This week we focus on Feroz's Dharmatma, his 1975 adaptation of Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972). * This episode contains spoilers for both the original and this adaptation! * * Content warning: this film is very violent towards women. It's violent in general, of course, but it feels extra brutal towards a few of its women, with at least one significant change from the arc of one of the original corresponding characters. We don't discuss this in-depth but please know that...

Veer Zara celebrates its 20 year anniversary and Pitu and Beth disagree on basically everything about it. 😆 The only things we agree on: • Preity's cute outfits • Srk's frosted boy band tips • Pretty visuals • Amit and Hema being charming • The importance of public service??? What are your thoughts? Want more Yash Chopra? Listen to the Bollywood Drafts podcast episodes on YC's worst https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yash-chopra-bottom-9-part-1/id1748001558?i=1000669234871 and best...

Joining our list of favorites is Eighties Lady Amrita Singh! While we didn't think she quite qualified as a superstar, Pitu (with her 80s and 90s expertise) knew Amrita's brash energy made her worth talking about. (PS Beth mentions both Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt as producers of Kalyug, and the film itself says "Mahesh Bhatt presents" and "Mukesh Bhatt production," so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ) What are your favorite Amrita Singh performances and is one of them the disco masterpiece that is Yaar...

If you get together with cinematically-minded loved ones in the festive season, whatever your festivities are, these questions can make for great conversation! We want to know what you think about all of them in the comments. Many of Beth's questions were inspired by discussions on the podcasts Extra Hot Great (https://extrahotgreat.com/) and I Saw What You Did (https://www.exactlyrightmedia.com/i-saw-what-you-did). Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on...

We talk about another good movie from the Maddock horror verse: Munjya. Points discussed: • Green flag heroes • Suhas Joshi as Aaji 😍 • Entitled boys • Marathi Gollum • The Billy Graham Show??? • Annoying uncles Tell us what you thought! Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram and Twitter Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is...

We are firmly in the 80s now as Meenakshi Seshadri is our first 80s superstar. A beautiful, talented actress and dancer, she doesn't get talked about as much as she should - and we are a bit puzzled as to why. Are you a Meenakshi fan and do you consider her a superstar? Which of her films or performances do you enjoy? Films discussed: Ghayal, Ghar Ho To Aisa, Swati, and Dilwaala. We have both seen and love Damini but completely forgot to cover it; obviously she is amazing in it and...

To celebrate the birthday of the great Rekha, we watched Utsav (1984), Girish Karnad's adaptation of the ancient Sanskrit play Mrichakatika. In our totally unbiased opinion this is Rekha's film through and through, but really everyone and everything else is great, with one exception that you can probably guess. This is one of our favorite Rekha performances! What are yours? Other discussions: • Is Rekha the best Hindi film actress for sensuality and sexual forthrightness? • The...

It's a catch-up episode! We've been busy getting through our watchlists and have opinions! Pitu watched Laila Majnu (2018), Madgaon Express (2024), and The Perfect Couple (2024). Beth watched Bad Newz (2024) and...the vintage US tv series Moonlighting (1985–89)?!? Have you seen any of these movies? What have you guys been watching? Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple...

We discuss the brief but magnificent film career of Smita Patil—one of India's greatest actresses. Winner of the Padma Shri and several film awards, she was the face of art cinema and feminist narratives. Intense and smoldering, she was often the hero of the film. We also discuss her foray into commercial cinema. See the pinned comment for recommended films. What are your favorite Smita movies or performances? Films discussed: Manthan, Bhumika, Jait re Jait, Namak Halaal, Bazaar,...

Taal turns 25 years old because Time is an illusion. Taal is the filmiest of filmy films, with a seriously OTT Anil, diva-like Aishwarya, and Akshaye being sensible lover boy. There is a lot of rain, some talk of tyaag and izzat, snooty rich people, a cute mop of a dog, and an unholy amount of sequins and razzle dazzle. A R Rahman delivers an absolutely epic score that is choreographed to perfection, and director Subhash Ghai was maybe a total genius by letting him and everyone else on...

We conclude our Kapoor series with the heir of the Kapoor dynasty - Ranbir. We discuss his versatility, his chameleon like ability to get into his character's skin, his dancing skills, the manchild description he is often labeled with, and his impressive filmography. For once, we pick the exact same ice cream flavor for an actor, and are inordinately proud of ourselves. Films discussed are Jagga Jasoos, Barfi, Tamasha and Bombay Velvet. Please share your thoughts on Ranbir. Which of...

Dhoom dhoom dhoom dhoom! 20 years of fast bikes, fast cars, stylish locales and questionable fashion. Do the Dhoom movies float your boat? What are your thoughts on Uday Chopra as an actor? Do you agree with Beth that everyone in Dhoom is at maximum annoyance level? How do we feel about the liberal use of bronzer and body oil? Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple...

