They were called naachne-gaanewali, with derision—the tawaifs—whose place in Indian society and contribution to the performing arts is gradually being recognized. The stage show O Gaanewali, by Avanti Patel and Rutuja Lad gives …

Hate Unlimited: In India, most people will suppress their natural compassion and advise not to get involved in other people’s problems. Karan Tejpal’s Stolen is about two brothers who get caught up …

Five Times Zero: The first Housefull movie came out in 2010; since then the boys have grown to men but the antics remain juvenile. No cleavage passes without being peered down, …

The Middle Circle: If there has been something missing in the streaming space it is stories about ordinary middle class people, leading ordinary lives. The assumption is that people want …

As The Bird Flies: The release of this small film, Chidiya, is a story of persistence, quite like the ne’er-say-die spirit of its two young lead characters. The film made in 2016, …

The Good Lawyer: A snooty lawyer for a large law firm, tells Madhav Mishra (Pankaj Tripathi) that they value his services, because he has an “aam aadmi chehra.” Mishra appears …

Psycho Out: A magpie is a noisy bird attracted to shiny objects but in police parlance, a prison informer who spies on his cellmates for the cops is given that …

Song ‘n’ Dance: If Hai Junoon and other such shows aimed at the youth are to be believed, then all today’s youngsters aspire to is taking part in talent contests and reality …

Village Wooing: Clueless young man from the city lands up in a village to take up a new work assignment, meets a bunch of eccentrics and oddballs, learns how the …

Uphill Battle: Based on a true story, Costao evokes conflicting emotions. The fate of an honest government official who takes on a corrupt system acts as a cautionary tale. Still, the resilience …