This evening, a class full of students and I will be watching a Mughal emperor court a Rajput princess, while also enjoying resplendent forted castles and sexy sword fights. If you don’t want to be there, you should. Bring your reading glasses though, because this film is Bollywood, which means it’s not in English.

I expect you’re wondering what “Bollywood” is. Unless you already know in which case, go you! The short answer is that Bollywood is Hindi-language Indian cinema, so named by combining “Hollywood” with “Bombay”—the city now called Mumbai, which is essentially India’s equivalent of Hollywood, in other words the epicenter of the industry. You’re probably also wondering when a Bollywood club started on campus and don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything because one hasn’t. I’m currently interning Dr. Purna Banerjee’s Indian cinema class which you’ve unfortunately missed the deadline to add. Sad day for you friend.

However, you can still experience all the thrill of Jodhaa Akbar (the movie you’ve been hoping I’d identify for two paragraphs now). You can still see whether the very good-looking Muslim emperor is able to win the heart and perhaps even understand the religion of the equally good-looking Hindu princess! Trust me, that’s plenty of thrill.

Before I tell you how though, a word of caution from Dr. Banerjee, as Millikin’s former resident Bollywood expert (a position that I have humbly accepted in her absence) for first time western audience members: “What you are seeing is a product of a different culture, so don’t presume to judge it thinking that you know the genre of filmmaking.” Bollywood may have derived its name from Hollywood, but it is its own industry, running out of and in relation to its own culture.

What precisely is it that makes Bollywood movies different than ours, aside from the previously mentioned difference in language? For starters, Bollywood movies are characterized by melodrama and they tend to be multi-genre films. That is to say that a film will usually not be only a comedy, but also a romance and an action film, and so on in endless other combinations. “Jodhaa Akbar” is a historical drama, as well as a romance, that also makes social commentary concerning religion for present day India.

Further, the majority of Bollywood movies are what we might call musicals, often with grand and gorgeous picturizations of songs (the songs in “Jodhaa Akbar” are lovely, and by all means don’t take my word for it—check them out on YouTube). The Swiss Alps are a favorite location for shooting and songs can be the best time to get a glimpse of the incredible beauty of Indian clothing. Dr. Banerjee again stresses the culture difference between Bollywood and Hollywood, saying that India has a “very different relationship to song and dance.” She cautions—as do I—against using the term “musical” to dismiss these films.

And before I forget to warn you, Bollywood films also tend to have an average length of three to four hours, which is twice the length of the average American film. So be sure to pick a good seat.

As for watching Jodhaa Akbar, check it out from the Staley library! Staley happens to have a fairly impressive collection of Bollywood films for your viewing pleasure, although you should keep in mind that you’ll be fighting my students for a lot of them.

Fortunately, Staley isn’t your only option. For instance, Netflix has a good Bollywood selection with several great first films, including one of my favourite films of any industry: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. More commonly known as DDLJ instead of its mouthful title, it is a 1995 romantic comedy starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol who are two BIG names in the industry and together one of the industry’s most popular pairings. The immature, but sincere Raj (Khan) meets and falls in love with Simran (Kajol) when they are stranded together during a EuroRail tour of Europe, and that’s only the first half! The film is so popular that it still plays daily in the Maratha Mandir theater in Mumbai.

Barfi portrays a deaf-mute man’s relationships with two women, one autistic, and is beautifully told in terms of both story and cinematography. Ishaqzaade has been very well received and even garnered awards for its debut leads: Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor, both of whom are extremely talented. The film’s a kind of Indian-spun Romeo and Juliet tale and it does not at all fail to live up to its Shakespearean counterpart (it may even surpass, but don’t tell the English faculty that I said so).

As for a final recommendation, I suggest Wake Up Sid, a coming-of-age story revolving around a should-have-been college graduate, who lacks aim and motivation until his relationships with his family and friends force him into action. The film is encouraging, uplifting and fun as well as timely for all of us existentially struggling college students. All four of these films are highly accessible for western audiences; you’ll have a great time watching them. Invite your friends! ALL your friends!

Also, protip: if Netflix fails you, try Eros International at erosnow.com, the Indian film equivalent to Netflix, which you can subscribe to for $7.99/month (after a fourteen day free trial). And of course, Amazon and Ebay are always options, just be sure you buy copies with subtitles—check closely!

Go forth and watch, Millikids!