Bollywood is For Lovers

In a show of nationalistic pride, we turn our attention to the prolific and versatile Akshay Kumar in three contemporary action thrillers.  Show Notes: Akshay Kumar Our early AK experiences and how we came around Episode 16 where we discuss Tees Maar Khan   Episode 22 where we discuss Bollywood films shot in Alberta including 8x10 Tasveer Akshay Kumar is Canadian? Khiladi Special 26 1987 Opera Hou...

We’re thrilled to welcome Sal Salam to discuss the incomparable Rekha in two iconic crime boss performances.  Show Notes: Welcome Sal Salam Sal on the Split Screen Podcast The importance of strong women in Bollywood Rekha Sophia Loren loves spaghetti   How to get out of talking to reporters Rekha’s parents: Pushpavalli and Gemini Ganesan Forced into the movies Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love Ghar Art i...

Zoya Akhtar has done it again! Hot off the heels of Gully Boy, she’s co-created a new Amazon Prime series with fellow director and screenwriter Reema Kagti about the lives of wedding planners in Delhi and the rich clients who hire them to bring a little bit of heaven to Earth, or so they think.  Show Notes: 2019 Filmfare Awards Malk   Made in Heaven Our episode on Gully Boy Erin has a crush on Jim...

Have you ever wanted to get away with murder? How about catch someone in a web of lies? Well the films in this episode provide a litany of dos and don’ts for the budding career felon or detective, depending on where you fall on criminal spectrum.  Show Notes: What’s an interrogation thriller? Erin made it up Chocolate   Drishyam (2015) Drishyam (2013) The Devotion of Suspect X Everything I know, I...

With so much new streaming content dropping all of the time, we’re dedicating a new sub-series to Indian shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Eros Now, and more. First, or more accurately, third up is the violent gangster drama Mirzapur.  Show Notes: Our Netflix and Dil playlist Amazon Prime Video ’s other shows: Breathe , Inside Edge , Four More Shots Please! , and the upcoming Made in Heaven Mirzapur...

With Gully Boy finally landing in theatres, we discuss three films about tortured artists and the women who love them. Show Notes: Thank you choclaholic67 for the review! The tortured artist Why are these films always about men Rockstar Similarities to other Imtiaz Ali joints “ Sadda Haq ” Do we like this film any more than when we first saw it?  A sparkless romance Piratical fashion Aashiqui 2 We...

We look back at the most notable Bollywood films of 2018! Show Notes: We have new artwork design by Becca Dalke ! Kaalakaandi ( our episode on Delhi Belly ) Mukkabaaz Padmaavat ( our episode on Padmaavat ) Pad Man Love Per Square Foot Aiyaary Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety Welcome to New York Pari ( our episode on Pari ) Raid Hichki Baaghi 2 ( our episode on Baaghi 1 ) Blackmail October Beyond The Clouds...

To celebrate the holidays we discuss a pair of Christmas movies, or at least a pair of movies set at Christmas time. Show Notes: We are drinking mulled apple cider Matt hates Christmas “ Fairytale of New York ” and “ All I Want For Christmas Is You ” Thank you listenerinthecity! 10 BiFL points for you! Christmas movies Las Vegas Mental Health and the holidays Anjaana Anjaani It’s supposed to be th...

With his latest movie, Andhadhun, in theatres, we discuss two films from critically acclaimed crime auteur Sriram Raghavan. Show Notes: Matt invents BiFL Points Shaktiflow and Amarjeet Sohi Canada Post strike Sriram Raghavan Raman Raghav 2.0 Ek Hasina Thi and Badlapur Listen to Episode 25 - Varun Dhawan, Bollywood’s Next Leading Man for our thoughts on Badlapur Johnny Gaddaar Vijay Anand and James...

With his two latest films blowing up the box office, we discuss one of Bollywood’s freshest leading men, Ayushmann Khurrana. Show Notes: We’ve changed up our recording schedule for the rest of the year, we only have three episodes left in 2018 Ayushmann Khurrana MTV Roadies Meri Pyaari Bindu , Bareilly Ki Barfi , and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan Andhadhun and Badhaai Ho Aparshakti Khurrana Lack of ego Co...

In our fourth annual Hindi Horror Halloween episode we discuss three films about women being possessed by malevolent forces.  Show Notes: Our previous Halloween episodes are here Thank you so much to Sruguru and Xenia / Cat Green Bike for the Apple Podcasts reviews! The Exorcist and William Friedkin (and The Devil and Father Amorth which we don’t recommend)  Sexism and the exorcism genre Naina The...

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai we welcome Aparita Bhandari and Baisakhi Roy of the Khabardaar Podcast to reminisce and evaluate how the film holds up to today’s standards. Show Notes: Welcome to Aparita and Baisakhi of the Khabardaar Podcast ! TIFF 2018 Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota or The Man Who Feels No Pain , Reason or Vivek , and Bulbul Can Sing Indian films at festivals and...

