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Michael: A Stylish Action Drama That Is Bogged Down By Déjà Vu

Ranjit Jeyakodi michael

Substance missing!

Michael (Telugu)

  • Cast: Sundeep Kishan, Divyansha Kaushik, Gautam Vasudev Menon, Varun Sandesh, Vijay Sethupati, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar
  • Writer-director: Ranjit Jeyakodi
  • Producers: Bharath Chowdary and Pushkar Ram Mohan Rao
  • Music: Sam CS
  • Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes

Gangster films are one of the most clichéd genres in the history of Cinema, across all languages. It has been attempted in different forms, starting from the classic Godfather series directed by Francis Ford Coppola. There is hardly anything new left to explore.

However, a well-made gangster film is always exciting to watch, provided the director can bring a different dimension within the familiar territory.

Ranjit Jeyakodi’s Michael is well-mounted with a lot of technical finesse. But all that sheen is not enough to cover a weak storyline. At more than one place it looks like he wanted to make another KGF.

sundeep vijay michael
Sundeep Kishan and Vijay Sethupathi on the sets of ‘Michael’. (sundeepkishan/Twitter)

Michael is set in Mumbai in the 90s. Sundeep Kishan plays an orphan (titular role) who grows up in Mumbai.

Gurunath (Gautham Vasudev Menon) is a leading gangster in Mumbai and Michael saves Gurunath from his enemies, not once but twice. Gurunath treats Michael as his son, much to the disdain of his real son Amarnath (Varun Sandesh).

Michael quickly climbs up the ladder and soon becomes a vital cog in the circle of Gurunath. Gurunath even hands over the business of a bar to him. This bar is frequently visited by some of the worst gangs in Mumbai.

Things take a turn when Michael is assigned a huge responsibility. Gurunath gives him the task of finding out the last living member of his rival gang who wants him dead.

Michael heads to Delhi and his path crosses with that of Theera (Divyansha Kaushik). He gets close to her with a particular purpose and ends up falling in love with her, despite Theera’s repeated warnings.

However, Amarnath, who is meanwhile burning with jealousy, has his plans. The rest of the story looks at multiple things.

Is Michael successful in his mission? But more importantly what is the true motive of Michael in saving Gurunath?

The performances

Sundeep Kishan is someone who is known for a particular image. But, with Michael, the actor is successful in showing a different side of himself.

As Michael, he doesn’t speak a lot but is super effective in conveying the character’s mystery and menace through his body language.

Gautham Vasudev Menon makes for a classy antagonist. There is a certain swagger that the filmmaker-actor brings to the table.

Anasuya Bhardwaj’s role is an extension of what she did in Pushpa. But still, she is effective in conveying the anguish of a mother who has lost her son.

Vijay Sethupati and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar appear midway through the second half. They have extended cameos and the presence of these two momentarily lifts the second half.

michael poster
A poster of Sundeep Kishan’s Michael. (sundeepkishan/Twitter)

In spite of the familiar terrain, there is no denying that Michael starts well. The introduction of Sundeep Kishan and his makeover as an action hero is wonderful to watch.

Also, the interaction between Michael and Gurunath is peppered with some wonderful lines.

There are certain scenes where Gurunath reads lines books from such as “Macbeth” and “The Godfather”. This adds a certain layer to the role of Gurunath.

Even Varun Sandesh’s hammy portrayal of a jealous son keeps the audience invested.

The initial portions between Michael and Theera have a certain intrigue about them.

The romantic portions start on an unusual note and we are constantly guessing about the real motivations of Theera. But the film soon starts slipping and never really recovers.

After a point, Theera spends most of her time crying. But at no point does the audiences feel any emotional connection with her.

A major reason for that is weak writing. As a result, Theera ends up being just a prop in the larger scheme of things.

The technical crafts

The second half, in particular, tests the audience’s patience with endless action scenes.

The big reveal in the climax isn’t hard to guess as it is an amalgamation of Yash’s KGF films and Prabhas-starrer Munna.

There is also a long-drawn voiceover at the end which goes on and on.

The action scenes choreographed by Dinesh Kasi are definitely effective when viewed in isolation. But when viewed in the context of the film, they feel never-ending, particularly in the second half.

Technically, the film comes across as a polished product.

The cinematography by Kiran Koushik is excellent. Sam CS’s background score and music are also in perfect sync. They hugely contribute to elevating the scenes even though the script lets the film down.

The 90s of Mumbai have also been successfully recreated.

Verdict

This Michael has the required style and swagger but the missing element is substance!

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Pathaan: An Entertaining Globetrotter With A Lesson On What Makes One A Patriot

Worth the four-year wait!

Pathaan (Hindi)

  • Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Ashutosh Rana, Dimple Kapadia, Gautam Rode, Gavie Chahal, Shaji Choudhary, and Salman Khan (cameo)
  • Director: Siddharth Anand
  • Producer: Aditya Chopra
  • Music: Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara
  • Runtime: 2 hours 26 minutes

In the climax of Pathaan, Shah Rukh Khan talks about how a true soldier doesn’t ask what the country has done for him but reflects on what he can do for the country. This one dialogue perfectly sums up the essence of the film.

In fact, Pathaan can be called SRK’s answer to those who question his patriotism time and again.

In style, Pathaan is reminiscent of the Tiger film (Ek Tha Tiger and Tiger Zinda Hai) and also 2019’s War. All of them have been produced by Yash Raj Banner.

This is an extension of that universe where the focus is on giving a complete package which will make the audiences, particularly the masses, happy.

The story

The movie begins with India’s revocation of Article 370 (Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir).

This affects a Pakistani officer who feels that India is doing a huge mistake. This officer joins hands with an ex-RAW agent Jim (John Abraham) who was wronged by his own people.

Aiding Jim in this mission is the mysterious Rubai (Deepika Padukone). Rubai is not what she appears to be and it is only in the second half that her real identity is revealed.

The rest of the story is about how RAW agent Pathaan (Shah Rukh) locks horns with Jim across continents and who eventually wins.

Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana play important parts.

What worked out?

As earlier said, the focus here is on giving a complete package and director Siddharth Anand does succeed in keeping the audiences engaged, more so if you buy into the treatment.

