#Bollywood Movie News

[playermagic23]

Vivek Oberoi on Omkara's re-release in theaters: "I feel so much gratitude to be a part of such a classic"

Omkara appears, feels, and smells real. When gang wars break out on the rusty roads of a small town in Uttar Pradesh between Omkara (Ajay Devgn), his mentor Bhaisaab (Naseeruddin Shah), Omkara's two favorite disciples Kesu Firangi (Vivek Oberoi) and Langda Tyagi (Saif Ali Khan), and their opponents, you're no longer watching the characters; you're watching a world where Shakespeare must sound like a spear that shakes. Vishal Bharadwaj delves deep into the guts of north Indian politics, creating a gallery of virile characters that leap out of their literary predecessors and perform a dance of crime-driven dynamics on the nozzle of their country's weapons.

Aside from casting superstars as characters, Vishal's greatest accomplishment is the irony that highlights the dark goings-on in the terrible political cauldron of the cow-belt: these are rude guys propelled by a literary background about which they are completely unaware. Shakespeare is as foreign to Vishal's characters as a creative compromise would be for this filmmaker.

Vishal's political fable is both powerful and long-lasting. The most interesting discussions between the characters depict the complexities of gender and politics in a world where laws are designed to be disregarded. Vivek Oberoi reminisces about his role as the desi Cassio.

Vivek, your performance at Omkara is remembered till this day. Sometimes magic happens on a film set, and most creative people spend their entire lives trying to be a part of it. I was fortunate that Vishal bhai cast me as Kesu Firangi in an all-star cast, and we became good friends off screen.

You shot the movie in a village in Uttar Pradesh. It was great to live in that full village reconstructed by Kumar Mangat ji, who was very passionate about this film.

You had a ball shooting 'Beedi Jalaile'. Even today, when I hear 'Beedi', it brings back many happy memories. The ability to adapt Shakespeare so naturally that it feels like a narrative from India's hinterland is an extraordinary achievement for the entire team. Vishal Bhai's tunes and Gulzar Saab's lyrics are consistently amazing.

What was it like filming alongside Saif Ali Khan and Ajay Devgn? Ajay and Saif were like big brothers on set, and we got to experience everything from pranks to poetry in that tiny hamlet.

Your favorite Omkara memory? One of my greatest memories is learning to play the guitar in between shots, with Saif assisting with the chords, so that I could teach Bebo to serenade on film. They weren't a relationship back then, but destiny brought them together later in life. So many great memories.

Your performance was much appreciated. When I won best supporting actor for my performance, I knew it wouldn't have been possible without the backing of the entire team. I am extremely grateful to be a part of such a classic.

[anarcho-karlachism]

This shit is gonna be amazing.

[starryalpacasstuff]

Queer Indian Media: A Compilation

A couple of days ago, @impala124 sent @lurkingshan an ask about the lack of discussion about Queer Indian Media in fandom spaces. I wrote about it here, @neuroticbookworm here, and @waitmyturtles here (both of them have excellent points, I highly recommend you read their posts!). It's become quite apparent that people are willing to watch and engage in discourse about queer Indian media, it's just that the lack of popularity and accessibility makes it harder for people to start. So, I've decided to make a list tracking all of the queer Indian media I know of, and hopefully also any meta/discourse about it, which is an idea I've had floating in my head for months now.

This list is by no means comprehensive, so if you have recs, send them my way! Text me on DM, send an ask, tag me in your posts, whatever. And though it's not possible for me to watch everything on the list, I will be slowly going through as many of these as I can and writing about them, as well as hopefully finding more stuff and easier to access versions for the ones that are harder to access right now. This post is going to be a slow work in progress, but I'm hoping to update it regularly. So, if you'd like me to keep you updated, let me know through the tags/replies and I will tag you in future posts!

I've tagged the people who've recommended certain shows alongside each show. Everything on here is available online. The hyperlinked titles lead you to the media itself, meaning that it's available for free online with subtitles. Other details will be mentioned separately.

