City of stars... Are you shining just for me? City of stars... There’s so much that I can’t see. Who knew. Is this the start of something wonderful? Or... one more dream that I cannot make true. Fade away reality. Welcome to the dream world of La La Land. A movie with stark and elegant slices of bittersweet… Continue reading La La Land
Author: Hamida Parkar
Writer & Editor
Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh
Vidya Balan (Durga Rani Singh) fervently chews into Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh and perfectly delivers her most neurotic, intuitive performance to date. She appears shabby and scattered through most of the movie. Yet exudes inner grace and warmth as her protective instincts kick in to play an abuse survivor who must save a child abuse… Continue reading Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh
Raj & Nargis: A love that wasn’t
There was nothing subtle or silent about their romance. From the moment Raj Kapoor and Nargis met, in 1947, they were destined to create history. A first meeting that was cherished by Raj and immortalised many years later in his bubblegum love tale Bobby (1972). It was the scene in which Dimple Kapadia and Rishi Kapoor meet the first time and she accidentally smears… Continue reading Raj & Nargis: A love that wasn’t
Why Andaz was a watershed movie for Dilip Kumar, Nargis and Raj Kapoor
They were the original stylish trio of Hindi cinema. The talented players who made the love triangle an affair to remember and repeated forever. The year, 1949. The movie, Andaz. The creator of which was legendary director Mehboob Khan. There is no doubt it proved to be a watershed film in the careers of Dilip… Continue reading Why Andaz was a watershed movie for Dilip Kumar, Nargis and Raj Kapoor
QSQT: Love at first sight with Aamir Khan!
I take my cinematic love-at-first-sight moments very seriously. The year was 1988 when Doordarshan, Chitrahaar and Chayageet were still my gateways to an imagined heaven. Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was about to enter my life. If my memory doesn't fail me, Gazab Ka Hai Din was the first song I happened to watch on Chayageet.… Continue reading QSQT: Love at first sight with Aamir Khan!
Jaane kyun… I love Sydney
The main reason I moved to Sydney was that Farhan Akhtar made it look so beautiful in Dil Chahta Hai. It was stunning and so green in this song Jaane Kyun. I imagined myself grabbing lunch in a cafe, enjoying a picnic and walking on the top of Harbour Bridge. Cut to 6 years later… Continue reading Jaane kyun… I love Sydney
Three desi señors rock Señorita
Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol lit up the screen together with saucy Señorita in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Indian male actors are objectified much less compared to female actors on screen, so this was very welcome. Director Zoya Akhtar did it with such Spanish flavour, style and character that we hardly registered it… Continue reading Three desi señors rock Señorita
Mr. & Mrs. ’55
Anita: Kya naam hai tumhara Pritam: Pritam Anita: Pri.. kuch ajeeb sa naam hai na Pritam: Do char baar bulayengi.. to.. achcha lagega Pritam: Kahiye Pritam: Pri.. Anita: Pri.. Pritam: ..tam Anita: ..tam In a delightful exchange, shot entirely in a teasing close-up, you heart protagonists Pritam Kumar (Guru Dutt) and Anita Verma (Madhubala) instantly, wishing… Continue reading Mr. & Mrs. ’55
Geeta Bali & Shammi Kapoor Love Story
There is something heartening and hopeful about a timeless love story. So here is my favourite real-life one of Hindi cinema's golden couple Geeta Bali and Shammi Kapoor. They shared a love for nature and fell in love early 1955, around picturesque Ranikhet (close to Nainital) where they were shooting for a movie called Rangeen… Continue reading Geeta Bali & Shammi Kapoor Love Story
How Guru Dutt discovered Waheeda Rahman
Serendipity in the form of a buffalo helped Guru Dutt discover Waheeda Rehman. A driving accident with a buffalo cart badly damaged his car and Dutt was stranded in Hyderabad for three days with friend and working partner Abrar Alvi. Alvi narrates the story in Sathya Saran's book, Ten Years with Guru Dutt: Abrar Alvi's… Continue reading How Guru Dutt discovered Waheeda Rahman
cinemaspotter.com 