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Friday, August 15, 2025
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Reel Take

‘Abhinetri’ starts conversation on married women and work. Happy, neat ending takes priority

The tragedy of the 1970 movie lies in its squandered potential. As young actors, both Hema Malini and Shashi Kapoor's performances lacked emotional depth.

When Rajesh Khanna was upstaged by a toddler. Aakhri Khat is a forgotten gem

Director Chetan Anand didn’t let Rajesh Khanna sleep for three nights before shooting a pivotal scene. He would call him in the middle of the night.

‘You’ve put on a bit of weight though’—how this film on mother-daughter bond begins

Anvita Brahmbhatt draws from her personal experiences to build the relationship between a mother and her adult daughter in her film 'Over A Cup of Chai'.

Hamraaz was Bollywood’s Shakespearean tragedy. Sunil Dutt, its Othello

The popularity of the film’s album can be jointly credited to the lyrics of Sahir Ludhianvi and the soulful voice of Mahendra Kapoor.

Yash Chopra’s ‘Daag’ had a love triangle with no jealousy. It happily ends in bigamy

Daag would go on to establish Chopra as a filmmaker who would not just explore the fun elements of romance but also touch upon subjects like infidelity, and in this case, bigamy.

Dil Hi Toh Hai was a ‘Muslim social’ — but it put insaniyat and sharafat above khandan

The 1963 film Dil Hi Toh Hai, starring Raj Kapoor and Nutan, is a compelling outlier in the ‘Muslim Social’ genre. It defied conventions, even if gently.

Trishul tested Amitabh Bachchan’s emotional range—and he was more than an angry young man

Trishul came when Salim-Javed were at the high point of their creativity and Bachchan at the top of his stardom.

Ek Chadar Maili Si isn’t an easy watch. Hema Malini plays a woman trapped by tradition

Based on Rajinder Singh Bedi’s Urdu novel, the 1986 film directed by Sukhwant Dhadda is a portrayal of a woman’s bruised dignity and the silent scream of suppressed rebellion.

Jaya Bachchan made Mili unforgettable. Her acting rivalled Rajesh Khanna’s in Anand

With this 1975 film, Jaya Bachchan established herself as a serious performer in an era where women were confined to glamorous, arm-candy roles.

ChaalBaaz was Bollywood’s wild take on feminism. Sridevi showed no one did double roles like her

Sridevi carries ChaalBaaz entirely on her shoulders, effortlessly switching between the timid Anju and the brash Manju. Sunny Deol and Rajinikanth pale in comparison.

On Camera

Nobel committee, note how Trump allowed Munir to make nuclear threat against India from US soil

So far, India has responded to his threats with a measured, diplomatic, strategic, and multi-dimensional approach. Now, it needs to react firmly.

Modi’s ‘Diwali bonanza’ for the common man—next-gen GST reforms, lower tax on daily-use items soon

Finance ministry says the proposed revamp will focus on structural reforms, rate rationalisation & ease of living, & will be deliberated upon in the coming weeks.

What is Project Sudarshan Chakra, announced by Modi from ramparts of Red Fort

The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.

Modi’s ready to risk it all for farmers. Farm reform can answer Trump with new Green Revolution

Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.