Rediff Movies - columns

The Drama Asks A Brutal Question About Love

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:37:30 +0530

The Drama delves into the unsettling complexities of relationships, challenging viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about love, observes Rishika Shah.

Dhurandhar The Revenge Is Angrier, Bloodier, Messier

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:38:39 +0530

Despite all the bumps along the way, the finale of Dhurandhar The Revenge lands perfectly, giving the protagonist and the story a sense of closure. In the current landscape of stretching the narrative for blockbuster appeal, Aditya Dhar wisely opts for a proper ending. And that deserves respect, applauds Mayur Sanap.

Dhurandhar: Storytelling In Age Of Restless Viewers

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:02:08 +0530

If the stories are food for the mind then our digestive system has changed.If they are a piece of art, our gaze has altered.This calls for a change not in stories, but in the grammar of storytelling so that it can cut through the deluge and gluttony and force people to savour, appreciate and re-visit it.That is what the creators of Taskaree or Dhurandhar are trying, points out Vanita Kohli-Khandekar.

The Year Of Michael B Jordan

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:01:50 +0530

An awards season full of twists, upsets, and shifting narratives culminated in a night that defied early predictions.The Best Actor race delivered the biggest surprise, as momentum, controversy, and changing perceptions reshaped the field.

How Ikkis Reimagines The War Hero

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:34:44 +0530

How Ikkis Reimagines The War Hero

Did Sinners Deserve 16 Oscar Nominations?

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:57:53 +0530

Having grossed nearly $370 worldwide, Sinners filled up Warner Bros coffers when many of the studio's key 2025 films lost money, and deserves its many Oscar nominations.

Why Dhurandhar Is Unsettling

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:19:24 +0530

Dhurandhar does not ask audiences to cheer blindly, notes Kumar Abhishek. It asks them to see how power operates in grey zones, and at moral cost.

The OTT Battle Is For Audiences And Their Time

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 09:54:11 +0530

Only firms that have scale in content and a technology engine that drives its discovery and monetisation can compete,' explains Vanita Kohli Khandekar.

Frankenstein: Visually Lush, Morally Unequivocal

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:32:18 +0530

Guillermo del Toro restores and amplifies the morality tale Shelley had meant her book to be.His message is kindness and forgiveness are the greatest virtues and arrogant ego meets its own just end, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

The Blasphemous Idea Dhurandhar Promotes

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:32:28 +0530

Dhurandhar's most dangerous idea is that Director Aditya Dhar envisions an Indian state run by a deep state -- an intelligence machinery not accountable to Parliament, courts, or voters. A future political system where unelected officials decide when Indian democracy is 'fit' to function, observes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Diane Keaton And A Private Tragedy

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:45:52 +0530

Diane Keaton's wit and honesty taught us that ageing and uncertainty aren't weaknesses, they are part of what makes us human and graceful, observes Sreehari Nair.

DDLJ Is Not Just About Love

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 13:56:25 +0530

'It is a beautiful balance between traditional old-world sanskaars, and new generations opening up to new worlds without renouncing respect,' observes Sandeep Goyal.

Should The Bengal Files Have Been Made?

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:34:56 +0530

Some of the issues Vivek Agnihotri raises in The Bengal Files are valid, but today, the need of the hour is to find ways of negotiating peace not pouring oil over troubled waters, asserts Deepa Gahlot.

Modi's Tribute To India's Extraordinary Voice

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 16:17:23 +0530

'That a song can carry the weight of a people's dreams and move hearts across the world.'On Bhupen Hazarika's 99th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays rich tribute to the legendary singer and composer.

Why Sholay Never Got A Sequel

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 15:20:01 +0530

What if Sholay were produced now, in our technologically advanced era, with AI vying for our attention?, asks Atanu Biswas.

Why Everyone Is Hooked On To This Show

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:11:47 +0530

Season 3's eighth episode titled Last Kiss ended with the cliffhanger that is guaranteed to make you yearn for what might come next, anticipates Divya Nair.

Sholay Still Speaks to India's Soul

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:39:11 +0530

Even after 50 years, Sholay remains a lasting reminder of unity, shared memories and the joy of cinema, notes Mohammad Asim Siddiqui.

Why The National Awards Feel Different Now

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 12:18:28 +0530

When you declare 12th Fail as the Best Film and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as the Wholesome Entertainer of the year, you have somehow narrowed the range of the awards, suggesting, in effect, that the entire spectrum of possibility in Indian cinema extends from the Filmfare Awards winner for the Best Film to the Filmfare Awards winner for the Best Film (Critics), points out Sreehari Nair.

The Legend of M T Vasudevan Nair Lives On

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:56:05 +0530

No author in the Malayalam literary canon has influenced and profoundly changed the way normal people interact with each other than the ever-relevant, eclectic yet elusive body of work left behind by MT Vasudevan Nair, notes Arjun Menon.

Bold Moves Must For Silver Screen To Sparkle Again

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 10:47:20 +0530

More screens, more films, and longer windows will convert to more people watching, assuming they know a film is releasing, points out Vanita Kohli-Khandekar.

Time Aamir Stopped Acting!

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:11:02 +0530

Audiences will hope that Rajinikanth's Coolie, Lokesh Kanagaraj's action film and Rajkumar Hirani's Dadasaheb Phalke biopic are not marred by Aamir Khan's disconcerting, repetitive performances.Aamir's real strength lies in championing stories that challenge conventions and are considered risky by mainstream filmmakers.

Is It Time To Retire The Great Indian Kapil Show?

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:14:28 +0530

One thing you realize after seeing the title of the Netflix show, 'The Great Indian Kapil Show' that the word 'comedy' is missing from the title.In the language of mathematics: Kapil Sharma equals to Comedy.Kapil is synonymous with laughter and as a comedian when you watch him he makes you forget all your worries.

Why Bobby Deol Succeeded Where Zeenat Aman Didn't

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 11:42:56 +0530

Most actors usually face obscurity after a fade-out from the limelight.

