Shriram Iyengar
Chief Feature Writer
Shriram Iyengar, who was with Cinestaan.com from 11 September 2015 to 19 March 2022, belongs to the not-so-rare species of neuroses cinemanesis. A hassled Mumbaikar, he spends his mornings doing chores while singing Gulzar-RD Burman numbers. He claims a particular expertise in the 'Filmy Maa' species, the experiences of which he documents extensively on his social media pages. His penchant for Govinda hits is as notorious as his delirium of being a Shakespearean actor. When drunk, he can be found spouting poetry and his unabated love for Kalki Koechlin on empty streets. If seen, please drop him off at the nearest railway station.
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Listicle
The Beatles in Bollywood
They are the greatest rock band that ever was. In 1960, four young men from Liverpool changed the way music was played. Bollywood wasn't spared from the influence of the Fab Four. Here are some tracks that were influenced by the beats of the Beatles.â
Slideshow
10 seriously awesome Dara Singh posters
The original He-man of India, Dara Singh starred in films that stretch the limits of your imagination. Here are some of the posters to prove it.
Article Bengali Hindi
When KL Saigal arrived in Bombay
In the late 1930s, Kundanlal Saigal was a Bengali icon singing Tagore's poems for recordings. People thronged to cinema halls just to hear his voice. But the great singer was to soon leave the city of his greatest work and move west.
Article
A portrait of his master: Gulzar's poem on Bimal Roy
The filmmaker picked an unknown young man from obscurity and mentored him on the way to glory in arts. Roy's trained eye could see the poet and future director in the novice where others could only see another wannabe. Gulzar, in return, paid tribute in a way only a poet can. On Roy's birth anniversary, a look at the poem.
Listicle
3 times Neil Nitin Mukesh rocked
The triple threat of his name has been parodied cruelly across cyberspace. Yet, Neil Nitin Mukesh has come a long way as an actor. Here are three of his best performances.
Article
Mani Ratnam and his reality in dreamscape
In an age when films on reality are earning either plaudits or controversies, Mani Ratnam remains an elusive name. A filmmaker who cannot be categorised as commercial or auteur, his films convert reality into something more entertaining - a spectacle.
Listicle
Imran Khan's lessons in getting the girl who's just not into you
Imran Khan, the nephew of Aamir Khan, the second coming of Sanjay Malhotra, has been on our radar for sometimes. Playing the obsessive lover-boy who just won't take no for an answer has become his forte. And no, that's not a bad thing! Here's a list of films that provide life lessons to broken hearted Bollywood fans.
Article
Helen and the film without a song
Helen's presence in OP Ralhan's 'Hulchul' is not a surprise. The fact that there is no song in the film is. One of the most natural dancers was cast in a film without songs. Here's the story of the mismatch.
Article
The return of Nana Patekar
As an aging artiste in 'Natasamrat', Nana Patekar provided a timely reminder of a character trope that is slowly dying in Indian cinema.
Article
Look at what Irrfan Khan once did
Tom Hanks calls his eyes 'mesmerising'. Danny Boyle is a fan. Spielberg has already cast him. Bollywood can't get enough already. In one decade, Irrfan Khan has made a stunning leap from background roles to lead characters with depth and intrigue. Here is a chronicle of this fascinating actor during his time on the national network.
Article
Vijay Tendulkar: Angry old man
His direct scripts and fiery thoughts burned a deep impression on Indian theatre and cinema. Vijay Tendulkar wreaked more damage to societal injustice through his pen than Amitabh Bachchan could ever do with his fists on screen. Here's how he did it.
Article
Why was Awara popular in Turkey?
Raj Kapoor's classic was the beginning of a long journey for one of his most iconic creations — the tramp. The film and its music reached far beyond Indian borders. It remains one of the most popular Indian films in Turkey. Here's how that happened.
Article
Death anniversary special: KN Singh and his dancing beard in Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi
On the actor's 18th death anniversary, we take a look at this one-off performance that is unlike his typical villainous roles.
Listicle
Taare Zameen Par - Stars take to Twitter to help Chennai
As Chennai struggles to keep its head above water, stars took to social media to help. Here are some tweets that caught our eye
Article
The 'other' Bajirao Mastani
As theaters across India prepare for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's romantic saga about Maratha warrior Bajirao I, we look back at a previous avatar of this eternal romantic saga.
Article
Deepak Parasher – The Mr India nobody remembers
The sight of Deepak Parasher turning himself into a parody on Bigg Boss was a far cry from the handsome man who made a splash in the modelling circuit during the 80s. From playing supporting roles to Amitabh Bachchan to romping around in nighties on Bigg Boss, Deepak Parasher has fallen a long way.
Listicle
Only true Hindi cinema fans will recognise these actors
If you are a true blue fan of Hindi cinema, you ought to know the names of these wonderful actors who played second fiddle to the A-listers.
Article
Who is...Pandit Sudarshan?
A versatile Hindi novelist on par with the great Munshi Premchand, Pandit Sudarshan was a part of Indian cinema during the early 30s. Here's a look at the writer who shaped some classic studio-era films and enhanced the role of literature in Hindi cinema.
Listicle
10 films about disabilities that touched our hearts
Heroes come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes, they are ordinary men and women who transcend their disabilities to make a difference in the world. Here are 10 films that captured the stories of such heroes.
Listicle
The one hit wonders
They came. They conquered. They vanished. These Bollywood starlets vanished from the spotlight leaving memories of their first, and perhaps best, performances.