Bollywood is For Lovers

Netflix and Dil: We Signed the Black Warrant Jul 15, 2025 1956 We watched the latest Vikramaditya Motwane project, Netflix's 2025 hit Black Warrant. We really liked it, which is not a huge surprise.Show notes: We picked this show on our last Pilot Season episode. Our episode on Motwane's previous show, Jubilee: Bombay's Dream Factory, Jubilee Our episode on three of Motwane's movies: Breaking Free: Vikramaditya Motwane’s Udaan, Lootera, and Trapped James E

164: Bachchan '07 - '09 Jun 14, 2025 3809 We continue our longest running series in which we explore Amitabh Bachchan's career year by year, this time we are in the late 2000s. Show notes: Our Bachchan series playlist We are jumping ahead a bit, because we felt like it 2000 to 2006 Bachchan highlights Amitabh Bachchan's elderly statesman reinvention Cheeni Kum Thoughts on R. Balki's filmography A "Super R"? (INTERVAL "Mere Buddy" from Bh

Netflix and Dil: Pilot Season Teen May 26, 2025 3243 There hasn't been much drawing us out to the theatre these days, so we asked ourselves, is there anything to watch at home? That's right lovers, it's time for another pilot season where we watch the pilot of six shows and choose which one we are going to watch, and review, a whole season of!Show notes: Black Warrant Ziddi Girls Dabba Cartel Dupahiya Kauf The Royals NEXT TIME: Mid-2000s BachchanFin

Supplemental Episode 22: Om Shanti Om - Endless Cycle of Love Apr 23, 2025 3753 In this supplemental we travel to Japan to see Om Shanti Om, Takarazuka style. Show notes: Takarazuka Revue Om Shanti Om: Endless Cycle of Love NEXT TIME: Pilot Season 3Find us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! and Google Podcasts! and Saavn! and Hubhopper!Thank you to Becca Dalke for the artwork!Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!

163: Madhubala Madness 2025: Mrs and Mrs '55 and Barsaat Ki Raat Apr 4, 2025 3783 March may be over, but we are still mad, mad for Madhubala!Show notes: Thanks to tommydan Noir '58: Howrah Bridge and 12 O'Clock The Great Epic: Mughal-e-Azam Bollywood Drafts A brief aside on Mahal Tragically struck down too soon INTERVAL ("Thandi Hawa Kali Ghata" from Mr. & Mrs. '55) Mr. & Mrs. '55 The Orson Welles of India/The Guru Dutt of Hollywood Limitations of the of the auteur t

162: Madhuri Madness 2025: Aaja Nachle and Maja Ma Mar 19, 2025 4125 Have we finally been cured of our madness? Find out in our last Madhuri Madness, at least for now. Show notes: Madhuri Madness 2000s Madhuri Devdas vs. Dev.D with Paul Matwychuk Ladies Be Angry: Gulaab Gang, Akira, & Mom Aaja Nachle Steve Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo Comparison with Dil Toh Pagal Hai Creative ego vs community cohesion INTERVAL ("Aaja Nachle" from Aaja Nachle) Maja Ma What i

Netflix and Dil: The Roshans and Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, or The Little Family That Could Feb 27, 2025 4548 We watched the latest in the ongoing series of Bollywood family-based puff pieces, Netflix's The Roshans, as well as the debut film of Hrithik Roshan, Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.Show notes: Thank you Señorita for the review! Previously on Bollywood Family History Story Time: our episodes on The Romantics, and Angry Young Men Three generations, four guys: Roshan, Rajesh Roshan, Rakesh Roshan, and Hrit

161: Anil Kapoor's 2000s: Bulandi, Calcutta Mail, and Welcome Feb 9, 2025 4151 We return to our Anil Kapoor decades series with three films from the 2000s: a double role, an action mystery, and an ensemble comedy. Show notes: Anil Kapoor's 80s and 90s Moving from lead actor to ensemble films Aesthetic shifts in 2000s Bollywood Reflecting on Slumdog Millionaire and its impact Bulandi Remake of Nattamai "Gourd scene" Songs: "Saari Duniya Mein," "Teri Meri Ik Jind," and "Ab B

160: 2024 Year End Review Jan 16, 2025 7338 2024 has come and gone, and before we start to get excited about what movies the new year will bring us, we must first look back at the highs and the lows of Bollywood’s past six months.Show notes: Munjya Bad Newz Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba Khel Khel Mein Stree 2 The Buckingham Murders INTERVAL ("B(h)adass" from CTRL) CTRL Jigra Do Patti Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Singham Again Baby John NEXT TIME: Anil K

159: Halloween X: Vicious Voyeurs, or Ram Gopal Varma Strikes Again Oct 23, 2024 2785 Hindi Horror Halloween turns 10! And for this landmark entry in our longest running series, we're going back to the beginning and giving horror auteur Ram Gopal Varma another chance... to scare us!Show notes: This our tenth Hindi Horror Halloween! We still know nothing about Ram Gopal Varma Bollywood Drafts Erin thinks Matt just remembers that David Cronenberg made a film with Marilyn Chambers Ra

158: Bachchan '92, '98-'99 Oct 2, 2024 4662 We continue the tricky journey of following Amitabh Bachchan's career through its most treacherous stretch: the '90s.Show notes: Thank you DT24x Time for a Tezaab rewatch? The Big B recap Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Begun, the Dadscension has Khuda Gawah Buzkashi, the national sport of Afghanistan Why did Badshah Khan actually go to jail? Amitabh Bachchan's School for Gifted Youngsters (INTERVAL

Supplemental Episode 21: A Tale of Two Events Sep 18, 2024 5220 Alongside Nim (@MapleBrownie), we discussed the opening night event of the tenth annual India Film Festival of Alberta, as well as a workshop put on by film archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur.Show notes: Bollywood Drafts Podcast India Film Festival of Alberta Ghoomer Our coverage of the 2017 India Film Festival of Alberta, where we saw A Death in the Gunj Celluloid Man Film Heritage Foundation NE

Netflix and Dil: Angry Young Men, Angrier Young Viewers Aug 28, 2024 3323 We checked out the latest talking heads documentary about Bollywood cinema, Namrata Rao's Angry Young Men. Did we learn anything?Show notes: De Palma Friedkin Uncut Netflix and Dil: High and Low - Cinema Marte Dum Tak and The Romantics Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th The Story of Film: An Odyssey Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitc

157: 2024 Midyear Review Jul 16, 2024 6179 It's midyear review time! We check in on the first six months of the year and all of the Bollywood (and Bollywood-adjacent) movies that made it in front of our eyeballs.Show notes: Merry Christmas Fighter Article 370 Laapataa Ladies Murder Mubarak (Episode 154) Crew INTERVAL ("Ghagra" from Crew) Monkey Man Amar Singh Chamkila (Episode 155) Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 Kalki 2898 AD Sharmajee Ki Beti Ki

156: Preity Woman: Kal Ho Naa Ho and Salaam Namaste Jun 27, 2024 4880 We travel back to the mid-2000s with one of Bollywood's most fearless actresses, Preity Zinta.Show notes: The Stanley Cup finals are on (we lost) Bollywood Drafts Preity Zinta (has not made an impression on Matt) We would really like to see Sangharsh Heaven on Earth (and its gorgeous poster) Erin's thesis on Preity Zinta INTERVAL ("It's Time to Disco" from Kal Ho Naa Ho) Kal Ho Naa Ho Toronto p

Netflix and Dil: Lahore Girl, Give Us Nothing!, or Heeramandi May 28, 2024 2514 We travel back to the opulence of 1940s Lahore with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's lush Netflix period drama Heeramandi.Show notes: Heeramandi Tawaifs Be Kind Rewind - Sofia Coppola and the Godfather Part III Disaster Next time: Preity ZintaFind us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! and Google Podcasts!Thank you to Becca Dalke for the artwork!Follow us on Twitte

155: Sad Songs Say So Much: Qala and Amar Singh Chamkila May 9, 2024 4246 We are belting our hearts out with two Netflix features on the turbulent lives of popular singers. Show notes: Straight-to-streaming films are legit now Qala Comparison to Amadeus Halloween VI: Hell Hath No Fury, Stree and Bulbbul with Matthew Stepanic Elvis and Norah Jones Style over substance INTERVAL ("Baaja" from Amar Singh Chamkila) Dil-Luminati Tour Wee Book Inn Amar Singh Chamkila Amar S

154: Murder Most Fun: Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! and Murder Mubarak Apr 18, 2024 3744 We are polishing our magnifying glasses and donning our deerstalkers, because once again, murder is afoot! Show notes: We just love murder mysteries! Our Noirvember playlist To Those Who Killed Me and Call of the Void, the mystery books Matt has edited You can't have too few or too many characters in a murder mystery Detective Bymokesh Bakshy! "When the Hindu Right Came for Bollywood" Byomkesh Ba

153: Madhuri Madness 2024: Aarzoo and Pukar Mar 30, 2024 3605 To wrap up Madhuri Madness 2024 we're joined by our good friend Rashmeet to discuss two action films in which our beloved heroine finds herself at the centre of a deadly love triangle. Show notes: Welcome Rashmeet! Madhuri Madness Madhuban Performing Arts and Urja Yeg Aarzoo Gaslight, Girlboss, Gatekeep Obsession gazebo Darkman "Dosti Karte Nahin" and "Mil Jaate Hain" St. Andrews INTERVAL ("Kay

152: Madhuri Madness 2024: Mrityudand and Lajja Mar 7, 2024 3775 To celebrate International Women's Day, we are kicking off Madhuri Madness 2024 with two feminist consciousness raising ensemble dramas.Show notes: Happy International Women’s Day Madhuri Madness Every film industry is patriarchal (except Paradise Island) Hollywood vs Bollywood women’s pictures Mrityudand Shabana Azmi and Om Puri Prakash Jha’s political filmmaking INTERVAL ("Badi Mushkil" fr

