Well versed in Bolly-speak, the bloggers have also picked up a smattering of Hindi which they sprinkle into their blogs and every-day conversations. So if you accuse them of intellectualising Bollywood, they will scream like any self-respecting Bharatiya Nari confronted with unspeakable slander: Yeh jhooth hai! They collectively drool over Shashi Kapoor (unanimously voted Best Actor by most female bloggers), are fascinated by villains like Pran and Amrish Puri and can hold a long debate over whether Dev in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna was a convincing character or not.

Apart from wanting to visit India—there are some bloggers who have managed to do so— the frequent wish of most female bloggers is to be able to break into song and dance at the drop of the hat. Not to mention manoeuvre themselves through costume changes, get into that chiffon sari for that timely rain shower, and pant prettily while anticipating the lover’s touch. Aaj rapat jaye, indeed!
Which brings us to the music. “I first came to Bollywood through the music, by way of compilation CDs and Bollywood clip shows on American cable TV,” says Todd Stadtman, author of The Lucha Diaries.

Ask these bloggers some of their favourite songs, and prepare to be flooded with songs from the yesteryears such as Kisne pukara mujhe from Pyar Kiye Ja and recent gems like Kabhi neem neem from Yuva. “The music, both on its own and in picturisations in the context of the films, the colors, and all the lovely romance is magical to watch,” says Watkins. In the middle of chaos, social inequality, war or family feud, what sets these movies apart are the songs, evidence of Bollywood’s “big, squishy dil”.

... contd.