Bollywood Queen

Review: movie: Bollywood Queen

Date: 23 Oct 03

venue: Odeon, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England

===========================> Recently I saw the debut of Preeya Kalidas as leading lady in a general-release motion picture, and she carried her part off very well. This was not just a piece of fluff, but a theme that Preeya has worked on previously - East meets West in London, not with ease, but with a good ending. She is saying this to us, that we have to move into the modern world, all of us, white and asian. She is speaking articulately, and making the lesson easy to take, by sugar-coating the pill. And she is quite the sweetie herself - emoting and portraying, singing and dancing, and giving her characterisation a good range of expression.

The story was about Geena, an ethnic Indian young woman, who breaks away from her family and its expectations when she falls in love with a white boy called Jay. Not to mention that she's from East London and he's from the West Country, so there's every division and dichotomy in modern English life on display here.

But it's not a simple re-telling of Romeo and Juliette, this is an original story, written by the director/producer Jeremy Wooding and Neil Spencer, that gets to the modern situations and dynamics. But there is some interfamily conflict, as Jay's brother gets him involved in a night-time raid on Geena's family's clothing factory, and there is a knife fight in the dark between a brother of Geena's and Jay's brother.

This is also quite a Bollywood styled production, with key moments of the story punctuated by a song - often sung by Preeya - and a large-company Indian dance routine to go with it. These usually work very well, but there was a portion of one number that featured Geena, where for a long portion of the number she was given neither lines nor clear portrayal to put across, and the effect is awkward. Aside from that, Preeya keeps the action flowing very nicely, and keeps her character portrayal very full and multifaceted.

The filming was atmospheric and moody at times, showing us the heaviness of London's East End. There were also times of brightness and dazzle, and some cinematography that was startling and beautiful. Yet still, there was countryside shot in soft focus, and that made it contrast with the harsh, drab city all the more.

At the end of the movie, I walked out feeling satisfied that I had been shown an interesting story that was well written, shot interestingly, and acted very well.

The story is as old as the hills but it works because of the film's immense charm, terrific music and great acting. I've seen it twice and loved it more the second time. Preeya Kalidas is a dream to look at and when she sings it's milk and honey.

I think the one or two reviewers who have given this movie an unfavorable review fail to realize that this movie was a SATIRE. Those educated in literature can spot the parallel to "West Side Story" in this movie. It deals with the very real struggles that first generation South Asians who were born and raised in western countries have to deal with. It exposes the REALITIES of how the older generations try to force old traditions on the younger generations and expect them to abide by them even when they can not even identify with them. It shows a real situation that many have to deal with, many South Asian parents force their children to choose between how the parents expect them to live their lives, or be true to themselves, and often times if they don't choose to live their lives how the parents expect them to live, then they disown their children. It sends a message to the parents, that if they weren't so stubborn and set in their old sense of thinking and traditions, then their children would still be in their lives and wouldn't be forced to take such extreme measures just to have a happy life.

No surprise that some nice white boy decided to cash-in on the bollywood phenom and what a trite mess he makes of it. Enough saccharine to make your teeth peel and enough sub-standard filmmaking to make you reach for your movie mantra and pray forgiveness for those who know not what they do. Pretty girl with nice song does not a movie make. Story? Let see... Boy meets girl. Girl from strict asian background. Boy not. It must be love. Everybody dance. Annoying & ludicrous twaddle.

The only solace is I didnt pay to watch this. I give my deepest sympathy to those who did and were conned by a fancy poster and promise of magic realism.

Really bad attempt by British to make a Bollywood movie. The dancing is awful. I can dance way better!! (and I'm not much.) The acting is bad which could be the directing. There was an actor in it that I know is great. He had just a small part. Remember the guy who played Al Swerengen from HBO's Deadwood? I know he can do much better than this.

Can't tell you just how much I hated it. Waste of time. THIS IS NOT A BOLLYWOOD MOVIE!!! Not even close. Just because they found Indian people in England and put them on screen doesn't make it Bollywood. Wow. They want me to do 10 lines of telling you just how crappy this movie is!!!!