On Friday, I left the City of Brotherly Love for NYC for the press conference surrounding the May 21st release of Kites, the Bollywood film directed by Anurag Basu, produced by Rakesh Roshan and starring his son, teen hearthrob Hrithik Roshan. Disclaimer: I am no Hrithik fan. When I was a freshman in high school, both the girls and the guys my age were going gaga over Hrithik’s debut in Kaho Naa… Pyar Hai, but he doesn’t do it for me, never did. Sorry. But in deference to all you Hrithik fans who have been hounding me for this post, I will share all the details from Friday via the notes I took in timeline form. And don’t forget, I’ll be posting my review for Kites on Friday!
First, a brief synopsis of the 130 min. film (the American version is 90 min, stripped down a la American director Brett Ratner). Kites stars Hrithik as J., a hustler/dance teacher working in Las Vegas. He is pursuing the affections of Gina, daughter of a wealthy casino owner and one of J.’s dance student. At the same time Gina’s brother, Tony is engaged to Natasha (played by Mexican telenovela actress Barbara Mori). When J. and Natasha’s paths cross, sparks fly. Cars crash. People dance in the rain. Or something like that. (If you think this sounds like the plot of some Mills and Boon dime novel, well then you’ve clearly never seen a Bollywood film.)
4:15PM I walk past the haute couture on Madison Avenue in NYC to enter the Four Seasons Hotel, where the conference takes place. I wander around the lobby for a while, trying to find the elevator. Pass clusters of anxious-looking young desi girls who peer at me, hoping I know something about Hrithik’s whereabouts.
4:30PM Head to the lounge on the 5th floor where reporters from all over are setting up camp. Start live-tweeting on SM’s new Twitter account, @sm_live. Meet two Twitter friends, @filmigirl and @LakshmiGandhi, who are also covering conference.
4:45PM Messing about with camera in hallway when Rakesh Roshan and Anurag Basu come by. Some of the journo folks stop him so they can have their pictures taken with them. Anurag Basu is quite tall and wearing a white half-sleeved button-down shirt. Rakesh leaves but not before ordering a chicken sandwich from room service.
5:15PM Led into a conference room with about six other reporters. Thirty-five year old director Anurag Basu comes in and sits at the table, directly across from me. He has since changed to a long-sleeved black button down. He is hearty and jovial. He gamely answers questions about his childhood in India, where he grew up in a small town. “I can count on two hands the number of films I saw growing up,” he recalls. He repeatedly emphasizes that at heart, he is more of a storyteller than a director. “I would not make a film that would not do well in my own town.” His thoughts on working with Hrithik? “He wanted to do everything [the stunts] himself – unnecessarily. I would go and check his knees every five minutes. He takes everything too seriously.”
On Bollywood newbie Barbara Mori? “I like Spanish girls. That is my weakness.” On filming in Vegas, “I was hungover every morning that we shot in Vegas. Those were the best scenes.” On working on his first big-budget film? “We say that we are becoming global – but our global audiences are just NRI audiences – we are not truly global. This film is global.” His favorite film director? Rajkumar Hirani. Finally, we quiz him about the reported kissing scene in the movie. His thoughts? “I don’t know how you can make a romantic film w/o a kissing scene? How can you fall in love with a girl without kissing her?” You listening, Censor Board?
5:35PM After a five-minute interval, we hear a rustle and Hrithik comes in, flanked by two bodyguards. One reporter tries to take a picture before being shooed away by the bodyguards, who then leave. It takes me a moment to recognize Mori, who looks like a bored pre-teen or some sulky reporter in her short olive-green skirt and black wrap-around sandals. It’s only when she sits down and whispers to Hrithik that I realize it is the Kites Heroine. She slouches down in her chair and leans back while Hrithik makes pleasantries, politely agreeing to keep an eye on someone’s tape recorder. He is deferential and respectful, directing questions to Mori whenever possible. He also clarifies her answers when her accents makes it difficult for folks (including myself) to understand her. She shows us her tattoos, including the small kite tattoo on her left wrist, which apparently the entire cast, including Hrithik and Basu also had done in Vegas. (“It was a bonding moment,” said Basu.)
Hrithik on Kites: “I was a little depressed at that time, I was contemplating changing my profession and doing something else. Then came Kites. The vision was so strong. I could see my face on the character.”
