classics Archives

40 Years Later, Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Gol Maal is Still the Best Film About Middle Class Indians

There is plenty to be admired about Gol Maal beyond its tomfoolery. Foremost of which is the creation of Ram, a male protagonist who despite being pressed by the familiar requirements of earning a living, has a touch of sophistication.

Manik Sharma July 12, 2016

Bollywood

How Rekha Made Khoon Bhari Maang A Camp Classic

Khoon Bhari Maang marks the very pinnacle of ’80s Bollywood — a time of big hair and big pearls, padded shoulders on gaudy-gauzy outfits, shiny reds, and avenging female leads epitomised by Rekha, the camp queen.

Poulomi Das June 27, 2016

Pop Culture

Mary Poppins Returns Review: A Whimsical Critique of the Big Bad Adult World

If the chief villain of Mary Poppins Returns is the big bad adult world, then the cutthroat bankers are its henchmen, and the dancing lamplighters its underdog heroes. The film illustrates the impact that collective action can have, even in the face of powerful institutions.

Kahini Iyer March 20, 2016

Pop Culture

Why the Enduring Myth of Mary Poppins Didn’t Need an Update

Raising children is never an easy business. Parents need all the help they can get. There is a reason why my father would once think of our original Mary Poppins VHS tape as a sound investment. Transfixed for the 140 minutes that it played, my sister and I would be out of his and my mother’s way.

Shreevatsa Nevatia March 2, 2016