It was 2005 and Bollywood was still hypnotized by grand NRI romances. The trend existed for a reason as it was when the impact of liberalization had finally plummeted and consolidated in India. The economy grew and it was not a distant dream to plan a trip to a city […]
Read Time : 11 Minutes
‘The Blue Umbrella’: A Vibrant, Magical Tale With a Hint Of Suspense
I clearly remember watching Vishal Bhardwaj’s The Blue Umbrella back in 2007. If Tinder were to exist then for teenagers, ‘voracious reader’ would have been the first two words in my bio. Ruskin Bond, to me, was the story-telling grandpa I never had. So much so that I even remember […]
Read Time : 13 Minutes
‘Paheli’: A Picturesque Folk Tale With A Message On Women Empowerment
Amol Palekar directed Paheli. The actor who came to the limelight in the ’70s and ’80s as the young middle-class man in bustling Indian metropolises, one would identify him as the poster boy of everydayness. He was seen in stories devoid of extra colours, those with messy relationships, and in […]
Read Time : 10 Minutes
‘Rajnigandha’: About a Fragrance That Smells Like Love
“Adhikaar ye jabse saajan ka har dhadkan par maana maine Main jabse unke saath bandhi, ye bhed tabhi jaana maine Kitna sukh hai bandhan mein…’ Rajnigandha phool tumhare bikhre yunhi jeevan mein…” Writes lyricist Yogesh for Basu Chatterjee’s Rajnigandha. The words roughly translate to: “Since I’ve given him every right […]
Read Time : 6 Minutes
‘Mammo’: Story of a Mother Torn Between Love and Politics
Shyam Benegal’s Mammo is a thought-provoking film to watch on Mother’s Day. The title character Mammo alias Mehmooda Begum is essayed by Farida Jalal, the epitome of motherhood in Hindi cinema. Not so unpredictably, motherly love is the projecting trait the character brings along. That aside, this quiet, affecting film […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
‘Dastak’: About The Terror Caused By Sound and Music
It is not surprising how Rajinder Singh Bedi’s Dastak was based on a radio play. Sound is such a big part of this horrifying domestic drama. Sound – more or less – is the villain in the premise. Be it the knocks on their door, or the melodious numbers, every […]
Read Time : 17 Minutes
‘Hum Tum’: Kunal Kohli’s Magical Romance Ages Like Exquisite Wine
Indian cinema sees no dearth of love stories. Yet it is rare for a film to accurately mirror the mindscape of a large, under-addressed spectrum of viewers. Kunal Kohli did that to the urban yuppie, who, in no way lacked privilege in life but their stories were in the nascent […]
Read Time : 2 Minutes
‘Anupama’ Makes You Fall in Love With The ‘Black and White’ Camera
It is as if Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s characters in Anupama (1966) were aware of the film’s photographic finesse. Anita (Shashikala) asserts in one scene that a poetry session calls for dim lighting and she quickly does the needful. Truly, Jaywant Pathare’s camera makes love with the lights and the characters’ emotions in all […]
Read Time : 10 Minutes
‘Ennu Swantham Janakikutty’ Quietly Celebrates The Might of Womanhood
India’s is a cinema industry that seldom commends its writers. Films are often said to belong to the lead male actor or, at best, the director if he/she happens to be prolific. In a notable exception, MT Vasudevan Nair is one writer who elevates the value of a film the […]
Read Time : 16 Minutes
‘Jodhaa Akbar’: Chronicling the Original Power Couple
“Aankhon mein hain bahaarein, dil mein khiza…” [It as if spring blooms merely in the eyes, but in the hearts there’s autumn]. Javed Akhtar wrote for the male protagonist in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Jodhaa Akbar. Reflecting the thoughts of an emperor who is slowly being enticed by his ethereal new bride, there couldn’t […]