Lead actor Diljit Dosanjh and director Imtiaz Ali bid a respectful farewell to Amar Singh Chamkila, a tribute the great artist may not have received in his passing. Rating: (4 / 5) By Mayur Lookhar Biopics in Bollywood often lean towards hagiography, portraying their subjects in an overly idealized light. Interestingly, the disclaimer doesn’t call it one, but states that it is loosely inspired by real events/persons. But when your film is titled Amar Singh Chamkila [2024], it should indeed be referred to as a biopic. In the 1980s, a man from humble beginnings became a sensation in Punjab wit ..read more

Director Amit Ravindernath Sharma’s film on India’s most revered football coach is inspiring. A certain Bengali bias, though, will raise brows in West Bengal. Rating: (3 / 5) Maidaan [2024] By Mayur Lookhar In a country passionate about cricket, many may not realize that the gentleman’s game once lagged behind hockey and football. Indian hockey enjoyed a glorious past, dominating for decades before its decline in the 1980s. While Indian hockey has somewhat recovered from its prolonged drought phase (1981-2010), Indian football remains stagnant, with recent results indicating a further decline ..read more

Though the plot is no longer a virgin territory, Monika Panwar’s performance is a sheer tour de force. Monali Thakur, the actor is impressive. Anirban Chatterjee’s visual artistry, Sunil Jain’s captivating production design compel you to visit Siddharth-Garima’s dukaan of surrogacy. Rating: ( 3 / 5) Dukaan [2024] By Mayur Lookhar No emotion, only professional. There is no room for one when you are in the business of surrogacy. A Jasmine is the dream for such baby vending machines. No, it’s not us, nor the society, but Jasmine [Monika Panwar] herself who is proudly flaunting this ‘dukaan’ (sho ..read more

Tabu, Kareena, Kriti Sanon are a fab trio, but director Rajesh A Krishnan’s satirical drama on dubious corporate(s) is messy and hardly funny.   Rating: ( 2 / 5) Crew [2024] By Mayur Lookhar A Kohinoor flight is about to take off, but is then ordered to abort and return to gate. There is no technical snag, nor any last-minute security threat. SI Inspector (Customs) Mala has been tipped about possible gold smuggling on this Middle East bound flight. The prime suspects here are three members of the cabin crew. Six months earlier, Geeta [Tabu], Jasmine [Kareena Kapoor Khan], and Divya ..read more

Disgraced producer asked to clear actor’s dues with 10% interest, plus ordered to pay Rs5 lakh as compensation. Mistry, though, will move Mumbai High Court seeking stringent punishment and fair compensation. Asit Modi, Jennifer Mistry By Mayur Lookhar Noted television actor Jennifer Mistry stands vindicated after a POSH [Prevention of Sexual Harassment] Committee found producer Asit Kumarr Modi guilty of sexually harassing her. Though this verdict can’t send him to jail, a five-member Committee ordered the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah producer to clear her dues with 10 % interest, plus ..read more

The CINTAA General Secretary and CAWT treasurer also questioned the manner in which elections took place for the additional three permanent trustees of CAWT. (L-R) Amit Behl. Priti Sapru Walia and Deepak Qazir Kejriwal By Mayur Lookhar It’s going to be a summer of elections. Naturally, the one that matters the most is Lok Sabha election. There’ll be assembly elections in a few states too. The entertainment industry, too, will get into electoral mode with Cine & TV Artistes’ Association readying itself for the Executive Committee elections slated to take place on 1 May, 2024. As always, the ..read more

The rape victim, and CINTAA General Secretary Amit Behl are puzzled as to why the CAWT chairperson has named them in her complaint when it was only Darshan Jariwala who allegedly used disparaging words in his personal chat with the Kolkata-based journalist. By Mayur Lookhar Already facing the heat over the serious rape allegations against him by a Kolkata-based journalist, actor Darshan Jariwala has found himself in another mess over alleged disparaging comments against Cine & TV Artistes’ Association office bearers and Cine Artist Welfare Trust chairperson Priti Sapru Walia, who has file ..read more

Behl also makes it clear that the artistes’ body couldn’t do much for the late siblings, Dolly and Amandeep Sohi as their CINTAA membership had expired. Amit Behl By Mayur Lookhar In an earlier article, CAWT [Cine Artistes Welfare Trust] chairperson Priti Sapru Walia had raised concerns over the competency of CINTA [Cine & TV Artistes’ Association] office bearers. She even sensed a certain bias in CINTAA covering medical costs of its members. Sapru had stated that whilst CINTAA spent Rs4 lakhs for the treatment of its Sr. Jt. Secretary Tina Ghai, who broke her hand, it didn’t do much ..read more

The CAWT chairperson feels that vested interests in CINTAA are using the rape case to throw Jariwala out. Sapru also dropped a bombshell by claiming that CINTAA didn’t offer much help to the late Amandeep Sohi, but spent Rs4 lakhs on Tina Ghai’s treatment for a broken hand. By Mayur Lookhar Priti Sapru Walia Last year, Cine & TV Artistes’ Association celebrated the launch of the all-new swank CINTAA Tower in Mumbai. Sometimes, all it takes is a little wind to blow down a structure. Such talk would be premature but the personal conflict involving actor Darshan Jariwala and a Kolkata-based j ..read more

Actor, director Randeep Hooda’s film is comprehensive and unapologetic in its Savarkar vs Gandhi ideological clash. Rating: (2.5 / 5) By Mayur Lookhar For an industry that was long aloof to the idea of political films, Bollywood has been consistently churning out such content in recent years. Very few have succeeded, but such films often trigger a debate in social, political circles. Has it changed perception? Are noisy news debates or social media a reflection of change? Honestly, beyond the respective narrative, there is little evidence of ideological transformation of the common man.  ..read more