Supplemental Episode 20: Rainbow Rishta Director Jaydeep Sarkar Feb 14, 2024 2190 We welcome filmmaker Jaydeep Sarkar, series director and executive producer of Rainbow Rishta, a new docuseries available now on Amazon Prime.Show notes: Jaydeep Sarkar Rainbow Rishta NEXT TIME: Madhuri Madness Find us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and Spotify! and Google Podcasts! and Saavn! and Hubhopper! Thank you to Becca Dalke for the artwork! Follow us on T

151: 2023 Year End Review Feb 7, 2024 6998 Somehow we made it through 2023, which certainly was a year in Bollywood. Did Tiger 3 hit the jackpot? Did we soldier through Jawan? Find out now!Show notes: The 69th Annual Filmfare Awards (nice) Neeyat (Episode 150) Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Supplemental Episode 17) Jawan Jaane Jaan (Episode 149) Khufiya INTERVAL ("Dishoom Dishoom" from The Archies) Thank You for Coming 12th Fail Tige

Supplemental Episode 19: Two Million Apologies! Jan 5, 2024 2668 It's hard for us to believe, but we've reached two million downloads! To celebrate, we wanted to look back at the evolution of the show and apologize for everything we have gotten wrong over the past eight and a half years.Show notes: Thank you to all of our listeners near and far for lending us your ears two million times! Supplemental Episode 8: 60 Questions (which was to celebrate 100 episodes

150: Detective Vidya-chu: Bobby Jasoos and Neeyat Dec 15, 2023 3206 We are on the case with Bollywood's leading actress, the incomparable Vidya Balan, will we solve it before she does? Listen to find out!Show notes: Vidya Balan Star power and acting prowess Bobby Jasoos Feminist themes Many spinning plates INTERVAL ("Sweety" from Bobby Jasoos) Neeyat Character actor cast Anu Menon Split diopter and split screen NEXT TIME: 2 millionFind us on Apple Podcasts! and St

149: Sujoy (Ghosh) Division: Kahaani and Jaane Jaan Nov 30, 2023 4394 To celebrate Noirvember this year, we delve into the catalogue of Sujoy Ghosh with the (not exactly noir) thrillers Kahaani and this year's Netflix release Jaane Jaan. Show notes: Noirvember and our Noirvember playlist Sujoy Ghosh Adventures in the Public Domain: Aladin and Arjun: The Warrior Prince Kahaani Kolkata as asphalt jungle The effectiveness of a pregnant detective INTERVAL ("Jaane Jaan

Halloween IX: Interview With the Dentist, or Dedflix and Kill (Again) Nov 13, 2023 3119 Happy (belated) Halloween Lovers! We may be late but our tradition of exploring all things spooky that Hindi cinema has to offer lives on! This year we are sinking our teeth into Netflix's romantic horror-comedy Tooth Pari.Show notes: This episode is quite late as we were our of the country and Erin got sick Neighbours trailer Tooth Pari: When Love Bites Pratim D. Gupta and X: Past Is Present NE

Supplemental Episode 18: Sunny Singh's Bollywood State of Mind! Oct 19, 2023 4283 We welcome writer Sunny Singh to the show to discuss her fascinating new book A Bollywood State of Mind!Show notes: Thank you Sunny Singh for joining us! A Bollywood State of Mind: A journey into the world’s biggest cinema Heads up, we discuss some spoilers for Jawan if you haven't seen it yet NEXT TIME: Hindi Horror HalloweenFind us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio!

148: Two wives, or two brothers? Daag and Deewaar Sep 24, 2023 3941 We return to the career of Yash Chopra with two iconic mid-70s blockbusters: one, the first film to carry the YRF name and the other, maybe the most influential Bollywood film ever made.Show notes: Past Yash Chopra films we have discussed: Netflix and Dil: High and Low - Cinema Marte Dum Tak and The Romantics and Yaasssh Chopra: Lamhe & Veer-Zaara with Manish Mathur Zanjeer and the Angry You

Netflix and Dil: Girlzapur, or Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo Sep 7, 2023 2279 We go to the lawless deserts in Homi Adajania's blood-soaked Hotstar crime drama, Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo, to find out who Dimple Kapadia will choose as her successor, and see if they will even make it out alive to enjoy their inheritance.Show notes: Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo Homi Adajania We Want To Be Dimple Kapadia’s Friend: Bobby, Saagar, and Rudaali Netflix and Dil: Forget it, BiFL. It’s Mirzap

Supplemental Episode 17: It's All About Loving Their Family, or Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani with Manish Mathur Aug 20, 2023 4915 After bemoaning the state of Bollywood in our last episode, Karan Johar has given us something worth celebrating!Show notes: Thank you Manish Mathur for joining us (and suggesting we record this surprise episode)! Listen to It Pod to Be You Rocky Aur Rani Prem Kii Kahaani NEXT TIME: Netflix and Dil Saas, Bahu Aur FlamingoFind us on Apple Podcasts! and Stitcher! and audioBoom! and iHeartRadio! and

