Aseem Chhabra picks his top 10 Indian films of 2024, which includes films that have had theatrical releases or are streaming on OTT.
Director Honey Trehan's film Punjab '95, based on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra's life, remains stuck with the Censor Board, facing over 127 cuts.
Omar Abdullah has so far laboured hard to make best of a bad bargain. Even so, the ground reality is anything but reassuring. The Opposition parties, including notably the PDP, appear to be gaining ground, though more by default. Public patience with Omar's government has nearly run out, notes Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir affairs.
'I am fascinated by the lurking presence of the tiger.'
The theme of the film festival was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Indian cinema, with focus on women filmmakers.
'I can't wait to show the series in India.'
Having grossed nearly $370 worldwide, Sinners filled up Warner Bros coffers when many of the studio's key 2025 films lost money, and deserves its many Oscar nominations.
Anurag Kashyap, despite his claims of being done with Bollywood, continues to deliver compelling cinema, with his latest film 'Bandar' set to release on June 5.
Brilliant movies from China, Ethiopia, Austria and India line up for Mumbai.
The festival's People's Choice Award, voted by the audience, is a strong indication of films that can eventually be nominated and even win Oscars. Twelve of the last 15 People's Choice winners have received Best Picture Oscar nominations.
How wonderful it would be for all of us to watch the Oscar ceremony on March 2, 2025 and watch AWIAL win an Oscar, notes Aseem Chhabra.
Suresh Kalmadi brought several top-class events to India including the 2003 Afro Asian Games, the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
An Instagram message changed everything for Anushka Sanghvi. Fresh out of the London College of Fashion, she is now set to launch her own label after designing Masoom Minawala's standout Cannes look.
'Thank you to the Cannes Film Festival for having our film here. Please don't wait 30 years to have another Indian film.'
'To have made it to the shortlist of 15 films for the Academy Award is a big deal for us.''
'It's not hidden, it's not unintentional -- inciting hate and violence is in the DNA of Dhurandhar.'
'...including my baby sisters, age three and one.' 'My dad was humiliated, and he started screaming at them.'
The four-day CIFF was packed with so many other new projects, like Radhika Apte's first directorial effort Koyta, with Vikramaditya Motwane as the producer, Venkatesh Maha's Ko Ko Ko, Jeo Baby's Punishment and Shonali Bose's Black Mountain Monpa.
"Clothes speak volumes before you do," says celebrity stylist Tanya Ghavri, who believes elegance matters more than virality.
Deepa Gahlot picks 10 Bollywood horror flicks to mark Friday the 13th.
'The flutters of excitement of a high-school romance, and then how life changes.'
Huma Qureshi, who's enjoying her time at the Toronto International Film Festival, gives us more glimpses from her fashion files.
In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for austerity, political leaders are reducing convoys and promoting public transport to conserve fuel.
Pankaja and O'Sey Balamma bring deeply personal yet universally resonant stories to Sundance. They represent a new wave of South Indian storytelling, blending cultural authenticity with cinematic innovation, and mark an important step in amplifying regional voices on the international stage.
'I hope this film will bring some change in people, their homes, and in our society.'
'Each mother I have played is different, but the writing dictates the doing of it. If it's written well, that's half the work done for an actor.'
Beighton Cup to throw open '22,000-seat' hockey stadium in Salt Lake.
'It didn't work at the box office. It was a very ridiculed film. But it kind of prepared me very early on about what this industry is like, what it's like to be an actor -- the highs and lows.'
Dekh Indian Circus and Gattu impress and pick up awards at the New York Indian Film Festival.
The fact that a major studio put out a silent film starring some of the biggest names in the industry in these concerning times for the film business is the one big takeaway from Gandhi Talks, notes Arjun Menon.
'What interested me more than the influencers was how were they surviving in Bombay?' 'How many reels did they make per month? How much money did they need to get by?' 'Did they get a job and then come back home and do this at night?'
'I want to show bearded men actually caring and loving for their sons or a woman from Pakistan in a position of power. How radical is that?'
Mozez Singh's directorial debut Zubaan was premiered at Palm Springs International Film Festival.
'For the longest time, he was not an activist.' 'He was just trying to build his own self-identity, self-respect and ambition.'
'Kashmir has so many stories, cultures, and folklore. It should be promoted. We should definitely have more stories out of Kashmir.'
Homebound missed an Oscar nomination; Sinners broke the record by getting the most nominations ever, at 16 counts.
'I don't know how long cinema will survive.'
'One is not allowed to smoke on the sets of a Hollywood film even during a break.' 'When I asked an assistant to suggest some place where I could light a cigarette, he recommended the bad boys' corner -- where Jack Nicholson smoked.' 'However, I hesitated.' 'But when I was heading back to my chair after the shot, Jack Nicholson asked me if I wanted to join him for a smoke. We had a long conversation over cups of cappuccino.'
Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light continues to shine on the global stage.
'You need the drishti, the experience. I am beginning to see things differently.'
