Pasand Apni Apni

   

      In the Indian film, Pasand Apni Apni (1983), the differences between lower class, middle class, and upper class are clearly portrayed in three main characters: Geeta (Rati Agnihotri), Sandeep Anand (Mithun Chakraborty), and Sriram Chaudhary (Utpal Dutt).

      Geeta is lower class. She lives in a dinky apartment-like building with her brother and her mother. They eat small homemade meals together on the floor. Because they are so poor, Geeta's mother and brother rely on her for financial support. She works as a dancer for Sriram Chaudhary and is constantly arriving to work late due to her own tendencies as well as transportation inconsistencies. In general, it seems like the lower class are less puntual. Her clothes are simple (besides the ones she wears dancing), yet beautiful. She never takes taxis or rides in cars because they are too expensive. Even Sriram Chaudhary, her boss, doesn't usually. Instead, she takes an extremely crowded bus or walks. At the beginning of the movie, Geeta is having a hard time paying rent and is in debt to her landlord. She doesn't eat out often, but when she does, she goes to a more casual place because of prices. Geeta's life is hard, but it's not terrible.

       Sriram Chaudhary is middle class. He owns a play-making franchise and relies on a group of sponsors to continue running his business. During most of the movie, he doesn't have any money to pay his sponsors back and they are growing impatient with them. In their presence, he is helpless, but when he is with his employees, he becomes extremely controlling and bossy. It is probably because of his impatience and anxiety over his lack of money and their demand for it that stirs his anger towards the young actresses. He is also just unreasonable, though. His clothing is moderately nice (ex: shiny black hat) and his style is a bit merchant-like. He is very money hungry, even though he's at a reasonably good place in life. When he finds evidence leading him to believe Sandeep, one of the richest men in Bombay, is in love with his employee Geeta, he decides to take advantage of Sandeep's wealth. There is a stereotype that may be attached to that correlation; that middle class people aren't in need, yet they still want more and more. it is more probable, however, that those are just characteristics of Sriram in particular, as the movie seems to speak against prejudice. 

      Sandeep Anand is upper class. He is the head of a giant franchise and lives by himself in a house with "ten or twelve rooms." He wears suits and "nicer" western clothing and he can write out checks for 100,000 rupees on a whim. He is the only character who has a habit of smoking, a more expensive habit. He has a very professional air about him at his work place and he is very intelligent and assertive. Because he is so rich and respected, people recognize him wherever he goes (unless he's disguised, of course). He is also able to do pretty much whatever he wants. He can chase Geeta around, because he doesn't need to work for a living twenty-four seven - or at all, really. Being rich also probably encourages a sense of being able to have whatever he wants (Geeta, for example). On the reverse, however, he is accountable to his whole company and does hold a lot of responsibility.  

      Ideals of privacy, individualism, and community are more subtly expressed in the film. Geeta is a mixture of pride in the poor community and independent fire. She reminds me of a representative for a group; she is very much her own, yet she loves and cares about "her people". Her problem is that she is very biased against rich people. This however, makes sense. They seem to hold their ease of life over the poor, to her, and she simply doesn't understand them. 

      Sriram doesn't seem to really care who he associates with, as long as it benefits him. For example, he is extremely friendly to Geeta, because she is his connection to Sandeep. He then literally worships Sandeep, because he is his connection to money.

      Sandeep, although he is so rich, has no prejudices against the poor, only petty girls. He is so comfortable with them, that he dresses up as on and then falls in love with one, Geeta. he has mercy towards them as well, and gives Sriram 100,000 rupees. He also seemed to have been showing his money off, however. He is able to have literal privacy (be alone at home), but publicly he is known everywhere, though he doesn't seem to mind. The poor, on the other hand, are around people plenty, but are known of by no one.

      We never see Sriram's living conditions, but we do see Geeta's and Sandeep's and they are quite different. Geeta's house looks as if it is two or three rooms. The whole house is small and somewhat cluttered, but the family is close. it would be physically uncomfortable to live in such conditions, but it would be emotionally and spiritually reviving to have such close family. Living in such a home contributed to Geeta's bias against rich people. It also contributed to her loyalty to her family. Although Geeta is depicted as being among the poor, that probably isn't accurate for that time in Bombay. Around fifty percent of the people were living in the slums in Bombay in the 1980's. Geeta isn't quite living in the slums. The government probably wouldn't have allowed the producers to create a true representation of the poor, because it would raise awareness. 

      As mentioned previously, Sandeep's house is giant. He has twelve rooms all to himself. His bedroom is beautiful, and he sleeps alone in a king-sized bed. He has his own servants, who serve him tea and such. Physically, his life is luxurious, but he is very lonely. his rich position in life causes him to be able to help Geeta monumentally, but it also means she is prejudiced against his true identity when it is uncovered. 