147: 2023 Midyear Review Aug 4, 2023 7619 Somehow we are more than halfway through 2023, which means it's time for the midyear review where we discuss 11 Hindi-language films that have come out so far this year.Show notes: Pathaan (Supplemental 14) Almost Pyaar with Dj Mohabbat Shehzada Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar Mrs. Chetterjee vs Norway Bheed INTERVAL ("Bandaa Title Track" from Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai) Bholaa Gaslight Kathal Sirf Ek Band

Netflix and Dil: Pilot Season Dobaara Jul 14, 2023 4290 It's been a rough year so far for Bollywood, but luckily there are plenty of new streaming shows that have caught our attention, some might say too many though. That means it's time for another pilot season where we watch the pilot of six shows and choose which one we are going to watch, and review, a whole season of!Show notes: The Streaming Show Bestseller The Night Manager Tooth Pari: When Love

Supplemental Episode 16: Our Chat with Shashaa Tirupati Jul 1, 2023 2462 We welcome Canadian musician and playback singer Shashaa Tirupati on to discuss her career in Indian cinema, as well as winning a National Film Award and what it's like to work with A.R. Rahman and other top composers.Show notes: Shashaa Tirupati and her Youtube channel Shashaa's beautiful Tamil interpretation of Bon Iver's "Perth" #BollywoodMonster Mashup 2023 IG Meet and Greet live on Instagr

146: “I'm the Dude, Playing a Dude, Disguised As Another Dude”: Don and Don 2 Jun 16, 2023 3967 Strap in Lovers, we’re going on an international chase to catch Asia’s biggest criminal mastermind, Don. Show notes: It's not only difficult to catch Don (1978), it's impossible “Bachchan ‘76 - ‘78″ The Making of Don Don: The Chase Begins Again Petronas Towers, as seen in Entrapment Songs: “Yeh Mera Dil,” “Main Hoon Don,” and “Khaike Paan Banaraswala” Comparisons to contemporary Bollywood actio

145: Whodunnit Watusi: Gumnaam and Teesri Manzil May 26, 2023 3382 We go back to the swinging sixties to get our groove on and maybe solve a murder or two, or ten, if we don’t end up dead ourselves!Show notes: Erin forgets why they wanted to do this episode Ranveer Singh was in a ‘60s pastiche, and it was terrible Ghost World and And Then There Were None Gumnaam Pran is a fashion king Songs: “Hum Kaale Hain To,” “Is Duniya Mein Jeena Ho To,” and “Peeke Hum Tum

Netflix and Dil: Bombay’s Dream Factory, Jubilee May 5, 2023 3905 We go back to the golden age of filmmaking in Bombay with Vikramaditya Motwane’s period drama Jubilee.Show notes: 68th Filmfare Awards Breaking Free: Vikramaditya Motwane’s Udaan, Lootera, and Trapped Jubilee “Jubilee Is a Beautifully Mounted Show About the 1930s but the Women Pioneers Have Been Erased” Next time: 60s murder mysteriesThank you to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode. Use our cod

144: Inside the Actors Studio: Kaamyaab and An Action Hero Apr 13, 2023 3362 Who better to play actors in Bollywood, than Bollywood actors? We discuss two films that present a very different take on the lifestyles of working screen actors.Show notes: Episode 3: Bollywood on Bollywood Should we redo or “react” to our early episodes? MST3K Khamosh Kaamyaab Super-R/geriatric cinema We were also surprised to find ourselves on IMDb (INTERVAL (“Aap Jaisa Koi” from An Action Her

143: Madhuri Madness 2023 - Dutt v Dixit: Dawn of Romance Mar 30, 2023 2940 In our second annual Madhuri Madness we discuss two awards-nominated performances from the early 90s.Show notes: Madhuri Madness 2022: Parinda and Dil and The Fame Game Sadly The Fame Game has been cancelled Saajan “playboy-operator type“ Comparisons to Cyrano de Bergerac Is Sanjay Dutt a convincing romantic lead? Songs: “Bahut Pyar Karte Hain,” “Pehli Baar Mile Hain,” “Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pag

Supplemental Episode 15: The Romantics Director Smriti Mundhra Mar 7, 2023 1860 We welcome The Romantics director Smriti Mundhra on to discuss her new Netflix docuseries on Yash Raj Films, Bollywood stars' bookshelves, the nepotism question, and whether Befikre will ever find its audience. Show notes: Thank you Smriti Mundhra! Netflix and Dil: High and Low - Cinema Marte Dum Tak and The Romantics NEXT TIME: Madhuri MadnessBollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Pod

Netflix and Dil: High and Low - Cinema Marte Dum Tak and The Romantics Feb 15, 2023 3264 We go behind the scenes to learn about the making of some of Hindi cinema’s most famous and infamous films with two new docuseries.Show notes: Thank you Rakesh KT! Cinema Marte Dum Tak Vice Media The Romantics Smriti Mundhra Yash Raj Films NEXT TIME: Madhuri Madness!Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast NetworkCheck out Telus Storyhive and Edmonton Public School’s Open HouseFi

