Stylish Dil Chahta Hai changed the way we looked at Bollywood forever
I love it when cultures cross-pollinate.
When Dil Chahta Hai ( The Heart Desires) came out in 2001, everyone in Bollywood straightened out their sky-high teased hair, dusted off their bulky shoulder padded jackets, and sat up!
The movie was a spectacular success, only because it was so unlike anything Bollywood had seen before.
In the film, the young stars (A-lister Aamir Khan, C-lister Akshaye Khanna, and really cute, but relegated to the bottom of the barell D-lister Saif Ali Khan) portray affluent, yuppy, thoroughly Americanised Indians.
They partied hard, jetted off to beach resort Goa in a BMW, spiked their hair with enough Gel to make them glisten like Baby Seals and generally were seen as very aspirational.
The movie, with its catchy tunes and stylised production, was funny, slick and an instant classic. It changed the way we looked at Bollywood forever.
Now, here’s something that is bound to change the way you look at Pakistan forever.
Slackistan is Pakistan’s first ever “slacker movie.” If your head is stuffed full of “Pakistan” images – i.e. images of bombings, the Taliban, suicide attacks, then this movie aspires to show audiences Pakistan’s other side.
The gap between privilege and poverty is so stark in that country (much like India) that many people who live within the bubble of prosperity fail to see what’s right in front of their eyes.
Slackistan is a no-budget, indie flick by first-time British director Hammad Khan and features the Pakistani young and privileged as they drift around in a rarefied world of cars, dating, drinking and parties.
Worrying only about what to wear and where to go, this group of fashionably-dressed kids could be in Orange County or New York’s Upper East Side, writes Riazat Butt in The Guardian.
The film is set in Islamabad, with locals or “Islooites” with no acting experience playing themselves.
“They are the kids of businessmen, politicians or professionals,” explains Hammad Khan in his interview to The Guardian.
“They are the future of Pakistan. They will inherit Islamabad and it is more interesting to look at what they might do with it, rather than look at the poor or the radicalised who have very little real power. The film is about growing up, too. It asks, can we really do this for the rest of our lives?”
A few things, Miss Rao.
While I admire the temerity required of all journos deigning to discuss Bollywood with a straight face, I must object and bring light to the obfuscations of your post.
First, in Dil Chahta Hai, Aakash and the boys drive to Goa in a Mercedes SL, not a BMW as you write. Why are you spreading lies and deceit? What are you hiding?
Second, only Saif Ali Khan spikes his hair. Akshaye Khanna is losing so much hair he would never gel it.
Third, Dil Chahta Hai changed the world, not just Bollywood. Any intrepid journalist should know that Farhan Akhtar is the balls…of gulaab jamun. Respect.
Actually, I just really enjoyed this post. Thanks for putting it out there. Sorry for the antics, but such are the ways of the baniya charlatan.
Dear Salim..I mean Khalil!
I really enjoyed reading your comments about the post.
I admit I am not so hot with identifying cars! A shiny car is a shiny car is a shiny car..so thank you for pointing out that the car they used to drive to Goa was a Mercedes SL and not a BMW.
As far as the hair gel goes, it was not just Saif dunking his head in the shiny stuff, but also Aamir Khan who was more than generous with the gunk! Check it out!
As far as Farhan Akhtar goes..hmm..I reserve comment!
Thanks for posting!
Smriti
Khalil, you a disgrace to whichever country u belong to….
While I agree that Smriti shouldve got the car right, I also think you have posted something just for the sake of posting.
My guess is you are a loner and insecure about lots of things in ur life.
peace.