author

Aseem Chhabra

Senior Rediff.com Contributor Aseem Chhabra is director of the New York Indian Film Festival, an entertainment writer and author of Irrfan Khan: The Man, The Dreamer, The Star. You can e-mail the author at aseem.chhabra@gmail.com

All stories by Aseem Chhabra

What Happens If Donald J Trump Wins?

What Happens If Donald J Trump Wins?

Rediff.com20 hours ago

Showing total disregard for the US constitution, Trump has said that this could be the last election to be held in the country. A Trump presidency could lead to mass deportation of undocumented migrants and harsh family separation, warns Aseem Chhabra.

'Critics Wait 20 Years To Like My Films'

'Critics Wait 20 Years To Like My Films'

Rediff.com3 days ago

'Whenever people say to me that all my work looks unique, I say to them originality is the art of concealing your source.' 'You can't see the sources that I take from because usually, they are Indian.' 'But then Indians don't find my work Indian.'

The Apprentice Review: A Trump No One Has Seen Before

The Apprentice Review: A Trump No One Has Seen Before

Rediff.com21 Oct 2024

The Apprentice is a keenly observed and entertaining biopic about the making of a man who is mostly responsible for all that has gone wrong with current American politics, observes Aseem Chhabra.

'Your Work Is To Make Films And Not Stay In Jail'

'Your Work Is To Make Films And Not Stay In Jail'

Rediff.com17 Oct 2024

'The work of a film-maker is going out and making films.' 'And if you are in prison for 15 years, you can't make films.'

'It's Not Sexualised Nudity'

'It's Not Sexualised Nudity'

Rediff.com16 Oct 2024

'I made it very clear even at the casting process that there was going to be a lot of nudity.' 'And I wanted to be sure that it would be done with ease.'

What Really Touches Your Heart In Jigra

What Really Touches Your Heart In Jigra

Rediff.com14 Oct 2024

When mainstream Hindi cinema is preoccupied with romance, comedy, horror and action, stories about sisters and brothers are very rare. Vasan Bala has made a first-of-its-kind film where the leads play sister and brother, notes Aseem Chhabra.

'We Lost So Many Things In This War'

'We Lost So Many Things In This War'

Rediff.com9 Oct 2024

'The war ended in 2009 and I believe the new generation of Tamils don't know what was going on there.' 'I felt it was my duty to tell our story.' 'Since 2009, it seems like we are sleeping.'

Must Watch: Stories From Around The World

Must Watch: Stories From Around The World

Rediff.com1 Oct 2024

Aseem Chhabra's Top 10 Films/ Series from TIFF 2024 includes films that he watched for the first time in Toronto. The films were impressive due to their rigor, passion, unique storytelling style and sometimes exploring the vulnerable sides of big name stars.

A Film From Manipur That You Must See

A Film From Manipur That You Must See

Rediff.com10 Sep 2024

'This story has been always there since my childhood because of missing people.' 'I remember a family member who disappeared and I kept wondering what happened to him.'

Please Send Payal's Film To The Oscars!

Please Send Payal's Film To The Oscars!

Rediff.com9 Sep 2024

How wonderful it would be for all of us to watch the Oscar ceremony on March 2, 2025 and watch AWIAL win an Oscar, notes Aseem Chhabra.

What's Missing In Angry Young Men

What's Missing In Angry Young Men

Rediff.com23 Aug 2024

Angry Young Men misses some important elements of the Salim-Javed story including an understanding of the duo's creative process. In fact, the two men do not even appear together in the same space in the series.

The Difference Between Fawad And Shah Rukh Khan

The Difference Between Fawad And Shah Rukh Khan

Rediff.com5 Aug 2024

'I think because India is a bigger country and Bollywood is such a well-oiled machine, the star thing has become so much bigger than the actor thing.'

Kamala Harris Is A Desi At Heart

Kamala Harris Is A Desi At Heart

Rediff.com23 Jul 2024

'I think of that young baby, still in her diapers, balancing with her arms held up by her mother, a Tamil woman wearing a salwar kameez and a dupatta, seated on a stoop,' recalls Aseem Chhabra.

'Bombay Has An Intoxicating Personality'

'Bombay Has An Intoxicating Personality'

Rediff.com21 Jun 2024

'It's such a mishmash of wonderful things, so many different cultures, subsections of society and weird histories.'

'The Hope Is About Friendship'

'The Hope Is About Friendship'

Rediff.com27 May 2024

'Hope is about being more accepting of each other, the kind of solidarity and friendship that even our families may not be able to give.'

'You Can Feel Buddha's Teaching In Ladakhi Culture'

'You Can Feel Buddha's Teaching In Ladakhi Culture'

Rediff.com17 May 2024

'I have nostalgia for Ladakhi culture, which is common to both Muslims and Buddhists.' 'It is kind of a Buddhist way of life. You are compassionate and nice to each other.' 'You are good human beings.'

'Manthan Never Looked As Good As It Does Now'

'Manthan Never Looked As Good As It Does Now'

Rediff.com15 May 2024

'The problems that the film explores still remain. It was a different time when we made the film. We were young and we thought we could change the world.'

Ripley Review: Mind-Blowing!

Ripley Review: Mind-Blowing!

Rediff.com15 Apr 2024

The show takes its own pace to pick up, but then when you least expect, it grabs you by the throat, notes Aseem Chhabra.

'I damaged my voice on purpose'

'I damaged my voice on purpose'

Rediff.com10 Apr 2024

'Pandi was promised something, that is not happening, so his anger is not of a villain's.' 'That's how all normal humans would react, or they stay silent.' 'Our violence is our silence. So in this world, everybody is innocent.'

The Oscars Are Not Always Predictable

The Oscars Are Not Always Predictable

Rediff.com11 Mar 2024

In the biggest surprise of the night, Emma Stone grabbed the Best Actress trophy for the complex portrayal of a Frankenstein-like character Bella, in Yargos Lanthimos' electrifying and most original film Poor Things. Aseem Chhabra recaps the 96th Annual Academy Awards.

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