Vinod Khanna, perhaps the handsomest of Indian film heroes, passed away recently. That weekend, if you had wanted to watch one of his iconic films—Achanak, Imtihan or Lekin, you would have drawn a blank on your recently-subscribed Netflix account. Amazon Prime, ditto. These films may be too art-house. You try Khanna’s more popular films: Khoon Pasina, Hera Pheri, Insaaf, Mere Apne, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Dayavan. Nothing. There is not a single film of his on Netflix. Amazon Prime, yes, features about a dozen, but doesn’t show two of the actor’s most popular flicks: Amar Akbar Anthony and Qurbani.
Disappointment exists at the big-picture level as well. The streaming websites have almost nothing from India’s history of over 100 years of moviemaking. The country’s great auteurs are near-absent. No Ray or Ghatak, no Aravindan or Adoor, no Kasaravalli, no Bharathiraja, no Sai Paranjpye, no Gulzar, not even Mani Ratnam. “Where is the Indian content, or regional...
THIS ARTICLE IS PRICELESS...
To read this piece, and more such stories in India's most exciting and exacting magazine, plus get access to our 25-year archives goldmine, please subscribe.
