Awara

Rating:
Summary: 4.25 stars, an all-time Bollywood Classic
Review: If you're first introduction to Hindu cinema was the Dravidian Misery Master Sanjarit Ray, this film will hit you as quite a different experience. Apparently, Ray's poignancy came from the fact that the world presented in his films was much more based in reality than the previous traditions of Bollywood. This film is often noted as a golden age classic, the veritable Casablanca of India. While it certainly is somewhat unrealistic (what musical isn't?), I did not find it lacking in either poignancy or entertainment value. I saw it as a modern vision of an ancient morality tale, told for a newly free and independent nation that was looking forward to a better future, not intent on miring itself with worries about the past. I also liked the songs, especially the one about the moon and the one with that many armed Hindu goddess in the background; I thought it was a marvelous look at Hindu culture and its mixing of old and new. What's more, this was entertainment that was at least interesting to my young kids as well as us old folks.

If you are a serious film buff who wants to have an international collection, this film, probably India's greatest old classic, is a necessary component of any well-rounded DVD collection. I am not familiar with the quality of this particular DVD image but the fact that it is available at all is quite a surprise!

Trivia: the son in this film was also the director, and the judge was his real life father. Rita was also his real life love interest for a time as well...

Rating:
Summary: 4.25 stars, an all-time Bollywood Classic
Review: If you're first introduction to Hindu cinema was the Dravidian Misery Master Sanjarit Ray, this film will hit you as quite a different experience. Apparently, Ray's poignancy came from the fact that the world presented in his films was much more based in reality than the previous traditions of Bollywood. This film is often noted as a golden age classic, the veritable Casablanca of India. While it certainly is somewhat unrealistic (what musical isn't?), I did not find it lacking in either poignancy or entertainment value. I saw it as a modern vision of an ancient morality tale, told for a newly free and independent nation that was looking forward to a better future, not intent on miring itself with worries about the past. I also liked the songs, especially the one about the moon and the one with that many armed Hindu goddess in the background; I thought it was a marvelous look at Hindu culture and its mixing of old and new. What's more, this was entertainment that was at least interesting to my young kids as well as us old folks.

If you are a serious film buff who wants to have an international collection, this film, probably India's greatest old classic, is a necessary component of any well-rounded DVD collection. I am not familiar with the quality of this particular DVD image but the fact that it is available at all is quite a surprise!

Trivia: the son in this film was also the director, and the judge was his real life father. Rita was also his real life love interest for a time as well...