Controversy's Child Kamal Haasan

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 10:09:01 +0530

Kamal has a crisp pen when it comes to writing short and yet powerful film dialogues.But while speaking ex tempore -- and that has been his style -- he looks every bit a confused man, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

The Kannada Film That Trumps Adolescence

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:57:00 +0530

The unspoken subject of Mithya is violence, and the big zinger here is our recognition that the movie is showing us the makings of a juvenile delinquent -- perhaps the finest since Truffaut unleashed his Antoine Doinel, applauds Sreehari Nair.

Satyajit Ray Had Warned Us About AI!

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:29:01 +0530

Satyajit Ray anticipated the issues we are only now starting to raise, long before large language models, AI chatbots, predictive algorithms, and autonomous systems began to control every bit of our lifestyles, notes Atanu Biswas.

Why South Cinema Scores Big Over Bollywood

Mon, 26 May 2025 17:04:47 +0530

South Indian filmmakers have kept their focus on the single-screen cinemagoer.They have kept their finger on the pulse of the single-screen cinema fan, who goes to movies once a month or more, to forget his weekly chores, explains Ambi Parameswaran.

The Difference Between Drishyam And Thudarum

Thu, 08 May 2025 15:55:40 +0530

The similarities between the two movies may be striking but where they differ is in the way each focuses your curiosity, observes Sreehari Nair.

What Made Shaji N Karun A Master Film-Maker

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:42:52 +0530

With Piravi, Shaji N Karun joined the select group of great masters of film. Malayalam once upon a time used to produce such films. Today, it is only mindless violence, politics and grotesque humour. The films have no soul, although they are technically quite good. With Shaji's passing, and earlier with his mentor G Aravindan's untimely death, an era is coming to an end.Rajeev Srinivasan salutes the master, who passed into the ages on April 28.

What Manoj Kumar's Songs Mean To Me

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 11:03:22 +0530

Shor was a masterpiece and the song Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai, Maujon Ki Ravaani Hai, Zindagi Aur Kuch Bhi Nahin, Teri Meri Kahaani Hai plays in my mind every time I think of my sweet wife, who passed away nine years ago.A Ganesh Nadar applauds the fabulous songs in Manoj Kumar movies.

When Manoj Kumar Broke No-Intimacy Rule

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 10:36:58 +0530

Subhash K Jha remembers his conversations with movie legend Manoj Kumar, who passed into the ages on April 4, 2025.

OTT Expands Geography Of Storytelling

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 11:04:05 +0530

Writers and creators are telling more authentic stories based in states and cities that we may not have seen much of in mainstream media, such as Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.Or ones that we have some mistaken notions about like Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, highlights Vanita Kohli-Khandekar.

My Favourite Oscar Moment

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:11:21 +0530

The balance was so perfect in that moment, the irony so rich.Those who cheered on Elia Kazan were cheering on the one quality that made him such a singular artist: He was his own man and not susceptible to groupthink.Those who protested Kazan's presence were protesting that very quality: They were saying that he was too much of an outlier, a wolf in a radical's clothing.Sreehari Nair captures his Kodak moment at the Oscars.

If You Missed The Oscars, Read This

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 16:56:17 +0530

Sean Baker broke a record by winning four Oscars just himself for Anora: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing and Best Original Screenplay.

Why Pyaasa Is A Must Watch 68 Years On

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:24:01 +0530

'At a time when the 'my country, right or wrong' attitude is sweeping over the majority, the Pyaasa song Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Woh Kahan Hain brings a much-needed sense of reality. It questions: How can one feel any sense of pride when women are treated like this? Utkarsh Mishra salutes Guru Dutt's classic that turns 68 this month.

Why Satya Continues To Sting And Sing

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:06:42 +0530

While Satya's pleasures are palpable -- among them the poetry of the coarse language, the mercifully rough-hewn texture, the oh-so-familiar underdog story -- these pleasures hit you at a completely different speed.The movie is charged with a sense of discovery, and every shot is a cornucopia of details existing independent of the main story. It's touching, notes Sreehari Nair.

All We Imagine As Poetry

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:29:11 +0530

'Did anyone else get the feeling that AWIAL -- despite being ostensibly based in the Mumbai of today -- is actually set in a Neverland of Solemnity?' asks Sreehari Nair.

An IAF Pilot Reviews Sky Force!

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 11:37:21 +0530

'I eagerly await the day when we can experience a truly great Bollywood movie rooted in pure historical facts, one that authentically showcases the essence of our armed forces for Indian audiences,' notes Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).

Why Chhaava Has Become Controversial

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 11:02:26 +0530

Loud music, bombastic action scenes, over-the-top dialogues that don't have any ring of truth to it followed by scenes of blood-oozing bodies floating in a river definitely don't make for a magnum opus!' exclaims Prasanna D Zore after watching the Chhaava trailer.

Drowning In A Sea Of Entertainment

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 19:19:00 +0530

'There is simply too much to watch, read and absorb.''Just online consumption (news, entertainment, social media) in India was 2.5 hours a day in November 2024.''Add TV (just under 4 hours), other media, and the figure is closer to 7 to 8 hours a day for over one-third of Indians,' points out Vanita Kohli Khandekar.

Meet The New Influencers

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:10:57 +0530

Across the board, brands use influencers like a Bhuvan Bam or Kusha Kapila as the second or third rung of their strategy.The first rung is always a celebrity that has been created outside the Internet, through mainstream media.

2024 Belongs To Payal Kapadia!

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 11:16:30 +0530

All We Imagine as Light has been on several critics' best of the year lists, including Sight and Sound (Payal Kapadia appeared on the magazine's cover, perhaps a first for an Indian filmmaker), to The New York Times, Time and it is the number one film recommended by Barack Obama.The future certainly belongs to Payal Kapadia, asserts Aseem Chhabra.

A Maharashtrian Haunts Bollywood

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 15:00:21 +0530

Munjya is the most wildly entertaining ghost I have encountered at the movies recently. But he has the added advantage of being a Maharashtrian ghost, of possessing rhythms of speech and behaviour that are distinctly Maharashtrian, of being blessed with that beautiful brand of Maharashtrian irritability

The Swades State Of Mind

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:25:37 +0530

As Swades turns 20, Aseem Chhabra looks back at the film that spoke to him.

All We Imagine As Light Is Exquisite

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:19:14 +0530

All We Imagine As Light remains heart-warmingly affecting because you know experiences like this are few and far between. Payal Kapadia's film-making voice must be cherished, asserts Mayur Sanap.

