Watch: The Female Gaze: Redefining Cinema on the Global Stage
Filmmaker and actor Nandita Das, actor Shahana Goswami and director Jeo Baby discussed censorship and OTT platforms in the discussion titled 'The Female Gaze: Redefining Cinema on the Global Stage' at The Hindu Huddle 2025 moderated by The Hindu's Shilajit Mitra.
Films that are being made in India now face three kinds of censorship, said Das. One is from the official body, then self-censorship and then there are some self-proclaimed custodians of culture, she said, adding that free speech is fundamental for any form or art, literature or expression to thrive.
Malayalam cinema was one among the Indian film industries which received unprecedented pan-Indian attention since the pandemic period, thanks to OTTs. However, Baby pointed out that last year only 4-5 Malayalam films, among the 80-odd total movies produced by the industry, made it to OTT.
Goswami, who acted in Santosh, which was banned by CBFC, noted that the hope was with the audience.
Read more: Nandita Das, Shahana Goswami and Jeo Baby discuss censorship and OTT platforms
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
9 minutes ago
- News18
Creating A Safe Space For Indie Dogs: Ramesh Narayan Launches Special Short Film And Book
Last Updated: The adman said he decided he should take baby steps at least and start the movement to establish the indie as a brand For advertising mogul Ramesh Narayan, indie dogs have always been more than just pets; they are family. Currently, he is busy with the launch of his short film and a lavish coffee table book titled Missy's Musings. Speaking about the inspiration behind his mission to create a safe environment for indie dogs, he says, 'We have had indies at home for some time now. Missy is our third indie, and in fact, one of them, Peppy, was brought home from Chennai. She was found on the roads there. We have experienced the real love and joy of having an Indian dog. [However,] if you happen to go out on a walk, you will see that 10 out of 10 dogs on a leash are these breed dogs. So, as an advertising person, I thought that the only reason why anyone would not have an indie is that it is not a brand. For example, Vodafone made the pug into a brand. Unfortunately for the pug, the advertising still worked. So, I thought that we should take baby steps at least and start the movement to establish the indie as a brand. The time is right. Everything Indian now is good. When we start building the brand, I hope it'll have a lot more value than it has now." So, when did his love for dogs begin? Reflecting on this, he says, 'Many years ago, when our son was about 12, he's now 30, so about 18 years ago, he came to me and said, 'I want a dog, Daddy'. And he was after me, pestering. I asked him, 'What kind of a dog would you like, Sunny?' And he said, 'I would like a pug.' I asked him, 'Do you want a dog or you want a brand?' And he said, 'What does that mean? I don't understand.' So I said, 'Go and ask your mom and come back the next day'. He came back the next day and said, 'Dad, I want a dog.' And at that time, Welfare for Stray Dogs was holding an adoption drive. So we went, and the first dog, who was an indie, Sugar, came home. And then after you experience it once, you are sold on it." According to Narayan, indie dogs are just as good as other breeds. 'It is hardy, low maintenance, and as loving and caring as any other dog. And it's free! What more do you want?" he says. Talking about his short film and book, he explains, 'The entire film has been made as a labour of love. I happened to mention it to Nabil Abbas, who's a well-known entertainment industry personality. He said, 'I am there for you.' Pooja Bhatt said, 'I would love to act in this film.' She also lent her voice to it. And so I have made this now in the name of the Rotary Club of Bombay." He further says, 'During Covid, I had this idea: can a dog write? And I said, 'I'll try it.' And amazingly, I found a whole lot of people were playing along with it. And slowly, I found that Missy had a larger following than I had. However, if the idea is to create a brand, it has to be properly presented in a coffee table book and richly illustrated." First Published: June 03, 2025, 21:03 IST
India Today
18 minutes ago
- India Today
Shankar Mahadevan rocks musical tribute to armed forces ahead of IPL 2025 final
