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An Obituary after the Endgame (Spoiler free)

By Shaurya Thapa April 28, 2019

An emotional note dedicated to the nostalgia and memories that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has created for me and many others. Disney and Marvel will come out with future projects to earn more dollars, but the journey that we undertook till Endgame, that will never come back.

In the summer of 2008, my father got a pirated disc of Jon Favreau’s Iron Man. Yes, we both were indirectly criminals for that and I apologise for consuming pirated content, but that was one of the most memorable movies I had ever watched. AC/DC’s Back in Black plays as the movie opens with Robert Downey Jr. smiling in a military vehicle. I knew no AC/DC and no Robert Downey back then, so it was just a ‘cool rock song’ playing with a ‘cool bearded man’.

Robert Downey Jr., in the first half of that film, was uber cool (excuse me for my overdoing of the word ‘cool’; it’s just that I am getting reminded of my years as a pre-teen when my vocabulary was limited), and he gave the signs of classic and toxic cool-guy nature we all kids were impressed with. Millionaire, playboy, genius. We all wanted to be that (not everyone would desire to be a genius though). But by the time, he realises his powers in the second half, you realise Downey’s Tony Stark is a man with responsibility too. He goes on to manage his friends, family, company and humanity in general, wearing that suit. That suit just didn’t give him powers; it makes this superhero more human, and of course, it helped to create a whole universe in the process!

A chain of events was set for me and many other Indian children to get awed by the spectacles for Marvel movies. I watched and re-watched this comic-book inspired film saga in movie halls, DVDs dubbed in Hindi, Star Movies and HBO. As this franchise grew, I grew with it, too.

My music playlist didn’t just have AC/DC now; some vintage soul and new age hip-hop got added in it too, courtesy of Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther. I cheered on a new actor being chosen for the role of Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). I lamented on a new actor being chosen to play Spiderman (Tom Holland). I got bored with some heroes being introduced in films like Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor. I got excited with some heroes being reintroduced in films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Thor: Ragnarok.

And most importantly, out of sheer coincidence, I became like Tony Stark just like pre-adolescent me had wished back in ’08. Nah, I am no millionaire, playboy and genius now but at least, my post-adolescent facial hair makes me look like ‘discount Tony Stark’!

All of this seemed like a perpetual fun ride but then any cliched prophet will tell you, “All good things must come to an end”.

Last year, many fans shed many a tear when they saw Thanos (aka Purple Shrek) snapping his fingers and half of the population on the planet just fading out of existence. “We’re in the end game now,” Doctor Strange proclaimed. The world was stunned as this was the first time, a villain had emerged victorious. And no PG-13 comic book film does this. So, we waited for a happy ending (if there was one).

We waited for a year, and then, Avengers: Endgame released and people created an online ruckus booking tickets, filling theatres till their maximum capacity. With great difficulty, my family and I got our tickets to the nearest PVR.

I remember in 2012, I had watched the first Avengers movie with my parents and sisters. I was probably in eighth grade and people had spread the rumour that the planet will be removed from existence that year. I must confess at one point I did feel that ‘2012’ could be a true phenomenon. I thought aliens would come or natural disasters would ‘avenge’ human abuse on Mother Nature with fire and fury, with Marvel Cinematic Universe style destruction. I was still glad that before I and this planet die, I had watched The Avengers which seemed like the most majestic movie I had ever seen.

The title of ‘the most majestic’ movie soon got replaced with Infinity War with me and now Endgame is wearing that throne for me. Of course, I will not spoil the movie for you here but all I can say is (stating the obvious) that you might shed tears.

I cried a lot, not because of what goes on in the movie, but also because a part of my childhood died last Saturday. A journey that had started in 2008, had finally ended for me, 11 years and 48 hours 1 minute later.

I am glad to be a part of this globalised world where this Indian middle-class boy witnessed a multi-billion-dollar franchise of the West (made with the help of thousands of VFX and sound editors from India and other Asian countries). I felt a wide range of emotions together while travelling back home. I felt mellow had finished a chapter of my life but at the same time, I felt happy that I got the best closure.

Even in the movie hall, I stayed during the credits scene like any Marvel loyalist would, waiting for a post-credits scene. The usher, however, told us that there’s no such scene this time. And at this moment, I realised this ‘phase’ of Marvel and my growing up had really ended.

