With another film on honour killings, it is evident that this is where first-time directors are looking to set shop. Read More

Using cinema has a medium to sensitise the audience about social issues is nothing new but how one uses the medium sensibly is what makes or breaks a film. While studying at the hallowed halls of London Film School, Avantika Hari noticed the spate of honour killings for the first time. In an interview to the 'Guardian' in 2008, the director of the film had said that, "The fact I had never come across honour killings before I came to England - and I grew up in Dubai - is quite telling," she says.

Avantika's film is not the first to explore the sensitive subject. Infamous for their ultra conservative outlook towards inter-caste marriages the khap panchayats have caught many directors' imagination and are finding their way on to the silver. Earlier this year, Ajai Sinha made another shoddy attempt to sensitize the audience with his film 'Khap'. The film conforms

In a free- wheeling chat, ace designer Aki Narula talks about sourcing second-hand clothes from various locations for Ranbir's look in 'Rockstar'

 Before commencing the shoot, director Imtiaz Ali was sure about one thing- that his rockstar will not wear tight tees and junk jewellery just to look cool. After much deliberation, Ali approached designer Aki Narula to design Ranbir's look and was surprised to get a call from him at 3am. "We met the next afternoon and the first thing I told him was, 'Your rockstar will wear mulmul and leather'," says the designer.

From there on, getting Jordan's look together wasn't difficult for Narula. "I dressed the character in what he can afford. The clothes have to belong to the character and Janardhan is a Jat from North Delhi who can't afford designer clothes. So we got into his mind and gave him two pairs of jeans from Sarojini Nagar for Rs 250 each. He wears hand-knitted sweaters and shoes which are deliberately tighter, affecting his walk. I found

The pace and quick cuts in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' trailer promises enough thrill

The fast-paced extended new trailer of David Fincher's 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', promises enough action this Christmas and may well be as good as Niels Arden Oplev's earlier Swedish-language release. There is enough build-up in the promo as journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) and hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) team up to solve a decades-old murder on a remote Swedish island.

Those who have read Stieg Larsson's original novel will be worried that Fincher might have taken certain liberties (The explicit scene where Lisbeth is torturing her guardian is not there) which may weaken the subplot showing Lisabeth's personal troubles. But then, if Fincher's film is to be a copy of Oplev's film, why do we need to see it?

For those who are not familiar with the story of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo':

Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist is hired by rich businessman Henrik Vanger

August saw Bollywood experimenting with a mixed bag of genres- From the pretentious shining India films 'I Am Kalam' and 'Gandhi to Hitler' to socially relevant Aarakshan. Next up was a lukewarm real-life drama in 'Not a Love Story', followed by comic caper 'Chatur Singh Two Star' and finally the most awaited Eid release, 'Bodyguard'. But the only thing common between the films was the fact that all made for a painful viewing. Our in-house critic Kunal Guha picks out five films that failed to live up to the audience's expectations.

I Am Kalam: Films produced with the intention of acquiring leafy film festival logos on the DVD cover, can end up being dangerously pretentious, even if they stick to the formula. And 'I am Kalam' is a perfect example of such a film. More

Aarakshan: Films about social issues are like primetime debates on news channels, opinionated yet inconclusive. And even 'Aarakshan' neither takes a firm stand, nor provides the way forward. More

Not A Love Story: One of

Bipasha and John spotted at Gold Gym

The ex-lovers bumped into each other at the gym they both visit

They may not be together but they still go to the same gym. Ex-lovers, John Abraham and Bipasha Basu were seen coming out of Gold Gym at the same time. It is not known whether, they actually bumped into each other or not but when Bipasha spotted the shutterbugs, she made a dash towards her car. This is not the first time; they were seen together at their gym though they have managed to avoid each other in the past.