Reviews, opinions and observations.
Its been a long time since I watched a movie that broke my heart. Bollywood movies in particular often fail to make me emotional because of their formulaic story lines, stock characters and their inability to depict a world that one can truly relate to. Hindi cinema rarely moves away from the norm: romantic or flawed heroes saving the… Continue reading We need to let movies like ‘Udta Punjab’ fly
Honour killings are confronted head on in BBC Three drama Murdered by my Father. Actress Kiran Sonia Sawar talks to me about ensuring Asian women are respected. There is a moment in BBC Three drama Murdered by my Father where London teen Salma, played by Kiran Sonia Sawar, flees from her father’s imprisonment and jumps over… Continue reading Murdered by my Father’s Kiran Sonia Sawar: “Honour killings is an issue that needs to be dealt with”
The internet certainly does not forget. Google Indian-Canadian Bollywood actress 'Sunny Leone' and beneath the most recent news articles, her previous profession defines her almost instantly - she is a household name for once being a porn star. Earlier this week, Leone faced journalist Bhupendra Chauby in a scathing interview where he claimed the actress was "lowering the… Continue reading Sunny Leone produces hostility because India still fears female sexuality
She's the newest face in Bollywood, flown over from Liverpool to kick-start a career in the illustrious Hindi film industry. Arriving from England to permanently make India home while accepting its culture and language, its undeniable romance and its mysterious, whimsical magic is no mean feat, and Amy Jackson has certainly risen to the challenge. Making her mark in Tamil… Continue reading Amy Jackson is cashing in on ‘Singh is Bling’, but can India really accept her?
For fans, this is as good as it gets. 'Montage of Heck' provides a much too intense picture of Kurt's soaring creativity and ultimate helplessness. ★★★★★ Brett Morgen's newly-released documentary titled 'Montage of Heck' examines the life of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, offering a tangible, pertinent window into a son, musician, father, husband and a… Continue reading Documentary review: Cobain: Montage of Heck
Birdman (Or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) offers an unsettling and riveting exploration into the dark underbelly of fame, following a tenacious actor's journey to redefine genre, redefine himself and redefine what it means to be both a 'celebrity' and 'actor/actress' in Hollywood from an equally unsettling angle. ★★★★★ It is certainly humorous that in his latest release, ex-Batman star Michael… Continue reading Movie Review: Birdman (Or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Not too often does a Bollywood movie appear with promotional posters showing a naked man covering his bits with a radio. This is when you know that Indian cinema is beginning to head in a new (and probably eyebrow-raising) direction. Here's introducing the new and very controversial release of PK into Indian cinema. Directed… Continue reading Movie review: PK
When I woke up this morning and saw a notification from my Guardian app, I didn't want to finish reading the headline: 'Robin Williams found dead in California home'. Before I even read the article, I had an inkling that his death was the result of suicide, perhaps caused by the mental health problems he'd… Continue reading The death of Robin Williams
Deepika Padukone is all the rage at the moment. Last year was definitely one of her finest in terms of delivering blockbusters in Bollywood. From Chennai Express to Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani and of course her most popular role to date as Leela in Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram- Leela, Deepika has proved she's left her… Continue reading Deepika Padukone isn’t all that!
Martha Salhotra 