'Of all artists who openly support the current political dispensation, she is far and away the finest,' argues Sreehari Nair. 'With the exception of perhaps Tabu, no Indian actress has done more to extend the range of the feminine mystique in Hindi cinema.'
'Saeed Mirza was one of the few actors who managed to shine in both British movies like Gandhi and Hindi movies like Chashme Buddoor.' The veteran actor's friends pay tribute to him.
Here is a look at some of Aseem Chhabra's favourite memories of 2020 in Hindi cinema, performances by well-known and new actors, special moments in films and shows.
De De Pyaar De is a Radio Play being passed off as a Motion Picture, says Sreehari Nair.
A Nedumudi Venu character was happiest when moving his head to a piece of music with his eyes closed; or, when inventing off of a note that a co-actor had left unfinished; or, when reciting a poem by Kavalam Narayana Panicker where a hymn about nature descends into a musing about cheating, depression and death, feels Sreehari Nair.
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.
'We cannot express the sorrow in words.'
'The show is about women taking ownership of their lives.'
Bollywood pays homage to one of India's finest actors.
Soumitra Chatterjee -- one of the finest Indian actors of our time -- meant so much to Aseem Chhabra.
'It's a joy working there.' 'It's good work and when you come back it gives you pleasure.' 'On returning you take a shower and look at the day and say, "Ah! Nice scenes we did!"' 'Here sometimes you are doing nothing in the day, but you are there for the shoot.' 'You come home and it can be very frustrating, with that frustration the tiredness does not go, you know.' 'Good work gives you that strength and kick.'
Rediff.com gives you a look at films in the past that have captured the lives of sporting icons, and their rise to glory, on the silver screen.
The way Dilip came to the porch to receive Lata, you would never have guessed something was amiss between the two. Raju Bharatan's many wonderful insights into Dilip Kumar's life.
Aseem Chhabra introduces you to the Irrfan you never knew.
'Sriram Raghavan is mainstream Hindi cinema's greatest gift to us,' declares Sreehari Nair after watching the director's latest movie caper.
'Villagers are people without masks.' 'That is why I call them genuine human beings.' 'As an actor, I have been inspired by many such genuine characters.'
The gulf between Hindi cinema's finest current actor and his contemporaries widens with each film. But even Irrfan Khan, in Mick Jagger's words, can't always get what he wants. Raja Sen tells us why that's not a bad thing.
Aseem Chhabra's take on the highlights of Indian cinema this year.
'We've had quite a few offers to work together.' 'But no, I don't think that's a good idea.' 'The comparisons would be unacceptable to me.'
The 84-year-old Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner has given some of the best talents to Indian cinema.
Quentin Tarantino, declares Sreehari Nair, will be remembered as someone who made just two great movies, and who then brought misery upon himself.
At the peak of his popularity and charisma, filmmakers considered him a bigger draw than the leading man and often remunerated him with a higher fee than the hero.
'One week after the release of PINK, audiences in India will witness another strong feminist tale, this one set in rural India,' says Aseem Chhabra.
'Kalabhavan Mani was truly the star of the masses, which was evident from the huge crowds that came to bid him adieu when he died on March 6 at the age of 45.'
'I reached Bhopal the day after the gas tragedy; the smell was still in the air. It was a professional hazard but I was not scared.'
Does Manmarziyaan feature in your list?
As the legendary actor turns 60 today, we look at his finest performances in the last six decades.
'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.'
What you need to know about M S Sathyu's classic Garm Hawa.
'Basuda welcomed viewers into a world that was instantly familiar and comfortable,' observes Sukanya Verma.
'Kumbalangi Nights is a movie that respects women, but most importantly, it's a movie that loves them,' says Sreehari Nair.
'Sudhir Mishra takes us into the dreams and fears of our politicians, into their self-deceiving pitches, and he shows us their demons and angels,' says Sreehari Nair.
Before Vishal Bharadwaj's advent, several Hindi filmmakers had attempted screen adaptations of Shakespeare's various works, with varied success.
An A-Z of Bachchanalia, the letters expanding into unforgettable bits of his filmography.
Sreehari Nair attempts to bring you up-close the pleasures of Javed Akhtar's poetry.
'This slender yet joyous film introduces so many fresh insanities and has such an endless stream of wisecracking that it takes on shades of a running ballad,' notes Sreehari Nair.
Anurag Kashyap has a lot of talent, says Aseem Chhabra. He just needs to stop making films that are very similar.
