Mid Year Review - Corona months stretch into corona Year!

                                           POPULAR BOLLYWOOD
           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MALANG - 2.0 STARS. PG13. (LOVE STORY)



Malang - Trailer

Director: Mohit Suri

Writers: Aseem Arrora, Aniruddha Guha

Stars: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Disha Patani

I am not sure how old Mohit Suri is but it seems like life just went past him. He is getting into the age where he is not young anymore but is thinking what young people must be like. Partying over the top, tattooing over the top, dressing over the top, flexing over the top, drugs over the top, mouthing lines like - I live to die etc... over the top. You get the point. The movie is full of visuals 100s of them and everyone acting Mohit's over the top vision. The movie is not bad if he could have instead worked on relations and emotions. Aditya Roy Kapoor plays this muscle poppin criminal who was at one point a cute lover, and Anil Kapoor plays this over the top cop who used to be a good cop turned bad.

JABARIYA JODI - 3.5 STARS. G. (LOVE STORY)



Jabariya Jodi - Trailer

Director: Prashant Singh

Writers: Sanjeev k Jha (screenplay), Sanjeev k Jha (story)

Stars: Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra, Javed Jaffrey

I don't know why, but I can't say anything bad about these 2 kids. Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra - they are so cute. Just look at them... awww. I want them in more movies. For your sake I have to say the movie is not that great, but I love the way Pari says things and Sidharth ... can't act. I like everything about them. I am sorry I am a human I have flaws.

The movie is about kidnapping grooms who are asking for dowry and making them marry by force. Our hero does that for his Dad, there are complications in his relations with Mom and Dad and he is not as tough as he looks, Our Heroine is tough as they get but still may fall in love. The movie is a little old schoolish with some good one liners. I suggest to fire the makeup artist and wardrobe manager if their was any. Horrible makeup and clothes, make our hero and heroine look like they are in fancy dress competition but everything else is ok.

ANGREZI MEDIUM - 2.5 STARS. G. (DRAMA)



Angrezi Medium - Trailer

Director: Homi Adajania
Writers: Bhavesh Mandalia, Gaurav Shukla
Stars: Irrfan Khan, Radhika Madan, Kareena Kapoor

Do yourself a favor and watch the first part (Hindi Medium) again. If you insist on watching this one, then hope you don't remember the first one. This a big step down from the first one. They have tried to pack a lot of emotions in this one, Dad loves his daughter, and daughter aint gettin it, until she does. The entire plot makes little sense, so don't calculate how things can happen, just concentrate on emotions. One bright spot in the movie is Kareena Kapoor, what a fresh breeze of air, love the way she plays a cop girl with her flamboyant style.

PANGA - 3.75 STARS. G. (SPORTS)



Panga - Trailer

Director: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Writers: Nikhil Mehrotra, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Jassie Gill, Richa Chadha

A typical Kangana movie of determination against all odds. The negative and positive of the movie is that our Hero is a real character. She is an Ex-Hockey star who is unsure and at times don't know what she needs. Kangana does a good job with it and showing vulnerability in a strong character is tough to do. But that also makes the movie different, you are almost numbed into cliche ridden sports movies where the Hero is almost flawless and knows exactly what he/she wants and how to get there.  This one is different. A good one with some pretty good scenes.

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.


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.


Street Dancer 3D - 2.0 STARS. G. (DANCE)



Street Dancer 3D - Trailer

Director: Remo D'Souza
Writer: Farhad Samji
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhu Deva

Remo was basically a dance director and then he started making movies about Dance. FIrst was a novel thing to do in ABCD, then how much different can you go? This is the 3rd installment and hopefully the last. The dances have started looking similar, and if you have no idea ... then you always have an idea to go to london and make a movie. There is everything packed in it, rich - poor, immigrant desi - white brits, india- pak, love-breakup, friendship-cheating name it ... and you will find it. But you already know it, and it somehow does not make you sit up.

LOVE AAJ KAL - 2.0 STARS. PG. (LOVE STORY)



Love Aaj Kal 2 - Trailer

Director: Imtiaz Ali

Writer: Imtiaz Ali

Stars: Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan, Randeep Hooda

Imtiaz भाई की लाइफ में वही आया है जो एक टाइम पे SRK की लाइफ में था .... और अब सल्लू की लाइफ में है ... mid life crisis! Imtiaz uncle has become old pretty quick, but he needs to make movies of young people so he over does it every time. I think this is second movie in a row that just tries a little too hard. 

Love Stories are difficult to make in these times. This is an era of comedy, you can make a comedy and it will be received well. Love story is an old concept, you cannot make errors. Can't over or under do it. Well... at least he tries. 

The one good thing he did was to cast Randeep Hooda, this blog has always been a fan. The guy does not disappoint. Though he has a weird character that completely loses it as movie goes on, still most of it was pretty well done. Kartik Aaryan can do what he can and strictly that and nothing else. He looks and acts exactly the same .... let's say he is dharam papaji of today. You know what he will do. Sara is daughter of Amrita Singh I think... hmm... Amrita was hot in Mard! so... I can't talk bad about these kids forget it. They are young they tried their best. Sara actually put everything in the role, but the presentation made it look lame.

                                                     BUDGET MOVIES

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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?

CHAMAN BAHAAR - 2.0 STARS. PG. (LOVE STORY?)

Chaman Bahaar - Trailer

Director: Apurva Dhar Badgaiyann

Writer: Apurva Dhar Badgaiyann

Stars: Jitendra Kumar, Ritika Badiani, Bhuvan Arora

I read somewhere this movie is a 'Kabir Singh' on budget. Can't fault with that review.
Movie held lot of promise, the actors are good - A small town has a youth leader and a youth businessman and then their is youth that have nothing better to do than run after one girl. Yes the entire village runs after this girl just because she is the out of towner who is 'Modern'. So 80s India. Everything goes well, except for our main character who has to deal with all these characters as well try his own fling at her. Somehow his angle does not go well, though it is the reality but it did not gel well. Not a bad concept, but could have been better.

