Sylv.McCoy

Hello dvdtalk forum,

i recently saw this sad hindi love story "Layla and Majnun" (H.S.Rawail/1975) and am now looking for a darker,less music toned version.Any recommendations?

best regards

flixtime

I don't think you'll find many of the other versions of LAILA MAJNU available with English subtitles. Besides the Hindi version you watched, the 1949 Telugu version is also available. If you are looking for a version with less music that'd be tough...at least that'd be my guess. Generally speaking, the music is actually one of the big draws for films of this type.

I'm not familiar with your viewing experience with regard to Indian cinema, but if you want to continue sampling Indian romantic and/or romantic tragedy films, maybe try MUGHAL-E-AZAM, JODHAA AKBAR, DEVDAS, or if you want to try something a little darker (and more contemporary) maybe the Tamil romantic tragedy KAADHAL from a few years ago...can't get away from the music in any of these either though. Maybe since you've already watched LAILA MAJNU then you've already checked out the films I just mentioned, but I thought I'd mention them just in case.

Sylv.McCoy

Hiya,

actually i haven't watched your mentioned movies and i'm looking forward to check 'em up.

As for Layla and Majnun:
Read the amazon.co.uk critic about the much darker story and got interested. If you know of any -also non english- less musically version of this story, please let me know.

Is the 1949 version any better?

best regards

flixtime

Thinking out loud, I wonder if that "darker" comment over at Amazon UK might be in reference to the story as it appears in literature not film. Generally speaking, Indian cinema doesn't really do "dark", at least not in the International sense of the word, thus I'd wonder how truly "dark" any of the classic versions might truly be. I wouldn't know which English-friendly version would be best. The 1949 Telugu English-friendly version did have as the male lead a superstar of Telugu cinema...and following later his son Nagarjuna also became of superstar of Telugu cinema...and now Nagarjuna's son recently started acting and likely will have a lengthy career...that's the way it works with the Indian film industry. With regard to a version with less music, my guesswork is that there wouldn't really be one (at least not from India)...the music is actually one of the primary areas of interest for these types of films...and speaking for myself, I'd be running towards a version with more music not away from it. The music in classic Indian cinema - at least to me - is generally of higher quality when compared to modern Indian cinema...at least for those with a preference for the more traditional styles.

Sylv.McCoy

Okay,thanks.Will try to fetch a copy of the 1949 version to check on that one, too.Have to admit that the 1976 version wasn't that bad overall,i'll just need to make friend with this musically style since i usually more fond of watching dramas.

Nice talking to yeah!Thanks for the infos.

best regards

flixtime

Yeah, give it a whirl - for the sake of general knowledge if nothing else (in the event you don't warm to the style)...you only live once. Some other films that I'd recommend to ease your entry into Indian cinema (and which might appeal to your specific tastes)....SWAPNER DIN (2004), WATER (2005), DOR (2006), DIL SE (1998)...again you will find music (though I don't specifically recall WATER or SWAPNER DIN at this moment) but the storylines themselves lean more to something you might enjoy (I guess). You can always have a read through the Indian thread in this forum for suggestions or even pop in and ask if you have any more questions. Nice talking to you too...hope you experiment with some additional Indian movies sometime in the near future, and more importantly find some that you enjoy.