Supplemental Episode 14: Nobody Does It Better, or Pathaan with MapleBrownie Feb 7, 2023 4993 Is Shah Rukh Khan here to save Bollywood? A special guest drops by to weigh in on Pathaan!Show notes: Thank you Nim aka MapleBrownie for inviting us out and joining us for this review! “Cinema in northeast Edmonton closed permanently“ via CTV “India’s Right Wing Tried to Scuttle a Film. Fans Helped It Break Records” via the New York Times Mike McCahill’s take “The spy who came in from the cold:

142: 2022 Year End Review Jan 28, 2023 8279 Well we are a month into the new year, but before we see if SRK can save Bollywood, we are looking back at the last six months of 2022. Show notes: 2022 Midyear Review Jugjugg Jeeyo Ek Villain Returns Good Luck Jerry (Episode 136) Darlings (Episode 136) Laal Singh Chaddha Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva (INTERVAL (“Piya Tu Ab To Aja” from Monica, O My Darling) Chup: Revenge of the Artist Doctor G P

141: The Manmohan, the Myth, the Legend: Bluff Master and Coolie Dec 1, 2022 2918 We celebrate the work of iconic masala director Manmohan Desai with two of his films, made twenty years apart. Notes: Our episodes on Amar Akbar Anthony and Mard Masala film Manmohan Desai The source that Erin looked at that had different information on Desai than what’s online is Tejaswini Ganti’s Bollywood: a guidebook to popular Hindi cinema 1st edition Chhalia 1977 Bluff Master We are concern

140: The Night is Dark and Silent: Gyan Mukherjee's Kismet and Sangram Nov 17, 2022 3353 It’s that time of year where we polish our guns and light up our cigarettes, it’s Noirvember time and we are up to no good with two Ashok Kumar classics.Notes: Apologies for the sound quality, we discovered after recording that we had set up our mic improperly Noirvember and our Noirvember playlist Park Chan-wook isn’t a fan of Noir Film Noir Thank you tommydan55 Gyan Mukherjee Ashok Kumar Kism

Netflix and Dil: Delhi Crime Season 2, or Criminal Intent Oct 30, 2022 2836 We return to the mean streets of Delhi with season 2 of Netflix’s Delhi Crime.Show notes: Thank you Veedee24! Delhi Crime Netflix and Dil: Delhi Crime, or These Are Their Stories Dun Dun The year of Shefali Shah Kachcha Baniyan Gang Denotified Tribes Spoiler Zone: 31.17 - 40:12 NEXT TIME: NoirvemberBollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast NetworkCheck out connectfirst Credit Uni

139: Halloween VIII: Invasion of the Idea Snatchers Oct 15, 2022 4702 It’s October and by now you probably know what that means, it’s time for Hindi Horror Halloween! This year we check out three scary movies that are remakes of popular Hollywood horror films.Notes: It’s Hindi Horror Halloween time! Khooni Murda and Mahakaal Sangharsh Is The Silence of the Lambs actually a feminist workplace drama? Hawa Rakht Dobaara: See Your Evil, Khamoshi, and Mike Flanagan P

138: Bachchan ‘85 & ‘89 Sep 30, 2022 3475 We go back to the 1980s to catch up with two testosterone-tastic action films featuring your favourite hero and ours, Amitabh Bachchan.Notes: The Bachchan Series The never-ending search for movies with subtitles We couldn’t find 1986 or 1988 Mard Best horse and best dog Is Amrita Singh into BDSM? Jabisco’s many costume changes Hitchcock’s pure cinema Is this The Mummy of its time “Mard Tangewala

137: School Daze: Taare Zameen Par and Hindi Medium Sep 9, 2022 4443 It’s back to school season, at least for some people, and we are hitting the books with two films about the right to education. Notes: Paani on launchgood.com, donations to Pakistani refugees floods.pk, a list of charities in the region trying to help 67th Filmfare Awards These awards are just copying the BiFL Awards We need to watch Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi Erin loves back to school shopping and C

136: Lady Problems, or Problem Ladies? Pataakha, Good Luck Jerry, and Darlings Aug 25, 2022 4240 We do our best to not feel the wrath of these women scorned as we check out three recent(ish) black comedies with female leads. Also lots of good music recommendations in this one.Notes: Black Comedy That Mel Brooks quote was basically right: “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.” Pushing The Envelope: Being Cyrus and Delhi Belly, with Suchin Mehrotr

135: How Ranbir Kapoor Makes Friends and Influences People: Wake Up Sid and Rocket Singh Aug 12, 2022 4403 After a four year hiatus, Ranbir Kapoor is back! So we’re going back to look at a couple of his early roles. Notes: Mother India is obviously the Mother of the Year Ranbir Kapoor Method acting and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute We are discussing method acting in America where Kapoor studied, and not method acting in India like Dilip Kumar Marlon Brando Do you want to hear us discu

