Desi Boybands... or Filmi Girl asks and receives!

So, you remember me asking for desi boybands? Let me share the amazing information I received in response!

Apparently there exists a magnificent and magical assemblage known as... A BAND OF BOYS!

Vidya Balan IS Silk Smitha...

For your viewing enjoyment!

Taken from this scene perhaps?

If anybody can ID the rest of these scenes, please do comment!!

Wednesday Gossip... EID MUBARAK!

So, how awesome was the trailer for Dirty Picture?! Is it December yet?! I'm posting the Rockstar trailer today! It looks amazing but I have to say... ENOUGH WITH CASTING MODELS IN "SERIOUS" FILMS! What I saw of Nargis was enough to make me cringe. Models are perfectly fine in bikini girl roles and if Sajid Khan wanted to launch three models in Housefull 2, I wouldn't complain (too much) but opposite Ranbir in this film should be a girl who is an actress... do you know who would have been perfect? Ayesha Takia. Or even somebody like one of the non-Sonam girls from Aisha.

Ah, well... coulda, shoulda, woulda...

Is there anybody in Milwaukee? You all have an Indian Film Festival in town!

And my friends in Pakistan have THREE new releases this Eid! Unfortunately, none from India, however. You'll just have to bootleg Bodyguard.

Today in gossip - Neil Nitin Mukesh annoys everybody on the sets of Players; casting news for Ajay and Kat; Shruti Haasan's sister is getting launched; LIVE "Madhubala"; and a ton of other assorted odds and ends!

Off Topic: Bollywood Needs Boybands!

Most of the talk about Bollywood needing to "catch up" and adopt the norms of other global entertainment industries is ridiculous. Bollywood is Bollywood and that is why so many people love it. That being said, there is one thing that I feel is really lacking in Indian pop culture in general - boy bands.

The only one I can think of is F4 featuring a very likable Meiyang Chang!



You would think that the boy band would be all over the place. Groups of three-plus guys who are adequate (and sometimes superb) at singing and dancing and who funnel members into film and television projects for which the boy band then provides the music? Why isn't Y Films all over this?! I'm not going to lump Atif Aslam and Ali Zafar into this category since they are legit musicians but imagine FOUR potential Atifs in one band and you see where I'm going with this...

Here are some of my favorites... perhaps you'll see yours, too!

Tuesday Gossip!

Today in gossip! LONG VERSIONS of Dirty Picture and "Chammak Chhalo" trailers and some other stuff, like Minissha Lamba trying to keep her name in the press by making stuff up and an exhibit of vintage erotic Malayalam film posters!

Monday Gossip - I'M BACK EDITION!

Hello, my friends! I hope you didn't miss me too much... it has been a stressful week over here at Filmi Girl's. First an earthquake, then a rushed trip to visit family out in the sticks, and then a HURRICANE!!! It's going to be a relief to get back into the old routine.

So, it looks like I didn't miss much except a handful of trailers (which I'll post). August was kind of a dead month as far as new releases go - besides the floptastic Aarakshan and Chatur Singh No Star. September is gearing up to be MIND BLOWING, though, so get set for some squeeage!!! Next weekend is BODYGUARD, followed by Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, followed by MAUSAM, followed by a bunch of smaller films we may not get here on the global circuit (including Saheb Biwi aur Gangster and Speedy Singh), and then FORCE!!! Are you as psyched as I am?!

Okay, let's catch up with all the gossip!!! Today we've got some trailers (including AGNEEPATH); interviews with Ajay and Imran; update on Dhoom 3; and a few other odds and ends!

Govinda in... JUST DANCE

Just a little present from me to you! I'll be back with my regular posting schedule starting tomorrow morning.

Gone Fishin'

No, not really but I'll be on vacation without Internet access until Monday 8/29.


Alas, it will not be anything as glamourous as Shashikala at the pool...

BOLLYWOOD FOR BEGINNERS POST #31

For previous installments, please visit the index.

This is the last 2000s hero post. (Don't worry, I'll get to all the debutants later on!) I'm positive we'll be seeing all three guys in the 2010s, too, so please don't take my grouping of these guys to mean that I think they're washed up. It's more that I think they hit their stride in this rich and complicated decade.

KNOW YOUR HEROES: 2000s: JOHN ABRAHAM

Tuesday Gossip

I've been tasked to inform you that the Bachchan Bol website is up and running. It's the only official Amitabh Bachchan website and is run by Jessica "Me and the Big B but mostly ME" Hines. There doesn't seem to be much on there now but it's worth a poke around just to check things out.

