Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam is a masterpiece, and like most masterpieces of the cinema, it's a great act of folly, observes Sreehari Nair.
Giving an account of India's overall military modernisation, Lt Gen Pande also said that an in-principle approval has been given to new combat formations called the Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) which can mobilise fast with a more effective approach.
Latin Grammy award nominee Diogo Nogueira, himself a soccer player until a knee injury ended his sporting career, sang from an open-top bus as the square turned into a sea of green and yellow, Brazil's national colours.
'We have to do everything in our power to get as many Academy members to watch the film as possible.' 'After that, I am confident, my film will speak for itself.'
Even though the plot is predictable, Allu Arjun's swag makes this film an edge-of-the seat action-drama, observes Divya Nair.
With Hindi Medium and Angrezi Medium, the "English-medium" actor of independent movies shows she can easily fit into mainstream Hindi movies too.
After injecting life into Mumbai's Prithvi Theatre and running it for years, Sanjana Kapoor tells Anjuli Bhargava that she is consumed by a new passion -- Junoon.
As much as we enjoy and write reams and reams about our amazement at the Kantara climax, 30 years on from now, will we remember these portions more fondly or the ones where Shiva is simply hanging out with his friends, mulls Rohit Sathish Nair.
'I don't find characters that are not grey that exciting.'
'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.'
'...it didn't make sense to me.' 'If the character was not adding (to the story), I wasn't interested.' 'The reason why I chose to act is because of the way it makes me feel when I'm acting, not for the fame and money.'
The winners of the Natural History Museum's prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition were announced at an awards ceremony in London. American photographer Karine Aigner was announced as this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
'I'm trying to move away from what I've done before, not because I'm not happy with what it was, but because I have already done that.'
The film faces opposition from fringe Rajput groups, who allege that it distorts history and show Queen Padmavati in "poor light".
'In today's world, more than ever, we feel the need for comfort, for love. There is so much to reassure us here -- the beautifully captured billowing embrace of the smoke, the golden light, the subject's expression as he prepares the food for sharing.'
In a competitive market, pricing is the management's business. The consumer has so many choices -- single screens, multiplexes, TV, online streaming or DVDs. Nothing forces him to go to a multiplex. Nor are films an essential commodity where prices have to be regulated, says Vanita Kohli Khandekar.
The Pakistani military may shortly give Imran Khan the boot, substituting him with another puppet, predicts Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd).
'Everyone at home has a very strong point of view about how it should have been.' 'So opinions clash, points of view clash.' 'Everyone will have their favourites, and that '"I didn't like that moment in your performance".' '"This was such a kaam-chalao thing you did".'
Aseem Chhabra lists his favourite Indian films of 2021.
Opposition to tri-service structures comes not just from bureaucrats and politicians as the generals like to lament, but equally from within the military. Neither the army, navy or air force chiefs want to relinquish control over their theatre commands, with these cutting edge units placed under some commander who reports elsewhere, says Ajai Shukla.
Dear Friend is for those who idealised Dil Chahta Hai all out of proportion, and then warmed up to the premise that friendship could be a lot more complicated, and transient, observes Sreehari Nair.
'We flew all missions in the first part of the war at low levels; that is at 300 to 500 feet above the ground.' 'These sorties were no doubt stressful since the pilots and crew had to look out for birds and obstructions as well as enemy gunfire.'
'My mother has one complaint -- I die in all of my films. She has told me to stop dying now.'
'It is not just the police, but all agencies of governance that are progressively being 'captured' by the forces of Hindutva, led by the central government and by the governments of the states where the BJP has power.'
Aseem Chhabra brings you the Best of the Berlinale.
There is talk about 'cultural connect' and the 'warmth of storytelling' in Indian films vis-a-vis the spectacle and scale that Hollywood specialises in.
'Where Pratidwandi is concerned, there are very few men standing.'
The agreement would divert China's attention and keep them busy in the Pacific theatre, probably resulting in a reduction in threat perception in our area of interest in the Indian Ocean, notes Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).
Jayanta Roy Chowdhury reports on how the West Bengal elections are being fought by the BJP and Trinalool Congress amid COVID challenges, 'Bangaliana', and campaigns based on religion, region, and caste.
'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.'
Its double bonanza for Rajinikanth fans as his newest film releases on his 64th birthday.
Aseem Chhabra lists his favourite films from the recent Toronto International Film Festival.
Aseem Chhabra lists 10 of his favourite films that played in various sections at the 74th Cannes Film Festival.
India has experienced hands and will emerge with flying colours, declares Inspector General Gurdip Singh Uban (retd).
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.
'As far as Kashmir is concerned, a 'solution' was very much in play, and had brought endemic violence across the Jammu and Kashmir regions very much under control before the disruptive adventurism of the present regime resulted in a limited and localised escalation.'
'I believe FFI has made a mistake,' notes Aseem Chhabra.
'Is the appointment of a CDS likely to achieve the creation of battle-ready, tri-service military commands, from the current 17 single-service commands?', asks Ajai Shukla.
