The one movie every fan curious about Bollywood MUST see...
Sholay -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073707/
http://www.amazon.com/Sholay-Dharmen...8947496&sr=8-1
Released in 1975, it is still IMMENSELY popular even after almost 35 years of its initial release. Bollywood's tribute to Kurosawa's
Seven Samurai has some of the strongest characters ever created in Hindi cinema, the villain Gabbar Singh is an icon in Bollywood history, done to near-perfection by the very new and young Amjad Khan.
To appreciate Bollywood movies better, you must have some brief idea about Hindu and Muslim culture. Joint families, eldest of household being in charge, total respect towards elders and their decisions - which is usually final and binding , married women decked in jewellery, bright-red sindoor adorning their hairline, a necklace of black beads called mangalsutra which is a symbol of their married status...Hindu society is pretty orthodox, and not free-willed or open-minded like Western culture. This has seen a change in the past 12-15 years though, but not by much.
All those who saw Slumdog must have seen how crazed Indians are about Amitabh Bachchan. Since the mid-70s, no other Bollywood superstar has come even remotely close to the dizzying popularity Amitabh commands with the masses. He is a religion in himself - his fans would kill gladly just to be by his side even in a photo.
The movies of Amitabh (other than Sholay) which I put forth with a huge MUST-SEE are...
Kaala Patthar (1979) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079386/
Deewaar (1975) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072860/
Anand (1971) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066763/
Don (1978) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077451/
Trishul (1978) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078418/
Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079590/
Laawaris (1981) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082644/
Shakti (1982) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084667/
Main Azaad Hoon (1989) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097812/
Agneepath (1990) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098999/
Aankhen (2002) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306434/
Kaante (2002) (Bollywood's
Reservoir Dogs) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0294662/
Baghban (2003) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337578/
Black (2005) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375611/
Sarkar (2005) (Bollywood's
The Godfather) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0432047/
and its sequel...
Sarkar Raj (2008) -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0490210/
Anyway, those ought to give plenty of examples why Amitabh is revered in this great nation.
I will be back after supper to give some more recs which are non-Amitabh, but essential Bollywood must-sees.