134: The Invisible Hand of Justice: Mr. India Jul 29, 2022 3502 Strap on your invisibility bracelets Lovers, we’re teaming up to save the day with the one and only Mr. India!Notes: Why doesn’t EPL want to buy Mr. India? Shekhar Kapur Bandit Queen and “The Great Indian Rape Trick” Elizabeth, The Four Feathers, Elizabeth: The Golden Age The novelization of Elizabeth Kapur’s many unrealized projects Mr. India Salim-Javed Fu Manchu and Zorro (INTERVAL (“Hawa

133: 2022 Midyear Review Jun 30, 2022 6418 It’s time for another midyear review where we discuss 12 of the most notable Hindi-language films released in the past six months.Notes: Looop Lapeta Gehraiyaan Badhaai Do Gangubai Kathiawadi Bachchhan Paandey Jalsa (INTERVAL (“Ami Je Tomar” from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2) Sharmaji Namkeen Heropanti 2 Thar Jayeshbhai Jordaar Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 Anek Next time: Anil KapoorBollywood is For Lovers is a member

132: Outlaw Country: Paan Singh Tomar, Sonchiriya, and Thar Jun 17, 2022 3879 We set out on the back country trails with three modern takes on the western genre. Notes: Content Warning: two of these films feature sexual assault as plot points What is a Western? Did they die out? The Emergency The period Hindi Westerns: The Magnificent Two (Sholay) Revisionist Hollywood Westerns, Dark Westerns, Blaxploitation Westerns, the list goes on We miss Irrfan Khan and Sushant Singh

131: Star Vehicles: Shaitan, Talaash, and Jalsa Jun 3, 2022 3800 We go for a ride with three films about destructive car accidents and the wreckage they leave behind.Show notes: Did Erin invent a new genre? Class, privilege, and getting away with murder Chappaquiddick Shaitan Gregg Araki Anurag Kashyap’s unreleased Paanch The anti-Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na Matt was thinking of Very Bad Things (INTERVAL (“Hawa Hawai” from Shaitan) Talaash: The Answer Lies Withi

130: Death of the Author: Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa Apr 30, 2022 3858 With the Criterion Channel now streaming the work of Guru Dutt, we discuss the acclaimed director’s most iconic film, Pyaasa. Show notes: We upgraded our mic setup Criterion Channel’s The World of Guru Dutt Past episodes: Dev Anand’s Bombay Noir and Noir ‘58 Mr. Criterion: Do Bigha Zamin and Shree 420 Bollywood doesn’t need Western validation, but accessibility is nice Pyaasa The Goddess Who Car

129: Print the Legend: M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and 83 Apr 13, 2022 4314 We dust off our bats and take a swing at the World Cup with two cricket biopics.Show notes: Chess boxing Past sports episodes: 6, 24, 27, & 118 M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story Is Neeraj Pandey on a downward streak? Dhoni really just wants to play soccer Why can’t these films afford decent wigs?! You shouldn’t have to be familiar with the subject matter to enjoy the film Dhoni is remarkable becau

Netflix and Dil: The Fame Game, or Madhuri Madness 2 Mar 31, 2022 3060 We wrap up Madhuri Madness month with a look at Madhuri Dixit’s foray into streaming TV, the buzzy Netflix family mystery The Fame Game.Show notes: Supplemental Episode 3: Sri Rao's Bollywood Kitchen! The Fame Game Spoiler Zone: 37:06 - 45:00 NEXT TIME: Cricket BiopicsBollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast NetworkCheck out Three Kitchens Podcast!Listen to Overdue Finds!Find us

128: Madhuri Madness: Parinda and Dil Mar 17, 2022 3496 March Madness is here, but it isn't basketball we're excited about, it's Madhuri Dixit! Kicking off our series on one of Bollywood's most talented leading ladies, we discuss two early roles. Show notes: March Madness is a US college basketball thing The stans took over our Twitter poll Madhuri Dixit Anil Kapoor’s 80s: Mashaal, Chameli Ki Shaadi, and Tezaab Parinda Split Screen Podcast: The Hollywo

Netflix and Dil: Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein, or The Netflix Curse? Feb 24, 2022 2900 We dive head-first into the buzzy new Netflix show about romantic obsession and small-town power, but is it worth more than an eye-roll?Show notes: Tried and Refused Productions' review Rahul Desai's review at Film Companion Suchin Mehrotra's review at Film Companion NEXT TIME: Madhuri Madness begins!Bollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta Podcast NetworkCheck out RUMI by ATCOListen to

127: OTP: Guru with Manish Mathur Feb 11, 2022 5608 Happy Valentine's Day Lovers! We welcome back film critic, fellow podcaster, and romance aficionado Manish Mathur to discuss art imitating life with Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in Guru. Show notes: Welcome back Manish! Remembering Lata Mangeshkar Are couples who work together in Hollywood cursed? Manish willed it into existence, Penélope Cruz got the Oscar nom! Iconic Bollywood power coup

The Sixth Annual BiFL Awards! Feb 3, 2022 1006 Matt and Erin hand out the sixth annual BiFL Awards for 2021 achievements in Hindi Cinema. Show notes: Karan Johar Memorial Award for Best Costume Design Sanju Award for Excellence in Hair Design Parineeti Chopra Award for Innovation in Makeup Design Humshackles Award for Most Appearances by an Actor in a Film Johnny Lever Award for Least amount of Effort Used in Constructing a Character Hero’s Gi

126: 2021 Year End Review Jan 26, 2022 6157 Happy New Year Lovers! As always, we've spent the first weeks of the new year catching up with films from the previous year, and we're here to tell you about it. Show notes: Haseen Dillruba Toofaan (Episode 118) Mimi Shershaah Chehre Bhoot Police (Episode 121) Sanak Sardar Udham (Episode 125) (INTERVAL (“Param Sundari” from Mimi) Hum Do Hamare Do Meenakshi Sundareshwar Sooryavanshi Bunty Aur B

125: Rebel Yell: Mangal Pandey, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, and Sardar Udham Dec 16, 2021 4353 We bone up on our Indian history with three biopics about revolutionaries during the Indian independence movement.Show notes: The Indian independence movement lasted from 1857 to 1947, but keep in mind we are not experts in Indian history when listening to this episode... Episode 88: Playing With The Past: Gandhi and Rang De Basanti with Torrey Dance What we learned about India in history class (b

124: Noir '58: Howrah Bridge and 12 O'Clock Nov 24, 2021 2695 In our annual Noirvember episode, we discuss two moody murder mysteries from 1958. Show notes: Our Noirvember playlist As we always point out, film noir is not a genre "The Rebirth of India's Forgotten Cinema in the Age of the Internet" Tommydan55 and Tommydan333 Howrah Bridge Kolkata as a mystery city Racist sterotypes Songs (INTERVAL “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chuu" from Howrah Bridge) 12 O'Cl

123: Crisis on Infinite Singhams: Rohit Shetty's Cop Universe with Devin Bruce Nov 12, 2021 5814 Sooryavanshi has finally unloaded itself into theatres and our good friend and cinephile Devin Bruce has dropped by to discuss Rohit Shetty’s ethically questionable Cop Universe.Show notes:Heads up, one of these films deals with sexual violence.• Devin's in the three-timers club • Singham is the most important being that has ever existed • Rohit Shetty's Cop Universe (we haven't seen Sooryavanshi

122: Halloween VII, Part 2 The Quickening: Folk Horror and Tumbbad Oct 28, 2021 4468 The witching hour is almost here, and we're not done with our annual Hindi Horror Halloween! Inspired by Kier-La Janisse's Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched, we explore the folk horror subgenre and how we see it being realized in Hindi-langauge filmmaking including in Rahi Anil Barve's Tumbbad.Show Notes: Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror All the Haunts Be Ours: A Compend

121: Halloween VII: Das Bhoots, Pizza and Bhoot Police Oct 14, 2021 2982 It’s our seventh annual Hindi Horror Halloween! This year we watch a pair of films about non-believers confronting the supernatural and using supersitition to their advantage. Show Notes: We are doing two Hindi Horror Halloween episodes this year In Canada Hotstar is still a seperate streaming service Our first Hindi Horror Halloween where we discuss Go Goa Gone Obligatory “it was hard to find the

120: Bachchan ‘90 & ‘91 Sep 30, 2021 4049 We take a big leap in our Amitabh Bachchan series and jump over the late 80s into the early 90s with two explosive crime movies.Show Notes: What happened to Bachchan between 1985 and 1989? Erin does not understand the Indian Parliament Agneepath First instance of a poem in and as 2012 remake Bachchan’s voice Trash, Art, And The Movies on Scarfaces Split Screen Podcast: The Hollywood Remake Of 'P

119: King Con: Abhishek Bachchan in Bunty Aur Babli and Bluffmaster! Sep 15, 2021 3048 Abhishek Bachchan tries to con his way into our hearts in two crime comedies from 2005. Show Notes: We’re back! Bunty Aur Babli A good year for Rani Mukerji and Amitabh Bachchan The media claims there are IRL Bunties and Bablies Kesha first brushed her teeth with a bottle of Jack in 2009 Songs: “Bunty Aur Babli,” “Nach Baliye,” “Chup Chup Ke” and “B n B” (INTERVAL “Kajra Re” from Bunty Aur Babli

118: Knockout Kings: Saala Khadoos, Mukkabaaz, and Toofan Aug 6, 2021 4373 With Toofan now streaming on Amazon Prime, we lace up our gloves and climb in the ring to discuss three films about boxers. Show Notes: Matt’s fist fighting past Boxing movies Class in boxing movies It’s Jim Brown in Mars Attacks! Episode 6 - Priyanka Chopra: Who's the Hottest Girl in the World? where we discuss Mary Kom Saala Khadoos/Irudhi Suttru “Why top athletes work for Indian Railways”

