Of feet, burqas, and boundaries
My notes from Singapore South Asian International Film Festival (SGSAIFF) 2018
Kaala and Pa Ranjith the artist
In this article I argue that Pa Ranjith’s filmography is never lacking in form, even if such complaints abound.
The Chennai of Tamil Cinema
I wonder why we seem to be seeing the same few stories over and over, when there are several more unfolding at any given moment in Chennai.
Adoor and Kasaravalli
My notes from the Singapore South Asian International Film Festival 2017 and a panel discussion involving Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Girish Kasaravalli, Leena Yadav and Prasanna Vithanage.
Malila The Farewell Flower by Anucha Boonyawatana (SGIFF 2017)
I write about the Thai film Malila The Farewell Flower, one of the films in competition at the Singapore International Film Festival 2017.
Scaffolding by Matan Yair (SGIFF 2017)
I write about the Israeli film Scaffolding, one of the films in competition at the Singapore International Film Festival 2017.
Disappearance by Ali Asgari, Iran (SGIFF 2017)
I write about the Iranian film Disappearance, which won the award for Best Asian Feature at SGIFF 2017.
5 Filmmaking Tropes of Mysskin
Shanmugha Raja was so impressed by the character of Prince Myshkin in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Idiot that when he began his film career, he decided to rechristen himself as Mysskin.
Thupparivaalan: A Journey of cold Logic into the warm world of Emotions
Mysskin daubs a criminal investigation with generous splashes of philosophy.
Francois Truffaut and the hallmark of a critic
The hallmark of a great critic is being able to identify the fundamental flaw in a film, when you criticise it. Truffaut does it beautifully in his review of Le Ballon Rouge (The Red Balloon).