tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post7936746697113520087..comments2023-11-10T08:26:51.182-06:00Comments on Beth Loves Bollywood: GuideBeth Loves Bollywoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540154833326987567noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-53494833900077004402010-03-06T17:41:52.327-06:002010-03-06T17:41:52.327-06:00Nice rev, and now that you say it, i find the movi...Nice rev, and now that you say it, i find the movie's first half also more gripping. <br />Also nice comments here.Hans Meierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04675553770565339630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-22853278432056933022009-10-13T02:05:16.983-05:002009-10-13T02:05:16.983-05:00The snake dance and the "Aaj phir jeene ki ta...The snake dance and the "Aaj phir jeene ki tamunna hai" song are so cool in this movie!<br /><br />I saw an interview with WR where she talked about the snake dance. She explained that normally in BW songs, much of the meaning comes through the words and phrases in the song. In the snake dance of Guide, the song is without vocals, of course. So she talked about how she had to show so much of what her character was going through in that song without relying on words. It was an interesting interview.<br /><br />By the way I hope no snakes were harmed in the making of this movie. If I make a snake-dance video in future I will not use real snakes myself (just a random note here Lol)<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for your review Beth, I might have to re-watch this one soon!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-51454763576379554822008-07-12T17:40:00.000-05:002008-07-12T17:40:00.000-05:00This is one of my favorites as well - like others ...This is one of my favorites as well - like others it made me a Waheeda fan from the moment she goes into the snake dance. Dev is a little more difficult to warm up to as an actor. In the 50's and 60's he was kind of hip and contemporary compared to other stiff male stars at the time like Ashok Kumar and Dilip Kumar - but he was already beginning to acquire certain film ticks like the smirk you mention and a terrible taste in caps that became more exaggerated as he got older and in truth he began to feel like a creepy middle aged man by the 70's. Catch him in Hare Krishna Hare Rama and Bullet to see what I mean. Then if you really want to torture yourself watch him in Love in Times Square made a few years ago for one of the sadder visions of an actor who refuses to act his age. But in Guide and Jewel Thief he was still quite cool.Brian Naashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12798896753133473887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-78627189088037071292008-07-11T21:41:00.000-05:002008-07-11T21:41:00.000-05:00A wonderful review, Beth, and the screen caps make...A wonderful review, Beth, and the screen caps make <I>Guide</I> look visually appealing, even if the story is somewhat altered/simplified from the novel (I have to confess complete ignorance of both).<BR/><BR/>I loved your idea about starting a thread on the worst movie you've sat through because of who starred or was involved in it. Right now for me that movie is <I>Koyla</I>, with SRK, Madhuri Dixit, and Amrish Puri. So how bad could it be, you're thinking? Painfully bad.<BR/><BR/>And I think you need a blog category for Distracting Hair. I can think of quite a few films/stars that would qualify...Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-90921991098416256812008-07-11T10:30:00.000-05:002008-07-11T10:30:00.000-05:00I love love love this movie. One of the very few m...I love love love this movie. One of the very few movies that I enjoyed as much as the book on which it was based. Although I think the movie was colorful, book was more profound.Never Mind!!https://www.blogger.com/profile/00743537362678602058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-33988403278630796862008-07-09T16:42:00.000-05:002008-07-09T16:42:00.000-05:00Hi Beth,Loved to read what you thought about Guide...Hi Beth,<BR/>Loved to read what you thought about Guide, and of course was interested about the discussion, because as Bollyviewer (and others) points out, I indeed was quite interested in the relationships between book and film. <BR/>So yes, the book for all its ambiguity is a very interesting effort at understanding what it means to guide other people, to be a master, a teacher, a leader, an inspirer: all roles which, come to think of it, are very common in society! And so if you have the book's story in mind, the film is glitzy, but VERY Bollywoodian. It follows the story, but fails at focussing on the central problem that Narayan was dealing with. That explains the strange "double-story" impression you felt. And the end of the film is, by the book's standards, completely ridiculous!