Filmi Ladies

Time for some 90s nostalgia with this very fun franchise where none of the movies are connected to each other! It's an Akki fest on the podcast where we discuss Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996). For discussion: is EVERYTHING better with Rekha in it? (There is a right answer.) Watch part 1 for our discussion on Khiladi (1992) and Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995). Catch Bet...

Time for some 90s nostalgia with this very fun franchise where none of the movies are connected to each other! It's an Akki fest on the podcast where we discuss Khiladi (1992) and Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995) in this first of two episodes. And we cover Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996) in part 2. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1...

Spoilers ahead! Also, content notice: this film is about honor killings. Make a listening choice that works for your mental well-being. Almost a decade after its release, the beloved Marathi film Sairat is as powerful as ever. Join us for a rambling discussion of what makes it so special and enduring. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple...

It's that time of the year when work grinds to a halt, merriment fills the air, friends gather together and people spend the holidays with their families. Sometimes it's sweet and heartwarming, other times it's difficult and prickly. In today's episode we discuss movies about coming home. Pitu picked Satyajit Ray's Agantuk (1991) and Beth picked Shakun Batra's Kapoor and So...

In this episode of the color series, we discuss white: representative of purity, chastity, virtue, and freshness, but also of wealth and desirability. We chose a woman in white...and two brothers in white, as we look at Asha Parekh in the classic Kati Patang (1971) and the director duo Abbas-Mastan's Humraaz (2002). Who doesn't want to partake of the Bobbyssance? We also discuss other famo...

She may have stormed onto the Hindi screen with the beloved Parineeta (2005) but was already a household face because of her modeling, music videos and the TV sitcom Hum Paanch! It's none other than one of our favorite filmi ladies - the amazing Vidya Balan! Pitu watched Ghanchakkar (2013), Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024) and Do Aur Do Pyar (2024). Beth watched Bhalo Theko (her debut in 2003) and Ish...

Pink conjures up images of roses, sunrises and sunsets, candyfloss, bubblegum and dainty femininity. But it is also the most gendered color. In this episode of the color series, we discussed two films: 2007's Hindi film Honeymoon Travels Private Limited and 2010's Marathi film Natarang. Dance along to Wajle Ki Bara from Natarang https://youtu.be/7R7QJkznJGU?si=UdbTfGBLU865mnVO and Sajanaji...

In our last pair of recommendations for the Bollywood-curious, we go back in history again for 1971's Sharmeelee - a film that many seasoned Bollywood fans somehow haven't seen! - and 1980's Khubsoorat, a beloved classic with an amazing woman at its heart. Watch Sharmeelee with English subtitles for free on Youtube. https://youtu.be/eVIN4YAwepo?si=DdxRjS000sFbdsM_ Watch Khubsoorat with...

This episode is NOT a countdown of our favorite Helen songs - where would you even start?!? Instead, we focus on Helen as an all-around actor and discuss China Town (1962), Gumnaam (1965), and Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979). What sets her apart from all the other vamps and item queens? Other interesting reads on Helen (in addition to Jerry Pinto's book, which neither of us have read but hear good thin...

Welcome to the Bollywood for Beginners series episode 4 where we are being très dramatique! Pitu explores star-crossed lovers in snowy Kashmir whose initial romance and cuteness descends into madness and death, in 2018's Laila Majnu. Beth picks a movie about a humiliated coach who takes a ragtag group of squabbling women to hockey victory in 2007's Chak De! India. Both are cult classic films that...

For the third episode of our Bollywood for Beginners series, we bring you two comedies - one featuring a couple that cons people for a living, and another that marries people off. Bunty aur Babli (2005) is fun on the run that stars Rani Mukherjee and Abhishek Bachchan, and Band Baja Baraat (2010) is about the business of being partners - in business and romance. Let us know what you think and shar...

This is a fully spoiler-y discussion of the latest installment in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, which frankly feels a little...de-fanged. SORRY NOT SORRY. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is...

This episode is straight out of the pind! Yes, it is time to appreciate the very garam Dharam! We discuss Dharmendra's long and prolific career, his versatility, his softer gentler earlier roles as well as his action movie shouty phase. Movies discussed are Shikar (1968), Satyakam (1969), and Aatank (1996) We also discuss our favorite Dharam performances. Tell us what you think of his filmography!...

