Morphing movies - We have a long, long history of asking anyone from India what their favourite Bollywood movie is.  If there isn't enough life left to read every book published, the same is even more true for Bollywood films, so we value recommendations.  And, yes, we do ask everyone: Mr. Singh, our famous tuktuk driver (who has dropped us rather dramatically as he probably realizes we won't be buying another carpet or real estate from his friends); the hotel security guard; the trainers in the gym; Bert's colleagues.

It is very entertaining how few of those we ask actually tell us the movies that they enjoy, but rather think about what we 'ought' to see.  The biggest example of this were the trainers in the gym.  There happened to be four of them in the gym when I first asked them for their list of best movies.  The gym was quiet (just me puffing away) and they put their heads together seriously to come up with a list  that would be 'good' for us.  The next day we ran into another of the trainers and told him about our list and he gave us the name of one of his favorites (Apne, about a boxer father and son) and later he was reprimanded by the other guys in the gym because this really was one of his favourites, but not what the others considered suitable for us. :)  One of the butlers, Deepak,  the front security/check in fellow from my poinsettia tree photo, and Ravish from the Tapas bar, all get full marks too, for actually recommending films they personally liked.

So, Bollywood isn't what it used to be.  Well, some of it isn't.  It all goes back to the time when there was only one theatre in town with just one screen and the government gave subsidies to movies that developed themes of inclusivity.  Every movie used to be a mix of thriller, love story, action, musical and drama and had to show all races and castes and religions getting on wonderfully with one another.  And no kissing, let alone more, on the screen.  Our security wallah recommended Amar, Akbar, Anthony (1979) which is a classic old style Bollywood(three little brothers get adopted by a Hindu, a Muslim and a Christian and the violence is beautifully choreographed and the bad guys have the decency to die discretely)  Either the subsidies have been dropped, or the industry doesn't need them anymore, and certainly all the cities now boast multi-screen cinemas, certainly all today's movies don't have  inclusivity as their primary theme and scantily dressed actresses and public displays of affection have become standard fare.

Some films now have very serious themes: the Kashmir conflict, terrorism, corruption in politics, the value of handicapped people, learning disabilities.  Some movies are now absolutely straightforward movies with none of the musical interludes: A Wednesday is one very popular movie which young Indian men particularly like, a violent and fairly realistic view of the frustration the general public has with the government's handling of terrorists.  In contrast most movies still break into the choreographed high energy musical mode despite the serious themes: Ghajini (a Bollywood remake of Momento) and Three Idiots (picture of the inordinate pressure university students have to succeed).  Felix had a friend come and watch a movie with him and this young man was really distressed by the juxtaposition of the serious content of the film with the lighthearted nature of the dance and music.  We have forgotten  how odd it seems - perhaps because I fast forward the song and dance if I get the chance.

In a country where it seems compassion and concern are often lacking it is a great encouragement to see three recent films focused on the value of individuals with disabilities or distinguishing features that often set them apart: dyslexia, Asperges and being wheelchair bound.

Felix finds it irritating that some Indian films are remakes of American ones.  We, on the other hand, find it often works, and if Shakespeare could do it, why shouldn't Indian script writers import a basic plot into an Indian context?   Bride and Prejudice is a great example.

Two surprises: Mr. Singh (entrepreneurial tuktuk driver) doesn't watch movies!  First Indian I've spoken to who just wasn't interested; and Naysi (a lovely young women from Nagaland) didn't want to recommend any Bollywood, but Schindler's List, which she 'loved'!  I still haven't had the courage to watch it.