Bollywood Is For Lovers

We’re midway through 2019, so it’s time to look back at the first six months of Hindi film releases.  Show Notes: Uri: The Surgical Strike , Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (Manish’s article), Gully Boy, Total Dhamaal, Luka Chuppi, Sonchiriya, Badla, Kesari, Hotel Mumbai (INTERVAL (“Rappan Rappi Rap” from Mard Ko Dard Nahi) Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, Junglee, Romeo Akbar Walter, Kalank, Student of the Year 2, De De Pyaar De, India’s Most Wanted, Bharat (Ode to My Father), Kabir Singh (the interview), Article 15 NEXT TIME: ladies get even Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out ATB’s Perch Listen to The Well Endowed Podcast Find us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! and Google Podcasts! Thank you to Becca Dalke for the artwork! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! #Uri:TheSurgicalStrike, #Manikarnika:TheQueenofJhansi, #EkLadkiKoDekhaTohAisaLaga, #Gu

With his latest film currently in theatres, we turn our attention to the career of the palpably handsome Shahid Kapoor.  Show Notes: Erin has OPINIONS about Kabir Singh Is Shahid Kapoor one of our guys? We’ve already discussed a lot of his best films, like Jab We Met, Haider, & Udta Punjab Ishq Vishk In defence of the teen romcom & comparisons to Archie Comics In Hindi films, college is high school? The school’s canteen & the love guru: “Love Karo” The boy can dance: “Kaun Hai Woh” & “Mujhpe Har Haseena” (INTERVAL (“Dhan Te Nan” from Kaminey) Kaminey Why give both brothers a speech impediment? Priyanka Chopra’s “home science” Bollywood themes & conventions in new packaging Is this an AIDS protest? “Fatak” Mausam Pastoral Punjab: “Rabba Mein Toh Mar Gaya Oye” & “Saj Dhaj Ke Tashan” Leave a forwarding address NEXT TIME: 2019 Midyear Review Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out EPL’s Summer Reads program! Listen to

To say that we weren’t looking forward to this show is putting it mildly, but after a couple of tubs of ice cream and a few glasses of bourbon we made it through and discovered that Richie Mehta’s Delhi Crime is an engaging and thoughtful procedural about one of India’s most notorious crimes.  Show Notes: 2012 Delhi gang rape India’s Daughter and Anatomy of Violence Richie Mehta Delhi Crime Our previous true crime episode NEXT TIME: three films starring Shahid Kapoor Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out ATB Pride Listen to Mess Hall Podcast Find us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! and Google Podcasts! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! #DelhiCrime, #Netflix, #RichieMehta, #ShefaliShah, #RasikaDugal, #AdilHussain, #RajeshTailang, #YashaswiniDayama, #Bollywood #TrueCrime

We welcome back fellow podcaster Manish Mathur to discuss the king of romance.  Show Notes (for full show notes visit our Tumblr page): Welcome back Manish! M. Night Frights & It Pod to Be You  When Romance Met Comedy Talk Film Society’s Patreon Manish at Talk Film Society Yash Chopra Our episodes on Kabhi Kabhie & Dil To Pagal Hai (INTERVAL (Chudiyan Khanak Gayeen from Lamhe) Lamhe Veer-Zaara @Bluemagicboxes’ Twitter thread NEXT TIME: Netflix & Dil: Delhi Crime Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out Overdue Finds Listen to Creative Block Find us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! and Google Podcasts! Thank you to Becca Dalke for the artwork! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! #YashChopra, #Lamhe, #AnilKapoor, #Sridevi, #AnupamKher, #Veer-Zaara, #VeerZaara, #AdityaChopra, #ShahRukhKhan, #PreityZinta, #RaniMukerji, #AmitabhBachchan,#ManojBajpayee, #HemaMalini, #KirronKher, #

