Latest news with #NanditaDas
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Reviews of ‘Andor', ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines'
Around Tinseltown The Hindu Huddle has, over the last four editions, brought under one roof, some of the best minds from politics, academia, industry, corporate, entertainment sports, civil society, literature, arts and culture. Here's a collection of stories from the The Hindu Huddle 2025: > 'Pan-India' filmmaking a 'massive scam', streaming content 'worse than television': Anurag Kashyap > Anurag Kashyap on difference between Kollywood and Bollywood > Anurag Kashyap calls out Tamil composers for anglicising film music > Nandita Das, Shahana Goswami and Jeo Baby discuss censorship and OTT platforms > 'Every film is political,' remarks Vetrimaaran > 'Would there be takers for a series like Adolescence in India?': Nandita Das Bollywood 'Homebound': First poster of Neeraj Ghaywan's next, starring Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor, unveiled Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane dropped from 'Sanam Teri Kasam 2' after remarks on Operation Sindoor Alia Bhatt postpones Cannes red carpet debut amid India-Pakistan tensions Jacqueline Fernandez honoured, Nitanshi Goel pays tribute to Indian cinema icons at Cannes 2025 Karan Johar blasts nepotism trolls targeting Alia Bhatt: 'Most idiotic person on this planet' Hollywood Tom Cruise shares emotional moment with Michael B. Jordan at 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' premiere Nicolas Cage returns as Spider-Noir in first look at live-action series for Prime Video 'Shogun' star Cosmo Jarvis to play young Stalin in new biopic from 'The Zone of Interest' producers 'Godzilla x Kong' sequel titled 'Supernova', production begins Alison Brie and Dave Franco sued for copyright infringement over Sundance horror 'Together'Regional Cinema Regional Cinema Mohanlal's 'Thudarum' becomes highest-grossing film in Kerala, surpasses '2018' 'Sabar Bonda' continues strong festival run, wins audience award at IFFLA 'Benz', produced by Lokesh Kanagaraj and starring Raghava Lawrence, goes on floors 'Kingdom': Vijay Deverakonda's film gets postponed due to India-Pakistan tensions; new release date out Pranav Mohanlal's horror film with 'Bramayugam' team titled 'Diés Iraé' World Cinema Major premieres, potential Oscar contenders, and what to expect from Cannes 2025 Robert De Niro receives standing ovation, Palme d'Or from Leonardo DiCaprio at Cannes 2025 Organisers crack down, nudity and oversized gowns banned from red carpet at Cannes 2025 Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' premiere gets standing ovation at Cannes 2025 French actor Gérard Depardieu gets 18-month suspended sentence in sexual assault case Trailers Brad Pitt plays a veteran driver facing the past in the trailer for 'F1' Aamir Khan returns as politically insensitive coach of a basketball team on the spectrum in the trailer for 'Sitaare Zameen Par' David Corenswet's Man of Steel faces heat as Lois Lane questions his interference in a war in trailer for 'Superman' Vijay Sethupathi's elusive 'Bold' Kannan promises a stylish heist comedy in trailer for 'Ace' Essential reading 1) The big cost of watching a film on the large screen in Bengaluru >> Bengaluru has remained infamous for high-priced movie tickets. The State government's proposal to cap the ticket price at ₹200 came as a ray of hope for film buffs, but a similar move in 2017 had borne no result 2) Actor Soori interview: On 'Maaman' and if Vetri Maaran would revive their 'Ajnabi' adaptation >> Soori speaks about his upcoming film, 'Maaman,' co-starring Aishwarya Lekshmi, and reminisces about his early days after moving to Chennai in the late '90s 3) Actor Soori opens up on criticism against 'Kottukkaali': 'PS Vinothraj should continue making such films' >> Calling 'Kottukkaali' as a special film in his career, the actor stated box office collections cannot be used as a metric to measure the success of such off-beat attempts 4) Basil Joseph on his journey as an actor, returning to directing a film and being a part of 'Maranamaas' >> The actor-director has carved a niche for himself in Malayalam cinema as one of the industry's bankable names 5) Mission (im)possible: how Tom Cruise is running to keep our dreams alive >> The 'Mission: Impossible' films, from 1996 to 2025, has an untiring Tom Cruise racing on trains, planes and automobiles to serve our favourite comfort food 6) Sumanth: Acting is the only thing I know and can do reasonably well >> Actor Sumanth reflects on his 26-year career, his new Telugu film 'Anaganaga', how he picks scripts, and the joy of working with kids 7) Mridul Sen on 'Subham': We took a cinéma vérité approach >> Cinematographer Mridul Sen on the visual aesthetics of Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Praveen Kandregula's 'Subham', and her next Telugu film, 'Paradha' 8) Hyderabad's Annapurna Studios marks its 50th year >> From film units shooting and engaging in post-production to students at the Annapurna College of Film and Media learning the fundamentals of filmmaking, the energy in the studio is unmistakably dynamic 9) 'Mana Cinema - First Reel' author Rentala Jayadeva wants to make film history readable >> His book is a compelling account of the evolution of Indian cinema, from the silent film era to the talkies 10) How S.D. Burman's music was deeply influenced by folk and classical traditions >> 'The Monk And His Music', a new book on the composer is replete with precious anecdotes from those who worked with him. 11) What 'The Two Popes' reveals about the lost dialogue in Indian academia >> In an academic climate where the space for ideas to clash and grow can be scarce, 'The Two Popes' shows what true dialogue could look like What to watch 1) The Force is with Cassian and company in the thrilling, tragic climax of 'Andor' Season 2 Read the full review here 2) The perverse joy of a thousand tiny dooms in 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' Read the full review here 3) Sumanth leads a soulful tale of education and relationships in 'Anaganaga' Read the full review here 4) Young hearts run free in the timely and timeless love story of 'Forever' Read the full review here 5) Soori, Aishwarya Lekshmi shoulder 'Maaman', a flawed drama Read the full review here 6) 23 Read the full review here 7) Devil's Double Next Level Read the full review here 8) 'Naale Rajaa Koli Majaa' is a delightful satire on food politics Read the full review here
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
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
India Today
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Indian cinema's queer journey: From margins to mainstream
Love is for has been instrumental in driving society forward. From pushing political ideologies to accelerating social change, cinema has served as a vast canvas for stories that need representation - whether it's caste-based injustice, stories of minorities and the oppressed, or LGBTQ+ rights. One such important topic that has undergone a sea of change is the representation of queer identities. The last few years, especially, have witnessed a boom in queer characters in cinema, irrespective of the is queer? It is a term that describes individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity that is not heterosexual. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender persons and other non-binary identities form the queer the 90s and 2000s kids, 'Dostana' was probably the first mainstream film that openly featured gay characters. Whether it did justice or not is up for debate. Initially, queer characters were often reduced to individuals with effeminate qualities. Over the years, with more exposure, learning and unlearning, filmmakers (mostly) have come to understand queerness and attempt to represent these identities with authenticity. While some still call queerness "against nature," others take on the responsibility of developing authentic scripts about queer lives. In this week's Cinematic Saturday, let us dive deeply to look at how queer cinema representation has evolved in Indian REPRESENTATION: THE BEGINNINGIndian cinema's engagement with queer representation is not new. It dates back to the 90s with director Deepa Mehta's 1996 film 'Fire,' which explored a lesbian relationship. Naturally, it was met with protests, but opened the door for 2000s gradually saw many films that discussed homosexuality. Though the films were few and far between, some treaded the treacherous path of stereotypical portrayals. 'My Brother Nikhil' (2005), 'I Am' (2010), 'Margarita With A Straw' (2014), 'My Son Is Gay' (2017), 'Super Deluxe' (2018), 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga' (2019) and 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' (2020), among others, were some of the films that explored queer identities with rooted landmark 2018 decriminalisation of homosexuality in India catalysed more authentic representations. While mainstream representations remain limited, independent films have featured stories of queer lives with the utmost nuance and NARRATIVES: FROM MARGINS TO MAINSTREAMLong before the decriminalisation of homosexuality in India was introduced, actors like Nandita Das and Kalki Koechlin had shattered stereotypes and played queer characters. In 2014, Kalki played a queer person in 'Margharita With A Straw'. For her, the decision to represent a minority community came easily."I didn't even think or consider it, because I am not queer myself. I don't have to live with the realities that that [being queer] imposes on people. For me, it was just so normal to be queer. So many of my friends are queer. It is so much part of the community that I'm in - [so much] that I was just happy to represent them. Never did I think about the legal aspects, like, 'Oh, is this going to be a problem for being watched in India or anything? I usually don't look at my work like that," she told Hautterfly. advertisementKalki also added that her film paved way for many to come out to their parents - "Having said that, the film having come out in India is wonderful and has done so much for the queer community. So many people I know have come after the screening and told us how they brought their mum or their dad and explained that they were queer."It took a lot of trial and error for queer stories to find an audience in mainstream cinema. However, independent films made full use of their target audience and created