Category: OTT Films & Webseries

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Operation Safed Sagar: Mission successful

Director Omi Sen strikes a good balance between politics and human emotions. What gives the show a certain novelty is the portrayal of Kargil War through the eyes of Indian Air Force. Yes, it follows the format of a tearjerker to the t and some of it is carefully curated to make the viewers hate Pakistan. Having said that the show is largely gripping even if you aren’t into war dramas. The sprawling cast headed by Siddarth, Jimmy Shergill, Abhay Verma and Mihir Ahuja also makes OSS gripping

Starcast: Siddarth, Jimmy Shergill, Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja, Vinay Pathak, Manu Rishi Chadda, Dia Mirza, Amrita Bagchi, Prajakta Kohli and others

Genre: War drama

Creators: Kushal Srivastava and Abhijeet Singh Parmar

Director: Omi Sen

Writers: Sandeep Jain, Nikhil Ravi and Barun Kashyap

Music: Amit Trivedi, Anurag Saikia etc

Cinematography: Satyajit Pande

Producers: Sanjay Routray, Sarita Patil etc

Production Companies: Feel Good films and Matchbox Shots

No of episodes: 6

Streaming site: Netflix

Patriotic dramas follow a certain template focusing on the themes of bravery and sacrifice. This has been explored umpteen times but when done right this can make for an engaging watch. Operation Safed Sagar is a good illustration of the above point. The director along his writers spend considerable time on building the interpersonal relationships before getting into action. This approach works for the series as the viewers are invested in the characters when the series takes a dramatic turn. OSS in brief highlights the courage of a squadron by the name of Golden Arrows and the high-altitude Airel mission. Of course, we know that India wins in the end, but the strength lies in the intimate details of the operation.

The strong aspect of OSS is its gradual building of drama. A large part of the initial episodes is spent on developing the characters and the interpersonal relationships. The character arcs have been well established. For example, Abhay Verma’s RS Dhaliwal starts off as an overconfident pilot gradually evolving into a dependable officer. He eventually understands the importance of teamwork. Mihir Ahuja as Baldy is going through his own inner conflict, this is connected to a delicate juggling act between professional and personal life. Prajakta Kohli plays Baldy’s love interest Madhavi, she has run away from home to be with him. these individual arcs give the show depth engaging the viewers.

Mention must also be made of the Pakistani characters especially Manu Rishi Chadda and Vinay Pathak. Manu Rishi Chadda plays General Parvez Musharaf, while Vinay Pathak is Nawaz Sharif. Manu Rishi Chadda portrays the ambitious nature of Parvez well making for a formidable antagonist, Vinay Pathak on the other hand is portrayed as a man stuck between peace rhetoric and military reality. The actor aces the moral conundrum making sure that the character doesn’t become a caricature, of course the layered writing helps too.

The family scenes though predictable have a lot of warmth, a special mention must be of the portions between Siddarth and Amrita Bagchi. There are some lovely moments of understated romance and as viewers you wish that Siddarth’s character didn’t die.

OSS also benefits from strong cinematography and poignant music. The scenes of aerial combat are visually stunning as well as giving thrills. The songs especially “Woh Aega” and “Aazma Le” create a strong impact.

OSS has a large cast with an interesting mix of seniors with upcoming talents, and the actors make their presence amply felt irrespective of screen time. Siddarth as squadron leader Ajay Ahuja brings in the required warmth and dignity as a mentor who understands his young pilots. Jimmy Shergill is equally effective bringing in the required authority as well as a reassuring presence.

Among the women Amrita Bagchi makes the biggest impact followed by Dia Mirza. The roles aren’t novel in any way, but the actresses do a fine job in portraying the required inner strength.

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Objection My Lord: A competent courtroom drama

Srikant Meka’s portrayal of a vulnerable yet determined lawyer largely anchors the show. The senior actor gets solid support from Ananya Sharma. As the female co-counsel Ananya pulls off the feisty nature well. Their dynamics bear a striking resemblance to Kesari 2, still the portions featuring the two gives the show some of its best moments. Objection My Lord isn’t groundbreaking relying on familiar tropes like the politician son being a spoilt brat. Keeping the cliches aside the show gives an important message on consent and how sex workers are also humans with feelings

Starcast: Srikant Meka, Ananya Sharma, Mukesh Rishi, Sameer and others

Genre: Courtroom drama

Based on: Sattamum Needhiyum

Director: Santhosh Ayyapaan

Writers: Raj Kumar Akella, Suryaa etc

Music: Arun Chiluveru

Cinematography: Suryaa

Producer: Raj Kumar Akella

Production house: Dream House

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: Zee 5

Objection My Lord streaming on Zee 5 is a mishmash of numerous Indian courtroom dramas. Of course, the base of this series is the Tamil one Sattamum Needhiyum. But even those who haven’t seen the Tamil web show would be reminded of past movies exploring similar themes of social apathy and fight for justice. In spite of knowing how the story would unfold there is a certain thrill in seeing the underdog lawyer win. Objection My Lord major strength is the characterization of Srikant coupled with his act. But this is something which I will expand on later. First the story in brief. The series begins with a man called Narayana setting himself on fire. The reason for the suicide is the judicial system indifference. Srikant Meka is Parashuram, a former lawyer who has quit practice and now doing the job of a notary. There is a tragic professional flashback associated with Parashuram, however certain events lead to Parshuram putting on the black coat again. Ananya Sharma is Vedha, she is Parshuram’s protégée/co-counsel. Mukesh Rishi plays the opposition lawyer on excepted lines.

A bring strength of Objection My Lord is its gradual unravelling of different layers. The backstory story of late Narayana and the estranged daughter Sameera runs simultaneously as Parashuram and Vedha are connecting the dots. As a viewer you are engrossed on what led to Narayana to take such an extreme step and whether Sameera is alive or not.

At one point the viewers feel that Narayana cannot be trusted wholly when his backstory of a mental hospital is revealed. Of course, for those who have seen the Tamil show this holds lesser surprises. Still the engaging screenplay coupled with the performances keep you hooked.

The web series takes a solid turn when Parashuram and Vedha finally trace Sameera. Here we get the angle of sex workers through the eyes of Sameera. She is cheated by her ex-boyfriend and sold off to a brothel.

The physical and mental assault she goes because of a politician’s son and his friends has been written in a poignant manner. The importance of consent even if it’s a sex worker has come out in an impactful manner in the concluding portions.

Srikant Meka as already said is one of the shows main pillars. His Parshuram is a far cry from a typical flamboyant and larger than life lawyer. He is often ridiculed; it also doesn’t help that the man suffers from low self-esteem. But certain circumstances lead him to become a lawyer again. Srikant Meka aces the transformation of Parashuram making the viewers root for the protagonist’s win. Whether its the portion of nervous breakdown or the strong fighting spirit the senior actor doesn’t miss a single beat.

Ananya Sharma as Vedha is confidence personified, the young actress more than holds her own opposite Srikant. The best aspect of Vedha is that she isn’t afraid to speak her mind acting as an important catalyst. A specific mention must be made of the scene where Vedha saves herself from the bad guys with pepper spray. Ananya in short pulls off Ananya’s feisty nature well. Mukesh Rishi’s role falls under the category of a stereotypical opposition lawyer. Still, he has a commanding presence making the courtroom battle engaging. The rest of the cast have their moments too especially Snehal Kamat as Sameera. Her breakdown scene in the show’s final episode is touching.

The production design of Bramha Kadali is solid, the courtroom settings have an authentic nature. Arun Chiluveru’s songs contribute effectively to the emotional core.

Objection My Lord suffers from two major issues. One is the cliched portrayal of a politician son and his friends. Its high time that filmmakers move away from portraying ministers’ sons as spoilt brats, it’s becoming highly caricaturist. Another big flaw is the severely underwritten family dynamics. Parashuram’s strained relationship with the son comes across as a filler contributing nothing to the story

Final word: Objection My Lord is worth watching for its societal undertones provided you are in the mood for a serious subject

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Musafir Cafe: A tender tale of romance and finding oneself

Based on a book by the same name director Ruchir Arun does a good job in portraying the complexities of modern love. Musafir Cafe paints an interesting picture on the pressures of conventional society, certain expectations related to marriage and career plans. The web series also looks at how love can happen at different stages in life. The journey of Vikrant Massey’s Chander compliments the theme perfectly. In spite of some lag the web series remains largely watchable thanks to the solid cast and two well written love stories. A special mention must be made of Mahima Makwana as the third wheel. Both the writing and the actress make sure that the character doesn’t become a stereotypical rival.

Starcast: Vikrant Massey, Vedika Pinto, Mahima Makwana, Adil Hussain and others

Genre: Romance

Director: Ruchir Arun

Writer and creator: Sharanya Rajgopal

Based on: Musafir Cafe by Divya Prakash Dubey

Music: Raghav Kaushik. Neel Adhikari and Garvit Priyansh

Cinematography: Anirudha

Producers: Vikrant Massey and Anuj Gosalia

Production houses: Homemade stories and Terribly Tiny Tales Production

No of episodes: 8

Streaming site: Netflix

Before dissecting Musafir Cafe its necessary to appreciate Vikrant for venturing into production with this kind of story. A full-fledged romantic story in an Ott space is an anomaly and kudos to Vikrant for backing a show like this. Musafir Cafe primarily focuses on two love stories and three individuals. Vikrant Massey’s Chander starts off as software engineer, later though he follows his passion of opening an intimate mountain cafe. In one way the man is an Imtiaz Ali protagonist from something like Tamasha bored of conventional routine. Vedika Pinto is Sudha, she is a fiercely independent woman with clear cut career plans. Marriage doesn’t fit anywhere in her menu, without giving much away Chander and Sudha share a turbulent past. Last but not the least Mahima Makwana is Preeti, Preeti is Chander’s present partner both in the cafe as well as personal life. This is the basic synopsis

A strong aspect of Musafir Cafe is the intertwining of Chander’s past with his present life. The meet up of Chander and Sudha and their subsequent falling in love has an excellent mix of lighthearted and intense moments. How Sudha shapes up Chander’s eventual dream is straight out of an Imitiaz Ali movie still the writing coupled with the performances make it work.

