Sai Paranjpye has been conspicuous by her absence from the hullabaloo around her 1981 cult comedy Chashme Buddoor. You can speculate on her reasons though the obvious one that comes to mind is the very idea of remaking a film that’s still so fresh, both in content and treatment, and then handing it over to David Dhawan. Read more
There is a human face to every tragedy––even the most violent and horrific ones. A filmmaker has the right to choose his stories and the points-of-view from which he narrates them. For instance, Ramgopal Varma may have a greater fascination for the ten terrorists who landed in Mumbai on 26/11 than any of their victims or those who tried to capture them. Fair enough. Read more
Despite its thoroughly entertaining exposition and great period detailing (the computer/mobile-free ‘80s with just two state-manufactured cars, HMT watches and all the inconveniences of the License Raj!), something about Neeraj Pandey’s Special 26 left me feeling disturbed. Read more
Three destinies tied together by a name. That’s the premise of Bejoy Nambiar’s David. His first, Shaitan, had reminded me of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Amores Perros for its lament on human civilisation and modern cities where everything has eroded––love, family, trust, but above all, humanity itself. Read more
Some of us have waited decades to see Farooq Sheikh play the lead in a film. Just to hear the man say, "I love you" to his longtime screen companion Deepti Naval is well worth the price of a ticket for Listen Amaya. Read more
Just going by the number of brand partners acknowledged at the beginning of Race 2, you already know it’s a money-spinner. Apart from a showroom-full of Audi cars of different sizes, there’s a comprehensive catalogue of eyewear for everyone including Anil Kapoor. Read more
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro! remains a classic 30 years later because its insanity was directly proportional to Kundan Shah's anger with the system. Consistently absurd and relentlessly dark. Read more
I spent the best time of my growing life in a chawl not very different from the one shown in Ravi Jadhav’s Balak Palak. Peopled by characters that seem unnaturally innocent in hindsight––even with their quirks and squabbles and tendency to gossip––these houses gave their inhabitants a sense of community. Read more
This is possibly the first time this writer has hesitated to review a film after one viewing. Not because Reema Kagti’s Talaash was difficult to appreciate or critique but because one felt so drawn to its central theme and motifs that it demanded a second, closer look. Also, over the years, it has become evident that it isn’t possible to do justice to a good film with a hasty review. Read more
Jab Tak Hai Jaan isn't Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge once more, although Aditya Chopra’s watery story tries very hard to reprise several key motifs.The numbers just don’t add up. Shah Rukh Khan doesn't look 28, Katrina Kaif 21 or Anupam Kher 50. Read more
