Tag: Amazon Prime Video

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Songs of Paradise: An important tale of breaking social conventions

Taking inspiration from Kashmir’s first female singer director Danish Renzu tells a relevant tale of resilience and rebelling against the social norms. The fight of Saba Azad’s Zeeba Akhtar holds relevance even today. Not everything lands but Songs of Paradise is an important watch

Starcast: Saba Azad, Soni Razdan, Zain Khan Dhurrani, Sheeba Chadda, Taaruk Raina and others

Genre: Musical

Director and writer: Danish Renzu

Producers: Ritesh Sidhwani, Danish Renzu, Farhan Akhtar and Shafat Qazi

Production Companies: Excel Entertainment, Apple Tree Pictures and Renzu Films

Music: Abhay Sopori

Cinematography: Vincenzo Condorelli

Running time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Streaming site: Amazon Prime

Raj Begum born in the year 1927 became popular as the Melody Queen of Kashmir. She was honored with Sangeet Natak Akademi award along with the Padma Shri. Raj Begum became a singer at the time of major restrictions. Danish Renzu’s Songs of Paradise is an earnest effort at celebrating her defiance.

Saba Azad as the younger version of Raj Begum

In brief the storyline traces the life of Saba Azad’s Zeeba Akhtar, a young woman blessed with an extraordinary voice. How she breaks the rigid traditions with the help of supportive men forms the basic arc of the film.

A major strength of the film are the acting performances coupled with the music. Both Saba Azad and Soni Razdan playing Zeeba at different ages are a delight to watch. As a young Zeeba Saba brings the perfect mix of vulnerability and resilience. The journey of Zeeba in navigating the world of patriarchal mindset in spite of a support system is both well written and enacted. Saba conveys the determination and the persistence often times with the slightest expressions, specifically her eyes. A standout sequence involves Zeeba’s conversation with a man, “You are a male, you look for an opportunity to showcase your talent. We women seek excuses to pursue our hobbies.” Saba Azad’s background as a singer also comes in handy during the song portions.

Soni Razdan as the older Noor Begum is also wonderful with her moving portrayal. She becomes an emotional anchor often conveying a lot through silences. Zain Khan Durrani as the oxford educated poet is charm personified. The way he supports Zeeba in spite of the open hostility makes the viewers wish that the world has more men like him. Their love track has some adorable moments.

Sheeba Chadda playing an overbearing mother is also fantastic successfully making the viewers hate her. Shishir Sharma as Zeeba’s master also pitches in a good act. Taaruk Raina as a music student is fairly good too. What also adds to the performances is the perfect local dialect. The songs is another plus for the movie. The compositions of Abhay Sopori are deeply rooted in Kashmiri Folk giving a different flavor. The songs do a fine job in echoing Zeeba’s yearning for freedom.

A major problem with Songs of Paradise is the lack of sufficient dramatic tension. The socio and political turmoil in Kashmir needed to be explored more. The challenges faced by Zeeba specifically the societal backlash and the emotional toll have a rushed nature. There is a certain surface level approach sometimes distancing the viewers.

Final word: In spite of a certain surface level approach Songs of Paradise is a relevant tale of pursuing one’s hobby without giving into the society’s narrow minded thinking.

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Arabia Kadali: Satyadev and Anandhi bolster this rehash of Thandel

The Pakistani characters in Arabia Kadali have more depth in comparison to Thandel, they are written with more nuance. However, a sense of repetitiveness specifically for those who have seen Thandel plays a major spoilsport. The series is worth watching for how it handles the socio-political aspects. Fortunately, Satyadev’s Badri never becomes a larger-than-life hero, he wins over the enemies with humanness instead of fists

Starcast: Satyadev, Anandhi, Poonam Bajwa and others

Genre: Drama

Director: V. V Surya Kumar

Screenplay: Krish Jagarlamudi and Chintakindi Srinivasa Rao

Producers: Y Rajeev Reddy and J Sai Babu

Production Company: First Frame Entertainments

Music: Nagavelli Vidyasagar

Cinematography: Sameer Reddy

No of episodes: 8

Streaming site: Amazon Prime

The story of Arabia Kadali focuses on a group of fishermen from Srikakulam. They unknowingly wander into Pakistani waters in the year 2018. Satyadev is Nurgala Badri, among his people Badri is the most educated. He dreams of a better life with Ganga (Anandhi). Anandhi lives in a nearby village of Matsyawada. There is a major animosity between the villages of Badri and Ganga. Things take a massive turn when the fishermen are imprisoned in a foreign land. The rest of the story focuses on how they return home after a long ordeal and in process the hostility giving way to mutual cooperation and respect.

A strong aspect of Arabia Kadali is the world building done by director VV Surya Kumar along with Krish Jagarlamudi. The interpersonal dynamics between the two villages with the financial struggles has been shown in an engaging manner. It takes a while for the central conflict to kick in but because of the engaging world building the viewers care for the fishermen’s plight.

