All posts tagged: Indian films

R Madhavan says son Vedaant’s generation is disconnected from Indian cinema: ‘They’re watching Japanese anime’

R Madhavan says son Vedaant’s generation is disconnected from Indian cinema: ‘They’re watching Japanese anime’

Published by Webster

R Madhavan believes Indian cinema is facing a new challenge, and it isn’t coming from within the country. While promoting his upcoming biographical drama GDN, the actor spoke about what he sees as a growing disconnect between Gen Z and Indian films, saying younger audiences are increasingly turning to Korean content, Japanese anime and other international entertainment. R Madhavan worries son Vedaant’s generation is drifting away from Indian cinema. What he said While speaking to Cinema Express, R Madhavan opened up about a concern that has become increasingly personal for him. Looking at his 20-year-old son Vedaant and others from his generation, the actor said he notices a growing disconnect with Indian cinema. He admitted it is something that genuinely worries him. “I’ve got one fear I don’t even want to think about. For sure, until now, I’ve earned his respect. Now he’s 20 years old. But if you look at my younger generation, they’re totally disconnected from him. It’s a big problem. They’re watching Japanese anime, they’re watching Korean content. But they don’t even …

‘They hail films making ₹200 crore but don’t tell you they cost ₹500 crore’: Reema Kagti on Bollywood box office paradox

‘They hail films making ₹200 crore but don’t tell you they cost ₹500 crore’: Reema Kagti on Bollywood box office paradox

Published by Webster

It is no state secret that the conversation around Indian films has moved from how many stars it received from critics to how much it made in its opening weekend. Box office collections, which used to be a niche figure, now dominate discourse for almost every film, and many filmmakers feel it is unfair in the absence of the proper context of a film’s investment, budget, and scale. Reema Kagti talks about box office versus budget in Bollywood. Recently, speaking with Hindustan Times, filmmakers Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti opened up about the increased focus on box-office collections and how it affects smaller, independent films. Referring to a few recent Indian indie films, Reema said, “When you see a Shape of Momo, Boong, or Sabar Bonda, you cannot compare them to the box office collections of big tentpole commercial films.” Most of these films were made on budgets under ₹5 crore and hence had break-even points much lower than those of mainstream Hindi films. Pointing out that discrepancy, Zoya added, “And if people do that, …

One Piece singer Hiroshi Kitadani shares Japan’s love for ‘Dancing Maharaja’ Rajinikanth, talks India trip | Exclusive

One Piece singer Hiroshi Kitadani shares Japan’s love for ‘Dancing Maharaja’ Rajinikanth, talks India trip | Exclusive

Published by Parlour News

To call singer Hiroshi Kitadani an icon is almost an understatement. In the world of J-pop (Japanese pop music), he is a legend. And his fame and following is compounded by the fact that he is behind some of the most recognisable songs from the anime world, notably We Are!, the theme song of the global phenomenon, ONE PIECE. The 62-year-old was recently in India to perform We Are! in front of an Indian crowd for the first time. On the sidelines, Kitadani sat down to talk to Hindustan Times about his India trip, ONE PIECE, and his love for Indian films. Anime icon and J-pop icon Hiroshi Kitadani talks music, ONE PIECE, and Indian cinema. Getting We Are! is like winning the lottery Kitadani has said that We Are! saved his life. The song came to him at the lowest time in his career. “It was truly my lowest point after my debut. The offer for We Are! came when things weren’t going well at all, so it was unexpected. It was like an …

UP CM Yogi Adityanath says films ‘portraying villains as heroes’ spoiled generations: ‘If you present dacoit as hero…’

UP CM Yogi Adityanath says films ‘portraying villains as heroes’ spoiled generations: ‘If you present dacoit as hero…’

