Life Beneath the Shadow of Walls
The Israel-Palestine conflict is often narrated through the lens of politics, terrorism, and armed aggression. But there are stories that unfold far from the echo chambers of diplomacy and warfare—stories…
Film Review
What Bhool Chuk Maaf Gets Right About Sarkari Jobs and Lost Time
Some films entertain. A few surprise. And once in a while, one quietly holds up a mirror—not to fantasy, but to the waiting room we call life. Bhool Chuk Maaf…
A Marvel Film About The Struggle Within
Introduction Marvel films have given us gods, kings, and soldiers who save the world by conquering enemies. But Thunderbolts quietly tells us something no superhero film has dared to say:…
Gram Chikitsalay Holds a Mirror to Mental Health in Rural India
Some stories do not demand attention; they quietly wait to be noticed. Gram Chikitsalay, the understated web series from TVF and Amazon Prime Video, tells one such story. Set in…
Why Mrs. Feels Different to Our Mothers and Grandmothers
Introduction Watching Mrs. with my family was an experience I had not quite anticipated. As the credits rolled, I was left with many thoughts, but none of them were about…
L2: Empuraan and the Fall of the Superhuman
Can the failure of the much-hyped commercial film L2: Empuraan at the box office also be indicative of the rejection by the audiences of superhero self-perceptions of superstars and their…
Adolescence: The pressure to look perfect online
Aayushi Rana is a postgraduate in History from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and a Senior Researcher at Digitial Forensics Research Analytics Centre (DFRAC), a Delhi-based fact-checking organization. She is also a…
Inside the Mind of the Modern Incel: Understanding Teenage Boys in the Age of ‘Adolescence’
Netflix’s latest sensation 'Adolescence' may appear to be a gripping murder mystery on the surface, but beneath it lies a deep psychological exploration into the minds of today’s teenage boys.…
Caste in the Courtroom: A Review of Court
The 2025 movie “Court - State vs. A Nobody” is a Telugu courtroom drama centering around the misuse of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO)-2012 as a…
Children Of A Lesser God
More than a century ago, in 1918 to be precise, 400 Adivasis from Chotanagpur were taken as indentured laborers to the Andaman and Nicobar islands. For the most part, they…
Why the movie L2: Empuraan needs to be watched?
Ever since the Malayalam film L2: Empuraan was released, it has been in the news. While it has been appreciated for its bold depiction of 2002 Gujarat riots and portrayal…
Empuraan: A reminder of preserving ravaged memories
The Malayalam film Empuraan has been embroiled in controversy due to its perceived depiction of the 2002 Gujarat riots and the Godhra train burning incident. The movie's portrayal of these…
‘Empuraan’: More than a film -A Political Reality Check
March 27th was one of the most anticipated days for movie buffs in Kerala, as it marked the release of Empuraan across India—the second part of Lucifer, which was released…
Losing Katie: How ‘Adolescence’ Erases the Victim While Examining the Incel Mind
As a mother of an eight-year-old, prepubescent daughter watching Adolescence was not easy. This Netflix 4 hour long, limited series has been praised for its impeccable acting, realistic shooting technique,…
Review of ‘Adolescence’: It matters to all!
