and there's only one Lolo, too :-)

Dil To Pagal Hai (dir. Yash Chopra, 1997) is yet another film in the YashRaj tradition of fluffy, spun-sugar romances, its tag line "someone, somewhere is made for you" tipping us off to its happy ending (even if it's a happy ending with a bit of a twist).  It starred Shahrukh Khan as (of course) Rahul, a dancer and director of a dance troupe, and Madhuri Dixit as Pooja, the dancer who replaces Rahul's star, Nisha, when she breaks her foot.

Nisha is played by the incomparable Karisma Kapoor (AKA "Lolo"), sister of Bebo (Kareena Kapoor).  The role of Nisha in Dil To Pagal Hai (a role she got only after it had been turned down by the likes of Kajol and Juhi Chawla, amongst others) earned Karisma a National Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Choreographer Shiamak Davar also won a National Award for Best Choreographer for his work on the film.  Dil To Pagal Hai was his first film as choreographer, and he, of course, has gone on to choreograph for films such as Taal, Dhoom 2, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and, most recently, Game (amongst others).

So, combine the marvellous Lolo with the award-winning steps of Shiamak Davar, and what do you get?  The song that opens the film, "Le Gayi":

 

 

Word is that Karisma will be returning to films after a break of five years, during which time she's had two children.  I can hardly wait to see her back on the screen!

Comments

[Maxqnz]

I really want to get into Lolo's films for aesthetic reasons - I can't believe how good she looks these days! I saw DTPH a few years ago, and remember being underwhelmed, but watching this song again shocked me. I'm an Asha fan, but finally heard what others have said about her being guilty of staying on too long like her didi. I actually thought it WAS Lata at first, so reedy and croaky. Not sure how many of Lolo's films I'll make it through if I have to erndure both sisters way past their prime.

[katherine]

I'm not a huge fan of DTPH -- though I have to say, there are bits of it I do like, but YashRaj romances never have been my cup of tea -- but I do like Lolo in it. I think I can look at it now and see it as a product of an era, and appreciate all the funky looks and the dance moves -- and you can really see the trademark Shiamak Davar moves here, I like seeing a choreographer who has kind of a definitive style that I can pick out in films.

I know what you mean about Lata and Asha -- I think since I've been spending so much time watching older films and listening to their voices at their prime, it gets hard to accept them when they are obviously past that. It's funny, I was having this discussion with someone else on a similar topic -- generally, how it must be hard for creative types to keep on working, keep on creating when they obviously have the love and the inspiration and desire to do so. But how do they transition to a way of working, a way of creating, when they can't do what they've always done, for obvious reasons that we all get older and change and have to adapt to that somehow.

In any case, I do think Lolo is worth watching, no matter what. It took a while for her to grow on me, but I've really come to appreciate her.

[Maxqnz]

I'll give DTPH another go when I do my Lolo retrospective, thanks. I really think both Kapoor sisters have grown into their beauty over time and are now stunning in their 30s.

As for creative adaptation, I think Clint Eastwood's a great example. Surely there must a path for singers that would be analagous to the actor-director shift?

[katherine]

Agreed re: the Kapoor sisters, I think they are beautiful. But I think the same about many of the actresses in their thirties, from the Kapoors, to Rani, to Kajol -- and I think it's a shame that for whatever reasons they don't work, they don't get work. Plus, they're all talented, too, which makes it even sadder.

Didn't I read at one point that Lata had a production company? Or did? That would seem to be the way to go, either in music production, bringing up the next generation of talent, or even film production. But even some of the actors in the 40s (and beyond) seem unable to make the shift to the kinds of roles that would suit them better. Unable, or unwilling. Not sure which. I would say that traditional Bollywood hero is a hard place to shift out from :-)

[Beth]

I was just wondering if Karisma was going to make an appearance in our little festival! I don't care for her work at all, but I do admire how she seems to give it her all no matter what dreck she's in!

[katherine]

I think Karisma is terrific. I'd been kind of wary of the come-back vehicle, but reading the news about it today, it sounds just a bit intriguing and challenging for her, so that could be interesting.

I'm hoping to do more on her before the month ends. It took me a while to warm up to her, but I did, and I like her and Kareena equally, I think.

[Maxqnz]

I was a bit disappointed to read of Lolo's comeback film, simply because that genre is not my cup of tea, but I look forward to more from her, and hope that her return and the growing presence of female leads in their 30s might see more meaningful and interesting films for these women - Lol, Bebo, Kajol, Preity, Rani etc.

[katherine]

Agreed, genre-wise not my thing, either, and I did have a bit of a head wobble at today's news at it being five characters or some such thing, you'd think they'd want to give that a rest after Priyanka tried the multiples twice :-)

But, if it gets her back working, if it gives her something juicy to act in, I'll see it. :-)