Alaka Sahani
Alaka Sahani is a Senior Editor with The Indian Express, Mumbai. She received the National Film Award for Best Film Critic, 2013. Her Swarna Kamal citation states that the jury recommended her for the award for “highlighting facets of cinema beyond glamour and gossip by delving deeper into the contemporary relevance of iconic filmmakers”. In her articles and interviews, she goes beyond the tried-and-tested templates to offer insights into the workings of Indian cinema. Her choice of subjects is eclectic: from A-listers to emerging talents; the history of Indian cinema and its various trends; many strands of contemporary India and world cinema. While watching movies has been her lifelong passion, she also closely follows theatre in Mumbai.
Articles By Alaka Sahani
Oscars 2019: Cutting it short
Editors, cinematographers and directors from the Indian film industry on the recent decision by The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to not televise four technical categories.
Gully Boy director Zoya Akhtar: My privilege is the opportunity and freedom I was given
Director-writer Zoya Akhtar on Gully Boy, if gender matters behind the camera and what changed with the launch of her production house.
Sonam Kapoor: I do a film only if I believe that it is truly progressive and liberal
Sonam Kapoor Ahuja talks about the philosophy that guides her choice of movies, the stories she wants to tell and her idea of perfect love.
Bhumi Pednekar: On screen, I love celebrating my flaws
Actor Bhumi Pednekar talks about her intense preparation for Sonchiriya and having the option of cherry-picking her projects.
A Cut Above the Rest
In Mumbai recently, the team of Japanese film One Cut from the Dead spoke of how their low-budget project became a surprise top-grosser
It’s a balancing act to retain the Jewish ethos in a multicultural country like India: Esther David
Esther David’s new book pieces together a picture of the Bene Israel community, with all its idiosyncrasies.
The state today is hostile to dissent…But we must not surrender the space that remains: Sunil Shanbag
Theatre-maker Sunil Shanbag, 62, on reimagining Prithviraj Kapoor for the contemporary times, and why it is important to make history inclusive.
Man with the Punch Lines
Writer-actor Kader Khan was a versatile talent who influenced the narrative of Hindi cinema in the ’80s and ’90s
Take a Bow
Theatre festival, Thespo, just turned 20 and is aiming to build a global community of theatre enthusiasts.
#MeToo: The Road Ahead
The conversation started by #MeToo in Bollywood and the impact of digital entertainment will continue well into the coming year.
Tale of a Prankster King
Puppeteer Anurupa Roy brings her new play for children to Prithvi Theatre.
Dangerous Liaisons
Lead actors of Narcos: Mexico on being in India and the viewers’ love for the series
God’s Own Women: Exploring the decline of the devadasis tradition in modern India
A new novel explores the tradition of devadasis and its decline in modern India.
Director’s Notes
On the sidelines of his directorial debut Sa's release at IFFI, singer Arijit Singh spoke to of challenges of making a film.
The film industry has always been male-dominated: Shaji N Karun
Malayalam filmmaker Shaji N Karun on the myth that multiplexes promote indie cinema, why women should be on film juries and the universality of our stories.
With his directorial debut at IFFI, singer Arijit Singh speaks of the challenges of making a film
“Filmmaking is tough with so many aspects of a movie to be taken care of; it’s easier to create a song,” says Arijit Singh.
Women’s Collective needs to go beyond holding a placard: S Durga director Sanal Sasidharan
Sanal Sasidharan, who is at Film Bazaar with a new film, talks about #MeToo and why women actors need to look for new allies.
Drawing From Reality
Director of Kharvas, which opened the non- feature film segment of Indian Panorama at IFFI, Aditya Suhas Jambhale talks about his influences.
International Film Festival of India 2018 begins
International Film Festival of India 2018 opening ceremony began with a tribute to period dramas in Indian cinema.
Festival Scope
As Goa hosts IFFI for the 15th year and tries to get past the controversies that surrounded the festival last year, here’s a look at the line-up.
