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Movies are my passion. It is like food for me. It rejuvenates and fills a great energy inside me whenever I see a good film. I don’t remember how this passion for films developed but one thing I clearly remember that Since childhood I used to bunk classes and watch Bollywood movies at nearby cinema halls. At least one day in a week was fixed for movies. That particular day was safest day for movies because my parents had clearly no idea about school timings on Saturdays. They believed that like other government schools my school also runs full day on Saturday. But in reality those days it was for half day only. So throughout my school days I used to enjoy my movies every Saturdays without any questions. And that routine strengthened my passion which is still continued. Though my frequency of going to theater decreased over the years but watching them on DVDs or on small screen have increased many fold. Sundays have replaced Saturdays now but the enthusiasm is still st...

One quote about movies I like most is said by Richard King. He said "Movies are an art form that is very available to the masses". When we watch movies we fall in love with its story telling, cinematography, visual appeal, amazing sets, soulful music and dance, brilliant acting, craft of direction and so many things. Yes there is a lot of money involved in the production of a full length feature film. It is not only an art form but I rather say it is a commercial art where a lot of creative inputs are sourced from different departments. But does this commercial art only stand for commerce or for some sort of social responsibility? Do films talk on social issues or are they just for the entertainment sake? Because, every art form is related to social responsibility and above all movies are the mirror of the society. Films are publicly released and appreciated, enjoyed by masses. But how many carry the issues related to masses? I was going through the releases of...

Who want's to watch a   movie   with the almost same story and not so great treatment? ' Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster ' takes its name from greatest Hindi film ' Shib Biwi Aur Ghulam (1962 movie) '. There are some common points in these two films like, the rich man has a mistress and he has hardly any time for his beautiful wife, who is almost living in seclusion. There was a house help in ‘Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam’ who was faithful to the rich man and his wife. Here, director   Tigmanshu Dhulia   instead of house help mends his plot to introduce a opportunist character who develops a relationship with his master's wife. This film has used Uttar Pradesh as its milieu and tried hard to infuse local sensibilities and lingo with the huge emphasis on delivering dialogues as much loudly as the actors (Randeep hooda, Jimmy Shergill, Mahie Gill) can. This film might have worked as a good thriller but it deviates many times. Direction is not as impressi...

Iran is a free country but it seems Iranians are not free people. How can any government punish its artist with 90 lashes and one year in jail? This happened with   Marzieh Vafamehr , who starred in   My Tehran For Sale . This film was made in 2009 and also premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. It is being said that this cruel punishment was due to a scene in the film where she appeared with a shaved head and without any headscarf. Punishment of this sort raises highest concern over creative artistic freedom. 

These days I hardly get time to watch any movie and whenever I get that precious time, I try to use that moment completely and watch something very selective. Yesterday was such day and I selected Bol, a Pakistani movie to watch. It was an fulfilling experience and my selection was right. After watching 'Bol' movie, I was compelled to think whether situation of women is really that bad in Pakistan as shown in the movie or it is just a movie. One can argue over the style of making of this film, which is slow, long and a bit outdated but one can not take his/her eyes off from the matter it raises and that too convincingly. Plight of women is a major area of concern in not only Pakistan but in whole South Asia.  I recommend everyone who believes in good cinema and concern about the plight of women to watch this extremely good film, which forces you to think again and again.  Links: http://bolthemovie.com/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1891757/ http://en.wikiped...

There are many children films where they talk seriously about issues related to children, where children play protagonists and yet they do not even come close to list as children films. But they carry a tag. Very few movies celebrate childhood the way it has been celebrated in the film 'Chillar Party'. It is fun to watch as children take a stand for their issues and fight for them. Their battle is no way a heroic battle unlike our feature films but it is very much childish in nature. This film has the strength to take you to the tour of your childhood days. You will feel nostalgic and a mischievous smile will certainly come on your face.  There are many moments in the film where it slows down but within minute it picks up. It raises curiosity about what these children will do to save the orphan boy, who cleans cars in their society and his dog from a stupid politician. I loved their chaddi March and all the kids who acted in the film. This movie has cr...

Saw Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD)...good movie. A bit slow in some parts but overall is a nice film. It grows on your mind. I feel it is bit too long. It is on the line of 'Dil Chahta hai'. But DCH had great music and ZNMD lacks here. It has average music. Hritik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol were fantastic. Farhan is a bit of surprise. He should do more films...Guys go and watch it but I recommend to watch it with friends...more fun :) Photograph Courtesy:  http://zindaginamilegidobara.org

Very few films have the strength to hold and shake your thoughts as did by Nila Madhab Panda’s I Am Kalam. This excellent film is about a small boy who works on a roadside dhaba (restaurant) and desires to go to school like other school going kids. But his family’s compulsions force him to work. What is significant about this film is I Am Kalam never deviates from its track and slowly and steadily develops your curiosity. The boy Harsh Mayar who starred as lead actor Kalam is really a brilliant actor. It is one of those kind of movies which talks about a genuine issue and tells you too very simply and powerfully. Panda’s conviction to direct a movie on right to education is really commendable. I recommend this movie which reminds me of Taare Zameen Par. Both films deal with an issue. The difference here is of budget and scale. The craft of filmmaking is all about to tell the story in a simple and comprehensible manner and on this parameter I Am Kalam leaves behind Amol Gupte’s...

Last night watched 'The King's Speech. After such a long time I have seen an amazing film with an unparallel performance by Colin Firth. This is a kind of film which challenges an actor's capability to push him to extreme extent. It’s not an ordinary film and playing a difficult character of King George is not easy for any actor. I must say Colin Firth deserves huge praise and more awards for his remarkable and splendid performance. My strong recommendation to all my friends and specially those in media to not to miss this film.