Much, much, much before Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani fussed over What Jhumka, Asha Bhosle trilled in her alluring voice and teased us with tantalising details about the events leading to her precious Jhumka's loss. Sukanya Verma celebrates the singing legend who turns 90 on September 8.
Sukanya Verma presents a playlist of 100 Lata Mangeshkar songs from different decades of Hindi films -- songs that make me sing, smile, sob and sigh.
Deepa Gahlot lists the most popular Yash Chopra films -- the ones he directed, not produced (yes, so that means no DDLJ) -- that can be watched on OTT.
Yet another honour for Javed Akhtar.
Sukanya Verma salutes the legend and celebrates some of the finest soundtracks of his career.
Theatre director Saif Hyder Hassan talks about his new play Ek Mulaqat.
'You become a critic because the job entails watching a 100 films a year, out of which there will be five or six good films.' 'It's really a glutton for punishment, but you're also optimistic and want to see exciting things.'
'This may seem like a lyrical lamenting of a writer, but it is the sad reality in and outside the industry. In films, nine out of 10 times the writer's name is not mentioned in posters, publicity or even reviews.' Screenwriter Anjum Rajabali and actress-writer Preeti Mamgain hope to make way for Bollywood's writers.
'I was attracted to Javed because he was exactly like my father.'
It looks like Hindi, which faces political opposition at the front door, is entering Tamil Nadu through the kitchen, says Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'If I have become a star with limited talent, I think of myself in these 25 years. I need to believe that people have given me so much, they expect some of it back.' Shah Rukh Khan gets reflective.
When Khayyam talked about his favourite singer, the song he can never forget and the film that won him the National Award.
'Amitabh practised Rang Barse well; the singing, movements, everything. And he got the inflections perfectly.'
An encounter with movie veteran Chandrashekhar.
'Manmarziyaan is a meaty slice of Tinder-day relationships where love is a libidinous explosion that is unafraid of consequences and flies in the face of discretion,' says Sukanya Verma.
Back in Mumbai, the Quantico actress said she wanted to celebrate birthday with family.
'I never imagined that there would come a day when the NBA game would be seen and heard by Indian fans in their own language.'
On November 7, which marks 100 years of the Russian Revolution, Syed Firdaus Ashraf recalls a conversation he once had on Communism.
Love, fear, sadness, and many more, seen through the filmi lens.
Veteran music composer Khayyam revisits Umrao Jaan.
'The writer remains the most creative force in the process.' 'Producers need to be inventive in how they reward good writing.'
'For the first time in 66 years, here is a leader who democratically dares to take on the establishment by raising the right kind of questions. When will the poor get justice? For how many years will the migration of the poor to cities like Mumbai continue? How long will the poor sleep on the pavements and when will all this end?'
'It is obvious that the lakhs who come to see it do not see it through the prism of religion,' says Jyoti Punwani.
'Shakti Samanta was a very honest man. I have done four films with him. He was very sick before he died; nobody was allowed to see him in the hospital. I went but I could not bear to see him like that. Iftekar and I would go to see Ashok Kumar often. He would ask me to bring some kheema, as he loved my wife's preparation. I would have attended kavi sammelans with Jan Nisar Akhtar (Javed Akhtar's father), Sahir Ludhianvi and Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Amitabh Bachchan was a child then, and would often accompany his father.' Veteran actor Chandrashekhar Vaidya goes back in time.
Kamal Haasan's unrivalled make up skills, Jack Nicholson's haunting imagery, Asha Parekh's life as a Hit Girl and the surprise package of Beauty and the Beast, it's all there in Sukanya Verma's super filmi week.
Dinesh Raheja salutes the legend's versatility in her heyday.
For generations to come it will be difficult for any other Urdu poet to attain such high standards as Nida Fazli, who passed into the ages on Monday, says Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com.
Aseem Chhabra lists the movies that taught him about the Idea of India.
'I was brought up in a Brahmin Hindu family. I was brought up in places where the majority was Muslim, in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. There was a mosque next to my house, but I never saw communal tension.' 'I am not worried. This country's religious roots are very strong. They know how to take care of themselves.'
Neeraj Pandey, who has written and directed the films A Wednesday and Special 26, has written a novel called Ghalib Danger.
An A-Z of Bachchanalia, the letters expanding into unforgettable bits of his filmography.
'Madhubala told me that of all the addictions, the biggest addiction is make-up; once you put it on, you can never leave the limelight even if you want to,' Tabassum tells Patcy N.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances