Bombay

A powerful film with great cinematography, some quiet moments, and some brutal scenes that cut to the heart of social violence in India. Unfortunately, the inevitable Bollywood conventions are forced into the film to its detriment.

This film is bizarre in that it boasts genuine poigancy but a lot of that is hampered by how overbearing and hamfisted its editing and songs are. Seeing the streets of Ayodhya in chaos on its own leaves a strong dramatic impression, but I find that hard to take seriously when the music playing during the scene shouts at me "WHY CAN'T THEY GET ALONG!?" Or how the film cuts away to tell me the male lead wants a daughter in some bombastic dance scene.