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Monday, August 18, 2025
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Reel Take

Bollywood’s definitive ‘masala’ film, Yaadon Ki Baarat tops the hall of fame

With an excellent soundtrack and a fast-paced and entertaining plot, Yaadon Ki Baraat established Zeenat Aman as a star.

Chhoti Si Baat is the kind of rom com we miss in today’s whirl of swiping and deleting – simple, sweet and funny

Starring Amol Palekar and Vidya Sinha, the classic underdog tale leaves one with a bittersweet nostalgia for a gentler time.

‘Koshish’—the nuanced 1972 film portrayed disability as just another aspect of life

The Gulzar-directed film won Sanjeev Kumar his second National Award and remains a landmark in both their careers.

Teen Bahuraniyan: A quirky family comedy with a touch of female solidarity

Prithviraj Kapoor plays patriarch to his three sons and daughters-in-law in this madcap comedy that's all about loving your neighbour — literally.

‘Dhool Ka Phool’—Nehruvian secularism of Yash Chopra’s first movie is worth remembering today

The story of a Muslim man raising a Hindu child born out of wedlock is not only a plea for communal peace, but also questions the sexist mores of the times.

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. 

On Camera

Postcards from Hyderabad—stories Europeans told about the city

For all their colonial underpinnings, postcards from Hyderabad also inadvertently preserve a trace of local memory: a glimpse of a street, a face, a forgotten name.

Navigating Trump’s tariffs is no child’s play. Indian toymakers are losing out on orders, enquiries

Indian toymakers are now exploring new markets, but they want govt to negotiate a trade deal with US soon, introduce incentives and subsidies to make the industry more competitive.

What is Project Sudarshan Chakra, announced by Modi from ramparts of Red Fort

The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.

War of IAF, PAF doctrines: As Pakistan obsesses over numbers, India embraces risk, wins

Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?