A twisted tale of love, lies, trust, betrayal, complex relationships, and moving on with the dark realities of your past, Shakun Batra's directorial Gehraiyaan is an intimate film. ... Read more
A twisted tale of love, lies, trust, betrayal, complex relationships, and moving on with the dark realities of your past, Shakun Batra's directorial Gehraiyaan is an intimate film. While this is not the first time Bollywood has shown infidelity on screen, the narrative has surely matured, the characters are allowed more depth, and it’s no longer merely about simple attraction. Starring Deepika Padukone, Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Dhairya Karwa in lead roles, Gehraiyaan is a modern-day love story where it’s natural to fall out of love and find it again elsewhere. The film delves deep into reasons why relationships reach deadlocks and amid all this, lies get uncovered while some stay hid. Gehraiyaan moves past the length of ‘necklines and hemlines’ of the outfits the actors have worn in the film and it’s the depth of the narrative, story, and the emotions that you connect with. Listen up for Deepika because she truly has outdone herself, once again. Read more
Based on Team India’s first-ever World Cup win in England, Kabir Khan's 83 transports you to that era, allowing you to be a part of that victorious moment. In all honesty, I very m ... Read more
Based on Team India’s first-ever World Cup win in England, Kabir Khan's 83 transports you to that era, allowing you to be a part of that victorious moment. In all honesty, I very much felt like I was sitting in that stadium, cheering for Team India each time they hit a boundary and tearing up on the loss of every wicket. On top of it, I couldn’t see any actors on the screen during the 160 minutes runtime of 83 — it all looked so real. Ranveer Singh takes the arduous task of stepping into the shoes of Kapil Dev and aces it. He pulls it off with support from his team including Saqib Saleem as Mohinder Jimmy Amarnath, Tahir Raj Bhasin as Sunil Gavaskar, Jatin Sarna as Yashpal Sharma, Tamil actor Jiiva as Srikkanth, Ammy Virk as Balwinder Sandhu, and Harrdy Sandhu as Madan Lal. If you need a reason to walk into a theatre, Kabir Khan's 83 is that film that calls for a big-screen experience. Tune in. Read more
Ever since the trailer of Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui landed, there's been a lot of secrecy around the film's plot. The trailer gave us a hint but kept most of it under wraps. While w ... Read more
Ever since the trailer of Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui landed, there's been a lot of secrecy around the film's plot. The trailer gave us a hint but kept most of it under wraps. While we're used to seeing Ayushmann Khurrana take up films based on taboo subjects, this time, it is Vaani Kapoor, who has taken the plunge and dived deep into uncharted waters. The film, directed by Abhishek Kapoor doesn't lose sight of what is important and hence, little flaws here and there are easily ignored. Manvinder Munjal aka Manu (Ayushmann) is a fitness freak, who owns a gym and is preparing hard for an annual local championship which he has been unable to crack so far. Things change when Maanvi Brar (Vaani), a zumba instructor is hired to take classes in his gym. Manu with his buff body and Maanvi with her glam looks, are instantly drawn to each other and what ensues is a romantic and passionate relationship between the two. But there's more to Maanvi than just being a gorgeous looking woman and its upon learning truth about her past that Manu is left in a state of deep confusion. Read more
Satyameva Jayate 2 is a sloppy and shoddy portrayal of jingoism and vigilantism at its most heinous. In the name of a vigilante action thriller and to capitalise on the nostalgia f ... Read more
Satyameva Jayate 2 is a sloppy and shoddy portrayal of jingoism and vigilantism at its most heinous. In the name of a vigilante action thriller and to capitalise on the nostalgia for masala films from the ’80s, writer-director Milap Zaveri delivers a stale script that doesn’t even attempt to add anything new or unique. Showcasing the fight against injustice and misuse of power, Satyameva jayate 2 serves up a montage of done-to-death scenes that give the film’s lead heroes — John Abraham and John Abraham — a chance to fulfil their pledge to root out corruption. The plot revolves around Dadasaheb Balram Azad (Abraham) and his two sons, who are also played by Abraham — one of whom grows up to be a Home Minister (Satya) who wants his anti-corruption bill passed, and the other who plays a sassy cop (ACP Jay). The film also stars Divya Khosla Kumar as Satya's wife and Gautami Kapoor as twins' mother. The only redeeming feature of this film could have been Abraham, but he has little to work with other than adhering to the boundaries set by the clumsy screenplay and redundant, overdramatic dialogues. And I just didn’t understand why every character had to coin rhymes to make a point. It is frequently so poetic that the essence of the scene is lost. Read more
Antim: The Final Truth is an official adaptation of the hit Marathi film Mulshi Pattern and director Mahesh Manjrekar adds a lot of Bollywood masala and massy flavour to make it a ... Read more
Antim: The Final Truth is an official adaptation of the hit Marathi film Mulshi Pattern and director Mahesh Manjrekar adds a lot of Bollywood masala and massy flavour to make it a wholesome entertainer, but not without over-the-top drama and loud action sequences. Set on the age-old premise of farmers losing their land to mafias and then working for them, Antim demonstrates the ramifications when Rahul (Aayush Sharma), the jobless son of a farmer, transforms into one of Pune’s most feared gangsters who joins forces with the land mafias to fight injustice after his father is ripped off his land. Will he be able to reclaim everything he has lost on this journey, or will he face the wrath of his wrongdoings? Sharma’s transformation and his well-sculpted body stand out in the film. Antim is unlike any other Khan film and features him in a more subdued role as a Sikh cop, Rajveer Singh. However, what this and all other action thrillers have in common are heavyweight dialogues, bloody punches, gunshots, and men covered in blood flying through the air like dust particles. There’s a large cast of supporting actors, including Upendra Limaye, Nikiten Dheer, Jisshu Sengupta, Sayaji Shinde and Sachin Khedekar. Mahima Makwana makes her Bollywood debut with this heavily male-dominated script. Read more
After just 15 minutes into Bunty Aur Babli 2, one realises what a terribly written and poorly-executed film it is. The original, which most of us so thoroughly enjoyed when it firs ... Read more
After just 15 minutes into Bunty Aur Babli 2, one realises what a terribly written and poorly-executed film it is. The original, which most of us so thoroughly enjoyed when it first released 16 years ago, was best left untouched and director Varun V. Sharma should have just followed this rule. With Rani Mukherji reprising her character as Vimmi, this sequel is nothing like the first one. Not even remotely close. It's a snooze-fest that fails to engage or entertain. And sadly, doesn't have any punches to keep you from dozing off. Bunty Aur Babli 2 never gains momentum that you want to see in a comedy. Sharma tries too hard to ingest references from the original and he barely gets them right. The narrative is sloppy and juvenile to say the least. Read more
Directed by Ram Madhvani, action thriller Dhamaka introduces to us Kartik Aaryan 2.0 and it is, by far, his most challenging performance. After being labelled as the monolouge king ... Read more
Directed by Ram Madhvani, action thriller Dhamaka introduces to us Kartik Aaryan 2.0 and it is, by far, his most challenging performance. After being labelled as the monolouge king, and having mostly done comedy and romance, Kartik's Arjun Pathak in Dhamaka not only shows his range as an actor but also touches upon a whole different genre and emotion. Dhamaka is loosely based on the 2013 Korean film, The Terror Live, and stars Kartik playing the role of a broadcast journalist named Arjun Pathak. He was demoted from a prime-time news anchor to an RJ but things change when he gets an exclusive interview with a terrorist right who just blew Mumbai's Sea Link bridge. What transpires thereafter, how Arjun Pathak gathers himself to be live on air amid a terror-like situation and what all goes through his mind while talking to this caller, is what keeps you engaged for 1 hour 43 minutes. The film never loses pace and keeps you on the edge right from the word go. No time is wasted in the build-up - neither for the story nor the characters. Madhvani connects with you with the tensed environment that news anchors and journalists experience while reporting a breaking news from the studio or on the crime scene. The film also stars Amruta Subhash and Mrunal Thakur in important roles. Read more
It has now been more than a year and a half since Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a standoff at the border. There have been thirteen rounds of talks between the two s ... Read more
It has now been more than a year and a half since Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a standoff at the border. There have been thirteen rounds of talks between the two sides but increasingly, it has become evident, that the two sides may be locked in an impasse. HT interviews the former foreign secretary Nirupama Rao who has just authored a book called The Fractured Himalaya: India Tibet China 1949-62. Read more
Rashmi Rocket, starring Taapsee Pannu as Rashmi Vira, picks on the archaic practise of gender testing, to ascertain testosterone level among female athletes and how it has ruined m ... Read more
Rashmi Rocket, starring Taapsee Pannu as Rashmi Vira, picks on the archaic practise of gender testing, to ascertain testosterone level among female athletes and how it has ruined many careers and sometimes, the entire life of these girls. While Bollywood has churned out several sports films, director Akarsh Khurana's Rashmi Rocket is slightly different and unique. It isn't about that one big life-changing game towards the climax which makes the hero shine. It's is about the journey towards that change, and the battle an athlete has to fight for her lost identity. It takes on an important issue and explains it in a rather simplified manner — less on the running track and more inside the courtroom. Also, unlike many sports films where parents are against their kids pursuing sports and later accept them when they bring laurels, Rashmi Rocket sets the tone right from the beginning. Rashmi's parents, played by Supriya Pathak and Manoj Joshi never stop her from being "different" since childhood. Everything is hunky-dory from Rashmi being the most talented sprinter in Bhuj to her falling in love with Major Thakur (played by Priyanshu Painyuli) and then landing in Indian Athlete Association where she trains with other girls. Until the point when she is unknowingly made to undergo a gender test and hereon, things turn for worse. Whether Rashmi decides to give up and accept it as her fate or does she get up and fight with the system, forms the basic premise of the film. The film is streaming on Zee5. Read more
Based on the life of late politician J Jayalalithaa, Kangana Ranaut-starrer Thalaivii is about how a naive Jaya transformed into someone more formidable — an Amma to millions. Stay ... Read more
Based on the life of late politician J Jayalalithaa, Kangana Ranaut-starrer Thalaivii is about how a naive Jaya transformed into someone more formidable — an Amma to millions. Staying true to the story he set out to tell, director AL Vijay tackles aspects of her life that Jaya's followers may have never got to see up close. Thalaivii takes you to the mid-60s when Jaya (Kangana) was pushed into acting to support her family, all but burying her dreams of becoming a lawyer. As a young, charming, beautiful heroine, she was paired opposite one of the most legendary actors of his generation, MG Ramachandran (played by Arvind Swami). Their love story goes through its shares of highs and lows until the political bug bites Jaya and their lives take a different turn. Kangana's performance as Jayalalithaa deserves applause. She taps into Jaya's rebellious spirit, her ferocity in challenging patriarchy, and her empathy when it comes to serving people. Arvind Swami is a treat to watch bearing an uncanny resemblance to the icon he's playing. In other pivotal roles, Raj Arjun (as RM Veerappan), Bhagyashree as Sandhya (Jaya's mother) and Madhoo as MGR's wife, (VN Janaki Ramachandran) are endearing. Read more