For any hero versus villain story to work, the antagonist must come across as equally strong and this is where the director succeeds the most.

John Abraham’s Jim has a solid back story. Jim isn’t your regular clichéd villain.

He is always a step ahead of our hero and this adds more zing to the victory of the film at the end. The action scenes between SRK and John have both style and grit.

What also helps Pathaan is the fast-paced screenplay of Shridhar Raghavan, particularly in the first half.

The non-linear narrative hopping from one continent to another is filled with interesting twists and turns. A perfect example of that is Deepika’s Rubai.

At one point, we feel that she is with John and the next second with SRK. This helps in increasing the curiosity of the audience.

One of my favourite scenes in the first half is how SRK gets his name Pathaan. His scenes with the locals of Afghanistan are filled with a certain warmth.

Another major highlight of Pathaan is the train sequence involving Salman’s Tiger and SRK’s Pathaan.

The elaborate action sequence of both taking on the baddies is a delight to watch, more so if you are a fan of the stars.

The interaction between the two superstars has moments of nice humour. Not surprisingly this sequence got the biggest whistle in the theatres.

The music by Vishal and Shekhar is quite groovy, particularly the song “Besharam Rang”.

What didn’t work out?

One major issue with Pathaan is the abrupt love angle between SRK and Deepika. It practically jumps out of nowhere.

More focus has been given to creating a sensual chemistry between the two stars rather than an emotional gravitas.

Deepika looks great in her action sequences and makes for a perfect action heroine. But beyond the glamour, there isn’t much.

In fact, Dimple Kapadia in a smaller role lends more gravitas.

Another major issue is the simplistic and clichéd manner in which it deals with the topic of patriotism. And the Pakistani angle doesn’t add much to the story.

The real eye feasts

As Pathaan, Shah Rukh has a blast playing a full-fledged action hero.  It is a part which gives him ample opportunities to be both rugged and charming and SRK doesn’t falter.

However, it is John Abraham who springs a pleasant surprise. After a series of subpar outings, John is finally in form.

He not only looks menacing but also shines in portions where Jim expresses his angst about being betrayed.

Verdict

For hardcore SRK fans, Pathaan is well worth the four years wait. For neutrals, it is worth a watch if you can get past the simplistic treatment.

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Mission Majnu: This ‘Raazi’ Redux Lacks The Required Heft

Not a goosebump spy thriller!

Mission Majnu (Hindi)

  • Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Rashmika Mandanna, Parmeet Sethi, Sharib Hashmi, Mir Sarwar, Kumud Mishra, Arjan Bajwa, Zakir Hussain, and Rajit Kapur
  • Director: Shantanu Bagchi
  • Producers: Ronnie Screwvala, Amar Butala, and Garima Mehta
  • Music: Tanishk Bagchi, Rochak Kohli, and Arko
  • OTT platform: Netflix
  • Runtime: 2 hours 9 minutes

Stories about unsung heroes, both fictional and based on real-life incidents, have become a genre in itself.

If we talk about fictional narratives, we have War, and The Tiger franchise, both produced by the Yash Raj banner. On the other hand, we have Meghana Gulzar’s Raazi and Vishnu Vardhan’s Shershah which are based on real-life events.

Shantanu Bagchi’s Mission Majnu tries to have the heft of Alia Bhatt’s Raazi. At the same time, it tries to be larger than life. This mixed khichdi never takes off.

Sure, the film has its moments but you get the feeling that it could have been so much more.

The timeline of Mission Majnu is set in the 1970s. It narrates the story of a covert spy agent who resides in Pakistan.

In the beginning, audiences are told that India has successfully carried out its first nuclear bomb test which shocks Pakistan. Now, the neighbouring country wants to build a nuclear bomb to destroy India.

Pakistan takes the assistance of a great scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan (Mir Sarwar), for the job. On learning this, the RAW hires spy agent Tariq alias Amandeep Ajitpal Singh (Siddarth Malhotra) to find out the location of and neutralise the nuclear facility.


Tariq is a tailor working in Pakistan. The rest of the story deals with how he finds the secret location and, in the process, saves India from the evil plan of Pakistan.

There is also the subplot of Nasreen (Rashmika Mandana), a visually impaired woman who has no idea about the real identity of her husband Tariq. Now, this reminds us of both Raazi and also Fanna.

Emotional quotient missing

Mission Majnu begins on a rather slow note with the unnecessary love angle of Tariq and Nasreen. The portion between Siddarth and Rashmika tests the audience’s patience in a big way.

What also doesn’t help the film is the convenient manner in which Tariq goes about his mission. You don’t feel tensed for Tariq which is a big drawback for a film of this genre.

The scenes where Tariq extracts sensitive information from the army brigadier appear too easy. Even random strangers don’t feel anything amiss when Tariq asks for crucial details.

It is only with the entry of Sharib Hashmi that things take a move on.

The scene before the interval takes the audience by surprise with an important twist revealed about the supporting character played by Kumud Mishra.

The scenes featuring the trio are easily the best part of the film. Their camaraderie elevates the film in a big way.

The second half gives some goosebump moments like an important train sequence featuring Sidharth.

Special mention must also be made of the shootout involving the various Indian RAW agents living in Pakistan. It is a sequence that has been well shot and leaves you sad.

Performances & technical crafts

Sidharth Malhotra as Tariq gives his best shot and is somewhat successful in making the audiences empathise with him, in spite of a fractured script.

Kumud Mishra and Sharib Hashmi as the Indian agents are brilliant in their respective parts and their death scenes have a certain poignancy.

Rashmika Mandanna doesn’t bring much depth to her part. Her chemistry with Sid is rather flat. This becomes a major hindrance in audiences empathising with her when Tariq’s secret is out.

The music composed by Tanishk Bagchi, Rochak Kohli, and Arko is quite good. Special mention must be made of the songs sung by Sonu Nigam.

Verdict

In a nutshell, Mission Majnu might not be a goosebump spy thriller but a necessary story to be told.

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Farzi: Another Global Crime Tackled With Finesse

A perfect package of entertainment

Summary

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Vijay Sethupati, Rashi Khanna, Ragina Cassandra, Amol Palekar, Bhuvan Arora, and Zakir Hussain.
Director: Raj and DK
Producer: Raj and DK
Music: Sachin- Jigar, Tanishk Bagchi, and Ketan Sodha
Genre: Crime thriller
OTT platform: Amazon prime
Episodes: 8

The director duo of Raj and DK specialise in taking global issues and looking at them through a humanistic lens.

For example, in The Family Man Season 2, Through the character Raji — a hardened LTTE militant — played by Samantha they made a point that a freedom fighter for some could become a terrorist for others.

The crime — counterfeit currency

Most of the characters in The Family Man series had their share of moral ambiguities.

In Farzi, Raj and DK looked at the issue of counterfeit money.

Counterfeit currency — as everyone knows — is a currency that is not genuine but made to look exactly genuine to deceive people.

Farzi has similarities with both seasons of The Family Man, in the sense that here also a cat-and-mouse game along with a troubled personal life does exist.

Farzi is not as tight as the two seasons of The Family Man but there still is a lot to like here.

Farzi captures the journey of an antihero Sunny (Shahid Kapoor).

Sunny is a small-scale sketch artist with a lot of pent-up anger towards the system.

Sunny’s grandfather — played by veteran actor Amol Palekar — is an old-time journalist.

He runs a revolutionary magazine called Kranti, which does not sell much similar to most magazines of that genre.

As a result, a situation arises where the magazine has to be shut down following huge debts.

The tale around the crime

To revive the magazine, Sunny and his best friend Firoz (Bhuvan Arora) start designing counterfeit money.

Soon, Sunny and Firoz come to the notice of Mansoor (Kay Kay Menon), who is the biggest name in the world of counterfeiting, and become part of Mansoor’s business.

Initially, it is all about saving Nanu’s Kranti magazine but soon it becomes more of a self-destruction.

Parallel to this you have Michael (Vijay Sethupati) who is a fiery task force officer, hell-bent on eradicating fake currency in India.

He shares an interesting equation with the central minister played by Zakir Hussain. In this mix, there is also Megha (Rashi Khanna). Megha is an important cog in the team of Michael.

The rest of the story focuses on whether Michael will be successful in his mission or not and more importantly how Sunny’s life changes because of this illegal business.

The best of an anti-hero

The best part of Farzi is how the directors make you empathise with its anti-hero.

Audiences know that Sunny’s actions are not right but at the same time, they understand where Sunny is coming from.

There are many layers to Sunny, and through him, the director presents a psychological portrait of a man who is consumed by greed.

During the course, Sunny’s personality changes so much that even his loved ones fail to recognise him anymore.

Vijay Sethupati at his best

Farzi also dwells deeply into the topic of the production of fake notes and their infiltration into the economy. These details have a certain shock value and keep the audiences engrossed.

By its very nature, Farzi falls under gritty space but at the same time, there are also some highly entertaining moments.

The best of them involves Vijay Sethupati’s Michael and the central minister.

Their banter is filled with many entertaining lines that bring much-needed relief.

Raj and DK also deserve credit for the portrayal of Rashi Khanna’s Megha who can be seen in different spaces, not just her professional life.

Khanna plays Megha with the right amount of spunk even after standing opposite more experienced actors like Vijay Sethupati and Shahid Kapoor.

The rest of the cast’s performance

Sunny’s equation with grandpa has also got some tender moments.

There is a quiet dignity that Amol Palekar lends to his part as an idealistic journalist.

However, a little more info about the objectives of Kranti magazine would have made his character even more memorable.

The same applies to Michael’s troubled personal life. His moments with his wife (Ragina Cassandra) and the son are sweet but in the scheme of things they come across as more of an add-on.

There are a couple of scenes where Vijay Sethupati converses with Manoj Bajpai’s Srikant Tiwari from The Family Man series. This hints at a possible crossover between the two agents in season two of Farzi.

Shahid Kapoor’s knock-out performance

Shahid Kapoor as Sunny delivers a knockout performance. Shahid has always been good at playing conflicted heroes and in Farzi too he lives up to it. He captures the various shades of Sunny with the required finesse.

Vijay Sethupati is a treat to watch as the fiery task force officer.

It takes a little time to get used to hearing Vijay Sethupati speak Hindi but he grows on you as the series progresses.

He is at his best, particularly in the lighter moments. Kay Kay Menon is someone who doesn’t need a particular introduction and here too the veteran is in solid form.

Last but not least Bhuvan Arora gives solid support. He instantly makes you fall in love with Firoz.

The verdict

The technical departments led by cinematographer Pankaj Kumar are also in perfect sync with the gritty nature of the series.

In a nutshell, Raj and DK continue their streak of delivering solid content with a perfect package of important issues and entertainment.

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Trial By Fire: An Unforgettable Story Of Courage And Resilience

The three directors do a brilliant job in making the views root for the real life couple Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamurthy

Trial by Fire (Web series) Hindi:          4 out of 5

Starcast: Abhay Deol, Rajshri Deshpande, Anupam Kher, Ashish Vidyarthi and others

Directors: Prashant Nair, Randeep Jha and Avani Deshpande

Based on: Trial by Fire: The tragic tale of the Uphaar Fire Tragedy

Writers and creators: Prashant Nair and Kevin Luperchio

Producers: Henry Dcunha, Sidharth Jain and others

Production Companies: House of Talkies and Endemol Shine India

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: Netflix

Stories based on real life incidents can make for an immersive experience whether it is a movie or web series. Prashant Nair and Randeep Jha’s Trial By Fire looks at a fire incident that broke out in Uphaar Cinema hall of Delhi. This fire incident took the lives of 59 innocent people. The movie playing at that time was JP Dutta’s border. However zero accountability was seen from the culprits of this man made tragedy. The major culprits were the Ansal brothers. The Ansal brothers not only owned the Uphaar Cinema but also half of Delhi’s infrastructure in the late nineties. Among the victims the main focus is on Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamurthy (Rajshri Deshpande and Abhay Deol).