Barbara: “Coming in, I didn’t know anything about Bollywood, but I started watching films. I watched Hrithik’s films, my favorite was Lakshya. The culture is so different, we don’t do dancing in Mexico and all that was really new for me.”
Hrithik: “I’ve done 14 films in 10 years, every film has been a stepping stone towards my magical light. I’m just following this magical light that I know exists.” Huh?
Barbara on cancer: “I had cancer when I was 29 and I was contacted by a producer from India. Everyone in the film is talking about their own story. I hoping that by sharing my own story, it will make young women more conscious, encourage them to visit their doctor. Early detection is so important.”
6:15PM: Rakesh Roshan comes in with his brother, Rajesh Roshan, who does the music for the film. The crowd of reporters in the conference room with me hushes.
Rakesh on working with Basu: “I saw Basu’s film Gangster and I was completely bowled over by the film. I called up Anurag right then and there, he came over in two hours later. I said you’ve done a fantastic job, you know what films are about. I called you for one reason. I would like Hrithik to work with you.”
On filmmaking in general: “I always take on subjects which challenge me and give me sleepless nights.” I ponder the significance of salsa dancing in the context of things. Huh?
On Hrithik and Hollywood: “My intention was only to show globally how good Hrithik is, although he was getting a lot of offers from Hollywood before, but nothing exciting. If he gets one from Hollywood that excites him now, maybe he’ll consider it…”
Rajesh on having the majority of his soundtrack cut from the American version of the film: “You can look at my face, it speaks volumes. My face shows a broken heart.”
At the end of the conference, half of the reporters clap for the brothers as they leave. The crowd disperses. In the hallway, the photographers are upset because Hrithik has already left.
End scene.
I can’t even bring myself to read this post. Because all the interviews with the Roshans the past year have been nauseating. Absolutely nauseating.
Putting themselves as some kind of path breakers in INDIAN cinema, note not Bollywood, but INDIAN cinema. Acting as if they and their vision were some kind of great artistic thought that had to fight to be realized.
although the director has made some good movies and his name is Anurag not Anurang
Hrithik is a clean cut kid and his most loyal audience is among the children who saw his first movie, “Kaho na…” My daughter who was a pre-teen then almost switched over from her favourite (Aamir) but my son a pre-pre-teen got sold and hooked right away. When my son saw the Pepsi parody of Hrithik starring Shahrukh, he almost smashed our TV in rage. The Roshans have taken a gigantic risk of humongous proportions. There’s been Cruise’s cocktail and Swayze’s Dirty Dancing before this. I would be surprised if the movie breaks any barriers, but it might yet draw in some crowds. But for now the safest bet for any Indian film-maker hawking his wares out West is the 3-C (Caste, Cows, Curry) formula.
“I don’t know how you can make a romantic film w/o a kissing scene? How can you fall in love with a girl without kissing her?†You listening, Censor Board?”
Don’t have anything against kissing scenes, except when they are gratuitous, but there used to be a time when you could make a romantic movie without a kissing scene and it still is possible. Even Hollywood somehow managed to make some of the most romantic movies without sex scenes or anything too graphic. And they still stand the test of time:) Although they have always had kisssing scenes.
The Roshans are just so incredibly sickening. Phillygrrl, would you do a write-up about Mani Ratnam’s Raavan and Raavanan if they have premieres in NY?
“Acting as if they and their vision were some kind of great artistic thought that had to fight to be realized.”
To be fair, if that’s how they come across (I have listened/read enough of their press conferences), I’ve yet to listen to an actor/director etc. in Hollywood/Bollywood/whatever cinema these days who hasn’t acted as if their vision/performance was some kind of struggle/important artistic effort. Just listen to all the self-indulgent acceptance speeches at the Oscars/Golden Globes etc. These days a lot of them act as if they’re giving birth on stage.
Sorry, should read I haven’t closely listened to/read enough about their press conferences.
what’s with all the hrithik hating? best actor just under akshay!!!
in bollywood that is. 😉
Definitely possible to make a romantic movie without kissing… Hollywood has done it too (although that was mostly in the black-and-white and/or musical era)…
I used to like Hrithik. I was in high school when Kaho Na… came out and I remember thinking it was hilarious – but I was definitely not obsessed to the level of fan-crazed girls in India (when I heard about that, I was surprised). But I did like him. In recent years, I’ve become rather irritated with him and his family. As someone said above, it’s like they believe they are the divine’s gift, not just to Bollywood, not just to Indian cinema, but to Indians both at home and abroad. Granted, I get some of this attitude from other actors too – Aishwarya Rai and Anil Kapoor come to mind. But in those cases, there has at least been some success. Aish has her beauty and is recognizable, perhaps memorable from Bride & Prejudice. Anil Kapoor rides the successful wave of Slumdog Millionaire even today (I cringe every time an American TV host calls him the biggest Bollywood actor in India…uh, no?). But Hrithik? Jodhaa Akbar was good, but I think that was his only largely successful movie in the past five years, right? I don’t think his family’s attitude is warranted. Also, I think it’s funny every year when SRK and Saif host the Filmfare awards and make fun of everybody. Most people can accept it with grace, but Hrithik obviously has not been able to (which is kind of funny in itself), but I digress.
Also, I’ve heard the soundtrack – it’s been on iTunes for a couple weeks now and full versions of the song available on the hindi song websites (e.g. dishant.com). It’s nothing special, sounds like most other soundtracks of Bollywood cinema today – trying way to hard to be “Western”, lots of English words, etc., etc.
Hrithik can be a great actor if he tries. Unlike SRK, who does the same melodrama-pursing his lips-crying act in every scene, Hrithik has possibilities.
The chica has good choice though. Lakshya is definitely his best film even if it devolves towards the end.
What Hollywood offers are coming his way? Oh puhleeze, he was passed up for the Prince of Persia, a film he was heavily lobbying for as his entry to H’ town. Newbie agent couldn’t land him the deal. What’s amazing is how they worked the press to a half-hearted, lukewarm response. Heavens, the good ole days of junkets and press meets meant you shared a damn drink with the actor.
I hate Bollywood.
From the sound of things, your son has bigger problems than that ad.
I saw only one movie of Hrtithik’s – Mission Kashmir. He was a passable actor. He seemed to be better at his craft than the really mediocre Aishwarya Rai.
I saw clips of some other movie – Dhoom 2. He came across as gayer than RIcky Martin in one of the dance numbers i saw.,
I saw clip of him in anther movie with Bacchan Jr. Some comedy. He was overacting to the max. at that point, I had to rate him even below the stupendously bland Aishwarya Rai.
If he wants a chance in Hollywood, he needs to get into movie like some of the South Americans and Mexican actors. No one is going to give him a starring role.
Who here thinks the Slumdog guy looks kind of lame in the action scenes of the Last Airbender trailer. I still hate Bollywood.
OK, since i made a comment, I owed it to the thread to actually check out the trailer. Why the hell is it calld KITES? Looks like a Direct to video movie. It is only fitting a hack director edits this down for US audiences. Though I guarantee that this movie will mostly have Indians going to the multiplex. I cant think of any of the indie or mainstream american audiences watching this. . What is the fuss about the kissing scene? There has been kissing in south indian movies for a long time even if it wasnt common. And kissing seems more common in Hindi movies lately. Besides, is kissing for even the conservative Indians more uncomfortable to watch than some of the dance numbers?
Hrithik was a cute kid when he started out but now he has completed his transformation into disney Hercules and is now too plastic. He’s aging now pretty badly*. The Khans were a lost cause regarding aging but to see this fellow changed into grotesque bulky hercules is a bit too much. I agree that he was a comparatively good actor when he started out but now he is beyond horrible in his acting skills. I wonder if the rumors of him having an affair with Barbara are true. *I know people will disagree but in my humble opinion, he is starting to look old and scruffy.
Marketing a film is not bad.Since the Roshan’s are trying hard to get into the hollywood movie market, i don’t see anything wrong with it.Some people seem to read too much into it.
Everybody who makes a movie brags as if their movie is the next best thing.Nobody will say “Oh our movie is the regular run of the mill crappy movie”.
Indians(including me) generally tend to judge their own harshly(many times they over do it).So please take it easy on the roshan’s and their movie.
If it is a hit, it will be a good start for other aspiring indian directors and actors to make the transition from bollywood to hollywood.
There is a simple solution for people so bothered by Indian movies, don’t watch them. Save a lot of heartburn
Hrithik’s dad said kites are romantic.
I’m guessing the movie is really quite good. Hrithik gave it four thumbs up.
