About
I’m Kathy Gibson, an entertainment writer living in the Chicago suburbs. In 2007 and 2008, I reviewed Hindi movies for The Naperville Sun. I now post my reviews at this website, exclusively.
Bollywood films became a passion of mine several years ago when my husband, Greg, bought me a DVD copy of Lagaan and a CD of Bollywood music for my birthday. We began renting Hindi films wherever we could find them: the local Indian grocery store, the public library or Netflix. When I discovered that a local movie theater, AMC Cantera 30, often devotes a couple screens to Indian films, I pitched a weekly column to the Naperville Sun. The column was also called “Access Bollywood.”
I don’t speak Hindi, so I rely entirely on English subtitles to understand the dialog in Hindi films. And, as a Caucasian woman who’s lived her whole life in Illinois, I occasionally miss certain historical and cultural references particular to India. That said, I’ve rarely found that my linguistic or cultural deficiencies limit my enjoyment of Bollywood films.
In my reviews, I try to judge the Hindi films I see in relation to all movies, not just other Indian films. However, I do make some allowances for the smaller budgets and different expectations for Bollywood films, as compared to most mass market fare coming out of Hollywood.
My star ratings are out a total possible score of four stars.
If you’re new to Bollywood, here are a few films I recommend to get you started:
Love Aaj Kal (2009)
Chak De India (2007)
Swades (2004)
Pinjar (2003)
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
The photo in the site’s header is a still from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
1. Sagarika Mukherjee | October 9, 2009 at 5:46 am
Hey Kathy,
Just loved your reviews on WYR and Wake up Sid. I feel your writing style is very refreshing. I also write reviews just out of interest and also because I am interested in Script writing and direction. Currently trying to put meat and flesh in my story that I want to pitch in front of some producers and directors in Bollywood.
I feel your way of writing is much better than most of the film critics in Bollywood. All of them write abt the same topics and mention the same flaws and appreciate the same qualities in hindi films.
Do visit my blog as well and let me know if you find my views interesting.
Take care
Sagarika
2. Kathy | October 9, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Thanks, Sagarika! Please post another comment including your blog’s Web address. I’d love to read your reviews.
3. Raj Bharti | October 25, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Hi Kathy,
I’m a big fan of Hindi music but watch only selective Bollywood movies, so I heavily rely on online reviews. The key challenge with other reviews is that the most of them are written by Indians living in India, whose taste can be a little different from the West, and sometime they may not be very objective and can also be numb to certain positive cultural aspects. So it’s refreshing to read your review – my only suggestion would be to rate your movies based on 5 stars as that’s the de facto industry standard otherwise readers may unintentionally underestimate a movie with your 3.5 stars rating. Thanks!
4. Kathy | October 28, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Thanks for your compliments and suggestions, Raj. I grew up reading Roger Ebert’s movie reviews, so his four-star rating is kind of imprinted on my brain. From now on, I will note in my ratings that the star value is out of four possible stars. I hope that will make the star ratings more useful.
5. Sagarika Mukherjee | November 3, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Hey Kathy,
Please visit my site and leave your comments/thoughts/opinions about my reviews. I actually find it difficult to review all movies…because they just dont make any impression on me..what do you think?
http://sagsmukherjee.wordpress.com/
Take care
Sags
6. lawyerjourno | May 10, 2010 at 10:44 am
Hi, I went through the review you wrote about the movie Houseful and it resembles my analysis of the movie. I am touched, perhaps we two thought the same thing when watching the movie. Keep it up cute pie.
lawyerjourno
7. Ramesh M | July 16, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Below are some of my recommendations.
Pehali http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/24pah.htm
Delhi 6 (awesome soundtrack by Rahman) http://www.rediff.com/movies/2009/feb/19arthur-delhi6-review.htm
Rocket Singh http://movies.rediff.com/report/2009/dec/11/review-rocket-singh-salesman-of-the-year.htm
Watch a tamil film “Pasanga” too which is so different than the Hindi films http://sify.com/movies/tamil/review.php?id=14884924&ctid=5&cid=2429
Thanks.
8. Julie Bauer | August 17, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Thanks for this blog, Kathy! I choose DVDs (among other things) for our library. A large number of immigrants from India live in our area, and we added Bollywood DVDs to our collection a few years ago, but it’s really hard to find reviews in English. I ran into your blog by accident, and I’m glad I did.
