Comments on: Bollywood x Hollywood: Horror Edition http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/ All that flavorful brownness in one savory packet Sat, 30 Nov 2013 11:11:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: tee http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/comment-page-1/#comment-277132 tee Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:33:00 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6288#comment-277132 <p>hey, it looks funny...... to speculate it.seems to be a standard horror genre movie e.g King Kong etc, aiming at the male youth demographic. & perhaps it is an Avatar like allegory? Will they introduce Christian cultural notions of good and evil onto a tradition that doe not share this culture? or does it have a redemption narrative where former colonialists get their comeuppence, is it about the transmission of values of cultural consumerism to try and make new markets in which Hollywood will remain relevant. If this is globalised cinema for the middle classes. In the battle of cultural colonialism whose narratives will prevail?</p> <p>generally, hollywood & bollywood have become like evil twin brothers, bullying us (the public) into handing over our hard earned money and in return shoving their mediocre cynical imaginations down our throats.</p> <p>I just don't know ...I can't wait to see it....or maybe I can.</p> hey, it looks funny…… to speculate it.seems to be a standard horror genre movie e.g King Kong etc, aiming at the male youth demographic. & perhaps it is an Avatar like allegory? Will they introduce Christian cultural notions of good and evil onto a tradition that doe not share this culture? or does it have a redemption narrative where former colonialists get their comeuppence, is it about the transmission of values of cultural consumerism to try and make new markets in which Hollywood will remain relevant. If this is globalised cinema for the middle classes. In the battle of cultural colonialism whose narratives will prevail?

generally, hollywood & bollywood have become like evil twin brothers, bullying us (the public) into handing over our hard earned money and in return shoving their mediocre cynical imaginations down our throats.

I just don’t know …I can’t wait to see it….or maybe I can.

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By: Sameer http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/comment-page-1/#comment-277117 Sameer Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:37:24 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6288#comment-277117 <blockquote>the point is mostly to demonstrate that the universe doesn’t revolve around us, we just have a unique ability to try to understand it. As far as that’s the case, we’re expected to love and revere everything. </blockquote> <p>Nicely put. Yes the Dharmic religions do have this view, while the Abrahamic religions are bi - polar good v evil. I often thought snakes got a bad rap in Abrahamic religions. Goddesses too.</p> the point is mostly to demonstrate that the universe doesn’t revolve around us, we just have a unique ability to try to understand it. As far as that’s the case, we’re expected to love and revere everything.

Nicely put. Yes the Dharmic religions do have this view, while the Abrahamic religions are bi – polar good v evil. I often thought snakes got a bad rap in Abrahamic religions. Goddesses too.

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By: Andrew http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/comment-page-1/#comment-277111 Andrew Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:31:38 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6288#comment-277111 <p>@rohit: No, but I should be :P @Sameer: That is definitely a good point--some people will look at this movie and shudder, as they may interpret it to be a simple monster movie with a snake-creature as the villain, much like a werewolf or vampire movie, where both mythic creatures are generally nightmares of the human race. The Nagin's role is multifaceted (like most things in South Asia) and can range from the archetypal villain in a story to the magical hero. Admittedly the trailer gives the viewer a feel that the movie is simply a monster flick, with the "exotic" Nagina as the new terror, but the actual movie depicts the Nagina in a more positive light: at the simplest level, a lover trying to save her loved one. Perhaps there might be some overlaying metaphor of the transformed Nagina trying to find her way around the bustling city in a new India of the clash of modern and ancient within India, but that's my own speculation. And even though while the fear of snakes/gore/other religions might put some people off, (I can just see some fundamentalist bashing the movie as heathen snake worship compared to the much more acceptable, abstinence promoting-teenage vampire romance) I think there are enough people out there who are open minded enough to accept it, and like I said, America's subculture will definitely eat this up (some pun intended). And hopefully by seeing this movie, and more, people can learn more about other worldviews and learn to appreciate other culture's traits.</p> @rohit: No, but I should be :P @Sameer: That is definitely a good point–some people will look at this movie and shudder, as they may interpret it to be a simple monster movie with a snake-creature as the villain, much like a werewolf or vampire movie, where both mythic creatures are generally nightmares of the human race. The Nagin’s role is multifaceted (like most things in South Asia) and can range from the archetypal villain in a story to the magical hero. Admittedly the trailer gives the viewer a feel that the movie is simply a monster flick, with the “exotic” Nagina as the new terror, but the actual movie depicts the Nagina in a more positive light: at the simplest level, a lover trying to save her loved one. Perhaps there might be some overlaying metaphor of the transformed Nagina trying to find her way around the bustling city in a new India of the clash of modern and ancient within India, but that’s my own speculation. And even though while the fear of snakes/gore/other religions might put some people off, (I can just see some fundamentalist bashing the movie as heathen snake worship compared to the much more acceptable, abstinence promoting-teenage vampire romance) I think there are enough people out there who are open minded enough to accept it, and like I said, America’s subculture will definitely eat this up (some pun intended). And hopefully by seeing this movie, and more, people can learn more about other worldviews and learn to appreciate other culture’s traits.

