SubscribeAisha: Bollywood’s Next Rom-Com… A Trailblazer?
In a previous post, I stressed Bollywood’s need for I Hate Luv Storys to succeed. I am hesitant about the film’s ability of moving away from the cliches decades of formulaic Bollywood movies have created, but am hopeful that newcomers Sonam Kapoor and Imran Khan and debutant director Punit Malhotra will deviate from the tired masala recipe that producers use to draw in the crowds.
Although I am unsure about I Hate Luv Storys (but not completely disheartened), I am much more confident and excited about another rom-com that will release soon after IHLS: Aisha. Now, watching the trailer, it doesn’t hide its obvious similarities with the other Jane Austen’s Emma interpretation, Clueless. But, unlike my concerns with IHLS, I believe this film will push the envelope and give Bollywood something that will be more innovative, rather than feed off of Bollywood’s developing love of romantic comedies without the over the top drama. Yes, it is a commercial Bollywood film made to draw in the crowds, but I believe it will do so on its own terms, not because of a tried and tested routine. There are a few reasons that I believe this film is the romantic comedy worth waiting for:
- Abhay Deol. He plays the male lead, and his career so far is amazing. As I wrote in a previous post, he is THE Bollywood actor worth watching and following, and the very fact that he is starring in Aisha makes me believe that this film will be ripe with artistic merit and innovation.
- The lack of any Swiss Alps locale in the promo. Must I say more?
- Amit Trivedi. It is often assumed in Bollywood that music takes a back seat in “art” or “parallel” films. Trivedi has defied this notion. He won accolades for his stupendous work in Dev D. and for by far the most memorable and popular song in Wake Up Sid, “Iktara,” which shined above the other music in the film, which was composed by Bollywood’s some of Bollywood’s most famous musical men, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. His involvement in this film can only be a good thing, and will also prove to be in stark comparison to the more typical, unimaginative track of I Hate Luv Stories.
- The Director. Rajshree Ohja. She’s a woman, she’s young, and she seems amazing. Check out this article about her and see for yourself.
- The Producers. The Kapoor clan, Sonam Kapoor’s family, is producing the film. Although her last two and only films weren’t great, she does have a certain modern appeal that her colleagues lack, and I’m not quite ready to give up on her. Her character seems very different from the one in IHLS. In this film, she represents the globalized Indian girl, a character I, a 24 year old living in Boston, can easily relate to. The reason I have so much faith in her character is because of:
- Devika Bhagat. Bollywood’s latest trailblazer is the number one reason I believe I will not be disappointed by Aisha. Bhagat is best known for writing the witty, television show, Mahi Way. The show just aired its series finale last week (it lasted one season), and the dialogue, messages, casting, and story line made it one of the best shows I’ve seen on Indian television, and without a doubt the most accurate portrayal of today’s Indian urban youth. I first wrote about the show in the beginning of its season, and will write about my opinion of the show in its entirety when Rishta.com, another brilliant dramedy by the same production company comes to an end next week. Until then, I will add Devika Bhagat to my growing list of Bollywood game changers. She’s up there with Abhay Deol, Ranbir Kapoor, and one day Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyup, and UTV (and even Imtiaz Ali. We will just pretend that Love Aaj Kal never happened).
As I have said before, I am equally supportive of parallel films like Mr. and Mrs. Iyer as I am of films like Dev D. and of Lage Raho Munnabhai. There is room for films in Bollywood that are commercial but aren’t formulaic, and Aisha seems to fit in with these new crop of movies. If done right and my expectations are not to be let down, Aisha has the potential to further propel the world’s largest film industry in an even more progressive and innovative direction.
Here is the theatrical trailer. Enjoy!
A Small Leap for Television…
There is a glimmer of hope amidst the dramatic daily soaps and mind numbing reality programming in Indian television. Yes, reality programming, including the ridiculous copies of American favorites (examples) and singing competitions have taken the majority of prime-time programming and ratings, similar to the trends in the US. Daily soaps are still prime time and will continue to be so in the years to come. But Sony Entertainment Television, one of the standard and most popular channels in the country, is trying something new.
The channel, which is home to Indian Idol and the Indian version of Dancing with the Stars, has gotten rid of most of its daily soaps. It has also launched two new shows, Mahi Way and Rishta.com. The shows are one hour long and only air- wait for it- once a week! It’s a complete departure from the daily soaps (which are similar to telenovelas).
These two shows are funny, witty, and can be slightly uncomfortable for me to watch with my parents- a rare occurrence when watching Indian television. It’s different from previous risky programming, such as serials made by Ajai Sinha. Sinha’s ventures were always scandalous, ripe with sexual innuendos and extra-marital affairs. SET’s newest ventures have characters that drink wine, go clubbing, date, and wear western clothing. Pretty standard stuff for Delhi and Mumbai adults, but also a reality that is avoided in soap operas and serials that have dominated television.
Mahi Way is a show about a lovable and bubbly Agony Aunt columnist who happens to be overweight. Her best friend is gay and she is also friends with a gay couple who live together (progress!). She is career oriented, drinks wine, dates, yet still has family values, lives with her family, and is under a lot of pressure to get married.
This is complete departure from Balaji Entertainment, which replaced some great television in the 90’s with stories that were always the same at the core. The central characters (always women) were from middle class backgrounds and marry into a rich family. The antagonists were always women who wore a lot of make up and jewelry and were not religious. The men were usually flawed and rarely central characters. Of course there were variances and some shows that tried to break the mold, but were usually cancelled or ended up following the same mold. During the last 15 years, these soaps dominated. In fact, it was said they even helped women gain confidence in their own households. Then reality programming broke in and stole some of their thunder.
The two new shows don’t fit these molds, and it’s incredibly refreshing. Rishta.com is about two friends who start a matrimonial business together. One of my favorite episodes was about a guy who was dragged to the company by his parents who were desperate to get their son married. Turns out, he’s gay. But what’s so great about his charecter was that he wasn’t stereotypically gay, meaning he wasn’t extra feminine or wearing really tight shiney clothes, as is usually how gay men are portrayed in most Indian pop culture.
Both shows have an unlikely source– Yash Raj Films. It was about time the production company that once dominated formulaic film making is in the business of making innovative television. It is annoying that they shamelessly promote their music and films, but hey, I’ll take what I can get.
The shows are really funny and entertaining, but still have a women target demographic. They’re the equivalent of Gilmore Girls or Ugly Betty, but in the midst of daily soaps and reality television, the change is very welcome.
CORRECTION: Yash Raj Films have launched five new shows on SET. The other three are Lift Kara de (Talk/reality show with director Karan Johar), Seven (similiar to Heroes) and Powder, a dramatic series that I will review in a future post.
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