<BR/>But if you haven't read the book, then you can probably like it without restraint. This is what M. Mohit Verma says (reference here http://www.letstalkaboutbollywood.com/article-19103838.html):<BR/>“There are two perspectives you can have about this film: firstly if you're an R.K. Narayan buff and had read "The Guide" before watching the film just like me, you might just end up being a little disappointed. On the contrary if you have watched or the want to watch the film, only because of its face value or perhaps because of Dev Anand, then you would enjoy it considerably.”<BR/>Bye for now!<BR/>yvesyveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12975451635895715233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-59741690740117257572008-07-09T13:51:00.000-05:002008-07-09T13:51:00.000-05:00OMG I love this movie so much! Though hands down ...OMG I love this movie so much! Though hands down the most beautiful song in it (and in the entire Hindi movieverse) is "Gaatha Rahe Mera Dil". Also a cool fact, SD Burman is the singer for "Musafir".<BR/><BR/>Also I believe RK and Dev Anand has a very public fallout over the book adaptation issues since Dev Anand basically wanted to make this another vanity production for himself. Dev Anand also wanted to make this his Hollywood launch making a duplicate English language version of the film which I want to get my hands on.Rakahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989591454072893256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-37366207627686213492008-07-08T08:24:00.000-05:002008-07-08T08:24:00.000-05:00chavanni - I accidentally deleted your comment! So...chavanni - I accidentally deleted your comment! Sorry about that. I meant to click on another one that sounded a lot like blatant advertising. <BR/><BR/>Speaking of which, to all the website promoters out there, I usually delete comments that are basically nothing but an ad.<BR/><BR/>neha - The more people are commenting on this, the more I want to read the book! :) Kind sarcasm is a very great thing, and it would have been wonderful to see a movie that managed to pull it off. Good call on the film being aware of "hero" - that sure explains the last half hour, doesn't it!Beth Loves Bollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05540154833326987567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-77203597982600522012008-07-08T08:13:00.000-05:002008-07-08T08:13:00.000-05:00To be fair, RK Narayan made a public statement abo...To be fair, RK Narayan made a public statement about the film having completely ignored the book's path. The book and the film have very different "feels". RK Narayan's sarcasm is a very kind one. It doesn't really tend to glorify the protagonist any more than it glorifies other characters. The film however is acutely aware of the notion of "hero". <BR/><BR/>I loved the first part of the film. The second part just seemed to ramble. Maybe there's a point there somewhere, but I just couldn't figure it out.neha vishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16549996517146151040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-40219270479109779802008-07-08T04:54:00.000-05:002008-07-08T04:54:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Silent Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02268965304596259026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-46962083914169452782008-07-08T00:25:00.000-05:002008-07-08T00:25:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.chavannichaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11234137563285061161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-18004009869734409332008-07-06T09:16:00.000-05:002008-07-06T09:16:00.000-05:00Shweta - The pompadour! Of course! That must be it...Shweta - The pompadour! Of course! That must be it! :) I think you're right - she'd mellowed a bit with time and was able to focus on what he had helped her do. I was a little surprised that a story as bold and sharp as Rosie's would then have a mega-cheesey, mega-filmi, mega-convenient coincidence like that at the end, but ah well. <BR/><BR/>Amrita - She is DA BOMB. Let's make that movie watching happen! I am so there. And please, let's get a discussion going about "What's the worst movie you've sat through because of who starred/was involved in it?" I have not seen the Hindi Rebecca (or read the novel). Shame on me.<BR/><BR/>prasun - "Fails miserably" seems to be the consensus :) I hope to try the book soon!Beth Loves Bollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05540154833326987567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-64156042385651995112008-07-05T15:41:00.000-05:002008-07-05T15:41:00.000-05:00I don't know that much about visual symbolism and ...I don't know that much about visual symbolism and such but as far as the plot is concerned, the film miserably fails the book.