RRR (2022)

(Maybe that's the case for a lot of non-Hollywood films, but it was just an extra thing that made it such a joy to watch.)

Good context:

https://buttondown.email/riteshwriter/archive/6-unpacking-rrr-indian-politics-and-cinema

the video maresnest posted has a good section about how they created those crowd scenes

Daniel's link is very good. This is a much briefer look at the film's hindutva elements: https://strasburgfilm.com/rajamoulis-rrr-saffronisation-and-subtle-hindutva/

(I was refraining from posting here since I haven't actually seen the movie, but nothing in these pieces is remotely surprising given the current context in India)

the video maresnest posted has a good section about how they created those crowd scenes

There were some really interesting details in that video, thanks. Also, young people are exhausting to listen to.

Yes, that Ritesh piece is v good — was going to dig it up to link later.

finally saw the original Telugu version in the theatre on Sunday night - it really really hits different in a theatre as opposed to at home on Netflix

A little belated but echoing Murgatroid re seeing it in a theater. I appreciate that the local Alamo just keeps bringing it back for irregular showings.

I enjoyed the hell out of this movie and greatly enjoyed it but I did spend a good chunk of it going “why are they cutting Ram so much slack, this is basically everyone glorifying ‘the ends justify the means’ to a ludicrous degree, especially Bheem” and then the propaganda parade at the end happened and I felt very much like I was watching the Indian version of a Shen Yun performance

It was massively entertaining and funny, though; not sure I’ll watch it again

extremely fair responses imo. I've also read, but not fully come to terms with, some skeptical political analysis in terms of the narratives/histories/tropes favored under the BJP government and the Hindu right-wing generally.

A couple of key pieces are linked upthread on that very point and you should read them.

Oh! Those are the ones I've read, and agreed! Brain not working.

naatu naatu pops into my head every so often and makes my day much better

Rightly.

I like Naatu Naatu a lot, but I have a hard time believing it would have been nominated for Best Song if it had, say, played over the end credits rather than in its visually exciting dance sequence.

Thus the genius.

They should put singing and dancing in more Indian films.

I have a hard time believing The Fabelmans would have been nominated for Best Original Screenplay if it had just been a three-hour shot of a framed photo of Spielberg's parents and then a quick table-read of the screenplay over the end credits.

ok, ok, ok.
I'm saying maybe it should have won a VMA instead of an Oscar

The choreo and editing are great, but the song hits so hard as an item of “film music” due to its role as a sequential piece of the story imo

Yeah I think a Best Song Oscar should go to something that interacts with the visuals in a meaningful way, as opposed to just a great song that works in any context. If I cared about Oscars, that is.

One thing I will say is if you loved RRR don't make it the only Indian action film you'll ever see - I know the running times and sheer amount of films make it a daunting area to explore but I've been going through Tollywood and Kollywood films like a fiend this year and castigating myself for ignoring this stuff for so long, it's the most pleasure I'm getting out of cinema period these days.