Trial By Fire is inspired from a memoir of the same name. The series begins with the day of tragedy and how nothing is going to be the same.  We see how Neelam and Shekhar stand united in spite of a long and uncertain journey for justice. The plot alternates between a personal tragedy and systemic negligence. The first two episodes focus on the pattern of events and the director duo give a clear indication of how this is going to be an uphill task. From the third equal focus is given on the supporting characters that have also lost their loved ones in the fire accident.

First and foremost Trail By Fire is not for those who want escapism. This is a serious subject with no scope for entertainment. The director duo of Prashant Nair and Randeep Jha do a fantastic job of not making it melodramatic at any point. The struggles of Neelam and Krishnamurthy are presented in a realistic manner without resorting to bombastic dialogues. The climax also goes perfectly with the tone of the show.

As audiences you not only root for them as mother and father but also as husband and wife. A major reason for that is the sensitivity with which Prashant and Randeep have portrayed them.

Another good thing about show is the way the parallel storylines have been integrated. One of my favorite subplots is that of a retired army officer (Anupam Kher) and his wife played by Ratna Pathal Shah. Another track worthy of mention is Ashish Vidyarthi who is a dry fruit merchant. All these stories are well woven and find a perfect culmination.

The etching of Neelam and Shekhar is another major plus of the series. As Neelam Rajshri Deshpande often uses silences to convey her grief. On more than one occasion she uses subtle gestures to express frustration. Neelam is a disappointed and broken mother however underneath that a fierce mother is still there. All this has been brought out well by the actress.

As Krishnamurthy Abhay Deol does some of his best work after a long time. He makes for a terrific spouse who stands by his wife through thick and thin. He has his moments of occasional outburst and the actor does complete justice to them.

A scene which has to be particularly mentioned here is when the Krishnamurthy’s visit their relatives after several years. There is a visible pain in the eyes of the couple upon seeing the relatives children all grown up and doing well for themselves. The feeling of how the Krishnamurthy’s could have also had the same joy strikes the audiences in a big way.

The likes of Anupam Kher and Ashish Vidyarthi are veterans who don’t need a specific introduction. They do justice to their parts as expected.

In a nutshell Trial By Fire isn’t an easy watch but this is a show which needs to be seen.  Watch it particularly if you are a fan of realistic storytelling.

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Kuttey: Aasmaan Bhardwaj Proves To Be A Worthy Successor To His Father

Aasmaan Bharadwaj is here to stay!

Kuttey (Hindi)

  • Cast: Tabu, Arjun Kapoor, Kumud Mishra, Radhika Madan, Konkana Sen Sharma, and Naseeruddin Shah
  • Director: Aasmaan Bhardwaj
  • Producers: Vishal Bhardwaj, T Series and Luv Ranjan
  • Music: Vishal Bhardwaj
  • Runtime: 2 hours and 33 minutes

Vishal Bhardwaj is someone who started as a music director with films like Satya. He made a significant place for himself as a musician before getting into direction.

Since his directorial debut Makdee, he has given many masterpieces to the Hindi film industry. Films like Haider, Omkara and Maqbool are wonderful examples of that.

Vishal Bharadwaj’s son Aasmaan has a lot to live up to and the subject that he chose for his directorial debut clearly shows that he isn’t afraid to take risks.

Kuttey is a thriller with multiple characters and also plenty of back-and-forth narration. This isn’t an easy genre to crack for any director, let alone a debutant. But Aasmaan does a good job of capturing the audience’s attention. There are some rough edges, but he has the potential.

The story is about a few individuals who are eyeing a bank van carrying crores of money. Their desperation is compared to a pack of hungry dogs. Hence the title Kuttey.

There are three different groups (some intentionally and some accidentally) who want to lay their hands on the huge money. Each individual or group wants money for different reasons.

Gopi (Arjun Kapoor) and Paaji (Kumud Mishra) are police officers. They need money to get out of a terrible situation that they’ve landed themselves in.

Pammi (Tabu) is desperate for money as she wants to improve her standard of living.

Lovely (Radhika Madan) is the daughter of an underworld don Narayan Khobre (Naseeruddin Shah). She needs the money for spending the rest of her life with Danny Dandekar (Shardul Bhardwaj). Interestingly, Danny works for Narayan.

Lastly, there is Lakshmi (Konkana Sen Sharma). She runs a group of communist rebels who are on the run.

In a nutshell, the film is about who finally gets the money and what happens to those who don’t get the money.

An engaging treatment

The story of Kuttey hinges on a single track but what makes it engaging is its treatment by Aasmaan. The objectives of all three groups keep the audiences invested in what will happen next.

There is a strong animal analogy that the director presents and this enhances the film much like last year’s Darlings. There is liberal use of four-letter words. This makes the dialogues more entertaining, particularly for those who enjoy this brand of cinema.

Aasmaan also touches upon some important things through his multiple characters.

Through the track of Konkana Sen Sharma, the young director talks about how the marginalised are pushed to take up weapons. There is also a righteous cop who chooses to go on the dark side. All this enhances the drama.

The climatic twist takes you by complete surprise and also raises some chuckles.

Technical aspects

The cinematography by Farhad Ahmed Dehlvi is perfectly in sync with the nature of the film.

The music and the background score by Vishal Bhardwaj heighten the drama. Particular mention must be made regarding the use of “Dhan Te Nan” from Kaminey. It is a treat to watch.

There are a couple of aspects that could have been better. The cuss words feel overdone in places.

Also, both Naseeruddin Shah and Konkana could have been used better. The Naxalite angle could have been done with more depth. The violence also could have been trimmed down.

An ensemble of cast

Kuttey has a huge ensemble of actors and the ones who stand out are Tabu, Kumud Mishra, and Arjun Kapoor.

Tabu is at her usual best as Pammi. She has a ball uttering the Hindi swear words. She does a brilliant job of playing the badass boss that is generally reserved for men. She also brings in some comic relief.

Kumud Mishra delivers another ace performance as the conflicted cop. He lets his body language do most of the talking.

However, the surprise package of the ensemble is Arjun Kapoor. He holds his own opposite seasoned performers like Tabu and Kumud Mishra. His character sketch has an interesting quirk.

For example, he is religious and fasts on Tuesdays before going on a shooting spree. He is also shown to be a responsible father.