Featured Image Credits- Marvel Cinematic Universe

Shaurya Singh Thapa

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DUB Speak

Types of Teenage Cliques in Movies

By Bhavya Banerjee October 4, 2018

“I used to think about it this way: Like a continent, Schenley High School is divided into nations. Jock Nation. Kingdom of Stoners. The People’s Republic of Theatre Dorks. In the typical high school life, you belong to one nation, which can never guarantee you total security.”

Humans live, survive, laugh, cry in their self-constructed social environment. That is how it is in spheres of public life in general and in high schools and colleges in particular. You might belong to a group of perfect individuals or you might be a lost boy in a gang of misfits. Over the years, many teen dramas and comedies have explored various cliques in such teen societies. Here, we count down a few such memorable groups of fictional freaks and geeks.

The Geeks (Paper Towns)

Paper Towns might seem like a teen romance especially after knowing that it is based on a John Green book. But in its truest essence, it is a movie on friendship. Q (the protagonist), Ben, and Marcus stick together, be it while singing the Pokemon theme song or while going on a road trip to find Q’s crush. They aren’t the most popular students in school, but the ones who need to search hard to find their prom dates and the ones whose names one hardly remembers. But you won’t feel sorry for them as they are hardly low regarding their status in the high school cliques, liking that “wallflower” status. They are the type who will stay happy playing a video game at home and talking about a random fandom.

The Lost “Velle” Souls (Udaan)

In Udaan, we see a realistic portrayal of Rohan and his testosterone pumping teen friends sneaking out at night watching a B-grade film in a shanty looking theatre, and then getting caught by a teacher, which leads to their suspension. They display a sense of angst and confusion which is normal for their age. The key is to not get lost along this way. Rohan eventually discovers his purpose when he indulges in his gift of writing poetry.

Changing Friends (21 and 22 Jump Street)

Both these classic comedies star Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as undercover cops trying to infiltrate a drug ring in a high school, and in a college in the sequel. That means they pose as school and college students and end up in hilarious bromance moments. However, apart from their bonding, you also see how their relationship changes when they have different interests and different cliques to hang out with. Ironically in the first movie, Tatum who is clearly a jock, gets busy giving science presentations while Jonah Hill, the fat boy who usually gets picked on, roams around with hipster freaks and is a star in the theatre society. That shows how with time, people’s nature towards each other changes. Teen cliques are very transient. However, if you have a real bond with a friend, then you’re bound to get back together despite all the differences, just like the boys of Jump Street.

Attention Seekers (Mean Girls)

Mean Girls is a gem in the pantheon of teen movies and it highlights all sections of the teen high school society in a very vivid, hilarious, and real manner. The most accurate portrayal in the movie is that of the fake cliques, attention seekers, the so called “Mean Girls.” Cady, the lead, played by Lindsay Lohan, initially finds it hard to fit in with the “cool folks” and for the meantime, rolls with a few “dorks.” However, towards the second half she herself turns into an egoistic mean girl ignoring her old friends. Even though the end is optimistic, Mean Girls is a ready reckoner reminding us to be our true selves rather than a fake soul. No wonder the movie was based on a self-help book!

The Mixed Bag (The Breakfast Club)

A muscular jock, a classic bad boy with leather gloves on his hands, a geek, a teenage princess, an emo and edgy girl. All of them have been seen posing together on the poster of The Breakfast Club. Made by John Hughes, the 80s cult favourite still continues to be relevant today. It has the most unique clique of students from different backgrounds united by a detention class. How they meet one day in detention and start bonding towards the end seems so natural and pure and also tells us how sometimes the most unexpected situations can lead to the best relationships. Having a perfect balance of different shades of opinion like The Breakfast Club is a plain bliss in the world of teen cliques.

Feature Image Credits: CNN

Shaurya Singh Thapa

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Wakanda’s Fury: The Superhero Fever of 2018

By Vijeata Balani March 25, 2018

The release of Black Panther has unleashed a swarm of new definitions of the “new superhero”. Decidedly different from other Marvel ventures, the movie has been one of the highest grossing movies this year.

From ‘to infinity and beyond’ to ‘Flame on!’, everything has evolved. No longer do we have Buzz Lightyear coming to our rescue. We no longer search for “Hulk Smash!” collectibles – we have grown up and so have our superheroes. Yet, once in a while we live to see Captain America swing his shield and Iron Man be just, pure plain genius. And of course nurse our dream of hanging on to Spider-Man’s suit someday. Yet, somehow, the tide has changed.

2018 has already proven to be a good year for superheroes. The Black Panther has broken boundaries everywhere, from stereotypes about typically white superheroes to big-budget films with an Afro-centric cast to being one of the highest grossing films this year, beating Deadpool last year by a huge margin. Lauding the film’s extraordinary box office success, host Jimmy Fallon mentioned how the film “crushed” the other films at the Oscars. Such movies herald the beginning of greater diversity in our films and hence a redefinition of our notion of “the man (or woman) who saved the day”. Supported by an excellent cast (Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyongo, Michael B. Jordan) the film weaves together a richly vivid story of doubt, drive, and determination. What’s more, the fans have embraced the movie hungrily, precisely because it is shaking off the dusty old tapestry of white men in red capes.

Harshita Sethia, Miranda House student by day and Marvel ambassador by night, firmly says, “You don’t have to be a Marvel fan to watch Black Panther. You’ll love it anyway.” And therein lies the true value of the movie. While drawing upon a familiar cosmos of characters and technology, it moves away from the oh-so familiar over-the-top CGI and frenzied, power-hungry villains. It moves away from a black-and-white ending and from heroes that feel too good to be true. Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) and Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) are wonderfully complex, conflicted characters. We are thus confronted with a new superhero: one that is not so sure of himself but who is nevertheless aware and able to perform his duty. A star that doesn’t feel so unreachable. Ironically, we see the creation of a superhero who is not just visually ‘unconventional’, but one who is more human.

Wakanda is also a delicious backdrop to the movie, it’s tribes breathing in colour to the scenes. Tridisha Thakuria, confirmed Shuri fan, claims that she loved the film because the existence of strong, female characters in the film helped break stereotypes. Moreover, the extensive work on the setting, the location, the costumes made Wakanda and it’s people into living, breathing humans rather than mere two-dimensional illusions. There is no doubt that there is greater need for such movies that shatter the glass ceiling.

There is more to come for the fans this year. Deadpool 2 will bring the sarcastic, gore-hungry, and yet adorable hero back to the screens on May 18th as well as the classic ensemble of Avengers: Infinity War on the same day. Other movies lined up for this year includes Ant-man and the Wasp (16th July), Venom (8th October), X-men: Dark Phoenix (2nd November), Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse (14th December), Aquaman (21st December) and The Incredibles (15th June).

Feature Image Credits: Marvel

Sara Sohail

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Fandom

A List of Quirky Movies You Should Watch Right Away

By Radhika Boruah February 26, 2018

There are a few underrated feel-good movies that everyone must watch because Bollywood doesn’t always produce masala, brainless, big-budget blockbusters, and sometimes ends up making movis that have sense in them.

Almost every year, Bollywood churns out innumerable films and honestly, everybody waits for the big-banner Salman Khan-starrer or SRK-starrer movies. Most of us who prefer intelligent cinema consider Bollywood to be the commode of mediocrity, but there are some gems that slip between the blockbuster money minting hits, and the flop movies which do not get their due share of praise from the audiences. Some films like Andaz Apna Apna and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar grab our attention and become a part of cult movies but many have slipped into oblivion.

Here’s a look at those few quirky movies which are brilliant in content but couldn’t gain footfalls in the theatre-
1. Lakshya
Many of us have probably watched this gem of Farhan Akhtar’s direction, starring Hrithik Roshan and Preeti Zinta. In the movie, Hrithik Roshan is an aimless young man who joins the Indian Army on a whim and soon realises that life is not a game. His transformation affects all viewers in the most inspirational and sweet way possible. Definitely, this movie is a must-watch for all cinemagoers.

2. Aligarh
This movie is based on the real life story of a professor at Aligarh University, who was sacked for being homosexual. Manoj Bajpayee’s performance was central to this story of stigma, society, and sexuality. It did not receive much box office recognition but was applauded for touching upon the uncomfortable subject in a striking manner.

