Rajinikanth is yet to identify a filmi platform to be able to launch his political career from the celluloid platform as only MGR had done, successfully and in the pre-IT era, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Aseem Chhabra lists his favourite films, most of them shown at international film festivals held virtually (Berlinale and Rotterdam), hybrid (Toronto) or physical (Cannes and Venice).
'He was full of Hindustan, its tehzeeb and its culture.'
Long before she became a political legend, there was Jayalalitha, the actress.
Rajinikanth seems to have ended the recently-revived speculation about his imminent launch into direct politics, unlike in the past, when he had expressed specific or indirect support one or the other of the two 'Dravidian majors', says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Thugs of Hindostan may not have as easy a run at the box office as previous Hindi films did during Diwali.
A look at the top tweets from your favourite Bollywood celebrities:
'We wanted to make a true coming-of-age story since all of us have been through adolescence.' 'Most people are afraid of commenting on what these boys go through behind closed doors.' 'We just wanted to bring out that truth. People know what adolescents do, but they do not know how they do it.'
Shiraz: A Romance of India, a 1928 Indo-British-German silent classic, will tell the epic tale once again. And you're invited.
Rediff.com's Ashish Narsale presents a list of gadgets that will fit your budget and instantly impress your bae.
'I was attracted to her both as a fine co-star and as a person who had some of the attributes I hoped to find in a woman at that age and time,' says Dilip Kumar in his autobiography, Dilip Kumar: The Substance And The Shadow.
'Our culture, our history, our achievements are great and we should start celebrating them.' 'I am glad our movies are doing that and Mission Mangal is doing that.'
Aseem Chhabra lists the movies that taught him about the Idea of India.
Indicators are that there has been little enthusiasm for Rajinikanth's entry into politics, owing possibly to his 'hide-and-seek' game over the subject since the early to mid-nineties. That was when Rajinikanth was already a superstar, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
'With his stature as a playwright and actor, Girish Karnad was one of the voices of modernity for not just Karnataka but the entire country.'
Karthik Subbaraj's Aviyal is an eclectic mix of fun and interesting stories by five independent filmmakers.
'What is happening is worse than Talibanisation.' 'There is no way a film-maker can fight these fringe groups, these extra-constitutional authorities.'
Rajini's call may now force other political parties, including the DMK and the Congress, who are in alliance talks already, to come up with water proposals of their own in their poll manifesto. In a way, this may be a 'tactical victory' for Rajinikanth, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Sukanya Verma salutes the power of Saroj Khan and her brilliant choreography.
An encounter with movie veteran Chandrashekhar.
'Neither Aamir's hard-at-work whimsicality nor Amitabh Bachchan's stoic presence can salvage a second of this bloated, blundering bore,' fumes Sukanya Verma.
'He had a continuing interest in life, people, and the society in which he lived,' remembers Shyam Benegal, who collaborated with the polyglot playwright and actor through the 1970s and remained his friend for more than five decades.
'...but from those who control the narrative.' Powerful nations have mastered this art of narrative building. Those nations who aspire to become global powers must do so, observes Shanthie Mariet D'Souza.
'Though Kanche is set in pre-independence period, nothing much has changed. Bigotry and hatred are increasing but love always prevails, making things better.' National award winning filmmaker Krish talks about his film.
And other top moments from the closing of the 70th Cannes Film Festival.
At best, a serviceable buffoon with a flair for repartee, Kapil Sharma is awfully limited in his humour and screen presence to perk up this half-decent premise, feels Sukanya Verma.
'These days girls are quite independent. They are scared to settle down as they feel their freedom will be taken away. In Pesarattu, what the girl goes through is representative of the new-gen woman. They have this fear of life and marriage, Nikitha Narayan tells Radhika Rajamani/ Rediff.com
'The Maharashtra government diktat is another meddling example in an industry where politics or language has no role to play.' 'Cinema has a universal language. Filmmakers are divided across regions, but united in their passion for films,' says director Suparn Verma.
'It's not easy being an actor for anyone.' 'Every actor, even the most successful ones, are waking up with the same insecurity.' 'If you're on top, you're worried about coming down.' 'If you're fit, you're worried about your stomach coming out.'
'Politics has become a toilet because we delegate everything.' 'We have to catch a bus, watch a cricket match, live our life... we feel this (politics) is not part of our responsibility.'
'Basuda welcomed viewers into a world that was instantly familiar and comfortable,' observes Sukanya Verma.
DMK working president and Opposition Leader MK Stalin, who pressed the Centre to immediately promulgate an ordinance to hold the sport and that AIADMK should also press Centre for it, said that "Tamils will not forgive" the two if such an urgent step was not taken.
Advance booking and track record peg the film's opening collection at Rs 35 to 40 crore.
The top posts on social media from your favourite Bollywood celebrities.
Padmarajan's Thoovanathumbikal has become a part of Malayali mythology, just as its maker himself now possesses mythological status.
A special word for Ayushmann: Hey Mogambo, your acting rocks!
Check out the impressive line-up at the International Film Festival of South Asia.
While critics and protestors have multifarious arguments to offer, the defence of CAA has been uni-dimensional and uni-focussed as has been the case with most policies of the Modi government and the political positions of his party. But to be drawn into an issue that has assumed more than local and national dimensions, Rajini has knowingly or otherwise, taken the plunge and in favour of the BJP -- or, so it has come to be seen, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
