We're running a film festival throughout august bank holiday weekend of this year in Watford. The festival theme is the exploration of the relationship between film and music. Now, we're well aware that no such festival would be complete without a couple of Bollywood flicks within the programme so here's where we need help. As near novices to world of Bollywood cinema(i've got Sholay and Rangeela under my belt), we're looking for two suggestions that we can include. Any help would be hugely appreciated. Answers on a postcard etc.........

Three films that pop into my head right away

- Satyajit Ray's Jalsagar ( Aptly titled "The Music Room") , this film is the closest he has ever come to making a musical. Its a mesmerizing film and a biting look at Indian Jamindhar system and their life style - highly recommended

- Ritwik Ghatak's Meghe Dhaka Tara (Cloud capped star ), this is not a musical per-se but remove its music and film looses its soul.

- Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding, the use of music in this film perfectly gels with the narration.

If you are not interested in 'serious' cinema then any of the following from popular bollywood will appeal to you

- Mughal-E-Azam
- Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
- Dil Chata Hai
- Lagaan
- Devdas ( new one)
- Hum Apkhe hai Kaun

I pretty sure other will pitch in with their recommendations, BTW is there a website I can check details of your film festival ??

Enjoy

Sahab Bibi, Pyaasa, and Chupke Chupke ..but are ready to be screwed up by remake specialist wankas!

A few movies that spring to mind where music/dance is more of a central theme ... and heavily intergrated in to the film's storyline:

1) Khamoshi - The Musical (Manisha Koirala, Salman Khan)
2) Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (Sandhya, Gopi Krishan)
3) Ghazal (Meena Kumari, Sunil Dutt)
4) Koel (Noor Jehan, Aslam Pervaiz)
5) Tansen (Khursheed Begum, K.L. Saigal)
6) Hum Dil De Chhuke Sanam (Aishwariya Rai, Salman Khan)
7) Pakeezah (Meena Kumari, Raaj Kumar)
Saaz (Shabana Aazmi, Aruna Irani)
9) Umrao Jaan (Rekha, Farooq Shaikh)
10) Amrapali (Vyjayanthimala, Sunil Dutt)

Just a few out of hundreds ... ! Hope this helps. Just out of interest - which other movies were you planning on screening?

There are a number of Indian movies where the music has set a new trend with groundbreaking songs ... movies such as Teesri Manzil, Dil Deke Dekho, Rattan, Chori Chori or Intezar come to mind. If you are interested in such a list let me know.

MORNING RAGA?

anwar miyan, I started that one, could not go beyond 20 minutes, it seemed so boring even with azmi..may be it becomes classic after 20 minutes lol

Getting cues from above mentioned films and another one that no one has mentioned yet, my limiting to 3 suggestion is:

Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje:
1950s; An old classic. Lots of classic Indian songs and dances.
(Amrapali has just 4 or 5 classic dances, three of them with lyrics)

Hum Aapke Hain Kaun:
Early 1990s; Lots of pop songs, foot tapping music, and dances to go along.

Dil To Paagal Hai:
Late 1990s; Lots of pop songs, foot tapping music, ballet style.
(Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge is another alternative. I'll pick DTPH over DDLJ)

other than the intro song in Morning Raaga, the film is craptacular. the intro song being the first song with azmi and her friend growing up together

pav phaji, I have seen even till guy goes to city find this gal and her mom, make a band, come back and then azmi encounters him..till then , was not impressive enough!!

I watched entire movie at the theater, so not like I can turn the disc off. i paid good moolah, and more over Perizaad did a Q&A after the film. As anticipated, she's not very bright. She was giggling throughout the entire movie, probably because of all the retarded scenes. I didn't even know she was going to be there. I went to watch the film due to Mani Sharma (Music Director). I wanted to see/hear how he'd score for an 'indie' film. there were 2 music directors for this film, clearly the first song is by Mani but the majority of it was by the other guy

But yaar you did not answer my question? I 'll never watch this film for this new guy or Perizaad(they appeared, ridiculous)

I just rented dvd for Shabana!! because I have not seen even one film where she did not win her audience over as you getting through with the film..she is simply an amzing actress!!

Other thing, Music is a Class in itself, for heavy hearted folks

what question? maybe you ARE getting too old what say you izzy??

read inbetween the lines phaji, ofcourse i am older than 14 any ways!

If music must be the subject of the film 'plot' I suggest "Umrao Jaan". If the use of music in the film language is desired I suggest "Pyaasa" (Dutt).

arsh for the last time i am not 14 anymore that was so long ago when i was a new member here! i am 17 now
and pav i did not see this movie it looks way to boring for me. I saw the preview on AVS and i just could not wait until the preview was over
btw aaina, darr, khal nayak, and pinjar are good movies to watch