Shubhra Gupta is film critic and senior columnist with the Indian Express. She watches world cinema for delectation, Hollywood for fun, and Bollywood for work. She has a huge capacity to sit through terrible Bollywood movies, but no patience at all with bad Hollywood. And world cinema has to be really cutting edge to grab her attention, and keep it. When she began reviewing, over 20 years ago, people would commiserate and say, “oh, you poor thing, you have to watch Hindi cinema”. But soon, Bollywood became cool, cool, cool. So now she hears this more often “oh my god, you watch Bollyood films, can you introduce me to Shah Rukh Khan”? No, she can’t, sorry, though she can vouch for the fact that he is really sharp and good fun in conversation. But what she can do, and has done week after week, month after month, year after year, without a break, is to lead you into the magical world of movies, and share her experiences of watching all those hundreds of films over the years. In her reviews and columns, she lets you into what she likes, and doesn’t, and invites you to be bewitched. And to know how to choose between the good ones and the turkeys, and how you can take away something from even the really ghastly ones. Because life is a movie, isn’t it? Bahut picture baaki hain, mere dost.

March 20, 2009 16:07 IST
What happens when you think you swing both ways? Tread a 'tedha medha path,with trepidation,thats what.
Fri, Mar 20, 2009March 13, 2009 17:33 IST
Jai (Fardeen) is a cop pretending to be a motor mechanic. Veeru (Kunal) is a car thief with delusions of grandeur.
Fri, Mar 13, 2009March 13, 2009 17:30 IST
Sooni Taraporevala,long-time associate of Mira Nair,and experienced script-writer,has come up with a marvellous first feature.
Fri, Mar 13, 2009March 13, 2009 17:24 IST
Gulal tells the story of an India struggling to come to terms with its contemporary identity and complicated histories. And Kashyap nearly pulls it off.
Fri, Mar 13, 2009
March 06, 2009 17:02 IST
So many issues make for confusion and incoherence. And an opportunity to bung in as many stereotypical Americans and NRIs as the script could accommodate.
Fri, Mar 06, 2009March 06, 2009 16:54 IST
Paresh is the producer,who is about to hang himself in the first shot. You wish he had.
Fri, Mar 06, 2009
March 06, 2009 16:50 IST
While the goings good,though,13 B piles on the chills,working hard at not making them obvious.
Fri, Mar 06, 2009February 24, 2009 03:19 IST
Sometimes,things are just meant to be. Slumdog Millionaires takeover of this years Oscars was ordained. Or,as Jamal says in the film, It was destiny......
Tue, Feb 24, 2009
February 20, 2009 17:09 IST
The film opens with New York-based Roshan (Abhishek),flying in with his dying grandmom (Waheeda),straight into the bosom of her large,extended family and neighbours.
Fri, Feb 20, 2009February 15, 2009 04:16 IST
E - Square,Inox,Gold Big Cinemas,Big Cinemas Chinchwad City Pride Satara Road,City Pride Kothrud,Mangala,Neelayam,Laxminarayan,Vasant,Victory,West End,Fame Jai Ganesh Vision Akurdi...
Sun, Feb 15, 2009February 13, 2009 19:43 IST
What do you do when your building is sealed? Why,you just move into another,with the help of shady property dealers who come leaping out to help you,but only want to fleece you.
Fri, Feb 13, 2009February 13, 2009 19:39 IST
Back in the early 80s,a series of brutal murders held Bombay in thrall. The victims were all pavement dwellers,killed in their sleep,with the same weapon: a big,heavy stone was used to smash their heads.
Fri, Feb 13, 2009February 13, 2009 09:48 IST
But except for a couple of sequences which hit the emotional spot,Priyadarshan's latest is devoid of the essential drama that would have made 'Billu' a memorable film.
Fri, Feb 13, 2009February 06, 2009 18:17 IST
Sometimes fantasies are better than the real thing. That's what 'Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye' is based on,with the male lead being a figment of the heroine's imagination.
Fri, Feb 06, 2009February 06, 2009 18:16 IST
Okay,here's a question. If a film offers you Govinda,Rajpal Yadav,Om Puri and Asrani,what would you expect? At the very least,at least ONE sequence that can make you laugh.
Fri, Feb 06, 2009
February 06, 2009 10:01 IST
Back when love was a compendium of silences and sighs,Devdas was an icon. These days,when it's more a matter of working off those pesky hormones as quickly as possible,the legendary lover is regarded as a champion loser.
Fri, Feb 06, 2009January 31, 2009 03:32 IST
The other film of the week is about Indias other junoon: Luck By Chance backgrounds cinema,Victory does ditto with cricket.
Mon, Mar 17, 2025January 31, 2009 03:32 IST
Is being a good actor enough to make you a star? In Zoya Akhtars detailed sketch of Bollywood and its colourful,conflicted denizens...
Fri, Jun 26, 2020January 30, 2009 19:55 IST
Is being a good actor enough to make you a star? In Zoya Akhtar's detailed sketch of Bollywood and its colourful,conflicted denizens,the most important ingredient in a wannabe's portfolio seems to be that elusive thing called luck.
Fri, Jan 30, 2009January 30, 2009 19:55 IST
The other film of the week is about India's other 'junoon' : 'Luck By Chance' backgrounds cinema,'Victory' does ditto with cricket.
Fri, Jan 30, 2009January 25, 2009 02:02 IST
Dharavi boy Jamal Malik,server of chai,keeper of secrets,is one of the wise. He's learnt his wisdom on the streets...
Sun, Jan 25, 2009January 24, 2009 11:56 IST
Our film? Or theirs? The question has steadily been gathering steam since Slumdog Millionaire released late last year to hosannahs in the US and the UK.
Sat, Jan 24, 2009January 24, 2009 03:03 IST
Dharavi boy Jamal Malik,server of chai,keeper of secrets,is one of the wise. He's learnt his wisdom on the streets,and he uses it to become a millio naire.
Sat, Jan 24, 2009January 24, 2009 01:54 IST
Wafer-thin model is handed keys to plush apartment by loving boyfriend. She is thrilled. So is he.
Fri, Mar 28, 2025January 24, 2009 01:33 IST
Wafer-thin model is handed keys to plush apartment by loving boyfriend. She is thrilled...
Sat, Jan 24, 2009