Honey Bunny: Samantha's Here To Slay!

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:29:01 +0530

Citadel: Honey Bunny is a decent watch with an average story, sharp stunts and brilliant music, observes Divya Nair.

Kamal@70: What Makes Him Ulaga Nayagan

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 17:14:11 +0530

'With passage of time, Kamal did move away from the humdrum of commercial cinema, using it only as a peg to launch a new concept or new technology, as no other actor/film-maker has done in Indian cinema.'N Sathiya Moorthy assesses the career and politics of movie legend Kamal Haasan on his 70th brthday.

Watching The Rich Is So Uninteresting

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 11:22:28 +0530

Bring me the mundane lives of the working class next. At least, it won't be as embarrassing as this, asserts Mayur Sanap.

What Really Touches Your Heart In Jigra

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 13:35:31 +0530

When mainstream Hindi cinema is preoccupied with romance, comedy, horror and action, stories about sisters and brothers are very rare. Vasan Bala has made a first-of-its-kind film where the leads play sister and brother, notes Aseem Chhabra.

Dharmaveer 2: Glorifying Eknath Shinde

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 09:59:44 +0530

From start to finish, Dharmaveer 2 feels less like a biopic and more like propaganda crafted for Eknath Shinde's political gain, observes Prasanna D Zore.

Why Movies Get Into Trouble...

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:44:01 +0530

They try to hide behind the smokescreen that these are works of fiction inspired by real events.So, you can pick and choose from facts and fictionalise to push the right triggers with your audience or appease the powers that be, observes Shekhar Gupta.

Will Sexual Abuse End In Film Industry?

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 09:11:40 +0530

Nothing is going to change in a hurry unless attitudes change and punishments are speedy and fair, notes Ramesh Menon.

Please Send Payal's Film To The Oscars!

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 11:33:39 +0530

How wonderful it would be for all of us to watch the Oscar ceremony on March 2, 2025 and watch AWIAL win an Oscar, notes Aseem Chhabra.

What's Missing In Angry Young Men

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 10:04:01 +0530

Angry Young Men misses some important elements of the Salim-Javed story including an understanding of the duo's creative process. In fact, the two men do not even appear together in the same space in the series.

'Why Are Stars Being Paid Rs 35 Crore?'

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 19:22:22 +0530

'Everyone knows the money the stars are asking for is absurd.'

The Failed Promise of Indian 2

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:39:01 +0530

Kamal Haasan is right where he left off from the first film but there is only so much he can do to salvage an already lost cause, observes Arjun Menon.

The Problem With Ullozhukku

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:38:24 +0530

People turn a corner and overhear secrets, men change stripes so as to acquire shades of villainy most convenient to advancing the plot, secondary characters confess to past sins just so that the leading women are absolved of all responsibility, notes Sreehari Nair.

The Rise Of The Mid-Range Movie Hit

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 12:09:21 +0530

While super hits like Jawaan are missing this year, it has been filled with a range of medium-range hits such as Crew, Teri Baaton Ne Uljhaa Diya and Guntur Kaaram, observes Vanita Kohli-Khandekar.

Aavesham: What A Film! What An Actor!

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:36:17 +0530

Watching Aavesham is like sprinting through the whole history of our mass-masala movies and seeing it in a new light, notes Sreehari Nair.And this, incidentally, is the story of Fahadh Faasil's career too.

What Makes Malayalam Cinema Distinctive?

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:42:39 +0530

The reasons are too private to be discussed at a round table, listed out during a seminar, or uncovered in an academic course.A proud but insomniac connoisseur murmuring in his sleep may do a better job of explaining the phenomenon than an expert on a podium. Sreehari Nair airs his thoughts.

Will Kangana Make A Good Politician?

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 10:57:33 +0530

Entertainers can be good politicians if they treat the citizens as the audience, and treat their job like a live show, and work hard to make sure the audience likes them, asserts Sandeep Goyal.

Why Aattam Is A Masterpiece

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:10:41 +0530

What follows is essentially a long scene set in a single location, and you watch in amazement as the scene grows into one of Indian cinema's funniest and most spectacular pieces of sustained craftsmanship, accumulating emotional power and subtext, growing wings and claws, becoming its own beast, applauds Sreehari Nair.

Is He India's Finest Director Of Romcoms?

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 17:46:15 +0530

Girish AD doesn't make romantic comedies so much as he elevates the genre, observes Sreehari Nair.

Malaikottai Vaaliban: Truths That May...

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:16:31 +0530

Since nothing irritates Lijo Jose Pellissery more than a throwaway critical judgment, Sreehari Nair carefully presents his opinions about Malaikottai Vaaliban, a good two weeks after he first saw the movie.

The Magical World Of Muzaffar Ali

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 18:48:25 +0530

'I somehow felt that Muzaffar Ali was in Aligarh to feel the pulse of the Muslim youth, especially in the darker and harsher times that India is passing through,' notesMohammad Sajjad.

Fighter: Blood On The Dance Floor

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 17:17:44 +0530

Siddharth Anand's artistry bespeaks an upbringing filled with GI Joes, plastic combat boots and plastic bayonets, fake punching noises and fake sounds of gunshots, rudely interrupted by an adult voice saying, 'Beta, all this is good, but try bringing in some feelings too', observes Sreehari Nair.

Merry Christmas: I Felt Shortchanged

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 11:03:18 +0530

If you have never seen Sriram Raghavan fly, you would hardly realise that this time, he is happy in his cage, this time he isn't reaching for the skies, notes Sreehari Nair.

Why Sahir Ludhianvi Is Relevant Today

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 13:53:25 +0530

While the country is gripped by Ram Mandir frenzy, Danish Husain -- without shouting from the rooftops -- silently staged his opinion with this play on one of India's best-known poets, observes Neeta Kolhatkar.

7 Cliches Of Movie Criticism & Reporting

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:29:47 +0530

This isn't a hatchet job, and my excuse for the exercise is my feeling that when you invert some of the clichés mentioned here, you might just arrive at the portals of genuine movie-making energy, says Sreehari Nair.

