Bollywood Archives

Omerta: Hansal Mehta’s Dramatised Wikipedia Entry on 21st-Century Terror

Hansal Mehta’s biopics are marked by a deep-dive into the minds of his central characters. And that is the greatest weakness of Omertà, a film on the terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh. It is about as effective as a dramatised Wikipedia entry – there is nothing in its 96-minute runtime that we don’t already know.

Poulomi Das May 28, 2016

Bollywood

Kader Khan Wasn’t Just an Actor or a Writer. Kader Khan Was a Genre

Kader Khan didn’t just create the cinema of the 1980s. He created the 1980s. He catered to the lowest common denominator without any apology. He was of the people, for the people, by the people – only louder, shriller, piercing. The veteran actor and writer brought the lowbrow out of its cultural closet.

Vaibhav Vishal May 26, 2016

Bollywood

Karwaan and the Road Less Travelled by Bollywood

Karwaan has its share of shortcomings but it is resolutely modern – by emphasising that a girl and a guy can just be friends. This road-trip film is also proof that you can find yourself without letting a manufactured love story derail it.

Poulomi Das May 26, 2016

Bollywood

Luck By Chance: The Finest, Most Self-Aware Movie About the Movies Ever Made

Luck By Chance remains Zoya Akhtar’s finest work, a subtle drama exploring the meaning of ambition and happiness in the film industry – via nepotism, sexual harassment, and blind luck.

Mudra May 26, 2016

Bollywood

Manikarnika Review: An Effective Revision of Your School History Book Chapter

As someone rooting for the success of Manikarnika, I was hungry for the movie to delve into the story behind the story. Did the exemplary Queen of Jhansi make mistakes? Did she have regrets? But the film only offers us Kangana Ranaut’s glaring dialogue-baazi and jaw clenching, and hammy plot devices.

Sonali Kokra May 25, 2016

Bollywood

20 Years of Sarfarosh: A Rare Patriotic Film that Asked the Right Questions

Twenty years ago, John Mathew Matthan’s Sarfarosh released during the Kargil war and could have easily been a hyper-masculine journey of revenge. Instead, it was a rare Bollywood patriotic film that explored identity and conflict within the borders.

Manik Sharma May 25, 2016

Bollywood

Love Aaj Kal Review: A Relic From the Past Without a Clue About the Future

The torturous 141 minutes of Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal, starring a grating Sara Ali Khan and a scared Kartik Aaryan, plays out like a multiple choice question paper: Love or sex? Career or relationship? Uber driver or bike? Stalking or women's safety?

Poulomi Das May 25, 2016

Bollywood

What Do Ranveer and Deepika Have that Virushka, Nickyanka, & Sonam-Anand Don’t?

The Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone romance, captured in heartfelt confessions, mushy Instagram comments, and photos so sweet that they make singletons burst into tears, feels strikingly genuine in an industry where, dating is often used as a PR strategy.

Kahini Iyer May 24, 2016

Bollywood

Make Sexist Remarks, Then Throw a Tantrum: Rohit Shetty, Superstar Director and Man-Child

Sooryavanshi director Rohit Shetty received flak for his sexist remark against Katrina Kaif. After being trolled for his “no one’s going to look at you” comment, you’d think he’d apologise. Instead, he unfollows the actress on Instagram.

Poulomi Das May 24, 2016

Bollywood

Gangaajal: 15 Years Ago, a Film Warned Us About Lynchings and Mob Justice

In Prakash Jha’s Gangaajal, its lead Ajay Devgn takes a stand against police excesses, goading the audience into an ethical dialogue on mob mentality and vigilante justice. It’s been 15 years since the film released, but given the country’s turbulent socio-political climate, there might not be a more appropriate time to revisit it.

Parth Pandya May 24, 2016