The Raj Mandir

I felt I couldn't spend five weeks in India without experiencing Bollywood in true Indian style. So I went to see the new movie Rascal in the Raj Mandir theatre in Jaipur, along with 1100 excited Indians filling every seat in the enormous theatre. It has a very impressive sign on the front and a grand foyer.

We had only scheduled about an hour for me, expecting that I would not endure more than that of a film in Hindi. In the event, I would have loved to stay for the entire three hour run time.

The film was easy to follow even when you couldn't understand the words. A thief and his girlfriend have come into a briefcase of money. The man goes to a sports bar to watch a soccer match, and ill-advisedly tells someone about his money. This 'friend' is a thief and makes off with the briefcase. Despite the first thief's heroics, he loses the money and is roundly berated by his mother; the macho guy is reduced to slumped-shoulder humility before this raging harridan.

Alas, the second thief spends the money on a Rolex, and a hedonistic holiday in Bangkok, only to be relieved of his watch, money, and reservations by yet another thief, the leader of The Art of Giving charity. I think you get the picture, an easy and hilarious plot to follow. Only I didn't get to see the end, having left just before the intermission.

There was a big Bollywood dance number with scantily clad beautiful woman dancing to a frantic beat and fawning over thief number three quite lasciviously. The jokes were broad and somewhat slapstick. At times, bubbles would apear as overlays over the characters' heads with text in them, whose purpose I could not discern. The production was extravagant and as far from subtle as one could get.

The exuberant audience was totally into it. As the stars of the film appeared they cheered and whistled, and laughed heartily at all the funny parts. It was such a thrill to be part of this crowd.

The Bengali Detective

The Bengali Detective chronicled the exploits of the Always Detective and Security Agency in Kolkata.  Rajesh, the pudgy, energetic and totally endearing head of Always, has attracted a team of engaging employees who go darting through the Kolkata traffic pursuing cases of product counterfeiting, spousal surveillance, and a murder case that the police aren't taking seriously.  

At the same time, Rajesh is playing with his son and comforting his dying wife.  We see his anguish as they carry his wife's body down from their apartment and build a funeral pyre right at his front door.

And wonder of wonders, the irrepressible Rajesh also submits his team - The Detectives -  to audition for a spot on a Bollywood dance show.  Under the tutelage of a dance instructor, and, arrayed in all the glitter and glitz the TV studio can unearth, Rajesh and the boys take their best shot at making it through the audition.  Rajesh doesn't exactly have the body for a dancer, but you sure can't fault his enthusiasm!  However, his enthusiam wasn't enough to take the team past the audition.

When Rajesh was introduced for the Q&A, he got a standing ovation.  He definitely won over everyone's hearts and gave everyone a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon at the cinema!