Actually, just from personal experience, it seems that the few American people I know who do watch Indian films, watch the "shitty" ones, and not the more "art-house" works. For these people (not "Americans, in general," but the people I mentioned knowing), song-and-dance sequences are a fun bit of film-making not common in modern American cinema, while something from Ram Gopal Varma seems neither novel nor brilliant. Personally, I like the Main Hoon Nas as well as the Main Azaad Hoons, and feel that a lot of film-appreciation ends up boiling down to pretention and support for superiority. I'm certainly not claiming that a person can't enjoy, and have an affinity for, Satyajit Ray's acclaimed "Apu Trilogy," but that many people who cite it as an ingenious work do so only because it's understood to be "smart." Well... I think that's all I have to contribute... .

For a lot of people if they see Indian films its a novelty, or, at worst, something to be laughed at. Hence, those clips of Chiranjeevi and Rajinikanth floating around on YouTube

As for the ridiculousness of Karan Johar, I've always felt that if K3G was an intentionally over-the-top parody of Indian films, then its bloody brilliant.



Iranian cinema has made an impact on Western film festivalgoers and avid film fans with arthouse films. But those films are generally not too popular in Iran itself. Similarly, the Indian films that have gotten attention in the West are those by people like Satyajit Ray and Adoor Gopalakrishnan.

I agree, there is always room for good masala films but not on cost of quality cinema! for just fluff only!

http://www.boxofficeindia.com/
reported the following:


I wonder, which trade outfit and which films is "BoxOfficeIndia" hinting at ??

- Indiafm, Rediff or --- ??

and which film

- which January release film ??

- which Diwali release, Don or Umrao Jaan ??

Hasn't anyone else seen this film? Aren't there any other comments that Zulmies have, regarding it?

I think generally with western cinema-goers they prefer to see something a little more realistic or true to life when concerning World Cinema, especially from a place like India. When they want to see escapism they would look at Hollywood. That's probably why they don't take bollywood seriously at all. I actually think bollywood is really tailored for Indian audiences only, not even NRI's. Indians abroad just support it as we were brought up watching them.

What about the stuff like Baghban and Babul that seems to play on the nostalgia many emigrants have for India? Filmmakers have at least one eye on NRI audiences. Their focus has shifted more to urban viewers in any case.

True, but their main target audience is the Indian masses. They make films for India that can work with NRI's also. NRI's will go to see Indian films regardless of whether or not it's about them or not. Many in urban cities have relatives abroad so it's speaking to the Indian audiences how NRI's abroad are (e.g. Pardes). For example the humour is very Indian, not all Indians born abroad understand it or find it funny.

Caught this film today, last day last show in town.

No one in the family was was too excited to go see the film, but got a chance to see it in the last show here. Film was not bad. Quite enjoyable first half and a bit later on as well (100 min or so). And then serious part starts (60 min). When a topic has been presented many times in the past, it sure seems boring and slow paced. May be they could trim this slow part a bit and the events will become fast paced. I'm sure last 60 min trimmed into 40 min (specially John's premiere show in India) will succeed in keeping the viewers interest better. In home video, this trimmed portion could be inserted back again.

At Silver City Ottawa, audio was excellent. Yes, they got it directional surround. Couldn't get it for action film DON, but got it right for all other recent Hindi films here.

Acting from all principal cast was good. Specially John Abraham natural and Big AB, Rani, ----. And yes, Sarika is in there too.

Except for 1 song, all other songs were rocking. Sure, powerful audio in the theatre helps too.

Surprisingly, although film has been declared a flop and not too many encouraging reports, theatre was pretty full.

Rana, really? You liked John Abraham's work in the film? I somehow just found him to be mediocre. Oddly, Salman Khan — whom I generally loathe — was quite good (in my opinion).

Actually, I found him not acting at all. Just natural, on the lines of his work in Deepa Mehta's WATER in non-stage performance scenes. In stage performance scenes he was a stage performer.