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.
'I was completely in awe of him. After the shot was okayed, I would quickly run back to my chair and sit quietly till I was called again.'
Film stars and technicians were awarded at the IIFA awards over the weekend, and here are the big winners.
Dinesh Raheja tips his hat to his favourite Raj Kapoor movie, as we continue celebrating the legend's birth centenary.
Pushpa 2 is a badly misjudged, doubtful sequel that can't capitalise on the wealth of the story world set up in the first film, observes Arjun Menon.
'I go to Salmanbhai every day before the shoot.' 'I write straight scenes, simple scenes. He will read them and add a little bit of spice.'
A study published in the journal Environment and Planning F has revealed that cameras and drones originally intended for conservation activities in Corbett National Park are being misused by local government officials and men to surveil women without consent. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge, found that forest rangers intentionally flew drones over local women to scare them and prevent them from collecting natural resources, despite their legal right to do so. The researchers argue that these technologies, deployed under the guise of wildlife monitoring, are being used to intimidate and exert power over women, invading their privacy and altering their behavior in the forest. This has had a negative impact on women's mental health, with one woman interviewed for the study being killed in a tiger attack.
It's no wonder several of her hit songs have made a comeback in remixed avatars.
A quick look at the winners of the 82nd Annual Golden Globe awards.
'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.
We asked you to share pics and stories of your furry companions. This is what Rediff reader Meher Vinay and Arunita Sarkar from Phoenix, USA shared.
This movie is perfect for all ages. Avan Verma gives his thumbs up.
'Even actresses who are mothers play leading roles. There's also been a dramatic shift in the kinds of roles available to women. It's no longer limited to being the heroine, the heroine's mother, aunty or vamp.'
'It's always the men who are going crazy, barbaad. They never show a woman going crazy like that.' 'A woman has to be very proper, sitting on a swing, crying.'
Sukanya Verma celebrates the icon and his imagery in 23 super special Aamir Khan frames etched in her head.
'What happened to Raj and Simran after running away on the train at the end of DDLJ 20 years later? Have they become flatmates instead of lovers? What happens when the initial chemistry has worn off and love becomes a habit? This has always fascinated me.'
At 160 minutes, Wicked is too long, and knowing the undercurrents running through the plot, the candyfloss cheeriness gets too much after a point. Still, it is a worthwhile page-to-stage-to screen journey, observes Deepa Gahlot.
'Indira Gandhi was a very weak person,' Kangana claimed. 'She had many crutches around and was constantly seeking validation.'
'Nobody likes preachy stories. When you lace it with humour, it works.'
When Khayyam talked about his favourite singer, the song he can never forget and the film that won him the National Award.
At many stages, it has appeared as though Sunny Deol's career was running out of steam, but each time he has risen Phoenix-like from the ashes. Dinesh Raheja gives us a closer look at the man on his 67th birthday on October 19.
The Kerala unit of the Congress instantly gets a headache when Shashi Tharoor lets loose one of his observations showering flowers on enemy territory. With every such action triggering controversy within a nervous Congress party, some feel it is high time Tharoor showed a degree of solidarity with the ideals of his party, notes Shyam G Menon.
Payal Kapadia's understanding of what it means to be a woman is as poignant as her authentic portrait of Mumbai's hoi polloi, observes Sukanya Verma.
Sreehari Nair attempts to bring you up-close the pleasures of Javed Akhtar's poetry.
Stunning! Shreyovi Mehta, 10, is a runner up at the annual worldwide Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest.
The actors star in the biopic, Amar Singh Chamkila, which has music by A R Rahman.
My Birthday Song: An honest effort and a huge relief for movie enthusiasts, says Prasanna Zore.
'In our days, we used to write letters and then there used to be phone calls.' 'We would give blank calls.' 'Now, just listen to the songs.' 'Romance has changed.'
'The film-literate public in Kerala are not happy watching run-of-the-mill movies.'
'I have not forgotten all the horrible things that you said about the film that was one of your biggest hits as a producer and a film that is loved by all even today.' 'I learnt through film circles that your ego was supremely hurt after the film became a blockbuster.'
'Mrs shows a dark side to the son and the father.' 'I had to do things that I wouldn't dare to do in real life.'
Aseem Chhabra picks his top 10 Indian films of 2024, which includes films that have had theatrical releases or are streaming on OTT.
Citadel: Honey Bunny will stream from November 7 on Amazon Prime Video.
"Advait Chandan is someone I am really close to. Sometimes, I feel that he's like my son. But sometimes, I feel that he wants to destroy me. You can call him my step son. He keeps creating problems. Luckily, a very few films of mine have failed, one of which is Advait's contribution.'
It's too bad Viijay 69 does not let the viewer feel Anupam Kher's despair or his triumph. The most forgettable 'zero to hero' films at least managed that much, notes Deepa Gahlot.
'Chand Chhupa Badal Mein were originally written for a film that Ram Gopal Varmaji was directing.' 'One day he said, "Mehboob, the lyrics that you have written are really beautiful, but the hero of my film is a goon. He cannot sing such beautiful lyrics".'
'I came to hear you sing Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon. I am glad I have heard you sing.'
Sukanya Verma looks at all the times Bollywood peddled its treasured ishq our way.
She is the first person to win Album of the Year four times, with her latest prize for Midnights.