Ahead of the release of Walt Disney’s new live-action Aladdin, we discuss the Bollywood version alongside Disney’s own animated Hindi-language fantasy, Arjun: The Warrior Prince. Show Notes: Thank you Anshita Makwana! 10 BiFL points! Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin Disney loves Alan Tudyk  Comparisons to Bollywood & Naomi Scott in Entertainment Weekly   Fancasting Disney with Matt Will Smith will be in Student of The Year 2 One Thousand and One Nights “Aladdin” Brief digression on Aladdin the animated series and Mozenrath  The Adventures of Prince Achmed and The Thief of Bagdad (1940)   Aladin Sahil Khan, India’s Rob Lowe? Ringmaster and his dark circus  Aladin’s birthday party: “Tak Dhina Din” Genius grants Aloo’s first wish: “O Re Saawariya” Genius sings for Aladin, Cyrano style: “You May Be” The school’s costume party: “Bachke O Bachke” Not enough parkour  Ratna Pathak (INTERVAL ( “Genie Rap” from Aladin) Disney’s most violent movie? Walt Dis

In a show of nationalistic pride, we turn our attention to the prolific and versatile Akshay Kumar in three contemporary action thrillers.  Show Notes: Akshay Kumar Our early AK experiences and how we came around Episode 16 where we discuss Tees Maar Khan  Episode 22 where we discuss Bollywood films shot in Alberta including 8x10 Tasveer Akshay Kumar is Canadian? Khiladi Special 26 1987 Opera House heist Raid The heist film Lupin the Third Flexing his dramatic muscles  (INTERVAL ( “Blame The Night” from Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty) Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty Thuppakki Sonakshi Sinha plays sports Adopt a dog Support the troops Tonal whiplash or, playing hide the terrorist with Sonakshi Baby Naam Shabana, in hindsight it might be more of a prequel The Boss Baby “Cruising” What if there was a wife? NEXT TIME: Fantasies!!! Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of theAlberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out Northwest Fest Lis

We’re thrilled to welcome Sal Salam to discuss the incomparable Rekha in two iconic crime boss performances.  Show Notes: Welcome Sal Salam Sal on the Split Screen Podcast The importance of strong women in Bollywood Rekha Sophia Loren loves spaghetti  How to get out of talking to reporters Rekha’s parents: Pushpavalli and Gemini Ganesan Forced into the movies Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love Ghar Art imitating life in Silsila Khubsoorat, Khoon Bhari Maang, and Umrao Jaan Camp and "Notes on ‘Camp’" "Self Control" (INTERVAL ( "In The Night No Control" from Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi) Sal’s meme Madam X Streaming woes The outfits and hair Our episode on Don Weapon X Why tame the shrew? Romantic duet: “Kaise Dil Jeete Aapka” Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi Khiladi series The (fake) Undertaker  Lionheart Religious ceremony song: “Maa Sherawaliye Tera Sher Aa Gaya”  Old white people love death matches  He’s just Akshay: “Tu Kaun Hai Tera Naam

Zoya Akhtar has done it again! Hot off the heels of Gully Boy, she’s co-created a new Amazon Prime series with fellow director and screenwriter Reema Kagti about the lives of wedding planners in Delhi and the rich clients who hire them to bring a little bit of heaven to Earth, or so they think.  Show Notes: 2019 Filmfare Awards Malk  Made in Heaven Our episode on Gully Boy Erin has a crush on Jim Sarbh Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code NEXT TIME: Sal Salam joins us to discuss camp queen Rekha Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out #AlbertaPride at ATB Listen to City of Champions Find us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! and Google Podcasts! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! #MadeinHeaven, #AmazonPrime, #ZoyaAkhtar, #ReemaKagti, #AlankritaShrivastava, #NityaMehra, #PrashantNair, #ArjunMathur, #SobhitaDhulipala, #KalkiKoechlin, #JimSarbh, #ShashankArora, #ShivaniRaghuvanshi, #Bo