Disclaimer: The media I have watched/read have recommendation ratings (which will not always reflect my enjoyment of something, rather are based on how much I'd recommend it). While I did lightly screen everything on here, the criteria was 'has a trailer or otherwise showing queerness to be a central theme in the story' and 'is available online', so take that into account if you decide to pick something up, and definitely watch trailers and/or skim the wikipedia pages beforehand.

Movies

Fire | English | @neuroticbookworm 

Recommendation: 9/10 A 1996 movie surrounding a lesbian couple packed with commentary on religion, class, purity culture and more. Quick Pitch + Historical Context

Kapoor & Sons | Hindi | @neuroticbookworm

Available on Netflix, Prime, and paid on Youtube and Apple TV

Kaathal-The Core | Malayalam | @neuroticbookworm 

Officially on Prime, also available grey without subtitles

Meta by @ineffable-opinions

Super Deluxe | Tamil | @neuroticbookworm 

Officially on a paid streaming service called aha, grey on youtube

Dear Dad | Hindi | @neuroticbookworm 

This is grey on youtube without subtitles, available officially on Disney Hotstar and Amazon Prime

Recommendation: 7.75 Follows a father and a son on a road trip, during which the son accidentally learns that his father is gay. The son struggles with reconciling with the new information, leading to conflict.

Geeli Puchi (Ajeeb Dastaans) | Hindi | @blorbingqls @neuroticbookworm 

Available on Netflix

Cobalt Blue | Hindi | @blorbingqls

Officially on Netflix, also available grey without subtitles

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga | Hindi | @fallsouthwinter @usertoxicyaoi @neuroticbookworm

Available officially on Netflix, but can also be found grey in two parts without subtitles

Recommendation: 8.5/10 What seems like a typical bollywood movie about a man falling in love with a girl who's family opposes their marriage takes a turn halfway through when it is revealed that the girl has a secret girlfriend. The protagonist then resolves to help the pair by convincing the family to accept them.

Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish | Bengali | @silverquillsideas @neuroticbookworm 

I believe it's available on prime, but you might need to do some digging. Also available grey on youtube without subtitles (the movie is in part Bengali, part English)

Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan | Hindi | @silverquillsideas @twig-tea @neuroticbookworm

Officially on Amazon, grey on youtube without subtitles

Maja Ma | Hindi | @flyingrosebeetle @silverquillsideas 

Available on Amazon Prime

Badhaai Do | Hindi

Officially on Netflix, available grey on youtube without subtitles

Loev | Hindi

Available on youtube with Spanish (I think?) subtitles

Margarita With A Straw | Hindi

I believe this is a cut version, it is officially on Netflix which is likely the uncut version

Recommendation: 9/10 A self-discovery story about an Indian woman named Laila with cerebral palsy with great rep and beautiful execution. Meta by @wen-kexing-apologist

Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui | Hindi | anon

Available grey without subtitles, officially on Netflix

Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani | Hindi | @flowerbeasblog @aneechan

Officially on Jio Cinema, also available grey without subtitles

Time Out | Hindi

Available on Netflix

My Brother…Nikhil | Hindi

Available on youtube without subtitles, also on Amazon Prime

My Son Is Gay | Tamil

Hindi dub available on youtube without subtitles

Little Hearts | Malayalam | @ineffable-opinions

Available officially on Amazon Prime

There's multiple storylines, one of which is queer Meta by @ineffable-opinions

Moothon | Malayalam | @non-beingnary

This is grey on youtube without subtitles, it's officially on Amazon Prime and Zee5, both need subscriptions

Aligarh | Hindi | @ayoungroyal

This is grey with subtitles, it says the subtitles are in hindi for some reason but they're actually in English. Officially on several subscription platforms: JioCinema, Zee5, Amazon Prime, Apple TV

Sisak | Hindi | @blorbingqls

Recommendation: 8.5/10 A fifteen minute silent film about two men who experience mutual attraction to one another while on the same train during their daily commute. It's impactful, and it says a lot without saying anything.