I'm also sorry to announce that... *sob* I'm leaving on a "forced family fun" vacation tomorrow and will NOT have any Internet access until I get back on Sunday night. (*Withdrawal symptoms*) I have one more Bollywood For Beginners post that I'll put up tonight and then I'll see everybody on MONDAY MORNING!

Today in gossip - Bebo signs on the dotted line for Heroine; Jackie Shroff is just generally awesome; Shahrukh is taking a break after Don 2; trailer for La Pinto's next; and MORE!

BOLLYWOOD FOR BEGINNERS POST #30

For previous installments, please visit the index.

The next few posts in my ongoing series will be on heroes who are tied to the first decade of the 2000s in some form or another. I'm positive we'll be seeing them all in the 2010s, too, so please don't take my grouping of these guys to mean that I think they're washed up. It's more that I think they hit their stride in this rich and complicated decade.

In full disclosure, I will preface this by saying that I strongly dislike Abhishek Bachchan but I am going to do my best to be objective.

KNOW YOUR HEROES: ABHISHEK BACHCHAN

From the Vaults: Jalte Badan...

I wrote this up a long time ago but I saw that Memsaab was going to tip her toes into the CRAZY WORLD of Jalte Badan and thought I would add my cray-cray screencaps to the mix. This movie was insane but delightfully so. ENJOY!



Do you enjoy the following things – blindness that can only be cured by true love, over-exaggerated depictions of drug use, snake cults, and Padma Khanna with a gun? If the answer is “yes”, then why haven’t you seen Jalte Badan yet?!

Life Ishtene... is so pretty!

[Diganth in a still from Life Ishtene. Photo courtesy of Southscope.]


I just saw these today and had to wonder... does Prachi Desai realize what she's passing up here? We're talking about DIGANTH, who not only has incredible dimples but has grown into a very fine actor over the past few years.


Well, it's her loss...

Monday Gossip

Today in gossip - Esha Deol thinks we care about her re-launch; Sanjay Dutt won't help his daughter get into acting; Kareena loves Kareena; new trailer for That Girl in Yellow Boots; song promo for "Teri Meri" from Bodyguard; and MORE!

BOLLYWOOD FOR BEGINNERS POST #29

For previous installments, please visit the index.

The next few posts in my ongoing series will be on heroes who are tied to the first decade of the 2000s in some form or another. I'm positive we'll be seeing them all in the 2010s, too, so please don't take my grouping of these guys to mean that I think they're washed up. It's more that I think they hit their stride in this rich and complicated decade.

KNOW YOUR HEROES: 2000s: SAIF ALI KHAN

Sunday Gossip

Today in gossip - a few odds and ends, including interviews with Katrina Kaif and Bodyguard director Siddique, Sridevi at Lakme Fashion Week!

Saturday Gossip

Today in gossip - Chatur Singh Two Star review round-up; Bips casting news; Diganth is looking for a heroine; and MORE!

Friday Gossip!

Important announcement!!!! London folks!!! There will be a Pran retrospective and if you miss it, I will fly out there and personally scold you! It's PRAN! PRANNNNN!

Okay, sorry about yesterday, Blogger swallowed my gossip post whole!! It was awful!

So, I repeated a few stories - today in gossip: Samir Chanda passes away leaving Joker unfinished; interviews with a ton of folks including Ameesha Patel and Salman Khan; assorted song promos and MORE!!!!

Bodyguard Publicity! Interview with Shera!

My dear blog friends, every once in a while I receive "pre-packaged" items in my e-mail box and I very rarely post them because I enjoy doing all my own writing (and thinking).

However, because Blogger was cruel enough to eat my post this morning, I wanted to give you guys something fun to read instead. Just keep in mind that I DID NOT do this interview, it was sent to me as is. Call me a softy but all the Bodyguard promotions with Salman Khan's REAL BODYGUARD Shera are making me more than a teeny bit emotional. There is something so sweet and pure about dedicating your life to protecting somebody else.

Enjoy!!!

INTERVIEW WITH SALMAN'S BODYGUARD SHERA!

Kareena Kapoor for FILMFARE!

And, yes, she is HEROINE No. 1!! I'm really looking forward to Bodyguard - Bebo is looking better than ever!

Speedy Singh... goes hip-hop!

