Writer & Director: Mani Ratnam Cast: Arvind Swamy, Manisha Koirala, Nassar  Cinematography: Rajiv Menon Music: AR Rahman Bombay (1995), directed by Mani Ratnam, is a love story of Shekhar, a Hindu boy, and Shaila, a Muslim girl, who elope to Bombay amidst societal disapproval. Raising twin sons, their world shatters during the 1993 Bombay riots, as communal tensions threaten their family. Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala deliver nuanced performances, enhanced by A.R. Rahman’s...

Director: Abhishek Chaubey Screenplay: Sudip Sharma & Abhishek Chaubey Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan & Diljit Dosanjh Cinematography: Rajeev Ravi Music: Amit Trivedi Background Score: Benedict Taylor *Udta Punjab* is a bold 2016 film that tackles the drug crisis in Punjab through the intertwined stories of a rockstar (Shahid Kapoor), an immigrant worker (Alia Bhatt), a cop (Diljit Dosanjh), and a doctor (Kareena Kapoor Khan). The film, directed by...

Screenplay & Direction: Pankaj Kapur Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Supriya Pathak, Anupam Kher, Manoj Pahwa  Music: Pritam Lyrics: Irshad Kamil Cinematographer: Binod Pradhan “Mausam” (2011), directed by veteran actor Pankaj Kapur, is a poignant love story that takes its audience on a journey spanning years and continents, touching on love, separation, and longing. Starring Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor in lead roles, the movie is a romantic drama frozen in time, rooted in...

Writer & Director: Anurag Kashyap Based on: Hussain Zaidi’s book “Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts” Cast: Pavan Malhotra, Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Gajraj Rao, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Pratima Kazmi, Imtiaz Ali, Nawazuddin Siddiqui Cinematography: Natarajan Subramaniam Music: Indian Ocean

Director: Madhur Bhandarkar Screenplay: Mohan Azaad Dialogues: Mohan Azaad & Masud Mirza Cast: Tabu, Atul Kulkarni, Ananya Khare Cinematography: Rajeev Ravi Music: Raju Singh Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar in 2001, Chandni Bar is a film that doesn’t just tell a story; it makes a statement. Through its raw, gritty portrayal of the lives of bar dancers and the world they inhabit, it forces the viewer to confront uncomfortable truths about society. The performances, particularly by...

Director: Omung Kumar Producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali Screenplay: Saiwyn Quadras Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Darshan Kumar & Sunil Thapa Cinematography: Keiko Nakahara Songs: Shashi Suman & Shivamm Pathak Background Score: Rohit Kulkarni Released in 2014, "Mary Kom" is a film that transcends the boundaries of a conventional sports drama. It is a powerful and moving portrayal of a woman's relentless pursuit of her dreams, despite the numerous obstacles in her path. With its...

Director: Kabir Khan Story: Aditya Chopra Screenplay: Sandeep Shrivastava Cast: John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Irrfan Khan & Nawazuddin Siddiqui Cinematography: Aseem Mishra Songs: Pritam Background Score: Julius Packiam Producer: Yash Raj Films The 2009 Hindi film New York, directed by Kabir Khan, is a raw, unflinching narrative that delves into the traumatic aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The film explores themes of identity, prejudice, and the far-reaching...

Writer & Director: Prakash Jha Screenplay: Prakash Jha & Anjum Rajabali Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Nana Patekar, Manoj Bajpayee, Arjun Rampal, Katrina Kaif, Naseeruddin Shah, Chetan Pandit, Sarah Thompson & Shruti Seth Cinematography: Sachin K Krishn Background Score: Wayne Sharpe Raajneeti (2010), directed by Prakash Jha, is a compelling political thriller that delves into the complexities of Indian politics, drawing inspiration from the Mahabharata. The film...

Director & Producer: Yash Chopra Story & Screenplay: Honey Irani Dialogues: Rahi Masoon Raza Cast: Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman & Anupam Kher Cinematography: Manmohan Singh Music: Shiv- Hari Yash Chopra's 1991 film 'Lamhe' is a bold and timeless love saga that was initially controversial but has since gained cult status. It tells the story of Viren (Anil Kapoor), who falls in love with Pallavi (Sridevi), and later with her daughter Pooja (also played by Sridevi)....

