'Sri Lanka has a large military presence in the north and east, where it is very difficult for the war-affected civilian population to move forward.' 'Right now the military is doing jobs that should be for the civilians. I would like to see Sirisena consider demilitarisation.'
'I believe FFI has made a mistake,' notes Aseem Chhabra.
In Shashi Kapoor: The Householder, The Star, Aseem Chahbra gives us glimpses of one of Bollywood's best loved actors.
Aseem Chhabra introduces you to the Irrfan you never knew.
Vihir is a balm for our troubled souls, says Aseem Chhabra. It is a like a book on life lessons -- joy, laughter and tragedy are all part of our existence.
'Karenge aur kaam, sir. Zindagi bahut choti hai, ideas bahut sare hain.'
'Once Attenborough had locked the shot, Jaffrey turned to Amitabh and told him in a very controlled but stern voice that he should never talk to an actor in between takes.'
When the filmmaker took Rediff.com on a tour of his lavish New York estate.
Vanessa Kirby is sure to be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar award, and Frances McDormand of Nomadland will give her a healthy competition, feels Aseem Chhabra.
The Disciple is an ode to music and a salute to Mumbai. The city can be harsh, but it also lets the voices of struggling classical musicians exist, although often they live on the edge of society, observes Aseem Chhabra.
'It will take me a while to process the meaning of the loss of a man who meant so much to me through my entire life,' says Aseem Chhabra.
We are all blessed that Irrfan Khan has left us a treasure trove of his remarkable films. The characters he played were real, believable. We recognised them and they have stayed with us. And so a fan I like to believe Irrfan Khan did not die, says Aseem Chhabra, the actor's biographer on Irrfan's first death anniversary.
Despite the smaller scale of the event, the mood at the ceremony was cheerful, notes Aseem Chhabra.
Remembering the Eternal Charmer. Remembering an Awesome Human Being. Remembering an actor and film-maker, the likes of whom we will not see again.
'As some of the marchers shouted, "Hum apna adhikar mangte, nahin kisi se bheekh mangte, (we are fighting for our rights; we are not beggars)," the message of the parade was clear.'
Varun Gautam, Irrfan's friend from his Jaipur days, learned about Irrfan's illness when he received a phone call from Sutapa. This was sometime before Irrfan officially announced his illness. He assured her, 'Even if the doctors are concerned, he will still stay alive.'
'How is it to live in a place that does not have electricity or a telephone connection, where people do not have any concept of what the world is beyond the mountains?'
'I always felt that Basu Chatterjee was a kind, gentle, man who truly believed that in directing films like Chhoti Si Baat, he was impacting our lives,' remembers Aseem Chhabra. 'He seemed to be on a mission to make us believe that the world could be a better place.'
Aseem Chhabra picks Indian and other South Asian gems at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In A Suitable Boy, Mira Nair holds our hands and takes us through the magical journey, introducing us to so many fascinating characters from another era, observes Aseem Chhabra.
Woody Allen, I salute you for taking a position against the anti-smoking messages in theatres, writes Aseem Chhabra.
Aligarh is a milestone in the history of Indian cinema that should start the much needed conversation about how India treats gays and lesbians, feels Aseem Chhabra.
Aseem Chhabra picks 10 fascinating films he watched in Macao -- a blend of Asian, independent, Hollywood projects and even a 66-years-old classic Japanese film that still stands the test of time.
'I never thought the European audience will love this film, but we had over 2,000 people at the screening.'
The Naz Foundation is trying to sensitise workplaces towards the LGBT community, reports Geetanjali Krishna.
'The idea was to show the simultaneity and coexistence of life in the city.'
Fifteen years after 9/11, the Sikh Coalition, a non-profit organisation, turns to art to open American hearts and minds to the community.
A beautiful documentary from Delhi. A shocking satire that spares no one. A thriller about a serial killer in Iran. A Pakistan film about family secrets... Aseem Chhabra lists the best films he saw in Cannes.
Island City should not be missed, raves Aseem Chhabra.
'When Covid first struck, the lockdown resulted in clean air in major Indian cities.' 'You were able to see the Himalayan range from Ludhiana.' 'In Delhi, you were seeing deer and stags all over the city because there was no traffic.' 'It was incredible. Nature was waiting to come back.'
'We didn't know where the story was going. But I knew I was telling the story of an extremely lonely journalist.'
A workshop on the LGBTQ+ community throws light on challenges they face. Meghna Chadha reports.
'We don't have that support system.' 'The last six years has gone into making Manto and raising Vihaan and it has been tough.'
Politics, favouritism and poor taste in cinema have contributed to embarrassing choices for the Oscar race in the past. This little gem from India needs the love, emotional and financial support from the government as well as the Indian film industry, argues Aseem Chhabra.
'The richness of Buddhism makes it possible for us to create these stories and to interpret them.'
What was life like for the confident Priyanka Chopra of today when she was a gawky teenager?
A Death in the Gunj is not a happy film at all times, but it is very entertaining says Aseem Chhabra.
Aditya Chopra's film reminds us that a well-shot Bollywood romantic film can be so entertaining even when it does not offer anything new, says Aseem Chhabra.
Looking at Shah Rukh Khan's unusual onscreen professions.
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