Totally Filmi

that seventies week: Adalat (here be spoilers)

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:52:35 -0500

When Beth (Loves Bollywood) came up with the great idea to run a 70s movie week, I knew I had to come up with at least ONE blog entry for it. I mean, if it weren't for the films of the 70s, I'd likely not be writing this blog or recording my podcast at all. But I hadn't intended to write about the 1976 film Adalat at all this week -- in fact, I had a couple of other completely different ideas. But I find working on the blog and the podcast, sometimes I start in one place, and end...

eat, strike, love

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:27:11 -0500

Yes, it's all Striker, all the time around here these days. On Saturday (ear infection willing), I'll be doing a session at Podcamp Toronto about the whole YouTube premiere of the film. I've watched the film three times now. I've participated in a watch-along, a chat about the film, and today I spoke with Tim Coyne of the Hollywood Podcast about the film -- that'll go up as an episode of the podcast once I find time to edit the audio Tim was kind enough to record for me (at the last minute I realized I didn't have the ability...

striker: a challenge

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:18:47 -0500

I've been thinking about Chandan Arora's latest film, "Striker", for days now, not sure what to write about it. I've seen it twice now -- once on my own, once as part of a watch-along organized by Beth. I reacted to one scene, and its consequences in particular, and wondered if perhaps it were just me. But during the watch-along (organized on Google Wave) I swear, you could hear the stunned silence across the intertubes at that point in the film. Since Sunday, a lot of discussion has been taking place about the film, most of it happening on Twitter....

happy (belated) birthday to me

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:31:48 -0500

I was just a wee bit disappointed to discover that Abhishek Chaubey's directorial debut film "Ishqiya" was not going to be shown in either of the theatre chains for which I was given gift cards at Christmas. Yes, we're still pretty unemployed around here, so those gift cards are our chances to see films in the cinema right now. But "Ishqiya", nope, only a very limited run at the cinema specializing in Bollywood cinema. However, the Tech Guy suggested that $20 would not break us, and that we really needed to go see "Ishqiya". (Someone, hire this guy, because see...

"chi chi bhaiya" - sho shweet!

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:11:11 -0500

Yep, I'm still in the most enormous funk around here. So when Abishek Bachchan tweeted this this morning, I thought, "Yes, you're right." And decided to watch this to try to cheer myself up. From "Aankhen" (1993), when "chi chi bhaiya" still had lots of sparkle: (Yup, I do feel better now.)

there's a first time for everything (and hell has quite possibly frozen over)

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:05:53 -0500

Irony abounds around here these days, along with a certain amount of upheaval and turmoil, hence my lack of posting. But ironic that the last post I wrote was to gently mock our Prime Minister and his Olympic Flame appearance alongside Akshay Kumar. And this one? To perhaps gently mock the Premier of this fine province I live in, Ontario, Mr. Dalton McGuinty. I totally missed the fact that Premier McGuinty was in India trying to drum up something or other or connect something (I no longer have satellite, else I might have seen endless coverage on the CBC). Until...

Harper khush hua....

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:14:30 -0500

....which may give you an idea about how I feel about my country's current Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. Mr. Harper (I suppose I'm supposed to call him the Right Honorable, but it kind of sticks in my throat) is currently on his first trip to India, as part of a trip to foster trade links in South Asia. (As an aside, I think a trip to India is wasted on him, but there we are. I am, quite possibly, jealous that I can't afford to go myself, especially when I'd likely appreciate it so much more than he likely will.)...

Totally Filmi Episode 013 - Do You Wanna Partner? Swarg

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:51:58 -0500

Episode 013 - Do You Wanna Partner? Swarg (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 14:50 [mm:ss] - size: 20.4 MB) Shownotes: In this episode, I continue the journey through the David Dhawan/Govinda filmography with a look at Swarg. Attributions: Hadiqa "yaad Sajan" (mp3) from "Rung" (OSA) Buy at iTunes Music Store Buy at eMusic Buy at Amazon MP3 More On This Album "Tablas-Very Sharp" recorded by hammerklavier and uploaded to The Freesound Project Theme music by John Meadows, host of the podcast "On The Log"

some totally random thoughts about Aladin...

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:25:01 -0500

...that didn't make it into my Bollyspice review, for a variety of reasons. 1. The tone of the film was set perfectly by Boman Irani's opening narration. I love Boman Irani, and it was nice to hear his voice. 2. The opening chase, where Aladin (Riteish Deshmukh) runs through the streets of the fictional town of Khwaish, reminded me of the opening of Slumdog Millionaire. We're immediately thrown into the action along with him, we get to see snatches of the environment in which the story is set, and we identify immediately with Aladin. 3. The subtitles were interesting --...

you're the one (for me): formidable

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:53:52 -0400

Because I'd been kind of busy lately, I'd not actually got around to listening to the Aladin soundtrack -- I've heard what snips there are in the trailer, and a bit of the "Genie Rap" (which I love), but it took a post by Aspi of Aspi's Drift, in which he discussed Vishal Dadlani, who along with Shekhar Ravjiani composed the soundtrack, to actually get me to head over to the Bollywood Hungama site to listen to it on streaming. And I was struck by something. Okay, first of all, I love the whole soundtrack. Love it. I am so...

the elephant in the screening room

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:26:59 -0400

So, I went to see Do Knot Disturb today. And I think I have some things to say about it. Actually, I think I need a lot of time to think about it, which suits me just fine, because I'm still making my way through watching/re-watching the previous Dhawan directed/Govinda starring films (I'm up to Coolie No. 1, though I've not got all the previous podcast episodes recorded and/or edited yet. I decided to take my time, in the end.) And I think I'll need some perspective to really think about this. But. Some thoughts. Okay, first off: I've seen...

Totally Filmi Episode 012 - Do You Wanna Partner? Taaqatwar

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:35:19 -0400

Episode 012 - Do You Wanna Partner? Taaqatwar (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 13:00 [mm:ss] - size: 17.8 MB) Shownotes: It's been twenty years since director David Dhawan and actor Govinda made their first film together -- and since then, they've come together a total of 17 times -- and their 18th film, Do Knot Disturb (also starring Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta and Sushmita Sen) will be released on October 2nd. Regular blog readers/podcast listeners know that I have a massive crush on Govinda, but I also have a soft spot for David Dhawan's films. So in...

wanted: in which i reveal the importance of keeping an open mind and discuss how marketing is probably useless

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:23:34 -0400

So, over the course of the past few weeks, I've been musing aloud here on the blog about the two big films that released on September 18th: Dil Bole Hadippa and Wanted. And for the most part, having watched the publicity for both films, I felt certain that the film I would really want to see, that I would really enjoy, that I would find the better film, well, I was certain it would turn out to be Dil Bole Hadippa. Yesterday, I finally got to see Wanted. And I have to say, I take it ALL back. Every single...

not that i'm keeping score or anything

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:44:22 -0400

But if I were? I'd say that Wanted, which I'd found, well, wanting in its early trailers and song teasers, until the latest one for "Jalwa" was released (recap: Govinda + Prabhu Deva = faboo), well Wanted? Just might turn out to be the better of the two films released this weekend. I can't believe I just typed that. I can't believe I just typed that Salman Khan is more palatable than Rani Mukherjee and Shahid Kapoor put together. Well, no, that's not really what I mean. So let me clarify. Keep in mind it's almost 1 a.m. and I've...

uncle. so to speak.

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:55:46 -0400

Okay Wanted. You've convinced me. If I can find the time in the next very, very busy week, I will go and see the movie. I will go and see the movie just because of this new video clip. (Sorry, can't embed it here, Eros Entertainment has disabled embedding, and every other version of this clip out there is so fuzzy as to be unwatchable). If you watch it, the moment that totally convinced me? Is not, surprisingly, the 1:47 mark, when Govinda appears. It is also, not, the 2:05 mark, when Prabhu Deva appears. It is, in actual fact,...

totally filmi goes to montreal

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:52:13 -0400

Next weekend, I'm taking Totally Filmi on the road -- to Montreal! And specifically, to Podcamp Montreal. I am so totally excited -- almost as pumped as for the release of Do Knot Disturb. (Okay, maybe more pumped. Yes, Montreal trumps Govinda. Whodathunkit?) I've got a special Podcamp Montreal edition of the podcast in the works, but the other bit of news is that I'm going to be doing a presentation at podcamp. Alas, for filmi fans, I will not be speaking on anything remotely to do with Hindi cinema or Bollywood or Indian cinema of any description (unless someone...

do knot disturb: mere naal promo

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:04:38 -0400

Ah, finally, a new promo for Do Knot Disturb! At last we get a little more of a taste of the song "Mere Naal". I think I stand by what I said about it in the last episode of my podcast: But the bottom line? I'm still really looking forward to the film.

how did this happen?

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:25:34 -0400

And when I type "this", I mean "this": That is a stack of DVDs (and CD) which have found their way to my desk in the last couple of weeks. At the very bottom is the start of a collection of Malayalam films (though I need, ASAP, to find a good source for Sreenivasan's films, I have a kind of a project planned with them). Then there are a bunch of French films. Then a whole whack of films in the David Dhawan/Govinda filmography, and some more French films, and then right at the top? Four films I need to...

Totally Filmi Episode 011 - Do Knot Disturb (Music Edition)

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:40:25 -0400

Episode 011 - Do Knot Disturb (Music Edition) (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 52:05 [mm:ss] - size: 71.6 MB) Shownotes: So, I listen to the Do Knot Disturb soundtrack. And I think, "Hey, maybe I should do a quick episode, play a game of "what if?", and speculate on the connections between the songs and the film. A week later? The episode is almost an hour long, and features a discussion with a good friend and someone more expert than me in the ways of music. I say "discussion", because if there's one thing I'm not, it's...

show me your jalwa

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:07:52 -0400

Okay, so remember this post? The one where I invited you to make up your own mind about the two videos (one from Dil Bole Hadippa, the other from Wanted)? The one in which I suggested that you might be surprised about my opinion of the "Jalwa" video, based on everything else I'd previously said about the films and their music? Let's review: So, here's the thing. "Jalwa" surprised me. Totally. Most of the songs on the Wanted soundtrack I could leave, but "Jalwa"? I really like. So much so, that it's actually going to stay on my iPod. "So,...

do knot promote

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:00:22 -0400

So, according to this article, director David Dhawan is annoyed with producer Vashu Bhagnani for not doing enough promotion for their forthcoming film, Do Knot Disturb. And while I normally don't bother too much with what the press has to say, I'd say that even if Dhawan didn't "blast" Bhagnani as the headline suggests, there's a bit of a grain of truth in there. Because *I've* been wondering what's going on with all the promotion. Or lack thereof. And it makes me uneasy, because if there's one thing I've seen, it's when the makers of a film realize they've got...

Totally Filmi Episode 010 - Love Love Love Love Love Aaj Kal

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:00:40 -0400

Episode 010 - Love Love Love Love Love Aaj Kal (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 34:15 [mm:ss] - size: 47.1 MB) Shownotes: WARNING: This episode contains spoilers. In this episode, I look at the Imtiaz Ali directed film "Love Aaj Kal" ("Love Now and Then"), starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rishi Kapoor, and Giselle Monteiro. This is an episode that leaves me somewhat troubled, questioning my own thought processes. Which, you know, is not a comfortable feeling; yet, probably not such a bad thing in the end either, because how else do we learn and grow...

this time, my tonstant weaders, you be the judges

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:46:01 -0400

Okay, so is it my fault that both publicity departments decide to release new video clips that show up on the Bollywood Hungama website (in the headlines, no less) on the same morning? No, it is not. And I do have rather a number of opinions on both of these clips, some of which might surprise you. Don't assume anything based on previous posts dealing with these films. However, since I've recently been accused of opinions that lack in depth, I'll refrain from offering them up this time. Instead, I'll just ask you to watch, and to think about what...

wanted vs hadippa

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:06:21 -0400

Okay, I know, I'm kind of going through a whole "September 18th Releases" phase here (be grateful, I could go back to Govinda -- he has a release *this* weekend as well as on September 25th.). But you know, yesterday I became obsessed with watching the "Hadippa Remix" over on the YouTubes. And today? I found the promo for another clip from "Wanted" -- the song "Love Me". And I couldn't help doing a little compare and contrast as I watched both of them again. First, "Hadippa Remix": Next, "Love Me": Both videos are shot on similar kinds of dance...

how my mind works (or: scary, kids).

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:12:06 -0400

So. So. The soundtrack for Salman Khan's next film, "Wanted" is out. So I'm listening to it. It's not likely I'll get to see the film, as both it and "Dil Bole Hadippa" open the same weekend (that is, the weekend of Podcamp Montreal, where *I* will be), and unless someone (oh, hey -- BBC's Love Bollywood, you want to send a listener correspondent to the "Dil Bole Hadippa" Gala Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival? I'm willing) invites me to the TIFF Gala. Since that's not likely, and since I'll have to choose one, well, sorry Salman Bhai,...

zut, alors!

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:30:10 -0400

I am a HUGE fan of French cinema -- always have been, and it was further fueled during the time I lived in France. I own a vast collection of French DVDs. And one of the directors I particularly love is Francis Veber. Veber makes comedies. Meticulously written and scripted comedies. Nothing is left to chance in a Veber film, and he is as meticulous a director as he is a writer. And it shows in his films. Everything has a place and a purpose in a Veber film. A Veber film is sharp, smart, funny, and tight. In 2006,...

i may not know much about art, but i know what i like

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:22:34 -0400

In fact, it's not art so much, but Hindi film music that tends to be my weak spot. (Aside: someone who *does* know a thing or two about it is Filmi Girl. Her podcast is terrific. Go listen. I'll wait, go listen to her, then come back here.) One day I'll think it through a little better, but I do think there's some connection between how I feel about a movie's soundtrack and how I feel about the movie, but so far, it's just a vague feeling, not something I've tried to document in any way. Two recent soundtracks that...

Totally Filmi Episode 009 - No Shortcuts

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:08:30 -0400

Episode 009 - No Shortcuts (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 28:30 [mm:ss] - size: 39.2 MB) Shownotes: WARNING: This episode contains spoilers and a couple of bits of language that are NSFW/NSFK. No, I won't make a habit of it, but I think it was warranted, in this case. And a couple of funny things happened in the ten days since I recorded this episode: first, I did manage to rent a copy of the Steve Martin/Eddie Murphy starrer "Bowfinger" -- and it is a good film. So good, in fact, that I'll be buying my own...

really, i'll be moving on from Govinda any moment now. really.

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:25:24 -0400

No, I didn't plan on this, but the latest episode of the podcast is taking me a little longer to put together -- okay, I did manage to record it today, but there was a problem, and I'll have to redo it. So, I've been looking at the first videos that have come out about the upcoming film "Life Partner" -- and I was delighted to find that it's going to actually turn up at the Hindi cinema (though the same day as "Kaminey". Boy, do I wish I still lived in Toronto.) But. Seriously. I like Pritam as a...

however will I wait 'til October?

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:44:21 -0400

Okay, so you *know* that when this went up on the YouTubes yesterday, I'd be obliged to post it: You know, it's going to be hard to wait 'til October for this. Darned strike -- the original release date was July, IIRC. Oh, and David Dhawan? You want to invite an obscure Canadian podcaster from the middle of nowhere to come see a premiere of the film? No, really? (Yeah, yeah, I know, next lifetime...)

