The Independence Day holiday weekend is very popular amongst film-makers and film-goers.
'On the governmental level, we are saying all the right things, like beti bachao, beti padhao. Yet, a High Court judge in Prayagraj, who is highly educated, has studied the Constitution and its laws, says breaking the naada of a pyjama or touching the breasts of a minor girl is not part of the reform process. Just giving lip service is not enough, the general mindset has to change.'
Joginder Tuteja lists the films and Web shows coming up.
With the Ramayana as the central element, the coming together of Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh and Tiger Shroff along with Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone upped the superstar quotient further.
These films, even at their saddest, darkest and grossest, retain their sense of humour, their sense of proportion, which again is something you associate with a Malayali.
'A lot of people are famous. But for how long will you be there?' 'It changes after every three days of release, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.'
With 2023 breaking records at the box office, quite a few actresses contributed to the blockbuster numbers.
Food, family, politics, superheroes, serial killers, there's a little bit of everything. Sukanya Verma recommends what to catch on OTT this week.
Even Akshay Kumar's Laxmii and Varun Dhawan's Coolie No 1 were not paid as much as Kartik Aaryan's Dhamaka for their OTT rights.
The depiction of hijackers of the Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Delhi has kicked off a row with a section of viewers objecting to the 'humane' projection of the perpetrators.
The consistently heavy downpour of films, shows, events, videos and whatnot is causing economic disruption.
Deepa Gahlot picks the top 10 Karan Johar films -- some that he directed and others that he produced or co-produced -- that you can watch on steaming platforms.
The Hindi version of Hindustani didn't do much either.
'I hadn't worked for three-and-a-half years.' 'I felt industry was based on who you knew.' 'I didn't belong to a network.'
Sukanya Verma looks at their eclectic career of over two decades as their latest offering Citadel: Honey Bunny, the Indian leg of the Russo Brothers globetrotting spy universe series, drops on Amazon Prime Video on November 7.
'...just be neutral about everything.' 'I will just take life as it comes.'
Pooja prances in Dubai... Aahana's advice...Neha and Aisha in Thailand...
'Ekta has evolved to the extent that she understands the fight to keep the cinemas alive, to keep collective viewing alive.'
All eyes are now on his latest movie, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.
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.
'I don't see any light in the near future. This is the best I can do to survive.'
Sukanya Verma lists 10 of our best ruling the roost of Hindi cinema right now.
There was no law or autonomous body governing digital content in India so far. Now, OTT and other platforms, including digital news websites, are expected to fall within a governmental framework of rules and regulations.
'I will never ever forget Paatal Lok 2 because I left for the shoot the night I got married!'
Will these December theatre releases also bring in good cheer in keeping with the Christmas spirit?
Parineeti Chopra plays the Olympic bronze medallist in the film directed by Amole Gupte.
The salient features of the new OTT/social media policy announced by the Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on February 25, 2021.
'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.'
I binged on various shows this year -- some for work, some for pleasure, few I couldn't spare time for, others I didn't have access to while some started out fabulously only to fizzle towards the end.
'...it was for a very, very big lead actor.' 'I looked at it and saw how beautiful she was. I was like, there's no chance I'm getting it.' 'I auditioned for it and as luck would have it, they were looking for someone like me.'
'A struggling actor once came to me and told me there's no work.' 'I said when there's no work, that's when you have a lot of work.' 'He said he didn't understand.' 'I explained that you have to keep reading, watching, writing, traveling.' 'It is like riyaaz for an actor.'
It was a disastrous weekend at the box office, as even the combined collections of all new releases failed to touch Rs 1 crore.
Bollywood is ready with its line-up of theatre releases, but it remains to be seen whether we will get to watch these movies in theatres this year.
'Now I have understood that an actor needs to switch on and off between action and cut.' 'I take my characters only from the vanity van to vanity van.' 'When I put on the makeup and wear the costume, I'm in character.' 'The minute I remove the makeup and take off my costume, I am out of it.'
'Ranbir Kapoor has only one film as does Salman Khan.' 'Hrithik Roshan only has War 2.' 'Ranveer Singh has no film on floors today.'
While super hits like Jawaan are missing this year, it has been filled with a range of medium-range hits such as Crew, Teri Baaton Ne Uljhaa Diya and Guntur Kaaram, observes Vanita Kohli-Khandekar.
The price for pushing the envelope beyond the comfort zone that the land of storytelling is used to is a hefty one, observes Meghna Chadha.
Joginder Tuteja goes back in time to see the biggest June releases of the last 10 years.
'Everyone should understand that Laapataa Ladies is not the only best film in India.' 'It is one of the best films out of these 29 entries.'
It was a poor weekend at the box office.