Shows

Romil and Jugal | Hindi | @anixknowsnothin

You do need a vpn if you're outside India to watch it with the above link, it's also grey on youtube without subtitles

Recommendation: 8.5/10 India's modern gay remake of Romeo and Juliet, five years before Bad Buddy Random thoughts

The Married Woman | Hindi | @a-not-knowing-bisexual-wizard

Dev DD Season 2 | Hindi

Legitimately no clue whether this and the prev are grey or official

Made in Heaven | Hindi | @flyingrosebeetle @non-beingnary @neuroticbookworm

Available on Prime

All About Section 377, Still About Section 377 | Hindi

The Story Tales S2 | Gujrati

Insomnia | Hindi

It's a streaming service I've never heard of before, not unlike Gaga, this is one of the darker shows on the list so please do check out the trailer beforehand

Amra 2GayTher | Bengali

Available on two streaming services here and here, both paid

Happy Family, Conditions Apply | Hindi | @non-beingnary

Officially on Amazon Prime, first episode available for free on the official youtube

As far as I know, it's a sitcom with a queer subplot, but I'm not sure how relevant it is to the story

His Storyy | Hindi

Officially on Zee5 for free but you do need to register, unsure of whether or not subtitles are available but guessing no

Murder In Mahim | Hindi | @soberbutsleepless

This is grey without subtitles, its available officially on JioCinema but you need a subscription

Mini gls from @twig-tea (og post here)

Firsts S3 | @tinyreadinglifelight

Neverland

Maaya 2

Last two eps do not have subtitles but the story is followable

The ‘Other’ Love Story @/silverquillsideas 

Just Another Love Story

Books

Memory of Light

Recommendation: 5/10 A historical book set during the colonial era, the lesbian romance is mostly a subplot that loses its way towards the end. It's kind of a drag, but the history component is somewhat interesting.

Don't Let Him Know

Recommendation Rating: 7.5/10 with serious trigger warnings including rape. It's a brutally honest book designed to make the reader uncomfortable, so proceed with caution. I personally liked it quite a lot, but that's majorly because of how authentic the book felt.

Falling Into Place

Recommendation Rating: 8/10 A modern lesbian romance that follows similar beats to the typical thai bl/gl. A little underdeveloped in some places, but overall quite good.

My Magical Palace

Cobalt Blue

The Paths Of Marriage

Marriage Of A Thousand Lies

[chand-ki-priyatama]

The Song "Mai koi aisa geet gaun" is the real definition of princess treatment....

[disdadandon]

is somebody gonna match my freak?(come watch maine pyaar kiya in the theatres with me)

[adyjpg]

Raees (2017)

[shahrukhannn]

SRK✨️👑

The King of hearts and dreams...

Happy Birthdayyy

~You are The Greatest Person

~You have a Perfect and Pure Heart

~You are my favorite actor that I have watched since childhood

~I love you very much💛

~Brilliant Actor and Person✨️

[maibearcore]

*cough**cough*Villianelle*cough*Han Jihyuk*cough*Mizu*cough*Kim Jiyong*cough*Amrit**even more coughing**

They're my precious 💁‍♀️💖🎀

[lastofthe20thcenturygirls]

okay aryan is so valid for this

[bollywoodqueenkatrina]

Zoya (Tiger 3 Trailer)

[deepikapadukonesource]

Kalki 2898-AD new release date is June 27, 2024.

[theflixdiaryproject]

"a person can live for 4 weeks without food, 4 days without water and may be 4 minutes without air... but a person can't even live for 4 seconds without hope" - Charlie

Chandramohan "Charlie" Manohar Sharma (Shah Rukh Khan) is a small-time street boxer, seeking revenge against Charan Grover (Jackie Shroff), the man responsible for his father’s wrongful conviction. when Charlie learns about Grover’s diamonds being moved to Dubai, he assembles a ragtag team to steal them from the world’s most secure safe - Shalimar. alongside a partially deaf explosives expert Jagmohan "Jag" Prakash (Sonu Sood), a seizure-prone safecracker Tehamton "Tammy" Irani (Boman Irani), Jag's nephew and master hacker Rohan Singh (Vivaan Shah), and Nandu Bhide (Abhishek Bachchan) who is a lookalike to Grover’s son; Charlie’s team enlists the help of Mohini, a bar dancer, so that they would represent India in the World Dance Competition in Dubai. their mission? steal the diamonds and get a redemption.

