Movies

To celebrate RD Burman’s 84th birth anniversary, Pancham Fan Club Delhi showcased a bouquet of songs composed by the legendary composer, a man who was way ahead of his times. Titled Beeti Na Beetai Raina — Hits & Misses of RD Burman, the musical event included presentation of a mix of both popular hits and also some hidden gems which did not become so popular. Surajit Roy, who scripted and anchored the event, recounts the experience.

Fans and movie lovers across the country and the world celebrated Amitabh Bachchan's 80th birthday on October 11, 2022. Ratnottama Sengupta takes a trip down memory lane to recall her experiences of watching the Big B grow from a lanky new actor to the icon.

Jyoti kalash chhalke, an immortal ode to dawn, eminently qualifies as a chhayavadi poem – it has romanticism, spiritualism, universalism and humanism in near perfect balance. Impressed by the VM created by 17-year-old Anshula on this ethereal song, Vijay Kumar pens a short deconstruction of its lyrics and draws connections with other immortal songs.

Tum apna ranj-o-gham is a song that breaks the mould, creating a defining moment in the portrayal of women in our films. Shirish Waghmode explores the immortal song written by Sahir from a woman's perspective.

Some songs stay on with us as golden memories of childhood. Rachna Rajesh recalls the madcap song Meri bhains ko danda kyun maara and how it resonated with her early schooling days.

Srinjoy Banerjee reminiscences about how Lata Mangeshkar's music became a guiding factor in every step of his life, right from his toddler days.

There are songs we love. And then there are songs that impact. And then there are songs that stay on as an integral part of life and memories that we love to revisit time and again to relive those cherished moments. Rachna Rajesh writes about one such song, Jewel Thief's Yeh dil na hota bechara.

Shirish Waghmode analyses the romance and beauty of the famous ghazal Tasveer teri dil mera behla na sakegi, written by Faiyyaz Hashmi, composed by Kamal Dasgupta and sung by Talat Mahmood in 1944. Shirish also pens an ode to Talat, the silken voiced singer.

Lata Mangeshkar's matchless music impacted countless souls over 70 years and her passing away into eternity led to the entire nation mourning the loss. Ganapathy Subramanian, who likes to call himself an "acolyte of Lata Mangeshkar" pens an emotional piece as a photo feature tribute to his idol.

This new album Rough and Rowdy Ways can be seen as the fourth in Dylan's gospel series, though some may not agree, and has to be played after listening to Slow Train Coming, Saved, Shot of Love, to make up a quartet.

Ai mohabbat tere anjaam pe rona aayaa - a Shakeel ghazal is one of the best on the point of failed love, rendered timeless by Begum Akhtar's gaayaki. Vijay Kumar translates it into English.

Mehdi Hassan was a thinking singer. Undaunted with the decline of film music, he used his moorings in classical music and experiences with film composers to develop his music that had nothing to do with films. It is this dimension that separates him from his contemporaries.

Rajinder Krishan could pen songs for all seasons, his repertoire was huge and varied. Born on 6^th June 1919, he was not only a song writer but also a successful story and screenplay writer and dialogue writer. In a tribute to one of the greatest lyricists in Hindi film songs, I pick one song that has stayed nearest to my heart forever.

A cab ride on a wintry morning left me smiling at the cab driver's passion for music and his deep understanding of the essence of "music made from the soul".

One of the most quoted poets in Urdu, the legendary Mirza Ghalib’s poetry was mostly in the form of ghazals. Ghazal enthusiast Niraj Shah takes you through a mesmerizing journey of not only Ghalib's poetry but also shades of his life, his sorrows, his famous wit and his muse, stringing along a garland of oft-quoted shers, lesser known ghazals and misquoted shers as well.

Among the rare collectibles in the The Greatest Indian Show on Earth 2 auction by Osians are a bunch of original artworks by renowned filmmakers Satyajit Ray and Mani Kaul apart from art works by Shah Rukh Khan, Deepti Naval, Pankaj Parashar, MF Hussain and others. Besides there are original publicity-material art for Andaz (1949), Anari (1959), Guide (1965), Deewaar (1975) and others.

The remarkable collector Sunny Mathew has over 1 lakh (100,000) rare records, including records in their earliest form and about 260 gramophones/record players/phonographs of different varieties in his self-built Discs and Machines Museum, in Kottayam, Kerala. It is a shrine for music lovers and students of history of sound recording. M Dharma Kirthi, Sundeep Pahwa and Rocky Abraham find themselves transported into a mesmerising world of discs, gramophones and record players, painstakingly collected, archived and preserved by an unassuming, retired Forest Officer, Sunny Mathew. Dharma Kirthi chronicles this amazing journey of discovery as Sunny Mathew takes the visitors through his collections and creations with passion, energy and enthusiasm.

Peeyush Sharma recounts an anecdote music maestro Anil Biswas had shared about Lata Mangeshkar's early days of practice with him as a special feature on The Nightingale's birthday.

Majrooh Sultanpuri's immortal songs came to life along with an eclectic selection of his literary ghazals at the Rooh-e-Majrooh evening presented by Ibaadat Foundation.

Film and music enthusiast Sundeep Pahwa belongs to a family which was closely connected with the film industry and had produced a couple of films in the '50s and '60s. In this personal essay, he recounts his visit to the National Film Archives of India (NFAI), Pune, and an exciting journey of discovering memorabilia of Bahu (1955) and Bombay Race Course (1965), produced by the Pahwa brothers. His father, the youngest of the three Pahwa brothers was introduced as Basant Kumar in Bahu, a film that marked the directorial debut of legendary film director Shakti Samanta.

Rabindranath Tagore’s association with the recording industry began in 1904. An exploration of the sound recordings of Tagore and Rabindra Sangeet by Sounak Gupta.

A Hitchcock movie is such a treat, no matter how many times I am watching, I don’t bat an eyelid. Each time I discover something of a genius in his cinema.

The instinctive singer Geeta Dutt, who sang from her heart and soul, left an indelible mark in her swan song, the film Anubhav. Piano-accordionist Sammy Reuben recounts some cherished moments with the legendary singer in a conversation with Pakanati Lakshmi Priya.

Much more than a musical genius, Mohammed Rafi is a name that became synonymous with the very art of playback singing. A voice that slipped into any mould, flawlessly rendered every conceivable nuance and transformed many ordinary tunes into memorable masterpieces.

"A dark girl sits by the river – she misses the tunes of the boatmen. The birds don’t give her accompaniment. Yet she sits. Hums – tunes of an era she wishes to visit – tunes that stir her soul, the rhythm that arouses her nerves." Geeta Dutt's matchless melodies in her native Bangla have never ceased to move listeners. Sounak Gupta lyrically traces the rise of the skylark from the banks of the Meghna, who continues to enthrall music lovers with her dulcet voice, long after dusk has settled and the river has broken its banks.

Geeta Dutt (Roy's) niece Tapati Dutta recounts her fond memories of her 'Geetu Pishi' in a heartfelt tribute to the Queen of Bhaav Gayaki.

On the auspicious day of the bard's birth anniversary celebrations, my humble homage to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and his mystical melodies.

On Rabindra Jayanti today, Learning and Creativity brings you a glimpse into how Rabindranath Tagore and his creations impacted the life of Kanika Bandyopadhyay, his best known prodigy and a singer par excellence.

Suchitra Sen, the enigma, the star, the ethereal beauty, the style icon, an actress par excellence. A tribute on her birthday.

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy review: Is the big screen adaptation of this iconic super sleuth worth your time and money? Here's five factors which help decide.

S D Burman used his solid grounding in classical music and his wide exposure to folk music most effectively to create compositions that broke traditions and became hugely popular with the mass audience. His style of singing and quality of voice was his own, unique and unmatched. “Such is the youthfulness of his tunes that he seems a live presence even today. Age-wise, he may have belonged to the first generation composers but his tunes have a contemporariness that puts him ahead of the fourth generation."

Anand Bakshi, the most prolific lyricist of Hindi cinema lived a life which in itself is an inspiring journey of faith, dreams, success and humanity.

