Summer vacation is the perfect time to kick back, relax, and watch some movies! During the school year, I’m always daydreaming about being able to flop on the sofa and watch my favourite films. Since it is the heart of summer vacation right now and I have finished watching a set of some of my all-time favorite movies, I thought I’d be kind enough to share a category of movies that I classify as phenomenal.
Bollywood, Bollywood, and more Bollywood.
Bollywood movies are simply astounding. The masti, the magic, the masala. A world that showcases the beauty and talent of India’s finest and is highlighted by exhilarating dance numbers, heart-turning plots, and costumes that are to die for. It would be a shame to not share my crazy obsession with this wonderful industry and that is why, my friends, I have compiled for you reviews of a couple of my favorites.
Why? So you can go watch. Watch and fall in love. Don’t be hesitant to watch because you’re not Indian or you find it weird to read subtitles off the screen. A ton of my Canadian friends who have never even heard of Bollywood have messaged me to tell me how much they loved some Bollywood movie I told them to watch. Most of these movies are on YouTube with subtitles, or elsewhere on the Internet. If you can’t find them there, check out the store “Fruiticana” (I know, weird name…) in North Calgary. They have tons of Bollywood movie DVDs and box sets that will keep you hooked.
Here we go! Five Bollywood movies that you can’t miss…
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Translated to “You Don’t Get Life a Second Time,” this movie harnesses the idea of the typical American bucket list film perfectly. Three friends and their quest to have the wildest bachelor vacation before marriage turns into a quest for love, freedom, and the chance to mend some broken relationships and uncover the truth. A definite plus point of the movie is the stellar work of Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif, currently the most talked about stars in the industry. Again, it joins the club of a must-watch with its energetic songs and laugh-out-loud humour. Definitely a movie I’d recommend for starters or those hesitant to try and watch Bollywood! I mean, they can be pretty long! (Most movies are about three hours!)
3 Idiots
A major blockbuster hit starring Amir Khan and Kareena Kapoor, some of the big names of the industry; this is one film that made headlines for appealing both to the critics and the easy-going moviegoers. It tells the story of three engineering students who soon become best friends and find themselves in a whirlwind of problems concerning love, their jobs, and their future. Wildly funny and extremely clever, this movie does a great job of not only opening up Indian stereotypes, but challenging them with the help of one of the most talented casts the Bollywood industry has seen. Super easy to follow the film plot and it will have you laughing till you cry, guaranteed.
Jab We Met
Again starring Kareena Kapoor in the lead role, this movie tells the twisted love story of an outgoing and speak-her-mind girl alongside the puppy-dog-eyed Shahid Kapoor. They meet on a train and have some wild experiences with each other ranging from running behind missed trains to dancing with the natives of the mountainous Indian regions. A catchy soundtrack, a great plot, and one unforgettably happy ending later, this movie is the kind that you feel like watching again and again. In fact, I think my family has watched it over 30 times!
Fashion
Starring Priyanka Chopra, one of my favourite actresses and a former Miss World title-holder, this movie tells the story of a girl that is lured into the fashion industry and sees all there is to see. In her quest to reach the top and make it as the “showstopper” in a major designer’s runway show, she not only loses her loved ones but loses herself. From its highs to lows, this movie depicts the glam and the glitz but opens up a world of deceit, drugs, and death. A very intense movie so I again don’t recommend this for a first-time watcher. However, if you are into the scandal and class this movie promises, be my guest and check out this blockbuster hit that definitely scared more than a couple of Indian parents.
Om Shanti Om
Truly one of the finest all-encompassing movies of Bollywood as it mixes classical old elements with the spunky new ones. Starring Sharukh Khan or “King Khan” and the stunning Deepika Padukone, this tale of reincarnation, love, and betrayal does a fine job in showcasing Bollywood at its finest. Great songs, great costumes, and a plot that has you hooked from start to finish, I recommend this for anybody but I’d be careful watching it first. The plot can get a bit confusing so I’d say it’s a best for last type. Try it after you’ve watched a couple and really got into the Bollywood mood since it’s the type that requires your undivided attention.
There you have it! Five super movies that I have not forgotten since I’ve watched them. They open up the world of Bollywood cinema and give you a massive amount of entertainment for the summer. Try them out and I promise you’ll have no regrets!