The gradual process of the hostility coming down has also been shown in a layered manner. There is no overnight transformation, instead it’s a step-by-step process. The web series is also refreshing in how it doesn’t paint Pakistan’s as complete caricatures. At one point you have a judge defending Indian Fishermen in front of Pakistani officials. Amit Tiwari as warden Saleem starts off as hugely evil but he too gets a credible redemption arc.

Poonam Bajwa as Dr Fathima also has a strong voice not afraid to express her opinions. She plays her part with the right balance of warmth and authority. The web series doesn’t confine itself just to the plight of Indian prisoners it also mentions the Pakistani ones languishing in Indian jails. The need for humanity across borders comes out in a strong manner.

Mention must also be made of how Anandhi’s Ganga shapes over the web series. Much like Sai Pallavi in Thandel she is also a woman of steel not letting the cynicism get to her. Anandhi does a fine job in capturing the inner strength.

The cinematography of Sameer Reddy is also good. He captures the numerous landscapes in an effective manner. There is an earthiness to the atmospherics. As Badri Satyadev does a good job in capturing the resilient nature of the man. He makes you believe in Badri’s almost saint like nature with his earnest acting, a particular sequence worthy of mention is when he talks about not writing any letter to Ganga. The reason doesn’t make complete sense still the emotional vulnerability makes the viewers feel for the man.

Talking about the flaws the VFX department leaves something to be desired. A key sequence involving a heavy storm comes across as rather cartoonish. The beats of Thandel also weigh down Arabia Kadali. A sense of boredom creeps in certain portions due to this. The track involving Harsh Rohan as the spoilt brother hasn’t been well integrated either, it comes across as jarring to say the least.

The love story while neatly done could have done with more intensity. The web series would have benefitted immensely with more scenes featuring Satyadev and Anandhi. As a result, the required emotional pang for two lovers is missing.

Final word: Arabia Kadali is a more grounded version of Thandel. Watch it for the performances and the message of humanity.

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Uppu Kappurambu: A whimsical social satire with a wonderful Suhas

Suhas and Keerty Suresh

Director Ani I. V Sasi flips the concept of the famous Telugu poem on its head by saying everyone is equally important. Keerthy Suresh trying her hand at slapstick comedy is rather annoying in the beginning portions however the national award winner comes into her own as the movie progress. Her dynamics with Suhas gives the movie some of its best moments

Starcast: Keerthy Suresh, Suhas, Babu Mohan, Talluri Rameshwari and others

Genre: Comedy

Director: Ani I.V Sasi

Screenplay: Vasanth Mariganti

Cinematography: Divakar Mani

Music: Sweekar Agasthi

Producer: Radhika Lavu

Production Company: Ellanar Private Limited

Running time: 2 hours and 15 minutes

Streaming site: Amazon Prime

In terms of tonal structure both Shubham and Uppu Kappurambu have a distinct similarity, the use of screwball humor in addressing the respective social issues. This brand of farcical humor can take a while getting used to however both the movies are successful in getting the message across.

Uppu Kappurambu begins with Rana Ragubbati’s hilarious voice over perfectly setting the stage for the following outlandish scenarios. The broad storyline of Uppu Kappurambu focuses on Keerthy Suresh’s Apoorva. A young woman thrown into a tumultuous situation following the death of her father and village head Subbaraju (Subhalekha Sudhakar). Keeping up with the village tradition Apoorva takes over her father’s position. Babu Mohan and Shatru play Bheemaya and Madhababu respectively. They openly scoff at the very thought of a woman sarpanch and that too a naive young girl. Suhas plays the graveyard caretaker Chinna taking over his father’s position. In an odd turn of events Chinna realizes that the graveyard is running out of space to bury the dead. This leads to a lot of chaotic situations.

A major strength of Uppu Kappurambu is the dynamics between Apoorva and Chinna. The growing friendship between them as the two race against time gives some wonderful moments. There is an emotional poignancy to their conversations like the portion where Suhas reminisces about their school days talking about the huge disparity in their lives. Mention must also be made of Suhas’s retort to a man ridiculing Chitti Jayapuram having a female village head. He critiques the narrow mindset by mentioning about his village having a female deity, then what is so wrong about Chitti Jayapuram having a female head. The scenes of Suhas speaking to the dead as if they are long lost friends also make an impact.

Suhas is simply top notch moving the viewers with his heartfelt act. Keerthy Suresh on the other hand feels like a fish out of water in the initial moments however the actress does a very fine job in showcasing Apoorva’s transformation. From the initial nervousness to a more confident approach Keerty makes the viewers root for Apoorva.

Another ace of Uppu Kappurambu is the political aspect specifically the upper caste men wanting to exercise control over the graveyard. Through the characters of both Mohan Babu and Shatru the director has successfully brought about the angle of caste disparities. On the surface the village may give an impression on treating the dead with equal dignity however the truth is something else. This is amply clear in the portion where a character believes that his clan deserves the utmost space in the graveyard based on the long lineage.

