Aseem Chhabra, For Rediff.Com

Stories by Aseem Chhabra, For Rediff.Com

Hey, that's Steve Jobs!

Hey, that's Steve Jobs!

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2015

In Danny Boyle's biopic, reports Aseem Chhabra from the Telluride Film Festival, 'we are left with Jobs -- the man, a genius as well as (what Steve Wozniak calls him in the film), an asshole!'

How Sholay has played out in our lives again and again

How Sholay has played out in our lives again and again

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2015

'A friend said there was a new phenomenon occurring during every screening. Audience members were mouthing the dialogues with the characters on screen.' 'It was a truly amazing experience. It was impossible to hear what was being said on the screen. There was so much noise, laughter and celebration in the theatre. And the film was not even a month old.' Aseem Chhabra remembers seeing Sholay twice in the couple of weeks after it opened.

'Making a film is like being married'

'Making a film is like being married'

Rediff.com   31 Jul 2015

'There are too many things that haven't gone out of you. So even though the years may have gone by, you are still close to the films in terms of the making.'

Why our grandmas and mothers fell in love with Omar Sharif

Why our grandmas and mothers fell in love with Omar Sharif

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2015

'He was a magnificent looking man -- perhaps the best looking international actor of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, even in the current century. And quite definitely the first actor from Asia to make it big in the West,' says Aseem Chhabra.

Review: Asha Jaoar Majhe is one of the best Indian films of 2015

Review: Asha Jaoar Majhe is one of the best Indian films of 2015

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2015

Bengali film Asha Jaoar Majhe is a must watch, a once in the lifetime kind of work that should be supported by film lovers and experienced on the big screen, writes Aseem Chhabra.

Jaws drove people away from beaches...and into theatres!

Jaws drove people away from beaches...and into theatres!

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2015

When Jaws released in June 1975, it changed the way Americans watch movies, says Aseem Chhabra.

'Patang is seeped in my soul. Thank you, Prashant Bhargava'

'Patang is seeped in my soul. Thank you, Prashant Bhargava'

Rediff.com   18 May 2015

'Prashant has left us and it is really tragic. But I want to hold on to those little moments of happiness that he shared with me and with others whose lives he touched. That is how I want to remember him.' Aseem Chhabra pays tribute to Patang director Prashant Bhargava, who passed away on May 16. He was only 42.

Review: Bombay Velvet is marred by weak storytelling

Review: Bombay Velvet is marred by weak storytelling

Rediff.com   15 May 2015

Bombay Velvet spends too much time on period details and loses focus, notes Aseem Chhabra.

Rediff said it first: Juveniles, accused of heinous crimes, to be tried as adults

Rediff said it first: Juveniles, accused of heinous crimes, to be tried as adults

Rediff.com   7 May 2015

'With increasing numbers of juveniles committing heinous crimes, we believe such juveniles must go into the adult system and be punished,' Minister Maneka Gandhi tells Rashme Sehgal.

How Bombay Velvet got made!

How Bombay Velvet got made!

Rediff.com   5 May 2015

'I kept telling Anurag, "I don't care about anything, I don't want any money. Just get the film made".' 'One day I called Anurag and someone else picked up the phone. He said, "Hello, Sir." I responded, "Hello, but who are you and why are you picking up Anurag's phone?" He said, "I am Ranbir Kapoor Sir". And he told me he was doing the film and he was very excited.'

Remembering Bollywood's big supporter

Remembering Bollywood's big supporter

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2015

'Richard Corliss started loving Bollywood late in his career, but he gave everything he had in his power as a critic to promote India's Hindi cinema.'

Exclusive! Saving the Apu Trilogy

Exclusive! Saving the Apu Trilogy

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2015

The journey of the digitally restored version of The Apu Trilogy is packed with dark stories and years of near detective work by those determined to preserve some of Satyajit Ray's finest works.

The first Pakistani to win an Oscar jazzes it up

The first Pakistani to win an Oscar jazzes it up

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2015

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's next film is about aging Pakistani musicians who get a second chance because of jazz.

'India is full of mysteries'

'India is full of mysteries'

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2015

'We are dealing with a size of the world that equaled England and France combined. We are talking about 250 years of history.' Sultans of Deccan India, 1500-1700: Opulence and Fantasy -- a first of its kind exhibition anywhere in the world -- opened at the Met, April 20. Aseem Chhabra spoke to Navina Haykel, the curator of the show.

'I don't like the Indian style of acting'

'I don't like the Indian style of acting'

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2015

After working on Mr India and Sagar, Partho Sen-Gupta left to study filmmaking in France at 26. He returns with the dark and moody Sunrise.

The Indian and Pakistani behind one of 2015's most important films

The Indian and Pakistani behind one of 2015's most important films

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2015

Hemal Trivedi, a Hindu filmmaker originally from India, and Mohammed Ali Naqvi, a Muslim from Pakistan have made one of this year's most talked about films.

US wants to monitor Air Quality; India stunned

US wants to monitor Air Quality; India stunned

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2015

13 out of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India. Most shockingly, the latest Central Pollution Control Board statistics reveal that the pollution levels in Gwalior, Raipur and even little known Kashipur are higher than that of Delhi which means we have some of the most polluted zones in the world.

Saying goodbye to America's best TV show

Saying goodbye to America's best TV show

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2015

'That Mad Men is currently the best-written show and quite unlike anything else out there is an understatement.'

Shocking! What some doctors will do for money!

Shocking! What some doctors will do for money!

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2015

'Can we forgive the pathologist who wrongly labelled a healthy person as a diabetic patient for receiving the favour of the referring physician and possibly for a few thousand rupees?' 'The delinquent homeopath who caused a cataract in a child by giving terribly wrong drug must go to jail.' 'How can we permit a gynaecologist to practice her/his specialty if s/he tinkers with the faith of the patient in an abhorrent way?' 'Paying money does not guarantee good healthcare. The private healthcare system largely treats patients as revenue generators,' crusading doctor Dr Arun Gadre tells Dr K S Parthasarathy.

We Indians changed our colours, just for the day!

We Indians changed our colours, just for the day!

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2015

'Amazingly, along with the yellow army, there was still a huge number of desis, who had flown in from various parts of the world. No, we didn't sell our tickets -- we just changed our colours, for the day,' says Swapna Mitter, who was at the World Cup Final.