Posts Tagged ‘Bollywood’

After enjoying so much the before-reviewed Jodhaa Akbar Dean decided to order another Indian film from Netflix — the suspenseful Eklavya (2007, Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Film). No romance this, really — more like a drama of family secrets, betrayals and score-settlings that centers around the near-perfect loyalty of Eklavya, a royal guard, and his need to meet his dharma, his purpose in life, of protecting his king at any cost. Threats arise  both from low-caste farmers over land rights and from the king’s own extended family.

Amitabh Bachchan plays a loyal palace guard with a tortured soul in "Eklavya"

The word “dharma” comes from the word “hold.” According to my simplified understanding, one’s dharma represents a kind of supernatural hold on them. The dharma asserts a person’s place in the universe, and by holding to one’s dharma an individual is by extension “holding” everything together. Eklavya has dedicated his entire life to the purpose of a single dharma given him by his mother upon his father’s death — he is to defend his king at all costs, or, as she says, “nine generations of our family will burn in Hell.”

Now an old man, Eklavya’s sight is growing dim, so that his detractors begin to mock his ability to protect the king. But his hearing is as keen as ever. Blindfolded, he can throw a knife straight to its mark by listening alone.

The family which he serves has its own secret desires and acts of vengence, and a palace guard like Eklavya cannot hold himself apart. Long before the movie opened, he became entwined and entrapped within the intrigue — and now it seems he will have to sacrifice either his dharma or that earthly relationship which is most sacred to him.

Yes, there will be murders in this film — yes, people will have mixed character, so that at moments you will not know whether a person is good or bad. Scenes of the palace are both stirring for their beauty, and haunting when tales of the cruelty the building has sheltered arise — and, as in a good suspense film, vengeance will be taken on the wrongdoers.

I never did quite "get" Poldark.

Back in the old days, when I was a teenager, my parents would watch Masterpiece Theater and I just knew there was something strange going on. My teenaged mind wanted to know, who cared about history, American, English or Continental, enough to watch movies about it after school was out? And what was so interesting about this Poldark guy who had so many dramatic problems which he brought upon himself anyway?

The characters in my parents’ movies wore period costumes and talked in a strange accent. There was no soundtrack of exciting background music and the sets were all in England, either grey healther covered moors or grey castles, which looked depressing.

And now, years later, here are Dean and I sitting around watching historical movies while the kids ask us why we are doing this. Do I feel nervous seeing what’s going on? Yes.

This movie was every bit as romantic and exotic as the poster suggested.

I would like to say in my defense that the current crop of historical movies have 1) unbelievable sets b) high production values, c) exciting sound tracks, d) stirring battle scenes and e) attractive actors and actresses. In these regards, they totally eclipse Masterpiece Theater.

So, yes, we watch historical dramas, long ones, just like my parents.  Our taste runs to the HBO Rome Series, Showtime’s The Tudors, or the movie we finished last night, Jodhaa Akbar, which was perhaps my favorite, which was made in India.

Why is it my favorite? Well for one thing check out the hero, Hrithik Roshan, the handsomest guy I’ve seen in a movie since … a long time ago. Perhaps its the pale eyes that got me. The leading lady, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, is stunning as well. Apparently, Hollywood has no monopoly on incredibly beautiful people.

A historical romance/adventure story set in 16th century India, the predictable part of the movie concerns that young emperor’s efforts at consolidation of his empire and the constant problem of seditions friends, relatives, and advisors. The romantic part is far more unusual; although Jodhaa and Jalai are married (arranged without her consent) she won’t let him anywhere near her. She has her standards, both religious and personal, and she expects her husband to win her heart personally, not through arrangement with her father. If Jalai is ever to have an heir he will have to succeed in capturing her heart.

I’m sure romance novelists have come up with this plot hundreds of times, in books I would not have read, but here, in this movie, it worked for me. And Dean watched it too, giving the conquest/violence/sedition part of the movie credit for the “best fight scene he’d come across in years.”

Masterpiece theater it is not. But if you like romance, adventure, palace intrigue, and incredible sets this might be a good choice. What’s more, the  movie is current available on Netflix “watch it tonight” online streaming.  I highly recommend it, and may be watching it (again) tonight myself.