

Exclusive Premium Content
Rang De, Nithiin-Keerthi Suresh In A Shameful Sexist Rom-Com
Rang De(Zee5, Telugu)
Starring Nithiin, Keerthi Suresh
Directed by Venky Atluri
Rating: *
The boxoffice success of this trashy rom-com during these times of a pandemic should worry all those who care about the future of Indian cinema.Is this the kind of shoddy cinema we would like to see flourish in the post-pandemic era when, speaking hypothetically, audiences return to movie theatres….
To see, this???!!! Rang De is the kind of addlebrained ramshackle he-loves-she-loves-they-love -not nonsense that prospered in the 1970s. Rang De reminded me of the 1977 Telugu hit Aalu Magalu where Vanisri is treated with unsettling contempt by Akkineni Nageswara Rao even she continues to adore him unconditionally.Women in films did that. They still do. Doormats will never go out of fashion.
43 years after Aalu Magalu the gender equation has not been revised much. Sure, Nithiin and Keerthy Suresh speak the “young” language and talk about sex with each other(in one ribtickling homage to young mindsets Nithiin tells Keerthy, “Just because we had sex last night doesn’t mean we have to become committed to one another”) and try to behave how normal people do when it comes to relationships and commitment.
Rang De tries so hard to be young it should have actually been titled Young De. The lead pair are neighbours. The two families are inseparable and it is presumed by all that Arjun and Anu are a couple. Anu adores Arjun although he is a certifiable wastrel with a penchant for delusional self-worth. All their friends can see they are not meant for each other. Except Anu who worships the ground he walks on while he walks all over her. I almost expected her to lie down prostrate to let him walk over her literally.
So much of the plot here is mothballed and outdated that sitting through many passages of the gender battle of the twits(with not even a modicum of wit) I thought the whole exercize is meant to be a send-off , a spoof on the romances of yesteryears when heroes bullied and heckled the heroine while she sobbed and slaved over her lord and monster…pardon me, master.
But no. These guys are dead serious about Keerthy Suresh’s prolonged humiliation by a chap who clearly needs to be taught how to behave with women. Maybe too much time with the boys drinking beer and watching porn, eh? Is that Arjun’s back story? What a pity Nithiin with his starpower, agreed to be part of something so sickeningly regressive. As for Keerthy Suresh she had rightly won the National award for her portrayal of the legendary actress Savithri in the bio-pic Mahanati .
Ironically Savithri was tossed around by the men in her life and taken for granted by those she favoured, just like Anu in Rang De.
The more things change,the more they are the same.
Exclusive Premium Content
Jamuna Had A Love-Hate Relationship With Bollywood

Veteran Telugu actress Jamuna who passed away on Friday, shared an uneasy relationship with the Hindi film industry.She did eleven Hindi films including the iconic Milan in 1967 where Jamuna agreed to play the second lead, or the supporting role if you will, to Nutan.
Jamuna as Gauri was the Other Woman who craved for the hero Sunil Dutt’s attention whereas he had eyes and devotion only for Nutan. In later years Aruna Irani played a similar role in Caravan.
In Milan Jamuna was not keen to do a supporting role. Producer L V Prasad tempted her with three chartbusting songs. Besides, Jamuna had played the same role in Mooga Manasulu, the Telugu original of Milan. But it was the songs composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal which convinced Jamuna to take up the second lead in Milan.
While Nutan had no solo songs in Milan, she did have the chartbuster duet Sawan ka mahina . Jamuna on the other hand, had two splendid Lata Mangeshkar solos: Tohey saawariya naahin khabariya and the magnificent Ghazal Aaj dil pe koi zor chalta nahin.Not only these, Jamuna also had a hit duet with Mukesh based on her character Gauri: Bol Gauri bol tera kaun piya.
But then, fate intervened. After the film released one of Jamuna’s solos, the poignant and memorable Aaj dil pe koi zor chalta nahin was snipped out of the film.
Here is what happened: the Ghazal , one of Lataji’s all-time greats, was very much a part of Milan when it released on 17 March 1967. But then it was seen to hamper the flow of the film and edited out. The beautiful song occurred right after intermission. Producer Prasad, a shrewd filmmaker, got to know that audiences prolonged their loo breaks as there was a song after the break. Hence the sacrifice of a seriously sonorous melody.
Jamuna hardly did Hindi films after Milan. Her last Bollywood appearance was in Raj Kumar Kohli’s Raj Tilak where she was lost in a multistarrer as the royal queen.
Exclusive Premium Content
Karan Johar Moves Alia Song From Switzerland To Kashmir

The romantic duet in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani which was to be shot in Switzerland and which was delayed due to the film’s leading lady Alia Bhatt’s motherhood, is now being relocated to Kashmir.
Purely out of the love for new mom Alia.
Says a source in the know, “Karan loves Alia like his own daughter. He would do anything for her. He postponed the release of Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani as the love duet could not be shot before Alia’s maternity leave. Karan had decided to shoot the song in Switzerland after Alia’s maternity love. But now he has relocated the song to Kashmir as Alia doesn’t want to leave her baby girl behind for long stretches.”
And as Karan Johar argued, snow is snow. How does it matter whether it is Switzerland or Kashmir?
This song would be Karan Johar’s tribute to his idol Yash Chopra. Alia would be dressed in chiffon sarees while Ranveer, for a change, would be seen in formals.
Exclusive Premium Content
Bobby Deol’s Switchover To Villainous Roles

