly my fave movie ever, incredible crime caper - it's on Netflix)
You can then move on to stuff that doesn't quite fit typical Bollywoodic tropes but are superb movies -
Angoor (1970s, romcom, one of the best comedies ever made in Bollywood)
English Vinglish (2012?)
Queen (2011?)
Monsoon Wedding (90s)
Water (90s)
Trikaal (70s) -- extremely recommended, this is one of the weirdest and awesomest things I've ever seen.
posted by MiraK at 4:51 AM on May 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
Start with something iconic and essential, something that's Peak Bollywood, and yet reasonably good watching. Suggestions:
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (romcom from the mid-90s, Amazon Prime)
Sholay (gangster flick from the '70s, YouTube)
Move on to "better" examples of the genre. Suggestions:
Band Baaja Baaraat (romcom, 2010?)
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (romcom, 90s)
Johnny Gaddar (crime/suspense, 00s)
Omkaara (00s, gangster)
Ishqiya (2010, possibly my fave movie ever, incredible crime caper - it's on Netflix)
You can then move on to stuff that doesn't quite fit typical Bollywoodic tropes but are superb movies -
Angoor (1970s, romcom, one of the best comedies ever made in Bollywood)
English Vinglish (2012?)
Queen (2011?)
Monsoon Wedding (90s)
Water (90s)
Trikaal (70s) -- extremely recommended, this is one of the weirdest and awesomest things I've ever seen.
posted by MiraK at 4:51 AM on May 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
Best answer: Netflix has Lagaan on streaming - not the least bit sf/fantasy, but absolutely terrific, and works on several levels - it's got all the usual 'sports underdogs/misfits must win the big game' tropes but it's also an allegory for the end of British rule as the villagers of different sects & castes join together. And the music is beautiful. Netflix also has a documentary up "Madness in the Desert" about the making of the film, which made me appreciate it even more. The music is by A.R. Rahman, if you love the Lagaan music you can't go wrong with looking through his imdb page to see what else of his is streaming. (My other favorite of Rahman's musicals is Kandukondain Kandukondain aka 'I Have Found It', which is an adaptation of Sense & Sensibility, but Netflix only has it on disc, maybe you'll have luck finding it elsewhere).
Netflix also has Amir Khan's most recent hit Dangal (2016) on streaming. Also not remotely sf/fantasy, it's a 'based on a true story' story of a father who trained two of his daughters to be successful athletes (wrestling), but once again the music is lovely, the actresses who play the daughters as children & young-adult are great, and the wrestling is believably choreographed (according to my father who wrestled at high school/college level).
posted by oh yeah! at 5:40 AM on May 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Netflix also has Amir Khan's most recent hit Dangal (2016) on streaming. Also not remotely sf/fantasy, it's a 'based on a true story' story of a father who trained two of his daughters to be successful athletes (wrestling), but once again the music is lovely, the actresses who play the daughters as children & young-adult are great, and the wrestling is believably choreographed (according to my father who wrestled at high school/college level).
posted by oh yeah! at 5:40 AM on May 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: I should've mentioned - I know SF/Fantasy are rare topics for Bollywood; I'm not expecting a flood of recommendations for them. Just noting that "if they exist, send those along, even if they're maybe not the best."
But definitely also recommend the best; I am happy with romcoms, mystery/crime, drama, and... other. (There's other genres, right? I guess there could be war movies? Historicals? Probably not looking for horror even if it exists and is good.)
Thanks for recs so far! Happy to have more!
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 9:10 AM on May 19, 2018
But definitely also recommend the best; I am happy with romcoms, mystery/crime, drama, and... other. (There's other genres, right? I guess there could be war movies? Historicals? Probably not looking for horror even if it exists and is good.)
Thanks for recs so far! Happy to have more!
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 9:10 AM on May 19, 2018
Well there ARE a bunch of scifi/fantasy bollywood movies. Mediocre, but successful and iconic:
Ajooba
Mr. India
Naagin (female hero! she can turn into a snake at will!)
RaOne
Bahubali
posted by MiraK at 11:17 AM on May 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ajooba
Mr. India
Naagin (female hero! she can turn into a snake at will!)
RaOne
Bahubali
posted by MiraK at 11:17 AM on May 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: OMG OMG nobody said Enthiran (Robot)??? It is a Tamil movie, thus Tollywood and not Bollywood (Bollywood movies are in Hindi) but you want sci-fi? You want awesome sexy dancing?
I will not show you the best scene in the movie. That would spoil it. This is merely a (fucking bananas) car chase. But viddy this, my son, and tell me India is not the light of the world.
Enthiran 2 (called just "2.0") is coming out soon!
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 11:20 AM on May 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
I will not show you the best scene in the movie. That would spoil it. This is merely a (fucking bananas) car chase. But viddy this, my son, and tell me India is not the light of the world.
Enthiran 2 (called just "2.0") is coming out soon!
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 11:20 AM on May 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Dil Se is on Netflix and it is fantastic not least for the opening number, which takes place on top of a moving train.
posted by pasici at 12:26 PM on May 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by pasici at 12:26 PM on May 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) is a classic about three brothers separated during childhood and adopted by families of different religions: Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.
From Chandni Chowk to China (2009) is about a vegetable cutter mistaken for the reincarnation of a Chinese warrior.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003), about a gangster who pretends to be a doctor in order to impress his father.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), in which Brother Munna pretends to be a history professor and learns about Mahatma Gandhi along the way.
I've only seen part of Bluffmaster! (2005), but it's got a fantastic soundtrack.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 5:09 PM on May 19, 2018
From Chandni Chowk to China (2009) is about a vegetable cutter mistaken for the reincarnation of a Chinese warrior.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003), about a gangster who pretends to be a doctor in order to impress his father.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), in which Brother Munna pretends to be a history professor and learns about Mahatma Gandhi along the way.
I've only seen part of Bluffmaster! (2005), but it's got a fantastic soundtrack.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 5:09 PM on May 19, 2018
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Check out the Bahubali movies maybe? Not sure if they are on the services you listed but these movies were massive hits and are apparently reminiscent of Game of Thrones. Unfortunately I found the first one impossible to get into because I'm extra attuned to Bollywood tropes, and there was this.... rape .... within the first third of the first film presented as a romantic meet cute, which made me give up on the movie. Hey that's totally like GoT!
posted by MiraK at 4:36 AM on May 19, 2018 [1 favorite]