Ananya Pandey – Rigobertha Reviews

June 9, 2025June 9, 2025

Sharing my first magazine interview in Ichamati thanks to my dear friend Kuppili Padma

1 Will share your background?

Ans 1 I have done M. A English literature. With the purpose of becoming a teacher I also did B.ed. However the job of a teacher didn’t really suit me. As an education content writer I worked in Pudami publications for four years. Once the office was shut down movies became my full time profession. Currently apart from movies I am also doing a fellowship for a society called Yakshi, Yakshi has set a program regarding the upholding of constitutional values. I discovered my passion for writing on movies, web series etc during the pandemic. and since then there has been no looking back with more than 500 reviews available in my website rigoberthareviews.com. Even while working as an education content writer I used to watch movies and web series on a regular basis. Apart from movies, web series and theme based some book reviews are also there mostly based on movies.

2 How did interest on movies grow?

My experience with movies started on not a great note. My first movie experience which I saw and couldn’t complete was Ramgopal Varma’s Satya. The first five minutes had numerous killings as a result I hugged mom tightly. Accompanying us was also a friend called Khadeer. Without seeing the movie we came back. My age at that time was six years. Of course later I saw Satya on TV. Now its one of my most favorite films, the depiction of villains specifically showcasing Manoj Bajpai as a normal human being is something which I liked. My initial movies didn’t consist of Hindi much. Whenever mom suggested seeing some language films (she was a member of film society). I used to make a huge ruckus. In fact I made a protest on why she wouldn’t take me to see Telugu movies, however slowly watching the likes of Laagan, Mangal Pandey, Munnabhai MBBS spiked me in an interest towards Hindi language films, I remember even dad accompanying us. Since I couldn’t understand Hindi much mom had to translate. but the sporadic outings of Hindi movies soon led to a major interest. Some of the early Hindi movies which I saw were Lagaan and Mangal Pandey besides the two Munnabhai films. On certain occasions dad also came against his nature and mom had to do the explaining. As the years have gone by I have acquired my own taste across different languages and genres. It has reached a different level by seeing actors and directors across various language spectrums

3 What was the starting point of writing reviews?

Ans 3 Maybe COVID was the reason for that. Just like many I also got habituated to seeing movies and web series in various OTT platforms. I used to write three to four paragraphs on my Facebook page and used to post. it. Apart from posting reviews on facebook I also did Youtube videos in Prabhathalovesmovies. Of course later I stopped it. Knowing about my interest in writing reviews senior editor Ramachandra Murthy guru asked me to write for his website Primepost. At that time I had no proper idea on how to write reviews. Slowly I became habituated to it. I discovered a lot joy analyzing each movie or web series as the stories and the characters vary a lot. As a result it gave me a lot of excitement each time I watched something. As time progressed I also started doing stuff other than movie reviews, these include profiles, theme based etc. Similarly I have also written book reviews based on movies. Although I resumed my job after COVID I continued to write. Even if I join another job in the future I hope to continue writing.

4. Through which mediums do you share reviews?

Initially it started with facebook. However once I started writing for websites like Primepost and Southfirst I started sharing it on Twitter, Instagram, facebook and Linkedin. Currently I have my own website as well; the name of the website is rigoberthareviews.com

5. What are the changes that you have observed from the time you started watching movies to now?

A lot has changed in terms of storytelling particularly with the entire pan Indian phenomenon. Technology has also increased. If we take movies like Bahuballi, RRR and Kalki this change is very apparent. Rugged mass heroes with huge beards are ruling commercial cinema. This doesn’t mean that other kinds of stories aren’t being attempted. Thirty Five Chinna Katha Kadu, Court and Iravai Moodu kinds of movies are coming successfully. A lot of changes are visible too in the new age horror stories. The days of scaring people with swinging doors is gone, instead the new age horror films have plots that have both scares and social issues.

6. In your view how are our movies in comparison to world cinema?

I don’t like comparing Indian cinema with world or Hollywood cinema. We have our unique traditions; many filmmakers have done movies that are remembered even today. There is no limit to the talent we have whether its directors or actors. Many are trying to push the envelope in their own ways. At the same time we also need to let go of some notions, this includes defining commercial cinema as only large action sequences.

7. Who is your favorite director and why?

Not just one there are many. For example, Kabir Khan, I like him for the way he crafts underdog stories who become winners in a heartouching way. The likes of 83, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Chandu Champion are good examples of these. I also like Anant Mahadevan who directed Phule and Storyteller. Among the senior directors I am a fan of Sanjay Leela Bhansali as well. His stories are not just different, but they also have strong women characters. Among the ones he directed Gangubai Kathaiwadi is my most favorite. Coming to Telugu movies among the new directors Nag Ashwin is one of my favorites. With just three movies he has created a strong space. He effectively handled a big star like Amitabh Bachchan in Kalki. Among the Tamil directors I like Vetrimaaran, I like the way he boldly presents the issues of caste and class. It feels like an eye opener. In Malayalam I cannot single out a particular person, Blessy who directed Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Adujeevitham one of my favorites. I like the way the directors there give importance to stories, it seems like they don’t have the habit of writing a story keeping in mind the hero. Due to this many directors are able to make good films there, In Hollywood I like James Cameron who directed Titanic and the two Avatar films.

Kabir Khan the director of Chandu Champion

8. Who is your favorite actress and why?

Ans 8 Maybe I would have said Alia Bhatt once upon a time. Now though there are many. From Meryl Streep to Ananya Pandey. In between there are the likes of Nayanthara and Parvathy Thiruvothy, there are also some actresses whom I have liked in some movies. We are seeing actresses in different languages acting brilliantly. I will also give my reason behind liking these actresses. Talking about Alia Bhatt she has acted in a wide variety of roles, she has done characters which have represented different sections of society. Examples of these are Udta Punjab, Dear Zindagi and Gangubai Kathiawadi. Parvathy Thiruvothu comes across as a strong person both on and off screen. Nayanathara on the other hand has managed the perfect balance. She has done glamorous roles as well as characters that are strong in nature. Meryl Streep of course doesn’t need a particular introduction. Along with doing many memorable characters being bold is also her strong quality. In the last few years Ananya Pandey has done some good roles and is emerging as a fine talent.

Alia Bhatt in Gangubai Kathiawai

Ananya Pandey CTRL

9. You are translating stories from Telugu to English right! How did you get that interest? Would you like to share those experiences?..

Ans 9 In the beginning Hyderabad book trust (HBT) Geeta asked if I could translate. I said yes since it would be a new thing for me. I transalated Satyavati garu story ‘I am coming with the name of ‘Here I am’. Till now I have done forty small poems poems and 10 stories. Some of the translations have come out in anthologies; some are yet to be published. I don’t know how much the writers liked my translations but I got an opportunity to read Telugu literature through them. Since both the writers and the time periods are very different I found it challenging to translate both in terms of language and style.

I got the feeling of learning something new from every story. The stories of B Anuradha ‘Dheesali’, Ek Chaddar Mailisi’ while translating these two I entered into a new world of jail life. Both the core and the language in Satish Chandar’s Thorn felt unique. While translating this story which deeply examined gender and caste, I initially felt surprised on the spat of verbal abuses between the mother and daughter, it was their way of expressing love. Although it was extremely difficult to translate their conversations I soon started enjoying. The two stories which I did from ‘Viyuka’ collection are also special. I learned many things about the lives of revolutionaries who face many challenges. Also, Chaso’s ‘Why would I throw away Father’, ‘Yugantham stories of Nelluru Keshava Swamy story and Sudhakar’s some soap bubble and a knife cut’ (Barber’s Tale). Finally, Kuppili Padma’s Coffee Plantation. The language in Kuppli Padma’s stories is mostly poetic as a result to bring out their emotions was difficult. Apart from those mentioned I have learned a lot from the rest too however I will stop here since the answer has already become big.

