Upperstall Blogs

Reading Ray

Ranjan Das — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 02:02:34 +0000

Reading Ray has always been as delightful as watching his films, be it fiction or his articles on cinema. His impeccably crafted prose, both English and Bengali, with its easy flow and delectable flavor, his keen observations, clarity of thought, ready wit and brevity have been the hallmark of most of his writings, just like [...]

A Gentle Man

The Wise One — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:56:33 +0000

I first met Rajen Kothari in 1992, when I assisted Renu Saluja for Rajen’s directorial debut Purush. I met him for the last time on 24th September 2012, at Whistling Woods, where he taught cinematography to students who’ll definitely feel his loss. Had I known that this would be a final meeting, I might have [...]

Not quite the sweet choice

Punjab-da-puttar — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:11:24 +0000

That Indian cinema is largely built on a platform for primarily giving its stressed janta entertainment release of tension is well-known. “Leave your brains behind and watch the film” is something we hear often. Logic, depth, research, understanding pros and cons of issues discussed, putting them in proper context, writing sensible yet entertaining scripts, creating [...]

Goodbye Masterji

Deepa Gahlot — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 07:24:53 +0000

The passing away of AK Hangal marked the end of the kind of characters he played—he was so often in the khadi kurta and Gandhi glasses of the upright Masterji. The man who stood for idealism, honesty and Gandhian values. He must have played masterji, guruji, school principal in at least 25 films—among the fathers, grandfathers, [...]

No Stars Here

Punjab-da-puttar — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:17:02 +0000

Shanghai might just be the last straw that broke this camel’s back. It is a sad but well-known fact that we are perfectly ok with mediocrity in this country at every level. An ‘Andhon Mein Kaana Raja’ gets away with being brilliant and repeatedly drives people into raptures simply because everything else is so bad. [...]

CLOTHES HORSES GALLOP

Deepa Gahlot — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:09:37 +0000

Till a few years ago it seemed like a harmless pass time to comment on, make fun of, or copy the clothes film stars wore. Now it seems to have become a national obsession. Stars can act badly if they please, behave rottenly, fall about drunk or doped or kill people for all anyone cares—what [...]

Thank You for the Music

Punjab-da-puttar — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:14:46 +0000

It is depressing to see that, this, my third consecutive blog piece, deals with my memories of meeting a stalwart of the Hindi Film Industry who is now no more - Music Director, Ravi. And to be honest, I didn’t even hope to get too much from that interview speaking to him mainly about his [...]

Item on the Agenda

Deepa Gahlot — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:40:56 +0000

We always hope, against hope, that young women in our films will at some point reflect in some small measure the lives of women outside the screen. Really long strides have been taken in urban areas and even in villages, small steps towards progress have been made. It’s is so disappointing [...]

You were supposed to have been immortal…

Punjab-da-puttar — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:46:08 +0000

Of course, we are all mortal but if there’s one person whose passing away one is actually unable to take at all, it is Dev Anand. He was so full of living life to its fullest – the man was life itself. Part of the famed Trimurti of heroes who ruled the Hindi film Industry through [...]

Festival/Felicitation Fever in Kolkata

Shoma Chatterjee — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:52:09 +0000

It has to be said - the new CM of West Bengal is quite media savvy. She has every right to be so since she has triumphantly overthrown the Left-ruled Government that thought it was there till Kingdom Come. But she is very fond of felicitating celebrities especially of the cultural world. Every function sponsored, [...]