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Friday, November 14, 2025
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Reel Take

Om Puri and Smita Patil’s Ardh Satya is the only police drama you need to watch

Unlike modern police dramas, this film gives a realistic look at the difficulty of being good in a broken system.

Mr. & Mrs. ’55, a light-hearted rom-com that raised questions about feminism 6 decades ago

Guru Dutt and Madhubala’s chemistry and some masterful cinematography make this film sparkle despite some problematic gender equations.

Dev Anand’s Prem Pujari spoke about patriotism like no other Bollywood film

With great music on one hand, but problematic representation on the other, Dev Anand’s directorial debut is an interesting watch.

Shyam Benegal’s Ankur talked about caste and patriarchy when no else did

Starring Shabana Azmi and Anant Nag, this film is the hard-to-swallow pill that we need today.

Sharmila Tagore’s Chhoti Bahu gave us a Bollywood rarity — a layered female protagonist

Based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s book, Bindur Chhele, this film makes for a great family drama. 

Gulzar’s Parichay showed us how love could be a better teacher than fear

Parichay, starring Jeetendra & Jaya Bhaduri, teaches us, in its own simple way, that children need love & encouragement to become confident and grow into kind adults.

Abhimaan, the timeless classic, had shades of Amitabh & Jaya Bachchan’s real lives

Director Hrishikesh Mukherjee is better known for his family-friendly comedies, but in Abhimaan, he dealt with feminism & a love story with many shades of grey.

Umrao Jaan’s captivating music is a lasting testament to Khayyam’s musical genius

Khayyam masterfully blended ghazals, shayaris and classical Hindustani music to create melodies that made the story of Umrao Jaan.

Kabuliwala is the heart-rending childhood tale of innocence, love & fate

Balraj Sahni’s Kabuliwala perfectly captures the essence of a wonderful friendship that builds against the backdrop of hardship.

Meena Kumari was more than just the tragedy queen and 1955 film ‘Azaad’ shows us why

Meena Kumari plays a happy and carefree character in S.M. Sriramulu Naidu’s 1955 film.

On Camera

Sukhbir Singh Badal didn’t win Tarn Taran. But results recognise his party as real Akali Dal

The electorate reaffirmed SAD (Badal) as the genuine Akali Dal—not by awarding it the seat, but by positioning it where it matters in a Panthic contest: Second, and unambiguously so.

Wealth nears $99 trillion, still Asia’s rich don’t have succession plans

Much of this wealth is tied to founder-led businesses that employ millions and help anchor regional economies.

Turkey blocks transport of Apache choppers to India through its airspace, new route being worked out

Indian govt officials last month skipped Turkish National Day celebrations in Delhi, in a message to Ankara following its support for Islamabad, particularly during Operation Sindoor.

Bihar is where politics moves, and everything else stands still

Bihar is blessed with a land more fertile for revolutions than any in India. Why has it fallen so far behind then? Constant obsession with politics is at the root of its destruction.