Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web joins Netflix’s growing slate of Indian hits resonating far beyond home territory. The latest original series has truly taken flight on the global stage, making history as …
Rajiv Vijayakar
Rajiv Vijayakar
Rajiv Vijayakar is the Entertainment Editor at South Asian Herald. He has been a journalist and critic for over 25 years and was part of the National Film Awards Jury in India in 2011 and 2015. He has authored four books, the latest of which, “Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal,” won the National Award for Best Book on Cinema in 2021. He also was on the 2025 jury for choosing the Indian entry for the Oscars.
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Web Review: “Bhay: The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery” is Horror Drama with a Difference
by Rajiv Vijayakar 3 minutes readPerhaps it was high time such a story was told. A ghost-hunter has been murdered. Who did this ghoulish act? Was it murder by a human being? Or….?! A tale …
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Film Review: “Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos” is Unhappy and Dangerous Attack on Mental Health
by Rajiv Vijayakar 4 minutes readThere are awesome films that can be remembered as “experiences” or “emotions” rather than movies. Dhurandhar in the formal category and Tanvi—The Great are such respective cinema. There is a third category: movies so …
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On January 16, 2026, his centenary was celebrated by his fans. Omkar Prasad Nayyar, known to us all as O.P. Nayyar, was the ultimate musical maverick, who broke all convention …
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Never mind the miserable overall business in 2025, trade analysts and the industry, and of course, we the audience, do look forward to a great 2026. The first half of …
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Mardaani 3 Sees Rani Mukerji Complete 30 years, and New Female Villain Rise
by Rajiv Vijayakar 5 minutes readYash Raj Films has unveiled the trailer of Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani 3, the latest chapter of this blockbuster female-led franchise of Hindi cinema. Mardaani stands tall as the biggest solo female-led franchise in …
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It has reached the sky—and not stopped. At a mind-boggling Rs. 863 crore net Indian collection till January 13 (it was released on December 5), Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar has now officially smashed …
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Film Review: Laalo—Krishna Sada Sahaayate Shows Strength of Simple, Sincere Scripts
by Rajiv Vijayakar 6 minutes readA film made in about Rs. five million has incredibly grossed over Rs. 12 billion — and counting! — in Gujarati. At a time when a small film like Mahavatar Narsimha has …
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INCA Awards Announced with Promise of Credibility
by Rajiv Vijayakar 4 minutes readIndian National Cine Academy (INCA) has been announced as a pan-India institution for Indian Cinema, a monumental vision to unite India’s cinematic powerhouses, aimed at bringing together all the twelve …
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Film Review: “Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders” is a Layered Whodunit
by Rajiv Vijayakar 4 minutes readWhen the earlier film (then standalone for the viewer) was released, I had found it engrossing as a classic detective thriller, but sans any elements to appeal to souls who …