From moments that felt long time in the coming to swashbuckling statements that could be interpreted in more ways than one, there are some that fanned our nostalgia, some made our jaws drop (or stomachs churn), some hit too close home, still others left us with a lingering sense of guilt. Sukanya Verma picks cinematic imagery that stood out in 2023.
Steadily marching ahead for almost a decade now on the strength of his unassuming versatility, the 35 year old is ready to showcase his mettle in one of the most challenging roles of his career as India's first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in Meghna Gulzar's biopic, Sam Bahadur.
'Liger has been the hardest film for me physically, and mentally.' 'Performance-wise, it has been the most challenging film for me.'
On planes, on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Zee5, Hulu, MUBI, Kanopy, film festivals... Aseem Chhabra tell us how he watched 309 films in 365 days.
On his 50th birthday on May 25, Sukanya Verma celebrates the man and his movies.
'There are no heroes, saviour or destroyers in Bombay Begums. Every character is real and believable.'
'The pandemic time has disturbed the audience mentality.' 'If they don't like the trailer, they will not go to the theatre no matter who is in it.'
A day before the event, I learnt from an old Mumbai crime branch informant that a group of gangsters were planning to serve breakfast to the prisoners at Balgandharva Rangmandir prior to the show.
'I did a small role in Masoom.' 'Do you remember the scene where an old man brings Jugal Hansraj to Naseer's house?' 'I put on the full make-up of an old man and stood in front of Shekhar.' 'He had no choice but to take me.'
Aseem Chhabra lists the elements that he loved and was pleasantly surprised by in the movies.
What inspires Designer Amit Aggarwal and why is his flagship Mumbai store so special?
Nandita Das on why she wants to make Manto so badly.
'How can so many misfortunes fall on one beautiful family?'
'I am honest, hardworking, spiritual, a bit of a hypochondriac, and fun!'
'Manushi's trip was very last minute.' 'I did not have her (red carpet) outfit with me. It was already in Cannes.' 'We didn't know what she was going to wear.'
"Manna Dey sang some of the most soulful songs for my films" is how late actor Raj Kapoor described his association with Manna Dey.
If future episodes are as verbose and unwieldy, it might be difficult to keep from switching channels, points out Deepa Ghalot.
'My father never saw any success for me. 'When I meet him in the next world, I will proudly say that I didn't buy houses and cars, but I made some art that will hopefully stand the test of time.'
'Karenge aur kaam, sir. Zindagi bahut choti hai, ideas bahut sare hain.'
'These experiences were necessary for my journey.'
Jyoti Punwani examines the relevance of the Sairat, the hit Marathi film everyone is talking about, in today's times.
'It was fun trying to regulate ourselves and keep it in the family zone and yet, be tongue-in-cheek.'
He was being brought to Ahmedabad for further action, the official said.
Debates on changing the name of India to Bharat continue to spark a crisis of identity without answering moot questions that stare us in the face. Ramesh Menon asks a few of those questions that do not have easy answers.
Raja Sen feels The Lunchbox id this generation's Masoom.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Parinda, 1942: A LOve Story, Devdas, Kareeb, Mission Kashmir, Munnabhai MBBS, Rang De Basanti, Delhi 6, Bhag Milkha Bhag, Kalank... all bear the visual stamp of Binod Pradhan's genius.
Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma savours Mumbai's street fare... Shashi Tharoor bangs a drum... Punjab CM visits Pakistan...
Rejecting Das's plea, the court observed that it appeared that Shah's photo was shared with the intention of defaming him and tarnishing his image, and it clearly suggested "mens rea" (intention/knowledge of wrongdoing).
'I am not envious of those who are making millions. It's their era and I had my era.'
'At the end of the day, we are all humans.'
Vidhu Vinod Chopra on Parinda.
Karan Johar talks about his much-awaited directorial venture Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
'Our civil society here is vibrant, and courageous, although it is beaten up and beaten down, repeatedly.'
'I wanted to know whether I should stay in Paris or do something else, and in less than a week, I got the call for The Last Hour.'
Irrfan was hoping he would get a role as one of the kids in Salaam Bombay!, and when that didn't happen, heartbreak and tears followed.
'Our hero is strong and you must have seen the mother, she is stronger.' 'And Mike Tyson is the strongest!'
'Today's generation can learn from him how not to hurt anyone's sentiments at a time when many stand-up comedians deliberately set out to do so.'
'It was only after D-Day that people believed that I had actually directed Kal Ho Naa Ho.'
It is to Vajpayee's credit that he told Dilip Kumar to ignore Thackeray and to follow his own conscience. But the episode -- as indeed, the manner in which Dilip Kumar has been made to pay for being a Muslim throughout his life -- shames us all as Indians, says Vir Sanghvi.