Published by Parlour News

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken a jibe at Indian films that portray criminals and villains in a heroic fashion, saying that it has ‘spoiled’ generations of India as they consider dacoits and criminals as role models. The CM called upon filmmakers to produce content that inspires society, cautioning against glorifying negative characters. Yogi Adityanath spoke about the depiction of villains in Indian films. (FILE PHOTO) (HT_PRINT) Yogi Adityanath on cinema glorifying villains On Friday, CM Adityanath addressed a cultural event in Varanasi based on the life of Emperor Vikramaditya. Speaking at the grand theatrical presentation, the chief minister said, “There was a time when noble characters were portrayed as villains, and villains were projected as heroes through films. What was the result? Generations were getting spoiled. People lost their voice against injustice, oppression and exploitation because such ideals were not presented before the younger generation.” The CM said the cinema has a responsibility to shape societal values, urging filmmakers not to glorify villains. “I urge film directors and producers to make films that …

Internet angry at ‘ignorance’ as Letterboxd top 500 films includes only 9 Indian titles: ‘No Guru Dutt film, no Nayakan’

Internet angry at ‘ignorance’ as Letterboxd top 500 films includes only 9 Indian titles: ‘No Guru Dutt film, no Nayakan’

Published by Parlour News

Earlier this week, Letterboxd, the film cataloguing social platform, unveiled its list of 500 top films. The exhaustive list, curated by one of its patrons, features the highest-rated films on the platform, ranked by user ratings and popularity. However, as Indian users noted that only 9 films from the country made the cut, many felt disappointed that the world’s largest film industry was underrepresented. Jr NTR and Ram Charan-starrer RRR is one of the Indian films in the list. Letterboxd’s Top 500 films The Letterboxd’s Top 500 Films list is included on the site’s official lists section. Curated by patron Dave Vis, the list “ranks narrative feature films by average member rating,” the platform states. Masaki Kobayashi’s acclaimed Japanese film Harakiri tops the list, followed by the same director’s The Human Condition III: A Soldier’s Prayer. Hollywood courtroom drama 12 Angry Men rounds off the top 3. The top 10 also includes iconic films such as Seven Samurai, The Godfather Part 2, Shawshank Redemption, and City of God. Only 9 Indian films make the cut …

‘Had Dhurandhar released in 15000 screens…’: Aamir Khan says India lacks theatres, needs more to compete with China

‘Had Dhurandhar released in 15000 screens…’: Aamir Khan says India lacks theatres, needs more to compete with China

Published by Parlour News

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has rued the lack of theatres in several parts of India, saying the country needs more cinema halls for big films to do bigger numbers at the box office. In a new interview, Aamir gave China’s example and said that if a film like Dhurandhar had received the wide release that Chinese films do, it would have done even bigger numbers. Aamir Khan spoke about India’s lack of theatres with Dhurandhar’s example. ‘India needs more cinema halls’ Speaking with Variety India, Aamir addressed the need for more cinema halls in India, saying the country has just 9000 screens currently, compared to around one lakh in China. What is the comparison? We are one-tenth their size in outlets. Which is why one big film when in China does huge business; it does two billion US dollars. Just in China, not in the rest of the world. Just in China, big films do that kind of business. The big films over there do business worth billions of dollars. I am talking of US …

Lokah, Dhurandhar, Bison Kaalamaadan make it to top 10 action films of 2025 by Letterboxd; beat Avatar Fire and Ash

Lokah, Dhurandhar, Bison Kaalamaadan make it to top 10 action films of 2025 by Letterboxd; beat Avatar Fire and Ash

Published by Parlour News

Letterboxd, the social cataloguing service for films, has unveiled its 2025 year in review. The website has published several lists of the best-rated films of 2025 on the platform, differentiated by genres and categories. And highlighting a red-letter year for Indian films, many desi titles have made it to the various top 10 lists and the overall top 50. It’s the list of the top 10 action films that has seen the highest concentration of Indian films, with Dhurandhar, Lokah Chapter 1, and Bison leading the charge. Bison, Dhurandhar, Lokah were in the top 10 action films of 2025, collated by Letterboxd. Three Indian films in top 10 action films Letterboxd shared top 10 lists of films of 2025, based on genres like action/adventure, romance, thriller, drama, and horror, to name a few. In the list of the highest-rated action/adventure films of 2025, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another topped. Other usual suspects in the top 10 include Sinners, Superman, F1, and How To Drain Your Dragon. However, the highlight for Indian film buffs …