Julie
9. Kathy | August 19, 2010 at 1:47 am
That’s excellent, Julie! I’m happy my reviews have been useful as you build your library’s DVD collection.
10. jmmnewaov2 | September 17, 2010 at 2:51 am
Hi Kathy – Good luck with your blog. I’ve just finished reading your write up on The Japanese Wife. I too write reviews, My specialty is not Indian cinema, but I have been a fan of Indian films for many years.
On my site you can find reviews of such Indian films as
The Japanese Wife
Jab We Met
Love Aaj Kal
Paa
Shootout at Lokhandwala
Main aur Mrs. Khanna
Kurbaan
A Wednesday
fanaa
Dil Bole Hadippa
Delhi 6
and I have also seen
Lagaan, Chak de India, and Swades – as well as DDLJ. So we do have some similar tastes.
You can check out my review website. I call it The Arts
http://jmmnewaov2.wordpress.com/category/indian-films-dvd/
I am going to set up a link on my site to hopefully send some readers to you.
11. RAJ SHAH | November 14, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Hello Kathy,
As an Indian, I am totally impressed with your passion and in-depther knowledge.
Keep up the good work !
12. Kathy | November 14, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Thanks, Raj! I’m glad my enthusiasm for Indian movies is apparent.
13. Aisha | January 16, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Hey Kathy,
I enjoy reading your insightful reviews all the time.
I’m from gulf region in the Middle East, as many people of my generation, I grew up watching Hindi movies especially Amitabh Bachchan’s 70′s-80′s “masalas”.
However, I stopped watching for a long period of time. However, a friend brought me back and I instantly got hooked after I was amazed tof the huge transition in the industry. The movies are no longer masala mix of action, romance and comedy, or the typical love story: two lovers and disapproving parents, and one more thing: the protagonist is invincible no more.
Hindi movies are more meaningful and realistic than ever and can be compared to Hollywood movies. Now I try to convince everyone I know who still look down on Bollywood movies to change their mind.
Thank you dear!
14. Kathy | January 16, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Thanks, Aisha! I’m glad you’ve rediscovered your love of Bollywood. Your comments are always welcome. It’s amazing to see the evolution in Hindi films in the few years that I’ve been writing about them, as the industry transitions from “please everyone” fare to movies that fill certain niches.
15. Tina | January 16, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Hey Kathy!
Wow, I’m really loving your reviews!!! They really do help me choose what hindi movies to watch! I’ve recently stumbled upon telugu movies and I have to say they’re actually not as bad as I thought they would be. Though there are only a few that are watchable. It would be nice if you reviewed a telugu movie once in a while as they are getting very popular. A MUST WATCH would be Leader. Magadheera, Khaleja, and Vedam are also excellent.
16. Kathy | January 16, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Thanks, Tina! I’m glad you like my reviews. Thanks for the Telugu movie recommendations. I really wanted to see Magadheera because of its great promotional posters. I hope it makes its way to Netflix soon!
17. Srini | March 2, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Thanks for your blog and news on Bollywood. There is another website with similar interest that you might be interested.
http://www.thebollywoodticket.com/bollywood/welcome.html
18. Kathy | March 2, 2011 at 2:43 pm
Thanks for the link, Srini! I’m active in the forums at The Bollywood Ticket. Jennifer runs a great site.
19. Praveen Varghese | July 19, 2011 at 10:40 am
Hey Kathy!
Add 3 films to the must-watch list of films(Hindi). Try these:
Rang De Basanti (Paint it Yellow)
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Wake Up Sid
I guess, starters can get a good go as you watch the above movies plus the one’s you already mentioned about in the – ‘About’ column.
20. Kathy | July 19, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Thanks, Praveen! Excellent recommendations. I just got back from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and am about to start writing my review.
21. Praveen | July 19, 2011 at 9:58 pm
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara made me WOW!! Exceptional story-line, cinematography and the rest of it. Kudos to Zoya Akthar. And yes, I could find Farhan Akthar in his element. The only film of this genre in Bollywood, I believe
Javed Akthar, the lyricist got some strings together in most parts of the movie which adds a ‘tinge’ of smile to every viewer’s face even in a crisis – something, which always could be a hideout for Imraan who tries to get out of an emotional baggage he used to carry a long way.