      The urban dream in Bombay during the 1980's was probably right in between where Geeta was and where Sandeep was. They wanted to be hardworking and family oriented, but they also wanted to be reasonably comfortable. For some people, they may have wanted simply to be rich, but there were also a lot of people like Geeta, who held grudges against the rich. This was probably because they felt that people with money should be helping them more instead of spending it on only themselves.

Alibaba and the 40 Thieves

          

 

      Alibaba Aur 40 Chor, a Bollywood film from 1980, will bring you through many twists and turns, and finally leave you - nicely. Because the film was directed by two directors, one Russian and one Indian, and because the film is based off of one of the Arabian Night tales, it shows a lot of mixing of cultures, not to mention India's disposition toward America. The music is still very much Indian, but it is a bit more simplistic and has a western feel to it. There is even some disco influence, especially highlighted when Fatima dances for the 40 thieves on a lit up disco floor. Not only has the music lost some of its color, but the dance sequels in the film are less authentic than other Bollywood films. There is less jerkiness, probably because of the Russian and Western influence. There are many strange special effects, including an open sesame cliff and waterfall, a giant sea turtle in Abu Hassan's hideout, Hassan's Djinn, the multiplication of Abu Hassan (and disappearance of thereafter), and the various lightings and mists in Abu Hassan's hideout. At the beginning of the film, some incredible stunts are performed by the 40 thieves on their horses. Another unusual aspect of this Indo-Russian film is the use of so many landscapes. Throughout the movie, we are taken through dessert, village, forest, mountain, and grove. There is no food in the film, but water is highlighted, as there is a shortage of it. The story itself, although adapted from the Arabian Nights' stories, is very much it's own diverse creation, with characters who disguise their messages, rather blatantly, through song.
    
     Really, the film is a mishmash of Indian, Russian, Arabian, and American culture. The disco floor is definitely American, but the real question is, why? It doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the movie. Most likely, it was added for interest and to add to the bizzare eclectic feel of Abu Hassan's creepy hideout. Disco was popular at the time and was probably listened to by a wide audience, including Indians. Some other elements seemingly added for the same reason are the giant turtle, and the misty pool where the djinn comes out of. The turtle looked as if it were green screened into the background of the room it was in. As for the djinn, herself, she served this purpose too, but she also was probably a filler in for plot gaps and a result of the Arabian side of things. The djinn looks as if she were filmed seperate, turned transparent, and edited in. The open sesame cliff and waterfall seem to have a bit of the adventurous influence of the West, but also probably originate from the Arabian story, somehow. It looks as if it is a miniature set using a split screen to edit the characters in. The stunts on the horses at the beginning are a mixture of western and Arabian influence. They are very impressive and might have been inspired from the western spaghetti's in the West. They were probably used to give the 40 thieves a sense of both recklessness and skill. The landscape aspect of the film probably had to do with the Russian influence. They were familiar with other settings and wanted to include them. Some scenes in the movie may have been filmed in Russia, in order to achieve this purpose.
 
     The result of a movie with so many fused cultures is a film that is watered down in some areas, but holds a larger range of viewers' interest. It is somewhat saddening to see the Indian culture in the movie diluted where it once was a bit more rich and distinct. Signs of this show especially in the music, dress, and speech of the characters. It is also, however, easier on the mind to watch if your not accustomed to Indian film. In the long run, however, I think it's a greater shame to lose the flavor of culture, than to retain it's flavor while holding a smaller audience.
     Another problem with the mixing of cultures is that the fine details and differences within one culture are looked over. The culture is stereotyped into a united image and loses it's variations when projected in the media. When people think of Indian culture, often they either think of Aladdin or Bengal tigers and tribesmen. In reality, India is a whole range of elements, those only being a couple.
      Alibaba and the 40 Thieves was extremely popular in India when it was released - a hit. Even without knowing, I would have guessed as much. It includes so many various elements, even besides culture, that it can relate to a lot of people (Not to mention its inclusion of Hema Malini, who's amazing). For this reason, it was an easy film to like, and very interesting too.

                                                                       Hema Malini

Star Wars

 
Luke Skywalker:
       Luke seems as if he is somewhere in his twenties, making him a baby boomer. He fits the first baby boomer stereotype, the "save the world revolutionaries", rather than the second, the Yuppies. This is because instead of being self centered and letting the world mean nothing more than his world, Luke is focused and driven. He is able to look outside himself to the good of the whole. We see this throughout the first Star Wars movie as he puts himself at constant risk for the sake of saving the world, rather, the galaxy. Luke cares about good and evil and he is not very influenced by emotions or what other people think. He is motivated first by curiosity, the call of adventure, and the beautiful Princess Leia, but as the story builds Luke becomes personally attached to the conflict, especially since he believes Vader killed his father. He is strengthened by the "Force", but is not especially wise or patient. He is also kind, bold, and willing to try new things. Luke is very good with technology, something his world has always been immersed in. Therefore, he seems to have a relationship with it and treats the droids like people. He cares about politics as well, or at least the ones he's involved in such as stopping Darth Vader and the revolution. Luke is curious about dangerous events and has a youthful lack of fear for them. Being intense and focused as he is, Skywalker would probably enjoy action/adventure music, a genre not especially popular for his generation. Luke doesn't always get along with Han because Han is layed back and self-centered, things Luke doesn't understand. Luke does like Obi Wan Kenobi and Princess Leia because they share his same sense of purpose and they too  genuinely care for the world around him.
   