Apart from the caste disparities Uppu Kappurambu also dwells into the themes of communal division, misogyny and the resistance to change. All these have come out well particularly in the movie’s later half where things start to get more coherent.

Apart from Suhas and Keerthy Suresh the supporting cast comprising of Babu Mohan, Shatru and Talluri Rameshwari also do well in their respective parts. Among the technical aspects Divakar Mani does a fine job in capturing both the village atmosphere and the eccentricities through his lens.

Among the flaws the movie’s screwball tone takes a while getting used, the humor in the beginning is also a hit and miss. An elongated sequence with Keerty using dramatic gestures to whip up a frenzy doesn’t elicit much chuckles. Similarly the sequences involving a village drunkard only add to the run time instead of adding anything substantial.

Final word: Uppu Kappurambu is worth watching if you are in the mood for something whimsical with a social message.

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Girls Will Be Girls: A layered story of adolescence driven by a fantastic cast

Girls Will Be Girls movie image

Director Shuchi Talati does a wonderful job in exploring the complexities of Teenage. An important part of Girls Will Be girls is the theme of sexual awakening portrayed with lots of sensitivity

Starcast: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron and others

Director and writer: Shuchi Talati

Producers: Richa Chaddha, Clarie Chassagne and Shuchi Talati

Production Companies: Pushing Buttons Studios, Blink Digital etc

Music: Pierre Oberkampf and Sneha Khanwalkar

Cinematography: Jih-E Peng

Running time: 1 hour and 58 minutes

Streaming site: Amazon Prime

The age of adolescence is a very complex period in the life of a teenager. Both mentally and physically there are major upheavals. Shuchi Talati’s story focuses on one such teenager without any commercialization.

Preeti Panigrahi and Kani Kusruti in Girls Will Be Girls

The main plot of Girls Will Be Girls revolves around Mira ( Preeti Panigrahi) set in a boarding school. Preeti is both a class topper as well as a prefect. Kani Kusruti plays the protective mother Anila. There is a father too appearing occasionally. Mira’s life takes a major turn with the entry of a new joinee Srinivas ( Kesav Binoy Kiron). Mira starts developing feelings which includes sexual as well. While chatting with Srinivas over the phone Anila catches her daughter making it very clear that the two can only be friends and northing more. However Mira and Srinivas continue to pursue each other romantically. Soon Srinivas starts coming to Mira’s house developing a good rapport with Anila. This leads to a major tension as Mira feels that Srinivas is giving more attention to her mother. The rest of the story focuses on the new challenges that Mira faces and how she navigates adolescence.

Keshav Binoy Kiron as Srinivas

A strong aspect of Girls Will Be Girls is how Shuchi Talati portrays the physical changes that a teenager undergoes. For example there is a scene where Mira tries to appear sexy in the front of a ,mirror while lip syncing. Similarly there is also a bit of Mira trying to practice kissing. These moments have been presented with honesty making it relatable for many teenagers.

Apart from the challenges of adolescence Shuchi Talati also does a wonderful job in showcasing the complex mother and daughter dynamics. Their relationship has shades of jealousy with some unpleasant moments. Anila is an overprotective mother who has a hard time in dealing with her rebellious daughter. She wants to limit the physical and emotional intimacy of the two. The dynamics get further complicated when Srinivas gets closer to the mother, his proximity with Anila increases leading to a further divide. However beneath all the insecurities there is also mutual love which comes out strongly.

The complex mother and daughter dynamics

The movie’s pacing is deliberately slow but for a story of this nature it works perfectly. The build up to the bodily changes that Mira is undergoing has been portrayed with the right amount of sensitivity. The film dwells into the themes of sexuality from a female perspective showcasing how societal repression often comes in the way. This is something that we don’t see in the high testosterone male led cinema.

The scenes of Mira losing her virginity and the various feelings which come with it have been shot in an aesthetic manner with no titlation.

Mira’s sexual awakening

Shuchi Talati’s use of visual metaphors is also brilliant. These metaphors perfectly convey the internal struggle which the characters are going through on numerous occasions. The movie is a perfect example of how dialogues aren’t always needed to convey the emotional turmoil.

The performances of Preeti and Kani Kusruti also make this movie a major winner. Preeti Panigrahi had won the special jury award at 2024 Sundance Film Festival and she truly deserves it for her wonderful portrayal. She perfectly captures the vulnerability, defiance and the contradictions which a teenager goes through. She more than holds her own opposite the terrific Kani Kusruti. Speaking about Kani Kusruti the actress continues her terrific form showcasing her immense versatility post All We Imagine as Light. She does a superlative job in bringing out the turmoil of a woman who is grapping with her own desires while being a caring mother. As Srinivas Keshav Binoy Kiron has an easy charm blending in perfectly. He also brings in a sense of ambiguity adding an extra layer.

