‘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
I am not in the mood for a Hindu-Muslim love story after a particularly confused rendition of Edward Albee’s ‘The Zoo Story’ (1958), transposed to Mumbai, with the addition of a skullcap and the shadow of terror. I am rather tired of the imperative endless conversations, to be a Muslim or not be one, the stereotypes, the impassioned pleas not to be stereotyped, the ‘other’ … Continue reading Dil Ki Rahen (B.R.Ishara, 1973) – or love is the only solution
‘Dastak’ (Rajinder Singh Bedi, 1970) makes me think of my parents, as they must have been when they were newly married. When ‘Dastak’ came out, my parents had been married for a decade, and I was 5 years old, but the world that ‘Dastak’ is set in and that my parents inhabited had not changed much in that time, the area around Bombay Central Station, … Continue reading Dastak (1970) – or the knocks of life
***This post is a complete spoiler. So don’t read it, if you think anything could spoil the fun of ‘Agent Vinod’ (Deepak Bahry, 1977)*** So she decides to wear yellow at night, on a secret assignment. She takes photos, she gets caught, she invokes Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, willing to sacrifice her life for her nation, as did Hussain at Karbala. Her name … Continue reading Agent Vinod (Deepak Bahry, 1977) – or above all, Rehana Sultan
I was 5 when Chetna released. And yet, I have this memory of its iconic poster. The bare legs of a girl spread apart, standing on a bed. I don’t know where I remember it from. The poster apparently was a tongue in cheek rejoinder by the filmmaker to the ‘A’ certificate given to the film by the Censor Board. I saw the film only … Continue reading Chetna (B.R.Ishara, 1970) – maybe it’s ok to be lost