Radhika Madan and Shardul are good with the limited screen time that they have.

Kuttey has enough bite and the ensemble cast is the icing on the cake.

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Waltair Veerayya: A Routine Vendetta Saga With All Style And No Substance

Summary

Waltair Veerayya (Telugu) 2 out of 5
Cast: Chiranjeevi, Ravi Teja, Prakash Raj, Bobby Simha, Rajendra Prasad, Shruti Hassan, Catherine Teresa, Vennela Kishore and others
Director: Bobby Kohli
Producers: Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Running time: 2 hours and 35 minutes
Genre: Action drama/comedy

Chiranjeevi is an actor who came with no background but emerged as a megastar with his hard work. There is a huge fan base that Chiranjeevi enjoys. But of late the actor has been struggling big time ever since he made a comeback to cinema.

Apart from Khaidi No 150, nothing has clicked for the actor.

Waltair Veerayya is thus an important film to him as neither Acharya nor Godfather set the box office on fire, although the latter had good reviews.

The promos of Waltair promised Chiranjeevi at his massy best and the addition of Ravi Teja had made the audiences excited.

Chiru has a blast

There is no denying that Chiranjeevi had a blast playing Waltair and his energy at the age of 67 is indeed commendable, but the end result is still hugely underwhelming.

Chiranjeevi is a smuggler of luxury goods and liquor along with being a fisherman. In spite of having a criminal record, there is a certain respect that Waltair enjoys. He is so respected that even the Coast Guard takes his help when in dire need.

Even a police officer like Seethapathi (Rajendra Prasad) approaches Waltair to help him bring back a notorious drug dealer Solomon Caesar (Bobby Simha) from Malaysia. Waltair and co go to Malaysia to kidnap Solomon.

Here Veerayya’s path crosses with that of Solomon’s brother Michael Caesar (Prakash Raj in another routine villain role). Waltair and Michael have a past that is connected to ACP Vikram Sagar (Ravi Teja). Vikram Sagar and Veerayya are step brothers.

Commercial package

What follows is a template commercial package where the elder brother takes revenge on the enemies and restores honour to his dead younger brother.

The story of Waltair doesn’t make any bones of being different and the fan appeasement is very clear from the moment Chiranjeevi is introduced.

The first half is sporadically engaging, all thanks to the comic timing of Chiranjeevi. His fear of heights generates some chuckles. There is a particular slang that the actor uses and this leads to some entertaining moments.

The other members of the gang that include Srinivasa Reddy and Saptagiri don’t get to do much in spite of their proven comic skills.

Sruthi Hassan’s character has an interesting twist when she is revealed to be a RAW officer, but as in most big ticket vehicles, she is relegated to the background soon.

Things take a turn for the better at the interval point and the interval bang is where the real story begins.

Ravi Teja factor

Ravi Teja’s entry and his scenes with Chiranjeevi are easily the best part of the second half.

The scenes where both the actors reference each other’s films do bring a smile to your face. There is big friction between them but at the same time there is also an undercurrent of emotion.

In spite of knowing where the story is going to head, you are involved as long as Ravi Teja is there.

As ACP Sagar, Ravi Teja brings a certain intensity to his part. A particular mention must be made of Ravi Teja’s death scene and the one final conversation that he has with his brother.

But once the flashback ends, the film starts becoming a big slog with endless action scenes and the pre-climax involving vigilante justice leaves the audiences with a sour taste.

Both Prakash Raj and Bobby Simha are earnest in their parts, but these are roles that they can play even in sleep.

As in most Telugu films, there is a huge set of supporting actors; but, with the exception of Rajendra Prasad, none have anything much to contribute.

The music by Devi Sri Prasad is apt for those who enjoy mass entertainers.

Chiru needs better scripts!

As Waltair, Chiranjeevi undoubtedly has a blast. His performance in both the comic and emotional bits is a delight to watch.

But it is high time that the actor understands the changing tastes of audiences and chooses scripts accordingly.

It would be good if the senior actor takes the route of an Amitabh Bachchan or a Mammooty.

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Year-End Roundup: Best Web Series Of 2022

Here are the four best web series from three different languages (Tamil, Telugu and English) that made a mark with their content on sensitive, social issues.

Anantham and Suzhal: The Vortex in Tamil and 9 Hours created by acclaimed director Krish Jagarlamudi in Telugu won the hearts of viewers.

As We See It, an English comedy-drama that follows the journey of three roommates with autism spectrum, caught the attention of the audience.

Anantham

Anantham, directed by V Priya, is the story of a house narrated by a house.

The plot spans different decades and each episode comes with its genre. There is romance, comedy, tragedy and horror among others.

The best thing about the web series is the way Priya integrates these genres. As viewers, we go through various emotions with each segment.

For example, there is a segment called “Parvathy” that talks about a child abuse survivor who ends up meeting her abuser. Through this segment, an important topic was discussed.

The director throws light on the family ecosystem that made the child a victim and the passive aggression that silenced her.

Another interesting segment is “Lalitha”. She is a murderer chased by her past demons. However, to the son, she remains the noblest soul on earth. The jump scares are done well and on more than one occasion the audiences feel scary.

Anantham also makes a plea for accepting homosexuality. Ananth (Sampath Raj) is a famous homosexual writer. He was thrown out of the house at a young age by his father Venkatesan (Prakash Raj) upon discovering his sexual tendencies.

Ananth returns to his family home after a long time when the father is unwell.

Venkatesan is someone who oscillates from being a progressive dad to a man with homophobia but he eventually comes to love his son. All this was brought out wonderfully by both the director and the actors.

Suzhal: The Vortex

Suzhal: The Vortex is much more than just an investigative thriller. The series is written by the acclaimed director duo Puskhar-Gayatri and directed by Bramma and Anucharan.

Suzhal means environment. It has many layers and character arcs. Viewers are kept guessing till the end and the finale is gut-wrenching, to say the least.

The series starts in a small town Sambaloor which is preparing to celebrate “Mayana Kollai” (looting of the graveyard). It is a ritual that is closely associated with the Goddess Angalamman.

The devotees of Angalamman narrate the life of the Goddess in the form of songs.

