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Monday, September 29, 2025
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Reel Take

Mrinal Sen’s Padatik, about dispirited Communists in 1970s Calcutta, is a tale of our times

Padatik is last in Mrinal Sen’s Calcutta trilogy, in which Communists are risking their lives for a cause that forever seems out of reach.

Barjatya film and feminist? Meena Kumari’s 1962 film ‘Aarti’ made it possible

Rajshri Productions’ hit film Aarti showed an audacious woman who wouldn’t back down from life's challenges.

BR Chopra’s Naya Daur is still relevant for an India fighting age-old labour problems

Naya Daur remains a classic for it captured the lower income groups’ sentiment in the 1950s — not totally anti-machine, but wary enough.

Ray’s ‘Shatranj Ke Khilari’ asked difficult political questions & is an election must-watch

Ray’s 1977 classic, made during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency, is a story of a cunning political checkmate.

Lalita Pawar, Hindi cinema’s favourite vamp, played a memorable positive role in Anand

In Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anand, which also stars Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, Lalita Pawar plays a caring hospital matron.

Devdas: The tragic hero act that made KL Saigal a household name

On actor-singer KL Saigal's 115th birth anniversary, a look at PC Barua's iconic 1935 film that first put tragedy in Indian cinema’s romance.

Kissa Kursee Ka: A parody that sent Sanjay Gandhi to jail and laid bare Indian politics

Directed by Congress and Janata Party MP Amrit Nahata, Kissa Kursee Ka was made during the Emergency, and irked the Gandhi clan like nothing else.

Roti Kapda Aur Makaan: A film as relevant in Indira Gandhi’s time as it is in Modi era

As BJP and Congress promise election freebies and jobs, Manoj Kumar’s Roti Kapda Aur Makaan still rings uncannily true.

In Kati Patang, director Shakti Samanta created magic with Rajesh Khanna & R.D. Burman’s music

The film gave us evergreen hits like Yeh Shaam Mastani and Pyar Diwana Hota Hai featuring superstar Rajesh Khanna.

Shashi Kapoor’s New Delhi Times gives a true picture of journalism, warts and all

New Delhi Times conveys the fundamental duality that plagues all journalists — the thrill of chasing a ‘good story’ that is also a human tragedy.

On Camera

Pakistan is thrilled with Trump’s embrace. No one’s asking what does US want

The happy and excited Pakistanis should now begin to look at another dark era of authoritarian rule worse than what they experienced under Zia.

Market regulator SEBI clears Adani Group of impropriety alleged by Hindenburg Research

SEBI probe concluded that purported loans and fund transfers were paid back in full and did not amount to deceptive market practices or unreported related party transactions.

India looks to procure more S-400/S-500 air defence systems from Russia

The 2018 contract with Russia for 5 S-400 systems had a follow-on clause for 5 more. S-400 was described as a 'game-changer' for shooting down 5 Pakistan fighter jets during Op Sindoor.

Something’s hidden in the Oval Office photo of Trump, Munir, Sharif. India must look closely

What Munir has achieved with Trump is a return to normal, ironing out the post-Abbottabad crease. The White House picture gives us insight into how Pakistan survives, occasionally thrives and thinks.