Latest news with #Gothic-inspired
India Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Bees Saal Baad: Timeless mystery of an English babu, village belle, and desi ghost
As part of our Retro Review series, we revisit 'Bees Saal Baad' (1962), a horror-suspense classic that became the highest-grossing film of its year. This Gothic-inspired gem, blending eerie mystery with haunting melodies, remains a captivating Review: Bees Saal Baad (1962)Cast: Waheeda Rehman, Biswajeet, Manmohan Krishna, Madan Puri, SajjanDirector: Biren NagMusic/Lyrics: Hemant Kumar, Shakeel BadayuniBox-Office Status: Super HitWhere to Watch: YouTube (4K version available)Why to Watch: For its moody Gothic horror, quirky camera work, and Hemant Kumar's haunting soundtrackMoral of the Story: Past wrongs cast long shadows, but vengeance is a hollow pursuitadvertisementIn a dimly lit haveli of Chandangarh, Kumar (Biswajeet) extinguishes the last lamp. A mournful wail pierces the foggy night, followed by the faint jingle of ghungroos. As Kumar steps through a creaking door to investigate, a clock strikes 9:30, and a glass shatters with a jarring crash."The female spirit has returned to claim another jagirdar,' warns the mansion's lone servant, a bent-over man who speaks in riddles. In a stroke of cinematic brilliance, the camera lingers on Kumar's shadowed face before panning to a swinging chandelier. Just as you brace for its collapse, the scene shifts abruptly to a swamp for a surprising comic interlude. This moment is one of many clever red herrings that make 'Bees Saal Baad' a haunting murder mystery - spellbinding even after six decades. Despite its simple plot, the film's moody lighting, inventive camera angles, eerie sound design, and enigmatic characters create a Gothic masterpiece that's impossible to look away these elements converge at the film's halfway mark to craft an unforgettable scene. As the clock strikes 9:30 - a chilling motif—the chandelier sways, a shadow glides past the haveli, and Lata Mangeshkar's haunting voice reverberates through the swamp. 'O, o, o, ooKahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil' her notes soar, blending with the slow rhythm of a flute and a snake charmer's pungi. A woman clutches her child and flees indoors; villagers huddled around a fire tremble in fear. Dressed in a suit and hat, Kumar pursues the eerie melody through the marsh. The camera darts from the marsh to a pair of anklets, white leather boots, jootis, crutches and a man with a false eye patch. 'What's your destiny? Come and find out,' Lata's voice soars through the chaos. It's a masterful fusion of melody, mystery, and artistry, with frames lit like a timeless painting. Watch it on a monsoon midnight, and the scene will make you go on a rewind Plot:The film begins with the rape and suicide of a village girl, whose vengeful spirit, villagers believe, targets every male in the zamindar family to avenge her tragedy. Kumar, the only surviving scion of the zamindars, returns to Chandangarh from abroad after 20 years - hence the title - to investigate the murders of three by warnings, Kumar pursues every clue and eerie sound through a treacherous marsh where the murders occurred. Meanwhile, he falls in love with Radha (Waheeda Rehman), the village hakeem's mystery deepens with a cryptic doctor appearing at odd hours in a buggy, a man feigning disability, and another murder. Is a supernatural killer at large? Or is it one of the many characters with hidden motives? Will Kumar escape the curse, or is it his destiny? The resolution unfolds in the gripping climax. A Nod to Dracula, HolmesDirector Biren Nag, a former art director, frames the narrative as a piece of Gothic art, crafting a masterpiece with Hemant Kumar's haunting melodies. The influence of Western horror cinema is evident. Shots of a horse-drawn buggy cutting through foggy nights echo the shadowy lighting and dramatic visuals of Dracula (1931). The recurring marsh motif and animal sounds -horses whinnying, cats mowing, and bells on calves jangling—draw inspiration from the pastoral horror of The Hound of the Baskervilles, a Sherlock Holmes classic. 'Bees Saal Baad' pays homage to the horror zeitgeist of the black-and-white editing could have elevated the film further. A crisper romantic subplot and the removal of Asit Sen's bumbling detective, with his grating sing-song voice, would have sharpened the drama. The climax, though gripping, feels slightly implausible. Yet, these are minor film's music - Lata Mangeshkar's haunting 'Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil', and the playful 'Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke', and Hemant Kumar's timeless tracks like 'Zara Nazron Se Kah Do Ji' and 'Beqarar Karke Hamen Yun Na Jaiye' - more than compensates for any shortcomings. 'Kahin Deep' appears twice in the movie— a bonus that makes the film's track one of the greatest in Indian 'Bees Saal Baad' delivers a thrilling blend of mesmerising visuals, enigmatic characters, false alarms, red herrings, and jump scares, cementing its status as a Gothic classic that entertains even 60 saal baad.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
St. Louis college campus named one of the most beautiful in U.S.: Condé Nast Traveler
ST. LOUIS – One St. Louis university campus was noted as one of the country's most beautiful and was compared to having the charm of a small European town, according to Condé Nast Traveler. Washington University was named among 54 other colleges across the United States for its architecture and beauty. 'Walking through Washington University in St. Louis' main campus, otherwise known as Danforth, is like a stroll through a small European town,' the article said. Jefferson County man charged in child sex crimes, more victims possible The campus buildings, such as the Green Hall, are spotlighted for their Gothic-inspired structures, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Washington University's new campus, Danforth, was highlighted as the architecture firm behind the 200 acres of educational space was the same group that designed Atlanta's Piedmont Park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meadow Brook Hall launches donor club to replace vandalized stained-glass windows
A bit of regional history was shattered on Feb. 4 when an attack of vandalism destroyed some of the historic stained-glass windows at Rochester's Meadow Brook Hall. In response, Meadow Brook launched The 1929 Club this week, an all-new giving program where members can commit to donating $19.29 monthly. Named for the year of Meadow Brook's founding, The 1929 Club will raise funds to support the care and preservation of the historic estate and its more than 75,000 artifacts. It also kicks off the major project of securing the necessary $35,000 to restore the stained-glass windows. Meadow Brook states that only 150 donors at the $19.29 per month (for one year) level are needed to meet the goal. The program is supported by Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett, who also joined as the club's inaugural member. 'As mayor of Rochester Hills, I take great pride in the unique gems that make our community special – and one of those is certainly Meadow Brook Hall, our nationally recognized historic venue located right down the street,' said Barnett. 'After the vandalism, we want to get Meadow Brook Hall looking beautiful and back on its feet as quickly as possible. I'm asking you today to consider joining me as an inaugural member of The 1929 Club.' See also: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' at Detroit Repertory Theatre delivers a solid performance Meadow Brook recently secured a substantial grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to restore the stained glass windows and complete important window improvement projects – including replacing UV filters to protect the furnishings and collection – this spring. Because of this work, Meadow Brook possesses detailed etchings and images that will help restore the windows to their original design. Unfortunately, the cost to repair the damage to the windows is estimated at $35,000 above and beyond what was allotted by the grant, hence the advent of The 1929 Club. The historic stained-glass windows were custom-created and designed for the estate's two-story Gothic-inspired ballroom. They depict scenes of the arts, including music, literature, entertainment, and drama. The windows were designed so they could be viewed without distortion from both sides (inside and outside), which is slightly unusual because stained glass is typically viewed best from the inside and not the exterior. The stained-glass windows are original to the historic mansion, which is 95 years old. To make a gift to Meadow Brook or to join The 1929 Club, visit Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Meadow Brook Hall donor club to replace vandalized stained glass
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
Historic stained glass windows at Meadow Brook Hall shattered, police search for suspect
The stained glass windows in Meadow Brook Hall's two-story ballroom have withstood time for nearly a century, but on Monday night, an act of vandalism left a set shattered. Staff discovered the broken glass early Tuesday, according to a news release from Meadow Brook. The Oakland University Police Department is investigating the incident, as the mansion is located on the university's campus in Rochester. The suspect was seen in security footage kicking one window and using an unknown tool to smash another, the historic house and museum released. The original stained-glass windows are as old as the mansion itself — 95 years. They were installed when the estate was originally built in 1929 and depict scenes of music, literature, entertainment, and drama. 'This is a very distressing situation for all of us at Meadow Brook Hall — from our staff and dedicated volunteers to the many members of our community who have visited, spent holidays here, gotten married here,' the estate's executive director, Bill Matt, said in the release. 'It is upsetting to anyone who takes pride in having a remarkably beautiful National Historic Landmark in their community." More: Detroit priest charged after allegedly placing minor's hair in his mouth during relic tour More: Windsor mayor points to tariff threat as reason to kill Tunnel Bus The windows were created specifically for the Gothic-inspired ballroom by J. Scott Williams, an artist who died in 1975 at age 98. Designed to be viewed clearly from inside and outside, they are unusual since stained glass is typically best considered only from the inside, according to the estate. While the damage is significant, Meadow Brook Hall said it had already planned to restore the windows this spring with a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, officials said. The windows and casings were recently photographed and sketched in preparation. A conservator will restore as much of the original material as possible, according to the release. The damaged windows have been removed and plexiglass has been installed instead. The restoration and replacement of all the stained glass windows will proceed on schedule as part of the original plan. The suspect, whose face was covered, was wearing a maroon hat and a black jacket with a red symbol at the time of the incident. Anyone who can identify the suspect or the jacket's logo is urged to contact the Oakland University Police Department at 248-370-3331 or info@ Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@ Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Vandal shatters historic stained glass windows at Meadow Brook Hall
