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Sunday, January 4, 2026
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Beyond The Reel

Bollywood has a new Ramayana romance. All muscle and swagger

In the last 2 years, a slew of Ramayana-inspired films—Adipurush to Singham Again—have reimagined mythological characters as hypermasculine warriors. ‘It’s the preferred image for its politics’.

Firearms, forests & fugitives constant in Bollywood’s Naxal films—politics keep changing

From Ghaath and Bastar: A Naxal Story to Newton and Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa, Indian filmmakers keep coming back to Naxal themes. Who’s the hero or villain depends on who’s telling the story and when.

Karz, 1980 cult classic gave us Simi Garewal as Lady Macbeth and youth anthem Om Shanti Om

Audience initially rejected Rishi Kapoor's reincarnation movie. But like the ugly duckling that turned into a swan, Karz's fan base grew. Today it enjoys cult classic status.

‘Angry Young Men’ is not just about Salim-Javed’s journey. It’s the history of 1970s India

Amazon Prime Video’s Angry Young Men shows that biopics are being dethroned by OTT documentaries. People want more of The Romantics, Modern Masters: S. S. Rajamouli—raw and real glimpses into lives of stars.

Bollywood is finally getting sports right. Chandu Champion to Soorma, Mary Kom

Chandu Champion does justice to the comeback tale, just like Shimit Amin did with Chak De! India.

Tribal life and Christian missionaries clash in this Garo film about outsiders

Meghalaya isn't known for filmmaking. But Dominic Sangma is changing that in a state with only two movie theatres. his Garo-language film Rapture was released across 33 French cities.

Panchayat to Laapataa—villages on OTT are Gandhian simplicity or Ambedkar’s den of ignorance

From quiet feminism in Laapataa Ladies to TVF’s smash hit Panchayat, a nostalgia-infused Indian rural landscape has found a firm footing in the world of OTT viewership.

Why’s Bollywood obsessed with Tawaifs? ‘Heeramandi’ brings back the stereotypes

According to Pakistani film critic Omer Adil, filmmakers of the subcontinent have created a fantasy chimaera, a celluloid courtesan, which has nothing to do with tawaifs.

Why’s Bollywood obsessed with Vijay Mallya? Neeyat, Crew tap into a lingering fantasy

Crew trains its guns on Mallya from the get-go – showcasing his famous ‘gift packs’ and ‘welcome videos’, and dressing its on-screen stewardesses in Kingfisher-like red uniforms.

Bastar to Article 370—Bollywood propaganda movies boosting BJP soft power

As the country hurtles toward the general election, more propaganda films are set to follow: Accident or Conspiracy: Godhra, The Sabarmati Report, and Emergency.

On Camera

If there are many intellectuals in society, we should be nervous: PG Mavalankar

On 30 October 1979, political scientist PG Mavalankar delivered an address at the 14th AD Shroff Memorial Lecture in Bombay, outlining the roles and responsibilities of intellectuals in society.

Wall Street carries big expectations this year after best run since 2009

The concern is not that 2025’s rally was irrational, but that it may be difficult to repeat. Outlooks remain anchored to AI investment and growth without reigniting inflation.

Greece looking at TATA’s WhAP infantry combat vehicle for army procurement

If deal goes through, Greece will be 2nd foreign country to procure vehicle. Morocco was first; TATA Group has set up manufacturing unit there with minimum 30 percent indigenous content.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.