Retroscope

THE EMOTION DRIVING MODERN INDIA TODAY: MAHATMA GANDHI

On the Mahatma’s 154th birth anniversary, Humra  Quraishi brings snatches of conversations she’s had with those closely connected with Gandhi, and his grandch...

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Sing freedom: Songs of nationalist fervour

Anil Dixit walks down melody lane to track some of the most memorable songs of our national pride and patriotism Patriotic songs are de rigueur for occasions such as Independ...

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The Forever Story: Protima Gauri (Bedi)

Humra  Quraishi writes that Protima Bedi, was the quintessential modern Indian woman who had once written her own destiny She passed away twenty two years ago on  A...

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Chann Pardesi: Reuniting with the cult-classic

Aparajita Krishna writes, Chann Pardesi would be a stranger to the young cine-goer, India 2020, including the young diaspora generation. However, a news item featured in the ...

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Mohammed Rafi: Forty Years Later

Anil Dixit exults about Mohammed Rafi’s imperishable legacy of songs, on the occasion of the legendary crooner’s 40th death anniversary. I confess I write this on...

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Takes two to duet: Lata Mangeshkar’s duets with female singers

Anil Dixit handpicks a selection of rare film duets in which other female singers matched up to the skills of the Maharani of Melody, Lata Mangeshkar  In the constellati...

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Yesterday’s Agent Vinod: Why he quit Bollywood

Film historian, Dhruv Somani, tracks down Mahendra Sandhu, to his farmhouse in Chandigarh for a freewheeling interview.  He’s Sandhu, Mahendra Sandhu. Now 73, this...

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Lost Melodies: Bollywood’s vast film music heritage

Anil Dixit, walks down melody lane, to select five vastly underrated music scores My go-to metaphor for Hindi film music is that it’s a rich tapestry woven by generatio...

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Wonder Animals: The Untold Story

Khalid Mohamed rewinds to the coached dogs, chimpanzees and elephants that would often steal the show in Bollywood blockbusters.  They’ve been missing from the sce...

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The Unknown Story

Indian cinema’s first superstar, Master Nissar, had passed away in abject poverty How many even know about India cinema’s first superstar, Master Nissar, and how ...

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KALEIDOSCOPE: THE MUSICAL MAVERICK BY ASHIS GHATAK

Vinta Nanda talks to Ashis Ranjan Ghatak, biographer of ‘The Musical Maverick: The...

March 19 2024

ALTERNATIVE CINEMA: THE CINEMA OF SOUND & CUT

"The Zone of Interest" and the cinema of sound and the cut is what Sharad Raj explores a...

March 17 2024

POLITICS: ALL IN THE NAME OF GOD

Humra Quraishi comments about empty promises being made in political speeches, the polar...

March 16 2024