read my review below (may contain spoilers):

watched Dec 25th, 2024 on netflix

it’s New Year and it's my first post with this new blog. it feels perfect to begin my blog with a movie review of Happy New Year. the title suits the occasion, doesn’t it? but don’t expect a soppy or melancholic story here. this Bollywood movie is wild, loud, and utterly chaotic. it’s a diamond heist movie wrapped in humour, and honestly, it’s just as absurd as it is entertaining. from the very start, I feel this movie is not meant to be taken seriously. it’s full of scenes that make no sense and often defy physics. I'm so used to Indian movies, so I just know that this is typical. but that’s what makes it enjoyable! the ridiculousness keeps me entertained throughout. I love how this film embraces its silliness without trying to pretend it’s anything deeper. what really keeps my focus is the chaos. the jokes are loud and familiar for Asians. they may not land as well with Western audiences, but I think that’s the charm. it’s like a peek into different world and humour, something to celebrate rather than criticise. isn’t that the beauty of movies from different cultures?

this movie gives me no chance to feel bored, despite its lengthy duration. every scene is over the top in a way that makes me giggle, or at least chuckle. I appreciate how the director, Farah Khan, doesn’t attempt to make the story serious, which is her trademark. by keeping it light, the movie maintains its fun vibe throughout. even though it’s far from Bollywood’s best work, I enjoy it a lot. it’s pure entertainment. if I have one complaint, it’s Abhishek Bachchan. I’ve never been a fan of his acting, and even here, he doesn’t impress me. it’s hard to live up to his legendary father, Amitabh Bachchan; or his talented wife, Aishwarya Rai. but overall, he doesn’t ruin the movie. the rest of the cast makes up for it, with their quirky performances and comedic timing. in conclusion, Happy New Year is not perfect, but it’s good fun. it’s a chaotic, silly movie that’s perfect for celebrating the New Year with a laugh. if you’re looking for deep storytelling, skip this one. but if you want lighthearted entertainment, it’s worth a watch.

final verdict: I think it was okay/watchable

age rating: 16+ genre: action, comedy duration: 3h (180 min) country: India language: Hindi screenplay: Farah Khan, Althea Kaushal, Mayur Puri major cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Boman Irani, Suno Sood, Vivaan Shah, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Jackie Shroff

[theomenmedia]

Shah Rukh Khan's Song Hits 1 Billion Views On YouTube

1 Billion Views and Counting!  #JhoomeJoPathaan becomes the anthem of the year! Dance like nobody's watching with #ShahRukhKhan and #DeepikaPadukone. #BollywoodHits #Pathaan #1BillionViews

Link to the full article: https://www.theomenmedia.com/post/jhoome-jo-pathaan-shah-rukh-khan-s-anthem-hits-1-billion-views

[hereisnxbiya]

Yes, I want him back in my life, but the thing is..

Wo aaye apni marzi se...

Jaise wo har dam aata tha...

Waqt aisa bhi uspe be-rahm na ho,

Wo aane par kabhi majboor na ho..

— Shafin Khan @theshasays

[pocketedxoxo]

what is my new year's resolution, you ask?

trying to manifest a chammak challo lifestyle, and dhoom machale my way through life, tbh. gonna go off to manali and meet the love of my life and reunite years later. also have plans to go on a cross country trip to find my best friend. not to forget venturing to spain with old friends to live an adventure

[disdadandon]

when i say that Rocky aur Rani is one of the best bollywood movies and one of the most bollywood-esque movie i’ve ever seen, i mean it.

Ranveer Singh is the finest actor in bollywood right now. He’s JUST. TOO. GOOD.

AliaB is Alia-ing as usual. Goddess.

don’t listen to strangers on the internet but if you ever do, listen to me and PLEASE GO WATCH ROCKY AUR RANI RIGHT NOW!!!!!!