Main Hoo Na

Speaking of movies, (yes scroll down and check.. we ARE speaking of movies) I love the recent explosion of non-mainstream films. The whole emotional exploration of the psyche. Meaningful character and well fleshed out stories. Breathtaking and strikingly stark visuals. Crisp crackling dialogues. Like the Pianist. And Kandukondain Kandukondain, Monsoon Wedding. Even Anbe Sivam and Pithamagan. I love the way a new breed of writers and directors are crediting the audience as a discerning and intelligent group. I love how our cinema is being slowly revolutionized.

I also loved Main Hoo Na. For absolutely NONE of the above reasons. I stocked up on popcorn and cold coffee and laughed for three hours straight hours. Farah Khan has packed every bollywood cliché and every Hollywood action move into the silver screen. You have a friendly Pakistan (I'm glad we finally stopped the Pak-bashing), a funky terrorist ( a superb Sunil Shetty), an army Major and one *sizzling* chemistry teacher.

You have Kabir Bedi playing Shylock (Hath not a Pakistani feelings, Hath not a Pakistani fears..) and you have a college that looks like it's out of the sets of Grease (one or two). Boman Irani plays the forgetful principal in one of his best performances and surprisingly, in a Homer Simpson tie.

You have Ram, Lakshman, and Ra(gha)van. There's no Mugambo but there IS a fluorescent qawwali. And a cycle rickshaw chase.

Watch it for the sexy sushmita sen or the barely covered Amrita Rao. Watch it for Shah Rukh in a role where he cries only for 1/7th of the movie. Watch it for the still hot as hell Kabir Bedi. Watch it for old Hindi songs and reminisce about the good old days. Watch it for Farah Khan who's done one helluva job. It's definitely worth the fifty bucks at Satyam.