Rahul gets the comment of the week award. Anyway, I checked out the wikipedia listing. It seems to have been written up by a fanboy. So i checked imdb. One of the actors complains that he was not paid by the production and SAG supposedly issued a notice that they were in default. The actor played the DEA agent partner of the brother-in-law on Breaking Bad.
I love Indian movies and I would trade any any five, I mean any five, Indian movies for everything Hollywood has ever made, if my life depended on it. I discovered what plastic acting and trite scripting is only when I moved to the US and started watching Hollywood! Hrithik is a fine star and I am going to watch Kites for sure!
You don’t know how dreadful it is for me to go back and try to find some, just SOME of his nauseating comments. But I am doing so because some think the only reason the Roshans have become nauseating is because they are talking up their film. NO, it is because while trying to talk up their film, they put down all of Indian cinema. This has happened a few other times with other some other BW directors, Anurag Kashyap and Rensil D’Silva. But it was an offhand comment. With the Roshans and Hrithik on the other hand, it’s a constant put down of the industry that gave them their stardom. And then not even acknowledging that mainstream BW does not encompass all of Indian cinema or Hindi Cinema. Older Hindi films of Guru Dutt et al are great films, that surpasses much of what the Roshans may have done in their whole career.
India has a variety of industries, as well as an art/parallel cinema.
Also, again. Dance numbers are not obsolete. The dude made his career on dance numbers. Since everyone keeps dissing on BW, let me ask you, do Western musicals have dance numbers? Yes they do. Do dancers come out of nowhere, yes they do. I particularly enjoyed “Across the Universe” recently (though I only got to watch half of it). Look the musical format is not something bad. It’s how the film uses it. Just like any other film genre, they can use it well, or badly. India seems to have used song picturizations in a variety of ways. Some work well, some don’t work. Sometimes a dance number comes out of nowhere, but sometimes it fits in perfectly with the film.
I do sometimes wish India had more of a traditional musical, i.e, some of the Hollywood musicals. But nevertheless, like I said, in the various film industries, songs have been used in different ways. Even art/parallel films use song picturizations, many times in unique ways.
It’s something that had evolved.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bfAncDrywo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.naachgaana.com%2F2009%2F05%2F17%2Fbollywood-is-obsolete-now-says-hrithik%2F&feature=player_embedded
I saw Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa on TCM. The artistry in that movie is light years ahead of some of the current Bollywood crap , including the self consciously ones that atttempt to reach out to Western audiences but fail.
Across the Universe sucked and I like Beatles songs. I would rather watch this bizarre Shammi Kapoor Beatles song knockoff than watch Across the Universe. At least I can laugh at it. So yeah, there are exceptions where I may actually enjoy an occasional Bollywood performance for whatever reason.
Jyotsana, you are one of the viewers that make DISH TV very happy.
The Bollywood-hating here is so odd. It strikes me that some people are trying to impress with their “I don’t watch that stupid stuff the unwashed masses like” shtick. Like Americans who boast of not watching television. I’m a gori and I LIKE Bollywood. I like some of it because it so over-the-top and some because it is so well-done. I admit to liking the more indie films, but I can also laugh at 3 Idiots.
I’ve liked Hrithik since I first saw him in KNPH; I’ve watched most of his films and I see him improving as an actor. Working hard. I also catch glimpses of him in interviews and you know, he seems like a NICE guy. Not stuck up. Doesn’t cheat on his wife, get drunk and mow down sidewalk sleepers, take heroin, or shoot endangered species. (So far as I know.)
As for talk of Kites going global … well, Bollywood has been trying that for a while. Hasn’t had its Crouching Tiger moment yet (unless you count Slumdog Millionaire, which, although it had a foreign director, relied heavily on a Mumbai crew and cast) but it will, eventually. Can’t fault the Roshans for trying.
Um, wait … Bollywood is global, and has been global since Raj Kapoor … it just hasn’t penetrated the West. Already all over the rest of the world. Bollywood folks just trying to storm the last fortress 🙂
“magical light”? Hrithik Roshan is Jay Gatsby!
‘”magical light”? Hrithik Roshan is Jay Gatsby!’
Lol, I think that’s giving him too much credit, Sumana.
So Gori Zora, I would like to see you subjected to Bollywood as more than an occasional campy foray and tell me if you will still like it. But thanks for your concern for our self hatred. If this were a Bollywood movie, this would be the moment where you would burst out into song, albeit in fake accented Hindi voiced by some Indian singer, and lecture us on how we should respect Mother India or something like that. Then we will hang our heads in shame and join you in a wonderful ending to the song.
I havent hated Bollywood all the time. But at some point, you reach a breaking poiont THere are always going to be decent movies in any genre. Hell, I think Lagaan was very good even if there were a couple more songs than I cared for. But in the last couple of decades, I cant remember many good BOLLYWOOD movies. While I watch them rarely, I do tend to watch the ones recommended by others as supposedly one of the best. I try watching it and cant withstand the torture. Not as bad as watching a Nancy Meyers movie, but close.
Pravin, try Dostana.
“I do sometimes wish India had more of a traditional musical, i.e, some of the Hollywood musicals.”
Could you explain that? More of a traditional musical in what sense? Thanks.
“Um, wait … Bollywood is global, and has been global since Raj Kapoor … it just hasn’t penetrated the West. Already all over the rest of the world. Bollywood folks just trying to storm the last fortress :)”
Good point. Just because it’s not widely watched in in the U.S. or the U.K. or France doesn’t mean it’s not global. But what they’re doing to make Indian cinema more “global” – meaning Westernized, not globalized — is making Bollywood/other Indian cinema less distinctive and less attractive to the other foreign places where it used to be popular and still is. The Indian stars, too, now go abroad and dress/look and act like any generic Western star in their generic designer clothing. Even in India, they’ve started looking/acting like generic “global” celebrities instead of something distinctive. A few years ago when I went on holiday to Africa, the local kids/adults came up to me and started singing Hindi songs – memorized — and asked about Indian actors/actresses (especially the actresses), some of them stars of Indian cinema in the 1960s and 70s. No one went up to the Westerners in the group and mimicked or asked about huge Western stars or recited dialogue from any Western movie. Not to say that Hollywood isn’t the major global movie industry, but Indian cinema has had an effect as well. Bollywood is a genre and has good and bad and dire productions, like any genre. It’s good to diversify but merely copying the West instead of trying to improve the genre within a still-recognizably Indian context will lose them that appeal.
Pravin writes: “So Gori Zora, I would like to see you subjected to Bollywood as more than an occasional campy foray and tell me if you will still like it.”
I’ve been watching Bollywood movies for more than ten years. I watch more Bollywood movies than Hollywood movies. Not just a campy foray. I respect people like Farah Khan, who has made it in a male-dominated industry, and directs movies that are a wonderful masala of action, singing and dancing, over-the-top melodrama, and outrageous wit.
Even if I don’t like the movie all that much, I often enjoy the music. Frex, Padosan is a lame farce, but the duet scene, between Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey, is classic.
delurker (another)
Indian stars have been dressing up in suits for decades now. M.R. Radha in Rathakanneer (Tears of Blood) a super duper hit in which he plays a philistine (based on a v.successful play he produced and acted in) ordered linen suits and a cartons of Vat 69, and tins of State Express 555, all from London, to look the role. And this was in 1954. Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, among many others have always dressed nattily (even if they weren’t beefcakes). But then you had other hunks Dharam, Dara Singh, Ranjan (who was a champion fencer, horseman, crack shot, and swimmer), Ajit, and several others. Vinod Khanna and Shatrughan Sinha too in their time were prime hunks. If anything, fitness concerns are heightened these days. You don’t want actors looking like Ron Jeremy, do you?
There’s a good reason why the Indian movie dance and song routine works so well – they are memorable and over the last 75 years been perfected into integral plot devices. Whether they interrupt the action (as Mani Ratnam admiring purists insist they should not) or carry the movie forward (as the Indian brand genius Aditya Jha consultant to Infosys insists about Mani Ratnam’s Nayagan) they are capsules that capture the the essence of the movie. And they are different from the musical song-dance sequence which is more like dialogue set to music. You don’t need to understand the lyrics, they are very intense – as with the songs of the Tamil lyricist Kannadasan that use forms from the millennia old ancient Tamizh poetry, or a Shakeel Badayuni’s Baiju Bawra, you just need to catch a few words here and there. When Rafi starts off “man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj…” you just catch on to that and simply try to hum along with the rest of the song, “man tadpat” that’s all you need to know. So when my Bulgarian fishmonger who escaped to Greece in 1964 and thence to the US sings a few bars of Anari, and my wife’s Romanian friend (decades younger) who married and moved to the US in 2000 joins the singing while we get the best cuts of fish, we aren’t looking for anything more than the moment – and then I tell them “Sab kuch seekha hamne, na seekhi hoshiyari…” and everyone nods “How true…”
Indian movies aren’t about the Indian way of life (OK I know you are going to say Purab aur Paschim etc., but I have run that by my friends from South Africa who maintain it has a point) they are universal in a certain way without raising anyone’s fears about loss of culture or any such thing.
jyotsana, thanks, I understand what you mean. I don’t think I expressed myself properly. Not saying they shouldn’t wear suits/western designer wear etc. Those items have been in Indian movies/around the world for a long time. Nor do I think they should be held up as some perfect model Indian way of life etc, but I don’t know, I do feel a difference between older movies (even from 15-20 years ago) and some of the ones today. Perhaps it’s just the “in my day…..”syndrome. Travelling around the world, I just feel that the whole world is/was becoming a little bland/generic and too alike and a loss of individuality. When I look at things like the Oscars/Cannes etc. these days, it just seems there is this pressure to “fit in”. There’s too much conformity. However, I do sense a slight turn away from that. But, these are just my perceptions and probably have no basis in reality.
nyx, I looked at a clip of Dostana on youtube(Shut up and Bounce) and read the plot(looks like some variation on the Sandler-Kevin James-Biel crapfest). I think I will pass on this.
How the hell did indian guys wearing suits get into this discussion? They have been wearing suits in movies way before Indian movies got “westernized”. And as far as Indian movies from 15-20 years ago, may I say that was the worst period of Bollywood along with the mid to late 80s. That is the Bollywood era that really turned me off Bollywood big time. I think Bollywood is getting better at aping the westernized look and sound these days. But the closer they get, the more they come off as second rate imitation to my eyes because then you start comparing them to our movies in the US. They are better off retaining more Indianness in the tone of the movies, if they insist on keeping with an archaic song and dance format. If you ape the west, at least do it right. I see this problem a lot in Telugu movies too where they include a lot of “cool sounding” english lyrics and some bizarre attempts at rap, but in reality, they come across as awkward sounding. Maybe to the locals in India, it is the height of coolness.
Pravin, The plot is “inspired” from a Hollywood movie “I pronounce you Chuck and Larry” but it is different from it – you have to see the movie to actually get the sense of how hilarious it is. It may be too gay for you as a heterosexual male (I am assuming) but it was loads of fun at least for myself and some of my friends.
phillygrrl I am pretty sure Sumana is being sarcastic.
Hrithik: “I’ve done 14 films in 10 years, every film has been a stepping stone towards my magical light. I’m just following this magical light that I know exists.†Huh?
He’s talking about the magical golden light that exists on the “LOST” Island. Hrithik is a lost castaway that everyone forgot!
to de-lurker another,
I’m not sure how to explain it. And I shouldn’t have used traditional, but rather the type that is used in now still being used Western and Hollywood musicals, and something rarely seen in Indian films I’ve seen.
There is a difference. While in Indian films, there are plenty of films where the songs are integral to film and carry the plot forward, there is somewhat of a difference. I think very few have actual characters basically voicing their feelings, dialogue and moving the plot forward. Yes it’s there, but…I don’t know. Jab We Met had all the songs being integral to the film and moved the plot forward. It was a combination of songs that described the situation, and kind other songs that sang through the character’s view. More than some other films, I really believed Nagada Nagada was about Geet, and Tum Se was voicing Aditya’s feelings.
But it’s just not the same as the characters themselves singing their inner feelings, whether with the background setting joining in on their songs, or if others are going about with their business while the character is singing. But it’s so believable that it’s the character’s voice.
Aiswarya should’ve married Hrithik. But he was already taken.
They would’ve made a GORgeous couple, pun intended.
when I mean “character’s voice” I don’t mean singing voice. I have no problem with playback singing. And contrary to what some people believe plenty of Western musical films use other’s voices as well. It’s only necessary on stage.
I never have any sympathy for journalists when they crib about how badly stars treated them – if any one harasses another individual like how stars are harassed – they would be in jail. This journalists is letting people get off freely.
And regarding the discussion, for people who constantly berate bollywood – there is whole lot of films beyond hindi and even in hindi hollywood and bollywood I would say match the crap to good ratio. So, it is your problem if you end up watching only crap. There are so many good ones from Vishal Bharadwaj to Mani ratnam to Adoor gopalakrishnan to even count.