Sukanya Verma salutes the legend and celebrates some of the finest soundtracks of his career.
'Aurangzeb spent a major part in the Deccan. The later Mughals were looted by Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali. The Mughals had no money to build. That's why Zafar Mahal, the only palace they built in Mehrauli, was built very shoddily and quickly fell into ruin.' 'Mehrauli spans a much longer period of time than any other city of Delhi,' says historian Rana Safvi.
Veteran actress, television personality and anchor, Tabassum, who has completed 67 years in the industry, shares her insights about the stars of the past.
'The Modi government thinks that once the CAA protests are over, they will bring in the NPR that will help to get the NRC.'
So many films have been made with Muslim characters. But how many have actually got them right?
'I love Jhalak and I love Palak. But bringing them together on one platform is way too exhausting,' admits Kiku Sharda.
'His past as a cricketer makes it difficult for the BJP to question his nationalism.' 'He gets away by ridiculing Modi while something similar from most Congress leaders does not resonate as much.'
Deepti Naval made one of the most popular jodies with Farooque Sheikh in their time, having acting in some brilliant films like Chashme Badoor, Katha, Rang Birangi and their last film together Listen... Amaya.
'Mulk questions the very principle, of good-Muslim exceptionalism.' 'That, of course, we adore Abdul Hamid, A P J Abdul Kalam and Bismillah Khan and if only more Muslims were like them.' 'Anubhav Sinha sticks his neck out to say that these are no exceptions.' 'Most Muslims are like them. It is the terrorists who are exceptions,' says Shekhar Gupta.
'I am not a supporter of complete freedom of speech or expression on any social platform, but we must have the right to choose as adults in a personal space.'
'Just a day before the Pulwama attack happened, one of my songs had released. It's called Baarishein, featuring Atif Aslam. However, it was pulled down the very next day. See, when it comes to standing with the nation, I will. Even when the makers decided to take that song down, I supported them. Atif and I are artists but we cannot be bigger than our nations.'
Revolver Rani could have been the movie of the year. It ended up as a confused film that can't decide who, or what it wants to concentrate on instead, says Paloma Sharma.
Veteran music composer Khayyam revisits Umrao Jaan.
'Nowadays, every week there is a comparison.' 'This week someone is on top, next week someone else.' 'For me, the love that I got made my legs strong, not my head.'
Photographer S Paul, who died this month, was furiously protective about his independence and intensely sure about his work. So much so that he once walked away from a shoot with a prime minister.
'I went away from the industry because all the people I enjoyed working with, like Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra, are no more.' 'They left this world and went away, so I lost interest in my work.'
'Khaike Paan Banarasiwala doesn't sound like a Hindi song,' Kishore Kumar said. 'I don't think I can sing this song.' We pleaded with him. Finally, he relented on one condition...
Rangoon haunts in unlikely fashion and, while the director's most straightforward picture, holds enough of its own marvels to justify multiple viewings,' notes Raja Sen.
Very few things can faze Madhukar V Kulkarni, a cop of 30 years. Yet, an innocuous smartphone scares him. For those like him in Maharashtra's cities, tech classes have stepped in to teach them how to embrace Skype & WhatsApp. Ranjita Ganesan reports.
Akshay Kumar makes some of those lines work, but things have gotten far worse this time around, notes Raja Sen
Following the Budget being announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, leaders across the political spectrum provided their views.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf speaks to Haji Syed Salman Chisti, Gaddi Nashi, Dargah Ajmer Sharif, the hereditary custodian of the dargah and the 26th generation descendant of Khwaja Garib Nawaz (as the Pir is known) to understand the meaning and significance of the gesture.
'Masaan went to Cannes, got a standing ovation, won awards. I want the people of India to watch my film. Finally, it is happening!'
In the first part of a month-long series, we reveal a fascinating part of the legendary actor, Pran.
Sukanya Verma revisits Gulzar's Ghalib and finds Barsaat, and Free Love!
'2016 was the age of convenience for Hindi movies; of down pat effrontery and planned feeling triumphing over attempts to discern something complexly beautiful,' says Sreehari Nair.
What is Change really like in Bihar? Once seen as India's basket-case, what is its turnaround story like?
Anu Malik's daughter Anmoll tells us what it is to be a daughter of a famous daddy.
'I've seen the craze for English education even among the poorest. But that is only for their sons. Parents feel thrilled when they see their sons going to school wearing a tie. They don't mind paying for their sons' private tuitions too.' 'But daughters are sent to municipal schools, madarsas, small schools where teachers with no teaching skills are paid Rs 2,000 or Rs 4,000. That's why more girls come to my class.' Syed Feroze Ashraf, who has sent 500-odd girls (and a few boys) -- all first generation learners, children of grave-diggers, hawkers, rickshaw-drivers, tailors and watchmen -- to college, speaks to Jyoti Punwani. A Rediff.com Special.
What is Change really like in Bihar? Once seen as India's basket-case, what is its turnaround story like? Archana Masih reports from India's other most talked about state.
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