3. Nil Battey Sannata
An ode to mother’s love, this movie starred Swara Bhaskar, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Pankaj Tripathi in pertinent roles. It won the audience’s hearts through word-of-mouth. It follows the story of a single mother who is a maid and wants to provide for her daughter’s education. This movie will leave you teary-eyed and motivated enough to strive harder for your dreams

4. Drishyam
This thriller had all the ingredients in it to make it a blockbuster hit, but that didn’t happen. Starring Ajay Devgn and Tabu, the story revolves around Vijay (Devgn) and his family who are hounded by police officers like Meera Deshmukh (Tabu).The tension and suspense built in the movie throughout make this brilliant film totally worthy of your time.

5. Talvar
Based on Arushi Talwar murder case, this movie has got all the acting legends packed in one- starring Irrfan Khan, Konkana Sen Sharma, Neeraj Kabi, and others. This movie is definitely recommended for every cinema-lover out there.

6. Masaan
It narrates two separate stories that are tied down together in the end. Masaan bagged the FIPRESCI Award in the Cannes Film Festival and stars Richa Chaddha and Vicky Kaushal in the lead roles.

So grab your popcorn and get ready for a fun-filled day/night of watching excellent cinema!

Feature Image Credits: International Business Times

Oorja Tapan
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Reviews

Call me by Your Name: Review

By Kinjal Pandey February 4, 2018

Nominated for three academy awards including the best picture award, Call me by Your Name was one of the most critically and publicly acclaimed movies of last year. Labelled as a revolution in queer cinema, the movie, based on a novel of the same name, depicts romance in the rawest way. Elio’s Uncle Oliver is visiting the city and is going to stay in his room for his visit. With each moment they spend together, the sexual tension between the 17-year-old and his uncle keeps growing. Elio explores his sexuality and by the end of the film, he realises who he truly loves. Sadly, such love is a taboo, not once but twice. One might argue about the incestuous and pedophiliac plot of the movie, but truth be told, the film does nothing more than delving into queer lives and their honest truths. Unlike, the Bollywood movies where one look at the person makes the character fall in love, Call me by Your Name shows how attraction and desire really works. Not only Armie Hammer (Oliver) and Timothée Chalamet (Elio) did a great job with their characters, the city of Italy played added its own seductiveness. In its plot, there is nothing starkly novel but, the acting, direction, and setting add a transcendental quality. The run-down colour palette of the film elevates the movie to the likes of an art film. One such beautiful use of colour is in the excavation scene ‘Truce’ from the film. Though the scene uses the same sea green colour, its depth and beauty are immense. The film’s direction team did a terrific job at using colour to depict the coolness or warmth of the scene. One thing that I personally did not like in the film is the end. No matter how emotionally charged it is, we’ve had enough sad endings in queer movies. On one end, the honesty can be appreciated but on the other hand, it takes away the hope of ‘happy ever after’ for queer relationships. Fun fact: Though the actors are heterosexual, they play the characters of gay men on-screen! Feature Image Credits: The Playlist Raabiya Tuteja [email protected] ]]>

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Need Motivation? Watch These Movies

By DU Beat October 13, 2017

Some movies touch a chord in your heart and some teach you lessons that are never to be forgotten. Here are some of such movies that teach certain lessons with great craftiness.

Is it that time when you are feeling low? Or funnily enough, in need of a new quote for your Instagram Bio? Well, if you are a movie buff like me, you’d know that movies have a certain aura of relaxing you after a hard day or motivating you for the next. Here are some of my favorite movies to inspire you a little on that rough day:

October Sky

It is a movie based on a real story of a NASA scientist, Mr. Homer Hickam. A boy of humble dwellings with his career predestined as a coal mine worker, he is left agape when he watches the first satellite launch by NASA. With the help of his teacher who never lost faith in his multiple experiments of a mini-satellite, he advances in the technology of making a satellite along with his friends. For how he arranges his college tuition fee, you’ll have to watch the movie which will motivate you to take that extra mile.

An Education

English literature students will feel a connection with Jenny, the protagonist because she studies the subject passionately in school and has a craving for all things French. She falls for a man twice her age, she drops school to marry him but he turns out to be married already. Did Jenny pick up her ruined career after this or did she become a crybaby is to be found out by watching the movie which truly is a lesson and an education?