<BR/><BR/>It tries to fit the story into the typical Hindi movie mold of Hero-Heroine-Villain and turns Raju into a martyr and Rosie's husband into the bad guy. <BR/><BR/>I'd recommend the book. R K Narayan is after all one of India's greatest writers in English.prasunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17550515401248304717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-3106631925250958152008-07-05T14:04:00.000-05:002008-07-05T14:04:00.000-05:00This was the first Waheeda movie I ever saw and I'...This was the first Waheeda movie I ever saw and I've been in love with her ever since. She can make me sit through a movie the way Shashi can. In fact, she's made me sit through worse movies than Shashi ever has. There's this remake of Wuthering Heights (with a happy ending!) that she did with Dilip Kumar. OH MY GOD! If we're ever in the same city some day we should get completely trashed and watch that movie together. It's horrible and yet! it's her! They're all annoying twats in that movie but when you love someone even as an annoying twat, you know you LOVE them. <BR/><BR/>Have you seen her in the hindi Rebecca? I've never seen a bad adaption of that novel and this one was seriously sweet.ARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047416080298593284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-81817195439768601342008-07-04T14:11:00.000-05:002008-07-04T14:11:00.000-05:00I would think that aside from the obvious attracti...I would think that aside from the obvious attractions of Raju's pompadour, as well as the goodness of her heart, Rosie was maved by memories of Raju from the good times- and maybe also the fact that he stood by her when she flew free for the first time...aagh I am exhibiting signs of closet romanticism. rofl. <BR/>Happy July 4 Beth!Shweta Mehrotra Gahlawathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13543438271055378809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-87568126729697557872008-07-04T11:39:00.000-05:002008-07-04T11:39:00.000-05:00Banno - That's so interesting! (There I go with th...Banno - That's so interesting! (There I go with that word again.) Clearly I should read the book - sounds like a better, if less Rosie-centered, time overall. And yes, vague and ham-handed! Yes yes! <BR/><BR/>Shweta - Yeah! Let's somebody write that story! He's kind of a stone around her neck, eh? I am not sure I understood why she was so moved to see him again at the end - because he was suffering and she would have been equally moved by any other human in that plight? Or was it Raju-specific?Beth Loves Bollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05540154833326987567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-84180681993665009132008-07-04T05:49:00.000-05:002008-07-04T05:49:00.000-05:00I've often wondered how the movie/book would have ...I've often wondered how the movie/book would have turned out if the plot chose to follow Rosie's journey instead of/as well as Raju's. She so embodies freedom and reinvention in "aaj phir jeene,"- i'd have liked to see where here spirit would have guided her, without Raju in tow.Shweta Mehrotra Gahlawathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13543438271055378809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-31654855304832241602008-07-03T23:58:00.000-05:002008-07-03T23:58:00.000-05:00I am just reading the book. I saw the film years a...I am just reading the book. I saw the film years ago, and I know the author of the book was not happy with the film at all. Rosie's story with dance, love, adultery, makes for a more dramatic film, and the entire 2nd half of Raju's wandering is obviously vague and ham-handed in the film. But not so in the book. Where the story moves back and forth in past and present, tying up both the journeys.Bannohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03855784743978203037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-55222927962923379242008-07-03T15:48:00.000-05:002008-07-03T15:48:00.000-05:00ajnabi - Ultrafab indeed! mad munky - Don't hide -...ajnabi - Ultrafab indeed! <BR/><BR/>mad munky - Don't hide - I only learned it recently :) And he absolutely looks like Tin-tin - good call!<BR/><BR/>Rum and Bollyviewer - great input on the book! Fascinating - and very helpful. I think if I had known all that before I started watching, I might see the Rosie-centric arc quiet differently - that is, from the angle that Raju is using her, which I can definitely see now that you point it out but did not occur to me as I was watching.