Lamocom

Film Companion Class in Session- “Writing About Films”

October 2, 2020October 2, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

A crisp course comprising essential video lectures of professional film critics that aid you to assimilate the phenomena of criticism in its entirety. With the best film critics from the industry, Anupama Chopra , Baradwaj Rangan , Rahul Desai and Sucharita Tyagi, the course covers a total of 10 topics under Film Criticism. The course lessons addresses some significant pointers that assist … Read moreFilm Companion Class in Session- “Writing About Films”

Alocana: Cinema and the Role of Critics By RAJULA SHAH

December 31, 2020September 28, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

3-28 August 2020, FTIIONLINE, Film and Television Institute of India, Course Coordinator- Prof. Rajula Shah, Associate Prof. Mukul Haloi My first step towards endorsing my passion for the movies in an attempt to equip myself through a formal training platform. Amidst the ferocity lashed out by the Pandemic, it did bring a nanoscopic goodness with … Read moreAlocana: Cinema and the Role of Critics By RAJULA SHAH

Teesri Kasam

September 28, 2020September 28, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

1966, Hindi, YouTube, 7.9/10 IMDB, Directed by Basu Bhattacharya A sincere depiction of the life of a female theater artist, who boldly demonstrates her passion for the art over her love for a naïve and honest man. A theatre artist Hirabai (Waheeda Rehman) falls for the innocence of the bullock cart driver Hiraman (Raj Kapoor), … Read moreTeesri Kasam

Kumudini

September 27, 2020September 26, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

2018, Malayalam, Vimeo.com, Documentary, Directed by Jaya Jose Raj A simple documentation of an elderly responsible citizen, to protect her environment in the God’s own country, from the devilish clutches of the pollution mongering industries. The short documentary- Kumudini, which translates, ‘pond of water lilies’, has an apt tag line – ‘A water lily chronicle’. … Read moreKumudini

Maya

September 27, 2020September 25, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

2019, HIndi, Voot.com, IMDB 6.3, Directed by Vikas Chandra https://www.voot.com/shows/shortcuts/1/100255/maya/753131 A fine take on the mother-daughter relationship that leaves you wishing well for them both. The film opens with Maya realizing that her mom is missing. The film scrolls to the happenings of a week ahead and reveals that Maya is dating a potential groom … Read moreMaya

Hamare Ghar

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

2013, vimeo.com, Hindi, Directed by Kislay A tight slap on the affluent, who viciously entraps the full-time house helper’s families for generations, in a disguise of providing a livelihood for the under privileged. A 30 odd minute film, that firmly talks about the innate qualities of the middle income family’s mindset that exploits sub consciously … Read moreHamare Ghar

Kanchana Sita

September 27, 2020September 21, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

1979, YouTube, Malayalam, 7.6/10 IMDB, Directed by G. Aravindan A striking interpretation of Ramayana’s Uthara Kandam- endorsing the humanness of the mythological characters and disintegrating our conditioned imaginations of the epic that disturbingly leaves us contemplating. Director G. Aravindan’s adaptation of C.N. Sreekanthan Nair’ play, stands tall for its personification of ‘Nature’ as Sita, its … Read moreKanchana Sita

The Red Balloon

September 27, 2020September 15, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

1956, French Short Film, 8.2/10, YouTube, Directed by Albert Lamorisse An endearing story of a little boy and a red balloon that leaves you in complete wonderment, of the technique and narrative in personifying the red balloon The film starting with the deep focus shot with sun shining through and a little boy (Pascal), it … Read moreThe Red Balloon

Camera Buff

September 27, 2020September 15, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

1979 Polish, 7.5/10 IMDB, Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski A drama of an individual’s new found passion of motion camera that slowly consumes him, until it costs him his dear family and overrides his meaning of happiness. The film in turn consumes the viewers with its illustrative making as the character unearths his passion that he … Read moreCamera Buff

Bicycle Thieves

September 27, 2020September 15, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

1948 Italian, 8.3 /10, YouTube, Directed by Vittorio De Sica Italian Neo-realism of unemployment and the hardships of the working class people after the world wars, catches your attention and leaves a void in the viewer’s mind, through realistic depictions of the mammoth ordeals of people after the man made wars. The film opens to … Read moreBicycle Thieves

