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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.
In a career spanning over 71 films, Nanda worked with a range of co-stars from rank newcomers to the biggest stars, and boldly chose roles that exploited her histrionic talents, no matter whether the role was small or the lead. Learning and Creativity pays tribute to actress Nanda on her passing away.
Farooq Shiekh was an actor par excellence. He played complex characters with such conviction that touched a cord with the audience. Today on his birth anniversary (25th March), we recall the significant role he played in Indian cinema and how his movies and songs have touched millions of hearts.
We need to look back and deep into the cinema of ours - with pride and reverence. The medium is developed and sharpened by the West but we use it to tell our story. The Indian film theory should emerge hence.
To Rituparno Ghosh’s credit he brought a section of the Bengali audience back to the cinema halls – to me this is his greatest contribution to Bengali cinema and any history of it will remain largely incomplete unless this due tribute is paid to him.
Majrooh could write any kind of lyrics tailor-made for the situation in the film.
With his classic Bengali good looks, a mischievous smile and exceptional histrionic abilities, Ashok Kumar was the first to bring to Indian cinema the spontaneous “natural” acting style, in an era when theatrical gestures and melodramatic expressions were considered mandatory for “acting”.
Film historian and archivist SMM Ausaja, the author of Bollywood in Posters speaks to Learning and Creativity at length, discussing his long and arduous journey through the painstaking collection and meticulous archiving and restoration of vintage film memorabilia, which is now a priceless repository of India's cinema heritage.
A bride, all set for 'viriginity ke vrat todne' gets dumped on eve of marriage and chooses to go alone on her honeymoon trip to Paris.
Amitava Nag picks 4 female characters from Indian cinema who shined in the darkness and held on to their individuality. These are common-place women with not-so-common demeanor.
Bollywood's reigning queens over the decades have always had some thread of distinct commonality between themselves.
Author-poet Maitreyee Bhattacharjee Chowdhury handpicks and analyzes 7 powerful female characters in film who left a lasting impact on her pysche.
On master melody maker Khayyam's birthday, L&C presents some of his memorable creations.
On Valentine's Day, we present some of the most romantic songs Madhubala brought to life as her birthday falls on the day the world celebrates love.
Love is in the air!
If you are celebraing Valentine's Day as a quiet, romantic evening at home with your partner, watch one of those immensely watchable romances that will make you smile and value your love even more.
We pick for you the 15 all-time Hollywood romantic classics
Amar Prem portrays a pure and selfless form of love which happens to take shape and grow in adverse situations and places.
"The greatest strength of the book is that the denouement goes beyond the pessimism, the grim reality and the sordid drama to offer more than a dash of hope."
On Feb 19, 1957, Guru Dutt's classic Pyaasa was released. Read the review of this epoch making movie, which Time magazine had included in its list of 100 best films.
Mamta is director Asit Sen's remake of his earlier Bengali hit Uttor Phalguni. Suchitra Sen stars in the double role of mother Devyani and daughter Suparna.
Watch Aandhi - full movie online. Suchitra Sen’s bold and convincing portrayal of the politician Aarti earned her the National Award for her performance.
If 'abhi na jao'… is an argument about the value of being together, 'accha ji main haari'… is equally sensuous argument about how difficult life can be without your partner.
Who can forget the Tom & Jerry chase with everybody fighting for a dead body like a bunch of monkeys and that side-splitter Draupadi 'Cheerharan' Mahabharata scene
Counted among all time classics, Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Golmaal takes you through a joyride of wit, humor and fun.
Enjoy the hilarious encounter between a shudh Hindi speaking driver and his annoyed maalik whose search for an Hindi-speaking driver backfires.
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam is based on a Bengali novel, Shaheb Bibi Golam by Bimal Mitra, and is a look into the tragic fall of the haveli-dom and feudalism in Bengal during the British Raj.
Rajesh Khanna-Jaya Bhaduri starrer Bawarchi (1972) is a hilarious family drama, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, that reminds us the simple values and joys of life.
Khushboo (1975), the Hema Malini-Jeetendra starrer is a beautiful, subtle romantic film directed by Gulzar, based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's celebrated Bengali novel "Panditmoshai". The film is also known for its evergreen songs.
The best thing about the year 2013 is that almost every big star made gold at box-office.
With Aamir Khan playing the charming ‘chor’, Kat adding the glam quotient, and of course Junior B and Junior Chopra carrying the legacy forward, Dhoom is set to sizzle on the screen.
Christmas eve means frantic last minute preparations and shopping sprees. And when your child wants a little something, you leave no stone unturned to make it happen.
The Lunchbox has garnered six nominations at the 56th Asia-Pacific Film Festival including the categories like Best Film and Best Director.
East Timor film ‘Beatriz’s War’ bagged Golden Peacock award for the Best Film.
This Christmas it's time to take a break, so lets enter the Winter Wonderland of Cinema.Featured video top 10 favorite Christmas movies of all time.
Sala Budha, (The Stupid Old Man) is competing as one of the 26 feature films in Indian Panorama section of the 44th International Film Festival of India
Kurosawa’s latest installment Real - a sci-fi horror mix will be screened at the IFFI 2013.