Dead Poets Society

A teacher (also an alumnus), John Keating was all The Welton Academy boys needed to realize where their hearts lay. On his encouragement, the boys form a Dead Poets Society to narrate well-known as well as their own poetry, their dreams, and fantasies. These boys bond like never before and relationships ensue too. Later, when Mr. Keating is accused of a crime, the boys showcase their solidarity with him. The movie is a lesson in itself, how a teacher can change your life and how one should question the traditional norms.

Certain stories have a way of entering your conscious and never leave. Those are the stories you’d want to pass on and always remember. Well, these movies had an impact on me and they sure will on you. Plus, no one shies away from good cinema. Till then, carpe diem!

Feature Image Credits: Wetpaint

Prachi Mehra

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Arts & Culture

4 Bengali Movies that everyone must watch

By DU Beat October 1, 2017

With the aftermath of the Durga Pujo festivities lingering in the air, here is a list of five underrated Bengali movies that everyone should watch.

Bela Sheshe (2015)

Directed by Shiboprasad Das and Nandita Roy, Bela Sheshe (loosely translated: at the end of the day) tells a story of a marriage, broken yet not broken. Tthe film is about a husband wanting a divorce from his wife after 50 years of marriage. This raises questions about the social institution of marriage. The film boasts of a formidable cast with names such as Soumitra Chatterjee and Swatilekha Sengupta in the lead roles, masters of their craft. There is a particular scene in the movie, where Rabindranath Tagore’s Tumi Robe Nirobe’s plays subtly, while the characters remain silent, are brilliantly executed.

36 Chowringhee Lane (1981)

Aparna Sen’s directorial debut is a movie which touches the tender chords of the audiences’ hearts. It is the story of a middle-aged school teacher who is trapped in her loneliness. Violet, after the marriage of her beloved niece (her only relative), lives as a recluse her whole life, having only one joy, that is teaching Shakespeare at school. When an ex student chooses to visit her at her residence, 36 Chowringhee Lane, she starts having company. It is a profound, realistic and deeply moving chronicle of a woman’s quiet desperation and struggle through the silence in her life. Jeniffer Kendal as Violet is magnificent. The film also went on to win National Film Award for best direction.

Unishe April (1994)

Rituparno Ghosh, the director, went on to win the National Film award for the Best Feature Film. This film boasts a strong cast of women (Aparna Sen and Debashree Roy), Unishe April is a film about a broken relationship between a celebrity mother and her confused daughter. The film dares to tackle what is perhaps the most challenging subject in art- interpersonal relationships. Mainstream Indian cinema stick to stereotypes- the ideal doting mother, the bright submissive daughter. Unishe April, dismantles those stereotypes with cinematic brilliance. Aditi’s (Debashree Roy) mother (Aparna Sen) isn’t the epitome of a perfect mother, neither is Aditi the poster child. Fraught with history, the film chronicles the aftermath of 19th April (Unishe April), the day Aditi’s father passes away. It is a story of a day, told through flashbacks and gripping exchanges that questions human behaviour at the best. Debashree went on to the win the National Award for Best Actress for Unishe April.

Charulata (1964)

Satyajit Ray’s Charulata, based on the famous short story written by Rabindranath Tagore, is meditative poetry as claimed by one of the journalists at FirstPost. It is the story of a lonely wife, whose husband Bhupathi, the modern-man whose ever consuming interest in running his newspaper, leads him to neglect his wife. To provide her gainful company, Bhupati invites his cousin Amal over. Amal’s infectious energy and literary bent of mind matches Charulata’s and there develops a deep bond between them. What ensues is a poignant love triangle which questioned societal norms and sanctions.

Charulata was based on Tagore’s Nastanirh (“The Broken Nest”) but Ray, who wrote the screenplay in addition to directing the film, refashioned details from Tagore’s story.

Some of Charulata’s most beautiful moments are the wordless sequences, shot with mesmerising grace by Ray and his cinematographer Subrata Mitra. The camera spoke using angles, shadows and perspective. The famous sequence showing Charulata on a swing was a feat. The use of binoculars early on in the film perfectly communicated the idea of Charulata as a caged beauty who wants to watch, touch, feel and experience the world but is forced to remain cloistered.