Close-Up

September 27, 2020September 15, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

1990 Persian, 8.3 /10 IMDB, YouTube, Directed by Abbas Kiarostami ‘Based on a true story or a true’- we are familiar with that title credit. Interestingly ‘Close-up’ features real people of a true story, playing their original parts and it stays close to your heart when Abbas Kiarostami distinctively captures the events in an investigative … Read moreClose-Up

Sadgati

September 27, 2020September 11, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

1981, Hindi, Television Film, YouTube, IMBD 8/10, Directed By Satyajit Ray https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRpaPV3QayY Categorical depiction of untouchability, distinct from the abstract versions we are familiar in the 21st century mediums, that ends with a tone of a sharp cynicism. Sadgati, meaning deliverance or salvation, based on a short story by Munshi Premchand, is a story of … Read moreSadgati

Sujata

September 27, 2020September 10, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

1959, Hindi, YouTube, 7.3/10 IMBD The cruelty of untouchability seen through a rare lens of an orphaned lower-class girl baby who is chanced to grow up in a Brahmin household. Based on a Bengali short story by Subodh Ghosh, its Bimal Roy’s directorial touch that brings the best in his artists, especially the female lead, … Read moreSujata

c u soon

October 3, 2020September 8, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

2020, Malayalam, Amazon Prime, 8.3/10 IMDB, Directed by Mahesh Narayanan A peek in to the virtual world of a handful of characters, resonating our own during the pandemic, that fortunately leaves us gratified, just when it was getting too tedious. The film opens to a Tinder chat of a random couple Jimmy (Roshan Mathew) and … Read morec u soon

Kappela

October 3, 2020June 28, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

2020, Malayalam, Netflix , 7.7/10 IMDB, Directed by Musthafa A simple movie with an outstanding story telling and some scintillating performances. The opening shot with the rain pouring down from above with the opening credits rolling behind, the cameras are set in a such beautiful angles, that you feel as if you are in the … Read moreKappela

Ponmagal Vandhal

September 27, 2020May 31, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

2020, Tamil, Amazon Prime, 6.8 /10 IMDB, Directed by J.J. Fredrick A direct OTT release, potential thriller, packaged in social awareness wrap and spiced up with a little women empowerment – completely derails with its sitcom characterisation and soapy direction. To start with, Jothika and Suriya, needs to be lauded for their initiative in constantly … Read morePonmagal Vandhal

Thappad

September 23, 2020May 18, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

Hindi, Amazon prime 7.2 /10 IMDB, Directed by Anubhav Sinha A strong content, told from a weak person’s perspective. Somewhere the powerful message fails to touch the audience, the way it ought to. The movie starts with Amrita, pampering her husband in his everyday involuntary chores, right from waking him up with a drink as … Read moreThappad

Luca

September 17, 2020May 12, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

2019, Malayalam, YouTube, 7.5/10 IMDB, Directed by Arun Bose The movie opens to a suspicious death of the hero Tovino who plays this sweet artist Luca and few frames later the death of the female lead Niharika played by the beautiful Ahaana krishna . Haven’t seen any movie with such an opening scene, that I … Read moreLuca

Sudani From Nigeria

September 17, 2020May 12, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

2018, Malayalam, Netflix, 8.2 /10 IMDB, Direcged by Zakariya Mohammed A weird title with a high rating – it ought to be yet another classic Malayalam film that you will end up falling in love the people of Kerala. It sure is a feel good movie that celebrates the nativity and the simplicity of people. … Read moreSudani From Nigeria

‘Parava

September 17, 2020May 11, 2020 by Latha Rajasekar

2017, Malayalam, Disney Hotstar, 8.2/10 IMDB, Directed by Soubin Shahir A Soubin Shahir’s debut directorial with some interesting names, Dulquer Salman, Shane nigam, Sreenath Bashi with such a IMDB score, it’s bound to be cracking film and it sure was an entertainer. Teens Amal shah and Govind pal bring the childhood memories of many on … Read more‘Parava