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IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (2024)
A great but underutilized ensemble cast in a decent real life thriller that lacks the required emotional punch
IC 814 is a highly emotional true story with some of the best character actors of our time in roles that unfortunately dont give them enough room to flex their acting muscles and as a result lacks real movie magic. It is an ambitious series which struggles to emotionally connect and ends up being a time pass series with a lot of unrealized potential and underutilized talent.
Pankaj Kapur and Naseeruddin Shah bring gravitas to their characters but just dont get enough screen time, dialogs and character arcs to show their magic. Vijay Varma is good but has the potential to do so much more. Kumud Mishra and Arvind Swamy also do a good job in their respective roles but are capable of so much more. The only actor who really shines in the series is Manoj Pahwa who gets some really funny lines and has a very likable and well written character.
There are several characters like the one played by Dia Mirza, Amrita Puri, Dibyendu Bhattacharya and many others which feel like good ideas that did not get fully formed with character arcs that were never fully fleshed out. This leaves the viewer with a feeling of too many incomplete mini-stories. The director just loses interest and drops these storylines as the series progresses.....the newly wed who got widowed is never seen again in the 2nd half of the series, the elderly father of the air hostess, the asthmatic passenger, the specially abled child left alone with his father gets lost with all the other faceless passengers and other characters of the series.
The series does a decent job of bringing the hijack to the screen with some good integration of real life images and videos with the re-enactments by the actors while capturing a lot of the interesting behind the scenes (in)action but just lacks the emotional punch that would and should have elevated the series. The end result is a gripping and decent series with good performances that could and should have been much better. Timepass fare. 6.5/10.
Chandu Champion (2024)
A True Champion
Chandu Champion (AKA Loser Champion) may have been a Chandu (Loser) at the box office but it is infact a true Champion of a movie. One of the most inspiring sports drama biopics of all times about a real life sports hero that remained in the shadows for far too long. Just like the actual lead character of the movie "Murlikant Petkar", Chandu Champion deserves to be recognized for its achievement.....of being a heartwarming and inspiring sports biopic.
Kudos to Kabir Khan to bring such an amazing story to the silver screen and doing justice to its hero and his almost unbelievable story. The Kartik Aaryan who turns up to play the lead character is not the Kartik Aaryan of his previous 15 movies. This is not the fast talking smart ass of the Luv Ranjan comedies or fast talking smart ass Rooh Baba of Bhool Bhulaiya or the fast talking smart ass of most of his other movies or even the weird slow talking dumb ass sociopathic dentist of Freddy.....this is someone completely new and different. Several images of Kartik Aaryan's physical transformation for the role surfaced before the movie's release, which was actually not even the hardest transformation that he underwent for the role.....he literally transformed him as an actor for this role and Kabir Khan deserves the credit for bring out this new Kartik Aaryan for the screen.
Vijay Raaz is a real gem as he effortlessly infuses emotions and humor into his character and lifts the movie everytime he is on screen. The sports choreography and cinematography is exceptional. The movie is fast paced, crisp and engaging and doesnt stray from its core except for one unnecessary song which wasnt really needed. The other character actors also do a good job in their respective roles even though they dont have much time onscreen. It is a shame that the movie didnt get the recognition and success it deserved during its theatrical run, just like the movie's protagonist for most of his life. However there is still time to experience, enjoy and appreciate the movie, just like the movie's protagonist deserved.
I couldn't watch the movie in theater in the US because of its limited release in this part of the world. I wasn't even looking forward to watching it on OTT because of the poor box office and generally subdued word of mouth even though its reviews were pretty good. I decided to finally watch it Friday night, almost a week after its OTT release on August 9th and was blown away. The movie is fantastic and Kartik Aaryan is exceptional. We need more of such movies that are well made and tell inspiring tales. It doesnt matter if you like or dislike Kartik Aaryan.....It doesnt matter if you like or dislike Kabir Khan's movies.....It doesnt matter if you like or dislike sports movies.....if you like good cinema, if you value history and if you want to feel good and warm inside, then watch Chandu Champion. It is a real champion. 8.5/10.
Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank (2024)
A decent sequel with effective scares and some really funny moments
Stree 2 is a decent sequel which does a good job of stitching the Maddock Supernatural Universe together and carve out the path for Vampires of Vijay Nagar, Bhediya 2 and Stree 3 over the next 2 years. The movie has its moments......some really funny but a few that dont land well and some pretty effective jump scares. The actors are as likable as they were in the first movie and the story flows well from the first part through the 2nd to the next one. Overall it is a good watch....but not as good as the first part.
The performances are good especially Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi and Abhishek Banerjee. Decent VFX and action. Some scenes and dialogs are really funny especially when delivered by these three. The cameos are pretty good. Akshay is weird, quirky and funny in his scene but didnt feel very menacing in the post credit sequence. Varun's character is well integrated in the movie and has a good entry scene but could have been utilized more effectively. His character lacks the punch and power of his first movie.