10 How is the response for your reviews? Would you like to share any responses that are special for you!

Ans 10 The response for my reviews has gradually grown specifically after putting my reviews in Instagaram and X. A big reason for this increase is fan pages. They have shared reviews and profiles of their favorite stars. For example my profile on Kartik Aryan was shared well on twitter by his fans. Similarly my Dhootha review starring Naga Chaitanya was widely shared by Akkeneni fans. Coming to the rest of the readers I don’t know whether everyone who has read have liked them or not, so I haven’t had the opportunity to better them. As far as I am concerned I am writing whatever coming to mind. In the recent past the ones which I felt special are one of the directors in My Melbourne anthology Onir. He directed a short segment called Nandhini. Also Ananth Narayan Mahadevan who directed ‘Storyteller and Phule, their responses felt very special. One shared it on Instagram and the other on facebook with praises. Similarly Rahul Ravindran sharing my Jigra review and lastly Bhavana Pandey the mother of Ananya Pandey liking my ‘Kesari Chapter 2’ review are also some of the special moments.

April 19, 2025May 10, 2025

Kesari Chapter 2 (The untold story of Jallinwala Bagh): A stirring tale of colonial injustice

Kesari Chapter 2 poster

An aspect which makes Kesari Chapter 2 stand out is the characterization of Ananya Pandey’s Dilreet Gill an idealistic young woman breaking conventions. Director and writer Karan Singh Tyagi is successful in pushing all the right buttons making the viewers emotional and evoking feelings of disgust towards the British.

Starcast: Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, Ananya Pandey, Simon Paisley Day, Reginna Cassandra and others

Genre: Drama

Director and writer: Karan Singh Tyagi

Dialogues: Sumit Saxena

Cinematography: Debojeet Ray

Based on: The Case That Shook The Empire By Raghu Palat And Pushpa Jalat

Producers: Karan Johar, Adar Poonawala etc

Production Companies: Leo Media Collective and Dharma Productions

Music: Shaswat Sachadev, Kavita Seth and Kanishk Seth

Running time: 2hours and 14 minutes

The subject of Jallinwala Bagh massacre has a huge emotional resonance irrespective of how many times filmmakers explore the topic. The beats of Kesari Chapter 2 has a certain resemblance to the Ram Madhvani web series The Waking of a Nation in terms of the courtroom proceedings and how the narrative unfolds the events leading up to the mass genocide however Kesari Chapter 2 is very much its own beast, the movie is based on the novel written by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Jalat focusing on the fight of Shankaran Nair. It’s hard to say how much has been fictionalized particularly the characterization of Ananya Pandey however the movie is successful in immersing the viewers in spite of familiar troupes particularly the courtroom proceedings. Subtlety and logic isn’t Kesari Chapter 2’s biggest strength but nevertheless the movie is successful in evoking patriotic feelings.

Ananya Pandey as the young lawyer Dilreet Gill

Kesari Chapter 2 doesn’t waste any time in setting up the proceedings. The first ten to fifteen minutes are devoted to the massive bloodbath led by Simon Paisely Day’s General Dyer. The presentation is very graphic in nature unlike Ram Madhvani’s The Waking of a Nation however it does work. The piles of blood soaked bodies coupled with cinematography department makes the audiences blood boil. We see the massacre from the perspective of a young boy Pargat Singh (played by an excellent Krish Rao). From here we move to Akshay Kumar’s Sir C Shankaran Nair. Shankaran Nair is a hot shot lawyer working for the British. He also receives the honor of Knighthood from the British government the same day when the Jallianwala Bagh massacre happens. Shankaran Nair is known for his excellent arguments and the way he manipulates the proceedings. This is established early on in a case involving Pargat Singh’s father. However things take a huge turn after the set up of a so called commission meant to enquire the events leading up to that harrowing day. Shankaran Nair’s belief in the British justice system takes a massive hit as Shankaran starts digging deep. What also shakes his conscience is a meeting with Pargat Singh. However in spite of the misgivings Shankaran Nair decides to not dwell further but that changes with the entry of the fiery Dilreet Gill (an excellent Ananya Pandey). This is the story in a nutshell.

A strong aspect of Kesari Chapter 2 is how Karan Singh Tyagi has designed the character of Akshay Kumar. Yes the transformation of Shankaran Nair and his deep faith in the British justice system could have done with little more nuances still the way the director has presented the various dilemmas faced by the man keeps the viewers engrossed. A particular mention must be made of the emotional turmoil which Shankaran Nair goes through at various stages. His fighting spirit in spite of the numerous hurdles coupled with Akshay’s act makes the viewers root for Shankaran Nair. Of course an argument can be made on why not have R Madhavan play the titular role given his South Indian background, still Akshay’s fiery performance particularly in the scenes where Shankaran Nair confronts General Dyer about his racist behavior makes the casting work.

As already mentioned Ananya Pandey’s Dilreet Gill plays a young woman breaking numerous conventions particularly given the period the movie is set in. Of course how much of the characterization is similar to the truth and book is a question mark still Ananya Pandey plays a very crucial role in making the movie more interesting. A scene which specifically needs to be mentioned here is Dilreet Gill’s response to the press who are surprised with Shankaran Nair having a female counsel. She responds by saying what is so surprising doesn’t the British have a queen. On the surface it may appear as a simple moment but the sarcasm behind it questioning a certain type of attitude makes it a brilliant scene. The character of Dilreet Gill has various shades and Ananya does complete justice more than holding own opposite Akshay Kumar. The scene in the railway station where she confronts Shankaran Nair on how he shouldn’t run away and instead should fight back against the crown is a significant reminder of how far the young actress has come. Another portion worth mentioning is the cross examination scene involving an important character Martha Stevan’s. From the initial nervousness to taking things head on Ananya does a marvelous job.

R Madhavan plays Advocate Neville McKinley. He enters the movie at a crucial moment just before the interval. Nevile McKinley is an eccentric counsel with a certain misguided grudge towards Shankaran Nair. The back story of Nevile McKinley has some interesting touches which could have been explored more however to the actor’s credit R Madhavan adds a lot of spice to the courtroom proceedings even though the writing trudges along a familiar path. Of late R Madhavan has been playing more of grey/negative roles whether it is Vikas Bahl’s Shaitaan or this years Test. Once again R Madhavan does a very fine job proving to be a worthy opponent for Akshay. The way he portrays the different shades of the role is a treat to watch.

R Madhavan and Akshay Kumar face off

Simon Paisley Day in spite of the heavily accented Hindi like his collogues is very successful in making the viewers detest him. The backstory of Dyer involving scenes of being bullied give a psychological insight into the man’s behavior. Among the other actors Amit Sial impresses with his understated villainy. Reginna Cassandra as Akshay’s wife adds an emotional depth in spite of the limited screen time and a not so great characterization.

Simon Paisley Day as General Dyer

An another interesting aspect of Kesari Chapter 2 is how it portrays the issue of press being controlled either through manipulation or being shut down. Looks like nothing much has changed from them.

