This movie was great. Kuch Naa Kaho (Say No More) was my second bollywood movie (if you count Bride & Prejudice as full-on bollywood) and I enjoyed it so much I've actually sat through it twice already (to inform the reader, i am a manly man who lives and breathes sports; watching a 2 and half hour flick with sub-titles is a big deal for me, as well as a step up in my social evolution, 'cording to my girl). I'm not saying that I've become a full-on bollywood fan, just an ardent Aishwarya Rai slave.

Anyway, the basic plot: Raj lives in America and is tricked into going to India to go to his sister's wedding, suspecting all the while that his matchmaking uncle'll try to marry him off. He meets Namrata (Aishwarya Rai) by a cute coincidence; later, Namrata is talked into guiding/babysitting the reluctant Raj as he dates the five women set up by his uncle; of course, it turns out the perfect chica for him is Namrata; but then there's a little twist...

The first two hours mostly pass in comedic fashion, now and then interrupted by song & dance numbers, then it segues into soap opera drama in the final 30-40 minutes. By the way, I just realized I haven't even mentioned the lead actor's name. It is Abhishek Bachchan and, apparently, he is the son of a famous actor (the director, Rohan Sippy, is also the son of a famous director). Abhishek as Raj does a pretty good job. I found myself liking the fella, even though he was romancing the girl of my dreams (I'm sure I have a shot; after all, I am a manly man). Abhishek's sense of humor shines through (check out the "making of" on the bonus dvd to see how laid back and cheerful this cat is) but he also holds up well in the dramatic scenes. Some friends more refined than me and who, therefore, have seen multitudes of foreign films have commented that Kuch Naa Kaho is actually "a refreshing confection added to the bollywood genre, flavored with up-to-date themes and values and peppered with more modern styles of music." Me, I just get hungry with that kind of talk. The thing about a lengthy movie like this is that, if you're enjoying it, you fall deeper into the story so that by the end, you're truly wrapped up into the tale and you have a deeper investment in the characters and what befalls them. Now let's go into the movie's not so secret weapon. For that, I'm gonna start a new paragraph.

Aishwarya Rai makes this movie work. I'm a layman when it comes to acting; basically, I know what I like. But, to me, Rai has that light, deft touch that is desperately needed with romantic comedies such as this. She is luminously beautiful, yet refreshingly down-to-earth. She makes the musical segments a sheer pleasure to watch. I've replayed the songs so often I could probably describe every dance step and hum every note right now...but I won't. And Omigosh her eyes! ...look, I've obviously degenerated into this rambling mode now so do yourself a favor, dear reader, and order this movie. This woman gets 10,000 e-mails daily worldwide. You're gonna make it 10,001. Cheers.

This movie deals with Bengali culture in India and families both in their native lands and abroad - and I have to say is one of the most satisfying and beautiful watches I had the pleasure of sitting down to. To an Irishman of 49 and typical multiplex type, I'd admit that most of the cast is unrecognizable to me, but that makes no odds, because all are uniformly superb. And I love the insights the film gives into a culture as fascinating as theirs.

It begins in 1977 when a young Bengali man (who has been to study in the USA since 1974) is back in his native Calcutta to meet his new bride - one that is picked out for him whether he likes her or not. He is Ashoke, an engineer with prospects - played subtly and gently by a fantastic Irrfan Khan. Ashoke gets real lucky - his bride is the quietly beautiful Ashima (it means limitless, played by the gorgeous Bollywood star Tabu). Waiting with her parents, Ashoke looks uncomfortable but resigned - its been done this way for centuries. Before Ashima goes into the room to see him for the first time - she tries on his American shoes he's left outside the room - they fit and she likes them - a good sign. Ashima takes them off and meekly enters - ultra respect to her elders. Ashoke is not traditionally handsome, but his big soppy bug-eyes and equally studious glasses tell you that this is a good man - and an intelligent one. They marry in full traditional dress and custom. Ashima waves her family goodbye at the airport and then on to New York.

Life in America is foreign to her, but she adapts. Besides, something else is happening that makes it all bearable; Ashima is slowly but surely falling in love with her 'chosen' husband. It's in these scenes that the film shows it true charm - it's so beautifully and realistically handled (many scenes returned to later in flashback to flesh out dialogue that is important and pivitol to the story). Their relationship is an evolving love, away from need and initial awkwardness into a mutual respect for each other. The believability of the two lead actors here is crucial - and you can feel their drawing together - year after year after year.

The story continues to both of their kids being born (a boy and a girl), then young, then grown up and full of New Yawk attitude and difficulty with the 'old ways' - even with their names. 1st born - and most rebellious - the boy's name is Gogol (played by Kal Penn), which he hates with a passion until he finds out why his father called him that (a train journey and a passenger who changed his life). Gogol and his sister's dual identities cause them both conflict and even heartache. They endure racism, work, snobbery, meet potential partners, they marry - and on it goes - to sad and joyful surprises as their life journey progresses. It's set across 25 years and there's a lot crammed in. (Gogul's sister Sonia is played by Sahira Nair)

The Namesake is as much about Indian culture (then and now) as it is about the power and pull of family - that one thing that unites us all with love and misery in equal measure! I can't recommend this movie enough - in my Top 20 with a bullet. A gentle and beautiful surprise I heartily recommend.

P.S.: Like Gustavo Santaolalla's music in "The Motorcycle Diaries" and "Babel", Nitin Sawhney's music is one of the reasons the movie has such slow and majestic power - an absolutely gorgeous soundtrack - and one I'm going to buy pronto!