Have you ever wanted to get away with murder? How about catch someone in a web of lies? Well the films in this episode provide a litany of dos and don’ts for the budding career felon or detective, depending on where you fall on criminal spectrum.  Show Notes: What’s an interrogation thriller? Erin made it up Chocolate  Drishyam (2015) Drishyam (2013) The Devotion of Suspect X Everything I know, I’ve learnt from the movies Police brutality and its place in Hindi cinema Erin doesn’t get Mohanlal Congrats to Ajay Devgn on winning the KWK Audi Ittefaq (2017) Ittefaq (1969) The film belongs to Akshaye Khanna The fluorescent light Set design (INTERVAL (”Aukaat” from Badla) Badla The Invisible Guest Businessperson of the year! Her business is none of our business Glen Mhor Hotel Why would anyone believe that there is a payphone in the woods The film belongs to Amrita Singh Looked-room mystery Matt is a dullard The only thing on television is this case NEXT TIME: Netflix & Di

With so much new streaming content dropping all of the time, we’re dedicating a new sub-series to Indian shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Eros Now, and more. First, or more accurately, third up is the violent gangster drama Mirzapur.  Show Notes: Our Netflix and Dil playlist Amazon Prime Video’s other shows: Breathe, Inside Edge, Four More Shots Please!, and the upcoming Made in Heaven Mirzapur  Excel Entertainment and Karan Anshuman Spoiler zone lasts from 34:55 to 40:26 NEXT TIME: interrogation thrillers Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out EPL’s Overdue Finds Listen to Emily Missed Out Find us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! and Google Podcasts! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! #AmazonPrime, #Mirzapur, #KaranAnshuman, #PuneetKrishna, #GurmmeetSingh, #PankajTripathi, #AliFazal, #VikrantMassey, #DivyenduSharma, #RajeshTailang, #ShewtaTripathi, #ShriyaPilgaonkar,

With Gully Boy finally landing in theatres, we discuss three films about tortured artists and the women who love them. Show Notes: Thank you choclaholic67 for the review! The tortured artist Why are these films always about men Rockstar Similarities to other Imtiaz Ali joints “Sadda Haq” Do we like this film any more than when we first saw it?  A sparkless romance Piratical fashion Aashiqui 2 We still don’t like Aditya Roy Kapur, sorry What Price Hollywood? and A Star Is Borns  “Tum Hi Ho” and “Sunn Raha Hai Na Tu” Are ARK & Shraddha Kapoor better in supporting parts? Why is RJ an alcoholic? (INTERVAL (”Mere Gully Mein” from Gully Boy) Gully Boy Will Smith loves it Berlinale Naezy and Divine Original “Mere Gully Mein” Don’t try and steal Alia Bhatt’s man “Doori” Comentary on class Oh, and Nas has a producer credit Gritty Comparison to Secret Superstar The difficult task of explaining why good art is good NEXT

We look back at the most notable Bollywood films of 2018! Show Notes: We have new artwork design by Becca Dalke! Kaalakaandi (our episode on Delhi Belly) Mukkabaaz Padmaavat (our episode on Padmaavat) Pad Man Love Per Square Foot Aiyaary Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety Welcome to New York Pari (our episode on Pari) Raid Hichki Baaghi 2 (our episode on Baaghi 1) Blackmail October Beyond The Clouds 102 Not Out Raazi Parmanu: The Story Of Pokhran Veere Di Wedding (our episode on VDW) Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (our episode on Sacred Games) Race 3 (our episode on the Race films) (INTERVAL (“DhayaanChand” from Manmarziyaan) Sanju (our episode on Sanju) Soorma Dhadak Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3 Fanney Khan Mulk Karwaan Gold Satyameva Jayate Stree Manmarziyaan (Poonam & Priyanka Dance, the dancing twins) Batti Gul Meter Chalu Sui Dhaaga Pataakha Loveyatri Andhadhun (our episode on Sriram Raghavan) Namaste England Badhaai Ho Baazaar Thugs of Hindostan Kedarnath Zero Simmb

