Movie Review: “Delhi Belly”
Its theme song, “Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose,” has already become a rebellious anthem for young Indians giddy about the expletive hidden in its lyrics.
And the first three minutes of Delhi Belly make it clear that this is not a family film: Viewers bothered by butt cracks, the F-word, simulated cunnilingus and rude behavior in burqas are advised to spend their rupees elsewhere.
But director Abhinay Deo and producer Aamir Khan’s gleeful experiment in Hangover-caliber humor delivers the laughs, and its young stars, including Khan’s nephew, A-lister Imran Khan, rise to the challenge.
The film, which is in English with a bit of subtitled Hindi dialogue, has already become a sensation in India. Now its appeal to open-minded audiences in the diaspora — and to curious viewers anywhere ready for a film that shows India in an irreverent post-Slumdoglight — seems assured.
It not only seems like an entertaining movie (the main comparison I’ve seen is to the terrific film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), it appears to be a departure from the norm of what generally gets produced in India.
And so a few questions to GITS readers who follow Bollywood: If you’ve seen Delhi Belly, what was your reaction to it? And do you think this opens the door to a more ‘independent’ style of films emerging from India?
UPDATE: Spurred on by a comment from Annika, I checked it out and sure enough, Delhi Belly is playing in Union City, CA here.
UPDATE #2: Blab., who saw the movie and didn’t particularly care for it, was kind enough to note that it is playing in the L.A. area: Culver Plaza Theatre and Laemmle’s Fallbrook 7.