Shatrughan Sinha and Dharmendra have been friends since 70s, their families are friends and when the kids were younger they often went on holidays together.  On the big screen we have seen them in Dost, Blackmail, Teesri Aankh and after 20 years they are coming together again in Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se!

It is a strange feeling for both of them because their children are now working in films and when Dharmendra asked Shatrughan Sinha to make an appearance he could not refuse. It was an emotional moment for not just both of them but their entire families. Post the shooting Dharmendra revealed that Shatrughan Sinha presides as the judge and he hand his sons were delighted to have an old friend in their home production.

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Sanhita Manch Festival is an initiative by the Being Association which solely strives to create social awareness through theatre. Mumbai is the cultural hub of India that offers opportunities to all who get attracted to theatrical pursuits. Hindi literature might not date back to a very long forgotten era, but post-independence contemporary times have been a witness to its creative rise and development.

In the present scenario, the emerging writers always struggle to get noticed. Being Association aims at bringing new original theatre scripts to the readers and these plays include Harus Marus, a satire where the writer literally creates a mob of rats in search of food comparing it to the human life compelled to choose a life of rat over human life. Pashmina enlightens us on Kasmir by introducing us to Amar and Vibha Saxena, a close to retirement couple looking for a pashmina shawl and the discoveries that follow and finally Abhi Nahi Hoga Mera Antt is inspired from the life of poet Surya Kant Tripathi ‘Nirala’.

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Girl in the City Chapter 3 premiered on 13th July across all Bindass Originals’ platforms, has already crossed the esteemed 10 million views mark on social media – with just a couple of weeks into the show. So what’s special about the show apart from the fact that it is inspirational and why is that everybody finds her and her story so relatable?

Protagonist Meera is no more the ordinary girl but somebody special, the question is how long can she remain special? Will she begin a trend of more  Meera’s to come or will the audience get tired of her struggles and her success and want more to the character and to the story, what do you think?

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Disney’s Christopher Robin brings the timeless charm and nostalgia of A A Milne’s stories and characters to the big screen in an imaginative tale about the joy and purity of youth. A heartwarming live-action adventure, Christopher Robin is directed by Golden Globe nominee Marc Forster and stars Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin; Golden Globe nominee Hayley Atwell as his wife, Evelyn; Bronte Carmichael as his daughter, Madeline; and Emmy winner Mark Gatiss as Giles Winslow, Robin’s boss the film addresses to the child in all of us.

The acclaimed director known for his eclectic range of films—including Finding Neverland, Quantum of Solace and The Kite Runner—grew up loving Disney live-action films and was immediately drawn to the story. It had a sense of magic realism, and he believed it had the potential to become an artistic, emotional, funny and timeless film. “When you are able to make people laugh and cry in the same movie and you are able to tell the story with integrity and ground it in reality and have the magic realism on top of it, it lifts your spirits and connects you with the people you love,” says Forster.

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The Federal Censor Board of Pakistan has banned Anubhav Sinha’s courtroom drama Mulk, which is not surprising because in recent past they have put a ban on Veere Di Wedding, Padman, Raazi and even Anushka Sharma’s Pari on the grounds that the film’s content promoted black magic. They had problems with Raanjhanaa aswell.

A deeply distraught Anubhav Sinha has written an open letter to the Pakistan Censor Board, excerpts:

Social films are the  flavor of the season and the makers of  Hindi Medium, Neerja and Tumhari Sulu, have collaborated again, this time to produce Cheat India, a never-seen-before peek into the vagaries of the Indian education system.

Clearly aimed at Indian students, this edge-of-the-seat Emraan Hashmi-starrer rolled in Lucknow last week and the USP of the film is that it features more than 70 actors from UP, including real students from various colleges and universities have been cast. The title of the film has been inspired from a video presenting Emraan playing with the alphabets comprising the word ‘Teach’ which ironically, are the same as those of ‘Cheat’. Hashmi’s naughty wink at the end of the video https://twitter.com/TSeries/status/1021994836327636993 leaves you wondering if he is the hero or the villain of the film.

Film: Mulk

Date: 03. 08.2018

Writer/ Director: Anubhav Sinha

Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, Manoj Pahwa

Ratings: 3.5 Stars

Every day, Murad Ali Mohammed/ Rishi Kapoor walks back from the mosque, a cloth bag in hand, stopping for chai and conversation with his Hindu neighbors before coming home.

The family celebrates his 65^th birthday with the entire neighborhood and next day, Shahid/ Prateik Babbar, Murad’s nephew leaves on a trip with his friends. His father Bilal/ Manoj Pahwa rides him to his rendezvous surprised that they are meeting on a desolate street.

There is news of a bomb blast massacre and Shahid is the prime suspect. His actions have an adverse effect on the family as friends turn foes and Murad is left to prove that his family is not anti-national.

The first half is slow paced as there are too many characters to be introduced but the second half focused on the courtroom drama is hard-hitting and often stomach churning.

In my opinion, there are 4 reasons for watching Mulk:

One, the plot: shot in the by-lanes of small-town India the opening shots of the film reveal the diverse cultures of Varanasi where ‘Ram naam satya hai’ co-exists with the call of azaan. The Indian Muslim has never felt so isolated and Anubhav Sinha dares to travel the dark road of distrust and hatred where terrorism is the new enemy.

Two, the debate: terrorism has no religion and the story lays bare the prejudices that precede perception of communal disharmony, for example, every Muslim who prays five times a day and wears a beard is not a terrorist and it is time to rethink and reconsider our age-old beliefs and change with times.

Three, the narrative: the writing is the soul of the film and far from subtle. It is hard to believe that the film is made by the director of Tum Bin and Ra.One. There are some stomach-churning moments in the film for instance when Prateik Babbar’s body is brought home and the camera rotates in fast motion building as much terror in the audience as among the family members. Another moment is when Manoj Pahwa tormented in custody is made to repeat ‘I am the father of a terrorist’.

Four, the performances: every character contributes to the narrative, you can read the thought process of anti-terror police officer Rajat Kapoor as he eavesdrops conversation between the accused and his lawyer. Ashutosh Rana as the prosecutor and Taapsee Pannu as the defense are sparkling and when Taapsee concludes her argument questioning society prejudices you cannot stop applauding.

Rishi Kapoor essays Murad Mohammed without self-pity. The actor has over the decades emerged into refined clay that can be molded into any role. Special mention must be made of Manoj Pahwa who breaks your heart and presiding judge Kumud Mishra, who is a scene stealer.

Five, the message: it is hard to believe that finally a film has been made on the subject that humanizes a community without taking sides. It peels layers of deception, questions media, police, and politician and for the first time initiates a moderate, rational dialogue addressing both the communities.

Mulk is a right film at the right time. In a scene where the police grant security to Murad Mohammed he says “Why do I need to be protected in my own home”. His anguish pierces your heart; Balraj Sahani had expressed similar angst many years ago in Garam Hawa. Not much has changed since 44 years, well writer-director Anubhav Sinha is trying and the least we can do is to watch this film.

I rate strong, thought provoking Mulk with 3.5 stars.

Click here to watch the review

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya