Bestknown as the mother of Hindi movie heroes in the 1970s, she acted in over 200 films in a career spanning over five decades.\n\n\n\n
'When you are a pioneer and someone who's put on a pedestal, but then the pedestal gets dusty, people don't look at the statue anymore.' 'They would say, 'Yes, yes, of course I know Bimal Roy. He made Do Bigha Zamin.'.'
'Once when he was on a flight, the plane hit an air-pocket.' 'The turbulence outside caused it to see-saw violently which caused a lot of panic inside. While his co-passengers were crying and praying for their lives, Salil kaku was writing a song in his head.'
'At a time when there was little awareness of world music, playing western tunes on eastern instruments like the flute and the dholak, blending vocal polyphony with Indian folk and contemporary styles, Salilkaku created a new musical genre in Bengal called Gana Sangeet.'
Shaheed was Manoj Kumar's first patriotic success. This small-budget black-and-white film had enormous impact, besides laying the foundation for Manoj's famous flag-waving Mr Bharat image that was strengthened by a string of subsequent films like Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim and Kranti.
'We didn't create the Angry Young Man persona for Amitabh Bachchan.' 'We created the Vijay persona and then Amitabh Bachchan fitted into it.'
Though Zanjeer is credited as Amitabh's breakthrough film, it didn't immediately enthrone him. Rajesh Khanna countered with a huge hit in Daag that year. But Deewar upended audience's cinematic taste and filmland hierarchies at the very start of 1975. Bachchan emerged as a one man industry, the angry young man who could regulate the thermostat of the entire film industry, recalls Dinesh Raheja.
Today's Hindi film mothers are younger, trendier, more mischievous. But, truth be told, says Dinesh Raheja, I still do miss sometimes the comforting presence of the trad mother.
'Do films today even have the courage to question the establishment?'
Ever wondered why Shabana Azmi is the way she is?
Does Vidya Balan make the cut? Or, would you vote for Nirupa Roy?
'Sulochanaji was indeed a mother-figure to both the Hindi and Marathi film industry.'
Sandip Roy checks out the latest 'youth' film on the marquee and finds parents vaulting the generational divide
None of Amjad Khan's subsequent roles could outshine Sholay. He had begun his career at the top and had no higher peaks left to conquer. Dinesh Raheja salutes the iconic actor on his 80th birth anniversary.
With spiralling costs, it is important that you read the fine print in your insurance policy.
Whether it is Nargis in Mother India or Nirupa Roy in Deewaar, Mama's a scenestealer while Dad is just a shadow. There are films that have explored the Dad's character with tender affection
'Once in a while, I flirt with the idea of direction.' 'If I direct, it will be a human story that touches me.' 'I'm nervous of forcing myself into making a socially relevant film.'
'The point about arranged marriages is -- because I come from a progressive family -- the idea was completely alien. But I have realised over time that there are instances of assisted marriages working very well. If you look at it, really, in a microcosm, it is the same thing as Tinder, isn't it? I mean, if you are trying to meet -- yes, no, yes, no, no.'
'Mothers as characters may have the same problems as they had years ago.' 'But what's refreshing is how they are becoming more accepting towards the changes in society.'
But SRK's heavily bandaged look is making Sukanya Verma think about all the crazy, funny ways Bollywood has treated a means of dressing an injury.
For four decades, his voice united millions of Indians for an hour every Wednesday as he brought Hindi cinema's greatest songs in an unparalleled radio broadcast.
Sukanya Verma looks back at Bollywood royalty, and asks *you* to pick your favourite!
A generation of children may know Alia Bhatt's songs by heart, but don't know what the real India is all about.
Celebrating Mother's Day by remembering a variety of such movie maatajis and her impassioned assertions.
PINK, Penaz Masani and a precious picture of Nirupa Roy in and as Superman, a low-down of Sukanya Verma's fully filmi week!
Sukanya Verma looks at all the wonderful, wacky and woeful ways Bollywood has portrayed blindness on screen.
Joginder Tuteja looks at the dadis of Bollywood.
'We knew exactly the impact it would have.' 'You see, the line doesn't make its impact in isolation.' 'Its resounding impact depends on Amitabh's lengthy diatribe that precedes Shashi's line.'
Nothing can salvage the Marjaavaan mess, declares Sukanya Verma.
Who says Bollywood gals have it easy?
Year after year, Malayalam cinema throws stunning surprises at us. 2022 was no exception.
Freaky Ali is painfully dull, warns Sukanya Verma.
In our special series revisiting great Hindi film classics, we look back at Randhir Kapoor and Jaya Bhaduri's 1972 film, Jawani Diwani.
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Boss is hell bent on assaulting the eardrums and senses with a vigorous spectacle of mindless action and screeching soundtrack.
Mentalhood is far from an ideal comeback but it's nice to be reminded of Karisma Kapoor's radiant and lively screen presence again, says Sukanya Verma.
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