Deep Dive Into Throwback Bollywood Movies With Amal Hasan

Discover your newest binge and get to know our staff a little better with Asia Society Texas team's favorite ways to stay entertained! Through our Deep Dive features, we take you on a journey into the interests of individual staff members for an in-depth look at an art form, genre, or pastime.

Meet Amal

Amal Hasan has been with Asia Society Texas for five years and serves as as Performing Arts and Culture Programs Manager. A Pakistani American by heritage, she shares a profound passion for Asian culture, history, arts, cuisine, and performances.

Why I'm focusing on throwback Bollywood movies

From my childhood, I've been a loyal viewer of Bollywood movies. It was a cherished family tradition to attend a Bollywood movie screening at the theater annually. During my student years, especially the summers, I shared memorable moments with my grandmother, bonding over classic Bollywood films.

What I've recently enjoyed

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
India, 2023, 168 minutes
Director: Karan Johar
Synopsis: Flamboyant Punjabi Rocky and intellectual Bengali journalist Rani fall in love despite their differences. After facing family opposition, they decide to live with each other's relatives for three months before getting married.

Amal's notes: A charming movie that intertwines love, family dynamics, heartfelt moments, and personal growth all while showcasing vibrant visuals.

What I find myself returning to again and again

Amar Akbar Anthony
India, 1977, 184 minutes
Director: Manmohan Desai
Synopsis: Three brothers are separated and united after many years — one is brought up a Hindu, another a Muslim, and the last, a Christian. Hilarity and adventure ensue.

Amal's notes: A must-watch for all Bollywood movie lovers! There's humor, action, and heart with an unforgettable tale of unity, family bonds, and triumph over adversity.

Chandni
India, 1989, 179 minutes
Director: Yash Chopra
Synopsis: Rohit and Chandni become engaged in spite of their families' refusal due to their class differences, but when Rohit loses the function of his legs in a road accident, he leaves Chandni rather than placing a burden on her. Years later, Rohit has made a full recovery, and sets out to find Chandni, but when he does, she is engaged to another man.

Amal's notes: A timeless romance with heartfelt performances and a story of love, strength, and the hope of new beginnings.

Jodhaa Akbar
India, 2008, 214 minutes
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Synopsis: Epic romance, set in 16th-century India, about the love story between Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar, the Mughal Emperor of Hindustan, and Rajput princess Jodhaa. In order to extend his empire, Akbar agrees to a marriage of alliance to young and fiery Jodhaa but soon realizes he has to defend his choice of bride as his courtiers voice their displeasure at the idea of their Muslim Emperor marrying a Hindu.

Amal's notes: This movie about a timeless love story is beyond beautiful. It showcases an important aspect of life: that love can grow from even the most unlikely circumstances, transcending barriers of culture, history, and religion.

Bollywood movies that I look forward to watching again

Jab We Met
India, 2007, 142 minutes
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Synopsis: Aditya, a heartbroken tycoon on the verge of committing suicide, aimlessly boards a train. He meets Geet, a high-spirited girl who plans to elope with her lover, and finds himself pulled into her crazy life.

Amal's notes: One of my favorite movies of all time! It effortlessly blends humor, heart, and memorable performances to create an enchanting movie experience to relive again and again.

Mohabbatein
India, 2000, 215 minutes
Director: Aditya Chopra
Synopsis: Six sprightly, vivacious young students come to study in Gurukul. They do the forbidden. They fall in love. The patriarch is outraged. The lovers feel helpless. Gradually they start accepting that their relationships were probably doomed from the start.

Amal's notes: In this coming-of-age film, tradition clashes with love, and the stories of different students falling in love and standing up for themselves — along with the amazing musical numbers — make this a wholesome watch.

A Bollywood movie that excites me

Dil To Pagal Hai
India, 1997, 180 minutes
Director: Yasho Chopra
Synopsis: Rahul is the director of a successful music and dance group and considers Nisha his best friend. Secretly, she is madly in love with him. Following an injury, new dancer Pooja joins the company and Rahul finds himself falling for her, but she is engaged to Ajay who is the son of the family who raised Pooja following her parents' death. As preparations for the new show progress, will Rahul decide on a happy ending?

Amal's notes: A true musical romantic film that celebrates old and newfound love, friendships, and pursuing one's dream through the love of performance.

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
India, 2009, 144 minutes
Director: Rajikumar Santoshi
Synopsis: Prem encounters Jenny during one of his 'Happy Club' escapades and goes crazy about her. Oblivious to his feelings, she sees him as a friend and claims to be in love with Rahul. However, things can change if she realizes what her heart truly wants.

Amal's notes: A movie to uplift one's spirit through a love story with hilarious misunderstandings, heartfelt moments, and endearing characters.

My wildcard recommendation

Chak De! India
India, 2007, 149 minutes
Director: Shimit Amin
Synopsis: After failing to score the winning goal, men's hockey team captain Kabir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) is blamed for the team's loss and fired. Years later he is given a chance to salvage his reputation, when he is offered the position as coach of the women's hockey team. One of his star players, Vidya (Vidya Malvade), is forced to convince her tradition-minded parents that she should be allowed to play as the team prepares for a big tournament in Australia.

Amal's notes: An inspiring movie about a group of women hockey players who overcome adversity with their coach and defy the odds to prove their worth on the national stage, inspiring a nation in the process.

Taal
India, 1999, 181 minutes
Director: Subhash Ghai
Synopsis: Manav, the son of a wealthy family, visits Chamba, India, for a vacation, and he meets the beautiful Mansi who has a heavenly voice. Manav and Mansi bond together, and they fall passionately in love.

Amal's notes: A movie that takes you on a cinematic journey with its scenic landscapes, unforgettable music, and captivating dance performances to tell a story about love, ambition, and culture.

About APAH Month at Asia Society Texas

Beginning in 2021, Asia Society Texas has celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Houston community and beyond through a curated calendar of events for 31 ways to celebrate over the 31 days of May. Spotlighting the traditions, talents, and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans, the calendar highlights the month's key Asia Society programming, providing a platform to showcase local artists, performers, educators, and leaders who contribute to the vibrant, multicultural tapestry of Houston while also featuring staff recommendations for our favorite music, books, movies, and more by Asian and Asian American creatives.

At Asia Society Texas, APAH Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor Asians and Asian Americans and to uplift their stories to a broader audience as part of our goal to inspire our larger community to better understand one another through culture, conversation, and connection. For information about sponsoring APAH Month and other projects like this one, please contact Saleena Jafry at [email protected] or 713.496.9939.

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About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.