Category Archives: the movies
naya nasha, 1973 – smoking hot or pot?
Boredom. If Amitabh Bachchan tells you, in his on-the-cusp-of-being-successful-even-if-you-don’t-know-it-yet-since-it’s-1973 voice that Boredom is the malaise of the 70s, you believe it. Even if this boredom theory comes right after a … Continue reading
queen (2014) and a little bit of highway (2014)
Thoughts on ‘Queen’: I have always thought that it is easier to combat rape, domestic violence, or dowry deaths, than it is to get over the protectiveness that an average … Continue reading
algorithms (2013) – 4 moves in, and we are all blind
‘Algorithms‘ (2013) by Ian McDonald is a film about blind chess players in India. Ian told us that he kept a small newspaper cutting about the subject in his wallet … Continue reading
sholay in 6D
Now that ‘Sholay’ in 3D is safely behind us, and we can all forget that it ever happened, I must tell you that I met Ramesh Sippy recently. Well, actually, … Continue reading
lymphosarcoma of the intestine – Take 2
Teja got impatient. Pu explained patiently that I needed antibiotics. Dhanno said in her mildly sarcastic way, “Mom, doctors exist, medicines exist, there is science, there are cures.” I finally … Continue reading
of plum cakes and albela (1951)
There are days when you have a lunch and a dinner date. And days when you feel locked-in in your suburban apartment, looking out at the traffic on the highway, … Continue reading
ramleela (2013) – of dead peacocks
This is a guest post by Dhanno. I am thinking about how the films of yesterday and that of today have any connection. There is a sudden shift in the … Continue reading
growing up with the movies
I grew up around Liberty, Novelty, Minerva, Maratha Mandir and Metro. Those were the nicer theaters, we went to every once in a while. The ones with lovely balconies, red … Continue reading
phata poster nikhla hero (2013) – twinkle, twinkle, little star
These days when Dhanno summons us to spend some time with her, we go, even if it means driving back from Bandra after 3 hours with the CA and dreadful … Continue reading
madras cafe (2013) – i need some more heart
Pu and I have more coffee after ‘Madras Cafe‘ but that still does not help us to understand what the film is all about. Both of us at some point … Continue reading
the real deal about that thingy
The word ‘peri-menopausal’ jumps out at me a lot these days. All the doctors I have happened to meet in the last 2 years, usually family friends, or family, or … Continue reading
are these your dream girls?
Woman 1 looks admiringly at the men around her, con-men/police/politicians, and says, “The real work is being done by these people. We are only getting …” The audience sniggers. Woman … Continue reading
jab tak hain jaan (2012) – you look just the same
The Khan trio by dint of fate are born in the same year as me. For that reason alone, I’ve watched their failures and successes with a sense of camaraderie, … Continue reading
english vinglish (2012) – the unstoppable woman
Dhanno and I saw ‘English Vinglish’ (directed by Gauri Shinde) at a trial show early this week. Dhanno thought we were going to a premiere. The difference between a trial … Continue reading
heroine – in the quicksand of glamour
Dhanno keeps repeating incredulously, “This movie is a spoof of itself. When they make a spoof of this, it will be the actual film.” Shy keeps nudging me, and guffawing. … Continue reading