Sorry, guys, Blogger ATE my entire gossip post for today... instead, please to be having this song. I'll make it up to you later! Right now I'm late for work... oops!

VINTAGE STARDUST November 1992

Just in case you don't follow me on Twitter... it's no reason you should miss out on this FABULOUS vintage Stardust cover.

Hat tip to http://rekhathelegend.blogspot.com/ where you can find MORE of these wonderful images.

Wednesday Gossip

Today in gossip - Ranveer Singh does Madhuri Dixit; Salman Khan picks up his pen; Anurag Kashyap returns to Toronto; "a close friend" spills the beans on Bebo; Javed Jaffrey talks Shammi; and MORE!

Five Star Children Who Should Follow Uday Chopra's Example...

As I was writing my Box Office Poison entry on Mission Istaanbul my mind kept cycling back to this one thought - why does it offend me so much to see Zayed Khan as the lead of this film? In the piece, I theorize a bit on why he was chosen, including his (most likely) low price and the influence of the producers, and what it said about Apoorva Lakhia’s lack of respect for his audience. It’s that final bit that I really want to dig into here because I think when producers thrust these star children at us in film after film, even as they are rejected at the box office, it does show a real lack of respect for the very people who are supposed to pay money to go and see the films.

Tuesday Gossip!

Today in gossip - more tributes to Shammi; Deepika finally lasers her RK; and few more tidbits!

ETA: ROWDY RATHORE teaser poster!!! I can't believe I forgot it!

Mission Istaanbul (no that's not a typo) or mission to NOWHERE?!

“World... hold on...

Instead of messing up the future, open up inside.
World... hold on...
One thing you will have to answer to the children of the sky.”

- "World Hold On"

This year Bollywood beat the box office with five hits in the month of July. In July 2008, the industry was not as lucky. Money, splashy special effects, and big stars (with big paychecks) were thrown at cinema screens but audiences flat out refused to pay up and be dazzled. Friday anticipation quickly fizzled into Sunday damage control as yet another film stunk up the box office.* The mood of audiences was changing and the slick, Hollywood-aping mainstream thriller was on the way out. And despite the hype and hoopla over the global flavor of Mission Istaanbul, by the time it released, it seemed nearly as dated as Sanjay Dutt’s Mehbooba, which had moldered on the shelf for eight years before limping into cinemas the week before Apoorva Lakhia’s Mission to flopsville.

Imran Khan for Bombay Dost

Imran Khan proves that real men are comfortable enough with their sexuality to be on the cover of a gay magazine. I wonder if this signals an OUT magazine style glossy upgrade for Bombay Dost... 

Monday Gossip!

Today in gossip - More tributes to Shammi Kapoor; Ranveer Singh may do a South Indian masala remake; and trailer for another three hero film... Shakal Pe Mat Ja! (And a few other odds and ends...)

Sunday Gossip - Shammi Kapoor

Sad news today - Shammi Kapoor has passed away. Some tributes and a few other things under the cut.

Saturday Gossip - AARAKSHAN edition

Today in gossip - Aarakshan publicity machine churns on; Lolo hates the word 'comeback'; Saifu tries to explain to a journalist that we're all tired of the Saifeena wedding talk; and MORE!

Naan Kadavul - I am God; God is great.

Two things before the review - 1) I wish the ending credits had been translated into roman script so I could give credit to the actors I enjoyed and 2) consider this post your post-Beauty Pageant Week palate cleanser. You're welcome

The experience of watching Naan Kadavul is akin to that of getting of headbutt from the main character of the film, an aghori played by Arya. And I mean that, of course, in the best way possible - watching Naan Kadavul knocked everything else out of my head. Director Bala has crafted a remarkable film on the nature of God and life and on the things we do to survive. Although it’s set among a community of beggars, Naan Kadavul is no soppy tearjerker or pretentious art film, it’s got a biting wit and is packed full of gallows humor... sometimes literally.

Friday Gossip

Today in gossip - VANITY PROJECT time with Tell Me O Kkhuda trailer; Aarakshen serves up supremely lackluster reviews; and more!

Beauty Pageant Week: Three Queens!

Previous posts on Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Priyanka Chopra, and Lara Dutta!

Now these three gorgeous actresses might not have been Miss World or Miss Universe but they deserve mention, too!

Thursday Gossip!

Sorry for missing yesterday's post everybody! I came down with a bug on Tuesday afternoon and was holed up in bed feeling sorry for myself all day yesterday...

