December 31, 2025

SINGLE PAPA

 





Single Papa is an absolute delight and a refreshing addition to family entertainment. The series beautifully captures the emotional journey of a young man whose deep love for children defines his life. Despite a failed marriage and multiple family challenges, destiny leads him to embrace life as a single father, a role he grows into with warmth, resilience, and grace.


Spanning six well-paced episodes, the show is filled with engaging twists and turns that keep the narrative lively while never losing its emotional core. What truly elevates the series, however, is the outstanding performance by Kunal Khemu. He is simply brilliant—effortlessly natural, deeply expressive, and completely convincing. Every frame he appears in feels authentic, as though he is not acting but living the character. His love for the child comes across so genuinely that he consistently steals the show.


While the entire cast does full justice to the storyline, the highest praise undoubtedly belongs to Kunal Khemu. Even without drawing comparisons to his earlier work, his acting skills here are strikingly evident. This performance sparks genuine anticipation to watch his continued evolution in future projects, and one certainly hopes to see much more of him on screen.


Single Papa is a must-watch family entertainer—heartwarming, engaging, and emotionally satisfying.

For its storytelling and, especially, for Kunal Khemu’s stellar performance, no rating feels more appropriate than a perfect 10/10.


December 24, 2025

HOMEBOUND




Homebound” a film from Dharma Productions, comes as a refreshing and unexpected surprise at a time when many new releases rely heavily on violence and unrealistic, AI-driven visuals, often at the cost of a strong storyline.


The film tells the story of two friends facing harsh realities shaped by poverty, social marginalization, and religious and ethnic discrimination—issues that remain deeply relevant in today’s society. Their struggles intensify during the COVID-19 pandemic, when sudden government-imposed lockdowns strip daily wage workers of their livelihoods. The narrative effectively captures the mass migration of the poor from cities to their hometowns, often undertaken across extremely difficult and exhausting terrain.


The love track in the film sensitively portrays the emotional challenges and uncertainties faced by today’s youth. The story remains engaging throughout and holds the viewer’s attention until the end, although the climax feels somewhat slightly unrealistic.


Overall, Homebound stands apart from current filmmaking trends. Performances by Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa are sincere and impactful, making the film a worthwhile watch.


The filmmakers deserve appreciation for attempting a meaningful and socially relevant project—one that prioritizes awareness and realism over box-office formulas, especially in the context of the COVID-19 crisis of 2022–23.


December 15, 2025

WAHEEDA REHMAN

 


Born:February 3,1938

At Kamini Kaushal prayer meeting on November 18,2025.

Veteran actress Kamini Kaushal passed away on November 14,2025

December 14, 2025

VYJAYANTHIMALA


 Born: August 13,1933

 Biography: Bonding - A Memoir

Bonding - A Memoir

Vyjayanthimala is a name etched permanently in the memory of Indian cinema. For anyone who has loved Hindi films, she stands as one of the rare actresses who truly ruled the industry from the late 1950s through the early 1970s—a period regarded as one of the richest eras in Indian film history.


What makes her legacy remarkable is not merely her beauty or screen presence, but the consistency with which she delivered memorable performances alongside every major star of her time. From Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, and Raj Kapoor to Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Sunil Dutt, and Dharmendra, she shared the screen with all, and her films with them found both critical and commercial success. The list is long and glittering.


Among her many achievements, one film remains especially close to the hearts of cinephiles: “Ganga Jamuna.” I often call it her signature film. What astonished audiences then—and still impresses viewers today—is her effortless command over the Purbi (Bhojpuri-inflected) dialect, spoken with a fluency so natural that it’s hard to believe she was not a native speaker. Her performance in the film stands shoulder-to-shoulder with that of Dilip Kumar, which is no small compliment given the legendary intensity he brought to the role.


A professionally trained Bharatanatyam dancer, Vyjayanthimala brought to the screen a rare synthesis of grace, discipline, and emotive precision. Her classical grounding gave her a refined edge over many of her contemporaries—an elegance in movement, a poise in expression, and a command over rhythm that elevated even the simplest scenes. Whether in dramatic roles, romantic pairings, or elaborate dance sequences, she radiated a sense of artistry that set her apart.


In every sense, Vyjayanthimala was not just a star—she was an artist of exceptional calibre, whose contributions helped define the golden age of Hindi cinema.

From her autobiography:


 My life has meandered like an unbroken stream right from my formative years. Its course has been steady, though uneven at times. When people wonder and ask me that I am still dancing at this age, I tell them, “What has age got to do with it? You simply keep counting your years. You should be ageless and timeless. You beat age and age would never be able to beat you.” As Mark Twain said, "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it does not matter." All that regard and respect that comes your way is owing to your experience. I just look back and thank the One who makes me dance. Perhaps, today I am giving my best. Those who come backstage tell me that now in my seventies I’m even dancing better than in yesteryears. They don’t say, “Is umar mein yeh kya Bharatanatyam karegi?” (What Bharatanatyam would she do at this age?) That’s the bottom line: you either use your mind or you lose it. My best award is what people have bestowed on me — their immense affection.”

