madanmarwah Reviews

Laapataa Ladies (2023)

High class storytelling, a must watch category

[8/10 · 23 May 2024]

There are only a few movies which I have been tempted to call " Almost perfect ". This movie is one such. It bowls you over with its devastating simplicity and classic storytelling. It demonstrates the power of the small film like " 12th fail" had proved earlier.( I remember seeing a movie " Ghunghat" in the 60s which had a similar plot.) . Set in rural India some years back the plot is about two brides Phool (Nitanshi Goel) and Jaya ( Pratibha Ranta) who get exchanged in a train and unknown to them go along with the other marriage party because they are wearing veils ( ghunghat). The complications which follow make for the story. The two other characters on center stage are one of the husbands Deepak ( Sparsh Shrivastava very lovable indeed ) and the police Inspector Manohar ( Ravi Kishan in an outstanding role).

Director Kiran Rao has done an outstanding job. This is what good cinema is about. There is no department of the movie which is not top class. It has no stars, no villain, no comedian, no dance, no action, no skin show, no profanity, no VFX. We only have pure, simple high class cinema with a engrossing and uncomplicated narrative, relatable and realistic characters, down to earth acting and dialogue, a few good songs, heartwarming scenes, enjoyable humour etc. In a subtle and soft manner the director touches upon issues like patriarchy, superstition, misogyny and women empowerment without sounding preachy. The movie is heartwarming and has emotional scenes to stir you. The narrative is told from the point of view of the women characters all helplessly bound by orthodox tradition.

Thank You for Coming (2023)

Incoherent and jumbled up narrative

[4/10 · 22 May 2024]

The movie is difficult to sit through because of a jumbled up, skewed and erratic narrative. It is one big cringe fest. Its target is the urban elitist audience who also may not like it. The mixed up, clueless and dumb 30 plus heroine( Bhumi Pednekar) feels that the world is collapsing around her because she has not experienced orgasm. Even her mother and grandmother are of no help here.(Towards the end however her mother asks her to practice " self help" to solve her problem).

The movie's director presents a skewed view of the storyline and the movie falls flat inspite of best efforts. The acting is loud, unduly boisterous and irritating. There is a crude stereotyping of Punjabi families. They have been reduced to caricatures. There is an excess of parties, after parties, drinking, dancing etc. The movie shows a misplaced perspective of women's liberation. A few scenes appear sleazy and cheap. All actors have overacted without exception including Bhumi who is clearly miscast. And what was Anil Kapoor doing in this movie ? Though the production values are good the songs and dances are too loud and garish. The climax in the school auditorium was atrocious and ridiculous to say the least.

We have no problems with movies on subjects considered taboo but they need to be handled with care and sensitivity. The message of the movie should take into account broad societal norms.

8 A.M. Metro (2023)

Trauma stricken strangers on a train develop friendship

[7/10 · 20 May 2024]

This movie is not for all types of audiences since it deals with two trauma stricken persons who meet and discuss their personal problems with each other over cups of coffee and have endless conversation as they take long walks. Iravati a mother of two has come to look after her pregnant niece in hospital. Preetam an office goer has a wife and two children. They meet at the train station and develop a friendship. Both are have their own trauma to deal with, are withdrawn, introverted, sad, pensive, bitter and nothing seems to be going well in their lives. They find relief and happiness in each other's company while discussing general problems of life. Some among the audience may find viewing this movie a moving and a therapeutic experience.

Director Raj Rachakonda has a serious subject at hand and his two main characters have sorrowful and gloomy expressions for most of duration because they have been through a lot of bad experiences in life. There are bits of dialogue which are motivational in nature and there is a message for all like he tells her to do deep breathing when she has a panic/ anxiety attack, she tells him to talk to a colleague to cheer him up, he wants to attend a cremation to atone for his faults, both dance in the rain for a few happy moments etc etc. There are a few light moments but the overall mood is of stress and distress. Both Gulshan Devaiah and Saiyani Kher have given fine performances.

Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023)

A nice family movie

[7/10 · 18 May 2024]

Family movies do well in India because family audiences are able to relate and resonate with the main and supporting characters. If the direction is good the movie will cover all situations from life in a realistic way so the audiences of all age groups can say that " It has happened/ can happen to me". All young people in their 20s have dreamt of having their own home. While the affluent among them easily manage it is the people from the poorer class who find it difficult because of high cost. The story of this movie is about one such middle class, not so well off, newly married couple Soumya ( Sara Ali Khan) and Kapil ( Vicky Kaushal) who live in a joint family in Indore. Since they dont get privacy in their small home, they try to buy a Government flat through an unscrupulous middle man who asks them to go through a fake divorce but the plans backfire and the young couple is left high and dry.

Director Laxman Utekar has targeted family audiences with this simple story which will appeal to them. All scenes are presented well. However the movie is a notch below his earlier directorial efforts like " Luka Chhupi" and " Mimi". I feel that the ending/ climax is disappointing and unconvincing. Maybe the advantages of staying together in a joint family needed to be put across in a clearer manner. In acting both Vicky and Sara are impressive and have brought out the happy and sad moments with great authenticity. Rakesh Bedi and Sharib Hashmi are excellent as usual in supporting roles. Srishti Rindani impresses in a small role.

The Idea of You (2024)

Romance between a 40 year old single mother and a 24 year old celebrity

[6/10 · 17 May 2024]

Yet another of those romcoms but with more of rom and very less com in it not without the cringey scenes and clichés. However those who like this genre will not go disappointed. There is a minor twist however. It is a story of romance between Solene a 40 year old single mother to a 14 year old girl and Haynes a rich and famous 24 year old lead singer of a boy band. They meet and mutual attraction follows or is it infatuation one can't tell. She is very apprehensive as she gets involved because she is much older and he is a celebrity. He is however totally besotted with her and comparatively unfazed. When she says " I am too old for you" , he says " I don't care". When she says " I could be your mother ", he says " But you are not ". They are drawn into a torrid relationship and there are the usual hassles with strong disapprovals in social media because he is a famous and thanks to ever present paparazzi every activity gets exposed. The daughter Izzy gets teased in school and upset with her mother she goes back to her father causing Solene to rethink her relationship.

Director Michael Showalter has a "May December" and a " Notting Hill" storyline which he converts into a reasonably convincing and entertaining movie even though the plot it is predictable at places. Anne Hathaway does well and will please her fans. Nicholas Galitzine as the handsome hunk and a glamorous lead singer is totally believeable. The movie has some nice music and hummable songs specially the title.

Article 370 (2024)

An engrossing political thriller

[7/10 · 16 May 2024]

It is always difficult to review a politically based movie because one has to invariably accept the facts as they unfold on the screen. So also is the case of this movie which chronicles the events which took place a few years ago leading to the passing of an important bill in the Parliament. One can assess the movie by a few standard parameters. Did the director present the narrative in an interesting manner giving a realistic look to the locations ? Were the dialogues able to help the flow of the plot and did they match the personality of the characters? Was the acting of all actors of a good standard ? The answer is a "yes" to all these questions.

Director Aditya Suhas Jambhale has made an impressive movie and apparently there are no compromises for the box office. It is clear that a lot of research and hard work has gone into the making of this political thriller of sorts. There are no jarring sequences, there is no jingoism and everyone acts appropriate to the characters they play which include the top most members of the government bureaucracy. Only those knowledgeable of the related facts can comment on the authenticity or otherwise of the depiction of events. Nevertheless talented actors like Yami Gautam, Mohan Agashe, Priyamani and Arun Govil have given fine performances which add to the realism of the scenes.

Shaitaan (2024)

Madhavan gives a spirited performance as a sinister antagonist

[7/10 · 15 May 2024]

In some movies the performance of the antagonist is so overwhelming that the protagonist and other characters pale in comparison. This is one such movie where Madhavan delivers a superb performance as a ruthless hypnotist who strikes terror in a family after hypnotizing their teenaged daughter. Ajay Devgn is the distressed father of the possessed girl Janki Bodiwala while her helpless mother is Jyotika.( It appears that Janki had played the same role in the earlier Gujarati movie on which this movie is based. Also Ajay is on familiar territory since he has done a very similar role in Drishyam.) The movie on the subject of black magic (Vashikaran ) is not for the faint hearted.

Director Vikas Bahl has built up a suspenseful and tense narrative with the plot unravelling in a gripping manner. Both actors playing parents make their actions relatable and believable. They have shown the correct amount of desperation and helplessness called for. Janki delivers a realistic performance as the possessed girl. The highlight is of course Madhavan who is successful in striking fear and sending shivers in the audience. His cool candour as he keeps making sinister demands one after another makes the movie gripping. The suspense is also well maintained throughout and the thrilling scenes are well executed.

Monkey Man (2024)

Plenty of action for the masses

[6/10 · 10 May 2024]

If you like a movie with lots of action and violence with plot and subplots in between then this is the one for you. Our desi boy Dev Patel who has done well in Hollywood does a John Wick type of suppressed anger unleashed on the baddies and the movie will keep you engrossed. The movie has flashes of " Slumdog millionaire " with a smattering of Hindi dialogues and songs used in the background. The plot is a hackneyed one used many times over in movies, about an oppressed boy Bobby growing up to seek vengeance with a one point aim of annihilating the antagonist, a cop Rana ( Sikandar Kher ) who had burnt down Bobby's dwelling and village for the land mafia. A smouldering performance from Dev who systematically and ruthlessly destroys the villain, his many goons and their vice den during the second half of the movie. He is anger personified, he takes inspiration from Lord Hanuman's valour as described by his mother in childhood, he trains on the punching bag to the beat of the tabla ( played by virtuoso Hussain ), and he fights in the ring wearing a monkey mask.

Director Dev Patel has clearly targeted the masses and it should work as money's worth for them. There are extended fight scenes with lots of mayhem to watch. The editing makes an overuse of fast cutting which becomes irritating at times. There in an overuse of close ups too in most scenes.

Three of Us (2022)

A serious movie on memories revisited

[8/10 · 3 May 2024]

After seeing this movie you will have a strong desire to visit your childhood home and school. This is the story of Shailaja, a lady marriage counselor who has just retired ,she suffers from dementia and decides to visit Vengurla a small town in Konkan where she lived and studied in school many years back. Her husband Dipankar, an insurance agent accompanies her. At Vengurla she visits her home, school, dance school, temple and sea beach refreshing long forgotten memories a few bitter, a few sweet. She meets her classmate Pradeep ( now married with children) and spends time reminiscing past times. In all these visits and discussions they are joined by Dipankar. It is a melancholic and poignant tale of nostalgia, guilt, regret, grief, loss and redemption. Plenty of serenity and sadness in the narrative and the movie is clearly not meant for all types of audiences.

What's good.

1. Masterclass performances of Shefali Shah and Jaideep Ahlawat. They live in their roles. In support Swanand Kirkire and Kadambari Kamat as the respective spouses have acted well. Director Avinash Arun has done a good job but for slow pace.

2. Superb mesmerizing cinematography by director cinematographer Avinash Arun .The visuals of town, greenery, seashore are awesome.

3. Intermittent spells of profound discussion on poetry and philosophy of life 4. The background songs on a classical base have a soothing effect. The dance sequence is also good.

5. The simplicity of the movie is endearing.

What's not so good

1. The movie is not for all. It is too serious an affair for a commercial feature film. The morose expression of the heroine is overdone. A little related humour would have done no damage.

2. The movie has a very slow unhurried pace and it tests your patience at times. 15 minutes need to be reduced.

3. The 3 main characters are too introverted for comfort. Maybe Jaideep's character could have been made lighter.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Robbery goes wrong, blame game starts

[7/10 · 2 May 2024]

It is throwback Thursday again and this time I saw Tarantino's first movie of 1992. As per trivia he was not so well off with funds at that time and had difficulties in making the movie. The production, costumes, filming etc were all a make shift arrangement and initially he planned to make it in Band W. Apparently he could finally make it in the way he wanted. All the Tarantino touches including stylistic picturisation, non linear narrative, violence filled scenes, excessive conversations on mundane issues, profanity in dialogue, an extended cameo by Tarantino himself etc etc were possibility formulated in this movie. Few scenes were familiar like discussion in a restaurant and a grievously wounded guy in the backseat of a car. Almost half of movie is set in a warehouse where extensive discussions take place and it appears like a photographed stage play at times. One notable aspect in this movie was that the background music was not though an orchestra but playback of recorded songs of the 70s. The plot was about a group of gangsters who blame each other after a jewellery heist goes horribly wrong specially after they come to know that one of them was an undercover cop who had informed the police.( It seems the title refers to dogs fighting amongst themselves in a closed reservoir). Just like " Pulp fiction" ( his later movie) one has to put the episodes in a chronological sequence to understand the plot. This one is comparably simpler though. I find that there are no stars in this movie not that it matters since stylistic picturisation is the star in Tarantino movies.

Dhak Dhak (2023)

Four women bikers on a road trip

[7/10 · 30 April 2024]

This is a story of four women of different age groups and backgrounds who have a common passion of going on a road trip riding their motorcycles. The eldest is Mahi a grandmother out to prove she is something to reckon with, the second is Uzma a middle aged housewife with a dominating husband and a teenaged daughter, the third is Shashi a young woman vlogger recovering from a broken relationship and the fourth is Manjari an orthodox, timid young woman on the threshold of getting married. They all their reasons to be a part of this 7 day road trip from Delhi to Leh organised by Shashi as an assignment to present to her boss so that she can move to Barcelona for a project.

The movie will specifically relate to women, bikers and to road trip/ adventure lovers in general. The plot is fairly predictable since we all know what happens on a road trip and just about everything happens here. The tyre puncture, the breaking down of bike, the minor accident, the roadside dhabas, one of them lost enroute and then found, the bad weather/ terrain, falling sick ---they are all there. Of the good experiences there is friendship, bonding, the spirit of adventure, self discovery and good times spent not forgetting the helpful truck drivers and fellow travellers. The movie has a well directed, fairly interesting narrative, some good acting by the four actors and excellent cinematography of the picturesque locations. It is not without flaws and cringe worthy moments but then which movie doesn't have them ?

The Teachers' Lounge (2023)

Tension filled narrative in a school

[8/10 · 29 April 2024]

The movie is set in a school in Germany. Carla Nowak is a lady teacher of the 7th grade and teaches mathematics. She is quite happy in her job but recent theft of money from the teachers' Lounge has been disturbing for her. She decides to investigate, places a video recorder, identifies the clothes worn by the person stealing and confronts an administrative colleague wearing similar clothes. What could have easily closed the issue now spirals out of control as the colleague refuses to accept the blame and higher authorities of the school get involved.

With this plot director Ilker Catak spins a tense and gripping narrative taking place within the premises of the school. With the help of some fine acting by Leonie Benesch as the harassed teacher, a very taut and tension filled screenplay and superb cinematography highlighting attention to detail ( a single location throughout) the director has used Hitchcock type of dramatic filming to keep the audience riveted. ( The aspect ratio of 4:3 helps). One definitely remains glued to this story of teacher- student dynamics and teacher- colleague relationship even while character assassination takes place and the search for truth continues. The movie is moving and thought provoking. The aspects of racism, adolescent behaviour, toxicity of strained relations, underlying suspicion, the anxiety of parents, the anger and the anguish of all are very palpable. One may find fault with the development of the script as there are a few loose ends and one feels the investigation could have been done more professionally. The open ending of the movie is also debatable and the movie throws up questions rather than give answers.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)

Simple, sweet, endearing

[8/10 · 28 April 2024]

This is a coming-of-age story of a 12 year old American girl Margaret who has a Jewish father and Christian mother. She is happy at school with her secret club of 3 other girl friends who are all coming to terms with the changes taking place in them and all around. All the girls are at the threshold of puberty, their bodies and hormones are changing and they somehow want to become attractive ladies as early as they can. They even tell lies when they want to impress the other girls. Margaret is confused with religion, family relationships, societal norms and also with the physiological changes in her body. She has just learnt that her mother was disowned by her parents after her marriage with a Jewish man. Margaret is not affiliated to any religion and everytime she has a confusing issue bothering her she exclaims " Are you there God ? This is me, Margaret " and then hopes God would give her a solution. She is close to her paternal grandmother who loves her dearly. In due course she meets her maternal grand parents. The movie is cute and heartwarming. The subject about adolescence is relatable.

Director Kelly Fremon Craig has made a simple, sweet and endearing film without making it complicated with sub plots. Maybe the movie has turned out so well since the director is a lady and so the "girlie" problems are presented realistically. Additionally the movie is based on a story whose author is a lady. Acting wise the little girl Abby Ryder Fortson has performed nicely projecting the correct amount of innocence and the expression required. Rachel McAdams is good as usual as the mother expressing her apprehensions and affections very well indeed.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

An outstanding movie from Tarantino

[9/10 · 26 April 2024]

This throwback Thursday, the movie which I saw was " Pulp Fiction " after 30 years or so. It had the same riveting effect and this Tarantino movie will never get out of date. This 1994 movie is Tarantino's second after " Reservoir dogs" ( 1992). The movie has this acclaimed director's stamp throughout and that includes intermittent scenes of violence to shock you , a non linear narrative to get you to concentrate, a shifting timeline, some humour at every point to entertain, some bits of profanity and lots of sharp dialogue to keep you engrossed. There are top stars like John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson as two hitmen, Bruce Willis as a boxer and Uma Thurman as the boss's wife each better than the other in performance. Above all we have Quentin giving a stellar performance too. There is some loud jazz music in the background to accentuate the action. The star of the movie however is a taut, gripping and well written screenplay which had gotten the well deserved Oscar award. It is an outstanding movie no doubt.

Director Quentin Tarantino has designed this 154 minute movie as an omnibus affair with 3 storylines having around 7 episodes played out during two days and which are intertwined in an interesting way. In this non linear narrative if we were to chronologically sequence the episodes the beginning of the movie is linked to the end, a middle episode of the movie should come first and so on. At the beginning of the movie the defining of the words " Pulp fiction" sets the mood ( a book containing lurid subject matter printed on rough unfinished paper) Amusing are the razor sharp discussions on mundane issues which the characters have at various points. Examples like what is a pilot of a TV serial, what does an uncomfortable silence mean during conversations, what are types of burgers, what is a miracle, which pet is better a dog or a pig etc etc.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

A spell binding cinematic experience

[9/10 · 24 April 2024]

This movie is a spell binding experience. It is an almost perfect amalgamation of the various departments of film making starting from screenplay, dialogue, direction, sets, acting, cinematography, editing, music, sound, makeup and costume. With 2 hours 45 minute runtime the movie starts in a slightly sluggish manner but halfway through it picks up momentum and the last 45 minutes is superbly presented high drama. The setting is a desert area of sand dunes, with shifting sands and sand storms unfolding before you as an awe inspiring spectacle. There is intrigue and action with people with mystic masks performing bizarre rituals. The sound effects of whirring machines, vehicles moving through sand and explosions are stupendous. Scenes of the Gladiator arena have fabulous visuals. There are flying aircraft of unusual designs shown carrying out attacks. All with mesmerizing BGM.

Take a bow director Denis Villeneuve for creating this marvel ( pun intended) of a movie of stupendous proportions and for extacting the best from writers, actors and technicians. He has made the scenes totally believeable even though some costumes and make up appear bizarre. Acting wise Timothee, Zendaya and Javier have prominent roles and they have given superb performances. Music by Hans Zimmer is top class. This movie could well be a coaching class for cinematographers , editors and sound recordists. The connoisseurs among the audience in any case will relish each scene.

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024)

Falling in love with a female robot

[6/10 · 23 April 2024]

I remember seeing a Hindi movie sometime back where the salesman of a clothing department store falls in love with an attractive mannequin of a lady. This over emotional guy has a tough time conveying his sentiments to the mannequin and maintaining his mental balance. In this movie a handsome young man Shahid Kapoor, a robotics engineer, falls desperately in love with an extremely beautiful female robot ( Kriti Sannon) created by his aunt Dimple Kapadia, owner of a robotics company. This situation of their meeting and falling in love was stage managed by the aunt as an experiment to check the reactions of the robot to such emotional issues. However complications develop when Shahid starts planning to marry the female robot to the shock and surprise of his family members.

The plot is fairly new to Hindi films and has been developed well into an interesting narrative. The entertainment aspect has been looked into with a few glamorous dance situations and peppy numbers performed very well both by Shahid and Kriti. One however feels that with a human-robot romance a number of additional romcom situations could have been created. Luckily there are no boring situations, the movie does not drag anywhere and the comedy scenes do entertain.

Lift (I) (2024)

This caper in the air provides escapist entertainment

[5/10 · 21 April 2024]

When you know that it is a heist movie and as per the storyline an aeroplane load of 10 tons of gold is going to be stolen in the air, the possibilities of an over the top, outlandish and audacious narrative becomes high. So the best is to settle down with popcorn, send your brain on a 107 minute holiday, ask no questions, find no faults and sit back to enjoy the movie. I did just that and believe me it works. The plot is about fake art pieces, fake kidnapping and greedy millionaires. The protagonist is an international thief, his girlfriend is an Interpol agent and the others in the group are a pilot , a safecracker, a hacker and an engineer. Together they plan and execute this heist with the help of some thrilling special effects to overcome laws of physics and aerodynamics. This group is able to build a modern plane to fly alongside the plane carrying gold and make it do incredible maneuvers to carry out this task. There are a few hiccups in the execution but with their wit and quick thinking the group members find solutions just in the nick of time.

Director F Gary Gray has done everything to make an exciting movie which offers thorough escapist entertainment. Full marks to him .Maybe a disclaimer saying that don't ever plan such a heist is called for. Or maybe not because such movies can't be taken seriously.

Merry Christmas (2024)

A riveting murder mystery

[6/10 · 20 April 2024]

Director Sriram Raghavan is well known for making good suspense movies. His movies like Andhadhun, Ek Haseena thi, Badlapur had his signature style of storytelling which kept the audience hooked with not a dull moment . This movie is no exception but some may not consider it upto the mark. I agree. Essentially the story develops over a Christmas night and because it is a murder mystery it is hardly a " merry" Christmas for hero Vijay and heroine Katrina Kaif who get embroiled in a murder in her home. If one goes by the filming style I find director Raghavan is clearly influenced by Hitchcock among others and also pays homage to Hindi film makers like Shakti Samanta. He has also very suitably used song " Chor chor" from 70s movie " Raja Rani". The police station scenes are done well. (Watch the guy serving water/tea going about his job in a mechanical manner totally oblivious of the serious questioning going on.) As it happens in movies of this genre there are a few loose ends but that should not be an issue. Some sequences need to be clarified from the logic angle. The end could have been done more clearly. Set in Mumbai city on Christmas night ( beautiful night time cinematography) with Christian characters like Albert, Maria, Ronnie the plotline is quite convincing. The crisp editing has given a fine pace to the movie. The lead couple have acted well . Sanjay Kapoor impresses in a short role.

Leave the World Behind (2023)

A doomsday scenario

[4/10 · 19 April 2024]

It is difficult to review this movie without getting into spoilers. Some points to mention. At 138 minutes it has a long runtime ( there are 5 parts) and you need a lot of patience to sit through because of some drab scenes in between and they are quite a few. Minus all these redundant scenes the movie could be easily reduced to 100 interesting minutes or so. The movie talks about a sudden world wide power break down and how it could cripple the appliances used in everyday life. This could be the work of hackers or even worse, the work of anarchists. There is uncertainty and mystery all around. There is no information on what is happening. Due to some kind of environmental pollution things get eerie as groups of animals and birds start behaving in a scaring and intimidating manner. Vehicular traffic gets affected and there is chaos on the roads. At such times no one comes forward to help. It seems that you are on your own.

Director Sam Esmail draws up a gloomy, dystopic and apocalyptic scenario which is unduly extended leaving the audience weary and perplexed. He makes considerable use of top view shots and ominous music to create suspense. In between these weird happenings there are long unnecessary scenes full of dull dialogue on philosophy of life in general. As strange events keep taking place Julia Roberts is understandably irritated with her laid back and supercool husband Ethan Hawke. She is egging him to do something and he has no clue. Both have done better movies and this movie was a disappointment. ( I need to see Pretty woman or Erin Brockovich to get over this).

Amar Singh Chamkila (2024)

Diljit lives in the title role of this superb movie

[8/10 · 18 April 2024]

This is a biopic of famous Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila who rose from scratch to great heights due to his singing in Punjab in the 80s. The movie is full of Punjabi songs and director Imtiaz Ali has used animation and documentary format to appeal to a larger audience. The use of different narrators with different points of view along with photos has enhanced the viewing effect. Nevertheless it will be liked more by Punjabi audiences. The attraction is a super soul stirring performance by Diljit Dosanjh in the title role. Every facet, every shade and every nuance of the character has been extremely well projected by him. Supporting him all the way is Parineeti Chopra as his wife and co singer. Hers is also an awesome piece of acting.

Director Imtiaz Ali is back in direction with a bang after a few years. He has presented an engaging narrative of on Chamkila's life with all it's complexities and vulnerabilities. Some basic questions do come up as some elders do some moral policing and want him to stop singing so called obscene songs filled with innuendos..Chamkila says that the public loves these songs and continues singing them leading to tragic consequences. It is a debate of freedom of expression vs tolerance of society. Some real footage of the couple has been used very artistically. The movie has outstanding music by AR Rehman which is used extensively in this essentially musical film. There is some splendid choreography, cinematography and editing too.

Irish Wish (2024)

An enjoyable romcom with attractive visuals

[5/10 · 18 April 2024]

God bless those script writers who keep churning out variations of the classic boy meets girl type rom coms. This movie set in Ireland comes with a twist where an Irish fairy ( Saint Brigida) grants a wish, an Irish wish for heroine Maddie ( Lindsay Lohan) who wants to marry author Paul Kennedy ( Alexander Viahos) but fate has other plans. Waiting in the wings is young and handsome James Thomas ( Ed Speelers). At the beginning of the movie it is clarified by the makers that the word "wish" means "to want something that cannot now happen or that probably will not happen". (Google says so). Later in the film it is said that if the wish fairy wants to act mischievous then you just might get what is good for you rather than getting what you desire. In the movie Saint Brigida not only sets the course of events but also has the power to " undo" events. Serendipity however plays its role and things happen to unite the lovers but not before many amusing incidents take place which include a scuffle by the suitors a few minutes before the wedding.

Director Janeen Damian has made an enjoyable movie despite the fact that the scenes are familiar, we have seen it all before and it has a predictable storyline. It is a light hearted and charming tale. The attraction of the movie is the exquisite cinematography capturing the mesmerizing outdoors of Ireland. The countryside is amazing. These scenes are a visual delight and such scenes are in plenty.

Red Eye (2005)

A top class suspense thriller

[7/10 · 18 April 2024]

Once in a while on a throwback Thursday I try to see a good movie made 20 years back or so. This movie of 2005 is a top class thriller made in a simple orthodox style minus all the technical gimmickry or special effects used nowadays. The narrative is extremely interesting and the suspense builds up slowly but surely leading to a thrilling edge of the seat climax lasting for the last 30 minutes. The casting of Rachel McAdams as a terrified, scared pretty girl and Cillian Murphy as a cold menacing criminal is almost perfect. Both have acted very well and it makes the storyline believable.( Interesting trivia is that twenty years back in this movie Cillian as the villain was planning the death of just a dozen people or so but in 2023 as Oppenheimer he built a nuclear weapon capable of genocide). Rachel is a hotel front office executive travelling to Miami and her co passenger is a charming Cillian who has sinister plans. He blackmails her to become a part of an evil plan and harasses her throughout the flight.

Director Wes Craven has made a gripping movie and a high level of suspense and thrill is maintained as the plot unfolds. The last 30 minutes keeps the audience riveted to the screen. The movie is shot and edited brilliantly. I recommend that you take time to watch this thriller.

Shirley (2024)

Chasing a dream to reach the highest office

[7/10 · 17 April 2024]

The movie chronicles the efforts of the first black US Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm to get a nomination to run for President of the United States. The incidents in her life in 1971-72 are in focus here and the movie is by no means a biopic. ( I am only focusing on the movie since I have no knowledge of real life incidents relating to her). One can see that an ordinary middle class black lady in US is able to pursue her dream to reach the highest office of the land with hardly any resources at her disposal and how she ruthlessly bulldozes her way in the face of adversities. Her husband doesn't think she has any chances and her sister is upset with the ridicule being heaped upon them by the public in general. She doesn't like her staff using the word " Can't " and she lovingly manipulates people to give in to her plans. She is confident and plucky while displaying a cool demeanor when facing issues .( She is described as 100 lbs of nuclear energy). Watch her in her " never say die" attitude even when she gets around 4% of the votes. She is happy making a beginning for others and considers herself as a catalyst for change.

With some good direction by John Ridley Regina King gives a spirited performance and does project the nuances of her complex character to near perfection. In a way she underplays the role convincingly. Regina's sister Reina plays the role of her on screen sister very effectively.

Murder Mubarak (2024)

A whodunit with quirky characters and a cool investigator

[5/10 · 15 April 2024]

In terms of filming and presentation this whodunit seems to be inspired by the " Knives out " franchise and to a certain extent the Agatha Christie mysteries. Not a problem here but the movie has to have a narrative interesting enough to grip the audience attention by its suspense and unpredictability. The movie appears disjointed with a collection of individually well shot scenes edited in an erratic manner. It is a whodunit with the usual ingredients including a collection of well to do people of all shapes, ages and sizes all being interrogated by a Hindi speaking supercool ACP ( Pankaj Tripathi ) and of course there is a dead body which is the reason for the hullabaloo. The storyline is confusing at a number of points. The characters appear too fake ( sophisticated? ) for comfort and no one seems to behave normally. They all behave in a quirky, crazy and cheesy manner. They have been reduced to caricatures. I don't think the filthy rich inspite of their attitude and pride ever behave this way. Inspite of the star studded lineup the movie is a lackluster and a confusing mess. With a botched up storyline and mundane dialogue it falls flat at many places. Artists like Pankaj Tripathi, Vijay Verma and Sara Ali Khan haven't been able to save it. Other artists like Dimple Kapadia, Karishma Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor have overacted and don't impress at all.

Tiger 3 (2023)

Full on action as Tiger is alive and kicking enemy butt

[5/10 · 14 April 2024]

This one is a full on and non stop action movie which refuses to die down anytime. Salman reprises his role as Tiger and is hell bent on destroying evil forces. After around 2 hours into the movie he is joined by SRK( Pathan) and they together demolish few more guys. ( It is like SRK returning the help which Tiger had given him in Pathan. That's what friends are for.) The movie will thrill fans of Salman, Katrina and action movies. Some fight scenes resemble video games. The stunts are definitely hair raising, awe inspiring , jaw dropping and gravity defying apparently not subject to laws of physics. A couple of jumps by these super men from broken bridges to a chopper in the air are thrilling. They also manage to sky dive and parachute down to safety. And they are expert bike riders too. All this will give you value for money as you munch on your popcorn and you are not supposed to ask questions.

Salman is handsome as usual and carries the movie with his swagger and panache. Katrina looks beautiful and does some good stunts. Director Maneesh Sharma has given a good pace to the movie and has used cinematography/ editing to good effect. Not a dull or boring moment there.