Jodhaa Akbar

Jodhaa Akbar is a 2008 film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and stars Hritik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai. The movie tells the story of the marriage between Jodhaa Bai, a Hindu Rajput princess, and Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar, a Muslim Mughal emperor, and how it affected India. Akbar marries Jodhaa to create a political alliance between both the Mughals and Rajputs. Akbar receives much protest for this, which partially leads to rebellion, as a few of his family members try to usurp the throne. While Akbar consolidates his ever expanding empire, he and Jodhaa form an intimate and loving relationship that faces many obstacles throughout the film. A great emphasis is also placed on religious tolerance, unity, and the benevolence Akbar has towards Hindus. The film features excellent battle scenes, and beautiful music scores, costuming, and scene design. It is very obvious that much time and money was invested in the creation of this film. As the plot goes, there were many gripping parts. Considering I am one who doesn’t invest much feeling when watching movies (I never cry even during the most heartbreaking of movie scenes), I was often at the edge of my seat and gritting my teeth during frustrating scenes. There has been controversy over the accuracy over the film (For one, Jodhaa is the name of Akbar’s daughter-in-law, and Harka Bai is the name of his first Hindu wife; and far more importantly, there are records of Akbar destroying Hindu temples) it’s a beautiful, enjoyable movie worth watching. -Phasia Brooks-Gainous

Bunty Aur Babli

A romance and comedy adventure
Starring:
AMITABH BACHCHAN and ABHISHEK BACHCHAN (together for the first time)…and RANI MUKHERJEE

Rakesh’s parents want him to work as a railway conductor…Vimmi’s parents want her to agree to an arranged marriage…both run away from home in pursuit of following their own dreams. They discover not only each other, but their flair for conning people throughout India as a crafty but endearing duo. Originally only intending to earn enough money to travel to Bombay, the couple (now known as Bunty and Babli) relinquishes their earlier dreams, gets married, and scams people wherever they go, making headlines for their tendency to steal from the rich and provide for the poor. Bunty and Babli, unbeknownst to them, are being followed by the cop Dashrath Singh, who dislikes their clever cons, such as their selling of the Taj Mahal. Will Dashrath catch up with Bunty and Babli? Will their baby boy grow up in a normal life? -Adina Paretzky

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

“I’ve Already Given My Heart Away”

Ajay Devgan as Vanraj
Salman Khan as Sameer Rafilini
Aishwarya Rai as Nandini
Vikram Gokhale as Pundit Darbar
Smita Jaykar as Amrita
Zohra Sehgal as Dadi
Rajeev Verma as Vikramjeet
Kanu Gill as Vanraj’s mother
Kermati Desai as Bhairav
Rekho Rao as Kamna Pui
With a special appearance of Helen as Mrs. Rafilini
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam is a romance which combining two love stories into one.
When Pundit Darbar, the famous musician, accepts the young Italian Sameer Rafilini as a new student, Nandini, the favorite daughter, is compelled to vacate her room for their guest. Furious, she attempts to sabotage Sameer’s stay but before long, the two fall in love. The pair manages to hide their affair for many months, but little do they know that Nandini’s family is planning a marriage for her. When the lovers are finally discovered, the family is disgraced and dismisses Sameer back to India. Nandini is forced to marry Vanraj, but Vanraj, who only wants a marriage built on truth, cannot allow his wife to suffer for him. Nandini’s groom brings her to Italy, risking ridicule and shame, to find Sameer. The search is slow and painful; but finally, just as Nandini learns to respect and appreciate everything Vanraj has done for her, he finds Sameer, and Nandini must choose between her love and her husband. -Sarah Cohen

Taal

Title: Taal “Rhythm”
Director: Subhash Ghai
Release Date: August 13, 1999 (India)
Cast:
Anil Kapoor as Vikrant Kapoor
Akshaye Khanna as Manav Mehta
Aishwarya Rai as Mansi
Alok Nath as Tara Babu
Amrish Puri as Jagmohan Mehta
Summary:
This movie masters every element a typical Bollywood film is known for. If you want rich-poor romance, familial drama, exceptional dance sequences, elaborate costumes, amazing soundtracks, and breath-taking sceneries, this is the movie to watch.
The two main protagonists, who end up becoming lovers within thirty minutes of the film, are Manav Mehta (played by Akshaye Khanna) and Mansi (played by Aishwarya Rai). Manav originally being from the UK and never having been to India decides to take a sight-seeing road trip of India by himself. During this trip, he coincidentally sees Mansi and falls instantly in love with her. The two becomes lovers knowing that their union will not be easily allowed from both of their families because of the tremendous gap between their family statuses. Mansi is a normal, everyday village girl who lives for her father while Manav is the son of a prestigious family who happens to be extremely wealthy. As characters misunderstand one another throughout the film, Mansi at one point leaves every hope for their union behind and becomes a dancing-modeling star. Vikrant, her producer falls in love with Mansi and is determined to make her his wife. Ultimately Vikrant and Manav fight for Mansi’s love. The film beautifully unfolds as the elements of familial love and wealth and status differences play within the film. -Esther Yi

Devdas

DEVDAS (2002)

Dir: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Stars: Shahrukh Khan- Devdas Mukherji
Madhuri Dixit- Chandramukhi
Aishwarya Rai- Paro (Parvati)
Genre: Romance
Run Time: 3hrs, 4min.

Plot Summary: Devdas is a tragic love story about Paro and Devdas, who find that after years of distance, their strong childhood friendship has blossomed into an intense romance. Yet, products of different classes, Devdas’ parents forbid any marriage between the two lovers. Abiding by his parents, Devdas abandons Paro and his family and escapes to join his college friend at a local brothel. There, he meets Chandramukhi, who is stricken by Devdas confidence in her womanhood and falls in love with him. Devdas, however, cannot forget his former love. Realizing he made a huge mistake while watching Chandramukhi, Devdas quickly returns to Paro to beg for forgiveness, but Paro, hurt by Devdas’ actions, is already set to wed a wealthy older man. While Paro lives a high but miserable aristocratic life, Devdas drinks himself into sickness in Chandramukhi’s chambers. His actions foreshadow the climactic ending in which Devdas and Paro meet one last time in the most undesirable circumstances.

A beautiful display of love, loss, and vice, Devdas is a classic story in which audience members can’t help but share in Shahrukh Khan’s well-known tears. -Gabriella Wertman