Topic: Old movies

Khandhar’s emotional core lies in what is left unsaid. Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah's towering performances convey unspoken yearning and forbidden longing without relying on dialogues.

Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore played a couple falling apart in Aavishkar. Basu Bhattacharya based it on his own marriage and even filmed it in his house.

The grandmother's insistence on consulting a girl’s astrological birth chart to determine her capacity to bear a son underlines how superstition and patriarchy are deeply intertwined.

The 1963 film Dil Hi Toh Hai, starring Raj Kapoor and Nutan, is a compelling outlier in the ‘Muslim Social’ genre. It defied conventions, even if gently.

Trishul came when Salim-Javed were at the high point of their creativity and Bachchan at the top of his stardom.

With this 1975 film, Jaya Bachchan established herself as a serious performer in an era where women were confined to glamorous, arm-candy roles.

If it weren’t for its memorable songs, Kal Aaj Aur Kal would likely have faded into obscurity with its lacklustre performances, weak writing, and no memorable dialogues.

Mehmood made the film to raise awareness about polio, which had affected his own son, Maqdoom Ali. It also marked the acting debut of his other son, Lucky Ali.

The 1964 film offers a grim look at the lives of Indian soldiers fighting in tough conditions. Chetan Anand calls out the government’s lack of military preparedness without pulling any punches.

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.