Today in gossip - a female model comes out of the closet; catch up with Delhi Belly's Poorna; first trailer for Ajay's Rascals; Nagesh Kukunoor tries to put the blame for 8x10 Tasveer elsewhere; and a billion more tiny stories!!

Beauty Pageant Week: Lara Dutta

Don't miss previous posts on Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, and Priyanka Chopra.

Pageant Achievements: Lara Dutta

John Abraham in FORCE!

Lest anybody think I'm spending too much time devoted to pretty ladies these days... I bring you JOHN ABRAHAM IN FORCE!

The film comes out September 30th and I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing it. Ghajini, Wanted, Singham... each South Indian remake just gets me all juiced up for more!

You know you want to click through to see Mr. Gladrags Manhunt Winner in action...

Beauty Pageant Week: Priyanka Chopra

Check out previous entries on Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen.

Pageant Achievements: Priyanka Chopra

Bonus Aishwarya Miss World Pictures!

Sonakshi Sinha in Elle

This is turning into beauty week for sure!! Sonakshi has such wonderful features - very striking girl...

Tuesday Gossip!

Today in gossip - new song promo for Mere Brother Ki Dulhan; Saroj Khan comes out of retirement; Saif Ali Khan strongly feels that he is awesome; AB is given three months to get in shape; and MORE!

Beauty Pageant Week: Sushmita Sen

Check out the intro and first post on Miss World 1994 Aishwarya Rai here

Pageant Achievements: Sushmita Sen

Sonam Kapoor is... THE MAN!

Sonam Kapoor may not be the world's best actress but she knows how to pose! It's rather refreshing to see a starlet on a men's magazine cover with all of her clothes on...

Monday Gossip!

Today in gossip - Kat fight over Bodyguard item songs; That Girl in Yellow Boots hits US theaters; Ekta Kapoor is stopped by customs; and a few more odds'n'ends!

Beauty Pageant Week: Aishwarya Rai

This past weekend I spent a fair amount of time indulging in one of my guilty pleasures - beauty pageant reality TV. I know that I have been very outspoken on how harmful the narrowing of beauty standards is for both for professionals and for the general public. I know that my love of beauty pageants may seem to contradict that and maybe it does... but something about following all the hard work that it takes to look “beautiful” is really compelling.

In many of these pageants, especially the glitz pageants, a wide variety of body types are on display - what’s rewarded is glamour, not whether the girls meet some arbitrary (and near impossible) standard of perfection. Winning a pageant takes a very different skill set and look than modeling does (e.g. models aren’t asked to speak on topics like “world peace” and models don’t get judged on things like “taste” and “poise”).

Now, I don’t think that models or pageant queens necessarily make the best actresses but going from sash to screen test is certainly one way non-star daughters can break into Bollywood.

Let’s take a look at some of the beauty queens who went on to make their careers in Bollywood... because really, what is filmi but another word for glamorous!


PAGEANT ACHIEVEMENTS: AISHWARYA RAI

Sunday Gossip!

Amitabh looks so dapper on the latest Filmfare cover! Show those kids how it's done, Big B!!

Today in gossip - Raveena Tandon gets a boy toy; catch up with child star Harsh Meyer; ask yourself if you would rest a 100 crore picture on Deepika's slender shoulders; and more!!

Saturday Gossip!

Oh, look! Saif Ali Khan has been waxed at Madam Tussaud's is on the cover of Hi! Blitz.

Today in gossip - NEW MAUSAM song promo; Esha Deol denies rehab rumors; Farah Khan is writing her autobiography; and a few other odds and ends...

Kalki Koechlin for FHM India!

Um... yeah. I'll be eBaying this one. I want to read Kalki's opinion on politicians!

Friday Gossip!

So, I've been seeing quite a few "news" stories running around about Aamir Khan taking over for Sanjay Dutt as Munnabhai. I don't know how truthful any of them are but I do want to say that I don't think it's worth doing another film about Munnabhai and Circuit without Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi. Their specific chemistry is what made those films worthwhile. Have we really run out of ideas to the extent that we can't make something new but go the Hollywood way and just reboot and remake everything? I don't think I would even bother to see a Munnabhai remade with Aamir... Rajkumar Hirani, sir, why not just make a different gangster film with Aamir Khan? One that is tailored to his specific talents?