Talking about the intense scenes a mention must be of the portions in which the two find themselves at crossroads. As already mentioned marriage isn’t in the menu of Sudha though she loves Chander. For her professional dreams and looking after mother is more important. There is a point of Chander deciding to move to Mumbai and settling down with her. There are a series of heated arguments with Sudha leaving Chander.

These portions are emotionally poignant making the viewers feel sad for Chander, at the same time it’s hard to dislike Sudha completely. The present portions of Chander with Preeti are also engaging in their own way. Yes, the writing in these portions isn’t fully developed still there is a palpable warmth in the scenes between Vikrant and Mahima. Some of their conversations like the portion of Preeti egging Chander to find a closure is solidly written and enacted. The Chander that we see in the present and the past varies significantly in terms of the mental space and Vikrant brings that out beautifully.

Mahima makes her presence amply felt too, she plays Preeti with grace and emotional maturity. There is a dialogue in the web series where a character describes Preeti as a life partner you shouldn’t miss, and Mahima does a very fine job in portraying those qualities while at the same time not being a complete saint. Vedika Pinto as Sudha has a strong screen presence, she too does an excellent job in portraying Sudha’s feisty nature as well as the more vulnerable moments. The supporting cast led by the ever-effective Adil Hussain are good too, but these characters could have done with better depth. Adil’s scenes with Vikrant have some solid dialogues especially an important scene of advice.

Musafir Cafe also benefits from soulful music and wonderful cinematography. The songs composed by multiple musicians perfectly compliment Chander’s journey. Among the songs Tera Hua, Kaafi Hain Na and Darmiyaan stand out. Anirudha’s cinematography especially the mountain shots and Musafir Cafe brimming with people makes for a good visual viewing.

Final word: Musafir Cafe is definitely worth binging for fans of romance and those who are interested in stories dwelling into relationships.

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Gurthukostunnayi: A perfect comfort watch for fans of nostalgia

Winod Gali follows the blueprint of ETV Wins success formula to the t. Having said that there is enough to hold the viewers particularly the friendship core. It also helps that Viraj Ashwin is successful in portraying the confusion and vulnerabilities, both the writing of Rajeskher Reddy Baddam and Viraj make the viewers empathize with the protagonist’s memory loss. The climatic speech in particular deserves a special mention, yes its filmy but the effective staging makes it work.

Starcast: Viraj Ashwin, Viva Raghav, Godavari Gopi, Pavan Siddu, Yashashree Rao, Priyadarshini Ram and others

Genre: Feel good

Story and Direction: Winod Gali

Writer: Rajeskher Reddy Baddam

Music and background score: Ajay Arasada

Cinematographer: Rehen Shaik

Producer: Sarath Chandra Nayadu

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: ETV Win

The huge success of 90’s Middle Class biopic and the blockbuster Little Hearts has turned ETV Win into a solid production house. The feel-good storytelling coupled with zero violence has won numerous hearts. Yes, this also comes with a minus as the production house hasn’t experimented much with other genres but that’s a separate topic. Gurthukostunnayi more or less sticks to the success formula and for a large part its entertaining with some heartfelt moments.

Gurthukostunnayi in brief focuses on Viraj Ashwin’s Santhosh. Santhosh has managed to win the approval of his future father-in-law Raghunath (Priyadarshini Ram). Raghunath was once upon a time principal to Santhosh and his batch of friends. Yashashree Rao is Santhosh’s fiancé Vaishali, things appear to be smooth, but a roadblock comes in the form of an unfortunate accident. Santhosh goes through a memory loss with just some time to go for the wedding. How Santhosh’s friends stand with him doing their best to get his memory back and how our protagonist overcomes the obstacles is the basic premise of Gurthukostunnayi.

There is nothing plot heavy about Gurthukostunnayi just like 90’s Middle Class biopic and Little Hearts. It’s more about the treatment and taking viewers back on a nostalgia ride. On both these accounts the director and writer have succeeded.

The portions of the three friends reconstructing Santhosh’s childhood deserves a special mention. A lot of scenes feel authentic even if you as a viewer haven’t experienced it personally. A major chunk of the situational humor comes from the desperation of the friends as well as Santhosh’s father in making sure that Santhosh and Vaishali have a happy ending.

Adding to the precarious situation is Priyadarshini Ram’s Raghunath. Raghunath personally has a low opinion about Santhosh having watched from his teenage days. He still agrees as the daughter is deeply in love, deep inside though he is waiting for Santhosh to mess up. This leads to some amusing situations raising ample chuckles.

Mention must also be made of how Raghunath has been written. On the surface he may come across as a stereotypical obstacle to Santhosh and Vaishali’s happy ending. But he has his valid reasons for not trusting Santhosh fully, there is a crucial moment when Raghunath leds his guard down expressing his concern. Priyadarshini Ram is very good in portraying the hard exterior as well as the vulnerability of a bride’s father.

The love story between Santhosh and Vaishali though doesn’t get the same attention as the friendship portions. Its severely undercooked and as a result it’s hard to completely root for Vaishali’s anxiousness. Having said that Yashashree Rao does a good job within her limited screen time. She particularly stands out in the scene of Santhosh’s memory loss being revealed. The determination of Vaishali has been brought out well by Yashashree Rao.

Among the three friends Viva Raghav impress the most in the comedy department as well a solid emotional scene. There is an important portion where the character lashes out on Santhosh. It’s a heated argument and Viva Raghav does an excellent job.

Rohini Hattangadi as Santhosh’s grandmother also makes her presence amply felt. Her scenes in the fifth and the seventh episode stand out. Her conversation with Viraj in a crucial moment has some nice philosophical undertones.

Music composed by Ajay Arasada goes perfectly with the show’s tonality. The song Ee Vayase is soulful. The background score is of a good order too particularly the climactic portion of Santhosh’s long monologue. This monologue comes with a hidden secret too. The timing of it and how it has been narrated packs an emotional punch.

The cinematography of Rehen Sheik is of a good order too particularly the visual pallet of the flashback portions. Overall Gurthukostunnayi makes for an entertaining watch particularly if you are in the mood for reminiscing about your friends and grandparents.

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Pritam and Pedro: An effective cautionary tale on cybercrime

Arshad Warsi and Vir Hirani rise above an uneven screenplay. The camaraderie between the two largely stirs the show. Vikrant Massey as the cybercriminal is excellent too. His entry gives the proceedings a much-needed gravity. The characters backstory and his dynamics with Vir Hirani give the show some of its best moments. Creator and writer Rajkumar Hirani gives an important message on malicious hackers, hacked web cams and parenting in digital age

Starcast: Arshad Warsi, Vir Hirani, Vikrant Massey, Satyadeep Misra, Mona Singh and others

Genre: Crime thriller

Creator and writer: Rajkumar Hirani

Additional writers: Abhijat Joshi and Suyash Trivedi

Direction and cinematography: Avinash Arun Dhaware

Producer: Rajkumar Hirani

Production House: Rajkumar Hirani films

No of episodes: 6

Streaming site: Disney+Hotstar

Music: Shantanu Moitra

Pritam and Pedro has a distinct stamp of Rajkumar Hirani films though it isn’t directed by him. The web series deals with heavy themes, but the show never gets too dark. The antagonist character gets a redemption arc too. This approach gives a show its distinct identity. For those excepting another Paatal Lok from Avinash Arun would be disappointed. But for fans of Rajkumar Hirani’s storytelling this makes for a fun weekend watch while also dwelling into relevant issues.

The story of Pritam and Pedro focuses on two distinct individuals. Arshad Wari’s Pedro is an old school cop having issues with the new age technology. Vir Hirani’s Pritam is a tech savvy young man, certain situations lead the two to teaming up, the show gets going with a high-profile kidnapping case. The minister’s son has disappeared. Pritam and Pedro are soon sucked into the world of cyber threats, hackers and digital crime networks. How Pritam’s past is tied up with Vikrant Massey’s Martin forms the major core.

A major strength of Pritam and Pedro are the contrasting personalities. Pedro is driven by the traditional methods of investigation unlike Pritam who sees solutions through coding and digital based technology. How the two strike a balance between old school and new school eventually developing a bond has been wonderfully written and enacted.

A special mention must be of the scenes in which Pedro gets transferred to cybercrime. Pedro neither understands nor respects that world. This leads to some genuinely funny moments. For example, there is the dialogue ” School taught us ABCD, then why does computer keyboard begin with QWERTY? Banda Kaam Kare Ye alphabet dhunde? the exasperation on Arshad Wari’s face coupled with the situaton leaves the viewers in spilts.

Both the writing and Arshad make sure that Pedro doesn’t become just a bumbling cop used for laughs. Yes the man is technologically changed but Pedro is an experienced cop who is competent at what he does. Pritam on the other hand happens to be very good at dealing with cybercriminals, but that doesn’t mean that he is an arrogant young man.

The humor never gets mean and is generated organically. Vir Hirani more than holds his own delivering a confident performance. There are some touching emotional bits when Pritam opens up about a certain past action. Vir does an excellent job in making the viewers feel the pain of Pritam.

Vikrant Massey as Martin enters at a crucial juncture when the show is sought of trudging along. His entry increases the stakes, as a cybercriminal with a solid back story the actor does an excellent job proving again why he is a very competent actor.

He especially stands out in a confrontation scene with Vir Hirani portraying anguish and threat in a wonderful manner. Satyadeep Misra and Shruti Marathe as anxious parents are also good in their respective parts. The usually brilliant Mona Singh as Pedro’s wife gets a raw deal, nevertheless the actress shines in her limited screen time.

The show also has some important passages highlighting children getting addicted to online games and how this makes them vulnerable to digital predators. The challenges of parenting in digital age has been organically woven rather than just a random passage.

Avinash Arun’s cinematography captures the lush locations of Goa well. The music of Shantanu Moitra is quite forgettable barring Piya Piya Piya. The background score of Sanjay Wandrekar though is peppy especially the theme used for Vikrant Massey scenes.

One major issue with the show are the beginning episodes. The initial case of ATM feels like more of a filler for Pedro and Pritam to meet, it doesn’t hold much substance. Even the subplot of a lost radio and the deep attachment of Pritam’s grandfather with it isn’t developed sufficiently.

Final word: Pritam and Pedro is worth watching if you are in the mood for a feel-good entertainer in Rajkumar Hirani style.

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Super Subbu: An engaging rural dramedy

Creator and director Mallik Ram does a fine job in exploring the importance of sex education with a mix of humor and sensitivity. The characterization of Sundeep Kishan’s Subbu from a insecure young man to finding courage is a major strength of the show. The series also throws light on so called cultural beliefs dictating gender roles. Mithila Palkar as an aspiring actress is also wonderful giving solid support to Sundeep, she particularly shines in an audition sequence.

Starcast: Sundeep Kishan, Murali Sharma, Mithila Palkar, Getup Srinu, Jeevan Kumar, Sampoornesh Babu etc

Genre: Dramedy

Creator and director: Mallik Ram

Writers: Ramesh Eligeti and Shivani Dhobal

Producers: Rajiv Chilaka and Bharath Laxmipati

Production house: Chilika Productions

Cinematography: A J Aaron

Music: Anudeep Dev

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: Netflix

Humor as a genre is a very potent tool for exploring certain so-called taboo topics. Super Subbu streaming on Netflix is a solid example of this. The series blends social message with chuckle worthy moments. This is a tricky balance to achieve, but Maliik Ram along with the writers do a fine job for most of the duration. Sure, there are certain subplots which needed better writing, the romantic thread between Sundeep Kishan and the fiancé played by a charming Manasa Choudhary is severely undercooked. Having said that Super Subbu is very much worth binging for the performances and its social undertones.

The story of SS follows the journey of Subramanyam Chilukuri akka Subbu (A solid Sundeep Kishan). He is posted to a remote Telangana village called Makhipur. Subbu ha a precarious task of educating villagers on matters related to sex. Running parallel to this is Subbu’s troubled equation with Murali Sharma’s Kukkuteswar Rao. Kukkuteswar Rao is an authoritarian father cum teacher. He has a very dismissive towards sex education. In his own words its “pure unadulterated nonsense”. Subbu has a hard time in keeping the nature of his job a secret. How Subbu eventually finds acceptance among the villagers as well as his coming of age forms the core of Super Subbu.

The texture of Super Subbu bears a striking resemblance to both Vicky Donar as well as the Panchayat web series. Much like the latter here too the protagonist comes under the category of a reluctant hero. A young man forced to do something which he doesn’t like but eventually finds a sense of belonginess. The humor too has shades of Vicky Donar, still SS is very much its own beast, and this majorly comes from the village of Makhipur.

Mithila Palkar’s Swathi makes a key difference. Her dynamics with Sundeep Kishan and their blossoming love story gives the show some of its best moments. Mithila aces the Telangana dialect coming up with a solid act. Two scenes deserve a specific mention. One is an audition portion where she is enacting a dramatic moment, the other one is Swathi questioning her father’s patriarchal attitude in a poignant emotional sequence. In both these sequences Mithila is first rate. She also shares a nice chemistry with Sundeep.

However, the shows’ beating heart is the characterization of Subbu and the social issues woven around it. Maliik Ram and the writers have done a fantastic job in tackling themes not often seen in mainstream cinema. Through the journey of Subbu the makers have dwelt into protected sex, family planning, menstrual health and a woman’s wellbeing, all these have been seamlessly integrated making the series thoroughly engaging.

A pop culture reference to Pawan Kalyan’s Vaakel Sab with a no means no has also been excellently used. It becomes a tool of mini revolt for the village women when they don’t want to engage in sex with their husbands. An underlining theme of consent being important has come out well

The characterization of Subbu as already said is a major plus, Subbu is someone who starts off as an indifferent educator. He just wants to make an exit out of Makhipur as soon as possible. But as Subbu witnesses the challenges faced by these women especially in the matters of intimacy and childbirth he genuinely starts to care. Sundeep is first rate in capturing this transformation. The actor also does a fine job in capturing the insecurities of a son living under the shadows of an overbearing father.

Murali Sharma as the terrifying father figure brings in both authority and humor in equal measures. He particularly shines in the scenes of showcasing Kukkuteswar Rao’s discomfort with the topic of sex. Among the rest Getup Srinu as Subbu’s subordinate and ally makes a significant impact with his comic timing. Jeevan Kumar in the role of a principal antagonist brings in an intimidating presence.

AJ Aaron captures both the earthiness and the vibrancy of Makhipur in a solid manner. Anudeep Dev’s music on the other hand compliments the journey of Subbu well.