The technical department led by cinematographer Debojeet Ray is very effective in creating the right atmospherics. There is an authenticity to the way the period has been recreated whether it is the blood stained grounds of Jallianwala Bagh, the colonial courts or the even the place of viceroy which has numerous shots of lavish parties. The soundtrack by nature isn’t of the popular variety still the few songs make for a wonderful listen and watch. The recreated version of Teri Mitti with Nair visiting the massacre sight of course takes the top spot. At the same time “Oh Shera and “Kithe Gaya Tu Saaiyan” also tug at the viewers heartstrings.

Talking about the flaws the heavily accented Hindi of the Foreign actors leave a bitter after taste. Even Akshay Kumar’s attempt at speaking Malayalam in one scene comes across as very jarring to say the least. Also the way Dilreet and Shankaran Nair find evidences against the British make it look like an piece of cake. The courtroom proceedings follow a set template, this adds to a certain fatigue during some moments.

Final word: Keeping aside the flaws Kesari Chapter 2 makes for a solid rousing tale with good performances. Ananya Pandey as Dillret Gill stands out with a towering performance.

January 4, 2025January 4, 2025

Best of Bollywood web series 2024: A good mix of fresh stories and continuation of old seasons

An overview into some of the most impactful Hindi web series covering different genres.

Like the last few years, 2024 has also seen numerous filmmakers and production houses enter the OTT space.

A solid example of this is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi— a powerful women-led story focusing on the contribution of Tawaifs in India’s freedom struggle. The web show had plenty of Bhansali’s grandeur and his usual empathy for the Tawaifs.

Mulk (2018) and Article 15 (2019) director Anubhav Sinha also made an impactful OTT debut with the hijack drama IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The web series revisited a hugely agonizing period when three Pakistani terrorists had hijacked a flight going from Delhi to Katmandu.

Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment a sub-wing of Dharma Productions produced two shows of diverse genres. The first one was the taunt investigative thriller/drama Gyraah Gyaarah. The series directed by Umesh Bhist kept the viewers intrigued with the additional concept of time travel, a cop in 2016 finding a walkie-talkie connecting him to a policeman from the past. Kill fame Raghav Juyal showcased his versatility with a wonderful portrayal of an impulsive cop.

The other was Collin D’ Cunha’s Call Me Bae, a breezy coming-of-age story with a strong sense of sisterhood. Ananya Pandey as Bella aka Bae delivered a winsome act nailing both Bella’s quirks and the emotional scenes too.

Continuation of series

In 2024, many popular series returned with new seasons. Among them, Panchayat Season 3, directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, stood out.

The highlight of Panchayat Season 3 was its portrayal of grassroots politics, with intense scenes of political rivalry. The earthy humour from the previous seasons was also maintained, making it both engaging and entertaining.

Maharani Season 3, directed by Saurabh Bhave, was a gripping tale of politics and revenge. Loosely inspired by 1990s Bihar, the series continued its strong socio-political commentary. Bhave captured the illegal liquor trade despite the official ban and effectively depicted the power struggles and ruthless political world. Huma Qureshi once again delivered a powerful performance in the lead role.

Following are some more details of the most impactful Hindi web series this year

Heeramandi

Sanjay Leela’s Heeramandi features a complex storyline with numerous characters and backstories. It takes time for viewers to understand the direction of the plot but soon captivates with powerful moments and performances.

The best aspect of Heeramandi is how Sanjay Leela Bhansali blends the internal politics of Tawaifs with the Indian freedom struggle, showing how they played a crucial role. The series also delivers hard-hitting dialogues, revealing that not only the British but also Indian nawabs, were fighting for supremacy through a divide-and-rule strategy.

A particularly poignant moment occurs when the Tawaifs march toward a prison wall at night. The background score, combined with Bhansali’s song “Azadi”, gives the audience goosebumps.

The performances, led by Manisha Koirala and Sonakshi Sinha, were outstanding. Among the male leads, Taha Shah made the strongest impact, capturing the internal struggle of a young man torn between love and responsibility.

Freedom At Midnight

Nikhil Advani’s adaptation of the sprawling novel by the same name was a brilliant exploration of the events leading up to partition. The director along with his writers skilfully captured the political turmoil of those times without blaming a particular political party.

The series had many goosebumps moments, particularly the portions of riot-torn neighbourhoods. The scenes of communal strife resulting from religious discord have a certain contemporariness as the religious divide remains a major issue today.

The acting performances led by Sidanth Gupta as Jawaharlal Nehru and Chirag Vohra as Mahatma Gandhi further enhanced the solid writing. Ashutosh Pataka’s music was also poignant enhancing the plot at various junctures. The tunes had a haunting quality.

Killer Soup

Abhishek Chaubey’s Killer Soup is a delightful mix, blending influences from William Shakespeare and Virginia Woolf. The series is based on real-life incidents from Telangana.

Konkona Sen Sharma plays Swati, a housewife who dreams of owning a restaurant but lacks support from her husband, Prabhu. At the end of the first episode, Prabhu catches Swati with her lover, Umesh, leading to a major twist. Manoj Bajpayee is seen in a double role as both husband and illicit lover.

A standout element of Killer Soup is how Chaubey infuses Shakespearean touches into the story. One example is a private detective ghost who helps a cop, played by Nassar. The ghost, visible only to Nassar, offers him advice whenever he’s in a bind.

These moments have a touch of magical realism. While the situations may seem absurd, they are equally fun to watch. Chaubey’s tribute to Virginia Woolf shines in how he humanizes Swati’s character. Swati’s determination to open her own restaurant and her desperate need for respect are portrayed poignantly.

Konkona Sen Sharma flawlessly portrays Swati’s shifting moods, moving from loving to intense without missing a beat. Manoj Bajpayee is also excellent, especially as the illicit lover, Umesh.

Murder in Mahim

Murder in Mahim, directed by Raj Acharya, is a gripping drama that explores homophobia in depth. The series highlights the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and how societal acceptance remains slow, despite the removal of Article 377.

Based on a novel by Jerry Pinto, the plot centres around a series of murders targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. Vijay Raaz plays the lead cop, Shivajirao Jende, while Ashutosh Rana portrays Peter Fernandes, a retired crime journalist and Jende’s long-lost friend, who becomes an important ally.

Murder in Mahim balances the murder mystery with a critique of homophobia. Beyond this, the father-son dynamic between Peter and his son adds emotional depth, especially as they hold opposing views on homosexuality. This tension provides some of the series’ most powerful moments.

An important metaphor in the series is the restroom at a Mumbai local station, intended to be a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community but instead fueling their fears of societal rejection.

Vijay Raaz and Ashutosh Rana are solid performers who don’t need a particular introduction, here too the senior actors did a fantastic job. The surprise package though was the young actress Shivani Raghuvanshi in the role of Firdaus Rabbani, a female police officer and a closeted member of the LGBTQIA+ community, making a lasting impact with her performance.

Maamla Legal Hai

Ravi Kishan in Mamla Legal Hai — Ravi Kishan in ‘Maamla Legal Hai’. (X)

Maamla Legal Hai, directed by Rahul Pandey, is a delightful satire on the legal system. The eight episodes explore eccentric cases inspired by real-life incidents.

