Take 53 - Of Tales and Talkies

It feels like just a week ago when the internet was bombarded with memes of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. Ah, what a moment. The Cannes Film Festival too ended just recently, leaving us waiting for the many wonderful movies releasing this year. 

Movies are an essential part of human life. They’re at the center of pop culture, make for excellent conversation starters, and provide top-class entertainment. With actors and directors constantly popping up on our social media feeds, asking our friends what new movies they watched this week, and refreshing Bookmyshow constantly to book tickets for the next big movie, films will always make their way into our lives.  

Movies and the art of movie-making have had a tremendous makeover over time. From Mughal-e-Azam to Master, My fair Lady to Mission Impossible, the craft has evolved beyond words. But, the intention of telling a tale with such conviction that its essence remains in the hearts of people, has remained intact.

Cinema undoubtedly has always had a powerful influence on people. I’m sure we all hoped to catch our toys secretly coming alive, watch that lightsaber we bought at comic con actually light up or have the whirlwind once-upon-a-time romance we see on screen. Be it the storytelling, the tech used, or the sets designed, we've been left speechless many a time by the world of cinema.

Just like the rest, the film industry also had to bear the brunt of the pandemic for quite a while. But with movies like Pushpa, RRR, and KGF 2, the Indian theatres once again have their glory back, with sold-out shows and deafening cheers from the audience. 

The pitch darkness. The intensity of the Dolby sound. The aroma of the popcorn. Ah! The bliss of watching a movie in the theatre… Though OTT is ‘’in’’ at the moment, the sheer happiness of buying a ticket to watch a film and experiencing it on the large screen is here to stay. Forever.

kMITRA too appreciates the craft of cinema, and it’s time for our annual Movie Edition to grace your screens. Our writers were given 5 different prompts and were asked to pick a movie satisfying one or more of the prompts and write an article inspired by it. 

We hope you find new additions to your watchlist with this edition and also come across articles inspired by your favorite movies. Let’s have a look at what our writers brought to the big screens this edition: 

 

Prompt 1: A movie in Black and White

The perversion of “Propaganda” by Krishna Chaitanya

The Dark Side of Systemic Faith by Venkat Denduluri

Castle of broken dreams by Kruthi Shandilya

Do you think you’re perfectly neutral? by Syed Shujauddin Rafai

Mayabazaar, a movie from the future by Shreya Jonnalagedda

 

Prompt 2: A movie with an environmental theme

A Childhood Dream by Azhhar Shah

 

Prompt 3: A favorite from your childhood

An Eye for an I By Shreya Nidugondi

Satya by Suhaas Ponnada

Why I don’t like my childhood favorite movie anymore by Sreelaya Vuyyuru

Wings to fly by Meghna Desai

The posthumous Manor by Manasa Adusumili and Nivedita Veera

All is Well by Rutam Risaldar

 

Prompt 4: A movie with a non-human main character

The Magical Ayrton Senna by Taahir Khan

 

Prompt 5: An anthology with a social message

While this prompt was unpopular among our writers, it doesn't mean this category has to be empty. From the editors, here are some of our recommendations that you can add to your watchlist:

1. C/o Kancharapalem (2018) - Directed By Venkatesh Maha


2. I Am (2010) - Directed By Onir


3. Bombay Talkies (2013) - Directed By Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, and Anurag Kashyap

 

We hope you enjoy reading this edition and find a new movie binge-list out of it!