By Dhanashree Ramachandram
BOSTON–Not just food, but we like the desi entertainment unprocessed, unfiltered, organic, and true to nature as well. The latest OTT and feature film trends in content from India confirm that.
One movie that’s on the top of the charts of original entertainment is Manoj Bajpayee’s “Bhaiyya JI”. Bhaiyya Ji was released worldwide earlier this year and did quite well in theaters.
Here is good news if you missed watching it in the theaters. You can watch Bhaiyya Ji on ZEE5. Catch the ZEE5 world premiere of Bhaiyya Ji on Friday, July 26.
Bollywood might as well be a gene in the DNA of Indian Americans for the fascinating impact it has on us. I mean, there is cinema in general, and then there is Bollywood. Bollywood- a bit too loud at times, a bit heightened, even melodramatic, but hey, that’s the side of us that still connects to the motherland in all its glory.
Bollywood makes up for the distance and quite literally the day and night differences in the culture. Bollywood movies deliver the essence of India- some more effectively than others. Bhaiyya Ji is loved by the audiences for its unapologetic portrayal of life in North India. The twist is the rendering that takes the best from films that are synonymous with South India. Bhaiyya Ji is an experience you don’t want to miss.
Bhaiyya Ji is predominantly a story of love of a brother that takes a turn to be a story of revenge.
We see many hues of love in the film that are unique to the Indian psyche, for example, an entire village that acts like one entity with one mind or appreciation that manifests as extreme respect or even fear. Manoj Bajpayee carries the larger-than-life hero, Bhaiyya Ji, quite effortlessly. In Bhaiyya Ji we see an organic extension of Bhikhu Mhatre from Satya, Sardar Khan from Gangs of Wasseypur, Shrikant Tiwari from the Family Man and all other beloved characters that Manoj Bajpayee has played in the past.
One word for the director, Apoorva Singh Karki- brilliant. He seems to have mastered the art of taking the audience through the dark tunnel of injustice to the light and how! Whether it’s Sirf Ek Banda Kafi Hai or Bhaiyya Ji, we can’t but appreciate his subtle, yet detailed and raw, yet refined style of storytelling. The entire ensemble adds to the intensity and thrill. It’s a treat for Bollywood lovers, that’s us. Catch the world premiere of Bhaiyya Ji on ZEE5 on July 26th.