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Agni : A heartfelt tribute to the bravery of fire-fighters

The movie makes you feel for the numerous trials and tribulations of firefighters, something that we as a common man don’t fully appreciate.
Agni (Hindi), 05-12-2024, Action, Drama, 2 hours, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Divyendu Sharma, Jitendra Joshi, and Saiyami Kher
  • Director: Rahul Dholakia
  • Producer: Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidwani
  • Music Director: John Stewart Eduri
  • Cinematography: KU Mohanan
  • Rating: 3.5/5

Given Indian cinema’s obsession with men in uniform it is surprising that we haven’t had a full-fledged movie so far on the lives of firefighters.

Rahul Dholakia best known for his brilliant Parzania (2005), in Agni streaming on Prime Video, takes a deep dive into the many dangers that these fire-fighters put themselves in.

The movie makes you feel for the numerous trials and tribulations, something that we as a common man don’t fully appreciate.

Synopsis

The story of Agni revolves around the investigation of uncovering a dangerous plot behind the periodic fires in the high-rise buildings of Mumbai. These events follow a particular pattern hinting at arson.

Pratik Gandhi plays Vitthal Rao, the head of a fire station. He and his team risk their lives daily without the recognition they deserve. Divyendu Sharma plays Samit Sawant, Vitthal Rao’s brother-in-law and a successful police officer with more material comforts than the former.

Parallel to the investigation, there is also a subplot of interpersonal relationships, in which, Vitthal Rao’s son considers Samit as his hero instead of his own father.

Social commentary

Agni is directed by Rahul Dholakia
‘Agni’ is directed by Rahul Dholakia. (X)

An important aspect of Agni is its impactful social commentary. As the story is about the fire accidents, the makers also dvelve into the risks of illegal buildings, these include restaurants and other public spaces which more often than not accommodate far more people than allowed.

Rahul Dholakia and Vijay Maurya make some important points about the construction of illegal buildings and the risks involved due to the lack of safety protocols. These have come out in a hard-hitting manner making the viewers ponder about the government’s poor handling of basic civic safety.

In spite of all this, the firemen put their lives at stake in order to save as many as they could, in the process losing their lives too.

Agni also scores in how it captures the trauma that a firefighter undergoes. The CGI fire coupled with the shots of flames taking over the sky-high buildings sends a shiver down the viewer’s spine. The movie keeps the viewers on edge over whether the firemen would successfully come out of those flames.

The dynamics between Vitthal Rao and Samit Sawant add a layer of humour to the otherwise tense proceedings. The rivalry between the two could have done with a little more depth. Still, there are numerous entertaining moments. Divvyendu Sharma as Samit Sawant successfully plays to the gallery and works a perfect contrast to Pratik Gandhi’s serious persona.

Performances and technical aspects

Still from the film Agni
Still from the film ‘Agni’. (X)

Talking about Pratik Gandhi, the Scam 1992 actor continues to prove his versatility with an arresting portrayal of a firefighter navigating the various challenges of his dangerous profession.

The way Pratik portrays Vitthal’s inner demons is exemplary, to say the least. Among the other actors, Saiyami Kher also strikes a chord with her emotional act. Her character brings in a different layer as the prominent woman among the male firefighters.

Agni also benefits from the constant twists and turns particularly in the second half. Just when the viewers think they have figured everything out, the movie comes up with an unexpected twist.

Among the technical departments, the production design and the cinematography deserve distinction marks for a job very well done. The recreation of the fire station has an authenticity to it. Also, the first-rate cinematography of KU Mohanan further helps in creating a palpable tension.

Talking about the slight flaws, the movie needed to explore the animosity between Vitthal and Samit in greater detail. Also, a subplot involving a builder’s assassination doesn’t add much value to the proceedings.

Final take

Keeping these small hiccups aside, Agni is a gripping emotional drama with elements of action and thrills.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/agni-movie-review/

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Citadel: Honey Bunny web series review: Slick action coupled with the solid performances makes this an engaging thriller

Raj and DK’s spin-off to Priyanka Chopra’s ‘Citadel’ is far superior to the American web series.
Citadel: Honey Bunny (Hindi); 06-11-2024, Action, Thriller, 6 episodes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashavi Majumdar, Kay Kay Menon, Saqib Saleem, Sikander Kher, and Simran Bagga
  • Director: Raj and DK
  • Producer: Syed Zaid Ali and Alek Conic
  • Music Director: Sachin- Jigar
  • Cinematography:J ohn Heurlin Aidt
  • Rating :3/5

The American show Citadel (2023) is considered to be one of the most expensive web series produced. However, the response was quite lukewarm with not-so-great reviews from both the critics and the audiences. Despite that season two of Citadel has been announced.

Raj and DK’s Citadel: Honey and Bunny is a spin-off to this show. It doesn’t completely match up to the finesse of Raj and DK’s previous web shows— The Family Man (2019) and Farzi (2023)—but still it keeps you hooked.

The storyline of Citadel: Honey Bunny moves along two parallel timelines 1992 and 2000. Honey (Samantha) is an ambitious young woman who has run away from home with dreams of becoming an actress.

In pursuit of becoming an actor, her path crosses with that of Varun Dhawan’s Bunny a stunt coordinator. The friendship blossoms into love however Bunny is not what he appears to be. He is leading a double life as a spy for a secret agency.

Synopsis

Things take a turn when Honey, who first approaches Bunny to seek his help in becoming an actor, requests him to train her to be a spy.

Though Bunny initially hesitates, he soon agrees seeing her courage. Amidst this, enters another character Baba, played by Kay Kay Menon.

Kay Kay Menon is the leader of the spy group. He is also the one who has turned Bunny’s life around by picking him up from the orphanage and bringing him up with lots of love. Due to this, Bunny is devoted and loyal to Baba.

The aim of Kay Kay Menon and Co is to bring down “Operation Talwar” sabotaging a rival spy organization “Citadel” in the process.

As the mission progresses, big differences creep up between Honey and Bunny leading to a major cycle of events.

This is the story in brief, which is now available on Amazon Prime Video.

What works and what doesn’t

Samantha and Varun from Citadel Honey Bunny
Samantha and Varun from ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’. (X)

A strong aspect of Citadel: Honey Bunny is how Raj and DK have crafted the love story of the two primary characters. From the initial meet-cute moments to them developing feelings for each other has been wonderfully written and enacted.

The chemistry between Varun and Samantha comes across as organic. Even the scene leading up to their first kiss in the middle of a fun moment doesn’t feel forced.

Another strong aspect of Citadel: Honey Bunny is the dynamics between Baba and Bunny. Kay Kay Menon’s Baba is someone who alternates between being a bad man and also a fatherly figure for not just Bunny but the other guys too.

He inspires both fear and respect. The conversations between Baba and Bunny have an emotional depth with a particular mention of an orphanage scene in the sixth episode. Kay Kay Menon as usual does a very fine job of capturing the various nuances of Baba.

The production design of Citadel: Honey Bunny is quite commendable. Raj and DK along with the technical crew do a fine job in transporting the viewers back to the 90s and early 2000s.

One major problem with Citadel: Honey Bunny is the constant back-and-forth exploring the motivations of the various characters. This back-and-forth does help in giving a psychological insight into how the various struggles have shaped up the protagonists but it also slows down the show.

Another problem with Citadel: Honey Bunny is the underdevelopment of Simran’s character. Her character of Zooni needed better etching to have a stronger impact.

Performances

Samantha with Kashavi in Citadel Honey Bunny
Samantha with Kashavi in ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’. (X)

Child actor Kashavi Majumdar playing Honey and Bunny’s daughter Nadia proves to be a major ace of this web series. Nadia has had to grow up well before time. She is thrust into the dark underbelly of the spy world.

Kashavi does a terrific job of portraying the internal conflict of a young girl whose carefree childhood has gone for a toss. She more than holds her own opposite Samantha brilliantly conveying resilience. The mother-and-daughter scenes give the show some of its best moments.

Samantha as Honey is successful in bringing out both the inner strength and vulnerability of her role. She simply aces the action sequences bringing in the intensity of a mother who is also a deadly spy.

A particular scene where she takes on a group of assassins while gently closing her daughter’s eyes to shield her from the bloodshed is brilliantly written and executed. Action is one of the mainstays of Citadel: Honey Bunny and the fight sequences are indeed a treat to watch particularly for those who like raw action.

Varun Dhawan as Bunny also shines particularly in the emotional scenes. A special mention must be made of his few scenes with Kashavi Majumdar. Saqib Saleem as the menacing KD also makes a striking impact. He proves to be a worthy opponent for Samantha and Varun.

Final take

To sum it up Citadel: Honey Bunny is worth a watch for those who are into gritty action and the spy world.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula.)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/citadel-honey-bunny-web-series-review-slick-action-coupled-with-the-solid-performances-makes-this-an-engaging-spy-thriller/

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Panchayat Season 3: A joyous return to the village of Phulera

Director Deepak Kumar Mishra does a wonderful job in mixing humor with emotions. The rural politics add a new dimension to the show

Starcast: Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy and others
Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra
Writer: Chandan Kumar
Producer: Arunab Kumar
Production Company: The Viral Fever
Music: Anurag Saikia
No of episodes: 8
Streaming site: Amazon Prime

For those who haven’t seen the two seasons of Panchayat the plot is about a young man Abhishek Tripati (Jitendra Kumar). Abhishek takes up the position of a panchayat secretary for lack of better options. In the first two seasons the viewers saw Abhishek getting himself acclimatized to the ways of a remote district situated in Ballia (Utter Pradesh). He forms a bond with the locals particularly the ones played by Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Faisal Malik and Chandan Roy.

Season 3 begins with Abhishek back in the city. At the end of the second season, he was axed from his job. A new secretary comes to the village to take his place but in a sudden twist of events Abhishek gets reinstated. His friendship with the village head /Pradhan Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) and the husband (Raghubir Yadav) has reached a strong level. There is also the pronounced romance between him and Pradhan’s daughter Rinky (Sanvika). Sure, there is no confession but for viewers it is apparent that they have grown fond of each other. Faisal Malik’s Prahalad is the depressed father who is still grappling with the death of his son. Chandan Roy’s Vikas is juggling between multiple duties job, married life and also being a pillar of support for Prahalad. Things take a turn when the arch army of Pradhan Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar) and co plan to settle old scores with the help of a local MLA. This leads to a major upheaval in the village ahead of the Panchayat elections, Abhishek finds himself in a tangle, he is sandwiched between village politics and aspirations of a higher job.

A strong aspect of Panchayat Season 3 is the director’s integration of the grassroot politics. There is a palpable intensity in the political rivalry that reflects the current times. Director Deepak Kumar Mishra deserves an appreciation for how he has dwelled into village politics and corruption at the grassroot level while maintaining the humor.

The love angle between Abhishek and Rinky is also fun to watch. On certain occasions she is the one who takes the lead. The light scenes between them work as a perfect contrast to the intense politics playing out. Sanvikaa does well in her limited role.

Neena Gupta’s character has come a long way, she has finally come out of her husband’s shadow. in this season Manju Devi participates actively in the council meetings and also voices her opinions without any fear showing a refreshingly different side. But just like the second season this time too the show could have done with more of Neena Gupta.

Apart from the political aspect the director also deserves appreciation for how he has dealt with the themes of mental health, loneliness, financial independence etc. through multiple characters. Both Chandan Roy and Faisal Malik continue to be an important pillar for the show. The character arcs of both is another plus. Jitender Kumar is good as always particularly in the moments of intensity.

Although gripping for most part some of the writing could have been better. For example, the role of MLA’s daughter doesn’t serve much purpose. Also, you have a person who joins a strike out of blue with hardly any build up.

These small niggles aside Panchayat Season 3 is a good follow up to the first two seasons particularly for those who like village-based stories.

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Dil Dosti Dilemma: A breezy coming of age drama that makes for a good watch

Director Debbie Rao does a fine job of exploring the clash between societal expectations and personal identity.
Dil Dosti Dilemma (Hindi), 25-04-2024, Drama,7 episodes U/A, OTT
  • Main Cast: Anushka Sen, Tanvi Azmi, and Shishir Sharma
  • Director: Debbie Rao
  • Producer: Seema Mohapatra
  • Music Director: Sid Paul
  • Cinematography: Deep Metkar
  • Rating: 3.5/5
  • Published in: Southfirst

Teenage is generally a period of huge upheaval in many ways. It is a period of confounding emotions, self-doubt, and so much more.

Dil Dosti Dilemma, directed by Debbie Rao, focuses on this turbulent period through the lives of three teenagers.

For those who are not aware, this web show is based on the book “Asmara’s Summer” written by Andaleeb Wajid.

The web show is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Synopsis

Anushka Sen’s Asmara is a privileged young girl who borders on being insensitive.

In the initial episodes, she comes across as a brat much like her other two friends — Naina (Revathi Pillai) and Tanisha (Elisha Mayor).

These three live in a very extravagant part of Bengaluru. They love shopping and spend as much money as they want without any care in the world.

Asmara is also a fashionista. She is excited about her Canada trip but a blunder results in her being sent to the grandparents’ (played by Tanvi Azmi and Shishir Sharma) house.

There is a huge difference between the place Asmara’s parents live and that of the grandparents.

Ashamed to say that she is living in a middle-class locality, Asmara cooks up a story to her friends about going to Canada. She also comes with a unique plan of making her friends believe this.

The rest of the story focuses on how Asmara makes new friends, finds love, and plays a key role in the Tibbri locality not getting destroyed in the name of redevelopment.

Relationships portrayed well

‘Dil Dosti Dilemma’ is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. (X)

An aspect that works strongly for Dil Dosti Dilemma is the characterisation of the three friends and how Debbie Rao explores the complexities of teenage friendship.

For example, Naina is desperate to get social validation. Tania struggles to cope with her parents drifting away and having possible extramarital affairs. Asmara, on the other hand, is ashamed to talk about her grandparents as they do not live in a high-class locality, unlike her parents.

The three have a WhatsApp group called “Awesome Threesome” for sharing things. However, there are certain secrets which they hide from each other for fear of judgment.

The web show also dwells on the topic of classism and the rich-poor divide with sensitivity.

The dynamics between Asmara and her grandparents give the show some of its best moments.

It does take a while for Asmara to adjust to her grandmother’s ways and vice versa. This gradual progression is filled with lovely moments.

There are scenes where the grandmother learns from Asmara how to deal with certain situations. The chemistry between Tanvi Azmi and Anushka Sen adds a lot of entertainment to the storyline.

The portrayal of the relationships — be it Asmara’s growing bond with the grandparents, a new friendship with Ruksana, and her love with Farzaan — have come out well.

A couple of subplots needed better etching though. For instance, a track related to Naina’s brother.

Also, the falling marriage of Tanisha’s parents and her using an intern at her father’s office to find out whether the mother is having an extramarital affair or not does hamper the proceedings at places.

Anushka Sen is the show-stealer

Team ‘Dil Dosti Dilemma’. (X)

The performances across the board, led by Anushka Sen, are top-notch.

Anushka’s Asmara is someone who starts as an annoying rich brat whose attitude towards the middle class borders on being intolerable.

But as the plot progresses, the character goes through many changes and the actor does a splendid in capturing the various nuances. She holds her ground firmly even in the scenes with the more experienced Tanvi Azmi.

Tanvi Azmi and Shishir Sharma, as the grandparents, are wonderful to watch. They play their parts with a lot of warmth. A particular mention must be made of the few romantic scenes between Tanvi and Shishir Sharma.

Kush Jotwani, as Farzaan, has a good presence and is charming as the young man whose life takes a different turn after the entry of Asmara.

Final take

Dil Dosti Dilemma is a story of self-discovery and is worth watching if you like teenage dramas and are in the mood for something light.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/dil-dosti-dilemma-web-series-review-a-breezy-coming-of-age-drama-that-makes-for-a-good-watch

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Inspector Rishi : A gripping whodunit that also makes strong points on how superstitious beliefs are used to create chaos

Notwithstanding the tacky CGI and some convoluted plot points, director JS Nandhini keeps the audience engrossed for the most part.
Inspector Rishi (Tamil) web series; 29-03-2024, Horror-Crime Drama, 10 Episodes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Naveen Chandra, Sunaina Yella, Srikrishna Dayal, Kanna Ravi, Malini Jeevarathnam, Kumaravel, and Harini Sundararajan
  • Director: JS Nandhini
  • Producer: JS Nandhini and Shukdev Lahiri
  • Music Director: Ashwath
  • Cinematography: Bargav Sridhar
  • Rating: 3.5/5
  • Published in: Southfirst

JS Nandhini’s Inspector Rishi begins with a group of tribes committing mass suicide inside a cave in the Thenakadu Forest near Coimbatore. The reason behind their suicide is a huge mystery and has not been cracked.

Cut forward to 20 years, a series of bizarre murders happen inside the Thenakadu Forest.

Inspector Rishi Nandan (Naveen Chandra) investigates the case. He comes with a lot of emotional baggage.

Joining him in the investigation are local cops Kathryn (Sunaina), Ayyanar (Khanna Ravi), Chitra (Malini Jeevarathnam), and forest ranger Sathya (Srikrishna Dayal).

The locals believe that there are supernatural elements behind these killings. They consider a demigod called Vanaratchasi as the saviour of the forest.

Rishi, on the other hand, firmly believes that all these things are due to a human being with vengeance in mind.

In a nutshell, Inspector Rishi is about unravelling the mystery behind the murders with some impactful social commentary.

Analysis

Srikrishna Dayal plays Sathya Nambeesan in ‘Inspector Rishi’. (X)

The best part of Inspector Rishi is how director JS Nandhini has developed the interpersonal relationships between the characters.

As mentioned earlier, Rishi comes with a huge emotional baggage and is haunted by the death of his ex-girlfriend and has visions of her.

Rishi is also partially blind and as viewers, you are curious to know more about his past and what led to him losing an eye.

Similarly, there is also a homosexual love track featuring Chitra. Thankfully, this track has dealt with the required sensitivity without resorting to clichés.

A special mention must be made of a scene regarding the Vanaratchasi. Villagers talk about how gods like her suffered on account of their sexuality.

Chitra puts herself in the shoes of Vanaratchasi.

The professional and personal challenges of the various officers have been well integrated making the viewers care for them.

A gripping series

Ashwath scored the music for ‘Inspector Rishi’. (X)

Every episode ends on a gripping cliffhanger making the viewers more tense about who is causing this mayhem. Is human greed the reason behind all of this or something bigger?

Thankfully, Director JS Nandhini successfully ties up the knots.

The supernatural elements have also been showcased well, barring a few tackily staged special effects.

The horror comes from the brilliant background score which does not resort to the typical horror clichés.

JS Nandhini also deserves credit for how she has tackled the subplot of superstitious beliefs. There is some impactful social commentary on how superstitions can play with the minds of the most rational people and the chaos it creates.

The show also makes some important points on how human greed can destroy the environment and the need for eco-preservation.

Inspector Rishi also has folklore elements like the Gayatri and Puskhar-created web show Suzhal-The Vortex. The folk aspect makes the show even more gripping.

Coming to the flaws, the CGI is very tacky, to say the least. The show could have easily done away with the few CGI scenes.

Also, some of the descriptions and plot points feel a bit convoluted.

