Kalamkaval, like any good work of art, suggests more than it shows, raves Arjun Menon.
When the government chooses to either ignore or use identity documents only when it suits them, it shakes people's sense of stability, notes Shyam G Menon.
Anil Chaudhary, a veteran umpire, believes that Indian umpires are struggling due to overemphasis on theoretical knowledge and lack of practical experience.
Six episodes are not enough, applauds Deepa Gahlot.
Citadel: Honey Bunny is a decent watch with an average story, sharp stunts and brilliant music, observes Divya Nair.
Aavesham is smooth in its storytelling and leaves a chilling aftertaste, thanks to its one-of-a-kind anti-hero, applauds Arjun Menon.
In days of smart, networked technology and no shame over collateral damage, what will blow up next -- cars, mobile phones, TV sets, refrigerators? And where?, asks Shyam G Menon.
'The West has always opposed a strong nationalist leader in India and Narendra Modi is no exception.' 'The West prefers weak leaders who are amenable to Western pressure and Mr Modi's independent stance is not to the liking of the West,' asserts Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
A democracy is one, only if it has a robust Opposition. And as its actions show, the Modi-BJP combine gives two hoots for that. So, the Opposition must learn to convince people why the BJP must go. Else, it can count down to 2029, points out Shyam G Menon.
It was a year of so many contradictions and contrasts that it became dangerous to talk about movies, people lost their heads discussing Friday releases, psychiatrists began dabbling in film criticism, and film critics turned into psychiatrists, says Sreehari Nair.
Manjummel Boys gets so many things right, applauds Arjun Menon.
'Perhaps the government should explain how the same scientific temper, which authored a precise landing for Chandrayaan-3, finds the periodic table and the theory of evolution not good enough for inclusion in the educational curriculum,' asserts Shyam G Menon.
'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.
...the BJP's template of operation was different or if the Centre and the state were ruled by dissimilar parties? asks Shyam G Menon.
Demonetisation and Agniveer reveal the two mindsets India has become. In both these government schemes, one sees a desire to play the country like an orchestra anchored by conductor/conductors, argues Shyam G Menon.
For those who enjoy stand up comedy, Comicstaan 3 makes amusing viewing, enough to lift the monsoon gloom, applauds Deepa Gahlot.
Anurag Kashyap's classic Black Friday is a must watch film.
LSD: Love Scandal and Doctors keeps you engrossed right through, applauds Joginder Tuteja.
Get your lowdown on what's happening in the world of Bollywood, right here!
S Saraswathi gives us the latest updates from the Tamil film industry.
'...Your confidence.' 'You go through this emotional roller coaster ride, which affects your partner as well.'
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 move to extend visas on arrival facility to 150 countries and make world heritage sites more tourist friendly has been welcomed.
Anindya Dutta relies on facts and figures rather than back stories to trace the history of Indian spin bowling, says Partha Basu.
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.
The year saw some standout performances from lesser known actors.
Before Vishal Bharadwaj's advent, several Hindi filmmakers had attempted screen adaptations of Shakespeare's various works, with varied success.
Nikita Puri lists the best shows and films to watch online as you ace social distancing.
Faced with a situation where the spouse's transferable job keeps taking the family to different locations, thus jeopardising their own careers, many women simply fall off their career track and resign themselves to relocation every time their husband gets transferred, says Sudha Menon.
Paris spells r-o-m-a-n-c-e, oodles of it. Those who've visited cannot get enough. Those who haven't cannot stop wishing
It's all bad. All of it, every last instant, every single word, rants Raja Sen in his review of Humshakals.
Muzzling NGOs is unbecoming of a democracy. Self-confident democracies encourage, indeed applaud, the involvement of citizens' associations, including NGOs, in social and political decision-making and development planning. Instead, our paranoid government bullies and terrorises them, says Praful Bidwai.
'We have a common way of looking at the world, a common way of thinking, and a common set of values that predispose us to be partners. And our interests overlap greatly,' Dr Ashton B Carter, America's next defence secretary, told Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com in an exclusive interview.
