My silly game of spotting Jeevan’s recurring fur hat in his films became a full-blown project, one that revealed the veteran villain’s sustainable sartorial instincts way before it were in vogue. flashbackbollywood.substack.com/p/jeevan-the...

he swan she swan

A sequel. Not.

Perhaps the ONLY Bollywood icon whose face almost always appeared with his name in the opening credits—that’s the aura of Dharmendra. OG bhi, one and only bhi. Go well, legend.

Isn't this evidence enough that the SIR exercise is not thought-through, unplanned, and severely rushed? How many more BLOs need to die?

Kanu Behl (director of Agra) today shared a joint statement from many Indian indie filmmakers about how access to independent films is actively suppressed in India. Great to see them speaking out; the PVR-Inox monopoly has been terrible for distribution, and the OTT platforms aren't much better. 📽️

At this point, I’m counting how many films I’ll spot Jeevan’s fur hat in. (Humse Na Jeeta Koi, 1983 | Chacha Bhatija, 1977 | Choron Ki Baaraat, 1980)

Love this accidental colour coordination in Dream Girl (1977).

The insufferably sanctimonious minors, the misfortune-prone bachche, wayward brats, and the precocious kids—here's how Bollywood has portrayed kids on screen. Happy Children's Day reading!

Just the kind of photos you should hang of yourself in your house. (Paap Ki Aandhi, 1991)

What Nirupa Roy was to filmi moms and Nazir Hussain to filmi dads, Asrani, I’d say, was to on-screen brothers. As heroine ka bhai, he covered the full spectrum. In ode to the master of turning random throwaway bits into unforgettable wholesome moments. flashbackbollywood.substack.com/p/asrani-som...

A three-camera setup ❎ A three-cameramen setup ✅

The second best mummmyyyy crier in Bollywood after my all-time fevretts Master Bittoo—champion in screaming daddddyyyy...!!! mummmyyy...!!!

Love this goofy Chand Usmani photo shoot. (Photo via: Pinterest)

These Jahan Pyar Miley (1969) posters just keep outdoing each other. (Also, the best someone has painted Shashi Kapoor.)

@bethlovesbollywood.bsky.social Do you have this from Deewaar in your #TagoreSpotting list?

Monday motivation. (Dancer, 1991)

Very rarely do I spot a museum in Hindi films. Here’s one from Anjane Mein (1978). Attn: @bethlovesbollywood.bsky.social

What's better than Rekha? Do do Rekha ✨✨ (Geetanjali, 1993)

Yeh mera prem pup padh kar...🎶 OkaySorryTataBye 🙈

Important literature.

An accurate representation of my high school haircut.

Tiku Talsania with Russell from Up.

From the streets of Kochi, the solidarity movement.

A ransom note that threatens and insults, complete with great handwriting. (Chacha Bhatija, 1977)

Feroz Fridays. (Bhagat Dhanna Jatt, 1974)

Downloaded the wrong Pulp Fiction.

This amazing pulp poster of Woh Kaun Thi (1964).

Danny singing and dancing in front of a Danny mural. Gorgeous and glorious!

Six-lane tears

Pet rabbit Moti, feeling sad for his human friend Rani, with tears on his cheeks in Rani Aur Lalpari (1975). Why has Hindi cinema has stopped being this endearingly ridiculous?! 😭

Accidental perfection.

Yeah, social media is bad, but the coming here every morning and following cool, creative folks who also hate fascism brings me joy.

At least, the artist chose to be equally unflattering towards all three stars.

Good old days when an actor playing both father and son could be established with a haircut and quick shave.

Teja main hoon, mansion idhar hai.

Iconic ‘70s Hindi films and Mamaji.

Bade bade logon ke sath utna baithana in the streets. Sell products above maximum permitted limit of pesticides residue in the sheets.

The needless impulse to straighten the green lampshade in the background. 😭

Character establishment '90s Bollywood style 🏆

The first time I tried to watch Contagion I found it so terrifying it took me three tries to get through it After 5 years of Covid…I now realize it was aspirational. Governments all over the world working together. People respecting science & helping their fellow man Truth is stranger than fiction

This takes me back to *this* great mystery that still remains unanswered: What species of bird is Coolie's (1983) Allah Rakha? He’s mentioned as a baaz (hawk) in the film. Birder friends, please help.

India is not for beginners - 2025 edition.

You will be visited by three spirits... The spirits

Grief, melancholy, and nostalgia in Trikal (1985). Truly, Ashok Mehta and Shyam Benegal were operating on a different plane here.

“Badshahon ka badshah toh udhar Bandra mein baitha hai.” This old but fantastic piece on why Rafi is the greatest, even for those who weren’t his great admirers. Happy 100th, chief. scroll.in/reel/805007/...

Though there are many famous and familiar faces, Ravi Jhankal, Salim Ghouse, Savita Bajaj, Lalit Tiwari, and Aparajita Krishna are a few artists who I will always associate with Shyam Benegal.

Growing up on Bharat Ek Khoj—understanding the idea of India, discovering a pantheon of talented artistes through it, and eventually exploring his films of integrity and introspection, Shyam Benegal has been a great personal influence. Godspeed, good sir.