The run time of the movie is a bit long at 149 mins and would have benefited from a leaner and crisper production. The movie doesn't get boring but a tighter second half would have definitely lifted it up to the next level. If you liked Stree then you will enjoy Stree 2. However if Stree was not to your liking then Stree 2 is definitely not your cup of tea. It is a fun watch 7/10.
Kill (2023)
A masterclass in action
Kill is one of the most raw, brutal, visceral, gory, thrilling, realistic, nail biting, mind blowing, no nonsense action movie ever made in the world. It is truly a milestone for Indian and World Action Cinema that elevates the art form of action cinema to a completely new level. Kill is a brilliant action masterpiece.
Combine Bruce Lee, Die Hard, Ip Man, Kill Bill, Ong Bak, Raid, John Wick, add a few gallons of blood, set it on a train, then step up the action and you have got Kill. The movie belongs to the action coordinators, stunt team, set decorators, make up artists, camera work, technical staff who are responsible for this perfect action fest.
The casting is perfect. Lakshya is simply brilliant. Raghav Juyal is amazing. Tanya Maniktala is the heart of the movie. Ashish Vidyarthi, Harsh Chhaya, Abhishek Chauhan......I can go on forever. Every single actor in the movie does justice to their characters. The direction is superlative, crisp, fast paced. Kudos to the entire cast and crew for creating something so fresh and hard hitting that it will knock you out.
It is not surprising that Kill got standing ovations at multiple Film Festivals, has been compared to the Indonesian Action blockbuster Raid and got bought by the director of John Wick, Chad Stahelski for a Hollywood remake even before its official theatrical release. It deserves much more than what it has already got and definitely has to be experienced on the big screen by all action movie fans.
It is very difficult to believe that Karan Johar and Oscar winning documentary producer Guneet Monga are behind such a cracking action movie. It is even more difficult to believe that such a stylish and top class action flick has been made in India.
I watched the movie with my dad and both our jaws just dropped multiple times during the movie and my dad's shadow boxing and kicking was on hyper mode through the movie. As we were walking out of the theater, he summarized his experience with these words "The action was beyond Bollywood, beyond Hollywood, it was just beyond everything". Kill is a game changer for action movies. A Perfect 10.
Rautu Ka Raaz (2024)
Nice Slow Burn Suspense Drama
The movie was a bit slow and felt like an extended episode of a BBC series about Cop/Detective/Sleuth in a rural setting. Nawaz is pretty decent and the story has a somewhat surprising twist in the end but there isnt much happening through most of the movie to keep its audience fully engaged. Rajesh Kumar provides some decent comic relief and is pretty fun to watch. Overall nice story with decent performances. I would recommend to fans of Nawaaz or slow burn suspense dramas. The overall plot is pretty good and reveal is a nice surprise. Watch it for Nawaz. It is Nice but nothing special. 6/10.
Maharaj (2024)
A well made period drama with a towering performance by Jaideep Ahlawat and a decent debut by Junaid Khan
Maharaj is a pretty decent movie fitting for OTT release. It is well made and brings a real story based on a infamous landmark court case of the 19th century to the screen. Like most period dramas based on stories from 150+ years ago, it represents some fiction and some facts but the movie captures the main essence of the main story. The topic is handled delicately by the director even though the ending seems a bit filmy.
The highlight of the movie is the talented Jaideep Ahlawat who looks divinely evil with a chilling and charismatic smile as the movie's titular antagonist. He truly raises the movie with a very subtle performance. Junaid does a decent job as the movie's protagonist in his debut feature. There are some similarities in acting style with his superstar father Aamir but Junaid lacks the screen and vocal presence of his father. He is decent and does a good job in the movie but at this stage doesnt really sparkle as one would hope. It is still a grounded and well performed role in a serious drama. Only time and mainstream movies will tell if he is a commercially viable actor or a good character actor.
The other actors are decent especially Shalini Pandey who does a good job. Sharvari looks good and is pretty energetic but her role doesnt help the storyline a lot. The sets, design and costumes are pretty good for a period drama. Some of the dialogs are exceptional. The songs are average and actually not required for a movie of such a genre. Overall a decent watch but nothing great. The only 2 reasons to watch the movie are Jaideep Ahlawat for his towering presence and Junaid Khan for the purpose of sheer curiosity. 7/10.
The Watchers (2024)
A good and unique thriller but not great - Shyamalan - Lite
Ishana Night Shyamalan started walking in the footsteps of the King of Twist Endings and her father, M Night Shyamalan with the effective thriller series "Servant". So expectations from her debut directorial movie, "The Watchers" is definitely very high. Even though the movie doesn't come anywhere close to the highs of Shyamalan's masterpieces, it does have its moments and is a pretty decent and unique thriller from a new director.
The story is a bit strange, odd and unique. The suspense and acting is decent, there are a couple of good scares and the reveal on who the titular watchers is pretty good too. However the movie isnt as gripping as one would expect it to be. Everyone is expecting and actively on the look out for a Shyamalan-esque twist ending, hence making it difficult for Ishana to deliver something completely unexpected. However she does a good job with the final twist.
Even though Ishana's style of film making is heavily inspired by her father but just like with Servant, she has her own take on the genre. The Watchers has its moments, its twists and feels every bit like a Shyamalan movie which he could have made after Signs and before Split. It is unique and well made but not as scary and good as it could have been. A decent thriller from a new film maker who is showing a lot of promise but nothing to rave about. Shyamalan-Lite.
The Hungry (2017)
The Hungry - A haunting and graphic horror movie disguised as a Shakespearean revenge drama
William Shakespeare is considered one of the finest playwrights in history and his stories have been the foundation of countless classic movies around the globe. Bollywood also has also made its fair share of Shakespearean adaptations over the decade with masterpieces directed by the likes of Raj Kapoor, Gulzar, Vishal Bhardwaj and Sanjay Leela Bhansali who have risen to the challenge of tackling the bards finest stories. In Shakespeare's bouquet of colorful stories lies Titus Andronicus, his first attempt at tragedy which is considered his least famous and respected of stories because of the incomprehensible amount of graphic violence that many consider as Shakespeare's attempt at writing horror.
Titus Andronicus is that infamous Shakespeare play that has been known to cause visceral reactions and induce fainting spells in audiences every time it returns to the stage. The Hungry brings this nightmare to the Indian Silver Screen with a splattering of blood and a gut wrenching finale of unimaginable horror. If you are easily offended, disgusted or shocked then the Hungry is not meant for you. If David Cronenberg, Takashi Miike, Clive Barker, Eli Roth, Park Chan-Wook sound Alien or are not among your favorite directors, then the Hungry is not your cup of tea. If Animal had too much violence and blood for you, then you are not prepared for the blood bath of the Hungry.
The Hungry is a Shakespearean revenge drama at heart but it is definitely not for the faint hearted. This is a movie which definitely should come with a clear warning of graphic content. When Titus was brought to the silver screen in England the titular role was played by one of the finest shakespearean actors of this era, Sir Anthony Hopkins who coincidentally also essayed the iconic role of the charismatic but deadly Hannibal Lector.
The Hungry transports this Shakespearean revenge saga to 21st Century Delhi with the key characters of Titus and Tamora essayed by the acting powerhouse Naseeruddin Shah and the multitalented beauty Tisca Chopra. These two theater veterans are supported brilliantly by Neeraj Kabi, Sayani Gupta, Suraj Sharma and Jayant Kriplani. The movie focuses on two warring families whose paths merge at an extravagant wedding when Tisca's character Tulsi Joshi marries into the Ahuja Empire headed by Naseer's Tathagat Ahuja. The gradual revealing of ulterior motives of both families gives the movie an eerie and ominous vibe. The director, actors and cinematographer beautifully present the scenes and characters before stripping them of the facade of beauty to expose the hidden underlying ugliness.
The Hungry is beautifully shot, brilliantly performed and masterfully directed. It is not an easy watch but rewarding for bringing such an intense story to the Indian silver screen. To say that the movie is bloody will be a gross understatement. Naseer and Tisca are truly standout performers but the highlight of the movie is the original story penned by the bard and well adapted by writer director Bornila Chatterjee which will haunt your dreams for days after watching the movie. You have been warned, so watch with caution. This is indeed a very well made horror movie disguised as a drama. 8/10.
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar (2024)
Technically Beautiful but Flawed and Soul less
Sanjay Leela Bhansali envisioned a cross between the patriotism and romance of 1942: A Love Story with Nawaabi traditions and setting of Pakeezah and Umrao Jaan painted with the vivid colors and spectaculars sets of SLB's silver screen tales. Unfortunately what he ended up bringing to the idiot box is a dash of Saawariya with a smear of Kalank stretched over 8 not so easy to watch hours.
Heeramandi has spectacular sets, dresses and jewelry, a great vibe which literally transports one into the era of Nawabs and Courtesans, the music, the songs, the dialogs all create a very authentic environment.....but that where the beauty of Heeramandi ends. Some of the characters change shades so many times over these episodes that even a Chameleon will struggle to keep count of the colors. What starts as all out war at the cost of anything quickly changes to respect and care for the other side to standing up for the nation against the British......From love to dislike to hate to actually it was love all along etc etc.....There are so many unexplainable sudden changes in moods, feelings and alliances that a logical viewer will get tired saying "Kuch Bhi" after they reach the first century.
Manisha Koirala and Sonakshi Sinha are pretty good as the two warring courtesans in the first half of the show, however SLB takes away some of the authenticity and depth of their scheming and manipulative characters towards the end of the show by making them sudden patriots of the nation. Aditi Rao Hydari looks stunning and gives a very good performance in perhaps the only character in the series who is relatable, good and very well written.
