Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Book
This is an excellent book to add to a collection of memorabilia. The book is really good quality. It's not available...in many places and I suggest buying it!

A must read for all Indians
JAYA BACHCHAN gave a wonderful gift to hubby dear on his 60th Birthday - the book To be or not to be Amitabh Bachchan.
The book is wonderfully written and presented, full of rare pictures. The critical analysis of the Big B's career, and the open-heart flowing Interview are the key highlights of the book. The sections written by Abhishek, Shweta and Jaya are also quite impressive.

An absolutely "must read" book for every Indian considering the status of our most loved icon ever. For all die-hard Big B fans, this book is surely a collector's item. ... Read more

Product Description
Namdev works in a restaurant as a waiter. One day a customer is unable to pay, as all he has is a lottery ticket. Namdev accepts it, and to his delight he wins. He decides to share this windfall with three of his friends namely Ravhuvir, Damodar, and Jaggi. Greed for their newfound wealth embitters them against each other, and Jaggi gets killed - and Namdev gets arrested and charged for killing him, and is subsequently sentenced to a long jail term. Damodar and Raghuvir invest the money and become millionaires. Years later Namdev is released from prison, and finds out while his two friends and their respective sons have been living a wealthy lifestyle, his very family is poor, and a son of his, Ravi, is employed as a waiter in a hotel. Enraged he goes to confront them, they pacify him and offer some money so that they live comfortably. It is then that Namdev comes across evidence that it was not he who killed Jaggi - but one of two of his friends. Now with the help of his son he intends to find out who killed Jaggi and avenge himself. Will Namdev and Ravi succeed in unmasking the real killer? ... Read more

Product Description
illustrated study of one of India's leading screen actors., excerpts from films, personal life. many color photos. lavish production, beautiful volume and informative ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Amitabh: The Superstar
Susmita Dasgupta has written a well-researched and thoughtful book on Amitabh Bachchan.She has chosen to look at his public persona as seen through the lens of his film roles.This is not a biography, as such, and those looking for gossip about Rekha or the details of Aish and Abhi's wedding will not find those here.

Anyone interested in film culture in India and the nature of celebrity, however, will find a lot to chew on. ... Read more

Product Description
Journalistic overview of his life, major films and role in Indian culture with extensive inerviews. Lavish production. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Fascinating!
This book is a treasure-trove for die-hard Amitabh fans! Organized around reminisces by Amitabh's costars, directors, and family members, the book presents a number of interesting anecdotes during the making of his blockbusters (and from his early movies), and provides a very engaging insight into the actor's persona.

The introverted, repressed, intense aspect of Amitabh's personality -- as reflected in most of his movies -- is more commonly recorded in untold number of magazine articles, interviews, and books on Amitabh. However, it is fun to read about Amitabh the prankster (as told by Hema Malini, Yash Chopra and others), and about the general camaraderie on his sets. Rekha's reminisces are a highlight of the book -- she sounds nostalgic, love-lorn, infatuated -- almost pining for her star.

The book has tons of pictures, which makes it a visual treat. Bhawana Somayya has been a masterful chronicler of tinseltown events, filmlore, and people, and this book is one more BIG (B) feather in her cap without any doubt!

The legend lives on
After reading this book, it is no surprise that the Big B continues to be the greatest living legend in the Indian film industry. The book captures fascinating behind the scenes of the man who continues to demonstrate great persistence and tenacity in every film. His commitment has raised the bar for every new comer!

Dissapointing compared to the legend
A disapointing book considering the expectations of one of the first books in the market regarding Mr.Bachchan. Does not really dwell into the perceptions of Mr.Bachchan on his movies and his costars, rather vica verca. Never the less, worth buying if you are a true fan, simply for the photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Family drama
Good family drama, does drag at a few places with some really artificial and long drawn out sequences. Amitabh and Akshay are great, Rakhee is adequate, Mohnish overacts at a few places, the rest are passable. The music is good, with the "Ek Dil hai" song being the standout. One time watch

Bollywood melodrama of family dynamics
Firstly this isn't a light fluffy movie nor is it arthouse. It is about loyalties and ties in both families and the business world.
There is a typical Indian clan lead by Amitabh Bachchan who is a champion in industry too. He is a mix of exemplary ethics and ego pride and other such human frailties. The family is challenged by many scenarios within that challenge the cohesiveness and loyalties of the group.
There are strong performances by Amitabh, Akshay Kumar playing his son, Juhi Chawla as his daughter, Karisma Kapoor the daughter-in-law and Mohnish Bahl as the new son-in-law and business associate.
It will either encourage you to think deeply about issues raised or alternately may make you decide not to think about them as there are some confused premises at times. For instance there is a long speech about violence not solving anything then a using of mob violence as a solution by the same person that gave the speech! As usual the views of another cultures can be mystifying at times but are still interesting.
This is one of those (long) Bollywoods where people hit the depths then are reinstated through divine intervention, purity of soul, fate/karma or sometimes just cleverness (or a mix of all of these).
I personally didn't find the music that memorable but it was OK, and there really isn't much dancing.
If there is a reason to watch it it is a Bollywood morality play (and they have an appeal in themselves)- and because these A-list actors are almost always very watchable.
I do agree with another reviewer about the subtitles. Mostly they were OK but at times we got a lot of white titles on pale backgrounds that were unreadable- or they just went missing for a short time at another point. I still got the gist though and they weren't the worst I've seen of this. I'll still be keeping this but if you are one that gets annoyed by this sort of problem you may decide otherwise.
Elsewhere on the Net this commonly comes in as 'average' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nishabd is a Great Movie!
Nishabd is great movie.This film is profound and deep.You can think of it as the Hindi version of "Lolita"Acting is great....Amitabh of course is a king and a natural at what he does.Newcomer Jiah Khan was pretty good considering this was her 1st movie ever.I personally enjoyed this movie and thought it was such a beautiful yet sad love story. ... Read more

Product Description
A tale of a of a family where the parents (Amitabh and Hema) sacrifice everything to nurture their four children, only to be left uncared for when they grow old. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Amitabh is a genius of an Actor!
Baghban is a movie that everyone should see at least once. It is a movie about love. It is a movie about family. It is a movie about three generations. It is a movie about heartbreak and hope. It is a movie about disrespect within those who are close and honour among those who are close. It is a movie about the attitude of the ungrateful vs one who is forever indebted.

This is what a movie should be. If you see one Indian movie this year, make it this one. You will be glad you did. Amitabh bachchan is one of the greats. Salman Khan acts as the adopted son. I have so much respect for him because I heard that Shahrukh Khan turned down the role thinking that it was only a small role. If there was ever a great role to play, this was it and shame on SRK for turning down this part.

A moving 2003 drama with heart that goes deeply into inter-generational relationships
Baghban (The Caretaker )is about an older couple (Amitabh Bachchan & Hema Malini) who have remained in love and devoted to each other, and have lived their marriage focused on their 4 natural sons and one adopted son (Salman Khan). They are good people who are loved by their friends but their geneority to their children means they retire with no money. They ask their sons that they live with them. All 4 natural sons and their wives resist this as it messed with their established lives. They offer a plan that Mum and Dad be split up and that each takes turns at putting one up. They aren't very generous with the parent they do have and treat them badly. Meanwhile Dad has befriended the childless owner of a local café/bookstore (Paresh Rawal)and his wife (Lillete Dubey) and they encourage him to write his story. Eventually adopted son and new wife rescue the pair and friends have arranged the publishing of the father's writings.
While it was a little slow in parts (and quite long) I became quite involved in this one. It is well acted -though Salman Khan was trying to play himself down as humble so much he was almost unnecessarily low key at times. The sons and wives were a bit stereotyped too. However this movie had some very thoughtful and poetic passages on love and relationships, and I found myself quite moved and drawn into it.
Frequenters of Bollywood are familiar with various plays on intergenerational relationships. We have seen amazing happy intergenerational families under the same roof; egotistical controlling parents dictating to their kids how to live with no real care for the child; and this sort - good parents with self-focused kids. This one was a bit deeper than usual and did leave me thinking of the balance between togetherness and freedom between generations that the West has taken into the free/ disconnected end (often as a reaction to experiences of control, blindness and suffocation from the opposite experience in earlier centuries).
It was also an exploring of a deep long-lasting marital relationship and how love can be when people are considerate and tuned in. I wouldn't have given it the ending they did but others may disagree with me on that.
Amitabh, Hema, Paresh & Lillete are especially good and the screenplay rich. The music was fine but mostly I can't recall much of it. The fact it brought me to tears at times (usually in a good way!) I always rate highly. Though it's fair to say some find it overdone in the melodrama too!
Elsewhere on the Net it scores above average and it was nominated for, and won a range of awards. A keeper.

