Week of November 13: Bollywood In Our Hood

Our friends Sharon and Simon (picture on left) hosted a Bollywood party on Saturday, November 19th, at their apartment in San Francisco. For those that have yet to experience the true magic in motion picture, Bollywood is the name given to the Hindi-language film industry in India... Bombay (now called Mumbai) meets Hollywood. Bollywood movies are filled with songs and dances, love, comedy and dare-devil thrills, all mixed up in a three hour long lavish musical extravaganza. Gone With The Wind, Citizen Kane, Gladiator... these movies are nothing compared to such Bollywood classics as Do Bigha Zameen, Pyaasa, and Rangeela. Did Russell Crowe burst into a random song and dance with the lions in the middle of his epic fight against the masked gladiator? I don't think so!

While I have never been to India, Andrea has been there for work on several occasions. And while I lacked the threads to dress up in traditional Indian garb, Andrea was able to dress up like she was going to a banquet at the Taj Mahal (picture on right). In fact, Andrea claimed that while she had nothing to wear for a night of clubbing in San Francisco, she had everything to wear to a Bollywood Party! Besides having the pleasure of watching Bollywood movies, the party gave everyone a chance to get together, dress up, and experience Indian culture. There was lots of great Indian food and Indian beverages. The hit drink of the night was an Indian wine called a Coconut Toddy (also known as malachi feni) made from fermented Coconut sap. Yum! I can't wait to present a fine bottle of the Coconut Toddy to Rick, my father in-law, as a stocking stuffer for Christmas! Another drink that was a big hit (at least for me) was a bottle of an Indian Rum called Oldmonk. It was very delicious especially as a much needed chaser for the Coconut Toddy.

Overall, it was a very fun and educational night. Everyone enjoyed themselves and best of all, no one randomly broke out into a song and dance routine. I guess Bollywood in San Francisco isn't quite as real. Hats off to Simon and Sharon for hosting such an original and fun event. Thanks.

Kalvin lends a helping hand

while Rob goes for his third plate

Here's me lending a helping hand

after a few Toddies and Oldmonk

Bollywood dance moves on Simon's new flat screen... so real!

You can easily mistake this picture for regular night out in India.