Vivek Oberoi cheers for Kantara Chapter 1 as it qualifies for Best Picture Oscar: ‘Bhuta Kola has transcended borders’

Vivek Oberoi cheers for Kantara Chapter 1 as it qualifies for Best Picture Oscar: ‘Bhuta Kola has transcended borders’

Published by Webster

The Academy announced the list of 317 feature films which are eligible for consideration at the 98th Academy Awards. According to a press release, this includes 201 titles that qualify for the Best Picture category. The four Indian films featured in the list are Rishab Shetty‘s Kantara: Chapter 1, Anupam Kher’s Tanvi The Great, M. Sasikumar’s Tourist Family, and the animated epic Mahavatar Narasimha. Vivek Oberoi congratulated Rishab Shetty on the success of Kantara Chapter 1. ‘Roar of our ancestors echoing on the world’s most prestigious stage’ Vivek Oberoi has now congratulated the team of Kantara Chapter 1 on this momentous occasion. The actor took to his X account and wrote, “What was once a sacred ritual, guarded by the ancient spirits of Tulunad, has now erupted into a global inferno. Bhuta Kola has transcended borders, shattering the silence to become a worldwide phenomenon.” He added, “Massive congratulations, my brother @shetty_rishab on qualifying for the Best Picture race at the 98th Academy Awards! This isn’t just a nomination; it is the roar of our ancestors …

Top 5 Indian films that DEFIED runtime rule and received HUGE Box Office impact

Top 5 Indian films that DEFIED runtime rule and received HUGE Box Office impact

Published by Parlour News

The Legacy of Length in Indian Cinema Indian audiences have long embraced extended runtimes, from Sholay to modern blockbusters proving that when a story earns its scale, duration only deepens emotional and narrative impact. Gadar 2 The sequel thrives on nostalgia, patriotism and intense family bonds. Its length allows the father–son arc and the emotional reunions to breathe, making the payoff far more powerful. Animal Not driven by plot but psychology, the film’s duration lets viewers sit inside the chaos of Ranbir Kapoor’s character, his rage, love, contradictions and destructive moral code while Vanga mounts operatic confrontations and stylish set-pieces. Arjun Reddy The runtime becomes central to the experience. Arjun’s heartbreak, addiction and messy healing unfold with raw continuity. A shorter cut would lose the emotional X-ray quality that defines the film. Pushpa 2: The Rule The sequel expands the world massively—politics, gang dynamics, betrayals and the myth of Pushpa Raj himself. The bigger stunts, emotions and heroism thrive because the film refuses to be rushed. Dhurandhar Aditya Dhar’s ensemble thriller featuring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye …

7 movies releasing in theatres this week

7 movies releasing in theatres this week

Published by Parlour News

Movies premiering on November 21 Each Friday, numerous major films debut in cinemas. Supporters are excitedly anticipating their launch. This week, numerous movies are scheduled to debut in theaters, spanning from Bollywood to South Indian cinema. From the adult comedy Masti 4 to Farhan Akhtar’s war movie 120 Bahadur, numerous films are available. Let’s examine these movies. Masti 4 At the top of this list is Masti 4, featuring Vivek Oberoi, Riteish Deshmukh, and Aftab Shivdasani. Directed by Milan Zaveri, the movie has been highly anticipated by enthusiasts of adult comedy. The film is generating a lot of excitement. 120 Bahadur Farhan Akhtar is making his comeback to the big screen after a lengthy break with 120 Bahadur. The movie centers on the Battle of Rezang La involving India and China. Helmed by Razneesh Ghai, enthusiasts have been excitedly anticipating Farhan’s comeback. Vilayath Buddha Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Malayalam action-thriller movie Vilayat Buddha is scheduled to be released on November 21. The movie features Shammi Thilakan, Priyamvada Krishnan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Anu Mohan, Rajashri, Teejay Arunasalam, and Dhruvan …