Madhuri and her men

I think that it is the case with many people when it comes to their favourite Hindi actor/actress to rank the jodis they made in order of preference. And that is exactly what I am going to do in this post. I saw most of the films Madhuri, being my favourite actress, played in. And I have, of course, my own preferences. Of course, she had many co-stars during her iconic career, but I just had to give my TOP 5.

5. Jackie Shroff 

What was great with this pairing is that Jackie looked exactly like a man should be, very manly, and although he is not especially handsome, one can easily find him really sexy. They could be sexy and sweet together.

4. Sanjay Dutt

 All those who keep saying they had an affair: out! This rumour has been proven wrong MANY times. Anyway - those two still made a great on-screen jodi and could be as well, and as you can see on this picture (from a movie that in the end was not made), hot.

Better than my poor words, here is a sweet song from my favourite Sanjay Dutt/Madhuri movie: Saajan. One of my absolute favourites.

3. Anil Kapoor

Please, don't kill me for this spot when it comes to Anil. I know they were the most iconic jodis up until DDLJ which started the SRKajol mania. But hey, he is still at the number 3 spot. I don't think I need to say much about them. Everybody can guess why their on-screen chemistry was reputed. And it has never been overrated. They created the magic of Tezaab together, they gave innocence to the gangster-movie Parinda, she was his Radha in Ram Lakhan... and through the fourteen movies they did together, their comfort level grew and grew.

My favourite song of theirs must be the magical and dream-like "Kismat se tum" (by the master A.R. Rahman) in Pukar - the last movie they were paired opposite in and the movie they had the greatest chemistry in, IMO.

2. Aamir Khan

Oooooooh, my Dil is sinking, I lost it somewhere and...Na jaane kahan dil kho gaya. Do you know? No? Errm, whatever.

Pity they only made two films together, because damn, they were a great jodi. Just sweet, powerful... And I just love young Aamir. I like him more than the current one, always showing his great business-sense and not giving a bloody kick-ass performance. (You can do it, Aamir!) I need to watch Dil again. Mein jaati hoon....I think I found the song which can tell me where I have lost my dil...

1. Shahrukh Khan

 

The King, the baadshah... Who else could rock the first place? He is not called the greatest lover for nothing. I have always preferred the jodi he makes with Kajol, but I think Madhuri always looked the best with him, they have an amazing comfort level, and the chemistry... always leaves my heart melting. Ok, they did not have space to have much chemistry in Anjaam (though they were both amazing ), unfortunately played in this bad and nauseous B-grade movie Koyla, but they were the only saving grace of a shallow movie like Dil To Pagal Hai, really looked like a married couple in Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, and I could feel Chandramukhi's love for Devdas, and the latter's attraction to the golden-hearted courtesan as if I was living it... Ok, and because this is them, not one but two videos tribute to their amazing chemistry.

Aaaah their performance in the last Filmfare awards was sheer magic...

Who do you prefer Madhuri with?

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Another small and humble post for the Magic of Madhuri week hosted by Gaja Gamini on her Bollywood-ish blog. 

Mini-reviews: The Best Movies of 2010

 NB: When I say "best movies", I mean of course my favourites, hence I'm only entitled to my opinion. :)

Dabangg 

Directed by Abhinav Kashyap
Starring: Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Arbaaz Khan, Sonu Sood
My Rating: 7/10

If there is one movie of 2010 to mention, this is definitely Dabangg which easily became an all-time blockbuster. And why is it surprising? It had all the  ingredients of a great success made in Bollywood. Great (and in the same time, funny) fighting scenes, great songs and a folk item number ("Munni Badnaam Hui" will be remembered for years), a beautiful heroine and a charismatic hero. I was glad to see an Indian movie being totally desi, with no NRI touch (which had become usual in Hindi movies of the last years). The one totally worthy of mention is, of course, Salman Khan. Dabangg is his movie. He carries it off perfectly on his shoulders alone. And he made the character of Chulbul Panday already cult. Surprisingly, this is a great movie but with a flawed script, there are some stupid (silly, idiotic, whatever) scenes (the fight scenes made me laugh so much and the hulk-like scene is unforgettable) but it has an old charm, it reminds you of the movies of late 80s and early 90s. This is Bollywood as most Hindi-cinema addict love it.

