Itยs man vs. machine in B.R. Chopraยs classic 1957 Bollywood film, the social comedy Naya Daur (New Age). To be absolutely accurate, itยs horse vs. machine, as poor but honest horse-cart driver Shankar (played by Indian superstar Dilip Kumar in full photogenic mode) battles against inevitable progress when a bus arrives in his rural village, ready to push all the tanga drivers into unemployment. Thereยs romance, jealousy, great local color and even some social conscience. Oh, thereยs also plenty of singing and dancing. O.P. Nayyarยs score is downright infectious. (Wait until you hear the charming duet between Kumar and leading lady Vyjayanthimala while they sit in a cart. Set to the jangling rhythm of the horseยs gait, the new lovers sing their joy. Itยs like some crazy dream straight out of Lubitsch ย if Lubitsch had worked in Mumbai.) Leading off the Museum of Fine Arts, Houstonยs Hooray for Bollywood! series, Naya Daur has been digitally restored and lusciously colorized, which only adds to the fairy-tale gloss. 6 p.m. Friday, May 16, and Friday, May 23. 1001 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-639-7515 or visit www.mfah.org/films. $6 to $7.
Sat., May 23, 6 p.m., 2009
This article appears in May 21-27, 2009.
