sharmila tagore

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Universally beloved Vulture critic and Hit Factory all-star Roxana Hadadi returns to close out Denzember with a hefty chat about Mira Nair's 1991 romantic drama 'Mississippi Masala', a story of identity, the generational pursuit of belonging, and the possibility of new futures through the radical expression of love without boundaries. 

We discuss the career of the undersung Nair, from her start as a documentarian through her more recent narrative features like 'The Namesake' and 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist'. Then we discuss the film's wholly singular voice and level of representation; how it refuses simple binaries about a diverse set of cultures, and why extricating a white perspective allows the story to detail difficult realities of non-white experiences. Finally, we discuss the film's impossibly alluring romantic thread between Denzel Washington and first-time performer Sarita Choudhury and the honesty that can be revealed through the pairing of a veteran actor's craft and a non-actor's authenticity. 

Roxana's Top 5 Denzel Washington Performances:

Honorable Mentions: The Pelican Brief, Much Ado About Nothing

1. Mississippi Masala

2. Malcolm X

3. Man on Fire

4. The Mancuiran Candidate

5. Inside Man

Aaron's Top 5 Denzel Washington Performances:

Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia, Crimson Tide

1. Malcolm X

2. Training Day

3. Deja Vu

4. Flight

5. The Tragedy of Macbeth

Carlee's Top 5 Denzel Washington Performances:

Honorable Mentions: Malcolm X, The Hurricane

1. Ricochet

2. Crimson Tide

3. Training Day

4. Flight

5. Mississippi Masala

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Our Denzember theme song is "FUNK" by OPPO.

Packed with a phenomenal cast including Sharmila Tagore, Manoj Bajpayee and Simran, Gulmohar can be described as an anti-hero to Hum Saath Saath Hain or a new age Baghban.

The beauty of the film lies solely in its portrayal of family and the class disparity prevalent in our society. The director, Rahul V. Chittella, does an excellent job at not only capturing beautiful shots, but also heartwarming ones.

Tune in!

In conversation with independent film critic and author Amitava Nag on one of Satyajit Ray's magnificent films, Arranyer Din Ratri (1970).

We reflect on one of my favorite films by Ray, as it turns 50 this year, discussing — scenes from the film, the craft behind the film, the strong women of the film, Sunil Gangopadhyay's novel, the film's place in Ray's oeuvre, influences on the film and the film's legacy.

Guest Amitava Nag has authored Satyajit Ray's Heroes and Heroines, decoding Ray's unique ability in extracting superlative performances from his actors.

Amitava has also hosted a wonderful series of video lectures on Ray's cinema on Youtube, titled: Ray@100 Video Lectures by Amitava Nag.


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Credits:

Concept: Himanshu (@loveofcinemasf8)
Host: Himanshu 
Editor: Devika Joglekar
Music: Nakul Abhyankar

Copyrights © Love of Cinema 2020

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