P.P.S.: The title of this review is from the dedication in the credits by the director Mira Nair.

This movie is a great one to watch with the girls or when u really want to laugh. The eye candy John Abraham (Sam) and Akshay Kumar (Mac) make a lovely hilarious duet that will steal your heart. Sam and Mac are friends who work in this hip magazine "Garam Masala" as photographers, they always get in trouble because of their uncontrollable madness for beautiful women. The fun starts when Mac who is engaged to sweet Anjali(Rimi Sen), is having affairs with 3 gorgeous air-hostesses Sweety (Neetu Chandra), Puja (Nargis) and Deepti (Daisy Bopanna). Dating the girls is Mac's dream come true but it will start all kinds of trouble for him when they all stay in his apartment at the same time. Mac will try his best to manage those affairs and Sam will try to help him but also try to snatch the girls behind his friend's back. A lot of funny scenes and amazing hot songs. I've always thought that John was a hot hunk but now I think he's "Garam Masala".
This DVD also includes some very nice bonus material, an interview with the cast ( is that a love bite on john's right arm?!!), the movie premier and a hilarious interview with John and Akshay where you can really see how great, funny, hot and sexy John is.

MUGHAL-e-AZAM (1960) is one of the three major classics of the Popular Indian Cinema, along with "Mother India" and "Sholay". The position it occupies in Indian cinema is perhaps comparable to "Gone With The Wind" in America, in that both are lengthy colorful epic costume dramas set in an idealized past, and featuring major stars of the time. The time in question here is that of the great Moghul Emperor AKBAR THE GREAT (on throne 1556 - 1605) who was not only a great conqueror but also an enlightend despot, who promoted the arts and was tolerant of Hinduism, altho he was himself a Moslem.
Akbar is played by the venerable old-time actor Prithviraj Kapoor (father of Raj Kapoor) in his last major role, and the role of his uppity son Salim is essayed by Dilip Kumar, considered by some to be the all time greatest Indian actor, often called "the king of tragedy". This is actually quite an offbeat role for Dilip as he didn't do many constume dramas, which is in itself a point of interest. Dilip/Salim falls in love with the low caste dancing girl ANARKALI and is so determined to marry her against the wishes of his father, Akbar, that he actually stages a military revolt against the throne to make his point. Thus we have a classic clash of wills between a powerful father and an intransigent son over a marvelously beautiful young woman Anarkali, played by the actress MADHUBALa -- often called the most beautiful Indian actress of all time --in one of her best roles.
This is like a Verdi Opera on the grandest of scales, staged by an Indian Cecil B. DeMille, with hordes of real elephants and a cast of thousands, with no expense spared to stage the spectacle. The tale of ANARKALI who will eventually be buried alive behind a brick wall (much Like AIDA in the opera of that name) is part of modern day Indian folklore with the debate as to whether all this is historical fact or fancy, still unresolved. In any case, Anarkali, the legendary Punjabi slave girl, is one of the most beloved of Indian heroines and her reincarnation in this film by the ethereally beautiful Madhubala is one of the great female Indian screen portrayals of all time. The movie took almost twenty years to complete and was originally shot in Black and white but the current colorization is so good that I didn't even realize this was a colorized copy when I saw it. Like GWTW this is the kind of film you can keep coming back to and build an entire evening around. It has it all and is a must-have for any collector of the creme-de-la-creme of Indian cinema.
ALEXFARBA, LOS ANGELES

'Meera' has a lot to offer for an audience interested in the royal families of Rajasthan, India. Set in the 1500s A D, the story gives out blatant glimpses of the conflicts in all levels between the Rajputs, as well as Rajputs and the Mughals. While the story may not be historically accurate, it still goes deep into the royal way of life.

Meera is known for her devotional songs. She is considered a saint by the people of Rajasthan. Hema Malini has portrayed Meera perfectly. The photography is spectacular, the music is divine, and Hema's beauty is exquisite. The best aspect of this movie is its music, with unbelievably talented singers. They have justified Meera and her bhajans (devotional music). Vani Jayaram's voice is truly divine.

'Meera' has a lot to offer for an audience interested in the royal families of Rajasthan, India. Set in the 1500s A D, the story gives out blatant glimpses of the conflicts in all levels between the Rajputs, as well as Rajputs and the Mughals. While the story may not be historically accurate, it still goes deep into the royal way of life.

Meera is known for her devotional songs. She is considered a saint by the people of Rajasthan. Hema Malini has portrayed Meera perfectly. The photography is spectacular, the music is divine, and Hema's beauty is exquisite. The best aspect of this movie is its music, with unbelievably talented singers. They have justified Meera and her bhajans (devotional music). Vani Jayaram's voice is truly divine.

I will at times watch movies made from all over the world. Recently I have taken to watching some of the more recent Bollywood flicks. Ghajini was a breathtaking movie. I kind of enjoy the musical parts of the movie as they did tend to tie in well with the story line. I loved the contrast between the Sanjay dating Kalpana and the Sanjay with the bad memory. Aamir is a very wonderful actor. I was very impressed how he was able to carry the short term memory loss. The actor playing Ghajini was positively evil! A very very well done movie. I have the sound track and love it. The movie was heart breaking in certain spots. Having lost some I loved very much I could identify with Sanjays grief.

I think India has a lot to offer and this movie proves my point. One final thing, I didnt realize it, but the movie was 3 hours long. Longer than the normal movies I am used to watching. The happy part of this being I did not realize it was 3 hours until it was over and I happened to look at the clock. The movie kept my attention completely!!

Well done! I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to break out of the rut of Hollywood.