Final word: Super Subbu is indeed a job very well done. For fans of rural dramedies this show is very much worth binging on.

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Enola Homles 3: A strong anti-colonial thread in a muddled thriller

The third part of this enjoyable franchise has a strong-willed protagonist and a villain modeled on Robin Hood. As an investigative thriller the film lacks the required finesse. There are stretches with the detective elements taking a complete backseat. Having said that the romantic subplot coupled with the political intrigue makes it an enjoyable watch

Starcast: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavil, Louis Patridge, Helena Bonham Carter, Sharon Ducan Brewster and others

Genre: Mystery

Director: Philip Bartani

Screenplay: Jack Thorne

Based on: The novel Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer

Producers: Mary Parent, Millie Bobby Brown etc

Production Houses: Legendary Entertainment and PCMA Productions

Cinematography: Matthew Lewis

Running time: 1 hour and 50 minutes

Streaming site: Netflix

Enola Holmes films holds a unique space for its portrayal of feminism in a detective genre. Through the three movies we have a female protagonist going beyond the archaic traditions. In the first two films the viewers saw Enola embarking on various adventures and gradually coming out of her brother Sherlock’s shadow. By the time we come to this part Enola has firmly established her identity as acknowledged by her brother in the closing portions. EH3 is set around the sudden disappearance of Sherlock during Enola’s wedding day. The story in simple terms is about how Enola rescues Sherlock while learning the delicate balance between love, family and a sense of purpose. A political thread running simultaneously is colonialism and how this forces some to become extremists.

A strong aspect of EH 3 is the characterization of actor/producer Millie Bobby Brown. Her character comes with different shades in comparison to the previous ones. Yes, Enola is no longer the impulsive teenager out to prove a point. She has earned respect with her intelligence and courage. Having said that adulthood comes with its own things. Enola’s struggles of balancing her fiercely independent nature, while wanting to settle down with Louis Patridge Tewkesbury gives EH3 some of its best moments. Millie Bobby Brown nails the conflicting emotions making Enola’s coming of age an enjoyable journey.

Louis Patridge as Tewkesbury isn’t reduced to a bystander at any moment. He gets a solid arc of his own especially a crucial revelation about his father’s dark side. The romantic scenes between him and Millie Bobby Brown have some lovely moments with good depth. In short Louis Patridge gives major boyfriend goals with his portrayal of steadfast love.

The dynamics between Sherlock and Enola has also been well done. The climatic portion of Sherlock finally acknowledging Enola as his equal with some heartfelt dialogues pack a solid punch. Henrey Cavil makes a strong impact in this particular stretch.

Another interesting aspect of EH 3 is the political subplot spun around the investigation. Sharon Duncan Brewester playing Moriatary isn’t your stereotypical villain. Her villainy stems from anger towards class privilege and imperial injustice. Yes, Moriatary is ruthless and not likeable having said that her distaste towards colonialism has some valid points.

A major problem with EH 3 is the familiar technique of Enola speaking to the audiences. There was a certain novelty to this technique in the first two parts but here it comes across as laborious. Another issue with EH 3 are the underwritten detective portions.

The juggling act of romantic thread with Enola’s investigation doesn’t blend seamlessly. As a result, the eventual solving doesn’t hit the required high notes. Equal focus on both with a different running time would have benefitted EH 3 more.

Final word: Keeping aside the flaws Enola Holmes 3 makes for a fun weekend watch with a strong feminist aspect.

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Save The Tigers Season 3: A fun cosmic twist with some relationship lessons

Unlike the last two seasons this installment scores less on humor. Having said that the use of parallel world and the realizations undergone by the three protagonists makes the third season a compelling watch. The trio of Priyadarshi, Abhinav Gomatam and Chaitanya Krishna successfully take off from the previous seasons. They slip into their respective parts with practiced ease while also portraying the new variations in a wonderful manner

Starcast: Priyadarshi, Abhinav Gomaram, Chaitanya Krishna, Jordar Sujatha, Pavani Gangireddy, Deviyani Sharma, Jabardasth Rohini, Gundu Sudharshan, Vennela Kishore and others

Genre: Comedy/drama

Director: Sriram Eragam

Writers: Pradeep Adviatham, Vijay Namoju and D.S Gautam

Creators: Mahi V Raghav and Pradeep Adviatham

Music: Ajay Arsada

Cinematography: S.V Vishweshwar

Producers: Shiva Meka and Sahiti Chintalapadi

Production Company: Three Autum Leaves

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: Disney+Hotstar

Save The Tigers holds an important place among the numerous streaming shows. A major reason for that is its exploration of marital life from different angles. This time too creator Mahi V Raghav gives a fresh spin to a familiar territory. The web series takes the famous English quote “Grass is Greener on the Other Side” and makes it an underlying theme in the realization journey of the three frustrated husbands. In the previous two seasons they were constantly questioning their married lives, but the twist of a parallel world where they temporarily take the place of their doppelgangers brings a significant change in them. These portions give Season 3 its best moments

Season 3 begins with a kidnap scenario, the details of which are better explored while watching. Then we move to a flashback setting up the frustration of Ghanta Ravi, Rahul and Vikram. Ghanta Ravi (Priyadarshi) has moved to a gated community and is struggling to cope with the new atmosphere, Rahul (Abhinav Gomatam) is stuck in a job which he hates. Finally, Vikram (Chaitanya Krishna) is having a difficult time due to the divorce scenario. One particular night the three in a state of alcohol question the god above. Vennela Kishore plays Lord Indra; Lord Indra decides to give them a fresh start with the help of Gundu Sudharshan’s Chitragupta. What follows is chaos mixed with a life changing swap.

