‘Man Jaiye’ is a classic example of a man’s confusion about women’s rights. I’m never quite sure what B R Ishara really thinks of women. He gives them great freedom in his films, his female characters are usually strong and unapologetic about their decisions in life, and yet, they do often come to a bad end (Chetna), or at least somehow take cover in a … Continue reading Man Jaiye (B R Ishara, 1972) – or let’s play tic, tac, toe
Someone close to us passed away last week. Barely three months after his mother. Who was closer to us. To Dhanno and me. Death and funeral rites and sorrow notwithstanding, a feud rages on within the family for the small sliver of an apartment that has been home to 10 people in the last 20 years. 200 square feet. I look at the walls, blistered … Continue reading Gaman (Muzaffar Ali, 1978) – waiting for that embrace
When we entered junior college in the 80s, we were all 15, 16. Most of us had come from all-girls or all-boys schools. And for most of us, junior college was the first collision with the opposite sex apart from our families, extended families and neighbors. Poona in the 80s was a small town, divided firmly into two. The Deccan area was more traditionally Maharashtrian, … Continue reading aaya saawan jhoom ke (1969) – of monsoons and brotherly love
‘Julie‘ was released in 1975. I was 10, and definitely not allowed into an adult movie, which its poster alone loudly proclaimed it to be. But what could stop the songs from reaching us? ‘My heart is beating, keeps on repeating, I am waiting for you’ was the rage for years, helped along by its singer, Preeti Sagar appearing on Doordarshan regularly, and singing it. … Continue reading julie (1975) – that time is fleeting, time is fleeting, time is fleeting
