MartinHafer This is a film about two very annoying people from very different cultures. Lucia Lane (Jennifer Kendal) is a British author who is visiting India. A screenwriter is obviously enamored with her but she is drawn towards Vikram (Shashi Kapoor). The two begin an affair--one that seems built on selfishness. After all, she's already been married four times and he is currently married. Because of this and Lucia's unpredictable and moody behavior (the b-word comes to mind when I think of her), it's really hard to care about this couple. However, it also seems that they are doomed for disaster--something I actually looked forward to! Normally, you are NOT supposed to wish to see a tragic ending--but because I hated both the characters so much, I couldn't wait! Unfortunately, it isn't horrible enough--as even killing the couple wouldn't have been good enough to merit my wasting my time on "Bombay Talkie"!This is a rather bad romantic movie. While I love the behind the scenes look at the Indian film industry, the story itself was tepid and the characters vapid. And, interestingly, the romance between Lucia and Vikram is totally unconvincing, as in real life the pair were married and remained so for many years (until Kendal's death). The only thing else I really liked was the way the opening credits were done! All in all, a very poor film--mostly because the script is poor and the dialog is even worse. A clear misfire.

laurel21000 I enjoyed entering into the world of this film. Watching a movie within a movie is always interesting to me. And especially when the setting is India. That the characters were shallow and yet fascinating was in itself fascinating.Merchant/Ivory bring such a complex texture to all of their films. That's what, to me, makes them such great filmmakers And their sensibility is very much present here also.I also liked getting some insight into the Indian culture. Ever since watching Monsoon Wedding, I seem to have an affection for it. The coloring of the people is so beautiful. The dark hair and the dark eyes. And the clothes, especially the beautiful saris the women wear. I know it is the guru/savants that draw many to the culture but I seem to find it very easy to control my enthusiasm for them. The aesthetic beauty, however, is very compelling. And the spirit of the people.This film is worth seeing, imo. Merely to set forth the plot would not really do it justice. It's one of those instances where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Saman Perera An early film by my favorite trio Ivory, Merchant and Jhabvala, failed to light my senses in this nonsensical musical farce. The additional content on the DVD is much better with a feature on the very talented Helen and the customary chat with the trio on making of this movie. This film seems to insult everyone: a very uncaring and self indulgent white authoress, a very lustful Indian actor with no scruples, a charlatan guru, and a mediocre poet with an obsession to murder. Mix this lot in a movie and you get the customary tale of confusion and bad acting. Some moments of the film are memorable including the beginning scene on the giant typewriter, the incredible shots of the staircase at the hotel, and the general view into Bombay film making of the 70s. The ending is, well, rather abrupt, and I was glad it was. Rent it just for the extras on the DVD.

Dilip Barman To the point - depressing with almost no redeeming qualities. If you want to see a movie about decadent society where the characters live in their own world, totally selfish and painfully and immaturely oblivious to how their actions may affect others, or if you can at least get over this, you may enjoy the sets of a movie in the movie and perhaps some of the costumes. I picked up this video from my public library expecting something great from Merchant-Ivory-Jhabvala, but was badly disappointed. Sometimes a film leaves you feeling sad and incredulous, and usually when it does, it is for good reason, causing you to focus on elements of human nature or society and perhaps moving us to action. This film left me with negative feelings, but with very little good to remember or be inspired by. I wish I hadn't seen it - but I may have missed something that others may find corresponds to good film. 3 or 4 stars out of 10.--Dilip, written minutes after watching this video on Aug. 29, 2003