By Sanjay Kumar
As rightly depicted in the movie, it is the power of Muslim women which is in the process of becoming a force multiplier. Three generations of women but all of them one way or the other resent the hold of patriarchy and associated claustrophobia.
By Rituparna Sengupta
Between portrayals of angry young men and flamboyant characters representing an apparently monocultural urban India, Saeed Akhtar Mirza’s ‘cinema of conviction’ challenged and nuanced such constructs.
By Kouser Fathima
Bollywood films down the years have contributed hugely for keeping Urdu alive. When Urdu speakers themselves were turning their back on the language in the last few decades, credit must be given to Bollywood Urdu patrons for reviving the language and making it cool enough for the millenials to love it.
By Murtaza Ali Khan
Everybody keeps talking about the extreme side of Islam and its endless dangers but tend to overlook the maleficent ways of Hindu fundamentalism. What has happened to Bhansali is a classic example of the rise of Hindu extremism in the country, post-2014 general elections. With the NDA government not too keen on tightening its grip on them, these Hindu extremist groups feel that they can take the law in hands and still go scot-free.
By Kouser Fathima
SRK has had a long journey, every turn of which is fascinating, successful, and larger than life. His journey has not yet ended. Rather, a new era has started which, we assume, will be as exciting as his older ones. I hope he would continue to teach and inspire men to be chivalrous and refined which is largely lacking in this time and era.
By Kouser Fathima
One can imagine the impact this hit movie had on his fans. Many guys must have come out of the movie hall thinking it is not only okay to stalk a girl but that stalking was heroic, something which can be done without any remorse or regret. That it’s okay to follow a girl, trying to impress her against her wish, until she eventually reciprocates the feeling.
By Sanhita Chatterjee
‘Dear Zindagi’ has set a precedent and will hopefully be followed by many such pursuits in order to dent the “narrow domestic” walls built by the patriarchs. Hopefully, someday a woman’s voice won’t sound as odd as it does today.
By Nadira Khan
A scattered plot doesn’t help weak performances from the actors. The film solely focuses on Farhan Akhtar, who appears utterly confused and distracted without any reason: sometimes, he is dedicated to his adopted village; at other times, he is the devoted lead vocalist of ‘Magic’.
By Nadira Khan
Though the film is based on the American sport comedy, Happy Gilmore, the melodramatic tamasha between the rich and poor reaches a level of idiocy and becomes a source of laughter.
By Kouser Fathima
Homemakers to working women are trying to be seen and heard, in contrast to the Bollywood heroine, who is reduced to being an arm-candy to the male superstar. Bollywood economics, film makers, and the entry of corporate money into the industry have changed the dynamics of Bollywood.
By Roshni Sengupta
The turn of the millennium made the filmic landscape more varied, more experimental and definitely more stimulating. As the discursive space became increasingly narrow with competing religious fundamentalisms dotting the political mindscape, the Hindi film song would turn into an offshoot of the main narrative, often being presented at the end of the film as the credits rolled.
By Roshni Sengupta
Although a number of films had been produced in the 1960s in colour, the 1970s could be described as the first decade of the colour medium in Hindi cinema. Accompanying the dawn of colour, however, was an embryonic sense of general despondency in politics – the Nehruvian era had come to an end and with it the raucous positivity and enthusiasm for nation-building.
Cafe Dissensus Everyday 