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Reel Take

‘Kunwara Baap’ was closest to Mehmood’s heart. Tested his limits as an actor

Mehmood made the film to raise awareness about polio, which had affected his own son, Maqdoom Ali. It also marked the acting debut of his other son, Lucky Ali.

Kaala Patthar is about workers’ woe. It has real Angry Young Bachchan

What stands out in Kaala Patthar is its inclusion of working women as characters. Parveen Babi is a journalist, Neetu Singh is a bangle seller, and Rakhee plays Doctor Sudha.

Haqeeqat shows the painful futility of war. Doesn’t mask realities with bravado

The 1964 film offers a grim look at the lives of Indian soldiers fighting in tough conditions. Chetan Anand calls out the government’s lack of military preparedness without pulling any punches.

In Subhash Ghai’s Karma, prison drama meets patriotism. It’s a Republic Day staple

Karma is remembered for 'Aye Watan Tere Liye' song. It became a staple patriotic song in the ’80s and ’90s and was played endlessly on radio.

Horror film ‘Bokshi’ flips the wicked witch concept—gore, folklore, and feminine power

Director Bhargav Saikia’s supernatural horror film ‘Bokshi’ will have its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025.

Kamal Amrohi’s ‘Razia Sultan’ lacked the magic of Pakeezah. Only opulence, no substance

Like Pakeezah, Kamal Amrohi’s Razia Sultan had all the right ingredients–superstar Hema Malini as leading lady, Bhanu Athaiya as costume designer, and Khayyam as music director. But none of it could translate into magic on screen.

Raj Kapoor’s Prem Rog is a flawed film on widow remarriage. Rishi Kapoor rescues the damsel

In Prem Rog, the narrative is dominated by male characters. Padmini Kolhapure who plays the female protagonist does not put up a fight.

Shyam Benegal’s ‘Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda’ asks—is love doomed by poverty or saved by rebellion?

Shyam Benegal’s adaptation of Dharamvir Bharati’s novel 'Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda' has a layered narrative structure. Its non-linear storytelling blurs the line between fiction and reality.

Jeevan Mrityu made Dharmendra-Rakhee hit pair. It was a corruption-revenge saga of the 70s

Jeevan Mrityu was a revenge thriller produced by Tarachand Barjatya, a break from the ‘clean’ family entertainers that the production house was then known for.

Manoj Kumar’s Purab Aur Paschim set the template for Bollywood’s East vs West showdown

Before Akshay Kumar’s famous Namastey London speech, there was Manoj Kumar’s ‘Zero diya mere Bharat ne.’

On Camera

No one should have to choose between a roof and two meals. But India’s migrants do, every day

India’s policymakers need to ensure that labourers, and milk and newspaper delivery workers, do not have to sacrifice food just to keep a roof over their heads.

Govt’s earlier FDI limit of 74% in insurance sector has remained underutilised, Parliament told

In the latest budget, the FDI limit was increased to 100 percent, but most foreign companies are not buying such large stakes in the Indian insurance sector.

India’s air defence system foiled 1,000 Pakistani drone attacks on 9 May—Modi tells Parliament

New Delhi: India’s air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 1,000 drones and missiles launched by Pakistan on 9 May during Op Sindoor, Prime Minister...

Modi’s Bharat vs Indira’s India: 11-yr report card of politics, diplomacy, economy, nationalism

As Narendra Modi becomes India’s second-longest consecutively serving Prime Minister, we look at how he compares with Indira Gandhi across four key dimensions.