Sonal Pandya
Deputy Editor
Before writing features for Cinestaan.com, Sonal Pandya worked as a compositor on several animated films, including the animated version of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. She was also research assistant for Anupama Chopra on The Front Row and Star Verdict as well as the book, 100 Films To See Before You Die. Sonal prefers watching films with subtitles, even when she knows the language well, to better understand the dialogues. Her favourite Hindi films are Padosan (1968), Masoom (1983) and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), though she can usually be found watching, or re-watching, any animated film when given the opportunity.
Articles by
Article
Netflix announces 40 new films, series, comedy specials and docu-series for 2021
The streaming platform has projects lined up with names such as Anushka Sharma, Karan Johar and Dhanush.
Review Hindi
Watch Over Me review: Moving, humane look at illness, death and the process of grief
The documentary by Farida Pacha is an important look into medical care for terminally ill patients at home in India.
Article Hindi
Dhamaka teaser: Kartik Aaryan is a stressed-out reporter in this Netflix thriller
The drama stars the actor as a TV journalist forced to cover a bomb blast in the city.
Review Hindi
Letter From Your Far-off Country review: Compelling, poignant visual collage of history, memory and understanding
The personal examination by filmmaker Suneil Sanzgiri tries to make sense of events, past and present, around him.
Review Hindi
The Girl On The Train review: This faulty memory thriller grows tedious
Parineeti Chopra unconvincingly plays a woman struggling with amnesia and alcoholism who finds herself the prime suspect in this mystery by filmmaker Ribhu Dasgupta.
Article Hindi
Pagglait teaser: Sanya Malhotra struggles to mourn loss of on-screen spouse
The Netflix film sees the actress play a young widow who is dealing with emotional issues.
Article Hindi
Gangubai Kathiawadi, starring Alia Bhatt, to be released on 30 July; see poster
The teaser poster of the upcoming period film was unveiled on director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 58th birthday.
Review Hindi
Bawri Chhori review: A tale of revenge dissolves into one of reflection
Aahana Kumra plays a woman wronged and hell-bent on vengeance in the film directed by Akhilesh Jaiswal.
Review Hindi
Chuha Billi review: Two roommates play a curious cat-and-mouse game
The disturbing but intriguing short, directed by Prasad Kadam, revolves around a twisted friendship.
Article
Louiz Banks’s perspective on life and success is fascinating, says Ashis Ghatak
The author opened up about his journey putting together the biography of the multifaceted musical legend.
Article Hindi
Bombay Begums trailer: Pooja Bhatt, Amruta Subhash, Shahana Goswami strike out on their own in the city
The upcoming Netflix series tells the story of five women, interconnected as they try to establish themselves in a male-dominated society.
Article Hindi
Karishma Dev Dube’s short film Bittu makes Oscar shortlist
The short won the silver medal in the Narrative (Domestic Film Schools) category at the 47th Student Academy Awards last year.
Article
Netflix’s Bombay Begums to be premiered on International Women’s Day
The six-episode drama series has been co-directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and Bornila Chatterjee.
Article English
Filmmaking was always a dream, says Sameeksha Katyal
The actress and filmmaker speaks about her second short film which was conceived and filmed during the lockdown in the US.
Article Malayalam
Drishyam 2 trailer: Mohanlal returns as Georgekutty
The Jeethu Joseph film reveals the next chapter in the lives of the patriarch, played by Mohanlal, and his family.
Article
Documentary Writing With Fire wins two awards at Sundance Film Festival 2021
The film, co-directed by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, won the Audience Award and the Special Jury Award: Impact for Change honours in the World Cinema Documentary section.
Article Hindi
Looop Lapeta first look: Taapsee Pannu stares down the audience
The upcoming thriller-comedy is the Hindi remake of the German film Run Lola Run (1998).
Article
Wanted to tell the complete Guru Dutt story: Yasser Usman
The author of Guru Dutt: An Unfinished Story speaks about the celebrated but tortured life of the renowned filmmaker.
Article
The minute I turn on the camera, I literally embody the character: Jamie Lever
The actress is known for her on-point portrayals of celebrities such as Sonam Kapoor and Farah Khan on social media.
Review English
The White Tiger review: Adarsh Gourav dominates this saga of a dog-eat-dog world
Ramin Bahrani has adapted the Aravind Adiga novel for the big screen capably, though the largely faithful adaptation falters as it reaches its finale.