Hooray for Bollywood!

On Friday night, I attended Shannon's "Bollywood Initiation," which featured a screening of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Something Happens). It was the first official Bollywood film I have ever seen. (I was told by someone who knows that Bride & Prejudice doesn't count, and neither do Gandhi or Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. So, I guess I have to take her word for it.)


It turned out to be a three-hour movie, but it felt more like two movies put back-to-back into one plot line. The first half was like "Saved by the Bell" meets Grease and High School Musical, while the second half was partly The Parent Trap and The Great Outdoors mixed in with High School Musical 2 - all portrayed by Indian actors, singers, and dancers.

In addition to being a Bollywood film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is also a chick flick. You better believe that more than a few "somethings" happen. There's a romantic triangle, cheesy singing and dancing, (purposely?) bad acting, enough pastel-colored clothing to choke a camel, new-age sound effects, GAP shirts, several fantasy scenes set in the ruins of a medieval Scottish castle, slam dunks on basketball rims set at seven feet, another romantic triangle, fans blowing in the hair of the lead actors, and crying - several gallons' worth of crying. In fact, Schindler's List didn't feature that much crying.

I will admit freely that I enjoyed the movie. Part of that, perhaps, was due to the fact that our little gang was collectively doing its best Statler and Waldorf impersontation throughout - shooting off commentary at will from the peanut gallery. Another part is due to this being a movie that doesn't take itself or its subject matter too seriously - for the most part.

It's so family friendly, kissing on the lips is considered taboo. How can you not like Bollywood?

Thanks to Shannon for helping to expand my cultural horizons.