Years ago I had seen a rather unusual (to me) Raj Kapoor movie called
“Dharam Karam” (1975). Netflix was my friend and I was able to rewatch it and
I just love it. It’s colorful, musical, crazy, larger than life.
I know Kapoor (and his children) are big stars in India, but I don’t know if this film just pressed the right buttons for me, or if all his stuff is golden.
So, if any of you out there know this film, or are a Bollywood afficionado, can
you recommend any other movies to me?
I saw only one recent film, and it’s wonderfully bizarre.
Krrish is the first (AFAIK) Indian Superhero movie:
It’s off-the-wall bizarre, with high production values. It’s long, of course, with weird musical numbers inserted in what would be inappropriate places in a Western movie. There’s blatant product placement, and blatant location placement for that matter (Visit Beautiful Singapore!), but, heck, we got all that in Moonraker, too. It’s apparently a sequel to the earlier Kol…Mil Gaya (which I haven’t seen), and there’s a sequel due out next year.
I’m thinking about buying the DVD to show to my unsuspecting friends.
Awesome CalMeacham, the star of Krrish (actress name Rekha) was one of the stars of Dharam Karam. Krrish has become a must-see! Thanks.
Mohabbatein is a pretty cool movie. About 3.5 hours long with huge dancing and singing numbers.
One of the biggest Bollywood films of recent years is Om Shanti Om. The plot starts in the 1970s and winds up in the present day, so you get 1970s Bollywood productions in all their cheesy glory, and (if I recall correctly) centers around Raj Kapoor. The soundtrack is great and the songs have stuck in my head after the plot has gotten fuzzy. There’s a party scene that features some of the biggest Bollywood stars from the last 40 years - the cast list features 49 people credited as “himself” or “herself”.
Well worth seeing. By the way, if any Kansas City area Dopers are also Bollywood fans, I’ll buy your ticket for a ride out to AMC Studio 30 from Waldo to see Bollywood films.
I always recommend Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, a lovely flick about North Indian wedding customs. Oh, and a love story.
Personally I loved Dushman with Rajesh Khanna. Never liked Raj Kapoor much, womanizing bastard that he was.
Do not miss Lagaan. It’s a four hour Bollywood movie about cricket. You’ll love it. I watched it twice in a week because my boyfriend missed it.
Loved that one! It was our first Bollywood film. We had to stop in the middle to study the rules (sorry, Laws) of Cricket. We watched it because it was the first Bollywood film nominated for a Best Foreign Language Oscar. That led us to ask our local video store owners, two brothers from southern India, for recommendations. They led us to some great films.
For a change from standard Bollywood fare I’d recommend Sarkar and Sarkar Raj, Ram Gopal Varma’s tribute to the Godfather starring Amitabh and Abbishek Bachchan.
Salaam Namaste is a fun little flick based in Australia.
For great tragic dramas I’d suggest the Shah Rukh Khan double of Dil Se and Devdas.
and for a really good romantic comedies with with decent songs track down Taal and Bunty Aur Bubli.
What, no love for Dil Chahta Hai?
I’m not a huge fan of Bollywood movies (my sister is, though), but this is one I absolutely adore.
I own this one.
I also rather liked Salaam-E-Ishq though I heard it flopped in India. Regardless, it’s a nice story - a tribute to love.
Hmm, I think the OP needs to give us more info - do you want romance, or story? Modern, or a little older-fashioned?
Bollywood sci-fi films are the funniest thing on the planet. I don’t know any titles, but C4 recently did a series of them, and I was constantly on my back in hysterics! 
Somebody posted a clip of this one here a few months ago. Whatever it is, I love it:
Newer films:
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (K3G)
Veer Zaara
Chori Chori Chubke Chubke
Devdas
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Older:
Don
Coolie
Sholay
Muqqadar ka Sikandar
So many. You could do a search for names as Shah Rukh Khan, Hritik Roshan, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Preeti Zinta (for recent films), and Amitabh Bacchan (for older and newer films). These are huge stars in India and probably won’t disappoint you…
Shah Rukh Khan’s Devdas is my favorite. Makes me cry every time.
I just saw this on DVD and it was seriously awesome. The songs are freakin’ catchy too (I’m listening to the soundtrack on my iPod right now). Highly recommended. (I also now have a major crush on Shahrukh Khan! :D)
Next up is Krrish, which was mentioned above.
not traditional bollywood, but I recently caught Bollywood/Hollywood. Made by of all things Canada …Catchit on netflix instant watch. Basic premis is boy has girl, girl dies, boy scrambles for a girl acceptable to family. Played more or less like a straight movie, but they burst into song and dance anyway.
Best quote? “It is like being trapped in a small elevator with a circus”
Heh, I own that movie, and it just felt like the Bollywood version of “Pretty Woman”.
Though if you enjoyed Bollywood/Hollywood’s style (where it was half english half not), you might enjoy then “American Desi”- which is still one of my fav. bollywood films as I can relate to it better than the other films.
A good place for a link to Devendra Banhart’s “Carmensita” video.
This is one of my favorite Hindi movies ever, and one of the two that I own (Lagaan being the other). IMO, this was one of the first Bollywood movies with truly modern production values. Dilwale Dhulania Le Jayenge (better known as DDLJ, and one of the most popular Hindi movies ever) and the aforementioned HAHK both raised the bar for production in the early 90s, but Dil Chahtha Hai really took it to the next level.
Other recommendations: Sholay, 1942: A Love Story, Gol Maal (the 1970s version – very funny farce), Bombay*, Parineeta, Munnabhai MBBS (think Patch Adams, but good).