After Prakash Jha’s webseries Ashram where Bobby played a sleazy godman, and Love Hostel where he was a ruthless assassin, he is playing the villain to Ranbir Kapoor in Sandeep Vanga’s Animal.
Bobby says it is not conscious career decision to play negative characters but a conscious decision to play interesting characters. “ I don’t look at characters as positive or negative.When I watch films there is always one character that stays with you. I want to play that character.”
Prakash Jha’s Ashram proved a gamechanger for Bobby. He admits finding challenging roles is tough. “I am trying. I am doing Sandeep Vanga’s Animal with Ranbir Kapoor , Parineeti Chopra. Then I am doing the family film Apne 2 which I am very excited about.”
In an earlier interview with this writer Bobby spoke about his long absence from screen before Prakash Jha’s Ashram. “My fans would ask why I wasn’t being seen on the screen.And I couldn’t tell them it was because I wasn’t getting good roles. But my fans stood by me. They gave me the strength to keep looking for the right roles. Thankfully I found the roles I liked. My new films have given me some new fans. I am thankful I am still here. Yeah , I am in a good space right now.”
Exclusive Premium Content
Pathaan Collects 55 crore nett in India On Day 1

YRF’s Pathaan has apparently wiped out all previous records as it collected 55 crore nett in India and recorded the biggest ever Day 1 for a Hindi film. The total collections of Pathaan on Day One is 57 crore nett (Hindi – 55 crore and dubbed versions 2 crore).
It is the widest Hindi release of all time in India and also the highest grossing 1st Day for a Hindi film.It is also the highest grosser on the first first for a non-holiday release. Pathhan is also the highest opener for Shah Rukh Khan.
Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films, says, “It is a historic day for Indian cinema and we are humbled to see the love and appreciation that is flowing for Pathaan globally. For Pathaan to shatter records in this fashion on a non holiday, just proves that the theatrical business is here to stay, provided we make films that entice people to come to the cinemas to witness a never seen before experience that entertains them thoroughly.“
He adds, “We, at YRF, are thrilled with the start that the film has got across India and we are hopeful that Pathaan brings joy to cine-goers globally in the days to come! Pathaan is the fourth film of our YRF Spy Universe and we are thrilled that we have been able to elevate the cinematic experience of audiences with each film from this franchise. We humbly share this moment with all the stake-holders of the film who have given their blood, sweat and tears to give people a movie-going experience like never before.”
-
Exclusive Premium Content4 days ago
Pathaan Is A Slick Spin On SRK’s Stardom
-
Exclusive Premium Content1 week ago
Has Mahesh Bhatt Undergone Heart Surgery? Bhatt Clarifies
-
Exclusive Premium Content1 week ago
What Happened To Hera Pheri 3?
-
Exclusive Premium Content6 days ago
Would Gautam Tinnanuri’s Film Save Vijay Deverakonda’s Career?
-
Exclusive Premium Content1 week ago
On To The Oscar, RRR Team To Focus On Naatu Naatu
-
Exclusive Premium Content5 days ago
Chhatriwali So Earnest Yet So Awful
-
Exclusive Premium Content6 days ago
Hema Malini On Working With Ramesh Sippy
-
Exclusive Premium Content1 week ago
Mission Majnu: Crossborder Rom-Kaum
-
Exclusive Premium Content1 week ago
Shashi Kapoor’s Grandson Hosts Special Screening Of His Debut Film For The Kapoor Clan
-
Exclusive Premium Content1 week ago
Rajamouli Heckling Karan Johar Was One Big Joke
-
Exclusive Premium Content5 days ago
India Shines bright at the Oscars
-
Exclusive Premium Content1 week ago
Furore In The Censor Board Over Kuttey Cuss Words
-
Exclusive Premium Content1 week ago
Kashmir Files To Clash With Pathaan
-
Exclusive Premium Content5 days ago
No Leading Lady For Akshay Kumar In C Sankaran Nair Bio-pic
-
Exclusive Premium Content3 days ago
5 Most Relevant Patriotic Songs
-
Exclusive Premium Content1 week ago
Reena Roy: “I Was Offered Heeramandi”
-
Exclusive Premium Content3 days ago
“Professionally, What A Year It Has Been For Me,” Raveena Tandon On Her Padma Shri
-
Exclusive Premium Content3 days ago
Pathaan Collects 55 crore nett in India On Day 1
-
Exclusive Premium Content1 week ago
To Avoid Questions On Nepotism, Raj Santoshi Keeps His Daughter Out Of Media interactions
-
Exclusive Premium Content4 days ago
Will Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan Break All His Previous Records?