Totally Filmi Episode 008 - East Coast/West Coast

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:45:43 -0400

Episode 008 - East Coast/West Coast (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 11:40 [mm:ss] - size: 16.0 MB) Shownotes: The Hindi film producer/distributor strike is finally over, and the films begin to stream into the cinemas. The first two films released here were "New York" and "Kambakkht Ishq", and we went to see both to celebrate. Both films have their good points; both have flaws. Today's episode just skims the surface of both -- time will tell if my opinion of either will change, for better, or (more likely, I suspect) for worse. It's probably damning "Kambakkht Ishq"...

Totally Filmi Episode 007 - The Heart Is Canadian

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:07:48 -0400

Episode 007 - The Heart Is Canadian (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 16:65 [mm:ss] - size: 22.8 MB) Shownotes: Today, a Canada Day episode, inspired by the Six String Nation project, via the film "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani". Links: Six String Nation "Letter from British Columbia: The Golden Bough" by John Vaillant (author of "The Golden Spruce") Baba's Beach podcast Attributions: "Someday Soon" by Great Big Sea from Podsafe Music Network a.k.a. Music Alley from Mevio Jay Moonah of the Media Driving podcast "noodling" on Voyageur, the Six String Nation guitar, recorded at Podcasters Across Borders...

but wait. there's more.

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:14:34 -0400

Because I'm dimwitted and half asleep today, it's possible that Beth did *not* want to see Govinda in his day-glo orange suit. It's possible she wanted a Crappy Screen Cap (TM) of the booties Sanjay Dutt was wearing: I mean, both he and Govinda wear those stupid, loose, sleeveless shirt things that look good on Absolutely, Definitively No One on Earth, but at least Sanjay Dutt is wearing jeans and a leather jacket and cool goggles, as befits his cool police dude look. But those booties? Gack. I wondered if the cuffs were separate at first, but I don't think...

seriously, you couldn't make this stuff up if you tried

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:23:34 -0400

You know, I'd always meant to take a look at the David Dhawan/Govinda filmography, but I figured I'd do it *after* the SRK series, and *after* looking at the entire Govinda filmography. But it had completely slipped my mind that this year represents 20 years they've been working together, through 18 films (if you count the upcoming release "Do Knot Disturb"). So I figured, it's time to seize that moment. I've been doing some research, made a list of the films, seen who has what (and it looks like only 2 of the 18 are without subtitles, thank goodness) and...

Totally Filmi Episode 006 - Riding With The King - Part 1

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:58:32 -0400

Episode 006 - Riding With The King - Part 1 (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 16:45 [mm:ss] - size: 23.0 MB) Shownotes: In January of 2009, Newsweek magazine included Shahrukh Khan as one of 50 people on its list of the Global Elite, the only actor to make the list. I mean, I love him, and I know lots of Bollywood fans who do, too, but his inclusion in the list made me curious, and that got me thinking. Which led to the start of what will be a recurring series on the podcast: Riding With The...

the govinda factor (yes, again....)

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:16:02 -0400

So. I've been doing some research for future episodes of the podcast. Amongst the things I want to do at some point is a series on the films of Govinda. Wait! Don't leave yet! I promise, it's not what you think! Okay, maybe it is what you think. I know, I know, Govinda. What can I say? Well, not much, because I don't really understand it myself. So I thought, okay, what I'll do, I'll watch Govinda's films from the very beginning and see if I can figure out why I have this huge crush on him. Which, you know,...

Totally Filmi Episode 005 - 99

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:42:18 -0400

Episode 005 - 99 (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 13:03 [mm:ss] - size: 17.9 MB) Shownotes: The tagline for the film "99" is: "Part Fact. Part Fiction. Pure Fun." And it is -- it's one of the most entertaining films we've seen in a while. In fact, if you're reading this or listening to this episode in May, 2009, you should be running to a cinema to see this film. "99" (2009) Directed by Krishna DK and Raj Nidimoru. Written by Raj Nidimoru, Krishna DK and Sita Menon. Music by Ashu. Starring Kunal Khemu, Cyrus Broacha, Soha...