At the centre of the show is street-smart advocate VD Tyagi, played brilliantly by Ravi Kishan. Tyagi, who aspires to become the bar association president, is skilled at finding loopholes and winning cases with ease. The series touches on serious issues, like lawyer strikes affecting cases and the connubial rights of prisoners, but presents them in an entertaining way.

One of the most bizarre cases is about a husband wanting to divorce his wife because she didn’t feel shy on their wedding night. While this may seem unbelievable, a newspaper clipping at the end confirms it really happened.

Ravi Kishan shines in his role, but Nidhi Bhist, as fellow lawyer Sujatha, also impresses with her excellent performance, matching Kishan’s brilliance.

IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack

Anubhav Sinha’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a refreshing hijack thriller/drama in many ways. It subverts the trope of a larger-than-life hero and offers a nuanced portrayal of terrorists, making them feel like complex characters. For example, there’s a scene where the terrorists play Antyakshari with the passengers, and one comforts an air hostess when she vomits from the stench.

Even in the case of Captain Sharan Dev, played by Vijay Varma, he is vulnerable like the other passengers, but his strong determination shines through. The web series is also refreshing in how it avoids over-the-top nationalism.

The series blends real-life events with dramatized moments, using a voiceover alongside archival footage. Merging these two elements is difficult, but Sinha does an excellent job.

Vijay Varma delivers a terrific performance, and Manoj Pahwa also makes a strong impact as the aggressive official. Pahwa commands attention, whether negotiating with the hijackers or conversing with the suave Aravind Swamy.

Call Me Bae

Collin D Cunha’s Call Me Bae is a breezy coming-of-age story. Ananya Pandey plays Bella, a rich housewife, who is kicked out of her in-laws’ house after being caught getting cosy with her gym trainer, played by Varun Sood. Left to fend for herself, Bella’s mother also distances herself.

Bella’s struggles are presented in a light, sanitized way. She isn’t shown sleeping on footpaths or hustling in local trains. The show uses tongue-in-cheek humour to portray Bella, and once viewers adjust to the tone, there’s a lot to enjoy.

The best part of Call Me Bae is the camaraderie between Ananya Pandey’s Bae and Muskkaan Jaferi’s Saira Ali. Muskkaan’s character enters at a critical point and quickly becomes a pillar of support for Bella. Her witty one-liners add much to the show, and through her performance, Muskkaan makes viewers wish for a strong friend like Saira.

The show also features two other important women, played by Niharika Lyra Dutt and Lisa Mishra, who play key roles in Bella’s life. Vir Das adds spice as an arrogant journalist, with his confrontation scenes with Ananya being a major highlight.

Ananya Pandey excels in the title role, skillfully portraying Bella’s transformation.

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2 is a pulpy sequel with engaging twists and a strong Shakespearean touch. The famous Shakespeare quote, “The course of true love never did run smooth,” perfectly describes the twisted love story of Vikrant, played by Tahir Raj Bhasin.

Like the first season, the second benefits from the layered characterization of Vikrant. By the end of season one, he had become morally ambivalent. In this season, his grey shades are even more pronounced. Much like Sushmita Sen’s Aarya, Vikrant is forced to confront his inner demon due to certain circumstances.

Tahir does a terrific job portraying Vikrant’s emotional turmoil, especially when he realizes that Shikha (played by Shweta Tripathi) is no longer his. He is devastated when Shikha marries someone else and confronts her. In response, Shikha points out that he too married Purva (Aanchal Singh), bowing to circumstances. Tahir’s portrayal of Vikrant’s broken ego is exemplary.

Aside from Tahir, the season delves deeper into Purva’s character, revealing how she became an extremely possessive person. There is a powerful scene where Saurabh Shukla’s Akheraj Awasthi apologizes to Vikrant, saying he should have raised her better. Aanchal Singh does an excellent job humanizing her role as an obsessive lover.

(Edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/best-of-bollywood-web-series-2024-a-good-mix-of-fresh-stories-and-continuation-of-old-seasons/

December 21, 2024January 4, 2025

Horror to humour: Best Bollywood films of 2024

While horror films ruled the box office, there were other films that made an impact irrespective of their box office numbers like ‘Laapataa Ladies’, ‘Srikanth’, ‘Chandu Champion’, ‘CTRL’, ‘Kill’, ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, ‘Crew’ and ‘Jigra’.

The year 2024 has seen a significant shift in terms of viewer choice. Tenth-pole action movies with macho men at the centre predominantly dominated 2023.

This year though there has been a clear fatigue towards the action genre. The horror space has given exciting storylines with sufficient thrills and a good dose of humour.

One of the major production houses Maddock Films scored a double whammy this year with Stree 2 and Munjya. Both these movies featured grotesque demons representing sinister thoughts.

In Stree 2 the headless demon kidnaps women with a modern outlook representing our sexist leaders. In the case of Munjya a young Brahmin boy resorts to black magic to win over a girl but this only results in self-destruction. Stree 2 and Munjya had impactful social commentary apart from the folklore touch.

Another film of the same genre is Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, a horror thriller/comedy with an important message on inclusivity and acceptance. A poignant flashback connected to homosexuality made Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 a notch above the second part.

Queen director Vikas Bahl also made a strong comeback this year with Shaitaan, a home invasion thriller with elements of horror.

While horror films ruled the box office, there were other films that made an impact irrespective of their box office numbers like Laapataa Ladies, Srikanth, Chandu Champion, CTRL, Kill, Amar Singh Chamkila, Crew and Jigra.

Following are some of the most impactful movies of this year.

Laapataa Ladies

Kiran Rao’s second directorial venture, Laapataa Ladies, is a well-crafted feminist tale that effectively uses humour to address serious issues. The absurd scenarios arising from the confusion surrounding the same ghoonghat have a Shakespearean touch.

The film tackles important themes such as the necessity of education, the burdensome customs imposed on women, and the need for self-reliance. The latter is explored through the character of Manju Maai, a feisty and independent older woman played delightfully by Chhaya Kadam.

A major highlight of Laapataa Ladies is Ravi Kishan’s incredible comic timing. As a bribe-loving cop with a conscience, he left a strong impact with his performance. Newcomers Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Rana, and Sparsh Srivastava were also a joy to watch.

Stree 2

Aamir Kaushik’s follow-up to Stree (2018) was a rollicking sequel filled with equal parts scares and laughs. The film also featured impactful social commentary through the character of Sarkate, a headless demon. This grotesque creature kidnaps women with a modern outlook, such as those with big dreams or who marry outside their caste. Sarkate had previously burned Stree and her lover alive.

A key moment in the movie shows all the men in Chanderi becoming alpha males due to Sarkate’s spell. In the pre-climax, the women of Chanderi break out in unison, fully aware of the dangers.

What also made Stree 2 a blockbuster sequel was the camaraderie between Rajkummar Rao, Abhishek Banerjee, Aaparshakti Khurrana, and Pankaj Tripathi. Their comic timing and chemistry added depth to the film.

Apart from Stree 2, Rajkummar Rao had a remarkable year, showcasing his versatility in various roles. In Srikanth Bolla, he portrayed the visually impaired businessman with an exceptional performance, perfectly capturing the character’s mannerisms and insecurities.

In Mr and Mrs Mahi, he played Mahendra, a failed cricketer who manipulates his wife for fame. Despite Mahendra being selfish and unlikeable, Rajkummar’s layered performance made him impossible to fully hate. The film performed moderately at the box office.

Chandu Champion

Kabir Khan’s Chandu Champion took viewers on an emotional rollercoaster. Based on an incredible real-life story, the film is a must-watch tale of grit and determination.

Beyond being an underdog story, the movie addressed important themes, such as how people with disabilities seek empathy, not sympathy. It critiqued the “Bechara syndrome” and highlighted how their efforts often go unrecognized.

In the title role, Kartik Aaryan delivered a career-defining performance. Along with his impressive physical transformation, he shone in scenes portraying helplessness, frustration, resilience, and grit.

Despite sharing screen space with a strong actor like Vijay Raaz, Kartik held his own. Vijay Raaz, playing the coach and father figure, added significant emotional depth to the film.

Kartik also impressed in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, where he entertained as the fake Baba Rooh Baba, leaving viewers in fits of laughter. He also delivered a heartfelt performance in a small double role.

Kill

Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt’s Kill was a thrilling ride in spite of its visceral action. He elevated a standard action plot by merging the issue of class divide and blurring the lines between what we consider a hero and an anti-hero.

The humanization of dacoits particularly in the second half was very well done. On more than one occasion the armed robbers are seen venting out their vulnerabilities and fears.

The action sequences by nature are very violent with the titular character Amrit (a mighty impressive Lakshya) coming across as a bigger monster than the real armed robbers.

However, stunt directors Parvez Sheikh and Se-Yeong came up with very innovative combat sequences in confined spaces. Raghav Juyal best known for his dancing skills surprised one and all with his act of a cold-blooded villain.

CTRL (Netflix)

Ananya Pandey in CRTL — Ananya Pandey in ‘CRTL’. (X)

Vikramaditya Motwane’s CTRL, streaming on Netflix, is an engaging thriller/drama that explores the dangers of AI, including deepfakes and personal data breaches. The film raises important questions about how Gen Z increasingly relies on internet bots for genuine advice rather than consulting real people.

Ananya Panday plays the central role of Nella, a social media influencer. She and her husband, Joy (Vihaan Samrat), run a YouTube channel called NJoy. Their seemingly perfect relationship unravels, leading to a disturbing chain of events.

A key aspect of CTRL is how Motwane makes viewers reflect on the desire for validation through social media and the fine line between sharing and oversharing. These questions are raised in a thoughtful, non-preachy manner.

Ananya Panday delivers a stellar performance as Nella, perfectly capturing the character’s various shades. Special mention must also be made of Aaparshakti Khurrana, who voices the AI, adding depth to the story.

Do Patti (Netflix)

Kriti Sanon in Do Patti — Kriti Sanon in ‘Do Patti’. (X)

Shashanka Chaturvedi’s Do Patti shares some similarities with Jasmeet K Rheen’s Darlings, as both films depict women taking control of their lives when everything seems to have hit a dead end. However, Do Patti is very much its own story.

In addition to tackling domestic abuse, this Netflix film also explores sibling rivalry, post-traumatic stress, and childhood trauma. Kudos to Kriti Sanon for choosing to back such a project for her first production venture.

Kriti is outstanding, particularly in her role as the jealous twin, who eventually becomes a strong ally to her demure sister. Shaheer Sheikh, as the unpredictable husband, also gave a strong performance.

Jigra

Vasan Bala’s Jigra is a perfect blend of emotional drama and a prison break story. The film combines two distinct elements: on one hand, it tells the gritty tale of a young woman shaped by the emotional turmoil of witnessing her father jump from the roof. On the other, it explores themes of class divide and the brutalities faced by the common man in a police state.

The class divide is starkly portrayed through the way Satya’s wealthy relatives make her brother a scapegoat to protect their son, despite him being a habitual drug offender. Jigra is, for the most part, an engrossing film, and it was further enhanced by Alia Bhatt’s perfect portrayal of Satya’s tigress-like nature.

Vedang Raina, as the naïve young man caught in a complex web, also gave a strong performance. In supporting roles, both Manoj Pahwa and Rahul Ravindran made their presence strongly felt. The film features many memorable scenes, including one where Alia Bhatt’s Satya devours a large amount of food to calm her nerves.

Another impactful scene occurs when a helpless Satya asks a prison security guard if she looks sad. When he says yes, she tries to smile and asks the same question again. The sorrow in her eyes, as she struggles to stay mentally strong for her brother, was beautifully written and enacted.

The Buckingham Murders

Hansal Mehta’s The Buckingham Murders is a perfect example of a slow-burn investigative drama. While it may appear to be a police procedural on the surface, the film also delves into the lives of immigrants, communal hatred, and the struggles faced by the Queer community, among other themes.

Kareena Kapoor delivers an outstanding performance as a detective sergeant, grappling with deep emotional turmoil while investigating the case of a missing child.

In addition to these themes, Hansal Mehta also did an excellent job of addressing the changes brought about by the pandemic., both positive and negative. The film offers valuable psychological insight into the shortcomings of society. While the narrative occasionally digresses from the investigation, the conclusion more than makes up for these moments.

Apart from The Buckingham Murders, Kareena also played a hustler who is unapologetically greedy in Crew.

(Edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/horror-to-humour-best-bollywood-films-of-2024/

October 5, 2024October 11, 2024

CTRL: Ananya Pandey leads a gripping thriller/drama on the side effects of AL which includes deep fakes and breach of personal data

Vikramaditya Motwane delivers a racy movie keeping things crisp for the most part. He does a fantastic job in showcasing how Gen Z rely more on an internet bot for seeking genuine advice rather than a living person.

Starcast: Ananya Pandey, Vihaan Samrat, Aparshakti Khurana (as the AL voice) and others
Director and writer: Vikramaditya Motwane
Additional writers: Avinash Sampat and Sumukhi Suresh
Producers: Nikhil Dwivedi and Arya Menon
Production companies: Saffron Magicworks and Andolan Films
Music: Sneha Khanwalkar
Cinematography: Pratik Shah
Running time: 1 hour and 39 minutes
Streaming site: Netflix

In certain ways Vikramaditya Motwane’s CTRL feels like an extension to last year’s Kho Gaye Hum Kahan which also dealt with the younger generation. Kho Gaye Hum Kahan skillfully explored the aspect of loneliness in digital age, the need of validification from complete strangers. Easily one of Ananya Pandey’s better performances in her short career so far. Vikramaditya Motwane in CTRL also explores the side effects of social media, but this is darker in tonality. CTRL is more of a cyber thriller leaving the viewers disturbed

*In certain ways CTRL feels like an extension to last year’s Kho Gaye Hum Kahan*

CTRL focuses on two social influencers Nella (Ananya Pandey) and Joe (Vihaan Samraat). They run a YouTube channel called NJoy. Their seemingly perfect relationship goes totally downhill when Nella catches Joe with another woman. Her plan was to surprise Joe by celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary in a live stream unfortunately for Nella things go completely downhill. A lot of chaos happens leaving Nella’s professional and personal life in shatters. In an attempt to resurrect her social media presence Nella comes across an AL platform featuring a digital bot, Allen. Allen becomes a big help for Nella in erasing Joe completely from her digital life and also planning her big comeback. Slowly this AL platform becomes a major influence behind every decision of Nella. He starts taking over her personal chats along with manipulating her into signing more brand deals. Things take a very dark turn when Joe goes inexplicably missing. Soon Nella finds herself in a lethal web of manipulation as she starts investigating the misuse of AL. This is the story in brief.

