How did I get into bollywood, manga, anime, dramas etc....

[carviangli]

So, I've had heaps of people ask me the age old question 'how did you get into (insert random obsession) So here is my post to explain...

Bollywood should be an easy guess because *ahem* I am Indian and I think it was half my aunty's side is Hindi. I sort of understand it and I could probably watch a hindi movie w/o subs but I prefer it. I am

Comments

[carviangli]

Vannakam! Hehe. Can you believe there is no way to say hello in Tamil?! Vannakam literally means welcome, come in etc. It's still cute nonetheless.

Meh. I agree SOME tamil actors are drool-worthy (surya,bharath,aarya etc.) but some seriously should have stopped playing the hero ages ago. Yes some movies are VERY good. Such as the movies by Mani Ratnam and Shankar.

The problem I have with Tamil movies is that they are cliched to the point of boringness. Everytime they meet a girl they MUST FALL IN LOVE. Most of the time it's at first sight which is to me 'like WTF?!'. There are always 'rowdies' (gangsters) and they just bash them up and marry the heroines. I hate how weak the characters are and how badly Tamils are portrayed.

Yes, Mani Ratnam IS a master film maker and I adore every one of his films. I watched Guru in Hindi and then Tamil (my parents wanted to see it XD). Have you heard of a great movie called 'Kannathil Mutham Vittai' (Lit. You gave me a kiss on my cheek.Hehe) It is awesome and has Simran and Madhavan. Simran is this gorgeous actress who stopped acting a while ago but this is one of her better movies. The music is amazing as well. Especially the two songs 'Oru Devathai' (Lit. a goddess) and the title song.

If you would like some rec's for some good tamil movies I can tell you some names. Believe me, there are more crap movies than there are good.

[fivil]

Yeah, heroines are usually useless characters in Tamil films.. That sucks. The clichés are there, yeah, definitely.

I've seen Kannathil Muthamittal (that's the spelling on the DVD cover, not sure how correct it is!), I liked it a lot! I also love Madhavan, he's a great actor. Very cute, too. I also thought the Tamil version of Mani's Yuva was better than Yuva, better cast etc. I also loved Iruvar.

Shankar films can be cool. I find Anniyan ridiculous but oh so very entertaining. Vikram's totally a favourite of mine, even if he portrays stereotypical characters.

I'm sort of zoning out of Indian movies and giving doramas space on my "to-watch" lists but sure, Tamil movie recs would be good, though I can't promise I'll ever get to see them. Have you seen many Tamil oldies, by the way? I saw one Sivaji Ganesan film and loved it (Thillana Mohanambal, he was in it with Padmini).

[carviangli]

Oh is that really how they spell it?! That's funny. See if you break it down it doesn't make sense.
Kannathil (Lit. On cheek)
Mutham (Lit. Kiss/Peck)
Ittal (No translation!) Hehe. I think it was supposed to be vitta or whatever which means left/gve.

Are you talking about Aeyithu Elathu? (Tamil Yuva). I agree, the tamil one was very good- but I haven't seen the Hindi one so I can't comment. I really liked Surya (Ajay in Hindi Version) character. Also Madhavan and Meera J were quite awesome in this.

Anyway, yes I have seen Thillana Mohanambal! I thought it was awesome. See I am a Bharathaya Natya dancer as well so this oldie was quite interesting for me. I really like Classical dancing but no way as good as Padmini. She dances very gracefully in this. Her bhavam (expressions) are awesome! Another famous one with Sivaji is Vasenthamaligai (lit. palace/mansion) which he plays a guy who gets drunk and angsty after the heroine does not return his love. Very Devdas-ish except it has a happy ending (sorry! Spoiler!). Then again, every movie with Sivaji is famous.

Some other good ones ( pretty new 2000- onwards)
- Kadhal - my fav tamil movies, this one is awesome. Bharath and Sandhya literally became superstars after this.
- Ghajini- wrote about this before. Great tamil movie with Asin and Surya. Being remade in Hindi with Aamir.
Khaka Khaka- Movie with Surya and Jyothika about a cops life. Very hard-hitting and realistic. Also has the awesomest and best song in tamil history uyiren uyire (Lit. Life).
Chandramukhi- Really kewl movie that's a little mysterious/quirky but overall really good.
Saamy- Trisha and Vickram. Very stylish and OMG! There are two kisses. Can you spot 'em?
Ghilli- Trisha and Vijay. Very entertaining but sleek. I love this one heaps.
Autograph- Very very low key and overall awesome movie.
Parthiban Kannavu- really different and really reminded me of a hindi movie.
Something Something...Unnakam Ennakum- Jeyam Ravi and Trisha. Farming and flirting. Hehe.
An oldie? This one is called 'Mouna Ragam (Lit. Silent Tune)
which was made in the 1980's and is really well written and acted.
And anything by Mani Ratnam.

Actually I might do a post about Good Tamil movies...will see if I have the time

[fivil]

Hmm, it could've just been an odd way of spelling it. Beats me.

I love Bharatanatyam dancing, I wish we saw it more in movies. You must've seen Salangai Oli with Kamal Hassan, awesome movie about a classical dancer.

I have to see Ghajini, yes. I also liked Chandramukhi and I've seen Kaakha Kaakha, but I liked the Surya-Jyothika pairing in that more than the actual police story, though it was generally very well made. :)

[carviangli]

Amazingly no, I haven't seen Salangai Oli but I think Kamal Hassan is a really versatile actor. I agree- more movies with classical dancing! I mean it's quite a big part of many young girls lives. Nearly every tamil girl I know has tried/is doing Bharatanatyam. There was a movie called Godfather or 'Vallaru' with Ajith and Asin. It had a bit of classical in it.

Yes, I highly rec Ghajini and another movie called Kadhal (Lit. Love). Both are really, really good and angsty. I agree Kaakha Kaakha was great especially the Surya- Jyothika romance. They're married in RL! How cute!