From Aurat in 1940 to Ram Leela in 2014, Holi songs of Bollywood have added colour, energy, music and dance to films through the decades. From the mellow and richly classical Holi songs in the 50s to the fun songs in the 70s, the flirtatious songs of the 80s to the power-packed, rigorous dance sequences in the new millennium, Holi songs have seen a gradual but marked change in style of music and picturisation.
Enjoy the songs.... and have a Happy and Safe Holi!

Filmmaker Manmohan Desai etched his place in history of Bollywood for delivering some of the biggest hits that whizzed audiences away into a world of make-believe, where simple people did wondrous things and made you laugh and cry with them. A tribute to this genius filmmaker on his birth anniversary.

A tribute to Lalita Pawar, the prolific Indian actress on her death anniversary with some interesting anecdotes on her life and times.

Badlapur review: Avijit Das Patnaik lists five things in this revenge saga which may make or break this latest offering from director Sriram Raghavan.

The idea was good, the execution started well but a 2hr simple comedy has been twisted to a 2:45 hr complicated tragedy.

What indeed puts the Queen of Thumri Shobha Gurtu in a class by herself are not merely the unique qualities of her warm sensuous voice which blends strength with suppleness and vigour with grace but also the associated aesthetic delight. She constantly communicated through music, by creating a joyful identity with nature and with the cosmos itself. Samina De (Urmi), a noted classical thumri singer and a devoted disciple of Shobha Gurtu pays a heartfelt tribute to her 'Guruma' on the occasion of the legendary thumri exponent's birth anniversary today.

Seldom does a movie end so brilliantly that even after 2.5 hrs you wish it went on a bit longer.

Arbaaz Khan Productions' third venture Dolly Ki Doli (Dabangg 1 & 2 explain the Ds in DKD) hit Singapore theatres (Bombay Talkies) this week.

The movie is not just about medical fraternity. To me, it came across as a movie on professional ideologies and ethics be it medicine or law.

Is this critically acclaimed movie worth your time and money? Here’s seven important things you can expect from Ugly (spoiler free)

There is no condoning of terrorism in the movie but it simply tells the story of a youth who lived for his pride and how he got manipulated into the act of terrorism.

The portrayal of artistry and talent of the children in the film, as reflected in their works of photography, critics have said, have not only served as examples of remarkable observation and talent; but have also reflected something much larger: the role of art in all humanity as an immensely liberating and empowering force.

I always had the bigger reality in mind and wanted to make a film on it, says Bikas Mishra debutante director of the award-winning film Chauranga in an interview to Learning and Creativity. Winner of the Golden Gateway award for Best Film at Mumbai Film Festival in October this year, Chauranga is today being screened at the 11th Dubai International Film Festival.

Tapan Sinha had been an epitome of cinematic excellence – artistic and entertaining and that is why he could reach to his audience with élan which at times even the towering Satyajit Ray could not. Sinha’s films have almost always made brisk business as compared to the trinity of Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen.

Learning and Creativity pays a humble tribute to the legendary filmmaker Tapan Sinha with the reproduction of an exclusive interview, one of the lengthiest interviews of the maestro, which was first published in Desh Magazine in 1991. In continuation of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd part of the interview, we reproduce the concluding 4th part.

My poetic rambling and humble tribute to my favorite singer, Geeta Dutt on the auspicious occasion of her birthday, November 23

Without any popular star and the typical Kollywood stylish stunts, Sathuranga Vettai movie delivers on content.

Learning and Creativity pays a humble tribute to the legendary filmmaker Tapan Sinha with the reproduction of an exclusive interview, one of the lengthiest interviews of the maestro, which was first published in Desh Magazine in 1991. In continuation of the 1st and 2nd part of the interview, we reproduce the 3rd part, and will be followed by reproduction of the concluding part.

Though Jilla boasts of huge star casts, it lacks substance. With its predictable story, it is a typical Tamil masala potboiler.

Isn’t a bad watch if you are used to supernatural thrillers with slow moving, contemplative back and forth narrations.

Learning and Creativity pays a humble tribute to the legendary filmmaker Tapan Sinha with the reproduction of an exclusive interview, one of the lengthiest interviews of the maestro, which was first published in Desh Magazine in 1991. In continuation of the 1st part of the interview, we reproduce the 2nd part, and will be followed by reproduction of the subsequent parts.

