BollywoodReviews
Zwigato Movie Review Dhaval Roy, March 17, 2023, 11:30 AM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Zwigato Story: Manas loses his job as a floor manager at a factory and takes up a gig as a delivery guy for a food delivery app. The movie follows his everyday life, which is replete with ratings, penalties, and running behind incentives. Things go awry in his otherwise warm family life when his wife Pratima decides to join a mall as the cleaning staff.
Zwigato Review: Food delivery people have become integral to our lives. We may rate and tip them, but how much do we know about what goes on behind the scenes as we wait for our food to arrive? Director and co-writer Nandita Das offers an insight into that through Manas Mahto (Kapil Sharma). But that’s also a means to talk about the trials and tribulations a certain class of society (labour class) faces due to inadequate employment opportunities.
The film takes the viewer through Manas’s daily hustle as his wife, Pratima (Shahana Goswami), seeks employment to support the family financially, despite his disapproval. We soon discover facets such as app companies dangling the carrot called ‘incentives,’ which takes the drivers down the rabbit hole of making maximum deliveries daily and how they are exploited at various levels. As Manas laments, Woh majboor hai, is liye mazdoor hai, (He s a labourer because he s helpless) correcting a placard slogan that says, Woh mazdoor hai, is liye majboor hai (He s helpless because he s a labourer).
The movie also sensitively touches upon the class and gender discrimination deeply embedded in our society. The tension of drudgery and desperation is palpable throughout the film, making it a poignant watch. Even though one knows that the economy, social system, and politics are interrelated, Zwigato packs in too much. At times it seems like a series of events stitched together, which hampers the flow of the narrative. While the first half builds the world at its own pace, the second part also takes things forward slowly, even dragging in many instances. Several sequences, such as an activist Govindraj (Swanand Kirkire) holding a protest, a man of a different faith being targeted, etc., seem slightly force-fitted.
As Nandita and co-writer Samir Patil adeptly present a relatable story, cinematographer Ranjan Palit masterfully depicts the commoner s world through the dingy bylanes of Bhubaneshwar where the story is set. Skipping Odisha s majestic structures and exotic beauty adds to the film s realism. The stop-motion animation when the credits roll as Yeh Raat plays deserves a special mention.
One is familiar with Shahana’s prowess as a performer, and once again, she pulls off a fine act — from the local Jharkhand accent and body language to her mannerisms and expression. Kapil, however, is a revelation in this one. He gets his part as a loving but conditioned to be a misogynistic husband, snarky father, frustrated worker and a desperate man bang-on. Not once will you get a glimpse of the over-the-top comedian that he usually is.
Manas is shown to be profoundly frustrated with his situation, but in a bid to show that life goes on for people like them, the end is simplistic, abrupt, and, thus, seems unconvincing.
Overall, the film unfolds at a lazy pace, which could leave you restless. However, it is worth a watch for its intent and fine performances. Above everything else, what the movie effectively does is leave you with empathy for those who do odd or menial jobs to make our lives simpler. Think about it.
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, March 14, 2023, 4:47 AM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway Story: Based on a real-life incident, the film tells the story of Indian immigrant Debika Chatterjee (Rani Mukerji) who must fight for the custody of her own children after they are handed over to foster care by the Norwegian childcare services. She is deemed unfit for their upbringing.
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway Review: The film is inspired by the true story of Sagarika Chakraborty, an Indian woman whose children were taken away from her by the Norwegian government. Sagarika had made headlines in 2012 as she fought against the Norwegian authorities to get back custody of her children. The entire issue had even caused a diplomatic row between India and Norway.
Moving to the screen adaptation, Debika (Rani Mukerji as Sagarika) is a young Bengali housewife grappling with motherhood and her life in Norway. Even as her husband adapts to the Norwegian language and norms, she prefers to retain her Indian roots and wear them on her sleeve. Expect gorgeous Kolkata cotton saris on the lead actress in freezing Norway, over trench coats and she slipping into Bengali mid-conversation frequently. Her aversion to clone the Norwegian way of life and refusal to let go of her Indianness, draws the attention of some corrupt officers in the Norwegian childcare services. Common Indian practises like eating with hands, hand feeding your child, sleeping in the same bed as your child… are looked upon as bad parenting traits and reason enough to separate the kids from their parents.
Debika can barely think straight from the moment her kids are snatched away from her. Unaffected by the consequences, she recklessly and relentlessly vows to use any means necessary to rescue her children. Her imprudent behaviour becomes her worst enemy as it helps legitimise the abduction of her children under the guise of social work. How far would a mother go to reclaim her children?
I don t know whether I m a good mother or a bad mother but I m a mother”, confesses Debika as she pleads with several courts in India and Norway for justice. She is made to run from pillar to post for three years to get the custody of her children after being implicated for mental instability. Ashima Chibber, who has previously directed ‘Mere Dad Ki Maruti’ helms Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway. She skims through some valid arguments on patriarchy, domestic violence being normalised in most Indian families and what constitutes a ‘good mother’. She doesn’t whitewash her flawed lead character either, but we wish she had dug deeper. The intent is visible, but execution barely scratches the surface.
Most characters are one-dimensional caricatures that don’t go beyond the Wikipedia phase of research. With a solid actor like Rani Mukerji at hand, the director could have moulded her into a far more nuanced character than the one we get. The actress who has the potential to be effortless on camera, goes theatrical and excessive. Her high-decibel fight for justice clutters the first half with more noise, less grief. However, she gets the tone of her character right in the second half when the silence leaves you more room to think and feel. Rani becomes Sagarika Chakraborty gradually and is effective once she lets her eyes speak volumes. Co-written by Ashima, Rahul Handa and Sameer Satija, the film is loaded with drama, crowd-pleasing dialogue, and stereotypes. The bad guys keep making evil faces to show that they are the bad guys (read Norwegian childcare women). Rani keeps chanting, “Mere Shubh aur Suchi mujhe wapas chahiye” endlessly.
Jim Sarbh gives the film its finest moments and uplifts it. It is his restrained portrayal of a lawyer of Indian origin in Norway, that captures the heart of this film. Sarbh makes you think when his character (Daniel) questions the notion that adoptive parents cannot be as loving and caring as biological parents. You wish there was more of him and his arguments in a rather convenient climax.
Amit Trivedi’s music embodies the spirit of a fearless mother. ‘Shubho Shubho’ tugs at your heartstrings. The film could have achieved a similar effect if it wasn’t for its populist approach and melodramatic execution.
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, March 14, 2023, 4:47 AM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Story: Based on a real-life incident, the film tells the story of NRI Debika Chatterjee (Rani Mukerji) who must fight for the custody of her own children after they are handed over to foster care by the Norwegian childcare services. She is deemed unfit for their upbringing.
Review: The film is inspired by the true story of Sagarika Chakraborty, an Indian woman whose children were taken away from her by the Norwegian government. Sagarika had made headlines in 2012 as she fought against the Norwegian authorities to get back custody of her children. The entire issue had even caused a diplomatic row between India and Norway.
Moving to the screen adaptation, Debika (Rani Mukerji) is a young Bengali housewife grappling with motherhood and her life in Norway. Even as her husband adapts to the Norwegian language and norms, she prefers to retain her Indian roots and wear them on her sleeve. Expect gorgeous Kolkata cotton saris on the lead actress in freezing Norway, over trench coats and she slipping into Bengali mid-conversation frequently. Her aversion to clone the Norwegian way of life and refusal to let go of her Indianness, draws the attention of some corrupt officers in the Norwegian childcare services. Common Indian practises like eating with hands, hand feeding your child, sleeping in the same bed as your child… are looked upon as bad parenting traits and reason enough to separate them from their parents.
Debika can barely think straight from the moment her kids are snatched away from her. Unaffected by the consequences, she recklessly and relentlessly vows to use any means necessary to rescue her children. Her imprudent behaviour becomes her worst enemy as it helps legitimise the abduction of her children under the guise of social work. How far would a mother go to reclaim her children? Can the Indian immigrant expose the scam that uses children and foster care to dupe the government?
I don t know whether I m a good mother or a bad mother but I m a mother”, confesses Debika as she pleads with several courts in India and Norway for justice. She is made to run from pillar to post for three years to get the custody of her children after being implicated for mental instability. Ashima Chibber, who has previously directed ‘Mere Dad Ki Maruti’ helms Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway. She skims through some valid arguments on patriarchy, domestic violence being normalised in most Indian families and what constitutes a ‘good mother’. She doesn’t whitewash her flawed lead character either, but we wish she had dug deeper. The intent is visible, but execution barely scratches the surface.
Most characters are one-dimensional caricatures that don’t go beyond their story’s Wikipedia phase of research. With a solid actor like Rani Mukerji at hand, the director could have moulded her into a far more nuanced character than the one we get. The actress who has the potential to be effortless on camera, goes theatrical and excessive. Her high-decibel fight for justice clutters the first half with more noise, less grief. However, she gets the tone of her character right in the second half when the silence leaves you more room to think and feel. Rani becomes Sagarika Chakraborty gradually and is effective once she lets her eyes speak volumes. Co-written by Ashima, Rahul Handa and Sameer Satija, the film is loaded with drama, crowd-pleasing dialogue, and stereotypes. The bad guys keep making evil faces to show that they are the bad guys (read Norwegian childcare women). Rani keeps chanting, “Mere Shubh aur Suchi mujhe wapas chahiye” endlessly.
Jim Sarbh gives the film its finest moments and uplifts it. It is his restrained portrayal of a lawyer of Indian origin in Norway, that captures the heart of this film. Sarbh makes you think when his character (Daniel) questions the notion that adoptive parents cannot be as loving and caring as biological parents. You wish there was more of him and his arguments in a rather convenient climax.
Amit Trivedi’s music embodies the spirit of a fearless mother. ‘Shubho Shubho’ tugs at your heartstrings. The film could have achieved a similar effect if it wasn’t for its populist approach and dramatic execution.
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, March 8, 2023, 7:34 AM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar Story: Both belonging to wealthy Delhi families, Rohan Arora (Ranbir Kapoor) is besotted with Nisha Malhotra (Shraddha Kapoor) the moment he sees her on their Spain vacation. The two hit it off in no time but modern love has a way of complicating things.
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar Review: If Sonu, Titu, Sweety were a lot to keep up with in the 2018 Luv Ranjan hit, the director amps up the nickname game in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar. For a major part of the film, you find yourself investigating if Ranbir is called Rohan, Mickey or Jeetender. Turns out he has multiple names and so does the leading lady. Shraddha is Nisha and Tinny and has a best friend called Kinny (Monica Chaudhary), or something like that.
Ranbir has a sidekick in Anubhav Singh Bassi. Along with running family businesses, the boys also double up as relationship gurus, who run a breakup service on the side. They offer packages (platinum costs 2 lakh) to people who need help in ending relationships. It’s all fun and games until Mickey’s expertise comes back to bite him in the ass.
There hasn’t been a film in the recent past with such a diverse two halves. The first half is Imtiaz Ali’s Tamasha (Corsica chapter) reimagined. The second switches to being a Barjatya-Karan Johar meet Priyadarshan narrative set in a Luv Ranjan universe. The previous half has the gorgeous beaches, attractive lead actors in swimwear and foot-tapping youth anthem ‘Tere Pyaar Mein’. It s all easy on the eye but aimless. The characters aren’t etched out enough, which compels the audience to read between the lines and that feels like work.
Kartik Aaryan’s terrific cameo works like a booster as the film picks up drastically in the latter half and transforms into a hilarious family entertainer with an outstanding airport climax. Women are not the enemy here. Mickey is surrounded by a progressive mother (Dimple Kapadia), supportive sister (Hasleen Kaur) and an independent girlfriend (Shraddha). He is the clingy-needy talkative boyfriend. Luv Ranjan, known for making films that are largely patriarchal, moves away from that zone to focus on the perils of modern dating. “Tujhe Pyaar karna hai ya time pass?”, asks Mickey to Tinny upfront so neither wastes any time. The two fall in love faster than one would imagine and talk about anything and everything except for the things that matter. More talking, less listening. Commitment or battle of the sexes are not the issues here; communication is. Can Mickey make some tough choices for Tinny and vice versa? Our urge to end things instead of mending it… the take is refreshing.
Ranbir Kapoor is most beautiful when he essays broken characters. His silence speaks volumes. He enters a new territory here, the one Kartik Aaryan has mastered over the years. He adapts well to frothy romance, excessive talking and constant monologues. This is perhaps the most he has spoken in a film till date and the way it alters his personality is interesting to watch. He looks great with Shraddha, but the chemistry needs work. Shraddha seems uninhibited and spirited on screen this time around. Dimple Kapadia and Hasleen Kaur stand out in the crowd. Boney Kapoor gets very little to do.
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar has its humour and heart in place. Character building misses the mark, given the duration.
Also See: Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar box office day 5: Ranbir Kapoor starrer holds well on Sunday
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, March 8, 2023, 7:34 AM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Story: Both belonging to wealthy Delhi families, Rohan Arora (Ranbir Kapoor) is besotted with Nisha Malhotra (Shraddha Kapoor) the moment he sees her on their Spain vacation. The two hit it off in no time but modern love has a way of complicating things.
Review: If Sonu, Titu, Sweety were a lot to keep up with in the 2018 Luv Ranjan hit, the director amps up the nickname game in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar. For a major part of the film, you find yourself investigating if Ranbir is called Rohan, Mickey or Jeetender. Turns out he has multiple names and so does the leading lady. Shraddha is Nisha and Tinny and has a best friend called Kinny (Monica Chaudhary), or something like that.
Ranbir has a sidekick in Anubhav Singh Bassi. Along with running family businesses, the boys also double up as relationship gurus, who run a breakup service on the side. They offer packages (platinum costs 2 lakh) to people who need help in ending relationships. It’s all fun and games until Mickey’s expertise comes back to bite him in the ass.
There hasn’t been a film in the recent past with such a diverse two halves. The first half is Imtiaz Ali’s Tamasha (Corsica chapter) reimagined. The second switches to being a Barjatya-Karan Johar meet Priyadarshan narrative set in a Luv Ranjan universe. The previous half has the gorgeous beaches, attractive lead actors in swimwear and foot-tapping youth anthem ‘Tere Pyaar Mein’. It s all easy on the eye but aimless. The characters aren’t etched out enough, which compels the audience to read between the lines and that feels like work.
Kartik Aaryan’s terrific cameo works like a booster as the film picks up drastically in the latter half and transforms into a hilarious family entertainer with an outstanding airport climax. Women are not the enemy here. Mickey is surrounded by a progressive mother (Dimple Kapadia), supportive sister (Hasleen Kaur) and an independent girlfriend (Shraddha). He is the clingy-needy talkative boyfriend. Luv Ranjan, known for making films that are largely patriarchal, moves away from that zone to focus on the perils of modern dating. “Tujhe Pyaar karna hai ya time pass?”, asks Mickey to Tinny upfront so neither wastes any time. The two fall in love faster than one would imagine and talk about anything and everything except for the things that matter. More talking, less listening. Commitment or battle of the sexes are not the issues here; communication is. Can Mickey make some tough choices for Tinny and vice versa? Our urge to end things instead of mending it… the take is refreshing.
Ranbir Kapoor is most beautiful when he essays broken characters. His silence speaks volumes. He enters a new territory here, the one Kartik Aaryan has mastered over the years. He adapts well to frothy romance, excessive talking and constant monologues. This is perhaps the most he has spoken in a film till date and the way it alters his personality is interesting to watch. He looks great with Shraddha, but the chemistry needs work. Shraddha seems uninhibited and spirited on screen this time around. Dimple Kapadia and Hasleen Kaur stand out in the crowd. Boney Kapoor gets very little to do.
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar has its humour and heart in place. Character building misses the mark, given the duration.
Gulmohar movie review Dhaval Roy, March 3, 2023, 12:30 PM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Gulmohar story: The Batra family is spending the final four days in their 34-year-old New Delhi home before it s razed down for redevelopment. As the matriarch decides to move to Puducherry and live independently, she wishes to celebrate Holi together one last time as a family. While the house is being packed up, the film follows individual storylines of the family members, their secrets, dynamics and what the future has in store for them.
Gulmohar review: The film s opening sequence shows Rahul V Chittella s command over direction and storytelling. Talat Aziz (as Avinash) sings a gorgeous ghazal, Dilkash, as the characters and their tracks are introduced. It s the last night at Gulmohar Villa for Kusum Batra (Sharmila Tagore) and her family as their home is sold to a redeveloper. The following four days leading to Holi will take one through a kaleidoscopic ride with stellar characterisations and stories.
The most (and one among many) charming parts about the film are how relatable the characters, events, and the milieu of present-day Delhi are. You often see these people and hear the things they say (parents comparing themselves and their children when they were the same age, the short shelf life of new music, start-up struggles and a lot more), and it s all woven along with a powerful story.
Gulmohar is one of those films that s as heartfelt as it s cerebral. It talks of compromising but taking a stand, loving with your heart and not mind, relationships being about bonds and not blood, and how fathers and sons carry the same kind of burden to prove themselves to each other. Love, hope, and interpersonal relations are a common theme among all the characters, whether the Batra family or its staff. Arpita Mukherjee and Chittella write a story that will give you something to think about and feel in almost every scene. The movie is replete with symbolism. While Arun s backstory and what it leads to are poignant, there s a similar trajectory to Kusum s life, which is subtle, and underplayed but delightful.
Sharmila Tagore, a modern woman with a deep-rooted sense of familial bond and love, is par excellence. Manoj Bajpayee plays her son Arun, who wants to keep the family together at all costs but is frustrated as he struggles to do so, primarily because of his son (Suraj Sharma as Aditya Batra). While Manoj is outstanding, so is Simran as his wife, Indu. The duo s individual performances are as noteworthy as their on-screen chemistry as husband and wife. Amol Palekar plays Manoj s narrow-minded, selfish, biassed and bitter uncle Sudhakar Batra with aplomb. All the other actors, whether Utsavi Jha as singer-songwriter Amrita Batra or Kaveri Seth as Aditya s wife, Divya, also give commendable performances.
Besides Dilkash, the film s soundtrack includes Sapno Ke Pakhi, Woh Ghar and Hori Mein, all memorable melodies. Hori Mein, which comes in the end, is also well-shot and deserves to be the festival song this year.
Gulmohar s narrative loses pace in a few places, but it will still keep you interested throughout. Watch the movie to revel in the stories and characters, and you will find many heartbreaking yet heartwarming moments.
Selfiee Movie Review Dhaval Roy, February 24, 2023, 1:30 PM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Selfiee story: While filming a movie in Bhopal, a hotshot star, Vijay Kumar, urgently requires a driver’s licence to complete his shoot on time. However, a misunderstanding with the motor vehicle inspector, Om Prakash, leads to a feud of sorts between the two. Vijay s ardent fan turns his foe as he insists that the hero must legally procure the licence like any commoner, which may take up to a month. But Vijay must leave for the US within a week. Will he bag the licence before he takes off?
Selfiee review: Does a small-town traffic cop, Om Prakash Agarwal (Emraan Hashmi), taking on a megastar, Vijay Kumar (Akshay Kumar), over a driver’s licence seem like an overstretch? Maybe. But the punchlines and performances in the remake of 2019 Malayalam film, Driving Licence, may make you overlook the feeble premise. A nod to Akshay s stardom, with a movie called Don’t Angry Me, references to the scores of projects he does each year, being called a producer’s actor, and even his ‘jabde wali smile’ are delightful to watch. But Emraan s turn as a super fan-turned-nemesis is equally noteworthy. He has a tight grip on his role, as he firmly maintains the middle-class and humble man act even when doing heroic things. One downside, though, is his Bhopali accent dropping intermittently.
Director Raj Mehta, who reunites with Akshay after Good Newwz, handles the movie’s first half adeptly, keeps it entertaining and breezy, and peppers it with hilarious one-liners that the actor delivers effortlessly. However, the second half, which centers around the face-off between the two heroes, is not as high on humour. It s watchable, nevertheless, even if the parts that revolve around the licence test are a bit stretched. The outing also takes a dig at the trial by media phenomenon and the #BoycottBollywood movement. But, depicting instances of loud electronic media coverages is becoming repetitive and stale in our movies.
While the main leads shine, Abhimanyu Singh as a fading superstar Suraj and Meghna Malik as the starstruck corporator, Kamla Tiwari, are more than impressive. Abhimanyu is hilarious as Vijay’s erstwhile roomie and someone now stuck spewing cringe-worthy lines for shady films and ads. After a couple of instances, though, his parts seem forced. Social media influencer Kusha Kapila, in a cameo as a tarot card reader, does a good job. But Meghna stands out, especially with her impeccable comic timing in scenes with Akshay. Diana Penty as Vijay’s , Naina, doesn t have much of a role to play here but whatever capacity she can plays the classy and supportive wife does well. Nushrratt Bharuccha, who is familiar with the comedy genre, manages to pull off the act of a young Bhopali woman and Om Prakash’s better half, Minty, well.
Anu Mailik and Tanishk Bagchi s ‘Main Khiladi’ redux is dance-worthy, and Lijo George-DJ Chetas s title track, as well as Vikram Montrose’s ‘Sher,’ are pumped up.
Overall, Selfiee is an easy-breezy watch, with some good performances and several laugh-out-loud moments. If you re looking for a rib-tickling comedy over the weekend, this one could be a good pick.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Movie Review Mihir Bhanage, February 17, 2023, 1:30 PM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Story: The Pym family has reunited, as have Casey and Scott Lang. Scott is trying to make amends for missing out on spending time with Casey, the Langs and Pyms come together for meals... All is well, until it’s not!
Review: Fifteen years and multiple superheroes later, the one thing that remains constant across the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is its ability to create multiple possibilities through different stories. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, the third Ant-Man film and first in Phase Five of the MCU, takes these possibilities to another level. As the name suggests, this time, the mania unfolds in the Quantum Realm.
Janet van Dyne (the stunning Michelle Pfeiffer) is back with her family and loves it with them. Scott Lang aka Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) is trying to make sense of his fame, getting freebies for saving the world and has made peace with the fact that people confuse him with Spider-Man. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) continues his research on ants, Hope Pym (Evangeline Lilly) is using Pym Particles to bring a change in the world and Casey Lang (Kathryn Newton), is living the teenage life while also secretly researching the Quantum Realm with Hank. Casey’s research, however, opens a portal to the Quantum Realm and sucks them all into it, bringing out skeletons from Janet’s closet. Once there, a meeting with MCU’s new antagonist-in-chief, Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), is inevitable.
Like the earlier Ant-Man films, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania tugs at your emotions. The father-daughter angle between Scott and Casey is at the heart of this film and results in some of the most beautiful moments. However, more than anything else, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania serves as an introductory vehicle for the Multiverse Saga’s big bad villain, Kang the Conqueror, who takes over the reins from Thanos.
The portions in the Quantum Realm are visually appealing and will make fans happy. The performances are good too. Paul Rudd is fun to watch and gets some cool one-liners. Kathryn Newton brings the teenage spirit to the table, while Evangeline Lilly, maturity. But the standout performers are Jonathan Majors and Michelle Pfeiffer. Majors has a legacy to carry forward and looks set to make the most of it.
While the film sets some things in motion, it also seems a bit rushed at times and stretched at others. It’s also oddly reminiscent of the Star Wars franchise. That said, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania takes you on a fun adventure. And, as always, stay back for Easter eggs in the mid and post credit scenes.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Movie Review Mihir Bhanage, February 17, 2023, 1:30 PM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Story: The Pym family has reunited, as have Casey and Scott Lang. Scott is trying to make amends for missing out on spending time with Casey, the Langs and Pyms come together for meals... All is well, until it’s not!
Review: Fifteen years and multiple superheroes later, the one thing that remains constant across the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is its ability to create multiple possibilities through different stories. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, the third Ant-Man film and first in Phase Five of the MCU, takes these possibilities to another level. As the name suggests, this time, the mania unfolds in the Quantum Realm.
Janet van Dyne (the stunning Michelle Pfeiffer) is back with her family and loves it with them. Scott Lang aka Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) is trying to make sense of his fame, getting freebies for saving the world and has made peace with the fact that people confuse him with Spider-Man. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) continues his research on ants, Hope Pym (Evangeline Lilly) is using Pym Particles to bring a change in the world and Casey Lang (Kathryn Newton), is living the teenage life while also secretly researching the Quantum Realm with Hank. Casey’s research, however, opens a portal to the Quantum Realm and sucks them all into it, bringing out skeletons from Janet’s closet. Once there, a meeting with MCU’s new antagonist-in-chief, Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), is inevitable.
Like the earlier Ant-Man films, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania tugs at your emotions. The father-daughter angle between Scott and Casey is at the heart of this film and results in some of the most beautiful moments. However, more than anything else, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania serves as an introductory vehicle for the Multiverse Saga’s big bad villain, Kang the Conqueror, who takes over the reins from Thanos.
The portions in the Quantum Realm are visually appealing and will make fans happy. The performances are good too. Paul Rudd is fun to watch and gets some cool one-liners. Kathryn Newton brings the teenage spirit to the table, while Evangeline Lilly, maturity. But the standout performers are Jonathan Majors and Michelle Pfeiffer. Majors has a legacy to carry forward and looks set to make the most of it.
While the film sets some things in motion, it also seems a bit rushed at times and stretched at others. It’s also oddly reminiscent of the Star Wars franchise. That said, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania takes you on a fun adventure. And, as always, stay back for Easter eggs in the mid and post credit scenes.
Shehzada Movie Review Dhaval Roy, February 17, 2023, 5:19 PM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Shehzada story: Bantu has grown up suffering his father Valmiki’s vitriolic tongue until he discovers that he’s actually an heir to an influential family, who was exchanged at birth. He moves into their mansion to protect them from a criminal drug lord’s attack and helps the family sort their issues.
Shehzada review: The film, which is a remake of a Telugu film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, starts on a promising note, as a nurse and an office clerk, Valmiki (Paresh Rawal), exchange the latter’s son with a business magnate Randeep Jindal’s (Ronit Bose Roy). For 25 years, Valmiki’s son Bantu is trapped in a middle-class household with his spiteful father. The film follows the young guy as he discovers who he really is and vows to protect his real family from a villainous drug mafioso, Sarang (Sunny Hinduja).
With too many tracks — such as Bantu’s hotshot lawyer girlfriend Samara (Kriti Sanon) being set to marry a mollycoddled Raj Jindal (Ankur Rathee), family members embezzling money, Randeep and his wife Yashu’s (Manisha Koirala) strained marriage, and above all, dreaded criminals insistent on using Jindals’ business to peddle drugs, the central theme of what fate holds for the two exchanged boys gets sidelined. These are also incoherently stitched together, as are many other sequences, such as Bantu bravely taking on goons who harass his younger sister, rescuing Samara from a client who cannot take no for an answer, to smashing Sarang’s men.
Kartik is effortless as the incorrigible, brave and good-hearted Bantu and does well in the action sequences, but there’s nothing fresh about his performance here. Kriti Sanon looks stunning in every frame but has little to do. Paresh Rawal and Ronit perform exceedingly well, and one wishes the latter had a more extended screen-time. Rajpal Yadav makes a cameo and does his regular goofy act that elicits laughter, but the sequence does not take the story forward.
The fight choreography deserves a special mention, with its slow-motion and macro videography, and also Sudeep Chatterjee’s cinematography is also good. While the title track sung by Sonu Nigam, ‘Shehzada’, stands out, the others are just average.
Shehzada is meant to be enjoyed for its campy humour, irreverent hero, and action sequences. If watching a mass entertainer with a gang of friends is your jam, you could make a trip to the theatre for this one.
Pathaan Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, January 25, 2023, 1:57 PM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Pathaan story: Expanding Yrf’s spy universe (previously led by Salman Khan’s Tiger & Hrithik Roshan’s Kabir), the film is an origin story of an ex-army man turned undercover agent Pathaan (Shah Rukh Khan) and his arch nemesis, Jim (John Abraham).
Pathaan review: An event film of sorts, since it marks Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the big screen after four long years, Pathaan is an ambitious action thriller that plays to the gallery and lives up to the hype. Far-fetched in writing but high on star power and style, Pathaan initially seems like a filmy Mountain Dew commercial which slowly but steadily finds its footing.
The plot follows India’s revocation of article 370 (special status of Jammu and Kashmir) and its impact on a Pakistani officer, who wants India to pay for this ‘mistake’. He reaches out to the formidable Jim, an Ex-RAW agent wronged by his own people. He is joined by his ravishing accomplice Rubai an ex-ISI agent (Deepika Padukone) with ambiguous motives. Pathaan, Jim and Rubai lock eyes and horns, as they hop continents and indulge in a dangerous game of betrayal and revenge. The three race to destroy and protect the worlds they believe in.
Director Siddharth Anand gives an over-the-top treatment to his spy thriller. He presents it more like a superhero film that needs massive suspension of disbelief. His fascination and fanboy worship of mainstream Hollywood blockbusters like Marvel films or Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible series to name a few, is evident here. Expect Falcon like wingsuit, exaggerated action & chase sequences, death and gravity-defying stunts on cars, bikes, ice and helicopters, immortal heroes and villains mouthing punchy dialogues, a femme fatale and all of this seeped in the idea of patriotism.
Action overrides emotions for major part of the film and that’s new territory for SRK, who is most loved in romantic or conversational roles. It’s interesting how he lets his body do the talking along with those powerfully evocative eyes at 57, as a full-fledged action hero. It is his presence that salvages an average script and subpar VFX. While the background score doesn’t quite feel in sync with the scenarios, the film’s music by Vishal & Shekhar manages to reflect the heroism and bravado on display.
Pathaan’s highlight is also John Abraham’s solid portrayal of Jim. Be it his Bane like masked entry or stunt sequences, John is menacing and makes a classic case of the villain overshadowing the hero in portions.
Deepika Padukone can kick ass and is perfectly cast as the dutiful, double crossing, morally ambiguous leggy agent but her chemistry with SRK feels underdeveloped. It lacks the spark that John-SRK’s characters share. Dimple Kapadia does a Tenet once again and lends that much-needed gravitas and emotional heft to the proceedings. You wish other characters exuded the sincerity of her part.
The YRF spy universe reunites Karan and Arjun (wink wink) to give you an iconic whistle moment as Bhai meets the badshah. If you are willing to overlook the frivolity in dialogues like ‘You are pretty screwed’, Pathaan has all the ingredients of a masala potboiler — slowmo entries, iconic battle of good versus bad and most importantly, a sexy-smouldering Shah Rukh Khan, who can fight the good fight on and off the screen. He’s still the undisputed King.
PS: Wait back for the post credit scene.
Also See: Pathaan box office collection day 1: Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika starrer BEATS War and KGF 2 as it earns a historic Rs 54 crore on opening day
Also See: Pathaan worldwide box office collection day 1: Shah Rukh Khan starrer smashes records with 100 crore on opening day!
Pathaan Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, January 25, 2023, 3:11 PM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Story: Expanding Yrf’s spy universe (previously led by Salman Khan’s Tiger & Hrithik Roshan’s Kabir), the film is an origin story of ex army man turned undercover agent Pathaan (Shah Rukh Khan) and his arch nemesis Jim (John Abraham).
Review: An event film of sorts, since it marks Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the big screen after four long years, Pathaan is an ambitious action thriller that plays to the gallery and lives up to the hype. Far fetched in writing but high on star power and style, Pathaan feels more like a filmy Mountain Dew commercial which slowly but steadily finds its footing.
The plot follows India’s revocation of article 370 (special status of Jammu and Kashmir) and its impact on a Pakistani officer, who wants india to pay for this ‘mistake’. He reaches out to the formidable Jim, an Ex RAW agent wronged by his own people. He is joined by his ravishing accomplice Rubai an ex ISI agent (Deepika Padukone) with ambiguous motives. Pathaan, Jim and Rubina lock eyes and horns, as they hop continents and indulge in a dangerous game of betrayal and revenge. The three race to destroy and protect the worlds they believe in.
Director Siddharth Anand gives an over the top treatment to his spy thriller. He presents it more like a superhero film that needs massive suspension of disbelief. His fascination and fan boy worship of mainstream Hollywood blockbusters like Marvel films or Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible series to name a few, is evident here. Expect Falcon like wingsuit, exaggerated action & chase sequences, death and gravity defying stunts on cars, bikes, ice and helicopters, immortal heroes and villains mouthing punchy dialogues, a femme fatale and it all seeped in the idea of patriotism.
Action overrides emotions for major part of the film and given SRK’s dominance in that territory, it’s interesting how he lets his body do the talking here along with those powerfully evocative eyes. It is his presence that salvages an average script and subpar VFX. While the background score doesn’t feel in sync with the scenarios, the title music manages to reflect the heroism and bravado on display.
The film’s highlight however is John Abraham’s solid portrayal of Jim. Be it his Bane like masked entry or stunt sequences, John is outstanding and makes a classic case of the villain overshadowing the hero in portions. Deepika Padukone can kick ass and is perfectly cast but her chemistry with SRK feels lacklustre and underdeveloped. It lacks the spark that John-SRK’s characters share. Dimple Kapadia does a Tenet once again and lends that much needed gravitas and emotional left to the proceedings. You wish other characters exuded the sincerity of her part.
The YRF spy universe reunites Karan and Arjun to give you an out and out whistle moment. If you are willing to overlook the frivolity in dialogues like ‘You are pretty screwed’, Pathaan has all the ingredients of a masala potboiler — slowmo entries, iconic battle of good versus bad and most importantly a sexy-smouldering Shah Rukh Khan, who can fight the good fight on and off the screen.
Also See: Pathaan movie review and release LIVE updates
Mission Majnu Movie Review Dhaval Roy, January 20, 2023, 5:00 PM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Mission Majnu story: It’s the 1970s in Pakistan when the nation conducted a covert nuclear weapons test. An Indian undercover spy, Amandeep Singh, needs to expose it and clear the stigma of being called a traitor’s son while leading a happily married life with a blind Pakistani woman, Nasreen, and a baby on the way.
Mission Majnu review: A spy thriller about India and Pakistan’s animosity during the 1970s, starring Sidharth Malhotra post his laudable performance in Shershaah, is a perfect recipe for an intriguing drama. And Mission Majnu serves it, all right, garnished with high-octane action. The fictional story is based on actual events following the Indo-Pak 1971 war and the latter secretively creating nuclear weapons. A RAW field agent, Amandeep Singh (Sidharth Malhotra), lives and works in Pakistan as a tailor called Tariq, with a mission to expose the country’s covert operation. He marries a blind girl, Nasreen (Rashmika Mandanna) and starts a family with her while being undercover.
The movie follows Amandeep’s mission, as he’s constantly subjected to insults as his father dies by suicide for being a traitor, a story that’s only given a cursory mention.
Shantanu Bagchi helms Mission Majnu with aplomb and keeps it fast-paced throughout. The director also manages to keep one on the edge of the seat on many occasions when Amandeep’s cover seems close to being blown. The milieu of 1970s Pakistan is also created appropriately.
How Tariq puts the pieces of the puzzle together, makes connections quickly and acts with alacrity is depicted skilfully. However, one cannot help but note how sketchy some of the film’s aspects are. Tariq gathers information quite easily, and some of the clues and how easily he’s rescued from dangerous situations make things seem too convenient.
Sidharth performs well as Tariq and Amandeep, especially in intense scenes. However, he is not entirely convincing in the comic parts. Rashmika Mandanna looks the part of Nasreen, and her acting is passable. Among the supporting cast, Kumud Mishra shines. Much to be written about his acting chops and track, but it would necessitate giving spoilers. Sharib Hashmi also gives a noteworthy performance as Amandeep’s partner. Mission Majnu is about Amandeep’s wit, ingenuity, and patriotism despite being mistreated, but there’s ample action too, which Sidharth pulls off well.
There’s no chest-thumping patriotism in the movie, and it stays true to its premise of the covert operation being exposed. The dialogues are worth paying attention to. The narrator describes spies as “apni mitti se duur mitti ke sipahi.”
Mission Majnu is gripping in parts, but it’s too convenient, which takes away from the narrative. While great, the action stretches in places and makes the movie seem formulaic. All in all, you will enjoy it if viewed without getting into the nuances.
Chhatriwali Movie Review Archika Khurana, January 20, 2023, 3:31 AM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Chhatriwali story: Sanya is embarrassed by her unusual job description as the quality control manager for a condom company. Will she ever be comfortable with her work and even educate others on the importance of having safe sex?
Chhatriwali review: After Aparshakti Khurana s Helmet (2019), Nushrratt Bharuccha s Janhit Mein Jaari (2022), Chhatriwali is the latest addition to these social dramas that uses humour to deliver a perspective message about the taboo subjects like contraceptives and safe sex . In this story set in Karnal (Haryana), chemistry teacher Sanya (Rakul Preet Singh) is transformed into a local crusader to destigmatise sex education. To make ends meet, Sanya takes up the job as the quality control head in a condom factory. Initially shy and embarrassed, she becomes comfortable with her unusual choice when Mr Lamba (Satish Kaushik), the company s owner, makes her understand the importance of this job.
Things take a turn when Sanya falls in love with Rishi (Sumeet Vyas), and they marry without knowing how she earns a living. Instead, she lies to her mother (Dolly Ahluwalia) and in-laws by claiming to work for an umbrella company. The charade is predictable but entertaining right from the beginning. Directed by Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar and co-written by Sanchit Gupta and Priyadarshee Srivastava, Chhatriwali is more of a mash-up of the movies Helmet and Janhit Mein Jaari. Many scenes and situations are cliched, from Sanya lying about her job to everyone to the awkward situation Rishi encounters while purchasing condoms. Similar to films made on this idea, the first half of the film is nicely nurtured before the social commentary issue arises, making the second half a slow burn.
The film draws a dubious parallel between using condoms and preventing abortion. Sanya discovers her inner activist and criticises the use of condoms over birth control pills with the catchphrase mujhse karna hai pyaar, toh condom ko karo sweekar, sparking a debate among women who find it difficult to speak up. Rakul Preet Singh ably steers this 117-minute-long film. Dolly Ahluwalia has little to do as Sanya s mother. Sumeet Vyas is excellent as Rishi, a man who loves his wife unconditionally but believes condoms are for lovers, not for the married couples. Rajesh Tailang, as Bhaiji, a biology teacher who believes sex education is unnecessary for students, and Prachee Shah Paandya, as his wife, play their roles convincingly. Satish Kaushik is funny as Mr Lamba, but his garish wig is not.
While Sunidhi Chauhan s Special Edition Kudi is upbeat, the other songs in the movie do not compel you to hit the reply button. Overall, it s a light-hearted film that is predictable and could have been packaged and delivered more creatively and uniquely. Despite this, Chhatriwali is watchable with the right intent.
Kuttey Movie Review Ronak Kotecha, January 11, 2023, 6:00 PM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Story: A bunch of corrupt cops hatch a plan to rob a van carrying crores of hard cash, meant to refill the ATMs across the city. But as more crooks join the party, it turns into a bloody free for all.
Review: Divided across three quirkily titled chapters, debutant director Aasman Bharadwaj s ‘Kuttey’ starts off with a bang and keeps powering its screenplay with interestingly dark, sharp and self-centred characters. In them are unscrupulous police officers, drug dealers and even Naxalites. Each one has an ulterior motive and their rule is simple -- shoot first, ask questions later. The narrative is stuffed with a battery of characters and their stories and a mildly unpredictable premise of a dog-eat-dog world.
Kuttey justifies its title. Sometimes even trying too hard, Aasman and his co-writer and filmmaker father Vishal Bharadwaj, give us a relentlessly twisted thriller, throwing in every trick in the book to confuse and engage the audience with a convoluted and chaotic narrative. It s thrilling and entertaining, but not without loopholes and flaws in the writing that clearly struggles with the problem of plenty. With so many stories and subplots running concurrently, some get side-lined.
In its ensemble cast, it s easy to pick your favourite. Tabu tops the list. The talented actress lives Pammi s many eccentricities and makes the character extremely likeable. Surrounded by treacherous and bloodthirsty men, she s the only badass boss lady, mouthing expletive-laden dialogues and bringing some much-needed comic relief as well. As always, her pitch is perfect and appears effortless. Naseeruddin Shah, Konkana Sen Sharma, Radhika Madan, Shardul Bharadwaj and Kumud Mishra make their limited time on screen count. Arjun Kapoor has more to do, as the unabashedly amoral Gopal and the actor delivers an honest performance, but he can do with a few more variations in his expressions.
What lifts Kuttey s constantly dark and gritty narrative is the catchy tune of Vishal Bharadwaj’s iconic composition Dhan te nan that lingers in the background. The film s original score by Vishal, infused with Gulzar s unique lyrics, blend well with the screenplay without stalling the pace of the film.
As a debutant director, Aasman Bharadwaj proves his mettle by juggling an overstuffed plot and a bunch of talented actors. Kuttey isn t exactly a deep, dark satire made to perfection, yet it is a wildly entertaining mishmash of guns, goons and gaalis.
Cirkus Movie Review Ronak Kotecha, December 23, 2022, 1:31 PM IST critic s rating: 2.0/5 Cirkus Story: Two sets of identical twins separated at birth, end up in the same town at the same time, years later. The confusion and misunderstanding that ensues throws their lives into a tizzy.
Cirkus Review: A square and B square are the names of the twins, who are later christened as Roy (Ranveer Singh) and Joy (Varun Sharma) by the two different couples, who adopt them. Thus, unknowingly putting in place a recipe for disaster and confusion that is bound to play out when these four boys grow up and bump into each other. That’s precisely the one-line story (if we can call it that) of this Rohit Shetty film that s supposed to be a comedy of errors but is abysmally low on that ingredient.
Set in the picturesque green hills of Ooty and carefully created colourful and unreal set pieces that look like a theme park, ‘Cirkus’ is based in the late 60s or early 70s era, as the film desperately tries to pay a tribute to the cinema of the time. Many classic Bollywood numbers pop up in the background at every given opportunity and the only thing louder than the yesteryear costumes of the actors, is their acting. It’s an all-out slapstick comedy but the problem is not that, as Bollywood has seen several films in that genre that have taken the audience along with it for a joyride. It also includes some films from Rohit Shetty’s stable.
Collectively, barely a scene or two manage to evoke the kind of laughter we are used to experiencing in a Rohit Shetty film. Sample this, our hero Roy is immune to high voltage shocks and his showstopper act at his ‘Jubilee Cirkus’ is to dramatically make two live wires kiss each other, with his bare hands. But everytime he does that his judwaa bhai experiences a massive electric shock and so does anyone who touches him. All is well with him once the act is over. If you can get past this, then you’d perhaps have a little less discomfort in sitting through the rest of the plot that involves caricatures, good actors wasted in stereotypical characters, unfunny dialogues, and situations that literally go nowhere. The screenplay offers nothing fresh in terms of comedy and punchlines and suffers from abject repetition.
Ranveer Singh tries to do his best in portraying both his characters, but sadly both the parts lack enough conviction. Deepika Padukone’s cameo in the song ‘Current Laga Re’ is a highlight that comes as a true respite. Varun Sharma’s comic timing is criminally wasted here and, in the end, it s upto the ever-so-dependable Johny Lever (as Polson bhai) to bring in some much-needed organic laughter. The ace comedian creates more rib-tickling moments in his few minutes of screentime than the entire cast put together. Pooja Hegde looks resplendent in her sombre role of Roy’s wife Mala. Jacqueline Fernandez steps in to add the glam quotient as Roy’s girlfriend and does just that. Sanjay Mishra once again takes one for the team in a role that isn’t funny, but the actor makes up for the lack in the writing and the missing punchlines, which is a recurring problem of this unfunny mess.
‘Cirkus’ is a busy film filled with a battery of characters put together with a purpose to make us laugh, but is far from that. Entertaining the audience with slapstick comedy and drama is a tightrope that Rohit Shetty has successfully walked before but this time he seems to have tripped several times along the way.
Also See: Cirkus box office collection Day 2: Rohit Shetty and Ranveer Singh s film falls flat on Saturday
Avatar: The Way of Water Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, December 14, 2022, 4:07 PM IST critic s rating: 4.5/5 Story: A worthy sequel to the 2009 film Avatar, James Cameron takes us back to the stunning world of Pandora, where human turned Na vi Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Na vi princess Ney tiri (Zoe Saldaña) must do everything it takes to protect their children from the ‘sky people’ (humans from earth).
Review: “The way of water connects all things. The sea is our home before our birth and after we die.” Beyond the 3D visual spectacle that Avatar is, something we trust James Cameron to deliver, the franchise’s beauty lies in its underlying spiritual arc and ode to continuity of life. Life finds a way. It evolves no matter the surroundings as love is transformative.
Humans call the Na’vi ‘hostiles and insurgents’, when it is they who forcefully infiltrate and occupy their land. Despite its magical, fictional setting, Avatar is not devoid of socio-political themes. It addresses race, civilisation, takes a strong anti-military stand and makes a plea for environment conservation through its simple story of parents and children. A spectacular climax revolves around parents protecting their children and vice versa.
From lush jungles to the gorgeous reefs… the action shifts from forests to the sea this time around and it’s equally meditative and hypnotic. For over three hours you find yourself immersed in the enchanting world of an oceanic clan (Metkayina) or the reef people who give Sully and his family a refuge from humans. The sequel scores high on action and emotion. One is not compromised for the other. ‘Happiness is simple. The Sullys stay together. This is our biggest weakness and our greatest strength,” says Jake Sully and the story embodies that spirit. The tale isn’t unique per se but the storytelling and visual excellence are otherworldly epic. Mounted on a massive scale, not once do you find yourself wanting to return to the real world.
While the predecessor set the bar high for visual effects 13 years ago, the new film takes it a step further. Like the previous film, the director does not use 3D as a gimmick but uses it artfully to accentuate audience immersion in the world and story. Avatar: The Way of Water deserves be watched in IMAX 3D. It is the greatest immersive cinema experience of the year — world building at its finest.
Freddy Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, December 2, 2022, 12:40 PM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Synopsis: A twisted take on love, loneliness and revenge. Freddy is a psychological thriller that sees the player and the one who got played indulge in a dangerous cat and mouse game. This race blurs the line between the victim and the villain.
Review: Haunted by a childhood trauma, Dr Freddy Ginwala (Kartik Aaryan) lives a fairly monotonous but comfortable life in Mumbai. He is a respected dentist but a lonely guy in his 30’s who has no one to call his own. With no friends except for a tortoise, no lover or parents, he craves companionship. His need borders on desperation as year after year, he gets stood up on dates, mocked and humiliated for his socially awkward existence and shamed for trying his luck with the ladies. Despite his professional success and empathy for those in need, Freddy is perceived as a loser. Things take a drastic turn when he spots Kainaaz (Alaya F) at a wedding. Bitten by the love at first sight bug, Freddy musters up courage and approaches her only to be punched by her husband. The film takes a dramatic turn thereon as a major twist unravels.
Freddy’s thoughts can resonate with Arthur Fleck who wondered, “Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?” For director Shashanka Ghosh and writer Parveez Shaikh, Freddy must be Joker (2019) in spirit and Ek Hasina Thi (2004) in execution. You even see Kartik playing the imaginary violin and breaking into Joaquin Phoenix-esque creepy dance moves. The suspense and sinister energy around Freddy is finely mounted, making you immerse in his story. Atmospherics add to the tension established. The latter half however feels sloppy and juvenile. Once the mystery dies down, the psychological thriller turns into a mundane revenge drama that isn’t as gratifying as the initial premise.
It’s good to see that Hindi cinema is warming up to psychological-crime thrillers. The highlight of the film is Kartik Aaryan’s terrific unnerving performance. He is an absolute revelation as Freddy, a wronged man obsessed in love, seething rage and yet calm as a cucumber. The actor has altered his weight, body language, gaze and that trademark smile to play Freddy and the efforts pay off. You will think twice before heading to your dentist, thanks to Kartik and his sociopathic portrayal of the lead character. Alaya F does little to make her presence felt.
Freddy is fairly engaging and unsettling but it wavers to go all out. The film starts off well but doesn’t reach its full potential. It skims through issues of mental health, childhood trauma and its impact on an individual, something that deserved a deeper understanding. You can watch this for Kartik though and his successful brave attempt.
An Action Hero Movie Review Archika Khurana, December 2, 2022, 3:42 AM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 An Action Hero Story: Maanav (Ayushmann Khurrana), a Bollywood megastar action hero and popular youth icon, falls from grace when he is caught up in a dramatic real-life incident that forces him to run for his life.
An Action Hero Review: Anirudh Iyer s directorial debut delves into celebrity culture and the fickle side of fame. Most famous personalities are vulnerable to public backlash and media trials, and this works as the central theme of this 132-minute action-packed drama. On the face of it, An Action Hero is a simple revenge story, but the screenplay transforms it into a twisted tale of a superstar, who finds himself in an extraordinary situation. It is a juicy plot, and Iyer, who has co-written the film with Neeraj Yadav, maintains a steady grip on the narrative for the most part.
The film features Ayushmann Khurrana in a never-before-seen avatar. In contrast to his previous socially-relevant dramas, here, he plays Maanav, a buffed-up Bollywood action hero who wears his stardom on his sleeve. Soon, Maanav loses track of reality, especially when the antagonist, Bhoora Solanki (Jaideep Ahlawat), the Municipal Councillor of Mandothi village (Haryana), blames the star for his brother s mysterious death. As a result, they indulge in a cat-and-mouse game. Will the on-screen action hero be able to hold his own when hardcore action unfolds in his real life?
Iyer takes a bit long in setting up the plot, most of the first half is spent on that. However, the second half picks pace and becomes an all-out action film with several elements to keep you hooked. The problem is, the random characters introduced throughout the film who don t add up much to the drama but to the length of the film.
It s Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat show all the way, as they hold the film s narrative together. Ayushmann gets ample scope to live his Maanav s multi-layered character, who is a strong, arrogant and flamboyant personality as an actor, yet, vulnerable when fate makes him live like an ordinary man running to save his life. He gives it his all to make Maanav s persona appealing. The actor s physical transformation for the film is evident and lends credibility to his action-hero avatar. Jaideep s performance and his Haryanvi accent are bang-on. His character lacks depth, but he throws in some of the funniest seeti-maar punches in the film. There s a degree of uncertainty in his actions that comes from the goodness in his character, which adds to the hilarity of the scenes. There is a decent blend of comedy and action and some laugh-out-loud dialogues that stand out.
Nora Fatehi and Malaika Arora s dance numbers to reprised versions of Jehda Nasha and Aap Jaisa Koi, respectively, bring in the dose of oomph factor. The background score complements the ongoing drama and establishes the tone of the film.
Not everything in the plot adds up and you wish the film was tighter, but it does have a fair dose of action and comedy backed with good performances. The interesting thing about ‘An Action Hero’ is not so much the story itself, but seeing Ayushmann Khurrana get into the skin of an action hero and flex his muscles (literally) on screen. For that, maybe, you can make a trip to the theatres.
Bhediya Movie Review Dhaval Roy, November 25, 2022, 5:51 AM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Bhediya story: A road construction contractor, Bhaskar, goes to Arunachal Pradesh to build a highway through the dense jungle of Ziro. Besides opposition from the tribals, his companions cousin JD, friend Jomin and he, have a bigger challenge. A series of unexpected deaths take place soon after Bhaskar is bitten by a wild animal. Is it a figment of someone’s imagination, or a werewolf folklore come true?
Bhediya review: Horror and comedy are, on their own, tough genres to pull off. Unless one has a tight grip on storytelling and cinematic treatment, a film in either category can fall flat. And this is where Bhediya comes up aces. Director Amar Kaushik, who helmed the horror-comedy Stree by the same banner, handles both genres skillfully in his latest outing and strikes a fine balance to deliver a movie that’s spine chilling in some instances, ribtickling in almost all, and leaves you with something to think about. Mythology surrounding werewolves have always provided great meat to filmmakers for their stories, and here, Amar Kaushik digs into the deep pockets of Arunachal Pradesh to tell a mysterious tale.
First and foremost, the most remarkable part about the movie is its visual impact. While cinematographer Jishnu Bhattacharjee has created the dark and enigmatic world of werewolves with the backdrop of the full moon in the midnight sky, jungles of Ziro and mountains splendidly, the vfx are outstanding. Monsters and creatures in films can often turn more spoofy than spooky because of shoddy makeup and effects. But not in Bhediya. The lead’s transformation from human to werewolf is convincing and terrifying. The film has many jumpscares and the background score only makes things scarier.
Varun is top-notch as the shape-shifting wolf. His act (a huge part of which was the physical transformation with ripping muscles and a perfectly sculpted body) will hopefully shift gears in his career. He gives this part his all, and it shows. Whether it’s the dramatic and high-energy scene where he transforms into a bhediya for the first time, to the hilarious scene when he struggles to slip into the werewolf s skin the in the second half — he excels. Abhishek Banerjee as Janardan, aka JD, is on point and does not miss a beat with his comic timing. Even in intense scenes, his comedy punches land, adding a certain lightness throughout this story that mostly unfolds in the darkness of the night. He also has the funniest lines in the film. Paalin Kabak as Bhaskar’s Northeastern friend Jomin completes the bhediya pack and has outstanding chemistry with both the actors, especially Abhishek. Deepak Dobriyal, as Panda, also delivers a notable performance. Kriti Sanon s character as the vet, Dr Anika, could have been better fleshed out. But she adds her bit to the drama and comedy.
The narrative, very smartly, includes the mention of several movies that continue to remain in public memory for many reasons, including Jaani Dushman, Rahul Roy-starrer Junoon, the 90s animation show Jungle Book and its title track ‘Chaddi pehenke phool khila hai,’ which will have you guffawing, and even Shehnaz Gill’s ‘Toh main kya karu, marr jaun?’ There are some more such howlarious surprises, but let s not give them away here all at once. Kudos to the writer Niren Bhatt for that.
The movie s first half is extemely gripping. It perfectly sets the tone for what will unfold soon and also brings in a sense of intrigue. However, the second half seems stretched and loses momentum in parts. It could do with a tighter edit. While all the songs are catchy and pleasant to the ears, dropping a song or two would have tightened the narrative. Also, at times it seems the film is trying to achieve a bit much. While it focuses on conservation and man-animal conflict, a subject that needs much dwelling upon, alongside it briefly touches upon the stereotyping of the people of Northeast, and how they have to often live with the outsider label.
On another level, the film reminds us of our animal instincts and how there could be a bhediya in all of us. But how we wish to unleash it, for better or worse, is up to us. Beauty and the beast are all in us, we only have to look deep within. The film leaves you with an experience and a thought, maybe deeper than the forests of Ziro. So, set out and watch this one. For a howling good time, this one s worth a hike to the theatres. There s also a delightful surprise at the end. The film that releases in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu is best viewed in 3D.
