Arshia Dhar
In Anindita Ghose's debut novel, lunar metaphors, myriad literary references and a depiction of women's inner lives
The premise of The Illuminated betrays a familiarity — as it seemingly revolves around the lives of a mother-daughter duo, Shashi and Tara Mallick, and the all-important men in their lives — only to catch the reader off-guard with its nuanced, sensitive, and often complex mappings of its protagonists' minds.
Lihaaf movie review: Rahat Kazmi's adaptation lacks the fire of Ismat Chugtai's story
What Ismat Chugtai's short story had in abundance, — a pressing need to reveal difficult truths through beautifully crafted metaphors — is what Rahat Kazmi's adaptation falls short of, despite staying ardently faithful to the source material.
In Call Me By Your Name, a wholesome and sensuous experience of a place that feels like home
In my most forlorn moments, I have found myself instinctively travelling back to the poolside where Elio writes his music in a notebook, half immersed in water, as Oliver floats past him under the gentle Italian sun.
Pet parenting in a pandemic: Caring for a fur child during the COVID-19 crisis has its comforts — and challenges
What this pandemic has taught us about pet parenting is how our vocabularies are not robust enough to capture the profundity of the bonds we share with our fur-children.
Lupin review: The Omar Sy show ups the ante by lending a credible cultural premise to its classic literary source
What Lupin accomplishes rather remarkably, beyond its exceptional visuals, is lend a credible sociopolitical premise to the story that rises above its source material to leave a powerful commentary on cultures of apartheid, racial injustice, and structures of oppression.
The Manoj Bajpayee interview | 'Being part of The Family Man shows our respect for India's diversity as creative people'
The actor talks about the foibles of Srikant Tiwari, and why there are no villains (but only heroes) in The Family Man.
CiNEmatters Ep 5 | How Anmol Gurung's Appa, about a father-son duo, reveals social structures hidden in plain sight
Firstpost presents CiNEmatters, a podcast examining cinema about and from the North East of India. In episode 5, we discuss 'Appa' (2019), a Nepali film by Anmol Gurung, set in Kalimpong.
In Mare of Easttown, a plaintive look at women's trauma as caregivers, and their constant quest for adequacy
With every 'mother-figure' that we encounter in Easttown, we are continuously made aware of the insidious and blatant ways in which patriarchy functions to make every woman feel perpetually inadequate as a caregiver, not just to her own children and family, but to other's as well.
Aparna Sen and Madhabi Mukherjee on Satyajit Ray, the man, and his enduring legacy
On Satyajit Ray's 100th birth anniversary, his leading ladies Aparna Sen and Madhabi Mukherjee weigh in on the political significance of the man and his legacy, even 29 years since he breathed his last.
Rumours of Spring: Farah Bashir's memoir is a stirring account of an unquiet adolescence spent in Kashmir
Bashir's debut work of literature also documents the changing political landscape of her home-state that turned into a militarised zone almost overnight, leaving her with inexplicable anxieties about everyday life.
CiNEmatters Ep 4 | Phijigee Mani sheds light on the insidious ways in which patriarchy governs life in Manipur
Firstpost presents CiNEmatters, a podcast examining cinema from the North East of India. In episode 4, we discuss 'Phijigee Mani' (2011), a National Award-winning Manipuri film.
CiNEmatters Ep 3 | In Reema Borah's film Bokul, a closer look at the plight of lives forced to reside on Assam's fringes
Firstpost presents CiNEmatters, a podcast examining cinema from the North East of India. In episode 3, we discuss 'Bokul' (2015), an Assamese film by Reema Borah.
CiNEmatters Ep 2 | How the Assamese film Maj Rati Keteki probes into the complex issue of identity in the state
Firstpost presents CiNEmatters, a podcast examining cinema from the North East of India. In episode 2, we discuss 'Maj Rati Keteki' (2017), an Assamese film by Santwana Bardoloi, starring Adil Hussain.
CiNEmatters Ep 1 | How the Bodo film Jwlwi: The Seed examines the plight of women in a volatile Assam
Firstpost presents CiNEmatters, a podcast examining cinema from the North East of India. In episode 1, we discuss 'Jwlwi: The Seed' (2019), a Bodo film by Rajni Basumatary.
Firstpost presents CiNEmatters, a new podcast on the cinema of North East India and its socio-cultural nuances
With every episode of CiNEmatters, Firstpost hopes to inch closer to understanding why entertainment from this part of the country continues to remain largely elusive, besides examining some of its most interesting, yet lesser-known offerings.
Amitav Ghosh on his book Jungle Nama, folk traditions: 'We have to find ways to make reading collaborative'
Through his new book Jungle Nama — written completely in verse, with artwork by Salman Toor — the writer wishes to uphold and celebrate folk traditions of storytelling by engaging with diverse mediums such as audiobooks, graphic novels and video-gaming.
Genus Pan movie review: Lav Diaz's film cuts down on runtime but not intensity of its scathing criticism of Filipino society
The Filipino film was screened at the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival earlier this month.
True Mothers review: Naomi Kawase's film explores nuances of motherhood but succumbs to its clichés
The film made its Indian premiere at the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival this year, and is Japan's official nominee for the Oscars 2021.
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How writer-director Mohit Priyadarshi made Kosa, a searing look at human rights violations in Chhattisgarh
The film made its Indian premiere at the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival in January 2021, after debuting internationally at UK's Raindance Festival in October last year.
Remembering Moheener Ghoraguli, India's first rock band from Kolkata whose legacy thrives in resistance
Forty-five years since their formation, Moheener Ghoraguli — who likened themselves to a "movement" — continue to find resonance in the sound and art of budding artists not just in Bengal, but across India, with their songs being widely reprised and recreated.