Filmi Ladies

We watched Toaster, the new release on Netflix with Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, Archana Puran Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, and others in a great cast stuck a misfiring machine that somehow never really goes ding and pops out a well-done, crunchy treat. And if you _that_ was a belabored point, just wait til you watch the film. (Or don't.) What do you wish for Rajkummar Rao's career? Because...

Happy Unishe April to all who celebrate! We discuss this much-loved Rituparno Ghosh film about a mother daughter duo (Aparna Sen and Debashree Roy) who have a relationship that is anything but "shodhoran" (ordinary). Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @...

In our opinion, Maneesh Sharma's Fan (2016) is a deeply unsettling work of experimentation, creativity, and importance. Join us for a long chat about why it's so weird and yet so great, what it means that Shah Rukh made this artistic commitment and statement, plus speculation on why audiences didn't seem to connect with it the way the makers hoped. Read Beth's original take on the...

One more before this series is a wrap: ALIA! We love her. But what's her special sauce? To answer this, we looked at Highway (2014), Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014), Shaandaar (2015), Dear Zindagi (2016), and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017). We also briefly touch on Gangubai, Gully Boy, and Udta Punjab. If you want more Alia, check out our episodes on Darlings, Rocky aur Rani, Brahmastra, Udta P...

Sometimes you just need to get stuck in the 90s. We watched Raja Babu (1994) and Haseena Maan Jayegi (1999) and wonder whether this epic partnership is worthy of so much (possibly mostly nostalgic) love and discuss what else we wish Govinda would get the chance to do now. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.ap...

Bindu is the last and most wicked of our trio of vamps! If Helen is glamorous and amoral, and Aruna Irani is desi and moral, Bindu is scheming and immoral. We explore two of her films: Hawas (1974) and Do Raaste (1969) that resulted in Filmfare nominations for her. We also discuss her amazing dance numbers! A great Bindu playlist includes Hangama Ho Gaya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG5J8YJWW-...

No mere Merchant and Ivory for us: we're going much further afield with Siddhartha (1972), based on the Herman Hesse novel and directed by American Conrad Rooks, and Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987), directed and written by Brits Stephen Frears and Hanif Kureishi. These films have more in common than we thought, but one of them is much less irritating than the other. Either way, these are films...

What's at the end of the rainbow? This episode! We've reached the last stop in our series exploring colors in film with the undisputed fanciest color of them all. Films under discussion: royals and wealth and class with Eklavya (2007) and Bappi-da + Rekha + jewelry + hidden treasure = Locket (1986). What is your most iconic gold moment in Hindi cinema? Ours is actually from a film we'v...

Does her gobsmacking smile make her a superstar? Maybe - it totally works on us. Films discussed: Chandni Chowk to China, Cocktail, Race 2, and Finding Fanny, with mini-detours to Piku and Om Shanti Om as we (spoiler, but come on) list our top 5 Deepika films. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/p...

One of the filmiest ladies of them all! The great Elizabeth Taylor plays the great Cleopatra in this absolutely spectacular epic film. Both co-hosts are absolutely bedazzled by everything, so join us for a gushing discussion. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @f...

Happy (belated) Valentine's and Galentine's Day to all! To celebrate this holiday of pyar, ishq, aur mohabbat, we each picked a movie with the word 'dil' in the title. Pitu picked Dil Deke Dekho (1959) and Beth picked Dilruba (1950). There's also a little quiz! Completely unrelated: Beth's friend and an absolute connoisseur of the more fringe aspects of Hindi cinema Aseem C...

Both Beth and Pitu adore the incredibly talented Madhabi Mukherjee. Even if she had only worked in Satyajit Ray projects, hers would still be a phenomenal filmography but she is a prolific Bengali actress apart from her Ray films. In this episode we discuss Charulata, Biraj Bou, Kapurush, Dibratrirkabya and Garh Nasimpur. We also briefly mention Mahanagar. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify http...

Kabhi Kabhie contains many, many elements familiar in the Yash Chopra Universe, but how well does he combine them here? We actually disagree a bit about how effective this film is, but an initially unimpressed Beth is overall convinced by PItu's more positive interpretations, and we agree the film has some interesting ideas at its core. Plus amazing music, costumes, and set design! What did yo...

Love her or hate her, there was a time when you couldn't ignore her. We're talking about Kangana Ranaut—probably the most polarizing person in our superstars series. Actually, we aren't even sure she is a superstar! We have spoken about Queen in a prior episode (https://youtu.be/uKrUDONBS2A?si=Mnl2Jhib4dHixyH3), but in this one we discuss Raaz 2, Fashion, Tanu Weds Manu 2, Rangoon, and...

We've reached the SHINY part of our rainbow series: silver! In Indian movies, it can be futuristic (like the tech of Enthiran), disco (like Shaan), or earthy (like Urmila's jewelry in Chamma Chamma Baaje Re), and it can evoke elegance and romance like no other. Silver always has something to say. If you want more time with Enthiran or Love Story 2050, check out Beth's essays. https://w...

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...