The Journal
Essays & Dispatches
Long reads on the films, filmmakers and movements of meaningful Indian cinema.
Ijaazat (1987)
Ijaazat (1987) is Gulzar’s exquisitely poetic Hindi musical romance about an estranged couple (Naseeruddin Shah and Rekha) who unexpectedly reunite in a railway station waiting room five years after their divorce, tenderly excavating memories of their failed marriage and the other woman (Anuradha Patel) whose presence still lingers between them.
The Japanese Wife (2010)
The Japanese Wife (2010) is a primarily English Film directed by Aparna Sen. Based on a book by Kunal Basu, the story of this Indo-Japanese film revolves around the love story of a young Bengali village school teacher and his Japanese pen friend over letters and a relationship that transcends the boundaries of human presence.
Chakra (1981)
Chakra is a 1981 Hindi film directed by Rabindra (Robin) Dharmaraj, starring Smita Patil and Nasiruddin Shah. The film tells the story of a migrant family that takes refuge in the slums of Dharavi and is slowly sucked into the seedy underbelly of Bombay.
Nayakan (1987)
Nayakan (1987) is a Tamil film directed by Mani Ratna. With Kamal Haasan as the protagonist, this film is loosely based on the Mumbai gangster Varadarajan Mudaliar and is considered one of the finest films of Indian Cinema.
Genesis (1986)
Genesis is a 1986 Hindi film directed by Mrinal Sen that tells a minimalistic tale of the rise and fall of civilizations, miniaturized within the confines of a ruined village and inside the minds of the four protagonists.
Sadgati (1981)
Based on a short story by the same name written by Munshi Premchand, Sadgati is a 1981 Hindi film directed by Satyajit Ray, a deeply angry fim by his own admission…
Tya Ratri Paus Hota (2009)
ya Ratri Paus Hota (That Night It Rained) is one of the most audacious thriller-dramas of Marathi Cinema written and directed by Gajendra Ahire, with a stellar cast of Subodh Bhave, Amruta Subhash, Sonali Kulkarni and Sayaji Shinde. The movie...