Rehana Sultan was all set to be a path-breaker. The time was right. Hindi cinema had emerged from the 1960s musicals era. But somehow, leading film-makers of the time did not believe Rehana had that cachet. It was Zeenat Aman who ended up being the definitive taboo-trasher of the era. Dinesh Raheja salutes the trendsetter of the 1970s, Rehana Sultan.
Sukanya Verma raises a toast to the top female performers of 2024.
Singer Billie Eilish moved everyone to tears when she performed the Barbie soundtrack, What Was I Made For?, at the Oscars 2024.
Good, bad, evil, we saw a gamut of emotions on display in their most stirring form as actors reiterated their worth.
Did you know Dev Anand worked as a clerk at a salary of Rs 85 before he became an actor?
Aseem Chhabra picks his top 10 Indian films of 2024, which includes films that have had theatrical releases or are streaming on OTT.
Throughout its 155 minutes, every scene is doused in blaring background music and melodrama. Disappointment alone won't do, it must feel like a full blown catastrophe, observes Sukanya Verma.
'Since childhood, I have enjoyed playing with children. Even when I did films early in my career, I would make sure that whatever content I am putting out, kids should be able to watch these films.'
Vineeth Sreenivasan deserves applause for striving to blend the past with the present and revoking your memories, states Divya Nair.
What was once a solemn Vedic ritual is today a celebration for the entire extended family. And why not? With families living in distant cities, even continents, weddings are seen as an occasion for cousins and uncles to congregate under one roof for two or three days, observes Ambi Parmeswaran.
To see the 92-year old father attending court for his son's bail plea was more heartbreaking than any scene from Kohli's cinema.
A lot of time is spent on giving us the background of the story and establishing the characters but the film is named Kalki and the man is not even born, notes A Ganesh Nadar.
'It's such a mishmash of wonderful things, so many different cultures, subsections of society and weird histories.'
While war rooms are set up closer to the sales, warlike preparations go into it almost 12 months in advance to ensure that on D-day the firm gives its best to its customers.
Dinesh Raheja views Raj Kapoor's cinema through his women, while celebrating his birth centenary on December 14.
Despite the mediocrity at large, these films had me in raptures for the emotions they evoked within as a cheering audience, critic and cinephile.
Its callous perspective and comical treatment of a sensitive matter makes a complete hash of things, asserts Sukanya Verma.
It's been nine years since magnum opus Baahubali: The Beginning hit the screen, and Tamannaah Bhatia goes down memory lane.
Payal Kapadia's understanding of what it means to be a woman is as poignant as her authentic portrait of Mumbai's hoi polloi, observes Sukanya Verma.
Candid shots you will *not* see on the show!
'I was completely in awe of him. After the shot was okayed, I would quickly run back to my chair and sit quietly till I was called again.'
The world is celebrating Raj Kapoor's birth centenary, but when was the last time you watched an RK film?
Vijay Nair, a 25-year-old Mumbaikar, has worked to put India's indie music scene on the map. His hard work is starting to pay off, as recently he was named the British Council's Young Music Entrepreneuer of the Year.
'Initially, I didn't think much of him. But when I walked alongside him, I realized he has what it takes.'
'Personal reasons required me to take some time off.'
Believe it or not, our desi Greek God is all of 50 today. Celebrating Bollywood's golden star with 10 of his coolest introduction scenes.
'I would've been the first butt of Bollywood onscreen.'
Sukanya Verma lists her favourite frames from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
Diljit Dosanjh's switch in singing style as he smoothly assumes Chamkila's vocal persona highlights the brilliance of his artistry, observes Sukanya Verma.
'Suddenly the audience pool feels bigger, like everyone is watching everything now.' 'It's no longer limited in terms of boundaries, like a state or a language.' 'Whether it's a series, a movie or even a Korean film, the audience has access to all of it.' 'Slowly, the boundaries are blurring, so that's great for actors.'
Right from the lofty title, Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha keeps aiming to be an epic, and keeps falling short, discovers Deepa Gahlot.
'I thought of a suppressed country and a free world.' 'If we travel from one to another, what will that road look like?' 'What colours, music there will be? What kind of people would you see?'
Today, Anirudh Ravichander's name on a film's poster is enough to pull in audiences, notes Arjun Menon.
This movie is perfect for all ages. Avan Verma gives his thumbs up.
In these pandemic stricken, music bereft times, what can be more joyous than a playlist of golden melodies?
Things are off to a good start when a lead movie character appears for the first time against strategic music or swaggering drama and the audience bursts into wholehearted whistles and applause.
D K Pattammal, who broke the barriers to enter the male-dominated world of Carnatic music and enthralled classical music lovers with her captivating voice for over six decades, died on Thursday after a prolonged illness.
The movie just seems to move from one comic scene to another without any thought to the storyline.
The contemporary music scene in Delhi is deliciously complex and layered; while Bangalore may be the rock capital and Mumbai busy helming alternative, Delhi is revelling in a unique sonic experience, says Ritika Bhatia.
His cinema of compassion inspired me, gave me tools to develop empathy for others. But it also made me understand that serious, socially committed cinema with deeply engaging narratives and great performances is an art form to admire, appreciate and explore. Aseem Chhabra remembers Shyam Benegal, who passed into the ages on Monday evening.