Feature Image Credits: Indian Express

Ankita Dhar Karmakar
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DUB Speak

From Masala to Content- a changing paradigm in audiences’ theatrical choices

By DU Beat February 17, 2017

The Bollywood film industry has been the largest producer of drama, action,comedy and romance for over a century now. Owing to its growing popularity, there’s hardly someone who hasn’t watched a Bollywood flick in all its “masala” glory at least once in their life. Creating its own genre, our country’s film industry has served masala in all its possible mix that has been received “with love” by the audience.

The genre, which is like an overdone assortment of all the four major genres, whilst sewing the fabric of the main plot of the film, serves to the Indian audience a fool-proof entertainment formula. A “macho” do-it-all hero, a pretty sidekick whose role is to display her beauty and incompetence to the hero, a villain in a constant tussle with the invincible “Bhai”, these masala flicks never fail to take home bags full of earnings and applause from the audiences. With the increased love for this genre, Bollywood’s filmmakers and audience have found their comfort zone here and do not seem too inclined to be taking a turn from serving the cinemas with this overused yet lucrative recipe.

It would, however, be unfair to not acknowledge the emergence of a more meaningful and content based cinema in the recent times. It is in fact, heartening to know that a certain section of the audience regards and immensely appreciates the presence of such cinema. This paradigm shift has been visible only in the past few years, beginning with box office success of movies like Rang de basanti, Lage Raho Munna Bhai and Taare Zameen Par to name a few.

Although, the demand for “masala” still fares high due to the diversity of interests and expectations of the audiences. People from all backgrounds look up to cinema with their own expectations of it. Interestingly, a large chunk looks up to it as a respite from their daily struggles where Shahrukh Khan’s romance or Salman “Bhai”’s effortless action pulls them away from the stresses they’ve burdening themselves with, albeit temporarily, thus creating a constant demand for masala. Despite this, there has been a remarkable shift in the audience’s choice of cinema. This shift can be observed from their increased inclination to Hollywood in the recent times. Primarily observed among the youth, viewers may not always be as excited to watch the latest SRK or Salman Bhai release, but they might be inclined towards picking the latest Hollywood flick. Moreover, the very rise in the supply of content based movies like Udta Punjab, Masaan or Dangal proves the changing demand of the Indian audiences.

This shift, must make us Indians proud of our evolution from an escapist towards an enlightened audience.

Priyal Mahtta

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Events

Valentine’s Day Special: Top 5 Romantic Movies to binge on

By Kriti Sharma February 13, 2017

“Acceptance is the key to happiness.”

That’s some really sound advice, courtesy my astute grandmother. When I received these wise words of wisdom, I stowed them away in my sub-conscious mind. But with Valentine’s Day lurking around the corner, I see the perfect opportunity to employ them.

Another Valentine’s Day is going to come and go, and I’m going to be as single as a hydrogen atom, awaiting another of its kind to come along. Find the reference amusing? Pause and look at your own life for a minute, buddy. It probably is just as pathetically hilarious as mine.

But experience is a great teacher. And my several years of battling loneliness on the damned fourteenth day of February have taught me to take solitude in my stride. So while the couples out there are busy making fluffy plans, I’ve figured out an illustrious one for myself: Binging on dessert and romantic movies, simultaneously and harmoniously, in enviable synchronisation.

If this Valentine’s Day, you are a) single or b) too lazy to go out or c) too prudish to give in to V-day clichés, listen to grandma and be the master of your own happiness. Take the following cues and just fag out in the luxury of a warm bed, good food and lots of cinematic romance. Basically, give in to some ‘khud-khushi’, minus rat poison, ceiling fans and sharp, incisive instruments.

Top 5 Romantic Movies to binge-watch this Valentine’s Day:

1.Made of Honor

Theme: Best Friends fall in love, eventually!
For anyone who has ever loved their best friend, this one will reaffirm your faith in your friendship and make you believe that perhaps, some day, the two of you will land up together. Hope is the best companion a lone heart needs on Vday. This one will surely give you optimistic feels.
Also try: Love, Rosie and Valentine’s Day
For Bolly fans: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

2. Titanic
Theme: Mammoth sacrifice for soulmate
Some movies are classics. And classics are hard to let go off. Titanic is a movie that reverberates with all generations. Sacrifice has always been the cornerstone of true love. Jack and Rose do absolute justice to the portrayal of this concept. A must watch, even if for the hundredth time!
Also try: Fault in Our Stars and The Notebook
For Bolly fans: Veer-Zaara

