'I did get a couple of offers (in Hindi cinema) but the roles required a doll-like heroine, a glamorous role. I was getting challenging roles in the South and so I stayed here.'
'Film shooting is a long process, and it is important to have a good bonding with the person you are going to spend six to eight months of your life.' 'Baaki, film toh bann jaati hain.'
Malayalam film Bangalore Days boasts of fine performances, says Paresh C Palicha.
As the curtain come down on 2022, Roshmila Bhattacharya flashbacks to some of the year's news-makers and events.
Only the hardcore Mohanlal fans will like Mr Fraud which is otherwise an uninteresting film.
Sukanya Verma lists everything you can look forward to on OTT this week.
Jamna Pyari remains a mediocre effort that cannot fulfill viewer expectations in this festive season., says Paresh C Palicha.
Once you are done paying your respect to God and Grasshoppers, you circle back to the human beings in Gold, and that's when things become progressively more and more muddled, observes Sreehari Nair.
Oppam is a must watch, raves Paresh C Palicha.
The hit pair of Indrajith and Murali Gopy combined with the writing talent of Jeyamohan could not save Kaanchi
'We've had quite a few offers to work together.' 'But no, I don't think that's a good idea.' 'The comparisons would be unacceptable to me.'
The major fallout is the complete obliteration of religion and politics from Indian cinema, notes Subhash K Jha.
Malayalam actor Sharafudheen talks about the films that defined his career.
Manglish is a typical star vehicle that does not deserve a critical dissection.
The director successfully maintains a fine balance among the three leading men in Amar Akbar Anthony, says Paresh C Palicha.
33-year-old Vivek Harshan bagged the National Award for Best Editor for Jigarthanda.
'I enjoy playing different characters, playing people who are different from me, enjoying getting under the skin of a different mindset.' Malavikaa Nair gets candid about her latest film Kalyana Vaibhogame.
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.
'I am that person who will ignore hundred good things that are said about me and focus on those three bad things.'
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 want the audience to smile when they see my film.'
Reader Bijoy A K recounts the silver jubilee celebrations of Mohanlal's 25 years in cinema.
'I don't know whether this curse will be lifted or not. It's in the hands of the audience.'
Biju Menon excels while Aju Varghese provides ample support in Vellimoonga.
'The script, the way it has been written, the relationships, the intensity... everything was so powerful.'
The screenplay moves back and forth in a confusing manner, unnecessarily lengthening the run time of the film, says Paresh Palicha.
'This is a blip in the 100-year history of cinema.'
Aseem Chhabra picks the finest Indian films in the 2010-2019 decade.
There are a lot many gems he produced long before Naatu Naatu became a worldwide Oscar-nominated (and winning in all likelihood) sensation.
Sruthi Hariharan talks about her role in Lucia and why she is excited about the film.
As good as Mammootty is playing Sundaram, we see this facet of his performance through two lenses: That of Sundaram being an offset to whatever we know about James, and that of Mammootty doing quintessentially Tamil tics, including enacting scenes from old Tamil movies like solo plays, observes Rohit Sathish Nair.
Despite its stiffness, in Aarkkariyam, a supernatural glow does shine out of the ordinary.
'I will miss you, dear Venu. You reached the pinnacle with your talent,' recalls K Kunhikrishnan who knew the legendary actor well.
From world cinema to old-fashioned whodunits, it's all there on OTT this week. Sukanya Verma makes her recommendations.
Meera Nandan talks about her debut in Kannada cinema and what it means to work outside her home state.
The best films are not necessarily the most successful -- that would be another list altogether -- although sometimes quality and commerce do converge.
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.
'Sunny can command respect without raising his voice or fist. I wanted that personality for this character.'
'Kunji Ramayanam was entertaining and had a likable plot. We thought that even if the film did not have a great initial, it would pick up. That's why we took the risk of releasing it along with the big names, during Onam,' director Basil Joseph tells Vijay George.
Sonam Kapoor likes to mix and match movie genres but picks comedy as her favourite.
