I would like to live in a world where everyone has something good to say about ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’. The film boasts of a perfectly curated cast; showcases some amazing scenic shots of vacation-worthy places; unwraps the pretty wrapping paper off a boxed affluent family which is very different from what most Indians have knownContinue reading “‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ features cleverly designed costumes that merge with the color palette of its backdrops”
Tag Archives: Bollywood
Films that use music as an integral part of the narrative: The case of Padmaavat
Do films need music as an ‘essential film element’, and if so, what kind of films are these? Some have been unable to find any absolute reason that can justify the use of music in a ‘visual medium’ like film, while others believe that whether someone would consider music to be an essential film elementContinue reading “Films that use music as an integral part of the narrative: The case of Padmaavat”
The Globalization of Bollywood
Bollywood and other branches of Indian cinema have become truly global, serving audiences all over the world. As a devout consumer of Indian films, I was mulling over the reasons why they have gained such a vast audience worldwide. A profound reason for the increase in the appetite for Indian cinema has been the constantContinue reading “The Globalization of Bollywood”
Bollywood Singers and Typecasting
In the unforgiving flood of remakes in which Bollywood is drowning in present times, it’s a pity that Neha Kakkar’s immense potential has suffered by being limited to singing cheap and soulless versions of old classics. Chamma chamma, Yaad piya ki, Dilbar dilbar are only a select few among a host of such songs. NehaContinue reading “Bollywood Singers and Typecasting”
Where is the Poetry in Bollywood Songs?
Gone are the days when you heard songs like ‘Phoolon ke rang se, dil ki kalam se’ (penned by Neeraj for the 1970 classic Prem Pujari), or ‘Kaaton se kheench ke ye aanchal’ (Guide, 1965; written by the legendary Shailendra) or ‘Aji rooth kar ab’(Arzoo, 1965; written by the inimitable Hasrat Jaipuri). Its almost likeContinue reading “Where is the Poetry in Bollywood Songs?”
The Genius That Was Hrishikesh Mukherjee
I watched Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Chupke Chupke (1975) for the 33rd time today. For the uninitiated, the movie is about a professor of Botany (Parimal Tripathi, played flawlessly by Dharmendra) who falls in love with Sulekha (brought to life on screen by the epic Sharmila Tagore). After certain plot twists, Parimal, now married to Sulekha, decidesContinue reading “The Genius That Was Hrishikesh Mukherjee”
The Roaring Kotzilla 