3. My Best Friend’s Wedding

Sometimes, love is unrequited. And things become even worse when your harbour unreciprocated feelings for your best friend. But if you truly love your best friend, then you’ll find your happiness in theirs. Selfless love too is rewarding and gratifying.
Also try: 500 Days of Summer and Casablanca
For Bolly fans: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

4.Love Story

Based on Eric Segal’s classic novel of the same name, this one, although old, is sure to warm the cockles of your heart. Watch out for heavy sentiments, though (“Love means never having to say you’re sorry”). Also, spoiler alert: not all love stories have a happy ending.
Also try: A Walk to Remember, Dear John and The Last Song
For Bolly Fans: Kal Ho Na Ho

5.Sleepless in Seattle

Tom Hanks is like the SRK of Hollywood: The undisputed king of romance. Need I say more?
Also try: You’ve got mail and Cast Away
For Bolly Fans: DDLJ, Main Hoon Na, Dil Toh Pagal Hai and any and every SRK movie ever made

Some more suggestions: Love Actually, Letters to Juliet, Nights at Rodanthe, One Fine Day, The Last Kiss, Breakfast at Tiffany, Becoming Jane and Me Before You.

Write in with your recommendations! I would love to hear from you.

Image Credits: Pinterest, Joblo.com, hollywood.com, ats.edu.mx, pinterest.com, parkcircus.com

Kriti Sharma

[email protected]

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Flicks

Most anticipated movies of 2016

By Shagun Marwah December 29, 2015

What makes a truly good movie? Is it the script, the direction, amazing actors or catchy music? This is that one question which everyone ponders upon while judging a movie, whether watched in the luxury of a theatre or in the personal comforts of home. But, wasted money and wasted time, as much as foolishly repeated, can never be forgotten. So, this year, while we faced much disappointment from movies like: ABCD 2, Badlapur, Katti Batti and Shaandaar. Some brilliant films involving Salman’s breathtaking performance in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, the beautiful story of a daughter-father relationship in Piku, Kangana’s hilarious love escapades in Tanu Weds Manu Returns and Imtiaz’s amazing direction in Tamasha, have proven to mend our broken hearts and make us fall in love with movies all over again.

Thus, overall one cannot deny that 2015 has been a terrific year for movie buffs and there’s no doubt that the coming year will too, produce equally, or hopefully, even more unforgettable movies for us. Therefore, here’s a list of the most anticipated Hollywood and Bollywood movies of 2016:

HOLLYWOOD

1.) Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice

Okay, you honestly can’t tell me that you haven’t been waiting for this to happen on the big screen ever since you read comics or watched cartoons of your favorite superheroes as a kid. No matter how you feel about Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel or Ben Aflleck’s performances, it’s hard not to get excited about watching Batman and Superman- two of the biggest superheroes of all time, at war with one another and then eventually forming a team, alongside Wonder Woman to fight against evil. Whether it will be an epic blockbuster experience or a major disappointment, it’s definitely the one you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
Release date: March 25, 2016

2.) Deadpool

With movies like X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Green Lantern repeatedly letting our hopes down, it’s going to take much more than just Ryan Reynold’s drop dead gorgeous looks and rock-hard abs to fight his way through all the non-convincing arguments of people to watch this one. But then again, the lesser we expect, the more we’re surprised, aren’t we? I say, give Tim Miller’s debut feature film a chance. In fact, for Ryan’s insane love for superhero comics and never-ending spirit, I’d even say a thousand times over.
Release date: February 12, 2016

3.) Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising

If you’ve seen the first part, you’re certainly not missing this one. If you haven’t, well then, all I can say is that you’re in for a treat. With the amazing direction of Nicholas Stoller, the gang’s all back, including Zac Efron’s charming personality, Seth Rogen’s effortless acting, and Rose Byrne’s unmatched cuteness, along with the surprise arrival of two new sorority sisters in the neighborhood such as Selena Gomez and Chloe Grace Moretz who are bound to bring their own promising share of crazy uniqueness to the sequel, making it even better than the previous one.
Release date: May, 2016.
The trailers of Neighbors 2 haven’t been released. So, here is a trailer of the fun and frolic life of the Neighbors’ first movie. If you enjoy this, there’s no way you wouldn’t love the next one!