As already mentioned, CTRL is a racy thriller, Vikramaditya Motwane doesn’t waste any time in immersing the viewers into the world of Nella and Joe. The viewers see them curate every moment of their personal lives giving their followers the impression of them being the perfect couple. Motwane has used the technique of alternating between the real world and the digital landscape. This mood shift doesn’t come across as jarring thanks to the director’s handling of the subject and also Pratik Shah’s fantastic cinematography. Yashika Gor’s production design also adds to this seamlessness. Sneha Khanwalkar’s experimental score adds to the movie’s edgy atmosphere.

*Nella and Joe give the impression of them being the perfect couple*

A strong aspect of CTRL is how Vikramaditya Motwane makes the viewers ponder on certain things without becoming preachy. For example, whether sharing a glimpse of our personal life is more about seeking validation and in process gaining more followers and how much sharing on social media becomes too much sharing. There is no preachiness in the way these questions are asked but still the impact is hammer strong. There is an important scene when Joe questions Nella about whether her reasons for wanting to surprise him came from genuine love or the need to make a statement on social media. This scene perfectly captures the essence of the movie.

The movie is also successful in creating a sense of personal connect particularly for those who are heavily into AL. The personal harm that AL apps are capable of doing leave the viewers disturbed. Having said that the thriller aspect of CTRL could have done more exploration. The underlying conspiracies of AL in controlling our lives feel a little rushed as the movie focuses more on Nella’s personal struggles in regaining control of her life.

It goes without saying that CTRL is primarily an Ananya Pandey showcase, and the young actress doesn’t disappoint. She delivers a first-rate performance perfectly capturing the journey of Nella from a happy college student to a social media star and ultimately a broken soul. As a social media influencer, she goes over the top on occasions, but it goes perfectly with the tonality of those portions. Apart from Ananya’s performance the character sketch is also a big winner.

*Ananya Pandey delivers a first-rate performance perfectly capturing the journey of Nella from a happy college student to a social media star and ultimately a broken soul*

Vihaan Samrat as Joe also makes his presence felt more so in the monologue scenes at a critical juncture. Aparshakti Khurrana as the AL voice is also efficient in bringing a certain amount of eeriness.

To sum it up CTRL holds a perfect mirror to the Genz’s obsession over social media. The thriller aspects needed sharper writing but still there is a lot to enjoy.

September 9, 2024October 18, 2024

Call Me Bae: A breezy coming of age story

Director Collin D’Cunha manages to create a strong sense of sisterhood, the journey of Ananya Pandey’s Bae in carving her own identity comes across as sanitized but still the show has enough spunk

Starcast: Ananya Pandey, Muskkaan Jaferi, Gurfateh Pirzada, Varun Sood, Vihaan Samrat, Vir Das and others
Story: Ishita Moitra, Samina Motlekar and Rohit Nair
Director: Collin D’ Cunha
Producers: Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Somen Mishra
Production Company: Dharmatic Entertainment
No of episodes: 8
Streaming site: Amazon Prime
Music: Rochak Kohli

Collin D’Cunha’s Call Me Bae focuses on the transformation of a rich housewife Bella aka Bae (Ananya Pandey). The show begins with Bae getting ousted from her sasural when she is caught getting cozy with the gym trainer played by Varun Sood. From here we go to a brief flashback establishing her rich lifestyle. Mini Mathur plays Bae’s mother Gayatri. She takes it upon herself to set the daughter’s marriage with an equally rich guy Agastya (Vihaan Samrat). Their relationship starts off a great note, but soon the marriage takes a big hit because of Agastya’s detachment. It is during this time that Bae falls for Varun Sood’s Prince Bhasin. What adds to Bae’s woes is the attitude of her mother who distances herself. Now Bae has to fend for herself and in this process her path crosses with that of Satyajit Sen (a delightful Vir Das). Satyajit Sen is a news anchor modeled on the likes of Arunav Goswami. Aiding Bae in the growth is Muskkaan Jaferi’s Saira Ali.

*Bae’s path crosses with Satyajit Sen (Vir Das)*

First and foremost, the tonality of Call Me Bae is not of the typical riches to rags storylines. Ananya Pandey’s Bae doesn’t sleep on a footpath and nor do we see her hustle in local trains. The process of finding a place and job doesn’t become a big hassle. There is a lot of tongue in cheek humor in the way the writers have written Bella. Once the viewers get adjusted to this tonality there is quite a bit to enjoy.

What makes the series work in spite of the sanitized situations is the characterization of Bella coupled with Ananya Pandey’s winsome act. Some of Bella’s quirks jell perfectly with the personality of Ananya and the actress raises many chuckles in portraying Bella’s cluelessness. One of the humorous bits include a scene where Bella sprays hand sanitizer on a beach bench. At the same time, she also aces the emotional scenes like the one where Bella sees her husband Agastya being close to another girl. The process of Bella becoming a more layered person has been wonderfully portrayed by the actress. Also, to the credit of Ishita Moitra and co Bella doesn’t drastically transform into a down to earth person. Her quirky nature is very much there but at the same time there is a subtle growth.

What also works for the series is the camaraderie between Ananya Pandey and Muskkaan Jaferi. Muskkaan Jaferi’s character enters at a crucial point and soon becomes an important ally. Muskkaan Jaferi’s comic timing is simply wonderful, her one liners add a lot to the show. Through her performance Muskkaan Jaferi makes you wish that you also had a strong friend like her.

Vir Das’s act of an arrogant and oversmart journalist is clearly reminiscent of Arunav Goswami’s antics. The character is more of a caricature but still Vir Das does a splendid job in making the viewers detest him. There is a devilish glee in the way Vir portrays him. The confrontation scenes between Ananya and Vir spice up the show in a major way.

*Ananya Pandey and Vir Das confrontation scene*

Mention must be also made of the equation between the characters of Ananya Pandey and Gurfateh Pirzada. Gurfateh Pirzada plays Bella’s colleague Neel. Neel also contributes significantly to Bella’s progress, there is also a cute love story. Gurfateh Pirzada pitches in a fine performance making his presence amply felt. Varun Sood as the lovable gym trainer also has his moments.

As mentioned in the beginning director Collin D’ Cunha brings a strong sense of sisterhood. This sisterhood is reflected through not just the track of Muskkaan Jaferi. There is also Niharika Lyra Dutt as Tammarrah Lisa Mishra as Harleen. These two women also become an important part of Bella’s life.

Towards the end the series gets into a serious territory of Me Too and also data privacy. These important themes needed stronger writing, also the cinematic liberties taken by Colllin D’Cunha here becomes hard to digest. Thankfully though the series doesn’t get into a preachy zone. The costumes of Ananya go perfectly well with the pitch of the series. initially they are very glitzy and over the top but in the later episodes they are more subdued.

Rochak Kohli’s music has a good mix of fun and emotional songs particular mention must be made of Churaaiyaan.

Call Me Bae is a perfect watch for those like frothy entertainment without going very deep.

December 27, 2023November 15, 2024

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan: A Well Made Slice Of Life Drama That Exposes The Dangers Of Social Media

Debut director Arjun Varain Singh gives an honest insight into the phenomenon of social media and how this made youth less communicative with each other.

