Comments on Doc Bollywood: Ajooba (1991)

Ajnabi - I think it was but at that point my whole...

2008-08-06T16:52:00.000-05:00

Ajnabi - I think it was but at that point my whole head was swirling as well so still not sure ;)

Nida - These masala movies are an acquired taste - 'Hum' was close to unwatchable. There are several AB movies released around that time that I would stay away from: Gunga Jamuna Saraswati, Toofan, Shahensha & Jaadugar. Although the 'Chumma De' song from Hum is quite catchy and was a pretty big hit.

Shweta - I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out why I just love some insane masala movies yet find others unwatchables. After much contemplation I came up with Doc Bollywood's three requirements for a great masala flick: 1. Lots of stars 2. Killer outfits 3. Amazing tunes... It's on that third one that 'Ajooba' failed me, I will sit through some serious crap for the tunes (i.e. Hum Kisise Kum Nahin).

Beth - considering how amazing Shashi was in so many ways I really wish his directorial venture would have been better. Govinda makes me run screaming the other way no matter what :)

Bollyviewer - dark days indeed! Try to go back and watch his stuff from the 70's, imho it was when he did the bulk of his best work. Abhimaan, Mili, Kaala Patthar, Sholay, Don, Suhaag & Amar Akbar Anthony. Oooh, I do feel a watchalong coming along and these 70's masala flicks really DO make the best group experiences.

You have to applaud Shashi's creativity- its such ...

2008-08-05T16:02:00.000-05:00

You have to applaud Shashi's creativity- its such a fearless, campy, bad movie that I cant help but wish that Shashi would send me a Ajooba/Star wars sword too :)

I agree with Beth and Bollyviewer on the watchalon...

2008-08-05T14:53:00.000-05:00

I agree with Beth and Bollyviewer on the watchalong idea AND would probably get a kick out of this if I had you guys to laugh at it with, even if only online (I suppose I could always watch this with my brother--he appreciates my love for Bollywood and sat through Hum Aapke Hain Kaun with me in its entirety without complaining).

Aww, Beth, thanks for the trivia but that's really sad--poor Shashi. And thanks for the info on "Hum"---I got stuck with this one when the cashier at my Indian grocer got it mixed up with "Hum Tum"--talk about an unfortunate mix up!:)

The late 80s and early 90s were certainly dark day...

2008-08-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

The late 80s and early 90s were certainly dark days for Big B fans. As one who grew up in those days my first memories of him are from those terrible movies (Indian TV rarely showed his blockbusters and I didnt get to see most of them till a few years ago) and I am afraid my love of Big B has always been tainted by memories of Akayla, Mard, Khuda Gawah, etc.

In retrospect Ajooba was probably better than those! As Beth suggests on her Ajooba post, we should have a global watchalong to help each other through these difficult movies!!!!

YES! The dolphin is his mother...OR IS IT?!?!? [Cu...

2008-08-04T18:29:00.000-05:00

YES! The dolphin is his mother...OR IS IT?!?!? [Cue suspenseful music.]

Side note of trivia: in the Kapoor family bio by Madhu Jain, Shashi says he lost 3.5 crore on this movie...and that the Soviet backers abandoned the project towards the end of the shooting schedule, and the Russian crew left with, in his own words, "many of the special effects still to be done." One could insert a snarky joke here about the effects, but in the context of the chapter on Shashi's life, it's just distressing. :(

Nida - Hum was one of the movies that came out the same year as Ajooba; I see that both Rajnikanth and Govinda are in it as well, which is more than enough to make me want to run away screaming! :)

I thought this was the funnest movie ever :D In fa...

2008-08-04T17:42:00.000-05:00

I thought this was the funnest movie ever :D In fact, I think I will watch it again- early 90s excesses? bring em on :D

Sanket,Hmm...don't know if I'll be checking this o...

2008-08-04T14:57:00.000-05:00

Sanket,

Hmm...don't know if I'll be checking this one out anytime soon...not sure I'm at the same level of appreciation (yet) with this stuff as Beth so lovingly is!

Thank you for the info on Amitabh...I watched a movie called "Hum" with BB in it, and thought that one awful...do you know where it fell in terms of this chronology?

So I conclude from your post that you won't be rewatching it either anytime soon?

Wait--the dolphin is Big B's maa? Wow, the combine...

2008-08-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

Wait--the dolphin is Big B's maa? Wow, the combined effect of Beth's and your posts is making my head spin. LOL