I admit I can now fully appreciate Indian (Bollywood) films. Indians do make great movies — movies that can move you and that could be sometimes life-changing. I have already seen a total of five Indian movies. I have seen Waris Shah, Lagaan, Phir Milenge, Dor and lastly, the highly-acclaimed Slumdog Millionaire. I have seen Dor last Thursday and Slumdog Millionaire yesterday. Phew, two Indian movies in consecutive days. Waris Shah and Lagaan are both not-modern-feel films so I wasn’t very appreciative then; I might have slept along the movie watching. Phir Milenge is very beautiful. Dor is very very beautiful, ten times more beautiful than Phir Milenge (teacher said that). And Slumdog Millionaire? No need for words.

Dor (2006) is about the meeting of two women through their bitter fates. Meera is a newly-married beautiful woman who just got widowed because his husband died at the workplace. Zeenat is the wife of the suspect of the crime. For Zeenat to save her husband from execution, Meera must sign the petition for release. The story revolves around the quest of Zeenat to make friends with Meera and get her sympathy. They became two good friends. Meera was changed along the way into a strong woman. It is in Indian culture that once a wife is widowed, she is deprived of the right to be happy, have fun and enjoy life. She is set to be in a sad state forever. But Zeenat taught her to choose what her heart tells and Meera followed. She became happy. But when Zeenat finally told her purpose, Meera got mad. The ending is very beautiful and exciting. Meera who was then locked by her father-in-law for constantly meeting Zeenat was set free by her grandmother-in-law and went after Zeenat. The two finally met at the train (while it is starting to run). With the classical hand gesture, the film ends in both reconciling and going together to a better life.

Meera really looks like Angel Locsin or Rizzini (of Miss Cebu). The rest of the characters were also great. In Dor you see the beautiful face of India and its culture. You see a colorful glimpse of what it is like to be in India and to be an Indian.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) on the other hand shows the bitter side of India — the slums. (Note: Slumdog is a British film set in India) I am not telling the story here anymore as I am quite sure that most of you have already seen it aftet it won 8 of the 10 nominations it got in the recent Oscar’s. Slumdog Millionaire is simply amazing. Need I say more? The movie did not try hard to be beautiful, it just came out to be. Dev Patel (Jamal) did good in acting naturally. Also his brother and Latika. Whoever made it (I don’t know), the story and the sequencing of events is great. Kudos to Slumdog Millionaire! They deserve all the awards. I just hope they’ll get more great films coming.

And how about Philippines? When will we ever get a taste of Oscar’s?

Lastly, seeing two beautiful films from India within two days is a great experience. It isn’t bad to get out of your own culture and appreciate other countries’ movies. I have also seen a Thai movie and I loved it too. I just hope I’ll get the chance to see more great films from India. Kudos to India and their booming movie industry! Bollywood goes to Hollywood!

Accha, phir milenge!