Bollywood Cinema Showcards at the ROM

How could you not love a city where you get this kind of invite in your mail? In anticipation of IIFA 2011 taking place in Toronto,  a number of institutions are organising activities, including the Royal Ontario Museum.

So looking forward to it!

Klein blue

This is the blue I've been obsessed with for quite some time now. Just full of wonder.

Monochrome bleu sans titre (IKB 45), 1960, 27 x 46 cm.

Here's a look at Yves Klein's blue monochromes. A new square bearing his name will be inaugurated this week in Paris 14e. The colour above became known as "International Klein Blue" (IKB).

Hindi films recommendations

So, the Hindi film evening went very well, and both my friends enjoyed the movie to the end. Here are some recommendations: I've selected the ones that moved me, some made well before I was born, but which I discovered through my dad's relentless efforts to make us learn more about them. Additional suggestions are welcome.

Awaara (1951 - Raj Kapoor.
The tramp and the lady, where not everything is actually rosy.
Teesri Manzil (1966) - Vijay Anand.
A thriller, with a love story, and Shammi Kapoor's crazy dance moves.
Abhimaan (1973) - Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Two singers, husband and wife, and what happens when ego enters the equation.
Sholay (1975) - Ramesh Sippy
The ultimate Indian Western movie: two close friends, bandits, revenge, love.
Silsila (1981) - Yash Chopra
Love, duty, betrayal, passion.
Kaash (1987) - Mahesh Bhatt
A husband and wife separate, with a child in the middle.
Lamhe (1991) - Yash Chopra
A movie that ended up being controversial for no reason, with a great love story.
Dilwale Dulhanie Le Jayenge (1995) - Aditya Chopra
THE love story par excellence: the beginning of Punjabi everything in Hindi films.
Virasat (1997) - Priyadarshan
A young man returns from his studies abroad to a rural context that threatens to disrupt all his civilised lessons learnt.
Dil Se (1998) - Mani Ratnam
Shocking, unexpected, heart-rending. No taboos, and no reason in love.
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) - Karan Johar
Sweet, fun and heart-skipping moments, particularly when you're a young girl dreaming of THE one.
Dil Chahta Hai (2001) - Farhan Akhtar
The coming-of-age movie that marked a turning point in Hindi cinema for many of my generation.
Lagaan (2001) - Ashutosh Gowariker
A group of villagers fight for tax exemption from the British through a cricket game. Beautifully done.
Devdas (2002) - Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Opera-like grandeur and excess, gorgeous costumes, a retake on a classic. Went to Cannes, a favourite of many French people I've met.
Yuva (2004) - Mani Ratnam
India's youth represented by 3 very different characters whose lives somehow intersect on a bridge.
Black (2005) - Sanjay Leela Bhansali
A pioneer movie in India. Bare emotions, great acting.
Taare Zameen Par (2007) - Aamir Khan
A sweet story about a dyslexic boy and how he finds his place inside mainstream schooling.
Guru (2007) - Mani Ratnam
Loosely based on Dhirubai Ambani's life: a powerful story with occasional slip-ups, but beautiful music and worth a watch.
3 Idiots (2009) - Raj Kumar Hirani
Adapted from Chetan Bhagat's "Five Point Someone". Poignant in its description of a competitive, rote-learning society, with hope at the end. Also, great humour, love and songs.
Band Baajaa Baraat (2010) - Maneesh Sharma
My favourite of 2010: New Delhi, lovable characters, great cinematography, fun and drama. Above all, total wedding dhamaka.
Peepli Live (2011) - Anusha Rizvi
A satire on the government program that's been set up to compensate the family of the farmers who commit suicide every year because they can't repay their loans.
Dhobi Ghat (2011) - Kiran Rao
Slice of life movie: 4 characters whose lives intersect in New Delhi, with a look at each one's soul-searching.

If you reached the end of this list, maybe you're brave enough to attempt to watch some of them, even if you've never seen a Hindi film before.