In a year of overwrought spectacles that slavishly sucked up to the audience, I found refuge in a bunch of 'mainstream' Indian films that espoused such old-fashioned values as dedication to craft, close observation and casual bravery, explains Sreehari Nair.
Much, much, much before Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani fussed over What Jhumka, Asha Bhosle trilled in her alluring voice and teased us with tantalising details about the events leading to her precious Jhumka's loss. Sukanya Verma celebrates the singing legend who turns 90 on September 8.
The splendid rock figures around Cappadocia and the silent, eternal ruins of Ephesus made a trip to Turkey even more memorable.
These films, even at their saddest, darkest and grossest, retain their sense of humour, their sense of proportion, which again is something you associate with a Malayali.
Aditya Chopra may be a household name in India, but few have seen his face, recognise his voice or know the brain behind the business outside his tight inner circle. The Romantics makes sure it has its own to brag about when he, finally, appears before the camera, notes Sukanya Verma.
Taapsee has been posting amazing pictures by the sea.
99 Songs's mesmerising music distracts you from its sketchy screenplay and bland story, says Moumita Bhattacharjee.
The new amendment, which came into force on April 21, has been introduced to detect discrepancies between the expenses and incomes of people who do not have to file tax returns.
Sukanya Verma gives a toast to the man, the movies and the many, many, MANY memories he's made on big screen through 80 Amitabh Bachchan moments.
RRR isn't the "spectacle" it is made out to be, argues Sreehari Nair.
The head of the Congress's first family has never been an astute politician, points out Amulya Ganguli.
Mammootty plays the despicable Kuttan with absolute integrity, observes Divya Nair.
'Would you want to bring kids into a world that could run out of drinking water before they reach adulthood?'
From Asgard's naughtiest imp to Arsene Lupin's biggest worshipper in Paris, Sukanya Verma notes OTT is full of curious options this week.
Films that amazed Aseem Chhabra at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt.
Cinema Bandi brims in nave optimism, focusing on a rural community's simple, sweet characters using up all their enthusiasm and resources to make a local blockbuster, feels Sukanya Verma.
The film is all about how a weak, good for nothing is suddenly transformed into a boxing champion by the power of true love.
Here are Sukanya Verma's favourite female performances of 2021.
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Director Ezhil attempts to infuse a dose of humour into a tale of enemity.
The Oscars is prestigious and all artists covet it but ultimately, the business of winning is ruthless and political. And India has seldom risen to the challenge, argues Sukanya Verma.
'The wish is that 2022, if not bring us into happier times, at least sees some easing of the pain,' hopes Aakar Patel.
Something in Alia has surely changed after Gangubai. Her entire performance is about proving to herself and not to the world what she can do, feels Sukanya Verma.
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The film gets repetitive after a point.
'Whether she pursued academics or art, there was one sort of tyranny she'd probably never escape -- her father's,' says Geetanjali Krishna.
'Oscar has been given to A R Rahman.' Ringa Ringa Ringa, Choli ki peeche kya hai -- What's the difference? Exactly the same. Also, Jai ho.' 'I did Ramba ho in 1985.' 'Rahman combined three of my songs and got Best Original Score.' 'The Ho came from me.' 'Bappi Lahiri brought the Ho to Bollywood.'
'Today with Taliban at our doorsteps literally, we can't even put up our national flag. Only Allah knows, what will happen to Afghanistan now'
The estimated size of the Durga Puja economy could be about Rs 2.75 trillion in 2021 had there been no pandemic, points out Atanu Biswas.
How did a superstar provoke the break-up? 50 years later, the truth can finally be told. A revealing excerpt from Hanif Zaveri and Sumant Batra's An Actor's Actor: An Authorized Biography of Sanjeev Kumar.
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.
The 71st Emmy Awards have been announced, and there have been quite a few surprises and some expected nods.
When the top stars refused to play Milkha Singh, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra went down another route. A riveting excerpt from the director's memoir The Stranger In The Mirror.
Gupt's greatest success lies in how attractive it remains despite the suspense becoming common knowledge, feels Sukanya Verma.
'People are just putting the mask below their nose.' 'They are only protecting the mouth, but not the nose.' 'People need to understand that it is the nose which has to be protected.'
Madhavan doesn't try to be Charlie, and makes Maara stand out like a fresh film, feels Divya Nair.
Mahipal, who has worked with actresses like Madhubala and Meena Kumari, established himself as a hero in the mythological genre.
In strong observations while hearing the plea, the high court cited the death of Princess Diana while trying to escape the media chase, and said there needs to be "some toning down" as people are "afraid of the fourth pillar of democracy" because of its powers.
The reddish polar region on Pluto's largest moon, Charon, is an effect of methane gas escaping from the icy dwarf planet's atmosphere, say scientists who solved the mystery behind the coloured region first spotted by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft last year.
The sun is out. The flood waters have receded. Keralites have spent crores in quickly cleaning up the state and making it visitor ready. Go to Kerala folks!
Ranjita Ganesan and Nikita Puri chronicle the journey of Abhishek Poddar, one of India's leading art patrons.
Lee, the face of comic book culture in the United States, died early Monday in Los Angeles after suffering a number of illnesses in recent years.
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