Shah Rukh Khan and the splendor of Bollywood

With the most incredible production values and exotic locations I have ever seen, not to mention the beauty of such actresses as Kajol, Rani Mukharjee and Preity Zinta, lavish musical numbers and hopelessly romantic storylines, I was hooked.

When it comes to the new Bollywood there are two names you need to know. Kajol and SRK, short for Shah Rukh Khan. These two stars are simply the most magical and charismatic onscreen pairing of the Hindi cinema or any cinema today. Their onscreen chemistry is legendary throughout the world. Watching them together in such films as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) will charm you and make you fall in love no matter what your age or background. Their films have so much heart and humor it is no wonder that they are the most celebrated onscreen couple of the Hindi film industry.

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s classic film gems from Dilwale Dhlhania Le Jayenge (1995), which is the start of the ShahRukh era of Bollywood, to Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) are now some of Bollywood’s most beloved classics, but these films are virtually unknown to North American audiences. The production values, music and sheer visual splendor contained in many of these films alone is worth preserving and introducing to a brand new market that has never seen the likes of these beautiful films. But what really makes these films stand out in Bollywood is the emotional heart and the moral values contained in these universal stories that translate easily to any audience.  I have witnessed first-hand the power of these films on people who did not even understand the Hindi language or subtitles, but were moved by the story purely based on the visuals and the performances.

SRK will be among many Bollywood stars attending the International Indian Film Academy awards in Toronto this week to be held at the Rogers Center. He is up for an award for his latest film that was released in early 2010, My Name is Khan, which is about a Muslim American man living in San Francisco who travels across the USA to tell the President that he is not a terrorist. This major Bollywood event being held for the first time in North America should give Toronto and Canada much greater exposure to the delights of the Hindi cinema. I just hope that we, as many in Britain were, are open to the experience.

For anyone starting their Bollywood experience for the first time here is a list of must see films starring the King of Bollywood, one of its most endearing and charming actors anywhere, Shah Rukh Khan. Hopeless romantics at heart will not be disappointed.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge                               1995

Dil Se…                                                               1998

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai                                            1998

Mohabbatein                                                      2000

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham                                 2001

Devdas                                                               2002

Chalte Chalte                                                     2003

Kal Ho Naa Ho                                                    2003

Main Hoon Na                                                     2004

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna                                     2006

Chak De India!                                                    2007

Om Shanti Om                                                    2007

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi                                           2008

My Name is Khan                                                2010

There are of course many other great Bollywood films with heart worth seeing that do not star SRK, but I would start here for the best of Bollywood and compare the rest to them. You will be hard pressed to find anything as good. Movies I did find comparable and are very good are as follows:

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001) Aamir Khan

Jab We Met (2007) with Kareena Kapoor & Shahid Kapoor

Tare Zameen Par (2007) with Aamir Khan

3 Idiots (2009) with Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor

But I’m hardly an expert and have not seen nearly as many Bollywood films as the average Hindi Bollywood fan who watches them on the Asian TV channels every week.

JP