Bollywood/Hollywood

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Bollywood/Hollywood
Bollywood-Hollywood, movie poster, 2002.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Deepa Mehta
Written byDeepa Mehta
Produced byDeepa Mehta
Starring Rahul Khanna
Lisa Ray
Moushumi Chatterjee
CinematographyDouglas Koch
Edited byBarry Farrell
Music by Sandeep Chowta
Production
company
IDream Productions
Distributed by Mongrel Media
Release date
  • 25 October 2002 (2002-10-25)(Canada)
Running time
105 minutes
Countries Canada
India
Languages

Bollywood/Hollywood is a 2002 Canadian romantic comedy drama film directed by Deepa Mehta and starring Rahul Khanna and Lisa Ray.

Contents

The film pokes fun at traditional Indian stereotypes, as well as at Indian cinema (it features several Indian film-style song-and-dance numbers). Akshaye Khanna a brother of Rahul makes a cameo appearance in the film.

Plot

Rahul Seth, a wealthy young Indian-Canadian, is pressured by his widowed mother to marry a “proper” Indian girl before his pregnant sister Twinky can wed her fiancé Bobby. Still grieving the accidental death of his white pop-singer girlfriend Kimberly, Rahul reluctantly agrees, especially since his mother threatens to halt Twinky’s marriage to protect the family’s reputation. At a bar, he meets Sue, a woman he mistakes for a Spanish escort, and hires her to act as his Indian fiancée to satisfy his mother’s wishes.

As the charade continues, Rahul learns that Sue (Sunita) is actually Indian. Though initially upset at her deception, he is drawn to her bold, mischievous nature and the way she bonds with his insecure younger brother, Govind. Their relationship grows stronger, but trouble arises when Sue is falsely accused of being a prostitute at Bobby’s bachelor party. Hurt by Rahul’s doubt, Sue leaves, and Rahul is forced to admit the truth to his family, shattering his mother’s hopes for a respectable wedding. Meanwhile, Twinky takes matters into her own hands and elopes with Bobby.

Encouraged by his witty driver Rocky, his Shakespeare-quoting grandmother, and even the ghosts of his father and Kimberly, Rahul realizes that he truly loves Sue. In a dramatic balcony scene at her home, he confesses his feelings, only to be playfully rejected at first. But Sue surprises him by reappearing as his chauffeur, symbolizing her acceptance of his love. The story concludes with reconciliation, family acceptance, and a joyous celebration, blending the melodrama, humor, and romance of Bollywood with a Canadian twist.

Cast

Music

Bollywood Hollywood
Soundtrack album by
Released
17 March 2009 (India)
Genre Feature film soundtrack
Length44:04
Label Times Music
Sandeep Chowta chronology
Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani Bollywood Hollywood Road

The music, which is composed by Sandeep Chowta, received good reviews.

Track list
No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Rang Rang" Sonu Nigam, Alisha Chinoy 4:03
2."Sooni Hawa (Male)"Sonu Nigam4:58
3."Dil Kabootar Khana Hai"Sonu Nigam3:47
4."Krishna Hare (Female)" Sowmya Raoh 4:32
5."Sona Sona Roop Hai"Sonu Nigam, Alisha Chinoy4:54
6."If the Shoe Fits"Sunita Sarathy4:19
7."Sooni Hawa (Female)"Sowmya Raoh4:58
8."Chin Chin Choo"Sanjiv Wadhawani3:51
9."Krishna Hare (Male)" Rajesh 4:31
10."Salsa"Instrumental3:11

Reception

Critical response

Bollywood/Hollywood was met with "mixed reviews", [2] and has a rating of 41% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 46 reviews. [3]

Accolades

At the 23rd Genie Awards, presented in February 2003, the film received five nominations: Best Motion Picture, Best Original Screenplay (Deepa Mehta), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ranjit Chowdhry), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Dina Pathak) and (Moushmi Chatterji). [4] Mehta won the Genie for Best Original Screenplay. [2]

Bollywood/Hollywood also won the Student Jury Award at the Newport International Film Festival, the Audience Award (Best Comedy) at the Sarasota Film Festival,[ citation needed ] and the Best Director (Canadian Film) at the Vancouver Film Critics Circle.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. BOLLYWOOD/HOLLYWOOD - BBFC Archived 2014-10-17 at the Wayback Machine . BBFC. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Deepa Metha". Canadian Encyclopedia . Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  3. "Bollywood/Hollywood". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  4. Bollywood Hollywood gets 5 Genie nominations Archived 2023-11-19 at the Wayback Machine Times of India , January 3, 2003.