@Beirut When It Sizzles -

Clearly, “Traffic Signal” and “Black Friday” look to be promising and worth a look for anyone that knows his cinema well. Another must-see film from Bollywood this season has got to be “Eklavya - the Royal Guard”. It is a period film schooled in method acting and most atmospheric of a bygone era of the Indian Maharajah. It certainly was an education of sorts for me learning about the craft of this Indian producer - Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Can’t remember when I last had as much fun watching a Bollywood film as I did this one! It probably was when I saw Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s” Black”.
Other smashing Bollywood films in recent times that come to mind include,’Corporate’, ‘Bluff Master’, ‘The Rain Coat’ and ‘Jogger’s Park’.
But if it’s truly avant gard Indian cinema you hanker after you are wasting your time on Bollywood : my money’s bang on Marathi cinema. Go grab a DVD today and tell me what you think of the foll. Marathi films (available with English subtitles):
1) Chitra Palekar’s ” Dhyasparva”
2) Ms. Sumitra Bhave’s ” Nital”
3) “Devrai” ( Sacred Grove)
4) Dr Jabbar Patel’s “Mukta”
5) Maati Maay starring the irresistible Nandita Das
6) Oscar nomination ” Shwaas”
If you think they are a waste of time, I’ll eat my hat.