What Made Yesudas' Voice So Divine

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 13:49:50 +0530

As Yesudas turns 84 on January 10, Subhash K Jha salutes the legend.

NYT Praised Kaathal. What Did We Think?

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 13:41:58 +0530

'As I watched Mammootty 'try out' Mathew Devassy, I could hear from my theatre seat the ready-made appreciation of the liberal press, their applause for the great actor having flirted with queerness on screen.''But it is a flirtation and nothing more, for I could not detect in Devassy any hint of love, not for his homosexual lover, not for his wife,,' observes Sreehari Nair.

My 5 Top OTT Films of 2023

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 16:25:58 +0530

There's been so much interesting content on OTT. Subhash K Jha picks his Best Original Feature Films on digital platforms.

Shah Rukh Khan Is A Lifelong Learner

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:54:00 +0530

From the pinnacle of Veer Zara's teary romance, the transition to Pathaan and Jawan must have entailed a lot of resetting, rewiring, and recalibration in the mind.But SRK has done it. And done it well, notes Sandeep Goyal.

Who Says Animal Is Anti-Women?

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 11:44:01 +0530

Be it Kabir Singh or Ranvijay Singh, alpha males are nothing but grown men in diapers, observes Durba Dhyani.

A General Reviews Sam Bahadur

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 09:33:06 +0530

For someone like me who studied Sam so intently, if a lump could form in the throat during the emotive scenes, I think the cast did a superb job, notes Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).

Remembering Dhoom Director Sanjay Gadhvi

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:46:45 +0530

Sanjay Gadhvi once revealed to Subhash K Jha that he never wanted to make Dhoom.

Will Thalapathy Vijay Take A Plunge Into Politics?

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:39:43 +0530

At the Leo fete, Vijay had this also to tell his fans: 'I know you all are in my heart. But today, I also know that I am also in the hearts of all of you...'A typical politician's line, did you say, asks N Sathiya Moorthy.

What Makes Tabu A National Treasure

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 12:21:18 +0530

She is superior to 90 percent of the performing fraternity and she knows it.Subhash K Jha salutes the actor who turns 52 on November 4.

Tejas: Don't Get IAF Wrong!

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:04:05 +0530

'For god's sake, portray the armed forces in the correct manner,' asserts IAF veteran Air Commodore Nitin Sathe after watching Tejas.

Memories Of Chandler Bing

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 12:18:47 +0530

I don't know how the other Friends will react to Matthew Perry's death, but I am sure a part of them will be buried with Chandler, believes passionate Friends fan A Ganesh Nadar.

Movie Memories: Double-Deckers Ride Into The Sunset

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 11:08:47 +0530

Thousands of movie buffs remember the double deckers of Mumbai, associating them with stars and blockbuster songs of yesteryear, recalls Debarghya Sanyal.

Our Biopics Are Bad, But There's Hope

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:06:32 +0530

I do have a dream biopic. It has as its subject Renu Saluja, the cosmically gifted editor, with a special focus on the Vidhu Vinod Chopra-Saluja-Sudhir Mishra love story, says Sreehari Nair.

What Was Jawan All About?

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:20:57 +0530

There is no plot, no central story line or theme. It appears Atlee felt if he put a Shah Rukh Khan (there are two of them actually!) on screen doing just about anything, the film would sell, sighs Nitin Sathe.

'How Can Truth Hurt The Film-maker?'

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:26:44 +0530

As Mahesh Bhatt turns 75 on September 20, Subhash K Jha calls him the 'eternal seeker of truth in cinema and in life'.

National Awards: Bollywood Clout At Work

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 09:44:01 +0530

'No small artistic film can even hope to win, except, maybe, as random tokenism,' asserts Deepa Gahlot.

You Know What's Sadder Than National Film Awards?

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 10:13:18 +0530

We are back to being a country that talks about box office numbers as the measure for what an audience's real feelings about a movie are, laments Sreehari Nair.

Jailer And Vikram: Alike Yet Apart

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 10:39:19 +0530

What is noticeable in both movies is the willingness with which both the ageing stars -- Kamal is 68 and Rajini, four years older at 72 with a kidney transplant that he has not shied away from acknowledging -- have learnt to respect their age and bodies, notes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Gulzar's Madhur Dosti With R D Burman

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 19:30:19 +0530

None of R D Burman's collaborations was as rewarding and resplendent as with Gulzar, who turns 89 today, August 18, 2023, says Subhash K Jha.

Did This Destroy Raakhee's Marriage?

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:59:01 +0530

As Independent India turned 76, so did the ethereal Raakhee I know better than most, says Subhash K Jha.

Gadar 2: A Love Letter To Sunny Deol

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 12:38:59 +0530

When the movie started, the crowd went wild.They cheered for Sunny Deol and booed the villains.They laughed at the jokes, cried at the emotional scenes and whistled and cheered at all the action.Rajesh Karkera records the audience reactions at a screening of Gadar 2.

Oppenheimer: Film-Making At Its Best

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 11:58:27 +0530

The narrative is faithful to the source, American Prometheus, but what makes it absolutely spell-binding is Christopher Nolan's technique, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

Does Rocky Aur Rani Bring Out KJo 2.0?

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 17:44:48 +0530

Rocky Aur Rani is definitely Karan's most subversive project, discovers Aseem Chhabra.

Mirror Puts Dance Back Into Lust Stories

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 14:20:04 +0530

Konkona Sen Sharma's short Mirror in Lust Stories 2 is a rare thing: A feminist film that is also very, very funny, states Sreehari Nair.

No, Friends is Not The Best Sitcom Ever!

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 01:16:49 +0530

'The pride of the devoted Seinfeld fan is that he happens to love a show that doesn't take his love for granted, so that even on repeat viewings he is never really sure what directions an episode might take,' observes Sreehari Nair.

Curry Westerns Move To Rajasthan

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 18:24:56 +0530

Even as our tier-2 and tier-3 cities become increasingly well-mapped, and well-documented through myriad tech-driven data, the Indian film-maker's dominantly urban gaze turns to regions not crowded by data, area codes, or directions, observes Debarghya Sanyal.

Why Did This Kerala Story Become A Hit?

