Endoh’s Dungeon

I seemed to have inherited my late granny’s habit of appreciating Hindi films. If you are falling off your chair now, don’t worry. You are not my first friend who flipped over when I told them - yes, I do watch Hindi films. I’m going to introduce two Hindi films to you, and I am pretty sure you will be impressed after watching them.

It wasn’t that obvious when granny passed away, but as I grew older, it’s natural that I begin to learn about life better. It is this, which eventually drawn me into Hindi films. It’s easy to stereotype Hindi films with all those dancing and music (which some of us can’t stand) but it’s not those that fascinated me the most. Compared to cheesy Mandarin movies we’ve watched, it’s the way these Hindi films progressed and related the story that really strikes one in the heart. No doubt these two films are pretty predictable in the manner they ended, it is the emotional tension which made them such worthy films to watch.Both films starred Amitabh Bachchan as the father. Amitabh is like Chen Shu Cheng of our local TV station, always extremely fitting in the role as a father. It is this fatherly charisma in him that made these two films so lasting in impression.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
[Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sorrow]

One of my favourites of all time is this film. The story tells of a wealthy family of four comprising of two aged parents (Raichand & Nadini) and two sons, Rahul & Rohan. Rahul was the adopted son, and Rohan was their natural son. There were little differences in the way they were brought up, because both parents treated Rahul like their own. The breaking point came when Rahul decided to marry a girl of a lower social status, much to the displeasure of his father Raichand. Refusing to marry the girl his father chose, Rahul left the family and relocated in London to marry the girl he loved.

Rohan came home only to realise his father, whom had decided to shower all his attention on his natural son, had no interest of bringing Rahul back into the family. It was also Rohan’s mother’s wish to reunite the family. What’s worst, when Rahul was merely an adopted son.

Hence, Rohan put in extensive efforts in an attempt to convince Rahul to return home. Things were not as easy as it seemed, due to the adoptive status. This film has brought out the best of this emotional tension between Rahul with his adoptive family, and this was what made this film so alluring. Will Rahul return home? I’ll leave it to you to watch it for yourself. For the guys, you might want to prepare enough beer and for the girls, plenty of tissue please.

A little more tips for you though, this film is even longer than Titanic at close to 4hrs. However, it will be less chessy than Titanic so this time will be nothing but all well spent.

Viruddh - Family Comes First (2005)

A story of a middle-class family whose son, Amar, had returned from overseas with his fiance Jenny, a British citizen. All seemed well for Amar’s parents, Patwardhan (father) & Sumitra (mother) until one night, Amar was killed by a minister’s son. It was his righteousness after witnessing the minister’s son shooting another pregnant lady, which also cost him his life.

In a corrupted legal system, the minister’s son was acquitted of any wrong-doings due to bribes and threatening of witnesses. In a dramatic twist of events, Amar and Jenny were projected as drug dealers in a bid to cover the case. Unhappy with the injustice done on his son, Patwardhan did what any father would do for their children, to clear his son’s name at all costs. With that sole intention, he challenged those who holds power in public offices, even toying with death.

I like the way the story was told, as if Amar was speaking to us. Watch the film and you will know why I said this. Amar brings us into the story, as though we were part of the plot. There were so many meaningful quotes that deserved mentioning, like; “what kind of father will I show my son at home?”

Don’t worry about language, because both films contain bilingual dialogues. It is also this part which made these two films so well accepted internationally. If you are worrying that you may end up watching dances in the traditional Hindi films, not to worry too. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham only has a little bit of that, and for Viruddh - none.

All along we have watched alot of Hollywood and Hong Kong movies, it is worthy to mention that not many mainstream movies have been able to capture and project human relations better than the films above. Human relations are often very intriguing and not easy to project on screen. However, these Bollywood films made it seemed so easy. It’s not the production wealth that makes a good movie, but rather it’s the content and storyboard. That’s what I am looking for.

If you decide to watch them, good for you. I am sure you will be a very satisfied audience.