Bollywood

Hemalayaa: Bollywood Booty
$8.24
I know that probably makes me sound like a spambot, but I'm not kidding. This DVD was an impulse buy at a store, and it was so much fun that I have bought a whole slew of dance workout DVDs here since. I had hit a plateau in my weight loss before I started doing this workout, and I lost 20 pounds--a conservative estimate--after I started to do this workout everyday. (I was rather heavy, so if you weigh 140 pounds, don't blame me if you don't lose as much.)

This is the best of the Acacia Bollywood series that I've tried, which are the Bollywood Dance Workout and Beautiful Belly. I haven't tried Bollywood Burn. The others are too hard on my knees, but there is little hopping around in this one. It still gets your heart rate going, and it is easy to do in a small space. I highly recommend it!

I also adore the bonus Odissi dance piece, and I wish I could get my hands on more of that.

The Essential Guide to Bollywood
$12.95
Subhash K. Jha is one of the most informed and read film critics of Hindi movies, and his work is easily accessible also on line. He shares, I believe, a long time friendship with Amitabh Bachchan who has written the foreword to this nice and useful booklet. Basically this lavishly illustrated guide to Bollywood movies from the 1940's to 2003 is divided into film categories such as drama, comedy, war drama, thrillers, romance, historical, action and parallel cinema. Each movie is a small card with a synopsis, detailed even if brief movie information, but expecially pleasing tidbits of gossip and crossreferences to other movies or contemporary Hindi culture. The real value of this book among the many Bollywood movie guides is the exceptional insight of the Author in the choice of the reviewed movies. Leafing through the text we have the impression that he is actually describing the movies he liked and that he deams important as having influenced modern Indian culture. Bollywood industry has the curious characteristic of making classifications in hits and flops, blockbusters, superhits and hits, etc, but even if these are mentioned at the end of the book, the choice of the 200 Hindi movies is not conditioned by this philosophy.
Very useful if you want to learn something about this colorful and particular film world.
I will definitely try to see all the mentioned movies!

Dances of India: Bollywood to Bollydance with Meera
$19.95
Wow, Im surprised that everyone is saying this was so easy. I have taken maybe three Bollywood instructions, and have been Bellydancing for nearly three years at an inter-mmediate student level. I found this to be very difficult but I am actually trying to learn Bollywood not just work out. In the beginning she zips through the finger position(Moudras) so quickly and Im not at all familiar with them. Immediately you are supposed to be layering these finger positions onto your moves in a very precise way at a very high speed. I like this DVD but it is challenging for a bollywood beginner

Bollywood Burn
$8.24
This exercise video is totally addictive and fun. I have to say it is the best workout I have ever done! It will make you sweat! The only reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because if you are not careful, or you don't modify some of the moves it can be really hard on your joints because it is high impact aerobics. I can't do all of the jumping in the video because of my back (and my weight), but you still get an awesome workout if you modify to a plie pulse. I have been using the video for almost a month and everyone is telling me I look slimmer. It gets you results and you don't feel bored. I can't wait to get her other DVD's. They say to switch up your workout every 3 months, and with her that is easy! She is my fav and shows working out at home DOES work. Also if you are pressed for time, or the workout is too heavy for you, I suggest just starting out with one of her workouts (there are 3 15 min ones). Listen to your body and take it at your own pase!