10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Get the original, May 14, 2008
Not everybody takes to Bollywood films very easily. First of all, the story has to be very interesting. To me, the visuals all have to be above exceptional (beautiful women wearing colorful saris, great wide scenes, etc), and if it has music, it's gotta be great music.
This film is originally called "Rangeela" which has something to do with colors. It stars the ever so beautiful, Urmila Matondkar. I have many of her films on DVD. She stars in this film with Aamir Khan (who was in my first Bollywood film that I've watched and bought called "Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India".) Since "Lagaan" I've bought over a hundred Bollywood films and the main reason why is because I fell in love with almost every Bollywood actress in India.
"Rangeela" is a great film to start out with if you're curious about what is coming out of Bombay. (India's Hollywood). Most all Bollywood films have songs throughout their films. Sometimes this can be annoying but I've learned to accept this. The only time that Bollywood songs pop in the film that annoys me is when I'm watching a serious Bollywood film. They have many violent films also which really catches me off guard and looks silly to me when they break into a song after a violent shootout and someone who is the main bad guy, suddenly does a happy sounding song and dance with their enemy in the film. Yes, this has happened (i.e. "Mission Kashmir"), and it's rather stupid.
However, Bollywood has a lot of great films if you're the kind of movie fanatic that enjoys good looking actors and actresses. Sometimes, that's all it takes to increase your interest in the film.
"Rangeela" has a nice, easy to follow story. And all the songs are very cool, and fall into place very nicely (just like any Walt Disney film would). In fact, the songs in this film get sexier and sexier as the films goes on. You will love Urmila Matondkar as you watch this film and you will be wanting to see more of her films. She has dozens and dozens of films.
Let me recommend some of her films that I enjoy. She's in "Judaai", "Mast", "Daud", "Pyaar Tune Kya Kia", and several more.
I suggest though, that you look for the original version of "Rangeela" instead of this DVD. The original has a better video quality and 5.1 stereo sound. The reason I rented this "Bollywood Dreams" is because I wanted to see if it had an English dub option. But, no it does not, nor does most all Bollywood DVD's. You'll have to get use to reading English sub-titles.
You will enjoy this film more as you see Urmila looking at her absolute sexy best! You can go to IMDb (dot com) to enter Aamir Khan and Urmila Matondkar to see what other films they have done. It's easy to rent any of them through Netflix or you can start a DVD rental account at any Indian goods like I did in the beginning.
Also, you can go to IndiaFM.com to see pictures and collect desktop Wallpapers of all sorts of beautiful and handsome Bollywood stars. You'll get hooked on Bollywood before you know it. I've enjoyed Bollywood for more than 5 years now. Like I said, I own hundreds of great Bollywood films. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments option below.
After watching this film, rent or buy "Ghulam", which features my favorite actress Rani Mukherjee starring with, yet again, Aamir Khan. Another easy to follow story with excellent sexy songs and videos.
Namaste!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Movie within a movie from last decade that is still much loved, January 17, 2009
This review is from: Rangeela (DVD)
I originally heard of this movie referred to in another movie (Swades). I then saw references to it on Bollywood sites as much loved with music that is still fondly regarded.
Its music is written by A.R. Rahman who at the time of me writing this had just won a Golden Globe for best soundtrack for 'Slumdog Millionaire' and won elsewhere for the soundtrack of 'Jodha Akbar'.
One of the 3 main stars of Rangeela is Aamir Khan who had the biggest box office success this year in India with Ghajini.
My pre-doubt about getting this DVD was its age. It is from 1995 and the cover looks a bit dated. India of the 1990s seems to often sport hairstyles and clothes of the West's 80s and the colour quality can be dodgy.
In fact those doubts were unfounded - one hairstyle and a couple of outfits aside, this still holds its own.
The dancing by Aamir (who just eats up the screen every time he appears as he is charismatic, attractive and notably a very fine actor) and also Urmila Matondkar as the lively bewitching heroine were extremely good.
There was a lot of dance and good choreography. So often in Bollywood choreographers seem to have to work with a limited repertoire from their actors but the limits were off with these two.
The cinematography was also good with the shooting always well framed and often atmospheric.
Urmilla, who I can't recall seeing before (though I see she has a long list of acting credits and awards), is also an excellent heroine.
The movie is a romantic triangle about an aspiring dancer who wants to make it in movies. She is 'found' by the star of the romantic movie 'Rangeela' (which seems to mean something about colours). The star is a shy, lonely, ageing lothario (played very well by Jackie Shroff)and he falls in love with her.
Will she end up with the successful star or with the penniless friend of her youth who cant admit his love for her in his awkwardness?
The music and dancing are both good- though I think Rahman took many of the numbers and evolved then in 'Taal' (as there are some similarities in sound and style) in 1999 - also recommended. In fact the plot is not dissimilar too!)
Definitely to be recommended.
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