BollywoodReviews
The Great Indian Family Movie Review Dhaval Roy, September 22, 2023, 6:16 PM IST critic s rating: 2.5/5 Story: The Great Indian Family story: Ved Vyas Tripathi, aka Bhajan Kumar, is a devout Hindu man who faces an identity crisis and a personal dilemma when he discovers he is actually a Muslim by birth.
Review: Pandit Siyaram Tripathi (Kumud) is a revered priest whose family conducts all the religious ceremonies in Balrampur. The town and Tripathi household’s star is their son, Ved Vyas Tripathi (Vicky Kaushal), aka Billu, also fondly called Bhajan Kumar for his famed bhajan performances. When Siyaram Tripathi goes for a teerth yatra, the family receives a letter informing them that Ved is a Muslim by birth. As Ved questions his identity, his begrudged friend and the Tripathis rival Pandit, Mishra (plot to use this to bring him and his family down. While the Tripathis risk losing a prestigious and hefty marriage contract to Mishra, it remains to be seen whether Pandit Siyaram will accept his son and if Billu will be accepted by their fervently religious mohalla.
The movie aims to deliver the message of unity between two religions but lacks conviction and rationale. The basic premise of the story by Vijay Krishna Acharya, also the film’s director, is Billu discovering his religion (by birth) through a dubious letter, which the family dismisses as a prank. However, Billu instantly accepts it as a truth. The plot turns into a soap opera, with the bad guys editing images and videos to make Billu infamous on social media and demanding a DNA test to prove he is Pandit Siyaram’s son.
The movie tries too hard to draw a parallel between the two cultures but shows the similarities superficially. With unconvincing story development and tracks, by the end, it turns into a predictable fare with oft-repeated dialogues on unity and humanity. The movie captures the vibe of a town steeped in tradition well. The soundtrack by Pritam is decent, especially Sahibaa. The modern bhajan Kanhaiya Tu Twitter Pe Aaja is foottapping.
Vicky Kaushal makes a sincere effort and does well in the scenes where he’s confused about his identity, but this is not one of his finest performances. This more depth to his character would have helped. Manushi Chhillar has limited screen time but does not pass off as a street-smart small-town girl. Kumud Mishra has a powerful screen presence and delivers a strong performance as a strict but loving father. He especially shines in the scene where he leaves for his yatra and blesses Billu, though what he really wants to do is give him a hug. The father-son relationship throughout the movie is depicted well. Manoj Pahwa, as Billu’s uncle Balakram Tripathi, lends able support.
The family drama lacks a compelling storyline and narrative to keep you hooked. While Billu s shenanigans with his friends are mildly entertaining in the first half, as the story progresses, the narrative loses its punch. The premise of the film is well-intended but the impact of what it meant to do does not translate on the screen. The Great Indian Family has a genuine message but fall short in execution.
Sukhee Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, September 22, 2023, 2:13 PM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Story: Sukhpreet Kalra aka Sukhee (Shilpa Shetty Kundra), a devoted middle class Punjabi housewife in her 40’s faces existential crisis. A school reunion invitation wakes her from her boredom.
Review: Sukhee reminisces about her glorious past, carefree life in Delhi as a teenager when she was loved for who she was as a woman as opposed to being needed solely to serve others and fulfill her duties as a mother and wife.
Finally, there’s a desi film on female friendship and desire that isn’t about sex. Director Sonal Joshi deserves applause just for this. Her story hits home as it mirrors the inner turmoil of almost every middle-class housewife, who marries early and forfeits her dreams for love.
Years of putting everyone else’s needs before your own doesn’t earn you respect. You are required, yes, but are you valued? Traditionally, women are taught to be happy within this realm of self-sacrifice as that makes for an ideal bahu, bhabhi or beti. Sukhee makes you look inwards as she decides to break free from the shackles of her domestic life and revisit her past, much against the wishes of her daughter and husband, who are quick to label her as selfish.
There’s a lot to like in this dramedy that observes a woman reclaiming her self-worth. Some moments are heart-warming, especially the ones between Sukhee and her bed-ridden father-in-law (also Sukhee), who urges her to ‘live her life’. Sukhee s aching regret about being left behind when compared to her working women besties who she considers to be achievers, is relatable. It stems from society s perception of housewives. Saara din ghar pay karti kya hai? Unaccounted work and wasted potential, the director touches upon these issues well. A slight resemblance to ‘English Vinglish’ is also evident. The school reunion scene is hilarious where the girl gang of class 97’ dolls up only to see their unattractive ageing classmates and ghazals being played for the party considering the target audience.
Sukhee feels promising until things get slapstick and off track. Expect pointless toilet humour and jokes that lack punch. The narrative shifts gear and loses your attention once the action moves to Delhi. Scenes and dialogues run in circles, and everyone keeps repeating things they have already said. “Sukhee naam wale kabhi dukhi nahi hotay” sounds good when you hear it once. Overkill is tiring. The girl gang track would’ve worked if other characters weren’t just Sukhee cheerleaders but individuals in their own right. None of the other girls (Kusha Kapila, Dilnaz Irani, Pavleen Gujral) have much to do, though all have a decent screen presence. Despite roping in a good actor, Amit Sadh love track is the film’s weakest portion. It does not work at all and only drags the film endlessly. The film could’ve easily been 20 minutes shorter to work better.
Shilpa Shetty Kundra is perfect for this part and reminds you why she deserved roles like Life in a Metro, Phir Milenge more. Despite her sultry screen avatar, she slips into the psyche of a middle-class housewife effortlessly. She even gets a Baazigar ‘bangs’ makeover to show her younger self. The 90’s outfits pay an ode to Govinda well but the de-ageing feels a bit excessive. Chaitannya Choudhry as the husband and Maahi Jain as the daughter are effective in portraying their flawed characters.
Sukhee has a heartfelt premise but it lacks pace, struggles to be engaging and gets too preachy to be perfect towards the end.
Jaane Jaan Movie Review Dhaval Roy, September 21, 2023, 4:00 PM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Jaane Jaan story: The crime drama follows the story of a single mother and her daughter, who find themselves entangled in a murder. They find an unexpected ally in their neighbor, a simple but genius teacher while navigating the ongoing police investigation.
Jaane Jaan review: A single mother, Maya D Souza (Kareena Kapoor), finds herself amid a murder investigation when her abusive ex-husband, Ajit Mhatre (Saurabh Sachdeva) dies and she becomes the prime and sole suspect. Her neighbour, Naren (Jaideep Ahlawat), a mathematics genius, helps her as a brilliant and dogged Inspector Karan Anand (Vijay Varma) investigates the crime. Will Maya be saved or caught and separated from her young daughter, Tara (Naisha Khanna)?
An adaptation of the Japanese bestselling novel, Keigo Higashino s The Devotion of Suspect X, Sujoy Ghosh s crime drama is not a whodunit but a howdunit. Its intrigue lies not in identifying the killer but in discovering how the culprit outsmarts the cops. Co-writers Sujoy and Raj Vasant build the tension quickly when Ajit is murdered, and Maya becomes a suspect because of her dark past.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that there s more to the murder than meets the eye, and the cat-and-mouse game between the characters is engaging. However, although the plot twists are executed well, the film has flaws; for example, Karan suspects Maya too quickly, gets some clues easily, and leaves some things unanswered—which are best left for the viewers to discover to avoid giving spoilers. Besides being a mystery drama, the movie also explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the fine line between devotion and obsession. Cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay captures the gloomy climes of Kalimpong adeptly.
Jaideep Ahlawat is phenomenal as a socially awkward genius and a man madly in love. Whether expressing frustration, helplessness, or determination, the actor s performance is on point. His character development deserves special mention, and Jaideep handles it with aplomb, especially shining towards the end. Kareena Kapoor owns every scene she appears in and excels even when her emotions transition from fear, mild annoyance, rage to awkwardness, or sass (watch out for her in the karaoke club scene with Vijay Varma, when she sways to Helen s titular track, Aa jaane jaan). Vijay Varma also exhibits his prowess as a charming and steadfast cop. He has easy chemistry with both his co-actors.
Jaane Jaan doesn t fit the mould of an adrenaline-fueled, high-speed thriller; instead, it takes its time to weave its tale. The narrative occasionally loses its tight grip on the audience, but the compelling performances hold your attention during these moments. If you have an affinity for the kind of cinema that exudes a melancholic, enigmatic, and contemplative atmosphere, this film will strike a chord with you. However, the film falls short of keeping up with the grip and fast pace of the book that was unputdownable.
Jawan Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, September 7, 2023, 4:39 PM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Synopsis: A masked vigilante (Shah Rukh Khan), sets out to accelerate some right societal changes, in his own ways. He along with his army of super heroic women, work towards enabling justice by taking on a dangerous arms dealer Kali (Vijay Sethupathi).
Review: No one seems to be having more fun than Shah Rukh Khan, in his action hero era. The romantic Raj and Rahuls have finally released SRK from their magnetic spell so he can wholeheartedly embrace the smouldering Pathaan and Jawan. In Atlee s ambitious action drama, SRK is a jailer moonlighting as a vigilante, but he is also Captain Vikram Rathod, a patriot. What is his story?
Expect ample twists and turns in this tale of desi Robin Hood and his tech-savvy, gun-wielding angels. Jawan is peppered with meta and pop culture references. You will be reminded of Money Heist, Squid Game, The Dark Knight Rises, old Hindi songs and The Lion King but topping it all, is a heady mix of SRK-Atlee tadka.
Only SRK can use the James Bond line and give it his own twist. “Rathod. Vikram Rathod. Naam toh suna hoga?” Lover boy king Khan’s tough avatar treads a new path. It isn’t devoid of his soft, sensitive charm despite the vengeance and violence galore. The Bollywood superstar seamlessly slips into South sensation Atlee’s universe, a rather new territory for him. Together, they entertain in this high-octane action thriller that’s rooted in emotions and familial drama.
An ode to fatherhood and female power, Jawan’s biggest victory is its ability to juggle the personal, political, and social statements. You get the hint when SRK tells his nemesis, “Bete ko haath lagane se pehle, baap se baat kar.” He calling out the politics of religion and voicing his unwavering faith in democracy is the film’s highlight and the part that is bound to get the most claps. Writers Sumit Arora, Atlee and Ramanagirivasan get the dialoguebaazi right even as the story rotates between several moods – humour, tragedy and revenge.
While Pathaan was high on style, Jawan raises the stakes with a story and purpose, too. The women get their moment in the sun and aren’t treated secondary to the hero, no matter how many SRKs join the party. Deepika Padukone looks beautiful and is solid in an extended cameo. Clash of words, ethics and wigs between SRK and Vijay Sethupathi is fun to watch. Exuding strange humour and rage, Sethupathi makes for a formidable villain. While the brief romantic track between Nayanthara and SRK doesn’t quite work, the girl squad comprising Nayanthara, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Girija Oak and Lehar Khan make their presence felt.
Promoted as an Anirudh (Ravichander) musical, the film’s background score and songs complement its style and nature. Zinda Banda and Chaleya are the best in the lot, but the latter has the most abrupt placement. While there is nothing that distracts you from the plot that has a dime a dozen twists and turns, at 2 hours 49 mins, the film needed a tighter edit. For action buffs, there is ample adrenaline rush throughout the story. Do not miss the opening sequence.
Jawan feeds off SRK’s stardom. It isn’t intimidated by him.Like a paisa vasool desi thaali, it has all kinds of flavour to satiate your taste buds. The reincarnation of action hero SRK hits the sweet spot.
Dream Girl 2 Movie Review Dhaval Roy, August 25, 2023, 1:30 PM IST critic s rating: 2.5/5 Dream Girl 2 story: Karamveer wants to marry his girlfriend, Pari. But he must first fulfil her father’s condition and make Rs 25 lakhs in six months. An easy way out for him is pretending to be a girl and dancing at a bar. Things take a bizarre turn when four people pursue Pooja/Karam for marriage.
Dream Girl 2 review: Director Raaj Shaandilyaa serves this comedy four years after the original Dream Girl, which was delightful for its quirky set-up and premise. The second outing has a similar premise. Karamveer (Ayushmann Khurrana) needs to raise an enormous amount of money quickly if he wants to marry his girlfriend, Pari Shrivastav (Ananya Panday). So, he pretends to be a woman, Pooja, and works as a dancer at Sona Bhai’s (Vijay Raaz) bar. Thereon, the movie has little new to offer throughout its 133 minutes. Writers Raaj and Naresh Kathooria have tried to crank up the comedy, but the narrative goes haywire and ends up as just a mishmash of situations and characters pursuing each other.
Besides Sona Bhai, Pooja attracts unwanted attention from Shoukiya (Rajpal Yadav) as she pretends to be a psychiatrist treating his brother Shahrukh (Abhishek Banerjee), who is depressed after a breakup. The much-widely spoken issue of mental health could have been treated far more sensitively in the plot, instead, it s left to being called a rich person’s disease. Shahrukh’s father, Abu Saleem (Paresh Rawal), believes marrying Pooja is the cure, and the family vows to reward her with Rs 50 lakhs for the unison. Amid this, there’s Shahrukh and Shoukiya’s sister Jumani (Seema Pahwa), who falls for Karam while his father Jagjit Singh (Annu Kapoor) is in love with her.
As the viewer tries to keep up with the characters’ shenanigans, some tracks are long-drawn, such as when Karam switches between being himself and Pooja. Many comedy scenes come across as too forced, and simply add ot the film. In comedy films, dialogues and their comic timing play a pivotal role in bringing out the laughs, but here, the one-liners here are kitschy and don t always land. When trying to convince Karam to become a dance girl, his friend Smiley (Manjot Singh), pointing to an aged customer on the dance floor, says, ‘Shakti nahi bachi par Shakti Kapoor poora bacha hai.’ While songs pop up one after the other, the music by Meet Bros and Tanishk Bagchi is not memorable, except for Dil Ka Telephone 2.0, a redux of the hit from the movie’s first instalment.
Ayushmann Khurrana skillfully switches between playing Karam and Pooja’s characters in the film. He particularly shines in the dance sequences and gets the latkas and jhatkas perfectly. His knack at pulling off situational comedy shows and he owns some of the best parts of the film. Ananya Panday has little scope to perform, and struggles with consistency in her Braj Bhasha dialogue delivery. Annu Kapoor stands out, while other actors like Paresh Rawal, Seema Pahwa, Vijay Raaz, Manjot Singh, and Abhishek Banerjee offer commendable support.
Dream Girl 2 relies on familiar territory, often straying into unnecessary comedic tangents. Despite some good performances and moments, the film falls short of recreating the quirky charm of its predecessor.
Dream Girl 2 Movie Review Dhaval Roy, August 25, 2023, 1:30 PM IST critic s rating: 2.5/5 Dream Girl 2 story: Karamveer wants to marry his girlfriend, Pari. But he must first fulfil her father’s condition and make Rs 25 lakhs in six months. An easy way out for him is pretending to be a girl and dancing at a bar. Things take a bizarre turn when four people pursue Pooja/Karam for marriage.
Dream Girl 2 review: Director Raaj Shaandilyaa serves this comedy four years after the original Dream Girl, which was delightful for its quirky set-up and premise. The second outing has a similar premise. Karamveer (Ayushmann Khurrana) needs to raise an enormous amount of money quickly if he wants to marry his girlfriend, Pari Shrivastav (Ananya Panday). So, he pretends to be a woman, Pooja, and works as a dancer at Sona Bhai’s (Vijay Raaz) bar. Thereon, the movie has little new to offer throughout its 133 minutes. Writers Raaj and Naresh Kathooria have tried to crank up the comedy, but the narrative goes haywire and ends up as just a mishmash of situations and characters pursuing each other.
Besides Sona Bhai, Pooja attracts unwanted attention from Shoukiya (Rajpal Yadav) as she pretends to be a psychiatrist treating his brother Shahrukh (Abhishek Banerjee), who is depressed after a breakup. The much-widely spoken issue of mental health could have been treated far more sensitively in the plot, instead, it s left to being called a rich person’s disease. Shahrukh’s father, Abu Saleem (Paresh Rawal), believes marrying Pooja is the cure, and the family vows to reward her with Rs 50 lakhs for the unison. Amid this, there’s Shahrukh and Shoukiya’s sister Jumani (Seema Pahwa), who falls for Karam while his father Jagjit Singh (Annu Kapoor) is in love with her.
As the viewer tries to keep up with the characters’ shenanigans, some tracks are long-drawn, such as when Karam switches between being himself and Pooja. Many comedy scenes come across as too forced, and simply add ot the film. In comedy films, dialogues and their comic timing play a pivotal role in bringing out the laughs, but here, the one-liners here are kitschy and don t always land. When trying to convince Karam to become a dance girl, his friend Smiley (Manjot Singh), pointing to an aged customer on the dance floor, says, ‘Shakti nahi bachi par Shakti Kapoor poora bacha hai.’ While songs pop up one after the other, the music by Meet Bros and Tanishk Bagchi is not memorable, except for Dil Ka Telephone 2.0, a redux of the hit from the movie’s first instalment.
Ayushmann Khurrana skillfully switches between playing Karam and Pooja’s characters in the film. He particularly shines in the dance sequences and gets the latkas and jhatkas perfectly. His knack at pulling off situational comedy shows and he owns some of the best parts of the film. Ananya Panday has little scope to perform, and struggles with consistency in her Braj Bhasha dialogue delivery. Annu Kapoor stands out, while other actors like Paresh Rawal, Seema Pahwa, Vijay Raaz, Manjot Singh, and Abhishek Banerjee offer commendable support.
Dream Girl 2 relies on familiar territory, often straying into unnecessary comedic tangents. Despite some good performances and moments, the film falls short of recreating the quirky charm of its predecessor.
Retribution Movie Review Dhaval Roy, August 24, 2023, 11:55 AM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Retribution story: A hotshot banker is trapped in his car with his two children as the bomb under their seats will explode if they try to get out if he tries to get help. The mastermind holds him to ransom, but will he manage to save his and his kids’ lives?
Retribution review: Liam Neeson’s kids have been ‘taken’ in his previous movies, and we have seen the plot of a vehicle exploding if the driver does not do as the culprit says in the Keanu Reeves-starrer Speed. Based on Alberto Marini’s thriller El Desconocido, Retribution combines the two, but here, the lead guy, Matt Turner (Liam Neeson), is also taken hostage with his kids. Matt is a successful banker in Germany who has made a fortune by dissuading (lying to) his clients from backing out of investments. And his family life is in the doldrums, as he’s barely been there for them. Now, it’s retribution time, as Matt must pay for his sly business ways and for possibly destroying someone’s life. Only he cannot think of any such situation.
Throughout the 90 minutes of its runtime, screenplay writer Christopher Salmanpour weaves a gripping tale and manages to keep the situation tense throughout. And you want to know the big backstory and what Matt is being punished for. The parts where the villain sets him up and has the cops hot on his heels are interesting. But the story has loopholes, such as Matt putting the caller on mute for long durations without raising any suspicion is unconvincing. However, the taut direction and screenplay come unravelling when the big twist comes about. The revelation of who is behind it all is an anticlimax of sorts. Not much comes out of the theme of ‘retribution,’ as the motive for going to such great lengths is shallow, and the villain only reminds Matt that his life is a lie.
Nimród Antal’s direction is commendable as the viewer stays hooked to the happenings, even though the movie is almost entirely set inside a car and on a phone call. Harry Gregson-Williams’s music adds to the dramatic and tense milieu perfectly.
Liam Neeson handles the duty of playing the dad in distress but with conviction to see his children to safety well, especially in the absence of high-octane action scenes. Jack Champion, as his grumpy teenage son, and Lilly Aspell, as his young daughter trapped in the car with him, are also good. Embeth Davidtz, as his wife, and Noma Dumezweni, the police officer handling the case, are impactful in their short roles.
Retribution is a one-time watch that will keep you engaged until the end. But the story and twist take away from the drama and prevent the movie from being as impactful as it initially promises.
Ghoomer Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, August 17, 2023, 7:17 AM IST critic s rating: 4.0/5 Story: Just before making her dream debut in international cricket as a batsman, Anina Dixit (Saiyami Kher) loses her right hand in a freak accident. This ends her desire to live, until she stumbles upon an eccentric former cricketer turned alcoholic, Paddy (Abhishek Bachchan).
Review: R Balki’s Ghoomer, prioritises magic over logic (also a fantastic monologue by Abhishek), to tell a tale of human resilience and vulnerability. The film is inspired by the story of Károly Takács, the late Hungarian right-hand shooter who won two Olympic gold medals with his left hand after his other hand was seriously injured. Barring a few like Jayprad Desai’s outstanding cricket biopic ‘Kaun Pravin Tambe?’ (2022), Indian sports movies have largely been limited to the formulaic rags-to-riches theme. Politics within the team, team selection process and financial struggles of an athlete have dominated the narrative. R Balki’s Ghoomer breaks this template to give you a poignant and powerful tale on human resilience through cricket.
In true Balki style, gender and age-related roles, superstitions and stereotypes are dismissed seamlessly. Shabana Azmi brimming with a youthful spirit plays Anina’s cricket expert granny. A self-proclaimed Roger Federer fan (which the senior actress is in real life, too), her character’s knowledge of ICC cricket rules and regulations, cricket trivia and technique to recipes of health drinks for pro athletes, works well to shatter the notion that women don’t get statistics. This makes you wonder, why female cricket enthusiasts predominantly end up as cricket anchors and not experts.
The tortured yet endearing relationship between the rude coach and his player, is a common trope. Paddy resorting to a cruel training-toxic coach approach, is predictable but effective (remember Whiplash?). The film gains from their fiery conversations and differences. Paddy (Padam Singh Sodhi), is a loner who drowns his sorrows in a secluded house. His strange encounter with Anina changes their course of lives. He offers to train her so she could re-enter the Indian team as a one-handed bowler. He reminds himself, “Winners ko kaisay lagta hai, yeh ek baar mehsoos karna hai.” What makes the disgruntled misfit help Anina and transform her weakness into strength, forms the story.
Paddy shares a strange relationship with the women in his life. This includes his house help, transwoman Rasika (feisty Ivanka Das) and an aspiring cricketer battling a life-altering disability. We hear of his good deeds through Rasika, but that side of him is long buried under a brutally impolite, ill-mannered persona. The only time he refrains from passing a barrage of snide remarks is when he’s sleeping. Years of rejection have turned his anger into stoic silence. He remembers, “I dreamt of playing for India one day and I played for India only for a day.”
Meryl Streep’s introduction in the ‘Only Murders’… series as an actress who was never successful, sums up Paddy’s character. “All in pursuit of a moment in the spotlight, where you hope someone might see you and say, “where have you been”. What if those magic words never come and it s only rejection, over and over again?” It takes courage for an actor to play a character that speaks his truth. Underrated for too long, Ghoomer gives Abhishek his due. He bowls the best delivery of his career. The self-reflection makes it all the more real.
The fact that Saiyami Kher is a cricketer-turned-actress, makes her the best choice for this extremely challenging part. One-handed bowling with just the left arm is no cakewalk but she nails it. Her athletic physique, stance and cricketing shots are impeccable. Her showdown with coach Paddy and boyfriend Jeet (Angad Bedi) are the film’s most moving scenes. Saiyami breathes life into a role that didn t require her to wallow in self-pity and yet make her trauma seen. Shabana Azmi’s majestic presence and timing, is a treat to watch.
Ghoomer is elevated by its performances but its soul lies in R. Balki, Rahul Sengupta and Rishi Virmani’s uplifting writing that makes you both teary-eyed and chuckle. “Woh leftie nahi left hi hai” says Paddy to Rasika describing Anina. Characters are refreshingly supportive, non-judgmental, unpretentious and good-hearted.
The film struggles a bit towards the end. It gets a tad predictable and crowd pleasing (match portions) as the creative liberties get a bit excessive. Can India’s national cricket team give its much coveted spot to a one-armed spin bowler, who cannot bat or field properly? Is media attention and the equal opportunity stance of selectors enough to bend the rules? The artistic license is aplenty but Ghoomer consciously chooses magic, hope and second chances. Your mind takes a sudden jolt when thinking, What happens when everything s taken away from you in a span of few minutes? Kisisay koi cheez bewaja cheeni jaye, woh galat hai. You can tell how obsessed Abhishek, Saiyami and Balki are about cricket while watching this one.
Gadar 2 Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, August 11, 2023, 6:01 PM IST critic s rating: 2.5/5 Story: Decades after he rescued his wife Sakeena (Ameesha Patel) from Pakistan, one man army-truck driver Tara Singh (Sunny Deol) must illegally cross the border once again to save his son (Utkarsh Sharma) from the wrath of Pak General Hamid Iqbal (Manish Wadhwa). The latter holds a grudge against Tara for what he did in 1947.
Review: 22 years after Gadar: Ek Prem Katha caused a tsunami at the box office, Anil Sharma comes up with a sequel that tries to recreate the chest-thumping patriotism and familial love in times of war. It even makes a strong case for secularism. “Hindustan Musalmanon ka hai, Christians ka hai, Sikhon ka hai, Hindustaniyon ka hai.”
What the film lacks is a solid premise. The sentiment stemming from loss of lives and brutal aftermath of the partition moved the audiences in the first film. The cross border love story and a tale of survival tugged at your heartstrings as it had a solid emotional core despite the provocative dialogues. The sequel struggles to leave you emotionally charged. Gadar 2 tries to cash in on the nostalgia factor, filmy dialoguebaazi and slowmo action scenes, without a story or purpose that can hold it all together.
Sakeena’s father Ashraf Ali (Amrish Puri) is no more. Tara Singh finds a new nemesis in Hamid Iqbal, a Pakistani Army General, who ruthlessly beheads people for showing their loyalty for the Bhagavad Gita over Quran. A war is looming (1971), given India’s involvement in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), and Iqbal seeks revenge for this situation and the past. He captures and tortures Tara’s son in Pak, who crosses the border in search of his father. This compels Tara to repeat what he did ages ago, this time around for his son. The son’s love track in Pakistan with Muskaan (Simrat Kaur) feels absolutely irrelevant and unnecessary. The sequel comes across like an overstretched remake with a meandering plot that goes on for over 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The film’s redeeming factor is its music and Sunny Deol. Sung by Udit Narayan once again, Mithoon’s reprised version of Uttam Singh’s beautiful composition ‘Udd jaa Kaale Kaava’ is the film’s highlight. It conjures more emotions and nostalgia than the entire film put together.
Sunny Deol is endearing and sincere. His powerful presence and heavy duty dialogues continue to have an impact. Tara wants his son Charanjeet (Utkarsh Sharma) to be educated so that he doesn’t end up as a truck driver, too. His concern for his child and love feels real. And of course for fans of the previous film, there is the iconic hand pump scene in this film too.
Ameesha Patel doesn’t have much to do except for tearfully waiting for the men in her life to come back home. Utkarsh Sharma gets some crucial scenes and while he’s pleasant, he lacks the screen presence required for this action drama.
It’s not that Gadar 2 is badly made, it’s just full of characters that don’t have the depth to stir the desired emotion in you or hold your attention for too long. For Sunny Deol fans, the actor does bring back his star power and that quintessential roar that’s hard to miss in the film.
OMG 2 Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, August 11, 2023, 2:32 AM IST critic s rating: 4.0/5 OMG 2 Story: A diehard bhakt of Lord Shiva, Kanti Sharan Mudgal (Pankaj Tripathi) is forced to question his own thoughts and societal norms on morality, religion and sex after his son gets expelled from school on grounds of obscenity.
OMG 2 Review: A video by an anonymous person captures Kanti’s troubled teen son Vivek, masturbating (‘selfie’ as a slang) in the school washroom.
Once the video goes viral, the school expels Vivek (a brilliant Aarush Varma) to salvage its image and reputation. Ashamed of his son’s vulgar act and fearing the public outrage, Kanti decides to flee with his family to an undisclosed location. His son’s suicide attempts and declining mental health owing to humiliation and bullying, compel him to open his eyes and question his own understanding of being a parent and an adult.
Religious and God-fearing Kanti decides to sue the school for the mental harassment caused to his son. He holds the elite educational institution accountable for being negligent towards their student’s need for sex education and right to information. The school appoints English speaking Kamini Maheshwari (Yami Gautam) as their defence lawyer. The latter argues that ‘masturbation is a sin’, our conservative society isn’t ready for sex education yet and there s a reason why private parts are called private. Their contradicting views and verbal exchange in court in front of a rather delightful judge (Pavan Malhotra as Judge Purushottam Nagar) forms the story. The film does take a few liberties in depiction of the court proceedings. You can even tell who s winning the legal battle fought on moral grounds but it s still quite interesting.
It’s rare for sequels to outshine the original and writer-director Amit Rai’s clever and crisp courtroom comedy fulfils this mammoth task. A spiritual sequel to Umesh Shukla’s OMG – Oh My God! (2012), OMG 2 hits the nail on the head while addressing a rather sensitive topic. Funny, fearless and entertaining, Rai doesn’t play safe. His writing challenges the status quo and yet upholds the sanctity of religion, dignity and India’s family values. His language is desi and voice, progressive. The social dramedy dares to begin a dialogue and conversation perceived as awkward. It calls out the parental flaws that have been long buried under the garb of culture.
Most importantly, it’s a courageous attempt to understand the unspoken distance between desi parents and their children. How many of us are comfortable watching a lovemaking scene in a movie in front of our parents? Why are vagina and penis given names and not addressed as vagina and penis! Why is there no talk on the menstrual cycle in schools? Porn is accessible freely on the internet but sex education is a taboo. Women can perhaps be safer in the country if men know more about their sexual needs and boundaries?
The first half is more gripping but through its 2 hours, 36 minutes runtime, the narrative doesn t get preachy or sluggish. Akshay Kumar, who had a cameo in the previous film, gets a larger part to play here as the messenger of God (altered from playing God to his messenger after the CBFC modification). There are at least 27 modifications made for Indian viewing so expect weird dubbing in parts. The A rating is an issue given how important this film is for families and teenagers.
OMG 2 boasts of a talented ensemble cast. Pankaj Tripathi is excellent as a father torn between guilt and anger. Akshay’s starry presence and hippie look make an impression. He humming ‘Udd jaa Kaale Kaava’ of Gadar is a chef’s kiss, since the two films (Gadar 2 and OMG 2) clash at the box office. Yami Gautam is sincere but the attempt to project her as a menacing lawyer by resorting to over the shoulder camera angles don’t work.
OMG2 shows you how a film can be entertaining, socially relevant and informative. You don’t need to leave your brain behind to have a good laugh. Take your family along to watch this interesting blend of social commentary and humour.
Barbie Movie Review Neil Soans, July 21, 2023, 12:29 PM IST critic s rating: 4.0/5 Story: Things start changing for Barbie (Margot Robbie) in Barbieland, and she must leave her perfect life to do something about it.
Review: For all practical purposes, Barbieland is pristine. Various iterations of Barbies and Kens live their beautiful lives in blissful ignorance of the real world. But when the quintessential Barbie (Margot Robbie) begins to have unusual thoughts, she is directed by another Barbie (Kate McKinnon) to enter the world of humans and address her existential crisis. However, chaos ensues when Ken (Ryan Gosling) tags along with her on this quest.
Barbie’s production, combined with its costume, art & set design, is picture-perfect, immersing us into the predominantly pastel and particularly pink Barbieland with a plethora of colourful characters. Played by an ensemble cast, some are given substantially more to do, while others are relegated to the backdrop. Even though this is by design, it does make some of these characters slightly redundant, albeit not overbearing. Margot Robbie reminds us of her incredible depth and range as the main character Barbie and is perfectly cast in the lead role. Ryan Gosling is a scene-stealer whose Ken is an unlikely brand of a jerk that draws laughs effortlessly, often at his own expense. However, the ace in the pack is America Ferrera, who is impressive, especially in one memorable monologue that perfectly captures the complex conundrum of women’s equality.
This brings us to the film’s most vital aspect – its writing. Taking a prominently feminist outlook, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach deftly pull off the tricky tightrope act of a self-aware screenplay that hits hard on the nose while being thoroughly entertaining. Using comedy and musical numbers to charm the audience, the message is deliberately heavy-handed. Sure, there’s a looming question of whom this film is aimed at, and ‘Barbie’ is certainly not just for those who’d play with these dolls. Slathered with satire that eventually sheds off its sugar-coat, this film decisively takes the patriarchal bull by the horns. Quite the risk by toymakers Mattel, Gerwig’s style meets substance with her direction that dissolves all debate of ‘Barbie’ being a corporate cash grab as it will undoubtedly tip-toe its way to the front row of awards ceremonies.
Barbie Movie Review Neil Soans, July 21, 2023, 12:29 PM IST critic s rating: 4.0/5 Story: Things start changing for Barbie (Margot Robbie) in Barbieland, and she must leave her perfect life to do something about it.
Review: For all practical purposes, Barbieland is pristine. Various iterations of Barbies and Kens live their beautiful lives in blissful ignorance of the real world. But when the quintessential Barbie (Margot Robbie) begins to have unusual thoughts, she is directed by another Barbie (Kate McKinnon) to enter the world of humans and address her existential crisis. However, chaos ensues when Ken (Ryan Gosling) tags along with her on this quest.
Barbie’s production, combined with its costume, art & set design, is picture-perfect, immersing us into the predominantly pastel and particularly pink Barbieland with a plethora of colourful characters. Played by an ensemble cast, some are given substantially more to do, while others are relegated to the backdrop. Even though this is by design, it does make some of these characters slightly redundant, albeit not overbearing. Margot Robbie reminds us of her incredible depth and range as the main character Barbie and is perfectly cast in the lead role. Ryan Gosling is a scene-stealer whose Ken is an unlikely brand of a jerk that draws laughs effortlessly, often at his own expense. However, the ace in the pack is America Ferrera, who is impressive, especially in one memorable monologue that perfectly captures the complex conundrum of women’s equality.
This brings us to the film’s most vital aspect – its writing. Taking a prominently feminist outlook, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach deftly pull off the tricky tightrope act of a self-aware screenplay that hits hard on the nose while being thoroughly entertaining. Using comedy and musical numbers to charm the audience, the message is deliberately heavy-handed. Sure, there’s a looming question of whom this film is aimed at, and ‘Barbie’ is certainly not just for those who’d play with these dolls. Slathered with satire that eventually sheds off its sugar-coat, this film decisively takes the patriarchal bull by the horns. Quite the risk by toymakers Mattel, Gerwig’s style meets substance with her direction that dissolves all debate of ‘Barbie’ being a corporate cash grab as it will undoubtedly tip-toe its way to the front row of awards ceremonies.
Bawaal Movie Review Dhaval Roy, July 21, 2023, 3:30 AM IST critic s rating: 3.5/5 Story: A young couple going through a rough patch in their marriage embarks on a journey to Europe to explore World War II sites. Will they mend their relationship amidst the historically-charged backdrop?
Review: You know what to expect from a romantic travel movie—postcard-perfect sites, adventure, and the lead pair falling in love on the escapade. Then there’s director Nitesh Tiwari’s Bawaal, which offers all this and much more. To begin with, props to Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (renowned for writing and helming quirky films such as Nil Battey Sannata, Panga, Bareilly Ki Barfi, and more) and for weaving a story on love and war that’s poignant and heartrending yet has light moments and romance without one element overpowering the other. And the movie also teaches some life lessons.
Ajay Dixit, aka Ajju (Varun Dhawan), is a hotshot middle school teacher from Lucknow who has faked his way through life and is about keeping up appearances. He marries a full-of-life and bright girl, Nisha (Janhvi Kapoor), because a trophy wife would be good for his image. But Ajay witnesses something on their wedding day that convinces him Nisha might tarnish his perfect image. So, he bars her from stepping out of the house and mistreats her at home.
An incident at his school leads to his suspension with pending disciplinary action. To evade this, he decides to deflect everyone’s attention and complete his History syllabus on World War II by conducting classes from the holocuast sites in Europe. Since his parents fund the trip, Nisha joins him, too. The rest of the movie is about how they relive the soldiers’ and war victims’ agony. The trip proves to be one of self-discovery for Ajay.
The movie’s build-up is a tad sluggish, and it spends too much time overexplaining Ajay’s fabricated image and how he mistreats Nisha. Some tracks are long-drawn and lose the punch after a point—like a Gujarati family constantly passes packets of dry snacks to each other on the plane or when Ajay erroneously ends up at an opera instead of a museum.
The captivating run begins post-interval with the WW II recreation. All the sequences—at Omaha Beach, Anne Frank’s house, and the concentration camp—are intense and splendid. Director Nitesh Tiwary, cinematographer Mitesh Mirchandani and editor Charu Shree Roy show their prowess, especially in the transitions between the 1940s and the present. The gas chamber sequence during the fag end of the duo’s trip will especially give the viewers gooseflesh. Daniel B George’s background score also complements the scenes well. Mithoon, Tanishk Bagchi and Akashdeep Sengupta’s tracks are hummable, too.
While rediscovering love against the backdrop of the World War II is a fresh concept, writers Nitesh, Piyush Gupta, Nikhil Mehrotra, and Shreyas Jain do not have much to offer in terms of the duo’s romantic encounters or Ajay turning into a new leaf. Nisha’s life lessons are done well, such as the real war we fight is looking outward for happiness and our undying greed.
Varun Dhawan gives a powerful performance as a mediocre and selfish guy who cares about nothing else but his image. He effortlessly pulls off scenes where he admits his flaws. He is excellent in the scene when he imagines being a war victim with only 30 minutes and a small bag to pack his entire life and what he prioritises. Janhvi Kapoor shines in the role of a bright but humble girl who holds on to the hope of finding love in her husband. She especially proves her mettle in the scenes she takes Ajay through the painful history of World War II, and her dialogue delivery is on-point. Other cast members, including Manoj Pahwa and Anjuman Saxena as his parents, and Mukesh Tiwari as the MLA, lend able support.
Bawaal is worth watching for World War II history, especially the recreation of the holocaust, and Varun as well as Janhvi’s stellar performances.
Oppenheimer Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, July 20, 2023, 9:52 AM IST critic s rating: 4.5/5 Synopsis: A chilling biographical drama, Oppenheimer delves into the life of American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the Father of Atomic Bomb’. The film chronicles the events that precede and succeed the world’s first nuclear test led by Oppenheimer for the US Army, code named ‘Trinity’.
Review: Love and regret lie at the heart of Christopher Nolan’s movies no matter how complex and demanding they seem in structure and storytelling. True to his style in spirit but deviating from the usual in execution and content, the acclaimed director creates a moving masterpiece on human disillusionment. How a man’s biggest discovery and bravery marked his biggest doom. Oppenheimer may have been a genius, but he wasn’t acquainted with the ways of the world. He spoke his mind, trusted everyone, and paid a price for it.
Talky and dense, the film unravels like a psychological horror-investigative-courtroom thriller even as it recreates known historical events. IMAX cameras go dangerously close to the actors exposing every pore, every unsaid emotion, and every falling tear perfectly. Sound and silence especially in that chilling detonation scene, play an unsettling game of hide and seek. Ludwig Göransson’s music lends the film its unnerving ticking time bomb effect. Nolan keeps amplifying your anxiety, holding you emotionally captive with no interest to slow down whatsoever. You find yourself being moved to tears as he finally releases his flawed lead character from the prison of his own guilt.
The 3-hour long film is based on Pulitzer Prize-winning biography called ‘American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer’. It meticulously follows the celebrated and controversial physicist s life story in a nonlinear fashion. The narrative shuttles between past and present while addressing the key events leading up to the nuclear test and its repercussions. These involve the American Jew’s equation with self, fellow scientists including Albert Einstein, political activism leaning left, implications on him being a Russian spy and revocation of his security clearance in an unfair government hearing.
A man who took great pride in his discoveries could never look at it in the eye. The atomic bomb though only forms a section of the film, it largely studies the mindset of its creator. Oppenheimer’s ambition and relentless love for physics swamp him with a sense of impending doom and moral scruples. Nolan cleverly pits Oppenheimer’s heart against his mind and the disconnect between the two at the centre of his film.
If you happen to be a World War II geek, you will get the Germany-USA-Japan-Russia arms race and socio-political situation better.
One man’s desire to combat fascism and save lives resulted in the destruction of human lives and no one could have played it better than Cillian Murphy. His soul-piercing blue eyes convey agony and quiet anger remarkably. Robert Downey Jr and Emily Blunt are excellent. Matt Damon, Rami Malek and Kenneth Branagh are well cast in extended cameos.
Oppenheimer leaves you in tatters as it is a gripping piece on a man consumed by guilt and inner turmoil. “A man who became death, the destroyer of worlds.” You won t forget this film for a long time.
Neeyat Movie Review Dhaval Roy, July 7, 2023, 1:34 PM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Neeyat story: When an exiled billionaire mysteriously dies at his birthday party at a Scottish castle, all his family and friends are prime suspects, each with a motive to kill him. CBI Officer Mira Rao must use her skills to solve the murder.
Neeyat review: A gothic Scottish castle overlooking the sea, a stormy full moon night, a murder with several prime suspects—each with a clear motive, and an awkward but intelligent CBI officer trying to solve the mystery; prima facie, director Anu Menon’s Whodunnit, seems to have a lot going for it to keep the viewer hooked. The thriller begins well as the colourful, exiled billionaire Ashish Kapoor (Ram Kapoor) and his posse of richlings are introduced as everyone gathers for his birthday party. This includes his best friend Sanjay Suri (Neeraj Kabi) and his wife Noor Suri (Dipannita Sharma), gregarious brother-in-law Jimmy (Rahul Bose), spiritual healer and tarot card reader Zara (Niki Walia), girlfriend Lisa (Shahana Goswami), son Ryan (Shashank Arora), and niece Sasha (Ishika Mehra). You can tell everyone is mooching off the magnate, and even those not in his inner circle, event manager Tanveer (Danesh Razvi), secretary Kay (Amrita Puri) and Ryan’s girlfriend Gigi (Prajakta Koli) also have something to hide.
There’s an unlikely attendee among them. CBI officer Mira Rao, who’s there to extradite Ashish, but ends up investigating his murder. Mira is the gawky genius who can call out deception, knows her chemistry, and is a sharp observer. What follows isn’t unlike murder mysteries—skeletons tumbling out of the closet, trap doors, tonnes of secrets and then some. While all the ingredients are in place, the film falters in execution. Mira is served with all the clues on a platter—characters discussing secrets as she’s passed out two feet away from them and gaining consciousness, glow-in-the-dark socks, carelessly hidden papers peeking from behind bathroom mirrors, and so on. Andreas Neo’s cinematography, Lydia Moss’s art direction and the film’s overall treatment are good. But as the mystery unravels, the plot gets thinner; things seem too convenient and cliched in many instances. Some loopholes are difficult to ignore, and the long roster of characters to investigate also means the pace dips and the narrative drags intermittently.
Vidya Balan as a brainiac officer described as a walking encyclopaedia delivers a decent performance. We ve seen Vidya Balan in better form (in other films) but this is far from her finest performance. Ram Kapoor delivers a finessed performance, whether as an infamous and flagrant business tycoon, a disappointed father or a mean-tempered man. Rahul Bose is loud and unconvincing in his party-hearty no-gooder act. Shashank Arora stands out as the junkie and troubled son, and his dialogue timing is impeccable. Neeraj Kabi and Niki Walia also deserve mention.
The film is watchable purely for the performances and the way it s stylised. It offer a couple of spooky scenes, too. But for a thriller, the movie deserved a far tighter screenplay, more suspense and surprise elements thrown in. But we are left needing for that.
Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny Movie Review Ronak Kotecha, June 29, 2023, 1:30 PM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 STORY: Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is up for one final adventure before hanging up his boots. It’s a race against time to find the lost half of a powerful time-turning device made by Archemedis the Great that will change the course of history forever.
REVIEW: As the curtains close on the legendary adventure franchise, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny marks the grand finale, and it does so with a mix of excitement, nostalgia, and a tinge of sadness. Harrison Ford, reprising his iconic role as the intrepid archaeologist Indy, takes us on one last thrilling journey before bidding farewell to the character that has captivated audiences for decades.
Director James Mangold seems to have had one agenda for this installment - just capture the essence of Indiana Jones as an embodiment of adventure. And he sure doesn’t hold back in delivering action-packed escapades. From the opening moments, we are treated to a young and handsome Harrison Ford, exuding the charm and wit that made Indy an irresistible hero, battling enemies and saving precious artifacts and friends.
One standout action sequence takes place aboard a train en route to Berlin, where Indy faces off against Nazis and the menacing villain Jürgen Voller, portrayed with palpable intensity by Mads Mikkelsen. The film takes us on a whirlwind global adventure, with each location used effectively as a backdrop for an adrenaline-pumping conflict. However, it is the elaborate chase scene set in Tangier, Morocco, that steals the show. It is undeniably one of the most exhilarating and jaw-dropping chase sequences in the entire Indiana Jones franchise, if not in cinematic history. The intense action exemplifies the tremendous effort put forth by the team behind the film. There is heavy use of special effects; some of it blends well while there are times when it sticks out as too fake with unnecessarily dark and dull frames.
The period setting, against the backdrop of World War II, is meticulously crafted, immersing viewers in the atmospheric and historically rich landscape. The attention to detail in recreating the era is commendable, transporting us back in time. While the film succeeds in capturing the spirit of Indiana Jones, it is not without its flaws. The runtime feels overly long, and the screenplay often drags, dampening the overall pacing. The writing, though intricate, fails to consistently engage, leaving certain moments feeling more laborious than thrilling. Director James Mangold and his three writers (Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and David Koepp) don’t succeed in giving us a wholesome Indiana Jones experience.
It’s quite a waste of a lot of talent as all the good performances are in service of a very mediocre and soulless script. Harrison Ford, in his farewell portrayal of Indy, exudes charisma and carries the weight of the film with ease. Phoebe Waller-Bridge shines as Helena Shaw, Indy s goddaughter complementing his adventurous spirit. Mads Mikkelsen is lethal as Jürgen Voller, a highly motivated former Nazi also hired by NASA. Antonio Banderas is good as Indy s trusted and reliable friend, while young talent Ethann Isidore leaves a mark.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny may not be the franchise s pinnacle, but tries hard to bid a fitting farewell to this beloved series. Despite its flaws, it deserves recognition for its commitment to delivering an adventure of a lifetime.
SatyaPrem Ki Katha Movie Review Ronak Kotecha, June 29, 2023, 4:07 PM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Story: It’s love at first sight for Satyaprem aka Sattu (Kartik Aaryan) the minute he sees Katha (Kiara Advani), a beautiful and aspiring singer from an affluent Gujarati family in Ahmedabad. But their love story isn’t as simple as Sattu would have imagined.
Review: A failed law exam, no job or friends and constant jibes from his maa -behen (as he likes to address them) at home - Satyaprem’s life is far from ideal but that doesn’t ever dim his toothy smile that he wears so confidently, no matter what. His father (Gajraj Rao) is his only friend, who understands him. He eggs him on when his son falls head over heels for the first girl he sets his eyes on – a strikingly beautiful Katha, who besides being way out of his league, also has a boyfriend, who is equally rich. But Sattu finds a ray of hope when his gossipy father known as Panchayati Kaka brings him the good news that Katha’s prem kahani with her boyfriend has ended for good. Armed with his smile and unconditional love for Katha, Sattu marches on to confess his love to her, without bothering to find out the reasons for her breakup. And that’s when a new chapter opens up in his doomed one-sided love story for the girl, who is harbouring a big secret.
Revealing anything more than this about the plot would be a sureshot spoiler. But let’s just say that Satyaprem ki Katha isn’t the kind of film that you would’ve expected it to be from what you saw in the trailer. Far from a rib-tickling comedy featuring some of the finest talents from the world of Gujarati and Hindi cinema, this film is hard-hitting, poignant and delivers a strong message. The film falters at the screenplay level, which is laborious and gets stuck in a loop of repetitive conflicts. Writer Karan Shrikant Sharma throws in a few socio-cultural comedic punches, taking swipes at typical Gujarati families and their staple foods like dhokla, khakra and gota. But the overall theme of the film is committed to driving home a social message. While doing so, the narrative often drags with scenes that don’t make the best use of the talents at hand.
Kartik Aarayn once again wears his heart on his sleeve and flashes his pearly whites way more than required while playing the simpleton Sattu, who believes in calling spade a spade because ‘sach bolne se pehle sochna kya’. There is no denying that playing a relatable boy-next-door is Kartik’s core strength and he does it with immense ease once again. It’s so easy to root for him even when his Gujarati accent is all over the place. Somehow, it’s endearing, and sits well with his character of a dim-wit loser. Kiara Advani has a more difficult role to portray here. Katha’s story has an unspoken emotion that needs to be understood and the actress gets the accent and the feel of the character spot on. Kiara delivers a fine and restrained performance in a complex role, by far the best of her career. Director Sameer Vidwans and his writer give their women a voice, by showing us an unconventional Ahmedabadi middle-class family where the ladies not only run the house but also ensure that the men are well aware of the deeply non-patriarchal dynamic. But, there are also dialogues like ‘aap pe aise sau baidiyan qurbaan’ as Sattu tells his father, which goes squarely against the very core of the film’s message. But even with such uneven dialogues, the battery of talented character actors like Gajraj Rao, Supriya Pathak and Siddharth Randeria perform their parts with full conviction. Rajpal Yadav is utterly wasted in a cameo that had a huge potential to bring good comic relief. The film’s music (Manan Bhardwaj and Payal Dev) blends well with the narrative and is quite melodious. The recreated version of Shae Gill and Ali Sethi’s OG Pakistani chartbuster ‘Pasoori’, sung by Arijit Singh and Tulsi Kumar that has sparked a controversy, doesn’t leave any lasting impact. Cinematographer Ayananka Bose captures the essence of Ahmedabad’s cosmopolitan, yet conventional vibe quite beautifully.
Satyprem Ki Katha is driven by its need to preach and give a message. The subject does move you and leaves you with much to think about, however, it tends to take the more emotional route than an entertaining one.
Tiku Weds Sheru Movie Review Dhaval Roy, June 23, 2023, 5:14 PM IST critic s rating: 2.5/5 Tiku Weds Sheru story: This is the story of two wannabe actors with silver-screen dreams in a marriage of convenience. As they are forced to “compromise” to survive in Bollywood, they find love in each other. Will they make it big with each other’s support?
Tiku Weds Sheru review: You know what to expect from a movie based on Bollywood, especially on the life of junior or background artistes trying to make it big in the ruthless world. Tiku Weds Sheru gives you a glimpse of all that through Shiraz Afghani aka Sheru (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) who thinks he’s the cat’s whiskers and hams every time he’s in front of the camera. As he tries to make it big, he works as a pimp to survive, though earnest to leave that life behind.
On the other hand, there’s Tiku (Avneet Kaur), a fierce and spoilt girl from Bhopal with a flair for writing poetry who wants to escape her misogynistic family and become a superstar. Her big ticket to Bollywood comes in the form of Sheru, who pretends to be a film financier. The duo gets married because Sheru gets a dowry that he can use to pay off a loan shark. The story is about how they navigate through life in tinseltown, and become a family. But their lives turn upside down when Sheru is arrested as he takes to drug peddling, Tiku tries to make it big in the industry and is embroiled in the same ugly world.
The film’s narrative and Sai Kabir’s direction suffer from a lack of cohesion and flow. It’s the love story of two ‘strugglers’ in part and about what junior artistes face in the name of getting the big break. Often, the screenplay does not do justice to either theme. Tiku gets pregnant with someone else’s child, whom Sheru accepts quite readily seems a bit unconvincing.
Nawazuddin as a loud junior artiste hits it out of the park with his performance. He drops filmi dialogues such as “Hum jab bhi milte hain dil se milte hain, warna khwab mein bhi mushkil se milte hain,” as effortlessly as he emotes. Avneet Kaur shows tremendous promise both as a fiery and self-assured young woman and a desperate girl who’s broken when she discovers her husband’s reality. She shines in the scene when she breaks down and grabs food from a film set after she realises she was sold off with the promise of a role that she does not bag.
The film has a sluggish start and doesn’t have much new to offer until the end. What’s more, you feel no empathy for the characters. The movie is watchable for Nawazuddin’s performance, though his dressing up as a woman in a dance number could have been skipped.
Tiku Weds Sheru Movie Review Dhaval Roy, June 23, 2023, 5:14 PM IST critic s rating: 2.5/5 Tiku Weds Sheru story: This is the story of two wannabe actors with silver-screen dreams in a marriage of convenience. As they are forced to “compromise” to survive in Bollywood, they find love in each other. Will they make it big with each other’s support?
Tiku Weds Sheru review: You know what to expect from a movie based on Bollywood, especially on the life of junior or background artistes trying to make it big in the ruthless world. Tiku Weds Sheru gives you a glimpse of all that through Shiraz Afghani aka Sheru (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) who thinks he’s the cat’s whiskers and hams every time he’s in front of the camera. As he tries to make it big, he works as a pimp to survive, though earnest to leave that life behind.
On the other hand, there’s Tiku (Avneet Kaur), a fierce and spoilt girl from Bhopal with a flair for writing poetry who wants to escape her misogynistic family and become a superstar. Her big ticket to Bollywood comes in the form of Sheru, who pretends to be a film financier. The duo gets married because Sheru gets a dowry that he can use to pay off a loan shark. The story is about how they navigate through life in tinseltown, and become a family. But their lives turn upside down when Sheru is arrested as he takes to drug peddling, Tiku tries to make it big in the industry and is embroiled in the same ugly world.
The film’s narrative and Sai Kabir’s direction suffer from a lack of cohesion and flow. It’s the love story of two ‘strugglers’ in part and about what junior artistes face in the name of getting the big break. Often, the screenplay does not do justice to either theme. Tiku gets pregnant with someone else’s child, whom Sheru accepts quite readily seems a bit unconvincing.
Nawazuddin as a loud junior artiste hits it out of the park with his performance. He drops filmi dialogues such as “Hum jab bhi milte hain dil se milte hain, warna khwab mein bhi mushkil se milte hain,” as effortlessly as he emotes. Avneet Kaur shows tremendous promise both as a fiery and self-assured young woman and a desperate girl who’s broken when she discovers her husband’s reality. She shines in the scene when she breaks down and grabs food from a film set after she realises she was sold off with the promise of a role that she does not bag.
The film has a sluggish start and doesn’t have much new to offer until the end. What’s more, you feel no empathy for the characters. The movie is watchable for Nawazuddin’s performance, though his dressing up as a woman in a dance number could have been skipped.
Adipurush Movie Review Renuka Vyavahare, June 16, 2023, 4:45 PM IST critic s rating: 3.0/5 Adipurush Story: The film is a screen adaptation of Valmiki’s Ramayana.
Adipurush Review: To tell the country’s most revered good vs evil tale, as old as the hills to the contemporary audience, without sounding archaic is no mean task. When the content has generational awareness, novel storytelling can be its only differentiator. Raut goes the Marvel way to draw in the younger crowd as his film rides high on action-adventure over ethos.
The narrative wastes no time in establishing characters or Ram’s aura (Prabhas as Raghav) or what led to his exile (vanvas) from Ayodhya. It focuses on Sita’s (Kriti Sanon as Janaki) treacherous abduction by Ravan (Saif Ali Khan) and the epic Ram vs Ravan battle fought for her rescue. The film pits Ram’s fearless army comprising Lakshman, Hanuman, Sugriv and their vanar sena against the menacing, and towering Ravan and his immortality. The battle scenes recreate the iconic Avengers’ huddle warding off a larger army of Ravan’s CGI rakshasas. The war (second half) is engaging and redeems a rather stagnant first half that lacks thrill or a sense of urgency that the story demands.
Raut struggles to find a balance and consistency between the epic story and its superhero-verse execution. The dialogue lack the impact that epic heroes of this stature are expected to deliver. Characters sound unconvincing as they randomly oscillate between ‘Adharma ka vidhvansa’ to ‘tere baap ki jalegi and tu marega’. The narration feels bland in the first half. It does not evoke the kind of emotional gravity that you would expect from an epic tale like Ramayana. You don t feel invested in the characters enough.
Saif Ali Khan’s invincible Ravan exudes main character energy in this ambitious but stoical retelling of an epic. While Prabhas (voiced brilliantly by Sharad Kelkar) maintains a heroic presence as Ram, it is Saif, with his wicked mannersims and massive height lift that steals the show. Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior was testament to his mastery at playing dark and delirious characters and here he raises the bar yet again. The music and background score composed by Sanchit and Ankit Balhara, as well as the songs by Ajay-Atul give a terrific boost to Saif’s monstrous portrayal of Ravan. Adipurush belongs to Saif Ali Khan and Raut succeeds in mounting the character on a massive scale.
The VFX and visual appeal are passable if not impressive. The 3D feels like an unnecessary accessory. With a run time of 3 hours, you wish the story wasn’t as dependent on the special effects as it should have been on the nature of its revered characters or what set them apart. Despite the dramatic buildup, the climax doesn t live you with that sense of joy, reward or victory. This one’s a sincere attempt that gets a tad overwhelmed by its ambition of handling a story of this magnitude.
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