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By: Yoga Fire http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/comment-page-1/#comment-277106 Yoga Fire Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:44:04 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6288#comment-277106 <blockquote>They are reviled in the Abrahamic religions and associated with evil, while they are worshiped in the Dharmic religions and are considered divine.</blockquote> <p>This is true but it’s a bit more nuanced than that. In the Dharmic religions there isn’t much of a concept of “evil,” just an understanding that everything has a role in the universe. Snakes are revered in the same way most of what St. Augustine refers to as “natural evils,” such as freak storms or accidents, are. They have the power to ruin you, so we respect and hope to placate them, but the point is mostly to demonstrate that the universe doesn’t revolve around us, we just have a unique ability to try to understand it. As far as that’s the case, we’re expected to love and revere everything.</p> They are reviled in the Abrahamic religions and associated with evil, while they are worshiped in the Dharmic religions and are considered divine.

This is true but it’s a bit more nuanced than that. In the Dharmic religions there isn’t much of a concept of “evil,” just an understanding that everything has a role in the universe. Snakes are revered in the same way most of what St. Augustine refers to as “natural evils,” such as freak storms or accidents, are. They have the power to ruin you, so we respect and hope to placate them, but the point is mostly to demonstrate that the universe doesn’t revolve around us, we just have a unique ability to try to understand it. As far as that’s the case, we’re expected to love and revere everything.

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By: Sameer http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/comment-page-1/#comment-277104 Sameer Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:26:25 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6288#comment-277104 <blockquote>actually from what I gathered from watching interviews about the movie, the stereotyping of Indians and favoritism of western culture is not what this movie is about. In fact, the villain is not the Nagin or any brown person, but an American hunter who snake-naps the Nagina's mate. The hunter, George States, sounds like he might very well be a pukka ignorant American (who happens to know about Nagin?). The hero of the movie is Irrfan Khan, who is supposed to be the skeptical detective behind the case (typecasting much?) of the Nagin murders. I would assume that he will end up being a brilliant innovator in solving the crimes, and then have some good acting in the moral dilemma of helping the Nagina with her quest.</blockquote> <p>The Abrahamic religions have a different attitude toward snakes and Goddesses than the Dharmic religions. They are reviled in the Abrahamic religions and associated with evil, while they are worshiped in the Dharmic religions and are considered divine. Western movies tend to have an Abrahamic view of the world. I would hope, and it seems from what you are telling, this Westernized movie will not demonize snakes and Goddesses but view them through Dharmic eyes with honor.</p> actually from what I gathered from watching interviews about the movie, the stereotyping of Indians and favoritism of western culture is not what this movie is about. In fact, the villain is not the Nagin or any brown person, but an American hunter who snake-naps the Nagina’s mate. The hunter, George States, sounds like he might very well be a pukka ignorant American (who happens to know about Nagin?). The hero of the movie is Irrfan Khan, who is supposed to be the skeptical detective behind the case (typecasting much?) of the Nagin murders. I would assume that he will end up being a brilliant innovator in solving the crimes, and then have some good acting in the moral dilemma of helping the Nagina with her quest.

The Abrahamic religions have a different attitude toward snakes and Goddesses than the Dharmic religions. They are reviled in the Abrahamic religions and associated with evil, while they are worshiped in the Dharmic religions and are considered divine. Western movies tend to have an Abrahamic view of the world. I would hope, and it seems from what you are telling, this Westernized movie will not demonize snakes and Goddesses but view them through Dharmic eyes with honor.

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By: V.V. Ganeshananthan http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/comment-page-1/#comment-277100 V.V. Ganeshananthan Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:50:54 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6288#comment-277100 <p>yeah, I've never watched much bollywood, Aparita, as you know :) or tollywood, either.</p> yeah, I’ve never watched much bollywood, Aparita, as you know :) or tollywood, either.

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By: SS http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/comment-page-1/#comment-277096 SS Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:39:46 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6288#comment-277096 <p>@ andrew . <<i>Plus Lara Dutta is playing his pregnant wife...></i> It is not Lara Dutta, but Divya Dutta</p> <p>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0244890/</p> @ andrew . < Plus Lara Dutta is playing his pregnant wife…> It is not Lara Dutta, but Divya Dutta

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0244890/

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By: And Bakshish for All http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/comment-page-1/#comment-277093 And Bakshish for All Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:55:47 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6288#comment-277093 <p>No one remembers this auteur’s <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/boxinghelenarbrown_a0adfa.">fine debut</a>?</p> No one remembers this auteur’s fine debut?

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By: Pravin http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/comment-page-1/#comment-277092 Pravin Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:54:32 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6288#comment-277092 <p>Looking at imdb, I get the feeling that this movie won't get a wide release. Maybe 200 screens if one is optimistic, or direct to cable and video. Hopefully, the nudity warning me left me a little disappointed that all we saw was some lady half covered in mud. Heh.</p> <p>It does look like it could be a fun late night cable viewing. As long as the pacing is better than Jennifer Lynch's Boxing Helena. I was bored by that movie.</p> Looking at imdb, I get the feeling that this movie won’t get a wide release. Maybe 200 screens if one is optimistic, or direct to cable and video. Hopefully, the nudity warning me left me a little disappointed that all we saw was some lady half covered in mud. Heh.

It does look like it could be a fun late night cable viewing. As long as the pacing is better than Jennifer Lynch’s Boxing Helena. I was bored by that movie.

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By: rohit http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2010/08/09/bollywood_x_hol/comment-page-1/#comment-277090 rohit Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:41:32 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6288#comment-277090 <p>Andrew...are you on the PR team for Hisss by any chance:)</p> Andrew…are you on the PR team for Hisss by any chance:)

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