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A Place in My Heart
A Place in My Heart is a many-splendored thing. It is a listicle. It is a celebration of the power of storytelling. It is also an account of a life lived in the Bollywood trenches. National Award-winning author, journalist and film critic Anupama Chopra writes about fifty films, artistes and events that have left an indelible impression on her and shaped her twenty-five-year-long career. Shah Rukh Khan is here. So are Super Deluxe and the Cannes Film Festival. A Place in My Heart is a blend of recommendations and remembrances, nostalgia and narratives. It is a smorgasbord of cinematic delights, written, as Marie Kondo would say, to 'spark joy.' Above all, it is a testament to Chopra's enduring love for all things cinema.
- GenresNonfiction
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2022
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76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 1, 2022
Just as I love writing book reviews, I love reading and watching movie reviews. And one of my favorite Indian film critic is Anupama Chopra. I’ve followed her for years now and absolutely adore her for the joy she finds in watching movies, how she fangirls at some of the same things I do (we love you SRK) and how well she writes. So when I saw that she was coming up with a book that was sort of her memoir but through the eyes of cinema, I knew I had to read it. And I’m so happy I did.
This is like a collection of essays or blog posts, each chapter either about a film or artist or documentary or just something very important about Bollywood. And despite her including a few of her favorite South Indian movies, this book is quintessentially Bollywood. And I adored it. I love how she both captured the brilliance of movies or actors in her review style, but also gave larger context about her association with the said movie and artist. It’s a perfect read for someone who loves Bollywood movies and stars, old and new, and would love to reminisce about some of their favorites. She also includes some iconic lines and song lyrics from the movies she is talking about, so you definitely need to know Hindi to understand them, but also maybe know their significance to appreciate them. As I had watched most of them and loved the stars she was talking about, this book just felt like indulging in nostalgia. Naturally, I loved the chapters about K3G, KHNH, Chak De, Karan Johar, Adi Chopra, Diljit Dosanjh, her experiences at MAMI and Cannes, and many many more.
In the end, this was exactly the book I needed in the moment. Anuji might have decided to write this book before the pandemic began, but it’s an apt book for the circumstances, if we wanna relax and refresh some good memories when we are feeling down. I’ve not been in a good headspace for a week or so, so this was rejuvenating and made me happy. If you love Bollywood and it’s glitz and glamor, you’ll enjoy this. But if you are looking for recommendations, you’ll have to be careful because the book is chock full of spoilers.
This is like a collection of essays or blog posts, each chapter either about a film or artist or documentary or just something very important about Bollywood. And despite her including a few of her favorite South Indian movies, this book is quintessentially Bollywood. And I adored it. I love how she both captured the brilliance of movies or actors in her review style, but also gave larger context about her association with the said movie and artist. It’s a perfect read for someone who loves Bollywood movies and stars, old and new, and would love to reminisce about some of their favorites. She also includes some iconic lines and song lyrics from the movies she is talking about, so you definitely need to know Hindi to understand them, but also maybe know their significance to appreciate them. As I had watched most of them and loved the stars she was talking about, this book just felt like indulging in nostalgia. Naturally, I loved the chapters about K3G, KHNH, Chak De, Karan Johar, Adi Chopra, Diljit Dosanjh, her experiences at MAMI and Cannes, and many many more.
In the end, this was exactly the book I needed in the moment. Anuji might have decided to write this book before the pandemic began, but it’s an apt book for the circumstances, if we wanna relax and refresh some good memories when we are feeling down. I’ve not been in a good headspace for a week or so, so this was rejuvenating and made me happy. If you love Bollywood and it’s glitz and glamor, you’ll enjoy this. But if you are looking for recommendations, you’ll have to be careful because the book is chock full of spoilers.
March 30, 2022
Mostly a collection of reviews of films that is close to Anupama’s heart. I like how she talks about films, skip reading the book if you don’t.
March 24, 2022
Thought a lot if I have to file this under 'Read' books. This book is collection of essays on events, people and mostly movies that had an impact on the author. It has 51 essays and I read 11 of them in a bookstore while waiting to catch a movie and a few I have already known through Anupama's reviews on Film companion. So I thought, why not?
written in a breezy style, it was like Anupama's reviews: Not shallow but neither too high-brow like you are not even sure what is being meant. You will like it if you like her reviews.
written in a breezy style, it was like Anupama's reviews: Not shallow but neither too high-brow like you are not even sure what is being meant. You will like it if you like her reviews.
February 3, 2025
A collection of review from one of India’s most well known film critics chronicling the evolution of Bollywood after independence and her personal journey meeting stars, traveling to festivals and building a world class international film festival in the city of Mumbai. I don’t agree with all her reviews but she has an engaging narrative style. Her reviews are filled with detailed analysis of character motifs and Bollywood tropes. I love seeing her breakdown character emotional graphs and making references to other classics in her reviews. It enhances my film watching experience for sure.
May 28, 2023
There’s absolutely nothing to read.
