Ow. My brain.
My first experience with Bollywood films was in Fiji. The little theatre in downtown Suva was either hot and stuffy (when the air conditioner didn't work) or so cold you'd spend the whole movie shivering, but they sold these seasoned baked chickpeas that I'd eat instead of popcorn any day. The movies they played were an even split between your standard Hollywood fare, and Bollywood films.
I was always fascinated by the Bollywood film posters. Some of them came off like your average romantic comedy film poster - the guy is doing something goofy while the girl looks on a) flirtaciously, or b) disapprovingly. But then there were so lavishly detailed - a whirl of the intricate detailing that you'd see on a temple mixed with all the drama of an old B movie poster. Every time I'd walk past the theatre, I'd stop to check out the posters in much the same way as someone would examine a painting in a gallery. And, with posters like that, it wasn't long before I got around to catching a matinee of Bollywood theatre.
Mango-flavored soda and seasoned chickpeas in hand, I shuffled into the theatre, noting that I was the only non-Indian person in the theatre. (Well, non -Indian- Indian, anyway. My treaty card didn't mean a lot there, and few believed that this 'white' girl was anything other than "American". *shudder*) The lights dimmed, but strangely, the theatre didn't get any quieter. In fact, if anything, it got louder. As far as crowd experiences went, it was rather like watching Rocky Horror, except there were fewer drag queens on screen and far more elephants and random explosions of glitter. I didn't understand a word of it, but who needed to? There was singing, dancing, crazy gymnastic stunts, and cheesy, over-the-top acting. It was half circus, half soap opera, all bizzare and amazing! I think the word 'spectacle' was created for that film.
I can't for the life of me remember the name of that film. (And, even if I could, I doubt I could pronounce it properly.) Which sucks, because I saw many, many other Bollywood films in that theatre, and none of them had that perfect blend of 'this is so weird I can't tell if it's bad or not'. But, I finally found another clip that captures a little of that essence.
Behold, Bollywood Superman meets Bollywood Spiderwoman!!
Superman is totally the best dancer. Ever.
I was always fascinated by the Bollywood film posters. Some of them came off like your average romantic comedy film poster - the guy is doing something goofy while the girl looks on a) flirtaciously, or b) disapprovingly. But then there were so lavishly detailed - a whirl of the intricate detailing that you'd see on a temple mixed with all the drama of an old B movie poster. Every time I'd walk past the theatre, I'd stop to check out the posters in much the same way as someone would examine a painting in a gallery. And, with posters like that, it wasn't long before I got around to catching a matinee of Bollywood theatre.
Mango-flavored soda and seasoned chickpeas in hand, I shuffled into the theatre, noting that I was the only non-Indian person in the theatre. (Well, non -Indian- Indian, anyway. My treaty card didn't mean a lot there, and few believed that this 'white' girl was anything other than "American". *shudder*) The lights dimmed, but strangely, the theatre didn't get any quieter. In fact, if anything, it got louder. As far as crowd experiences went, it was rather like watching Rocky Horror, except there were fewer drag queens on screen and far more elephants and random explosions of glitter. I didn't understand a word of it, but who needed to? There was singing, dancing, crazy gymnastic stunts, and cheesy, over-the-top acting. It was half circus, half soap opera, all bizzare and amazing! I think the word 'spectacle' was created for that film.
I can't for the life of me remember the name of that film. (And, even if I could, I doubt I could pronounce it properly.) Which sucks, because I saw many, many other Bollywood films in that theatre, and none of them had that perfect blend of 'this is so weird I can't tell if it's bad or not'. But, I finally found another clip that captures a little of that essence.
Behold, Bollywood Superman meets Bollywood Spiderwoman!!
Superman is totally the best dancer. Ever.
posted by Alina at
11:00 AM
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