'He is one of the most down-to-earth and hardworking guys I know, and that's true of all superstars, including Bachchan sahab.'
2023 was a good year for international cinema with many strong films premiering at the Berlin, Cannes, Venice and Toronto film festivals.
'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.'
'Naseer does not have the sense of humour that Om Puri has. 'Also Om has a great deal of compassion as a human being. Naseer was too focused on his own self.' A fascinating excerpt from Sangeeta Datta's book, Shyam Benegal.
'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.'
'Varun was so exhilarated with the intense physical action sequences.' 'Samantha is very agile.' 'I don't know how they did it. It's really hard.'
'I have no family (in the industry), no network, no mentor.' 'Still, I'm consistently working since 20 years and now I have a National Award.' 'It may take time, but if you're consistently at it, nothing can stop you.'
Amitabh Bachchan has been awarded the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award.
It is the most potent symbol of India's soft power -- more perhaps than the IT industry and our managerial skill, notes Vanita Kohli-Khandekar
'Of all artists who openly support the current political dispensation, she is far and away the finest,' argues Sreehari Nair. 'With the exception of perhaps Tabu, no Indian actress has done more to extend the range of the feminine mystique in Hindi cinema.'
'He provokes you intellectually so hard that you really break out of your shell and come up with something creative.' 'He can extract a creation out of you, such is the power of Godard and his films.'
Monsters, sharks, psychopaths, jedis, hybrids, undercover cops, special agents, brace yourself for tons of action on OTT this week.
'We are thinking on something like the 'Irrfan Memorial Award' given to the most promising new actor.'
'I promise you, you've never seen her do anything like this.' 'It is a complete reinvention of Janhvi Kapoor.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met up with legendary actress Vyjayanthimala in Chennai, and shared pictures of their meeting.
'It's very heartening because it's a kind of underdog story and you know, we're not a big film, we're not with big people, we have not been able to plaster ourselves all over the place to make ourselves be seen and watched.' 'But still, we have managed to somehow get here.'
'If there is an artiste somewhere in India or in the world who wants to express her art, I hoped that this award would inspire them, and add meaning to their journey.'
The very timing of the Phalke Award on Rajini now, days ahead of Tamil Nadu voting in the assembly election, may have taken away the seriousness and credibility attaching to the Centre's decision, making it sound every bit political, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
If there's one thing the full-of-beans star knows, it's how to stay happy, observes Dinesh Raheja.
SPI Cinemas will install Dolby Atmos in 37 screens across Chennai and Coimbatore.
Who won what at IIFA 2018? We tell you here.
From Vijay saving the day yet again to Vikramaditya Motwane's latest offering, here's everything you can watch on OTT this week.
'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.'
National-award winning actor, producer, hotelier, ex-politician, cricket team owner, philanthropist, highest tax payer, reality show judge, animal lover and, above all, people's hero -- Mithun Chakraborty -- who has been conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award -- is truly a force of nature, notes Sukanya Verma.
'I want to believe that now the world is my oyster.'
While the sympathy vote for Sushant Singh Rajput's tragic demise must have played an important part in tilting the scales in Chhichhore's favour, the qualitative difference between the two films is so high that it could not have been a close shave, argues Subhash K Jha.
'The National Award is our nation's highest recognition, being recognised at the President's hand is our privilege, our honour and our dream.' 'The nation's sentiment got left out in the choices that were made yesterday...'
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.
Even as political pressure was building against Ranjith, actor Siddique quit as the general secretary of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) amid voices from within his fraternity seeking his resignation.
The suave actor of the world, sometimes called the last of the Mohicans and familiar to students of cinema anywhere in the globe, acted in 14 Ray films and over 300 others, gracefully transitioning into commercial cinema in a variety of roles.
There's a lot happening in Bollywood, Hollywood and world cinema this year.
Sukanya Verma remembers some of his greatest solo numbers in our fondly curated playlist.
'Usually, we are always worried that we are missing out something in life.' 'We are very keen for the audience to have this as a cinema experience in theatres.' 'You get the rare chance to be patient.'
'I could have never imagined such a day would come and bring light and celebration of light.'
Flight attendants, football coaches, renegade robots, underwater superheroes, it's all there on OTT this week.
'Mithun has showed Hindi cinema that a tall, dark man with a charming smile and a great physique can take the world on.'
Sukanya Verma lists 10 of our best ruling the roost of Hindi cinema right now.
'...without looking into yourself.' 'What matters most is human relationships and the human mind.'
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu presented the National Film Awards to the year's winners with actors Vicky Kaushal, Ayushmann Khurrana and Keerthy Suresh receiving top honours.