Final take

The performances led by Naveen Chandra and Malini Jeevarathnam are top-notch. Inspector Rishi is a must-watch for those who like whodunits with a dash of folklore.

It is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/inspector-rishi-telugu-web-series-review

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Ae Watan Mere Watan: A Moderately Engaging Tale Of An Unsung Hero

Kannan Iyer deserves credit for bringing to live an unheard talefrom the pages of history but sharper writing and a stronger actor would have made this movie more memorable.
21-03-2024, Biographical Drama, 2 hours and 13 minutes U/A, OTT
  • Main Cast: Sara Ali Khan, Sparsh Shrivastav, Anand Tiwari, Emraan Hashmi, Sachin Kedekar, and Abhay Verma
  • Director: Kannan Iyer
  • Producer: Karan Johar and Somen Mishra
  • Music Director: Mukund Suryawanshi, Akashdeep Sengupta, and Sashi Suman
  • Cinematography: Amalendu Choudary

India’s independence is a result of many people’s blood and sweat. These include not just the ones that we have read in history books.

There are many unsung heroes about whom we have little to no knowledge.

Kannan Iyers Ae Watan Mere Watan is about one such personality.

Synopsis

Usha Mehta (Sara Ali Khan) is a big devotee of Mahatma Gandhi.

Her father Hariprasad Mehta (Sachin Kedakar) is a judge working for the British regime. Neither he approves of his daughter’s rebellious nature nor Usha likes the ways of her father.

Things take a dramatic turn when Mahatma Gandhi and some more leaders are imprisoned during the Quit India Movement.

The British have complete control over the media. The radio, in particular, becomes a medium to divide the nation by spreading misinformation.

In retaliation, Usha and her fellow revolutionaries launch a radio channel — Congress Radio.

The Congress Radio becomes an instant hit; it catches the attention of Ram Manohar Lohia (Emraan Hashmi).

Ram Manohar Lohia was a pre-independence leader who managed not to get caught by the British.

Of course, this Congress Radio also comes under the notice of the British and they decide to track down the people behind this radio channel.

The rest of the story is about how Usha and her comrades fight to keep the radio alive and the role of Ram Manohar Lohia in this.

Back in 1942

Sara Ali Khan on the sets of ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’. (X)

A strong aspect of Ae Watan Mere Watan is how Kannan Iyer has recreated the pre-independence era.

The production design and cinematography, in particular, deserve praise for a job well done.

The costumes along with the architecture of buildings etc are spot on.

Usha’s dynamics with her father Hariprasad give the film some of its best moments — whether it is the scenes of playful innocence in her childhood like the one where Usha is watching Serbian birds flying in the sky and talks about wanting to have wings, or the later portions where the father and daughter have heated arguments given their different ideologies.

The scene where Hariprasad writes a letter to his daughter after Usha is jailed has been wonderfully written and performed.

Another track which deserves a mention is that of Sparsh Srivastava’s Fahad. Fahad suffers from polio but this physical disability never comes in the way of his zeal.

Inconsistent writing

There are two major issues with Ae Watan Mere Watan. One is the lack of more impactful writing by Darab Farooqui and Kannan Iyer.

The ineffective writing is particularly reflected in the love story between Usha and Abhay Varma’s character Kaushik.

Kaushik is not just a comrade but loves Usha. However, this aspect never comes out strong.

Another example of weak writing comes in the portions of Usha using a transmitter and the radio for the first time. We are never shown how Usha learns to use these things.

Compare this to the scenes of Alia’s Sehmat in Raazi (2018), the difference is as clear as day and light, both in terms of staging and acting performance.

Music and background score are of great importance for a film like this. But the movie is a big letdown in that area, too. None of the songs including the title track register.

Performances

Emraan Hashmi in ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’. (X)

Sparsh Srivastava shows that his terrific performance in Laaptaa Ladies (2024) was no fluke. He portrays the fighting spirit of Fahad in a heart-touching manner.

Emraan Hashmi, as Manohar Lohia, makes a late entry but makes a striking impact. The actor also gets some impactful dialogue which he nails. For instance, there is a scene in a dark room.

A person is trying to generate light by using matchsticks but the matchsticks are getting doused.

You have the following dialogue by Manohar Lohia. “Chahe Kitni bhi teeliyan bujh jayein, hamaare seene ki aag kabhi nahi bujheg,” (No matter how many matchsticks get doused, the fire in our hearts will always remain.)

As Usha Mehta, Sara Ali Khan is like a fish out of water. The actor is earnest but her shrill dialogue delivery annoys the viewers, big time. She is unable to bring the required conviction.

The British characters are, of course, your usual stereotypes and they leave zero impact.

Particularly irritating to watch is Alex O ‘Niel as the antagonist who is given the responsibility of apprehending Usha and co.

Final take

To conclude an unsung hero like Usha Mehta deserved a far better movie based on her life.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/ae-watan-mere-watan-movie-review/