Shankar Mahadevan delivered a special musical performance to pay tribute to the Indian armed forces ahead of the IPL 2025 final between RCB and PBKS at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 3. The performance was done to honour the armed forces for their incredible work during Operation Sindhoor was a decisive military operation executed by the Indian army in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. Salute to the Indian armed forces. A special dance performance was done for the Indian armed up the #Final with an enthusiastic Tribute Ceremony #TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025advertisementShankar Mahadevan presented a medley of songs that celebrated the spirit of India. The musical legend was supported by his sons, Siddharth and Shivam Mahadevan. Ahead of the musical performance, a beautiful video package was played, honouring the armed forces. Mahadevan started with the song 'Bharat' from Manikarnika. The next was the Lakshya title song, that got the crowd on their feet as Indian flags were waved by the fans up was the Ae Watan song from Raazi. Another song from the movie Lakshya was played the next and it was Kandon Se Milte Hain Kandhe. Next up was the ever iconic 'Vande Mataram' sung by Mahadevan and his sons, followed by Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawanon Ka, an iconic song from Naya Daur.A patriotic tribute ceremony for the Indian Armed Forces Shankar Mahadevan with a performance worthy of the occasion #TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @Shankar_Live IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025advertisementThe famous song 'Lehra Do' from the movie 83 was next and followed by the 'Hindustani' track from the movie Dus as the atmosphere inside the stadium was Shankar Mahadevan said about the performanceShankar Mahadevan talked about performing in the IPL final to Hindustan Times and said he was humbled by the opportunity to perform for the armed forces."Of course, cricket is such a big sport here, and to be chosen to perform at the closing ceremony is really gratifying. I am humbled at this opportunity, and since I will be performing with both my sons, it makes it even more special," said updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Tune InTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Hindustan Times
22 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Chess: Four Indians in world's top 10 for first the time
Bengaluru: Away from the pitched battle between current and former world champions in the Norwegian city of Stavanger – which has India's D Gukesh sweeping the headlines – another Indian is quietly breaking barriers and raising the roof. For the first time ever, India has four active chess players in the top 10 of the live ratings – Gukesh - world No.4 (Elo 2782.3) Arjun Erigaisi - world No.5 (Elo 2772.6) R Praggnanandhaa - world No.7 (Elo 2765.9) and Aravindh Chithambaram - world No.10 (Elo 2753.5). The newest entrant to this elite group is 25-year-old Aravindh. The Grandmaster from Madurai breached Elo 2750 for the first time in his career over the last weekend after a dominant 27-move win against Xu Xiangyu in Round 3 of the Stepan Avagyan Memorial in Armenia. Praggnanandhaa is the other Indian in the field and the only other player rated above 2700. Apart from these four top-ten players, the three other Indian players in the 2700+ bracket are Viswanathan Anand (Elo 2743), Vidit Gujrathi (Elo 2720) and P Harikrishna (Elo 2703). Twenty-year-old Nihal Sarin broke into the Elo 2700 club at the Dubai Open last week, but has since slipped. For Aravindh, the climb up the rankings, even if belated, has been impressive. He broke into the scene as a 14-year-old who took down a clutch of Grandmasters to win the Chennai GM Open in 2013, held on the sidelines of the World Chess Championship between Anand and Magnus Carlsen. He was touted as the next big thing in Indian chess but inexplicably flew under the radar before returning with noteworthy performances last year. In recent times, he has pulled off a string of upsets – defeating American GM Hikaru Nakamura (2024 World Blitz Championship), Erigaisi (2024 Chennai Grand Masters), Alireza Firouzja (2025 Superbet Poland) and Jan-Krzysztof Duda (2025 Superbet Poland) and won the Prague Masters earlier this year. 'Aravindh should have perhaps reached this level five years ago,' says coach RB Ramesh, 'He had the potential but confidence was an issue. It was holding him back. He now realises that he's getting older and the younger players are getting ahead of him, Typically, in such situations a player can give up and begin to believe that their time is over with younger players taking over. But Aravindh has not given up, he is motivated to push back. There is a sense of urgency now.'
