NANDANA SEN
The tost of the festival circuit
"Cinema is a medium of expression, a very
powerful art form. It has a huge reach in terms of audience. The best cinema in my opinion, is the cinema that entertains and moves people, that makes us more aware, that brings to us, a new perspective of our reality,"

Ask Anupam
Anupam Kher on Acting
I am flying at a height of 35,000 feet the pilot informs me. My thoughts fly in all directions. Then, suddenly I think of my deadline for my ‘Ask Anupam’ column.

Festival Roundup

Australian package wows Calcutta
Australian films have been popular in Calcutta over the years, especially on the festival circuit, where Paul Cox movies have attracted good viewership. Thanks to the recent festival of Australian films organised by Nandan and the Australian High Commission,

Short Takes

Toning up
This gal with the longest daddy legs in tinsel town will have us believe that she has to keep her shapely limbs all toned up. The lissome Shetty lass works out regularly !

Box Office

Kaho Na Pyar Hai is 99 not out
The business of all recent releases is still down, barring Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Na Pyar Hai. Kamal Haasan’s Hey! Ram has not evoked the kind of response that was expected of it.

Ali's Notes

Hrithik - the ‘heart chor’
Twenty-five years ago it was Rishi Kapoor who made girls decide to dedicate their lives to him. A little before Rishi it was Rajesh Khanna. Amitabh Bachchan also came in after some time but he was the kind of hero who made girls swoon and sway all the way.

Editorial

Insult after injury
Granted. The Gujarat government’s love affair with the local film industry is costing the state exchequer dear. Granted, too, that the government’s offer of subsidy of Rs 5 lakh each to every film has achieved part of its purpose.

Rushes

Asianet Awards for Mani, Manju
Lux-Asianet Awards for the films released in 1999 were announced, last week. Veendum Chila Veetukaryangal bagged the award for best film, Shyama Prasad (Agnisakshi) for best director,

Special Feature

Widowhood in Indian cinema
Widowhood is still a trauma for women in our world dominated by men. Therefore, it is no surprise that this trauma has been archived for posterity many times on celluloid. Yet, it’s never resulted in as much controversy as Deepa Mehta’s Water has..

Gujarat budget hits industry

*** Subsidy scrapped
*** Service charges slashed

The Gujarat government’s budget proposals for 2000-2001 have dealt a death blow to the Gujarati film production and exhibition sectors.