While watching Adolescence, a four-part OTT series at Netflix, it could easily be related what nearly everyone in this world has gone through. Adolescence the pre-young age, which every man…
Aurangzeb, Chhaava Movie and Selective Historiography
As Communal hate is on the rise through the use of History on political battle grounds, new dimensions are being added up to this during the last few years. Apart…
Anora Film Review: Cinderella’s Flip Flop with No Prince Charming
The film Anora, as it opens, takes viewers for an unbridled voyeurism as a striptease bar is open where topless girls split their legs on silhouettes. Topless girls now are…
No Other Land
Many years ago, there was a popular American song which one gustily sang at camps, picnics and other get-togethers. Thanks to its very catchy tune, it was always a hit.…
Film on a rebel professor who faces State terror
Thanks, Rinki Roy Bhattacharya. It was such a rare cinematic experience, the film "A Knock on the Door", directed by Ranjan Palit, shown last evening. As the title suggests, it…
‘Conclave’: Slick Drama Of An Untold Truth
How a Pope is to be elected, is all its essence, in today’s world marred by anti-religion movements, agnosticism, atheism and what not, has been mainstreamed in the film 'Conclave',…
Agra:Riveting and Ruthless story of our Indian daily life
When I started to review the film Agra, selected for Director’s Fortnight, premiered at Cannes-2023, a Yoodle film, released in France in April 2024, available on Dailymotion.com/in, I was stuck…
Paatal Lok Season 2: A Treasure
When I did see Paatal Lok-1, I must say I treasured it. The five years hiatus for Paatal Lok-2 resurrection has been worth it. The OTT series, streamed on Amazon…
Nothing ‘exclusive’ about Black Warrant
In an era of internet and with practically every information, about whosever or whomsoever, it is surely an onerous task to recreate a film drama, even if there is much-room…
Love in the Time of Caste: Dalits and Animals in ‘Vaazhai’ and ‘Pariyerum Perumal’
Twelve-year-old Sivanaindhan’s heart-wrenching cries and helpless screams echo the lush green banana fields as four men forcibly load his beloved cow Boo onto a truck. Clinging to the taxidermied calf…
Mari Selvaraj’s Convictional Aesthetics: A Cinemascape for Social Justice and Equality
“One should be ashamed of inherited privileges”, exclaimed one of my friends over the phone after watching Mari Selvaraj’s Vaazhai. Notably, the friend hails from a socially privileged section of…
Human pain and contemporary cinema
This country has tremendous festivals to celebrate, as the population and culture are so diverse from north to south, with hundreds of religious, seasonal, and cultural events every year. As…
Corporate Chicaneries
Auden wrote that many lives have been lived without love, but none without water. He couldn't possibly have written about the utter necessity of water without thinking of the billions…
The Sensualist Of Sound
There is no dearth of films on musical personalities. But most of them are little more than listless recitals of facts about a given musician’s life and accomplishments. Often failing…
A Special Woman
Manjuben is a picture of hard work, independent judgement and a strong desire to be rich so as to be able to call the shots in her professional relations with…
Pushpa: beyond the “rule”
Not too long ago, certain sections of media would use phrases such as “non-baahubali” records to describe movie cash collections. Some went a step further in using terms such as…
Conclave – A Tale of Power, Faith, and Secrecy in the Vatican
The Vatican, a tiny, enigmatic seat of power with a global reach, remains a realm few can fully comprehend. Though spanning only 108 acres—about the size of a golf course—it…
What is progress, asks Angammal in Vipin Radhakrishnan’s film adaptation of Perumal Murugan’s Kodithuni
Angammal opens with an elderly woman telling a story to her granddaughter. The story is of the wild winds that visited their village a few decades ago and took away…
‘Perfect Days’ – A Gandhian Advertisement for ‘Toilet Project’
My friends invited me to join them for the screening of ‘Perfect Days’ movie. In spite of my submission work, I decided to go for the screening as they mentioned…
The twosome Salim-Javed ‘script’ gone wrong!
I watched the three-parts docu-series ‘Angry Young Men’ based on the lives and times of the writer duo Salim-Javed, with quite an attention, as both these men, despite the fact,…
Toronto International Film Festival 2024: A Cinematic Celebration in the Heart of Autumn
As Canada embraces the beauty of autumn and steps into the chilly onset of winter, the city of Toronto once again witnessed the curtain fall on the 'festival of festivals.'…
Thangalaan: An uproaring necessity to “Be The Light Unto Yourself”
Tathagata Buddha says: “Be The Light Unto Yourself!” Director Pa. Ranjith's Thangalaan is a surprising package that equals the making of Hollywood magnum opus of the 60’s 'Mackenna's Gold'. It's…
The Land of Solomon: A Visually Stunning Exploration of Identity and Belonging
Siddiq Paravoor's The Land of Solomon is a poignant exploration of the human spirit and the enduring power of identity, belonging and the value of one's roots. The movie follows Solomon who, with…
Evil Does Not Exist – Film Analysis
As this year's Venice Film Festival approaches its end, my thoughts are unexpectedly drawn not to a particular film but to the haunting music of Eiko Ishibashi—a melody that resonates…
Courtly Indifference To Sudra Persecution
