An alphabet chart of Indian political party symbols
Now that the aam aadmi has got a party, the aam bachcha also needs to learn the letters of Indian politics much earlier than ever before. Here’s an educational tool…Continue Reading →
How to verify or check any PAN number online for free
PAN cards often become pain cards. Particularly now that the Income Tax Department insists on the landlord’s PAN for an…
Shammi Kapoor’s unrealised desire
One of Shammi Kapoor’s unfulfilled desires was to be a horse-riding tea garden manager in Assam. [tbpspa]
Guru Dutt the reluctant actor
Shammi Kapoor was to be the hero in Aar Paar (1954) and Dilip Kumar was the choice for the role of Vijay in Pyaasa (1957) but Guru Dutt, ever the…Continue Reading →
A new masthead for Cutting the Chai
In its 9th year, Cutting the Chai has seen a name change, two domain (and platform) changes, many design alterations…
Watch: Interval at a cinema hall in the 1970s screening a Hindi film
Now that multiplexes (and piracy) have altered our movie watching experience for good, ever wondered what it was like inside…
Don (1975) and the curious case of duplicates
In Chandra Barot’s Don (1978) Pran’s duplicate (for stunts) was a woman, while Zeenat Aman’s was a man. (Hat tip: Rohit Vats) Surprise of the day: Pran's duplicate was a…Continue Reading →
Filmfare magazine cover dated April 2, 1954 featuring the first Filmfare Award winners
60 years ago on Sunday, March 31, 1954 the first Filmfare Awards ceremony (for films released in 1952-53) was held…
Gory Kali-inspired 1940s poster salutes Subhash Chandra Bose
The art of poster art is slowly fading away. What we have now are mostly half-funny memes, that for most…
First Ghazib ghazal to be used in a film
‘Aah ko chahiye ek umr asar hone tak’ was the first Mirza Ghalib ghazal to be used in a movie…
Why Gulzar learnt Bangla
Gulzar learnt Bangla because having read the translations, he wanted to read Rabindranath Tagore’s writings in their original form.
