Bollywood Archives

Chhapaak Review: Deepika Padukone Delivers a Moving Performance in a Hopeful Movie

As Malti, an acid attack survivor, Deepika Padukone delivers a moving, invested performance in the uneven Chhapaak, without indulging in self-pity. It is to her credit that despite the prosthetics, her performance feels neither artificial nor gimmicky.

Poulomi Das June 14, 2016

Bollywood

From Bollywood’s Boldest Star to Big Mouth: What Do We Do About Kangana Ranaut?

Kangana Ranaut’s latest release Panga stands overshadowed by the theatrics on display during her film promotion on Thursday. Ranaut said that senior lawyer Indiria Jaising should be thrown in jail along with the 2012 Delhi gang rape convicts for suggesting that they be pardoned. For an actor who has carefully pitched herself as the champion of feminism, her comments against Jaising are deeply misogynistic.

Kahini Iyer June 14, 2016

Bollywood

Why Sudhir Mishra’s Inkaar is a Crash Course In Understanding Workplace Harassment

Sudhir Mishra’s Inkaar uncovers the complexity of workplace harassment. The 2013 film highlights a key feature of twisted power dynamic and gender politics: That while organisations may encourage women employees to speak up, when push comes to shove, people shall protect their own interests first and conveniently side with where the power lies.

Parth Pandya June 14, 2016

Bollywood

Gully Boy Review: Khatri Music & Bahut Hard Performances in a Primer on Mumbai Slums

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt deliver power-packed performances in Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy. But the movie soon becomes predictable and seems stubborn in playing out like a 101 primer on life in the Indian slum. After 18 songs, you come out of the theatre learning as much about gully rap in India as you did going into it.

Poulomi Das June 13, 2016

Bollywood

Baaghi 3 Review: Third Time Sucky

In Baaghi 3, Tiger Shroff attempts to make his facial muscles emote as diligently as his chest and calf muscles. Of course, he fails.

Poulomi Das June 13, 2016

Bollywood

Why Are Indian Celebs Silent on the CAA Protests? Ask Sushant Singh

Considering the scale of the student protests against CAA, how come none of Bollywood’s “A-listers” have made official statements yet? Sushant Singh, who resigned from “Savdhaan India” a day after he joined, the protests may offer a clue.

Saksham Mishra June 13, 2016

Bollywood

Dil Bechara Review: Come for AR Rahman’s Score, Stay for Sushant Singh Rajput’s Infectious Sincerity

Dil Bechara is by no means a perfect film but it is not one without feeling, which makes it that much easier to like. The earnestness that defines Dil Bechara also shaped 34-year-old Rajput’s decade-old career. It's a gentle goodbye of a movie.

Poulomi Das June 13, 2016

Bollywood

How Vishal Bhardwaj’s Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Foreshadowed the Plight of Farmers

In Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, villagers are convinced they will be left with no bargaining chips once their lands are taken over by wealthy capitalists. This brief plotline of the film feels uncomfortably familiar to what the Indian farmers have been trying to communicate over the last two months. While the three new laws don’t propose changing ownership of lands, the protesting farmers have repeatedly raised these fears.

Parth Pandya June 12, 2016

Bollywood

What Bollywood Can Learn About Self-Awareness from Uday Chopra

Uday Chopra’s Twitter timeline is not only high AF, but it is also an insight into what his legacy is likely to be: His staunch self-awareness. The 46-year-old’s social media interactions are the gold standard in how to deal with trolls. His acting career might be over, but he can offer Indian celebrities a crash course in how to wear fame lightly.

Jackie Thakkar June 12, 2016

Bollywood

The Zoya Factor Review: An Average Romantic Comedy Let Down By Sonam Kapoor

The Zoya Factor is equally let down by the terrible casting of Sonam Kapoor, whose portrayal of the “klutzy heroine” is now bordering on the offensive and its director Abhishek Sharma's insistence on taking refuge in crowd-pleasing spoofy filmmaking.

Poulomi Das June 11, 2016