About the video
In conversation with Rohit Khilnani, veteran film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh shares his candid views on the current state of Indian cinema, box-office performance, filmmaking, and the growing influence of social media on the industry.
Taran begins by discussing Drishyam – The Conclusion, sharing how much he enjoyed the film and praising its actors, performances and memorable scenes. He also reveals the two films that earned a standing ovation from him this year: Drishyam and Dhurandhar.
He talks about Mirzapur: The Movie and the transition of a successful OTT franchise to the big screen, while emphasising why content — from scenes and dialogues to storylines and songs — ultimately matters more than star power. He also discusses the remarkable box-office performance of Munjya and why Hanuman Ansh is an example of how audiences can eventually discover and embrace a film.
Taran reflects on films like Daayra that may have merit but fail to connect commercially, and discusses how negativity surrounding films can influence audience perceptions and affect their performance. He then shares his assessment of Toxic, praising Yash’s performance, the visuals and the work of the cast, particularly Kiara Advani, while explaining why he felt the writing did not translate effectively to the big screen.
He also discusses Yash Raj Films and its willingness to explore different kinds of cinema, before sharing his thoughts on Alpha. While appreciating the film’s visual execution and Alia Bhatt’s talent as an actor, he explains why strong storytelling remains essential. Taran also speaks about the tendency to write off actors after just two or three unsuccessful films and why the negativity surrounding cinema on social media has become increasingly unnecessary.
Watch the full conversation with Taran Adarsh and Rohit Khilnani for an insightful discussion on films, filmmaking, box-office trends, audience expectations and the challenges facing the Hindi film industry today.