Gol Maal (1979)

Yes, Yes, YEEESSS!!! I've
finally found a Bollywood comedy to love!





Ahh, I've struggled so to get here. I know I

haven't

been making the best choices, but for a long while I didn't know where to
start. Gol Maal was recommended to me by

Doc Bollywood and was a favorite on Shweta's

Mac N' Cheese Movie Poll, so I just knew
this was going to be a good one (Shweta and Sanket will never steer you wrong!)

Amol plays Ram Prasad Sharma, a recent college grad living
with his sister. Knowing he'll be looking for a job, his uncle suggests he apply
for an interview at his friend's firm. But there is a catch: The uncle's friend
(Bhavani Shankar, played by Utpal Dutt) is extremely picky about who he hires
(He even has a plaque in his office that reads, "WORK IS GOD"). As a matter of
fact, there are several rules Ram must follow in order to get the job. His uncle
tells him that Bhanvani:

1)Hates recommendations, therefore he can't use his uncle as reference.

2)Doesn't want to hire anybody with the least bit of interest in sports (which
Ram loves) or music (which Ram also loves--see above images and video)...

3)Has a strong respect for Indian values...

4)Considers having a mustache a sign of strength and confidence!





Ram decides (somewhat reluctantly) to conform to this persona in order to become
the ideal candidate for the job. He borrows pyjamas and a kurta from a friend
(who happens to be in the film business, which leaves room for some fun
cameos!), slicks his hair back, and pretends to have no interest in anything
except work and his "rigid Indian values". The interview process goes smoothly,
he is hired, the boss is happy, Ram is happy, everyone's happy. Of course, since
the entire thing is based on a lie (Ram's carefree personality is miles away
from the "New Ram"), we know Ram's headed for trouble.

This guy means business.

Ram's very proud of his new job, and we see him living the "good life", singing,
throwing parties, feeding his friends. But when the gang invites him to a
cricket match that happens to be going on during work hours, it doesn't take
much convincing for Ram to devise a plan to get out of work early. He uses the
oldest, riskiest trick in the book: His mother's sick and he has to go see her
at once. Of course, since Ram has sort of become Bhavani's pet employee, he
agrees and Ram happily attends the game with his pals.
But guess who also shows up at the game!


That's right, the boss himself. Sounds like omething that would happen to me,
yaar!

Of course, Bhavani's ticked off, and confronts Ram the very next day. Caught on
the spot, Ram does the only thing he can do to save his hide: He tells his boss
it wasn't him, but his twin brother, Lakshman, that he saw at the stadium.
Bhavani actually feels guilty for mistrusting Ram and offers his brother a job
at the firm to make it up to him. Ram frantically declines the offer, saying
Lakshman is too incompetent for a job like this, since music is more his thing.
But Bhavani won't take no for an answer, and counters with a job offer for
"Lakshman" as a music tutor for his beautiful daughter, Urmila.


The boss' beautiful daughter

I'm sure you can see where this is going. Ram has to assume two identites, the
"New Ram" (which is the polar opposite of the real Ram) and the fictional twin
Lakshman a.k.a. "Lucky" (who is actually more like the real Ram, only with a
shaved mustache). By day he works for Bhavani in the office, and by night (which
looks more like afternoon since its always during broad daylight) he tutors
Urmila. Do they fall in love? This is Bollywood--Of course they do!



What follows is mixup after mixup, mishap after mishap, until Ram's lie blows up
to enormous proportions. Most of the time I felt like I was watching a sitcom
instead of a movie--and that ended up being a good thing! The comedic timing was
spot on, the actors looked like they're having a fun, and the movie didn't drag
one bit. It was just pure zany, wacky Bollywood fun! Like eating a bowl of mac
'n cheese, indeed!



It's probably no coincidence that Farah Khan chose the names of Shahrukh and
Zayed's characters in Main Hoon Naa to be Ram Prasad and "Lucky" Sharma
as well. I could see Gol Maal being one of her all time favorites,
since this looks like it would be right up her alley!

There are cameos galore in Gol Maal. While I'm sure I missed some of
them, the one with Amitabh Bachchan was appreciated, though I didn't get the
whole "Anthony Bhai" thing all the way.



I recognized Rekha, Zeenat Aman, and Hema Malini, in a fun song that I really,
reallyy wish would have been subtitled because it looked like it was
chock full of jokes and cameos!

Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)

This two-part review concludes at Bitten by Bollywood. Hindustan Ka Hero was updated with links to Aamir Khan's CNN Talk Asia interview.