Band Baaja Baaraat 

Directed by Maneesh Sharma
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh 
My Rating: 7,5/10

 

Band Baaja Baaraat  was the surprise hit of last year. Deservingly? A big YES. In a country where marriage is so important, it is such a pleasure to see a movie about wedding-planning. I will mention the soundtrack first, where the catchy "Ainvayi Ainvayi" gets the big mention. It is a joyful and memorable song which will stay in your ears for a long time. Points goes to the movie for its realistic portrayal of the characters (and of Delhi), in the way they talk, they make their choices, Shruti and Bittoo are characters one relates to. They are strong-minded young people, with dreams and desires to lead a life as they choose it. In that way, the movie is very modern, and yet still remains Hindustani at heart. What makes it a very good movie is definitely the performances, Anushka Sharma is natural and convincing as Shruti, she plays her part with ease and proves she is the best out of the lastest generation of actresses. Ranveer Singh could not give a better performance as a debut, and every awards he got for it were rightfully deserved. He has a charm which cannot be ignored. Moreover, Anushka and Ranveer makes a natural and lovely jodi, at ease with each-other.

This is Maneesh Sharma's directionnal debut and one can only praise him. This is a great romantic movie and one of the best romcoms of the few last years.

My Name is Khan 

Directed by Karan Johar 
Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Kajol
My Rating: 8/10

Here is a movie whose topic cannot let you insensitive, 9/11 attacks being events which marked the entire world. The story about a simple man, good at heart, with a simple message to the President of the US "My Name is Khan and I am not a terrorist" is one which will touch your heart. Shahrukh Khan gives here one of his best performances as the autistic Rizwan Khan. His gestures, his dialogue delivery, his standing... everything was the proof of a great actor, being only and only the character. Rizwan is a heart-warming character, and it is impossible not to melt before his naivety and his natural goodness. Kajol was great as the strong Mandira, you could feel her pain as a woman and a mother, and her will to fight which was very inspiring. One could reproach to My Name is Khan its simplistic message, but this is where the strength of the movie lies and also its (over)melodrama from times to times but this wears the mark of Karan Johar. The movie is a beautiful way to look at the world, Rizwan has a beautiful way to look at the world, and it warms one's heart to see a simple and beautiful movie like this one. It is definitely a human movie.

To you, what are the best movies of 2010? :)

Happy Holi!

Aaah Holi... The source of many joyous (and colourful) songs in Bollywood. So, to celebrate it my own way, I just selected my three favourite Holi songs.

 3. Let's Play Holi - Waqt - The Race against Time
I have not watched the movie yet, but this song is too catchy for me not to mention it.

2. Holi Ke Din - Sholay
The perfect Holi song! Joyous, lively... and served with Hema Malini's grace.

1. Soni Soni - Mohabbatein
I did not like the movie, but the great soundtrack saves it and Soni Soni is defintiely the gem, the one which stands out. What can I say more? Watch it to see by yourself!

Happy Holi!

Devdas (2002)

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali 
Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Kirron Kher, Jackie Shroff
Released: 2002
My rating: 10/10

Devdas can be considered as the Indian "Romeo and Juliet", a legendary and tragic love-story of modern times in India. And when it saw the light as a short novel written in 1901 by a young and drunk Sarat Chandra Chatterje, he did not know Devdas would definite the passionate and tragic lover when it would be published, more than a decade later, in 1917 (despite its strong objections).  With Devdas started a new era, be it in Indian literature but also in Indian cinema, as a young P. C. Barua said "Devdas will make film history!"  The novel, which is set in 19th Century Bengal, was the object of many movie adaptations, already in 1927 until our time, and the story still captivates millions of people. One of the most recent adaptations is the one by Sanjay Leela Bhansali released in 2002 which had a tremendous success in India, but also abroad as it made it to Cannes and created some interest from the West towards the Hindi cinema industry. The movie was praised and created a new era for the future and success of Bollywood in Europe.

Paro and Devdas - the epidome of tragic love-story

The story is not complicated. Devdas (Shahrukh Khan) and Paro (Aishwarya Rai) are childhood sweethearts. Devdas is sent to study abroad, in London, by a displeased father. Years later, he comes back as a grown-man while Paro blossomed into a stunning and celestial beauty. All those years, she yearned for his return, lighting up a lamp which no force on Earth can extinguish. What used to be childhood affection turns to passionate love. But, due to an argument between the two families and to Paro's lower social status, the parents of Devdas refuse even the slightest idea of marriage. After an argument with his father, Devdas runs away, leaving both home and Paro, and sends the latter a letter saying no love ever were between the two. Realizing soon he did a mistake, Devdas comes back to her on the very day of her wedding, with a much older man. Heart-broken, Devdas turns to alcohol and seeks solace from a courtesan, Chandramukhi (Madhuri Dixit) to forget his pain, and hence starts his self-destruction... 

Devdas, my first Bollywood movie. The most beautiful cinematic moment I have ever lived. I shall never forget it. I still remember the shock and the amazement it provoked in me. From the beginning, I was hooked into a masterpiece larger than life.

This part is so sad...