In the past quarter century or so, New Marathi Cinema has come to be enriched by important contributions from several young directors, including Mumbai-based Chaitanya Tamhane. Tamhane’s debut film, Court,…
A Cinematic Extravaganza: 49th Toronto International Film Festival Set to Dazzle with Seven Indian Films
With the arrival of autumn winds signaling the end of summer, Toronto is gearing up for its most awaited event of the year—the 49th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The…
Film on the rich cultural heritage of textile mill workers wins national award
Ashok Rane’s documentary film ‘Aankhi Ek Mohenjo Daro’ (Yet Another Mohenjo Daro) on the cultural life of textile mill workers of Girgangaon in Mumbai is a very important document .…
‘Kharij’ – A Master’s Grapplings to Visibilise Hunger and Analyse Class Machinations
Can Kharij (The Case is Closed, 1982), one of the several memorable films that immediately come to mind whenever Mrinal Sen’s name is mentioned, be said to be a “hunger…
Countdown begins with an exciting lineup of cinematic excellence at the TIFF 2024
With just six weeks to go until the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2024, the excitement is building. Known as "The Festival of Festivals" in Canada, TIFF has announced the…
Laapataa Ladies (2024) review
There has not been a dearth of films exploring feminist themes and having feminist content in recent times, and it may be observed that most of these films have found…
Marathi film ‘Nach Ga Ghuma’ takes a comic-serious look at domestic labour issue
Paresh Mokashi’s Marathi film Nach Ga Ghuma is very good as was expected from the reputed maker of Harischandrachi Factory which was the Indian nomination for Oscars.. It is very…
‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ nuances the cinematic message of a historical event
We, a few comrades of Delhi, used to organize an annual program in the memory of Allah Baksh under the auspices of Samajwadi Manch. On the suggestion of Anil Nauria,…
Films building up Majoritarian Narratives: Swatantraveer Savarkar
Films are a very powerful medium which create a social understanding in various ways. Till decades ago we had films which reflected social realities and promoted progressive values. The films like ‘Mother…
The Visual Lyricism of Joshy Joseph’s Mizo Soundscapes
Art and culture in society are so interlinked that it is impossible to understand one wholly without considering or alluding to the other. Art influences culture and vice versa, and…
“The World As It Was”: A Masterly Documentary Film
Here’s a film about the 1950s – “The World As It Was” – that will tell you a great deal about life in the U.S.A. today, while disabusing anyone of…
Zone of Interest
by Thomas Klikauer and Danny Antonelli Zone of Interest is a film that every German child should be shown at the age of 15. Yes, they will not understand why…
Oppenheimer’s victory at the Academy Awards
The comprehensive success of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer at the Academy Awards has genuine and far-reaching significance. The biographical drama about the life and career of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967), known…
Poor Things (2023) review
Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film Poor Things has just been released on digital and Blu-Ray, and this is a film I had been waiting to watch for a very long time,…
Working Inside/Out Films Division: The Discursive Documentary Practices Of Joshy Joseph
Established in 1948, under the patronage of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Films Division stands as one of the pioneering institutions in post-independent India that played a crucial…
It was Arakkonam which won at Last: Blue Star Movie in the Post Ram Mandir Inauguration Time
The movie on Caste Discrimination in Cricket gives a bigger lesson on Republic Day as it brought the message of Babasaheb for the citizens of this country where Ram Mandir…
Groundhog Day, Aristotle and Communism
Exploring Aristotle's virtue ethics and Marx and Engels's communist individual through the 1993 movie, Groundhog Day. Groundhog Day (1993) is a classic of philosophical cinema. I was first asked to watch…
Paradise: A Dystopian Anti-Capitalist Gem
The 2023 German film Paradise went virtually unnoticed by commentators on the socialist left. Yet, it is amongst the best dystopian anti-capitalist films produced in the decade. The film follows the life…
“B32 to 44 “: Unveiling Body Politics and Contemporary Women’s Struggles
This Indian film delves into the pervasive issue of women being unjustly reduced to mere physicality, shedding light on the challenges they face in today's society. The film "B 32…
Anand Patwardhan’s film on his family which fought for freedom but did not seek power
A key part in Anand Patwardhan’s recent acclaimed film is his apt observation that his two uncles Achyutrao Patwardhan and Raosaheb Patwardhan chose to go into political oblivion after independence.…
12th Fail – An Inspirational Movie
"12th Fail" is a brilliantly scripted movie, masterfully delivered by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It instils the belief that with energy and clear goals, anything is achievable in life. Similar to…
Four Died Trying: A Powerful, Riveting, and Masterful Documentary Series Begins
It is hard for those who have not lived through the shattering political assassinations of the 1960s to grasp their significance for today. Many might assume that that was then…
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