1. MONICA O MY DARLING
What I remember - Just watched it. The first and Only 5 Starrer of the year. Fun thriller that won't disappoint.
FROM THE FILES -
MONICA O MY DARLING - 5 Stars. PG.
Directed by - Vasan Bala
Starring - Rajkummar Rao, Radhika Apte, Huma Qureshi
The Story - A warning - Do not watch the trailer. As I have been saying off and on. Don't watch trailers of any movie. Now to the story. It's what you dream for a thriller to be. Witty, funny, confusing, straight forward, simple. A guy has everything going for him, he is smart and recognized by the owner of a conglomerate, the owner's daughter loves him. He has it all and then things go south. He is trying to balance things but a murder gets the Police involved and things get more complex.
The Characters - If you are a Rajkummar Rao fan you probably already watched it. He is back. Well, he never went anywhere but this is what he excels at. This is exactly what he does the best.
There is a certain pitch that you want to see Surya Kumar Yadav to Bat
and
There is a certain movie you want Rajkummar Rao to Act.
अरे ये तो राइम हो गया. The there is the great and gorgeous Huma Qureshi, another role perfectly chosen, the secretary the entire movie revolves around. Last but not the least Ms Radhika Apte is back. We got over exposed to her. After a break she comes back with a bang. What a rendition of a cop role. The annoying intelligent scary weird Cop she is. I have not seen a better cop.
The Verdict - After a long time I am giving a movie a 5 Star. I am a little worried. I need to stop being hesitant and offer a 4.5 star when movies are entertaining me out and out. The movie has no flaws a nice taut script and awesome actors, good comic relief sputtered in. The best part is it's no gimmick movie. None of the 'we tricked the audience due to some stupid sci-fi bullshit'. Straight forward daily world getting tangled is way better than the artificial twists in the brain. Obviously you watched it, if not take off from work and watch it.
2. GOVINDA NAAM MERA
What I remember - Pretty fresh in my mind. The side actors stand out, the out and out whacky acting of some of the sidy characters was hilarious.
FROM THE FILES -
GOVINDA NAAM MERA: 4.5 Stars. PG.
Director - Shashank Khaitan
Stars - Kiara Advani, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar
ANEK: 4.5 Stars. PG13
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Andrea Kevichüsa, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, J.D. Chakravarthy
The Story - aNEk is a story about insurgency in North East. A spy is in thick of it and may or may not have a major breakthrough in ending the insurgency. All this is regular stuff for all insurgencies, when like Arjun in Mahabharata, the Spy starts having doubts what the whole thing is and what this is all about!
The Characters - Ayushman is a favorite of Anubhav Sinha and he again delivers with a nice controlled performance. The Star and My Hero is the Director Mr Anubhav Sinha. I can sum up the entire movie in 4 words - I love you, Anubhav! He is easily my favorite Director of this era. The Girl does not fit as a aspiring Boxer at all but then that's a small compromise for a movie that is a thesis on all insurgencies.
The Verdict - Just like Article 15 and Thappad, Anubhav makes you sit up and think. This is a deep dive into all the troubled areas of the world. The only thing that is sure is - People are hurting. (Lekin logon ka kya sir?) rest all pieces are doing what they want to do. Governments generally are short sighted and trying to Quell and appease, the opposition is always divided into people who have different ways to attack the government and on and on it goes. The dialogues are just great! Especially - what is peace! Awesome discussion about Peace. Watch it, if you want to learn something.
4. MINNAL MURALI
What I remember - One of the Best Superstar movies I have seen. The small south Indian Village, the development of characters especially the villain. The powers the lungi and the super heroes of the soil. Perfect!
FROM THE FILES -
MINNAL MURALI: 4.5 Stars. G
Directed by Basil Joseph
Starring Tovino Thomas, Guru Somasundaram
The Story - A super hero movie seeped in indian-ness. A beautiful story of a bizarre incident that affected 2 people in different ways. Heroes and villains are formed. The village in unaware of it but slowly the affected understand. How will they use their powers? How should they use their powers. A super Hero in a lungi, perfect recipe for a great movie. Malayalam movies are definitely a cut above the rest it seems.
The Characters - Tovino and Guru are great actors! They put life into these characters. Bring so much honesty to their characters great jugal-bandi between the two. The entire movie revolves around these 2 and they take us for a great ride.
The Verdict - Probably the best super Hero movie ever made in India. It is creative, it is Indian and it is 100% authentic. Whoever thought of it and then whoever implemented the setup in a village, they are genius.
5. JALSA
What I remember - 2 accomplished actors taking a life experience to a different level. Hit and run is not that simple as you thought. The victim and the perpetrator are both victims in life.
FROM THE FILES -
JALSA - 4.5 Stars. (R)
Director: Suresh Triveni
Starring: Vidya Balan, Shefali Shah, Rohini Hattangadi
दो उम्दा कलाकारों ने दिया इतना स्ट्रेस की हो गया दिमाग का दही.
Vidya Balan and Shefali played a Jugalbandi of stress and pain that only greats who have honed their craft to perfection can. This was a 'Shakti' of Bachchan and Dilip Kumar, that was pain and sorrow this is Pain and stress. Very well done.
Movie is about a hit and run case that hits very close to home. The natural reactions during a hit and run and the trauma a mind can go through both ways, the victim and the perpetrator both are at similar juncture both need answers and both are in pain, one is a sorrowful angry pain and the other is stressful guilty pain.
6. LOOOP LAPETA
What I remember - The thrilling case of 'Pachaas Lakh' which repeats itself over and over until you know everything that will happen but with a different result. Time warped Sci Fi Comedy thriller this.
FROM THE FILES -
LOOOP LAPETA - 4.5 Stars. (PG)
Director: Aakash Bhatia
Starring Taapsee Pannu, Tahir Raj Bhasin
सोचो समझो परखो नहीं हुआ? कोई नहीं फिर सोचो समझो परखो!
Do you see a pattern here? Taapsee again features the lead role in another great movie! The female leads just are better and have better movies. Why is it? It's not because women are better at acting, it's because they put in a lot more effort on getting movies that are creative and something new. Also they don't get a bunch of filth that needs to be done in name of big bollywood cinema that their counterparts male actors get. Tahir Bhasin is a perfect foil in this and aligns and sometimes overshadows Taapsee.
Movie is the genre that we have seen often now. A person stuck in a time warp tries to get out of it with a desirable result. The treatment of the movie is so fresh, I love it. The director has taken it in a comic angle and the characters sometimes are right out of a comic specially the sons of the jewelry store guy. repeating same 'pachaas lakh' every time also adds to the perfect comic narration of the movie.
7. TOOLSIDAS JUNIOR
What I remember - It would not have made it here, but I needed to put a small budget cute movie in the top 10 and this is the best representation of that genre. The big bro of Toolsidas Junior was hilarious and then Sanjay Dutt had a great cameo.
FROM THE FILES -
TOOLSIDAS JUNIOR: 4 Stars. G.
Director: Mridul Mahendra Toolsidas
Starring: Sanjay Dutt, Rajiv Kapoor, Dalip Tahil, Varun Buddhadev
The Story - A Dad is a great snooker player, but he is also an addict. He loves his son and son loves his dad but the alcohol spoils all the fun. Son decides to carry on the legacy of snooker and wants to beat his dad's nemesis.
The Characters - There are many known names like Sanjay Dutt and Rajiv Kapoor but the show is stolen by the big brother of Toolsidas Jr. The scheming big brother has outrageous schemes to make his younger brother a star so he can manage his funds. The young Toolsidas is also a pretty good actor himself. Sanjay Dutt fits the role and brings a uniqueness to it that helps the movie. Dalid Tahil is awesome as a villain, it still makes me crack when I think of his first dialogue to journalist. I win! that's the answer to all your questions! Hilarious.
The Verdict - An awesome family entertainer. The kids are awesome, the brotherly love is cute. What else you want in a movie? Kid has an adventure of his lifetime and you feel good watching a cute movie.
8. LAAL SINGH CHADDHA
What I remember - Beautiful music, Aamir as a sikh making me emotional and a good historic 'put together' of Indian history. A great worthy adaptation of 'Forrest Gump'. Aamir is easily one of the greatest story tellers of India.
FROM THE FILES -
LAAL SINGH CHADDHA: 4.0 Stars. G
Directed by - Advait Chandan
Starring - Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Naga Chaitanya, Mona Singh
The Story - Everyone and their grandma know about the story. It's an Indian adaptation of Forrest Gump. Contrary to everyone's expectations it has been done well. It works through Indian history from 1980s to 2020s. Yes, it is a drag and many events are pushed into the script but they did the best they could. Laal Singh our Forrest is a dim witted kid who grows up through Emergency, PMs murder, Riots, to Kargil War to present day. We never know what ails Laal but all we know is he is 'slow'. He keeps going at it and succeeds in life. Pretty uplifting eh? Nope, it also is pretty sad.
The Characters - The biggest negative and positive is Aamir. As mentioned earlier his PK and Dhoom high eye brow look needs to be put in cold storage. That itself brought the movie down a notch. every time he did that it took something out of the movie. Well, Aamir Khan also makes mistakes and he did not realize he should have played the young Aamir a little toned down. Another huge negative is worst punjabi ever spoken in a movie (By Aamir). I think they did it to make him look 'slow'? I don't know but that was a horrible effort at speaking Punjabi. Positives are the 'Sikh' Aamir in second half, the guy makes you cry and cry more, he was in form in second half! Kareena was pretty good in most scenes, it was weird to see her in a movie after so long but did a pretty good job. Naga as Bubba was handed the most difficult part of the movie and he did a good job but the character itself did not work in this version.
The Verdict - So why would I give it a 4 star? Good question. I would actually give it a 3.5 stars but I am still listening on a daily basis to the songs. This has not happened for years, so it does deserve an extra half star. Do me a favor Click here and if you don't like it. Don't talk to me again.
9. RRR
What I remember - A truck storms into a mansion breaks the gate skids and explodes. Our Hero along with tiger, Lion and various animals jump out of it. What else you want? That is RRR all out fantasy of Indian Origin.
FROM THE FILES -
RRR: 4.0 Stars. G.
Director: S. S. Rajamouli
Starring: N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody, Olivia Morris
The Story - A fantasy setup in real British rule of India. 2 superstars come together as best friends to defy the mighty British empire. Not much of a story it is just a lot of pyrotechnics and unbelievable creative scenes and stunts. What do you expect? It's a follow up to Baahubali.
The Characters - From the looks of it, seems like NT Rama Rao and Ram Charan are 2 superstars in south and they are still running with the 80s superstar formula. As has been the case in most south Indian blockbusters the male superstars take the Oxygen out and there is not much room for any other character forget a presence of a female character. They still are relegated to some song and dance or someone who the great male actor decides to love.
The Verdict - Though this blogger is not a fan of these big South Indian blockbuster movies, but I enjoyed this one. It has all the 'don'ts' of a south movie. Too much testosterone (Check). Over the top acting (Check) Over the top physics defying macho fighting (Check) Over the top dancing (Check) No intricacies in the plot (Check). BUT inspite of all the above the movie had an awesome pace, it declared itself an out and out fantasy from scene one. It had mind boggling CGI. What I was blown away with is - every scene was a creative genius! Every action scene and every over the top gimmick was a new one. Nothing was borrowed from anywhere else it was all fresh and new. Go Watch it. ohh.. you already did!
10A. MAJA MA
What I remember - I cringed at Madhuri dancing with her typical smile in first few scenes. Thankfully the movie moved on from that and developed into an engaging drama.
FROM THE FILES -
MAJA MA - 4.0 Stars. PG13.
Directed by - Anand Tiwari
Starring - Madhuri Dixit, Gajraj Rao, Ritwik Bhowmik, Barkha Singh, Srishti Shrivastava, Simone Singh
The Story - A mom has a life before her kids came and took over. She is stuck in her duties but she still has a past. A beautiful story that comes into the category of LGBTQ movie. But like any good movie it goes beyond any tag you assign to it.
The Characters - We have been waiting for a Madhuri comeback, there has been many and each was a disappointment. She tried a TV show and that was bad. So let me declare - Madhuri's comeback has happened with this beautiful tale. When a movie is well directed the actors shine bright, so do Madhuri's kids. All played by accomplished actors - Ritwik, Barkha and Srishti. The movie is about them as much as the Mom herself.
The Verdict - Hats off to Mr Anand Tiwari. I find these LGBTQ Indian movies so well done, this genre is something hindi movies do really well. I don't know why. Emotions and philosophy all are flowing well in this beautiful stream. Few scenes stand out, especially when Madhuri wins the battle with lie detector test because society's focus in on the wrong question. Watch it.