Aisi movie’s na Milegi Dobara
22. Chandru | December 11, 2011 at 9:10 pm
I was looking at your review on Enthiran, it was honest, i would like to see your review on ”7am arivu” the link on imdb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1725795/
23. Kathy | December 12, 2011 at 8:11 pm
Thanks, Chandru. I generally review only Hindi movies (or movies dubbed into Hindi and released in U.S. theaters) just to keep my workload manageable, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get to 7aum Arivu. What did you think of it?
24. Chandru | December 20, 2011 at 11:34 am
Hi, I loved the movie, actually connected to the film industry from Tamil, this movie has English subtitle, i am actually planning of releasing movie in European market, i thought i could use your western perspective on the marketability, while you seem to slice and dice and be just honest with your comments…
25. Vik | December 31, 2011 at 3:53 am
Hi Kathy,
I read a couple of your reviews and to be honest am intrigued with your perspective on hindi movies. RA.One review was spot on (I too would have loved to see those mid 25 mins removed from the movie). One last thing, you need to check out “Manorama Six Feet Under”. i think you might like it.
26. Kathy | January 4, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Hi, Vik! I’m glad you enjoy my reviews, and thanks for the movie recommendation.
27. Kathy | January 16, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Hi, Chandru. I’ve been looking for a copy of 7aum Arivu to review and haven’t been able to find one. Good luck with your European launch!
28. Amrendra Saxena | January 19, 2012 at 10:28 am
Hey Kathy,
I came across your blog recently. I must admit, initially, it was more about the fun and curiosity that what perspective an american has on Indian movies! but as soon as i read the first post, my views changed. I am a big movie buff and have been fed up of paid reviews by so called famous critics. I sincerely appreciate and acknowledge the fact that yours are the most precise and unbiased reviews i have come across. just what i wanted!
I loved your blog so much that i actually spent three hours reading almost every review you have written. You can count me as a fan!
Keep up the awesome work.
Take care.
29. Kathy | January 19, 2012 at 10:33 am
Thanks for the wonderful compliments, Amrendra! I’m glad that you enjoy my reviews.
30. Amrendra Saxena | January 19, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Pleasure is all mine ma’am! Next time a movie releases, its gonna be ur blog i’d be looking for! BTW even i am an occasional blogger, would love it if u check it out…its practicallyethicalacp.blogspot.com!!
31. Himanshu Desai | January 26, 2012 at 7:19 am
Hi,
Glad to read your perspective on Bollywood movies. I am an avid moviegoer and I thus appreciate your views on good as well as bad movies of Bollywood. Well, for Tamil and Telugu films, I am as subtitle-stuck as I guess, you are. I watched 7aum Arivu (watched in Telugu as “7th sense” ), it’s good but not worthy enough to write a review upon (what say Chandru?). Being a non-Tamilian, I might not be the apt person to give you Tamil movie recommendations, but I strongly emphasize you to watch any of the Gautam Menon movies (wiki him; his all the movies except last one are hit and truly, classic; especially Vinnaithandi varuvaya; the hindi remake Ek Deewana Tha, will hit theatres soon).
I shout out about movies and music at my blog Bollywood Dil Se; would be glad if you visit back.
32. Kathy | January 26, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Thanks for the recommendation, Himanshu. I see that Gautham Menon is directing Ek Deewana Tha, so that will be a good introduction for me.
33. Umang | February 14, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Is it better to watch Hindi movies dubbed into English or to read subtitles in a non-dubbed version.
34. Kathy | February 14, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Hi, Umang. I prefer reading subtitles to watching movies with dubbed dialog. I can’t help but notice the way the movements of the actors mouths don’t match up with the spoken dialog, so I find dubbing distracting.
35. ketu | March 4, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Hi Kathy,
Some pretty interesting reviews. I haven’t had a chance to browse all if your site so I’m not sure if you have seen the following two films:
No Smoking (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995740/)
Rock On!! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230165/)
Two very different films which go out of the way from your conventional Bollywood, for which reason I like to call them Hindi films and _not_ Bollywood films. The first one is very interesting and I would love to hear your thoughts on it so watch them if you haven’t already.
Ketu x
36. Kathy | March 4, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Hi, Ketu. I’m glad you like the site, and thanks for recommending No Smoking. Rock On!! was one of the first films I reviewed, back when I was writing for the local paper (that’s why the review is so short). I really liked it. It’s the movie that made me a big Farhan Akhtar fan. Here’s a link to the review:
http://accessbollywood.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/movie-review-rock-on-2008/