Whether your wallet was drained by the holidays or you’re saving up for the spring break of a lifetime, spring semester can be hard on a collegiette’s budget, which might mean cutting back on going out. Next time you and your friends are short on cash, Netflix instant streaming might be your new BFF. When that time comes, I recommend the Bollywood film “Dhoom 2.”
“Dhoom 2” is the story of Jai Dixit and his best friend Ali Kahn, two cops who are trying to capture a master thief, known as Mr. A because of his signature of leaving a metal “A” in the place of his stolen treasure. Though Jai is extremely clever, Mr. A is always one step ahead, and after several failed attempts to capture A, Jai commissions Sunehri, a beautiful thief with a tendency to talk in the third person, to find out A’s identity. Unknowingly, Mr. A reluctantly takes Sunehri on as a partner and through disguises, the two fall in love, and Sunehri’s loyalties are put to the test.
By American standards, the plot seems a little trite, but this isn’t your average buddy cop movie, this is Bollywood, complete with songs, impressive dance numbers, and colorful costumes, and all excessively beautiful, exotic actors your eyes can handle. The great thing about Bollywood films is that they aren’t afraid to be trite or over the top. It’s just fun entertainment. That you don’t have to take too seriously.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Bollywood, as I was when I watched the movie there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, not everything that happens in the movie ties in, so don’t focus too much on the details because they often get lost in the complicated plot. In American cinema, we’re used to the idea that everything that happens is significant and will eventually come back into play, but this movie isn’t structured that way. Don’t try to be Sherlock Holmes, you’ll drive yourself crazy. Another Bollywood tip is not to be too strict in your definition of “musical.”
The movie often whisks you away to a new location that doesn’t seem to have much to do with the plot for the over the top musical numbers. Just go with the flow, because Bollywood stars have some fabulous dance moves. You’ll probably find yourself singing and dancing to the catchy tunes for days after. One of my favorite parts of the Bollywood movie is that kissing is a huge deal. As accustomed as Americans are to scandalous sex scenes, it was refreshing to see onscreen chemistry that wasn’t all physical. I, for one, am all for making the onscreen kiss a big deal again. It’s sweet, innocent and requires actors to be able to communicate love in ways that transcend the physical.
“Dhoom 2” guarantees a fun night in. You’ll have plenty of laughs, a few gasps and even the occasional “awww.” Who knows, you might even pick up some sweet moves to show off next time you make an appearance on the dance floor.