117: Magnificent Obsessions: SRK in Baazigar and Darr Jul 22, 2021 3656 We go back to 1993 to see how our beloved romantic hero Shah Rukh Khan shot to stardom in a pair of thrillers where he plays murderous obsessives. Show Notes: The darkness in Shah Rukh Khan Comparisons to Sarah Michelle Gellar King of Bollywood by Anupama Chopra Baazigar Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa A Kiss Before Dying and the 1991 movie version Giallo Songs: “Kitaben Bahut Si,” “Ae Mere Humsafar,” “Ba

Netflix and Dil: The Family Man Season 2, or Be a Maximum Guy Jul 7, 2021 2654 Our favourite unobservant husband/intelligence officer/clueless father is back, and this time he's off to Chennai to stop a new threat because he loves the game (and we love him)!Show Notes: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Netflix and Dil: Who Can Stop The Terrorists? Take Them Out For You? The Family Man Can! NEXT TIME: SRK in Baazigar and DarrBollywood is For Lovers is a member of

116: 2021 Midyear Review Jun 23, 2021 8351 We made it to June, which means it’s time for our midyear review where we discuss all the notable Hindi-language films that were released in the first half of 2021, or at least the ones we bothered to watch. Show Notes: If you are able to lend your support to the COVID-19 pandemic situation in India, here is a list of verified organizations to donate to: https://donate.indiacovidresources.in/ Tri

Supplemental Episode 13: OK Computer creators Pooja Shetty and Neil Pagedar May 26, 2021 4595 We are thrilled to welcome creators, directors, and writers of OK Computer Pooja Shetty and Neil Pagedar to discuss their influences, worldview, and the making of our favourite science fiction comedy mystery series. Show Notes: OK Computer Pooja Shetty’s Twitter and Instagram Neil Pagedar’s Twitter and Instagram NEXT TIME: 2021 midyear reviewBollywood is For Lovers is a member of the Alberta P

115: Mr. Criterion: Do Bigha Zamin and Shree 420 May 19, 2021 3908 Our favourite boutique film label, Criterion, has finally acknowledged Hindi cinema with two series on their streaming channel devoted to acclaimed filmmakers Bimal Roy and Raj Kapoor. Show Notes: We checked the list, we have 133 Criterion films including the Eclipse box sets The Criterion Collection and the Criterion Channel NYT: How the Criterion Collection Crops Out African-American Directors

Netflix and Dil: OK Computer, or Do Androids Dream of Electric Pineapples? Apr 28, 2021 2535 Do you like robots? Yes! What about killer robots? Oh robots don’t kill you say? We’ll see about that! We get to the bottom of Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics with Hotstar’s new sci-fi-comedy-mystery series OK Computer.Show Notes: If you are able to lend your support to the COVID-19 pandemic situation in India, here is a list of verified organizations to donate to: https://donate.indiacovidresourc

114: Jane Addiction: Bride and Prejudice and Aisha with Karen Unland Apr 14, 2021 5939 Karen Unland is back to discuss to two Indian adapatations of classic Jane Austen novels. Show Notes: Welcome back Karen Unland of That’s A Thing?! Teen culture is all about remixing That’s A Thing?!: “New life for Clone High, fake life for VTubers” Jane Austen Hollywood’s love of Austen Where are all the LGBTQ2S+ Austen adaptations? Are we living in another Austen moment? (INTERVAL (“By The Way”

Supplemental Episode 12: Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Unfinished Life Mar 31, 2021 3909 In this supplemental episode we discuss Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ new memoir, Unfinished, and her latest film project, The White Tiger.Show Notes: 66th Filmfare Awards (the video Matt watched full of spoilers) Unfinished by Priyanka Chopra Jonas “73 Questions with Priyanka Chopra” Episode 6: Priyanka Chopra: Who's the Hottest Girl in the World? The White Tiger PCJ getting fashion advice from Tika

113: The Mother of all Equations: Nil Battey Sannata and Shakuntala Devi with Amanda Mullins Mar 14, 2021 6086 Happy Pi Day Lovers! To celebrate we’ve invited our friend Amanda Mullins on to discuss two films about women and math.Show Notes: Welcome Amanda Mullins! Erin may or may not have made cherry pie today Studying maths Erin claims to like math Math stereotypes in movies Number sense The Futurama Theorem Gender stereotypes of mathematicians in pop culture (INTERVAL (“Pass Nahi Toh Fail Nahi” from Sh

112: Bachchan ‘82 - '84 Mar 3, 2021 4186 We continue to explore Amitabh Bachchan’s filmography, one year at a time. Show Notes: How we choose the movies for this series (hint: it’s random) We couldn’t find Coolie Thank you Rajat Dikshit Khud-Daar The theme of reuniting the family Matt wants more tall man comedy Flying car song: “Hat Ja Bajoo Nahin To Uda Doonga” Dishoom “From Bombay With Love” “Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain I Love You” and “

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