'To have made it to the shortlist of 15 films for the Academy Award is a big deal for us.''
'...including my baby sisters, age three and one.' 'My dad was humiliated, and he started screaming at them.'
'One's country is the best place to live, no matter what problems, what difficulties.' 'My country is where I can breathe, where I can find the reason to live, and where I can find the strength to create.'
Aseem Chhabra ranks the Best of 2025's films that released in theatres, or went directly to OTT platforms.
How wonderful it would be for all of us to watch the Oscar ceremony on March 2, 2025 and watch AWIAL win an Oscar, notes Aseem Chhabra.
'We watched the film many times but each time, we would cry.' 'During the editing and sound mixing, my whole team would cry.' 'When we reached the music composing stage, it happened again.' 'Our producer said it is too much to be crying so many times.' 'But we never thought the film would be such a big hit.'
Aseem Chhabra lists his favourite 2024 films that he watched at film festivals held in Berlin, Cannes, Toronto and India.
'I think because India is a bigger country and Bollywood is such a well-oiled machine, the star thing has become so much bigger than the actor thing.'
'Pandi was promised something, that is not happening, so his anger is not of a villain's.' 'That's how all normal humans would react, or they stay silent.' 'Our violence is our silence. So in this world, everybody is innocent.'
2023 was a good year for international cinema with many strong films premiering at the Berlin, Cannes, Venice and Toronto film festivals.
It is by no means a perfect list and I might have missed out some important films but these are films that have entertained me, taught me how to be compassionate, to view the world, and understand people, their histories, behaviors and customs.
Drive My Car looks at the nature of grief through the emotions of reserved characters but conveys a world of healing that cannot be summed, only felt most ardently, most appreciatively, feels Sukanya Verma.
Films that amazed Aseem Chhabra at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt.
Aseem Chhabra lists his favourite Indian films of 2021.
The New York Film Festival served an amazing plate of films. Aseem Chhabra picks the best ones.
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