Totally Filmi Episode 004 - Luck By Chance

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:21:20 -0400

Episode 004 - Luck By Chance (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 11:10 [mm:ss] - size: 15.3 MB) Shownotes: In this episode, an insider's look at the Hindi film industry with Zoya Akhtar's directorial debut, "Luck by Chance". And although I mentioned that she's the daughter of famed dialogue writer Javed Akhtar, I failed to note that Javed Akhtar penned the dialogues and song lyrics for this film, so it's no surprise they are as sharp as the story itself. The songs in "Luck By Chance" integrate seamlessly into the plot, since they're all from the film that...

Totally Filmi Episode 003 - Cupid, Stupid

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:39:30 -0400

Episode 003 - Cupid, Stupid (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 17:05 [mm:ss] - size: 23.4 MB) Shownotes: Today, Bollywood meets Hollywood in the first of what I'm hoping to turn into a series of episodes comparing films and their remakes. In this episode, find out what happens when the Hollywood film "Hitch" is remade as "Partner". Additional Information and Links: As I mentioned in the episode, the brief dance scene in "Hitch" becomes the full blown "Soni de nakhre" in "Partner": Attributions: "Asereje" by Abdel (from Jamendo) "Tablas-Very Sharp" recorded by hammerklavier and uploaded to The Freesound...

Totally Filmi Episode 002 - Aaja Nachle

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:07:21 -0400

Episode 002 - Aaja Nachle (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 14:55 [mm:ss] - size: 20.5 MB) Shownotes: I was asked my opinion of the 2007 film "Aaja Nachle" ("Come, let's dance") directed by Anil Mehta, starring Madhuri Dixit, with Konkona Sen Sharma, Kunal Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Ranvir Shorey, Divya Dutta, Ragubhir Yadav, Vinay Pathak, Irrfan Khan, Akhilendra Mishra, Sushmita Mukherjee. Music by Salim-Suleiman; Choreography by Vaibhavi Merchant The twitter summary (ie, the plot in 140 characters): Shamli-born, NY dancer Dia goes home, and makes deal with local MP: she'll teach the locals to perform, he’ll stop destruction...

Totally Filmi Episode 001 - "The Wheel of Life"

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:30 -0400

Episode 001 - "The Wheel of Life" (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 23:35 [mm:ss] - size: 32.4 MB) Shownotes: In this episode, I get to see a Bollywood film on the big screen for the first time, an experience that can be summed up in one word: "Wow!" "Om Shanti Om" -- the "making of" "Dhoom Taana" -- promotional clip featuring bits from the song "Ajab Si" -- promotional clip featuring bits from the song The Making of Deewangi (the star-studded song and dance number) The Theatrical Trailer And, if you've been bitten by the Bollywood bug,...

sita sings the blues

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:09:35 -0400

If you haven't yet seen Nina Paley's exquisite animated film "Sita Sings the Blues", you should. It is wonderful. And free. Because of a complication over copyright, only promotional copies of the film can be distributed, so Nina Paley is giving the film away. There's some background on this in a piece today on the CBC website, entitled "Sita Sings the Copyright Blues". And Roger Ebert wrote about the film last December. Here's a taste of what the film is like: You can check out the official website to find out more about watching and/or downloading the film. And if...

heaven on earth

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:13:50 -0400

March 15th, 2009: Little India, Toronto

Totally Filmi Episode 000 - "Lights, Camera, Masala"

katherine@totallyfilmi.com (Katherine Matthews) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:18:30 -0400

Episode 000 - "Lights, Camera, Masala" (mp3 file - duration (mm:ss): 14:40 - size: 20.1 MB) Today's episode is likely the closest thing you'll get to a FAQ around here. There's a bit of an introduction to the podcast, some thoughts on expectations (or lack thereof), and a little bit about your host. Next time, less about me, and more about the movies.