1. LAAPATA LADIES
Reminiscing - The simplistic beautiful story telling, the railway platform the cute girl who never left her home is now working at the platform. The rough but sweet Aunty who has some great punchlines. The more 'chaalaak' girl who has fire in her belly to break free and finally the cop who switches sides at the right time. Story telling at it's best.
FROM THE FILES -
LAAPATA LADIES - 5.0 STARS. G.
Directed by - Kiran Rao
Starring - Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Abhay Dubey, Chhaya Kadam, Ravi Kishan
Why - Do me a favor, just watch it instead of asking why why why. Oh... you never asked me? It's me who is asking the Why and responding to it? Okay, that's fine. I will answer it. Beautiful beautiful beautiful poetry of a movie. Aamir Khan Productions and Kiran Rao at the helm. What could have gone wrong? Take a bow Ms Kiran Rao, you are awesome. Every scene is so well thought and done with love for the craft. Even the premise of the movie is hilariously patriarchal. It has a subtle undercurrent of comedy. How do you keep it light and funny while the characters are having a meltdown of their lives! Beautifully done by everyone from Nitanshi and Pratibha to the male leads in Sparsh and Abhay. Surprisingly great role by Ravi Kishan who provides us the twist.
Why Not - Have said it many times. If you only watch "Bollywood" then don't watch it. It is definitely not the big movie you want to watch. Also, no India - Pakistan, in fact it is a loving criticism of your beloved culture.
2. 12TH FAIL
Reminiscing - A very standard rags to riches story done perfectly. Low caste coming out of poverty and making it in IAS is a dream come true but sometimes it does come true. The love story is done right and a sensitive presentation is all it takes to tug at your heart.
FROM THE FILES -
12th FAIL - 5.0 STARS. G.
Directed by - Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Starring - Vikrant Massey, Medha Shankar, Anant V Joshi, Anshumaan Pushkar
Why - Vidhu Vinod Chopra is another uncle director who always was an Uncle. Even when he was young he was an uncle. But the guy still is not the uncle-director that Rajkumar Hirani is. This guy still got some left in him. I am watching the movie and I don't know why I feel this lump in my throat, why is a grown a$$ man crying in a movie? Well, I always cry so not saying much. You get the point, this tugs at your heart. You root for this underprivileged villager to succeed and find a place in civil services one of toughest exams in India. The story is something you have seen many times but somehow the details it plucks from this man's life and puts them in front of us with sincerity makes you cry. Well, makes me cry. Vikrant plays the role to perfection but this girl Medha Shankar knocks the ball outta the park for sure.
Why Not - Same answer as others. No item number. No helicopter scene, no train heist, love story is not in swiss alps. You get the point.
3. CTRL
Reminiscing - My turn around on Ananya is scary. Now I call her one of the brightest actors. Just based on this movie. If you are okay with Social Media type movies go for it. My favorite line of the year - 'देख बेहेन बादाम खाने से उतनी अक्कल नहीं आती. जितनी धोखा खाने से आती है.' Entire movie is on a screen and Ananya's depressed face can haunt.
FROM THE FILES -
CTRL - 5.0 Stars. PG13.
Directed by - Vikramaditya Motwane
Starring - Ananya Panday, Vihaan Samat
Ms Ananya Panday is a story that this blog will always remember. She probably was ridiculed to be the worst example of nepotism. Easily one of the worst bollywood had to offer. NOW Ms Panday has turned it around to become one of the best Actors we know. CTRL is story telling at it's best. Told from Ananya's screen. Entire movie is on a screen as AI App on her phone takes over her life decisions. She plays a social media influencer who has a public meltdown and she loses her BF and her followers. She goes on a vengeful path of depression. Vikramaditya Motwane who is involved in some of the great productions with Anuraag Kashyap like Sacred games and AK Vs AK comes with this masterpiece. Hats off to Vikramaditya and Ms Panday to give us this screen age AI movie. Also, please do yourself a favor and check out the songs.
4. KILL
Reminiscing - Train and a fight of a lifetime. They are 40 he is 1.5. Girl friend and the family are on the train. First half is bloody and tight with fights then we find out second half is the one that is bloody and with fights. Entire movie is about 'Kill' but none of the misogynistic stereotypes are needed. The good and bad remain simple. Well done.
FROM THE FILES -
KILL : 4.5 Stars.
Directed by - Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Starring: Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Ashish Vidyarthi, Harsh Chhaya, Tanya Maniktala, Abhishek Chauhan
WHY : First ever out and out action movie from India. Well, there has been others a notable mention is Bloody Daddy, but this one looked straight out of Hollywood. Karan Johar production is generally Disney of India, always good clean movies with a message. Scratch that for this one, it is bloody gory and just pure revenge. Just kill no drama. AND what a way to do it. Awesome, just the fact they pulled it off in every scene to keep to their North Star of making a movie - KILL. Go Watch it. Entire movie is in a train. Girl's family is riding the train and the lover boy boards it too, but so do goons who want to loot the entire train. That's all you need to know. The lover boy is an Army commando and the goons are 40+ with a plan. Let the killing begin.
WHY NOT : It is very bloody and very gory. Even though it has been done tastefully. Anyone who thinks they liked Animal because of action (they were wrong), it was all about celebration of everything bad in society. In KILL it is pure action and still a celebration of goodness. It has more killing than any movie you have seen but still it works. Only if Lakshya the new actor knew how to act a little better and Raghav could have been replaced by a little more of a villain this would be a 5 Starrrer.
5. RAUTU KA RAAZ
Reminiscing - Nawazuddin's character is so well written. The upright cop but not the kind of upright we have seen before. He is 'real', everyone is 'real' and everyone has a great presence and story to tell. You feel at home with every character and you feel like you are warmly settled in this small town even though you are actually solving a murder mystery!
FROM THE FILES -
RAUTU KA RAAZ - 4.5 Stars. PG.
Directed by - Anand Surapur
Starring - Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Narayani Shastri, Rajesh Kumar, Atul Tiwari
6. KHO GAYE HUM KAHAAN
Reminiscing - A Gen Z social media movie done right. If you are the old type who can't stop bickering about today's generation then skip this one. Love the 4 starkly different friends trying to figure life out in their 20s. Every one has a full character, no one is a villain but no one is a hero either. They are friends and that is the reason they are in each other's ways.
FROM THE FILES -
KHO GAYE HUM KAHAN : 4.5 Stars.
Directed by - Arjun Varain Singh
Starring - Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Adarsh Gourav
WHY : You know these uncle directors who try to make a movie about young people and end up with a weird looking movie that shows what uncle's brain sees the young world to be? Yes, that exactly this movie is NOT. This is actually made by young people, acted by them and done perfectly well, Zoya hardly gets it wrong Akhtar is involved so it was going to be good. The first ever movie I have seen that captures social media and lives of cute little 20 somethings kids. The pressures and the relationships, beautifully written, every character has so much depth and thought. All the friends have equally meaty character and lives. Just poetry. Ananya, Sidhanth, Kalki and Adarsh all do great, they just were made for this movie.
WHY NOT : Maybe it's not your genre, and if you are egotistical 30+ already turned uncle aunty, all you will do is scorn at young people and say how great your lives were as you scroll your phone for more political news. Then don't watch it.
7. BUCKINGHAM MURDERS
Reminiscing - Kareena and her depressed face. Going through her duty as a cop and haunted by her own loss. Getting depressed has it's own charm. It's more of a British Movie with Indian actors.
FROM THE FILES -
BUCKINGHAM MURDERS - 4.0 Stars. PG13
Kareena is living it up. As most of us realize in life, teens are worse, 20s are stressful, 30s are tiring and busy and then things start getting easier and fun. Kareena aunty now that she is rid of being sexy and chasing success. She is getting into the business of honing her acting skills. She is passionate and it shows. She is playing a depressed cop on a missing child case, she is constantly haunted by her own demons of losing someone near and dear. Her makeup is minimal, her eyes have dark circles she plays the role. This is a Talaash 2.0 and sometimes you enjoy being depressed with this cop. Watch it.
8. DO AUR DO PYAAR
Reminiscing - The theme to the top 10 movies is great characters all through from top to bottom. The 2 couples in this one are in love. All 4 of them have a story and the stories are wholesome. Do you feel guilty for a relationship if everyone is in a relationship?
FROM THE FILES -
DO AUR DO PYAAR - 4.0 Stars.
Creativity of the plot itself is pretty awesome. That's why it gets a 4 star rating. It is a seemingly ordinary extra marital drama until you get into it. Who am I supposed to feel bad about? Who is having an affair and who needs to get out? It has a little bit of a thriller angle to it. Vidya continues to get good roles and Pratik Gandhi continues to act in good meaty roles. Good one to check out.
9. SHARMAJEE KI BETI
Reminiscing - Again! Same thing. Many various colors or Sharma Ji ki betiyan! All come together in a city like Mumbai and just live!
FROM THE FILES -
SHARMAJEE KI BETI : 4.5 Stars.
Directed by - Tahira Kashyap Khurrana
Starring - Sakshi Tanwar, Divya Dutta, Saiyami Kher, Parvin Dabas, Sharib Hashmi
WHY : It is a entertaining, fun and awesome movie. There are many Sharmajis and a few Sharma betis lives are intertwined in the most entertaining manner in this low key but great ride. Kudos to the writer and director (Tahira Kashyap Khurrana) to keep it engaging and not didactic. Keep it funny and not a life lesson. Cricketer gal (Saiyami Kher) has a boy friend who wants a typical girl friend, small town Mrs Sharma (Divya Dutta) can't figure why everyone is busy in mumbai and what they are running after. Career oriented Mrs Sharma (Sakshi Tanwar) is tired of being apologetic to like her job. But why this is a 4.5 Star and not a 3.5 Star movie is because of the best character of the year in Swati Sharma (Vanshika Taparia). She is hilarious as a middle schooler who is waiting for her periods as she wants to grow up into a woman but the entire world seems to be against her happiness. She can't think anything except her puberty this great actor plays the funny character to perfection. Hats off, a great star has arrived!
WHY NOT : It is a typical small budget movie, no action, no testosterone driven dialogues, no item number. No hateful rhetoric, no hindu-musalman. So it depends on who you are. If you don't like it, keep it to yourself, cuz am gonna judge you.
10A. TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA
10B. VICKY AUR VIDYA KA WOH WALA VIDEO
Reminiscing - In case you criticize me for going heavy on you. Pick your own, both are light comedies bollywood style.
FROM THE FILES -
TERI BAATON MEIN AISA ULJHA JIYA - 4.0 STARS. G.
Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya - Trailer
Directed by - Amit Joshi, Aradhana Sah
Starring - Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon
Why - I know what you think about me. Old man doesn't know how to have fun, liking all the heavy and serious movies. If you read my garbage blog you are permitted to hate on me. I am totally fine with it. But here is the answer to your prayers. This is the movie that is all out fun with zero problems. Simple straight forward Bollywood entertainer. You know what is great about it, it's not copied, it doesn't cater to tried and trusted formulas but still an out and out entertainer. An AI revolution Bollywood style. A robot who is human, a computer engineer who is a good looking human? umm.. that was a stretch but it was fun. Go watch it. Awesome jokes great laughs and just stupid entertainer.
Why Not - If you watched the trailer then that was the entire movie chronologically put together.
VICKY AUR VIDYA KA WO WALA VIDEO - 4.0 Stars. G.
Vicky Vidya ka wo wala Video - Trailer
Directed by - Raaj Shaandilyaa
Starring - Rajkummar Rao, Triptii Dimri
Talked enough in my Podcast. A good regular small town comedy that comes out of Bollywood. we need to be thankful they make these light hearted formulaic small town comic movies. If you listen to the pundits, all they should make is 'South Indian' style one man army superstar movies. I have more respect for these movies now. Funny and simple good for a watch. Rajkummar can't do anything wrong in such movies, Tripti is okay and Vijay Raaz is in full form as a cop investigating the case.
TOP 2 WEB SERIES
1. TRIBHUVAN MISHRA CA TOPPER
Reminiscing - Very simple middle class problems and still very sexual ridiculous adult stuff all in one. This series is a product of a great creative genius. Mishra Ji is an accountant but has some other skills that go viral! I think while writing this top 10 I realized what makes for a great movie or a story! A lot of great characters with stories intertwined and not one lazy 'Pushpa'.
FROM THE FILES -
TRIBHUVAN MISHRA CA TOPPER - 4.5 Stars. R.
Oh.. how I wanted to write a thesis on this one, but now it will remain a Khwaish. Here you go - A regular guy in Manav Kaul (Awesome Actor) is too nice until he finds he has a skill to give sexual services. He becomes a big star in that world while continuing his middle class small little world. Obviously things don't stay same and things go bad when he is involved with underworld etc.
Now why is this show so great! What a creative show. Every character is full and complete and each actor is inspired to give his all. Tillotama as an unhappy wife who wants his man to dance like a Baazigar. Shweta Basu Prasad the wife who knows how to play the world but has a thing for guns. Her husband who thinks he is so street smart until he finds he is not. Then comes the main character our Villain. One of the best I have seen - Mr Shubrajyoti Barat! WHAT A GUY. Watch every mannerism as he has a thing about having good rating whether it be his illegal business of kidnapping or his day business of 'Halwai'. Last but not the least is our chamcha villain, the guy is obsessed with his master's family life and wants his boss to have a great marital relationship! and on top of it, he has a backdrop of his own demons. This is just awesome! WATCH IT!
2. CALL ME BAE
Reminiscing - Sorry, this actually does not belong here, but because my new favorite is Ananya I will put it up here. Actually number 2 was Panchayat 3, but that one you already know. So give this one a try, a comic book style gen Z story of Bae.
FROM THE FILES -
CALL ME BAE - 3.5 Stars. G.
Ananya is the Queen of Gen Z or whatever Generation is the social media generation. She has gone from one of the worst to very good actor in no time. A feat that is unparalleled in Hindi cinema. You go Girl!
The show remains true to it's artificial-ness and it works. It is like a comic strip a fairy tale. Bae is a perfect rich kid married to a perfect rich family but she let's her personality shine through and all hell breaks lose. She tries her hand at living an average lifestyle trying to be an average journo. Watch it!
