Unfortunately there are only two episodes in this series about Bollywood. I wish there were more, because Anita Rani provides an entertaining and insightful look into Bollywood and its intersection with society, history, racism, and western (white) culture.
In episode 1, Anita Rani provides an exuberant and personal look at Bollywood and it's more than a film industry. It is India. We see filming of The Raid, the incredibly work of two foley artists who can make sounds out of anything (their studio resembles a junkyard), and how a costume designer has 20 separate workshops for female outfits - up to 100 men working on a single garment! The episode wraps up in Rajasthan where a director is filming a massive battle scene. We learn that the Foreign Co-ordinator recruits "westerners" just hours before filming to play the British soldiers. This means Bulgarians, Germans, French folk (white ones) can pass off as English soldiers without any problem.
In episode 2, Anita Rani meets white westerners, mostly British folks it seems (Colchester, Birmingham, Brighton) who star in Bollywood movies, getting around 1,000 pounds a month, which goes a long way in Mumbai sort of. Liverpudlian Amy Jackson, based in Chennai (80% of Indian films are made outside of Mumbai) is a huge star, and we see her in the production of the film 2.0. Amy has 4 million Instagram followers and according to Wikipedia, her partner is Greek.
Anita also touches the taboo subject of skin-whitening products, and may go to explain why some Bollywood films have a bevy of white women, which Anita explains doesn't represent the embodiment of Indian female beauty.
Anita also talks to a couple of actresses (an Indian-English and an Australian of middle eastern descent) about whether there's "casting couch" exploitation in Bollywood. Anita doesn't say metoo but we know what she is seeking to uncover.
Anita also visits Film City on the outskirts of Mumbai and looks at the filming of Padmaavat, a controversial movie causing riots galore.
Neha Kamra, a famous make-up artist is interviewed, and recalls how until 2015 women were banned from being make-up artists in Bollywood.
Anita isn't afraid to look at the huge inequality between the super-rich and the massive number of poor folk, and uses Antilia as a backdrop. Antilia was built by multi-billionaire Mukesh Ambani and houses himself and four other members of his family. Anita's not afraid to give shade. She visits the production of Mere Pyare Prime Minister, a gritty movie by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra that tackles serious issues, in this case sanitation.
It's a shame this series only had two episodes. Wish it had more.
In episode 1, Anita Rani provides an exuberant and personal look at Bollywood and it's more than a film industry. It is India. We see filming of The Raid, the incredibly work of two foley artists who can make sounds out of anything (their studio resembles a junkyard), and how a costume designer has 20 separate workshops for female outfits - up to 100 men working on a single garment! The episode wraps up in Rajasthan where a director is filming a massive battle scene. We learn that the Foreign Co-ordinator recruits "westerners" just hours before filming to play the British soldiers. This means Bulgarians, Germans, French folk (white ones) can pass off as English soldiers without any problem.
In episode 2, Anita Rani meets white westerners, mostly British folks it seems (Colchester, Birmingham, Brighton) who star in Bollywood movies, getting around 1,000 pounds a month, which goes a long way in Mumbai sort of. Liverpudlian Amy Jackson, based in Chennai (80% of Indian films are made outside of Mumbai) is a huge star, and we see her in the production of the film 2.0. Amy has 4 million Instagram followers and according to Wikipedia, her partner is Greek.
Anita also touches the taboo subject of skin-whitening products, and may go to explain why some Bollywood films have a bevy of white women, which Anita explains doesn't represent the embodiment of Indian female beauty.
Anita also talks to a couple of actresses (an Indian-English and an Australian of middle eastern descent) about whether there's "casting couch" exploitation in Bollywood. Anita doesn't say metoo but we know what she is seeking to uncover.
Anita also visits Film City on the outskirts of Mumbai and looks at the filming of Padmaavat, a controversial movie causing riots galore.
Neha Kamra, a famous make-up artist is interviewed, and recalls how until 2015 women were banned from being make-up artists in Bollywood.
Anita isn't afraid to look at the huge inequality between the super-rich and the massive number of poor folk, and uses Antilia as a backdrop. Antilia was built by multi-billionaire Mukesh Ambani and houses himself and four other members of his family. Anita's not afraid to give shade. She visits the production of Mere Pyare Prime Minister, a gritty movie by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra that tackles serious issues, in this case sanitation.
It's a shame this series only had two episodes. Wish it had more.
