TGV: His list of favorite Indian Movies

Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 08:24:42 +0200
Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.local.indian
Size: 4,809 bytes

Again havent seen most of the movies listed by TGV. I realise I havent
really seen Indian movies at its best. How about you guys? This summer I
have decided to rent out and see some of these movies listed by TGV and
Rangoonwala but I doubt whether the local video shops would have them..
--------------------------------------------------
Now Also Running
An eclectic list of the ones that can never get away.
T.G. VAIDYANATHAN
Teacher-critic-cricket freak T.G. Vaidyanathan’s latest book on cinema
Hours in the Dark is published by OUP.
Devdas Hindi/Bengali, 1935
The archetypal love story celebrating love - not marriage - based on
Saratchandra’s famous 1917 novel. Has spawned numerous adaptations
(Tamil, Telugu and yet another Hindi version in 1957 with Dilip Kumar)
but the original directed by P.C. Barua has the one and only Saigal.
Sant Tukaram Marathi, 1936
Tukaram is the prototype of the poet-saints of the bhakti movement who
broke the stranglehold of ritualism in religion. A joint directorial
effort by Damle and Fathelal - hitherto mere technicians at Prabhat Film
Studio - this is truly a ‘cult’ film.
Dr Kotnis Ke Amar Kahani Hindi/English, 1946
The ruling English approved of this true-life story of a young Indian
doctor (who, in 1935, went to work amongst the Chinese war-wounded) and
the Communists applauded because the Chinese force depicted in the film
was the famous Communist Eighth Route Army of Mao Zedong which
eventually established Communist China! But where have all the true-life
stories gone?
Parasakthi Tamil, 1952
Made Sivaji Ganeshan a household name with his Ka-Ka-Ka song based,
surprisingly, on a composition by Subramania Bharati - Tamil Nadu’s
greatest 20th century poet. The film, which shows the heroine as a
political activist, uncannily anticipates the rise of the dmk to
political ascendancy.
Shree 420 Hindi, 1955
Once again with a ‘catchy’, still-remembered song - Mera Joota Hai
Japani - and an absolutely unbeatable title which is still to be
bettered. The chemistry of the love scenes between Raj and Nargis makes
this not just another love story. The rain scene with the lovers singing
pyar hua under an umbrella may not match the sheer power and dramatic
intensity of the boat duet in Awaara but one got the message.
Pather Panchali Bengali, 1955
The true non-pareil of Indian cinema. I won’t attempt to gild this truly
Bengali lily further.
Kaagaz Ke Phool Hindi, 1959
Guru Dutt’s great swan song.
Jalsaghar Bengali, 1958
Notable for a redoubtable performance by Chhabi Biswas in the lead role
and Vilayat Khan’s magnificent music - his sole turn with Ray - won the
film an award for music alone at Moscow in 1959.
Subarnarekha Bengali, 1965
Madhabi (not yet) Mukherjee was never more breathtakingly beautiful and
Ghatak more stridently ideological than in this black and white classic.
My personal favourite over its more famous stablemate, Meghey Dhaka
Tara.
Garam Hawa Urdu, 1973
The late Mrs Gandhi’s only artistic intervention saved the film from the
devouring jaws of the Central Censor Board. Based on an Ismat Chugtai
story, the film explores the moral dilemmas of Muslims in the aftermath
of Partition.
Maya Darpan Hindi, 1974
Nirmal Verma’s short story turned into Indian ‘art’ cinema’s sole icon
by Kumar Shahani, Ritwik Ghatak’s ‘pet’ student at FTII, Satyajit Ray’s
jibe in Our Films, Their Films notwithstanding.
Nirmalayam Malayalam, 1974
Written and directed by M.T. Vasudevan Nair, the film - which won the
President’s Gold Medal - has a towering performance by P.J. Anthony as
the velichapad (temple priest).
Deewar Hindi, 1974
Amitabh Bachchan - recently voted the top actor in a recent bbc Online
Services poll - in his most charismatic role. His "narcissistically
withdrawn lover" here reminds us of Faiz’s well-known line "Our world
knows other torments than of love and other happiness than a fond
embrace." Has attracted a lot of critical attention of late.
Ghatashradha Kannada, 1977
From a short story by Jnanpith Award Winner, U.R. Anantha Murthy, Girish
Kasarvalli has fashioned the most enduring of his films. The subsequent
Hindi version - not by Girish - pales in comparison.
Ekdin Pratidin Bengali, 1980
This least pretentious and most effective of the frequently tendentious
Mrinal Sen probes the middle class mind and middle class morality
expertly.
Imagi Ningthem Manipuri, 1982
The toast of Filmostav ‘82, Calcutta. Has something of the artless
simplicity, if not the lyricism, of Pather Panchali and the early
neo-realist films from Italy. But Aribam Syam Sharma’s film has a
sweet-sour taste all its own!
--
Direct access to this group with http://web2news.com
http://web2news.com/?rec.arts.movies.local.indian