<BR/><BR/>And now I'm trying to remember whether Dev still has his puffy hair when he gets scruffying during his wandering in the title song...might have to go back and check.Beth Loves Bollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05540154833326987567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-69536954818309855672008-07-03T15:39:00.000-05:002008-07-03T15:39:00.000-05:00The book is about Raju the Guide and his dreams of...The book is about Raju the Guide and his dreams of hitting it big through short-cuts. He uses Rosie's frustration with her husband and her dancing skills to achieve his success. Rosie finally realizes this and throws him out. He comes out of jail and again uses people – the faith and helplessness of the simple villagers who shelter him. This time though, he gets caught up in his own trap – they make him a Mahatma (great soul) and he is forced into playing the part! So Rosie, though important, is just part of Raju’s journey and the story is not about her at all. The movie of course, had to demonise Rosie's marital life in order to justify her living in an extramarital union. Thats probably why it appears to be told from her point of view and then shifts allegiance! <BR/><BR/>I read the book years ago and saw the movie even before that – so my interpretation may not be the best. You should check out Yves’ posts over at <A HREF="http://www.letstalkaboutbollywood.com" REL="nofollow">Lets Talk About Bollywood</A> for a more detailed interpretation of Guide <A HREF="http://www.letstalkaboutbollywood.com/article-17382307.html" REL="nofollow">the book</A> and Guide <A HREF="http://www.letstalkaboutbollywood.com/article-19103838.html" REL="nofollow">the movie </A>.<BR/><BR/>Whatever its faults, this is the only instance of a Bollywood mainstream movie that has a heroine indulging in an extramarital affair with no demonisation of her character. And that in the uber conservative 60s! Can forgive a lot for that and the gorgeous visuals!Bollyviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17270927806254662068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-89564868154891009272008-07-03T15:35:00.000-05:002008-07-03T15:35:00.000-05:00Not seen this one. I didn't even realise there wa...Not seen this one. I didn't even realise there was a book. *shuffles back under rock of ignorance*<BR/><BR/>p.s. Dev A always came across as the elder brother of Tin-tin. If Tin-tin had a brother, that is. I don't know. *ramble ramble* :o)*~mad munky~*https://www.blogger.com/profile/16496367615568455286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-66846177922963504172008-07-03T15:15:00.000-05:002008-07-03T15:15:00.000-05:00I loved this movie, it was empowering but not very...I loved this movie, it was empowering but not very true to the R.K Narayan novel which is fine as they fitted some filmi conventions in, but i don't know if i could buy Dev as a wandering sadhu contemplating life because his hair got more coiffed in his thinking scenesRumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10104185865100510017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-430805784826716052008-07-03T13:50:00.000-05:002008-07-03T13:50:00.000-05:00I don't have any deep observations to offer. Am to...I don't have any deep observations to offer. Am totally superficial. But I did want to observe that the sets look like something out of Classic Star Trek and are ultrafab.ajnabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08296593338690811213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-87014569353397348712008-07-03T11:17:00.000-05:002008-07-03T11:17:00.000-05:00houseinrlyeh - Good point. I wouldn't be surprised...houseinrlyeh - Good point. I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case in this story, and I hope someone who has read the novel will chime in. And yes, exactly, it is especially annoying here because it starts off so amazingly. <BR/><BR/>Abhi - That's very interesting about the book being more cynical. Now that you mention it, the movie strikes me as generally hopeful in tone. Maybe some of those irnoies are in the movie too and I just didn't pick up on them. Just to make sure I understand you, do you think the film accompanied some of the philosophical questions and discussions with overt visual cues to be more readily comprehensible? That would explain what I think I saw, certainly. I should give it a little leeway since I have 43 years of movie symbolism to cut through that it didn't - maybe some of the visuals seemed fresher and less obvious in 1965. <BR/><BR/>Todd - It really is a treat visually, and in a lot of different ways and in many different settings. (That is, the <I>kapow!</I> and <I>ooooh!</I> factors are not just for songs or exteriors or whatever - they're everywhere and very stylish and interesting.) (I realize I've used the word "interesting" a zillion times in this piece, but it really is, and I'm not sure how else to put it.) There song with all the white bridges looked like candy - I kept thinking of gumdrops as the dancers' skirts swirled around. You should most definitely see <I>Jewel Thief</I> too if you haven't.Beth Loves Bollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05540154833326987567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-52454353241422122382008-07-03T11:03:00.000-05:002008-07-03T11:03:00.000-05:00Thanks, Beth. This is one of those "I've been mean...Thanks, Beth. This is one of those "I've been meaning to see it for ages" films for me, and now I'm that much closer to finally getting around to it. Despite the flaws you point out, it <I>looks</I> amazing.Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15890338576052689861noreply@blogger.com