Dream double bills
Mughal-e-Azam and Dedh Ishqiya; Brief Encounter and In the Mood for Love: Summer movies best watched in pairs
The concept of the double feature originated in the US in the 1930s. Movie houses would screen the main feature—the A-movie—along with a cheaply made, often more schlocky, B-movie (this is how the genre got its name). Though the practice of screening an A and B movie together began to die out in the 1950s, it was adopted by arthouse theatres and film programmers, who saw it as an opportunity to juxtapose films, tease out connections or simply play two of their favourites one after the other.
There aren’t many dedicated repertory houses in this country, so film pairings are usually limited to one’s house and a couple of film-crazy friends. The planned opening of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) film centre, FilmBay, at the end of this year in Mumbai offers some hope for well-curated double bills in the city. Here are a few suggestions.
Middle-class marriage blues
‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ and ‘Sara Akash’
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!