WOMEN IN INDIA

Nisha Pahuja's The World Before Her (2011) is a remarkable documentary on the diverging and contentious reactions to female advancement in India, as seen through the lenses of the Miss India World beauty pageant and a couple of the contestants, and a strident believer whose work in support of Hindu nationalist extremism at the same time undercuts her desire for control of her life (and the irony as well of Hindu girls being harangued to follow the traditional paths while teaching them to fight). The strain of radical conservatism is not unlike that found in the Taliban or the Tea Party. I was shocked to hear that 750,000 female fetuses are aborted yearly, and unknown numbers of female newborns are killed. You cringe as a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl spouts religious hatred. You feel anger at the adults who actively warp their minds against others. You are appalled as a father describes the intentional branding with a hot poker of his daughter as punishment for lying, of his bragging of physical abuse meted out. I wish more women could physically stop their tormentors, that many male-dominated societies would shatter.

ENGLISH VINGLISH

Watched tonight a nice little Indian (Southeast Asian) movie, English Vinglish, written and directed by Gauri Shinde. Although it is about an Indian women who attempts to crash-learn English while in New York for a month for her niece's wedding, it is really about chasing dreams, earning respect (especially from those who are close to you and overlook you), being fearless, finding love and understanding for people different from yourself. Although some, especially audiences used to standard American movies, might find this movie a little blunt in the presentation, and some of the acting clearly is a slight bit off what one might expect from a more polished American screenwriter, it is still a quite enjoyable and delightful film. Sridevi (apparently a popular actor In India) is wonderful as Shashi, who is awed by New York and vulnerable to the slights of her family and strangers, but nonetheless undertakes to learn English on the sly in four weeks with a small class of fellow newcomers, all chasing their dreams. She also has to deal with a crush of a French student (a chef by trade), who challenges her beliefs and emotions (and to a certain extent is a bit pushy and presumptuous, in my view). Yes, there are certain cultural stereotypes perpetuated in the movie, but they are handled lovingly (except perhaps the unhelpful African American cashier). The cinematography is good, I thought. The movie touched me personally because my siblings and I often teased my Ukrainian-immigrant mother for her occasionally poor English and mispronunciations (though she was probably more intelligent than all four of us combined). This is not your typical Bollywood with big musical numbers, although there is a little dancing, yet most people will enjoy the movie if they give it a chance.

INDIA IN COLUMBIA

Attended this afternoon a delightful gathering of Indians from the Midlands at Richland County Public Library for A Glimpse of India.  Presented by an Information Services librarian of Indian heritage, Mona Verma, the program included presentations, art, food and dance. About 100-150 people were dressed in differing expressions of Indian clothing, from traditional to modern. I chatted a little while with a nice lady who did some art and also offered to tattoo me with henna. Since I had just had lunch at Jasons Deli, I didn't sample the samosas and other delectables, but I did try one coconuttty treat that was nice. I also ate one of the really traditional Indian delicacies. . .macadamia cookie.  :)  The best part of the day was the dancing, which included Bharatnatyam, Bhangra, Telegu, and Kathak dances. The little girl who danced in the last style was especially good, I thought. Some of the kids who did the Bollywood type dancing were cute. I had a nice time and enjoyed the color and pagentry.

FOREIGN MOVIES

Yes, I watched a foreign romance this weekend. Not just any romance, but an Indian musical of the Romeo-Juliet variety that questions Pakistani-Indian rivalry and calls for the improvement of conditions and education of women in both countries, as well as reform of the justice system. Yash Chopra's Veer-Zaara (2004) is a delightful movie. Dancing. . .yes, we gots some! Colorful dress and beautiful women. . .we've gots that too! :) Luckily the Bollywood extravaganzas were kept in check (though I was let down that there wasn't a huge final fling), but there was the chance an outbreak of motion could occur at any moment. The leads, Shah Rukh Khan (as Veer, who I have seen in Indian movies before) and the lovely Preity Zinta, are wonderful, as is also Rani Mukerji, who plays the progressive Pakistani lawyer who comes to Veer's aid. After saving Zaara from a bus accident while she is on her way to deposit her Bebe's ashes in her homeland village in India, the free-spirited woman is taken under the chivalrous and smitten Veer's wing, as he shows off his country while falling in love. Despite her betrothal to a stern Pakistani man in an arranged marriage for political purposes, Veer steps aside for the sake of her family and is unjustly forced into jail under a vow of silence to protect her honor, and it is only through the retelling of their romance to the newly appointed legal defender that we learn of his plight. Normally Indian films are little more than eye and ear candy (I love the music, rhythms, and dancing though, as well as the colorful costumes), but I really enjoyed this movie. The running time is a little over three hours, so get settled. But I really enjoyed it. I thought it was interesting how often English words crept into the dialogue.

Not to be totally sissified in the eyes of my few followers, I also watched a Thai film, Headshot (2011), a rollicking story of a framed ex-policeman who becomes an assassin for a secretive dealer of justice outside of the corrupt legal system. There is no dancing here! But lots of shootouts and dead bodies. And yes, beautiful women. . .especially Sirin Horwang and Chanokporn Sayoungkul (who is eye candy that you wouldn't believe). Nopachai Chaiyanam, as former undercover drug agent Tul, is shot in the head during a later assassination and surprisingly survives, only to find that he sees the world now upside down. Of course, circumstance that you will see in the movie have already turned his world askew. I wouldn't rank the movie highly in a cinematic scale, but it is lively and entertaining, and (did I not mention this), there are really beautiful women and lots of shoot-em ups. Who wouldn't like?

VANAJA

Sometimes it is the small, independent foreign films that capture your heart and transport the moviegoer to another place and culture. Such is the case with the delightful Indian film Vanaja (2006) about a young beautiful tough-minded southern Telugu-speaking girl, daughter of a poor fisherman, who to fulfill her desire to learn classical folkdancing manages to obtain work with the local powerbroker, a strong-willed powerful upper-class former dancer Rama Devi (Urmila Dammannagari). Vanaja's brazeness and spunk wins over the older woman (as well as her loyal female servant), who teaches her the music and dance moves, but the young girl's world is turned upside down after she is raped by the mistress's son, an aspiring politician. Vanaja (played powerfully by Mamatha Bhukya) resists calls for an abortion, is hidden by the family of her best friend, has the young son, who is soon returned to his father's family in exchange for pecuniary recompense. However, Vanaja returns to the wealthy estate to be near her son and hope for a union with the son, but caste prevents this from occuring, and the wealthy woman eventually talks Vanaja into leaving (not long after she suffers the loss of her frequently drunken and debt-ridden, but loving, father). There are many insights into the culture, caste-system, and religious observances of the area, as well as commentary on class, wealth, status, and power relationships. Remarkably there seems to be a certain amount of flexibility within the system, and even the powerless have an ability to barter for what they want, in this unequal system. There is beautiful photography and wonderful dancing. Directed by Rajnesh Domalpalli, as apparently part of a MFA thesis from Columbia University, the film is worth watching for no other reason than the great performance by Bhukya, but the whole cast is very good and it really is a film I would encourage viewers to try. Although I didn't grasp all aspects of the story, it probably had a stronger impact on Indian audiences. Still, I really liked it.