Coinciding with Pride Month, National Award-winning director/producer Onir made an important announcement in mid-June. Known for his path-breaking films like My Brother Nikhil and I Am, he has decided to make a film on author Raga Olga D’Silva’s life story. I first heard Raga speak when early into the COVID-19 crisis she anchored a show focusing on the discrimination faced by North-East Indians during Corona. … Continue reading When Courage Meets Truth: The Story Of Raga Olga D’Silva

I was left speechless in the silence of the moment. A variety of emotions engulfed me, and I was in awe and full of admiration for Laxmi Agarwal, who talked about her life’s journey in an episode of the series From The Other Side hosted by Raga Olga D’Silva. Flashback 15 years ago: The nation was shaken by this heartbreaking incident when Laxmi, then a … Continue reading Spread Love And Not The ‘Acid Within’, Says Acid Attack Survivor Laxmi Agarwal

Saving Chintu is a film that has always drawn my interest ever since I read about its making. Therefore, I availed the opportunity to watch it while it was screened online as a part of the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2020. Directed by Tushar Tyagi, who is also the co-producer along with Ritika Jayaswal the short film promotes inclusivity and addresses the challenges … Continue reading Short Film Saving Chintu Promotes Inclusivity While Exploring Perplexing Societal Issues

Close on the heels of Axone which dwells on discrimination faced by North-East Indians, Netflix released Shubham Singh’s Penalty as a digital world premiere on July 5. The film primarily centers on the prejudices faced by a youngster. However, the narrative doesn’t simply talk about stereotyping but rather spreads its roots to encompass a much greater area. It addresses a very perplexing issue of how … Continue reading Penalty Is A Film That Teaches National Integration

It was like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy morning when I read a piece of news that warmed my heart. I had not followed this child prodigy for a while, and it was so encouraging to learn that fourteen-year-old Suchetha Satish has once again spread the message, this time during COVID-19, that music knows no boundaries. Hailing from Kerala, Suchetha is a ninth-grade … Continue reading Fourteen-Year-Old Suchetha Satish Musically Spreads Awareness About COVID-19

A positive experience I have had during the COVID-19 crisis is getting the opportunity to listen to a series of live chats on social media. An author and motivational speaker herself, Raga Olga D’Silva, the co-founder and director of Speaking Minds, has been conducting a string of discussions on a wide range of issues. Her guests include artists, actors, writers, activists, and citizens from various … Continue reading Sonam Kalra and the Sufi Gospel Project: When Music Flows From The Heart

She has beauty, charm, grace, and elegance. But her courage and optimism shine the brightest and essentially define her personality. I’m talking about none other than Lisa Ray, who needs no introduction and is known to most of us as an actor, model, and television personality. However it’s her skill as a writer and her philanthropy that have also come to focus, especially post 2009. … Continue reading Looking Beyond The Actor: Getting to Know Lisa Ray

On June 12, Netflix released Nicholas Kharkongor’s Axone. The film had its world premiere at the 63rd BFI London Film Festival. Based on the theme of discrimination against the people of North-East India, the film is interlaced with humor that provides quite a few light-hearted moments despite a serious theme. The trio of Upasna, Chanbi, and Zorem lives in Delhi and hails from the North-East. … Continue reading Axone Sheds Light On A Problem Plaguing North-East Indians

Film Companion has initiated a weekly Sunday Showcase program to celebrate pathbreaking short films. On May 31, the website screened Abhiroop Basu’s Meal on their YouTube channel. The film, which has made it to several film festivals, has earned numerous accolades and was India’s entry at the Oscar-qualifying Odense International Film Festival, Denmark. Its most recent recognition was when it earned an award in the … Continue reading Abhiroop Basu’s “Meal” Mirrors Reality Sans Words

The Indian film industry has lost one of its greatest stalwarts with the passing away of Basu Chatterjee on Thursday, June 4. In a career spanning four decades, he has gifted priceless gems that posterity will always hold close to their hearts. Basu Chatterjee began his career as an illustrator and cartoonist with the weekly tabloid Blitz. His cinematic excursion started when he assisted Basu … Continue reading Remembering Basu Chatterjee: A Tribute