Arnold Harris (mail):
I honor your indian heritage with you, Aziz. But for a reason that few Americans would comprehend.

Stefi and I are hardcore devotees of international films, and I in particular have become entranced by Bollywood feature films.

(Considering the name of the place is "Mumbai" and not "Bombay", one would think that people would have the decency to label this art form as "Mollywood". But that's another story.)

From the names of the actors, and based on the little I know about the various indian ethnic or religious strains, I think about half the leading actors are indian Moslems. Most of the actors I have watched on screen match the best I have viewed in international films from any other part of the world. And watching actresses such as Sonali Kulkarni is a delight to eye, ear and imagination. She plays some of the most beautiful, intriguing and sensuous mothers I ever have seen on screen.

India must be a fascinating country, and I think it has a great future as well as a proud past.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
10.16.2007 12:07pm
DanielH:
Arnold, I'm not sure you would have written such a response if you had actually followed the link and viewed the clip.

Aziz, thanks for that. I almost died.
10.16.2007 12:17pm
Ronald Coleman (mail) (www):
I had to stop and take a break I was laughing so hard.

I'm still laughing!

Arnold's comment makes it even funnier!
10.16.2007 12:32pm
Arnold Harris (mail):
I'm not much on following YouTube snippets, and my computer system isn't wired up for sound. Which means I have to plug in a pair of earphones to hear any audio.

So what exactly did I miss here? I thought Aziz was boosting India, and I enthusiastically joined in. The fact is, I can't get enough of their films.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
10.16.2007 12:46pm
DanielH:
It's Bollywood too (sorta), and translated (sorta). You need the sound, though.
10.16.2007 12:52pm
Willow (www):
In my own defense, that was sent to me by a writer from Orissa, so I had official desi permission to find it hi-freaking-larious.
10.16.2007 1:25pm
HokiePundit (RDB) W&M 1L (mail) (www):
I'd love to see you pee on us tonight.
10.16.2007 1:53pm
HokiePundit (RDB) W&M 1L (mail) (www):
Also, I loved the Air Sitar. Bravo sirs, bravo.
10.16.2007 1:55pm
Aziz (mail) (www):
in point if fact, I am extremely proud if being an Indian, so I am very touched by Arnold's praise.

that said, i was poking a bit of fun at my own heritage in this post :) arnold, youre not mising much, its just silliness.
10.16.2007 1:57pm
Aziz (mail) (www):
someday, i too plan to sell DNA.
10.16.2007 1:58pm
Dave_21865 (mail):
That was awesome. I wish to join the Benny Lava (and his bun maker) fan club. I would be willing to "sell my DNA" or "punk a nerd" to accomplish this.
10.16.2007 1:58pm
Ronald Coleman (mail) (www):
And, of course, the funny funny part is that somewhere -- at some point -- notwithstanding the "What's Up Tiger Lilly?" treatment, this video was made with a straight face.

Pretty good dancing, actually.
10.16.2007 2:00pm
HokiePundit (RDB) W&M 1L (mail) (www):
I like Indian films. Although I'm told that it's starting to change a little, they seem to be a lot more innocent and fun than a lot of Hollywood's films. A friend of mine of Indian background told me that Bollywood films are generally 3-4 hours long and combine multiple genres. Seems about right to me.
10.16.2007 2:04pm
DanielH:
Ron,

Absolutely. There are really good Bollywood musicals -- I saw the original Umrao Jaan recently, and thought it was amazing -- but then there are these cheesy "Benny Lava" types too.
10.16.2007 2:08pm
cardeblu (mail):
Funny stuff. One thing I've noticed, tho, is that almost all Indian and/or Asian female singers have the highest, ear-splitting singing voices I have ever heard. What's up with that? ;)
10.16.2007 2:11pm
Dean Esmay:
Positively Hasselhoffian.
10.16.2007 2:19pm
HokiePundit (RDB) W&M 1L (mail) (www):
Okay, after listening to this several times I want to download it. Napster, iTunes, and Amazon have let me down. How do I (legally) download Indian music?
10.16.2007 2:24pm
DanielH:
Hokie, but will you be able to listen to it without hearing "minor bun engine made Benny Lava"?
10.16.2007 2:28pm
HokiePundit (RDB) W&M 1L (mail) (www):
Probably not, but I like catchy songs in other languages (the ne plus ultra being Dragostea din Tei, of course).

Incidentally, I found a very rough translation.

The gist is that the guy really, really likes the girl and wants to sleep with her. They're both medical students (gasp!) and he wants to play doctor. She's okay with the idea...if he marries her first.
10.16.2007 2:35pm
DanielH:
So what you are saying is that the joke translation is not too far off?!
10.16.2007 2:47pm
Ken McCracken (mail) (www):
Who is Benny Lava, anyway?
10.16.2007 5:35pm
Martin L. Shoemaker (www):

The gist is that the guy really, really likes the girl and wants to sleep with her. They're both medical students (gasp!) and he wants to play doctor. She's okay with the idea...if he marries her first.


As best I can tell, that's the gist of every Bollywood dance number.
10.16.2007 6:20pm
HokiePundit (RDB) W&M 1L (mail) (www):
...although I do think "Ed" and "Belinda" are odd names for an Indian couple.
10.16.2007 6:21pm
Foobarista:
They work nights at a call centre (as it would be spelled in India)...
10.17.2007 2:50am
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