ASRANI

 



BORN: January 1,1941

Died: October 20,2025

December 10, 2025

GOVINDA

 



Born: December 21,1963

Govinda is a star celebrated for his impeccable comic timing and distinctive dance style. His slapstick humour won over audiences, and his unique moves turned many of his films into box-office hits throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Despite his popularity, he has often been viewed as an underrated actor who never quite received the memorable, substance-driven roles his talent deserved—a situation shared by several of his contemporaries. Govinda’s films were undeniably entertaining and enjoyed strong commercial runs, but he always needed visionary directors and serious filmmakers who could fully harness his potential.


December 09, 2025

RANBIR KAPOOR

 


Born: September 28,1982


Ranbir Kapoor has steadily ascended the ladder of cinematic success ever since his debut in Saawariya. With early commercial hits like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Sanju, and the recent blockbuster Animal, he has firmly established himself as an actor of remarkable versatility. Among his most memorable performances remains “Barfi”!, where he portrayed a deaf and mute character with extraordinary finesse, complemented by Priyanka Chopra’s powerful performance. Although Animal drew considerable criticism for its bold and aggressive character portrayals, Ranbir’s acting was widely applauded, reaffirming his stature as both a critically respected performer and a commercially bankable star capable of anchoring a film to box-office success.


December 08, 2025

JOY MUKHERJEE



Born: February 24,1939
Died: March 9,2012

Joy Mukherjee was one of the most charming and bankable heroes of the mid-1960s, especially known for the soft-romantic, musical genre of Hindi cinema. His films like Love in Tokyo, Shagird, Ziddi, and Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon turned him into a youth icon. What set Joy apart was how perfectly his onscreen persona blended with the era’s melodious soundscape—lighthearted romance, scenic settings, and unforgettable Mohammed Rafi gems. One of the standout examples of this magical pairing was the 1962 film Ek Musafir Ek Hasina, where he was paired opposite the elegant Sadhana. Their chemistry, fresh and almost dreamlike, became one of the highlights of the film. Among its most loved tracks is “Main Pyaar Ka Rahi Hoon”, a quintessential Rafi romantic melody that captured the innocence and sweetness of the Joy-Sadhana pairing.The song was penned by the legendary Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, whose poetic imagery and delicate emotions are beautifully woven into the lyrics. Set to music by O. P. Nayyar, the tune carries that unmistakable Nayyar rhythm softened with a lilting romantic flow—allowing Mohammed Rafi’s velvet voice to glide effortlessly.Composer O. P. Nayyar, known for demanding very specific tonal expressions from singers, once recalled that Rafi recorded “Main Pyaar Ka Rahi Hoon” almost in a single flawless take.Nayyar reportedly said:“Rafi saab sang the way I imagined the tune. There was nothing I needed to correct.”This was one of several songs where their chemistry produced a silky, romantic feel with minimal discussion.Rafi’s voice matched Joy Mukherjee so well, fans thought he sang for him exclusivelyJoy Mukherjee became hugely popular for romantic songs picturized on him. “Main Pyaar Ka Rahi Hoon” was one such track where people felt Rafi’s voice and Joy’s on-screen style blended perfectly. Joy once said jokingly in an interview:“Rafi saab’s voice made me look more charming than I really was!”This song added to that perception. Filming the song in Kashmir became a challenge due to crowds“Ek Musafir Ek Hasina” was shot extensively in Kashmir, and local crowds would gather in huge numbers whenever Joy Mukherjee and Sadhana filmed a song sequence.For this song’s outdoor portions: The crew often had to change locations multiple times because tourists kept wandering into the frame.Sadhana later recalled that shooting romantic scenes with mountains behind her while hundreds of people watched was both funny and stressful.The final serene look of the song hides the chaos behind the scenes.A rare instance where O. P. Nayyar used softer orchestration Nayyar was famous for bold rhythms, but here he chose a gentle, flowing orchestral style to match Rafi’s velvety delivery.Fans and musicians often say this song is a perfect example of:“Nayyar’s rhythm meets Rafi’s romance.”.Remarkable Nayyar rhythm softened with a lilting romantic flow—allowing Mohammed Rafi’s velvet voice to glide effortlessly.It became one of their most graceful and understated collaborations. Rafi sang the final humming portion spontaneously.The soft humming toward the end — something Rafi excelled at — was reportedly not originally written. During the recording take, Rafi added it naturally, and Nayyar kept it because it enhanced the dreamy effect of the tune.