Horror to humour: Best Bollywood films of 2024

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

A still from the film Laapataa Ladies
A still from the film ‘Laapataa Ladies’. (X)

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

A poster of the film Stree 2
A poster of the film ‘Stree 2’. (X)

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

Kartik Aaryan in Chandu Champion
Kartik Aaryan in ‘Chandu Champion’. (X)

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

A still from the film Kill
A still from the film ‘Kill’. (X)

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

Alia Bhatt in Jigra
Alia Bhatt in ‘Jigra’. (X)

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

Kareena Kapoor in The Buckingham Murders
Kareena Kapoor in ‘The Buckingham Murders’. (X)

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)

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3: An entertaining Diwali package with a solid twist

The best part of Anees Bazmee’s direction is how he keeps the audiences guessing about who the real Manjulika is. Kartik Aaryan is hugely entertaining as the fake ghost buster.
  • Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (Hindi)
  • 31-10-2024, Comedy, Horror, 2 hours 38 minutes, U/A, Theatre
  • Main Cast:Vidya Balan, Kartik Aaryan, Madhuri Dixit, and Tripti Dimri
  • Director: Anees Bazmee
  • Producer: Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar
  • Music Director: Tanishk Bagchi
  • Cinematography: Manu Anand

2024 has been the year of horror with most of the big grossers belonging to this genre. The best examples of this phenomenon are Stree 2 and Munjya of Maddock and Vikas Bahl’s comeback vehicle Shaitaan.

All these films have been very successful in scaring audiences and making huge profits for producers.

Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in 2022 was a massive hit giving the Hindi Film industry a much-needed respite, it skyrocketed Kartik Aaryan’s career making him one of the most bankable Gen- z actors. And now you have Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.

Anees Bazmee has once again delivered a perfect festive entertainer. This time apart from the laughs and scares there is also a poignant message on inclusivity and acceptance.

Synopsis

The storyline of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 focuses on a con baba called Ruhaan Randhawa/Rooh Baba. In the 2022 Bhool Bhulaiyaa Kartik Aaryan had to put up an act of being a ghost expert due to certain circumstances, in this 2024 movie he becomes a full-fledged conman accompanied by a partner in crime.

Things are going smoothly, in fact too smooth. His life takes a major turn when approached by a girl called Meera (Tripti Dimri) and her uncle played by Rajesh Sharma. Both belong to a once-upon-a-time royal family of Bengal. Except, for now, the palace descendants of this dynasty are in utter poverty.

Meera asks him to do a false exorcism in order to save them from these circumstances. Ruhaan agrees to a payment of ₹1 crore. This is the story in brief.

Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3
Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit in ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’. (X)

The best part of Bhool Bhulaiyaa is how Anees Bazmee has integrated horror, comedy and mystery in equal measures. For a major chunk of the movie, the audiences feel that either Vidya Balan’s Malikka or Madhuri Dixit’s Mandira could be Manjulika.

A lot of suspense has been built around the identity of Manjulika, keeping the viewers constantly guessing.

The reveal however shocks the audience, like an unexpected googly which a batsman doesn’t see coming, which obviously cannot be revealed here. What also adds to this reveal is a poignant flashback connected to homosexuality.

The solution to the ghost problem is also different from what we generally come to expect in these movies. It is a brave climax, for which, both Anees Bazmee and writer Aakash Kaushik deserve a major appreciation.

Performances

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is a comedy horror
‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ is a comedy horror. (X)

Kartik’s acting in the scenes where his character expresses hurt over the betrayal of close ones is splendid.

Talking about the humour portions a special mention must be made of Vijay Raaz as the impoverished head of the royal family. He raises many chuckles with his deadpan humour.

His scenes with Kartik are a delight to watch, their dynamics raise many laughs. The track involving Sanjay Mishra, Ashwini Kaleskar and Rajpal Yadav could have been done with better dialogues but still, it delivers some laughs.

Both Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit lend a mysterious aura and are mighty effective in making the movie more suspenseful. Both have their dramatic moments as well, which they make complete use of.

Kartik Aaryan successfully takes off from where he left off in the second part. He brings the house down on many occasions with his comic timing.

His reaction shots to numerous jump scares are a delight to watch. In the second role too he is equally poignant.

What brings down the film somewhat is a half-baked love story between Ruhaan and Meera. In the last couple of years, Tripti has been trying to actively transition into a mainstream glamorous heroine and this has been pretty awkward to watch. Here too the actress looks out of place in the song and dance routine.

As far as the soundtrack goes “Ami Je Tomar 3.0” is easily the best of the lot. This song appears in various junctures apart from the faceoff between Vidya and Madhuri. Shreya Ghoshal’s singing coupled with the placement makes it a hugely enjoyable number.

Final take

To sum it up Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is a perfect festive entertainer, particularly for those not so keen on logic and of course Kartik Aryan fans as well.

Kartik Aryan: From a comic actor to a versatile star

A rundown of Kartik’s journey from Pyaar Ka Punchnama to Chandu Champion

Starting with Pyaar Ka Punchnama Kartik has done 17 movies so far. He  started out with lighter roles that have shades of comedy and romance but with movies like Dhamaka, Freddy and the latest Chandu Champion Kartik has proved that he has got good range. He also tried his hand at an out and out commercial movie Shehzada, a remake of Telugu smash hit Ala Vaikuntapurramulo, though the movie ended up being a disaster because of the weak direction. However to Kartik’s credit he did make for a credible all-round hero.

