Love of Cinema

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Writer-director Gautham Vasudev Menon joins us on the season's last episode to talk about his writing, straddling the genres of action and romance, his process behind picturizing songs, and RHTDM at 20! He shared cool stories behind Thalli Pogathey and Aaromale, the prominent use of closeups in his storytelling, what he...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Film historian and writer Gautam Chintamani joins us for a deep dive into Ramesh Sippy's Shakti (1982).  A film that Sippy is most proud of, by some accounts. A film that's Salim Khan's personal favorite among the films he co-wrote with Javed Akhtar.  A film that pits together two giants of Hindi cinema, Dilip...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! An hour with screenwriter Ritesh Shah on D-Day (2013),  Pink (2016) and Raid (2018). We dissected scenes from those films and chatted about writing dialogue, screenwriting tips, Salim-Javed and what makes them special, some of Ritesh's fave screenplays: L. A. Confidential (1997) and October (2018), and much more.   Feedb...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Gulzar's poetically cinematic Ijaazat (1987) is perhaps Hindi cinema's most mature exploration of divorce and live-in relationships. It's also a film whose dialogue is almost as lyrical as its songs. Featuring a memorable feature-length waltz between two fine actors, Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah, and a terrific s...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! One of our absolute greats and arguably the most versatile Hindi filmmaker of all-time, Vijay Anand, left behind a legacy worthy of frequent celebration. Filmmaker, film instructor and co-founder of the popular film blog, Upperstall — Karan Bali joins us to celebrate Vijay Anand and revisit one of his favorites, Tere Ghar Ke...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Chances are, if you love Hindi cinema, you love Amitabh Bachchan and his films. Having grown up in the 90s, well past peak Bachchan mania, I've always wondered what it would've been like to have lived through that peak mania.  What must the thrill have been like to have witnessed his stardom at its peak? To get a be...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Early in his career, Shah Rukh Khan did a series of films where he played the anti-hero. One of those films was Ram Jaane  (1995), a full-bodied remake of the James Cagney classic, Angels with Dirty Faces. Ram Jaane could've been a career-defining film for SRK but it failed to have a lasting impact. Nevertheless, it&apos...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Satyajit Ray made an absolutely moving documentary on Rabindranath Tagore. He also made documentaries on —  the blind artist, Binode Behari Mukherjee; Bharatanatyam dancer, Balasaraswati; Sikkim; and Sukumar Ray. Ray had also planned documentaries on Nehru and Pandit Ravi Shankar, which never got made. As we inch closer to Ra...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Ek Chalis Ki Last Local (2007) is packed with quirk. A delightful crime comedy, pulling off one improbable scene after another, and delivered with the confidence that's rare from a director making his debut film. In conversation with writer-director Sanjay Khanduri on — -his early days in films, assisting Kundan Shah and...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Kader Khan was an extraordinary writer and actor. He was also one of the primary architects of, what I like to call, the Bachchan aura. He was instrumental in the careers of two other big stars as well - Jeetendra and Govinda. Sukanya Verma, film critic, quiz-maker, and a true blue Hindi film buff,  joins us as we look back o...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Kamlesh Pandey has written upwards of 45 films, including Tezaab, Saudagar, Aatish, Aks, Rang De Basanti, Delhi 6, and Yalgaar. Kamlesh Pandey joins us for a chat on screenwriting, stories behind some of his biggest films, and how writing for Hindi cinema has changed over the last 30 years. We chatted about Tezaab, Aks, Delhi...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with columnist, author and former editor of India Today, Kaveree Bamzai on Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983). Superfan Kaveree and I tried to unpack what makes Kundan Shah's endlessly fascinating comedy — timeless. We talked about our favorite scenes, Kundan Shah's style, the comedic genius of Satish Shah, t...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! 2 cult comedies, 2 massively entertaining blockbusters, and an iconic TV show... In conversation with director Pankuj Parashar on — Ab Ayega Mazaa (1984), Karamchand (1985), Peechha Karro (1986), Jalwa (1987) and ChaalBaaz (1989). Pankaj and I chatted about the films he made in the 80s. Films which I am a fan of. Films which...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with independent film critic and author Amitava Nag on one of Satyajit Ray's magnificent films, Arranyer Din Ratri (1970). We reflect on one of my favorite films by Ray, as it turns 50 this year, discussing — scenes from the film, the craft behind the film, the strong women of the film, Sunil Gangopadhyay...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! **My first podcast episode in Marathi** In conversation with director Sameer Vidwans on — Double Seat (2015) and YZ (2016), present day Marathi cinema, takeaways from assisting Sachin Pilgaonkar, his creative partnership with writer Kshitij Patwardan, and more. We chatted about the common thread between Double Seat and YZ, so...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with Baradwaj Rangan on Mani Ratnam's modern classic, Nayakan (1987). We chat about the landmark film's craft, including Kamal Haasan's departure from star signature for the role of Velu, DoP P. C. Sreeram's groundbreaking work, Raaja's legendary score — and Mani Ratnam, the formalist...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with Navdeep Singh on Manorama Six Feet Under, NH10, and Laal Kaptaan                   Navdeep shared interesting stories and anecdotes about the making and casting of Manorama. We discussed the hat tips to Chinatown (1974), David Lynch, Antonioni and Brazil (1985). And yes, we did talk about the cab with pin...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with writer/director Nikhil Mahajan on Pune 52 (2013), genre filmmaking, Marathi cinema and Shah Rukh Khan We chatted about the underlying themes in the 2013 neo-noir Pune 52, the casting, influences on the film and why Girish Kulkarni figures among the finest actors of our times. Nikhil also spoke on genre fi...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with writer/director Ritesh Batra on themes and some of my favorite scenes from his films.  We chatted about The Lunchbox, Our Souls at Night and Photograph.  Ritesh also shared thoughts on writing, his process on the sets and why he likes Louis Malle's cinema.  Feedback/comments/questions: loveofcinemasf...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with Jai Arjun Singh on Gol Maal, recurrent themes in Hrishida's films, Utpal Dutt, Amol Palekar and more. Jai has authored a lovely book on Hrishida's films, titled The World of Hrishikesh Mukherjee.  Jai and I chatted about the film's classic lines, the muted socio-political commentary, Hrishi...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! An episode dedicated to the memory of a generational, champion athlete.  Kobe Bryant touched so many of my generation with his game and his pursuit of excellence that following his untimely passing, I decided to do an episode in his memory.  NBA commentator Akshay Manwani was kind enough to join me on the episode to chat on ...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with Sudhir Mishra on Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2005) as it turns 15 this year. Mishra shared memories about conceiving the film, as well as the writing, casting and music of the film.  We also chatted about the astonishing relevance of the film today, the current political climate, and his upcoming Netflix se...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with writer-director Manish Gupta on  Sarkar (2005) - researching the Thackeray family, referencing The Godfather, being mentored by Ram Gopal Varma  The Stoneman Murders - recreating the Mumbai of early 80s Rahasya - writing true crime movies  Section 375 - responsibilities of a filmmaker when making a film a...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with Tigmanshu Dhulia on - Haasil, Paan Singh Tomar, Shagird, his craft, his approach to acting, his creative takeaways from working with Shekhar Kapur and Mani Ratnam, the towering talent of Irrfan, his admiration for K. Asif, and much more Tigmanshu also spoke of wanting to make a film on the legendary K. As...

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! In conversation with Ajit Andhare (COO, Viacom18 Studios) on the studio's approach with its film slate, challenges with regional cinema markets, post-mortem of films, pay parity, explosion in the digital space, and much more.  Ajit talked about green-lighting Andhadhun, decoding the failure of Rangoon, and building an in...