Film folk attended the screening of Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal's festival film Girls Will Be Girls at PVR theatre in Juhu, a northwest suburb of Mumbai. You can watch this film on Amazon Prime Video.
'I was a nobody when I came here, and now I've become something.'
'So my question was, 'What is it that you are proud of? What have you achieved? What is your contribution?' 'He had no answer.'
Despite the mediocrity at large, these films had me in raptures for the emotions they evoked within as a cheering audience, critic and cinephile.
They are protesting against the new clause requiring all Indian films at the festival to be censored.
'Without our support Nitish Kumar wouldn't have become chief minister.' 'After the government was formed we became ministers, but our agenda remained the same: Amit Shah had promised reservation for Nishads.' 'He wouldn't listen, so we went to UP and contested 52 seats in the 2022 elections. He didn't like the idea of rebellion.' 'He saw that this man, coming from Bombay, is very sharp. He's made four MLAs now, tomorrow he'll make 40. A time will come when they will make it 125.' 'They bought our MLAs and ousted us from the government.'
Film folk are busy celebrating Ganpati by visiting their friends' homes, pandal-hopping or simply at home.
'Panchamda created an exclusive theme music for Gabbar Singh, which is used throughout the film every time the dacoit makes an appearance, and in both concept and sound, is so eerie and evil.'
'When India opened its doors to the world, moving away from an agrarian to a market economy, everything, whether life or love, was commodified.'
Radhika Apte chose the UK premiere of her fascinating new film Sister Midnight to announce her pregnancy.
It was a rare treat to see Sharmila Tagore and her children Saif Ali Khan, Soha Ali Khan and Saba Pataudi at the premiere of her Bengali film Puratawn (The Ancient) at the ongoing MAMI Film Festival in Mumbai.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was spotted at Mumbai airport as she left for Cannes.
'There was panic among my friends and relatives since I was out of reach.' 'My son-in-law Govind drove down to my home to check on my wellbeing.' 'When I opened the door, he joked, "Bhoot Bhoot!"'
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.
'Some time back, music was just noise.' 'Producers wrongly think item songs sell better.' 'Audiences are intelligent, they accept whatever you give, but that doesn't mean you can fool them.'
Anasuya Sengupta became the first Indian to win the Best Actress award in the Un Certain Regard segment of the Cannes Film Festival.
'The industry has never accepted me.' 'When I was shooting Aashiqui, I would hear comments like, "Yeh toh bahut lambi hai. Heroine nahin dikhti hai".' 'Aashiqui became such a big hit, and you know how the industry is.' 'You have success, then you have everything.'
'I wouldn't change a single shot even if I could, the film is just perfect even with a supposedly flawed script!' Celebrating Sholay's 50th anniversary on August 15 with a special series, where contemporary film folk analyse the cult classic.
'After Diwali, I don't see this trend of re-releases going forward. We won't have that window to re-release films because of the kind of movies that are slated to be released.'
MAMI will showcase over 250 films spread across 10 days from October 27 to November 5.
'In those 2, 2.5 hours, something needs to touch you -- whether it's the action, the music, or the story. That's what makes it all unforgettable.'
'But when we actually express ourselves, sometimes our parents can surprise us, because they just love their children.' 'Sometimes it's just that simple. That is what I wanted to show in this film.'
Radhika Madan's new film Sanaa opened at the UK Asian Film Festival on May 11, and the actor has been making fashionable pictures at its promotions.
The tone of the film may be gloomy but it is never tragic or hopeless. Like millions of underprivileged people who find joy in small things, Shanu, Bua and their mother keep their heads above water, notes Deepa Gahlot.
Aseem Chhabra rates the movies he's watched in 2023, and tells you where you can watch them!
'Yellow Bus is a heart-breaking story based on a real incident and will strike a chord with mothers across the world.'
'I promise you, you've never seen her do anything like this.' 'It is a complete reinvention of Janhvi Kapoor.'
Other jury members include actor-film-maker Rebecca Hall, Swedish actor Noomi Rapace, Italian actor-director Jasmine Trinca, Iranian film-maker Asghar Farhadi, French film-maker-actor Ladj Ly, film-maker Jeff Nichols and director-screenwriter Joachim Trier from Norway.
'In a world which is full of categories, hatred and ideologies, there was this basic decency.'
'I am determined now to celebrate all festivals together.' 'People don't respond much when you try to convince them by talking about principles of secularism etc. But if we revive our shared cultural practices, specially food, we may get a better response.'
'The CM wants to develop a Film City that would provide the entire value chain of film-making services and infrastructure in one place.'
Sonam Kapoor feels film-makers prefer to cast her in girl-next-door parts rather than giving her a chance to star in movies that will need her to wear heavy costumes and jewellery.
Film folk make memories on Holi and show the world how they celebrated the festival of colours.
'Thanks to Chhaava's success, I now have the creative freedom to pick and choose.'
It is the first Indian film in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 30 years.
'Agra is about sexuality and sexual repression, and the relationship of sexuality to the physical spaces that we are in.'
'The largest listenership for Vividh Bharati outside the country is in Spain.' 'The labourers who go there for the tomato-picking season feel cut off from their country and listen to Vividh Bharati to overcome their loneliness.'
A six-member delegation from the Mumbai Film Festival, led by its director S Narayanan, will add some Indian masala to the 63rd Cannes Film Festival, one of international filmdom's oldest and most prestigious events.
'The chances of The Shameless passing through the censorship board in India are slim to none.'
'It is for the first time that a film of mine will be released in theatres and Indian audiences will finally be able to buy tickets and experience it on a big screen, where cinema truly comes to life.'