Visually, Devdas is breath-taking, in every frame, every details, nothing is misplaced. With Devdas, Sanjay Leela Bhansali proves he is not only a filmmaker but a painter giving life and motion to his pictures. Throughout the movie, there is a predominance of red/orange tones, which gives the visual atmosphere a vibrant feeling, vibrant is also the perfect word to describe Bhansali's work from the vibrant visuals, vibrant characters and vibrant story. There is an aura of greatness in every frame. In the end, the visuals serve the story, not the contrary. Not once the visual glory of Devdas makes you loose the touch with story.

The true greatness of the movie definitely lies in the story and the characters. Be it Devdas, Paro or Chandramukhi, they are all human, with their qualities and flaws; all those three characters cannot be called any less than complex characters. Devdas is a spoilt young man, arrogant and sometimes violent, but he is kind-hearted and loves Paro with all his heart. He is weak, but in the same time more human than most people around him. He will have to pay for his weakness all his life. Paro is this dignified and proud being, and as Devdas got a punishment for being weak, she will also be punished for her vanity. Then appears Chandramukhi, as the moonlight appears in the darkest of nights. She is a prostitute, and this illusion of her being a woman with no value in life disappears as soon as she takes care of Devdas, dutiful, generous and giving.

 

Shahrukh Khan is amazing as the tragic-lover Devdas, and gives us here the greatest performance of his career, I even think this is the best male performance from an actor ever. His Devdas is real. He is Devdas, in his every breath, every glance, every gesture, every word. Shahrukh brings an aura of grandeur in the beginning as a gentleman coming from London in the first half, before we can feel his suffering, in the second half of the movie, as if we are living it. Despite the character's flaws and mistakes, Shahrukh Khan makes us pine for him. Devdas is heartbreaking.

Paro - the celestial beauty

Aishwarya Rai is wonderful as the dignified and dutiful Paro. She has never been more beautiful than in Devdas. Her eyes are crystal-clear and delivers every emotions Paro feels: her love, her hopes, her braveness, her despair and her pride. There is a tremendous difference between the Paro of the beginning, and the Paro of the second half. Paro is first a young and stunning woman yearning for Devdas and dreaming of a marriage with him, but when she is wedded to a much older man than her, she lives her fate with dignity and (proud) silence. In the second half, she seems almost haughty, and  possesses the aura of a real aristocrat; everything, from her glance to her standing, is regal. Her character is admirable.

Chandramukhi - the golden-hearted courtesan

But the heart-stealer is definitely Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi. Stunning and glowing like the moonlight, she first attracts your eyes and then you give her your whole compassion as Chandramukhi soon shows herself to be a gold-hearted woman, who gives her love and does not expect it in return. She knows Devdas will only love Paro, and only Paro, but she feels happy and grateful to have been touched by God's grace. In this way, she can only remind one of Meera, the famous poetress in love with Lord Krishna, who sung and danced her whole life to praise him. Chandramukhi is then definitely Devdas's Meera, as she dedicates her whole soul to him and worships him. She is also a strong and determined woman, who despite being a courtesan, possesses her self-esteem too. The scene where she slaps Kali-babu is one of the most memorable of the whole movie. Madhuri Dixit gives her whole soul to the character, and who cannot drown in her most expressive eyes?

Kahe Chhed Mohe - a pure and marvellous dancing moment

One cannot speak about Devdas without mentionning the soundtrack and the breath-taking dance numbers. Every track is marvellous and compliments the movie marvelously. No song is misplaced, and each of them serves the story. You fall in love with Shreya Ghosal's voice as soon as Silsila Ye Chaahat Ka starts playing. Morey Piya is beautiful, powerful story-telling of the love of Radha and Krishna, so is its picturization made of a shy sensuality. Kahe Chhed Mohe is magical and fantastic, it is to me the most beautiful dancing moment ever. Definitely the magnum opus of Madhuri Dixit when it comes to dance. Classical and Indian in every form. But one of the highlights of the movie is without doubt the extraordinary Dola Re Dola which demanded great dedication from both Madhuri and Aishwarya. The result is magnificent. Every steps, choreographed by Saroj Khan, is executed flawlessly. The dance is lively, and the colourful set adds to its splendor. We feel the emotions, the love and the friendship of Paro and Chandramukhi from every smile and gesture of them. Joy is written all over their faces. This is not too much to call Dola Re Dola the most stunning and greatest dance sequence in the history of Indian cinema.

Dola Re Dola - breath-taking in every sense of the term

In the end, Devdas is and will always be (to me) the summum of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's work. It is perfect in every frame, breathes life and tragedy, actually emotions is another great word to describe this movie. It captures feelings, and humanity perfectly. Two years after watching it for the first time, the shock is still the same. I still have the very feeling of this movie touching something greater than life. In the end, Devdas is much more than a cinematic work.

The eyes of pain...