Category Archives: Film

Something more on English Vinglish

As a director, Gauri Shinde is head and shoulders above the better ones in India. Her script is tight and also comprehensive. It doesn’t miss out any important observation. There are moments in the film where you entirely believe that … finish reading Something more on English Vinglish

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Review – English Vinglish

I am a bit disappointed that, at all the glittering award ceremonies that took place recently, English Vinglish did not receive more awards. In my eyes this was by far the best film that was produced from the Mumbai film … finish reading Review – English Vinglish

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Bhooter Bhabishyat

Bengali is a language which lends itself so well to humour that it is a pity there aren’t more comedies made by the Bengali film industry. Bhooter Bhabishyat, the title, is itself a pun. The word bhoot means ‘ghost’ but … finish reading Bhooter Bhabishyat

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The King is dead, long live the King

Rajesh Khanna is no more. The outpouring of emotions, as the news of his death was announced on television channels, was a proof of how he had always been present in the memory of people. It was not only in … finish reading The King is dead, long live the King

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Noukadubi (Bengali film) – a review

I must thank the friends who have encouraged me to write about films and particularly Bengali films because thanks to them I have seen the works of many directors I had not seen earlier. I didn’t watch Bengali films for … finish reading Noukadubi (Bengali film) – a review

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Film review: The Japanese Wife

The first thing that I would like to say is that this is not a funny film. There is nothing funny about a man and a woman who can not see the one they love. It is unbearably sad. Only … finish reading Film review: The Japanese Wife

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A Meeting With Javed Akhtar

In 1987 I visited Bombay (yes, it was still called that). I was newly married and took that trip as a sort of honeymoon because we had come via Goa from Pondicherry by road. Our hosts were very generous and … finish reading A Meeting With Javed Akhtar

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Review of “Autograph” (Bengali film)

This film was presented at the London Indian Film festival last year but I didn’t see it then because I was busy with an exhibition. When the DVD came to my hands I was eager to see what made the … finish reading Review of “Autograph” (Bengali film)

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Film Review – Antaheen (Bengali)

Once while zapping through the channels late at night I had chanced on this very unusual film. When I started watching it nearly half of it was over, so I was curious to know how the story starts. When I … finish reading Film Review – Antaheen (Bengali)

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Alexandra David-Neel: the film

At last, we had the much-awaited screening of the film on Alexandra David-Neel’s journey to Lhasa. Although it was held very quietly this was actually the very first screening anywhere in the world. For a long time we had thought … finish reading Alexandra David-Neel: the film

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Oscar Night

I woke up a bit late on 27th and found that I had missed the first one hour of the Oscar ceremony but once I found the channel which was telecasting it live I could not leave my seat. It … finish reading Oscar Night

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Review of ‘Mausam’

There was not much choice at the DVD shop when I went there last week, so I got a DVD of Mausam. The irritating thing is that there is a very good film by that same name which was made … finish reading Review of ‘Mausam’

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The shooting of the film on Alexandra David-Neel

The film on the life of Alexandra David-Neel is taking a while to be ready for release. The post-production work is taking longer than expected and now it seems that it won’t be released before the end of December. A … finish reading The shooting of the film on Alexandra David-Neel

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Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

After watching Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara one has the feeling that it is the sister of Dil Chahta Hai. That’s because the director of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Zoya Akhtar, is the sister of Farhan Akhtar, the director of Dil … finish reading Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

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Do Dooni Char

The National Awards this year seem to have brought a few question marks to people’s minds. The one film, however, that seems to have got everyone’s nod is “Do Dooni Char”. I was convinced for all these years that Rishi … finish reading Do Dooni Char

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Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se

It took me months to get hold of a DVD of this film and that fact alone shows how badly it did commercially because in India DVD piracy is a fact of life. You can get a DVD copy of … finish reading Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se

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Review: Dhobi Ghat

When this film fist came out I was really not interested in watching it because I had no special feeling for Mumbai. But over the months I was more and more curious to see the performance of Prateik. And that … finish reading Review: Dhobi Ghat

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‘The King’s Speech’

The temptation to watch “The King’s Speech” was almost irresistible. So, along with a few friends, I saw the film a week back and felt that it deserved every award that it has won and all the nominations were totally … finish reading ‘The King’s Speech’

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Alexandra David-Neel

What a week this has been! I have been on the sets of the of the forthcoming film based on the life of Alexandra David-Neel. The role of the traveller, writer and seeker of Truth is being played by Dominique … finish reading Alexandra David-Neel

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South Asian Cinema Foundation Film Festival

9th – 12th October 2009 The beginnings of South Asian Cinema Foundation go back to January 2000 when over a pizza Lalit Mohan Joshi suggested to fellow film-buffs and experts Derek Malcolm and P.K.Nair that an organisation should be set … finish reading South Asian Cinema Foundation Film Festival

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