Also, I've been very annoyed at the coverage of the so-called Bollywood video done by Planned Parenthood. Look, just because there are some people wearing Indian clothes and Indian music playing, it's not automatically Bollywood. That is BHANGRA music and dance. But besides that, WHY does this exist? What is the point of appropriating cultural dance and costume they clearly don't understand? Is it supposed to be funny to see bhangra dancing? Edgy? What?

I hate this kind of appropriating culture without context.

Anyways, today in gossip - RGV's Not A Love Story trailer; John Abraham DID SOME STUNTS for Force; celebrity autobiographies; Piggy Chops is both a transvestite and recording an album; and some other odds and ends!

Malaika Arora Khan at India International Jewelry Week

Oh... how I love when these fashion shows have filmi show stoppers! There is something so pleasant about watching a gorgeous lady decked up all glamorous. Having seen Malaika Arora Khan in person once before, I can testify to the fact that she is exactly as beautiful as you think she is...



A couple more under here!

BOLLYWOOD FOR BEGINNERS POST #28.3

For previous posts, please visit the index.

Continuing on from the previous list, here are the rest of the ten films that I feel are representative of the decade 2000-2010.

KNOW YOUR DECADES: 2000-2010

Film choices 6-10

Happy Birthday to Kishore Kumar!

He may be gone but he is not forgotten. A very happy birthday to my sabse favorite playback singer!

Thursday Gossip!

Today in gossip - trailer for Ayesha Takia's MOD; Rajinikanth proves to be a class act once again; Bangladesh opens its theater doors for Bollywood; and MORE!

Costume Appreciation Day: Neha Dhupia in Phas Gaye Re Obama

After months of waiting, I finally got to check out Phas Gaye Re Obama last night. While it wasn't the laff riot I was hoping for, it had a shaggy, understated charm and folks who enjoyed films like Khosla Ka Ghosla and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye would probably really enjoy it. Would you get a kick out of hearing the Iraq War being told as if it was an inter-village squabble between a guy named Buss and Saddam? Then you will enjoy this film!

I don't have much to say on the film itself [Review: It was okay! - FG] but I thought I would share the one thing that really caught my attention. Neha Dhupia, who has been quietly building up a nice solid resume of character work, plays Munni, a lady dacoit ready to kick some (male) butt and take care of bidness. She's backed by a delightful gang of lady goondas who all go by filmi names - Deepika, Kareena, Rani, etc.



The dreaded Munni makes her first appearance!

Zareen Khan at India International Jewelry Week

I've come to really like Zareen (she's got a new spelling now) Khan. I wonder how many of the people mocking her have even seen Veer...

More pictures below!

Wednesday Gossip!

Today in gossip - song writers won't get royalties; Deepika skanks it up for Maxim; the Western press has fun with Gandhi to Hitler; and MORE!

BOLLYWOOD FOR BEGINNERS POST #28.2

For previous posts, please visit the index.

Continuing on from yesterday, over the next two posts, I'll give ten films that I think are fairly representative of the decade 2000-2010. I'm sure there will be some additional suggestions (and arguments!) in the comments, so without further ado...

KNOW YOUR DECADES: 2000-2010

Film choices 1-5

Kajal Agarwal at India International Jewelry Week

Oh, girl! You so pretty!

Tuesday Gossip!

Today in gossip - Paresh Rawal tells it like it is; Neha Dhupia in Maximum (not Maxim); peek at Ranveer Singh in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl and MORE!

Kangana Ranaut at India International Jewelry Week

I love this fierce bitch!

Kangana, you just keep doing what you do...

BOLLYWOOD FOR BEGINNERS POST #28.1

For previous installments in this series, please visit the index.

John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan, and Priyanka Chopra in Dostana (2008)

KNOW YOUR DECADES: 2000-2010

Before I time travel back into the who’s who of the first decade of the 21st century, I thought I would give a little overview of how Bollywood - Hindi cinema - has changed over the last 10 years or so and then in the next installment will give you a list of 10 films that I think will give you the fullest flavor of the decade.

Monday Gossip!

For those missing the sound of my lovely voice, I recorded a movie commentary track with my friend The Paxton Configuration. We discuss the 2010 film Rubber - a gonzo French flick about a killer tire.

You can listen here or find it on iTunes.

Now... today in gossip - the industry hits a six in July; Mandakini's waterfall scene is too bold for Bebo; Sanjay Dutt has officially entered Disco Uncle territory; and MORE!