Welcome to the second episode of our Bollywood for Beginners series. We take you back in time to the 70s with two iconic films - Sholay (1975) and Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) Sholay is a curry western that brings you revenge, bandits, action and a beloved cinematic bromance starring megastars Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra. While Amar Akbar Anthony features a wholesome message of unity in diversity...

Here's episode 1 of 5 in a series where we discuss our Intro To Bollywood Films. Beth picks Paheli (The Riddle) from 2005 and Pitu picks Jab We Met from 2007. Both are romances with author-backed female leads, a feminist message, beautiful scenery and wonderful chemistry between the lead stars, all set to some gorgeous music. Watch Jab We Met: https://youtu.be/jf2gOSORoqU?si=yPQ-gq8WdSOlIwQ1 W...

Many people loooooooove this movie. Do we? This episode also includes discussions of toxic heroes, hating things other people love, "it's not for me," and other formulaic romances. Read "If Harrison Ford Were Your Boyfriend" on this Internet Archive grab from The Toast. https://web.archive.org/web/20160515004844/http://the-toast.net/2015/06/24/if-harrison-ford-were-your-boy...

Hellos, cheers and welcomes to the Filmi Ladies podcasts! We'd love for you to join us on a cruise with some very questionable people - some good, mostly bad, and every single one of them dysfunctional. We discuss Dil Dhadakne Do on its tenth anniversary and there is so much to unpack and discuss and obsess over - from the writing and characters to the themes of social status, keeping up appearanc...

Hot, passionate, angry, dangerous: red is so full of meaning! We discuss Kahaani (2012) and Chandni Bar (2001), which evoke a variety of these aspects of the vital color of red. What are your favorite examples of cinema making great use of red? Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladie...

Clueless, a cinematic treasure, just turned 30 years old this year. Could we let its anniversary pass by without talking about it? AS IF! We discuss this 1995 movie's Gen X icon status, the deeply funny satire, other Jane Austen adaptations, Cher and Dionne's group of friends, social hierarchies and mobility and of course, THE FASHION! Have you seen Clueless? If you haven't, wear your...

In part 1 of this 2-part series, we covered • Parineeta (Hindi, 1953) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ENviesKdxs • Parineeta (Bengali, 1969) https://youtu.be/hj2DYy9BMAM?si=q7tJBfbkb3D5M8CV Watch it here if you missed it. https://youtu.be/TNop2Hiu1ic This week, it's time for 2 more Hindi versions: • Sankoch (Hindi, 1976) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OWzLLjjw70 • Parineeta (Hindi, 2005) We end...

How many Parineetas are too many Parineetas? Apparently 4! In these two consecutive episodes, we explore film adaptations of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1914 novel, and end with a little mock awards night! Films discussed in this episode: • Parineeta (Hindi, 1953) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ENviesKdxs • Parineeta (Bengali, 1969) https://youtu.be/hj2DYy9BMAM?si=q7tJBfbkb3D5M8CV Next wee...

Happy 3rd Anniversary to the Filmi Ladies podcast! To celebrate, we invited Vikas from Let's Talk Melbourne podcast to discuss trio films in Hindi cinema. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/vikas-raheja/ We picked three masala films from different eras - Beth chose Kala Pathhar (1979), Pitu chose Trimurti (1995), and Vikas chose Yuva (2004). What are your favorite trio movies? Thank you...

We LOOOOOOOVE Sridevi but have seen very few of her films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, or Kannada - and it's time to fix that! Today we celebrate this most super of superstars by looking at Sigappu Rojakkal (1978), Neela Malargal (1979), Kshana Kshanam (1991), and Puli (2015, her last Tamil film). What others should we watch? Let us know in the comments. Our first Sri-focused episode also feat...

She's the fun, flirty girl next door but also spunky, defiant and strong. Preity Zinta is almost as well known for her real life heroism as she is for her roles. In a relatively short career of a decade, she starred in something like 30 films, many of which are massive blockbusters. We love her dimples, we love her dancing, and we are planning to bump into her at a Southern California farmer's mar...

Here's a catch-up episode because its been a while since we did those. Pitu attended the second NAFA Marathi film festival in San Jose, California and got to meet filmmaker and actor Amol Palekar, actor Dr Mohan Agashe, actress Ashvini Bhave and filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar. She mentions highlights from their discussions and Q and A sections. Beth and Pitu also discuss the movies they've be...