Hindi

  • James Ivory – Shakespeare-Wallah (1965)

    1961-1970DramaIndiaJames IvoryRomance

    Synopsis:
    Lizzie (Felicity Kendal) is an actress in a Shakespearean theater troupe that has seen better days. The troupe tours India to dwindling crowds who are less interested in all things British in the wake of Indian independence. When she has an affair with the Indian playboy Sanju (Shashi Kapoor), Lizzie feels the wrath of her disapproving father Tony (Geoffrey Kendal) and her mother Carla (Laura Liddell). Madhur Jaffrey plays the role of the Indian actress Manjula in this romantic drama with musical score from Satyajit RayRead More »

  • Sanjay Leela Bhansali – Black (2005)

    2001-2010DramaIndiaSanjay Leela Bhansali

    Synopsis:
    Michelle McNally is “special” in more ways than one. She cannot see – nor hear nor speak – She inhabits a world of infinite black – of a seamless, endless void where nothing reaches her and she reaches nothing. Her world is frightening in its complete remoteness. On the sheer will of her ferocious rage against destiny, Michelle struggles to stay afloat in the impenetrable whirlpool her life has become. into this devastating isolation enters a battle weary teacher, Debraj Sahai, life’s wounded but arrogantly insolent warrior. Read More »

  • Kumar Shahani – Khayal Gatha AKA The Saga of Khayal (1989)

    1981-1990ArthouseDramaIndiaKumar Shahani

    Synopsis
    Khayal Gatha (English: The Saga of Khayal) is a 1989 Indian experimental film written and directed by Kumar Shahani. The film is about the history of the Khayal genre of Indian classical singing. The film also traces the relationship of Khayal genre with Indian classical dance.

    Examining the genesis and development of the khayal, a form of northern Indian classical vocal music, which developed in the 18th century from earlier musical and poetic traditions.Read More »

  • Shyam Ramsay & Tulsi Ramsay – Bandh Darwaza AKA The Closed Door (1990)

    1981-1990CultHorrorIndiaShyam RamsayTulsi Ramsay

    Bandh Darwaza is the Indian version of Dracula. A childless woman visits the lair of an evil magician in order that she may conceive. When she gives birth to a baby girl the magician demands that she hand her over. She refuses and has the magician killed. Years later he is revived as a fully fledged member of the undead. He comes looking for the now teenage girl intending to make her his slave.Read More »

  • Franz Osten – Achhut Kanya (1936)

    1931-1940DramaFranz OstenIndia

    Along with Franz Osten and Himanshu Rai, Niranjan Pal was extremely important in the making of this film. A synopsis from his memoirs:

    This story was about “the ill-fated love of a Brahmin boy for a scheduled caste girl. As no equivalent film title could be found for Level Crossing, Himansu agreed to Achhut Kanya much to my disgust. The film was shot, edited and readied for release in just eight weeks and turned out to be an outstanding success. The Congress leader, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, specially came to Bombay to see the film at the Roxy cinema and gave it unstinted praise. Devika was hailed as the Queen of the Indian screen, though Ashok Kumar was to wait for a few years before having a similar distinction.” (Such is Life), ed. Lalit Mohan Joshi and Kusum Joshi, p. 240).Read More »

  • Mani Kaul – Yatrik AKA Passenger (1966)

    1961-1970IndiaMani KaulShort Film

    STUDENT DOCUMENTARY – IT CONCERNS TWO YOUNG COUPLES ON A VISIT TO THE AJANTA CAVES. THE FILM OBSERVES THEIR INTERACTION THEREBY WEAVING SUBTLE CHARACTER STUDIES ON A PERSONAL KEY.Read More »

  • Sanjay Kak – Red Ant Dream (2013)

    2011-2020DocumentaryIndiaSanjay Kak

    ‘Let us declare that the state of war does exist and shall exist’, the revolutionary patriot had said almost a hundred years ago, and that forewarning travels into India’s present, as armed insurrection simmers in Bastar, in the troubled heart of central India. To the east too, beleaguered adivasis from the mineral-rich hills of Odisha come forth bearing their axes, and their songs. And in the north the swelling protests by Punjabi peasants sees hope coagulate – once more – around that iconic figure of Bhagat Singh, revolutionary martyr of the anti-colonial struggle. Read More »

  • Chetan Anand – Haqeeqat (1964)

    1961-1970Chetan AnandDramaIndiaWar

    Set against the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the film’s main plot concerns a small platoon of Indian soldiers in the hilly terrain of Ladakh who are considered dead but are rescued by Ladakhi tribesmen and by Capt. Bahadur Singh (Dharmendra). They are asked to retreat from their post (chowky) as the Chinese have surrounded them. Capt. Bahadur Singh and his girlfriend Angmo (Priya Rajvansh) die holding the Chinese at bay so that their comrades can retreat to safety. But even the retreating soldiers are heavily outnumbered and give up their lives for the country.Read More »

  • Madhur Bhandarkar – Page 3 (2005)

    2001-2010AsianDramaIndiaMadhur Bhandarkar

    Page 3′ takes a behind-the-scenes look at A-list celebrity lifestyles through the eyes of a female entertainment journalist. It explores the power-play between the rich and famous and the media. It is also the story of three girls trying to make a decent living in an indecent societyRead More »

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