Director: Vishal Bhardwaj Screenplay: Vishal Bhardwaj, Robin Bhatt, Abhishek Chaubey Based on “Othello” by William Shakespeare Cast: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Konkana Sen Sharma, Naseeruddin Shah, Deepak Dobriyal, Bipasha Basu Cinematography: Tassaduq Hussain Dialogues, Music & Background Score: Vishal Bhardwaj Lyrics: Gulzar "Omkara," a 2006 crime drama directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s "Othello," set in rural...

Dor (2006) Director: Sriram Raghavan Writer: Sriram Raghavan & Pooja Ladha Surti Producer: Ram Gopal Varma Cast: Urmila Matondkar, Saif Ali Khan, Seema Biswas, Aditya Srivastava, Pratima Kazmi Cinematography: C.K. Muraleedharan Music & Background Score: Amar Mohile "Ek Hasina Thi" is a 2004 Hindi neo-noir thriller directed by Sriram Raghavan, starring Urmila Matondkar and Saif Ali Khan. The film follows Sarika, a simple woman whose life is shattered when she falls in love...

Dor (2006) Screenplay & Direction: Nagesh Kukunoor Based on the Malayalam film “Perumazhakkalam” by Kamal Cast: Ayesha Takia, Gul Panag, Shreyas Talpade, Girish Karnad, Uttara Baokar & Prateeksha Lonkar Music & Background Score: Salim- Sulaiman In a cinematic landscape dominated by commercial blockbusters, the 2006 Hindi movie "Dor" stands out as a beacon of nuanced storytelling and emotional depth. Nagesh Kukunoor's masterful direction, combined with stellar performances by...

Screenplay & Direction: Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi Based on novel “Pinjar” by Amrita Pritam Cast: Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpayee, Sanjay Suri, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Isha Koppikar, Sandali Sinha, Lillete Dubey, Kulbhushan Kharbanda & Farida Jalal Cinematography: Santosh Thundiyil Music: Uttam Singh Lyrics: Gulzar Released in 2003, "Pinjar" is a poignant period drama that brings to life Amrita Pritam's classic novel of the same name. Directed by Dr. Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, the film...

Writer & Director: Rajat Mukherjee Producer: Ram Gopal Varma Cast: Urmila Matondkar, Fardeen Khan, Sonali Kulkarni, Suresh Oberoi & Rajpal Yadav Cinematography: Sanjay Kapoor Music: Sandeep Chowta "Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya" (2001) explores the dark side of unrequited love through Ria (Urmila Matondkar), whose obsession with photographer Jai (Fardeen Khan) spirals into madness, jeopardizing his life and marriage. Directed by Rajat Mukherjee, the film delves into psychological drama,...

Director: Jag Mundhra Writers: Carl Austin & Rahila Gupta Based on: The Circle of Light (book) Cast: Aishwarya Rai, Miranda Richardson, Robbie Coltrane, Naveen Andrews,Ray Panthaki & Nandita Das Cinematography: Madhu Ambat Music: A.R. Rahman In this episode, we delve into the gripping 2006 biographical drama "Provoked," featuring Aishwarya Rai in one of her most powerful roles. The film portrays the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, an Indian woman who endures years of domestic...

Director: Pradeep Sarkar Based on: Parineeta novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Sanjay Dutt, Dia Mirza, Raima Sen, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Cinematography: Natarajan Subramaniam Music: Shantanu Moitra "Parineeta" ("The Married Woman") is a 2005 Hindi-language musical romance film adapted from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1914 Bengali novella of the same name. Directed by Pradeep Sarkar in his debut, the screenplay was...

Director: Shakun Batra Screenplay: Shakun Batra & Ayesha Devitre Dhillon Producer: Karan Johar for Dharma Productions Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Fawad Khan, Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Rajat Kapoor & Ratna Pathak Shah Cinematography: Jeffery F. Bierman Songs: Amaal Mallik, Badshah, Arko, Tanishk Bagchi, Benny Dayal, Nucleya Background Score: Sameer Uddin "Kapoor & Sons" is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language drama film that stands out as a masterclass in contemporary cinema....

