The Journal
Essays & Dispatches
Long reads on the films, filmmakers and movements of meaningful Indian cinema.
Vijeta (1982)
Vijeta (1982) is a coming-of-age Hindi drama directed by Govind Nihalani, tracing a young man’s passage into the Indian Air Force amid his parents’ fraught marriage.
Oka Oorie Katha (1977)
Oka Oorie Katha (Eng: The Marginal Ones) is a 1977 Telugu film directed by Mrinal Sen. Based on an acclaimed story by Munshi Premchand, Kafan, the film is a scathing commentary on rural destitution and social injustice, projected powerfully through its protagonists and a sincere narrative.
Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977)
Shatranj Ke Khilari [Eng: The Chess Players] is a 1977 Hindi film written and directed by Satyajit Ray. Based on Munshi Premchand’s short story by the same name, the film is set in 1856 when the princely state of Oudh was annexed by the East India Company and the titular ruler of the state, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was deposed.
Swami (1977)
Swami is a 1977 Hindi language film directed by Basu Chatterjee and has Shabana Azmi, Girish Karnad, Vikram, and Utpal Dutt in lead roles. Based on a novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Swami tells the story of the intelligent and vivacious Saudamini who feels let down by her marriage to a simple man.
Bhumika (1977)
Bhumika is a 1977 Hindi film directed by Shyam Benegal and has Smita Patil, Amol Palekar, Anant Nag, Naseeruddin Shah, and Amrish Puri in prominent roles. Said to be based on a memoir of Marathi actress Hansa Wadkar, Bhumika tells the story of an actress and her search for identity and self-fulfillment.
Pasi (1979)
Pasi (Eng: Hunger) is a 1979 Tamil film directed by Durai and has Shoba, Delhi Ganeshan, and Vijayan in prominent roles. The film is notable for its realistic portrayal of life in the most deprived stratum of society, in all its dignity. Pasi was critically acclaimed and won many National and State film awards.
Nirmalayam (1973)
Nirmalayam is a 1973 Malayalam film written and directed by M.T. Vasudevan Nair and has P.J. Antony and Kaviyoor Ponnamma
as the main cast. An adaptation of the short story ‘Pallivalum Kalchilambum’, the film went to win many State and National awards.