Bollywood Romance: When God Arranges

Your Marriage

Bollywood Romance: When God Arranges

Your MarriageLaaF # 34

David Kitani and friends3/27/11

LaaF # 34

David Kitani and friends3/27/11

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

• What is Bollywood?• Why should I care about Bollywood? • A History of Bollywood• Trademarks of Bollywood films • The Film “Rab Ne Bana De Jodi”

• Some Background• Arranged Marriage vs. Love Marriage

• What is Bollywood?• Why should I care about Bollywood? • A History of Bollywood• Trademarks of Bollywood films • The Film “Rab Ne Bana De Jodi”

• Some Background• Arranged Marriage vs. Love Marriage

What is Bollywood?What is Bollywood?

The basic defintion:

Bombay (now Mumbai) + Hollywood = Bollywood!

- Basically it's the Hindi-film industry of India, based mainly in Mumbai

*Mumbai is the 2nd most populous city in the WORLD!

The basic defintion:

Bombay (now Mumbai) + Hollywood = Bollywood!

- Basically it's the Hindi-film industry of India, based mainly in Mumbai

*Mumbai is the 2nd most populous city in the WORLD!

Why should I care about Bollywood?

Why should I care about Bollywood?

1) Don’t take this offensively, but Indians are the 2nd biggest “horde of (south) Asians”!

1) Don’t take this offensively, but Indians are the 2nd biggest “horde of (south) Asians”!

as of 3/27/2011: 1,195,780,000 to be exactas of 3/27/2011: 1,195,780,000 to be exact

As a result, in the future, according to Mr. Peters:As a result, in the future, according to Mr. Peters:

“everyone’s going to be beige…you can run from us but, sooner or later, we’re

gonna hump you.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDl8unyFE0c

2) Bollywood releases the most films and

sells the most tickets in THE WORLD! 2) Bollywood releases the most films and

sells the most tickets in THE WORLD!

3) Because its awesome! GOSH!3) Because its awesome! GOSH!

A “Brief” History of Bollywood

A “Brief” History of Bollywood

The Beginnings:The Beginnings:

“Raja Harishchandra” (1913), was the first silent feature film made in India.

“Raja Harishchandra” (1913), was the first silent feature film made in India.

The first Indian sound film, Ardeshir Irani's “Alam Ara” (1931), was a major commercial success.

The first Indian sound film, Ardeshir Irani's “Alam Ara” (1931), was a major commercial success.

1930’s - 1940’s: Films for Escape1930’s - 1940’s: Films for EscapeTumultuous times

- great depression, WWII, India independence, violent partition of ndia (Pakistan and India)

*see Jinna Hwang’s March 2009 lecture

Tumultuous times

- great depression, WWII, India independence, violent partition of ndia (Pakistan and India)

*see Jinna Hwang’s March 2009 lecture

Late 1940’s-1960’s: Golden Age of Bollywood Cinema

Late 1940’s-1960’s: Golden Age of Bollywood Cinema

Guru Dutt’s “Pyasa” (1957) - Time Magazine’s All-Time 100 Best Films. - Dutt considered one of the greatest Asian film makers of all time.

Guru Dutt’s “Pyasa” (1957) - Time Magazine’s All-Time 100 Best Films. - Dutt considered one of the greatest Asian film makers of all time.

Mehboob Khan’s “Mother India” (1957) - nominated for Best Foreign

Language Oscar

1970’s: Gangsters and Bandits1970’s: Gangsters and Bandits“Sholay” and “Dewar” (1975)

The rise of Amitab Bachan!

“Sholay” and “Dewar” (1975)

The rise of Amitab Bachan!

1980s: Some Realism1980s: Some Realism

Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay!” (1988)

- Wins the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival - Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay!” (1988)

- Wins the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival - Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

1990s: Back to Romance1990s: Back to Romance

“Hum Aapke Hain Kaun...!” (1994) “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995),

(aka Who am I to You?!) (aka The Big Hearted Wins the Bride) making stars out Shahrukh Khan and Kajol

“Hum Aapke Hain Kaun...!” (1994) “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995),

(aka Who am I to You?!) (aka The Big Hearted Wins the Bride) making stars out Shahrukh Khan and Kajol

2000 to present: World Influence2000 to present: World Influence Baz Luhrmann stated that his musical film “Moulin Rouge!” (2001) was directly inspired

by Bollywood musicals.

Which in turn inspires a revival of musicals in Hollywood.

In the UK, Gurinder Chadha’s “Bend it Like Beckham” (2002) becomes the highest-grossing Indian-themed film ever in the U.S. with $32 million in box office revenue & her explicitly Bollywood style “Bride and Prejudice” (2004) introduces Indian cinema to

a larger audience. Then Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog millionaire” (2008) basically sweeps the Academy Awards that year, including Best Picture.

Baz Luhrmann stated that his musical film “Moulin Rouge!” (2001) was directly inspired by Bollywood musicals.

Which in turn inspires a revival of musicals in Hollywood.

In the UK, Gurinder Chadha’s “Bend it Like Beckham” (2002) becomes the highest-grossing Indian-themed film ever in the U.S. with $32 million in box office revenue & her explicitly Bollywood style “Bride and Prejudice” (2004) introduces Indian cinema to

a larger audience. Then Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog millionaire” (2008) basically sweeps the Academy Awards that year, including Best Picture.

