Like Slumdog Millionaire, RRR will remain a one-time phenomenon until another big, larger-than-life, Indian film connects with the critics in the West, predicts Aseem Chhabra.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has come out with a list of 301 feature films eligible for the Oscars with Indian films RRR, Gangubai Kathiawadi, The Kashmir Files and Kantara making the cut.
There is no guarantee that if we speak in only Indian languages, all our faults will be washed away and India will shine. Why then do they bully and belittle the English-speaking? asks Shyam G Menon.
His cinema of compassion inspired me, gave me tools to develop empathy for others. But it also made me understand that serious, socially committed cinema with deeply engaging narratives and great performances is an art form to admire, appreciate and explore. Aseem Chhabra remembers Shyam Benegal, who passed into the ages on Monday evening.
Imaad Shah's Tuesday's Women, Haoban Paban Kumar's Iron Women of Manipur, Shivam Singh Rajput's Ladakh 470 and Samman Roy's The Exile are among 10 titles to watch out for at the 17th edition of the Film Bazaar.
It is the first Indian film in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 30 years.
The Oscars is prestigious and all artists covet it but ultimately, the business of winning is ruthless and political. And India has seldom risen to the challenge, argues Sukanya Verma.
Sukanya Verma tells you everything you need to know about the Oscars.
There's clearly no limit to how dramatic a wedding can be.
'I believe FFI has made a mistake,' notes Aseem Chhabra.
Priyanka Chopra honoured South Asian talent at a pre-Oscar event in Beverly Hills on March 24.
In the biggest surprise of the night, Emma Stone grabbed the Best Actress trophy for the complex portrayal of a Frankenstein-like character Bella, in Yargos Lanthimos' electrifying and most original film Poor Things. Aseem Chhabra recaps the 96th Annual Academy Awards.
'When democracy first came to Bhutan people had no idea and they were like 'What is that?' Oh it's that thing they have in India where the leaders are always fighting and arguing.' When I screened the film to Bhutan's film committee, they thought my film was good but they were concerned about that line. They wanted me to change that line. They said, 'We don't want to offend India.' I tried to tell them that Indians have a great ability to laugh at themselves but they insisted I change it.'
'We didn't expect the film to be recognised at this level; we focused on making an honest and simple film.' 'We didn't have any expectations even like being appreciated at festivals.'
A lowdown on what's happening in the Malayalam film industry.
The number of cyberfraud cases has skyrocketed from 2,677 in 1999-2000 to 29,082 in FY24 -- more than a 10-fold increase. The RBI pegs digital payment frauds at Rs 1,457 crore in FY24, up more than five times in a year. It's not just the number of frauds. What's alarming is the growing sophistication of the fraudsters, exposing the vulnerabilities within the financial system, observes Tamal Bandyopadhyay.
'No small artistic film can even hope to win, except, maybe, as random tokenism,' asserts Deepa Gahlot.
'It is a film with a good human concept that would touch people around the world.' 'We are honouring a film that deserves to be at the Oscars.'
'We need to understand and respect wildlife behaviour.'
Mira's films are alive, rocking and so true to the reality I know. They are gifts that I keep revisiting, and I cannot wait for what more she will share with us, notes Aseem Chhabra.
Sukanya Verma goes down memory lane to recap the desi sightings at the Oscars.
'This is a film that speaks to the spirit of women who have been cast into the bottom of India's social hierarchy, and how they have navigated their way to redefine the meaning of power.'
Sukanya Verma salutes the late actor's spectacular cinematic legacy.
Aseem Chhabra lists his favourite Indian films of 2021.
Iram Haq's What Will People Say is a deeply relatable story of family values at odds with a modern culture.
'I received many threatening calls and letters.' 'A fatwa was issued against me.'
'The jester's job, the joker's job, the fool's job is to make fun of people to make them seem beautiful.'
'This was a film, a story that had never been told before.'
''I don't revisit any of my work once it's complete because I'm very self-critical.' 'I will probably exclaim, "Oh God, such bad acting!"'
Aseem Chhabra presents his list of 10 international films that mattered to him, stories that he connected with and characters that gave him a better understanding of the human condition.
Stories are legion about the Karatmeter's use at that time. Hundreds of people standing in queue for testing, customers breaking down after discovering the actual purity of their jewellery and then becoming irate about the jeweller who had gypped them, the local jewellery industry leaning heavily on the Tanishq franchisees to desist from using it, some jewellers even threatening violent action.
'I have been exceptionally lucky with my actors, whether it was Sushmita in Aarya or Kartik Aaryan in Dhamaka.'
Love them, hate them but the Oscars have a way of sneaking up on you.
Aseem Chhabra is impressed by Rima Das's Bulbul Can Sing, Ritesh Batra's Photograph and eight other outstanding films.
This film is creating waves. We tell you why.
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas announced the Academy Awards nominations.
'Visibility is very important, but visibility is also very expensive.' Swapnil Joglekar explores the Parasite phenomenon.
Sreehari Nair wasn't impressed with Rangoon at all. But find out which film tops his list!
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances