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Friday, August 15, 2025
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Reel Take

Hurdang creates the world of Mandal student politics but not a convincing one

The film tries to look at the Mandal Commission and caste-based reservation through an upper-caste lens, but offers lazy arguments.

You come for Fantastic Beasts 3 but stay for Hogwarts — it’s only for Potterheads

Unlike 'Harry Potter' films that had Rowling's books to rely upon, Fantastic Beasts 3 was written for the screen. That was its ultimate test.

Dasvi could have been Abhishek Bachchan’s comeback. But sloppy writing makes it fall flat

Scams, atmanirbharta, and a Sachin Pilot lookalike—jokes in Netlix's Dasvi don't tickle and neither does the sarcasm. It just makes you wish for better.

Netflix’s Cobalt Blue isn’t flawless. But its queer heart beats the shortcomings

Cobalt Blue talks of a world where loving a person of the same gender was still a crime. It's a poignant portrayal of love and sexual awakening.

Drive My Car isn’t the Murakami adaptation you think it is. Its magic lies in another story

Drive My Car isn’t the first Murakami film adaptation, and it won’t be the last. But you should catch the movie on Mubi.

Hotstar’s Kaun Pravin Tambe is the kind of sports film we need. Almost a sequel to Iqbal

Devoid of the hype, press screenings and celebrity cast that other similar mainstream films boast, Shreyas Talpade's Kaun Pravin Tambe is a delight.

Attack is Bollywood’s PubG-style sci-fi film. But there are only 2 reasons to watch it

The film, based on DRDO's exoskeleton programme, turns John Abraham into a ‘Winter Soldier’ of sorts. It's a healthy dose of deshbhakti minus jingoism.

Two actors, 1 role – Sharmaji Namkeen is a masterclass between Rishi Kapoor & Paresh Rawal

After Rishi Kapoor’s death, Paresh Rawal took over the titular role in Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Sharmaji Namkeen’ – a rarity in Indian cinema.

Bridgerton Season 2 is more heart, less hormones. And a nod to India’s love for the show

Bridgerton’s latest season is about the Sharma sisters, women who don’t take no for an answer, suspense and diversity — all in 19th-century England.

SS Rajamouli’s RRR is everything you expect it to be – freedom struggle on Baahubali scale

SS Rajamouli’s RRR may be a good ol' tale of good vs evil, but it packs everything that Indian cinema offers, plus spectacular VFX.

On Camera

How Saba Azad became the accidental voice of Bengal’s language protests

Bengalis are hurt over a statement by the Delhi police calling Bangla a ‘Bangladeshi language’ and the lines Azad sang have unwittingly become protest music in Kolkata now.

Slashing GST on waste can unlock Rs 1.8 lakh crore, high tax hurting circular economy goals—CSE

Centre for Science and Environment in new report makes case for rationalising GST on waste material, saying most informal operators can’t afford high tax & it also hinders recycling.

President awards 1st set of Sarvottam Yudh Seva medals since Kargil, 7 honoured for leading Op Sindoor

This year, the Indian Air Force received four of the seven awards, followed by the Indian Army with two medals, and the Indian Navy with one. 

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.