In our inaugural episode we discuss who we are and why we love Hindi cinema, aka. Bollywood. As well as dispelling some common misconceptions about Bollywood, we reveal some good picks for films to watch if you’re new to Bollywood and where to find them. 

Show notes: 

Erin lists her credentials 

Matt failed to major in Bollywood in University 

Shout out to The Pulp (where we first publicly exposed our respective interest in Bollywood) 

First mention of Shah Rukh Khan 

Mother India and Lootera

Bollywood’s global popularity

Dhoom 3, India’s The Fast and The Furious

The open secret that is Hindi cinema 

 Misconceptions dispelled: 

Bollywood ≠ Indian Cinema

How many movies come out of Bollywood every year?

Medium, not genre

All Hindi films are not musicals

Not every movie is three hours long

The importance of marketable songs and a shout out to Will Smith

Surprising Michael Bay analogy 

INTERVAL (“Gallan Goodiyaan” from Dil Dhadakne Do, note: the dance for this song is done in one 5 minute take)

Our picks for the best Hindi films for newcomers

Using iTunes and other legal ways to watch your Hindi films

So much drama

Is there anything Farhan Akhtar can’t do?

Matt lays down a fancy film studies term: “diegetic”

Erin discusses feminism (take a drink?)

Political controversies

Canadians should launch a smear campaign against Argo

Shirtless dudes, part one of an ongoing series at BIFL 

Reading list: 

Tejaswini Ganti’s Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema 

Kush Varia’s Bollywood: Gods, Glamour, and Gossip 

Mihir Bose’s Bollywood: A History 

Thanks to all our friends who encouraged us to do this! 

NEXT WEEK: The biggest and brightest stars in the Bollywood galaxy! 

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