Rediff readers chat with resident movie critic Raja Sen.
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.
It was a day with a difference for industry icons Salim-Javed, who transformed Hindi cinema in the 1970s with films like Zanjeer, Sholay, Deewar and Don, when their families got together to hail them on stage.
High drama was witnessed near New Delhi Railway Station on Friday when an army man climbed a 200-feet mobile tower, protesting alleged harassment by his seniors.
On September 13, three nostalgic movies are up for re-release: Shah Rukh Khan's ageless romance with Preity Zinta Veer Zaara, Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh's first film together, Tujhe Meri Kasam and Soham Shah's horror film, Tumbbad.
'Earlier, the comedy track used to run parallel to the main story with songs et al.' 'Nowadays, it's just once one scene here and there.'
We asked you to share pics and stories of your furry companions. Sudhanshu Sharma shared pics of his dogs Mutthu and Chunnu.
A resort plans to capitalise on the fact that its location was once the backdrop were the famous movie was shot.
How some Bollywood ladies celebrated Holi.
From Kishore Kumar posing as a Half Ticket running riot to Raj and Simran's super filmi reunion in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, train journeys in Hindi movies have formed the backdrop for both romance and comedy. But it's the action scenes where the railgaadi's daredevil attributes lie.
A non-strategic investor like Poonawalla brings in not only capital but also creative freedom. Indian cinema needs more investors like him, reports Vanita Kohli Khandekar.
If one has to analyse Ashwin the cricketer, it is very difficult to ignore Ashwin, the person, who had a very independent mind and a brain that probably ticked 24x7. He believed in de-construction of his art and became craftier one ball at a time.
He plays a suave version of the dreaded bandit in Ramesh Sippy's classic.
The ethereal Hema Malini turns 75 on October 16, and gives us yet another reason to celebrate her.
'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.'
'There is no knowing what will happen tomorrow. Make the best of today.'
M S Shinde is going through a tough time in Dharavi. But the man refuses to ask for help.
Sukanya Verma compares yesteryear stars and the contemporary ones at about approximately the same age and the results are glaring.
Film folk turned up in numbers to celebrate Bollywood Dream Girl Hema Malini's 75th birthday on October 16.
'Satyajit Ray was somewhat tolerable; you didn't have to hang your head in shame.' 'Sholay is a series of stereotypes and borrowed ideas... And we are still singing praises of that film.' 'What would I make of two grown men behaving in this manner? It's deeply embarrassing.' If you thought Naseeruddin Shah was too frank with his opinions, he'd have to take a back seat to wife Ratna Pathak Shah, who doesn't waste a second, giving you her strong views on matters movies and personal.
'When I met Atalji for the first time, he wouldn't look at me. He seemed very embarrassed.'
On Hema Malini's 75th birthday, the star and her daughters -- Esha and Ahana Deol -- hosted a birthday bash in Mumbai, and invited friends from the industry for a musical night.
'People remember each and every dialogue of Andaz Apna Apna, just as they remember every dialogue of Mughal-e-Azam and Sholay.'
'When I heard the script, I begged Salimsaab and Javedsaab and later, Ramesh Sippyji to let me play Gabbar.'
Hema Malini and Dharmendra, who celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary on May 2, made a beautiful couple on screen.
Singh in a statement noted several newspapers have claimed that he cancelled his visits to Jhabua and Khategaon due to his displeasure.
An ultra-violent film about violence, Kill's greatest accomplishment isn't its death count alone but to challenge our perception of violence, observes Sukanya Verma.
'Here are 25 stories special to me for one reason too many,' says Sukanya Verma who scored 25 years writing about the movies last week.
"Just three months more," says mom-to-be Deepika Padukone in a witty reply when asked if she is still in her character of a pregnant woman from her coming film Kalki 2898 AD.
'The Sholay outdoors were like picnics.' 'I got the same feeling while doing Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.'
Ram Gopal Varma is 60 today, April 7. Subhash K Jha plots the once brilliant film-maker's declining movies graph.
'It is the first-time voters and the agnostics who are often influenced by political advertising.' 'These swing voters tend to make a huge difference in the outcome of any election.'
I was very happy to see the old Shah Rukh Khan back. Please, leave the action to Salman Khan, requests A Ganesh Nadar.
'These betrayers don't realise that their exit opens up vast new opportunities to those whose growth they have always stunted'
As we celebrate Amitabh Bachchan's 81st birthday on October 11, we see him through his daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda's eyes.
'I have the love of the audience for the last 60 years.' 'I am very greedy in this matter.' 'I want those who love me to continue doing so.'
'The problems that the film explores still remain. It was a different time when we made the film. We were young and we thought we could change the world.'
Sukanya Verma quizzes you to find out just how much you know about the movies.
Are we living in those primitive times when same-sex relationships qualified as stone-pelting offences, asks Subhash K Jha?