movies that showcase queer lives with dignity. One such film was director Lokesh Kumar's 'My Son Is Gay,' which was released on YouTube in Kumar, speaking exclusively to India Today Digital, said, "I started writing the film in 2013. At that time, I had a lot of support from my peers. However, finding actors for such roles was tough. Now, the situation has improved and there are a lot more options. Back then, there was no representation either."advertisementCut to 2023, Malayalam superstar Mammootty played a gay man in director Jeo Baby's 'Kaathal - The Core'. Speaking exclusively to India Today Digital, Jeo Baby agreed that the film industry has evolved in the past few years. "There has been social impact and, because of LGBTQ+ activism, we are seeing many films. The perception towards such films has come down. It's now become a collective responsibility to support such films," he and producer Sudhanshu Saria, who backed 'TAPS', a film on gay love, echoed Jeo Baby's thoughts and explained, "I think it's because of platforms like Amazon and Netflix coming into our country post-Covid and people being exposed to so many different kinds of cinema, the situation has now improved.""I think the same old narrative about queer culture reeking of homophobia and double-entendre meanings - those things have started feeling very stale. Also, the next generation is a lot more open-minded and educated and a lot less regressive. "So, there is just room for people to make more nuanced stories and represent characters that are a lot more multi-dimensional," he actor Malini Jeevarathinam, who played a queer in Tamil show 'Inspector Rishi', agreed with the fact that queer representation has evolved in the last 20 years. "I can see queer stories are being commissioned much more than usual," she noted, and also raised a pertinent point: "However, there are only 2-3 per cent queer protagonists. Queer characters are mostly relegated to supporting roles."CHALLENGES IN REPRESENTING QUEER LIVES ON SCREENIn a country like India, which still has miles to go before becoming a progressive society, making a film on a taboo topic is not an easy feat. Explaining the struggles, Tamil director Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan of 'Kadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai', a film on lesbian love, said that the response to his film was amazing, especially from people who still haven't come Jayaprakash highlighted his struggles in making a queer film. "There was not enough representation when I started writing the story in 2017. More than inhibitions, I was advised that I'd be trolled if I made such a film. While we do see many people supporting queer people on social media, the reality on the ground is that there are still a huge section of people who look down on them," he exclusively told India Today Digital. advertisementOn a similar note, director Lokesh Kumar voiced his thoughts on growing dissent towards queer films. "Before Covid-19, queer films were welcomed because the concept was unique. However, due to overexposure, it has lost its uniqueness. These days, it is turning out to be comedy and troll material. In 2025, it is so tough to mount a film on queer lives. While the possibility of mainstream representation has opened avenues, we're still in a nascent stage and have a long way to go," he also raised an important point: "As filmmakers, we try to be extra conscious about queer representation. But, these days, the tolerance level of people has seen a drastic decline, which makes me feel that we're regressing as a society. People get offended at the flick of a second and call for bans. That's one of the reasons why such films find love at film festivals and indie circuits instead of theatres."While Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan struggled to find theatres for his film, director Jeo Baby claimed that it was easy for him. "Mammootty sir was in right from the time the project began. So, it was easy for me. If not for him, I don't know how I would have made this film. The film was a theatrical hit as well, hence many streaming giants were willing to buy it," he Baby also doubled up as one of the presenters of the Tamil film, 'Kadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai'. "After I finished 'Great Indian Kitchen', I heard the story of 'Kadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai', and wanted to help the director to make the film," he who directed Janhvi Kapoor's 'Ulajh', however, stated that he will look at the scenario positively. "'TAPS' [ a film on gay love] is a very wholesome film that is about uniting people in their understanding of what relationships are, especially long-distance relationships. The characters happen to be men, but the issues discussed in the relationship will apply to nearly every couple and that's what I love about reading the comments and the feedback on YouTube. So I don't see it as an extremely controversial film. And I feel like it would have been really fun to do a more mainstream release had the format been longer, maybe of a feature film," he said. He also stated that mainstream cinema's concerns are different when it comes to queer films: "Mainstream cinema's primary concern remains return on investment. As long