[ ACTOR P.O.V IX ] In the era of Slumdog

Bollywood today is known to be more than just a name derived from the dubious contortion of it's western counterpart. Now inspiring western directors to take up projects in India with local talent, bollywood has begun to more than just carve a niche... it is breaking into the mainstream. Although bollywood actors have appeared in western films for 2 or more decades (e.g., Amrish Puri, Irfan Khan, Om Puri, etc) current bollywoodmania is a result of bollywood moving forward relying on its own talents. Recent Oscar nominations snagged by bollywood films such as Lagaan and Water, and daring launch of movies centered on the indian experience (Namesake) has caused audiences to look east and forced them to shake it to the addictive rhythms, yea literally, click here .
(Foreign actors seeking bollywood opportunities ?? no joke!)

What I have been recently part of, has proved to me that infact bollywood has arrived. I am currently helping out with production tasks, such as gathering costumes, props, assisting with puppet making and publicity for a production called "The Great Puppet Bollywood Extravaganza!" yep!! that's right.... bollywood with puppets and even better as it is an improv show! Improv a 2 hour bollywood musical by a cast of actors who have had a lot of homework comprising of watching bollywood movies, dance numbers, songs, common bollywood names.

I have been impressed by the research, which involved understanding the basic plot line of a bollywood movie, what always has to happen? what never happens? It meant field trips to the Naz Cinema to watch Sharukh khan shake it along with 20 supermodelish backup dancers, rehearsals included rigorous dance warmups, scene work, understanding the emotional range depicted by bollywood where the concept of subtext is thrown out the window.
Not to mention the puppets show off the crafty and innovative talent.

So if you cannot get enough of bollywood or have yet to be bitten by the bug ... what better experience than a cozy little theatre in San Francisco, next door to the Union Square.

Opening Night : Nov 28th 8pm.
facebook event link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=34330403538

FilmyFare.. Is it sad I enjoyed this awards show better than the Oscars?

Worst Dressed
Deepika Padukone - yea we understand, you used to model so hence the stoic expressions, but lady learn to put on more faces and better dresses!

Bipasha Basu - uhm.. dont' like the hair and the dress is too 80s junior high school prom.

Gauri Khan - your husband wears better makeup and clothes than you do.

Vidya Balan - I had no idea you were from kerala.. Anyway, outfit was waay too orange.

Hrithik and Akshay - Do NOT like the low cut undershirts. Too cleaveagey...

Best Saris
Tabu, Kareena and Karishma Kapoor wore the prettiest sarees of the night. Gorgeous!

The bois
Kunal Kapoor looked HOT.
Rajpal Yadav should be considered host the next time around.

Speeches
Darsheel Zafary - awwwwwwww!
Kareena - Thank god you kept it short.
Rishi Kapoor - way too loud... Microphones are supposed to make you sound loud already.. No yelling required.

Highlights
Bout between SRK, Saif and Akshay Kumar - classic!
Darsheel Zafary's speech... awwwwwwww! he's such a cutie pie!
The na-real awards... nice..
Karan the queen Johar being pushed off the stage by the other hosts.. LOVED the harassment... heehee

WTF
What was up with showing Twinkle Khanna, Neetu Singh and Neetu Singh's daughter over and over and over and over again? Anytime these people smiled, the cameras would be ON them.

And to the two hosts - we get it.. your intentions were to be crude and rude while hosting, which you pulled off.. brava.. But did you have to mention again and again about your beloved intentions? Annoying!

Umm.. excuse me, but Deepika getting nominated for the Best Actress award was bullshit! Did the Filmfare judging/jury people NOT get the idea that this chick cannot act!

Shah Rukh winning the best actor award - NOOO! Darsheel, you so deserve it more... sniff

Ok, Aamir, we get it... You dont' accept awards and yes Indian Awards show do have questionable credibility... (hello.. deepika being nominated proves the false credibility)... BUT, come on.. Darsheel showed up and YOU SHOULD HAVE TOO. WTF Aamir? You show up for the Oscars in 2000 when Lagaan was nominated and ditch the Filmfare awards? Oscars are just as lame foo..

Hrithik - Why the angry face? You did not have a smile on throughout.. Come on, some of the jodha akbar jokes that the hosts made were funny! Laugh!

Wayyyy Too cheesy.. Yea we know it's Bollywood.. But come on!
Saif giving the best actress award to Kareena.

The towel scene - the hosts were pushing it..

Rishi Kapoor's achievement award - uhm.. I personally feel he's a bit too young for this award.. but whatev.. And your Thank You speech Rishi, - could've probably trimmed out about 1000 pounds of cheesiness. We know you love your wifey, and your kids, and your nieces, and your grandpa, dad, uncles, aunts...

Performances
Vivek Oberoi - Awesome! You were totally into it.. unlike Deepika..

Kareena - didn't like the showgirl outfit, but your mauja performance was pretty kick ass... Just gain some weight...

Himesh - oh Himesh... What was up with you having the pre-recorded singing playing in the background? It was good seeing you without your cap though for those few seconds.

Akshay Kumar - eh.. I've seen better performances by you..

Comments made by mother and father through the show
"Where is the indianness in any of these performances, speeches and movies?"

"She has all that money... Why is she so skinny?" - On Kareena's performance.

"Where's Amitabh? And the family?!"

"Oh so THAT'S how Himesh looks without his cap"

"Look, no Aamir and no film clips of Taare Zameen Par." "Look, no Aamir and no film clips of Taare Zameen Par." "Look, no Aamir and no film clips of Taare Zameen Par." "Look, no Aamir and no film clips of Taare Zameen Par." - God I get it!

Sigh! I LOVE BOLLYWOOD!

Kutiya won the oscar

Why would I say that? Cuz it sounded like it.. no I wouldn't have noticed that until my mom interjected right after the announcement

Announcer: "And the oscar goes to (Frenchis accent) Marion Coutillard/Kutiya"

Mom: "KYA!!! KUTIYA!!! WHAT!!"

At this point I realized I should have never asked her to switch to ABC even for the oscars.. she was doing fine with Zee TV :P

Congratulations to kutiya !!
She is an awesome actress no matter what.

*NOTE: Kutiya in hindi means female dog ... bitch

For other accounts of family members uttering obscenities .. click here