India Masala
Bollywood and culture in an emerging India
The Last Lear: Not Bachchan’s best but watch it for the performances
There has been so much controversy about the release of “The Last Lear” that it’s easy to overlook this is a film that has been well received in the international festival circuit, has some of India’s best known actors and has even been touted as Amitabh Bachchan’s finest work yet.
Honestly, I don’t agree with that last statement — but then people are entitled to their own opinion.
Undoubtedly, Bachchan plays the role of Harish Mishra, an ageing but passionate Shakespearean actor to the T, with dexterity and skill.
But this is not his best. In fact, I would even say his is not the best performance in the film.
God Tussi Great Ho: Just watch Bruce Almighty instead
Bollywood hasn’t always had the most original of ideas, but “God Tussi Great Ho” takes the cake.
Not only is the film a clear rip-off from the Morgan Freeman-Jim Carrey starrer “Bruce Almighty”, it manages to be such a badly pulled off one that you want to rip off the writer-director-actors heads.
Getting real in Bollywood
I am a bit wary when filmmakers announce Bollywood projects based on real life people. After all, the word Bollywood evokes images of glitzy song-and-dance routines in exotic locales. And that’s largely true even though the Mumbai film industry is showing signs of opening up to bolder, more realistic themes.
Take “Rave Party” for example. The story of Scarlett Keeling, the British teenager murdered at a Goan beach, is being made into a film.
Big B turns blogger
Amitabh Bachchan started a blog on April 17. And has posted almost daily since, generating hundreds of comments from fans around the world.
His blog is ostensibly about his life and films, but also a platform where the 65-year-old Indian superstar gets even with the “rumor laced spicy barbs” of the media.
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The Wall
