Our thoughts are in Mumbai, with everyone who’s been touched by the terrible events there. Politics are beyond the scope of our blog. But daily life continues one way or another in almost every situation - and we want to remember the people who can and must go on even as we’re focused on tragedy. So we’re adding our voice of support for Bollywood.

Here’s a list of the top 5 movies in the box office in India. They’re a potent mix of shock and nostalgia, laughter and tears, with a few different perspectives on the city of Mumbai. (Note that the order is somewhat arguable.)

And have a look at this thoughtful op-ed in the New York Times on supporting Mumbai tourism and Bollywood. The movies people watch are also part of daily life in Mumbai – to keep in mind alongside the wrenching footage we’re seeing now.

5. Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi

This family flick and directorial debut is a nostalgic throwback to an era in Bollywood when love was expressed with a chaste exchange of looks and family sacrifice could fuel a plot. In this Cinderella story, she is poor with an elderly father while he is a flashy singer from a rich family. Song and dance against wedding backdrops provide much of the entertainment. “Art director Sanjay Dhabade has recreated the quaint old world charm of an Indian city” (Ready2Beat).

Trailer on YouTube

4. Fashion

The glittering but ruthless Mumbai fashion world is at the center of this story of a small-town girl who dreams of becoming a supermodel – but gives up too much her chase after success. Director Madhur Bhandarkar treats the audience to a visual feast, “from love making to hot models, wardrobe malfunction, gay love, casting couch and yes…designers tagging clothes…bought from Bangkok market” (etalkindia).

Trailer on YouTube

3. Golmaal Returns

This follow-up to the comic smash-hit Golmaal (2006) a meeting on a yacht, a suspicious wife, a murder, a frame-up, and a kidnapping, lead to some hilarious misunderstandings, tense moments, and of course a happy ending. The “kind of film you would enjoy if you have a taste for silly humour” (apunkachoice).

Trailer on YouTube

2. Dasvidaniya

In a Mumbai suburb, one man’s dull middleclass existence is shattered when he discovers that he has only three months to live. He trades in his daily to-do lists for a list of what he wants to do before he dies. Love, family, travel and even buying a car make it to his list. Vinay Pathak, best known for his comic roles, stars in this film that leaves you “with smiling face and soggy eyes” (Economic Times).

Trailer on YouTube

1. Dostana

“We are gay – this is my boyfriend.” In this daring blockbuster, chiseled superstars Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham play roommates who pretend to be gay so they can save rent and share an apartment with a sultry, single woman played by Priyanka Chopra. In a country where homosexuality is a criminal offense, this film packs shock value - but “you would like a little more than good-looking fun presented predictably on a plate” (Rediff).

Trailer on YouTube

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