Snap judgement: Here's a quick verdict on the buzz

Made for the movies


Not all stories are made for the movies. But, actress Hema Malini's life truly is. Her new authorised biography, Beyond The Dream Girl (HarperCollins India) by Ram Kamal Mukherjee, lifts the veil on her private life with endearing ease. From living a rather secluded childhood due to the pressures of being a young Bharatnatyam performer, to being the centre of attraction among male leading stars of her time, to her whirlwind romance with Dharmendra, and her tryst with politics, Mukherjee's stories comes first-hand from Malini and the people she was closest to, making it an honest and compelling piece of work. Malini, could as well, have written this one.

Giving memory form

If you haven't already caught Sumedh Rajendran's ongoing show at Sakshi Gallery in Colaba, then we suggest you do so before November 9. The exhibition opened last month to much appreciation from the art community. The exhibition has eight sculptural installations, and draw heavily on architectural elements. What viewers will love, we believe, is the aesthetic value that Rajendran infuses industrial materials, such as rubber and cement, with. He also uses the imagery to refer to social and political situations, which should give you something you think about on your way back home.

Beauty in sorrow


When death arrives, it is possibly less dramatic than we imagine it to be. Such is the feeling that Death of a Father, a 10-minute film by Somnath Pal, conveys poignantly. The animation film, which is produced by Chaitanya Tamhane, uses a pastel palette and thoughtful details to show how a son deals with the aftermath of his father's demise. In an understated manner, the family handles the financial, medical and logistical aspects of the event. How then do you experience grief? Watch it and find out.