To celebrate the holidays we discuss a pair of Christmas movies, or at least a pair of movies set at Christmas time. Show Notes: We are drinking mulled apple cider Matt hates Christmas “Fairytale of New York” and “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Thank you listenerinthecity! 10 BiFL points for you! Christmas movies Las Vegas Mental Health and the holidays Anjaana Anjaani It’s supposed to be the George Washington Bridge Blush Las Vegas geography How Christmasy is this movie really? “Anjaana Anjaani” and “Tumse Hi Tumse” (INTERVAL (“Aunty Ji” from Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu) Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu No 13th floor Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health designed by Frank Gehry, not Guggenheim Matt wants to fire the receptionist Christmas Eve wedding! Casino bathrooms and Imran Khan’s date Comparisons to Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Imran Khan is directing his next project, “Mission Mars: Keep Walking India” Comparisons to Wes Anderson But how Christmasy is it? NEXT TIME: our 2018 year-end wrap up Bollywo

With his latest movie, Andhadhun, in theatres, we discuss two films from critically acclaimed crime auteur Sriram Raghavan. Show Notes: Matt invents BiFL Points Shaktiflow and Amarjeet Sohi Canada Post strike Sriram Raghavan Raman Raghav 2.0 Ek Hasina Thi and Badlapur Listen to Episode 25 - Varun Dhawan, Bollywood’s Next Leading Man for our thoughts on Badlapur Johnny Gaddaar Vijay Anand and James Hadley Chase Johny Mera Naam Matt imagines a Bollywood remake of Johnny Guitar Parwana Loose ends The truth about Canada Neil Nitin Mukesh Trash, Art, and The Movies on The Long Good Friday (INTERVAL (“Raabta” from Agent Vinod) Agent Vinod Agent Vinod 1977 “Raabta” and Raabta “I Will Do The Talking” and “Rasputin” In and As How important is the plot? “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb” Comparisons to Ek Tha Tiger End credits song, “Pyar Ki Pungi” Comparisons to Phantom “Raabta” Do we even want a sequel? “Dil Mera

With his two latest films blowing up the box office, we discuss one of Bollywood’s freshest leading men, Ayushmann Khurrana. Show Notes: We’ve changed up our recording schedule for the rest of the year, we only have three episodes left in 2018 Ayushmann Khurrana MTV Roadies Meri Pyaari Bindu, Bareilly Ki Barfi, and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan Andhadhun and Badhaai Ho Aparshakti Khurrana Lack of ego Comparions and similarities to Rajkummar Rao Great boyfriend material and BDE Vicky Donor Starbuck and Delivery Man People as sperm, cute sperm Khurrana’s fertility trilogy Not a lot of diversity Challenging conventions of masculinity (INTERVAL (“Pani Da Rang” from Vicky Donor) Hawaizaada Khurrana channels Ranbir Kapoor We are the only ones who remember this movie Saawariya and Baz Lurhmann Boat workshop Shivkar Bapuji Talpade Style over substance Dum Laga Ke Haisha Bhumi Pednekar Unlikable hero “Youth Club” Mental health issues? Wife carrying M

In our fourth annual Hindi Horror Halloween episode we discuss three films about women being possessed by malevolent forces.  Show Notes: Our previous Halloween episodes are here Thank you so much to Sruguru and Xenia / Cat Green Bike for the Apple Podcasts reviews! The Exorcist and William Friedkin (and The Devil and Father Amorth which we don’t recommend)  Sexism and the exorcism genre Naina The Eye and The Eye Ophthalmologist controversy  Hot doctor  Dark Messenger, the TV spinoff Lack of suspense  (INTERVAL (“Bichua” from 1920) 1920 Allerton Castle Sequels  Christian elements  Revolt of 1857 A real Beguiled situation Practical effects (granted ripped off of other movies) Should a horror movie be jusged by how scary it is? Hanuman saves the day! The House Next Door This is not a Bollywood film, it’s a Tamil film Films shot simultaneously in different languages Kadhal 2 Kalyanam Silent Hill (Naomi Watts is not in the film) Chinese Ghosts Subverting exp

