I love Hindi movies. If you want to know how and why I started watching them, read this post. (I’ve seen a lot of them — literally hundreds.)
The name Memsaab comes from two things:
- My mother called me “Your Highness” when she was fed up with me (which was often), and she used the same exact sarcastic tone that Shammi Kapoor uses when he calls his heroines “Memsaab.”
- When I started this blog more than ten years ago, there weren’t discussions about privilege and intersectionality taking place. My use of the term “memsaab” was meant to be tongue in cheek and referenced my childhood in Africa; certainly I did not mean any offense by it, but I acknowledge that a white woman using the word is problematic in a lot of ways. I confess I don’t quite know what to do about it at this point (suggestions welcomed!).
My aim on this blog (insofar as I ever have any kind of aim) is to write about films that aren’t already extensively covered elsewhere (by better writers than I—see links in the sidebar). Above all, my heart belongs to Shammi Kapoor, although I am pretty fond of Dharmendra and Dara Singh as well. Nobody has ever accused me of having impeccable taste, with good reason. I dislike many films that have won accolades from all and sundry, and love films that everyone else hated (or never saw). I have a very high Minimum Daily Masala Requirement; watching “art” films for me is like watching grass grow. I have seen hundreds of films before I started this blog, too, so just because it’s not written about here doesn’t mean I haven’t seen it or didn’t like it! Most of all, I love how diverse Hindi cinema is and how long and rich a history it has. It is one of the sorrows of my life that this history and diversity isn’t better documented and preserved and I want to do my bit to help out, one person and trivia point at a time.
Indian textiles are another passion born of my love for India in general. I collect antique saris, and buy new ones when they are pretty, and wear them whenever I have an excuse to (or just around the house).
I also love my crazy little spaniels, my family, and my friends (not always in that order).
I hate right-wing conservatives, ignorance and vegetables (pretty much in that order).
Enjoy reading, introduce yourself if you want to, and leave comments if you have them—but please remember: if you would find a comment rude if someone said it to you, I might find it rude if you say it to me! Be polite, be thoughtful, and you will always be welcome.
MemsaabStory 
