Murtaza Ali Khan (film critic)
{{Short description|Indian film critic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
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| birth_place = Delhi
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| nationality = Indian
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| alma_mater = Jamia Millia Islamia
| occupation = Film critic and journalist
| years_active = 2010-present
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Murtaza Ali Khan is an Indian film critic and journalist. He is the film editor of the New York City-based magazine Café Dissensus.{{Cite news|url=https://cafedissensusblog.com/about/|title=About|date=2012-12-31|work=Cafe Dissensus Everyday|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://cafedissensus.com/editorial-board/|title=Editorial Board|date=2011-07-23|work=Café Dissensus|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}} He currently contributes to leading publications like The Hindu{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/profile/author/Murtaza-Ali-Khan-14230/|title=Murtaza Ali Khan|website=The Hindu|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}} and The Sunday Guardian.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/culture/film-review-indias-contribution-horror-fantasy-genre|title=Film Review: India's contribution to the horror fantasy genre - The Sunday Guardian Live|date=2018-10-13|work=The Sunday Guardian Live|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en-US}} He has also written for DailyO,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyo.in/user/13852/murtaza-ali-khan|title=Murtaza Ali Khan|website=www.dailyo.in|access-date=2018-10-26}} Huffington Post India,{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/author/murtaza-ali-khan/|title=Murtaza Ali Khan|website=HuffPost India|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}} Newslaundry,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/06/16/did-steven-spielberg-plagiarise-satyajit-rays-the-alien|title=Newslaundry {{!}} Sabki Dhulai|last=Newslaundry|work=Newslaundry|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-us}} and The Quint.
Career
While working in the corporate world he soon began to realize his urge for writing on cinema and started contributing film reviews to online publications like DearCinema,{{Cite web|url=http://dearcinema.com:80/review/hugo-by-martin-scorsese-an-emotional-spectacle/4235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116082544/http://dearcinema.com/review/hugo-by-martin-scorsese-an-emotional-spectacle/4235|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 November 2014|title=Review: Martin Scorsese's Hugo|date=2014-11-16|access-date=2018-10-26}}{{Cite web|url=http://dearcinema.com/review/midnight-in-paris-woody-allens-ode-to-the-city-of-love/5713|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331010345/http://dearcinema.com/review/midnight-in-paris-woody-allens-ode-to-the-city-of-love/5713|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-03-31|title=Midnight in Paris: Woody Allen's ode to the City of Love - DearCinema.com|date=2015-03-31|access-date=2018-10-26}} Frontier Weekly,{{Cite web|url=http://www.frontierweekly.com/archive/vol-number/vol/vol-46-2013-14/46-28/46-28-Barefoot%20to%20Goa.html|title=Frontier articles on Society & Politics|website=www.frontierweekly.com|access-date=2018-10-26}} Desimartini{{Cite web|url=https://www.desimartini.com/profile/mohammad-murtaza-ali/reviews?page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026182917/https://www.desimartini.com/profile/mohammad-murtaza-ali/reviews?page=3|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2018|title=Mohammad Murtaza Ali - Contribution, Reviews, Rating - Author's DM Journey - Desimartini.com|website=Desimartini|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}} and Jamuura.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamuura.com/blog/author/murtuza-ali-khan/|title=Murtaza Ali Khan, Author at Jamuura Blog|website=Jamuura Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-26}} As a film critic he wanted to introduce the viewers to the best of cinema and help them develop individual taste. During this time he wrote reviews for DearCinema, Frontier Weekly and Desimartini where he is listed as a movie jockey. For Jamuura he has written essays on classics like Rashomon,{{Cite news|url=http://www.jamuura.com/blog/rashomon-kurosawas-masterpiece-on-truth-and-its-many-faces/|title=Rashomon : Kurosawa's Masterpiece On Truth And Its Many Faces - Jamuura Blog|date=2015-09-28|work=Jamuura Blog|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}} Pyaasa,{{Cite news|url=http://www.jamuura.com/blog/pyaasa-guru-dutts-epic-tale-of-social-and-moral-decline/|title=Pyaasa : Guru Dutt's Epic Tale of Social and Moral Decline - Jamuura Blog|date=2015-09-04|work=Jamuura Blog|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}} and Jalsaghar.{{Cite news|url=http://www.jamuura.com/blog/jalsaghar-1958-satyajit-rays-classic-on-the-feudal-india/|title=Jalsaghar - Satyajit Ray's Classic On Feudal India! - Jamuura Blog|date=2015-07-29|work=Jamuura Blog|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}}
Soon he decided to follow his passion and pursue his career as a film critic. From June 2015 to February 2018 he contributed to the Huffington Post India as a freelancer. Since November 2017, he has been doing features and contributing to the interview section for The Hindu. He started working as the Film Editor for the New York-based magazine Café Dissensus{{Cite news|url=https://cafedissensusblog.com/cafe-dissensus-review-of-films-cdrf/|title=Cafe Dissensus Review of Films (CDRF)|date=2016-06-09|work=Cafe Dissensus Everyday|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://cafedissensusblog.com/tag/murtaza-ali-khan/|title=Murtaza Ali Khan {{!}} Cafe Dissensus Everyday|website=cafedissensusblog.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}} from July 2018. He is presently reviewing films for The Sunday Guardian{{Cite news|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/culture/film-review-film-succeeds-living-promise|title=Film Review: A film that succeeds in living up to its promise - The Sunday Guardian Live|date=2018-10-20|work=The Sunday Guardian Live|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/culture/film-review-nawazuddin-makes-us-feel-mantos-inner-pain|title=Film Review: Nawazuddin makes us feel Manto's inner pain - The Sunday Guardian Live|date=2018-09-22|work=The Sunday Guardian Live|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en-US}} also.
= Interviews and Interactions =
Apart from writing extensively on cinema and culture, Murtaza Ali Khan has interviewed famous personalities like Indian Master Chef Imtiaz Qureshi,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/when-imtiaz-qureshi-saved-the-day/article24269593.ece|title=When Imtiaz Qureshi saved the day...|last=Khan|first=Murtaza Ali|date=2018-06-27|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}} musician Susmit Bose,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-songs-that-bind/article23821610.ece|title=The songs that bind|last=Khan|first=Murtaza Ali|date=2018-05-09|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}} British choreographer Wayne McGregor,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/one-thing-amazing-about-dance-is-its-diversity/article22372495.ece|title=One thing amazing about dance is its diversity|last=Khan|first=Murtaza Ali|date=2018-01-05|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}} Japanese actress Yuna Taira,{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/murtaza-ali-khan/interview-today-japanese-movie-world-does-not-operate-on-directors-brand-anymore-says-actress-yuna-taira_a_23283675/|title=INTERVIEW: Today, Japanese Movie World Does Not Operate On Directors' Brand Anymore, Says Actress Yuna Taira|date=2017-11-21|work=HuffPost India|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-IN}} Indian actor Sanjay Mishra,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/people/sanjay-mishra-the-film-turtle-is-all-about-the-looming-crisis-over-water|title=Sanjay Mishra: The film Turtle is all about the looming crisis over water|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}} filmmaker Danish Renzu,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/indian-cinema/danish-renzu-on-kashmir-half-widow-and-cinema|title=A Kashmiri Filmmaker Returns For the Love of Kashmir & Cinema|work=The Quint|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en}} standup comedian Sunil Grover{{Cite news|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/interview/sunil-grover-pataakha-is-indian-funny-and-rooted|title=Sunil Grover: Pataakha is Indian, funny and rooted|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}} and screenwriter Anjum Rajabali.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/showing-the-write-way/article25316626.ece|title=Showing the write way|last=Khan|first=Murtaza Ali|date=2018-10-25|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}
Murtaza Ali Khan{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsgram.com/small-town-stories-making-big-bollywood|title=Small Town Stories Making big in Bollywood}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2017/sunday-edition/small-is-big.html|title=Small is Big|last=Pioneer|first=The|website=The Pioneer|language=en|access-date=2019-01-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/will-zero-bring-shah-rukh-khan-back-in-the-game/1415683|title=Will Zero bring Shah Rukh Khan back in the game? {{!}} Freepressjournal : Latest Indian news,Live updates|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-05}} also shares his views on many important topics on changing scenario of Indian cinema in different platforms often.
== Television/Radio Debates and Discussions ==
Murtaza Ali Khan regularly appears as a guest panelist{{cite web|title=Special Debate on Media and Minority Issues on News18 Urdu|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atYAnJOCJ9g}}{{cite web|title=Bollywood In Election Year: Good Cinema Or Propaganda?|url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/shows/youthquake/bollywood-in-election-year-good-cinema-or-propaganda-504510}}{{cite web|title=Murtaza Ali, Film Journalist:आप सुरक्षा का मुद्दा लाकर न्यायालय और लोगों को बहका रहे हैं|url=https://www.facebook.com/MirrorNow/videos/1377911695676980/}}{{cite web|title=Debate on Shah Rukh Khan's daughter Suhana khan trolled by fans on social media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=535&v=C2224JKMrKE}} on various television channels.
Support for Newton's selection as India's Official entry at the 90th Academy Awards{{Citation|last=NewsX|title=Speak out India: After 'Lagaan' and Rehman, Oscar bid for 'Newton'|date=2017-09-22|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=623&v=bbj9Ac3kRuI|access-date=2018-10-26}}
On 22 September 2017, speaking at the NewsX show Speak Out India, alongside the director and lead actor of Newton{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/murtaza-ali-khan/newton-a-light-hearted-satire-on-matters-of-gravity-in-indian-democracy_a_23218365/|title='Newton': A Light-Hearted Satire On Matters Of Gravity In Indian Democracy|date=2017-09-23|work=HuffPost India|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-IN}} Amit V. Masurkar and Pankaj Tripathi, respectively, Murtaza Ali Khan welcomed the committee’s decision for choosing a film with a realistic and hard-hitting subject like Newton for the 90th Academy Awards. He also shared his thoughts on the film’s prospects at the 2018 Oscars.
