Legendary film composer A. R. Rahman will receive an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music in Boston on October 24, 2014. To mark the occasion, Rahman will perform a concert with the school’s Indian Ensemble. Proceeds from the concert benefit a scholarship in Rahman’s name that provides funds for Indian students to attend the school.
Though the concert is sold out, it’s going to be streamed online starting at 8 p.m. Eastern on Friday. Here’s where you can watch the concert live. If you need more incentive to watch — “Free A. R. Rahman concert” isn’t incentive enough? — check out the video below of the Berklee Indian Ensemble performing Rahman’s “Jiya Jale” from Dil Se. They’re fabulous.
The high-concept comedy OMG Oh My God is now available for streaming on Netflix. This surprisingly funny movie from 2012 stars Paresh Rawal as a man who takes God to court. I recommend it.
On Friday, August 23, Bajatey Raho becomes available for streaming on Eros Now. While I wasn’t crazy about the movie, this is the kind of smaller, less star-driven fare I’d like to see more of on Eros Now. Also, I appreciate the speed with which they made the movie available for streaming. It released in theaters on July 26.
Two new bits of streaming video news for Friday, August 2, 2013. As of today, Raanjhanaa is available for streaming on Eros Now. Also, 2007’s Jab We Met was recently added to the Netflix streaming library.
The crime caper Ghanchakkar — starring Vidya Balan and Emraan Hashmi — opens in the Chicago area on June 28, 2013. I am really, really excited to see this.
After earning $414,211 in its first weekend in the U.S., Raanjhanaa carries over for a second week at the Golf Glen 5, South Barrington 30, and Cantera 17. With total earnings of $3,637,806 so far, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani gets a fifth week at the South Barrington 30 and Cantera 17.
The comedy Fukrey opens in Chicago area theaters on June 14, 2013. While Excel Entertainment has a good track record, Fukrey worries me because I can’t tell what the story is. Here’s Excel’s official description (from IMDb):
“College. Three of the most important years of your life. Three years of studies (at times) and sheer indulgence. Indulgence in all the little pleasures that a carefree life has to offer. But it isn’t always about ragging, fuchacha parties, college fests, races, and churning out ways to whack some extra pocket money from your parents. It’s sometimes hard, ugly, and complicated. More so, when you really need to get admission in the coolest college in town and you know you don’t deserve it. And to top that, you get yourself involved in the most bizarre stations that could crack you into pieces before you could crack it.”
Bonus streaming video news: Ajay Devgn’s offensive comedy remake Himmatwala is now available on Netflix. The movie treats the physical and sexual abuse of women as a joke, so I advise against watching it.
The comedy sequel Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 opens in Chicago area theaters on June 7, 2013. I wasn’t crazy about the first one, and the guy in the orangutan suit in the trailer doesn’t give me much hope for the second.
This is pretty cool. Just two weeks after its theatrical release, the zombie comedy Go Goa Gone debuts on the streaming service Eros Now on Friday, May 24, 2013. While I didn’t love the movie, it is totally unlike anything else coming out of Bollywood right now. For a rental fee of just $1.99 (free with the monthly subscription), it’s worth checking out if you’re in the mood for some adult humor.
Three Bollywood movies make their Netflix streaming debuts today. One of the true must-see Hindi films — Lagaan — is one of them. Not only was Lagaan an Oscar nominee in 2002, but it’s a great cricket tutorial for those of us who didn’t grow up with the game.