It begins and ends with the title (pun intended). The literal meaning of 'Qayamat' (the Urdu word is derived from the Arabic 'Qiyamah', which carries the same principal meaning) is the 'day of judgment'. Secondary meanings of the word include 'calamity' or a 'heartening implosion' (the word is used often in poetry, within the context of courtship!). No matter how one applies these meanings to the title of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), it makes sense. From one calamity to the next. Bringing hearts together. Through the day of judgment.

It's been 21 years since its release, through a generation. In hindsight, there could not have been a better coupling for the lead pair of Mansoor Khan's directorial debut. See, those who believe in the concept of an afterlife of any sort need not worry if they have been advocates for love and not hatred. This most certainly includes actors in their lead role debuts in this film, Aamir Khan (Raj) and Juhi Chawla (Rashmi), who will likely go to heaven for spreading all the Love, Love, Love! Which brings us to the premise of this film -- a family feud that gets in the way of love.

Honor killings around marriages are a terribly sad reality, and almost accepted by some. When it's not lovers being killed, it's family members. Like radicalism and terrorism, it is, in my view, somewhat independent of the class issue (here's an example of a North American family from India involved in one). So they're not restricted to the less educated or poor. Too often, parents are instigators. Which is why QSQT is an extremely well packaged film that carries a valid and relevant social message. It also includes implicit commentary on women's rights, and addresses the dynamic that often guides these unbelievably ignorant and hateful crimes. In so doing, it doesn't once deviate from being a good old family drama with a love story at its foundation.

Having said that, this is hardly (primarily) a message film. At its core, it's the tale of the young and the innocent. Here's a film that was different with its simplicity. The consensus is that QSQT was a landmark, a welcome drift from the violent films marking the 1970s and 80s, which led to a shift in filmmaking practices following. Innovation in cinema in some ways (innovation, by definition, isn't always 'new').

Before discussing the details of the film, here are some notes on the cast and one song (from the soundtrack by Anand-Milind, and with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri). It really was a family affair for Nasir Hussain's kin. Here's Reena Dutta wearing red (Aamir's first wife, they were married since before QSQT), in a special appearance. Reena was also the Executive Producer for Lagaan (2001).

Kismat Konnection

I just returned from the opening show of Kismat Konnection starring Vidya Balan and Shahrukh Khan...oops, I mean Shahid Kapoor.

Kareena Kapoor's Sensual New Look

Kareena Kapoor Profile

Name - Kareena Kapoor

Nickname - Bebo

Born - September 21, 1980, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Height - 5'5"

Occupation - Actress

Years active - 2000–present

Spouse(s) - None

Partner(s) - Shahid Kapoor (2004–present)

Parents - Randhir Kapoor, Babita Kapoor






Kareena Kapoor Biography

Kareena Kapoor, nicknamed "Bebo" (born September 21, 1980 in Bombay, India) is a Bollywood actress. She is part of the famous Kapoor family.

Kareena is the great-great-granddaughter of Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, and great-granddaughter of Prithviraj Kapoor, who was a famous actor. She is the granddaughter of actor and producer Raj Kapoor and daughter of Randhir Kapoor and actress Babita. Her great uncles are Shashi Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. Her uncles are Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor.

Her cousins are Ranbir Kapoor, Riddhima Kapoor, Shivani Kapoor and Nikhil Nanda who is married to Amitabh Bachchan's daughter, Shweta Nanda. Her sister Karisma Kapoor is also in the film industry.

Her first movie was J. P. Dutta's Refugee which was released on June 30, 2000 and included co-debutant Abhishek Bachchan in the cast. Though the film didn't do well her performance was praised. Her first hit was the film Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai.

Her other notable roles include "Pooja" in the inter-generational melodrama Kabhie Kushi Kabhie Gham, "Kaurwaki" in Asoka, the title role in Chameli, in which she plays a prostitute and her role as a riot victim in Dev, for which she won the Filmfare Critics Award Best Performance.

Since then she has appeared in the hit Aitraaz, but succeeding film have not done as well.

She is currently dating actor-boyfriend Shahid Kapoor (they starred together in the 2004 movie Fida which did not succeed at the box office).

A passerby with a camera phone filmed Kareena kissing her boyfriend Shahid Kapoor (in a hotel's public area) and released the video. A Mumbai newspaper published stills from the video. Kareena and Shahid at first denied that the pictures were of them, but later reversed themselves and complained of an invasion of privacy.

Isha Sharvani New Scans From FilmFare Dec 2007

Monica Bellucci Instyle Black Magic Photoshoot

Asin Rare & Unseen Childhood Photos