A challenge?

[Caenxavier]

"A Bollywood filmmaker has issued a lucrative challenge to horror movie fans: a $10,000 reward for anyone who can watch his latest supernatural thriller, alone, in a cinema until the closing credits."


Here is a link (http://gordonandthewhale.com/bollywood-filmmaker-offers-10000-to-anyone-who-can-watch-his-movie-alone/)

[neverending]

Well, I bet V could use $10,000

[_____V_____]

Well, I bet V could use $10,000

Haha yes...the things they do for shameless promotion over here. Too bad I don't live anywhere near Mumbai!

After all that kind of brouhaha, the movie still tanks. :D

Yet to see a REALLY scary Bollywood film, since the mid-80s stuff stopped.

[Angra]

Yet to see a REALLY scary Bollywood film, since the mid-80s stuff stopped.

They stopped dancing and singing after the 80s?

[_____V_____]

:D

No way. We love our song and dance routines which are the staples of almost all Bollywood mainstream movies ever made.

I am talking about some of the horror films which came out in the 80s from the Ramsay stable -

http://www.indianbollywoodmasalamovies.com/PURANA%20MANDIR.jpg

60QQXdQLdFw


...the first commercially hit Bollywood horror film, released in 1984. (You can find the whole movie uploaded in parts on youtube)

Some pretty solid ones followed thereafter, but then Bollywood horror went on the decline. The Ramsays themselves faded into oblivion.

Bhoot, and the other recent ones, are nothing. These were the real scarefests. ;)

[Angra]

And you still find them scary today?

Is that chick naked??

[_____V_____]

Nah. Now its just a long cheesefest, to be enjoyed on a dull weekend.

Back then Purana Mandir was big sensational news in Bollywood (people had grown tired of the action/pulpy romance stuff from the 70s, and someone had dared to think different etc., you know the routine). People actually fainted or ran out of cinema halls when Purana Mandir (The Old Temple) was released, and it was considered to have a strong heart to sit through that movie.

It was a superhit, and the wave of horror which followed from the Ramsay house of horror (who copied shamelessly from Hammer and US horror with their cheesy, darkly Gothic and over-the-top storylines) actually ruled the box office for a few years in the 80s. But then other filmmakers with their too cheap, extremely limited budget stuff, filled with nudity, sex and voluptuous actresses started filling their filth into the film market, and Bollywood Horror went on the decline. Later releases of Ramsay Bros' films started tanking, so they stopped making any more. By the time the 90s came in, horror was out of fashion. Teenage romance/teenage rebellion had taken centrestage again.

And nope, that chick is wearing a swimsuit under that transparent orange robe.

[Angra]

Nah. Now its just a long cheesefest, to be enjoyed on a dull weekend.

Back then Purana Mandir was big sensational news in Bollywood (people had grown tired of the action/pulpy romance stuff from the 70s, and someone had dared to think different etc., you know the routine). People actually fainted or ran out of cinema halls when Purana Mandir (The Old Temple) was released, and it was considered to have a strong heart to sit through that movie.

It was a superhit, and the wave of horror which followed from the Ramsay house of horror (who copied shamelessly from Hammer and US horror with their cheesy, darkly Gothic and over-the-top storylines) actually ruled the box office for a few years in the 80s. But then other filmmakers with their too cheap, extremely limited budget stuff, filled with nudity, sex and voluptuous actresses started filling their filth into the film market, and Bollywood Horror went on the decline. Later releases of Ramsay Bros' films started tanking, so they stopped making any more. By the time the 90s came in, horror was out of fashion. Teenage romance/teenage rebellion had taken centrestage again.

And nope, that chick is wearing a swimsuit under that transparent orange robe.

Damn... You almost sold the movie with that other post.

Now it just sounds laughable. And a swimsuit.... Jesus freakin Christ.


So Bhoot is still the best Horror movie to come out of India?

[_____V_____]

You forget India is still a land of the traditional. Nudity in mainstream and commercial cinema is still a strict no-no.

Actually, Bhoot is quite average. For someone who has watched stuff infinitely more impressionable, Bhoot is actually laughable. It is actually an extended version of a TV episode on a similar theme. I dont find Bhoot even remotely scary.

The best horror movie to come out of India would be Veerana, IMO. No other Bollywood film comes close to that one.

[Ferox13]

Is the Ramsey stuff any good? I've only seen clips on Mondo Macabro - Purana Mandir loked pretty terrible to me..

[_____V_____]

Is the Ramsey stuff any good? I've only seen clips on Mondo Macabro - Purana Mandir loked pretty terrible to me..

Well they are campy stuff with limited production values. Dark gothic atmosphere, Goblin-esque background music, plenty of effects, zooming cinematography, bad acting, screaming girls...anyone who likes that kind of cinema will dig it.

The two honorable mentions in the Asian 100 - Darwaza & Veerana - are pretty much top-notch of this category.

Purana Mandir is a hit, so is Bandh Darwaza.

Mahakaal is another, which was a total rip-off of Nightmare on Elm Street. It was the last one the Ramsays made. It tanked at the BO, and the Ramsays wound up their production companies.

A TV series followed (The Zee Horror Show) which was initially very successful, but went down the ratings on subsequent seasons. It finally closed down in 98-99 or so.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0708917/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0708913/

[Ferox13]

If i was to watch one what should I track down - I'd like to give the sub genre a chance before dismissing it..IS Purana Mandir a good one to start with?

They look a lot like Hong Kong Horror from the 80's but more toned down (would this be correct)?

[_____V_____]

Read this, Ferox -

http://www.thehotspotonline.com/moviespot/bolly/BollyHorror/bollyhorror.htm



If you have to watch just one, then track down Veerana. Its available on Mondo Macabro dvd.

http://www.amazon.com/Bollywood-Horror-Collection-Vol-2/dp/B001OSC4BU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1267100676&sr=8-1

The other ones on Mondo Macabro...

http://www.amazon.com/Bollywood-Horror-Collection-Darwaza-Purana/dp/B000HEWEQC/ref=pd_bxgy_d_text_c

http://www.amazon.com/Bollywood-Horror-Collection-Vol-3/dp/B001SGEUCY/ref=pd_bxgy_d_text_c

[_____V_____]

And this...

http://www.bollyspice.com/view.php/4431-horror-in-hindi-cinema-2.html

[Ferox13]

Thank you...

I'll get back to you on this..

[Caenxavier]

Aw, I love it when a random post turns educational and informational. I'll check this out m'self.