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Reel Take

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.’

‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’ gave India its most popular tragic hero—and a mega hit in Soviet Union

'Muqaddar Ka Sikandar' cemented the partnership between Bachchan and Prakash Mehra who directed the movie. The two had worked together in Zanjeer, which was Bachchans’ breakout film.

This director was told Musahars were ‘evil’. New film tackles their marginalisation, his bias

In 'Swaha', filmmaker Abhilash Sharma tackles discrimination, desperation and exploitation. It is set to be screened at IFFK's 'Indian Cinema Now' section this year.

‘Mujhe Insaaf Chahiye’ is a classic that has aged well. It sits on Rekha’s able shoulders

Rekha’s entry catapults the movie into a league of its own. She unapologetically questions why society is quick to shame women for their choices while excusing men.

On Camera

Indian cricket team and its half-hearted performative patriotism

India won the match against Pakistan. But when it came to upholding the spirit of the game, they dropped the ball.

At launch of NITI Aayog report, Sitharaman calls for regulation to run at par with AI adoption

FM adds that AI-assisted technologies should be adopted in all districts to bring development & highlights importance of collaborative ecosystems in tech innovation.

New Defence Procurement Manual out, first since 2009, with moves to cut red tape, ease pvt participation

The updated manual introduces reforms like guaranteed orders, lower financial penalties & simplified procurement for specialised equipment.

Gen Zs have taken down the Nepal regime. Here’s why this will never happen in India

To be truly functional and durable, even eternal, a state doesn’t just need a leader, a party or an ideology. It needs functional and robust institutions.