10B. GEHRAIYAAN
What I remember - Deepika acting at a different level, her depression and stress shows. The backstabbing and sibling rivalry and the haunting music. You need to be in a specific mood to watch this train wreck (in a heavy mental toll way).
FROM THE FILES -
GEHRAIYAAN - 4.0 Stars. (R)
Director: Shakun Batra
Starring: Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
इतनी गहराइयाँ हैं संबंधों में की आग का दरिया है और डूब के जाना है.
Not a simple movie, not for the weak at heart. This is some real stuff going on. Deepika probably gave her best performance, how we used to call these role non-glamorous roles. Now it is is called an actor doing a role. Hats off to her, she was on a different plane in this one. Siddhant did not have it going but then his character was a difficult one and a little under developed. Ananya is one of the most improved actors today, and we could not have called her an actor few years ago.
2 Cousin sisters have their relationships tangled. The Boy Friends have their own problems going, the problems are real and genuine and everything in the movie happens in a very real way, none of it looks like a movie. When you think now you know what kind of movie this is, it will surprise you with a real ugly life slap. AND it has good music. Watch it.
OTHER NOTABLE MENTIONS -
11. INDIA SWEET and SPICES
12. BADHAAI DO
13. JOGI
14. DO BAARA
15. JAYESH BHAI JORDAAR
TOP 3 WEB SERIES
1. NEVER HAVE I EVER
What I remember - You know I watch 'never have I ever without context' videos on youtube? Fabiola and Devi and John Mc Enroe and Devi's Dad and Mom and Patti and everyone. I remember all, and all are good.
FROM THE FILES -
NEVER HAVE I EVER: 5 Stars. PG.
Created by - Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher
Starring - Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, Darren Barnet, Jaren Lewison, John McEnroe, Lee Rodriguez, Ramona Young
The Story - Story of an Indian Teen growing up through High School. I love high school dramas, this is very American and yes it is in English and yes it doesn't need to be in this blog. But guess what! It is my blog so I will do whatever I want. AND I love 'Never Have I Ever'. I laughed and cried the most I have in any show. We all are 'Devi' and we all have the insecurities of a teen, come on just because you have grown old physically you think you have grown mentally too? Give me a break.
The Characters - I love every character in the show, from Devi who can do everything wrong and be like what! me!? I love the Indian grandma who admits she does golu only to outdo other women, I love the Indian American professor scared of her. I specially love Fabiola, her wide eyed expression. I love Ben and Paxson. Well you get the point. ok few more loves - I love John Mc Enroe's narration that is priceless and Devi remembering her Dad makes me tear up. OK now I am done.
The Verdict - Don't watch it. Don't come back telling me how it was not worth it because I might kill you.
2. PANCHAYAT-2
What I remember - The friend who comes from the city thinking how awesome village life is. The team of our 'sachiv ji' their bonding and simple joy of watching them do small little nothings.
FROM THE FILES -
PANCHAYAT-2: 5 Stars. G.
Directed by - Deepak Kumar Mishra
The Story - Another series that I absolutely love and I have not yet met a person who does not. Season 2 is still fun and still a must watch. A city boy is stuck in a village trying his best to prepare for exams so he can get out. But that does not stop him from getting sucked into everything village throws at him.
The Characters - Raghuvir and Neena are made for this. What great actors these guys are!. Then there are those office assistants. Chandan Roy what an actor. I am blown away.
The Verdict - Obviously you watched it and liked it. If not - go to hell.
3. HOUSE OF SECRETS
What I remember - The live setting, the real building. The home the murders happened, how 11 member family got wiped out. The slow unfurling of the entire plot. I don't watch docu-series but this was goooood.
FROM THE FILES -
HOUSE OF SECRETS - The Burari Deaths: Limited Series: 4.0 Stars. R.
Genre True crime docuseries
Created by: Leena Yadav, Anubhav Chopra
Director: Leena Yadav, Anubhav Chopra
The Story - A true story in a docuseries. 11 bodies were found from a home in a crowded Indian town. A lot of gossip and drama happened. Media is never helping and relatives are twisting their own tale. Cops actually can do a good job if you let them as they solve the mystery.
The Characters - It is a documentary that has all the family clearly defined and hierarchy presented. Horrific tragedy and the more you think the more absurd and unfortunate it looks.
The Verdict - One of the better documentaries I have seen, Though I avoid documentaries. But I will give it a green.
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