Five Bollywood movies you should see before you die!

At this point it is time to contribute to my favorite Bollywood star: the one and only Shah Rukh Khan. Instead of giving you a quick summary on his biography I would like to recommend you the best movies that I have seen with him so far.

When I started watching Bollywood movies, the first thing that he was the main character in almost every movie – and those in which he did not play a part were the movies that I liked the least. However, if you are curious about Bollywood movies but don’t know which one would be the best to start with: here is my top 5:

 

The easiest one to watch for beginners is I think “Veer and Zaara” – the greatest love story of all times. Wonderful music, great costumes and locations, and a more or less realistic story about a couple that cannot be together due to heart-breaking reasons. The movie gives you an impression of how beautiful both India and Pakistan are – with the characters you travel through blooming fields, small villages, mountains, beautiful riversides and cities. You can see celebrations of traditional ceremonies, dancing, even funerals, and how difficult it must be to actually travel through these countries. Although the movie takes about three hours, it is just magnificent, very emotional, colorful, and so romantic. See the trailer here: (Unfortunately I did not find an English version.)

If you are ready for a family drama movie, then watch “Sometimes happy, sometimes sad” – this movie is loaded with music, dancing scenes and emotions. Furthermore, you discover how we Europeans are perceived in the Indian (movie-maker’s) view, and how different in contrast the Indian culture is. Moreover, almost all important stars are in this movie! While the most famous six stars were dancing in front of 500 other dancers in the probably most impressive scene, the director of the movie was apparently so overwhelmed that he fainted – and eventually continued directing from a hospital bed, but being the luckiest man on earth (Bollywood Magazin, Ed. IV., p.24). Definitely one of the classics! See a teaser here: 

             A rather funny movie is “The Big Hearted Will Take the Bride” or also called “There Goes the Bride” (original title: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge”) – Bollywood stars wandering through the Alps, singing in Bavarian clothes, mocking the European cultures, and eventually a beautiful love story in a traditional setting: she is already engaged because her father decided it, then she meets him on the Europe trip, they hate each other, fall in love but don’t tell each other, and are separated back in London. With her family she has to go to India to get married, only thinking about him and that she will never see him again. Meanwhile, he is on his way to fight for his true love… Again, great music – especially dedicated to all kinds of different emotions! See the trailer here:

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai has a very interesting story line. Usually, in Bollywood movies it is all about the one love in your lifetime. “You only live once, die once, and love once” is what Shah Rukh Khan says in the movie after his wife has died. However, he gets a second chance… The story begins in a school campus and all clichés of high-school are dealt with. Anjali and Rahul are best friends – then Tina comes to the school and Rahul only has eyes for her. This is when Anjali notices that it is not only friendship that she feels for her best friend, but it is too late. She cannot see the couple happy although she loves both of them! So she disappears from Rahul’s life. Rahul and Tina get married, have a daughter that they call Anjali. Unfortunately, due to complications at the birth of Anjali, Tina has to die and writes her daughter 8 letters for her 8 birthdays, giving her the mission at her 8^th birthday to find her father’s true love… See the trailer here: 

And after this you are probably ready to watch the movie “Devdas”. This movie is not as light-hearted and funny as the others, but pretty dark, mystical, sad, and full of passion! The language is still old-fashioned – so you could say it is the Indian Jane Austen style. The songs are beautiful, and quite different from the usual happy-dancing-mood. The story is about two friends who do everything together until Devdas is sent to London to study, while Paro has to stay. They do not see each other for 10 years, and when he returns of course they realize that they are meant to be together. Unfortunately she is of a lower rank than he is – therefore, his family forbids him to marry Paro. This is when both their tragedies start – without each other, their lives are going into bad directions… See the trailer here: 

After all, Bollywood movies are very special I think – they polarize. Either you can lose yourself in the magic tales of true love, passion, colorful settings and tradition, or you consider the movies to be totally exaggerated and senseless. But before you make up your mind, watch a couple of movies – believe me, it is worth it!

Reference:

Kapoor, I. (2002). Beim Dreh von Khabi Khushi Khabie Gham.

            Bollywood Magazin, 24.