Ever since I launched Filmi Geek more than 5 years ago, I have stuck pretty firmly to my format: movie reviews, 600-1000 words in length. For the most part, I haven't been tempted to write posts with compilations or lists.
But for the celebration of women in Hindi cinema going on this month, hosted by the Totally Filmi blog, I've decided to do something a little different. I've seen so many posts over the years by so many bloggers paying tribute to the hottest stars, the chocolate heroes who light up their dreams, the swoon-worthy stars who make their hearts go pitter-pat. And I decided I wanted in on this action, and a chance to offer a lesbian perspective what is sexy about Hindi movies.
After all, there's only so much serious feminist thinking a girl can do. And I've done plenty of that, here on Filmi Geek and elsewhere too. But once in a while, even an earnest geek like me just wants to kick back and enjoy some of the eye candy that Hindi movies have to offer.
In the name of Research (*cough*), I performed extensive field studies, scouring YouTube for the best chest-heaving, midriff-baring goodness I could find. And so without further ado, here is a sampling of the filmi women who turn me into a slack-jawed heap of "guh".
Sharmila Tagore
I was recently talking to Beth about her reaction to Saif Ali Khan in Agent Vinod, and while I agreed that he's not bad for a fellow, I had to say that his mother is really more my speed. This song is Exhibit A - the dimples, the midriff, and oh those hips ... Sharmila is the one star for whom I have reserved the title "Crushasaurus", and she is just good enough to eat.
Madhubala
Two words: lickable collarbones. But in this song from Mughal-e-azam it is the coquettish facial expressions that get to me, especially when she bites her lip - GUH. Oh, and those hips - have I mentioned that I have a weakness for a nicely curved pair of hips? Still scraping my jaw off the floor years later...
Madhuri Dixit
Aww hells to the yeah. Madhuri is so delicious that she gets more than one video in this post. First, and most obvious, a song that has three stars: Madhuri and choli ke peeche jo hain... I have a good friend who is a 50-ish lesbian, born and raised in the most genteel city in the American south. She prides herself on her poise, level head, and gift for understatement. When I showed her this song, she was quiet for a long time ... and finally allowed, "Cute gal."
But Madhuri is more than just T & A in semi-traditional dress; she is sizzling hot in a modern milieu as well. I love her look and her moves in this bit of Prabhu Deva genius.
I could go on, and on, and on ... but I'll content myself with one more. This song, from an otherwise thoroughly forgettable movie that I never even got all the way through, does very, very bad things to me. If I wasn't queer before I saw it, I would be after. And again, with the hips!
Aruna Irani
In my review of Caravan, I praised Aruna's midriff as a magnificent character in its own right. This song summarizes why - yum.
Nadira
Rawwrr!
And she's from my tribe, too.
Rani Mukherjee
I think Rani is adorable, a particular type of adorable that is very, very sexy. I had a hard time choosing a song that encapulates what is sexy about her, though. In this song from Yuva, she shows a very smoldering, sensual side - and for that, for its mature sexuality, it's as good a choice as any.
Edit: I can't believe I forgot to mention this next song. WHAT WAS I THINKING. Dil bole hadippa is dripping with delightful subtext that plays right into my obsession with butch style. So, despite the rodent-faced Rakhi Sawant, this song of Rani's definitely makes me sit up and take notice - that's quite an impressive rod you've got there, Rani.
Zeenat Aman
An obvious choice, but hey - she's got it, and it works on me. I thought about highlighting one of Raj Kapoor's skinfest songs from Satyam shivam sundaram - some of them are lovely, even steeped as they are in the male gaze. But I settled for this one instead, from the full-on wackadoodle masala joyride that is The Great Gambler. I understand just how Amitabh Bachchan and Prem Chopra feel during this one.
Because, you know, hips. And midriff. And hips.
Vidya Balan
Like everyone else in the known universe, I am high on Vidya Balan these days. However, unlike everyone else, I am behind the 8-ball and haven't yet seen The Dirty Picture (I'm saving it for a special moment). So I'm not going to offer up a song for Vidya. Instead, I'll just present this picture, which perfectly captures much of what it is about Vidya that lights up my girl-parts. This is the kind of woman who reminds me why I like women. GUH.
mmmm... hm? what was that? oh, right - writing a blog post, I remember now.
Shabana Azmi
You didn't think I'd get all the way through this post without mentioning her, did you? She doesn't quite fit with the others here, because what turns me on most about her is what is between her ears, not what's beneath her blouse. Which is not to say that she isn't stunning in her own right! In this song from the amazing movie Godmother, she is fierce and gorgeous as a group of women dance for her drunken pleasure.
And for pure heart-melting beauty, I don't know of a better song than this bittersweet ghazal from Arth:
But now I've drifted far away from the spirit of this post. So let me close with something that puts the mind (well, my mind, at least) back in the proper frame of reference ...
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