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Reviews
Rockford (1999)
Low-budget movie, interesting.
Having seen Nagesh Kukunoor's "Hyderabad Blues" and enjoyed it very much, I was keen on seeing "Rockford" with nary of hint of what it was all about.
Obviously low-budget, this movie narrates the story of a boy's life at Rockford boarding school. There is some drama, romance, villainy, etc. more in the scale of a storm in a teacup. If one is not hooked on the "formula" Indian films, and enjoys simple stories fairly well told, it may be your cup of tea. For me, this was refreshingly enjoyable.
The dialogue is mostly in English, though expect to hear scratchy, and irritatingly bad sound a lot of the time. Not a technically polished movie, but likeable nonetheless. I would certainly see any more movies Nagesh Kukunoor makes.
Hyderabad Blues (1998)
Recommended watch for NRI's
A refreshing look at India and NRI's (non-resident Indians) who return to India after many years and have to learn to re-adapt themselves to a familiar culture. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the movie, which is a good humored comedy about a young man who, despite his initial resistance to Indian customs about arranged marriages, feels drawn to an attractive young woman doctor.
The outspoken doctor tells him, among other things. that NRI's generally look for a wife, who will end up living the life of a glorified maid. Such comments give the movie the touch of authenticity. That is what you hear in India about young men who come from abroad (particularly the USA) to get married.
The prattle between the young NRI and his two childhood friends, who discuss marriage, women, culture, etc is interesting, though at first it seems so trite.
The dialog is pretty much how people speak in India (a mix of two or even three different languages), but the subtitles are a big help.
After watching mostly the formula films of Bollywood, this movie certainly gets my vote as a must see film.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983)
One of India's best comedies
This is one of India's best comedy movies. Well made, well directed, very well acted, the movies picks up more laughs as it develops and the climax is certainly the most hilarious. The theme is corruption in business, government and the media. Everybody is on the take, the Police Commissioner, the big bucks businessman, newspaper editor, etc.
Two hungry-for-work photo studio owners accidentally take the picture of a murder and then "all hell breaks loose". The climax at a small theater where "The Mahabharata" is being staged will have you in splits. Crime has never been so much fun. Yet the film never loses its edge, its cynicism of what happens in the real world. The good guys always win in the end, right? Yeah, right... See the movie. I have no doubt this is one of India's classic comedy films.