http://www.boloji.com Boloji is the world's biggest Articles Database. en-us Sat, 09 May 2026 12:49:46 -0500 Sat, 09 May 2026 12:49:46 -0500 http://www.boloji.com/feed/cinema-rss.xml Boloji rk@boloji.net (Boloji) ideas@ekant.com (Ekant Solutions)https://www.boloji.com/articles/55354/a-requiem-to-inimitable-ashajiSo, the other popular voice of the Mangeshkar family had gone silent. Asha differed from her ‘didi’ Lata in many aspects. Asha created a world of her own where none can enter, copy or imitate.Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/55354/a-requiem-to-inimitable-ashajihttps://www.boloji.com/articles/55310/dhurandhar-2Dhurandhar 2 is a high-octane action thriller that bursts onto the screen with breathtaking intensity. The hero, Dhurandhar, is fearless and determined, his every move precise and powerful, like a storm that cannot be stopped. Explosions light up the skyline, while intense chase sequences and jaw-dropping stunts keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The film is filled with moments of courage, sacrifice, and emotional depth, showing that heroism comes not only from strength but also from loyalty and heart. The music, the cinematography, and the dialogues combine to create a cinematic experience that is larger than life ” thrilling, dramatic, and unforgettable. Every scene pulses with energy, making Dhurandhar 2 not just a movie, but a rollercoaster of emotions and adventure.Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/55310/dhurandhar-2https://www.boloji.com/articles/55271/the-tale-of-silences-running-on-the-tracksHuman beings need other human beings. Even if it is not love, even if it is not kinship”a touch of friendship, a meaningful word, or even a shared sigh during a metro journey can sometimes give life the courage to begin again.Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/55271/the-tale-of-silences-running-on-the-trackshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/55256/pan-india-cinema-acting-elegance-and-ethicsPan-India status suggest that Indians are keen cine goers and film industry is well developed in India with more popular Hindi (Bollywood) and South Indian cinema with mass appeal as well as regional cinema in almost all regions/states of India. While acting and Box Office success largely dictate mass appeal and commercial aspects but two additional attributes of elegance and ethics really make a "complete actor and celebrity". In this author's opinion, among the working actors Pan-India, the best male actor is veteran Mohanlal and the best female actor is young Sai Pallavi.Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:11:48 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/55256/pan-india-cinema-acting-elegance-and-ethicshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/55200/taskaree-the-smugglers-webNail-biting thrillers have become a common feature of all OTT platforms. Some are really engaging and make the viewer sit on the edge of the seat to keenly watch the twists, turns and developments, while many turn damp even after a couple of episodes.Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/55200/taskaree-the-smugglers-webhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/55198/haq-a-right-does-not-reside-in-law-booksThe case of Ahmed Khan vs. Shah Bano Begum stands as a landmark in Indian judicial history. Drawing upon this case and related real-life events, the film Haq was made now available on Netflix. At its core lies the life of Shah Bano Begum, a 62-year-old woman from Indore, who approaches the court seeking maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). This secular provision was enacted to prevent divorced women from slipping into destitution. After being divorced through triple talaq under Islamic law, she invokes this section to claim her right to survival.Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/55198/haq-a-right-does-not-reside-in-law-bookshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/55142/short-filmIn the vast ocean of cinema as an art form, the short film may appear to be only a small wave. Yet its impact is often graceful, startling, and profoundly deep. Where a conventional feature film requires grand sets, hours of screen time, and an abundance of dialogue to tell a story, the short film achieves resonance through brevity. Within a limited duration and with minimal words, it communicates layered emotions with remarkable intensity.Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/55142/short-filmhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/55111/dharmendra-the-hi-man-posterA moving image on a screen has its own irresistible charm — a distinct kind of glamour. In our country, whether it is cinema or cricket, there is always a mysterious kind of obsession. Ideally, a film should be about its story and the art of telling it. But over the decades, “cinema” slowly became synonymous with the hero. Today, most people go to theatres simply to watch a star.Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/55111/dharmendra-the-hi-man-posterhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/55110/homeboundOnce, there was a poignant complaint that popular director Satyajit Ray made films which exhibited the miserable poverty of India and won awards in foreign film festivals and also laurels within the country.  Today, we are thoroughly and excessively fed with escapist movies, even the social messages like caste, creed and religion are camouflaged with less to heavy dosages of spices, though all of them don’t hit the jackpot of success or win awards. Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/55110/homeboundhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/55093/a-distinct-voice-of-cinema-from-north-east-indiaIn the grand history of Indian cinema, films emerging from the North-Eastern states form not just a regional or subsidiary stream, but a distinct voice. Their creative expression whether in cinema, poetry, stories, or music has always stood apart. This uniqueness stems from their deep oneness with nature. The mighty Brahmaputra River itself has been an enduring source of inspiration to many artists. The region gave India great creators like Bhupen Hazarika, whose works embody both artistic brilliance and social depth.Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/55093/a-distinct-voice-of-cinema-from-north-east-indiahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54997/a-film-hub-is-the-nerve-center-of-the-film-industryThe government has been announcing that it will turn Hyderabad into an international film hub. The goal is noble and worth aspiring for. But a film hub cannot come into existence merely by giving awards to filmmakers, by granting permissions for shootings, or by allowing higher ticket rates and more shows. Nor will the establishment of a government website for film permissions automatically create a hub.Sat, 04 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54997/a-film-hub-is-the-nerve-center-of-the-film-industryhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54994/jolly-llb-3-courtroom-chaos-has-never-been-this-funny-or-this-realJolly LLB 3 is a courtroom dramedy with Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi, and Saurabh Shukla that mixes sharp humor, emotions, and a strong social message.Sat, 04 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54994/jolly-llb-3-courtroom-chaos-has-never-been-this-funny-or-this-realhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54964/film-societies--on-the-brink-of-extinctionThere was once a time when, along with literature, cinema too was considered a powerful medium of social transformation. It was not merely viewed as entertainment or commerce, but as a force capable of social awakening. Thinkers and cultural activists formed film societies, dedicating decades of effort without profit, driven solely by passion. But today, the words society, collective, and community have all but vanished from public discourse. They’ve become rare, almost quaint. The era when like-minded individuals formed groups to foster social awareness is now gone. Working selflessly without personal gain has become a rarity.Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54964/film-societies--on-the-brink-of-extinctionhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54957/problem-of-paaniI watched the Hindi version of Adinath Kothare’s Marathi movie ‘Paani’ on Amazon Prime. Another reason for my selection is, the film had bagged 6 Filmfare Awards for various areas, from the Director, Actor, Writer to music. Notwithstanding, the film seemed to have garnered awards from The National Film Award 2024 and The New York Indian Film Festival (2024). Sat, 06 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54957/problem-of-paanihttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54928/sober-starts-to-sordid-savageryI have been wondering for quite some time that films in general, and Tamil movies more specifically, with big star names are degenerating from bad to worse. There are two simple and significant reasons. The focus is mainly on the so-called ‘box office’ and ‘star value’ and, well, ‘a lot of ACTION’. Sat, 16 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54928/sober-starts-to-sordid-savageryhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54914/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-44Khandan, directed by A Bhimsingh and starring Sunil Dutt, Nutan, Om Prakash, Lalita Pawar, and Pran, is the remake of Bhimsingh’s Tamil film Bhaaga Pirivinai, also remade earlier in Telugu as Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu. Sunil Dutt plays a physically disabled person who wants to live a normal life. The story, about relationships in a rural family, follows the tested South Indian formula prevalent at the time, with stock characters, melodrama, mushy sentimentality, and good songs. Sunil Dutt, Nutan, Lalita Pawar, and Pran gave very good performances. Ravi’s music won him the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director in 1966, and Rajinder Krishan and Lata Mangeshkar won Awards for Best Lyricist and Best Singer, respectively, for Tumhi meri mandir tumhi meri puja.Sat, 02 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54914/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-44https://www.boloji.com/articles/54893/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-43Guru Dutt launched Baharen Phir Bhi Ayengi in 1961 with himself in the lead and SD Burman as music director. The film, written by Abrar Alvi and directed by Shaheed Lateef, relates the story of a love triangle involving two sisters, the elder of whom is the hero’s employer. It is an adaptation of New Theatres KL Saigal’s film President (1937), directed by Nitin Bose. KL Saigal’s songs Ek Raja ka beta lekar udne wala ghoda and Ek bangla bane nyara from President are among my favourites.Sat, 02 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54893/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-43https://www.boloji.com/articles/54888/saroja-devi-a-unique-melangeYet another unique chapter of Tamil cinema has come to an end. Though professionally long back, her mortal life came to an end today (14th July, 2025). Saroja Devi.Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54888/saroja-devi-a-unique-melangehttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54872/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-42Aasman Mahal, produced and directed by KA Abbas from a script by Inder Raj Anand, is the story of an aging Nawab (Prithviraj Kapoor) in post independence India, whose ancestors have left him with debts, the ownership of a palace called Aasman Mahal, and the burden of maintaining the family’s prestige even in his impoverished state. Offered the choice of selling the palace for the buyer to convert it into a hotel, or of migrating to Pakistan where, he is told, he will be welcomed with open arms, he rejects both offers in the vain hope of finding the money to clear his debts.Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54872/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-42https://www.boloji.com/articles/54850/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-41In the mid sixties The Hindi film industry became poorer by the loss of three of its best producers, Mehboob Khan, Bimal Roy, and Guru Dutt; veteran actor Motilal; two of the most successful actresses, Geeta Bali and Madhubala; Qawwali specialist music director Roshan; and one of the best lyricists in Hindi films, Shailendra. Anil Biswas, the Bhishma Pitamah of Hindi film music, quit the industry, preferring to join the All India Radio. Manoj Kumar joined the ranks of producers, and new entrants with a bright future appeared on the wings.Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54850/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-41https://www.boloji.com/articles/54833/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-40K. Shankar’s Raj Kumar, written by Ramanand Sagar, and Shakti Samanta’s Kashmir Ki Kali were tailor-made for Shammi Kapoor’s acting style. Raj Kumar was a costume drama starring Sadhana as the heroine, while Kashmir Ki Kali was set in Kashmir, marking Sharmila Tagore's debut in Hindi films. Shankar Jaikishan in Raj Kumar and OP Nayyar in Kashmir ki kali regaled us with some memorable songs like Mohammed Rafi’s Tumne kisi ki jaan ko jaate huwe dekha hai and Is rang badalti duniya mein and the Mohammed Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur’s duet Tumne pukara aur hum chale aaye from Raj Kumar, and Mohammed Rafi’s solos, Kisi na kisi se kabhi na kabhi, Taarif karoon kya uski, Subhanallah haseen chehra, Hai duniya usiki zamana usika, Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhonsle’s duets Isharon isharon mein dil lenewale and Deewana hua badal, from Kashmir ki kali lifted these two films to the fifth and sixth highest grossing films of 1964.Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54833/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-40https://www.boloji.com/articles/54812/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-39Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke was based on a scandal that rocked the nation in 1959. Commander K M Nanavati, a naval officer, lived in Bombay with Sylvia, his English-born wife, and their three children. During Nanavati’s frequent and long absences on assignments, Sylvia got involved with Prem Ahuja, a close friend of the Nanavatis. Ahuja promised to marry her if she divorced Nanavati, but she discovered that he was a rake. Unsure of Prem's intention to marry her, Sylvia confessed the affair to her husband when Nanavati returned home from one of his assignments.Sat, 07 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54812/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-39https://www.boloji.com/articles/54787/a-saga-of-survivalBlessy’s Malayalam masterpiece The Goat Life (2024),is based on true events. With stunning visuals of the Arabian deserts and gripping narrative, the film is sure to touch the cords of the viewers’ hearts. Adapted from the eponymous Malayalam novel by Benyamin, the film is an epic tale of survival of Najeeb (Sun, 11 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54787/a-saga-of-survivalhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54780/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-38Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Sanjh Aur Savera, starring Meena Kumari, Guru Dutt, and Mehmood in the main roles, relates the story of an orphan’s travails in her attempt to help her foster father. When the latter’s newly married daughter absconds, she takes her place to prevent her foster father from committing suicide. Meena Kumari carries the narrative with her performance. Guru Dutt’s role, in what was to be his last film, does not give him much scope for histrionics. The surprise package is Mehmood in a serious role, with no horsing around.Sat, 24 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54780/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-38https://www.boloji.com/articles/54759/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-37Sangam was Raj Kapoor’s colour magnum opus, starring Raj Kapoor, Vyjayantimala, and Rajendra Kumar in a love triangle of three friends growing up together. Two of them, Radha (Vyjayantimala) and Gopal (Rajendra Kumar), who are rich, grow up loving each other but restrain themselves, but the other boy, Sunder (Raj Kapoor), oblivious of their feelings, openly declares his love for the girl. Their bond of friendship is so strong that the other two humour him to avoid hurting him. Their mutual feelings are eloquently expressed in the song Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega Woh Gana Gayega.Sat, 10 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54759/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-37https://www.boloji.com/articles/54734/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-36By 1960 I had picked up enough Bengali to enjoy Bengali films. Apart from Pather Panchali and Kabuliwala, which I watched soon after arriving in Calcutta in 1957, I saw Satyajit Ray’s Aparajito, Jalsaghar, Apur Sansar, and Devi. Later I saw Debaki Bose's Sagar Sangamey which won the National Award for Best Bengali Film in 1959. In Rabindranath Tagore’s centenary year, 1961, I watched Satyajit Ray’s Teen Kanya and Tapan Sinha’s Kshudita Pashan, and in 1962, Satyajit Ray’s Kanchenjunga.Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54734/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-36https://www.boloji.com/articles/54715/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-35Shammi Kapoor continued to revel in his newfound avatar of a singing, prancing lover, inventing his own moves to the beats of the songs, which were often composed to his dictates. We soon got tired of watching his jerky gyrations and over-the-board serenading and gave low priority to watching his films. During this period, he had several hits, Junglee, Professor, Dil Tera Diwana, China Town, and Boy Friend.Sat, 05 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54715/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-35https://www.boloji.com/articles/54701/be-happy--with-lots-of-tearsThe freedom of expression and room for all has its advantages and drawbacks. If one could find one out of ten (I am erring on the higher side!) worthy, the rest nines are packed with either uncalled for fights, violence, raw sex, crude comedy, despicable criminal acts and above all the highest quotient of absurdity with emotions rolled out with treacle.Sat, 15 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54701/be-happy--with-lots-of-tearshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54693/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-34Continuation of the narrative of my association with films and film songsSat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54693/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-34https://www.boloji.com/articles/54671/accidentJean-Luc Godard once remarked, “I pity the French cinema because it has no money. I pity the American cinema because it has no ideas.” This quote came to mind while watching 'Accident (2012)', a Bengali film directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee. While Bengali cinema occasionally delivers commendable works, it often struggles to find a wide audience. Meanwhile, several other Indian film industries thrive despite producing largely formulaic content.Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54671/accidenthttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54670/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-33Prem Patra, starring Sadhna and Shashi Kapoor, is about a doctor who is in love with a college mate, but the romance is soured by a misunderstanding. He aspires to go abroad and is forced to get engaged to the daughter of the person who advances funds for his expenses. His betrothed is interested in someone else and, when she gets a letter from her fiancé, she asks the doctor’s beloved, who happens to be her cousin, to reply. While the love letters revive the romance, with the hero assuming that he is writing to his betrothed, a lab accident deprives him of his sight.Sat, 08 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54670/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-33https://www.boloji.com/articles/54653/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-32Gunga Jumna, directed by Nitin Bose was written and produced by Dilip Kumar, who played the leading role and ghost-directed and edited the film. Vyjayantimala shared the lead with Dilip Kumar and his brother Nasir Khan. Gunga Jumna tells the story of Ganga, a villager who becomes a dacoit after being falsely accused of theft, and his brother Jumna, who becomes a police officer. The film, in Technicolor, with dialogues in the Awadhi dialect, recreates the rural environment admirably. Music director Naushad composed songs with Avadhi lyrics. It was one of the most successful Indian films. Critics praised its story, screenplay, direction, cinematography, music, and the lead actors' performances. Lata Mangeshkar’s solos, Dhundo dhundo re sajna, Do hanson ka joda, Dagabaaz tori batiyan, and Jhanan ghunghar baje Mohammed Rafi’s Nain lad jaihe tho were mega hits along with Insaf ki dagar se, one of the few songs sung by Hemant Kumar for Naushad.Sat, 15 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54653/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-32https://www.boloji.com/articles/54637/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-31Barsaat Ki Raat was a musical romance that became the second-highest grosser in 1960 behind the record-breaking Mughal-e-Azam. Directed by PL Santoshi, its mainstay was the music of Roshan and the lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi particularly in the qawwalis for which the film stands out as a benchmark. P L Santoshi, was a veteran writer, lyricist, and director who debuted as director in 1946 with Prabhat Films Hum Ek Hain, which was also the debut of Dev Anand, Rehana, and Rehman as actors, and Guru Dutt as Assistant Director. He had many hits to his credit, including Khidki (1948), Sargam (1950), and Hum Panchhi Ek Dal Ke (1957) which won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film.Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54637/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-31https://www.boloji.com/articles/54616/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-30Continuing the narration of my association with films and film songs Sat, 18 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54616/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-30https://www.boloji.com/articles/54601/boys-will-be-boysI fully endorse the fact that films are fictional and a make-believe world. Any hero of the movie always looks larger than life; he does everything not only from showering love and affection to his family but also to the public at large who are in distress. He hates affluence but sings duets in foreign or exotic locales because of the rich heroine or his ‘intelligent’ cerebrum.Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54601/boys-will-be-boyshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54597/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-29Vyjayantimala established herself as an effective emotional actress, apart from a dancing star who could perform Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Bhangra, and Western dances with equal ease. In this period, she acted in as many as 21 Hindi films, opposite all the top stars in Hindi films and under the top directors of the time. In Vijay Bhatt's Patrani, Vyjayantimala starred opposite Pradeep Kumar. Based on a true story, it is about a king who falls in love with a princess after seeing her portrait and marries her in the traditional Rajput style of sending his sword as a proxy. But he rejects her when he sees her and finds that she is dark-hued. Despite a good theme and some good music by Shankar Jaikishan, the film did not do well. Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54597/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-29https://www.boloji.com/articles/54581/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-28Do Ankhen Bara Haath is the story of an idealistic jailer who believes that even hard-core criminals can be reformed. To prove his thesis, he picks up six prisoners undergoing life imprisonment for heinous crimes. He succeeds in reforming them despite opposition from his immediate superior, sacrificing his life in the process.Sat, 14 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54581/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-28https://www.boloji.com/articles/54559/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-27Apart from Chori Chori, AVM had three successful films in succession, Bhai-Bhai, Miss Mary, and Bhabhi. Directed by MV Raman, Bhai-Bhai was a family drama starring Ashok Kumar and Kishore Kumar as brothers, along with Nirupa Roy, Shyama, Nimmi, and Om Prakash. The film showed Kishore Kumar maturing as an actor. Most people remember Ae dil mujhe batade sung by Geeta Dutt from the film, but music director Madan Mohan earned fame for his classical-based composition, Qadar jani na, sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Speaking to Amin Sayani, ghazal queen Begum Akhtar recalled that when she heard Qadar jani na in Lucknow, she was so impressed that she made a trunk call to Madan Mohan in Mumbai, and she and her companions spoke to the music director for over 20 minutes, during which Madan Mohan sang the song to each of them. There were no speakerphones in those days, and trunk calls were expensive.Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54559/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-27https://www.boloji.com/articles/54557/the-ghazi-attack-a-riveting-submarine-war-dramaSet against the backdrop of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, The Ghazi Attack is a gripping underwater war drama that sheds light on an unsung chapter of Indian naval history. The film follows the Indian submarine S21, led by Captain Ranvijay Singh (Kay Kay Menon), Lt. Commander Arjun Varma (Rana Daggubati), and Executive Officer Devraj (Atul Kulkarni). Their mission: to intercept and prevent the Pakistani submarine PNS Ghazi from launching a surprise attack on India's eastern coast.As tensions rise beneath the ocean's surface, the crew must navigate through complex strategic decisions, internal conflicts, and the ever-present threat of enemy retaliation. The film masterfully captures the claustrophobic environment of a submarine, underscoring the courage and determination of those who served in the shadows to protect the nation.Sat, 16 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54557/the-ghazi-attack-a-riveting-submarine-war-dramahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54540/meyyazhagan-a-bromantic-fairy-taleAmid the bedlam, action, blood, gore, and violence in Tamil movies,  ‘Meyyazhagan’ treads a different path. It fully banks on emotions, on many occasions realistic to exaggerated. Further, please remember that the major aspect of this two-and-a-half-hour-long movie is completely devoid of action, blood, violence, and, ahem, even romance but ‘bromance’. Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54540/meyyazhagan-a-bromantic-fairy-talehttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54538/khonikor-ramdhenuSat, 02 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54538/khonikor-ramdhenuhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54534/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-26Continuing narration of my association with films and film songs. More about films of the second half of the 1950sSat, 16 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54534/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-26https://www.boloji.com/articles/54518/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-25The latter half of the 1950s brought changes in my life that considerably reduced the frequency of watching films. In 1956 and 1957, I remained engrossed in preparing for the competitive examinations. Following my selection for the Indian Railway Traffic Service, I moved to Kolkata, towards the end of 1957. For the next two years, my training took me to many places, big and small. Towards the end of 1959, I got posted in Howrah Division of Eastern Railway and began to live in the railway colony in Liluah. By