Films, the world over, have utterly failed feminists time and again. But, that’s changing and, these five characters, from Fleabag to Harley Quinn in Birds of Preys, are proof. FLEABAG Played by: Phoebe Waller-Bridge Yes, we’re living in a world where we’re constantly expected to say the right things. Even when Phoebe Waller-Bridge was writing… Continue reading Five empowering feminists you would love on screen
“What should I watch tonight?” It’s a perennial question we ask ourselves. And yes, you might want to see a mindless television series but we’re going to persuade you do try a different route this time and watch documentaries. And, no, you won’t be sleeping to boredom. Get your popcorn ready. Taylor Swift: Miss Americana… Continue reading 5 documentaries that are anything but boring
When you’re single, being surrounded by couples on Valentine’s Day and the endless PDA that inevitably takes over Instagram canbe tough. But, if you want to escape all the posts that say #Bae, we have curated a list of fantastic films that have nothing to do with love. PARASITE Oscar season just went by and… Continue reading Alone on Valentine’s Day? These 5 films will help you beat the blues
Alaya F takes a stroll among lush greens in the hilly paradise of Uttarkhand as she plays around in wispy floral dresses, graphic cardigans and structured overcoats. Editor-in-chief: Supriya Dravid; Shot and edited by: Miya Biwi; Styling: Malini Banerji; Hair and make-up: Deepa Verma; Assisted by: Tejaswini Sinha, Rupangi Grover (Styling), Sejal Goyal (Intern),… Continue reading Watch our February cover star Alaya F at her playful best
The trailer of Deepika Padukone’s upcoming movie, Chhapaak, was released today and the internet is full of praise. The Meghna Gulzar-directed film is based on the real-life story of acid-attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal who was subjected to this heinous crime at the age of 15. Deepika’s commitment towards the much-awaited film goes beyond just portraying the… Continue reading Watch: The trailer of Deepika Padukone’s Chhapaak is heart-wrenching
sKolkata-born film-maker Ashvin Kumar’s grandfather was Kashmiri, and he spent all his childhood vacations in the idyllic valley. But it was on his return after two decades, in 2009—when militancy was at its peak—that he was confronted by the grim realities of life there, and its whitewashing at the hands of the mainstream media. So,… Continue reading Oscar-nominated director Ashvin Kumar’s latest film is a love story set in Kashmir
Australian actor Geraldine Viswanathan’s first brush with fame was in November 2016, when her skit Yeah The Boys, with comedy group Freudian Nip, went viral. The New South Wales native (her father is Indian, and mother is Swiss), had joined them just a few months earlier, after dropping out of university, to pursue a career… Continue reading Indie cinema’s new darling Geraldine Viswanathan is the star of the woke film Blockers
Miransha Naik dropped out of college in his first year. He was convinced that another two years of studying commerce would be an utter waste of time. So, he traded education for quick money, working at a restaurant, and soon opened his own shack on Benaulim Beach. For a boy from a small village called Borimol, you’d say he had done well already. But then Naik… Continue reading Miransha Naik’s debut film, Juze, shines a light on Goa’s dark corners
With the number of headlines Bollywood tends to selfishly conquer, you’d be forgiven that the world of Indian cinema begins and ends with people with the surnames Kapoor. And while there’s no denying the couture chops of Sonam Kapoor or Priyanka Chopra’s handle on street style, the gorgeous women from what is (somewhat apologetically) clubbed… Continue reading 5 most stylish actresses down South
Director Raam Reddy broke a 40-year spell for India when his Kannada film Thithi won two major awards at this year’s Locarno International Film Festival. The critically acclaimed indie, which has everyone from Anurag Kashyap to Kalki Koechlin rooting for it, releases in India this June. Here, the 25-year-old Bangalore native gives us a preview: Thithi doesn’t… Continue reading Everyone’s rooting for Kannada film Thithi
Akshay Oberoi made his Bollywood debut back in 2010, but it’s possible that the Bombay-based actor has entirely escaped your attention. His first feature, Isi Life Mein…! exited theatres without a sound, and his screen time in big-budget releases like Piku (2015) and Fitoor (2016) hasn’t allowed for instant recognition. But this year, with three promising films lined up, Oberoi is… Continue reading Name to know: Akshay Oberoi
Kalieaswari Srinivasan doesn’t subscribe to the positive reinforcement philosophy. The Chennai native didn’t believe she’d land a role in French director Jacques Audiard’s grim drama Dheepan, or that the film would be screened at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival and go on to win the the prestigious Palme d’Or. For the actor, who plays a Sri Lankan… Continue reading Name to know: Kalieaswari Srinivasan
If you’re anything like me, you’ve regarded the biopic of Neerja Bhanot with trepidation. The extraordinary story of the 23-year-old Pan Am purser who risked her life to save the passengers on-board a hijacked flight deserved to be told with sincerity, not star-power. Sonam Kapoor, fresh from the success of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, seemed… Continue reading 5 reasons to watch Neerja
Taxi Jafar Panahi’s latest film won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. It’s his third film since the Iranian government banned him from filmmaking – here, he drives a cab throughout the film and uses a dashboard camera to film his conversations with passengers, reflecting on his situation with wit and warmth. Dheepan… Continue reading ELLE picks: 10 must-see films at Jio MAMI
While runway trends are name-checking Anderson’s oeuvre, we breakdown the director’s signature filmmaking style. The almost OCD-level of precision and symmetry… … that also extends to a sugared almond-colour palette for every film. Old-school vintage props that can make any hipster squeal with joy. He always finds a way to include… Continue reading What makes a Wes Anderson film
When Shashank Arora bagged the title role in Kanu Behl’s Titli – which was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival – the Delhi native was inching close to breaking point. “After four years in Bombay and only three [acting] jobs, anybody would be. I’m not stronger than that.” But the gritty story of a family… Continue reading Name to know: Shashank Arora
When she graduated from FTII in 2011, Sayani Gupta was on the fence about Bollywood (“It’s just a small pocket of an actor’s life”). The theatre enthusiast had only acted in a string of indie shorts (including Vasan Bala’s Bunny) and plays until then. But when her month-long audition to play Khanum, Kalki Koechlin’s blind-activist love… Continue reading Name to know: Sayani Gupta
