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Reel Take

Before Sholay, there was Mera Gaon Mera Desh. Its Gabbar was more ruthless

At its core, Mera Gaon Mera Desh is the story of a prodigal son and his redemption through Ajit, played by Dharmendra.

Mehbooba started Rajesh Khanna’s downfall. He’s playing Hema Malini’s lover from past life

Mehbooba was Khanna's fourth film with Shakti Samanta after Aradhana, Kati Patang, and Amar Prem.

1978 film Shalimar had Dharmendra, Zeenat, and the biggest budget of its time. It still bombed

Featuring actors such as Rex Harrison and John Saxon, the 1978 film ‘Shalimar’ had scale, ambition, and star power. It was undone by a weak screenplay and uneven execution.

Manchali is Bollywood’s masala take on Shakespeare—a husband for hire and his bratty bride

Directed by Raja Nawathe, Manchali is about a rich, spoilt heiress who can access her inheritance only if she marries. So, she hires a husband.

Tiger terror, tangled tales—Shashi Kapoor’s Jaanwar Aur Insaan was a cocktail gone wrong

Jaanwar Aur Insaan feels torn between being a socially aware thriller and a mainstream entertainer, which is why the execution falters multiple times throughout its 2.5-hour runtime.

Shyam Benegal’s Bhumika is a raw portrait of a female film star’s turbulent life

In Bhumika, Usha chooses a life that does not align with societal expectations. And Shyam Benegal is not afraid to show her as a deeply flawed woman.

Loafer is proof of Dharmendra’s unmatched versatility

The film's appeal rests on three pillars: Dharmendra’s magnetism, Mumtaz’s glamour, and Laxmikant-Pyarelal's evergreen score.

‘Two Sinners’ is about vigilante justice. It asks tough questions in a 12-minute runtime

In Two Sinners, Azhar and his brother Hussain are on the brink of delivering vigilante justice to Mushtaq. The only information the audience knows is that he has assaulted a woman.

Raaj Kumar & Meena Kumari’s chemistry saves ‘Kaajal’

Known for his unique dialogue delivery and often stylish avatars, Raaj Kumar opts for subtlety in Kaajal. His eyes alternate with ease between anger and pain.

Khatta Meetha was Bollywood’s first blended-family film. Progressive without preaching

The beauty of Basu Chatterjee’s storytelling in Khatta Meetha was that he didn’t show remarriage as something frowned upon or in need of justification.

On Camera

Why legal provisions are necessary to curb the power of trade unions: MH Mody

The collusion between the new class of bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen and trade union bosses perpetuates itself partly because of the short-run benefits and partly because they see no way out of the system, wrote author MH Mody in 1980.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

Embraer moves full throttle in pursuit of IAF contract, ties up with Hindalco after Adani

IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.