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UmeshAditya
Reviews
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar (2024)
Not worth all the hype!
A very average show that disappoints all the expectations it held until the release. A story that starts around individual lives of Tawaifs ends as a story of freedom struggle. It's all about 1920 Lahore Tawaifs who were known as courtesan high class prostitutes n dancers, then about Nawabs n their children growing up as Tawaifs in Heeramandi, flesh trade, simultaneous freedom struggle. There's nothing so intense n appealing about storyline but didn't keep up all the hypes that it had created. Every set appears like a palace though. Manisha Koirala n Sonakshi Sinha are the main protagonists of the show. Aditi Rao Hydari as Bijjojan is mesmerizing. Dubbed in about 15 languages n available in Netflix. My ratings 6.5/10!
Laapataa Ladies (2023)
Quite a cute storyline!
Quite a cute sweet social drama. Movie is set in 2001 in remote villages when mobile phones were yet rarity n internet had slowly started taking momentum. Story revolves around 2 newly wedded couples traveling in same train get exchanged due to ghunghat n go Laapataa. Storytelling is an art n this movie scores full on it. It had potential to be a very funny movie but fails to achieve that mark. Yet showcases innocence emoting range of emotions. Preachy at places highlighting patriarchy giving out a clear message with a girl stating at an instance,"If I stole something, it was an opportunity for myself". Dialogues n songs are appealing. Definitely worth watching with family. Available in Netflix! My ratings 7/10!
Article 370 (2024)
Full on adrenaline rush!
Keep everything aside n watch this on top priority in Netflix OTT finally! Man, what an intense real political thriller! The entire story revolves around abrogation process of Article 370. 'Kashmir is a lost case of India' was what all our lives until 2019 we had kept hearing. It shows how planning started to abrogate way back in early 2015 n chain of master strokes between 2015 to 2019 to make abrogation constitutionally valid. It was solidly necessary to abrogate it in a constitutional way else it could have gotten easily reversed by Supreme Court. Identifying by govt agency how ISI was funding in Kashmir through over invoicing n under invoicing of dry fruits through a barter system without actual money transactions was stunning. I didn't know solid reasons why there used to be stone pelting there until saw this movie. When ISI funding routes were closed, frustrated terrorists did Pulwama attack in Feb 2019 finding no ways. What was more thrilling n super master stroke was to see bringing Presidential rule in JK dissolving state govt to ensure constitutional n legislative assembly power of JK comes in hands of Central govt so that they could constitutionally abrogate it. One scene particularly made me very emotional when President signs approval for abrogation while PM himself personally goes to get it signed. The last chapter of the movie, "Tha, Hai Aur Rahega" is full of adrenaline rush. Arun Grover as Modi n Yami Gautam were outstanding. A big salute to the entire team for creating this else we wouldn't have known how complicated it was in the entire history of India when evil powers kept chanting for decades abrogation of Article 370 was just not possible. But now it's done n dusted. Also a heartfelt gratitude to the current govt for making it happen. My ratings 10/10!
Farrey (2023)
Finest movie of 2023
One of the finest movies of 2023. A strong content oriented highly underrated movie. Story revolves around how very privileged students take undue advantage of underprivileged children to make their career. What starts as an average movie takes unexpected turns. Definitely not preachy but story is thought inducing. Alizeh Agnihotri is fantastic! Must watch for younger crowd particularly adolescent n older crowd. Available in Zee5. My ratings 7/10!
One of the finest movies of 2023. A strong content oriented highly underrated movie. Story revolves around how very privileged students take undue advantage of underprivileged children to make their career. What starts as an average movie takes unexpected turns. Definitely not preachy but story is thought inducing. Alizeh Agnihotri is fantastic! Must watch for younger crowd particularly adolescent n older crowd. Available in Zee5. My ratings 7/10!
Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024)
Bakwas
One of the worst movies ever seen! Completely senseless storyline wherein a man falls in love n wants to get married to a robot knowing it's a robot. Have tried to replicate old 'Hamari Bahu Rajanikantha' serial. Robot bends like a human it seems n behaves in a way as if no one gets even a doubt that it is a robot. Neither dialogues are funny nor the execution. A 3 hours disastrous torture. My ratings 2/10!
One of the worst movies ever seen! Completely senseless storyline wherein a man falls in love n wants to get married to a robot knowing it's a robot. Have tried to replicate old 'Hamari Bahu Rajanikantha' serial. Robot bends like a human it seems n behaves in a way as if no one gets even a doubt that it is a robot. Neither dialogues are funny nor the execution. A 3 hours disastrous torture. My ratings 2/10!
Baby Reindeer (2024)
Very gripping storyline!
Completely unique true storyline of an obsessive stalker! Saath samundar paar mein tere piche piche aa gayi - The feeling that triggers post completing it. It's dark, witty n very gripping. Within 5 minutes of the first episode, one gets hooked on to it completely. The fear of getting stalked is indeed one horrible thing anybody can experience. The lady who played character of stalker Marta was brilliant. 7 episodes of 30 minutes each. Very well written n executed though ending is a little disappointing but can't help that being a true story. Available in Netflix including in Hindi. My ratings 8/10!
Ripley (2024)
A finest Netflix creation!
Definitely one of the finest creation of Netflix! The first 2 episodes puts the plot for the crime n the way it unfolds from third episode makes it one of the finest crime thriller ever to be remembered. A mind blowing thriller that leaves you hooked on completely. A limited series of 8 episodes n story ends in very first season n is based on 1955 crime novel, "The talented Mr. Ripley" and the story is set back in 1960. The monochromatic black n white execution n the background music completely complement each other. The acting, screenplay, mesmerising Italy n Rome places, landscapes, mind blending storyline everything makes it a masterpiece. Available in Hindi as well along with other foreign languages in Netflix. My ratings 9/10!
Lover (2024)
Looks very candid n realistic!
This entire movie appears candid n realistic. The first half of the story revolves around complexities in 6 yrs relationship n the second half about the breakup n the process of trying to get a closure. The last 20 mins climax is indeed appealing. In most of the relationships around us, one starts thinking it's responsibility of the other to keep me happy but in reality nobody would take that responsibility which is rather more like getting the other burdened n that's when both let each other down n start suffocating. May be rather relationship should be about companionship where there is mutual respect n an ease of comfort to be with each other being devoid of dependency. Also sometimes breakups are inevitable n better than making going tough for both everyday. Unfortunately breakups are the toughest n most painful thing one can ever go through n only one who has gone through can vouch for it. Available in all South Indian languages along with Hindi in Disney Hotstar. My ratings 7/10!
Ae Watan Mere Watan (2024)
Definitely worth a watch!
Ae watan mere watan - The very movie title gives a tingling excitement to the ears. Story revolves around the biopic of Freedom fighter Usha Mehta who organised the secret Congress radio during freedom struggle n spent 4 years in jail from 1942 to 1946. She was conferred with Padma Vibhushan in 1998. The movie is definitely well made. Not sure why there are not so great reviews about the movie but I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The entire movie keeps reverberating with dialogues like Karo ya Maro, Jai Hind, Vande Mataram, Inquilab Zindabad etc n keeps giving you goosebumps at lots of places. I only wonder how there were so many unsung heroes in the entire freedom struggle and may be they are to be termed as the greatest of all heroes for their selfless service being unsung. Sara Ali Khan was convincing in her role though opposed to opinions of many. To credit that respect towards countless unsung heroes, do watch for sure. Available on Amazon Prime. My ratings 9/10!
Patna Shukla (2024)
Lacks intensity of a courtroom drama!
A very simple average courtroom drama but the case is typically unique n new of a kind. Story revolves around a marksheet scam run by a corrupted Bihar University where underprivileged children marksheets are exchanged with privileged students. The scam explodes when daughter of an autodriver reaches court seeking the justice. The treatment of entire movie is dry and execution is very average. The dialogues are very pale n courtroom scenes don't have required intensity but yet quite a decent film as there is no unwanted mirch masala nor film gets preachy anywhere. The main highlight of the movie is revelation of a kind of new scam. Available on Disney Hotstar. My ratings 6/10!
To Kill a Tiger (2022)
An eye opener about rural India over rape victims
A very sensitive Oscar nominated documentary based on sexual gang rape violence on a 13 year old minor girl by a group of 3 grown up men in a village of a Jharkhand. This documentary will leave you shocked how the entire village thinks the girl has to marry one among the rapists and close the entire case without ever going to police. But as an unprecedented stand, the father and family stands as a support to the girl though entire family lives in extreme poverty. But entire village corners the family and mounts pressure to take back the case and when entire family gets into the fear, there comes a rural NGO as a support to the family guiding them. This is truly an eye opener on rural India's perspective on such cases. It's said every 20 minutes one girl gets raped in India and 90% of them don't even get reported. It leaves one contented to see how all 3 victims finally get penalized for 25 years each. Kudos to the entire team for this creation. Available in all languages in Netflix. But this could have been shorter. My ratings 8/10.
La sociedad de la nieve (2023)
Worth a watch real survival drama!
Oscar nominated survival drama! A real survival drama of Uruguayan flight crash of 1972. Though I've seen few survival dramas, this turns out to be a special one against all other fictional dramas as it is a real story. Back in 1972, this plane carrying 45 passengers crashes at 11000 ft altitude mountain completely filled with snow. Search efforts were given up post 9 days not being able to trace. On that barren mountain of snow begins the survival drama where few die of injuries n hunger at below zero degrees temperature n eventually all embrace Cannibalism of their dead friends to survive. Then post 60 days, 2 undertake trekking of 53kms to find people n City. This way out of 45, about 16 survived for 72 days. Felt it could have been shorter instead of 2+ hours long. But definitely worth a watch. Available in Netflix in all languages. My ratings 7/10!
Hanu Man (2024)
Am utter garbage
An absolute utter garbage! Seeing trailer, I was super excited thinking it would be linked with 8 super natural powers (Asta Siddhis) of Hanuman. But this movie has used just the name of Hanuman n his images for their cheap gimmicks. Entirely some cheap concocted storyline trying to interconnect with Mythology. Surprisingly their gimmicks worked n movie became big super hit while it required to be backlashed. If there was some genuine Super Hero movie that was made with no offence to Indian Mythology n Culture, it is definitely "Minnal Murali". Avoid this garbage completely. My ratings 1/10!!!
Anweshippin Kandethum (2024)
Average cop investigative thriller!
A cop investigative crime thriller! Movie does have 2 unrelated crime thrillers like 2 short films under one movie, the cop being the common point. Screenplay has been utterly boring. Everytime I see any cop crime thriller, I always end up thinking Crime Patrol series that come in TV are way better than these movies. Offlate Cop crime thriller movies have become too common n neither they appear any different n unique from the other. Though this movie relatively had good reviews, I personally didn't enjoy. Give it a pass if you have anything better to watch. Avilable in Netflix in all languages. My ratings 5/10!
Shaitaan (2024)
Electrifying storyline!
The entire movie is full of suspense n thriller. The story revolves around black magic Vashikaran. Throughout one keeps wondering what next. Lots of scenes have been spine chilling. Movie doesn't slow down anywhere n keeps consistent nail baiting intensity. Sound effects were awesome. Acting of each was good. Highly recommended to watch for its electrifying storyline but ideally in theatre for a better experience. I expected climax to be even more intense as it had that potential. My ratings 9/10!
The entire movie is full of suspense n thriller. The story revolves around black magic Vashikaran. Throughout one keeps wondering what next. Lots of scenes have been spine chilling. Movie doesn't slow down anywhere n keeps consistent nail baiting intensity. Sound effects were awesome. Acting of each was good. Highly recommended to watch for its electrifying storyline but ideally in theatre for a better experience. I expected climax to be even more intense as it had that potential. My ratings 9/10!
Merry Christmas (2024)
An utter nonsense!
An utter nonsense in the name of suspense and thriller! The initial first few minutes romantic ride is little bearable but otherwise entire movie is a saga of boredom. Vijay Sethupathi's Hindi and Katrina Kaif's acting attempt both are too poor. The entire storyline revolves around a lady wanting to kill her husband and trying to get an outsider to her home at the same time to show it as a suicide. Almost the complete movie is shot under one house. Not sure what was all that hype when it was released. One positive aspect of the movie is Arijit Singh's 'Raath Akheli Thi' song which is too melodious with a soothing lyrics. Available in Netflix, My rating is 4/10!
Apurva (2023)
The struggle is inspiring!
A crime thriller with story revolving around a survival drama of a girl n similar to NH10 movie but NH10 was very intense than this. But definitely worth a watch for it being a winning story. That struggle of a very ordinary girl to escape by withholding her composure in that horrifying situation is inspiring. It's not dragged unnecessarily, short n crisp with last 30 minutes with nail baiting scenes. Actors have performed quite well. But screenplay could have been even more intense n impactful. Available on Disney Hotstar. My ratings 6/10!
A crime thriller with story revolving around a survival drama of a girl n similar to NH10 movie but NH10 was very intense than this. But definitely worth a watch for it being a winning story. That struggle of a very ordinary girl to escape by withholding her composure in that horrifying situation is inspiring. It's not dragged unnecessarily, short n crisp with last 30 minutes with nail baiting scenes. Actors have performed quite well. But screenplay could have been even more intense n impactful. Available on Disney Hotstar. My ratings 6/10!
The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth (2024)
A real disgrace to motherhood!
What a disgrace this lady is to the motherhood n to humanity! That's what this 4 episodes documentary on Indrani Mukherjee story makes you feel about. I had always seen individuals harming outsiders for their ambitious gains but this lady decided to sideline n clear her own children to achieve her ambitions. Demeaning her own father, murdering her daughter, presenting herself as sister of her own children to the entire world, abandoning 2 children soon after birth, sending her son in mental asylum through influence, trying to murder her son too, 3 marriages - all to remain in power n in influential position in corporate world! Probably she is the best example of a narcissist where one can only love oneself. After these many years, not even a brief stint of guiltiness. Available on Netflix. My ratings 8/10 for presentation of the story!
Ramayan (1987)
Jai ShriRam - Jai Hanuman
Finally finished this 78 episodes Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan! It was created in 1987 n it has been 37 years. The last 3 generations and all the future generations should feel obliged to Ramanand Sagarji for this marvelous creation. No adulteration, no unauthorised storyline, no offensive dialogues/characterisation - everything is picturised with utmost sanctity taking reference of Valmiki and Tulasi Ramayan and few authorised regional versions of Ramayan. Online sources reveal when it was aired for the first time in Doordarshan, all shops used to remain closed, people used to bathe and garland their TV sets before the serial began. That was the level of devotion this series generated. It just leaves you mesmerized how this entire series is made with no VFX but yet in highly appealing manner. And what to speak of acting, songs n dialogue delivery. Arun Grovil has done fantastic job as ShriRam and so does all characters. But this man's imprint always remains in mind everytime ShriRam is remembered for sure. This seems to have been re-telecasted in some 20 different channels across the world. I also feel grateful to this YouTube channel 'Tilak' for making all episodes available to everyone.
Jai ShriRam - Jai Hanuman 🙏
Kannur Squad (2023)
An average one time watch crime thriller!
An average one time worth a watch crime thriller! Story is celebrated around a loot n murder case n chasing the culprits of the case. Kannur squad is claimed to be a real investigative team that operated from 2007 to 2017 in n around Kerala. The investigation with absolutely no proofs in the crime scene makes it an interesting watch. Keep expectations low though, execution is decent enough. My ratings 6/10!
An average one time worth a watch crime thriller! Story is celebrated around a loot n murder case n chasing the culprits of the case. Kannur squad is claimed to be a real investigative team that operated from 2007 to 2017 in n around Kerala. The investigation with absolutely no proofs in the crime scene makes it an interesting watch. Keep expectations low though, execution is decent enough. My ratings 6/10!
M3GAN (2022)
Horror element will blow your mind!
This movie is insane! I was like what did I watch? This sci-fi horror will drive you crazy. Some scenes will completely drive you nut n scarier. Story is centred around M3GAN which basically stands for Model 3 Generative ANdroid. M3GAN is basically an artificial intelligent doll which will have ability to create self awareness n that very ability turns it hostile to whoever that come between her and her companion and goes on murdering one after the other. Even the very creator of the dull turns incapable to destroy it. A fantastic creative movie. We shouldn't be surprised if any upcoming AI creations create anything as this which can endanger human race itself. This movie is well ahead of its time. A real must watch movie. This was the biggest hit when it got released. Second part is expected to release in March 2025. Can't await to watch it. Available on Jio app. I loved the entire concept n creation. My generous rating for this 10/10!
Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case (2023)
A very well directed documentary!
A very disturbing documentary based on a true incident! Unbelievable to know anything like this can happen in any family. Story revolves around a daughter-in-law of a prestigious family based in Kerala who turned a serial killer n killed all family members one by one through cyanide n couldn't let any even get doubt for almost close to 2 decades. Very captivating well done documentary. Keeps the thrilling element throughout. But very hard to digest the entire incident. If you are weak minded, avoid watching it. But definitely very well directed. My ratings for the content presentation is 10/10!
Kaatera (2023)
Darshan looks massively captivating!
A very lengthier movie, gets patience tested. But a good storyline, entertaining, worth one time watch. Story revolves around a 1970 set up centered around land reforms act, casteism, untouchability. For the first time ever, I liked Darshan's screen presence as an actor. Aradhan though first film, has got a role of lots of weightage. Side actors have justifying characters too. But yet doesn't match so much hype that was created around this movie though storyline is definitely good. Available in Zee5 app. My ratings 6.5/10!
A very lengthier movie, gets patience tested. But a good storyline, entertaining, worth one time watch. Story revolves around a 1970 set up centered around land reforms act, casteism, untouchability. For the first time ever, I liked Darshan's screen presence as an actor. Aradhan though first film, has got a role of lots of weightage. Side actors have justifying characters too. But yet doesn't match so much hype that was created around this movie though storyline is definitely good. Available in Zee5 app. My ratings 6.5/10!
Sapne Vs Everyone (2023)
Very boring for my taste
I didn't understand all the hype created around this TVF series. It was extremely boring, dull for me. Story was framed to the convenience of heroes to emerge them as Victorious. Tried my best to like it but it only kept me yawning. A show that tries hard to portray as if it appear realistic, simplistic with a forceful intent to highlight mortality. Definitely not of my taste. You can watch it at 2x speed. Avilable for free in YouTube. My ratings 4/10!
I didn't understand all the hype created around this TVF series. It was extremely boring, dull for me. Story was framed to the convenience of heroes to emerge them as Victorious. Tried my best to like it but it only kept me yawning. A show that tries hard to portray as if it appear realistic, simplistic with a forceful intent to highlight mortality. Definitely not of my taste. You can watch it at 2x speed. Avilable for free in YouTube. My ratings 4/10!
Sapta Sagaradaache Ello: Side B (2023)
Real love stories are always meant to have a tragic ending
Might not be every love story but probably most of the love stories always end in tragic. What an in-depth love story with extreme innocence n unconditional love for the other. There's so much pain in this entire love story. Part A showcases extreme unconditional love for each other while Part B shows one sided unparalleled love for the other. One has moved on n the other living every single day as his past love n that person n that person's love itself is the only goal of life. Many looking at it may feel what a madness but intensity of love cannot be felt by any unless you have ever fallen in one such love. Sometimes breakups are inevitable. Few move ahead with time n few get stuck where they were left by the other for their entire life. These 2 parts movie is an unparalleled painful love story in history of Indian cinema probably. Innocence, unconditional love, cruelty of external forces on their love, helplessness - every emotion looks very intense n so real. I wouldn't dare to cut any rating for this movie but would rate 10/10!