
Mehfil-e-Sahir | Celebrating 100 years of Sahir Ludhianvi: Varun Grover reads 'Aaj Sajan Mohe Ang Lagalo'
For his birth centennial, we're presenting Sahir Ludhianvi's words in the voice of contemporary lyricists. Here, Varun Grover discusses why this song from Guru Dutt's Pyaasa is a testimony to Sahir's songwriting acumen.

The Friday List: From a concert marking Beethoven's 250th anniversary to Netflix's film on Ma Rainey, your weekly calendar of virtual events
Every Friday, we'll bring you a curated list of online experiences — performances, talks, tours, screenings — to mark on your weekly calendar.

Why Bollywood's music companies and singers, lyricists, composers are at loggerheads
Who owns a song, a lyric or a tune? How much should the creator make? These issues remain unresolved in the Hindi film music industry.

Watch: Varun Grover, Anvita Dutt, Swanand Kirkire fight for credits for lyricists, writers in a new song
Lyricists Swanand Kirkire and Varun Grover voice out against lyricists not being credited on music streaming platforms and apps in Credits De Do Yaar

Masaan turns 5: How Neeraj Ghaywan-Varun Grover’s film tries to break the cycle of caste, gender discrimination
Watching Masaan for the first time, it’s Vicky Kaushal who instantly impresses. He imbues the film with its narrative momentum, and walks away with all the compelling emotional bits.

Vishal Bhardwaj confesses he's often undervalued as a composer: I want to make music for films that aren't mine
In this exclusive interview with Firstpost, Vishal Bhardwaj talks about how he thinks of himself as a music composer first, and a filmmaker later.

Coronavirus Outbreak: Anurag Kashyap, Varun Grover to auction film awards trophies to raise money for COVID-19 testing kits
Anurag Kashyap, Varun Grover and Kunal Kamra are auctioning their trophies to raise funds for coronavirus testing kits to be donated to hospitals and labs.

AR Rahman's measured response to Masakali 2.0 acknowledges an era where original music and remixes must coexist
While AR Rahman did not even mention 'Masakali 2.0', he urged fans to listen to his original version as it was a labour of love from scores of artists.

Somen Mishra on revitalising Dharma with new voices, stories: 'I told all struggling artists I had a foot in the door'
Somen Mishra is the Head of Creative Development (Script) at Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and the Head of Fiction at Dharmatic, the digital arm.

From Hum Dekhenge to Aazadi: The evolving culture of protest in India, and its role in forming public opinion
A thriving culture of protest in India is facilitating creation of original work. The beats are fast. The structure is verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus — typical of pop songs. The lyrics, potent.

CAA protests: The poems, songs and slogans that marked citizens' dissent across the country
Protesters have composed thought-provoking verses, songs, poems and slogans questioning the government's policy and decision-making regarding the CAA.

Varun Grover condemns CAA, atrocities against protestors with a poem titled 'Kaagaz Nahi Dikhayenge'
Varun Grover credits eminent poet 'Rahat Indori and Bangla slogans' for his poem against CAA and NRC

Best Hindi film albums of this decade, from Gully Boy, AR Rahman's Rockstar to Amit Trivedi's Manmarziyaan
Hindi film song in the 2010s saw exceptional music composers, gifted vocalists, and skilled lyricists bring their best game to the table.

Comedians Varun Grover, Sanjay Rajoura discuss CAA, NRC, Jamia protests in their show Bharat Ek Mauj
Amid the ongoing protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act, Varun Grover and Sanjay Rajoura released a new episode of satirical news commentary show Bharat Ek Mauj.

Saif Ali Khan on Sacred Games earning nominations at International Emmy Awards: 'It is well deserved'
Anurag Kashyap and Neeraj Ghaywan directed the second season of Sacred Games while Vikramaditya Motwane served as a showrunner

Sacred Games, Lust Stories, Radhika Apte, The Remix among nominees at International Emmy Awards 2019
Sacred Games has been nominated alongside 1 Contra Todos – Season 3 from Brazil, Bad Banks from Germany and UK's McMafia.

Varun Grover on adapting Sacred Games, and why pro-establishment comedy is against Indian culture
Varun Grover talks about the 'existential crisis' in Sacred Games, and why the comedians today should not 'waste' their voices through pro-establishment comedy.

How the themes in Sacred Games season 2 find global relevance in a contemporary political setup
Netflix probably adapted Sacred Games into a series because its underlying sociopolitical commentary has echoes across the globe, and not just India.

Pankaj Tripathi on reprising Guruji in Sacred Games 2: He has a crucial role to play in unravelling the mystery
Pankaj Tripathi talks about the intrigue around his role of Guruji, and how he prepared for arguably his toughest role yet, in Sacred Games Season 2.