PRAGOTI

The film Avatar breaks a trend (but for some exceptions) in Hollywood films - which has been about the self-aggrandisement of the "empire" as the saviour of the world from the ruthlessness of barbaric aliens (either extra-terrestrial or perceived ideological enemy of the United States).

In many ways Agantuk is an inciting film. Though there is a genuine doubt if at all the grungy middle class can really think today in the way Ray wanted them to think. The basic theme is an intellectual soul searching for a re-discovery of the lost human values. It bluntly focuses on the vices of the post-modern world. The reckless immorality of the elite class, their greed for material possessions is harshly criticized. A ‘civilized’ person was defined as the person who can wipe out an entire population with lethal weapon by just pressing a button but has awfully forgotten how to embrace an alien stranger!

"Hanna Schmitz in ‘The Reader’ is responsible for the death of hundreds of Jews, but why do we sympathise with her?" Shelly Walia reviews "The Reader"

"From the tagline of the film to the last scene, the word “kranti” (Revolution) was reiterated several times, and very interestingly, as all roads lead to Rome, all of the revolutions were also carefully made to lead either to the post of the chief, or to the lap of a woman. Reducing each and every aspect of political flaw and ideological bankruptcy of the separatist movement into the domain of sexual frustration may make the long died famous dream interpreter happy, but is surely ruining the political future of our country". Anirban Ghatak of Pragoti editorial team reviews Gulaal.