Susan Sarandon said she would prefer to work in a Bollywood romance where an American comes and can’t speak the language but has a fabulous love story!
The 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI 2013) took off at Goa Kala Academy with lights, camera, action, and glamour.
The 44th IFFI began with a star-studded inaugural function in Panaji, Goa, today.
The first Centenary Award for the Indian Film personality will be given today to Waheeda Rehman, the immensely talented veteran actress, at the 44th IFFI.
Renowned Czech film maker Jiri Menzel received the Life Time Achievement award at the inaugural ceremony of IFFI 2013, in Panaji, Goa.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1980), India’s best known black comedy has emerged as the winner of India’s Greatest Film Ever in the poll conducted by L&C.
Guide starts with a dashing Dev Anand (Raju) walking out of jail in the outskirts of Udaipur.
It is certainly debatable whether a great literary work, adapted to screen by a director, should be true to the writers' vision.
For the first time “Little Director” section will showcase films made by children from India and the world in 18th International Children's Film Festival
The impact and epoch-making role of Alam Ara, the first Indian talkie that catapulted Indian films from the silent era into the world of sound and music.
The upcoming 44th International Film Festival of India is all set to have a number of first time screenings to its credit.
The hero of Sadanander Mela is undoubtedly the story – a tale of rudderless characters who bond together on the basis of simple, uncomplicated humanity.
Krrish 3 is definitely a tremendous leap ahead for Indian cinema and its sensibility.
The Lunchbox is an amazing film, a highly commendable and deft cinematic creativity.
Out of his large repertoire, Manna Dey's had his own favorite Hindi film songs and for particular reasons.
Manna Dey, the last of the male golden voices of the 50s, 60s and 70s took classical and popular playback music and modern “adhunik” songs to great heights.
To certain extent, it does not seem practical or idealistic the way Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara has shown the three adventures in film. But keeping in view the fact that we basically watch movies for self-entertainment, enjoyment and to release the stress, the over-the-top bits can be excused.
Samira Makhmalbaf, daughter of Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf not only made a stunning debut with her film “The Apple” but also established her own voice as a filmmaker at the age of 18.
It is true that making a film from a book is a tedious enterprise as it’s difficult to capture the essence of a novel in about two hours. But then it is not an impossible task as films like The Godfather and Pather Panchali have shown.
Prakash Mehra
Prakash Mehra- The Pioneer of Masala Films
Born on 13 July 1939 at Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, Prakash Mehra started his career in the late 1950s as a production controller.
3 Idiots is not just a story of 3 engineering students; it is story of every being that takes birth on this planet. The movie also presents the struggles of life that people have to face in their lives.
Film songs perhaps have been the best vehicle of conveying romance and passion in a society where on-screen permissiveness was taboo till recently.
Shyam Benegal’s signaled the advent of the "middle cinema” with Ankur (1973), which sparked off a new genre of low-budget, middle of the road movies.
Raj Kapoor, the Show-Man of Bollywood, is known as a popular film actor, producer and director of Hindi Cinema.
Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda is a timeless classic by Shyam Benegal. The strength of this film lies in its story-telling, direction, well-etched out characters and superb performances.
Amar Prem portrays a pure and selfless form of love which happens to take shape and grow in adverse situations and places.
Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest), the 1969 masterpiece by Satyajit Ray, looks at the vagaries and vicissitudes of the “new generation” then.
It is amazing how Lata Mangeshkar has for more than 70 years maintained her tremendous musical capabilities, right from 1942 till today
Kalyanji-Anandji’s music had a distinct flavor of its own. It stayed away from the so-called “inspired” takeoffs on western hits, and lent a delectable folk flavor to the songs.
Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen ushered in a new age of star-power and charisma. The why’s and how’s of their togetherness mystified an entire generation.
The man who discovered Jaya Bhaduri in Guddi, gave Amitabh Bachchan his first big break in Anand, immortalized Raj Kapoor as Anari and Rajesh Khanna as Anand, gave Dharmendra his “life’s best role” in Satyakam – he is none only than the legendary filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee.
Tapan Sinha chose stories that reflected society in all its varied colours. His speciality lay in making his images speak with masterful use of symbolism.
L&C interviews Maitreyee Bhattacharjee Chowdhury on her recent book “Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen- Bengali Cinema’s First Couple”.
After taking a close look at Citizen Kane's early scenes, a salient feature of the film's narrative strategy becomes evident: the permanent play with Hollywood conventions.
Literature and cinema have had a close relationship for decades, perhaps since the very inception of the cinematic medium. Several films that have been path-breakers in cinema have drawn their story ideas from literature. While some have kept true to the original literary work, some others have adapted the storyline to a different context while keeping the essence of the story intact.
Hindi films have built up a reservoir of stock dialogues, much like canned music. We collected a bunch of lines that crop up in every other Hindi film. We know them by heart and yet never get tired of them. Even if you are walking down the road and you hear a dialogue floating out of the window nearby and you would know exactly which scene is rolling. That's the magic of our movies!
Come, add your favourites...!
