If you have come looking for quick advice on how to sound like an expert about Bollywood in front of your ethnic friends, then you have come to the wrong place. Bollywood can't be captured in five hundred words, but I can provide the guide to get properly introduced into the world of Bollywood. These movies I have picked are always the same I recommend for anyone interested. Other Bollywood enthusiasts might take you down a different path with different movie stars that are older or younger compared to the movies I will share, but they will all most likely agree with at least one of my selections! It is also important to note that "Slumdog Millionaire" is the farthest thing from real Bollywood. Get ready to read some subtitles!
Before we get into some of the movies, it is definitely important to note the different themes that will always continue to arise within all of these movies. Romance is a HUGE part of Bollywood; there is a man, and there's a woman, and sparks will fly. Another aspect that might be obvious is that they are all musicals. Sometimes the genre changes, but you always end up getting a mix of genres, like a horror/musical/comedy/romantic comedy movie... yes, I have seen a movie like this, and no, I didn't like it.
Bollywood movies also have a very odd tradition that might seem really tacky in Hollywood and less respected, but in Bollywood, it's the norm; I'm talking about lip-synching the songs. Although it takes a jack-of-all-trades to do something as daunting as a musical in American culture, Indian Bollywood allows the best artists in their trade do their part of the work. There are some exclusive singers that even start doing all the songs for their star counterparts. A very famous singer/actor combo is Sonu Nigam and Shahrukh Khan, respectively. Although there are VERY few exceptions to this rule, take for instance a rising star in Bollywood, Ali Zafar.
1. "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge"
This movie has broken a movie record for being the longest-running movie in a movie theater since its original screening in 1995. It screened for 20 years, over one thousand weeks in a row. This movie is so good, I have probably seen it COUNTLESS times! This movie is your typical tropes of Bollywood all mixed up in the best possible way. The directing and execution is great, which really makes it easier for Hollywood viewers to be able to swallow. I still watch it today! This stars Shahrukh Khan and Kajol.
2. "Dil Chahta Hai..."
This is a great movie to introduce three amazing actors in the Bollywood business. The movie itself tries to take a more contemporary view on love that isn't so full of rays of sunshine and rainbows. It was the biggest movie the year it came out by displaying some of the sickest dance numbers I have ever seen in a movie. The movie also gave way to performances that were Oscar-worthy to me. It stars Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna, and Saif Ali Khan.
3. "Rang De Basanti"
This is my favorite movie, or at least it has been number one for a long time. Although I am an avid Hollywood viewer, this Bollywood movie took the cake. Bollywood movies are generally oversaturated with sexual images and lack story in order to show the next hot actor, so it surprised me more than anything to see how seriously this movie was taken. This movie is pure cinema at its finest, like 2001: A Space Odyssey, or O' Brother Where Art Thou? This also stars Aamir Khan.
I hope this helps in your endeavors to learn Bollywood. Let me leave you off with some unsung heroes that should be next after these three if you can't get enough! "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", "Veer Zaara", "Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham", "Mission Kashmir", "3 Idiots", "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", and "Lagaan".