In this episode we discuss Stree, Stree 2 and all things terrifying from the Maddock horror universe. This is a very spoiler heavy episode so you've been warned. Tell us - how do you feel about Roohi, Bhediya and Munjya? What are your favorite Rajkumar Rao characters or movies? Is there an actor who can out-Pankaj Pankaj Tripathi? Did Stree 2 have the right combo of horror and comedy for you? Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on...

because Filmi Ladies is turning 2! Thanks be to Patron Saint Dev Anand who inspires us to be bigger and better! We celebrate with Do Devs (actually 3, but who's counting?): Dev in a double role in Hum Dono and singular Dev in the singularly delightful Nau Do Gyarah. What are your favorite Dev movies? Where do you pin the beginning of his awkward decline? And what do you think is his legacy on Hindi cinema? Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on...

Love Aaj Kal turns 15 years old! This movie was quite the rage back then and the fashions in it quite the moment. Has it held up? Yes for one of us, no for the other. Mostly we agree on Saif's fab performance, DP's okay one, and spend a few moments smiling happily as we think of Patron Saint Rishi Kapoor. Important notes: • Do not date your boss. • Bridge is not a job. • For a film about a hetero love story, is this actually about the two men who see themselves in each other? • Saif...

It's Bebo's world and we're just living in it! Whether you love or hate Poo, Geet, Dr Preet Sahni, Chameli, or Dolly, you can't ignore the most successful woman in the Kapoor khandaan. Unlike her older sister Karisma, there is no question Kareena is a bonafide superstar. Movies we discuss in detail: Khushi, Chameli, Omkara, Jab We Met, Tashan, and Milenge Milenge. If your favorite isn't there, don't worry; we mention many others in passing. What are your iconic Kareena performances...

In today's episode we discuss Pitu's experience of nerding out at NAFA - the first Marathi Film Festival in the US. Topics discussed: • the films of directors Dr Jabbar Patel, Mahesh Manjrekar and Sachin Pilgaonkar • learnings from masterclasses with actresses like Nivedita Saraf and Mrinal Kulkarni • nerding out among fellow film nerds • Beth's experiences at IIFA and the Chicago South Asian Film Festival. Have you been to a film festival? Tell us your experiences! Should Beth...

Oh Lolo. Neither Pitu nor Beth really know how to place Karisma: is she a 90s queen or merely a princess? What is her legacy? Is she a worthy inheritor of the family name? And can you explain her stardom without it? Films discussed: Zubeida, Saajan Chale Sasural, and Hero No. 1. What are your standout Karisma performances? Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple...

Filmi Ladies celebrates its 100th episode! Hurray! We discuss films with 100 in the title: Sau Saal Baad (1989) and 100 Days (1991). Both films are horror, although one is more B-grade, for lack of a better term, and the other has A-list stars and a killer (heh) soundtrack. Both movies have jumpscares, premonitions, and creepiness. We also discuss other horror fare as well as films with numbers in the title. Tell us what you think! Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on...

We continue with our Kapoor family series and discuss Rishi, the most famous and successful Kapoor of his generation, and his onscreen and offscreen hit jodi with Beth's favorite Neetu Singh. Points discussed: • Rishi's sequin jumpsuits in Karz • his Qawwali king status • his disappointed sadface in many movies, • his sweater wardrobe • his moppety effervescent energy and cuteness with Neetu in Khel Khel Mein and elsewhere • what Neetu brought to 70s films that other women didn't • his...

Perhaps nowhere in the history of Hindi cinema do two siblings have more divergent debuts, more unusual filmographies, or more unpredictable trajectories. We look at Akshaye in Himalay Putra (1997) and Rahul in 1947 Earth (1999) and then discuss their careers, including celebrity presence and lack thereof. If you haven't seen Himalay Putra, do watch the 90s-riffic I Am a Bachelor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Mg5JxR_5o and uber-masala Bam Bam Bhole...

A whole episode devoted to one of Pitu's favorites! 🎺 We discuss the star-worthy performance by SRK and this point in his star trajectory, the lovable parents, the role of nostalgia, and the nothingness of some of the other people who shall remain nameless until you get to that part of the episode. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on...

Continuing our Kapoor series, we discuss Shashi Kapoor's family in this episode: wife and actress Jennifer Kendal and their children Karan, Kunal, and Sanjana. If you know anything about them at all, it's probably that they all launched in films and never went anywhere as actors, but we watched a film starring each of them to flesh out that story. Jennifer, of course, was an accomplished stage actor before her marriage to Shashi, and when she chose to dip her toes back in acting, you can see...

Did you know there's no ketchup emoji?!? Beth didn't until she went looking for it to put in this episode title, but a can of soup will do nicely, given that we discuss Killer Soup (2024) - and a big mix of other things we've been watching lately, including Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023), Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024), and Trimurti (1995). Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple...