From Farz (1967), a movie that I probably won’t bother to write up. It is a tragic waste of Secret Agent plotting with David as the spymaster! But this subtitle is too good not to share.
September 7, 2009
Raaj Mahal (1982)
Ooh, yeah. This is a rarity in 1980’s Hindi cinema, a masala film that’s complete paisa vasool! It starts off with a bang and continues to entertain thoroughly right up to the end: a rollicking, swashbuckling good time. The screenplay was written by Jyoti Swaroop, who is one of those people I’d really like to find out more about, but whose presence on the web is mostly confined to the hilarious film Padosan, which he directed. He’s known to me also for directing the delightful Chorni, and also for writing Satte Pe Satte and Inkaar—two other Memsaab favorites. In any case, the fun quotient is greatly enhanced by the droolworthy presence of Vinod Khanna and Danny Denzongpa as bitter rivals who *might* also be long-lost brothers, and by some zany subtitles.
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October 17, 2008
Help me, smart readers!
September 7, 2008
Be afraid…
From Shaan (1980) which I had the great fun of watching with Beth, Gesine, the ppcc and Carla (with Mr. Carla) last evening.
I have had haircuts—in fact I’m growing one out now—that looked like they were done in a saloon.
And by the way, Mazhar Khan and Zeenat must have had really gorgeous children.
August 10, 2008
More subtitle fun
This gem comes from Love In Simla and is the kind of thing that would happen were I subtitling an English film into Hindi.
June 3, 2008
Subtitle delight
Well, I have to share this one from Suhaag (1979). It speaks for itself.
May 21, 2008
Ahh, subtitles!
During a recent exchange with Ramsu, it occurred to me that I devote a lot of time and attention to subtitles—both while watching and while writing about Hindi movies. They are integral to my Hindi cinema experience, the overriding thing being of course that I NEED them. I wish I didn’t, but I do. I have learned to understand basic Hindi, but my brain is such that I will never speak it and understand it fluently unless I live in India for a while.
Believe me, if I could find a practical way to do that, I would—in a heartbeat!
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