Hansal Mehta’s quietly bold film Shahid, manages to take an honest look at the fissures in a society that continues to splinter itself into “us” and “them”, without the jingoism – or martyrdom – that is usually served up as
Film: War and Peace (2002) Director: Anand Patwardhan Country: India Asma Jahangir, in an interview with Amitav Ghosh (for a long essay which later became the bookCountdown) says, “…But the same people who distributed sweets in India and Pakistan (at the time
“Sandra is a disruption.” As the school principal delivers these chilling lines in the most nonchalant way, for the first time Sandra Laing is made aware that she is different. The year is 1965. Sandra is a ‘coloured’ girl born
100 years of Indian cinema… a landmark indeed but what constitutes Indian cinema? Is it a monolithic identity that just a ‘Legend Walk’ in Mumbai or Bollywood performances here and there can capture its essence? Yet the media goes on
In the discourse on freedom of choice, one factor often gets a short shrift – the freedom of not choosing… the choice of no choice! Be it political affiliation, religious belief or sexual orientation, you must have neat, clearly etched
Exploration of the profound through the quotidian, a docufiction style of narrative or examining child psyche… these are some of the recurrent motifs that come to mind when one talks of Iranian cinema. Think Song of Sparrows, The White Balloon,
Director: Woolfgang Becker Country: Germany This May 13th as the 34 year old Communist regime fell to give way to a new government in West Bengal, the media went on an overdrive celebrating change. While some of it was justified,
Almost a biblical throwback to creation, Roberto clamours for that “apparition of one word” which could be the beginning of that great novel that would resuscitate him from “a death so safe, so correct.” As Roberto travels by train and
Vidya…Vidya… and Vidya! There are 2 worlds. One before boombaat Silky Vidya and the one now…! Between the rave reviews that keep pouring in and the awards that will come a month later, here’s a bit of ogling at the
Where does one begin? The delightful performances, the quest for love against all odds, the dogged refusal to toe the norm, the studio she helped set up and then nurtured or the 4 minute long kissing scene… For when each