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:35:28 +0530

'Cinema or the sentiment of a people, disgusted by contemporary politics and wanting to feel whole by collectively recalling a moment of great difficulty that was also a cause for togetherness?', asks Shyam G Menon.

What Makes Jaya-Amitabh A Golden Couple

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 17:54:36 +0530

One of Hindi cinema's most high-profile couples celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 3.

What Makes Mani Ratnam Such A Master

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 10:23:37 +0530

'He's always been an all-inspiring kind of director that nobody can surpass,' R Madhavan tells Subhash K Jha about Mani Ratnam.

The Power Of The Law... And Hope

Mon, 29 May 2023 16:23:58 +0530

Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi Hai reminds us that we haven't run out of instances where even the most vulnerable can secure justice against the mighty, applauds Utkarsh Mishra.

Why 2018 Is The 'Real' Kerala Story

Mon, 15 May 2023 14:24:23 +0530

Kindness and compassion is all you need to survive and build your life. And that is what makes 2018's Kerala story so relevant, notes Divya Nair.

PS:2: So Who Killed Aditha Karikalan?

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 23:01:53 +0530

The question 'Who was/were behind Aditha Karikalan's killing?' will continue to remain a historic mystery despite Mani Ratnam setting out to unravel it in his own way, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Bahot Ho Gaya Bhai!

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:12:45 +0530

Why can't Salman end his self-praising screen time and play a good role instead, asks Rajesh Karkera.

The Plight Of Food Delivery Boys

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:05:31 +0530

Zwigato urges viewers to think critically about the kind of unethical behaviour that food delivery workers have to put up with on a daily basis because of insensitive customers, observes Chintan Girish Modi.

Mammootty Gets Off A Bus; Goes Down A Rabbit Hole

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 14:52:43 +0530

Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam is a masterpiece, and like most masterpieces of the cinema, it's a great act of folly, observes Sreehari Nair.

So, What Was It About Naatu Naatu?

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:59:01 +0530

RRR threw a lifeline, or so it seemed -- to a world that was down in the dumps. Keeravani and his Naatu Naatu just happened to be in the right place at the right time, notes Saibal Chatterjee.

How Does One Say Goodbye To Satish?

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 12:26:42 +0530

'He didn't have a single mean bone in his body.''He never had a negative word about anybody, not even those who harmed him.'

Why Shah Rukh Needed Action To...

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 16:24:12 +0530

Shah Rukh had outgrown the roles that made him a star -- the menacing, obsessive lover in Darr, the regular guy in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na or the new age boyfriend in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.By the time he entered his 50s, he was struggling to find his feet, explains Vanita Kohli-Khandekar.

When Pathaan's Villain Made You Think

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:22:09 +0530

Let us get high on Pathaan and his simple-minded antics, sure, but let us also take a moment to think about Jim who, with that one cunning piece of dialogue, goes on to boldly state that patriotism is a many-hued thing, observes Sreehari Nair.

Pathaan Is About Shah Rukh's Life

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 12:24:11 +0530

More than anything else, Pathaan is a silent and subtle statement of Shah Rukh Khan about his place, his commitment to cinema and, if one can say, his politics, observes Mohammad Asim Siddiqui.

Keeravaani's Gracious Act At Globes

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 16:29:49 +0530

The composer thanked other artists for the making of the song.

Why There's So Much Global Love For RRR

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 13:57:26 +0530

Like Slumdog Millionaire, RRR will remain a one-time phenomenon until another big, larger-than-life, Indian film connects with the critics in the West, predicts Aseem Chhabra.

The Lesson We Can Learn From Ariyippu

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:24:43 +0530

Ariyippu drives home the point that nothing can force you to leave the path of righteousness, discovers Utkarsh Mishra.

The Lataji I Knew

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 10:07:22 +0530

I spent almost all my life trying to figure out how anyone could express so many shades of human feeling in her voice, wonders Subhash K Jha.

Rare Appeal: Remembering Smita Patil

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 12:01:13 +0530

Smita has left behind a rich haul of films that showcase her enormous ability to offer us a glimpse into her soul each time she performed a role.

What Makes Kantara, Brahmastra The 'Chosen Ones'?

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 11:59:49 +0530

As much as we enjoy and write reams and reams about our amazement at the Kantara climax, 30 years on from now, will we remember these portions more fondly or the ones where Shiva is simply hanging out with his friends, mulls Rohit Sathish Nair.

Revenge Of The Nepo Kid

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 16:59:44 +0530

Sikandar Kher's Nishikant Adhikari is a solitary poet by the corner, trying to remind us that the honest plans of honest people don't always come to respectable ends, observes Sreehari Nair.

Why Rorschach Does Mammootty No Credit

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 06:49:28 +0530

After a lifetime of showing us what it means to 'act at the top of one's bent and never hit a false note', Mammootty had the good sense, in the third act of his career, to pare down his style, become less mannered, draw directly from life.And getting a performer like that to play characters who seem 'completely dead inside', is, in my view, a betrayal of his legacy, his still-burning ambition, and his still-sharp feelers, observes Sreehari Nair.

Doctor G: Lazy, Dishonest, Film

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 08:47:28 +0530

Doctor G is outwardly all for women, but evidently has no interest in them, observes Sreehari Nair.

Why Kantara Is A Must Watch

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 10:34:33 +0530

Kantara is mesmerising, applauds Rajesh Karkera.

Amitabh@80: His Best May Be Yet To Come

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 09:39:11 +0530

'For an introduction to his career-spanning genius, watch just five of his movies: Anand, Saudagar, Abhiman, Black and Pink,' notes Kalyan Singhal, McCurdy Professor of Business at the University of Baltimore.

Why Lataji Didn't Sing With Rafi, SD...

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 16:39:01 +0530

Long before she won royalty rights for playback singers, there was an undisclosed incident in Lataji's life where she not only put a male colleague in place, but also refused to sing with him thereafter.

Why Didn't #BoycottBrahmastra Work?

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 10:17:41 +0530

Nobody else needs to boycott Bollywood, they are doing a pretty good job of digging up their own foundation, notes Deepa Gahlot.

Pushpa Effect Makes Allu Arjun Brand Star

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 09:39:10 +0530

A little bird in the know of things tells me that Allu Arjun will most likely become the face of a global cola brand very soon.And he has jacked his brand endorsement price to an unheard of Rs 7.5 crore per day, leaving the likes of Virat Kohli and Ranveer Singh trailing by quite a margin, reveals Sandeep Goyal.

How Can Shabana-Javed-Naseer Be In Tukde Tukde Gang?

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 10:38:09 +0530

'Javed Akhtar, Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi have collectively brought more pride and honour to our country than the entire film fraternity put together.''Sir, the names you have taken are institutions, pillars of India's popular art, symbolising the very essence of humanism and nationalism.'

Thallumaala: One Of The Films Of 2022

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 17:06:07 +0530

Friendships are not merely severed, but built over scuffles.And just about anything can stir things up -- a long-standing feud, a pointless stare, a disrupted moral stance, a fist that ricochets off a face and smacks another face in the near vicinity, observes Sreehari Nair.

Darlings Is Daring!

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 10:39:01 +0530

I cannot think of another Hindi movie that has, without so much as a hint of cynicism or speechifying, brought out that fundamental fact of Muslims being an integral part of the Indian culture while being at the same time a subculture with its own polite niceties, observes Sreehari Nair.

Ranveer Looks Tired And Quite Unsexy

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 19:53:59 +0530

Far from outraging any woman's sensibility or sense of modesty, Ranveer looks like he could do with a hot meal and a hug, notes Deepa Gahlot.

A Coming-Of-Age Movie For Grownups

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 10:29:13 +0530

Dear Friend is for those who idealised Dil Chahta Hai all out of proportion, and then warmed up to the premise that friendship could be a lot more complicated, and transient, observes Sreehari Nair.

Why Priyanka is UNSTOPPABLE!

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 09:44:51 +0530

I have heard cynics say that Priyanka Chopra Jonas as we know her today is the creation of a PR machinery, but that is rather a poor reading of a determined woman and the work she has done to get to where she is.Aseem Chhabra salutes the movie star on her 40th birthday on July 18.

Lijo Jose Pellissery's Women And Mine

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 16:30:19 +0530

Pellissery's women continue to express the beauty in our common humanity. And often, these women go so far into expressing our hopes, desires, absurdities and follies that they end up acting at variance with the ethical prescriptions of our age. And this, I believe, is precisely why they remain "invisible" to a whole bunch of viewers, says Sreehari Nair.

Is RRR A Gay Love Story?

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 19:54:51 +0530

Are we living in those primitive times when same-sex relationships qualified as stone-pelting offences, asks Subhash K Jha?

'Difficult to keep up with Ranveer'

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 12:54:01 +0530

Ranveer is loud, but not shrill, notes Subhash K Jha.As in singing, in acting holding your pitch in the higher notes is a Himalayan task.Ranveer resides on the highest notes of the musical mountain and still manages to be coherent, fluent and persuasive.

Is Ms Marvel Really EPIC?

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 17:25:12 +0530

Ms Marvel's first episode did not bore me, but it made me question the very existence of the first Muslim superhero, observes Subhash K Jha.

The Small Big Pictures Of Rajamouli & Co

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 14:24:00 +0530

RRR isn't the "spectacle" it is made out to be, argues Sreehari Nair.

Is Jaideep Ahlawat India's Finest Actor?

Fri, 06 May 2022 16:20:03 +0530

If Irrfan could have been our finest professor of empirical philosophy, and Nawaz is our foremost poet of that space halfway between the gutter and the stars, then Jaideep Ahlawat has to be our greatest artist-scientist, asserts Sreehari Nair.

'Sanju remembers her only for the love'

Tue, 03 May 2022 11:57:22 +0530

'I don't think my troubles would have happened if she was with me. I kind of lost my way after she was gone,' Sanjay Dutt once told Subhash K Jha about his mother Nargis, the legendary actress who passed away this day 41 years ago.

Why Prabhas' Film Shoots HALTED

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 13:07:09 +0530

Get your lowdown on what's going on in the world of movies with Subhash K Jha.

'I can't survive without acting'

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 15:31:04 +0530

'If I don't act for a week I become edgy, restless and moody.'Subhash K Jha salutes Manoj Bajpayee, actor extraordinaire, on his 53rd birthday.

A NOT-SO-SENSITIVE Guide to Badhaai Do

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 08:48:23 +0530

Badhaai Do carries its audience on the wave of those little farces that come with being queer in India, a land where masculinity still has some say, observes Sreehari Nair.

Why Alia-Ranbir Make The Perfect Couple

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 13:09:03 +0530

What did Alia have that Ranbir's previous girlfriends did not? Mom Neetu Kapoor's blessings, observes Subhash K Jha.

The Issue With Looop Lapeta

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 15:24:52 +0530

The simplicity of the model that was the original, which allowed it to glide with grace, has been foregone, observes Rohit Sathish Nair.

Jaya, The Tallest Bachchan

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 14:20:56 +0530

Jaya is a woman of steel in the truest sense of the word.Despite being the first lady of filmdom, she's as real and rooted to the ground as anyone can get, notes Subhash K Jha on the actor-politician's 74th birthday.

Ram Gopal Varma Must Stop Making Films

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 17:28:58 +0530

Ram Gopal Varma is 60 today, April 7.Subhash K Jha plots the once brilliant film-maker's declining movies graph.

What WENT WRONG with RRR?

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 18:24:34 +0530

The final production cost of RRR is estimated to be approximately Rs 525 crore (Rs 5.25 billion), a sum impossible to recover through theatrical collections, even if it was the biggest hit of all times, which it is not, explains Subhash K Jha.

How Kapil Went To Hell And Came Back

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 17:12:02 +0530

On Kapil Sharma's 41st birthday, Subhash K Jha looks back on the comic's fall and resurrection.

Ajay Devgn Has Always Been A Warrior

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 13:03:19 +0530

Subhash K Jha celebrates Ajay Devgn as the movie star turns 53.

The MAGIC Of Bappi Lahiri

Sat, 19 Mar 2022 13:31:58 +0530

Bappida's softer more creative work got buried in the noise, rues Subhash K Jha as he picks the late lamented composer's most soulful songs.

Why Gehraiyaan Is Not Deep At All

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 14:24:11 +0530

Gehraiyaan seems to be aurally thin, which serves as a clue to the larger issues plaguing the movie, observes Rohit Sathish Nair.

Mohanlal: An Emperor Defeated By Love

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:10:03 +0530

'Once Mohanlal's ever-swelling entourage grasped his enormous worth, once it realized that the innate Mohanlal appeal could be profited from, it set about to exploit, to make uproars, to create the Mohanlal brand.''And he wasn't meant to be a brand. He was meant to be an artist, a tireless explorer of the unique seas inside him,' asserts Sreehari Nair.

Badhaai Do Is A Giant Step Forward

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 11:32:36 +0530

Two men smiling, eyeing each other as they briefly let their guard down, with no care of what the world around them is thinking, that has almost never been shown in a Bollywood film, notes Aseem Chhabra.

Why Decoupled Just Doesn't Work

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 14:24:22 +0530

The failure of Decoupled is that, as it deals almost solely in 'snapshots of insight', it fails to showcase how life flows, how the world goes round, how things unfold, feels Rohit Sathish Nair.

Can You Watch 384 Films In A Year?

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:54:36 +0530

Aseem Chhabra watched some great films and some huge disappointments in 2021.

Go in peace, Lata didi

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 18:54:01 +0530

We will continue to be enthralled by your golden oldies we grew up with, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

A REBEL Called Preity Zinta

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 17:16:55 +0530

'I am not the kind of person who will stand up and complain. I have no complaints against anyone. If I've been away from the entertainment industry, it's because I am not into selling myself.'

Will Rajinikanth's fans forgive Dhanush?

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 16:57:41 +0530

'This is not a bolt from the blue.'

Why '83 Failed At The Box Office

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 16:23:51 +0530

The film didn't offer the unfettered entertainment which everyone sought -- it was out-and-out a docu-drama, not a masala movie, notes Sandeep Goyal.

Just who is Siddharth?

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 15:08:43 +0530

'He is busy building an image on the social media as an anti-right-winger.''But remember: An actor is only good at what he was born to do,' observes Subhash K Jha.

The WORST FILMS of 2021

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 11:00:21 +0530

Every year, with the good, there are bad movies too.

Dev Anand: 'Let's talk about you!'

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 18:24:01 +0530

'Don't you leave that girl. Marry her.'

Aryan Episode Won't Affect Brand SRK

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 08:13:36 +0530

SRK's persona and brand power has been built over nearly 30 years of public acclaim and love.Brands perhaps believe that his troubles are transitory and that as a human brand he has long legs capable of striding over controversies, explains ad guru Sandeep Goyal.

So Which Bond Do You Like Best?

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 12:21:44 +0530

What is the magic in the make-up of 007 that keeps us coming back again and again?asks Sandeep Goyal.

What you DON'T KNOW about Nedumudi Venu

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 21:11:15 +0530

A Nedumudi Venu character was happiest when moving his head to a piece of music with his eyes closed; or, when inventing off of a note that a co-actor had left unfinished; or, when reciting a poem by Kavalam Narayana Panicker where a hymn about nature descends into a musing about cheating, depression and death, feels Sreehari Nair.

THE ABBA Paradox

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 12:58:22 +0530

Ageing is a funny process.After rebelling and exploring, the human being drifts to the ordered arrangement, he/she once left.As a youngster I outgrew ABBA while my mother continued to like them.In September 2021, when ABBA's first single in 40 years was launched, I sent the video link to my mother.Meanwhile, now in my fifties, I find myself curious to hear ABBA's new songs, notes Shyam G Menon.

When Amitabh Bachchan Came Home

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 14:31:31 +0530

I panicked and suggested he cancel his long-promised visit, recalls Subhash K Jha.

Why Hrishida Made HAPPY FILMS

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 16:54:00 +0530

'To keep laughing is the most important thing in life.'

Rishi Kapoor Wasn't Prepared For Death

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 13:55:00 +0530

'Some months before his death, when I had inquired about his health, he was annoyed that people assumed the worst.''"I am not going anywhere," Rishi snapped as only he could.'

We will never know the real Sidharth Shukla

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 09:57:52 +0530

'I've only received love and appreciation. Maybe I only see the love because that's what I want to see,' the actor, who died suddenly on Thursday, once told Subhash K Jha.

Is the Modi Sarkar RATTLED by Cinema?

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 10:39:00 +0530

'What is being proposed today is completely draconian.'Payal Singh Mohanka on the I&B ministry's plan to amend the Cinematograph Act.

Why Are Our Anthologies So Bad?

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 12:28:51 +0530

I am yet to encounter an anthology of films (made in this country or elsewhere) in which every feature has adhered to a minimum level of quality, asserts Sreehari Nair.

A General Reviews Shershaah

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 12:17:57 +0530

'Captain Vikram Batra, PVC and his unit 13 Jak Rif did stand out because of the sheer magnitude of the task allotted to them but also the exceptional professionalism with which it was executed and completed,' recalls Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).

'I am glad my parents weren't together'

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 13:22:23 +0530

'My father may not be there for me the way he is for Taimur but that doesn't make me feel any less special.'

Why Naseer is WRONG about Dilip Kumar

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 12:00:07 +0530

Dilip Kumar remained in demand all through his career because he kept reinventing himself in keeping with the changing times in Indian cinema, argues Mohammad Asim Siddiqui.

Jagame Thandhiram is an Important Failure

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 19:54:25 +0530

Jagame Thandhiram is a failure alright, but it is certainly an interesting one, given that both the ideas that it was borne out (twin seeds, if you may) were sure-shot movie ideas on their own, observes Rohit Sathish Nair.

Why Bob Dylan's music mattered to India

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 13:28:44 +0530

The unconventional music of the Nobel Laureate might have nothing connecting Indians to it, but there is a reason he has a following here, notes T C A Srinivasa Raghavan.

The sole supernova in Galaxy Bollywood

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 17:55:10 +0530

No one deserves the title thespian more than Dilip Kumar, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

Why the Tragedy King turned to Comedy

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 12:34:44 +0530

After repeatedly essaying the role of doomed lover, Dilip Kumar, a thinking actor, found it diffcult to break out of in real life.Heeding his psychoanalyst, he flirted with some frothy roles and played the swashbuckling hero with elan, recalls Dinesh Raheja.

'Heroines flocked to him, but...'

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 16:07:06 +0530

'... their love was jinxed.''His celluloid path to his partner's heart was seldom smooth; it had to contend with greedy relatives and indecisive sweethearts, who were more ready to sacrifice than woo and wed.'

When Dilip Kumar met Vajpayee...

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 10:00:16 +0530

It is to Vajpayee's credit that he told Dilip Kumar to ignore Thackeray and to follow his own conscience.But the episode -- as indeed, the manner in which Dilip Kumar has been made to pay for being a Muslim throughout his life -- shames us all as Indians, says Vir Sanghvi.

'Raj was such a great guy'

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 14:42:25 +0530

'Raj was such a fun jovial guy, full of life.'

'Ray is a hit and miss job'

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 13:08:18 +0530

If Netflix and the film's producers thought they would bring younger audiences to the master's works, many who might have aversion to decades-old black and white films, they have failed with the experiment, says Aseem Chhabra.

'A film like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam just happens'

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 13:47:35 +0530

Was romance invented so that Sanjay Leela Bhansali would one day make Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, which released on June 18, 1999, asks Subhash K Jha.

Why Sonam is more than just the 'F' word

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 14:39:00 +0530

The word 'Fashionista' is used dismissively to ridicule Sonam's other abilities, as though being fashionable (along with being beautiful) discounts her from any chance of being a competent actor, argues Subhash K Jha.

'Iss lakdi ka kya hoga?'

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 14:54:11 +0530

'Sometimes I feel 60 years old.'

Was FIR against Tiger-Disha justified?

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 11:44:57 +0530

'He is a law-abiding citizen. He won't even break a red light.'

Is Nayattu anti-Dalit? Is Karnan pro-Dalit?

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 20:20:30 +0530

'If questioning and dethroning hierarchies is your primary motive, why not put an end to the practice of announcing your shining star, your box office draw, in big flaming letters and mentioning everyone else's name in small font at the bottom of the screen?' asks Sreehari Nair.

Mani Ratnam's hunger has not ended

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 13:03:59 +0530

'If you take the credit when it works, you have to take the blame when a film flops.'

What makes Meel Patthar a MUST WATCH

Fri, 28 May 2021 18:36:41 +0530

Meel Patthar is, both by theme and design, a tragedy of inertia, observes Rohit Satish Nair.

'Being Karan Johar is...'

Tue, 25 May 2021 15:36:35 +0530

'That very brand name comes in the way of people expecting something different from me.'

The world of Chaitanya Tamhane's Disciple

Wed, 12 May 2021 14:20:11 +0530

'Tamhane's densely composed shots achieve what a vacuously whizzing camera seldom does.''Like those Renaissance Paintings in which a bewitching lady is shown posing for a portrait, and daily life plays out in a corner unruffled, Tamhane's static frames have a hundred interesting things happening within them,' observes Sreehari Nair.

When Satyajit Ray got UPSET

Sun, 02 May 2021 11:50:25 +0530

There is a world that Satyajit Ray created in his films that I wanted to be a part of -- as Durga bathed in the rain to Ravi Shankar's music; when Charulata sat on the swing regretting she never had a child; and Aarti stood up in defence of her colleague.Aseem Chhabra shares interesting memoris of Satyajit Ray on the latter's birth centenary on May 2.

There will never be another Rishi Kapoor

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 14:55:00 +0530

'Johnny Lever once told Rishi that he's the only actor he can't ape because he is such a natural.'

The TRUTH about Seeti Maar

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 10:29:40 +0530

Salman's Seeti Maar is a recreation of Allu Arjun's Seeti Maar and the smartest move Salman made is not the song, reveals Subhash K Jha.

What made the Oscars so DIFFERENT

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 17:05:25 +0530

Despite the smaller scale of the event, the mood at the ceremony was cheerful, notes Aseem Chhabra.

A standing ovation for the Oscars

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 14:28:01 +0530

Subhash K Jha applauds the Oscars for Anthony Hopkins and Frances McDormand.

Did Bollywood give Kareena's mom a raw deal?

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 18:36:09 +0530

Babita's success ratio is higher than that of any other leading lady in the 1960s, says Subhash K Jha.

Joji: The Mundane Disarranged by a Heart of Darkness

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 19:24:15 +0530

With Joji, Dileesh Pothan has found a way, once more, to use everything he has learnt to further push the boundaries of his art, observes Sreehari Nair.

Did Bollywood give Lara Dutta her due?

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:23:57 +0530

On Lara Dutta's birthday, Subhash K Jha salutes an actress who never compromised on her values.

'It is the biggest win of my life'

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 11:38:06 +0530

'I wonder why our actresses don't wear the saree which is the most beautiful apparel in the universe, specially when they represent us on an international platform,' says Subhash K Jha.

Chhichhore didn't deserve National Award. This did.

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 14:40:43 +0530

While the sympathy vote for Sushant Singh Rajput's tragic demise must have played an important part in tilting the scales in Chhichhore's favour, the qualitative difference between the two films is so high that it could not have been a close shave, argues Subhash K Jha.

The 'Satya' about Ram Gopal Varma

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 13:59:43 +0530

'There is a lot that I find extremely annoying in Ramu, like his constant attempts to shock and stir up controversy by needlessly needling sacred cows.'Subhash K Jha salutes the maverick filmmaker on his birthday.

Is Dileesh Pothan our finest film-maker?

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 13:52:13 +0530

'I might in the future step out of a Dileesh Pothan movie not completely satisfied, but content I'll be in the knowledge that our greatest living film-maker had failed striving to be something more than just an auteur,' notes Sreehari Nair.

Happy Birthday, Prabhudheva, My Friend

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 19:22:28 +0530

He hardly wants to talk about himself. He wants his work to speak for him.Subhash K Jha on his friend Prabhudheva, who is 48 today, April 3.

Phalke Award for Rajini is votes for Kamal?

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 17:00:45 +0530

The very timing of the Phalke Award on Rajini now, days ahead of Tamil Nadu voting in the assembly election, may have taken away the seriousness and credibility attaching to the Centre's decision, making it sound every bit political, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

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