Worth every penny and your time
This was an excellent movie. the first Indian movie i've seen i watched because a friend just couldn't stop talking about it. The movie is long like 3 hours but you get lost in the story. It is such a wonderful family movie and so refreshing, non violent and clean something almost impossible to find anymore even in a cartoon! It is very impressive to find something truly entertaining and a great story line. It is romantic, the scenes that show dancing are fabulous. I love the couple in this movie. A lot about the movie is realistic. I think it was definlety written from an older persons perspective but it is great to see it made me call my mom just to say i love you after seeing it. Its a reminder of how much we should respect and cherish our parents. No matter the mistakes they made we should remember the good and treat them with the dignity we hope to be treated with when we are their age. If you like a great love story, great writing and a clean movie this is for you!

Cheesy Scenes!! Cheesy Plot!
I hate to use the word CHEESY, but I have to! The premise of this movie from India is in metaphor. Baghban means Caretaker, one who nutures garden. Or, a caretaker loves a tree with a shadow because the shade of the tree will provide. The belief is that if you devote your life to your children, in return, you will be guaranteed comfort.

The movie is based on a metaphor, fantasy, reality and sprinkled with lengthy dance musical numbers that only Bollywood provides.Baghban, at three hours long focuses on Raj who has had nearly a perfect life, retiring from a bank job, married for 40 years to a beautiful loving wife, and he raised five beautiful sons. He gave all to his sons, including caring love and kindness. At retirement, there is no money, and he believes that his sons will take him and his wife into their homes, lovingly..... Wrong.

Plot
Married for 40 years and retired, Raj and Pooja are forced to live separately as their sons reluctantly take them, rotating and separating the parents.In separate homes and "in the way" they become a disruption to the family. Alas, the "orphan turned adopted good son" arrives.

Cheesy unoriginal scenes
You will have to see these to believe how blatantly cheesy they are. What I would expect from a good director is to convey to me, the viewer, scenes that allow me to think on my own, even if just for a while. The director was quick to shove these numerous exaggerated scenarios in our face. This is insulting.

Unanswered Question???
If a man and wife raised four children with strong emotional loving, caring bonds, to lead successful lives, how could all four sons possibly be as inconsiderate and cold as they were? The two elements don't jive!!

Use of English language, Pepsi and Ford Surprisingly,
English phrases are used throughout and Pepsi and Ford take their spot prominently.

If you want a true family relationship movie that rings similar to this, try director Ozu's 50's Tokyo Story - Criterion Collection.You will see great work! Rizzo

A great family story
I borrow this movie from my niece a few months ago, I loved it so much that I decided to buy my own and it was the best money I spent. I almost watch this movie every other week.It such a nice story and the I love the music so very much.All of them are so great actors specially Armitha. I LOVE THIS MOVIE A LOT! I don't mind the subtitles but the plot is great. WATCH IT - YOU WON'T REGRET IT. ... Read more

Product Description
A Film Dedicated To Indo-Pak Friendship- COLLECTOR'S EDITION. Audio CD of this movie is FREE with this pack. ... Read more