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (Hindi)
Starcast: Ananya Pandey, Siddanth Chaturvedi, Adarsh Gaurav, Kalki Kochelin, Anya Singh and others
Director and writer: Arjun Varain Singh
Additional writers: Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti and Yash Sahai
Music directors: Sachin- Jigar, Ankur Tewari and others
Production Companies: Excel Entertainment and Tiger Baby films
Genre: Drama
Running time: 2 hours and 14 minutes
Streaming site: Netflix

Since internet arrived there has been a huge bloom of social media in everyone’s life particularly the Gen Z. There is no denying that social media has its advantages; communication and spreading information has become easier whether it is for good or bad. But at the same time social media does come with its own share of negatives. There is an obsession to seek validification from complete strangers. Arjun Varain Singh uses the tonality of Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi na milegi dobara to deliver a timely story that never becomes preachy. What also helps Kho Gaye Hum Kahan is its principal cast. The trio of Ananya Pandey, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav are in brilliant form.

***Ananya Pande, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav***

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan starts off with establishing the lifestyle of Ahana (Ananya Pandey), Imaad (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Niel (Adarsh Gourav). They live in a spacious apartment in South Bombay with French windows. Everything looks sleek on the surface but as the story progresses we come to know more and more about these characters. One of the things that make this trio relatable is the side effects of social media.

They have their own share of trauma and insecurities. Their only way of dealing with it is seeking validation on social media. For example Imaad is a Tinder addict who has a major problem with long term relationships. He is a standup comedian who uses humour as a tool to camouflage his internal issues.

Seems like someone dissecting my life: Ananya Pande

Niel is a gym trainer who has dreams of starting his own one day. He doesn’t have the same financial safety as Ahana and Imaad. He constantly compares himself to others by looking at their social media posts and falls deeper into the abyss. He is also in a relationship with a social media influencer Lala (Anya Singh). Lala wants to keep her relationship with Niel a secret as she doesn’t want her ‘hot’ image to be disturbed.

Lastly there is Ahana who has the most stable job among the trio. Ahana is a marketing executive but she also comes with her own share of problems. These include both professional and personal. Her boyfriend suddenly decides to break from her with no valid reason. She retaliates by opening an instagram account and starts posting good pictures of herself presenting a happy image but deep down she just wants to gain back the attention of her ex boyfriend.

***Hone do jo hota hai, the song that involves almost every actor***

Things take a turn when three of them decide to start a business together. However their personal equations go through many upheavals that impact their professional moves.

A major strength of Kho Gaye Hum Kahan is the way the three protagonists have been written. All of them are flawed and there are times where they are outright unlikeable too. Still many youngsters will find a little bit of themselves in them. Thanks to Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s sensitive writing these characters never become one note or caricaturist.

Director Arjun Varain Singh also does a good job in weaving the angle of class disparity through the character of Niel. There are moments when Niel judges himself and feels like an odd man out.

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan also makes some important points on the lifestyle of social media influencers and how this has a severe affect on youngsters who want to ape them.

***Ananya Pande explores social media***

The film begins off as a breezy friendship drama but soon enters into a very different zone altogether. It becomes a relationship thriller about loneliness in digital age.

Fortunately the direction coupled with the writing makes this a smooth process. However there are a couple of aspects that could have done with more insight. One of them is the co living.

The performances of the central cast also help the film immensely. After 2022’s Gehraiyaan Ananya finally gets a part with some substance. The actress is pitch-perfect in portraying the vulnerability of Ahana. Ananya displays a huge level of maturity in handling different emotions. She also shares a good camaraderie with her two co stars particularly Siddhant. There is a breezy vibe between them that makes it instantly endearing to the audiences.

Siddanth Chaturvedi also gets into the skin of Imaad. He does a very good job in conveying the emptiness and the inner pain hiding behind the mask of standup comedy. Adarsh Gourav continues to show why he is a bundle of talent after White Tiger. He shines bright as the conflicted Niel who wants to hide his middle class upbringing.

Kalki Kochelin plays an older woman who gets involved with Imaad. She is a photographer who is seen doing a project on people who use Tinder. There is nothing to complain about her performance but the character could have done with more meat.

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan is both entertaining and also highly relatable. It should definitely be on your watch list.

August 26, 2023November 17, 2024

Dream Girl 2: Ayushmann Khurrana Entertains As Pooja In This Comedy Of Errors

Ayushmann Khurrana effortlessly switches between the roles of Karam and Pooja. He is particularly impressive in the female avatar.

Falters in the second half

Dream Girl 2 (Hindi)

Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Ananya Panday, Paresh Rawal. Seema Pahwa, Abhishek Banerjee, and Asrani
Director: Raj Shaandilyaa
Producer: Ektaa R Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor
Music: Meet Bros, Tanishk Bagchi, and Arko
Runtime: 2 hours 2 minutes

Starting from Vicky Donor (2012), Ayushmann Khurrana has always tried to push the envelope with his on-screen characters. There has always been an effort to do something different, even when he has done films in the slapstick zone.

For example, in Dream Girl (2019), Ayushmann’s Karam has an impressive ability to imitate a female voice. This comes from his experience of playing female characters in plays. In his desperation to find a job, he starts working at a call centre with the name of Pooja.

In Dream Girl 2, writer and director Raaj Shaandiliyaa goes one step ahead with Ayushmann becoming Pooja to the extent of wearing sexy sarees as well.

Synopsis

Dream Girl 2 is none other than Karamveer aka Karam (Ayushmann Khurrana). He and Pari (Ananya Pandey) are deeply in love and want to get married as soon as possible. However, there is a loan that Karam has to clear.

This loan is his father Jagit Singh’s (Annu Kapoor). Karam doesn’t have a stable job. In his desperation to earn money, Karam transforms himself into a bar dancer by the name of Pooja with some persuasion from his dad and best friend Smiley (Manjot Singh).

Pooja impresses everyone with her dance moves. Running parallel to this is the track of a Muslim patriarch, Abbu Saleem (Paresh Rawal). Smiley loves Abbu Saleem’s daughter, and she also reciprocates, but there is a hurdle in the form of Abhishek Banerjee’s Shah Rukh.

Shah Rukh is the son of Abbu Saleem, who has depression problems. Abbu Saleem tells the loving couple that he will agree to their marriage only after his son comes out of depression. Smiley convinces Karam to become a female psychiatrist. However, this only ends up in further complications which can’t be elaborated here.

What follows is an assemblage of funny situations with one thing leading to another.

On the shoulders of Ayushmann Khurrana

Not surprisingly the biggest strength of Dream Girl 2 is Ayushmann Khurrana. The actor effortlessly switches between the roles of Karam and Pooja. He is particularly impressive in the female avatar.

The actor leaves you thoroughly charmed with his body language, make-up and dance moves. The actor’s comic timing also leaves the audience in splits throughout. For example, there is a scene where Abhishek Banerjee tries to seduce Pooja, and the latter’s wig comes off.

Pooja starts shrieking, “Hairfall, hairfall.” The humour in Dream Girl 2 isn’t of the intelligent type but Ayushmann along with the supporting cast keeps the proceedings engaging.

Other performances

Out of the numerous subplots my favorite is the one involving Seema Pahwa’s Jumani. She has been through multiple marriages and is absolutely unapologetic about her desire to find true love. At one point she falls head over heels in love with Karam. Seema Pahwa aces the part with her uninhibited act.

The scenes between Abhishek Banerjee and Ayushmann are also good to watch. Abhishek Banerjee’s role doesn’t have much scope for comedy, but still, both the actors feed off each other well.

The music composed by Meet Bros, Tanishk Bagchi and Arko has a good variety. Special mention must be made of the songs picturised on Ayushmann in the role of Pooja.