January 5, 2023
Someone I liked once had an ingrained sensibility to see the good in people, admire the beauty of nature, naturally empathising not just with humans but with animals and even trees and flowers. She was kind, pure, smiling, de facto, always seeking delights in small things. Incidentally, whenever she found something delightful, like a rare clean skyline at dawn on a bridge while everyone else was busy looking at their phones, she would inadvertently, elegantly coo 'Oh, my heart!' This book (even the title), in a sense, felt like a semblance of her, although topically restricted to films.
Throughout the book, the author exudes her love of cinema. It is impossible to not let some of her exquisite energy rub off on you. The campy, bite-sized essays talk about the films the author loved, industry people who have left an indelible mark on her psyche, and events she was privileged enough to be a part of. What I liked most about it was the one-liners from films she regularly kept dropping in chapter after chapter. Simply hilarious!
I intentionally picked up the book to start the year in a lighter vein, and it did not disappoint. A Place In My Heart is by no means essential reading, but I'd recommend it if you are looking for a moment of respite.
Throughout the book, the author exudes her love of cinema. It is impossible to not let some of her exquisite energy rub off on you. The campy, bite-sized essays talk about the films the author loved, industry people who have left an indelible mark on her psyche, and events she was privileged enough to be a part of. What I liked most about it was the one-liners from films she regularly kept dropping in chapter after chapter. Simply hilarious!
I intentionally picked up the book to start the year in a lighter vein, and it did not disappoint. A Place In My Heart is by no means essential reading, but I'd recommend it if you are looking for a moment of respite.
January 29, 2022
When a renowned film journalist shares her pick of Bollywood films and film personalities, it’s certainly a matter of excitement… And Anupama Chopra’s “A Place in my Heart” does not disappoint! Written like review blog posts, the book is easy to read and very engaging.
As a Bollywood lover and someone who also writes about films, I had watched most of the films she recommends here and felt almost entirely the way she did about each one….
There were a few films I hadn’t seen, or had seen too long ago to remember, but you bet I’ll be watching those too!
The caveat? It’s a book for lovers of Bollywood films. If you don’t like those, you may not like this. But then you wouldn’t really pick this one up if you didn’t love Bollywood films, would you?!
As a Bollywood lover and someone who also writes about films, I had watched most of the films she recommends here and felt almost entirely the way she did about each one….
There were a few films I hadn’t seen, or had seen too long ago to remember, but you bet I’ll be watching those too!
The caveat? It’s a book for lovers of Bollywood films. If you don’t like those, you may not like this. But then you wouldn’t really pick this one up if you didn’t love Bollywood films, would you?!
January 28, 2022
Pretty fitting that I’m the first person to review this book on Goodreads. I’d been obsessively awaiting its release ever since it was announced and shrieked “YAY” when my local bookstore handed me their first copy. Not surprised that I read it cover to cover in under 24 hours, either…
I’m such a huge fan of Anupama’s and of her writing. She’s eloquent but accessible. While the chapters were way shorter than I expected and this ended up being more of a coffee table book, I still found myself grinning ear to ear the whole time I read it. The chapters on Kal Ho Na Ho, Karan Johar, and Diljit Dosanjh were my favorites.
I’m such a huge fan of Anupama’s and of her writing. She’s eloquent but accessible. While the chapters were way shorter than I expected and this ended up being more of a coffee table book, I still found myself grinning ear to ear the whole time I read it. The chapters on Kal Ho Na Ho, Karan Johar, and Diljit Dosanjh were my favorites.
November 1, 2022
Some essays are interesting especially the ones about Film Actors and Filmmakers, the best thing about this book is that you exactly know Anupama Ma’am’s voice so word by word, her voice echoes in your head!
September 6, 2022
I had never read books on movie reviews, and so this one cleared all the brain fog from random video reviews on movies. Anupama Chopra is so articulate about movies, her writing makes you willing to forgive some of the plot's misgivings, and concentrate on what worked for the movie. She takes picks from both Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam cinema and beautifully tempts you with stories of the plot to the location, some backstory, the songs and back to the main actors. She has broken down things to such fine detail, and yet kept back so much with her.
I do not agree with the movie reviews entirely, but just couldn't put this own down or the remote down. I rewatched all the films and watched so many more new ones, and found myself looking at them with a renewed lens.
I do not agree with the movie reviews entirely, but just couldn't put this own down or the remote down. I rewatched all the films and watched so many more new ones, and found myself looking at them with a renewed lens.
July 24, 2023
If, like me, you grew up reading or watching Anupama Chopra’s reviews, you would think that nothing pleases her, and that no Bollywood movie is ever good. This book changed that perception for me. She does, after all, seems fond of some Bollywood movies (even those I would imagine her reviews ripping to shreds). I enjoyed the audiobook. Well written essays narrated by Chopra herself. Recommended.
June 18, 2023
Good one.
Currently reading
May 17, 2025my father wants to invest in movies after the announcement of "waves" platform my GOI, I will make notes of this book to tell him what bollywood and filmmaking really is, the information it evokes.
August 8, 2025
An interesting and fast, easy read of 51 short chapters that provides insights into the films of Bollywood and its people. I particularly enjoyed reading about Amitabh Bachchan. I think there should have been an entire chapter titled and dedicated to Salman Khan and Irrfan Khan. रेस्ट इन पीस इरफान।
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews