(This piece was written for the news website thenewsminute.com and was first published on the 9th of July, 2018 - https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bringing-carnatic-music-mainstream-tamil-cinema-k-balachander-way-84430 In one of the most impactful and memorable scenes in the Tamil film Sindhu Bhairavi, the male protagonist, who is a famed Carnatic vocalist, is shown rendering a Telugu kriti ‘Mari Mari Ninne’ in a concert. The assembled audience in... Continue Reading →
Sanju and the Question of Morality in Biopics!
In Indian cinema, it’s raining biopics of late, the latest, much talked about and at the same time reviled one being Sanju, the biopic on Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt by Rajkumar Hirani. As we speak, this film is running to packed houses even 1 week after it hit the theatres and has already crossed Rs.... Continue Reading →
Tamil Cinema’s Masssss… trap!
Mouse Trap or Elipathayam is a 1981 Malayalam film directed by one of the most acclaimed film directors of Indian cinema – Adoor Gopalakrishnan. This film is considered as a bench mark for art and probably excruciatingly realistic cinema. Films of this genre though, suffered from poor box office response since they could only cater... Continue Reading →
Agni Natchathiram & the emergence of a Hot Star!
(This piece was written for the news website thenewsminute.com and was first published on the 15th April, 2018 - https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/30-years-ago-star-emerged-agni-natchathiram-story-pc-sreeram-79602) This day, exactly 30 years ago, in the sweltering summer heat, director Mani Ratnam’s stylish flick Agni Natchathiram released. A film which defined “cool” to young boys and girls alike in TN those days. It was an unapologetic... Continue Reading →
Padmini to Padmavati to Padmaavat – The Journey from history to a ballad to Opera to a film!
(This post was first published on my personal blog http://anandkumarrs.com on 28th Jan, 2018) Finally Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus hit the screens in Mumbai last week and I happened to watch it. I liked the film for its making apart from other reasons which make for a good one time watch! No, this is... Continue Reading →
The rise and rise of the Censor Senas!!!
(This post was first published on my personal blog http://anandkumarrs.com on 19th Nov, 2017) Acclaimed film maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has again been engulfed in a controversy. This time around his soon to be released magnum opus Padmavati, which has enraged a section of people in North India - Rajputs in particular, who have threatened to... Continue Reading →
30 years since ‘Nayagan’!
(This piece was written for the news website thenewsminute.com and was first published on 21st Oct, 2017) https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/30-years-nayagan-why-tamil-cinema-still-looks-mani-ratnam-classic-70333 30 years since 'Nayagan': Why Tamil cinema still looks up to the Mani Ratnam classic The plot of 'Nayagan' wasn't novel, it was the treatment that made the film the classic it is. Anand Kumar RS Saturday,... Continue Reading →
25 years since the “Roja” blossomed!!!
(This post was first published on my personal blog http://anandkumarrs.com on 2nd Apr, 2017) It was in the year 1992, exactly 25 years ago. I was in Cochin learning the ropes in my 1st job. Weekends were usually time for catching up on films of all hue. And that particular weekend was reserved for what eventually... Continue Reading →
Intha Raja Kaiya Vecha,…,…!
(This post was first published on my personal blog http://anandkumarrs.com on 20th Mar, 2017) Today was just another Sunday morning. As I turned on the ignition of my car for a Sunday morning drive, Ilayaraja’s (Raja) hits started playing. On top of the playlist was Raja Kaiya Vecha,…,… from the hit film Apoorva Sagotharargal. There... Continue Reading →
“Mauna Ragam” – A review 30 years late!
(This post was first published on my personal blog http://anandkumarrs.com on 28th Aug, 2016) Couple of days back a friend who is equally a big fan like me of the ace director Maniratnam passed me a link of the film critic Baradwaj Rangan’s ode on Mani’s Mauna Ragam. The piece titled “30 years of Mauna... Continue Reading →
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