Beginning Bollywood: Part 2 - Some Starting Places

A few weeks ago I posted 'Beginning Bollywood: Quick Context' and then proceeded to write about very different topics for the next two weeks. So here is part 2, a few places to start watching Bollywood Films. For these, I will recommend a few films to start off the filmography of an actor or director. I hope at least one of these films is of interest to someone. I also tried my hardest not to spoil anything, especially the Om Shanti Om Act 1 twist; you just have to see that for yourself.

1) Dhoom

Now, this is how my parents introduced me to Bollywood films; the Dhoom trilogy is a buddy cop series that ranges from thriller to comedy in genre and spans the globe. Centering Serious Mumbai Cop Jai Dixit (Abhishek Bachchan) as he is tasked with catching various thieves with the help of Ali Akbar Fateh Khan (Uday Chopra), his deeply unserious partner.

In terms of the trilogy, the first film is iconic, the second film is the best, the third (and worst) film is set in Chicago. All three can be found on Amazon Prime (as of writing this) or possibly at your local library.

2) Om Shanti Om

Om Shanti Om is the best film to ever happen to me. An iconic masala film and a love letter to the industry everything about this film genuinely makes me smile. The soundtrack, the story, and the stars, combined into an amazing cinematic experience.

Background actor Om Prakash Makhija has been madly in love with movie star Shantipriya for almost forever, so when he ends up saving her from an out-of-control set fire, a romance starts to bloom between them. Not too soon after, disaster strikes both Shanti and Om, and now Om must exact revenge on the man who harmed her. (Heavily vague to avoid any spoilers, you just have to watch it) The film can be found on Netflix.

3) Parallel Cinema

Considered one of the greatest film directors in history (#8 on Forbes' list) Satyajit Ray turned to filmmaking after watching the Italian postwar film The Bicycle Thieves. Considered a frontrunner of the parallel cinema movement (covered in the previous part) if you are into the likes of Godard or Kurosawa, Satyajit Ray's filmography is the place for you.

As for a starting place, the Apu Trilogy is probably best. Ray's first three films, which garnered international praise, are based on two Bengali novels, Aparajito and Pather Panchali. The trilogy itself depicts three stages in the life of a man named Apu and his struggles in life. All three films are currently available to stream on HBO Max and Criterion, while Pather Panchali and Aparjito are available for free on Tubi.