A couple of the most important characters in the series are the two lovers from different worlds whose characters could easily make or break the series. The characters are reminiscent of Anil Kapoor's Aristocratic Naren and Manisha Koirala's cute, pure and ambitious Rajjo who is hiding a secret from 1942: A Love Story. Unfortunately the casting of these 2 characters is a big miss. Taha Shah Badussha's Tajdar doesnt have much charisma, style and keeps shuffling between someone with or without a real backbone. Sharmin Segal is miscast as Alam. She tries hard to come across as pretty, charming, ambitious and naive but unfortunately come across as a bit directionless and unintelligent as a character. Better actors in these roles could have raised the series to a whole different level.
Some of the other wasted casting choices are Fardeen Khan in a pretty hollow role, Shekhar Suman in a blink and you miss it role and Anju Mahendru in a who is this lady role. However I dont think that apart from the two lovers any of the actors dont do a good job. Acting in the serious is pretty good, however the actors are betrayed by poorly written character arcs.
SLB should have either focused on the courtesan cold war a bit more or more passionately pursue the love story between two different social worlds or make the the fight for freedom come to the forefront a bit earlier. SLB has created a visually and technically beautiful painting but failed to infuse real heart and soul into it to make it come to life. It is not all bad but is still a disappointment because of its wasted potential. 6/10.
Civil War (2024)
A thought provoking look at a possible dystopian future
Alex Garland is mostly known for his very realistic creations of a possible dystopian future with movies like Ex Machina and Annihilation. Civil War is perhaps his most dystopian yet believable and realistic movie till date. The premise of the movie is a divided America where a few states have rebelled against an authoritarian regime of a President in his unconstitutional 3rd term who has bombed his own protesting countrymen sparking an all out civil war.
The movie follows 4 journalists finding their way through diverse neighborhoods to the capital as rebel forces fight the regime in the background. The movie is extremely well shot, feels real and keeps getting grittier, tenser and more and more gripping as the 4 get slowly but steadily closer to the finale.
Kristen Dunst does a great job as the experienced and well renowned war photographer and finds brilliant partners in the Cailee Spaeny's young and inexperienced photographer, Wagner Moura's overenthusiastic journalist and Stephen McKinley Henderson's worn out veteran journalist. Their contrasting personalities and experiences comes together very well as they find they way through chaos, propaganda, terror, heartbreak and death. It is scary how real Garland's portrayal of Civil War in the US of a dystopian future feels. 8/10.
Maidaan (2024)
Honoring India's Forgotten Sports Heroes
Maidaan is a movie that every fan of Indian movies and football should watch. It is shameful that this era of Indian football and their unbelievable achievements have been completely forgotten. It is even more shameful that what the real life heroes of this Indian team went through was never part of Indian sport's folklore. Maidaan's biggest achievement is giving these national heroes their long overdue place in history.....now it is upto the fans to ensure that they dont get forgotten again.
Maidaan is a very well made and a very well acted movie with a story that should make any Indian proud. Every department of the movie deserves kudos for not only doing a great job of recreating the era but also the way the matches have been shot in the movie. The cinematography of the movie raises it to a completely different level.
Ajay Devgn gives one of his best performances of recent times and has surrounded himself with a brilliant supporting cast who truly honor the heroes they place on screen. Priyamani does a great job as his wife and Gajraj Rao deserves a special mention for an amazing turn as the movie's antagonist. The characters are real and pack a powerful punch. Kudos for the casting and an exceptional goosebump inducing end credit which honors the real stars and shows the exceptional job of casting. The background music is excellent and the songs are good but not at par with everything else in the movie.
I would recommend that you dont google what happened with the Indian Football team in the 50s and 60s and go in cold to fully enjoy the power of its story. Even if you know the fate of the team in the Olympics and Asian Games of that era, you will be floored by the story of the team, the players, the federation and the coach.
This is a movie that is bursting with national pride and can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of our finest sports movies of all time like Chak De India and Lagaan. It may not be as good a movie like these masterpieces but deserve a place right next to them. At 3 hours it may feel a bit on the lengthy side to some, however I found it extremely gripping and well paced. An exceptional movie about an exceptional bunch of heroes. The movie is a 8/10 but I will throw in an extra point for reminding us about this long forgotten story. 9/10.
Amar Singh Chamkila (2024)
How Imtiaz Ali found his groove back
There was a time when everything Imtiaz Ali touched turned to gold with movies like Jab We Met, Love Aaj Kal, Rockstar, Highway and Tamasha and then he somehow just lost the plot and got lost in the debris of Jab Harry Met Sejal and the 2nd Love Aaj Kal. Thankfully, Amar Singh Chamkila is how Imtiaz Ali found his groove back.
Imtiaz masterfully blends real life footage of Chamkila, Amarjot and their army of fans and the brilliantly performed scenes by Diljit and Parineeti to give us an insightful look into the life and songs of one of Punjab's most influential singers of all time. Imitiaz treats Chamkila AKA the Elvis of Punjab even better than how the OG Elvis has been chronicled in several biopics. Imtiaz's non linear storytelling and usage of DSP Dalbir Singh's POV is very effective in unveiling the character and story of Chamkila. Kudos to Imtiaz for making one of the finest biopics of recent times.
