The Things I do for Kajol

When it comes to Bollywood, I will apparently (at least attempt to) watch anything that has Kajol or Vidya Balan.  (and will seriously consider with Rani Mukherjee and Kareena Kapoor, though those are still at "add everything to Netflix" stage.)  This has resulted in a couple mildly traumatic fiction experiences, but let's not dwell on that.

Currently, I am watching Bekhudi, a 1992 Bollywood in which Kajol looks, like, 16.  I am promised "we were in class-crossed love but then I accidentally killed your brother and you got engaged to someone else and Our Love Is A Love That Cannot Be" drama  (There are certain things I request in my Bollywood that I'm not as big on elsewhere, unless swords and long hair are involved.  Probably because Bollywod crams, like, 5 months of Soap Opera Drama into a little under 3 hours.), but 40 minutes in, that was nowhere in sight and then Evil Brother and his hoodlums attacked Our Hero, and then Our Hero basically turned into Chuck Norris.  Sadly, Evil Brother did not die, and instead, Kajol saw Our Hero comforting his (female) friend and decided he was cheating on her.  Then she attacked his bike and flipped out on the friend and went after her with a knife when she came to explain.  Both of which actually would have been hilarious if the Fail aspects weren't making me want to bash my head against something.

Anyway, it is entertainingly cheesy but SLOW and I request that The Plot Development of Doom arrive already.

ETA:  Actual line from this movie: "Wherever I am, he will be. The air will carry the fragrance of my love and tell him where I am."

It's actually working well for Rohit so far.  Radhika's habit of doing things like leaving a trail of dozens of crimson scarves probably helps.

Also, after the Doom went down, Radhika was exiled to Canada to keep them apart.  it's not working well, but I've noticed that being exiled to Canada keeps popping up in fiction.  What's with that, anyway?  I mean, last I checked, Canada was still considered to be a perfectly decent place.  I hear there's even internet.

Why so ancient Greek, Kajol? Not that I disapprove.

My transcription of the dialogue from a scene in Bekhudi. The less-than-perfect translation gets more awkward without the pauses and dramatic music, not to mention her gestures and stalking up to people to confront them, but you get the picture:

Radhika: “I want to ask you something. Have you ever seen any girl being raped? You can see it today. You can see how I am getting raped…that too, in front of my parents.”

Radhika’s Daddy: “What are you saying?” (not a direct quote because I forgot to snag it, but it‘s pretty close)

Radhika: “Isn’t physical force used on a girl called rape? By marrying me against my wish, you are getting me raped.”

Radhika’s Mommy: “We are getting you married for your own good!”

Radhika: “No Mother, you are getting me married for your happiness. You want to hold a corpse and carry out the rituals! You want to adorn a corpse and call her a bride!”

Radhika’s Auntie Who Megan Rather Adored Most of the Time: “Radhika, stop it!”

Radhika: “Auntie, a marriage takes place for the happiness of the couple. Did you think of my happiness? I will be forced to sit there…the rituals will be carried out and I will be blessed…but what is the point of the rituals which are not meant? What is the point of your blessings when I won’t be happy? Priest, start the mockery of the rituals and light my funeral pyre!”

(You have no idea how many times I've encountered a plot with a woman being forced to marry for whatever reason, and wanted some of that to be said.)

So, has Kajol ever not played a character that vaguely resembles a bulldozer?

So, the movie was slow but cheesy and entertaining in the first half, then a fabulously emo and cheesy rollercoaster after the Plot Development of Doom. And then had that scene.

Some day, I'll actually watch a 90s Bollywood that doesn't have Kajol. probably.