AXONE - 3.0 STARS. PG. (DRAMA).



Axone - Trailer

Director: Nicholas Kharkongor
Stars: Sayani Gupta, Lin Laishram, Jimpa Bhutia

North Eastern people in India are similar to Desi immigrants in America. We speak funny, but we actually are citizens. We have our customs that look weird, we are never thought of as if we 'belong'. But we sing the mainstream songs and actually are into American culture. Same is the story of these bunch of Manipuri people living in Delhi. All they want is to cook Axone (it is actually Akhun) a dish they want to cook for a wedding. A good story of being an outsider when you are not, but it does not entertain enough.

DOORDARSHAN - 1.5 STARS. G. (DRAMA)



Doordarshan - Trailer

Director: Gagan Puri

Writer: Gagan Puri

Stars: Manu Rishi Chadha, Mahie Gill, Dolly Ahluwalia

The premise is that a grandma is in coma for 30 years and if she wakes up we need to make sure she thinks it is still the 90s and hence the title Doordarshan. The movie tries hard to pack jokes, but they are either insensitive or stupid. There are some good scenes and their are some great actors (Kids in the movie), but Grandma scenes suck. Done a little over the top. Should have stuck with just completely stupid slap stick comedy but tried to put a lot in it.

KAMYAAB - 4.0 STARS. G. (DRAMA)



Kaamyaab- Trailer

Director: Hardik Mehta
Writers: Radhika Anand, Hardik Mehta
Stars: Sanjay Mishra, Deepak Dobriyal, Sarika Singh

A movie about side characters, also called character artists, have been tried many times. Generally it is a sob story of how they are never recognized and it becomes a drag. This Sanjay Mishra starrer avoids being that. Good job. It depicts ordinary life of this film character who had a few famous scenes that people know him by. He has a pretty real relationship with his daughter which is cute. He wants to do is 500th movie and in trying to get that role he loses it. Life can give you realization anytime during the coarse of it, when it hits you.... only you know that realization because it comes as clear as water. Sanjay Mishra does a good job finding his realization in the movie.

BHOOT PART 1 - 2.0 STARS. R. (HORROR)



Bhoot Part one - Trailer

Director: Bhanu Pratap Singh
Writer: Bhanu Pratap Singh
Stars: Vicky Kaushal, Ashutosh Rana, Meher Vij

When I was searching for this movie's pic to cut and paste here, I found out there was a TV series of the same name and story in another language. The direction and presentation is pretty ordinary the only question we had was - Why would Vicky Kaushal want to do this? 

There is a ship that is haunted, and Vicky is the cop who needs to get the truth and in turn treats some of his own demons. The movie's story is not bad (obviously it was copied) but the presentation is not great.

CHOKED - 4.0 STARS. G. (THRILLER)



Choked - Trailer

Director: Anurag Kashyap

Writer: Nihit Bhave

Stars: Saiyami Kher, Roshan Mathew, Amruta Subhash

Only disappointment was Anurag Kashyap directed it. So I will kepT expecting more and more. The movie plays in subtle tones and lives under the shadows. It seems like a harmlessly jarring true life of a middle class Mumbai lady. You almost feel like you are living in the congested confines of Mumbai with Saiyami Kher. She plays it perfectly. The camera angles and the way the movie is shot you feel the bored, stressed, drab and drag of her life. Then she starts finding bundles of money. Then demonetization happens. Things go out of control but the music or the camera angles or the life remains in similar ordinary ways. Movie holds one too many cards hidden to make it a 6th sense-ish ending revealing too many too late. But then you are left thinking about the movie for way longer than you would have. Well... after the movie you realize .. yea it was an Anurag Kashyap movie.

                                                                          ARTSY

              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GULABO SITABO - 4.0 STARS. G. (COMEDY)



Gulabo Sitabo - Trailer

Director: Shoojit Sircar

Writer: Juhi Chaturvedi

Stars: Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Vijay Raaz

If you think about it, from the first to the last scene nothing really happens in the movie. But if you think about it what needs to happen anyway? 

You get to know very unique characters ever to be shown in cinema, what else you need to know? Amitabh Bachhan packs a punch in this subtle comedy playing a खूसट कमीना बुद्धा . What a performance, his pauses of kameena pan are a delight. His smile and his fall every time he thinks of profit is legendary. Ayushman supports this comedy ably with his ponch and चिन्दी चोर attitude. Both have the same brain but different age and they both will do anything that needs to be done for their selfish motive to get the haveli they are fighting for. 

The biggest fallacy is that age does anything to a character of a human being. When judging others we keep bringing up age but that is just a number. He is a kid and look what he is doing, now replace that with any age.... he is a teen, adult, old person, whatever... it has no meaning. A person is a person, and if he is selfish then he is.

THE LIFT BOY - 3.75 STARS. G. (DRAMA)



The Lift Boy - Trailer

Director: Jonathan Augustin
Writers: Jonathan Augustin, Ashish P. Verma
Stars: Moin Khan, Nyla Masood, Saagar Kale

The kid has talent, Moin plays a good Lift Boy. Dad is a Lift boy and does everything so the kid does not end up like him. An hospital visit for Dad forces the kid to take over as a Lift Boy. Things happe in lift including some beautiful life revelations for this kid. A pretty good low budget movie you can watch with low expectations.

WEB SERIES

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AARYA - Watch if dire need to kill time. 



Aarya - Trailer

Creators: Ram Madhvani, Sandeep Modi
Stars: Sushmita Sen, Jagdish Rajpurohit, Manish Chaudhary

Sushmita Sen has a drag in her voice, that is too typical for an actor. She needs to work on it. She has a very typical way of saying things, that sometimes comes in the way of the narration. I am not sure if you will feel the same maybe it is me. This is the first TV series I am reviewing and I am not sure how to do it. I do not watch TV series as a principle, too much time needs to be invested and I don't want to give my time to a 12 hr movie! But COVID has made us do things that we never expected so here I am watching all sorts of TV series. I rate them harsher than the movies due to time investment, It asks you to waste your double digits hours instead of a couple.

Aarya lacks soul, it is wannabe great series but it is clearly trying too hard. It is not bad, obviously I finished it, I generally leave them after an episode, so it is watchable but it disappoints too. Let me state the biggest flaw - WHY would you take Chandrachur Singh if you did not need him? WHY? Till the last episode we couldn't get over the fact that Chandrachur Singh was brought in and then not used.

Story is about a business family who has lot of secrets and a gangster's drugs go missing creating a lot of problems for this rich business family. Everything falls on Aarya (Sushmita Sen) to navigate the business world and kids to safety. Can she do it? Actors don't rise above the script but stay with it doing a good job but nothing out of the ordinary. The kids were annoying and their angle was unnecessary and overdone. Teens are not just into sex and drugs. They can be just regular humans too. A white character doing Gita shloks in his music, teen making art on her walls adds to the wannabe part of the web series.

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.

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.

What to Watch (Hindi) on NETFLIX during Corona days

These are Corona days. You know how it is, you walk from one room to other and you are done with your exercising. You feel lost and lonely in your home as if you are in TALAASH of something. You see the fridge and after a Little KABHI HAAN KABHI NAA you know exactly what you were looking for. Next you know you are eating ANDHADHUN, and guess what you were not even hungry! 

You are staring at the laptop and yelling at yourself WAKE UP SID! but work can be done 24x7 from Home, its not just you, AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY all are working from home. Work in your Lockdown KAHAANI has become ARTICLE 15 in your to-do list. Let's face it your work is not as interesting as JAGGA JASOOS's, neither are you a DON of anywhere. When nothing looks urgent, nothing excites, don't be a DEV D BOSS, just slouch on a couch and stare at TV. In most days that will be a crime, you feel GUILTY, not anymore! daily News cycle has made you think KAL HO NA HO and reading every day new tricks of getting rid of virus from your grocery bag has become a FITOOR for you, and you are no BAAGHI, so be guilt free slouch on a couch with NETFLIX, it's no more a ONE NIGHT STAND but you can go on every night like this and no one will INKAAR you for it. Go ahead waste your life you are JODHA AKBAR of your life and I am here to help - Main Hoon Na. 

If you have been living under a rock and has recently been introduced to Hindi movies maybe you have not even gotten a 'DANGAL' under your belt or you will have to pay a 'LAGAAN' for not watching it. Do yourself a favor Take the first CHENNAI EXPRESS you get and watch it (Dangal), actually it is a pretty good re-watch with your kids, especially if you got a daughter. and in case you don't have a daughter and you are the old style mard you can catch KABIR SINGH, actually Kabir should be in demand now that healthcare workers are our heroes, he is a oversexed, genius, alcoholic, foul mouthed, gunda-mawaali BUT a doctor. So yes, support all kind of doctors please. If you did not know about these movies, you definitely are into playing LUKA CHHUPI with hindi movies. 

Some of you stopped watching hindi movies long time back saying they used to be good but now they don't know what happened but watching them feels like AGNEEPATH! I know what happened to you.... you got Old. Why don't you catch your definition of Bollywood and go HUM SAATH SAATH HAIN to a world that never was. Or if you want you can watch 100th time HAHK, make sure you close the door, in case your kids see what you actually enjoyed as a kid. You might think you are RAJA HINDUSTANI but they will definitely know you are a big ZERO. If you decide to watch Raja Hindustani, make sure you quarantine yourself for at least 3 days, because you will hum... pardesi, pardesi jana nahi...jana nahi for full 3 days. Look nothing in life comes without a cost, even if you are as cool as KAALIA or SHIVA your life will have KABHI KHUSHI KABHI GHAM.  

If for some reason your DIL CHAHTA HAI that you want to torture yourself because you blame yourself for not maintaining the 6 feet social distancing rule when you pounced on that tomato before the Asian uncle can get to it, we have a few for you too, there is no bigger punishment to watch SAAHO and JAB HARRY MET SEJAL back to back. 

In case you are diametrically opposite to the guy who is stuck in 90s Bollywood, GURU I got you covered I know you want DIL DHADAKNE DO or you want to dream of SKY IS PINK, and in your own DHRISHYAM you become a SECRET SUPERSTAR because you are so full of yourself you think of yourself as TAARE ZAMEEN PAR. Beware ... with big Bollywood leap comes big tears, these might give you a lump in your throat, so be ready with tissues .... no don't don't think about the virus be positive, wow you see LAAL RANG quick. I am talking about good ol tears while watching a movie. 

I know what you are thinking, dude just because I don't like 90s Bollywood masala does not mean I love tear jerkers!! I hear you, we got a 'STREE' for you. Don't get me wrong not that kind of Stree, but an awesome lady who could be a ghost. If you like your lady to be a QUEEN, we got her for you but she is not the Queen of London, but she did leave SWADES and is living in London. Now that we are talking about girls, you might as well go for a PADMAN, and if you don't like me pushing you into social causes then just go with hilarious and appetizing "BAREILLY KI BARFI'. Talking of funny, all movies have ANDAZ APNA APNA, some are NAMAK HALAAL and some have GOLMAAL going and other come at you CHUPKE CHUPKE. 

If you are awesome like me you are like 'OH MY GOD' I have seen them all!! How about go for love by calculation in LOVE PER SQUARE FOOT, and if that makes your DHARAM SANKET MEIN. I would say ask HAMID, MICHAEL, BHOURI and HAIDER to give you a reality check. If you don't I am going to complain to AJJI that you are stubborn and is acting like 3 IDIOTS, that will be GAME OVER for you. 

If you want to watch none of these, I would ask you what the heck is your LAKSHYA? Remember you have to forget all MOH MAYA MONEY and only focus on lockdown and how to waste time. You can't fly to UDTA PUNJAB or to RANGOON, you can't even visit your neighbors KAPOOR AND SONS! All you can do is - Pick some CHOPSTICKS, eat LITTLE THINGS, play SACRED GAMES, or a game of SATTE PE SATTA and PK relax. 

Q1 2020 - Corona Review - For the ones who are stuck at home.

POPULAR BOLLYWOOD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GUILTY: 4.0 Stars. R. (THRILLER / DRAMA)

 

Guilty - Trailer

Director: Ruchi Narain

Stars: Kiara Advani, Taher Shabbir, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor 

An actor is born. Take a bow - Kiara! There is this one movie that makes you known for your craft, for Kiara this is it. She is legit. From the first scene you can tell she is in it, the character and her or not 2 separate people. Just for her you got to watch it.

The movie is pretty slick thriller about an alleged rape. I am not a fan of bollywood's obsession on this topic, but I won't rant about it. The positive is - all characters are in the grey, there is no side that is out and out great or evil. The treatment is not bad either. The movie moves at a good pace. She said, he said. Can we believe anyone around us? Are our social biases hindering our judgement? Why would he do it? It is an ok movie and Kiara made it a must watch.

PANIPAT: 2.0 STARS. PG. (ACTION / DRAMA)

 

Panipat - Trailer

Director: Ashutosh Gowariker

Stars: Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon

Now India has reached this point that anything you show as a historical with Hindu Kings who are invincible, great, with no semblance of negative trait who is going against a Muslim villain then ANYTHING goes. By anything I mean passing Arjun Kapoor as a historical 16th century warrior!! Come on now... you can't be serious. The movie falls flat right there, add to it no semblance of in depth analysis on history by Gowarikar. Well... he probably didn't want to get beaten up by goons so he would have decided to just make a super hero movie. Sanjay Dutt can play Sanjay Dutt not a muslim invader but atleast he looks menacing villain which I guess was the point of the movie. He sleep walks through the role. So sorry to see an accomplished director go to waste.

SHIMLA MIRCHI: 1.5 STARS. (DRAMA)

 

Shimla Mirchi- Trailer

Director: Ramesh Sippy

Stars: Hema Malini, Rajkummar Rao, Rakul Preet Singh 

Rajkummar Rao looks so young seems like the movie was in the making for a long time. I have no idea why the movie is named Shimla Mirchi.... well it is supposedly shot in Shimla. Let's get to the real problem - Hema Malini. I am not sure if she ever was a great actor, but please Hema Aunty, let's just call it quits. Rakul Preet Singh is good as always. Rajkummar does the same things he does.

The movie is a love story with a twist of Hema Malini falling in love with her daughter's lover. Yes, you read it right. If you think it is interesting plot, Hema Malini kills it in a few scenes. I think the movie is supposed to be a comedy, and I did laugh but not because of comedy, but because it was too embarrassing to see what is going on. Actually there was one scene that was kind of funny, when people come to talk about Hema Aunty's daughter's marriage and she thinks they have to ask for her to get married!

MADE IN CHINA: 3.0 STARS. (THRILLER)

Made In China - Trailer

Director: Mikhil Musale

Stars: Rajkummar Rao, Boman Irani, Mouni Roy 

Rajkummar Rao plays the younger submissive kid of the business Gujju family. He is married to this beautiful girl and she pushes him to do bigger things and go chase his dreams. He has fire to do something big but is scared to take the leap, until he does take a leap without telling his family about it. He goes off trying to eradicate people's sexual problems by giving them a shady Made in China product.

I don't divulge so much of a story of a movie but I thought to make sure you can decide on this one you should know. It is a typical low budget movie which is not bad anever reaches a crescendo either. It is pretty good but meh...

TANHAJI: 2.0 STARS. (ACTION)

Tanhaji - Trailer

Director: Om Raut

Stars: Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Sharad Kelkar

Ajay Devgan stays Ajay Devgan... lets say Tanhaji as played by Ajay Devgan. To add to it Saif plays just like Saif in a negative role. No one looks a period character. I don't think it is their fault, they were never told it is a historical and they have to get into character. They are flying in the air doing impossible stunts pushing big cannons. One is bad, one is good, another affair which had no depth to it.

COMMANDO 3: 3.0 STARS (ACTION)

Commando-3 - Trailer

Director: Aditya Datt

Stars: Vidyut Jammwal, Adah Sharma, Gulshan Devaiah 

Vidyut is probably the best fighter in the Industry, only Tiger comes second to him. But Vidyut is class of his own. Having such a big asset he could be Jackie Chan of India but he is not, and blame goes to directors who make drab duds around him. He mouths some good one liners and fights awesome, some of his tricks are straight out of Jackie Chan's moves. In earlier movies he was saving animals, saving a girl from an entire village and was more like a Rambo. This one they tried to make it too big,and too patriotic that it became stale. There was nothing new, Indian agent trying to stall a terrorist plot and somehow ends up in London in pursuit of one terrorist. The movie goes too much high tech and loses Vidyut's presence. His fights are awesome though. In this Corona days you can fast forward and watch the cool fights.

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.

PAGALPANTI: 1.0 STARS. (COMEDY)

Director: Anees Bazmee

Stars: Anil Kapoor, John Abraham, Ileana D'Cruz

The name is correct, it is Pagalpanti. There is nothing in it, you will be paagal to watch it. Maybe you will laugh at complete stupidity going on but otherwise over the top acting of almost everybody with no comic timing is the hallmark of this movie. There is pretty good plot, lot of characters. There is not a scene that is not packed with funny stuff, but somehow you are embarrassed than being entertained. But liberal use of fast forward option can make any movie watchable, who knows you may enjoy it.

The plot is that John Abraham has bad luck and it is contagious, and where he goes bad luck follows. Anil Kapoor, Illeana, Pulkit, Arshad... all are accomplished at comedy but everyone is loud and louder and loudest.

The BODY: 2.5 STARS. (THRILLER)

The Body - Trailer

Director: Jeethu Joseph

Stars: Emraan Hashmi, Rishi Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala

I have a problem with actors coming to the set and asking what are my lines? without asking who am I playing! Rishi Kapoor, an accomplished actor just goes through the motions as if he is regular guy. You are playing a cop investigating a case!! Anyway, I am sure that is not the major flaw of this movie. Normally dependable Emraan disappoints. I am sure this is a copy of a European movie, generally they make these movies that run over a night in a hospital with no one around except for 5 people (to save cost I guess). The production cost is horribly cheap and the plot is ok. During Quarantine time, you can give it a shot. In regular times... no way.

The movie is about Emraan's wife dying and then the body disappearing from the morgue.

GOOD NEWZZ: 3.5 STARS. (COMEDY)

Good Newzz - Trailer

Director: Raj Mehta

Stars: Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Diljit Dosanjh 

Every quarter I bring up one movie that has all it's good scenes in the trailer and they reveal everything in the trailer. I don't like watching trailers because they give away everything. Well, this is one of those movies. Well made pretty funny movie, but the trailer has all the funny lines and the entire story. Surprisingly it was nice to see Kareena after a long time, watching her I wondered why do female leads disappear when they are pretty good and why do male leads overstay! Sad.

Diljit does his regular punjabi comedy and Akshay is a little off color in his comedy. Over all not a bad time pass movie. It has an interesting plot of sperm exchanged by mistake and now mismatched couple have to match!

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.

PATI PATNI AUR WOH : 3.0 STARS. (COMEDY / DRAMA)

Pati Patni aur Woh - Trailer

Director: Mudassar Aziz

Stars: Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar, Ananya Panday

I keep waiting for Kartik Aryan to give a breakthrough performance,but it is possible this is it for him. Nothing wrong with it he is pretty good at his craft. He is UP ka regular guy working in a regular job when he finds the 'woh' and he wants to do things for 'woh' and patni is not as exciting as the woh. Movie has a very simple straight forward script, not much changes it is very predictable with some twists at the end. Not all movies need to be creative genius, it goes on a good pace and ends on a high. The biggest surprise of the movie is Ananya Panday, she gives a very good performance! The kid is coming off a movie called 'Speed' you can't go lower than that, but then you bounce back with this!! Pretty impressive. Well played girl.

DABANGG 3 : NEGATIVE 1 (ACTION)

Dabangg 3 - trailer

Director: Prabhu Deva (as Prabhudheva)

Stars: Salman Khan, Sudeep, Sonakshi Sinha

Sallu has done it. No one ever broke my air tight rating system from 0 to 5. There are many movies that grate on me, and I have to survive them just because I am dedicated to the fans of this blog. I had sleepless nights thinking how can I give this movie a 0, it will be grossly unfair to all those movies that I gave 0 before this one!! Finally I had to give in and admit that once in a while there will be a movie that will break me. So here it is - ladies and gentlemen I give you the first negative ranked movie of this blog.

Salman does his thing of being chulbul and ohh is he annoying!!? they take previous danbanggs and pick scenes and put all these scenes and lines and just use them again. Let's use them in a way that is the worst possible way. Worst part is Salman doing his shy but brave but funny routine of Dabangg which is not working anymore. It is horrible. They try to show teenage chulbul's life!! a 50 year old salman shying away from teen girls she is getting married to. oh boi... then there is this villain (who actually was the only good thing in the movie) who has an obsession of hanging people from high points and then talk for very long time with CGI worse than 1970s movie Mard. Anyway... even during corona times... you can skip this one.

MARDAANI 2 : 3.5 STARS. (THRILLER)

Mardaani 2 - Trailer

Director: Gopi Puthran

Stars: Rani Mukerji, Sunny Hinduja, Vishal Jethwa 

Rani Mukerji is a good actor, she somehow was always overshadowed by Kajol. In 90s I thought Kajol was the greatest female lead I ever saw! but we were living in her world. If you take yourself outside of that world and look at her performances - they are unwatchable, loud and over the top. There are these actors who in their era just put a spell on us, but outside of that spell you watch them and you are like what the heck is this person doing. List is long from Raj Kumar, SRK, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand, to Kajol.

Anyway the first movie was pretty gripping and well done. This one is similar in effect to the first one. I wish they would not have taken the topic of Rape which makes me cringe. It seems to help the cause of perpetrators of crime and not the victims, the way hindi movies show it. Outside of it, Mardaani is pretty taut thriller with all the necessary ingredients in it. It is a good well made movie.

                                                       BUDGET MOVIES

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BYPASS ROAD : 3.0 STARS. (THRILLER)

Bypass Trailer

Director: Naman Nitin Mukesh

Stars: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Adah Sharma, Gul Panag 

Neil is acting and someone called Naman is Directing hmm... sounds like all within the family. It has all the characteristics of a thriller except for being an actual thriller. Don't get me wrong it has hugely complicated plot with twists etc. BUT who the heck background scored this one?? Who puts 70s Don music in car chases anymore? You gotta watch it for the 70s thriller music score... it is hilarious. You don't have to wait long it starts in the first scene itself.

The movie is about a murder of an employee of a tycoon who seems to be involved with her... or maybe not. Who did it, why etc... etc..

JAI MUMMY DI : 3.0 STARS. (COMEDY)

Jai Mummy Di - Trailer

Director: Navjot Gulati

Stars: Sunny Singh Nijjar, Sonnalli Seygall, Supriya Pathak

2 mummy's are fighting since they used to be best friend in college. they are somehow neighbors and their kids have fallen in love. Both families are figuring how to navigate this problem. Sunny Singh is good as always, Sonali is ok too but the 2 Moms are just one dimensional and annoying. Supriya Pathak is wasted and Poonam Dhillon was never a great actor. Both have same lines and same expressions and nothing moves forward and don't hold your breath because movie ends and you are still wondering what happened. 

YEH BALLET : 4.0 STARS. (DANCE / DRAMA)

Yeh Ballet - Trailer

Director: Sooni Taraporevala

Stars: Julian Sands, Achintya Bose, Danish Husain

2 Indian slum boys doing ballet, is not a movie people create out of thin air, unless real life creates it and then people make a movie about it. This real life story of 2 boys who are discovered by an American ballet great is a beautiful sweet movie about how things can happen in a way you can never script. Ballet great comes to India looking for a job in teaching and finds a home. Julian Sands is brilliant as a grumpy, sad and mean teacher. Both the kids are awesome too, I think one of them is playing himself. Very good change you will never see this again so might as well watch it. 

MOTICHOOR CHAKNACHOOR : 3.0 STARS. (COMEDY)

Motichoor Chaknachoor - Trailer

Director: Debamitra Biswal

Stars: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Athiya Shetty, Vibha Chhibber

Another small budget movie with name stars. Athiya (Sunil Shetty's daughter) puts in a little more effort but she does not fit the role entirely. She is ok, star kids have it easy, but so do all of us kids who had parents who gave us things on a platter. So let's not complain and hope she improves. Nawazuddin does his job. Movie is about Athiya's only dream of going abroad, that she feels can only be completed by marrying an NRI. When nothing works she is trying her last ditch effort on this old lame neighbor from Dubai, or is he? Again movie never reaches a high, it goes and gets done. 

BHANGRA PA LE : 3.0 STARS. (ROMANCE)

Bhangra Pa Le - Trailer

Director: Sneha Taurani

Stars: Sunny Kaushal, Rukshar Dhillon, Shriya Pilgaonkar

Both are in opposite teams, both love Bhangra and both fall in love. The movie runs in 2 parallels, the grand Dad's love for Bhangra and the present day grand son's love for Bhangraa. The director could not stitch together the huge canvas he was painting. It was pretty interesting plot but it kind of got lost in the narration back and forth. For the effort I gave an extra half point. In the end Love of Bhangraa does not trump 'Love'

DHEET PATANGEY : 2.5 STARS. (DRAMA)

Dheet Patangey - Trailer

Actor: Ali Murad, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Hardik Sanghani, Priya Banerjee, Shivin Narang, Tilotama Shom

Sometimes the philosophy of a movie trumps a movie. 4 friends embark on fulfilling their dreams because one of them might have cancer. So they decide they won't find who it is, and instead go live their dreams. mmm... a little too heavy. It starts in 1984 when India Won the world cup, and it has all the events of world cup scripted in it. 

                                                                        ARTSY

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LOVE SONIA : 4.0 STARS. (DRAMA)

Love Sonia - Trailer

Director: Tabrez Noorani

Stars: Abhishek Bharate, Riya Sisodiya, Mrunal Thakur

Strictly in the 'artsy' category it gets rave reviews. It is inspired by true story, it is horrifying how much human trafficking is connected in the world. In essence it is a story of poverty stricken farmer who in his low moments decides to sell his brother's daughter and later finds out her own daughter leaves to find her sister and get her back. That starts the extra ordinary journey of Mrunal Thakur, who is an exceptional actor. It is tragic and heart breaking so only if you are into this stuff, go for it. 

GHOST STORIES : 4.0 STARS. (THRILLER / HORROR)

GHost Stories - Trailer

Director: Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee, Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap

4 Directors 4 ghost stories. Technically only one was a traditional ghost (Karan Johar), others interpretation were a little out there. None of the story is below par, but none reaches a level where you are scared, which I guess is a good thing. If Karan goes for a very traditional story, Zoya goes for spirit that needs things kinda story, and obviously the weirdest and complete wacky is Anurag Sir. I am biased because he is my favorite, but you gotta watch his ghost to be 'weirded' out. A small childhood mental stigma creates an adult monster, it is put into a story in the most 'Anurag Kashyap' way possible. Dibakar Banerjee goes for the 'Zombies' interpretation of a Ghost and is pretty effective at it. 

Top 10 Hindi Movies of 2019

Top 10 Hindi Movies in 2019

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. TUMBBAD

What I remember - Technically it is a last year movie. But I covered it this year. Nevertheless cannot leave this one. It is one of all time greats. I feel hastar around me and I actively gaurd against it.

FROM THE FILES -

Tumbbad - 5 Stars. R. (Drama / Horror)

हस्तर मेरे अंदर बैठा है 

Tumbbad - Trailer

Director - Ravi Barve, Anand Gandhi

Actors - Sohal Shah, Jyoti Malshe.

It has been months and I still think about the movie. It is definitely more artsy than commercial so take the rating with the tag. Tale of 'God of Greed' is a mythological story about how he is born and how he gets powerful. But the presentation is great and the philosophy behind it awesome. Generation after generation are advised not to fall for it and instead we keep going forward and keep trying to get more and more. First one coin is good, then entire bucket is not enough. It serves no one any good, I see Hastar lurking on my bathroom ceiling and sometimes in my living room wall.... He is there and if you are not careful he will get you. 

2. ARTICLE 15

What I remember - Kaun hai yeh log? kaun hai? Cry of Ayushman.... cry against 5000 years of oppression and still there are people not some random people, but people like me who won't even acknowledge it. I also remember the understated commentary from the rebel dalit leader - इनके कपडे हम धोएं इनका गन्दा हम साफ़ करें इनकी फसल हम काटें...


FROM THE FILES -
Article 15 - 5.0 Stars. Drama / Thriller. R.



Article 15 - Trailer

Director: Anubhav Sinha
Stars: Ayushmann Khurrana, Nassar, Manoj Pahwa

When Anurag Kashyap tweeted about this movie. I got excited about it. Even after high expectations the movie delivered. Second 5 star in a row from this special guy named Anubhav Sinha (After Mulk). What a movie! I never thought this kid Ayushman Khurrana could do what he did. He puts everything in it, what a performance.

The invisible people of hinduism which are more than half of the population are barely humans. We see them but we don't. The movie beautifully depicts them as 'in logon mein' and then our Hero booms - Kaun hein yeh log? kaun hai? ... uff beautiful. The line stuck with me for days. Another one that I still remember is - Ayushman asks about everyone's jaat and they get into details on who is what jaat how they stack up in the heirarchy and who is untouchable, who is above who, who can drink water from whom. It is hilarious and sad at the same time. Wow... this is our culture and this is 2019 and it is not in some village it is everywhere. The moment 'yeh log' try to actually become 'log' and don't stay in their lane we will become a monster,why are we as humans so cruel...

Movie is about a new Cop who comes to town to investigate dalit girl's disappearance and he finds out no one cares. I mean No one.

3. JUDGEMENTAL HAI KYA

What I remember - Too fresh to forget anything. The freshness of the movie is still fresh in me. Song and the whacky acting of Kangana.

FROM THE FILES -

JUDGEMENTAL HAI KYA - 5.0 STARS. PG13. (QUIRKY)

Director: Prakash Kovelamudi

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, Amyra Dastur

Judgemental hai kya - Trailer

I know when you see this movie, you are not going to put it at 5 stars. It is my bias towards quirky, crazy, whacky movies that I can't help myself. What a director, Mr Prakash Koelamudi where are your feet sir? How can you make every scene into crazy, funny, tense and dramatic all at the same time? Rajkummar Rao needed this movie after he was getting typecast. But the movie belongs to Kangana. What an artist and when you have to play a crazy out of whack character ...... you can't beat Kangana. Actually if Kangana meets me on the street and does not do anything quirky I will be shocked.

Kangana has lot of problems including obsessing over characters and people. She also has a good heart but she is also certified crazy. Add to this a normal looking Rajkummar who starts looking weird as the movie goes on. Add to this a murder, cross that it could be series of murders.... or maybe not. huh. Just go along with the ride. It is not your typical movie in any sense, don't expect twist every minute or characters behaving out of character to shock you. None of those 'trapping the audience' thing. Now add to it the Music, all RD Burman tracks and then some great lyrics. I love each and every song, but the 2 favorites are - kis raste hai jana, and the title song. Also the Ramayan with the seeta part is out of whack. We have done endless Ramayan adaptations - but still no one did this.

OK I guess you know I loved the movie. I guarantee you won't like it as much as I like it. But then this is free blog, I can once in a while let my bias go wild.

4. MONSOON SHOOTOUT

What I remember  - The scene where the story splits into 3. Gun pointed - do I shoot or not? Every moment in life is similar. The complication of choice and realization no option is right or wrong.

FROM THE FILES-

Monsoon Shootout - 4.5 Stars. R. (Drama /  Thriller)

यु होता तो क्या होता। .. के यु होता तो क्या होता

Monsoon Shootout - Trailer

Director: Amit Kumar

Stars: Vijay Varma, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Neeraj Kabi

I have heard of these movies that show alternate endings, I never saw one ... until now. Our lives are formed of moments, and moments are formed of decisions. Generally we can take 2-3 routes in every given moment, whether it is speeding and crossing a yellow light, or taking a new job. As Ghalib would say - yu hota to kya hota, ke yu hota to kya hota! 

The movie gives you options during a shootout, if the cop takes any of the given option what would happen? The greatness of the movie is it steers clear of Black / White and True / False and tells you Life is messy and keep your ego in check because you can make whatever decision you want... life can still come back and smack you. There is no way out, just live it as it comes. Beautiful. 

5. SONCHIRIYA

What I remember - A philosophically submerged dacoit movie. The realization every one is looking for their own son chiriya your own ending your own peace.

FROM THE FILES-

Sonchiriya - 4.5 Stars. (Drama / Action) PG13.

Director- Abhishek Chaubey

Actors-  Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar, Manoj Bajpayee 

Sonchiriya - Trailer

On surface it is a dacoit movie set in 1980s when there were dacoits in MP / Rajasthan region. The language barrier is huge, the the thick accent can't be understood very well, but if you have time rewind and listen. Dialogues are beautifully done, Daciots call themselves 'baaghi' -  rebels. They are fighting against the system. Each character in the movie is so well developed that you start living with them, each one has enough time to give themselves a voice and a place in your heart. Each one of us have a guilt in our heart and a chip on our shoulder and a few things to take care of. I have not seen many movies where each character has hisown story well told. I have put this under Artsy, because if you don't get beyond the Dacoit story you don't see the artsy side to it.

