True Review
Movies

When Disaster Strikes

Film historian Dhruv Somani re-visits Yash Chopra’s Kaala Patthar (1979), based on the true-life Chasnala coal-mining tragedy. Movies about doomsday predictions have al...

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Movies

The Two Who Went Away

Film historian Dhruv Somani laments the fact that the alluring Prema Narayan and Jasmine quit Bollywood way too prematurely. She was a former Miss India, and a succ...

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Movies

The Forgotten One

Film historian Dhruv Somani writes on the curious case of Marc Zuber, who had featured in Bollywood and international films. Right from his unusual name, to his non-desi back...

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Movies

The Flashback Experiment

Film historian Dhruv Somani revisits Cinema Cinema, the 1979 underappreciated documentary by Krishna Shah and Shahab Ahmed, on the genesis of our popular cinema. Cinema Cinem...

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Movies

APARAJITO: A PARODY MASQUERADING AS A ‘TRIBUTE’

Pandering to the Bengalis’ juvenile fondness for wallowing in nostalgia, Anik Dutta’s film is a monument to artifice. Nothing, not even Jeetu Kamal’s strikin...

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Movies

Salty and Spicy

Film historian Dhruv Somani marvels at Gulzar’s women-centric flavored Namkeen (1982). A lonely house looks so dilapidated that only some miracle seems to be ...

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Movies

Those Haunting Melodies

Film historian Dhruv Somani, laments the end of the melody-laden songs of the suspense-packed whodunits, which enthralled right from the days of Aayega Aanewala in Mahal (1949...

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Movies

Finding Ganga

Film historian Dhruv Somani, recounts the arduous process that was involved in the casting of Mandakini in Raj Kapoor’s biggest hit Ram Teri Ganga Maili. Mandakini, bes...

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Movies

The Forgotten History of Human Civilization

Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri: A film based on a Badal Sircar play is rare. Rare still is a debutant filmmaker adapting one. That too in a moribund film industry. Which is what makes...

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Movies

Scent of a Killer

Film historian Dhruv Somani, revisits Rajesh Khanna’s slasher film Red Rose, which was a flop on its release in 1980 but commands a cult following today. When producer ...

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THE LAST LANGUAGE OF DEMOCRACY

As Sonam Wangchuk's fast enters its twentieth day, this essay examines hunger strikes wo...

July 18 2026

MAGDALEN OF THE CANADIAN ARCHIPELAGO

Sohaila Kapur chronicles an unforgettable journey through Canada’s Magdalen Island...

July 17 2026

BATTLEGROUND TO BOARDROOM: INNER STRENGTH

A Series by Sushmita Chowdhary for WMN COMM: In this opening essay, the writer explores ...

July 16 2026