While this is happening on one side, on the other side, a huge cement factory in the same town gets destroyed in a fire. Its union leader is Shanmugham (Parthiban) whose 15-year-old daughter Nila also goes missing the same day.

The task of solving both these mysteries is entrusted to Sakkarai (Kathir), a sub-inspector.

Regina (Shreya Reddy) is also a police officer. Regina’s son Adhisayam is a suspect in Nila missing case, which creates unrest between the families.

Nandini (Aishwarya Rajesh) is Nila’s sister. She returns home after a lay-off in her company. She decides to help Sakkarai in his investigation. As the story goes along some deeply buried secrets start tumbling out.

The first two episodes give the feeling that it is an investigative thriller but it soon ventures into a rather unexpected zone.

The screenplay is very deft and each character is compelling to watch, irrespective of his or her screen time.

Some of the issues addressed are superstition, police brutality, child sexual abuse, human sacrifice and mental health. All these are smartly integrated and at no point that the audiences feel a sense of being burdened with several things.

One of the most touching parts of Suzhal is concerning Aishwarya Rajesh’s Nandini.

She is someone who is dealing with repressed emotions and has to take therapy to get over them. Through her character, Bramma and Anucharan address the importance of mental health.

Writer duo Gayatri-Pushkar infuses a much-needed message in the climax. It is something that will stay with the audiences, especially parents and children.

The performances across the board are brilliant but Kathir and Aishwarya Rajesh stand out.

9 Hours

Director Krish Jagarlamudi created a niche for himself with films like Gamyam, Gautamiputra Sathakarni and Konda Polam, among others. There is always an expectation of quality content when his name is attached.

The original story of 9 Hours is written by Malladi Venkata Krishnamurthy, a popular writer of yesteryears and adapted by Krish for this web series. It is directed by Niranjan Kaushik and Jacob Varghese.

As the title suggests the story is set in the time frame of nine hours. Three prisoners escape from jail to rob a bank but a simple bank robbery leads to a series of unexpected events.

The best bits of 9 Hours are easily the situations focusing on the hostage.

There are some unexpected revelations regarding those who are connected to this robbery. No one seems to be what they are. Some of the backstories are particularly well-fleshed out.

A special mention must be made of the character played by Ajay. His motivations are unclear for the most part. But when the suspense is revealed, it catches you off guard.

Ajay shines the brightest in this huge ensemble. The story for the most part takes place in the bank but the single location never comes across as a hindrance.

As We See it

This web show is created by Jason Katims. It is a heartwarming journey of three 20-something flat mates suffering from different spectrums of autism.

First up is Harrison (Albert Rutecki) who is the least independent of the three. He hates going outside because he is full of insecurities.

Next up is Violet (Sue Ann Pien) whose biggest desire is to have a boyfriend and lead a self-sufficient life.

The last among the three is Jack (Rick Glassman) who is the complete opposite of Harrison. He speaks whatever comes to his mind, irrespective of what the others around him feel.

As We See It shows how these three flatmates navigate family, friendships, careers and matters of the heart. They are guided by Mandy (Sosie Bacon).

At its heart, As We See It falls under a dramedy. A good dramedy needs to have the right balance between light and dramatic moments. Neither should outshine the other. Thankfully, Jason Katims got this mixture perfectly right.

The series has a feel-good nature to it but at the same time, the core issue is never watered down. It successfully addresses the different misconceptions about what is normal.

Out of the three flat mates, Violet has the most impact. Her equation with her brother Van gives the show some of its best moments.

The acting performances are top-notch across the board and add immensely to this well-made dramedy.

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Year-End Roundup: Best Hindi Web Series Of 2022

The format of “web series” has given wings to several filmmakers to experiment more. A web series doesn’t necessarily need a big star.

Indeed, web shows have turned out to be a great platform for actors who generally don’t get the same scope in films.

For example, Delhi Crime Season-1 turned out to be a major boost for the career of Shefali Shah. It showed the actress in a different light.

Here’s the list of some of the Hindi web shows that caught our attention most this year:

CAT

In Hindi cinema, Punjab has been largely restricted to mustard fields, Bhangra dances and families living in big havelis. Thankfully, there have also been exceptions.

The most important of them is Abhishek Chaubey’s Udta Punjab.

Though the movie faced a lot of problems with the censor, as it showed the menace of drug abuse, it eventually came out with flying colours.

CAT, directed by Balwinder Singh Janjua, tackles two dark aspects of Punjab. One is militancy and the other is drugs.

Its central protagonist, Randeep Hooda, plays Garry aka Gurman Singh. In the past, he was roped in by the Punjab police to spy against the militants. Hence the name CAT.

He quits that line of work and starts leading a peaceful life. But the peace is short-lived as his younger brother is doing drugs, much like several other young men of Punjab.

This leaves Garry with no option other than to become a CAT again. This time, the mission is busting the big trafficking gang run by a political leader.

However, this is just the surface of the story, as many things are happening simultaneously. Revealing anything more about the plot would be inappropriate.

The best thing about CAT is juxtaposing militancy and drugs. These are serious issues which need nuance both from the director and the writer. Thankfully, Balwinder Singh and Co did a fantastic job.

CAT is filled with many backstories. These stories continue to unfold even in the last episodes and make the plot more engaging.

The past and the present of Gurman have also been superbly done. The audiences constantly root for Gurnam to come out safe.

Special mention to Abhishant Rana who plays the younger version of Randeep. He is simply terrific.

CAT gave Randeep a vast platform to display his histrionics and the actor didn’t disappoint one bit. With this performance, he showed once again why he deserves so much more.

Delhi Crime 2

The first season of Delhi Crime was a big winner on several counts. It was based on the aftermath of the Nirbhaya case, but it was much more than just the typical police manhunt.

Director Richie Mehta made some subtle yet effective points on the socio-political conditions we live in and how these conditions influence the police force.

Richie Mehta was immensely successful in humanising the police force by showcasing their humane and vulnerable side.

Expectations from Season 2 of the web series were naturally bigger. Shefali Shah returned as DCP Varthika. Some of the faces from Season 1 were also in this series, like Rasika Dugal.

Delhi Crime 2 focuses on the crimes committed by the much-feared “Kachchha Baniyan” gang.

