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I’m maybe one of two (or three) people that actually liked Ghaath. Actually, scratch that- IMDb is showing me that, at least, 20 people have voted this movie over 6. So there you go, we’re about 20 people. But maybe I have a strong bias, the film has a political moralistic theme of the late-90s early 00s era but avoids the masala shenanigans for the most part, it also has Anu Malik music — with two great songs that I enjoy — and the chemistry between Tabu and Manoj Bajpayee, who are also getting back together this year (after Salman in Jai Ho, Ajay in the upcoming Drishyam).

When a titillating item song comes on screen, I’m usually the one rolling my eyes at some of the embarrassment… and the Telugu film industry has usually taken the cake when it comes to silly sexism. Not even Tabu can escape it (her number in Pandurangadu gets the crown with that orange juice moment). However, I do remember the first time that I ever gasped seeing a Bollywood movie because *gasp* They kissed! It was the Chup Chup Ke [clip] number in Bunty Aur Babli. It was before I realized I did enjoyed seeing Abhishek and Rani together [1], but they were always married on film!

In the number for Teri Aashiqui Meri Zindagi, Tabu’s character is never married to Manoj’s, they fairly recently met at their family/friend’s wedding and had their moment in Hum Bhi Samajh Rahe Hain [clip] — there sure is a lot of rain and white-wearing caressing and singing, but it’s just playful boy-meets-girl girl-meets-boy, a lot of face-touching… but never EVER an engagement or wedding, yet… yet… there’s this 20-second love-making behind a torn down hellenistic column that results in a baby. LOL

There’s all sort of face and neck action foreplay (I’m like “Omo, omomomomomo I swear she’s licking that neck“) before the hellenistic column action, as well as the obvious after scene.

Of course there was a baby. There’s never a sex scene in these movies that doesn’t end with these consequences… it happens here in Ghaath, as it happens in Raiou.

*snort* I did confuse Shruti thinking it was lil’ sister Akshara for a moment there. They don’t look alike, though, just a pure brain fart. Anyway, big sis Haasan stopped by this year’s GQ Best Dressed party wearing… not a femme suit! LOL It’s not as badass as, let’s say, Sammi Cheng in Cannes… but it calls your attention in between all the dresses. Coat needs a little tailoring, a sharper collar, and a tighter tie knot.

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It’s really lil sis Akshara who can rock the cool look. I was over the moon with her hair in Shamitabh. And I’m not the only one. Whoever pull off the look in the film, brilliant. She does look a lot like Kamal Haasan, though. She’s got the perennial sad look in her eyes, and she’s got funky ears! She had sass, though. It can be promising.

I like these one-on-one interviews, especially when you have performance-oriented people. Too bad Nawazuddin Siddiqui doesn’t feel comfortable speaking English- 1. Maybe these Meeting Ground interviews are always in English. 2. If they’re not necessarily in English, I wouldn’t understand a thing he says in Hindi. xD

This time Kangana Ranaut and Irrfan Khan are one-on-one after the commercial success of Tanu Weds Manu Returns and Piku, respectively. In the brief 20min interview, they talk about acting nuances with a super brief Acting 101, as well as people’s obsession with Box Office numbers (in this case, making the 100 crore club), the -now- discerning audience (and the massy one), not longer being a working actor who needs to constantly do movies to make a living, being an outsider, PLUS! the strength and vitriol that is social media.

Happy watching!

On the Box Office obsession and audience talks, it’s a general worldwide problem, you guys. Last year headlines declared How to Train your Dragon 2 a box office flop when it made “just” $50M USD. Joining the $1B USD club is big on studio heads, and having the most profitable franchise is a plus for actors.

The audience everywhere is half and half- good movie don’t make money, bad movies that make loads. The audience and press vitriol on review and social media. They’re not solely Bollywood problems ;)

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Well, this week has been an active Tabu week~ first, news that Rekha had backed out of Abhishek Kapoor’s Great Expectations adaptation, Fitoor, and having Tabu land on the gig. Then the hindi Drishyam team teased a shot of Tabu in cop get-up in prep for the release of the trailer (my gosh, the movie promotion machine these days). I think they also announced Manoj Bajpayee’s and Tabu’s upcoming film Missing [1], while putting in on the table that Tabu will be playing Katrina Kaif’s sister in Fitoor and not a crazy aunt. Ha, they look nothing alike. Reminds me of Chinese movie-casting.

Phew. I think I covered my basis.

Tabu is going to eat people alive on that set. I know Cuaron’s version is not very popular, but I love it.

I’ll champion anything Vidya does. This goes hand in hand with her Mother India cover!

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I think… in contrast to last year, I might be liking Dum Laga Ke Haisha much better than movies like 2 States or Queen. It’s modern like those two dealing with issues, it’s got as strong acting (though Queen had the disadvantage of foreign acting, which always tends to be the weakest link anywhere in the world), but it’s much fresher in style with its honest 90s Bollywood throwback. And thank you gods that there was no bumping electro-dance disco song.

It’ll need to simmer, but it looks good for YRF at the moment.

Well~ that was a LONG process. Buth ere it is, after nearly four months of movie-watching and voting… the YAM Magazine team’s favorite movies of this decade so far~ Hope you find one you like, discover one… and that we included some of your favorites!

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Do your thing~

Oooh, it’s been a while since I’ve been taken by a poster :) Anybody know who was in charge of the design?

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This is my favorite shot of the lot~

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source et more pics.

You’d think Hi! Blitz (or any other blog) would post this, but I had to get this from Tabu’s Instagram.

Stylist: Mayyur Girotra [Website][Instagram]
Hair & Make-up: Namrata Soni [Website][Instagram]
Photographs by: Rohan Shrestha [Website][Instagram]

Oh, Happy Chinese New Year! Let’s start my (supposedly) bad-luck Goat Year with the now-mandatory Letterboxd list of my film collection~

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I have a really weird history with films– born in the late 80s, you’d think I would’ve grown watching loads of 90s kids stuff, but I actually grew up with a lot of Silly Symphonies (which were released in the 30s) and loads of Disney 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s stuff, plus a lot of more grown up 80s movies. Poltergeist, The Thing, The Fly and The Stuff were particularly scary stuff (and I’m pretty sure I was scared of yogurt or white stuff at some point).

I don’t ever remember buying any original VHS tape, except for the rare birthday gift of a Disney’s Sing-Along Songs chapter or that X-Men tape I have. My first DVDs buys were Coyote Ugly, She’s All That and Loser — you can’t blame me. I was a 15-year-old girl. The collection grew bigger, and possibly exploded during my years abroad. I’m nearing my 500th movie.