Shahid Kapoor as Haider in the second half, etches an unforgettable performance. The support cast are brilliant, but the real protagonist of the movie is Kashmir.

Because Raja Ravi Varma oleographed his original paintings, he was able to reach millions of Indian households, especially as he was copied by the other printing presses and the advertising fraternity which were using the Indian Gods and Goddesses as the brand ambassadors for encouraging Indian consumerism, at least until the 1960s'/early 1970s'. The film stars only came into their own as brand ambassadors much later.

On the occasion of legendary filmmaker Tapan Sinha's 90th Birth Anniversary, Learning and Creativity pays a humble tribute to the maestro with the reproduction of an exclusive interview, which was first published in Desh Magazine in 1991. The interview was done by Robi Basu and translated into English by Suchandra Roy Chowdhury. This is the 1st part of the interview, one of the lengthiest interviews of Tapan Sinha and will be followed by reproduction of the subsequent parts.

I recommend this highly especially for its laughter, comical situations and its underlying message. The film reminds me of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s style of story telling where a loser becomes a real life hero.

New records were created across all types of publicity material and memorabilia with a positive response from the film fraternity led by Shah Rukh Khan, Foundations concerned with India’s cinematic heritage and memorabilia and the die-hard Indian film fan / collector, especially from New Delhi and Nagpur.

The brilliant use of music in Alor Pipasa, composed by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, strides two different segments – one scholarly and the other populist (suiting to the period of the story).

Mary Kom is more about a person who despite facing all odds becomes the world's número uno through passion, 'zidd' and 'paagalpan'.

Mardaani is a short and hard hitting movie, which packs in sharp and searing punches without frills.

An unprecedented Collection of 200+ Lots are set to go under the hammer at 'The Greatest Indian Show on Earth' Osian’s auction of vintage & rare Indian film memorabilia, starting with the Opening Preview Exhibition today, 22 August, Friday, at the Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai.

Phoring (2013) is heartwarming tale of a timid but talented, reserved but resolute and simple yet out-of-the-ordinary teenager who daydreams all day.

Pramit and his cameramen fall in love without really wanting to and are witness to a series of bizarre incidents that puts them back at square one.

In a bid to put in extra dose of Salman Khan, Kick misses out on giving a little more well deserved space to the support cast.

Was there ever a playback singer who conveyed feelings better? On her death anniversary today 20th July, we pay a humble tribute to this ethereal singer who had a short lived career but left an indelible mark in the world of music.

The song is marvelously penned down in a broken dialect (of Sanskrit, Hindi, Maithili, Brajabuli and Bangla) and allows one to find resemblances with Bhanusingher Padabali.

The sheer versatility of Sanjeev Kumar outpaces his contemporaries. His repertoire of roles include everything from young to the old, sensitive to comic.

Thanks Maa is a superb story of 2 days in the life of an orphaned homeless boy and how his life changes, when he battles to help an infant reach its mother.

Ghatak’s films, remarkable for their lacerating quality and heightened form of realism are almost at loggerheads with Satyajit Ray’s lyricism.

StoryLTD's first ever online Film Memorabilia Auction, featuring a covetable range of merchandise from cult films, is all set to open today at 8 pm.

Doosra Aadmi explores love in its various facets - love before and after marriage and the desperate attempt to cling on to memories of love

Silhouette magazine has survived the tides of time and is appreciated by a niche audience interested in serious discussions on cinema for well over a decade now. After the...

Very slow and very high on philosophical thought process, very ably narrated in Nana Patekar’s pure Hindi diction - Yatra is a rare treat for music lovers.

A man who was a riddle in himself has the audacity to make and act in movies that question your sense of right and wrong and make you ponder about it long after you have watched them.

Watch Holiday for Akshay who delivers big enough to make it a one man show - high voltage stunts, style, fights, chases and heart pumping action.

Bollywood has very few good movies on India's independence struggle, Chittagong could be the best of them.

“Will you suffer me?” Is the most poignant love proposal I have ever heard in an Indian movie. When heroin addict Partho hid his tear-laden face in Rudro’s...