6. HAMID

What I remember - The pain, the pain of all minorities.Everyone is minority sometime or in some aspect in their lives and they complain, as they become majority they want to crush the minority. The cute boy I remember and his voice, Mom's pain and boy's cute kashmiri accent.


FROM THE FILES-
Hamid - 4.5 Stars. Drama. R.



Director: Aijaz Khan
Stars: Talha Arshad Reshi, Vikas Kumar, Rasika Dugal

Hamid - Trailer

Another great movie in artsy section for this Quarter. Maybe I am becoming a artsy kind of blogger, it has been easy to tag them artsy and then talk my heart out and not worry about you guys criticizing me for making you watch a bad movie. I tried to start this movie many times and did not go past a few minutes. Sometimes you don't want to be depressed, then one day you have the mood to watch something special. 

Hamid is a story of a Kashmiri Boy and how life treats him just because he is born in a war torn region. It also depicts perspective of a sensitive soldier who's job is to crack down on innocent people to keep them in their 'lane'. The movie is also about a Mom / wife's life in most militarized region of the world where it is common place for people to go missing due to Military excesses. At the end of it all, my heart was so heavy that I felt depressed for few days and I couldn't go to sleep that night. Now do you want this out of a movie? Only if you are a liberal / feel for minority only then you have these reactions otherwise it is another boring movie about Kashmir. The kid playing Hamid has a great sweet Kashmiri accent that you cannot get enough of, his Mom played by the great Rasika Duggal just packs a punch in this awesome performance. 

7. GONE KESH

What I remember - The Dad Daughter relationship and the cute boy friend the girl has as support.

FROM THE FILES -

GONE KESH - 4.5 STARS. PG13. (DRAMA)

Director: Qasim Khallow

Stars: Shweta Tripathi, 

Gone Kesh - trailer

We avoided it for a long time, the name was such a let down. With so many hair movies out this year I did not want another one, also this is with a girl so must be something about a disease. I was right about that, it is about a girl losing hair but I was wrong about dragging my feet on watching it. It was a great movie, loved it from start to end. What a director can do - thanks Mr Qasim for concocting this recipe with right amount of inspiration, comedy, drama and things in-between. 

The movie is about this middle class girl losing hair along with other problems that come with being an adult middle class girl. One thing she has is a beautiful family, parents and specially the Dad, played perfectly by this guy we see so much but I could not find his name. She has a typical desi boy friend with a heart of gold. She has all the support she needs. I had tears in my eyes seeing the daughter - dad relation. Maybe I could be that good of a Dad. I loved the movie. 

8. GAME OVER

What I remember - Feeling inspired at the end of the movie. The will to fight is all you need.

FROM THE FILES-
Game Over - 4.0 Stars.Thriller. R.



Director: Ashwin Saravanan
Stars: Taapsee Pannu, Vinodhini Vaidynathan, Parvathi T.

Game Over - Trailer

Did I tell you Taapsee is an awesome actor? Yea I think I did ... like a few times before. She makes this taut thriller a taut thriller. The movie is about a girl who has to kill her inner and some outside demons to live and survive whatever life throws at her. Past horrific incidences bog her down, she can't go out in public. Victims end up being blamed and are persecuted in this society. It is a pretty fresh movie, which has many endings at the same time. The moral of the story is ... fight fight fight, we all need to fight. When the movie got over I wanted to fight... no matter what comes.

9. CHOPSTICKS

What I remember - Abhay Deol is the most bankable star. Mithila is cute and good. A nice thrillerish drama comedy all in one.

FROM THE FILES -

Chopsticks - 4.0 Stars. (Drama) G.

डर से डर को काटा जाता है

Director - Sachin Yardi

Actors - Abhay Deol, Mithila Palkar, Vijay Raaz

Chopsticks - Trailer

Generally you don't go wrong with Abhay Deol. very bankable good star. Another great movie, and as is the case in many he is not the star. The female lead - Mithila Parkar is awesome. She was great in 'Little Things' a Netflix series. She plays a unsure under confident girl who runs into Abhay and lot of weird twisted moments and she starts getting confident about life. A cute beautiful story. Best part was - it was not love story, it was also not a friendship story. It was just a story. Girl is a tour guide for Chinese tourists and new job so she buys a new car. A thief makes an idiot of her and then starts her journey to getting smart smarter smartest along with another thief (Abhay) he is going to fix a few things.

10. PATTAKHA

What I remember - Where do you find such a story and then have guts to make it into a movie. 2 sisters enemies but have a common frined who is also enemy but a friend too. Whacky crazy and nice. Most movies in this list have no reference they have come out of vacuum, from the genius of director and writers.

FROM THE FILES -

Pattakhaa - 4.0 Stars. PG13. (Whacky)

दो बहेनो की प्रेम कथा

Pataakha - Trailer

Director - Vishal Bhardwaj

Actors - Sanya Malhotra, Radhika Madan, Sunil Grover.

When it is Vishal Bhardwaj at the helm rest assured it won't be your regular cinema. You know it is common knowledge that if there are 2 Sisters with little age gap they fight a lot. Well this is a story of 2 Sisters but their fight is not your regular fight and it takes weird out of whack twists and turns. When you think you have seen the bad it turns to worse. The entire joy ride is worth taking, the guy who enjoys the entire ride with us is the narrator and confidante of everyone in the village - Sunil Grover. He has a great role and he does complete justice to it. If you want to be surprised - this is the movie for you. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS -

WAR
SIMMBA
NANU KI JAANU