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The reasons why Indian people hate Marigold

posted 17 years ago by fort2000
20 replies | jump to latest

I saw Marigold last night at its opening. I thought it was a great movie. You can watch this movie from two perspectives, from an American view point, and from an Indian view point.

Americans will love the movie because it showcases India for many of them for the first time, with beautifully shot locations and scenes. It also shows them how the Indian film industry is run. It shows Indian life from a middle class and rich perspective. But most importantly it is spoken in English, using dialogue that Americans can relate to.

Indians hate the movie because they cannot relate to the dialogue at all. Which is exactly why no Bollywood movies have ever been International hits, because no one can relate to the how the dialogue is spoken. They also hate the way Bollywood is portrayed as being disorganized with unprofessional actors and directors. And lastly they will hate this movie because it does not show any hysterical anger or crying sequences.

This movie will be hated in India, but will be appreciated by the rest of the world. Salman Khan did an amazing job, and was the highlight of the film. His screen presence, cool demeanor, and good looks are finally being appreciated outside of India.

Some good NON Indian reviews:

http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/marigold-film-review-20028.html

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117934433.html?categoryid=31&cs=1

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=135104

http://www.tvguide.com/movies/marigold/review/289541

http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/08/17/movies/17mari.html?ex=1218945600&en=439374cd57b00344&ei=5083&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes

http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-marigold17aug17,0,4391087.story

One good Indian review:

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/166476.php/Salmans-Marigold-releases-to-terrific-response

[–] The_Mighty_Warrior 17 years ago

The reason the film has not been liked, which seems to be a common census amongst all Indian reviewers, is the film is very outdated, comparable to some bad b-grade stuff in the 70's and 80's.

They also saw the script is horrible, extremely dull and cliched, and find Salman Khan's acting to be one of his worst this decade.

They even slate the film for its cinematography, saying it looks tacky.

It sounds like a dreadful film.

[–] fort2000 17 years ago

Well since we both agree that Indian reviewers and Indian people will hate this movie, your opinion just confirms how ignorant Indian people can be.

Indian movies are loved by Indians and laughed at by the rest of the world, because of the horrible storylines and acting. Why do you think the great Amitabh Bachchan and Sharukh Khan are loved by Indians, while Salman is disliked. Yet at the same time non-Indians love Salman, and they think the rest of the actors in Bollywood have personalities like rapists or terrorists.

Why do you think no Bollywood star is famous in Hollywood yet? Think about it.

[–] Paul-spooky 17 years ago

All outside india are totally ignorant of the richness and quality films that India produce. For this you have to ignore all the remakes and B or c grade movies as like that of Marigold, but choose from films like ,

Life In A... Metro (2007): A story about a complex, metropolitan city, where everybody leads his own life. Directed by Anurag Basu. starring Dharmendra, Shilpa Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Irfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Shiney Ahuja, Kangana Ranaut, Sharman Joshi and Nafisa Ali.

Dhoom 2 (2006): Action film directed by Sanjay Gadhvi, starring Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Rimi Sen (special appearance). ACP Jai Dixit (Abhishek) and his best friend Ali (Uday Chopra) take on a mysterious criminal mastermind known only as Mr. A. (Hrithik).
Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) A surprising sequel to Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.. Amiable Mumbai gangster Munna gets involved in a social protest movement. Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) advises!
Krrish (2006): Science fiction, a sequel to Koi... Mil Gaya. Stars Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah. Krrish inherits his father's super powers and must use them to stop a megalomaniac scientist.

Parineeta: Romance based on popular novel written by Sharath Chandra Chatterjee. Stars Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Dia Mirza and Sanjay Dutt. Spoiled rich man's son and the poor girl next door fall in love.

Veer-Zaara (2004): An Indian man and a Pakistani woman share a love that surmounts years and obstacles. One of the biggest hits of 2004. Starring Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji, Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini.
Main Hoon Na (2004): An army officer goes undercover as a college student in order to combat terrorists. Matrix-style action sequences. Stars Shahrukh Khan, Zayed Khan, Sushmita Sen and Amrita Rao.

Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004): Two men after the same woman set out to ruin each other's chances. Starring Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra and Amrish Puri.

Dhoom (2004): A cop and a biker cooperate to catch a criminal bike gang. Directed by Sanjay Gadhvi and produced by Yashraj Films it stars Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra, Rimi Sen, Esha Deol and John Abraham.

Company (2002): Fictional exposé of the Mumbai underworld, loosely based on the Indian mafia organization D-Company. Stars Ajay Devgan and Vivek Oberoi.

Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000): Police thriller turns on mistaken identity. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel in their debut film.

[–] darknight0 17 years ago

I would have to disagree with you.

Marigold is really good film. It brings a nice union between Hollywood and Bollywood films and personally I think Salman Khan was great.

I have watched all the the movies that you have mentioned above and those films like "Life In A... Metro", the "Dhoom" franchise, "Krrish", "Parineeta", "Company" and the rest are actually rip-offs from either Hollywood, Hong Kong Films, Middle Eastern Films and or Korean Films.

The only movie that is not a rip-off from any other foreign movie is the "Munna Bhai" franchise.