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai we welcome Aparita Bhandari and Baisakhi Roy of the Khabardaar Podcast to reminisce and evaluate how the film holds up to today’s standards. Show Notes: Welcome to Aparita and Baisakhi of the Khabardaar Podcast! TIFF 2018 Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota or The Man Who Feels No Pain, Reason or Vivek, and Bulbul Can Sing Indian films at festivals and Indian genre cinema Streaming services and South Indian and regional cinema The missing market of Hindi podcasts Kuch Kuch Hota Hai The affection for 90s Bollywood Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Rockford, Student of the Year, and 3 Idiots Karan Johar Twinkle Khanna Beverly Hills, 90210 and Archie comics Koochie Koochie Hota Hai (INTERVAL ("Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) Matt shames Erin for her love of “Dil Tu Bataa” Does anyone working in Bollywood know how to play basketball? Rani Mukerji has very small writing A one kid, one grandma Parent Trap The Neela

We welcome Beth Watkins of Beth Loves Bollywood to discuss two films starring, directed, and produced by Raj Kapoor. Show Notes: Welcome to Beth Loves Bollywood! Mujhse Dostu Karoge! Shree 420 Bengali cinema and Satyajit Ray Raj Kapoor Take that Hugh Jackman Prithviraj Kapoor and the Kapoors Comparisons to Charlie Chaplin Aag “Dude’s got a type” Chiaroscuro lighting “Raat Ko Jee Chamke Taare” Nimmi(s) Comparisons to Orson Welles Kapoor as India (INTERVAL (”Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan” from Mera Naam Joker) Mera Naam Joker “Duff beer For Me, Duff Beer For You” Kseniya Ryabinkina Shankar Jaikishan Creepy clown doll No one likes clowns (at least they aren’t as bad as mimes) Why do auteurs like the circus? Hot for teacher Is the Russian comprehensible? Entitlement and the male ego Dom DeLuise Black and white vs. colour “Jaane Kahan Gaye Woh Din” and “Angh Lag Jaa Baalma” They do sell the clown doll Ajooba NEXT TIME: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with Kh

We bid adieu to the summer season with a trio of road films.    Show Notes: We were out late partying at our friends’ wedding Thanks vcx100 Karwaan The road movie Matt remembers a robot museum in Wisconsin Is the road movie a genre? How is it different from a chase movie? or a travelogue?  Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. Just like Sorcerer Reema Kagti The film’s super twist Radio DJ narrator  “Sajanaji Vari Vari” Public versus private lives (INTERVAL (“Dil Dhadakne Do” from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara) It’s the following evening, Erin made a cocktail Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Customary explanation of Katrina Kaif’s accent Running of the bulls “Senorita” Masculine vulnerability  Bagwati La Tomatina and “Ik Junoon (Paint it red)” Piku Age difference bwteen love interests  “The sexual power of Irrfan Khan” Coming to terms with loss Parineeti Chopra turned the title role down While Irrfan Khan turned down The Martian  Understated

Netflix has released their latest Hindi project, the three part horror series Ghoul, and we were so impressed we decided to record a quick supplemental episode. Show Notes: Split Screen Podcast: Bonus Episode 1 - The Future Of Streaming In Bollywood Omnipresent  Ghoul Review: The Demons Within by Rahul Desai Ghoul director Patrick Graham: We don’t intend to offend people Ghoul director Patrick Graham: India hasn’t found its voice when it comes to horror NEXT TIME: we get road trippin’ Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network powered by ATB Check out The Well Endowed Podcast Listen to Repodcasting  Find us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! and Google Podcasts! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! #Ghoul, #Blumhouse, #PhantomFilms, #PatrickGraham, #RadhikaApte, #ManavKaul, #Horror, #Netflix