Last night after a walk with a friend I stopped by the local video club to see if there was anything worth picking up. Flicking through the new release section, I stopped in my tracks. In front of me was a sight I couldn't believe, a sight that both amazed and appalled me. It was a Bollywood DVD. New release. Rental ticket missing.
There was joy because a new Bollywood movie and not some art cinema offering was out in the local neighbourhood super-Greek video rental store, and someone had rented it.
There was also horror. Because this movie is one of a 3-in-1 DVD I bought downtown last Saturday for EUR 3. And it's bad. Appallingly bad. Big budget, unknown main cast, more money than sense, all style and no substance, a song every ball-breaking 7 minutes. The performance of the two new lead actors was so boring and bland I wanted to take them and roll them in chilli and lemon to spice it up a bit.
This movie is called Saawariya. I can just imagine the poor person who rented this DVD and sat at home thinking "Ti malakia einai auti? (what bullshit is this?)" and be put off Bollywood for life.
Let me tell you about Bollywood movies. They are supposed to be all song and dance, colours and unbelievable story lines. But the makers of Saawariya insult the intelligence of even the most die-hard Bollywood fan by thinking "If we make it big budget with a fancy set, no one will notice that actually nothing at all happens for 3 hours."
The plot didn't so much twist and turn as roll over in bed and fart. What a disappointment.
Why? When there are so many good movies why did that crap fest Saawariya make it to DVD release in the local video club? Why not Om Shanti Om with my beloved Shah Rukh Khan? That was at least entertaining in how it made fun of itself.
To the person who rented the movie, my sincere apologies. Next time you're in the mood for some Bollywood just borrow one of my DVDs for free.
8 comments:
dear bb
I saw an excellent film last week called Rang ne Basanti. I bet you've seen it too. Do you know of more stuff like that? I saw it in UK, but now I'm back in Greece. Eleni
Are you sure that's not Despina Vandi (famous female Greek singer) in the lead role? The picture looks suspiciously like her!
GG
Hi Eleni,
Yes I've seen that one. My recommendations would be:
Devdas
Lagaan
Kal Ho Na Ho
Saathiya
Om Shanti Om
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham
Dil Chahta hai
Get started with Dil Chahta Hai which you can watch online here: http://hindidvdmovie.blogspot.com/2008/02/download-or-watch-online-dil-chahta-hai.html It's a slightly more modern bollywood film and one of my favs.
Otherwise, you can probably buy all of the above for EUR 3 at the shop I go to downtown on Menandrou Street which is off Athinas street.
GG that's not Despina Vandi, mercifully.
oh whoops, no subtitles on the link I gave you. Try here instead http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRKwagKd7Ls&feature=related
And here's the link for Saathiya with english subtitles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EoM10-KOWw&feature=related
I loved the movie, I have the songs playing on my mind all day. :( It's dissapointing that you say its a bad movie, I guess if I loved this, I'd die for the real ones, but the thing is we hardly ever get any bollywood movies around here, especially with greek subtitles and the english talking of the characters on the "english" audio was extremely annoying.
psofofeggaro, was it you who rented the movie at my local Video Blue!! Take it from me Saawariya was bad. Start here to watch a much better movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR3udH_c62c
no it wasn't me, I live in the norther greece, on a small town, wouldnt survive Athens, Thessaloniki is a better place for me for once in awhile.
I'll check it out thank you
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