Tokyo -- the songs Japan, Love In Tokyo and Sayonara from the 1966 Hindi film automatically pop up in the mind -- is buzzing and crowded like any other metropolis, discovers Deepa Gahlot. The modern apartment blocks are built cheek by jowl, so close together that one can open the window and borrow sugar from the neighbour in the next building. One of the fears of the Indian traveller is the unavailability of vegetarian food. Every city and town in Japan has an array of Indian restaurants that serve every variety of cuisine, right from Gujarati to Punjabi to Andhra and Kerala meals.
You'll wish weekends lasted as long as weeks after looking at Sukanya Verma's long, long list of recommendations on OTT this week.
Joginder Tuteja looks at the 10 Web series and movies (in alphabetical order) that have made the most impression.
'During the making of the film, he (Rishi Kapoor) kept fighting with Ayan and me.' 'Who takes so long to make a film? Who spends so much money?' 'Ranbir, you are not making a penny on this film. Who will watch a VFX film in the country?'
'We have to do everything in our power to get as many Academy members to watch the film as possible.' 'After that, I am confident, my film will speak for itself.'
'As long as there is misery, as long as people let themselves be exploited by rogues, this will continue.'
Sukanya Verma lists everything you can watch on streaming platforms this weekend.
At this year's TIME ball in New York City on Thursday, April 25, you would have run into a Coimbatore-born American scientist, looking lovely in Sabyasachi Mukherjee designer finery, who would most likely have been hanging out with Dua Lipa.
Taapsee's strong performance powers through an intriguing premise gone kaput in a bogus third act, observes Sukanya Verma.
The Theory of Evolution, proposed by the English naturalist, explains that all living beings evolved through natural selection, which favours inherited traits that improve an individual's ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.
Middle Earth comes to OTT as does a spate of other offerings. Sukanya Verma gives you your OTT menu.
It was a year of so many contradictions and contrasts that it became dangerous to talk about movies, people lost their heads discussing Friday releases, psychiatrists began dabbling in film criticism, and film critics turned into psychiatrists, says Sreehari Nair.
Joginder Tuteja lists the biggest money-making movie murder mysteries.
Sukanya Verma looks at all the wonderful, wacky and woeful ways Bollywood has portrayed blindness on screen.
'It isn't likely that he would have observed a 'strategic silence' on a sensitive and controversial issue, as is done today by the powers-that-be lest an observation lets the cat out of the bag about the ruling dispensation's mindset,' says Amulya Ganguli.
Reason must triumph over blind faith, says Praful Bidwai in this tribute to murdered rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.
Aamir Khan, Madhuri Dixit Nene and Akshay Kumar headline OTT offerings this week. Plus, you'll find aliens, spirits, serial killers... Sukanya Verma lists them out.
From Korean spies to sports legends, here's everything you can catch on OTT this week. Sukanya Verma lists a fun, fun, OTT Menu for you.
Controversial godwoman Radhe Maa has often been slammed for her ostentatious lifestyle. Yet her ardent devotees have chosen to ignore critics and immerse themselves in her 'aura'. But recent developments may have left them shocked... and contemplating!
Detectives, superheroes, biopics, documentaries, it's all there on OTT this week. Sukanya Verma offers some suggestions.
'Goddess Laxmi doesn't come just by praying to her.' 'You have to make yourself attractive to Laxmi for her to come to you.'
Deepa Gahlot picks a list of 10 essential RGV movies though there are 84 to wade through.
From Asgard's naughtiest imp to Arsene Lupin's biggest worshipper in Paris, Sukanya Verma notes OTT is full of curious options this week.
'People want to know the life led by those living in Pakistan.'
Kunal Kemmu's crime thriller Abhay 2 continues to be gripping in the second season, notes Moumita Bhattacharjee.
'Errant bikers wearing branded t-shirts sponsored by local political parties raced through traffic, almost taking our breath away. Young kids stood at the edge of the roads, clicking selfies amid playing 'catch up' with their buddies, least bothered about the festival or its relevance.'
The film starts out well with plenty of fun and intrigue, but the second half does not live up to the promises of the first, writes S Saraswathi.
'India can replicate what Pakistan did to Kulbhushan Jadhav should the need arise.' 'Hopefully, Pakistan will see reason before that transpires,' says Ambassador G Parthasarathy, former high commissioner to Pakistan.
The plot goes from annoying to unconvincing in no time and as a viewer, you feel like a mute scapegoat, taken for granted, notes Divya Nair.
Director Sundar C lets his fans down with his clich supernatural thriller Aranmanai, rants S Saraswathi.
'Not surprisingly, the call for lighting diyas, candles and other sources of illumination to demonstrate a nation's resolve to fight coronavirus has elicited astrological, numerological and even medical explanations,' notes Amulya Ganguli.
Modi is seen as exceptional not only on account of his acts but also owing to his style. He appears to sacrifice his life for the people -- like a fakir, a figure he came to epitomize even more in 2020 by growing a long white beard. Charisma is above accountability, and Modi has grasped these dynamics.
'These are cautionary tales, warning you to grow up fast, to be aware of the world around you and make sure that there are no wolves hiding in the shadows.'
Here are some of the formidable female spirits of Bollywood.
'They are saying my petition is an attack on Hindu religion.' 'You pray in your home, there is no problem, but the school is a public institution run by government funds.'
We salute the late thespian in this compilation of his ten essentials movies that highlight his range and stature as an actor par excellence.
