Main Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, and Mahima Chaudhry
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Producer: Kangana Ranaut
Music Director: GV Prakash Kumar
Cinematography: Tetsuo Nagatas
Rating: 3/5
The recent political movies from Bollywood have often bordered on being both tacky and amateurish. They often end up glorifying the current ruling party while showcasing the Opposition Congress as either fools or extreme villains.
With Kangana being a BJP MP, her political ideology is well-known. Emergency directed and written by Kangana has had a long battle before its eventual release.
The censor board had asked for numerous cuts. Recently even the Sikh organizations wanted a ban on it.
Synopsis
Setting aside the controversies, Emergency offers a fairly balanced portrayal of the life and times of Indira Gandhi.
Kangana Ranaut presents the controversial prime minister sometimes as a villain who got blinded by her son’s love doing terrible things. At the same time, the movie showcases the emotional turmoil that Indira went through, we see her getting haunted by her image in Shakespearean style.
Emergency begins with glimpses of Indira’s childhood; the story spans her tumultuous journey till the end highlighting the various trials and tribulations like her complex relationships with her father and the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as her husband Feroze Gandhi.
Portrayal of Emergency
On the sets of ‘Emergency’. (Supplied)
The best part of the Kangana directorial is undoubtedly the portrayal of events leading up to the extremely harrowing period of emergency.
Kangana showcases the very dangerous consequences of unchecked power. Political leaders are locked up and all the dissenters of Indira Gandhi are simply labelled as “anti-national”.
The media, especially the newspapers, supposed to represent the voice of the common man also suffered badly due to Indira Gandhi’s dictatorial ways. The discerning audience can definitely draw a parallel to today’s environment.
In the present times, anyone who raises their voice against Hindutva and BJP is labelled as anti-national and often put in prison for expressing their opinions.
Of course, Kangana wouldn’t have designed these portions keeping this aspect in mind, still, for those who can look beyond the obvious the parallels are very apparent.
Best moments
The dynamics between Indira and Sanjay also give the movie some of its best moments. Indira has a very soft corner for her son often overlooking his bratish ways. This unabashed love for the son makes her blind towards his deviousness.
Kangana Ranaut in ‘Emergency’. (X)
The movie portrays Sanjay Gandhi as the major force behind the excessive brutality of the emergency. He was always confident about having his mother’s support. However, this changes when Indira develops a conscience deciding to take things under her control.
There is a hugely poignant moment after the death of Sanjay Gandhi. Many common people are seen celebrating the death of this spoilt brat linking him to a Raavan. Indira has a major breakdown in the car repenting about the way she has brought up her son.
A major problem with Emergency is its docu-drama feel. At certain points, the movie feels like a rushed narration of the major events in Indira Gandhi’s life.
Indira Gandhi’s return to power and the entire Blue Star operation leading to her being gunned down suffer on the account of an episodic feel.
These parts needed better layering for the viewers to develop a more emotional connection with the protagonist.
Kangana as Indira Gandhi
A poster of the film ‘Emergency’. (X)
Kangana Ranaut as Indira Gandhi takes a while to get used to. Her initial speeches in the parliament suffer on account of her squeaky voice however as the movie progresses Kangana Ranaut also becomes better.
The actress particularly shines in the sequences showcasing Indira Gandhi’s emotional turmoil, the scenes where she is haunted by her fate and later expresses remorse have been well portrayed by the actor.
For some, the redemption arc may come across as being calculative to avoid further backlash, still the way these portions have been written and performed is wonderful to watch.
Talking about other actors, Vishak Nair as Sanjay Gandhi is also terrific perfectly portraying the reckless nature of Sanjay. He imbibes Sanjay’s ruthlessness wonderfully making the viewers detest him.
Seniors Anupam Kher and the late Satish Kaushik make their presence amply felt too, as a moral counterpoint to Indira Gandhi. They play Jayaprakash Narayan and Jagjvan Ram respectively.
The dashing Milind Sonam as the famous field Marshal Sam Manekshaw also gives a good account of Manekshaw. Lastly, Shreyas Talpade as Advani also brings a certain authenticity.
Technical aspects
The cinematography of Tuesto Nagata also deserves a special mention. His work particularly in the disturbing emergency is outstanding. Through his lens, Tuesto Nagata does a very fine job of capturing the immense turmoil that the nation had gone through.
The songs come across as more of unwanted guests. The political leaders lip-syncing songs come across as unnecessary; still, “Ae Meri Jaan” sung by the legendary Hariharan makes for a soothing listen and a good watch.
Final take
Keeping aside the rushed storytelling and its docu-drama feel, Emergency makes for a good watch provided you are into political dramas.
(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)
‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’ is a wholesome entertainer particularly for those likeVenkatesh’s brand of comic timing and Anil Ravipudi’s whacky storytelling.
Main Cast: Venkatesh, Aishwarya Rajesh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, and Upendra Limaye
Director: Anil Ravipudi
Producer: Shirish
Music Director: Bheems Ceciroleo
Cinematography: Sameer Reddy
Rating: 3.5/5
In a short span of time, Anil Ravipudi has established himself as a successful commercial director. His stories rely more on punch lines and outlandish humour rather than a coherent storyline.
However, the conviction with which he narrates his stories and the actor’s commitment makes them hugely enjoyable. Very good examples are F2: Fun and Frustration (2019) and its sequel F3 (2022).
The director also proved his versatility with the action drama Bhagavant Kesari in 2023. He did a fine job in merging Nandamuri Balakrishna’s stardom with strong beats of women empowerment.
Synopsis
With Sankranthiki Vasthunam, the director returns to familiar territory. A whacky comedy with elements of family drama, the storyline isn’t high on logic, and often borders on being farcical, but what holds the movie together majorly is Venkatesh’s brilliant act coupled with Anil Ravipudi’s narration.
Sankranthiki Vasthunam begins off with a kidnap scenario. A CEO of the world’s number one tech company Aakella (Srinivas Avasarala) is kidnapped on his visit to India. The government has a big responsibility to bring Aakella back.
Venkatesh plays suspended officer YD Raju, extremely well known for his notorious handling of criminals, shooting them at his will.
Due to the numerous complaints of a human rights organization YD Raju is suspended. Meenakshi Chaudhary plays VD Raju’s ex-girlfriend and a police officer herself. Meenakshi and YD Raju had a bitter break-up.
YD Raju makes a promise not to marry anyone else but it turns out that he is a happily married man with Bhagyalakshmi (Aishwarya Rajesh). They have four kids, among the kids, Bheemla Revanth Pavan Sai Subhash is the most important one.
Meenakshi comes to VD Raju’s place to seek help from him and also a certain hope of reconnecting but is thoroughly shocked to know that he has moved on. The rest of the story focuses on the tangle that VD Raju finds himself in and how Meenakshi and Co are able to free Aakella with his help. There is a small subplot as well connected to the importance of respecting teachers.
Strong aspects
‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’ is a comedy entertainer. (X)
A strong aspect of Sankranthiki Vasthunam is undoubtedly the characterization of Venkatesh, coupled with his wonderful act. The senior actor isn’t new to the genre of humour.
The actor’s comic timing in movies like Malliswari (2004), F2 and F3 along with Nuvvu Naaku Nachav (2001) has brought the house down raising many chuckles. Still, director Anil Ravipudi brings out a different side to his comedy.
As a man caught between his ex and his wife, while handling the important task at hand Venkatesh is simply brilliant. He brings the house down on many occasions with his expressions and lifts many of the movie’s comic moments with his wonderful sense of timing.
Performances
Venkatesh portrays a loving family man, an ex-lover and a smart cop in a wonderful manner. A particular mention must be of the pre-climax fight when his character lets out all the pent-up angst. There is a super mix of action and comedy thoroughly entertaining the viewers.
His chemistry with both Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Chaudhary is the icing on the cake. The scenes involving a trio are super fun to watch as well.
Aishwarya Rajesh as the jealous yet lovable wife does a great job too. There is a certain naivety to Bhagyalakshmi which Aishwarya pulls off wonderfully. Aishwarya’s portrayal of jealousy and insecurity whenever Meenakshi gets close to her husband is brilliant to watch.
Meenakshi Chaudhary as the cop and an ex-girlfriend also gives a good account of herself. After playing the roles of housewife in Lucky Baskhar and Matka, this marks a different terrain for her and the actress more than holds her own opposite Venkatesh and Aishwarya Rajesh.
Special mention must also be made of Bheemla Revanth Pavan. As a boisterous kid with OTT-inspired curses, the child actor does a very good job. The chemistry between Venkatesh and Bheemla Revanth adds to the fun element.
Upender Limaye plays an eccentric cop with a high pitch. His scenes often border on being loud still it goes with the movie’s nature.
Technical aspects
Bheems Ceciroleo’s music is another asset for the movie with Ramana Gogula’s “Godari Gattu” being a major highlight. Apart from that, the song “Meenu” showcasing YD Raju and Meenakshi’s romantic past is also a fun number.
Talking about the movie’s flaws there is a shabbily written subplot about respecting and remembering your teachers. The message behind this is noble as teachers are an important pillar of society and worthy of respect, however, the way it has been integrated is patchy.
Also, the second half has moments of repetitiveness in terms of humour. Some sequences with farcical humour test the viewer’s patience.
Final take
To sum it up Sankranthiki Vasthunam is a perfect watch for those looking for light-hearted entertainment. Fans of Anil Ravipudi and Venkatesh will have a blast.
(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
While ‘Animal’ came across as a breakthrough performance, his performances on the OTT platforms with the web series ‘Aashram’ and the two movies ‘Love Hostel’ and ‘Class of 83’, also showcased his acting finesse.
Starting with the 1995 movie Barsaat, Bobby Deol has acted in more than 50 movies, including thrillers, action movies, and love stories.
From a boy next door in the likes of Barsaat the actor has transformed into a gritty actor with a diverse portfolio of characters. He has been a leading man, a supporting actor and has now transformed into a wonderful character artiste.
In the 1990s and 2000s Bobby Deol was a popular leading man primarily known for his stylish looks. However, as the years have gone by he has also proved his acting talent. While Animal came across as a breakthrough performance, his performances on the OTT platforms with the web series Aashram and the two movies Love Hostel and Class of 83, also showcased his acting finesse.
Standout performances in late 90s
In the late 90s and early 2000s too, the actor had a slew of fine performances to his credit. Among Bobby Deol’s earlier performances, his act in Abbas Mustan’s Humraaz (2002) deserves special mention. Bobby Deol’s character in Humraaz goes through many emotions, particularly in the second half. There is a palpable sense of distraught when Bobby’s Raj Singhania finds out that his wife has double-crossed him.
Another impactful character in Bobby Deol’s early career includes the romantic thriller Gupt (1997). In this movie, Bobby plays a young man wrongfully accused of murder. He portrayed the different nuances of the role in an impactful manner. Talking about comedy roles, Bobby’s act in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007) as a mama’s boy was endearing to watch.
At one point Bobby’s career saw a dead end with no solid work coming. There were sporadic appearances but nothing substantial.
However, he rose to fame with the Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, in which he plays a non-speaking person. The film released in 2023 December, opened many avenues for the actor— he is now the most sought-after villain.
In 2024, he once again played an antagonist in Suriya’s Kanguva. While the movie didn’t work as expected, Bobby Deol’s performance earned praise.
Now let’s get into a little more detail about Bobby Deol’s reinvention by expanding on the recent films and the web series mentioned above.
Animal
Bobby Deol in ‘Animal’. (X)
In Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, Bobby Deol makes a late entry in the second half but leaves a lasting impact. His introduction scene captures two contrasting emotions. In the song “Jamal Kudu,” he dances joyfully with an alcohol glass on his head, celebrating. This is immediately followed by a moment of intense rage upon hearing of his brother’s death.
With his chilling eyes, Bobby’s character becomes a formidable opponent to Ranbir. In the climax, his emotional intensity shines through as he battles Ranbir.
Despite having no dialogue, his fiery eyes and body language convey murderous rage, making him an intimidating and deadly presence.
Class of 83
Bobby Deol in ‘Class of 83’. (X)
Class of 83, directed by Atul Sabharwal, is based on the novel by acclaimed crime journalist Hussain Zaidi. The film follows a cop, Vijay Singh, who is demoted to the dean of a police academy as punishment. At the academy, Singh selects a group of rookies to restore justice through unethical means. His plan works for a while, but things eventually fall apart.
Bobby Deol’s portrayal of Vijay Singh is far from the traditional larger-than-life cops like Salman Khan in Dabangg or Ajay Devgn in Singham. Instead, he plays a brooding mentor, conveying much through silence and his intense eyes. Deol effectively captures Vijay Singh’s inner turmoil with a powerful, internalized performance.
Aashram (Web series)
Bobby Deol in ‘Aashram’. (X)
In his web series debut, Bobby Deol played a charismatic godman in Aashram, directed by Prakash Jha. His character, Baba Nirala, is revered as a messiah for the downtrodden, but in reality, he harbours a dark past. The three seasons of Aashram tackle various social issues, such as the caste system and reservation, in typical Prakash Jha style.
As the cunning yet charming Baba Nirala, Bobby Deol brought immense charisma to the role. He skillfully portrayed the contrast between the god-loving persona he presents to his devotees and the darker side revealed once the curtain falls. Deol perfectly balanced the revered godman with subtle hints of his evil nature.
Love Hostel
Bobby Deol in ‘Love Hostel’. (X)
In Love Hostel, Bobby Deol played a hitman named Dagar, who believes he is doing society a favour by killing young couples who try to break societal norms by marrying outside their caste or religion.
Deol portrayed the mostly emotionless Dagar with the perfect attitude, outstandingly capturing his self-righteousness. He also nailed the hinterland accent.
This is an overview of Bobby Deol’s resurgence. This list is by no means complete, as the actor’s second innings includes many more exciting projects.
These include Yash Raj Banner’s first female-led spy film, starring Alia Bhatt and promising new talent Sharvari Wagh. There is also Anurag Kashyap’s untitled thriller with Sanya Malhotra. In addition, Bobby Deol has Telugu films Daaku Maharaj and Hari Hara Veera Mallu, as well as the Tamil film Thalapathy 69. Here’s hoping Bobby continues to deliver solid work.
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, PanchayatSeason 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
Manisha Koirala in ‘Heeramandi’. (X)
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
A still from the series ‘Freedom At Midnight’. (Instagram)
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
Konkona Sen Sharma in ‘Killer Soup’. (X)
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
A still from the series ‘Murder in Mahim’. (X)
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 ‘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
Vijay Varma in ‘IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack’. (X)
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
Ananya Pandey in ‘Call Me Bae’. (X)
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
A still from the series ‘Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2’. (X)
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.
An overview of the best web shows in Telugu which have left a solid impact with its storytelling and themes.
Web shows in Telugu have witnessed a slow yet steady growth both in terms of quality and quantity. The last few years have seen numerous impactful web series.
In 2023, there were two great shows Dhootha and Newsense. Both explored the topic of journalism through a different lens. Vikram Kumar’s Dhootha had a supernatural touch with a newspaper cutting playing a pivotal role. The Naga Chaitanya starrer made some important points on the dangers of intersecting politics and journalism, a relevant issue even today.
Newsense on the other hand directed by Sri Prawin Kumar was an insightful take on the nexus between media and rural politics. The story written by journalist Priyadarshini Ram reflected the lived realities.
2024 too gave us numerous web series, covering important social topics like Surya Manoj Vangala’s Brinda starring Trisha in a non-glamorous role. Using the genre of an investigative drama Surya Manoj Vangala explored the side effects of extremism both religious and otherwise.
Similarly, Paruvu directed by the duo of Siddarth Naidu and Rajesekhar Vadlapati was an engrossing social thriller focusing on different issues like caste, greed and communal harmony. The use of the funeral background also kept the viewers hooked adding to the tension.
Apart from thrillers, the second season of Save The Tigers went deeper into marital problems faced by today’s couples while maintaining the entertainment quotient.
This year also saw Telangana’s first detective web show Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amarigiri led by an excellent Naresh Agastya.
Director Pradeep Maddali immersed the viewers into the world of Amaragiri. The director skilfully blended Telangana folk beliefs with the subplot of a bio-war
Following is the list of the best web shows in Telugu in 2024.
Brinda
Trisha in ‘Brinda’. (X)
Brinda opens with a disturbing prologue set in the mid-1990s, where a young girl becomes a scapegoat in a ritual to satisfy a goddess. This unsettling start sets the tone for the main plot. The story follows Brinda, a newly appointed sub-inspector, portrayed by Trisha.
Initially confined to desk work, Brinda suffers from anxiety and relies on medication. When a series of murders occur, she defies her superiors, leading to life-altering consequences.
A key strength of Brinda is how Surya Manoj Vangala expands the story beyond Brinda’s character. While Trisha is central, Ravindra Vijay, playing fellow cop Sarathi, also plays an essential role. Sarathi is waiting for a breakthrough in his career and personal life. The evolving dynamic between Brinda and Sarathi creates some of the show’s most compelling moments.
In addition to themes of extremism and blind faith, Brinda also addresses gender discrimination in the workplace and the importance of child care in juvenile prisons. Trisha breaks away from her glamorous image to deliver a nuanced performance. Alongside Ravindra Vijay, Indrajith Sukumaran also stood out as the charming yet calculating Dr Satya/Prof. Kabir Anand.
Save The Tigers Season 2
A poster of the series ‘Save The Tigers Season 2’. (X)
Save The Tigers Season 2 successfully took off from the immensely popular first one. New director Arun Kothapally did a great job maintaining the entertainment value while delving deeper into marital issues.
The theme of the seven-year itch stood out, through the character of Vikram, played by Krishna Chaitanya. Vikram works on a project with Harika (Darshana Banik). What starts as a professional relationship soon turns into mutual attraction. However, Vikram realizes that understanding his wife is more important, and a better sense prevails.
As in Season 1, the interactions between Abhinav Gomatam and the house help were a highlight. A memorable scene occurs when Rohini discusses her business aspirations, joking about what captions to write on an auto rickshaw, leading to some hilarious moments. The director also made some valid points about people who blindly believe gossip spread by news channels, particularly about actresses.
Priyadarshi, as Ghanta Ravi, continued to shine with his impactful performance, excelling in both comedic and emotional scenes. Among the female cast, Jordar Sujatha made the biggest impact.
Vikkatakavi The Chronicles of Amaragiri
Still from the series ‘Vikkatakavi’. (X)
Vikkatakavi, directed by Pradeep Maddalli, was a highly engaging detective thriller with a strong Telangana flavour. The story followed Naresh Agastya as Ramakrishna, also known as Vikkatakavi. Apart from being a brilliant student, Ramakrishna is renowned for his exceptional investigative skills. Due to certain circumstances, he embarks on a dangerous mission in the village of Amaragiri.
One of the standout aspects of Vikkatakavi was its world-building. Cinematographer Shoeb Siddiqui’s work was particularly impressive. The rustic village atmosphere, combined with thrilling night sequences, drew viewers in. The series also succeeded due to the constant tussle between superstitions and rationalism.
Naresh Agastya’s performance in the title role further elevated the plot. He brought the right mix of boyish charm and intensity to his character. Among the supporting cast, singer-turned-actor Raghu Kanche also impressed with his remarkable performance. His ability to convey negative traits through subtle expressions was a delight to watch.
Paruvu
A still from the series ‘Paruvu’. (X)
Paruvu, directed by Siddarth Naidu and Rajasekhar Vadlapati, is a well-crafted thriller that tackles various social issues. While the core plot revolves around the theme of honour killing, what makes the show gripping is how the directors blend different aspects into the central narrative.
The story centres on Nivetha Pethuraj’s character, Dolly (aka Pallavi), and her husband Sudheer (Naresh Agastya). Dolly had married Sudheer against her family’s wishes and now returns to her native village, Guntur, to pay respects to her deceased uncle. Her cousin, Chandrasekhar (Chandu), picks them up. Dolly is heavily pregnant but this doesn’t soften Chandu. There is an exchange of heated words leading to a big turn of events.
A major strength of Paruvu is its well-written characters, beyond just the leads. Each character has shades of grey, with Sudheer and Pallavi occasionally appearing opportunistic.
The funeral setting adds to the drama, with the relatives insulting each other while settling old scores. At times, it seems like no one cares about the departed soul, enhancing the narrative.
Both Nivetha Pethuraj and Naresh Agastya delivered brilliant performances, fully embodying their characters. In the supporting cast, Naga Babu surprised with his portrayal of MLA Ramayya, bringing out the impact of caste-based politics in rural Andhra. Praneetha Patnaik also gave a noteworthy performance.
Bahishkarana
Anjali in ‘Bahishkarana’. (X)
Bahishkarana, directed by Mukesh Prajapathi, is an intense rural drama that effectively transports viewers to the era of feudalistic landlords.
Anjali plays the mysterious Pushpa, who arrives in the village of Peddapalli. She then becomes involved with Shivaya (Ravindra Vijay), who assigns his right-hand man, Darshi (Sritej), to look after her. As the story unfolds, Darshi and Pushpa fall in love, with many twists and turns along the way.
A strong aspect of Bahishkarana is its period setting. Cinematographer Prasanna Kumar does an excellent job capturing the rustic landscape of Peddapalli. The love story between Darshi and Pushpa is well-developed, making the viewers hope for a happy ending.
The dialogues, written by Shayam, are perfectly in sync with the story. They offer impactful social commentary on the exploitation of the poor, while also addressing how society views women like Pushpa.
The performances of the three main characters were captivating. Anjali delivered a bold and compelling performance. Ravindra Vijay’s portrayal of Shivaya, with shades of legendary actor Rao Gopal Rao’s roles, was excellent. Shivaya appears to be a do-gooder but is, in fact, a womanizer, and Vijay brought this subtle menace to life. Sritej also impressed with his rugged portrayal of his character.
At times, the show felt reminiscent of Rangasthalam, but overall, it remained engaging.
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
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’. (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’. (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’. (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’. (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’. (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’. (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’. (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.
Nikhil Advani has aced many genres, including action thrillers like ‘Batla House’, sports dramas like ‘Patiala House’, and films on social issues like ‘Vedaa’.
Starting from the romantic dramas Kal Ho Naa Hoo (2024) and Salaam-e-Ishq (2007) Nikhil Advani has created a distinct space for himself both on the big screen and also in the OTT space.
In a career spanning from 2003 to now, Nikhil Advani has donned various hats as a director, producer, writer and also creator for web series like the two seasons of Rocket Boys (2022, 2024) and The Empire (2021).
However, over the years, Nikhil Advani has moved from light-hearted romantic films to gritty tales about society, and history.
For example, the 2013 movie D-Day is a significant milestone in his career. At the box office, it was an average grosser but the critical reviews were very good.
Although an espionage thriller with all the nationalistic elements, the movie was nevertheless gripping showcasing a different facet of Nikhil Advani. The trials and tribulations faced by the four undercover agents in capturing the late Rishi Kapoor’s character modelled on Dawood Ibrahim packed an emotional punch.
Another TV show POW Bandi Yudk Ke was also directed by Nikhil Advani. The show based on two prisoners of war was taken off the air due to low viewership despite critical acclaim.
Nikhil Advani has aced many genres, including action thrillers like Batla House, sports dramas like Patiala House, and films on social issues like Vedaa. He has also dabbled in the OTT space, giving series like the recent Freedom At Midnight, and Mumbai Diaries Season 1 and 2.
Now let’s get into a little more detail about a few other projects that have been helmed by Nikhil Advani, showcasing how much he has grown as a director.
Batla House
John Abraham in ‘Batla House’. (Instagram)
In 2019, Nikhil Advani directed the action thriller Batla House based on the real-life police officer Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. The film focused on the controversial encounter showcasing Sanjeev’s struggles in proving both the authenticity of it and also dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The movie isn’t entirely objective in its approach more or less siding with Sanjeev Kumar. Still, it was a taut film keeping the viewers engaged. Also, Nikhil Advani’s depiction of PTSD deserves major appreciation.
Nikhil Advani also pushed John Abraham beyond his action star image. On numerous occasions, the viewers see John battling with his inner demons, a particular mention must be made of the portions reminiscent of William Shakespeare’s play Lady Macbeth. Much like that play, here too John’s character is often haunted giving a much-needed emotional heft.
Vedaa
Sharvari Wagh in ‘Vedaa’. (X)
Vedaa (2024) headlined by Sharvari Wagh is flawed yet a gritty social drama about caste-based violence and discrimination. The movie was based on real-life events and Nikhil Advani did a fantastic job in showcasing the struggles of Dalits in climbing up the social ladder even after so many years of independence.
Vedaa deserved to be much more at the box office given its merits but unfortunately lost the box office battle with Amar Kaushik’s mega-blockbuster Stree 2.
A very strong point of Vedaa was how Nikhil Advani developed the character of its titular protagonist portrayed by the brilliant Sharvari Wagh. The character of Vedaa starts off as a timid girl but gradually she grows in confidence becoming a strong rebel refusing to bow down. This transition was wonderfully depicted by Nikhil Advani aided by Sharvari who didn’t miss a single beat.
Apart from Sharvari’s towering act, Nikhil Advani also created a strong antagonist in the form of Abhishek Banerjee’s Jitender Pratap Singh. As the man who firmly believes that one shouldn’t toy with the established caste system, Abhishek simply knocked it out of the park showcasing his immense range.
Mumbai Diaries Season 1 and 2
The two seasons of Mumbai Diaries directed and created by Nikhil Advani focused on two highly distressing real-life incidents.
A poster of the series ‘Mumbai Diaries’. (Instagram)
The first one was about the horrors of 26/11. Nikhil Advani along with Nikhil Gonsalves focused their lens on how medical professionals like doctors and nurses were pushed to their limits in a crowded hospital which is low on resources. The web series was also a tribute to the spirit of Mumbaikars.
A strong aspect of the first season was how it never portrayed the doctors as superheroes. All of them come with their own inner demons and have their backs to the wall both professionally and personally.
Nikhil Advani also did a very fine job in not pitting one religion or nation against one another. It was more about terror versus humanity. The strong acting performances led by Mohit Raina and Konkana Sen Sharma were another highlight of both seasons.
The second season of Mumbai Diaries focused on the rage of floods which had submerged the Mumbai city. Much like the first season this time too the focus was equally on both the doctors fighting against the unfavourable weather and their personal demons along with the fighting spirit of Mumbaikars.
A strong aspect of Season 2 was how Nikhil Advani along with his writers built a palpable sense of urgency. The viewers feel an emotional connection with the characters of Mohit Raina and Konkana Sharma among others.
The flood scenes were also authentically recreated, and the production design of Priya Suhass was simply top-notch.
Freedom At Midnight
Freedom At Might co-written by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins is a very difficult novel to adopt given the sheer vastness of the political turmoil.
A still from the series ‘Freedom At Midnight’. (Instagram)
In today’s political environment numerous filmmakers are seen playing to the gallery to please the ruling party but Nikhil Advani’s adaptation of the vast novel stands out for not just the brilliant writing but also the way in which he never takes sides. He let the audiences make their own judgements by placing them amidst the powerful leaders who had fought for India’s independence.
The dynamics between Gandhi and Nehru were a treat to watch in particular. Gandhi’s unwavering idealism and Nehru’s internal struggle leading to discord were both wonderfully written and enacted. The series was also technically top-notch particularly the portions featuring the riot-torn neighbourhoods.
The show moves the viewers on many occasions like the scenes of religious discord leading to communal violence. Cannot wait to see how the second season unfolds.
Apart from the ones mentioned above a couple of other web series worth mentioning here are Rocket Boys and The Empire. Nikhil Advani didn’t direct either of them but he was still creatively involved. Both these shows further demonstrated Nikhil Advani’s versatility.
This is all about the evolution of Nikhil Advani as a filmmaker. Here’s hoping that he continues to do stellar work.
Directors Akarsh Khurana and Nipun Dharmadhikari dig deeper than the previous two instalments looking the dangers of the online personas that we create.
Mismatched Season 3 (Hindi), 13-12-2024, Romance, Comedy, Drama, 8 episodes, A, OTT
Main Cast: Rohit Saraf, Prajakta Koli, Muskkaan Jaferi, Taaruk Raina, Laurena Robinson and Rannvijay Singha
Director: Akarsh Khurana and Nipun Dharmadhikari
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Music Director: Jasleen Royal and Anurag Saikia
Cinematography: Sudip Sengupta
Rating: 3.5/5
For those who haven’t seen the first two seasons of Mismatched, the plot revolves around two diametrically different personalities.
Rohit Saraf’s Rishi is a young man with traditional notions of romance. Prajakta Koli’s Dimple is a tech-savvy girl with contrastingly different views on love and marriage. The series is based on the book titled When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Her perception regarding marriage has zero similarities with Rishi’s filmy ideas. The two have a disastrous first meeting but a summer program brings them together despite the contrasting personalities.
The first two seasons primarily explored the themes of love, coming of age and societal expectations. All this resonated well with the younger audiences making it a popular show.
What also made the first two seasons popular was its supporting cast led by Taaruk Raina and Muskkaan Jafferi.
Taaruk Raina’s character Ammol represents the struggles of disabled people in finding normalcy. To cover up his emotional vulnerabilities he behaves like a bully pretending to be a tough guy. Muskkaan Jafferi’s Celina on the other hand is also someone who pretends to be brave but has secrets of her own.
Synopsis
Rohit Saraf and Prajakta Koli. (X)
Coming to Mismatched Season 3 the plot shifts from Jaipur to Hyderabad. The beginning episodes focus on their long-distance relationship.
Rishi is doing very well in NNIT run by Nandini Nahata (Dipannita Sharma). Dimple on the other hand is grappling with a lack of self-confidence, the reason being she couldn’t secure a place for herself in NNIT.
Their long-distance relationship soon starts cracking leading to a major strain. Dimple eventually makes an important decision to join Siddarth, Nandini’s rival’s (Rannvijay Singha) new institute which is conveniently located right next to NNIT. This move of Dimple isn’t just about beginning her career afresh but it’s also about staying close to Rishi.
The rest of the story focuses on the complexities of career ambitions and relationships coupled with the evolving dynamics of a fresh batch.
Strong points
Akarsh Khurana’s directorial ‘Mismatched Season 3’. (X)
A strong aspect of Mismatched Season 3 is the exploration of digital paradox through a project called Betterverse. This Betterverse, also called metaverse is a virtual reality space where the users can live out all their wildest fantasies, has been created by Rishi and Co. The central conflict of Mismatched Season 3 is this digital utopia.
On paper, this project looks very exciting as the players can live out their hidden fantasies but as the story progresses the characters find difficulty in drawing a much-needed line between the real and the virtual world.
Directors Akarsh Khurana and Nipun Dharmadikiri have done a terrific job in exploring this theme. Many youngsters and also extremely tech-savvy people would definitely relate to this.
Among the flaws, the characterization of Dipannita Sharma’s Miss Nandini could have been done with more nuances. She is mostly seen shouting at the top of her voice. This gets jarring after a point.
Also, the students aren’t seen attending much of theory and practical classes, also the atmosphere of the college often comes across as more of a corporate world than a tech college.
Strong characterisation
A still from the series ‘Mismatched Season 3’. (X)
Mismatched Season 3 deals with the new challenges faced by Dimple and Rishi. Before starting this project Betterverse Rishi was introspective and slightly insecure but post becoming the leader his personality undergoes a significant change.
He somewhat drifts away from his original persona leading to some cracks in the relationship with Dimple. He finds a lot of success in Betterverse but this success comes with a certain cost too.
Dimple on the other hand is facing the dual pressure of wanting to carve a space for herself in the world of coding and technology and having a solid love life. The colliding worlds of real and virtual have been wonderfully written and enacted.
The complexities here go beyond navigating romantic feelings; they also involve figuring out your true self and staying true to it. This is a difficult task, given the challenges of the digital age. All of this has been presented in a raw and unfiltered manner, without beating around the bush or trying to sugarcoat it.
Supporting characters
Ahsaas Channa and Taaruk Raina in ‘Mismatched Season 3’. (X)
What also adds to the impact of the third season are its supporting characters both the older ones and the fresh entrants. A particular mention must be made of the track involving Lauren Robinson’s Rith.
Rith is assigned female at birth and wants to transition and come out of the closet. The romantic track between Rith and Muskkann Jaferi is wonderful to watch. Through the track of Rith, the directors have touched upon the difficulties faced by the transgender community in embracing their real identity.
Talking about the older characters both Muskkann and Taaruk Raina successfully take off from the previous ones providing solid support to Rohit Saraf and Prajakta Koli.
Performances
Talking about the leads, both Rohit Saraf and Prajakta are in wonderful form perfectly imbibing the fresh nuances. The chemistry between them in both the light and emotional scenes is a delight to watch.
The self-discovery of Muskkann’s character runs parallel to that of Dimple and the actress does a fantastic job in showcasing the different nuances. Taaruk Raina is also equally good bringing in both humour and solid emotions.
Special mention must also be made of Laurena Robinson. Laurena is first-rate in portraying the identity struggle of Rith.
The music much like the first two seasons plays an important role in enhancing the story. Tracks like “Ishq Hai”, “Do Din Ke Bad” and “Pyaar Hai” perfectly capture the joys and the internal struggles faced by the characters at different junctures.
Final take
Keeping aside these niggles Mismatched Season 3 streaming on Netflix makes for a good watch, particularly for those who like soothing love stories with a dash of technology.
(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)
2024 has been a different year for big-scale action movies, as they haven’t had the same box office impact as in previous years. This decline can be attributed to “action fatigue,” but there are also several other factors contributing to the shift.
Unlike 2024, the year 2023 was mostly dominated by macho men taking on the bad guys and beating them to a pulp whether it was Jawan, Gadar 2 or Animal.
2024 has been a different year for big-scale action movies, as they haven’t had the same box office impact as in previous years. This decline can be attributed to “action fatigue,” but there are also several other factors contributing to the shift.
For example, in Devara, a simplistic story was dragged out, testing the viewer’s patience. The movie majorly rode on Junior NTR’s double role and to an extent on Saif Ali Khan’s villainous avatar.
Both actors were wonderful in their respective parts as was the technical department but Koratala Siva’s attempt to have his own Baahubali moment made it just about an average watch.
Suriya made his big screen comeback after a long gap with Kanguva, however, the movie turned out to be a disastrous experience relying purely on the big scale and Suriya to do wonders. Not surprisingly the movie turned out to be a box office turkey leaving a big dent in the producer’s pockets.
Now let’s get into a little more detail about some of the underperforming big-scale action movies.
Fighter
Hrithik Roshan in ‘Fighter’. (X)
Siddharth Anand’s Fighter had all the ingredients of a mega-blockbuster, including big stars like Hrithik Roshan, Deepika and Anil Kapoor. It also had a charismatic Hrithik Roshan coupled with some fantastic Ariel stunts.
Following the success of his previous ventures, War (2019), and Pathaan, Siddharth Anand incorporated the typical elements of patriotism. However, the film suffered majorly from clichéd troupes involving India and Pakistan.
Lines about the real meaning of religion and patriotism had a jaded feel pulling down the movie significantly. Fighter is by no means a complete disaster, still, the film fell majorly short compared to Siddharth Anand’s last two action movies.
Jigra
A still from the film ‘Jigra’. (X)
Vasan Bala is known for his unique brand of storytelling. This time he tried his hand at the action genre with an emotional story of an elder sister’s fight.
The director is known for a certain sense of aesthetics. His movies have a Korean touch, something which Jigra also had in its depiction of the fictional country Hanshi Dao.
Jigra was an extremely well-made movie spearheaded by a brilliant Alia Bhatt, yet, the film underperformed as the mass belt didn’t take to the movie much due to its Korean aesthetics.
Singham Again
Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again had a galaxy of stars and a genre in which Rohit has succeeded. But something was majorly off with the movie starting from the long trailer revealing the major parallels with Ramayana along with the character introductions. The result was pretty much a disaster.
Too much time was wasted, introducing the Ramayana parallels and the action sequences were a tired rehash of Rohit Shetty’s previous movies.
The film clashed with Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 headlined by Kartik Aaryan, and the latter won at the box office.
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan
A still from the film ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’. (X)
Just like 2023, 2024 was also a disappointing year for Akshay Kumar. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan was especially disappointing.
This Ali Abbas Zafar’s directorial had the pet themes of mainstream Hindi Cinema. A deadly enemy wanting to cause harm to the nation and two brave-hearted soldiers tackling the nemesis.
The genre of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan is a cakewalk for Akshay, given his image as a Khiladi but the movie bombed badly in spite of Ali Abbas Zafar’s impressive commercial track record.
A major problem with Bade Miya Chote Miyan, apart from a tedious Akshay was its simplistic portrayal of complex political scenarios.
The solutions were oversimplified lacking the nuances needed. After a point, the movie just became a stretch of one action sequence after another.
Yodha
Sidharth Malhotra in ‘Yodha’. (X)
Since the success of the Vikram Batra biopic Shershaah (2021) on Amazon Prime, Sidharth Malhotra has been deliberately choosing characters of a patriotic nature. Still, the results have been far from satisfactory.
Yodha directed by Pushkar Ojha and Sagar Ambre despite being a slick action movie with a very watchable Sidharth Malhotra couldn’t do much at the box office.
A major reason for that was the underdeveloped love story between Sidharth and Rashi Khanna’s characters. The emotional drama of the story needed more heft. The movie also suffered from predictability and the typical elements of this genre.
Guntur Kaaram
Mahesh Babu in ‘Guntur Kaaram’. (X)
Reputed filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas’s Guntur Kaaram was a mix of his usual family drama with the general template of action, romance and comedy.
The pet theme of Trivikram on how the greatest battles are fought with the people closest to you reached a saturation point with this one. Mahesh Babu was a lot of fun to watch with his comic timing and his Guntur dialect.
There was a refreshing carefree nature which the actor nailed. But the movie on the whole was a big bloated mess. Even the scenes of Mahesh Babu punching the baddies couldn’t save this festive movie.
The action scenes were the standard hero elevation shots, which had moments of Trivikram Srinivas’s trademark humour but that wasn’t enough to salvage the proceedings.
The Sankranthi release clashed with Nagarjuna’s Naa Saami Ranga, Venkatesh’s Saindhav, and Prashant Varma and Teja Sajja’s Hanu-man.
With the right mix of mythology and superhero elements, Hanu-man emerged as the clear winner among all the big Sankranti releases.
Bharateeyudu 2/ Indian 2
Kamal Haasan in ‘Indian 2’. (X)
S Shankar’s vigilante action drama Bharateeyudu 2/ Indian 2 had none of the emotional complexities of the 1996 blockbuster Bharateeyudu/ Indian.
The movie was a typical Shankar lecture on how corruption should be uprooted. It had long drawn speeches testing the viewer’s patience.
Bharateeyudu 2/ Indian 2 showed that S Shankar’s cinematic language needs a major changeover. For most of the movie, Kamal Hassan is presented as an unbeatable superhero.
His interactions with the bad guys and how he easily beats them to a pulp were embarrassing, to say the least.
Saindhav
Venkatesh in ‘Saindhav’. (X)
Venketash’s 75th movie Saindhav was a deliberate attempt from the actor to mix the elements of the family dramas he is known for with bone-crushing action. The film had shades of Lokesh Kangaraj’s Leo —a family man with a violent past.
Saindhav had all the elements of a solid action drama with Venketash delivering a commendable performance both in the action parts as well as the emotional sequences.
But the movie overall didn’t hit the mark because of too much dependence on the scale. The screenplay was extremely uneven. Also, it lacked a solid antagonist. Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s eccentric villain was a pain to watch.
This is all about the underperformance of some big action movies. Clearly, certain exhaustion has set in the viewers’ minds regarding this genre.
This partly explains the tremendous success of the horror comedy/thriller genre as it is giving more exciting storylines.
The movie makes you feel for the numerous trials and tribulations of firefighters, something that we as a common man don’t fully appreciate.
Agni (Hindi), 05-12-2024, Action, Drama, 2 hours, 16+, OTT
Main Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Divyendu Sharma, Jitendra Joshi, and Saiyami Kher
Director: Rahul Dholakia
Producer: Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidwani
Music Director: John Stewart Eduri
Cinematography: KU Mohanan
Rating: 3.5/5
Given Indian cinema’s obsession with men in uniform it is surprising that we haven’t had a full-fledged movie so far on the lives of firefighters.
Rahul Dholakia best known for his brilliant Parzania (2005), in Agni streaming on Prime Video, takes a deep dive into the many dangers that these fire-fighters put themselves in.
The movie makes you feel for the numerous trials and tribulations, something that we as a common man don’t fully appreciate.
Synopsis
The story of Agni revolves around the investigation of uncovering a dangerous plot behind the periodic fires in the high-rise buildings of Mumbai. These events follow a particular pattern hinting at arson.
Pratik Gandhi plays Vitthal Rao, the head of a fire station. He and his team risk their lives daily without the recognition they deserve. Divyendu Sharma plays Samit Sawant, Vitthal Rao’s brother-in-law and a successful police officer with more material comforts than the former.
Parallel to the investigation, there is also a subplot of interpersonal relationships, in which, Vitthal Rao’s son considers Samit as his hero instead of his own father.
Social commentary
‘Agni’ is directed by Rahul Dholakia. (X)
An important aspect of Agni is its impactful social commentary. As the story is about the fire accidents, the makers also dvelve into the risks of illegal buildings, these include restaurants and other public spaces which more often than not accommodate far more people than allowed.
Rahul Dholakia and Vijay Maurya make some important points about the construction of illegal buildings and the risks involved due to the lack of safety protocols. These have come out in a hard-hitting manner making the viewers ponder about the government’s poor handling of basic civic safety.
In spite of all this, the firemen put their lives at stake in order to save as many as they could, in the process losing their lives too.
Agni also scores in how it captures the trauma that a firefighter undergoes. The CGI fire coupled with the shots of flames taking over the sky-high buildings sends a shiver down the viewer’s spine. The movie keeps the viewers on edge over whether the firemen would successfully come out of those flames.
The dynamics between Vitthal Rao and Samit Sawant add a layer of humour to the otherwise tense proceedings. The rivalry between the two could have done with a little more depth. Still, there are numerous entertaining moments. Divvyendu Sharma as Samit Sawant successfully plays to the gallery and works a perfect contrast to Pratik Gandhi’s serious persona.
Performances and technical aspects
Still from the film ‘Agni’. (X)
Talking about Pratik Gandhi, the Scam 1992 actor continues to prove his versatility with an arresting portrayal of a firefighter navigating the various challenges of his dangerous profession.
The way Pratik portrays Vitthal’s inner demons is exemplary, to say the least. Among the other actors, Saiyami Kher also strikes a chord with her emotional act. Her character brings in a different layer as the prominent woman among the male firefighters.
Agni also benefits from the constant twists and turns particularly in the second half. Just when the viewers think they have figured everything out, the movie comes up with an unexpected twist.
Among the technical departments, the production design and the cinematography deserve distinction marks for a job very well done. The recreation of the fire station has an authenticity to it. Also, the first-rate cinematography of KU Mohanan further helps in creating a palpable tension.
Talking about the slight flaws, the movie needed to explore the animosity between Vitthal and Samit in greater detail. Also, a subplot involving a builder’s assassination doesn’t add much value to the proceedings.
Final take
Keeping these small hiccups aside, Agni is a gripping emotional drama with elements of action and thrills.
(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)