Diljit is the perfect Chamkila.....in fact he is Chamkila. You can feel the admiration, love and respect that Diljit has for Chamkila. Parineeti unexpectedly gives her best performance till date as Chamkila's wife Amarjot. Diljit and Parineeti are not mimicking the lead characters or replicating real life footage but are the lead characters. Anurag Arora stands out among a pretty decent supporting cast.
I am still scratching my head that the music for the movie has been composed by A. R. Rahman. He has faithfully captured the vibe, beat and soul of Chamkila through the music and songs and has once again proven his sheer talent and versatility.
I knew of Chamkila and his fate but had never heard any of his songs or known much about his life. The movie's final scenes packed an emotional punch and got me to really care about and admire the protagonist. I would have never thought that a movie about a Punjabi language singer directed by an out of form Imtiaz Ali, starring Parineeti Chopra with music from A. R. Rahman could somehow end up looking like the movie I just watched and enjoyed. 8.5/10.
Murder Mubarak (2024)
A Nice Christie-Esque Murder Mystery
Really liked the movie. It was a great homage to Agatha Christie styled murder mysteries with our own peculiar Poirot-esque detective played by Pankaj Tripathi. It has all the ingredients of a good Poirot Mystery - 1) Multiple high profile suspects 2) each guarding a dirty secret which connects them to the victim 3) the gradual unearthing of the secrets by Poirot which makes the audience shift their suspicion from one suspect to another 4) as more deaths happen in the present and some in the past 5) till the final meeting in which Poirot reveals some of the secrets one by one till the final unmasking of the killer.
As a long time Aficionado of Christie's stories and a long long list of British detective movies and series that they inspired, I thoroughly enjoyed Murder Mubarak. The mystery was pretty good and all the actors did a good job in the movie even though the talents of some of its cast could have been used even more. Pankaj Tripathi is effortless as usual, Sanjay Kapoor is acting much better now than ever, Vijay Varma gives another good performance. Even Sara did a decent job. Karisma looks great as does Dimple and Tisca and they give decent performance but would have done better in more material roles.
The story is good, performances are good, overall direction is good as well. An OTT release is also the right decision for such content. However at 2 hour 20 mins the movie feels a bit long and it would have been better to release it as a 5-6 episode mini-series and give some more story and screen time to Karisma, Dimple and Tisca's characters. The movie has a couple of raunchy moments which makes it less family friendly than the usual Christie fare. Still it was a fun murder mystery. 7/10.
Shaitaan (2024)
A lovely supernatural thriller with great performances, an unsettling story and great production values
Loved the movie. This movie is the right step in the evolution and development of the horror genre in Bollywood. Shaitaan was gripping, visceral and unsettling with great eerie "Midsommar-esque" background music and terrific performances for a horror movie. The true stars of the movie are Madhavan and Janki who literally carry the movie. Madhavan is at his sarcastic best with glimpses of real menace and evil while Janki is phenomenal as she does unexpected things at the command of Madhavan's character. Ajay Devgn does a good job but I found Jyotikha's performance truly commendable. Her face and eyes are much more expressive than Devgn's and are enough to send chills down the viewer's spine.
Shaitaan is a supernatural thriller/horror movie. So anyone visiting the theater with the expectation of seeing a warm and fuzzy family drama or a mystery will not like the experience. It is a supernatural thriller/horror movie......it will make you feel uneasy, worried and may be a bit scared at times.....all the emotions a good supernatural thriller/horror movie makes their audience experience.
The movie could have been slightly shorter, it could have been more gritty, dark and gory and added a few more scares here and there to become an out an out Horror flick but it still packs a powerful punch with its thrills and chills. We need more thrillers/horror flicks like Shaitaan with great production values, realistic and natural performances, uneasy and visceral storylines and some star power to bring audiences to cinema and help Bollywood's neglected genre of horror come out and play in the open like it has been doing for many decades around the world. 8/10.
Merry Christmas (2024)
Slow Burn Murder Mystery which eventually delivers the goods
Merry Christmas was a nice suspense thriller which takes its own sweet time to get to the actual mystery of the movie but when it gets there it becomes difficult to guess what is going to happen next. The slow and somewhat creative revealing of the mystery and the final act of the movie are really well written and executed by our very own modern master of suspense. The movie doesn't have the same level of charm, intrigue, engagement, pace and suspense as Sriram Raghavan's masterpiece Andhadhun or even his earlier thrillers Badlapur and Johnny Gaddar but it is still a worthy entry in his stellar filmography.
Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi are pretty good in the movie despite their accents and lukewarm chemistry. However it is the story that does bulk of the heavy lifting and not the acting which is good but nothing to rave about like Tabu, Ayushmann, Varun and Nawaaz's performances in the last 2 Raghavan outings. Their perfomances lifted Andhadhun and Badlapur to a completely different level. That extra kick and spark is found lacking this time. The supporting cast of Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Tinnu Anand and Pratima Kazmi do a good job also but for some reason all the actors felt a bit subdued in their performances which makes this slightly long and slow movie feel a bit longer and slower.
The movie is slow but worth watching if you like slow burn suspense dramas. Anyone expecting thrills and chills like they got from Andhadun will feel a bit disappointed. Hence it is important to temper one's expectations if one has to enjoy Merry Christmas. I wanted to watch Merry Christmas in theater but the local theaters in our part of the woods in the US didnt even screen the movie. Now after finally watching it on OTT, I can understand why it didnt get a wide release in the US and only managed a dismal box office in India. The movie took a little too long (Exactly 54 mins) to evolve from a light drama with some romantic undertones to Oh! It's a murder mystery. The 2nd half of the movie is much superior than its first half but it still lacks the punch we expected which I believe was because of its two lead actors...good but not great. The finale is also good but not great. Unfortunately for Raghavan and Sethupathi, Sujoy Ghosh and Jaideep Ahlawat already gave us a power packed climax with a similar vibe in his role as teacher in last year's Jaane Jaan.
I would still recommend the movie with a simple caution as indicated above.... Dont expect an Andhadhun.... Dont even expect a Jaane Jaan.... Expect a slow burn murder mystery and I mean SLOW. If the movie was 15-20 mins shorter with a less restrained Sethupathi and slightly wilder Katrina, we could have got something closer to Andhadhun. Good but not great. 7.5/10.
Laapataa Ladies (2023)
A Small Movie with a Big Heart
Wow. What a rewarding experience. Laapataa Ladies is an amazing nostalgic trip to the days of Basu Chatterjee and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's cinema of simplicity, morals, values and the common man. This is the kind of movie that makes its audience care for and invest in its characters. This is the kind of movie that makes its audience believe that there is goodness in the world. This is the kind of movie that makes its audience want to watch movies for its relevant and real content, its natural and realistic performances, its gentle lessons on morality and humanity with a drizzle of subtle humor. Unfortunately this is also the kind of movie most audiences wont watch in theater because they consider it OTT material. But this is the kind of movie that will make its audience come out of the theater with a smile on their face, a contented heart and a serene soul. This is what "a small movie with a big heart" really means.
Every aspect of the movie is stellar. The story is simple yet complex as it very delicately manages to comment upon multiple social issues without preaching about them. The humor is satirical but not sarcastic. The story is fresh and gives enough room for all its characters to breathe, take appropriate shape and find their respective arcs. Each character has been written with care and given the required attention. The two titular Laapataa Ladies, the devastated husband in the village searching for his wife, his mother who has even forgotten what she really likes, his shy sister in law with a hidden talent that even she isnt aware of, the sour grandmother who also seeks a friend to talk to, the disillusioned but helpful Manju Mai at the station, the lovable chai serving kid Chottu, the somewhat corrupt police officer with his simple minded but good hearted constable and the female constable who came through sports quota etc etc. All characters in the movie have been created with a lot of love and honesty and they have also been played brilliantly with an equal dose of love and honesty.
Ravi Kishan as the police inspector is the only really well known name in the cast and he delivers a mighty and nuanced performance. Nitanshi Goel and Pratibha Ranta as the Laapataa ladies showcase what natural and realistic acting should actually look and feel like. Satendra Soni is a somewhat familiar face but now he deserves his name to be remembered also. Geeta Agrawal Sharma has rightfully become the Go-To actress for the "good mother of a struggling, poor household" role after great performances in 12th Fail, OMG2 and a small but nice appearance in Fighter. Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam, Rachana Gupta, Durgesh Kumar and many others have given heartfelt performances that deserve attention and applause.
It may seem like the world is overflowing with negative vibes, bad people, unfortunate situations but just like a lotus grows in muddy, murky waters, the inherent goodness and kindness that exists in people sparkles in Laapataa Ladies. This is something that cant be captured on camera with big budgets, bigger stars, flashy costumes, state of the art VFX etc. It requires heart and that is what Laapataa Ladies has in abundance. Kudos to Kiran Rao for capturing the best and worst of human nature with such a delicate and warm touch. This is a movie that deserves to be experienced in its natural environment, a movie theater. It will not give you the adrenaline highs of a big budget blockbuster but that lovely smile on your face, that feeling of content and happiness that this movie gifts you will last much longer than you could ever expect. Must Watch Cinema.
Crakk: Jeetega... Toh Jiyegaa (2024)
A Slick, Entertaining, High on Adrenaline Fun Action Ride
Crakk is a slick, entertaining, high on adrenaline action flick with some great stunt work and action sequences. It has a great villain in Arjun Rampal and a real martial arts action star in Vidyut Jamwal and they both do a pretty decent job in their respective roles. The premise of the movie which takes inspiration from dystopian action movies like The Condemned, Death Race, Running Man, Mad Max: Fury Road etc is pretty decent. It mixes action, revenge and crime thriller sub-genres very well. The movie is overall technically pretty sound for an action movie with good stunts, VFX, cinematography, editing but it unfortunately also struggles with poor dialog writing and its side characters.
The movie is good fun but drags a bit at certain points and would have benefited from a shorter run time. Nora and Amy Jackson are both nice to look at but dont excite as much with their acting skills. The songs are also a distraction for the genre and were not required. Focus on Vidyut and the crakking action without these distractions would have elevated the movie.
Vidyut is doing a decent job of creating his own niche brand of a solid action genre in Bollywood similar to the likes of Martial Artist stars like Chuck Norris, Van Damme, Steven Seagal and others. Crakk is an action packed entry in the right direction to solidify Vidyut's brand and image. It is a good and ambitious action movie but isn't good enough to make him as bankable an action star as his idols at the moment. It is still a pretty fun action flick.
Bhakshak (2024)
Thought Provoking and Soul Stirring Dark Crime Thriller
A gut wrenching dark social crime drama that is much more than a mere movie and piece of art but a commentary on real evils in society that no one wants to hear about, think about or even do anything about. Bhumi Pednekar, Sanjay Mishra, Aditya Srivastav and Durgesh Kumar play their roles with such honesty and dedication that they have to be applauded for this solid effort.
This movie is so thought provoking and soul stirring that judging it on technical and entertainment elements of movie making is sinful. This is a movie which every father, every mother, every responsible and good human should watch and then think. Bhumi's final monologue about the apathy of human beings in the current era of hashtags, towards the actual plight of the lesser privileged and often abused is the hardest hitting message of the movie. It is every decent and capable person's responsibility to go beyond hashtags to feel for other humans and actually do something about it.
Bhumi does a terrific job as the brave reporter who has the courage to look herself in the eyes, feel ashamed about her ignorance and apathy towards helpless girls and then be brave enough to do something about it. Sanjay Mishra is brilliant as her cameraman, her support system and her partner in this tough battle against a blind, flawed and often corrupt system. Durgesh Kumar who you may remember as the annoying nemesis in Panchayat's recent season is great as a brave and moral source for this fight for righteousness.
Aditya Srivastav does a fantastic job as the evil, immoral and filthy Bhakshak of the movie who evokes such intense levels of hate and disgust towards his character that can only be achieved by a masterful actor. The scene when he meets Bhumi's reporter after she starts investigating him for committing ghastly acts against young girls is a masterclass in writing, acting and direction. It starts with Aditya's character arriving to the table where only one cup of tea and biscuits have been served for him and not his visitors, showcases his poor values and malicious intent to demean and look down upon them. His own young daughter then approaches him with a prayer thali for his blessings. He boasts about his young daughter's success and introduces Bhumi's reporter as a brave journalist, showing his level of apathy, sociopathy, power induced feeling of superiority and lack of care towards others. A Brilliantly conceived, shot and acted scene.
The story is the soul of the movie, however Pulkit's direction is the heart and conscience of the movie. The way he subtly, masterfully and sensitively tells an extremely dark tale without showing the brutality in this house of horror but still manage to evoke a strong and potent visceral reaction of disgust is commendable. The movie is certainly not an easy watch but it should definitely be on everyone's watchlist.
The movie will hopefully move many people to care and stand up for their fellow humans who need help. Reviews, accolades and awards are fruitless and pointless for the movie if it isn't able to move us to some real action. The movie was certainly not made to make money. It may or may not win awards and accolades. Its true measure of success is to make people think and try to become better.....At least give us courage to look ourselves in the eyes and hopefully see a good person. 8/10.
Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024)
A good effort to explore a new sub-genre with good performance
Watched Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya today in a late night preview show and was bit happy and a bit disappointed at the same time with the movie. I am happy because it is a nice movie which dares to blend genres, manages to keep the SciFi "Real"and even manages to find a pretty effective end to literally an impossible love story but I felt disappointed that it may be a bit difficult to savor for the masses and it doesn't excite as much as its potential.
It is a feel good movie with nice performances that should do well but if it doesn't then it will be looked back on kindly and with positivity as time passes. The basic premise of the movie is clear from the trailer - Man falls for a cutting edge very Human like Robot and wants to get married. So it is pretty difficult to imagine a satisfying and still "realistic" ending for the movie. I commend the writers on finding a pretty good ending which feels like it can be a real possibility and doesn't become a standard "Kuch Bhi" happy Bollywood ending. It is also good that the story not only shows the potential of AI but also comments on the nascency of our understanding of AI and its potential impact. This ending is going to be very hard for the masses to digest. I hope it isn't too good for its own good.