Just by what I have said, Bollywood will not be credible or be able to hold a position in the International Film Industry scene because they are actually ripping ideas out of other International Industries. If one is going to copy-&-paste an idea, at least give credit where it is due. Majority of the industries that I have mentioned do that. So why shouldn't Bollywood be held accountable if they want to enter the international scene? And they are as you can read that Hollywood is suing Bollywood for the movie "Partner" (and many more suits are on the way).

So what you said, "All outside india are totally ignorant of the richness and quality films that India produce." now holds no merit.

Peace-Out

[–] rahul-31 17 years ago

Let me understand what you just said. You, as a non-indian, think that all actors in Bollywood (except Salman Khan) have personalities like rapists or terrorists? Are you retarded or just that racist? What kind of comment is that? Is that how you see all Indians? And as for calling them ignorant, you are the ignorant one. Maybe you should go learn about other peoples and cultures before you start calling them terrorists. And I cannot even respond to the comment about rapists, it simply makes no sense.

I don't watch that much of Bollywood, though I enjoy them time to time. What makes you think that a Bollywood star wants to be in Hollywood? How conceited a veiw point can that be? I love Hollywood movies, but I recognize that there are quality movies produced around the world. Even the Hollywood Acadamy Awards recognizes this with a Foreign Film Oscar. Maybe you should stop commenting on things that you obviously don't have anything valuable to contribute.

[–] The_Mighty_Warrior 17 years ago

Indian movies are loved by Indians and laughed at by the rest of the world, because of the horrible storylines and acting.

You say this, and then say Marigold is a great film. This means you think Bollywoods b grade films from the 80's are great films. So the A grade films post 2000 are what masterpieces?

Indians do not like this film, because they've seen it all before in the 80,s we've moved on from there. How are we going to like Marigold, if it takes us back several decades?

Marigold is backwards cinema by Bollywood standards.

Also, Bollywood movies are not just watched by Indians. They are watched all over the world and have more cinema admissions than Hollywood, outstripping it by a billion(2.6 vs 3.6 billion) they are popular in parts of Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South East Asia, China. They are now also gaining popularity in Europe(There is a big craze in Germany)

They are also infiltrating into Hollywood now. If not, Marigold would not come about. I think you should wait for Bhansali's, Sony produced, Saawariya. You will come to terms with the fact that nobody does Bollywood(or musicals in general) better than Bollywood.

[–] horrorfreax-1 17 years ago

I wish to add something to the comment of mr or mrs Fort 2000.

Why do you think no Bollywood star is famous in Hollywood yet? Think about it.

No Hollywood star is famous in Bollywood either, and why would somebody who is a star in the biggest movieindustry of the world want to be famous in a smaller movieindustry.

Why don't YOU think about that!

[–] indic 17 years ago

I agree with horrorfreax. What's with this pathetic inferiority complex? The Indian film industry doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. It's already a success. It has been for decades.

[–] shakeebahmed29 17 years ago

right fort2000 Why do you think no Bollywood star is famous in Hollywood yet? Think about it.

think before you speak does the name Amrish Puri mean anything to you no well hears a catch up lesson for all those years youve been asleep he is a really big and well known bollywood star who had a major role in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and before you say its only one film he did fair enough but there has been a huge bollywood star in a big hollywood film. so get a life and talk about somthing constructive and let people enjoy what they want.

(just for the record i am a asian born in the UK who loves bollywood films)

[–] redeem147 17 years ago

I usually find Salman Khan a superficial actor, but I liked him in Marigold. I think having to work in English made him seem more vulnerable.

And yes, I've seen him in a number of films.

[–] katya_sehgal 17 years ago

Hi,
i liked this movie, I thought most of it was brilliant... despite Mr. Khans many indecipherable lines and average music.

Yes, you are right, as a simple love story, it may not work with the Indian audience, no melodrama, smooth transitions of scenes and emotions. The screenplay moves very fast, no one cries for five minutes to express regret or sorrow.

Ali is very good. Wonder why the other actors didn't learn delivery from her. Neither did they speak English in a comfortable 'Indianised' manner.

The movie is delightful and simple.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dreamer_108 17 years ago

"And lastly they will hate this movie because it does not show any hysterical anger or crying sequences."

What a dumb thing to say!
Dude, ur perspective about Indians is way outta ma understanding. Its not hysterical anger or crying sequence!!...What indians love is emotions in a moviee!
n who doesnt...isnt good cinema s'pose to capture ur heart, make u laugh at the comedy parts, make u sad at the sentimental part...n if a movie fails to do so...its called a 'bad movie'!

Marigold is a very stereotypical film and we Indians don't dig it. People have different opinions about the different movies. I, personally found the movie borring !. [:p]

And if you think we indian's have a bad tastes in movies.
Well, it could be, as we have tasted so many delicious Bollywood movies(like Chak de India, Rang de basanti,Koi Mil gaya, Black, MunnaBhai, Devdas, etc...) that Marigold seems as spiceless as boiled food in front of it.

[–] punjabipink 17 years ago

I have seen this film, and although I thought it was basically ok, it is not anywhere near the quality of current bollywood films. That is why Indians don't like Marigold. And, for that matter, obviously white people don't like it either. So why are you picking on Indians?

I think the main problem here is that you cannot just rent a bunch of bollywood movies and then think you'll know how to make one, which is what the director did here. You have to really know the culture and spend some time in it. You can't just hire a bollywood star and Indian crew and think that will do it.

[–] crazy_380 17 years ago

lmao...
guys there r big differnces b/w hollywood n bollywood, its very difficult to make a movie which gels em together..

i mean.. it aint great...its ok
ali larter is super hot, plus she has done some decent acting in this and bfore.

salman khan is as usual.. so full of *beep* i dont think he is capable of doing anything except stupid comedies and romance movies.

its a average movie, watch it at home.

im indian btw.

[–] rexian 17 years ago

Hollywood days are sorta over. Except for Europe & USA market, I doubt it will have it anywhere else.

However, Bollywood is expanding rapidly and definitively. It also has a mass appeal to many people as most movies are family movies with bundle of fun, joy and music.

At any rate, the opening thread was so stupid I won't even comment on it. Hollywood is suing Bollywood movie-makers because they are now a big threat to the market. However, about plagiarism, I accept that Bollywood is infamous for that. Hope that changes.

Give where credits due folks. And also, Ali larter is a cool looking chick and nothing else. And Salman is an idiot to act in this movie.

- Rex

[–] coolraj003 17 years ago

@ Rexian: what makes you think that hollywood days are over? I m indian n i cant stand bollywood stuff most of the times. But yeah if someone does come out with a totally baseless comment like hollywood days are over then i think I would rather ask an explanation. I mean what gives you the impression that hollywood days are over dude? they are still makin big budgeted movies and getting truck loads of money outta them. Cant say hollywood days are over lookin at that man.

As far as one of the above posters put the names of some movies quoting as brilliant bollywood stuff then i think apart from a few movies there wasnt nothing about a masterpiece in them names man. Specially DHoom 2 sucked big time, main hoon na didnt even need to exist as far as i d say. The most of action is quite mediocre in bolly movies, storylines are quite outdated.

As far as comparison to hollywood is concerned, i mean come-on is it that hard to see-An indian movie star needs to have big muscles and dance moves to make it big, acting skills comes later on. Bet thats not the standard of hollywood. I mean take any hollywood a list actor and compare em to the bollywood a-listers, acting standards in bollywood is mainly to please indian audience which is ok by me but dont go runnin to compare em to any hollywood stuff. It ll take better part of couple of decades for bollywood to reach the standard of hollywood is on now.

Although I do appreciate Aamir Khan's acting(man's got talent compared to hollywood standards), Hrithik can pull it off, Saif ali is gettin there, Ajay Devgan is quite good as well.

Juss my thoughts guys and i d like normal conversation rather than fowlmouthing!

Regards
Raj

[–] wishingwell57 13 years ago

Raj,

I am an American who loved Marigold. I have watched many Bollywood movies and love them. I especially have been loving the mixture of Hollywood/Bollywood actors in movies lately. I love the mixture of the two cultures.

The timing between Hollywood and Bollywood movies is different and that is why even though they are speaking English that some people have a hard time understand or relating to the script.

I have many friends from around the world and spend time in other cultures. I can easily adapt when watching the two or many country's films. I love to watch films from around the world. There are great films from around the world.

I would like to see more Bollywood actors/Western actors in movies together.

I could listen to Salman Khan all day long. I love his voice.

Here is a hint for those of you who can't understand foreign actors, turn on your "CC" function on your TV in the setup for the film. The script will read out on the screen so you won't miss anything.

[–] coolraj003 13 years ago

Wishingwell57,I havent seen Marigold so I couldn't possibly comment on what it was all about. And I am not the lind of person who would slate any movie if it did not do that well at ticket sales. There must be something that you may have liked about the actors and storyline to get you interested. Personally I have seen Salman in a lot of bad movies to actually have any positive opinion. If you like a good mix of English and Indian characters then I would recommend Lagaan and Rang De Basanti. Entertaining and very well acted films. I would say Swades for serious acting.

Majority of bollywood big budget action mvies are nothing but bad stunts comparable to low bidget hollywood movies so i would not even recommend those to waste your time. Recently there was a movie named Kites, it was a good movie with great mixture of acting and entertainment. Again it didnt do well in Indian market as it didnt have all the usual songs, silly comedy, over the top acting and stunts. Movies like Kites and Lagaan and Rang De Basanti are something I would willingly spend my time to watch but others, I would rather watch paint dry.

[–] trigger_jam 17 years ago

Do you think Indians are ignorant? You suppose they can't decipher between good or bad? You figure Indians need the rest of the world to tell them whether a movie is good or bad? The rest of the world might like the movie but that doesn't make the movie good for Indians.
Salman Khan is an awful actor and this movie proves just that. There was nothing interesting about this script because this has already been explored, in better ways, in "bollywood" almost a hundred times.
Moreover, none of the songs were interesting which is an integral part of movies in India. Whoever made this movie is disconnected from what kind of movies are appreciated in India right now, which makes it seem like this movie wasn't intended for Indians in the first place.