Top 10 Hindi Movies of 2020 / Top 3 Web series of 2020

 

1. BULBBUL

What I remember - Nice slap on patriarchy, beautiful colors and shades of red. Bulbull the witch and the goddess all in one. Beautiful direction enthralling thriller with a punch. 

FROM THE FILES - 

BULBBUL - 5 STARS. R. (DRAMA/ THRILLER / SUSPENSE)

Bulbbul - Trailer

Director: Anvita Dutt

Writer: Anvita Dutt

Stars: Tripti Dimri, Rahul Bose, Avinash Tiwary

A movie like this comes once in a 'Red' moon. When red night shows up the Kaali is alive and kickin. This is not just a thriller, or a murder mystery or a horror movie. It is not just a statement against patriarchy, it is actually a statement against the unjust system called society. 

There are characters (The husband) that the system works for, he still can't find happiness, people with mental imbalance are powerful that they can't get help because system is designed to make them powerful even though they are in need of help (brother of husband) and obviously they are one and the same physically and in a twisted way ... mentally. There are vast majority the system does not work for but most of them accept it as the system they are born with, so what do they do? they work with it, manipulate it to have small meaningless wins (older / younger bahu). There are innocent people with good intentions who can't see anything bad in the system because it is working for them (The people who say - All lives matter not just Black!) unaware of their surroundings (like younger brother). The system is complete and it goes on and on, unless a witch shows up, or you can call it Durga or Kaali but ohh she is a bad ass. What if she says I don't like it and I don't give an F. Can you deal with her?

2. THAPPAD

What I remember - Another thappad at old school cinema. A coming of age on hindi movies from abusive relationship movies to this one. This is not against abuse or alcoholism but mostly about respect and dignity for every person around us. A simple act and small things in our lives we all can make effort to change and get better. 

FROM THE FILES - 

THAPPAD: 4.5 STARS. (DRAMA)

Thappad - Trailer

Director: Anubhav Sinha

Stars: Taapsee Pannu, Pavail Gulati, Ratna Pathak Shah 

aah.. Mr Anubhav Sinha, Sir you are getting in the top echelons of my short list of directors. Yes, you don't know but that is a big accomplishment. This blog is followed by Millions.... umm... thousands.... umm... fffine.... hundreds... OOKK... scores of people. So take a bow you have made it. Mulk, Article 15 and now Thappad. That is a troika that can make anyone proud.

The simplicity is the hallmark of this movie. It is daily life, lines we say daily in our household, lives we 'the good sensitive people' live. AND so much is wrong with that life. Every line is so obviously regular and still so well thought out and so hard hitting at the same time. You would think abusive relationship is bad, physically abusive really bad, but otherwise we are programmed to just keep going.... for what? If we think and work on it we can become better humans, every day we need to work on becoming better person. We are here and living might as well try till we die. We actually try our hardest at work, in public, and in every sphere then why not at home. Very well done. Watch it.

3. COMEDY COUPLE

What I remember - A fresh love story, a different kind of lead couple as they do there couple things of fighting, loving and everything else in a very comic and no so comic way.

FROM THE FILES - 

COMEDY COUPLE - 4.5 Stars. (PG13)

Director: Nachiket Samant

Stars: Saqib Saleem, Shweta Basu Prasad, Pooja Bedi 

Comedy Couple - Trailer

Saqib and Shweta are not just a comedy couple they take us through a great journey of ups and downs, fun and stress, and lots of comedy. What a nice sweet movie, perfect to sit late at night and relax, sit back and enjoy a complete movie. The parents, friends, situations all make you smile and the lies, and confusion of relationship makes you stressed but not a lot. 

Movie is about a couple who do stand up comedy as a couple are in a live in relationship. Do they get together, stay as it is, separate and breakup? How much lying is good? How Cow urine is good for you? How dirty can a friend live and survive? All questions get answered. Watch it!

4. UNPAUSED

What I remember - Well written and beautifully acted all stories are work of art, as they progress the better they get. Even though I thought I don't want to relive the lockdown and 2020, these stories focussed more on story and less on covid.

FROM THE FILES - 

UNPAUSED - 4.5 Stars. (R)

Directors - Nikkhil Advani, Avinash Arun, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Krishna D.K, Nitya Mehra, Raj Nidimoru

Actors - Various.

At the end of the year watch one more time how 2020 was different than rest of the years. 5 beautiful stories about 2020 corona times. First one is about a germ freak who is scared and living in isolation in 2030 because the virus still there! Second is about an executive who wants to commit suicide, third is about daily wage laborer who has lost his job but has found a place to live, 4th a beautiful story of 2 ladies one in her 20s and the other in her 60s who find something common and come closer to share their lives during lockdown, and last and the most beautiful is the poetry weaved by Ratna Pathak and Shardul Bharadwaj. A story of a senior citizen living alone and a rickshaw driver who is missing his family during lockdown. The distrust turns into trust and then more, oh what a beautifully presented story, if you eyes are not moist after this go get your heart checked maybe you lost it somewhere. Great directors and writers and actors come together to give us these 5 stories in unpaused - A must watch.

5. LOOTCASE

What I remember - Out and out comedy. Slapstick, nonsensical with a good plot and situational humor. Each and every character well developed to deliver the laugh. 

FROM THE FILES - 

LOOTCASE- 4.5 STARS. (G)

Lootcase - Trailer

Director: Rajesh Krishnan

Writers: Rajesh Krishnan, Kapil Sawant

Stars: Kunal Khemu, Rasika Dugal, Gajraj Rao

Finally a comedy that actually is just comedy, pure and simple comedy. Every character is hilarious and has a 'thing' about them. Every character is just outright funny within themselves. Probably Kunal Khemu is the least funny character and the movie is all about him. The cast is also awesome and every one has been used the best way possible. Great direction and acting. 

Movie is about how a common man finds a bag filled with money and obviously gets embroiled in a lot of mess. As I think of it, Kunal Khemu's wife and kid have there lines that are hilarious. Enter the gangster obsessed with National Geographic is hilarious, the cop is awesome. The politician has his own little quirks. Just out and out funny comedy. A must watch.