We welcome Beth Watkins of Beth Loves Bollywood to discuss two films starring, directed, and produced by Raj Kapoor. Show Notes: Welcome to Beth Loves Bollywood ! Mujhse Dostu Karoge ! Shree 420 Bengali cinema and Satyajit Ray Raj Kapoor Take that Hugh Jackman Prithviraj Kapoor and the Kapoors Comparisons to Charlie Chaplin Aag “Dude’s got a type” Chiaroscuro lighting “ Raat Ko Jee Chamke Taare ”...

We bid adieu to the summer season with a trio of road films.    Show Notes: We were out late partying at our friends’ wedding Thanks vcx100 Karwaan The road movie Matt remembers a robot museum in Wisconsin Is the road movie a genre? How is it different from a chase movie? or a travelogue?  Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. Just like Sorcerer Reema Kagti The film’s super twist Radio DJ narrator  “ Sajana...

Netflix has released their latest Hindi project, the three part horror series Ghoul, and we were so impressed we decided to record a quick supplemental episode. Show Notes: Split Screen Podcast: Bonus Episode 1 - The Future Of Streaming In Bollywood Omnipresent   Ghoul Review: The Demons Within by Rahul Desai Ghoul director Patrick Graham: We don’t intend to offend people Ghoul director Patrick Gr...

We welcome Elizabeth Spencer and Karen Unland of That’s A Thing?! to discuss two films about teen girls, and their moms. Show Notes: Thanks Sri Rao for the Nimbu Pani recipe, get his book Bollywood Kitchen (sorry for all the noise our metal straws make) That’s A Thing?! Erin knows nothing about teens Do teenagers even watch movies anymore? The Lobby Are today’s teen movies as good as the ones from...

With his biopic in theatres, we’re discussing Bollywood bad boy Sanjay Dutt’s life and work. Show Notes: Thank you Sidhu177! South Indian cinema we watch Mahanati and Aruvi , also Arjun Reddy Split Screen Podcast Not Just Bollywood , it actually doesn’t start till September Sunil Dutt and Nargis Sanjay Dutt Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 Episode 52: Rats in a Maze: Anurag Kashyap’s Black Friday and No...

With Netflix’s first original Indian series, Sacred Games, we’ve snuck in a quick supplemental episode to discuss the first season of the highly anticipated adaptation of Vikram Chandra’s novel from Phantom Film maestros Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap. Show Notes: NYT: “ Review: The Criminal Life in Mumbai in ‘Sacred Games’ ” “Sacred Games on Netflix: Decoding the intricate title credits...

In this episode we discuss three films produced by and starring Anushka Sharma. Just a note, we discuss some mature subjects in this episode including sexual assault, honour killings, and infanticide. There’s also a fair amount of spoilers. Show Notes: We hope all our fellow Canadians had a happy Canada Day Thank you karenrayan and Airia101 Eros Now , Hotstar , and Amazon Prime Video We can finall...

To celebrate the release of Veere Di Wedding, we welcome one of our closest gal pals on to the show to discuss the hit film along with Ladies vs Ricky Bahl. Show Notes: We’re back from vacation, for good this time Welcome back Dr. Juliet Franklin Margaritas in a can Matt loves girls’ night Thank you to Dteaj and Hey. Vero for your reviews! We forgot to invite Juliet’s mom to VDW Ladies vs Ricky Ba...

Ahead of the release of his latest film, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, we discuss the work of Vikramaditya Motwane. Show Notes: We were in Chicago, we’re back but we’re leaving again Thank you narmeensaiyed and Kvoltage2017 for your reviews Vikramaditya Motwane Paanch , which it seems has never been released because of the producer Bhavesh Joshi Superhero Udaan Kanti Shah’s " Grapes " The 400 Blows The...

In our fifth supplemental episode we’re speaking to author Nisha Sharma about her upcoming young adult novel My So-Called Bollywood Life, available May 15th. Show notes: Nisha Sharma’s website and Twitter Check out Nisha’s book tour Preorder MSCBL from Penguin Random House , Indigo , or Barnes & Noble The actress from Good Luck Charlie is Bridgit Mendler NEXT TIME: TBA Bollywood is For Lovers...

In this episode we’re joined by Paul Blinov and Fawnda Mithrush of I Don’t Get It to discuss two films about performers. Show Notes: Welcome Paul  & Fawnda So many wind machines! Erin is still mad that Oprah lied to her The early Shah Rukh Khan film with the steamy love scene is Maya Memsaab with Deepa Sahi Dil To Pagal Hai Baby Shahid Kapoor 90s+ fashion Shiamak Davar The Baxter ) Opening son...

In this episode we discuss three mid-'70s films starring Amitabh the “Big B” Bachchan. Show Notes: We did not come up with a series name Our previous AB episode We still can’t find some of Bachchan’s big '70s hits Thank you Edmonton Public Library Bachchan: The Early Years Namak Haraam Hrishikesh Mukherjee Social justice and class struggle themes The persuasiveness of poets Ken Loach (INTERVAL (“...

In this episode we discuss a pair of films that dramatize deadly dealings between the Bombay police force and the criminal underworld. Show Notes: Mayaanadhi “ Tollywood goes to Texas )" by Suchin Mehrotra Encounter killings Sicario Starlight tours Shootout at Lokhandwala 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout Police brutality propaganda Sanjay Dutt Processing how the film fictionalizes real life Compa...