Aseem Chhabra imagines a time, 20 years from now, when movie-watching in theatres will be long gone, thanks to the coronavirus, and pens a letter to his grandchild, explaining the magic of the cinema hall.
Postponed several times due to a variety of reasons, the much-delayed but the biggest South Asian Games ever begin, in Guwahati, on Friday, with hosts India expected to stamp their superiority in the regional spectacle.
'I am a dreamer, so I always dreamt that Village Rockstars would go places.' 'But I never ever imagined this.' 'The way people are responding... they come to me, hug me, they call me, shower me with love and I feel wonderful.'
Like there's no dearth of memorable bus scenes and train imagery in Hindi movies, planes are equally prolific on silver screen.
'Everyone has his destiny. Shah Rukh became an overnight star with Deewana. I remember they had shot half the film with another actor. Shah Rukh came into the project at a late stage. If that isn't destiny, what is?' Shah Rukh Khan's directors celebrate the superstar.
'I am just making a creative film. It has nothing to do with propaganda.'
Dolly Jain knows 325 ways of draping the sari, a talent that has taken her to the Limca Book Records.
Satyajit Ray's fabulous use of fantasy to condemn fascism and Shah Rukh Khan's gift of enthralling oratory, Sukanya Verma's fantastic filmi week.
Pakistan played a 'key role' in fomenting the recent trouble in Kashmir, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said.
'Politicians are thick-skinned. Nothing affects them. NOTHING. Not the newspapers. Not bad publicity. They don't care about the common man's woes. The fact that humour affects them is damn good.'
'They asked me if I was a devout Muslim and if I could recite the Kalma.' Flying Officer Jawahar Lal Bhargava knew his game was up. 'They threatened me with dire consequences if I didn't tell the truth.'
'A tiger knows his territory in and out.' 'A tiger demarcates his terrain and never lets anyone enter.' 'Similarly, Ashu knew the trees, houses, rivers and rocks of the Rajwar jungles.' 'He didn't allow any militant to come into his territory.'
Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya is the kinda film Simran (of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge) would have loved, says Raja Sen.
highlights of what Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi and senior leader L K Advani said at the Statue of Unity launch event
'Disability is god's gift.' 'Had I not been blind, I don't think I would have got the chance to represent my country.'
Devulkar had a certain abnormal vagueness about him that was unreal and defied belief. That came across in both his slightly too easy-going, extra-cooperative manner and the ragged nature of his testimony.
Taapsee takes off her make up, Salman gets a date, Akshay gets flowers for his girls...
It's hard to believe Calendar Girls has been made by someone who makes films, fumes Raja Sen.
The hits and misses of the week.
'All mothers are the same. Mine came out of the MAMI screening, crying.' 'Recently, a critic compared me to the best debut since Hrithik sir and she was so overwhelmed with that.' 'Someone said 'You are Bhagyashree's son and the innocence is the same.' 'Even if I can even touch the shadow of that in my entire career, I will be very happy.'
So many films have been made with Muslim characters. But how many have actually got them right?
'I don't understand what is so wrong about my husband and me wanting to adopt a kid? Unfortunately, we don't know many (rather any) examples of couples who endorse our choice of adoption. 'I have realised that we have a huge battle to fight. In the end, I hope we don't lose,' says Divya Nair.
They have been entertaining throughout the year!
'Tomorrow AAP will say Dawood gave them money but they don't know anything about it!' Amit Shah tells CNN-IBN in an interview.
'I've been getting offers to play someone who is sexy, hot and smart.'
'You made me realise that it is great to be brown, even if we are currently living under Donald Trump's false definition of America.' 'In my 36 years in America there have been few instances where I have laughed and cried so much watching a show about brown people.'
Made In China is puerile, flimsy film-making, sighs Sukanya Verma.
Bollywood inspired weddings, Dharmendra's cringe-worthy attempt at realism, Sridevi and Aishwarya's painful connection and more in Sukanya Verma's Super Filmi Week.
In our special series revisiting great Hindi film classics, Sukanya Verma looks back at Rishi Kapoor-Sridevi-Vinod Khanna starrer Chandni.
On its 25th anniversary, Sukanya Verma lists 10 things she still loves about Mohra.
Sukanya Verma looks at 2019's winners and washouts so far.
She is changing India one village at a time.
'If a hero wanted Mr Rafi to sing for him, naturally it had to be him.' 'Then if it was Dilip Kumar, who is a soft-spoken man, he naturally wanted Talat Mehmood.' 'Raj Kapoor wanted only Mukesh. Now you tell me, where did I stand a chance?'
'I belonged to the working class, not the middle class.' 'I was a rag-picker. I used to pick up coal from the railway tracks.' 'I was rejected from the FTII, as I was very unkempt and skinny.' 'I did not look like a hero, villain or comedian.' 'But Girish Karnad and Jairaj said I should be taken based on merit, not looks.'
'Discussions of favouritism and the #MeToo movement really unearthed a lot.' 'I really hope that these movements force people to look inwards and be nicer to each other.' 'But it's definitely not as bad as it's made out to be.'
A week of bumping into trapped souls, savouring Achari Alia Paneer, envisaging Kishore Kumar crooning Kajrare and celebrating one year of Sukanya Verma's super filmi column.
'This mess is an all boo, no show,' says Sukanya Verma.
'There were times when my courage and confidence would fail and I was close to giving up,' says Jyoti Kumari who wanted to bring her father home safely. So she began the cycle ride of her life.
'One cannot deny that the show is tempting.' 'It gives you a lot of fame for whatever time it may be.' 'If you are smart, you can stretch it for more than a year.' 'It gives you the kind of fame that movies or other television projects don't give.' 'Of course, the money is also great, even more if you win the show.'
