Girish Karnad: A not very subtle environmental message

Noted theatre and cinema auteur Girish Karnad died June 10, 2019 morning; here's looking back at his film Cheluvi

Projecting a distorted reality

A documentary for British children presents an inaccurate and oversimplified image of India.

Against their wishes

An amateur film brings out the plight of Hyderabad's child brides without making judgements.

Tough decisions ahead

A BBC serial says strong political will is needed to ensure that energy is used efficient.

Understanding Adivasis

Tapan Bose's Jharkhand, 10 years in the making, has a participative view of the timeless, unspoilt lives of Adivasis stripped of their land

Zooming in on three prize-winners

A look at this year's award-winning documentaries: an educational film on the Silent Valley, a campaign film on the Tehri dam project and a third …

Naseeruddin does better than Streep

The puckish wit of the actor-turned-anchorperson in Turning Point has contributed to the popularity of the programme

Rio fever hits the networks

The mother of all summits grabbed a good deal of telecast time recently

Borrowed perspectives

When something as vast and complex as the social dynamics of the Green Revolution is depicted through the experiences of a handful, it is …

The wonderful life after Doordarshan

There are some rivetting science programmes on Star TV and BBC which should inspire Doordarshan to produce better programmes in this genre

For the swish of a snow leopard's tail

The snow leopard, small but menacing in his stealth, is a beautiful beast that streaks into full view so often in this film that you wonder where …

More hard facts and much less syrup, please

Both films end as abruptly as they begin, fragments of documentation on celluloid or videotape that aim, as one said at the beginning, at evoking …

The most comprehensive film on Bhopal

The Supreme Court ruled recently, in reference to Beyond Genocide, a film on the Bhopal gas disaster, that Doordarshan cannot curtail the …

CENDIT scores with film series

Catalysts for Change, a 13-part film series produced by the Centre for the Development of Instructional Technology, covers the gamut of problems …

Video magazine ignore environmental issues

The story ends on a cynical note suggesting both Patkar and the government are doggedly pursuing their separate goals

Bharat ki Chaap gets a new identity

The TV serial of the late 1980s is now available as a video series. Although its message of self-reliance is a bit dated, it still is a useful …

British TV crucifies India's nuclear programme

Using cloak-and-dagger techniques and with help from willing critics, a British television crew does a hatchet job on India's nuclear programme.

Unheralded films feature development themes

Individuals and voluntary agencies continue to make films in different parts of the country on subjects that interest them, though hardly any of …

DD social service ads preach, but rarely convert

How does public interest advertising work on Doordarshan? Even more to the point, does it work at all?

Science through fun and games

To put together an exhibition on the environment for children was an excellent idea. Now, the ministry of environment and forests should consider …

AIDS hits prime time on Doordarshan

Prostitutes are shown more frequently in TV programmes as culprits, whereas they are mostly victims of AIDS.

A bitter prelude to salvation

They could do with a little less indignity, the indignity of knowing that you must sing for you supper day in and day out, till you die.

A not-very-subtle environmental message

The film should communicae its environmental message far more effectively than the dozens of inept documentaries that have been made on the subject.

12 film marathon spotlights urban decadence

Interestingly, apartment blocks in Warsaw bear a strong resemblance to Delhi Development Authority's more abominable creations.

Chilika documentary fails to make a point

Oriya film-maker Prithwiraj Mishra's documentary is impressive for its photography, but he fails to deal convincingly with the question of the …