Frames of Reference

Every Frame Evokes a Memory, and Every Memory is Worth Sharing

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about

My name is Uday Nandivada and I am an Indian American in my sixties – a part time poet and a full-time movie fan. Movies, especially Hindi movies have shaped many things in my life. My celebrations begin with a song, and my disappointments end with one. I grew up in a literary family, which perhaps influenced my choice of movies. But it was movies that shaped my view of the world. Encouraged by some friends I started “Frames Of Reference” as a place for fellow cinephiles like me to gather and take this nostalgic trip along with me.

Reviews

Welcome to the space where Hindi films are not just watched —they’re felt, revisited, and lovingly unraveled. Here, I explore the frames, performances, melodies, and moments that have shaped our cinematic memory. From the quiet ache of a ghazal to the swagger of a masala classic, from golden‑era romance to contemporary storytelling, each review is an invitation to linger with the film a little longer.

This isn’t about ratings or verdicts. It’s about the craft, the culture, the nostalgia —and the way Hindi cinema continues to reflect who we are, who we were, and who we hope to be.

Please provide your feedback. I will not be offended if you disagree with my views.

My Reviews

  • Guru Dutt, Dev Anand and the Birth of Bombay Noir

    Gurudutt directed the Dev Anand starrer Baazi in 1951. And a new genre of Hindi movies was born – Bombay Noir. From Baazi to Jaal to CID, their collaboration produced some unforgettable gems. Separately each of them also had some…

  • Why ‘System’ Fails to Deliver: A Critical Analysis

    Although promising, Ashwini Iyer Tiwari’s ‘System’ fails to deliver in many ways. System is a movie about the system that fails the common man. It is a courtroom drama. A story about the corrupting influence of money. About surviving in…

  • War and Peace – A Review of “The Voice of Hind Rajab”

    Let’s be clear about what Director Ben Hania is doing here, because it matters. The Voice of Hind Rajab is not a war film. There are no battlefield sequences, no graphic violence, no images of rubble or bodies. The entire…

  • The Storyteller Review – The Subtle Art of Redemption and Retribution

    According to Wikipedia, a hundred and thirty-four Hindi movies were produced and released in 2025, of which I saw thirty-eight. I only found a handful of them worth watching, and even fewer worth reviewing or recommending to anyone else. Ananth…

  • The Yoke Bearer – Review of Dhurandhar

    “Violence produces only something resembling justice, but it distances people from the real thing” – Leo Tolstoy Let me confess upfront that I am no fan of sectarian historiography. There is much to be said for the political motives behind…

  • Lost and Found

    “Laapataa Ladies” – Not the Usual Bollywood “Long Lost Brothers” Story Kiron Rao’s second directorial venture was an order of magnitude improvement over Dhobi Ghat, her directorial debut in 2011. It was understated, engaging, and a pleasant and much needed…

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