Cinema, up close

We always stay up-to-date on the movies releasing in theatres every Friday, but do we ever ponder over Indian cinema? The Big Indian Picture, a web film magazine launched last week, attempts to change this. “There are not many serious comprehensive journals or magazines (that I have heard of) on Indian cinema,” says the editor-in-chief Pragya Tiwari, who was with Tehelka from 2009 to 2011. The Big Indian Picture has articles, photo essays and interviews with filmmakers and actors like Imitiaz Ali and Ranbir Kapoor.

Big B speaks

Though founded by model-actor Milind Soman, the magazine was Tiwari’s idea. She later asked her ex-colleagues and friends from Tehelka, Rishi Majumdar and Kavi Bhansali, to join in. The fortnightly magazine was launched by Amitabh Bachchan. “Being passionate about Indian cinema, he feels there is a lot of artistic and cultural history attached to it. So when Soman showed him the site, he immediately liked it and wanted to launch it,” insists the editor.

Art and politics

According to Tiwari, the fortnightly magazine “sees society, politics and art through cinema.” So don’t be surprised if you come across an opinion piece by writer Mahmood Farooqui on the politics of cinema. Another article has Majumdar profiling film poster artist, Ramakant Fadte. “Film poster painiting is India’s original art form, which has been a neglected chapter in art history,” explains Tiwari. In the next issue (October 8), expect a short film by Bharat Sikka about how cinema has added to the psyche of Mumbai. Tiwari hopes to include fictional stories later on.

Details: thebigindianpicture.com