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Friday, November 28, 2025
TopicOld movies

Topic: Old movies

Haqeeqat shows the painful futility of war. Doesn’t mask realities with bravado

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.

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.

Blind man, cheating wife, bumbling cop—Sanjeev Kumar’s ‘Qatl’ was a perfect Bollywood thriller

‘Qatl’ was Sanjeev Kumar’s last film; he finished dubbing it a day before he died. The premise of the film: Who will believe a blind man can plan the perfect crime?

Bollywood’s playful resistance to Emergency was Rekha’s Khubsoorat

Khubsoorat won the Filmfare Best Film award in the 1980s. It established Rekha as a star who could carry a film on her own, even in the absence of famous male hero.

‘Aasha’ explored a different view of one-sided love—that of the woman

Aasha, played by Reena Roy, is complex and empathetic—something female characters in Om Prakash movies have in common.

‘Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se’ was a remake of an American novel. Here, parents aren’t villains

It steers clear of the traditional Bollywood stereotype of the Christian woman who goes on dates and loves to party. Lily is shown as an intelligent, studious and ambitious woman.


Disturbing, unsettling, but necessary—Shyam Benegal’s ‘Nishant’ could easily be a 2024 story

Benegal’s 1975 film is violent and brutal, an unflinching gaze on everything that can go wrong in a society where illiteracy is rampant and landlords hold all the power.

Gadar, Pokiri, DDLJ — old hit movies back in theatres. Nostalgia trumps new releases

Chennai saw seven new releases this week but the movie that was running housefull was Kamal Hassan’s 2007 cop drama, Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu.

On Camera

Is Bangladesh ready for ‘developed country’ status? It’s all optics for Sheikh Hasina

The graduation is meant to bolster the legacy and legitimacy of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, even as the real-world preparedness lagged behind the glossy narrative.

Karnataka startups feel the chill as global funding winter sets in. Fintech emerges as sole bright spot

The state raises just $2.7 billion in first nine months of 2025 compared to $4.5 billion last year, with late-stage investments hit hardest.

India and Indonesia inch closer to BrahMos deal, defence ties to ramp up

Indonesia delegation led by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin visited BrahMos facility & met with top officials & undertook a detailed briefing on the missile system.

A tribute to Tejas. India’s delay culture is the real enemy in the skies

It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.