TRADEMARKS OF BOLLYWOOD FILMSTRADEMARKS OF BOLLYWOOD FILMS

Indian audiences want their money’s worth (there’s a word for it “paisa vasool”) so:

1) They’re long (like this lecture): usually around 3 hours2) They mix in a lot aka masala style: musical, comedy,

romance, and even some action 3) They’re over the top: elaborate, enormous, and

effervescent dance numbers4) They don’t have to suspend disbelief: unlike Hollywood

films, Bollywood films do not try to suspend disbelief, but revels in the fantasy of creation. There is a strong tradition in India of narrating through song and dance

This leads us to our film of the evening…

Indian audiences want their money’s worth (there’s a word for it “paisa vasool”) so:

1) They’re long (like this lecture): usually around 3 hours2) They mix in a lot aka masala style: musical, comedy,

romance, and even some action 3) They’re over the top: elaborate, enormous, and

effervescent dance numbers4) They don’t have to suspend disbelief: unlike Hollywood

films, Bollywood films do not try to suspend disbelief, but revels in the fantasy of creation. There is a strong tradition in India of narrating through song and dance

This leads us to our film of the evening…

“RAB NE BANA DE JODI” (2008)

aka “A Match Made by God”

“RAB NE BANA DE JODI” (2008)

aka “A Match Made by God”

a lil’ background to the film…a lil’ background to the film…• It stars Shahrukh Khan as a beta male

• It’s the 6th highest grossing Bollywood film of all time • It pays homage to Bollywood history (the song you will dance

too!)

• It references the Sikh faith (a monotheistic religion

originating in 15th century Punjab region of India)

• It stars Shahrukh Khan as a beta male

• It’s the 6th highest grossing Bollywood film of all time • It pays homage to Bollywood history (the song you will dance

too!)

• It references the Sikh faith (a monotheistic religion

originating in 15th century Punjab region of India)

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

A Big Idea in the Film: Love Marriage vs. Arranged Marriage

Summarized in the line by Taani’s father: “…in life we make some relationships and some are made by God” (or

your parents :P)

A Big Idea in the Film: Love Marriage vs. Arranged Marriage

Summarized in the line by Taani’s father: “…in life we make some relationships and some are made by God” (or

your parents :P)

Love Marriage• your choice • dating/courtship encouraged

• getting to know BEFORE marriage expected

• relies upon your wisdom + friend+ more passion initially- battle for parents permission, just

you two

- 50% divorce rate in US

Love Marriage• your choice • dating/courtship encouraged

• getting to know BEFORE marriage expected

• relies upon your wisdom + friend+ more passion initially- battle for parents permission, just

you two

- 50% divorce rate in US

Arranged Marriage• another’s choice• dating/courtship frowned upon

without engagement• getting to know AFTER marriage

expected• relies upon community wisdom - stranger - less passion initially + no battle for parents permission,

part of community+ 5-7% divorce rate

Arranged Marriage• another’s choice• dating/courtship frowned upon

without engagement• getting to know AFTER marriage

expected• relies upon community wisdom - stranger - less passion initially + no battle for parents permission,

part of community+ 5-7% divorce rate

Or to put the two types of marriage in other words…Or to put the two types of marriage in other words…

By Asha from NBC’s “Outsourced”:

“think about it like this - a love marriage is like hot soup that grows cold over time. An arranged marriage is like cold soup that you heat over time.”

By Asha from NBC’s “Outsourced”:

“think about it like this - a love marriage is like hot soup that grows cold over time. An arranged marriage is like cold soup that you heat over time.”

My opinion on the topic (from only being married

almost 2 years) :My opinion on the topic (from only being married

almost 2 years) :Our love marriage culture can learn a little from the

arranged marriage culture • you are always getting to know your partner. you can’t really

know someone enough before you get married (there are some things you can only know after you commit to one another).

• it is a little arrogant to go about thinking you know what is best for yourself. There is wisdom from your parents, your community, and above all God who knows you better than you know yourself.

* Marriage is not for your happiness but for your holiness (as you become one you sharpen one another, makes you less selfish, teaches you about God’s love)

* Consider your partner as God’s gift to you (knows you most intimately and uniquely to touch your life…your bff)

Our love marriage culture can learn a little from the arranged marriage culture

• you are always getting to know your partner. you can’t really know someone enough before you get married (there are some things you can only know after you commit to one another).

• it is a little arrogant to go about thinking you know what is best for yourself. There is wisdom from your parents, your community, and above all God who knows you better than you know yourself.

* Marriage is not for your happiness but for your holiness (as you become one you sharpen one another, makes you less selfish, teaches you about God’s love)

* Consider your partner as God’s gift to you (knows you most intimately and uniquely to touch your life…your bff)

So which one is better? So which one is better?

There is much debate to this.

In either case there must be:- commitment (Genesis 2)- respect and love (Ephesians 5)

There is much debate to this.

In either case there must be:- commitment (Genesis 2)- respect and love (Ephesians 5)

LaaF Advice Column!LaaF Advice Column!

Dear Mr. Kitani,

I love Hollywood and Bollywood Romance! I’ve been dreaming of my one true love. How do I know when I’ve found the one?

Sincerely,Confused Taani Partner

Dear Mr. Kitani,

I love Hollywood and Bollywood Romance! I’ve been dreaming of my one true love. How do I know when I’ve found the one?

Sincerely,Confused Taani Partner

Dear Taani Partner,

I too love Bollywood (and sometimes Hollywood) dance and romance! Indeed, God may bring into your life someone you could marry, maybe even someone you did not consider at first. Remember to keep in mind a person always marries the wrong “one.” Only with God’s love do we become the right “one” for each other.

Sincerely,Mr. Kitani

Dear Taani Partner,

I too love Bollywood (and sometimes Hollywood) dance and romance! Indeed, God may bring into your life someone you could marry, maybe even someone you did not consider at first. Remember to keep in mind a person always marries the wrong “one.” Only with God’s love do we become the right “one” for each other.

Sincerely,Mr. Kitani