As already mentioned STT 3 is less funny in comparison to the previous seasons. This takes a while to adjust, also the reestablishment of familiar domestic conflicts and character dynamics needed to be crisper. There are stretches too where the story seems to be going in circles.

However, the show finds its rhythm once the fantasy concept sets in fully. The new world in which our protagonists find themselves in give a fresh angle rather than simply recycling old arguments. The shows best moments are those when the three men introspect about their constant complaining and realize the invisible effort of their wives in holding their respective marriages together.

The fantasy of Grass being Greener on the other side isn’t used for just surface level. It acts an important catalyst for our protagonists to change. This has come out solidly in the season’s latter half.

The underlying themes of gratitude, companionship and the need for empathy in a successful marriage has come out in a subtle but very effective manner. Along with the theme of marriage the web series also throws light on parenting and respecting female perspective. These themes again have been seamlessly integrated into the narrative rather than just a sudden add on.

The new characters give their own charm especially Gundu Sudharshan and Vennela Kishore. Gundu Sudharshan lends in the right amount of mischievousness and his interactions with Vennela Kishore raise ample chuckles, the conversations between the two give also give an important insight into the marriage system. Vennela Kishore too does a fine job as Lord Indira. His punchlines in particular are a riot. Jhansi as the judge also has her moments especially her dialogues about the process of divorce.

However, the major spine of STT 3 continues to be Priyadarshi, Abhinav Gomatam and Chaitanya Krishna. Whether it’s the role frustrated husbands going through realization or the doppelgangers they don’t miss a single beat. The chemistry is once again spot on elevating the bumpy patches. The women also leave a significant mark whether it’s the wives or Jabardasth Rohini as Rahul’s maid. The interactions of Abhinav Gomatam and Rohini have a different dynamic as Rohini’s character is part of the parallel world too. Rohini gets a solid mass moment too where she saves our hero’s, and this adds a nice touch.

The score of Ajay Arasda complements the comic and emotional moments well. The cinematography of S.V Visheshwar is suitably glossy in the portions of Lord Indra.

Final word: STT 3 is an interesting mix of fantasy with some important lessons on what it takes to sustain marriage. Definitely worth watching for the message and the actors.

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Citadel Season 2: Priyanka Chopra holds fort in a more gripping follow up

Directors Joe Russo, David Weil and Greg Yaitanes do a far superior job in building up the emotional stakes. The characterization of Priyanka Chopra deserves a special mention. A solid supporting cast especially Stanley Tucci also helps in keeping the momentum going. But the themes of surveillance and power needed better etching. The show becomes too tangled for its own good at certain points

Starcast: Priyanka Chopra, Richard Mason, Stanley Tucci, Jack Reynor, Matt Berr, Gabriel Leone etc

Genre: Espionage

Directors: Joe Russo, David Weil and Greg Yaitnes

Creators: Josh Applelbaum and Bryan Oh

Writers: Tori Sampson, Kennedy Edmonds etc

Cinematographer: Newton Thomas Sigel

Producers: Joe Russo, David Weil, Anthony Ruso etc

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: Amazon Prime

The first season of Citadel season 1 released with a lot of hype on an estimated budget of $300 million. However, the show didn’t live up to its promise. A main reason for that was more style than substance. The writing was majorly criticized for its hollowness. For those who haven’t season 1 the show was about two elite spies Nadia and Mason Kane (Priyanka Chopra and Richard Mason respectively). They survive the destruction of a rival syndicate, but their memories are wiped out leaving them to assume civilian identities. Season 2 comes after a gap of three years with little to no expectations. Season 2 does turn out to be a pleasant surprise though especially for fans of Priyanka Chopra.

Citadel Season 1 image

Citadel Season 2

Season two of Citadel in brief is about a brain chip capable of turning people into human assassins. Stanley Tucci’s Bernard brings back the estranged spies/former lovers Nadia and Mason Kane in order to stop a major global conspiracy. This includes a certain assassination plan. The backdrop is G8 Summit. Along with the main plot the changed interpersonal dynamics between the two leads also play a significant part.

