'We hope we will have created a world where music for films appeals to fans across the country, across languages and genres.'
Rahu Ketu crams in a clumsy social commentary on corruption and social evils, along with flashy dance numbers, trying to do everything and too much all at once, before ending up as khichadi, notes Mayur Sanap.
'I feel this initiative will help makers like me to tell a lot of stories. I feel very sorry that it's happening so late. If it had happened 10 years ago, I would have told 10 or 12 more stories.'
A R Rahman feels a power shift may have happened in the past eight years, as 'people who are not creative have the power now to decide things.'
Wamiqa Gabbi shared pictures of a throwback photoshoot where she channeled her 'inner Nandini', calling it, 'In My Nandini Era.'
The duo converted musical notes into bank notes with a steady spate of 1990s musicals such as Aashiqui, Saajan, Dil Hain Ke Manta Nahin, Raja Hindustani and Pardes.
President Droupadi Murmu hosted a state banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin, featuring regional Indian delicacies and a performance of Indian classical and Bollywood music.
Kamini Kaushal was one of the top three heroines of the 1940s, alongside Suraiya and Nargis. Dinesh Raheja lists 10 songs that defined her career.
After spinning into the spotlight with the hit song-and-dance number Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu in Howrah Bridge (1958), Helen signed scores of films as a dancer. But Helen was raring to step out of her dancing shoes, and play heroine instead.
Over 25 years, societies evolve and tastes change. Cinema absorbs and reflects this transformation. Picking only 25 films from the first quarter of the century is tough.
After being unwell for several days, Dharmendra breathed his last on November 24.
Singer-actress Sulakshana Pandit, 71, passed into the ages on November 6 after a prolonged illness. Besides her acting roles, she leaves behind some beautiful songs to remember her by.
While Janhvi Kapoor and Karan Johar's pairing may sound unusual, the two did make the fifth episode of Too Much With Kajol and Twinkle quite fun with their candidness and a bit of craziness!
'Your warm protective hugs that felt like the cosiest blanket, holding your soft yet strong hands which had unspoken messages and your voice calling out my name that followed with endless conversations, laughter and shayaris.'
'In almost every film, Shah Rukhbhai has done a lot of his own stunts.'
Veteran playback singer and actress Sulakshana Pandit passed away on Thursday evening after a prolonged illness, her family said. She was 71.
Late one evening, strolling around Mehboob Studio's car park, he was darkly introspective, admitting that marriage had been on his mind a few years ago. But despite his anger and tears, his possessiveness and wisdom, the person had moved away and he had let them go.
Dharmendra's oeuvre was so phenomenal that there was never a phase in his professional life when he was in danger of falling into a rut, in terms of either the kind of films he starred in or the sort of co-actors he worked with.
Malaika Arora celebrated her 50th birthday in Goa with son Arhaan Khan, sister Amrita Arora Ladak and mother Joyce Polycarp.
As the year draws to a close, Rediff's Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya takes a look at the hits and misses, the highs and lows, the newsmakers and the dealbreakers in alphabetical order.
In 1973, several major leading ladies like Mumtaz, Raakhee, Jaya Bhaduri, Dimple Kapadia, Tanuja, had married and retired from films. Producers wanted a new heroine as a replacement. Many thought Sulakshana was a Mumtaz lookalike and was soon persuaded to sign on multiple films as a leading lady.
'I won't do anything I don't believe in just for money.'
'It was Kishoreda who suggested to Sulakshanadidi that she should become an actress and sing her own songs in her films. This transformed her life and career.'
Bappi Lahiri realised disco was a winning ticket and escalated his game with several more dancefloor perennials. Soon, every film producer and music director in town was down with disco fever. On what would have been Bappi Lahiri's 73rd birthday this November 27, Dinesh Raheja rewinds to the late music composer's halcyon days.
Himesh knows his audience well and doesn't mind poking fun at himself. 'Yeh gaana main normal gaoon ya naak se?', he asked the crowd.
'I have always broken my image every time I went on screen. I don't know what it means to be a Greek God but people used to call me one.'
Dharmendra's demise means the loss of one of the biggest icons ever in the Hindi film firmament.
'Sleep is when your blood pressure falls; this nocturnal dip is when the heart gets rest.'
Salman Khan was reportedly dating Aishwarya Rai during the 1999 filming of the musical, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, but they broke up sometime later.
Stars are still caught up in Diwali even though this year's festival ended on Thursday.
The song that best encapsulates Geeta Dutt's unfairly abbreviated life would probably be: Yaad Karoge, Yaad Karoge, Ek Din Humko Yaad Karoge. On her 95th birth anniversary on November 23, Dinesh Raheja pieces together the life of this talented singer.
'Sulakshanadidi was never the same after Sanjeev Kumar turned her down.'
'The industry has lost a legend... and we've lost someone who shaped the very soul of our cinema.'
S D Burman enjoyed a productive partnership with Dev Anand's production house Navketan for two decades, but their collaboration reached its apogee with Guide.
Tere Ishk Mein is a disservice to brilliant actors like Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, who have poured their heart and soul into their performances in a story that fails to honour its characters, notes Divya Nair.
'Amrishji had a fascination for the colour red and wanted it in every movie costume of his.'
'Whenever we did any scenes together, whatever we did in the film, he never said, "Let's do another take or let's move on".' 'He always asked me, "Parmeet, is it okay?" Till I gave my best, he kept going on.'