Discussion on India International Film Festival 2018{{Cite web|url=https://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/49th-international-film-festival-india-concludes-goa-11201862930.html|title=49th International Film Festival of India concludes in Goa|date=2018-11-29|website=Current Affairs Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://iffigoa.org/|title=IFFI Goa 2018 - International Film Festival of India, Goa Official Website|date=2018-10-08|website=IFFI Goa|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-05}}
Murtaza Ali Khan was invited to take part in discussion on India International Film Festival aired on All India Radio. He conducted the program both in English{{Citation|title=Spotlight/ News Analysis: Discussion on "India International Film Festival-2018"|url=https://soundcloud.com/allindiaradionews/spotlight-news-analysis-discussion-on-india-international-film-festival-2018|language=en|access-date=2019-01-05}}{{Citation|title=News Analysis: Discussion on 49th "International Film Festival of India."|url=https://soundcloud.com/allindiaradionews/news-analysis-discussion-on-49th-international-film-festival-of-india|language=en|access-date=2019-01-05}} and Hindi{{Citation|title=सामयिकी: "49वें भारत अंतर्राष्ट्रीय फिल्म महोत्सव'' पर चर्चा।|url=https://soundcloud.com/allindiaradionews/49a-1|language=en|access-date=2019-01-05}} in discussion with senior journalist K. G. Suresh and film critic Arnab Banerjee, respectively.
Other works
= Panel Discussions =
Murtaza Ali Khan alongside noted journalist, documentary film maker and political commentator Paranjoy Guha Thakurta took part in the panel discussion on the topic "Film Journalism: Is it about the content or profits?"{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/JuxtaposeLSR/photos/a.219856008099947/1893801647372033|title=Juxtapose|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}}{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/JuxtaposeLSR/status/1045157105672638464|title=Juxtapose@LSR on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://thealmanac.blog/2018/09/26/juxtapose-lsr-27th-september-2018/|title=Juxtapose, LSR – 27th September 2018|date=2018-09-26|work=The Almanac|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}} organized by Juxtapose 2018, the Annual Academic Meet of the department of Journalism, Lady Shri Ram College for Women on 27 September 2018.
Murtaza Ali Khan was a part of a panel discussion on the topic "Digital Media & Online journalism"{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndimdelhi.org/pdf/NDIM%20Newsline%20October%202017.pdf|title=Octob er '17 Newslines|date=October 2017|work=NEW DELHI INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT}} organized as part of Digital Transformation in Context of New India Summit at New Delhi Institute of Management alongside leading names of the media and corporate world on 7 October 2017.
Murtaza Ali Khan was a part of a panel discussion titled "Health Through Lens"{{Cite journal|date=2017|title=FISFA|url=http://www.wrhc2018.com/pdf/FISFA%20PROGRAMME%202018.pdf|journal=News}} held at the Mahogany Hall, India Habitat Centre. The discussion which featured professionals from the field of media, film and medicine as part of the International Short Film and Arts Festival (FISFA) was moderated by Dr. Nisanth Menon on 26 April 2018.
Murtaza Ali Khan discussed Singaporean filmmaker Boo Junfeng's celebrated film Apprentice{{Cite web|url=https://www.eventshigh.com/detail/delhi/e2d366523588c7df0903be17eb1342d4-singapore-film-festival-new-delhi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027061506/https://www.eventshigh.com/detail/delhi/e2d366523588c7df0903be17eb1342d4-singapore-film-festival-new-delhi|url-status=usurped|archive-date=27 October 2018|title=Singapore Film Festival - New Delhi at Delhi - Events High|website=Events High|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/movies/10790-understanding-singapore-through-its-radiant-cinema|title=Understanding Singapore through its radiant cinema - The Sunday Guardian Live|date=2017-09-09|work=The Sunday Guardian Live|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/dam/mfa/images/om/new%20delhi/events/Write%20up%20for%20SHC%20Website.pdf|title=SINGAPORE FILM FESTIVAL}} at the 2017 Singapore International Film Festival, held at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi on 2 September 2017. The film was an official selection in the Un Certain Regard section at 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
== Jury Member ==
Murtaza Ali Khan served as the member of the jury for 1st FISFA – International Film and Arts Festival,{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/fisfa.org/photos/a.135545047112800/161522717848366/?type=3&theater|title=FISFA|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}}{{Cite web|url=http://fisfa.org/jury/|title=Jury – FISFA|website=fisfa.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-26}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.wrhc2018.com/pdf/FISFA%20PROGRAMME%202018.pdf|title=FISFA Program Schedule|work=FISFA}} alongside filmmaker Sagar Ballary, actress Bidita Bag and activist Dr. Satendra Singh, organized in partnership with 15th World Rural Health Conference (WRHC 2018) at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi from 26 to 29 April 2018.
Personal life
Murtaza Ali Khan hails from a middle-class Muslim family based out of New Delhi. Losing his father at a very young age he was brought up single-handedly by his mother. As a child he spent most his leisure time playing table tennis and watching Formula One. He is a great admirer of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, whereas Michael Schumacher is his favorite Formula One racing driver.