Kriti looks stunning and is pretty well cast as the Android and Shahid looks blindly in love with her. The support cast is good. Dharmendra is good and a pleasure to watch but somewhat wasted in the role. The music and songs are catchy. The jokes are funny. The movie has all the right pieces to become a hit but its theme, genre and well executed but difficult to satisfy ending may be the biggest challenge to it has to overcome
For me the biggest negative of the movie is that we have already seen way too much of the movie in the trailer and songs. There are additional funny bits and the ending is completely fresh and new but the trailer feels like almost a 2 minute version of the movie without the ending sequence. The movie is entertaining and the right step towards making new types of movies. I liked the movie. I appreciate this daring effort at a new kind of Romcom. I even applaud the difficult to satisfy ending....but I didnt love the movie. 7/10.
12th Fail (2023)
An Emotional and Moral Masterpiece
There are very few movies that connect with their audiences so much that the viewers stop being a mere spectator and actually live through the emotions of the movie's protagonist. This can only be achieved with a meticulously well written screenplay of a story drenched in reality and relevance, directed with care and love and performed honestly by talented artists. 12th Fail is that rare movie where all these nearly impossible elements to achieve come together to create a masterpiece.
Vikrant Massey is "Manoj Kumar Sharma" and by becoming this character of an honest common man with the ambition and hope to change the world without the knowledge and means to achieve the same, he has become the common man's hero of this era like Amol Palekar and Farooq Sheikh once upon a time. His performance is uplifting, heart breaking, infectious and pure magic. His supporting cast is real, sincere and exceptional.....His mother, his grandmother, his father, friends, mentor, interviewers etc etc.....all are real, sincere and truly exceptional.
What Vidhu Vinod Chopra has gifted us this year is one of the most powerful movies of the year that will make us cry, make us worry, make us smile, make us hope and make our chests swell with pride and that is not something that many movies can achieve with their audiences. This is the kind of cinema that Bollywood's audiences need and definitely the kind of cinema that Bollywood's audiences deserve. This journey of a common man on search for meaning, hope and a better future for himself, his loved ones and his community is an emotional and moral triumph. For me 12th Fail is the best movie of the year and is a definite must watch.
Animal (2023)
A Milestone in Hindi Action Dramas
Animal is a completely unexpected movie.....This is a completely fresh and new take on action dramas. Animal is not a normal movie.....it is completely crazy.
It is one of the most violent movies that I have ever seen (and I have seen a lot). It is so violent that it is breaking new ground
It is 2-3 movies in one. Long but gripping from its first scene to its last. Every frame of the movie is utilized from its first second to the final second of its credit scene is part of the story.
The action scenes, stunts, fights with the background music and songs are close to perfection. The action is so over the top but somehow realistic that it is mind boggling.....Think......a much more brutal, action packed and emotionally charged John Wick in a Dhoti + more
Ranbir Kapoor - This is his best performance of all time. It is complex, nuanced, funny, scary and completely unhinged. This is not the chocolate face coming of age Ranbir.....he has completely mutated into something else
Bobby Deol - Absolutely no words and no comments on his performance and role. Best left to be watched on screen
Word of caution - Animal is not everyone's cup of tea. It will leave you gasping for air especially if you cant tolerate the sight of blood. Curse words are abundant. Dont expect to see the Ranbir of all his previous movies.....He is angry and you may not like him when he is angry.
I was fully captivated by the movie and completely blown away by its pace, its story, its characters, the acting, the background music, the action, the songs....but don't take my word for it as I may be experiencing post traumatic shock. I just realized that it is also very addictive.....I am going to watch it again tomorrow. 9/10
Action Cinema has changed today.
Oppenheimer (2023)
A spectacular theatrical experience
My one word review - Brilliant. My Rating - 9/10. It is surely Nolan's finest and most powerful movie till date and will likely be the big winner at next year's Oscars at least for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor but it is not a movie for everyone.
Cillian Murphy gives his best performance as he completely immerses himself into this complex character. The direction, acting, music, visuals and overall story is simply magnificent. The movie is an extremely gripping thriller which keeps its viewers hooked to the screen for the entirety of its 3 hour screen time.
Nolan's storytelling style with multiple parallel storylines pays off at the end but it is a bit complex in the first half and its intentionally slow pace may be a turn off for audiences not used to Nolan's brand of cinema. If you like good artistic and content heavy cinema, then this movie is the perfect theatrical experience.
Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023)
A thought provoking social drama disguised as a Romantic Comedy
Wow. This movie isn't what anyone expects it to be. I just loved how the movie changes genre with one twist mid way through the movie. Such a thought provoking drama disguised as a rom com. It will certainly not be an easy watch for anyone who is expecting a cute romantic comedy but will delight anyone who wants to see something new and relevant.
This is perhaps Kiara's best acted movie and even Karthik Aryan who is his usual self in the first half raises his game in the second half of the movie. Supriya Pathak is delightful in the movie and Gajraj Rao gives another terrific performance. The story is completely fresh and the direction of such a sensitive topic is masterful. The movie is applause-worthy. I hope it does well.