this time, I had a family. Watching films became selective, often dictated by what was on show, and what was accessible. Through all this, I watched several popular movies of the time in Nagpur and Jabalpur before moving to Kolkata, some wherever I happened to be during my training, and others only later, in re-runs.Sat, 26 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54518/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-25https://www.boloji.com/articles/54517/visualized-with-a-different-visionFilms, songs, and duets are inseparable. The concept of love is always analyzed and presented in different styles and manners. I get curious when some duets stand out because of their uniqueness in concept and visualization. Surprisingly that adds immense value to the song and the scene of course. Sat, 12 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54517/visualized-with-a-different-visionhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54474/melody-of-different-genres-kalyanji-anandjiSat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54474/melody-of-different-genres-kalyanji-anandjihttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54473/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-24Among the top-grossing films of 1955, there were four starring Dilip Kumar including one in which Dev Anand co-starred with him. Mass entertainers Azad and Uran Khatola were very successful. Gemini’s Insaniyat was less popular. In tragic roles in the last two films, Dilip Kumar acted with his usual panache. In Azad, Dilip Kumar found scope for his talent for comedy, and he utilized it so well that he won his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 1955. Devdas, released in late December of the same year, qualified for the award only in 1956 and Dilip Kumar bagged his third Best Actor Award from Filmfare.Sat, 12 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54473/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-24https://www.boloji.com/articles/54458/the-real-hero-or-heroine-of-a-filmSat, 07 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54458/the-real-hero-or-heroine-of-a-filmhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54456/three-of-us-in-all-of-usThe genre of film has become inseparable from the life of an ordinary human being. The world of films endows one with a world of varied shades in shards. Some flicks don’t leave us even after we leave the platforms of celluloid miracles. Some haunt us, some grip us, some move us, some exemplify us, and some make us ponder over the leitmotifs for long. It does not matter whether the film has hit the box office or whether it has been nominated for awards, but the quality and the timelessness of the theme do matter!Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54456/three-of-us-in-all-of-ushttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54441/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-23Continuing narration of my association with films and film songs. Some iconic films of 1955Raj Kapoor's Shree 420 was a runaway success. It became the highest-grossing film until then, earning almost twice as much as the next. It also established Raj Kapoor as a filmmaker with a distinct style. Like several films produced in this period, Shree 420 reflected the aspirations, trials, and tribulations of the youth of newly independent India struggling to find its feet in the comity of nations. With an imaginative story and screenplay by Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, Raj Kapoor took a dig, in his inimitable way, at the system that forced an idealistic young man to abandon the path of truth, symbolized by the heroine (Nargis), aptly named Vidya, to embrace the path of deceit, symbolized by the vamp (Nadira), aptly named Maya, with disastrous results to his relationships.Sat, 14 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54441/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-23https://www.boloji.com/articles/54427/songs-and-their-specialtyThere was a time when in films I mean both in Tamil and Hindi there would be a lot of situational songs. It would not be there just for the sake of entertainment but also for reflecting the mood and aiding the narration by the writer and director. There were songs which are either philosophical, preachy, or just for expressing happiness. Sat, 17 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54427/songs-and-their-specialtyhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54419/a-serious-surpriseI watched the Malayalam film ‘Ullozhukku’ (meaning Undercurrent) with a sort of skepticism. A completely women-centric story the movie is strongly set on the emotional turmoil of two women protagonists one old and the other young. Sat, 10 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54419/a-serious-surprisehttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54393/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-22For lovers of Hindi film songs, the year 1955 provided a bonanza. The leading music directors, Naushad (Uran Khatola), C Ramchandra (Azad, Insaniyat, Yasmin), SD Burman (Munimji, Devdas, House No. 44), Shankar Jaikishen (Sri 420, Seema) contributed their best to create some of the most memorable tunes of all time. They were ably supported by the younger lot, Salil Chowdhary (Amaanat, Tongawali), OP Nayyar (Mr & Mrs 1955), Madan Mohan (Railway Platform), Vasant Desai (Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje). Veterans, Husnlal Bhagatram (Adl-e-Jahangir), Ghulam Mohammed (Kundan), and Sajjad (Rukhsana) added their flavours, and newcomers Nashad (Baradari), Jaidev (Joru ka Bhai) and Ravi (Vachan) made their presence felt.Sat, 24 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54393/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-22https://www.boloji.com/articles/54381/srikanth-yet-another-inspirational-biopicSo, we now have ‘Srikanth’, the rags to riches (literally and figuratively) life of Srikanth Bolla an awesome successful but blind man. In such biographies one cannot expect too many turns or twists or romance, but melodrama. Luckily director Tushar Hiranandani eschewed the theatrics to a great extent which needs special appreciation.Sat, 13 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54381/srikanth-yet-another-inspirational-biopichttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54354/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-21 One evening in Bombay in 1954, passenger taxis were scarce. No, the taxi drivers were not on strike. Most of the taxis were parked outside a prominent cinema hall as their drivers watched a film about one of their ilk. An old friend of Dev Anand suggested to him that after the success of his role in Baazi, the role of a taxi driver would suit his image. Dev Anand’s elder brother Chetan Anand took charge of the project with a story developed by his wife Uma along with his youngest brother Vijay Anand, who was then a teenage student active in dramatics. Vijay also wrote the dialogues for the film christened Taxi Driver. “City of Bombay” is credited among the key protagonists of the film as the taxi travels across its famous landmarks.Sat, 20 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54354/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-21https://www.boloji.com/articles/54331/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-20Continuing narration of my association with films and film songsSat, 15 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54331/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-20https://www.boloji.com/articles/54318/a-parade-of-pleasant-characters-laapata-ladiesI would be doing an injustice if I failed to write something very positive about the recent Hindi movie I watched after a couple of two-line positive comments from my friends. I was completely blank about the story, actors, and direction. The film is ‘Laapata Ladies.’ (Netflix)Sat, 18 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54318/a-parade-of-pleasant-characters-laapata-ladieshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54317/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-19Continuing narration of my association with films and film songs Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54317/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-19https://www.boloji.com/articles/54314/sanity-in-entertainment-a-rare-commodityI have been watching if not all, some of the present gen Hindi and Tamil movies once in a way to while away my leisure. Barring a few, most of them are either positively stupid or nauseatingly grotesque.Sat, 18 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54314/sanity-in-entertainment-a-rare-commodityhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54301/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-18When I try to remember the personalities from English movies of the 1950s, I first recall, with sadness, those who left us too soon, for one reason or another. Star Crossed Stars Marilyn MonroeSat, 18 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54301/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-18https://www.boloji.com/articles/54280/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-17Roman Holiday relates the story of a European princess on an official tour of Rome, who craves freedom from the stifling rules of protocol and behaviour binding her and wants to see Rome on her own. Two of the people involved in the production of Roman Holiday were on the Hollywood blacklist mentioned earlier. Dalton Trumbo, who wrote the script along with John Dighton did not receive credit for his work and director Bernard Vorhaus worked on the film as an assistant director under a pseudonym.Sat, 04 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54280/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-17https://www.boloji.com/articles/54270/madan-mohan-the-destiny-decides-the-lifeSun, 14 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54270/madan-mohan-the-destiny-decides-the-lifehttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54262/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-16Viva Zapata! was a film about Emiliano Zapata, a revolutionary who led the fight to restore land taken from common people by the Mexican dictatorship. Based on a script by Nobel laureate John Steinbeck, the film starred Marlon Brando in the title role and Anthony Quinn in an Academy Award-winning supporting role.Sat, 20 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54262/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-16https://www.boloji.com/articles/54241/lingering-melodies-by-music-director-roshanSat, 23 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54241/lingering-melodies-by-music-director-roshanhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54240/gemini-studios--once-a-giantWhenever I travel around the so-called Anna Flyover at the entry point of Mount Road (Anna Salai) I cannot but recall those two bugle-blowing tiny boys at the top of the corner building once with a huge compound wall. It was the entrance of the famous Gemini Studios from the day I was a schoolboy. Sat, 23 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54240/gemini-studios--once-a-gianthttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54233/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-15There was much to commend in An American in Paris. Gene Kelly’s choreography and dancing, debutante French dancer Leslie Caron matching Gene Kelly step to step, the music and the locales were all exemplary. For me, the most memorable sequence was filmed on Oscar Levant, American concert pianist, composer, conductor, and actor, in the role of a jobless pianist struggling for a break. Levant daydreams about performing in an auditorium. As the scene unfolds, we see the conductor, the musicians and finally the audience, shouting Encore, Bravo etc., all in the likeness of Levant!Sat, 06 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54233/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-15https://www.boloji.com/articles/54210/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-14We began watching English movies in 1949, mostly in morning shows. In the beginning we watched adventure and swashbuckling movies but switched to classics like Random Harvest, Captains Courageous, Lost Horizon, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. We also began reading English movie magazines like the British Picturegoer and the American Photoplay. By 1953, we were watching English films regularly. In the locality in which I lived most cinema halls showed Hindi and Marathi films.Sat, 16 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54210/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-14https://www.boloji.com/articles/54209/a-song-on-letterThat is one song still in my memory. The film, the scene, the song, the lyrics, the tune, and the singer.  Chitthi aayi hai the song from the 1986 movie Naam turned out to be a runaway hit during that period.Sat, 02 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54209/a-song-on-letterhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54173/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-13Raj Kapoor had a big setback in 1953 when RK Films Aah came a cropper at the box office. It was released in March 1953 with the usual fanfare expecting another superhit like Barsaat and Awara. In Nagpur, it was released simultaneously in three halls, Liberty, Regent and Narsing, with the hope of enjoying a combined silver jubilee in under four weeks but it was withdrawn from the halls three days later for want of viewers!! It was the same all over the country. The songs caught up, however, and, seeing a ray of hope, Raj Kapoor got the film dubbed as Avan (him) in Tamil and Prema Lekhalu (love letters) in Telugu. They made moderate business. The movie did well in re-runs post the success of Raj Kapoor's subsequent films. The songs continue to remain unforgettable.Sat, 02 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54173/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-13https://www.boloji.com/articles/54142/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-12Continuing the narrative of my association with films and film music Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54142/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-12https://www.boloji.com/articles/54126/twelfth-fail-not-exactlyAccidentally, I watched yet another movie on ambition and how it is achieved story which has been narrated in an absolutely opposite way, no glamor, no richness, no skin show, no pomp, no luxury no impossible professions or glamour. It is said to be the story based on the book ‘12th Fail’ by Anurag Pathak, a real-life story of Manoj Kumar Sharma, IPS.Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54126/twelfth-fail-not-exactlyhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54123/kho-gaye-hum-kahan-a-scary-tale-of-new-genSat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54123/kho-gaye-hum-kahan-a-scary-tale-of-new-genhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54103/shankar-jaikishan-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-famous-music-duoSat, 16 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54103/shankar-jaikishan-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-famous-music-duohttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54102/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-11Continuing narration of my life with films and film songs Sat, 13 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54102/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-11https://www.boloji.com/articles/54091/the-choice-is-oursComparisons are odious; agreed. But I cannot but compare the four films I watched in four Indian languages, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil not exactly in a random way but based on the views and reviews in recent times. All four are of different genres. I don’t want to name them and those who can understand fine; else just read and leave. Mon, 04 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54091/the-choice-is-ourshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54089/kaathal--the-coreMon, 04 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54089/kaathal--the-corehttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54078/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-10Naushad dominated the film music scene with Aan, Baiju Bawra and Diwana, with most of the songs of the first two films being hits. Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi were firmly established as Naushad's most preferred playback singers. Man Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj and O Duniya Ke Rakhwale from Baiju Bawra became smash hits. From Diwana, Teer khate jayenge by Lata Mangeshkar and Tasveer banata hoon teri by Mohammed Rafi became hits. In the Filmfare Awards there was a prize for best song of the year chosen by popular vote. Tu ganga ki mauj won the award.Sat, 16 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54078/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-10https://www.boloji.com/articles/54042/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-9Continuing my narration of my association with films and film songsSat, 18 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/54042/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-9https://www.boloji.com/articles/54027/beet-gaye-din-...Late in those evenings, when the studious students were busy with their books, my roommate and I … … occasionally two more… used to sit in the sand pit that was adjacent to the road leading to the hostels … and watching the avenue trees all around the playground swaying in the breeze … often talking, of course, not about the next day’s slip test, but more about trivia … such as about Cecil B Demille … his films … … suddenly hooked by the melody ... we would stop talking and instantly stay glued to Radio Ceylon … attentively listening to the wooing lyrics brought by the late evening’s breeze from the distantly located speakers in the pavilion…Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54027/beet-gaye-din-...https://www.boloji.com/articles/54008/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-8Continuing narration of my association with films and film songsSat, 28 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54008/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-8https://www.boloji.com/articles/54007/murder-sans-mysteryIt has already become mandatory for the OTT movies to be murder mysteries. So, extradoses of blood, gore and violence are the prime contents than a convincing storyline or arresting performances.Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54007/murder-sans-mysteryhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54005/khanchaMidway in the film there's a scene in KHANCHA (Bengali for Cage) where Rituparno Sengupta looks out of her window from her apartment in a multistoried building. She discovers that her stalker and womanizer boss (Arijit Dutta) is calling out to her from his stately car from the ground below. This particular sequence and moment in the film draws a parallel between her life, an urban corporate woman, and the subaltern woman (Parno Mitra) whom she has been sheltering in her house from a trio of rogues who are part of a gang of woman traffickers.Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54005/khanchahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/54004/color-of-flowers-and-pen-of-heartMany times, why, most of the time, the birth of a child never indicates any future; renowned astrologers may refute my statement and there are exceptional cases. Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand, after completing his graduation, wanted to act in movies. A 23-year-old young man gatecrashed into the office a producer of Prabhat Film Studios and expressed his desire to act. Surprisingly, the producer was impressed with the young man’s eyes, smile and supreme confidence and offered him a break. Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/54004/color-of-flowers-and-pen-of-hearthttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53921/omg-2-a-thought-provoking-fusion-of-satire-and-societal-reflectionOMG 2 ingeniously follows its predecessor's satirical tradition, this time delving into the realm of sex education in schools. Pankaj Tripathi and Akshay Kumar shine as they navigate the narrative's complex layers, tackling masturbation's impact on young minds. The film highlights the urgency of comprehensive sex education through Kanti's determination to challenge the status quo. Hindu symbolism and philosophy seamlessly intertwine with the story, while the film tactfully prompts discussions on the broader societal need for informed dialogue about sexual well-being. Despite some execution flaws, OMG 2 masterfully blends humor and contemplation, underlining the timeless importance of sex education.Sat, 26 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53921/omg-2-a-thought-provoking-fusion-of-satire-and-societal-reflectionhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53918/re-visiting-rupert-brooke-through-south-indian-cinemaSun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53918/re-visiting-rupert-brooke-through-south-indian-cinemahttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53907/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-7Continuing narration of my association with films and film musicSat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53907/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-7https://www.boloji.com/articles/53883/maamannan-crusade-for-social-justiceMari Selvaraj, writer and director with three acclaimed films to his credit seems to know the medium of cinema. Though I havent watched Karnan I have watched Pari Erum Perumal and the recent Maamannan.Sun, 06 Aug 2023 21:57:37 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53883/maamannan-crusade-for-social-justicehttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53869/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-6Continuing narration of my association with films and film musicMon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53869/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-6https://www.boloji.com/articles/53827/american-tv-dramasAs a dedicated subscriber to streaming services like Netflix and HBO, I have had a chance to indulge in a plethora of long-standing American TV drama series, right from The West Wing (1999-2006), The Sopranos (1999-2007), The Wire (2002-08), Breaking Bad (2008-13), Boardwalk Empire (2010-14) to Better Call Saul (2015-22) among others.  These shows have left an indelible mark on the television landscape, captivating audiences with their engrossing narratives, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes.Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53827/american-tv-dramashttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53818/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-5Continuing narration of my journey with films and songsSat, 29 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53818/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-5https://www.boloji.com/articles/53808/superman-iii--40th-anniversarySat, 24 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53808/superman-iii--40th-anniversaryhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53791/serious-lessons-or-silly-entertainmentsA song sent by a friend through Whatsapp triggered me to watch a Kamalahasan movie of 1994, a critically acclaimed, commercially successful and a few award winning Tamil ‘Mahanadi’. Though I remember vaguely that story and movie was one that was least entertaining and most regressive, one of the village landlords Narayanan. He loses his properties, happy life and children in his sudden petty greed for pelf.Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53791/serious-lessons-or-silly-entertainmentshttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53762/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-4Narration of my connection with films and filmsongs as a grew upSun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53762/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-4https://www.boloji.com/articles/53728/ponniyin-selvan-2-ps2‘Ponniyin Selvan’ is not only a voluminous narrative but a highly convoluted story with innumerable characters. Some serve some purpose and many nothing. Additionally, it is a ‘period film’ and that too written in the 1950s. Though a million people keep chanting that they have revisited the novel innumerable times, I don’t want to make any such tall claim of reading more than a thousand pages several times. I have read probably a couple of times that too with breaks; nevertheless, I do remember the thread of the novel, its main characters and their roles.Sat, 13 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53728/ponniyin-selvan-2-ps2https://www.boloji.com/articles/53722/voice-of-the-romantic-acheThe moment I think of late Talat Mahmood the first thing that strikes my mind is: My watching ‘Daag’ movie at Mohanpur along with my classmate, Amar Som Chowdhry in a dilapidated hall that was near our college campus, just to watch Dilip Kumar enacting the song: Aye mere dil kahee aaur chal / gam ki duniyaan se dil bhar gayaa / dhoondh le ab koee ghar nayaa… (O my heart let’s move elsewhere / woes of the world had filled my soul/search now a new home) sung by that unsung hero of Hindi film world, Talat Mahmood.Sat, 06 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53722/voice-of-the-romantic-achehttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53706/life-has-no-recipeIt was 1965, our third-year exams were over, college was closed for the summer holidays, and am back home from the hostel. Interestingly, that year I came a little closer to one Mr. Parthsarathy, for reasons galore: that year he stayed next to my room in the hostel, liberal in showering adjectives… importantly, used to oblige me by attempting to wake me up early in the mornings, particularly during exams.Sat, 22 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53706/life-has-no-recipehttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53702/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-3Between 1949 and 1951 I completed my graduation. I was still very young, just into my seventeenth year, the youngest student in my class. In the company of my three older siblings, I was discovering myself, developing my interests in reading, literature, films, and music. I was close to my third brother Jagan Mohan who was two years older than me. As is to be expected, we often differed in our opinions, tastes, and interests. In literature, he liked adventure, mystery, and detective fiction. Sat, 28 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53702/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-3https://www.boloji.com/articles/53656/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-2My recollections of cinemas and film songs from my childhoodSat, 28 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53656/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs-2https://www.boloji.com/articles/53647/the-great-indian-kitchen-tamilHonestly, this film is an insult on the women and their abject servility in India. I am not sure that how many houses, sorry, homes have such women who subject themselves to such humiliation and disgrace; at the same time, I cannot forget or overlook the comments made by some of my misogynist husbands during different times of my life.Sat, 18 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53647/the-great-indian-kitchen-tamilhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53639/film-reviews-then-and-now-in-tamilSat, 11 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0600https://www.boloji.com/articles/53639/film-reviews-then-and-now-in-tamilhttps://www.boloji.com/articles/53620/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songsSome years ago, during one of our visits to my younger brother Shivram's place in USA we were listening to some old film songs on his car audio system, and I made a comment that set us discussing some lesser-known facts about films. Shivram said that I knew so many things that I should write a book. I replied in all modesty that others better informed than me like Raju Bharatan had already done so.Sat, 28 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500https://www.boloji.com/articles/53620/my-journey-through-films-and-film-songs