Citylights blind the poor and dazzle only for the rich.

Maleficent unlike Frozen stays away from musical genre and tells the tale of the Sleeping Beauty from the villain's point of view.

This is an undiluted joy to watch with subtle yet so strong performances from a still very much loved onscreen the couple Farooque Sheikh and Deepti Naval.

Million Dollar Arm does not fall in the bracket of exceptionally good sports drama but its running length of 124 min laced with brilliant performances will make for a good watch.

Waheeda Rehman, a rare combination of quintessential beauty with amazing acting talent and dancing skills is one of the most celebrated actors of Hindi film industry. She has to her credit some of the most remarkable films of the golden era, evergreen classic songs, hugely appreciated dance sequences and a slew of awards. Learning and Creativity brings you a short life sketch of this extraordinary actor with some of her most memorable songs.

There are kids out there longing for things your kids take for granted and never use again - used roller skates, used bicycles, broken Barbies, torn soft toys; movies like Hawaa Hawaai are beyond ratings and beyond criticism as in the end they serve a purpose which none of the other movies do - they bring out the kinder part of you.

Hawaa Hawaai is a simple, compelling, rags to riches sports story which is must watch for kids, and adults.

Amole Gupte's Hawaa Hawaai is one of the most innocent films I have seen in years.

Gulzar's films are not only known for their tight screenplay, witty dialogues and themes that explore intense humanism or burning political issues. They are also famous for their awe-inspiring music.

101 Years ago on this day, 3 May 1913, Raja Harishchandra, 1st full-length Indian feature film was released, flagging off a remarkable journey for Indian cinema. Harishchandrachi Factory looks at how Dadasaheb Phalke kept his dream alive.

The posters, booklet covers, lobby cards, LP vinyl covers and postcards, are eclectic art work that not only define a filmmaker’s vision when designing a film’s publicity material, but also reflect an era where art figured prominently in a variety of promotional handouts during a film’s release – a practice that has now almost faded into oblivion.

An archival exhibition of film stills and memorabilia of the legendary director Basu Chatterji, organised by Sensorium and Weavers Studio Centre for the Arts will open in Kolkata on 26th April. For the first time in India, rare posters and stills from Basu Chatterji's films transferred on ("limited edition") ceramic tiles will be launched at the exhibition.

In a country like India when you decide to love and marry a girl you need to marry her family as well. There begins the problem. Krish’s incredibly loud Punjabi mother won’t accept the Tamilian Ananya with her insipid family of three and vice versa.

The movie shows the melodrama where people use caste, creed or religion to hurt badly and in due course reconcile as if nothing happened.

Film historian and archivist SMM Ausaja unveils the unknown stories behind posters - the hand-painted posters, the rare posters that have been restored, the difference between original and re-release posters and more...!

The best aspect of this genre is the faith the film-makers place on the audience's intelligence and wit. No unnecessary dumbing down, a complex story more on psychological aspects and a frustratingly convoluted script.

The plot is fictitious and a bit convoluted, but what's surprising is Bhootnath Returns manages to be perfectly grounded throughout, making it not only entertaining but a thrill ride.

As a genuine sequel to Rio, Rio 2 takes you through the journey of Amazon where Tulio and Linda are working on saving rare birds and fighting against deforestation in Amazon.

Rajat Kapoor plays this submissive, respectful younger brother of Bau Ji (Sanjay Mishra) but what he has given to the movie in terms of story, writing, dialogues and direction is priceless.

Sahir Ludhianvi was one of those rare talents who not just maintained the vulnerability of Urdu in his lyrics but also perfectly captured the essence of the situation.

Sahir Ludhianvi is probably the only songwriter in Hindi films whose poetry was accepted in its purest form. So great was his stature as an Urdu poet that he never had to mould his poetry to suit the demands of film songwriting; instead producers and composers adapted their requirements to his poetry.

Widely acclaimed for her heart-touching performances in tragic and grief-stricken roles, Meena Kumari earned herself the epithet of “Tragedy Queen”. Pain and anguish was part of her life and she brought them to the fore in her performances that became iconic.