We checked out our first Hindi movie the other night and I’ve got to say I’d been sort of dreading it! Bollywood movies have been making quite a splash in the UK for some time now and without seeing one i thought that I’d pretty much made my mind up about them. Add to that the fact that i knew i wasn’t going to understand a word and you can maybe forgive my reluctance on the night.
We were taken by friends to see Bachna Ae Haseeno, a light hearted family flick about a cassanova character who eventually comes good.
I didn’t like it. OK I couldn’t understand the dialogue and I know we are talking about an entirely different culture but it was just sooo cheezy! There was absolutely no grip in reality – they guy looked like a poor man’s Nicholas Lyndhurst and there he was strutting around with a hareem of super models gasping after him. Come on!
At the interval I ran my interpretation of the plot past my Indian friend who confirmed that I had mostly got the jist and that there were no major surprises despite my total lack of understanding. I think because of this I became a little more involved during the second half and I must admit there was even a twinge of enjoyment. I put this down to the awesome sound system that resides in the cinema – this thing was pumping out some serious decibels, way more than your typical UK multiplex.
So a couple of days passed and my hardline stance definitely softened, Marcia had the title tune on her mobile and we even Youtube’d some of the other numbers to take another listen. Then the unthinkable – I actually caught myself casually humming one of the tracks from the film when walking to work one day! How could this happen? I hadn’t wanted to go to the flick and I’m pretty sure I didn’t enjoy being in the cinema!!!
Another Indian friend confirmed my fears that I had seriously under-estimated the power of Bollywood. To get what I mean you must first understand how absolutely massive this phenomenon is over here. Our daily rags would be put to shame at the sheer scale of celebrity cultism over here, and it’s not just the cinematic side. Each of the Bachna Ae Haseeno tracks have been pop smashes, as are all of the top Bollywood hits’. They’re played in the malls, on the radio and in the bars – you literally can not escape them.
And just like the chart hits in the UK, they are catchy numbers that you often want to hate but just can’t. And just like the UK, Bollywood producers are not afraid to raid the archives for hits – the title tune for this movie was a 70’s hit that’s had a makeover.
As for me – I’mnow secretly looking forward to my next hindi movie!
Tags: bollywood, living in india
