What if Sholay were produced now, in our technologically advanced era, with AI vying for our attention?, asks Atanu Biswas.
The sheer awfulness of Andaaz 2 really doesn't deserve anyone's time or attention, warns Mayur Sanap.
Everything in Good Bad Ugly seems copied, rues A Ganesh Nadar.
'K Asifsaab was very definite that 'woh Hindustan ka honewala Badshah hai -- woh gana nahin gayega.'
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Thursday told the Bombay high court that it will decide in two days the applications filed by the makers of a movie purportedly based on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's life, seeking certification.
'At times when the pressure, glitz and glam felt horribly garish, there he was with no pretences or guile. A sweet reminder that life is about the real things not the fluff.'
Aseem Chhabra's Top 10 Films/ Series from TIFF 2024 includes films that he watched for the first time in Toronto. The films were impressive due to their rigor, passion, unique storytelling style and sometimes exploring the vulnerable sides of big name stars.
'Even after Awaara Hoon and Mera Joota Hai Japani, between 1946 to 1963, there were plenty of upheavals in his career. My parents had moved into two rooms of a chawl, with an attached bathroom, by then, but life was hard, and often there was no food at home.'
'For all you know, in the next five years there could be a path-breaking cancer treatment and I may be absolutely fine. Or maybe I won't be. I have to live with both scenarios.'
A controversy has erupted over A R Rahman's rendition of a popular patriotic song of legendary Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam in a new Bollywood film, with the litterateur's family and singers expressing outrage over the 'distortion' in rhythm and tunes.
Hridayapoorvam does not break any new ground or tell a story as old as time with any novelty but its sincerity keeps it alive, notes Arjun Menon.
'Sholay had a sargam of human emotions.'
War 2 offers you exactly what you'd expect from a mass entertainer: some escapist fun, some truly knockout action scenes, and overall a good time at the movies, observes Mayur Sanap.
'Madhubala in Kala Pani looks divine and yet, she's not just there for glamour.' 'In Do Raaste, the character of Neelambari (played by Bindu) isn't a heroine in the traditional sense but she has such a pivotal role.' 'That Raj Khosla gave a non-heroine such a central role, instead of the heroine, says a lot about how he valued female characters.'
Rajani Kagra sings for Lata Mangeshkar.
Saiyaara has emerged as a blockbuster, and it's time to welcome the two newcomers, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, to Bollywood.
Diane Keaton's wit and honesty taught us that ageing and uncertainty aren't weaknesses, they are part of what makes us human and graceful, observes Sreehari Nair.
Arjun Menon celebrates his 70th birthday on August 22 by looking at his most memorable films.
The Naxal movement has such a complex history that several books have been written to understand it. Bastar: The Naxal Story seeks to reduce it to bullet points and stereotypes, observes Deepa Gahlot.
'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.'.'
Re-watching 1967's Jewel Thief evokes the joy of cinema, with its perfect blend of thrill, suspense, romance and music. A film like that can never be remade or be tampered with in any way, observes Deepa Gahlot.
The Song Of Scorpions is a reminder, if one were needed, that Irrfan was not just a star actor but a true artiste, observes Deepa Gahlot.
The cheeky young man who once gave me one-word answers grew into a philosophical, detached star yet remained simple and humble, never letting stardom steal his heart, notes Rediff's Shobha Warrier who first interviewed the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner in 1987.
This isn't just a home for the elderly. It's a place where life stories, generations, and cultures weave themselves into something quietly extraordinary, discovers Nitin Sathe.
A fanciful air envelopes Aap Jaisa Koi's modest drama, of a story lost in its own bubble that's only burst by villains in the form of judgemental jerks and heroes in need of rescuing, observes Sukanya Verma..
Songs from big ticket movies regaled on the strength of spunk and swagger even as pre-existing bangers like Diljit Dosanjh's Lover in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Kohraa's Beqarar Karke Humein in Jawan and an Iranian wedding favourite Jamal Kudu in Animal grew a brand new fanbase in the course of enhancing the storytelling values.
'Editor M S Shinde deserves full credit because, I'm told, Ramesh Sippy had shot 300,000 feet of footage, which was brought down to 18,000. 'He died in 2012, in a 126 square foot flat in Dharavi, penniless, a forgotten hero.'
99 Songs's mesmerising music distracts you from its sketchy screenplay and bland story, says Moumita Bhattacharjee.
Fahad Faasil and Vadivelu more than deliver the goods, but the film, as a whole, fails to live up to their startling on-screen partnership, observes Arjun Menon.
'It is very natural to connect to Lataji's songs whenever I am singing,' says Atul Bane.
'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.
With no money or staff, here's how Batskhem Thabah, a teacher, transformed an abandoned village school in rainy Raibah into a lively place for learning.
The festival's People's Choice Award, voted by the audience, is a strong indication of films that can eventually be nominated and even win Oscars. Twelve of the last 15 People's Choice winners have received Best Picture Oscar nominations.
'It's amazing how many different kinds of patriotic songs we have in our country.'
'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.'
There's a reason why Anupam Kher directed Tanvi The Great.
Even after 50 years, Sholay remains a lasting reminder of unity, shared memories and the joy of cinema, notes Mohammad Asim Siddiqui.
With his killer smile, the sex symbol image, Robert Redford would go beyond just being an actor, remembers Aseem Chhabra.
'Wonder of wonders we finished the Janmashtami song and can you believe it within the next few days it so happened that Dilip Sahab walked into my life, gazed into my eyes and asked my grandmother and mother for my Hand in marriage.'
'I used to plan my life earlier, but life does not go according to a plan.' 'So now, I just go with the flow and see where life takes me.'