Final take

What pulls Dream Girl 2 down is the elongated second half. The comedy of errors runs out of steam as there isn’t much meat left by then.

In the pre-climax, Karam has a monologue with undertones of social commentary about middle-class angst, but this doesn’t gel well with the overall tonality.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

August 26, 2022November 20, 2024

Liger: A Crossbreed That We Didn’t Need

Not long ago Puri Jagannadh was considered as one of the most successful commercial directors in Tollywood. The director had made a niche for himself with Ravi Teja’s Amma Nana O Tamil Ammaye and Pawan Kalyan’s Badri among other films. Puri reached his peak with the blockbuster Pokiri starring Mahesh Babu.

Vijya and the super rich Tanya, Ananya Pande

But since Pokiri Puri Jagnnadh has seen a dip with many indifferent films like Kalyan Ram’s Ism, Allu Arjun’s Iddarammmayilatho etc. These films lacked the solid masala that the director is known for. In the recent past only Junior NTR’s Temper and Ram’s Ismart Shankar have brought in some profits for the director. When Liger was announced people were excited to see what Puri would bring out from Vijay Devarakonda. Karan Johar backing it along with Mike Tyson’s special appearance made Liger an exciting project. Thanks to COVID Liger has been in the making for over two years and has finally released in a period of huge uncertainty. An apt description for Liger’s quality would be dead on arrival. It is a hotchpotch with zero direction.

Vijay’s physical appearance as MMA fighter is bang on

Balamani (Ramya Krishna) and her son Liger (Vijay Devarakonda) move from Karimnagar to Mumbai. Balamani wants to make her son big in the world of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Balamani makes her life by selling tea. The father was also an MMA fighter who died some time back. Liger has the appearance of a hulk with stammering issues. His stammering is ridiculed at certain points in the film. Ronit Roy plays the tough coach. He has a connection with Liger’s father; Ronit Roy teaches Mixed Martial arts for free to Liger. Both the coach and the mother give a warning saying that girls are a distraction and Liger shouldn’t get distracted.

This is the cue for Ananya Pandey’s super rich Tanya to come in. She is a social media celebrity with Hollywood aspirations. Tanya is impressed with Liger’s fighting skills and soon love happens. What follows is a cross pollination of genres that leaves your head scratching.

Liger’s only redeeming qualities are the performances of Vijay Devarakonda and Ramya Krishna. Vijay gets the physical appearance of an MMA fighter bang on, it is quite clear that the actor has worked on his physicality. He also pulls off the stammering part pretty well; to the credit of Puri Jagnaath the stammering aspect does bring a new dimension in the initial portions. Ramya Krishna also does justice to her part as a feisty mother with big dreams for her son. Sure Balamani comes across as screechy on more than one occasion but the fault here lies with the director and the writers. The mother and son bits are the only scenes where audiences feel some kind of emotion.

Vijya Devarakonda, the poster that shook the nation

The biggest issue with Liger is the lack of clarity on the part of the director; even the weakest Puri Jagnaath films had more cohesiveness than this one. The initial part of the film gives you an idea that it is going to be a mother and son story with the backdrop of MMA. But soon the love story takes way too much attention than needed.

Ramya Krishna justifies her part as a feisty mother and Vijay Devarakonda

Man woman relationships in Puri Jagnaadh’s universe have never had any political correctness but here the director takes it to a whole new level. Tanya falling in love after seeing Liger’s fight is the most clichéd thing you will ever see. Her flirting with Liger is more cringe worthy than fun. Right through the first half she is depicted as Menaka who is going to sabotage Liger’s ambitions. These are just some of the clichés that the director piles upon on. In the second half there is a forced attempt at patriotism with a chaiwalla representing India on the stage of mixed martial arts. There is zero creativity in the way the scenes involving the mixed martial arts have been shot.

The love story makes reappearance in the last twenty minutes where the twist about why Tanya dumped Liger is revealed. This leads to the most bizarre special appearance that you will ever see in the climax. You just wonder what Mike Tyson saw in his part to accept this drivel.

Ramya krishna, Vijay Devarakonda, Ananya. On quite a lot of occasions the cameraman focuses on her midriff. It is sad to see the actress in role like this after a fairly decent part in Shakun Batra’s Gehrayiyaan

The songs and their picturisations give another major headache. The abrupt placements also don’t help. Vijay and Ananya have zero sizzle in spite of the way Ananya is presented. On quite a lot of occasions the cameraman focuses on her midriff. It is sad to see the actress in a role like this after a fairly decent part in Shakun Batra’s Gehrayiyaan.

None of the supporting actors register a strong impact. Ronit Roy is suitably dapper but he is mostly reduced to giving speeches and giving serious glares. Senior actor Ali is thoroughly wasted in an inconsequential role. You wonder what made Ali do a role like this.

Final word: It is high time that the makers think of what they are making in the name of pan India cinema, because this isn’t pan India.

February 11, 2022November 28, 2024

Gehraiyaan: It Is Turmoil All Through

It is difficult to categorize Shakun Batra’s Gehraiyaan in one particular slot. It starts off with the theme of adultery in relationships; from there we move to various alleys. There is some corporate drama, an accidental murder and finally letting go of your past. There are too many things that Shakun tries to put in and the result is a huge mess. This mess becomes more apparent towards the end. There are too many unanswered questions, the film ends with a hint of sequel but it would be honestly better if the makers don’t go ahead it.

Gehraiyaan tells the story of four individuals. Alisha (Deepika Padukone) is a yoga instructor with a troubled past. She is carrying a huge emotional baggage. She has a start- up plan to launch a yoga app. Karan ( Dhairya Karwa) is a writer boyfriend of hers who is trying to get his book published. Their relationship is in muddy waters. Alisha’s cousin Tia (Ananya Pandey) is a well- off US returned girl. She has the best of everything in terms of lifestyle and money. Tia invites Alisha and Karan for a short trip and introduces them to her fiancé Zain (Siddanth Chaturvedi). Zain is flamboyant, impressive and also flirtatious. It doesn’t take long for Zain to flirt with Alisha, sparks fly and eventually bodies meet too. What follows is a complex web of human relationships that leaves you completely puzzled.

The biggest issue with Gehraiyaan is lack of strong foundation for the intimate relationship between Zain and Alisha. It all comes across as too fast, as a result it is difficult to be invested in the characters. Also except for Karan and to an extent Tia both Zain and Alisha are difficult to sympathize with.

The drama revolving around Alisha’s pregnancy is not just old fashioned but it is also irritating. She pushes Zain to the brinks of frustration. As a result you don’t really sympathize with the problems that her character is going through.

Zain, on the other hand, becomes a complete bad person, so there is no question of sympathizing with him anyway.

Shakun uses the high waves to show the turmoil of the characters but the issue is that one problem comes after another. Therefore the loud roar of the waves seems continuous without giving us the relief.

The starcast tries its best to make the script work but it is a difficult task given the nature of the story. However there are some emotional bits which work in bits and pieces. For example, there is a conversation between Nassurudin Shah and Deepika Padukone towards the end. This bit is quite effective mainly because of Nassurudin Shah. Ananya Pandey also scores in the few emotional bits that she has, Dhairya Karwa as Karan fits the laid back attitude of the character but he hasn’t got a lot to do.

In a nutshell Shakun Batra needs to take a serious break from adultery and strained relationships; he needs to write his stories better.