4.) Finding Dory

Thirteen years after the release of ‘Finding Nemo’, which yet remains one of the most loved and best works of Pixar productions, the wait is finally over. Remember that forgettable yet unforgettable cutest little blue fish, we all fell madly in love with? There’s only so much we can adore a character and Dory goes beyond any ordinary limits. So, watching a movie based entirely on her, further voiced by the famous personality, Ellen DeGeneres seems like the most perfect splash of happiness we require this summer. No matter how old you are, you’re sure to keep this one in the very first priority of your wish list.
Release date: June 17, 2016

5.) The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist

Who doesn’t love a little horror? Especially if it’s directed by James Wan who may be well known for his movies like Saw and Insidious, but mostly for his critically acclaimed 2013 release ‘The Conjuring’ which was considered as one of the best possession movies ever created and as a result, also succeeded in keeping us terrified for several sleepless nights. The sequel thus, continues the roles of the paranormal activity researchers, Ed and Lorraine Warren, but in a new spine-chilling tale (which also seems to be based on true events- till some extent) revolving around the lives of two sisters, held in a town of Enfield, England. I don’t know about you but I’m ready to get spooked all over again, and as much as possible. Are you?
Release date: June 10, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWnP3ZfV6lo

BOLLYWOOD

1.) Fan

Produced by Aditya Chopra, and directed by Maneesh Sharma (who’s best known for his debut film: Band Baaja Baraat) this is a story about a man and his obsession with his favorite movie star , Aryan (Shahrukh Khan) with whom he shares identical looks, further centering on his journey to meet him in Mumbai, India. It seems like this movie is made for every possible fan of Shahrukh Khan, thereby exceeding the expectations increasingly for all. The movie also stars Vaani Kapoor (known for her debut role in Shudh Desi Romance) and Ileana D’Cruz.
Release date: April 15, 2016

2.) Jagga Jasoos

Written and directed by Anurag Basu, this one’s a detective-comedy drama starring Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, and Govinda, who embark on a classic Indiana Jones’ type adventure, in search of the missing father of a teenage detective with the help of his friends. So not only does the story sound fresh and interesting, but with lovebirds like Ranbir and Katrina to pair up once again after APKGK, that too, under Anurag’s superb direction (as revealed in Barfi! with Ranbir), the movie seems very promising and definitely worth watching.
Release date: June 3, 2016
Trailer not released.

3.) Fitoor

An adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beautiful classic novel, Great Expectations, this romantic-drama will be starring Aditya Roy Kapoor and Katrina Kaif as the lead. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, this movie hopes to inspire the very true idea of love, thereby focusing on not just the aspect of happiness, but a little bit of drama, sadness and passion to go along with it too. All we can hope is that it lives up to our great expectations as well.
Release date: February 12, 2016
Trailer not released.

4.) Raees

Hasn’t it been long since we saw Shahrukh Khan in an intense role? Thus, with the release of this crime-drama, we’ll finally get to watch the King of Romance play an extremely powerful character of a cruel and clever bootlegger whose business is obstructed by a tough policeman (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). The movie also stars the Pakistani actor, Mahira Khan who’ll be making her screen debut in Bollywood.
Release date: 8 July, 2016

5.) Kapoor and Sons

As if just one pair of dreamy eyes of Siddharth Malhotra wasn’t enough to mesmerize us, this romantic-comedy drama starring Alia Bhatt as the lead, also brought the Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan into the picture to charm us all. Produced by Karan Johar and directed by Shakun Batra, whatever the outcome may be, this movie’s cast alone is too lovable and irresistible enough to not make anyone watch it as soon as it’s released.
Release date: March 18, 2016
Trailer not released.

6.) Udta Punjab

Directed by Abhishek Choudhary and starring Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor (who’ll be seen sharing the screen after a very long time) and Alia Bhatt in the lead, this drama-thriller chronicles the story of the issue of substance abuse among youth in the Indian state of Punjab, and thus, promises to bring us something dark and thought-provoking along with an experience entirely different from the ordinary plots of most movies. Now let’s hope that’s a good different!
Release date: March 2016
Trailer not released.

Picture Credits: www.movienasha.com, www.foundpix.com, www.justbollywood.in, www.36.media.tumblr.com, www.hdwallpapershams.com, www.makelifeeasy.in, www.wittyscoop.in

Feature Image Credits: i.ytimg.com

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