Rehana Sultan? She’s absolutely gorgeous, but I don’t think she did very well in films.
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August 31, 2008
Whatever happened to…
August 28, 2008
Dil Daulat Duniya (1972)
This heartwarming film has some good laughs and sweet romance. I’ve noticed before, and noticed again with this, that Rajesh Khanna didn’t seem to really mind sharing screen space, and even being upstaged by, other good actors, in this case even during the peak of his career. Here it makes for a nice balance between the romantic story and the great chemistry between Ashok Kumar and Om Prakash, who play two older men—one rich, one poor—who have more in common than they think, and a lot to learn from each other too.
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August 27, 2008
My dil goes mmmm…
I had worked at home for about three years when I realized that I never really saw daylight except through the windows. Also, I was talking to myself a lot more than most people would probably find acceptable.
So, I got a puppy and named her Gemma. She weighed all of three pounds but she had Attitude.
No stick was too big.
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August 26, 2008
Another vintage saree ad
Here’s the saree ad featuring Jayaji that I promised to post!
August 25, 2008
Trivia time #30
August 24, 2008
Chashme Buddoor (1981)
This movie made me laugh so hard that I literally cried, and had to pause it so as not to miss anything. Apart from the two Munnabhai films, it’s the funniest (intentionally) Hindi movie I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen plenty). Comedy is the hardest genre to translate across cultures, but this one does it in spades. I would say in fact that it’s got to be one of the funniest films ever made anywhere, period, and is as close to perfect as anything gets.
The tongue-in-cheek celebration of filmi conventions, romance, student life, and friendship is hilarious; and the characters are portrayed so perfectly sweetly and heartwarmingly that you can’t help but love them, even when they do bad things. The cast is superb: Farooq Sheikh and Deepti Naval (whom I enjoyed immensely in Kissise Na Kehna and Katha) get incomparable support from Saeed Jaffrey, Ravi Baswani and Rakesh Bedi. I run short of superlatives!
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August 23, 2008
More vintage photos
August 22, 2008
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp (1952)
Oh such excitement to get my hands on a Wadia Brothers production! Made by Fearless Nadia‘s director (and later husband) Homi Wadia, this film did not disappoint. Special effects courtesy of the master Babubhai Mistry, and a young, really gorgeous Meena Kumari paired with actor Mahipal are hugely entertaining. SN Tripathi and Chitragupta provided the very melodic songs, and it’s an old-tyme treat from start to finish. Although made in 1952, it plays like a film from the thirties which really just adds to the charm.
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August 21, 2008
Vintage saree ad
The ads in vintage filmi magazines are so much fun.
Soul-stirring polyester, indeed!
August 20, 2008
Daag: A Poem of Love (1973)
This may be the most aptly named film in the history of cinema. It’s an all-out early Yash Chopra romance: boy and girl fall in love, marry despite opposition, are separated tragically, then reunited—but with big obstacles to their happiness. Particularly satisfying are Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore as said boy and girl. Their performances are enhanced by setting (snowy Himachal Pradesh) and beautiful songs courtesy of Laxmikant Pyarelal with stunning lyrics from the great Sahir Ludhianvi. I—shameless romantic that I am—loved every heartwrenchingly glorious minute of it.
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MemsaabStory 