In Pyaar Ka Punchnama Kartik played one of the frustrated boyfriends; there is a particular scene where Kartik vents outs his anger in a lengthy monologue about issues that men face in contemporary relationships. It struck a huge chord with young boys making Kartik an instant hit.  The sequel of Pyaar Ka Punchnama had an even bigger monologue that Kartik aced. For a long period Pyaar Ka Punchnama image stayed with the actor but thankfully Kartik managed to come out of those shadows.

Singing Ami Je Tomar in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2

One of Kartik’s biggest strengths has been his charming nature and an endearing goofiness. A good example of this is Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022); in this movie he played the role of Ruhan Randhawa. In the process of helping a girl he pretends to be a fake Baba convincing people that he has the ability to communicate with the spirits of dead people.

Kartik generated a lot of humor with his dialogue delivery and expressions. He brought the house down on many occasions particularly when he pretends to be an expert Baba.

At the same time he was equally intense in the song Ami Je Tomar where he pretends to be possessed by the devil. Apart from his goofiness what also makes Kartik a success is his ability to experiment and work in genres that people don’t associate him with.

Kartik Aryan as the disgrunted man in Dhamaka

Much before Chandu Champion there was Ram Madhvani’s Dhamaka released in the year 2021. In Dhamaka Kartik played the role of a former prime time anchor Arjun Pathak now demoted to a radio jockey. On the personal front too his life isn’t going well. In short he is a disgruntled man. The character is far away from the usual boy next door roles and Kartik did a wonderful job in portraying the different shades.

In the year of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 there was also Shashanka Ghosh’s Freddy a dark psychological romantic thriller about an introvert dentist who craves for companionship. Often times Kartik’s character of Dr Freddy Ginwala is mocked for his social awkwardness. In the title role Kartik aced the many aspects starting from desperation to the eventual dark turn.

kartik-aaryan Freddy showing the simmering rage within the calmness

The best part of Kartik’s performance was how he showcased the simmering rage beneath the calmness. Even in terms of body language one can see the big variation.  In spite of similarities to Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker Kartik made sure that his performance has its own individuality.

Now to the latest Chandu Champion directed by Kabir Khan. The role of Muralikanth Petkar, a Paralympics champion is a tough one to portray both emotionally and physically.

Kartik in this movie also appeared as an older man for the first time in his career. Before the movie there was lot of chatter about how he went from 39 percent body fat to just 7 percent.  

Kartik-Aaryan in Chandu Champion

The physical transformation was definitely extraordinary getting the perfect look to portray an athlete. But more than the physical transformation what stood out was how Kartik showcased the despair of Muralikanth after getting paralyzed waist down. There is a deep sadness including a suicide attempt. Kartik made sure that the audience’s heart went out for Muralikanth, because of which audiences feel happy for Muralikanth when he creates a world record in the sport of swimming.

Kartik Aaryan Sattu (Satyaprem Ki Katha) from a simpleton to standing up for his wife

Talking about romantic dramas Kartik’s best performance in this genre is Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023). Directed by Sameer Vidwan  Satyaprem Ki Katha was an impactful romantic drama focusing on the issue of date rape. Kartik’s Sattu starts off as a goofy guy but there is a solid emotional graph too as the movie takes a serious turn. The performance is particularly good in the high emotional moments. The evolution of Sattu from a simpleton to someone who stands for his wife was very well showcased by the actor.

This is a brief rundown of Kartik’s roles that showcase his versatility. Here’s hoping that this younger star goes from strength to strength and does many more versatile roles.  

Major Duds Of Bollywood In 2023: An Overview Of Some Of Hindi Films That Underperformed At The Box Office

Besides blockbusters in the form of PathaanJawanGadar 2, and Animal, Bollywood has also witnessed its share of box-office duds in 2023.

While many Hindi films didn’t do well, Salman Khan’s two releases — Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan and Tiger 3 — proved to be disappointments. Neither was an outright disaster, but the box-office collections were nowhere close to what Shah Rukh Khan enjoyed this year.

Likewise, Vivek Agnihotri’s The Vaccine War was a nonstarter. Much like his last film The Kashmir Files (2022), this one was also a propaganda film with a different subject. However, the results were contrastingly different.

Akshay Kumar had another disappointing year in 2023. Out of the three releases, only OMG 2 did good business; the other two  —Mission Raniganj and Selfiee were dead on arrival.

For Prabhas (since Adipurush is primarily a Hindi film, I am including it here) too, 2023 has been disastrous. Many thought that Om Raut’s Adipurush would break the dry spell of Prabhas after Baahubali (2015, 2017) but nothing of that sort happened. On top of that, the film itself got massively trolled on many counts.

Here’s an overview of the Bollywood flops in 2023:

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan

bollywood duds of 2023 Salman Khan Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan
Salman Khan’s ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’. (X)

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is much like Chiranjeevi’s Bhola Shankar, a remake of Ajit’s Tamil film Veeram (2014).

However, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is not a complete washout unlike Bhola Shankar, thanks majorly to its Eid release.

The film can be best described as Salman Khan’s version of 2 States (2014) and Shah Rukh Khan’s Chennai Express (2013).

For those who haven’t seen Veeram, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is about a man called Bhaijaan and his bond with his three younger brothers. All three have a girlfriend each but the big brother doesn’t know about them. Bhaijaan himself is unmarried.

He firmly believes that a girl’s entry into the family will ruin their bond. At this point, you have the arrival of Pooja Hedge’s Bhagya with whom he falls in love later. This is the story in brief.

The major problem with Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is the half-baked love stories of the three brothers. As a result, viewers don’t feel any empathy for their desperation to find a girl for their Bhai.

The second half of the movie is more engaging, thanks to the scenes of Venkatesh who plays Bhagya’s elder brother with a turbulent past. However, it didn’t turn out to be a wholesome feast for the fans.

Tiger 3

tiger 3 salman khan
Salman Khan in a still from ‘Tiger 3’. (Facebook)

A lot was expected from Salman and Katrina’s Tiger 3, more so after the blockbuster success of the previous spy films War (2019) and Pathaan. There was immense pressure on Maneesh Sharma to deliver. Unfortunately, Tiger 3 was a massive step back.

Tiger 3 had plenty of style but the amalgamation of geo-politics and action didn’t strike a complete chord. For Maneesh Sharma, this was the second consecutive big film where he let down producer Aditya Chopra.

Adipurush

bollywood duds 2023 Prabhas Adipurush
Prabhas-Kriti Sanon’s ‘Adipurush’. (X)

Om Raut tried to do a masala retelling of Ramayana much like his first film Tanhaji (2020) but here, that formula backfired disastrously.

He along with lyricist-writer Manoj Muntashir took many cinematic liberties with the Ramayana.

The dialogues were too modern (or should I say funky), particularly the ones of Hanuman. If late Bapu had seen this Ramayana interpretation, he would have squirmed in his seat.

Saif Ali Khan single-handedly carried the acting department. He visibly had a blast playing Lankesh.

Both Kriti Sanon and Prabhas failed to capture the divinity of Rama and Sita respectively.

The Vaccine War

Vivek Agnihotri The Vaccine War bollywood duds 2023
Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Vaccine War’. (X)

The Vaccine War directed by Vivek Agnihotri did have its heart in the right place. It depicted the many challenges that a group of scientists, particularly women faced in making a vaccine.

Vivek Agnihotri did stage some good emotional moments. A case in point is the scenes featuring Pallavi Joshi and Girija Oak. However, the extreme heavy-handedness in storytelling became a major roadblock.

The Vaccine War was also severely problematic in the way it portrayed the journalist community. Raima Sen playing Rohini Singh Dhulia has a constant smirk on her face.

We only see her writing long articles downplaying the sincerity of our scientists. There is no second layer and as a result, the viewers feel that she gets more importance than required.

Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue

mission raniganj akshay kumar
Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra in ‘Mission Raniganj’. (X)

The DNA of Mission Raniganj is similar to several Akshay Kumar films where he plays the saviour role.

The storyline of Mission Raniganj had all the potential to be a thrilling evacuation drama but unfortunately, nothing of that happens.

Instead of rooting for Akshay and Co, the viewers only feel a sense of dullness.

What also didn’t help Mission Raniganj were the shoddy production values coupled with bad VFX.

Parineeti Chopra as the dutiful wife had a miss-and-blink appearance much like her last film with Kumar Kesari.

It was a pity to see Parineeti Chopra wasting herself after showing solid potential in her initial films like Ishaqzaade (2012) and Shuddh Desi Romance (2013).

Selfiee

Akshay Kumar Emraan Hashmi Sellfiee
Akshay Kumar-Emraan Hashmi’s ‘Selfiee’. (X)

Selfiee is the remake of the critically acclaimed Malayalam film Driving Licence (2019). It was directed by Lal Jr and written by the late Sachy.

Driving Licence was both insightful and entertaining in how it depicted a fan taking on his favourite actor due to a misunderstanding.

The film was also a brilliant take on the psyche of human nature. Both Driving Licence and Selfiee have more than one similarity with Shah Rukh Khan’s film Fan (2016) but unlike that movie,  here you have an amicable solution.

Director Raj Mehta along with his writer Rishabh Sharma delivered an entertaining film. It was easily Akshay’s best outing as a leading man in recent times.

He took many potshots on himself like the scene where his character Vijay Kumar talks about the number of films and advertisements he has to do every year. The makers also did a good job of showcasing the vulnerability beneath all the swag.

Emraan Hashmi’s fan act was initially not so convincing but he settled into a groove soon. Despite being an entertainer, Selfiee joined the list of those South remakes that have bitten the dust.

Shehzada

Shehzada directed by Rohit Dhawan is a perfect example of how a masala film should not be made. The original, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo is no classic and has problematic aspects at its core.

Kartik Aaryan Shehzada
Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon in ‘Shehzada’. (X)

However, Trivikram’s directing skills combined with Allu Arjun’s swag majorly contributed to Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo being a smash hit. The music of Thaman S was an absolute chartbuster too.

A big problem with this toothless remake (Shehzada) is the absolute lack of conviction and energy. Rohit Dhawan badly faltered in delivering a proper entertainment package.

Though Shehzada is crisper with some unnecessary characters removed it did not help the film. Kriti Sanon as a hotshot lawyer is also less objectified when compared to Pooja Hedge.

Another hugely problematic aspect of Shehzada is the portrayal of the rich kid. In the original too, this was a problem but here, Rohit dumbed down Ankur Rathee’s Raj to a whole new level.

Kartik Aryan tried his best to fill the big shoes of Allu Arjun. Though he was reasonably good, he is no Allu Arjun!

Gumraah

Aditya Roy Kapur Gumraah bollywood duds 2023
Aditya Roy Kapur’s ‘Gumraah’. (X)

Gumraah is another Hindi remake of the Tamil Film Thadam (2019). Director Vardhan Ketkar took a huge risk by casting Aditya Roy Kapur in a double role.

The only solo successful venture of Aditya Roy Kapur’s career so far has been Aashiqui 2 which became a big hit more due to the chartbuster album, particularly the song “Tum Hi Ho“.

Gumraah primarily suffered on two counts. The one is the fatigue factor of seeing many remakes. The other issue was its leading man.

Aditya Roy Kapur was given too much to handle. He was definitely earnest but that was not enough to lift the film. Mrunal Thakur and Ronit Roy were efficient in their respective parts but their roles could have been done with more meat.

Tejas

bollywood duds 2023 Kangana Ranaut in Tejas
Kangana Ranaut in ‘Tejas’. (X)

Sarvesh Mewara’s Tejas was a major misfire in many ways. If we compare it to other successful patriotic films the thrilling moments can be counted on our fingertips. The women empowerment angle too was done far better in Gunjan Saxena (2020).

A big problem with Tejas is how it became an extended version of Kangana’s angry rants on social media. The perfect example of this is the pre-climax scene where Tejas (Kangana Ranaut) goes on a long rant about the sacrifices made by the Indian soldiers and how they go unnoticed. There is nothing heartfelt about the entire scene.

Much like her other release Chandramukhi 2, Tejas too ended up as an epic disaster. This female version of Uri (2019) did not strike a chord even with the hardcore BJP fans.

Satyaprem Ki Katha: A Heartwarming Story that Makes You Want A Real-Life Partner Like Kartik Aaryan’s Sattu

An important aspect of Sameer Vidwans’s ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’ is how it looks at the issue of consent in relationships.

Addresses pertinent social issues.
Satyaprem Ki Katha (Hindi)
  • Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani, Gajraj Rao, Supriya Pathak, Rajpal Yadav, and Shikha Talsania
  • Direction: Sameer Vidwans
  • Producers: Sajid Nadiadwala, Shareen Mantri Kedia, and Kishan Arora
  • Music: Meet Bros, Tanishk Bagchi, and Payal Dev
  • Runtime: 2 hours 26 minutes

There is a famous quote in English which says that “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. This goes perfectly well with the film Satyaprem Ki Katha.

The trailer promised a breezy romantic film, but it is more than just a rom-com. Director Sameer Vidwans addresses some pertinent social issues through the lens of a romantic drama.

Synopsis

Satyaprem aka Sattu (Kartik Aaryan) is an underdog who falls in love with Katha (Kiara Advani). Katha belongs to different strata of society which is out of Sattu’s league.

However, circumstances not only bring them together but also get them married. Nevertheless, the marriage doesn’t take off.

Katha comes with a haunting past. Initially, the viewers think it is a case of a bad break-up with her ex-boyfriend. However, it turns out to be more sinister.

The crux of Satyaprem ki Katha is about two things primarily — one is how Sattu wins Katha over; secondly, it is about Katha letting go of her trauma and finding the courage to face the truth.

Picks up pace in second half

The movie does take time to get going. The boy-meets-girl moments don’t have a lot of meat. The director takes time to get to the real meat of the story.

But its picks up after the marriage of Sattu and Katha. The interval point further raises the expectations of the audience and the second half drama is one of the film’s biggest selling points.

Sameer Vidwans does a wonderful job of showing how the relationship evolves between Sattu and Katha. The evolution is not only about their relationship but also about their individual characters.

Societal issues

An important aspect of Satyaprem Ki Katha is how it looks at the issue of consent in relationships.

The film also briefly reminds you of the famous Amitabh Bachchan dialogue “A No is a No”.

Kiara’s Katha is a victim of date rape. Her ex-boyfriend penetrates her badly, even when she resists. Katha’s father has no idea about this.

Kartik Aaryan’s Sattu does come across as too idealistic with his patient behaviour. But as viewers, you don’t mind because Sattu is not presented as some social reformer.

Sattu, of course, has his moments of frustration and the change in his character happens gradually.

The film has also got some entertaining family moments. The best examples are the ones featuring Kartik Aaryan and his on-screen dad Gajraj Rao. There is visible warmth between them in both the comic and emotional bits.

Director Sameer Vidwans presents an authentic middle-class milieu.

Cinematographer Ayananka Bose does a good job of capturing the locality of Ahmedabad.

Performances

The songs composed by multiple composers are mostly melodious. The best of the lot is “Naseeb Se and Aaj Ke Baad“. “Gujju Pataka“, on the other hand, isn’t high on lyrics but Kartik’s dancing along with the peppy tune makes it an energetic track.

Out of the two leads, Kartik Aaryan scores more with his act. He is not only good in the goofy bits but shines equally in intense scenes.

Kiara Advani takes some time to settle down. The reason behind her character’s aloofness doesn’t have the required emotional heft in the beginning. But both Kiara and her character get better as the film progresses. Overall, she delivers a competent performance.

Final verdict

In Satyaprem Ki Katha, Katha is fortunate to have a happy ending which many women can’t hope to have. Many more Sattus are the need of the hour!

(Views expressed here are personal.)

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar: Luv Ranjan’s Rom-Com Entertains Till It Lasts

Revives the rom-com genre.

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar (Hindi)

  • Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Anubhav Singh Bassi, Dimple Kapadia, Boney Kapoor and Hasleen Kaur; special appearances by Karthik Aryan and Nushrratt Bharuccha
  • Writer-director: Luv Ranjan
  • Producers: Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg
  • Music: Pritam
  • Runtime: 2 hours 39 minutes

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar comes at a time when there is a severe drought of quintessential romantic films. Its success is necessary for the revival of this genre.

Its director Luv Ranjan started his career with a small film titled Pyaar Ka Punchnama. Not much was expected of it but the movie ended up being a moderate hit. Since then, Luv created a brand for himself.

Except for Akaash Vani (2013), his filmography largely consisted of projects where friends come before love. Girlfriends are always the conniving type!

In Akaash Vani though, Luv Ranjan did address an important topic of martial abuse where the woman finally walks out of an abusive marriage. But the film didn’t find many takers.

But this time, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar has enough crowd-pleasing moments to help it to sail through.

Synopsis

The film is about the second-generation Delhi-based businessman Mickey (Ranbir Kapoor).

He also has a side business of helping people break up relationships. Except for his niece, no one else in the family knows about Mickey’s side business.

Anubhav Singh Bassi plays Mickey’s best friend-cum-business partner. Mickey believes that what he does is an art. All this is established wonderfully in the first fifteen minutes.

During a vacation, Mickey sees Nisha Malhotra (Shraddha Kapoor). Sparks fly immediately and in no time, they are head over heels for each other. Now, this part of the story has problems which I will talk about later.

Things take an unexpected turn before the interval when Micky’s expertise works in reverse to hurt him.

Nisha wants to break up with Mickey and she contacts him for help, without knowing that he is the very same person with whom she is trying to part with.

The rest of the story is about why Nisha wants to break up with Mickey and what eventually happens.

Routine love track

Luv Ranjan wastes no time in establishing the world of Mickey, his boisterous joint family headed by Dimple Kapadia and also his side business.

Dimple Kapadia plays this loud yet caring mother.

The niece (Inayat Verma) is the youngest of the family. Her scenes with Ranbir are particularly a laugh riot.

The bro-romance between Ranbir and Anubhav Singh Bassi has certain warmth. We instantly connect with their friendship.

The proceedings start stagnating when the scene shifts to Spain. The boy-meets-girl scenes have a distinct hangover of Imtiaz Ali’s Tamasha but not in a good way.

The love story is very haphazardly written with no head or tail to it. It is high time that writers think of better ways to establish a love story with proper nuances.

However, Ranbir’s infectious energy coupled with Pritam’s chart-busting soundtrack does make you tide over these portions.

An engaging second half

The twist at the interval point sets the base for a more engaging second half and the film gets better.

The cameos of Karthik Aryan and Nushrratt Bharuchha have been smartly integrated into the narrative.

The meta references to the Pyar Ka Punchnama along with Sonu Ki Titu Ki Sweety do bring a smile to your face.

Luv Ranjan cleverly incorporates references to both Alia Bhatt and some of Sooraj Barjatya’s films. These dialogues also bring some amusing moments.

The second half works more because of the relatable conflict point.

Shraddha fails to pull it off

Shraddha’s character of a career-oriented girl who needs her own space in life is something that many girls can identify with. Her fears about adjusting to a joint family have some heft.

But it also has to be said that her insecurities could have been dealt with in a better manner without her coming across as selfish.

It also doesn’t help that Shraddha hasn’t got the acting chops to pull off the high-octane scenes.

The pre-climax and the climax have the perfect mix of both hilarious and emotional moments. A particular mention must be made of the airport scene which has ample chaos but, this time, in a good way.

Pritam is back

For any love story to work, music is an important ingredient. After an average soundtrack in Shehzada, Pritam is back in form with Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar.

Except for Shraddha’s forgettable introductory number, the rest of the work is big time.

On one hand, there are the groovy “Tere Pyaar Mein” and “Pyaar Hota Kayi Baar Hai” songs.

On the other hand, “O Bedardeya” is a soulful romantic number where the pain and vulnerability of Mickey are beautifully conveyed by Ranbir.

The performances

After a hiatus, Ranbir returns to the romantic genre. As expected, he makes for a charming Mickey. The actor also pulls off lengthy dialogues with a certain panache.

Anubhav Singh Bassi as Mickey’s buddy is another major highlight of Tu Jhoothi Main Makkkar. His jokes and camaraderie with Ranbir are both spots on.

Dimple Kapadia has a commanding presence whenever she appears on the screen. Despite the high pitch, the senior actress is still adorable.

Boney Kapoor making his acting debut hasn’t got a lot to do. But still, he is reasonably good for a newcomer.

Hasleen Kaur is also impressive as Mickey’s sister.

Final take

In a nutshell, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar does succeed in reviving the romantic comedy genre. Despite some hiccups in the first half, there is quite a lot to enjoy here.

Shehzada: Kartik Aaryan Tries Hard But This ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’ Remake Lacks Commercial Grip

Shehzada (Hindi)

Director: Rohit Dhawan

Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Paresh Rawal, Kriti Sanon, Ronit Roy, Sachin Kundalkar, Manisha Koirala, Rajpal Yadav, and others.

Producers: Bhushan Kumar, Allu Aravind, Kartik Aaryan, Aman Gill, and S Radha Krishna

Original story and screenplay: Trivikram

Music: Pritam

Duration: 2 hours 26 minutes

Trivikram’s Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo isn’t an example of great cinema. It is a commercial template film with all the elements of the 1980s and 1990s.

The storyline of Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, which raked in somewhere between $260-280 crore at the Box Office, was also hugely problematic.

However, what worked for it was its packaging. Director Trivikram Srinivas understands the pulse of the mass and as a result, he delivered an entertaining cocktail of romance, comedy, action, and drama.

The story

For those who haven’t seen Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, it is necessary to narrate the story in brief.

Shehzada starts with Valmiki (Paresh Rawal) in the midst of child swapping. He is extremely jealous of multi-millionaire Randeep Jindal (Ronit Roy).

Both of them had started their journey on the same scooter, but Randeep’s life took a turn for the better when the boss made him his son-in-law. The daughter is Yashu (Manisha Koirala).

There is a lot of inner resentment at this sudden change of fortune in Valmiki, resulting in the swapping of his baby with Randeep’s baby.

Randeep’s real son grows up as Valmiki’s son in a middle-class neighbourhood, while Valmiki’s son leads a luxurious life.

…And it continues

Cut to the present, Bantu (Kartik Aaryan) cannot understand why his father has more affection for Randeep’s son Raj (Ankur Rathee).

Mid way, Bantu learns of his true identity, which serves as the ideal time for an intermission.

As a true blue-blooded hero, he decides to solve the various problems of the Jindal household and also save them from a villainous gang led by Sarang (Sunny Hinduja).

Kriti Sanon plays the lawyer-cum-girlfriend (Samara). Sachin Kundalkar reprises his role from the original as the lovable grandfather.

It was Allu Arjun’s magic

Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo success was also hugely aided by the sheer screen presence of Allu Arjun, who made the audiences look past the many problematic elements.

The equation between Allu Arjun’s Bantu and Murali Sharma’s Valmiki was a major highlight. In fact, Murali Sharma can be called the second hero of the film.

S Thaman also contributed majorly by giving blockbuster music.

Director Rohit Dhawan tries to replicate the same energy with the remake. However, Shehzada turns out to be a dull cousin that makes the original look like a masterpiece.

Shehzada also has a few moments with Kartik Aaryan and Paresh Rawal trying their darnedest best but, unfortunately, their efforts aren’t enough to salvage this wreck.

But Kartik does his best

Before diving into the negatives, let’s cover some positives. Allu Arjun’s shoes are difficult to fill, let’s accept that first. He has a distinct swag that is tough to replicate.

Kartik Aaryan has done comedy and romance in the past too, but this one requires him to be an all-round hero.

To Kartik’s credit, he does embrace the film’s many absurdities with conviction. He brings a certain charm to the lighter moments. He is also good in the emotional scenes.

Paresh Rawal is a vastly experienced actor whose skills need no particular introduction. As Valmiki, the actor brings his usual gravitas. His scenes with Kartik are some of the redeeming parts of the film.

Music not on par with the original

Pritam’s music is no match for what S Thaman had created, but it’s not completely terrible either.

The title track sung by Sonu Nigam is quite groovy and does make you tap your feet. The romantic number Mera Sawaal ka, featuring Kartik and Kriti, is also quite enjoyable to watch and hear.

Some of the one-liners written by Hussain Dalal do bring a smile to the audience’s face. A mention here must be made of the scene between Rajpal Yadav and Kartik Aaryan.

Rajpal Yadav plays a police officer who comes to investigate the murder attempt on Randeep. The scene of Bantu explaining what is happening in the Jindal household leaves the audience in splits.

Lack of conviction

The biggest problem with Shehzada is the lack of conviction in the storytelling.

Rohit Dhawan’s style is clearly influenced by his dad David Dhawan, but Shehzada lacks the energy and wittiness of the best of David Dhawan films.

Stories like Shehzada primarily work based on how successful the director is in building a make-believe world, and Rohit falters here.

To Rohit’s credit, however, he does remove many of the unnecessary characters from the original, but it doesn’t help the film in any way as it mostly turns out to be a showreel for Kartik Aaryan.

Fleeting appearances

Characters appear and disappear at the fancy of the director. One example of this is the actor who plays Bantu’s sister. She sporadically appears in the first half and, in the later half, she is never seen again.