6. MEE RAQSAM

What I remember - A movie is pretty good if it moves you to tears. Beautiful story of Dad and Daughter, all they want to do is Dance. who will have a problem with that? Apparently the entire world!

MEE RAQSAM - 4.5 STARS. (G)

Mee Raqsam - Trailer

Director: Baba Azmi

Writers: Husain Mir, Safdar Mir

Stars: Juhaina Ahsan, Shivangi Gautam, Danish Husain

What a beautiful Slap on Religion, Culture, and Tribalism. A beautiful poetry simply told and still packs a punch. Baba Azmi we want more from you what a great movie, it is bold with an explosive end and still never leaving it's basic trait of being unassuming. 

Story is about a Muslim girl who loves "hindu" dance of Bharatnatyam, needless to say that is enough for the entire humanity to revolt. I have seen a lot of Dad Daughter relationships in movies, but this one is probably up there at the top. What a Dad she got, I want to be that to my kids. He is rock steady and just obstinate about getting what her Daughter wants. It is just a dance! but it is not just a dance for the world. Society has a big ego and naturally it gets hurt because it is so big you can't carry it around without getting mad. But within our society we have people who don't carry extra baggage they are happy to help whoever is in front of them. A must watch. 

7. CHINTU KA BIRTHDAY 

What I remember - The creativity of the situation was mind blowing! Based in Iraq when US has attacked, and the movie is not even about Iraq war or US or politics. It is about Chintu's Bday and how we all need a Birthday party, we could be a soldier or a 10 year old or a Dad. 

CHINTU KA BIRTHDAY - 4.5 STARS. (PG)

Chintu Ka Birthday Trailer

Directors: Devanshu Singh, Satyanshu Singh (co-director)

Writers: Devanshu Singh, Satyanshu Singh

Stars: Vinay Pathak, Tillotama Shome, Seema Bhargava

How do they think of a movie like this? I am just blown away by it. US has attacked Iraq and all Indian families have fled the place except one, they are trapped and stuck. It is Chintu's family and it's his Birthday. Somehow he never gets to celebrate his Birthday worls issues end up spoiling his party. Another Dad that I adore, decides no matter what he is going to give chintu his Birthday. A US Soldier is stuck just like Chintu in a war he doesn't understand. Everyone is stuck in this world not at all pleased with why it is like it is. A little bit of love and a lot of toughness washes away as we all are just plain vulnerable humans with coating of Country, Religion, Identity that has nothing to do with us. Another beautiful simple movie that Punches above it's weight. Watch it. 

8. SHUBH MANGAL ZYADA SAAVDHAN

What I remember - Lots of comedy and romance between a Gay couple and the couple being a gay is not even a shocker anymore. It is weaved so well in the story that it is not even the main story. 

FROM THE FILES - 

SHUBH MANGAL ZYADA SAAVDHAN - 4.0 STARS. PG13. (LOVE STORY)



Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan - Trailer

Director: Hitesh Kewalya
Writer: Hitesh Kewalya
Stars: Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar, Gajraj Rao

Finally Indian movies are moving from the phase 'look we are making movies on gay people' and ' you know what gay is?' to a movie that has gay characters. This movie makes that leap into showing a couple who is gay with no introduction, pretty good leap. Movie has a lot of good comedy too but I think  it has lot of progressive learnings without being didactic. Well presented.

9. GINNY WEDS SUNNY

What I remember - If it was my personal list I would include more off beat cinema, but I select this one for more a mass appeal. Easy going throw back love story, you don't see these often anymore. 

GINNY WEDS SUNNY - 4.0 Stars. (G)

Director: Puneet Khanna

Stars: Yami Gautam, Vikrant Massey, Ayesha Raza 

Ginny Weds Sunny - Trailer

Remember those yash chopra days? Those Karan Johar movies? Big Musical Love Stories those are the source of something that got called 'Bollywood Movie'. When you say "Bollywood" that's what you mean, that's why when you ask people to watch a hindi movie, they are thinking of Karan Johar movie. Well here it is, Ginny and Sunny take you back to that golden era of Bollywood. A big musical Love story with drama, comedy, romance and everything in between. The surprise is they also made it work, after many years I see a movie that could actually make the formula work! Yami and Vikrant fit the role perfectly. Enjoy it, but don't expect a lot. 

10. BAAGHI 3 / MARJAAVAAN

What I remember - Both are similar, you can pick one - if you like Tiger go with Baaghi and if you like Siddarth Malhotra then go with Marjaavaan. Both old school action thriller with one liners and over the top emotion and action. Mindless and pure for the heart. 

BAAGHI 3 - 4.0 STARS. PG. (THRILLER)



Baaghi 3 - Trailer

Director: Ahmed Khan
Writers: Tasha Bhambra, Sparsh Khetarpal
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Riteish Deshmukh, Shraddha Kapoor

This blogger is not a fan of James Bond-ish extravagant thrillers, but I got to admit I liked the entire thing. Everything was unapologetic and outlandish and also well done.  I love stupid one liners and this one's got a lot. The action is awesome. Action + One Liners = Hit. Who cares about plot, I even forgot what it was about. Oh yea... Tiger की सटक जाती है जब उसके भाई पे बात आती है. The action is very fresh and obviously over the top. Watch it.

MARJAAVAAN: 4.0 STARS. (LOVE STORY)

Marjaavaan - Trailer

Director: Milap Zaveri

Stars: Riteish Deshmukh, Sidharth Malhotra, Tara Sutaria

If you want to go old school, go old school... पूरी शिद्दत से। ... Gulshan Kumar is a name who knows how to go old school. This is the best ode to old school Heart break, Love story, Action, AND Dialogue-baaji.... uff. Cheap front bencher thrilling dialogue-baaji... just watch the trailer, it is full of one liners... I loved it. No it has nothing new,but it is done with lot of love for old school movies, not a spoof but make one more with full honesty. में मरूंगा मर जाएगा दोबारा जनम लेने से डर जायेगा. If that makes you smile go watch it. The movie also reminds me of the Manmohan Desai era of movies that always were based on communal harmony brotherhood and it used to always show minority culture's beauty. Amar Akbar Anthony, we would lovingly watch Anthony' speaking tuti futi hindi to father of the church, we loved shayari of Akbar. We loved coolie's Iqbal as our leader going hadtaaal! and singing ... mubarak ho tum sab ko haj ka mahina na thee meri kismat ke dekh madina! We as a nation have come to hate a lot.

Siddarth Malhotra has found his niche, he is going to make one face of heartbroken young man.... the best impersonation he can do of Deewar ka Bachchan and not do anything else. He has found it and I like it. Watch it, clap and whistle and have fun.

Notable mentions - If you are for offbeat cinema go for Yeh Ballet and Love Sonia.

2020 was also exceptional because it got 2 "Negative 1" review movies. First time a year has got that. Well, it has been that kind of year, maybe it me getting old or the movies testing my patience. I carefully give "0" to a movie thinking things can't go worse! But then comes along a path breaking cinema that makes me wonder.... well if I gave zero to that what do I do with this!! So I had to break the meaning of 0 to 5 rating and give a "Negative 1". 

The 2 movies that Qualified for the 2 worst reviews are - 

1. DABBANG 3 - Sallu at his worst. 

2. COOLIE NO. 1 - David Dhawan is a Number Zero

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TOP 3 WEB SERIES OF 2020

1.PAATAL LOK

What I remember - Middle aged Police officer who has not much to look forward to, teams with a Junior who has path to grow but is not from the preferred religion. They work on a mission way out of their league, shades of Khaaki (the movie). There is also this lunatic villain which is pretty interesting. 

FROM THE FILES - 

PAATAL LOK - MUST WATCH



Paatal Lok - Trailer

Creator: Sudip Sharma
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Neeraj Kabi, Abhishek Banerjee

I heard this is a Anushka Sharma Production, it seems like whatever Anushka touches becomes awesome. I sometimes wonder what did she see in Virat? Uncouth foul mouthed superstar, she on the other hand is beacon of liberal values and pushing boundaries of liberal dialogue alive in a country like India in 2020!

The show follows a case that a cop has been given. Unlike other web series where the protagonist cops are cool and smart, our cop is a regular employee who is as real as a character from Panchayat. There are Lot of similarities to Khakee an awesome Bachchan movie where he plays a upright cop defeated by system who is looking for one case one last hurrah to make it all worth it. Paatal Lok develops each and every character, their are no cardboard cliche characters. All the criminals nabbed before they could complete mission of killing a high profile TV journalist have very real lives well developed and beautifully portrayed. So is the Journalist and his wife. There are some unforgettable scenes of how subtle racism affects everything, the way minorities are treated. 

Anyway this is a show that comes once in a blue moon and just mesmerizes you, don't expect a thriller or suspense though it has both but that is not what it is about. Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh has just knocked it out of the park with a brilliant portrayal of a frustrated Cop and his assistant Junior Cop albeit Muslim.

2. PANCHAYAT

What I remember - Throw back 90s / 80s series a city boy comes to village for his first Job. The treatment of the show is so laid back and the problems are so umm..... villagish... 

FROM THE FILES - 

PANCHAYAT - MUST WATCH



Panchayat - Trailer

Stars: Jitendra Kumar, Raghuvir Yadav, Chandan Roy

If you are old enough to remember Nukkad and Hum Log TV serials of 80s? It is from the similar treatment that Panchayat is born. I can't believe someone had the courage and imagination and skill to make it. A classic sit back relax and enjoy the ride TV series of yore. No American web series stress of complication, no shocking twists every minute or at end of each episode begging you to watch the next. No greed to compete with the last series. Just plain simple story of a city youth who is forced to do a job in Village Panchayat. Set up of a village could have a lot of pitfalls in narration like looking down or looking up on Village life etc... none of that. The characters are real and they remain in character from the first to last episode. Just pure gold.

 3.0 AFSOS

What I remember - Great Villain is my biggest memory. The regret of our hero is that he can't die, and regret of our villain is that she can't kill. 

AFSOS - 5.0 STARS. (R) - TV SERIES. 

Director - Anubhuti Kashyap

Stars: Gulshan Devaiah, Anjali Patil, Heeba Shah

I won't say it is perfect but it is near perfect. It is crazy creative, whacky, weird, and funny. I was so enthralled by it that first time in my life I understood why people binge watch something, I wanted to go on and on. Director Anubhuti whoever she is, NOW she is someone, and when I googled her she seems to be Anurag Kashyap's sibling. Anyway ... Anubhuti you are awesome. 

Afsos is a series about a man who wants to die, and tries to commit suicide but is unsuccessful. He has 'afsos' he can't die, there are others in the story that have afsos of their own and this comedy turns, thriller, turns murder mystery, turns whacky and weird in no time. Best thing I watched for sometime. 

Q4 Reviews - Good Riddance 2020 - though it gave a few good Movies.

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GINNY WEDS SUNNY - 4.0 Stars. (G)

Director: Puneet Khanna

Stars: Yami Gautam, Vikrant Massey, Ayesha Raza 

Ginny Weds Sunny - Trailer

Remember those yash chopra days? Those Karan Johar movies? Big Musical Love Stories those are the source of something that got called 'Bollywood Movie'. When you say "Bollywood" that's what you mean, that's why when you ask people to watch a hindi movie, they are thinking of Karan Johar movie. Well here it is, Ginny and Sunny take you back to that golden era of Bollywood. A big musical Love story with drama, comedy, romance and everything in between. The surprise is they also made it work, after many years I see a movie that could actually make the formula work! Yami and Vikrant fit the role perfectly. Enjoy it, but don't expect a lot. 

LUDO - 3.5 Stars. (PG13)

Director: Anurag Basu

Stars: Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao

Ludo - Trailer

The movie has 4 stories intertwined together, always a difficult project to do. Anurag Basu is an accomplished director and he handles it well, but I still wanted more of him. There was an unnecessary angle of himself trying to be a narrator slash philosopher, might work in a skit not in a movie. Also the stories took a long time to become interesting, I would say brilliance of Rajkummar Rao saved this movie, he is in top form and he is playing is favorite character of a loser who is in love. He loves these ordinary characters and makes them his own. What an actor! He cries while he is dancing, and still making us laugh. He has lot of moments in the movie, and then Abhishek has a scene that he shows why he is such a good actor and was wasted in the movie. Rest of the caste just do their job but don't stand out. Stories are pretty ok, and the last hour is when all the fun starts and the movie actually comes into it's own. Movie's music is catchy and gives it a character. A good one but may have been over hyped.

CHHALAANG - 3.5 Stars. (G)

Director: Hansal Mehta

Stars: Rajkummar Rao, Nushrat Bharucha, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub

Chhalaang - Trailer

Another Rajkummar Rao movie and another dependable performance from him. He is fast becoming the guy whose face is good enough to guarantee a decent outing. This is a pretty low budget movie about .... guess what? Yes, a 'loser' a favorite character for Rajkummar to play. A good for nothing small town guy who becomes a PT teacher at school. Then as happens to all losers a girl enters their lives and demands things need to change or else... Another PT teacher shows up and things become spicy. A good light watch. 

LAXMI - 0 Stars. (PG13)

Directors: Lawrence Raghavendra

Stars: Akshay Kumar, Kiara Advani, Sharad Kelkar 

Laxmi - Trailer

Well it does not take a genius to find from a poster that movie cannot be a 5 star! But it takes you to watch the entire thing to find out how it feels to watch a Zero Starrer. Oh... man.. it was painful. A man who busts myth about ghosts eventually becomes one! If you are a die hard Akshay fan and still insist on watching this shit show... go ahead be my guest. 

The only reason the movie was in news was because BJP wanted to remind their hindus to stay mad just in case you have started thinking of any other thing except 'hindus are being insulted'. Keep up the good work of staying dumb. I am not sure why it was not an insult to God when a firecracker was named "Laxmi Bomb" but it is an insult because a film is named as is. But o well... I don't understand a lot of things. 

TORBAAZ - 2.0 Stars. (PG)

Director: Girish Malik

Stars: Sanjay Dutt, Nargis Fakhri, Rahul Dev 

Torbaaz- Trailer

Netflix invests in lot of bad movies, this is one of them. There has been this trend where all the yester year big names are cast in movies to sell the movie, but the movie itself has no quality. These actors probably sign to get some money and these movies at least get name recognition. 

Torbaaz is a movie about an Army doctor who used to live in Afghanistan and after he loses everything he ends up going back to help a few kids learn cricket and more. The plot itself is not very exciting and treatment is even duller. The movie is confused about what it is all about! Is it a terrorist saga which has been done too many times, is it about kids finding a father figure in war torn region? Is it about a man looking for meaning of life through kids? Is it sports movie about cricket? The entire climax is about a cricket. I think they want to pack everything but end up losing it all. 

COOLIE NO 1 - Negative 1. (PG13)

Director: David Dhawan

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Sara Ali Khan, Naushaad Abbas 

Coolie No 1 - Trailer

Sorry I am not supposed to review it, because this is the film that after 15 minutes of viewing I decided to stop watching out of protest. Now I am not an activist type of movie watcher but this brought so many negativity in me that I was willing to go against anyone. I got so mad that I could not sleep for a couple of hours. How can you disrespect your audience like that? Well... I know you can, because audience probably want the same thing again and again so they deserve it. But still!! you call yourself a movie creator!! come on David Dhawan just go and never again come out from where ever you came out to make this one. Your talented kid does not need you, don't make him look like a complete idiot. I did not know why in the first place your movies worked, except for cheap people identified with them, and classy people thought it was their responsibility to like them otherwise they will be proven to be snooty. Whatever I saw of this, it was same crap again, why don't you re-release the same old movie again? This is 2020 you still think people with speech impairment and stutter should be made fun of? Get a life!

TAISH - 4.0 Stars. (R)

Director: Bejoy Nambiar

Stars: Jim Sarbh, Harshvardhan Rane, Pulkit Samrat

Taish - Trailer

Pulkit Samrat is the guy from Fukrey, man did he work on trying to look different and remove himself from that type cast he has gotten into! Good Job, he works really hard to brood and look like a disturbed loving brother whose heart is at the right place but his deeds are not. The movie has a feel of high tense big screen drama! Bigger than life. The fights, the anger, the setting. The punjabi is a little too heavy to understand of the gangsta family but otherwise movie is pretty fun to watch. It is about 2 families the gangsta family has it's own problems and the business family have it's separate set of problems and both families collide. It is high action, gory, bloody, drama. 

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KAALI KHUHI - 3.0 Stars. (PG13)

Director: Terrie Samundra

Stars: Shabana Azmi, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Satyadeep Misra

Kaali Khuhi-Trailer

The movie is about girl infanticide and a spirit that has taken a village hostage. A family comes back to be on sick grandma's side and find themselves in a lot of trouble past and present. They may or may not have anything to do with it, but they are in it. Their daughter is in thick of it, can she understand what the spirit is all about? 

The movie has good intentions but as all hindi movie do, the movie just does not flow. It has more ebbs than flows, it has no pace. Shabana is wasted for once, the girls do a good job, but the director could have done better. Good story, good intention but too slow. 

SERIOUS MEN - 4.0 Stars. (PG)

Director: Sudhir Mishra

Stars: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Nassar, Aakshath Das 

Serious Men - Trailer

What a concept, how creative people have become with stories. Maybe it is taken from a book. Story of a dalit man who has had enough with these 'smart' upper castes, he decides to make sure his kid becomes a 'whiz kid', by hook ... or by crook. This is not an innocent fight against justice of a dalit. It has a lot of realism in it, and the reason it becomes exciting and actually sometimes annoying. A good one and Yes Nawazuddin is back, he has finally started doing variety after getting stuck in gangster mode.

SAB KUSHAL MANGAL - 2.5 Stars. (G)

Director: Karan Vishwanath Kashyap

Stars: Akshaye Khanna, Priyaank Sharma, Riva Kishan

Sab Kushal Mangal - Trailer

Probably someone produced the movie who wanted the lead couple to have a movie and hence the uncle also decided to cast a 'known name' in Akshaye Khanna. The leads are ok actors but no way they can carry a film. Akshaye on the other hand has always been a pretty good actor and he does his part of being a villain / comedian. That's the only bright spot in the movie though. Akshaye forces couples to get married but trying to force a couple he falls for the girl and the comedy... or so called comedy starts. If you got absolutely nothing to do, you can put it in the background while doing dishes. 

HALAHAL - 2.5 stars. (PG)

Director: Randeep Jha

Stars: Barun Sobti, Manu Rishi Chadha, Sachin Khedekar

Halahal - Trailer 

Barun Sobti used to be the TV heart throb few years ago. Then he disappeared after a couple of duds. Now he is back as detective / inspector looking to solve a case for a Dad who's daughter has been murdered or was it a suicide? He plays this sleazy, corrupt detective who stumbles on to the case and now suddenly has a change of heart. The movie is pretty good though it gets hampered being a movie on a shoe string budget. Barun also is just ok, and never looks himself in his fake moustache and never gives a look of authenticity. The movie delves into corruption, politicians and scheming, all the masala. Not a bad one, you can give it a try. 

COMEDY COUPLE - 4.5 Stars. (PG13)

Director: Nachiket Samant

Stars: Saqib Saleem, Shweta Basu Prasad, Pooja Bedi 

Comedy Couple - Trailer

Saqib and Shweta are not just a comedy couple they take us through a great journey of ups and downs, fun and stress, and lots of comedy. What a nice sweet movie, perfect to sit late at night and relax, sit back and enjoy a complete movie. The parents, friends, situations all make you smile and the lies, and confusion of relationship makes you stressed but not a lot. 

Movie is about a couple who do stand up comedy as a couple are in a live in relationship. Do they get together, stay as it is, separate and breakup? How much lying is good? How Cow urine is good for you? How dirty can a friend live and survive? All questions get answered. Watch it!

BAHUT HUA SAMMAAN - 3.0 Stars. (R)

Director: Ashish R. Shukla

Stars: Sanjay Mishra, Ram Kapoor, Raghav Juyal

Bahut Hua Sammaan - Trailer

This Hotstar movie does not look like you should touch but it's pretty good movie. It has a lot of comedy and some scenes are laugh out loud kind. Sanjay Mishra is generally a dependable side actor but amazingly he carries the entire enterprise.Ram Kapoor is villain is ok, Raghav and the other kid are pretty good too. 

The movie is about 2 college kids who want to rob a bank and they take consultation from their senior... well more like 40 years senior Sanja Mishra. Things get complicated. The movie also stands out as one of those brave movies who against the current political establishment in India. 

DARBAAN - 4.0 Stars. (PG)

Director: Bipin Nadkarni

Stars: Sharib Hashmi, Sharad Kelkar, Mukesh Ramani 

Darbaan - Trailer

After I saw the horror show called Collie Number 1 I frantically looked for another movie to watch and started 'Darbaan' based on a story by Rabindranath Tagore. O what a relief, the movie had a story the actors were not making faces like baffoons. Anyway ... I should even compare. A beautiful story about a person who thinks himself as the caretaker of his master's kid. He is the ultimate "Nanny". Remember the old school mentality of staying with one company and dedicated to one owner for a lifetime? Yea.. thats the kind of guy he is. He wants to do it generation to generation, same thing, he is born to serve his master. But then tragedy falls on him and he never recovers, or can he? It's difficult to stomach the ending because of the generation gap between Tagore and us, but a beautiful tale of a darbaan played to perfection by Sharib Hashmi. 

UNPAUSED - 4.5 Stars. (R)

Directors - Nikkhil Advani, Avinash Arun, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Krishna D.K, Nitya Mehra, Raj Nidimoru

Actors - Various.

At the end of the year watch one more time how 2020 was different than rest of the years. 5 beautiful stories about 2020 corona times. First one is about a germ freak who is scared and living in isolation in 2030 because the virus still there! Second is about an executive who wants to commit suicide, third is about daily wage laborer who has lost his job but has found a place to live, 4th a beautiful story of 2 ladies one in her 20s and the other in her 60s who find something common and come closer to share their lives during lockdown, and last and the most beautiful is the poetry weaved by Ratna Pathak and Shardul Bharadwaj. A story of a senior citizen living alone and a rickshaw driver who is missing his family during lockdown. The distrust turns into trust and then more, oh what a beautifully presented story, if you eyes are not moist after this go get your heart checked maybe you lost it somewhere. Great directors and writers and actors come together to give us these 5 stories in unpaused - A must watch.

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BHAAG BEANIE BHAAG - 4.0 Stars. (PG)

Creators: Ravi Patel, Neel Shah

Stars: Swara Bhaskar, Aditya Belnekar, Varun Thakur

Bhaag Beanie Bhaag- Trailer

These new age mini series are just perfect, they are not long to discourage you and they have enough topical things going that make you stay interested. Actors are good, writing is good. There is no out of control drama, it is just a nice little story about Beanie who wants to be a stand up comedian and has her trials. It seems stand up comedy is something new that has popped up in India, a lot of movies have that as the backdrop. Here it is utilized really well. A lot of good relationships develop with Beanie, starting with her parents, her fiancé, her awkward friend and then with that guy who has shown up from US! All relationships are funny but also deep, and her fling with the US guy is very entertaining. A good show. 

Q3 2020 - Mask and Go OR Stay Home and Watch a Movie

                                                       POPULAR BOLLYWOOD
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 CARGO - 2.5 STARS. (SCI-FI)

Cargo - Trailer

Director: Arati Kadav

Writer: Arati Kadav

Stars: Vikrant Massey, Shweta Tripathi, Nandu Madhav

The movie had a lot of promise, I have not seen a Sci-Fi genre in Indian movies. A good point of this movie is that it is probably written by an Indian writer and not copied. No trying to mimic a western movie, but after the novelty of the plot wears out the movie lacks any speed, twists or an engaging story to carry it forward. 

The movie is about 'Rakshas' species taking care of humans after death (like yamraj). They have decided to make it an efficient corporation style job, when humans die they are serviced before they are sent on. The movie does not explain anything, about the entire complexity of the plot. They almost show it as if this is sequel to a movie that has explained everything previously. Till the end you are confused and you want a good clear explanation of what the concept is all about. 

SADAK 2 - 1.0 STAR. (PG13)

Sadak 2 - Trailer

Director: Mahesh Bhatt

Writers: Pushpdeep Bhardwaj, Mahesh Bhatt

Stars: Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Bose, Sanjay Dutt. Aditya Roy Kapoor.

Sadak was made in 90s, what a different time. Sadak was gory, loud and bloody. It's highlight was a transgender menacing villain. Most of the plot may not fit in today's world. But if you have decided to make a Sadak, you need a big budget, great music. gory fights, and huge love story. That's what Sadak in 90s meant. None of that was in Sadak 2. They tried to have an idiotic god-man who tried to be menacing. He was carefully made not hindu or muslim or any other thing that you have ever seen. The producers had no money, or maybe covid hit and they just decided to shoot in their living room. Ridiculous scenes like standing on top of a Mount Kailash looked like shooting from your living room to a projector screen showing Kailash. It was as bad as the skits I do. 

The movie is about Sanjay Dutt who can't get over his wife's death (Sadak Couple). Now he finds a purpose in life to help 2 lovers who have come to ask for help. A good plot completely screwed up with uninspiring direction and story and everything else. 

YAARA - 3.5 STARS. (PG)

Yaara - Trailer

Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia

Stars: Vidyut Jammwal, Amit Sadh, Mohommed Ali Shah

Vidyut Jammwal is definitely a type casted actor, and why not? He is the best fighter in Bollywood so it is imperative that his movie should have some action, but Vidyut was stung by the "Aamir Khan" bug. I remember Aamir was called 'Chocolate Hero' he was cute and easily a heir of Rajesh Khanna as a ladies man. But he decided he did not want to be Chocolate Hero and he started on this huge historic path of being an institution in himself, made movies that are wide ranging. The difference is - He was Aamir Khan and Vidyut is Vidyut with very limited talent. Oh.. I wish Vidyut wouldn't wish more than what he had. Now this Quarter we have 2 Vidyut movies where the guy is shying from throwing a good solid Flip and Punch. Come on dude... don't do that. 

The movie is about 4 friends who start off in college days amongst the 'Naxal' unrest and the past catches up with them, the friends meet again and they have live for each other one more time. The tale of love, betrayal and friendship done a few 100 times. I will admit this is definitely not a stale story, it has a lot of freshness and some good moments. Not a bad one to pass your time to. A decent story and ok acting makes this movie a 3.5 Starrer.

GUNJAN SAXENA - THE KARGIL GIRL  - 4.0 STARS. (G)

Gunjan Saxena - Trailer

Director: Sharan Sharma

Writers: Nikhil Mehrotra, Sharan Sharma

Stars: Janhvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Angad Bedi 

This will go down as movie that produced an 'Actor'. Please welcome Ms Janvi Kapoor the Actor. The girl packs a punch in this great movie which has a great Director in Sharan Sharma at the helm. This is how you make a movie about Kargil - no chest thumping, no enemy bashing, no nationalistic testosterone going crazy. Plain and simple, staying real on human emotions. The backdrop of Kargil remains the backdrop. A one dimensional portrayal of all soldiers is so embarrassing and pathetic in the movies that this is a great welcome change. I was ready for a movie where they will be in your face how Hindustan is great and mostly Hindus for that matter. But it was a welcome surprise. 

The movie is about this girl who wants to become an Airplane Pilot and how she ends up being a Kargil Hero. The movie has lot of important characters from her Dad, Brother to her Boss. Everyone of them make her who she is in various ways. There are no big emotional melt downs, none of the high octane drama the subtle small moments make a lasting impression. No one is villain and our Hero herself has lot of self doubts that make her real and not a plastic Hero. What a Director can do! Wow. 

RAAT AKELI HAI - 3.5 STARS. SUSPENSE. (PG)

Raat Akeli Hai - Trailer

Director: Honey Trehan

Writers: Smita Singh

Stars: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Aditya Srivastav

Similar genre as 'Knives Out' and some scenes resemble it, but the plot is completely different. Hindi movies don't have many in this genre, so it makes for interesting watch. It is pretty complicated for being a whodunnit mystery in Hindi. Too many characters and too many relations not explicitly explained for dumb audience like me. Anyway it is a pretty good watch. Nawazuddin never disappoints and he has a nice side story going while he solves the murder mystery. 

CLASS OF 83 - 3.5 STARS. (PG13)

Class of 83 - Trailer

Director: Atul Sabharwal

Writers: Abhijeet Shirish Deshpande, Atul Sabharwal

Stars: Bobby Deol, Anup Soni, Joy Sengupta

Bobby भैय्या देखत है भईया सब लोगवा एक्टिंग करत है बस वो ही पीछे रह गए. तो लो भैय्या हम भी एक्टर बन गए और लगा ली है फेस पे ब्रूडिंग एक्सप्रेसशन। दबा लेगा दाँतों तले उँगलियाँ यह ज़हा देख कर अपनी चाल. 

Must be the 20th year in the industry so finally Bobby has decided to try his hand at acting. Not a bad job, he does look depressed and brooding. His wrinkles act as scars of a defeated person who still has a fight in him. Good Job Bobby, the entire point of acting is when you don't do it. Bobby does not do much and that's when he acts. 

Movie is about 1983 cop deciding to make a gang of vigilante Police officers who he trains to take down some bad elements which have been a thorn in his hey days. 

KHUDA HAAFIZ - 1.0 STAR. (PG13)

Khuda Haafiz - Trailer

Director: Faruk Kabir

Writer: Faruk Kabir

Stars: Vidyut Jammwal, Shivaleeka Oberoi, Annu Kapoor 

The movie did not take any time to disappoint. It started with some middle eastern country as the backdrop with some lilting tunes and my hopes skyrocketed. I was like maybe this will be a "Khuda Gawah" showcasing some great middle eastern culture and music. My Bad. Nothing happened. Next I was like well .... Vidyut is going to destroy an entire country to save his wife a great violent love story? Nah... My Bad. Remember Vidyut wants to be Aamir? He plays an average Joe who is trying to save is wife in a foreign land and he tries hard to show how he does not know how to fight. Very painful to watch. Entire movie than man does not change his expression nor does the movie's tone changes.

LOOTCASE- 4.5 STARS. (G)

Lootcase - Trailer

Director: Rajesh Krishnan

Writers: Rajesh Krishnan, Kapil Sawant

Stars: Kunal Khemu, Rasika Dugal, Gajraj Rao

Finally a comedy that actually is just comedy, pure and simple comedy. Every character is hilarious and has a 'thing' about them. Every character is just outright funny within themselves. Probably Kunal Khemu is the least funny character and the movie is all about him. The cast is also awesome and every one has been used the best way possible. Great direction and acting. 

Movie is about how a common man finds a bag filled with money and obviously gets embroiled in a lot of mess. As I think of it, Kunal Khemu's wife and kid have there lines that are hilarious. Enter the gangster obsessed with National Geographic is hilarious, the cop is awesome. The politician has his own little quirks. Just out and out funny comedy. A must watch.

SHAKUNTALA DEVI - 3.0 STARS. (PG)

Shakuntala Devi - Trailer

Director: Anu Menon

Writers: Anu Menon, Nayanika Mahtani 

Stars: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra, Jishu Sengupta

Everyone my age knows who Shakuntala Devi was. The human computer who could do calculations faster than computers of those days. We did not know how her life was or what her personality was. This movie does a lot of justice in portraying her as a human who is a flawed genius. The first half of the movie is probably like a 1 star and the second half is like a 4 star movie. Nothing happens in first half except consolidating what we already know about her. Second half delves into the character of a fierce competitor who wants to win every single thing in life. If it was a man, he is exalted to highest honors - Michael Jordon, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, even most politicians - they are all jerks but no one talks about that, they are first winners and great competitors. When it is a woman she is a jerk first. The movie does a great job in showing how Shakuntala is flawed but that is what she wants to do, that does not make her a bad person but due to being a woman her achievements come with twice the labor. Fast forward the first part and watch the great second half of the movie. 

                                                         BUDGET MOVIES

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ATKAN CHATKAN - 2.5 STARS. (G)

Atkan Chatkan - Trailer

Director: Shiv Hare

Writers: Aadesh Raathi

Stars: Lydian Nadhaswaram, Amitriyaan, Taaha Shah Badusha 

A small budget movie about street kids who's love for music makes them do things they won't do otherwise. Somehow there are very few 'kid' movies that keep you engaged, they always make kid movies about slum kids, I would actually like to see a middle class kids movies which may not fall into familiar traps and may be more engaging. 

MEE RAQSAM - 4.5 STARS. (G)

Mee Raqsam - Trailer

Director: Baba Azmi

Writers: Husain Mir, Safdar Mir

Stars: Juhaina Ahsan, Shivangi Gautam, Danish Husain

What a beautiful Slap on Religion, Culture, and Tribalism. A beautiful poetry simply told and still packs a punch. Baba Azmi we want more from you what a great movie, it is bold with an explosive end and still never leaving it's basic trait of being unassuming. 

Story is about a Muslim girl who loves "hindu" dance of Bharatnatyam, needless to say that is enough for the entire humanity to revolt. I have seen a lot of Dad Daughter relationships in movies, but this one is probably up there at the top. What a Dad she got, I want to be that to my kids. He is rock steady and just obstinate about getting what her Daughter wants. It is just a dance! but it is not just a dance for the world. Society has a big ego and naturally it gets hurt because it is so big you can't carry it around without getting mad. But within our society we have people who don't carry extra baggage they are happy to help whoever is in front of them. A must watch. 

CHINTU KA BIRTHDAY - 4.5 STARS. (PG)

Chintu Ka Birthday Trailer

Directors: Devanshu Singh, Satyanshu Singh (co-director)

Writers: Devanshu Singh, Satyanshu Singh

Stars: Vinay Pathak, Tillotama Shome, Seema Bhargava

How do they think of a movie like this? I am just blown away by it. US has attacked Iraq and all Indian families have fled the place except one, they are trapped and stuck. It is Chintu's family and it's his Birthday. Somehow he never gets to celebrate his Birthday worls issues end up spoiling his party. Another Dad that I adore, decides no matter what he is going to give chintu his Birthday. A US Soldier is stuck just like Chintu in a war he doesn't understand. Everyone is stuck in this world not at all pleased with why it is like it is. A little bit of love and a lot of toughness washes away as we all are just plain vulnerable humans with coating of Country, Religion, Identity that has nothing to do with us. Another beautiful simple movie that Punches above it's weight. Watch it. 

CHIPPA - 3.5 STARS (G)

Chippa - Trailer

Director: Safdar Rahman

Writer: Safdar Rahman

Stars: Sunny Pawar, Mala Mukherjee, Surojit

A great kid story based in Bengal. This kid is a cute and very good actor, he takes you on ride with a letter from his Dad. He runs away from home goes around in various parts of cities and touches a lot of stories that happen around us all the time and returns back home. a Good cute story that needs a patient relaxed watch. 

PENALTY - 3.0 STARS. (G)

Penalty - Trailer

Director: Shubham Singh

Writers: Tasha Bhambra, Akhilesh Choudhary

Stars: Lukram Smil, Kay Kay Menon, Shashank Arora 

If Kay Kay Menon is in a movie I am just waiting for him to be a bad scary guy who will be really mean. He does not disappoint. He is the mean coach who is against outsiders (Eastern states) from playing instead of his players. That pretty much is the premise of the movie, similar to 'Axon' the movie that was about Eastern state people are treated as outsiders in India. It is a pretty good movie but does not engage enough. If you start it, please finish it, end is the crux of the movie. Maybe fast forward to end?

DOLLY KITTY AUR WOH CHAMAKTE SITAARE - 4.0 STARS. (R)

Director: Alankrita Shrivastava

Writer: Alankrita Shrivastava

Stars: Konkona Sen Sharma, Bhumi Pednekar, Vikrant Massey

Probably the first complete out and out women oriented movie about how women are as human as men including the bad. When you have a great star studded ensemble you can't go wrong - Alankrita is a great writer / Director and Konkana Sen Sharma and Bhumi are both master of their craft. Add in Vikrant Massey and we have everything we need. 

The movie is about 2 cousin sisters who are living in same city, and trying to make sense of this thing called life. Wife is stuck being a wife and single is stuck being single. Then there are expectations from society and your own expectations from you. Add to it our expectations from others, we judge but hate to be judged. We want to be left alone but when we make mistakes, we want someone to be by our side. All of it is so complicated does it make any sense? Yes and No. Dolly didi and Kitty take a swing at it... yea that thing called Life and give us a slice of it. 

                                                                     ARTSY

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PAREEKSHA - 4.0 STARS. (PG)

Pareeksha - Trailer

Director: Prakash Jha

Writers: Saurabh Gupta (additional writing), Prakash Jha (Writer)

Stars: Adil Hussain, Priyanka Bose, Shubham

A throw back low budget movie of the 70s, the era of Shabana Azmi and Om Puri. The formula used to be to show the travails of poor people and I always used to wonder where is the positive message? Om Puri or whoever it was would be pummeled with lot of pain and humiliation and that was it. Anyway... this movie is similar old school movie which is a very pleasant surprise in 2020. Now I don't see these movies enough and hence I loved it. 

The movie is about a rickshaw puller who sees talent in his son. He wants his son to be taught in a private school, we know that is not going to be easy. The way movie goes, it is pretty fast paced, it does not go on a beaten path where poor is good and rich is bad. No .. life takes over, obstinate wishes. Wishes that can come true but they are wishes they are supposed to stay unfulfilled, if they get fulfilled they are not wishes. As that dude Ghalib said - हज़ारों ख्वाइशें ऐसी के हर ख्वाइश पे दम निकले. 

UPAJ -5 STARS. (G)

Upaj - Trailer

Director: Hoku Uchiyama

Writer: Hoku Uchiyama

Stars: Pandit Chitresh Das, Jason Samuels Smith

This is a old documentary that came to Amazon Prime so we rented it. The best part about this is the Producer - Antara Bhardwaj, because she is family. Can't be too biased about it but I am. The documentary tracks a 60+ year old Kathak Great and a young Tap dancer Jason as they embark on a trip to India. The camera work and everything associated with documentary makes you feel you are in the thick of things right there in midst of these 2 greats going around in India. My daughter is a Tap dancer and Antara herself is a great Kathak dancer so viewing this made it even more special. Jason is the ultimate cool dude as he has completely different life and philosophy as compared to Pandit Chitresh Das but they share a bond in two similar but different classical art forms. 

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INDIAN MATCHMAKING - 4.0 STARS. (PG13) - TV SERIES

Indian Matchmaking - Trailer

Stars: Sima Taparia, Vyasar M. Ganesan, Pradhyuman Maloo 

I did not have much expectations from it except for that it is from the great Smriti Mundhra who gave us 'A Suitable Girl' which was on similar lines, while that documentary tugged at strings much closer to heart this one was a out and out commercial entertainer. Indian Matchmaking is not that "Indian" it is mostly international-Indian matchmaking. It is hugely entertaining and gossip enticing. All characters are very human and regular and still special in their own way. Except for the end which is quick and incoherent after all it is a docuseries. I like the treatment of the show that has no bias towards or against the entire match making system itself and Sima Taparia is a perfect anchor as she treats her customers like products and is not into Philosophy or Judging the entire process, actually she is the process. 

BANDISH BANDITS - 3.5 STARS. (PG) - TV SERIES

Bandish Bandits - Trailer

Creators: Amritpal Singh Bindra, Anand Tiwari

Stars: Ritwik Bhowmik, Shreya Chaudhary, Naseeruddin Shah

A TV series about classical music could be boring but if you add a little drama it always helps. The show's highlight are it's classically based songs. If you love classical music, this is a must watch but if you don't still you will love the music. I have never liked anything associated with 'classical' I am just not a classical kind of guy. Classical is supposed to be pure, but what it actually becomes is - Rigid, and snooty. The show confirms my bias, it can be classical Physics, or Music or Dance, the greats are not very happy people they are all back biting, snooty, always mad, cheating each other and just every bad human trait becomes prominent in them. But that makes for good drama. 

AFSOS - 5.0 STARS. (R) - TV SERIES. 

Director - Anubhuti Kashyap

Stars: Gulshan Devaiah, Anjali Patil, Heeba Shah

I won't say it is perfect but it is near perfect. It is crazy creative, whacky, weird, and funny. I was so enthralled by it that first time in my life I understood why people binge watch something, I wanted to go on and on. Director Anubhuti whoever she is, NOW she is someone, and when I googled her she seems to be Anurag Kashyap's sibling. Anyway ... Anubhuti you are awesome. 

Afsos is a series about a man who wants to die, and tries to commit suicide but is unsuccessful. He has 'afsos' he can't die, there are others in the story that have afsos of their own and this comedy turns, thriller, turns murder mystery, turns whacky and weird in no time. Best thing I watched for sometime.