Bollywood to Try

As a kid I read Vogue alone in high end stores while my mother shopped--and I was exposed to things I'd never heard of. I read about Anna Karenina, the food and chinaware details in Ian Fleming's James Bond books and Bollywood.

Eventually I gave it a try--despite not liking musicals. I like a total of about 5 songs, and kind of like Mamma Mia, the 'Maria' song from West Side Story, and a little of Hairspray. Almost all Bollywood films have sudden songs in them, like how Shakespeare has characters talk out their feelings in asides.

Movies can be a great way to learn about other cultures and faiths--they draw you in and prompt you to look up more information. The world is incredibly different, other cultures are often worlds away from each other. It's amazing and interesting.

Try movies like Devdas if you love Romeo and Juliet, and listen to the song 'Silsila ye chaahat ka' and the fun/fast 'Dola re Dola'.

Try Jab We Met if you like romantic comedies, and listen to the song 'Nagada Nagada'. Or try the silly and fun Rab ne bana di jodi, with songs like the slow/cute 'Haule Haule' or the fun/fast 'Dance Pe Chance' and 'Dancing Jodi', of 'Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte'.

If you like multi-generation soap operas where families reunite after old feuds, try the famous Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham [called K3G] and its eponymous theme song, or 'Yeh ladki hai allah' or 'Bole chudiyan'. 

For a cute song try 'Aaja Aaja Mere Ranjhna' from the silly/cute makeover movie Dulha Mil Gaya.

Try songs like Jiya from Gunday if you like romantic slow songs. For very old slow songs try 'Tumhi Mere Mandir'.