 Princess Leia:
      Princess Leia is also a baby boomer like Luke and shares many of the same characteristics as him. She is, however, more intense than he. This probably stems from the fact she is a princess and has been through a lot, forcing her to grow up very fast. She is also more cynical than he, being angry at first with her rescue since it was not well planned. The princess is motivated by concern for her people and for everyone under the tyranny of Darth Vader and the rest of the dark side. She is extremely loyal to the revolution, willing to be tortured or killed rather than reveal their secrets. Leia is sometimes too intense, being so focused on the bigger picture, she is not always considerate of those around her. Unlike Luke, Leia does not have a friendly relationship with technology like Luke, but takes it for granted, using it as she needs it. She is extremely involved in politics because she is a princess and so she is very involved with the relationships between nations. She is also very involved in the revolution. Princess Leia is not afraid of dangerous events, but would probably prefer peace, something she is fighting for. I can imagine her liking punk rock music, because it is pessimistic like her and has a sense of intensity. The princess, like Luke, doesn't always get along with Han. The difference, however, between her conflict with him and Luke's is that she gives up on Han far more easily and with less concern than Luke. She also gets along with Obi Wan Kenobi and Luke, but she doesn't form as personal a relationship with Obi, since she is so focused.




Han Solo:
     Han Solo is probably either a late millennial or an early baby boomer. He fits the baby boomer "Yuppies" best, however, so that's the option I'll go with. He is a very distinct character, being somewhat of a space cowboy. He is also very layed back and somewhat self-centered, especially in the area of money. Money is his main motivation at first, until he becomes personally involved and starts to truly care about the mission. He is loyal when it comes down to it and he is extremely brave and focused on the present task at hand. He has a hard time caring about any greater good, however, and cares only for those closest to him. Han is good with technology, having used it to upgrade his ship. He relies on it far more than morality and doesn't believe in the "Force". Han doesn't really care about politics, but dangerous scenarios excite him. He would probably like western rock and roll because it's casual yet eccentric, like him. Han doesn't get along with any of the characters really well, but he "get's around". He has a sort of crush on Princess Leia even after she gets mad at him for being so selfish.

Obi Wan Kenobi:
     Obi Wan Kenobi is probably from the Gi, or the greatest Generation. He emulates a lot of the traits of that generation. First of all, he is assertive and an energetic doer. He is a very good team player and he is community-minded. He has no sense of retirement, he is very loyal and is very interested in personal morality and the "Force". He has a broad sense of perception and seems to see beyond the present and beyond his personal feelings. He is also patient and kind, helping the team stay united and true. His motivations aren't personal but have to do with a deep sense of right and wrong and setting the wrong right. Probably his greatest weakness is his age. He cannot live forever and he is not as strong as he once was. It is hard to imagine Obi Wan Kenobi liking any sort of music, but if he were to, he would probably like classical music, because it would bring him a sense of peace. Lastly, Obi didn't have any conflicts with any of the characters, except for Darth Vader, who was on the dark side. He was able to stay at peace with mostly everyone.











Darth Vader:
      Darth Vader is either from the end of the Gi or the beginning of Silent Generation. It makes the most sense for him to be from the end of the Gi, though. He is assertive, personally motivated, and strong of will. He is not community minded and instead of caring for the greater good, he cares only for his own plans and is willing to hurt many to accomplish them. He does have a strong sense of right and wrong, but in a lopsided way where he worships the dark side. He also believes in the "force", though instead of using it for good, he uses it for bad. He is motivated by something the audience doesn't know of, however it seems to be power and the attractive gleam of evil. His biggest weakness is that he is a follower of the dark side, because light is a tangible force, whilst darkness is the lack of light, being weaker. It is also hard to imagine Darth Vader liking any kind of music, but if he did at all, it would probably be harsh and turbulent punk rock or suspenseful music of a dark sort. Because Darth Vader cares only for himself, he causes conflict with the majority of people. The rest are either striving for the same end as he or are brought under his rule by fear.

     
       Although all five Star Wars characters do a good job of portraying their generation, they are also their own person and shaped by their environment, history, and choices. Luke is optimistic, driven, and fearless. Princess Leia is also driven, but pessimistic and intense. Han is layed back and self centered, but very loyal to his own friends. Obi Wan Kenobi is wise, driven, and powerful. Lastly, Darth Vader is didactic, steady, and powerful.