The portrayal of the rich kid in the original was also filled with lazy stereotypes, but here the director dumbs down the character to a whole new level.

Ankur Rathee as Raj comes across as more annoying than lazy. His emotional outburst leads to unintentional comedy rather than help the audience feel for the character.

Kriti Sanon is less objectified than Pooja, but her role as a feisty lawyer is absolutely dispensable. Ronit Roy and Manisha Koirala are sincere, but they deserved much more.

Verdict

In a nutshell, Shehzada is a poor replica that the Hindi film industry could have done away with.

Freddy: Karthik Aryan Scores A+, But The Film Could Have Been So Much More

The extra half-star is purely for Karthik Aryan’s transformation!

Freddy (Hindi)

  • Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Alaya F, Jennifer Piccinato, Karan A Pandit, Sajjad Delfrooz, Harshika Kewalramani, and Tripti Agarwal
  • Director: Shashanka Ghosh
  • Producers: Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa Kapoor, Jay Shewakramani, Narendra Hirawat, and Shreyans Hirawat
  • Music: Clinton Cerejo and Pritam
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar
  • Runtime: 2 hours 13 minutes

Karthik Aryan is someone who is synonymous with lighter roles. Whether it is the Pyar kaa Punchnama series or the recent Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. In between there was also Ram Madhvani’s Dhammaka, but Karthik is someone who is still largely associated with comedy and romance.

With Freddy, the actor does something drastically different. The same applies to director Shashanka Ghosh as well.

There is no denying that Freddy starts off promisingly, but it soon becomes a mundane revenge drama.

Freddy tells the story of Dr Freddy Ginwala (Karthik Aryan). Freddy is someone who has difficulty in communicating with people other than his patients. He is haunted by a childhood trauma. Freddy is a respected dentist but he has no friends except for a tortoise. He desperately wants companionship but it is not happening anytime soon.

Things take a turn when Freddy spots Kainaaz (Alaya F) at a wedding. It is love at first sight for Freddy. Kainaaz is a victim of an abusive marriage. Freddy soon becomes her companion; he also hatches a plan with Kainaaz to bump off her husband.

However, Kainaaz is not what she appears to be and soon enough Freddy faces a big jolt.

The rest of the story is about how Freddy’s personality goes through a sea change and what happens at the end.

The second-half problem

As mentioned, Freddy begins well enough. The social awkwardness of Freddy is well established and as an audience you are invested in his journey. Freddy’s desperation to find a partner makes you root for him. Alaya F’s entry spices up the film. There isn’t much scope for romantic chemistry, but still both Karthik and Alaya are wonderful to watch together.

Things go fine until the big twist comes along. From here the film enters the territory of Shahid and Kareena Kapoor starrer Fida. Much like that film, here, too, Freddy is seething with rage.

Shashanka Ghosh tries to give more dimensions to Freddy, throwing in the angles of mental health and childhood trauma. However, these efforts come across as rather half-baked.

The revenge of Freddy has also been portrayed in a haphazard manner. The thrills are mostly missing.

Kudos to Karthik Aryan

In the title role, Karthik Aryan gives it his all. There is a visible transformation that you see in his body language. He has drastically alternated his trademark mannerisms and merged himself into the character.

Alaya F embraces the dark shades of her character wholeheartedly. Her character-switch is rather abrupt but Alaya is consistently watchable.

The rest of the cast are there just for the sake of filling the screen.

Freddy is a decent attempt at making a psychological crime thriller. However, a lot more effort was the need of the hour, the extra half-star is purely for Karthik Aryan’s transformation.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2: A Wholesome Commercial Entertainer

Priyadarshan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa was a remake of the Tamil film Chandramukhi which starred Rajinikanth and Jyotika. Chandramukhi itself was a remake of the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu. Bhool Bhulaiyaa wasn’t as good as Chandramukhi but it was still highly watchable thanks to the comic timing of Akshay Kumar and also the performance of Vidya Balan in the post interval portions. It was also the time when Priyadarshan was in good form. Bhool Bhulaiyaa was a psychological thriller with ample doses of comedy.

Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is an extension of that universe. This one plays out like a horror comedy, a genre which has brought good box office numbers. Karthik Aryan steps into the shoes of Akshay Kumar, Tabu on the other hand steps into the shoes of Vidya Balan. Tabu plays a double role in this one. The only cast member who is common between both the films is Rajpal Yadav. He returns back as Chota Pandit. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is one of those wholesome entertainers that have something for everyone.

Strangers Ruhan Randhawa (Karthik Aryan) and Reet Thakur (Kiara Advani) meet at a hill station. Just like most Bollywood love stories there is an instant connection followed by a song and dance sequence. Things take a turn when Ruhan and Reet land up in an abandoned haveli where the spirit of Manjulika is believed to held captive for 18 years. Ruhan turns into Rooh Baba in no time and convinces people that he can talk to ghosts. Things are going well for Ruhan, but he invites self trouble when he accidently unleashes the spirit that has been locked for 18 years. The rest of the story is about why the spirit of Manjulika is so angry and will Rooh baba be able to handle the situation. The back story of Manjulika and the connection of the twin sisters form an integral part of the second half.

The best thing about Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is how the director combines the elements of horror and comedy. The scares aren’t particularly new but still they do spoke you. The scenes of Karthik Aryan as Rooh Baba are an absolute laugh riot. His interactions with the family of Kiara Advani bring the house down. The subplot of Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra and Ashwini Kaleskar also raise some chuckles, even if the nature of the humor is somewhat questionable. The dialogues by Aakash Kaushik deserve praise for the way punch lines have been written.

Karthik Aryan gets ample scope to display his comic timing and the actor doesn’t disappoint one bit. Karthik is also very impressive in pre-climax scene where you have a big reveal.

Another thing that Anees Bazmee gets right is the track of twin sisters. After Karthik Aryan, Tabu has the meatiest role among the rest. She serves as the catalyst of the plot. The parts of the twin sister are as different as chalk and cheese. Tabu effortlessly switches between Anjulika and Manjulika. She gets her big moment in the climax and as usual Tabu kills it with her performance. The big twist here is quite satisfying as you don’t really see it coming. Special mention must also be given to the makeup of Tabu in the flashback portions. Tabu looks effortlessly young. Performances wise it is Karthik Aryan and Tabu who shoulder the film on their shoulders.

There are two areas where the film falters. One is the romance between Karthik and Kiara. There is a lot of flirting and also one kiss. But the chemistry is nowhere visible. In fact the romantic portions come across as speed breakers. The songs of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 are another major sore point. The only song that makes any impression is the reworked version of Hare Ram from the original. Karthik’s dance moves in that are quite fluid.

In a nutshell, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is a wholesome entertainer that is going to keep its target audiences engaged. It is a film which is sure to break the dry run that Bollywood has been having since the success of Gangubai and Kashmir Files.

Dhamaka: Watch It For Karthik Aryan And The Thrills

In his short career so far Ram Madhvani has proved his worth as a director with works across genres. In both Neerja and Let’s Talk the director made use of the limited space and kept you thoroughly engrossed. He has casted actors against the type and drawn wonderful performances from them. For example Sonam Kapoor delivered her career best performance in Neerja. Similarly Sushmita Sen got a rare author backed role in the web series Aarya, the actress made complete use of that opportunity.

In Dhamaka, Ram Madhvani places his bet on Karthik Aryan. Karthik is someone who is best known for his boy- next door image thanks to films like Luka Chhupi and Pati Patni Aur Woh. Many eyebrows were raised when the announcement came of these two working together. However, after watching Dhamaka it becomes clear that Karthik has reinvented himself as Arjun Pathak. For those who are not aware the film is a remake of the South Korean one Terror Live.

Dhamaka begins on a romantic note with Arjun Pathak recalling the lovely moments that he has spent with his wife Saumya Mehra Pathak (Mrunal Thakur). This sequence sets up the story nicely. As the story progresses we come to know that Arjun Pathak was a prime time anchor on a popular news channel, However, he has now been demoted to a Radio Jockey in the same media house. On the personal front too things aren’t going too well as his marriage is on the brink of divorce. One day a random caller Raghubir Mehata ( Soham Majumdar) calls and threatens to blow up the Mumbai sea link bridge. Arjun Pathak doesn’t take it seriously and thinks that it is a hoax. However, he later realizes that it isn’t a hoax and things start getting out of control. Just like A Wednesday initially we think that the caller is a terrorist but he turns out to be a common man with anger against the government. His father was a construction worker. This is just a summary of the story.

One of the most striking aspects of Dhamaka is how Ram Madhvani uses the location of the newsroom. The story is mostly confined to the newsroom. The director once again shows his ability in capturing the emotions within a confined space.  The multiple cameras set up are used effectively by the director. This can be particularly seen during a breaking news scenario.

Another thing that keeps you engrossed is the dilemmas of Arjun Pathak. He is reporting a terrorist attack from the newsroom and negotiating with a man who is responsible for it. On the other hand, his wife Saumya Mehra is reporting live from the site and is helping hostages. All this keeps you engaged throughout. Mrunal Thakur’s Saumya Mehra is a righteous journalist whose values are different from Arjun. Mrunal has a short role but she serves her purpose well as the moral compass.

Dhamaka tries to tackle many things at once. You have corrupt ministers, the angst of the common man, the business of selling news, the world of TRPS etc. These are too many things to handle and the strain of it eventually shows, but the relevance of these issues can’t be ignored either.


The biggest ace of the film though is Karthik Aryan’s performance. Arjun Pathak is a far departure from the usual Karthik Aryan roles. There are a lot of nuances to the character and Karthik Aryan does absolute justice to it. It is a treat to watch the actor embracing the grey shades of the role.

One of the major flaws of Dhamaka is its inability to sustain after a thrilling start. The film begins off with a high note; it is successful in establishing the story without wasting any time but as the plot progresses a sense of monotony creeps in. Another issue is that the supporting characters are one note types with no nuances. The biggest example of that is the character of Amruta Subhash. She plays an assertive boss who only cares for TRPS. It is a part which comes across as too loud. The supporting characters in Neerja and Aarya were far better than what you see here.

In the final analysis, Karthik Aryan delivers a Dhamaka performance but the same cannot be said about the film.