An overview of  15 important cinema related programs (In conversation, Masterclasses and Panel discussions) to be organized during 55th International Film Festival of India IFFI Goa 2024 by film critic Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI) dated 14.11.2024     At film festivals, cinéphiles gain invaluable insights from conversations, masterclasses, and panel discussions that deepen their understanding of cinema. These events provide them unfettered access to filmmakers, critics, and...

IFFI 2024, 08: Hounouring icons, late ANR, Tapan Sinha, Mohammed Rafi and RAJ KAPOOR Doyens and maestros, late Raj Kapoor, Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), Mohammed Rafi and Tapan Sinha will be honoured with the centenary tribute, in the 100th year of their birthday at 55th IFFI. The IFFI gala in Goa will celebrate cinematic legends by presenting restored versions of their classic films, throughout its nine-day event. The festival’s opening ceremony on November 20 will pay tribute to these...

SCO Film Festival: India to host, festival begins tomorrow In a first-of-its-kind event, the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO)’s film festival opens tomorrow in Mumbai. This is part of the initiatives taken by India after assuming Presidency of SCO. A total of 55 films will be screened during the festival, at two venues: the Films Division Complex, Peddar Road, and Nehru Centre. Proceedings will be kicked-off at an inaugural function, to be held at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, Nat...

Hachette’s The Bollywood Pocket Book Series, A 4-in-1 Set, by Diptakirti Chauduri: Get set Yes, it’s a pun. I mean you should get the set, buy the book, or rather, books. They look deceptively thin when ensconced in the hardcover box, but provide a substantial reading once you pull them out. Book one is about Iconic Dates, with Raj Kapoor and Nargis on the cover, under an umbrella. The author reminds us about the calendar of events that begin with Raja Harishchandra’s releas...

IFFI 51, 16-24 January 2021, 20: Rahul Rawail retraces Hindi film history, ‘In-Conversation’, online The 1970s saw influx of new ideas, new experiments and a new genre of action films in Hindi cinema. Those were also the golden years for unconventional films and emergence of new techniques, said acclaimed film-maker Rahul Rawail, in an online ‘In-Conversation’ session on “Film-making in 50s, 60s and 70s”, at the 51st International Film Festival of India (I...

MFF 21 Movie Mela, III: Kareena Kapoor-Khan, Alia Bhatt and Karan Johar in Big Talk Kareena Kapoor Khan and Alia Bhatt discussed their favourite roles, film icons and handling success, with producer director and itinerant actor Karan Johar at the Jio MAMI Movie Mela with Star 2019, held on 13 October 2019 at the Rang Mandir, Bandra, Mumbai. This was the last session of the ‘feast/fest’. The Rapid-Fire session witnessed a surprising twist from close friend, young actor Varun Dhawan...

Shashi Kapoors don’t die: Part II The second and concluding part of a personal tribute to the great man. It has not come soon, as you might have expected. My apologies. Too much was happening. But here we are, talking about a good actor and a great human being. Shashi Kapoor still lives. In his day, was a star. And like many in the media, he loved good music. So, my friends and I were not really surprised to spot him leaving the hall after a Runa Laila live performance at Birla Matush...

Shashi Kapoors don’t die: Part I Showbiz is often cruel, usually ruthless. It takes so many factors to make it as an actor, luck or lineage included. Then, you need to stay on, weather flops and hits, and keep grabbing opportunities, in the hope that the next one will do it for you. Son of Prithviraj Kapoor, Balbir (Shashi) Raj Kapoor had done his bit of drama at his Papajee’s Prithvi Theatre, like his two older brothers (Ranbir) Raj Kapoor and Shamsher (Shammi) Raj Kapoor. They h...

Siraj Syed reviews Anaarkali of Arrah: Item girl--“Spite ’em girl, Bite ’em girl” Ten minutes into this loud and raw film, you know you will root for the protagonist, an item girl plying her art in Arrah, a small town in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. An item girl is a woman who wears garish costumes, sings, dances, cavorts, titillates and tantalises on stage, to a public, sing-along audience, that joins her full-of-double-entendre lyrics, lusts after her and drool...

Siraj Syed reviews Biddu’s autobiography, Made in India: Lone Trojan’s Adventures of a Lifetime That life-time has now seen 72 summers. Karnataka-born world musician Biddu Appaiah, with Coorgi nativity, has chased his recent summers from London, to Spain, to Mumbai to Goa, every year. For one who strongly believes that musicians should retire at 65, including greats like Paul McCartney, he has just about lived up to his conviction. The only creative work he has done in the last se...