The lasting influence of Amitabh Bachchan's Supremo, hitchhiking with Salman Khan, a taste of Tom Alter, Padmaavat's best scene and more in Sukanya Verma's Super-filmi Week.

Prisons aren't places to build bodies or boost egos, says Kishore Singh.

'Kaala's sin is not that it is presented as a mouthpiece for its director Pa Ranjith's political viewpoints, but that it makes a travesty of them.''Ranjith turns Marx into merchandise, all the while functioning as a hired hand for Brand Rajinikanth,' points out Sreehari Nair.

Both Raazi and Veere Di Wedding are interesting films that worked. There is no point reading a trend in them, says Vanita Kohli-Khandekar.

Bolly Gupshup from Subhash K Jha.

'It is nice to know I am remembered even now,' Lataji tells Subhash K Jha.

No, no, it has nothing to do with Salman...

'Despite the pornographic quality of its name, Lust Stories is something of an event in Indian popular culture,' says Shuma Raha.

'Rajkumar Hirani could have gone for the jugular but has chosen instead to play to the gallery,' says J Jagannath.

Soorma Director Shaadi Ali moves on to his next biopic.Vivek Agnihotri reveals the subject of his next film.Bolly Gupshup with Subhash K Jha.

Why do the biggest, most talented and successful film-makers of India suck up to the establishment so breathlessly, asks Shekhar Gupta.

Priyanka Chopra plays mum to an 18 year old!Bolly Gupshup with Subhash K Jha.

'That only a certain Mumbai story -- look at Salaam Bombay and Slumdog Millionaire for other examples -- gets made when an international audience is as much a target as the desi viewer, should invoke questions of representation,' notes Vikram Johri.

It won't be easy for the half-British diva to step into the Desi Girl's sandals, feels Subhash K Jha.

Mulk tells Indian Muslims they have to ensure that their children don't get involved in jihad, and at the same time tells Hindus not to doubt the patriotism of Indian Muslims, notes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan, reveals Subhash K Jha, are looking at other directors for their daughter's debut.

'He was a poet at heart and a saint by nature.'

'The very idea that Kamal Haasan would retire from active acting for active politics is as ridiculous as to suggest that Lataji would give up singing to weave handloom dupattas for destitute girls in Muzaffarpur,' declares Subhash K Jha.

Sreehari Nair introduces you to three promising movies coming up.

'Mulk questions the very principle, of good-Muslim exceptionalism.''That, of course, we adore Abdul Hamid, A P J Abdul Kalam and Bismillah Khan and if only more Muslims were like them.''Anubhav Sinha sticks his neck out to say that these are no exceptions.''Most Muslims are like them. It is the terrorists who are exceptions,' says Shekhar Gupta.

'Khaitan's film will continue to invite comparisons with Manjule's, but the fact that it is out there for viewers to see is perhaps a greater tribute to the original than is conveyed by the cautious desire to remake it,' says Vikram Johri.

'It started as a kind of joke. Now I think it has gone far enough.'

'He took a lot of crap from a person who feels she knows how to direct a film.'

To say Aretha ticked all the boxes when it came to voice technique is like calling Cristiano Ronaldo an efficient footballer, says Kanika Datta.

Politics, favouritism and poor taste in cinema have contributed to embarrassing choices for the Oscar race in the past.This little gem from India needs the love, emotional and financial support from the government as well as the Indian film industry, argues Aseem Chhabra.

'Stree's allegorical approach doesn't interfere with its need to endear and entertain.''Important ideas of empowerment and item songs as well as chills and chuckle coexist to fulfil its objective of thoda hasao, thoda darao,' says Sukanya Verma.

A meeting with the head of Zee TV, film-maker Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi, would never be forgotten.'He asked me to leave the show, and the country.''When I refused, he asked his staff members to push me out of the room.''Men like Alok Nath feel empowered to misbehave with women because they have the tacit backing of powerful peers.'

As electric they are on silver screen, Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt aren't quite chat show meat, feels Sukanya Verma.

'Thugs is smarter than a lot of 'nationalistic' movies,' notes Rohit Sathish Nair.

Will Priyanka start a family? Or does she have some career aces up her sleeve?Longtime Rediff.com contributor Aseem Chhabra, author of <Priyanka Chopra: The Incredible Story Of A Global Bollywood Star, predicts PeeCee's next moves.

'Even when he moves beyond his traditional repertoire, he sticks to a template that does not take him too far from the viewer's gentler emotions,' notes Vikram Johri.

'Kader Khan could be horribly intimidating, impossibly silly, achingly human and, sometimes, all at once.''I was drawn to his magic and magnetism even when I didn't know he was behind it,' recalls Sukanya Verma.

Why were two of 2018's critically panned films awarded?! exclaims Aseem Chhabra.

Why do Hindi cinema superstars flounder in their fifties, asks Vanita Kohli-Khandekar.

'This is a movie made with this gaze fixed on its immediate well-wishers, while at the same time it squints hard looking for those swaying back and forth on the fence,' notes Rohit Sathish Nair.

'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is a step backward for the portrayal of female camaraderie in our movies,' argues Sreehari Nair.

While Pa Ranjith proved yet again to be the salt of the earth in his land mafia film, Zoya Akhtar took a haphazard route to make something that was hardly rooted in Asia's biggest slum, feels J Jagannath.

'When we walk around wearing Batman t-shirts, buy posters of Green Lantern and collect little vinyl figurines of Hulk, such actions remind us that these heroes deal with the realities running rampant in our own lives,' says Kumar Abhishek.

'Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota is exactly why Hindi cinema needs more film-makers who know a South Indian language,' notes J Jagannath.

'This film is a product of a dangerous trend to take just a sprinkling of truth, mix it with free-flowing speculation and present it as historical facts,' says Manavi Kapur.

The recently released poster Mental Hai Kya is like an abuse aimed at those who are fighting a disorder that demands support and social understanding, says Tarun Vijay, the former BJP MP.

'By ruffling dignified feathers, and by polarising its audience, Kabir Singh has put movies and art back into our public discourse,' says Sreehari Nair.

'The Telugu original with its brilliant rendering of the hero by Vijay Deverakonda works better than Kabir Singh.''It also has a sharper play of caste politics and raw authenticity of characters rooted in a local universe that gets lost in translation when it is remade for a pan-India audience,' argues Ritwik Sharma.

Shah Rukh Khan had David Letterman in his grip, giving him no quarter whatsoever, declares Sreehari Nair.

'Many thought it was the end for me,' Lataji told Subhash K Jha.'I just couldn't sing!'

'My mom is a riot! I thank her with all my heart.'

'The vitriol against Deepika Padukone, who is a hugely popular star, will fade over time. But let's not forget what caused it,' says Shuma Raha.

What has not changed in a decade is the character of Rizwan Khan. He is complex, multi-dimensional and lovable. In fact, his character continues to grow on you, notes Mohammad Asim Siddiqui.

'In the early years of this century, barely 10 years after liberalisation, drinking Coke was still cool,' notes Uttaran Das Gupta.

Salman may direct Tiger 3... Katrina drops Vikas Bahl film...