Saturday Feeling: Everyone's got a ‘Sholay' memory
Sholay, perhaps the greatest popular Indian film, turns 50 next week. Most people have a Sholay reference of their own. Even people like me who grew up in places where Hindi wasn't terribly popular. To date, I haven't seen Sholay in full. I know the songs. I can spot scenes from it. I know when it's being quoted (well, somewhat) but I don't really understand it. Yet—just like people who have watched the film—I have memories of it. What makes a film seem timeless, even iconic, and a part of popular culture and memory? It's the question we attempt with essays to mark 50 years of Sholay. While Jai Arjun Singh recalls watching Sholay, which released on 15 August 1975, at different ages and finding layers of meanings with each rewatching, Nasreen Munni Kabir discusses subtitling the film in English. And could Sholay have been the hit it was without Gabbar Singh? Raja Sen pays tribute to Hindi cinema's most iconic villain. And then there are all your popular favourites—books to read, shows and exhibitions to see and ideas for quick weekend meals.
Match your meal to the music
You probably have noticed it—the music in a restaurant can elevate or ruin your meal. Chefs and restauranteurs know it too, and a small crop of them have taken this attention to music a step further. Listening rooms inspired by Japanese music cafes are popping up across Indian cities, with a focus on intimate bar experiences framed by analogue music. Shrabonti Bagchi visits these restaurants that pay as much attention to music as food, and match the menu to the mood and the sound. Read the story.
'Ghich Pich' review: A diverting coming-of-age film
A trio of best friends in high school in a small, charming city at the turn of the millennium. It's a formaula that's perfect for an uncomplicated yet resonant film. Ankur Singla's Ghich Pich is a simple but reasonably effective slice of nostalgia set in Chandigarh, writes Uday Bhatia. Read the review.
Michael Douglas and male insecurity
Popular films have always been used as loudspeakers for our worst impulses. This is the central premise of Jessa Crispin's new book, What is Wrong With Men: Patriarchy, the Crisis of Masculinity, and How (Of Course) Michael Douglas Films Explain Everything. The US ushered in a number of legislative and societal reforms in the 1960s and 1970s, the goal being equal rights for women. Crispin locates Michael Douglas as representative of a certain kind of liberal man who struggles to cope with the shifting role of men in such a landscape, writes Aditya Mani Jha. Read more.
Why surrogacy scams persist in India
A decade ago, the business of fertility treatment was at its peak in India. With guidelines firmly in place, there were well-established clinics with experienced doctors, state-of-the-art equipment and streamlined services that attracted couples from all over the world. The ban on commercial surrogacy in 2019—and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act in 2021—changed things. Today, the fertility business is in chaos. Until lawmakers understand that women have reproductive rights and that women's labour doesn't come free, we will continue seeing 'fertility' scams like the recent instance of a doctor in Hyderabad who offered fake fertility treatments and was involved in trafficking babies, writes Gita Aravamudan. Read more.
Samsung's foldable gets a makeover
For most of the world, Samsung is synonymous with the foldable phone category, having been the pioneer of the form for over half a decade. Of late though, iterative updates and heated competition had made it feel a little behind the times. With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, that changes, writes Tushar Kanwar. The foldable phone that costs close to ₹ 2 lakh looks like it's fresh off a successful diet, transforming into one of the slimmest book-style foldables around. Read the review.
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Economic Times
23 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Sholay@50: From Sambha to Kalia, supporting parts that became pop culture mainstay
Synopsis Ramesh Sippy's 'Sholay' is remembered for its iconic characters, including the supporting cast who, despite limited screen time, left a lasting impact. From Viju Khote's Kaalia and Mac Mohan's Sambha to Asrani's jailer and A.K. Hangal's Rahim Chacha, these characters propelled the plot and evoked emotions. Agencies New Delhi, Any mention of "Sholay" instantly evokes the image of the unforgettable pair of Jai-Veeru and the many main characters that populate its runtime of over three hours, including the revenge-seeking Thakur, the menacing Gabbar, Basanti and the enduring charm of Ramesh Sippy's 1975 cult classic also lies in its array of supporting characters, some in the background forever and some who pop up in the frame to utter just one sentence. Despite their limited screen time, these characters have earned a permanent spot for themselves in the collective memory of cinephiles. "Sholay", penned by screenwriting legends Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, gives audiences a choice to pick their favourite character from a vast bouquet -- from Viju Khote's Kaalia, Macmohan's Sambha to Jagdeep's Soorma Bhopali. From Asrani's Jailer, A K Hangal's Rahim chacha to Leela Mishra's people were meant to propel the plot, infuse humour or evoke pathos. Over the past five decades, they have become as memorable as the film's leading artists. And in the process, these brief appearances have become the defining roles of their brought to life by actor Viju Khote, is a prime example. Khote had only two scenes in the film. He first appears when Kaalia and two other dacoits visit Ramgarh to collect foodgrain for Gabbar's gang. In the second scene, Kaalia and his colleagues are standing in front of their master, empty-handed and trembling with fear, prompting Gabbar to mouth the famous dialogue: "Tera kya hoga Kaalia?".Kaalia stutters and says, "Sardar, maine aapka namak khaya hai," to which the dacoit leader laughs and responds: "Ab goli khaa." Gabbar is not done. He first plays a game of Russian roulette with them and when they are almost relieved to be alive, he kills all three who died in 2019 at 77, essayed many roles in his lifetime, including his comic turn as Robert in "Andaaz Apna Apna" and in the sitcom "Zabaan Sambhalke", but no character of his could come close to Kaalia in terms of popularity."For many years after the film's release, people on the road would recognise me and repeat what Amjad had told me: 'Tera kya hoga Kaalia'... It signifies the tremendous popularity of the movie. And that people liked Kaalia as a character," the actor told Times of India in played by Mac Mohan, is another character that despite his one line has lived on. It takes place when Gabbar asks Sambha, perched on a hilltop, about the bounty placed on him by the police, clearly enjoying his this, Sambha replies, "Poore pacchas hazaar." After "Sholay", Mac Mohan did over 200 films till his demise in 2010, most of them negative. But in public memory, he remained an old interview with Tabassum Talkies, the actor said, "'Sholay' created many records, and I believe this is another - that an artist became so popular after playing such a small role. I've never heard of or seen anything like it before." The actor also said he shot many scenes for the movie, which included travelling to Bengaluru, but when he saw the final print, he was heartbroken as he was barely there in the film."I had to search for myself in the film and I thought I shot for so many days but they kept this only. I went to Ramesh Sippy and asked him why even kept that scene. He told me that if the movie works, then everyone would start calling you 'Sambha'." In the film, characters like Asrani as the jailer and Jagdeep as Soorma Bhopali balanced the heightened violence and vengeance with lighter these years later, the comedy still evokes laughter. Asrani's character was clearly modelled after Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator" and carried a post-colonial hangover as he would declare his greatness by repeating the phrase, "Hum angrezo ke zamaane ke jailor hai".Jagdeep's comic act as Soorma Bhopali emerged out of Javed Akhtar's lived in experiences in Bhopal and the character's exaggerated mannerisms, tall tales and distinct accent has made him a fan favourite. The character was a caricature of the small-town braggart, which audiences found relatable and Mac Mohan, Jagdeep had also shot for the movie extensively but his scenes were also chopped from the final cut. He got to play the main lead by producing and directing a movie based on and titled "Soorma Bhopali" in the 80s with Dharmendra and Bachchan and many others from the movie did cameos in "Soorma Bhopali".Jagdeep, whose real name was Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jafri, passed away in July 2020 and at the time, Sippy remembered the actor for his contributions to the movie."It takes a superb artist to get all the nuances of a local character like that. Comedy is not easy. The timing has to be perfect and the reaction has to be right. It is not possible without talent. As a director, I cannot make an actor do comedy. I can only ask for improvisation," Sippy told PTI. Leela Mishra as mausi or maternal aunt of Hema Malini's Basanti also shines in her brief scenes, where she is discussing Veeru's marriage proposal for her niece with Jai who cleverly lists the bad habits of his friend in front of her. A drunk Veeru finally takes matters into his own hands, climbs the water tank and threatens to jump unless mausi agrees to his marriage with Basanti. While these characters provided comic relief, veteran actor A K Hangal's portrayal of Rahim chacha brought a touch of quiet tragedy to the Chacha is a blind elderly villager of Ramgarh. In one of the most poignant moments, Gabbar's men kill his only son Ahmed during a raid on the words, "Itna sannata kyun hai bhai?", echo through the stunned silence in the scene. The dialogue has now become a part of pop culture, sometimes for humour and sometimes to convey a moment of awkward silence or tension.
Economic Times
23 minutes ago
- Economic Times
'Labubu, the Chinese Bhagwaan': Watch viral video of woman worshipping the doll after girl tells her mother it is a Chinese god
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Viral video shows unusual devotion Labubu: From niche collectible to global fashion trend The Labubu doll craze has captivated all, from kids to the elderly. The mysterious doll has now turned from a niche collectible into a worldwide fashion phenomenon. Recently, a video from India went viral, showing a woman worshipping a Labubu doll, believing it to be a Chinese deity . The clip, shared widely on TikTok and X, has sparked amusement and discussion across social media the video, the woman performs rituals, offers prasad, and shows devotion to the doll. The doll, however, is not a deity but a popular Chinese toy known for its quirky, snaggle-toothed design. The caption on X read:"An Indian girl told her mother that Labubu is a Chinese god. Just hearing this, she started worshipping Labubu. Jai Labubu."The video has received mixed reactions. Some found it funny, while others noted how misinformation can spread online. One user wrote, "This is the last generation of innocence." Another commented, "I see a woman who can accept anything.. who sees divinity in everything.. Just Indian things." A third user added, "Maybe you don't fully get what bhakti means. When you're truly devotional, even a toy can become a source of transformation, because of what's going on inside you. You open up to grace, and grace is everywhere."Labubu was created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and first launched in 2019. Inspired by Nordic mythology, it has gained a strong following among Gen Z and collectors worldwide. Fans often post unboxing videos and showcase limited-edition drops on social media. The dolls have also been spotted with celebrities such as BLACKPINK's Lisa, Rihanna, and Dua Lipa, often attached to luxury for Labubu dolls range from Rs 1,744 for standard editions to Rs 10.5 lakh for rare figures. Despite its popularity, some critics warn about the toy's supposed negative energy, comparing it to Pazuzu, the demon figure from The Exorcist.
Mint
25 minutes ago
- Mint
War 2 review: This Spyverse-Sholay khichdi is overcooked, overlong, and underwhelming — except Hrithik and NTR
Sholay celebrates fifty years since its release in 1975. And Bollywood is still paying homage to Jai and Veeru in what will be termed as 'totes cringe' in this film. Now let's get one thing straight: Both Hrithik and Jr. NTR have fans who would burn the cinemas down had they turned one of them into an antagonist. So YRF has to gingerly add very obvious twists and turns to make both of them look good. And how good does Hrithik look?! He is so gorgeous on screen that even the wolf is mesmerised by him. So there's the table, which has its own rules, and Vikram hasn't earned a place there because he works for Gulati. Throw in a Berlin nightclub and Hrithik working as a mercenar,y you will also have flashes of John Wick thrown in for good measure. But not for long because you will choke on your coffee when you hear Vikram's great voice say, 'Jahan choohe nahi hote hain, wahan billi hoti hai.' Thankfully, there were only a few diehard fans at the FDFS who were recovering from the name of the evil group. It is called 'Kali'. Not 'Kali' the goddess, but 'Kali' as in 'flower bud'. Why would they choose to have such a delicate name? Because the dialogue writer can then have a good guy spout this before dying: Jab jab Kali apna sar uthayegi, tab tab tumhe Kalki banna padega! (does not translate in English!) The chooha-billi chase takes us to gorgeous settings through Italy (The gorgeous Sunset has to be a Tuscany one, and a romantic duet all over Rome. And for the sake of the environment and the marble, don't throw coins into the Trevi fountain, like the two did), Switzerland, supposedly to Japan, Delhi, and also 'Somewhere in the Himalayas', and yes, the fab chase scene in Playa de Anaya in the wonderful city of Salamanca in Spain. The last fight is so good, you forget that John Wick also fought the Ballerina in an ice cave like this one. The chemistry between Hrithik and NTR is so good, and the dialogue so intimate, you will wonder why they had to introduce a romantic thread between Hrithik and Kiara Advani. Her great bikini bod seemed tepid when compared to Kabu-Raghu's connection. And the little backstory of the two pals is so good, it deserves a movie on its own. So beautifully shown, you will forgive the glitches in the VFX when the train crashes into the tunnel. The dosti saga is laid on so thick, the inclusion of the famous Pran song 'Yaari hai imaan' made you wish they hadn't carried on and on about 'Deewar' between the two friends. The cement company ad wrote itself when Hrithik says, 'I did not realise how strong the wall between us would be…' As I said, if you don't have the cinematic references, you will love the action or you will come away saying, 'Deshbhakti sehat ke liye haanikarak hai!' (Patriotism is bad for your health) Verdict: Great action, Gorgeous Hrithik and NTR. Sus storyline. For great cinema, watch Dhadak 2 instead. Manisha Lakhe is a poet, film critic, traveller, founder of Caferati — an online writer's forum, hosts Mumbai's oldest open mic, and teaches advertising, films and communication. She can be reached on Twitter at @manishalakhe.
