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I lost it at these hidden gems of Indian Cinema - "Sitabo Gulabo" (Review)

The foxy Mirza hopes his very old Begum will die this year so he can inherit her Lucknow Khandaani Haveli. He musters the courage to ask her in a break as she slips in and out of sleep. She tries to clarify her failing memory through the mist-laden fog of time - "Shaadi kiye they tumhare saath ya bhagey they?" (I can't remember - did I marry you or elope with you?). The Mirza is flabbergasted and reminds her of the Mehr he paid on their very legal marriage. She then rakes her memory - "toh bhagey they kiskey saath?" - "So who did I elope with?". Mirza is sure it was with the thief Abdul Rehman.

Tongue in cheek, stinging wit lace this richly layered, artistically staged but never heavy Lucknow patois film about the cunning fox and the staunch hedgehog. The fox knows many small tricks but the hedgehog has ONE BIG TRICK.

I laughed hard and for a long time, but it was mostly inside. Relive the moments of your youth when you could laugh fully and completely by forgetting everything else.

I am glad that Indian Cinema isn't dead, isn't on life support and is very much alive with the creativity of its nearly unknown, unfamous and very alive craftsmen/women, the people who breathe life into film and snap us back into aliveness, leave us wondering what cant films be like this and why is everyone is boring us.

Asura city's foundations are completely mired in madness, just like the rest of humanity. The only difference is - Asura doesn't bother to hide it. The city has no rules at its foundation except the basest of human nature, exposed. That is its truth, its mystery and its unknown law. What every other city calls "order" is an attempt to impose something comprehensible and workable.

When you realize this, only one things can be worse - that everyone else also realizes this - that all their purpose is full of craziness and at bottom, utterly illogical. Together they bring out the worst in each other. Every diabolical villany is accounted for - in full, shameless display through snarling contempt and nonchalant ultraviolence.

Start at the very bottom of our base nature and progressively work downwards from there into the abyss. Relentlessly finding untraceable paths that are successively worse than the last, leading to only one conclusion.

You wanted to accept everything. Now accept that groups of men are so completely mad, that should their veil of civility be lifted, they are dancing with each in the darkest places of hell. Asura lifts that veil. Asura is a bonfire of all vanities - and the bigger the fire grows - the more darkness is revealed.

Genius yes, because the difference between insanity ahd genius lies in how others accept your insanity. Korean films are 1000 years ahead of Hollywood and 500 years ahead of European cinema.

It is such a struggle to find good comedy! Nothing gets even a smirk out of me these days! I would pay in the hundreds of dollars for a film that gets to belly laughter, uncontrollable spasms of mirth and joy!

The Redeeming Act of Laughter - oh so therapeutic, is exorcised from our lives because of Political Correctness, because we live in The Age of Outrage. No one can make anything really funny any more without checking off who they will not offend - and that list is so long because everyone is offended by something!

The result is neutered and cringe worthy pain that passes for comedy!

No artist can make anyone really laugh with gay abandon these days because comedy is about making fun of something or someone. Social Justice Warriors will call everyone who makes fun of something a "fascist". Today they expel someone who micro-trauma'd them by raising their hand and disagreed with them in class.

Outrage is everywhere today, on the political left and right, with old people and young people, people of all races and economic backgrounds. We may live in the first period of human history where every demographic feels that they are somehow being violated and victimized.

Comedy is the true Victim of the Age of Outrage. So it is with so much joy I discovered a movie yesterday - "Macho". The world of fashion is horrified to discover that a famous gay fashion designer of women's clothing is actually Heterosexual! He has slept with many women in the past eighteen months - and NO MEN!!! Under advisement, the Designer reluctantly agrees to date the handsome new office boy to keep hide his natural straight tendencies closeted.

The entire film is the Highest form of Dry Wit, Delicious Irony and double twist Sarcasm, oh my! Laced with layers of fun, creamed with the performance of the lead in a challenging but fun role, I salute the courage of the film makers.

Please it is not the masses or popularity that always signal what is High Achievement. It is the admiration of a few true followers who completely 'GET' what you are saying. Bravo! Do this again!