A strong aspect of Citadel season 2 are the portions between Priyanka Chopra and her on screen daughter Asha. Their equation has a few similarities to the Raj and Dk’s own spin off Citadel: Honey Bunny. Still the writing coupled with the actors gives the show some of its best moments. Nadia wants to protect her young daughter from the danger outside; at the same time, she doesn’t want the daughter to lose her innocence. A tender mother and daughter moment includes Nadia singing Kishore Kumar’s Ab Chal Ke Tujhe. Through the song Nadia implies that she wants to take her daughter to a more peaceful place. When Nadia says no one is listening Asha replies back saying she is. The daughter goes on to hum the same song. This moment gives a much-needed emotional texture.

Priyanka Chopra as Nadia gets a much-layered arc this time whether it is as an agent, a mother, a betrayed lover and a conflicted woman. Priyanka aces all of these portions apart from some solid action. The action sequences have been much better choreographed and staged. Richard Masson also gets a much meatier part, and he makes his scenes count as well. A particular mention must be made of the portions featuring him and the on-screen mother (Lesley Manvile). The confrontation scenes with sprinklings of humor make for some engaging moments.

Stanley Tucci as Bernad is another major plus for Citadel Season 2. He raises ample chuckles with his sarcastic humor as well as bringing an authority whenever required. At the same time, he also shines in a few dramatic bits like the one post the death of Mason Kane.

A special mention must also be made of how the directors and writers have explored the terrifying scenario of memory manipulation. The viewers feel that the some of the situations may happen with them too. It also helps that Gabriel Leone makes for a chilling antagonist.

One of the major issues with Citadel Season 2 is the surface level writing of Nadia’s strained equation with her mother. Unlike the Mason Kane’s portions exploring the same thread here the writing doesn’t fully develop into something cohesive. The standard spy tropes also play a spoilsport. Finally, some of the big themes needed more space to explore. In a rush to become a globe trotter the series loses focus with abrupt jumps.

Final words: Citadel Season 2 doesn’t reinvent the spy genre, still it makes for an engaging watch especially in comparison to the season 1 disaster

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Exam: Strong performances anchor this relevant tale of systemic corruption

A Sarkunam’s Exam has its rough patches especially the latter episodes. But the web series is worth watching for how it tackles the pressures faced by hard working aspirants. Dushara Vijayan as Jhansi is the show’s beating heart and she gets good support from both Aditi Balan and Abbas

Starcast: Dushara Vijayan, Aditi Balan, Abbas and others

Genre: Thriller/drama

Director and writer: A Sarkunam

Creators: Puskhar- Gayathri

Producers: Gayathri Pushkar

Cinematographer: Arun Amarenthiran

Production Company: Wall watcher Films

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: Amazon Prime

Exam created by the acclaimed director duo Gayathri-Pushkar bears a striking resemblance to the numerous question papers leaks and the effect it has on students. A solid example of it is the recent NEET. The web series starts with a bang exploring how the paper leaks happen and privilege eroding merit. There is a lived-in feel to the proceedings. But the latter ones don’t completely live up to the earlier promise, this is something I will get to later. The story of Exam in brief focuses on a determined woman Jhansi (an excellent Dushara Vijyan). She infiltrates a highly dangerous syndicate under the guise of a new police officer. Jhansi comes with her own past and its related to DSP Maramalli (Aditi Balan). How Jhansi unearths the scam saving the dreams of many honest students forms the main core of Exam.

A strong aspect of Exam is the emotional undercurrents more than the thriller aspect. The determination of Jhansi in unearthing the scam and a poignant back story gives the web series some of its best moments. The viewers feel the pain of Jhansi and understand why she is taking such a big risk.

Her dynamics with DSP Maramaali and the two striking an unlikely sisterhood during the closing portions has also been solidly written and enacted. Aditi Balan starts off as a privileged brat, but both the writing and the actress humanize the character never tipping into a caricature.

Mention must also be made of how A Sarkunam handles the theme of systemic corruption. Numerous scenes bear an uncanny similarity to what we come across in daily newspapers. The entire process of exam scandals has been meticulously crafted.

The frustration of honest students with the psychological toll hits hard. There is an important line when a character talks about how the government systems need to be more efficient in cracking down corruption. There is a further mention of how someone like a Jhansi wouldn’t be needed if the officials had done their job properly. This sums up the actions of Jhansi nicely. The viewers feel happy when Jhansi gets formally appointed no longer needing to impersonate someone else.

A mention must also be made of the track featuring Abbas and Dushara Vijayan. Abbas’s Jayachandran is also a victim of systemic corruption much like Jhansi. His character comes with words of wisdom especially the scene post Jhansi’s suicide attempt. He plays the mentor with a lot of warmth becoming an important pillar of support. His death sequence has a certain poignancy.

Dushara Vijayan though is the central pillar of Exam with a first-rate act. Whether it’s the vulnerable moments or the determination Dushara is simply excellent. Dushara particularly shines in the portion of her identity being blown.

The cinematography of Arun Amarenthiran is of a good order. The mist covered setting creates a sense of concealment aiding the story. Sam CS background score aids the tension filled scenarios.

A major problem with Exam are the mid portions. Certain characters are introduced but the payoff isn’t satisfactory. Also, the story struggles in balancing the investigative tension with personal drama as the show progresses.

Final word: Exam is worth watching for the solid performances and the social themes