films

Who sees these movies? I often see such posters, and I think that they must be soft porn (eg the title, "Sheila I Love You.". But then, the title of the movie, on the left-hand-side poster is, "Maan Karate". I'm very curious to know where movie theatres such as "Ravi" are, and who goes to see movies there! They, must, I feel, be considerably less expensive than going to a movie theatre in a mall. So...even with movie theatres, Bangalore has a wide variety of experiences to offer!  

This Sunday, ‘Jaaga', a social meet up space for tech groups, artists and social organisations, saw a unique event. The première of the documentary 'Good Girls Don't Dance' by Padmalatha Ravi was packed with audience, while a few had to stand in order to watch the show. The show began after a small introduction by Padmalatha Ravi, the director of the documentary. The documentary started with a flurry of clips where bemused people at different places in and around Bangalore, pondered on how to answer the question, ‘What do you mean by a good girl?' The terms traditional, docile, decent,…

After crowdfunding his Kannada film Lucia’s production by raising Rs.51 lakhs through Facebook fans and others, Pawan Kumar of Lifeu Ishtene fame has finished the production and released the trailer as well as songs. What about the film’s release? Kumar, 30, launched an even more ambitious crowd fundraising campaign this year. He is now raising money to distribute the film in the mass market - theatres and multiplexes  - and is trying to reach between Rs.50L and several crores.   “We raised Rs.51 lakhs in February 2012 for shooting and production. 70% of the money came in as investment and…

After the disappointing 7 Khoon Maaf, Vishal Bharadwaj makes amends with Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. With this film, Vishal Bharadwaj lives up to his previous cinematic work that includes Ishqiya, Kaminey, Omkara, Blue Umbrella, Maqbool and Makdee. But the subtle humour that we saw in earlier work like Ishqiya and Kaminey now moves into a fullblown political sattire. It's a new genre for Bharadwaj, and he makes the transition gracefully. When Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola works, it does so because it is a film that runs at many levels. At a most basic analysis, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka…

The year ends with a big bang for Hindi cinema. Just about two weeks after Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Son of Sardar played to 'Housefull' cinema halls, Talaash released to audiences. A week later Khiladi 787 wooed the crowds, and by December 21st it will be time for Dabangg 2. So while it has been a spectacular closing at the box office, what does it mean for Hindi cinema? Clearly, it's the first week's performance that determines the commercial success of a film. But while Talaash may finally emerge as the least successful of the year's final releases, it…

This November, it's Hindi cinema's season of film launches. So first, there was an overdose of Shahrukh Khan and Katrina Kaif in promos for "Jab Tak Hai Jaan", and now Aamir Khan takes over with the release date for "Talaash" just around the corner. While it was Aamir who first set the trend of intelligently aggressive film promotion, other Indian filmmakers have been quick to join the bandwagon. "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" promos had Shahrukh on every English language television channel, and even holding forth in a keynote address at the Hindustan Times' "Leadership Summit". The questions he fielded here…

I've spoken before of my friend who has now developed into a professional wildlife photographer. He got together with a team, and directed this video; the images are all from Karnataka:   The lyrics are written by H S Venkateshamurthy, and Ricky Kej is the music director. here is the Deccan Herald write-up about it. It is being released today, on the occasion of Rajyostava Day. Congrats, Amogh, and may other such efforts follow! ⊕

Greetings from the Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan!Magic Lantern Movies and DOK-LeipzigPresentDoc Wok*A year-long documentary training and mentoring programmeSupported by the Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan and the British CouncilCommemorating: "Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities"This pioneering initiative brings together two institutions that work fordocumentary promotion: DOK-Leipzig (the oldest and one of the leadingdocumentary festivals in the world) and Magic Lantern Movies (an imprintof Magic Lantern Foundation - that works to create public access todocumentaries via archive and curation), to support and mentor documentarypractice in India.Doc Wok aims to address the missing link, that of mentoring, in thedocumentary practice in India, by creating a…

“I always knew I would be a writer,” she says sipping her tea. She believes that writing keeps her alive and kicking. By the age of 36, Christina Daniels has authored books like ‘Ginger lemon soda pop’ and ‘I’ll do it my way’. She has worked in Print and Online media. A movie reviewer, and a corporate communicator by profession, she is currently working on a book dedicated to the city that she has seen grow, Bangalore. Christina Daniels holds a BA in communicative english from the Bangalore University and MSc in New Media from London School of Economics and…

Seeing the posters for Hugo, you’d expect something á la The Polar Express. Or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Something right out of your childhood fantasies. If you did, you’re right! Hugo is a magical 2-hour-8-minute long story of the hand-to-mouth life of a little boy, who stumbled on a life changing secret. Film-changing for cinema lovers. Nobody likes to be forgotten. Especially if their work is so tremendous that they are de facto pages in world history. Today, popular names in movie trivia include ‘Deepika Padukone’ or ‘Karan Johar’. Moving to Hollywood, it’s ‘George Clooney’ or ‘Steven Spielberg’…