Trying to get a Manhattan theater to tell me which Bollywood flick they were showing:
She struggled through something that sounded like the wonka-wonka teacher in a Charlie Brown special… ?What?s that first word again?? ?Dill. As in pickle.? Ah, dil. It?s a clue, Watson. Unfortunately, it?s also the first word in 17 million other Hindi film titles which mix-and-match dil, kya, main, nahin, and pyar. Like the housing developments of Seattle (timber, wood, lake, lawn), no other words are allowed.
It might solve the problem if they started releasing them with dual titles, or just English titles (“Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Glum” might be a clever — if not 100% accurate — translation of “Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Ghum”).
But it might also make things more surreal and interesting to do it this way:
“My Heart Spoke For Itself” “With My Heart…” “The Braveheart Will Take the Bride” (this one was actualy used at a recent Indian film festival in NYC) “A Little Something Happens”
It does raise some interesting problems, though. How would you translate “Lagaan” exactly? [“Tax”? Not exactly a winner] Or “Devdas”? [God Slave? sounds like a death metal band]
Very funny I was reminded of seinfeld episode with kramer as the movie phone guy without a touch tone phone..read below if u did not watch that episode.. may be u should talk to kramer ..he can guide u real well even without a touch tone phone..wonder how he will spell indian movie names hope ur movie search bore fruit and pickle . Incase it didnot check these sites out. u should be able to book online and know movie schedules way ahead by email. I get to know about indian movies played in indianapolis via email and I always book online for all my friends too .check these links. http://nowrunning.com/SearchHalls.asp?region=USA&USState=NY http://nowrunning.com/events/eventlist.asp?state=NY http://www.mastentertainment.com From seinfeld: seinfeld episode with kramer as the movie phone guy without a touch tone phone Kramer Says: “Hello — And welcome to movie phone. If you know the name of the movie you’d like to see, press one. ” George Says: {pushes one} “Come On, Come on” Kramer Says: “Using the touch tone keypad, please enter the first three letters of the movie title now.” George : Keys in numbers Kramer Says: “You’ve selected — Agent Zero. If that’s correct press one.” George Says: “What?” Kramer Says: “You’ve selected — Brown Eye Girl. If this is correct press one.” Long Pause… Kramer Says: “Why don’t you just tell me the name of the movie you selected?” George Says: “Chunnel” Kramer Says: “To find the theater nearest you, please enter your five digit zip code now.” George : Keys in numbers Kramer Says: “Why don’t you just tell me where you want to see the movie?” George Says: “Lowes Pagagon 84th and Broadway.” Kramer Says: “Chunnel is playing at the 84th street cinema in the main theater at 9:30 pm.” George : “Yeah now I got’cha” Kramer Says: “It’s also playing in theater number two at 9 o’clock.”
Love it! Maybe instead of literal translations, poetic ones:
Maine Pyar Kiya -> Let’s Do Friendship Darr -> K-K-Keira (calling Ms. Knightley) Sholay -> The Fugitive (I swear — a no-armed man killed my friend!) Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak -> Dazed and Confused Mirch Masala -> Thelma and Louise
I actually thought Heeero was clearly going to be a Bollywood film…
And then there’s the reverse translation issue. Rediff is reporting that the actual title of the Hindi version of Bride and Prejudice is going to be:
“Balle Balle! Amritsar to LA”
I’m not joking, and they’re not either. Read about it here.
Well, if Gurinder Chadha got away with “Football, Shootball, Hai Rabba!” she can get away with anything.
Balle balle…? sigh.
The moral of the story is never call FANDANGO on Mangalwar.
Interesting comments , sometimes happy, sometimes glum, God’s slave, football shotball hi rabba,lets do friendship are very funny lines..thanks for sharing.. I took my all my seventy year old aunts to “Titanic” movie in india 5-6 yrs back on one of those india trips.. To my surprise they had true translation of all the english dialogues in hindi…watching movies like titanic, jurassic park, speed in india with hindi dialogues was fun too, when they translate them the other way from english to hindi or telugu.