Progressive BW films - Page 4

Originally posted by: Star_girl

A note though- Binodini was NEVER in love with Mahendra. She was attracted to the life he represents. The sexual freedom of a marital relationship which Binodini never got to experience. Binodini only ever loved Bihari. They are my OTP so I get a little mad when people mistakenly believe Binodini fell for Mahendra, her friend's husband. Nope. Also, Chokher Bali is a Bengali film. Not a BW film.

That apart though, Tagore's Chokher Bali and Gora both were extremely progressive in their portrayal of women. Tagore's women are liberated in their most basic sense. Women like Binodini who tries to understand her own sexuality, Sucharita and her vow of staying single, Bimala who is enamoured by her husbans's charismatic best friend, Charulata and her complicated relationship with her brother in law. Literature today is a disgrace in comparsion.

On topic though, My brother Nikhil, Queen, Phir Milenge which beautifully adapts Philadelphia, Rules Pyaar ka superhit formula, Swadesh, Dil se, Maya Memsaab- I like how it blends Flaubert with a hint of magic realism, Mother India, Rang De Basanti, Awara, Shree 420, Mirch Masala of Smita Patil and Naseer, Masoom, Chandni Bar, Highway-but of course, Maqbool, Guide, Dil Chahta hai, Arth of Shabana Azmi, Shyam Benegal's sublime Ankur, Udaan, Shekhar Kapoor's Bandit Queen, Rangeela- which was an iconic movie because of Urmila's burst of free female sexuality and its joy, Satya, Oh My God, Black Friday, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa- it was a man's journey towards the realization that love can never be forced, Abhimaan, Shanghai, The Girl in Yellow Boots, Shaitan- possibly my favourite movie of all time, Dev.D, English Vinglish, Sadma, Lamhe, Ishqiya, Dedh Ishqiya because of its subtle take on female homosexuality, Dor- one of the few films that explore female bonding, Pinjar, Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi- I loved it, Amir, Socha Na Tha and Jab We Met-both of them beautifully liberating romcoms, Do Dooni Char, Onir's infamous I Am, Mr and Mrs Iyer though it's not technically a Bollywood film, Gangajaal, Ek Hasina Thi, Firaaq- Nandita needs to make more films, I love how she incorporated the riots within the narrative, Raincoat, Maine Gandhi ko Nahi Mara-sorta weird but an interesting film nevertheless, Parzaania, Fiza, Being Cyrus, Matrubhumi, 15 Park Avenue by Aparna Sen, A Wednesday, Mumbai Meri Jaan, Love Sex Aur Dhoka and may others I can't remember right now.

The lists some of you have put up are surprisingly small and limited.

Originally posted by: NailClipper

Is it only me, or Chokher Bali is really a bit similar to Vanity Fair?

Originally posted by: Mallika-E-Bhais

Yes, I know she never loved him. 😆 She was using him for gratification- Physical & otherwise. There is a scene in the movie where she is sitting on the floor, making something,a food item, Binodini is dressed in her simple white widow's cloth, Raima's husband, makes his way down the stairs & she gives him sexually coy glances from beneath her eyelashes- She enjoyed the power she held over him, and enjoyed being admired by him.

. What I meant to say and clearly didn't , was-It showed emancipation on every level ,and for the times it was set in, it was extremely progressive. I adored Choker Bali. ❤️

Binodini wasn't a particularly likable character, but she made powerful, independent choices to enhance her life & seek pleasure in any way possible that helped her interest, which for me, makes her a very progressive character.

Haven't made my way to Gora,I shall, hopefully soon.

P.S. YesYes, you can claim all it's Bengali-ness, but it had Aishwariya Bollywood Queen Rai in it, and for me that was Bollywood enough.

Originally posted by: Mallika-E-Bhais

@Star_Girl: BOLLYWOOD!

Yes, I do love Binodini's character too. I already mentioned that. The sexuality was singled out because for it's time & for being a 19 year old female widow , she did have a very clear notion & concept of Sexuality.

She truly is one of the best heroines in Indian literature.

Originally posted by: Star_girl

Aish was a miscast if anything lol. The movie was terrible compared to the sheer beauty of the book.

Rituparno Ghosh was so criticized for casting her, loved it. Rituparno Ghosh made some good films in his time like Unishe April. God you should totally watch that movie. It's brilliant. Dahan is brilliant too, it's about how society's perspective changes towards the victim of molestation and the culture of victim-blaming. Chokher Bali is his weakest work.

Read the book man. Bihari and Binodini. <3 Although the English version is stupid. Translations kill everything.

Originally posted by: Mallika-E-Bhais

That. is true. But I think Ash played Binodini very, very well. movie ever comes close to the sheer lyrical beauty of any book. TOTALLY agreed. ❤️

😆 Of course I've read the book!! I went through this whole phase of devouring Bengali literature, I even begun learning how to read-speak Bengali but I abandoned it. 😆😆 Am convinced I was a Bengali in my past life.

Well I loved his Choker Bali. If this is considered to be as bad as you're making it out to be, then I must see his other work. I've not seen any of his work. But just by seeing Choker Bali I can say- He was gifted. It's terribly, achingly sad when people as gifted & madly talented as him & Heath Ledger, just die. SO MUCH TALENT WASTED. SO MUCH LIFE. 😭

Originally posted by: Star_girl

Eh no. Aish was unanimously criticized. She was a terrible Binodini owing to that fact that her voice had to be dubbed completely and Rituparno Ghosh completely messed up the narrative. The only Binodini that matters is the book Binodini. Yes, he can be brilliant when he was in the mood. You must watch his previous works. You'd love Utsab too. Actually His Noukadubi was much better than this adaptation. You should re-read it then. Because Bihari and Binodini need to be known even better.