Senior citizens living in gated communities are their target. The reason for their name is their dress while committing these crimes. All the members of this gang are dressed only in underclothes.

Additionally, their bodies are smeared with oil. As a result, it is difficult to catch them during a chase.

Season 2 of Delhi Crime is directed by Tanuja Chandra, with Richie Mehta as the creative head. Tanuja Chandra highlights an important class issue through this “Kachchha Baniyan” gang.

The director makes a strong statement on the injustice done to the underprivileged tribes and the prejudices attached to them. The show also addresses the disparities in society and how it leads to such crimes.

The aspect of social discrimination is reflected through Tillotama Shome playing Lata Solanki. Her character is used to make a point about how no one is a born criminal.

As Varthika, Shefali Shah took off from Season 1. She continued her winning form with a performance that adds to her versatility.

Rocket Boys

As the title suggests, Rocket Boys is essentially about India’s two eminent scientists: Dr Homi Bhabha and Dr Vikram Sarabhai (Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh in the series). This web show looks at the journey of India’s nuclear and space programme.

Director Abhay Pannu spans his story across three decades starting from the events of 1942.

A young Sarabhai is forced to return to India on account of the war in Britain. He has an ambition of sending rockets into space someday. With this in mind, he joins Homi Bhabha’s atomic research unit.  A deep bond develops between them.

With a story like this, it is easy to get into the zone of jingoism but thankfully, Abhay does not commit that mistake.

Instead, he focuses more on the distinct personalities of the two scientists. While Jim Sarbh as Homi Bhabha is more of an extrovert, Ishwak as Sarabhai is more of a calm-going man.

The juxtaposing of these two qualities makes the screenplay more riveting. Their journeys and the dreams of making it big are well captured by the director.

The Rocket Boys series does not confine itself to just science. It also looks at the politics of those times. The technical departments of the film did a fantastic job of recreating that period.

Both Jim Sarbh and Ishwak live their parts. Jim in particular does a swell job of capturing the madness of Homi Bhabha.

The women characters are thankfully not relegated to the background.

Regina Cassandra brings an old-world charm and her scenes with Ishwak are wonderful to watch. Saba Azad as the lawyer brings a certain fire to her part.

The Great Indian Murder

The Great Indian Murder is based on the book The Six Suspects written by Vikas Swarup, who also wrote the book Q&A, which was later made into Slumdog Millionaire. The book explored the different aspects of our society like the rampant corruption that runs through all the systems.

Vikas Swarup used the mode of investigative thriller to highlight this issue. For those who have not read the book, the story focuses on the murder of a playboy called Vicky Rai.

He is the spoiled son of a politician in Uttar Pradesh. He gets embroiled in a murder case. but thanks to his social status, he comes out scot-free.

Vicky throws a party to celebrate his acquittal in which he gets killed by a gunshot. Six guests are arrested on the grounds of suspicion.

Tigmanshu Dhulia adapted this story and did a good job for the most part. The best thing about his direction is his use of each character. Each one of them reveals a different side of our society.

My favourite one is the track by Shashank Arora. Though a thief, he has inherent decency in him and Tigmanshu did a very good job of exploring it.

The trajectory of his role has an emotional touch. His love for Vicky Rai’s sister and how he goes out of the way to help her leaves the viewers emotional.

Another track worth mentioning is that of Raghubir Yadav. His split personality gives the series some of its best moments.

The scenes where he plays Gandhian are very amusing. Tigmanshu takes several jibes through his character.

Needless to say, Shashank and Raghubir Yadav are the best performers in this ensemble.

Tigmanshu also made it effective by using the Rashomon approach. There is a lot of back and forth and the events keep on changing. Still, the tightness of the script makes sure that the audience does not get bored.

An underlining theme of the show is the manipulation of evidence for political mileage.

The Great Indian Murder web series has its share of flaws too. For example, Paoli Dam playing the actress is given a strong beginning but midway through, she disappears.

Also, the tying up of some subplots could have been better. Apart from these, it is a binge-worthy series.

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Year-End Roundup: Best Telugu Movies Of 2022

In 2022, Tollywood saw movies from different genres putting up a great show at the box office.

There are a couple of highest-worldwide grossers, including SS Rajamouli’s star-studded RRR starring Jr NTR-Ram Charan Tej, Mahesh Babu’s Sarkaru Vaari Paata, and Pawan Kalyan-Rana Daggubati’s Bheemla Nayak.

But Nikhil Siddhartha-Anupama Parameswaran’s Karthikey 2 turned out to be the surprise package.

However, there are a few films that tugged at the heartstrings of Telugu audiences with their powerful content and thus deserve to be tagged as the best Telugu movies of 2022. Let’s take a quick look at the list:

Major

In the last few years, Adivi Sesh significantly rose from the ranks, both as a writer and also as an actor. In 2022, he established himself as a formidable force.

Major was based on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an Indian Army officer who was martyred while combating terrorists in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Along with being the protagonist, Adivi Sesh was also the writer of this project.

The story of Major doesn’t have any suspense since the audience is aware of what will happen at the end.

But that didn’t stop the audience from cheering on Sandeep when he combats the terrorists.

Through his writing, Sesh presented Sandeep as a wholesome personality and not just as a military man. As a result, the audience had a better emotional connection when the tragedy happened.

As an actor, Sesh grabbed the role with both hands. He nailed his act both in scenes of physical bravado and also as a caring son.

Hit: The Second Case

It was a sequel to the successful Hit: The First Case. Director Sailesh made sure that there was a proper connection between Hit 1 and Hit 2.

Nevertheless, Hit 2 was ahead of its prequel, both as a solid police procedural and also as a psychopath film. Unlike Major and Gudachari, Adivi Sesh did not write the story for this film.

Hit 2 also had a brief subplot where it critiques extrajudicial killings and their celebration.

It is only a brief mention but it makes the movie a cut above the other films of this genre.

Thrillers aren’t new for Sesh but the actor made sure that there is something novel in his performance.

Sita Ramam

Hanu Raghavapudi’s Sita Ramam can be labelled as a poetic love story.

There is a lot to like about this Dulqer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur-starrer. The two not only shined individually but their chemistry was also top-notch.

As Lieutenant Ram, Dulqer turned on his charm fully and made the audiences fall in love with him.

Mrunal Thakur was the surprise package. She not only looked stunning but also delivered a wonderful performance.

The director smartly combined the love angle with the Indo-Pak conflict. There are ample twists and turns to keep you hooked and it is difficult to be not moved by the ending.

The supporting characters led by Rashmika and Sumanth were also a delight to watch.

Music and cinematography departments also made Sita Ramam an enriching experience.

The film had its share of flaws; the case in point being the comedy track of Vennela Kishore. Also, Mrunal’s character doesn’t de-age even one bit!

But still, Sita Ramam is a feast for those who like intense love stories.

Bhamakapalam

Directed by Abhimanyu Tadimeti, Bhamakalapam is an interesting garnishing of elements such as crime, greed and religion.

The plot is centred on a Faberge egg that is worth ₹200 core. At the beginning itself, the audiences understand this egg has been stolen and gets lost again.

Bhamakapalam is not just an engrossing thriller but it also makes an important statement about finding the god within.

The underlying message is not to be misled by someone who uses religion as a weapon. This message isn’t particularly new; nevertheless, it’s relevant.

Anupama Mohan (Priya Mani) is a woman of many talents. She is a homemaker who is also famous for her cooking videos.

There is also an inner Sherlock Holmes in her which comes out early on. She tries to expose the extramarital affair of her neighbour. But all this backfires!

The husband takes a promise that she wouldn’t do her detective work again but fate has other plans.

The best aspect of Bhamakalapam is how the director builds suspense around the egg. Audiences are constantly wondering about what is so special about this Faberge egg that it is worth ₹200 core.

The film also benefits immensely from Priya Mani’s spot-on performance. She imbibed the curiosity of Anupama.

Her scenes with house help Shilpa (Sharanya) are a delight to watch. Sharanya shined both in the comic bits and also where she is required to show tension.

Ante Sundaraniki

In 2022, Actor Nani came up with just one movie: Ante Sudaraniki. Well, it was quite unusual; for, he delivers a film every three-four months.

In Ante Sudaraniki, the actor teamed up with Malayali beauty Nazriya Nazim. This romantic comedy is helmed by young director Vivek Athreya.

Though the reception at the box office for this sensible flick was mixed during its theatrical release, Ante Sundaraniki surely makes it to the list of best Telugu movies of 2022.

Nani rose to stardom with romantic comedies and he carries them with ease. Thus, he comes up with his best for Ante Sundaraniki. Nazriya Nazim joining him makes the proceedings even more interesting.

Nani appears as Sundara Prasad from an orthodox Brahmin family. Nazriya plays Leela Thomas from a Christian family.

They leave no stone unturned in convincing their parents of their interfaith marriage, but only land in bigger problems which, in turn, leave the audience in splits.

In all, the romantic comedy narrates the struggles of an interfaith couple in a comical way.

Besides the lead pair, the film features a strong support cast like Anupama Parameswaran, Nadhiya, Naresh, Rohini, and Azhagam Perumal.

Virata Parvam

Underrated Virata Parvam deserves serious film buffs’ attention

Rana Daggubati and Sai Pallavi-starrer Virata Parvam gained quite a lot of attention even before its release, owing to its storyline and casting.

But it could not sustain its momentum after hitting the theatres, as many considered it to be too serious a film for regular audiences.

Directed by Venu Udugula, Virata Parvam is set in the backdrop of Naxalism and tracks the heart-wrenching story of Vennela (Sai Pallavi). She falls for Naxal leader Ravi Shankar (Rana Daggubati) and gets attracted to the Naxalism ideology, which tragically ends her life.

Telangana was the hotbed for Naxalism in the 1980s and 1990s. Virata Parvam depicts the various facets of the extremist movement, riding on the love story of the lead pair.

Sai Pallavi’s acting prowess and her ability to carry conflicting emotions effortlessly keep the audience engaged throughout the movie.

Film lovers who are interested in serious stuff will find Virata Parvam engaging.

Ammu

Aishwarya Lekshmi’s Ammu takes a new stance on an age-old issue.

This is a low-profile movie which was released without much fanfare but held the audience in thrall with its intensity later.

Starring the talented Aishwarya Lekshmi in the title role, Ammu depicts the story of a naive and hapless married woman who becomes a victim of domestic violence.

Films on domestic violence are not new to the Telugu audience. But the way director Charukesh Sekar dealt with it makes Ammu a special movie.

Aishwarya Lekshmi’s impressive portrayal of a woman stuck in an abusive marriage added to the director’s vision, making it to the list of must-watch movies of 2022.

While this realistic film has its shortcomings, its brilliance and honesty won over the audiences.

Being the queen of Ammu, Aishwarya Lekshmi grabs all the credit. However, Naveen Chandra plays on par with her. He does an excellent job as an abusive husband.

Bobby Simha’s presence further adds to the impact. Interestingly, Ammu is Amazon Prime Video’s first original Telugu film.

Urvasivo Rakshasivo

The genre of romantic comedy/drama is one of the most overused genres in cinemas across languages. Only two kinds of endings are possible: One happy and the other sad.

But a well-made rom-com is always welcome, like Urvasivo Rakshasivo. It is the remake of the Tamil film Pyaar Prema Kaadhal.

Urvasivo Rakshasivo deals with the conflict between live-in relationships and marriage. The boy wants marriage but the girl wants a live-in.

The most refreshing aspect of this movie is the characterisation of Anu Emanuel’s Sindhu and the wonderful performance of the actress.

There are occasions when Sindhu may come across as both stubborn and spoiled. However, the audience also understands from where Sindhu is coming and the reason for her stubbornness in not wanting to marry.

Director Rakesh Sasi doesn’t tamper with the soul of Sindhu, at any point, even when the lead pair drifts apart.

Most importantly, the happy ending of the story doesn’t come at the cost of squashing Sindhu’s career dreams.

The film also never gets preachy. The scenes depicting the live–in relationship are peppered with much entertainment. Both Sunil and Vennela Kishore brought the house down with their comic timing.