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Reviews
A Curry on an American Plate (2017)
Seriously the worst movie I have ever seen
This is a bunch of disjointed scenes thrown in together and not even one of them is remotely funny or credible. The characters are cliched and painful stereotypes and all attempt at comedy falls flat. I cant even imagine why the director decided to throw in the scene with the middle eastern character or the hillibilly family or the cameo romance. I made the mistake of watching it on Amazon Prime as an indophile and seriously regret losing the 1.5 hours of my life.
Mughal-E-Azam (1960)
If you watch one Indian movie, this should be the one...
This was the first Indian movie I ever watched, on the recommendation of a friend and if this is how Indians make movies, I really want to watch many more. This movie is a made on a phenomenally grand scale (think BenHur or Gone with the Wind). Each frame seems like a work of art and while the subtitles may have stolen some of the richness of original dialog, the screenplay and expressions of the actors was enough to convey the depth of the storyline. I was absolutely floored by the exquisitely beautiful and talented actress in the lead role- MADHUBALA ! She shines with such a natural and wholesome radiance and commands every scene in which she is present. In the first song where she is introduced, I dare say that she is a close match to the greatest Hollywood beauties of her time (think of a classic Ava Gardner combined with a teasing Marilyn Monroe). She looks authentically scared, scarred and tortured in scenes in where she is imprisoned or tied up in chains and in her interactions with the powerful King, her acting is perfection.
Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955)
A classic gem!
As an American, there are some parts of the movie that I could not relate to (especially the ending) or appreciate the nuances of some of the songs, but despite those, I would rate this a true classic that is along the lines of Hollywood favorites like "It Happened One Night". The plot line and acting by all the main characters keeps one engrossed and entertained. The hero- Guru Dutt displays the combination of vulnerability and cynicism (a mix of Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart) that is perfect for his character. The heroine- Madhubala is breathtakingly beautiful and carries the role of the spoilt heiress with effortless ease. The lady who plays her aunt is quite convincing and does not go overboard in her histrionics. Overall, a movie that seamlessly combines witty comedy, breezy romance and natural acting. The B&W cinematography is stunning, especially in the duet song where the heroine is upstairs and the hero is in the garden.