as the money is going to be taken care of, the original investment in the film is going to be rewarded, mainstream cinema is happy to do whatever. So it really is up to their reading of the audience. If they think there is an audience for a certain kind of content, they will go ahead and make it. I don't know if mainstream cinema has much of an appetite for taking risks. There isn't any inherent bigotry or homophobia there. It is really a function of what they think the audience wants."SHOULD QUEER ROLES BE PLAYED BY QUEER PEOPLE?Directors, producers and actors are divided when it comes to one of the most debated criticisms about queer characters: should queer roles be played by queer people?Actor Malini Jeevarathinam presented profound thoughts on the criticism and said, "Only 2 per cent of people are open about their identity, while the rest of 98 per cent are still closeted. If actors are willing to declare their allyship, then they can play such roles. There's nothing wrong with it. However, there are certain actors who lack social responsibility, but want to play queer roles for selfish reasons - those people need to be condemned."Jeo Baby also declared his support for queer people playing queer roles in cinema. "I want queer people to come out of their mould and champion queer stories. Only they bear the brunt of the real struggles, which will bring authenticity to the roles. Of course, there are challenges to come out. But, they should break the mould and represent their community not just in the film industry, but in all sectors," he said. Explaining the reason behind fewer queer-led stories, producer and filmmaker Sudhanshu Saria opined, "When you're designing a movie, you're trying to come up with a protagonist that speaks to the most number of people - who is the most inclusive person that the audience is going to be able to identify with. The assumption is that the average person sitting in the audience is straight.""Queer parts are usually assigned to supporting characters to bring a certain variety to the cast, to create a bit of an ensemble. But actually, a person's queerness need not be the most defining aspect of the character. A person can be queer and they can be a cricketer. A person can be queer, and they can be 800 other things which can become their primary identity," he also stated that one's gender need not change the experience of a film. "You can totally have a detective movie where a person is investigating a certain murder, and they go home, and you find out they live with a person of the same gender. And that's it. That can help you surprise the audience and change that experience. So, I don't think there is any need for that sexual orientation to determine everything about that character. But for the most part, I feel there is this assumption that the majority of the paying audience is straight," he Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan and Lokesh Kumar highlighted another important challenge filmmakers face. Both of them claimed that there is no unity among the queer community. Jayaprakash said, "My film was for the community, but it wasn't promoted by the queer community. Having encountered so many challenges, I may not make another queer film."ARE STREAMING GIANTS STEPPING BACK IN CHAMPIONING QUEER FILMS?While streaming giants like Netflix, Prime Video and JioCinema were responsible for exposing queer narratives to wider audiences, a section of filmmakers has faced outright rejection from them for their queer stories, especially in recent Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan's 'Kadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai' was rejected by many streaming giants, stating that their policy doesn't align with the film's content. "There were no takers for my film even when it was backed by director Jeo Baby. There is pushback from audience and OTT platforms, not just in Tamil, but even in Malayalam cinema, which is considered progressive. I was also advised to make my film in Malayalam, but I stuck to my decision," he Kumar, sharing similar thoughts, said, "When I made 'My Son Is Gay', big names approached me. I didn't know better then. But, I think the situation has changed now, and I feel OTT platforms are not welcoming now. When OTT was unique, they were willing to take risks. Now, it has become mainstream, so there are a lot of restrictions."For Jeo Baby, it was easier to sell 'Kaathal - The Core' to Prime Video. "Our film was a huge hit theatrically and with Mammootty sir backing it, we were able to sell it," the 'Great Indian Kitchen' director encountering a similar situation like Lokesh Kumar, filmmaker Sudhanshu Saria stated, "When I made 'Loev', my queer film 10 years back, there was this blanket assumption that this is what the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) will clear or not clear and therefore, what will be sold to satellite and platforms didn't really exist back then. It was during the making of the film that Netflix ended up picking it up. So one can see this kind of content on platforms even now. I think as far as the certification process is concerned, there is a luck factor there." He further added that the reception to such films can change based on the political climate. "In the right month, at the right climate, a certain film can get released. And three months later, that same film could be rejected because of what the perceived sentiment in the country is. We've seen that happen a lot. So, it's a little difficult to predict. When you're entering the process, it's always a bit scary, and you have to be ready for any kind of certification outcome," he THE WAY FORWARD?Actor Malini Jeevarathinam called for more queer representation in cinema. "Performing artists should be a voice for people who still haven't come out to their parents and the world. We should create a safe space for them and be inclusive. Most importantly, we need more queer writers in the film industry," she Jeo Baby claimed that his film 'Kaathal - The Core' should act as a reference material for future filmmakers. "I am not calling my film perfect, but I want this to be a source for upcoming talents for more nuanced portrayals. Also, I openly welcome more LGBTQ+ people to come forward and make their own films. Who better than them to tell their own stories?," he an optimistic note, filmmaker Sudhanshu Saria stated, "I see it [queer portrayals] going from strength to strength. I think audiences are looking for newer, fresher, more interesting stories, and they are happy to step out of their comfort zone and embrace characters and as producers become more audacious about telling those stories, audiences are going to come out and vote for them with their money and show people that they are sick and tired of the same clichd narrative.""I feel there's a lot of electricity in a theatre when people can tell what they're being shown isn't a product which was designed and optimised to get the most amount of money from them, but a film where everyone involved went with their gut took a risk and asked the audience to come go on the ride," he journey of queer representation in Indian cinema reflects a broader societal evolution - from invisibility and caricature to nuanced storytelling and authentic emerges from these conversations with filmmakers, actors, and producers is that genuine representation requires more than just including queer characters; it demands complex, multidimensional portrayals that transcend more queer voices behind the camera, increased allyship from established industry figures, and growing audience receptivity, Indian cinema has the potential to lead meaningful conversations about inclusion through powerful storytelling - ultimately affirming that love, indeed, is for all.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Would there be takers for a series like Adolescence in India?': Nandita Das
At The Hindu Huddle 2025, filmmakers Nandita Das, Jeo Baby, and actor Shahana Goswami come together for a compelling panel discussion moderated by The Hindu's Shilajit Mitra, exploring how cinema is transformed when told through a more inclusive, empathetic, and honest lens. In 'The Female Gaze: Redefining Cinema on the Global Stage,' the panelists challenged cinematic norms, reflected on representation, and argued that the female gaze is about humanising the narrative, not just reversing the male gaze, making this a rich, thoughtful exchange under the theme India in Dialogue.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
The Huddle to have discussion on the many shades of womanhood on screen
It is a fascinating moment for Indian cinema. While acts of machismo still dominate the screen, Indian films, and film industries, are breaking out of their ingrained androcentrism. Across regions and languages, artists and directors—via nuanced, sensitive and lyrical explorations of the female experience—are broadening the boundaries of storytelling. And while women filmmakers and actors are at the forefront of this change, some of these films are also beautifully helmed by male directors and writers, transcending biases linked with artistic endeavour. For The Hindu Huddle, internationally acclaimed actor‑turned‑filmmaker Nandita Das (Manto, Zwigato), powerhouse performer Shahana Goswami (Santosh, Despatch) and visionary director-screenwriter Jeo Baby (The Great Indian Kitchen, Kaathal - The Core) sit down to discuss the many shades of womanhood and feminine power on screen. The session — The female gaze: Redefining cinema on the global stage — will be moderated by Shilajit Mitra, film critic of The Hindu. The Huddle, a marquee event of The Hindu Group, is to be held in Bengaluru on May 9 and 10. The speakers will delve into how the film industry, long shaped by patriarchal hierarchies, has, over time, seen women break barriers and assert their voice. But while women-led narratives are celebrated, is parity and acceptance being achieved? The discussion will also address issues of censorship and self-censorship. Films steeped in the politics of liberation — social, physical, sexual — often come under intense societal scrutiny. What, then, are the challenges of bringing these narratives to a wider audience? Finally, the conversation will consider the rising global recognition of gender-sensitive cinema out of India. Even as soft power narratives dominate, how is an alternative view of Indian cinema reaching the world? If you have any questions that you would like our moderator to ask the panelists, write to us at huddle@
