Bollywood Archives - Page 2 of 37

Step Up, Saroj Khan: Stop Defending Bollywood’s Dirty Dancing

Three-time National Award-winner and arguably Bollywood’s most respected choreographer, Saroj Khan defended the casting couch today. In doing so, she singlehandedly put the film industry light years behind in ensuring that it can also be a safe workplace for actresses.

Poulomi Das July 23, 2016

Bollywood

“Trigger Dabaya… Aur Khel Khallas!” 20 Years Ago, Vaastav Truly Mainstreamed Gangster Lingo

Years later, Munnabhai MBBS and most recently, Gully Boy, did what Vaastav set the trend for two decades ago – give Bollywood dialogues a coloquial veneer. Phrases like “pachaas tola” and words like “ghoda” remain a snapshot of what Mumbai is really like beyond the Queen’s Necklace and plush skyscrapers.

Damian D'souza July 22, 2016

Bollywood

How Aparna Sen’s 15 Park Avenue Depicted Mental Illness Without Romanticising It

More than 15 years since 15 Park Avenue came out, I doubt any other Indian film tailored sensitivity and accuracy with a poignant storyline on mental illness as beautifully as Aparna Sen managed to portray in 15 Park Avenue.

Prateek Sharma July 22, 2016

Bollywood

50 Years of Amitabh Bachchan: Why Don Remains Big B’s Slickest Film

Don is one of Amitabh Bachchan’s slickest film.The 1978 blockbuster took mofussil funk to new heights with its chhora Ganga kinare-wala act, before the realists came and spoiled the party.

Vishwas Kulkarni July 21, 2016

Bollywood

Kesari Review: The Akshay Kumar Movie Manages to Make the Feat of 21 vs 10,000 Look Boring

Kesari, a retelling of the events of the Battle of Saragarhi, tells you nothing about the clash between the valiant 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army and 10,000 Afghan tribesmen that a quick Google search will not. The battle is uninspiring and unnecessarily long drawn-out, and there is little imagination in the fight sequences.

Arré Bench July 21, 2016

Bollywood

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga Review: The Lesbian Love Story a Post-377 India Needs

A small-town lesbian love story might make Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga the most unexpected romance of the year, but equally riveting is its secondary plot. The Sonam Kapoor-starrer needs to be lauded for its honest portrayal of parent-child relationships, and exactly how far Indian children go to not disappoint their parents.

Sonali Kokra July 21, 2016

Bollywood

Photograph Review: Ritesh Batra Continues His Romance with Melancholy and Mumbai

Photograph marks Ritesh Batra’s return to writing and directing a Hindi feature film six years after The Lunchbox. His “star-crossed lovers” are separated by class, religion, and aspiration. And yet, both of them lead their lives for others, in this coming-of-age story.

Poulomi Das July 21, 2016

Bollywood

Laal Kaptaan Review: A Laborious Period Drama that is Neither Poetic Nor Thrilling

Laal Kaptaan, a period revenge saga starring Saif Ali Khan, is dull and frustrating. The performances are caricaturish. Khan plays a Naga Sadhu chasing a cruel Mughal lord across Bundelkhand. He looks the part but never acts it.

Poulomi Das July 20, 2016

Bollywood

In a World Crazy Over Rahuls and Rajs, Why Shah Rukh Khan’s Mohan Bhargava Stands Out

Bollywood, much like the government, has fed us an idea of nationhood that is so much bigger than ourselves, most of us tend to struggle to understand our place in it. Swades showed us an alternate version. In Mohan Bhargava, it gave us a deshbhakt we could imagine ourselves being, some day.

Sonali Kokra July 19, 2016