Writer, Director & Producer: Shoaib Mansoor Cast: Humaima Malik, Atif Aslam, Iman Ali, Mahira Khan, Shafqat Cheema, Manzar Sehbai, Zaib Rehman, Amr Kashmiri Music: Atif Aslam, Shoaib Mansoor, Sajjad Ali, Jafiey, Ahmed Jahanzeb, Hadiqa Kiyani, Ali Javed Bol, a Pakistani film directed by Shoaib Mansoor, was released in 2011 and quickly garnered attention for its bold and unflinching exploration of social issues in Pakistani society. This film is not just a narrative but a profound...

Director: Tanuja Chandra Writer: Mahesh Bhatt, Girish Dhamija Cast: Akshay Kumar, Preity Zinta & Ashutosh Rana  Lyrics: Sameer Music: Jatin- Lalit "Sangharsh," directed by Tanuja Chandra and penned by Mahesh Bhatt, stands as a hallmark in the genre of psychological thrillers within Hindi cinema. Released in 1999, this film diverged sharply from the conventional narratives prevalent at the time, delivering a chilling exploration of crime, sacrifice, and redemption.

Lajja (2001) Story, Direction & Dialogues: Rajkumar Santoshi Cast: Manisha Koirala, Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Mahima Chaudhary, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Ajay Devgan, Danny Denzongpa, Suresh Oberoi, Gulshan Grover, Samir Soni, Rohini Hattangadi, Govind Namdeo, Sharman Joshi, Johnny Lever & Farida Jalal Lyrics: Sameer & Prasoon Joshi Music: Anu Malik Background Score: Illaiyaraaja Written Description: Released in 2001, "Lajja," directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, is a film that...

Director: Mahesh Bhatt Writer: Mahesh Bhatt & Tanuja Chandra Cast: Paresh Rawal, Pooja Bhatt, Manoj Bajpayee, Sharad Kapoor, Zohra Sehgal, Ashutosh Rana, Akshay Anand, Sulabha Deshpande & Kamal Chopra Lyrics: Nida Fazli, Rahat Indori & Indeevar Music: Anu Malik In this episode, we're delving into the 1997 Hindi film "Tamanna," a touching and pioneering work directed by Mahesh Bhatt. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Bombay, this film unfolds the compelling themes of identity,...

Story, Screenplay & Direction: Anurag Basu Producer: Ronnie Screwvala  Cast: Dharmendra, Shilpa Shetty, Irrfan Khan, Kay Kay Menon, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kangana Ranaut, Sharman Joshi, Nafisa Ali, Shiney Ahuja Music: Pritam Lyrics: Sayeed Quadri Background Score: Raju Singh Anurag Basu, a director known for his eclectic filmography, ranging from bold thrillers to experimental narratives, brings to life the everyday struggles and dreams of metropolitan inhabitants. "Life In A Metro"...

Story & Direction: Mohit Suri Producer: Mahesh Bhatt for Vishesh Films Cast: Kunal Kemmu, Emraan Hashmi, Smiley Suri, Ashutosh Rana, Amrita Singh, Deepal Shaw, Atul Parchure, Nisha Lalwanil Music: Anu Malik, Jal Band, Amon Amarth, Soilwork Background Score: Raju Singh "Kalyug", directed by Mohit Suri, emerges as a compelling narrative that delves deep into the dark crevices of voyeurism and the illegal pornography trade, a subject matter that was, at the time, both taboo and...

Page 3 (2005) Director: Madhur Bhandarkar Screenplay: Manoj Tyagi, Nina Arora Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Boman Irani, Atul Kulkarni, Sandhya Mridul, Tara Sharma, Anju Mahendroo, Soni Razdan, Upendra Limaye, Suhasini Mulay & Manoj Joshi Music: Virgin Emi, Shamir Tandon Background Score: Raju Singh In this week's episode of our podcast, we delve into the 2005 film "Page 3," a piece that stands out for its unapologetic portrayal of the lives behind the glitz and glamor of Indian high...