Category: OTT Films & Webseries

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My Dear Donga: A breezy rom-com with a lovable thief

The USP of ‘My Dear Donga’ is how love blossoms between the robber and a young woman stuck in an unhappy relationship.
My Dear Donga (Telugu), 19-04-2024, Romantic-Comedy,1 hour 43 minutes, U/A OTT
  • Main Cast: Abhinav Gomatam, Shalini Kondepudi, Nikhil Gajula, and Divya Sripada
  • Director: BS Sarwagna Kumar
  • Producer: Maheshwar Reddy Gojala
  • Music Director: Ajay Arasada
  • Cinematography: SS Manoj
  • Rating: 3/5
  • Published in: Southfirst

Light-hearted rom-coms with some fun always make for a good stress buster. My Dear Donga, directed by BS Sarwagna Kumar, fits perfectly in this category.

The storyline of My Dear Donga is paper thin but Shalini Kondepudi, who has written the story and acted, ensures there is some good situational humour in the movie.

The subject of My Dear Donga focuses on new-age relationships and the small things, which matter in the long run.

Synopsis

Sujatha (Shalini Kandepudi) has been in a relationship for over two years with Vishal (Nikhil Gajula).

Vishal is a doctor who lies to his girlfriend about being in an ICU when he is actually watching a cricket match with his friends. Apart from this, he also occasionally ignores her with some excuse.

Things reach a crescendo when Sujatha learns that there is no ICU in the workplace of Vishal. She catches him red-handed handed watching a cricket match with a friend.

Naturally, Sujatha is devastated and reaches home broken mentally.

A robber named Suresh (Abhinav Gomatam) is already in her house and picks up a few valuables. Initially, she is shocked but soon, Sujatha and Suresh start conversing with each other as they have some commonalities in terms of family backgrounds, they hate their respective fathers.

Things get more complicated with the arrival of Vishal and her two friends. They visit Sujatha’s house to celebrate her birthday, and Sujatha introduces Suresh as her childhood friend.

The rest of the story is about how the birthday party goes and how she develops feelings towards Suresh.

Explores today’s relationships

Team ‘My Dear Donga’. (X)

A strong aspect of My Dear Donga is its crisp running time. At one hour and 43 minutes, the movie never feels dragged out.

Director BS Sarwagna quickly establishes the thorny relationship of Sujatha and Vishal.

Here, it has to be said that Sujatha is telling her story to a bartender who listens to her with complete attention. His reaction shots coupled with the conversations between them raise many chuckles.

How Sujatha develops feelings towards Suresh and the blossoming of love has been etched well.

A good example of this is when Suresh takes Sujatha & Co out, giving a huge surprise by celebrating her birthday with cake.

The situational humour involving Abhinav Gomatam also has some fun moments.

Special mention must be of the scenes where Divya Sripada’s character questions Abhinav Gomatam’s Suresh about where he and Sujatha met and which school they studied in.

As mentioned above, My Dear Donga focuses on the small things that matter in a relationship. Arranging surprise party poppers, washing the plates, and spending more time with the girl you love may appear trivial. But sometimes, these very same things give big happiness. This aspect has come out strongly.

Technical crafts

Ajay Arasada’s music could have been more soulful, but still, the tunes go with the movie’s flow. The title song “My Dear Donga” has been well-tuned.

There isn’t much scope for cinematography here given the setting but still, the film looks good visually.

Apart from relatively weak music, the reasons for Abhinav Gomatam’s Suresh becoming a burglar does not make much logical sense.

Also, we are never shown whether the mother comes to know about her son being a robber or not.

In the initial portion of the movie, we hear her voice. But after the family backgrounds are discussed, there is no mention of her.

Abhinav and Shalini excel

Abhinav Gomatam and Shalini Kandepudi do most of the heavy lifting.

Abhinav Gomatam’s ability to generate humour is of course well known. Here too, the actor does not disappoint. He plays the loveable thief with a lot of charm.

Apart from the comic scenes Abhinav also proves his versatility in the portions where Suresh gives wisdom.

As the story progresses, Shalini Kondepudi brings in both the required innocence and the strong-headed nature.

The rest of the actors do as required.

Final take

My Dear Donga makes for a good weekend watch in the family. Some moments in the film will definitely connect to this generation.

It is streaming on AHA.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/my-dear-donga-telugu-movie-review

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Amar Singh Chamkila: Imtiaz Ali returns back with a bang

After a series of love stories, Imtiaz Ali takes a welcome detour and delivers a hard-hitting film that goes beyond a biographical drama.
Amar Singh Chamkila (Hindi), 12-04-2024, Biological Drama, 2 hours 26 minutes, U/A, OTT
  • Main Cast: Diljit Dosanjh, Parineeti Chopra, Apinderdeep Singh, Nisha Bano, and Anjum Batra
  • Director: Imtiaz Ali
  • Producer: Imtiaz Ali and Mohit Choudary
  • Music Director: AR Rahman
  • Cinematography: Sylvester Fonseca
  • Rating: 4/5
  • Published in: Southfirst

Imtiaz Ali is a director who is known primarily for making love stories and he has found good success in that genre except for Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017)and Love Aaj Kal (2020).

But one of Imtiaz Ali’s best works to date remains Highway (2014). The director focused his lens on the issue of sexual abuse with the backdrop of Stockholm syndrome.

The film was a major breakthrough for the now national award winner Alia Bhatt. It is also one of Randeep Hooda’s best works.

In the last few years, Imtiaz hasn’t had the best run at the box, both critically and commercially.

Tamasha (2015) did moderate business but Jab Harry Met Sejal along with Love Aaj Kal 2 were damp squibs in more ways than one.

Finally, Imtiaz Ali has broken his dry run with the movie Amar Singh Chamkila.

Synopsis

Amar Singh Chamkila begins with the assassination of the controversial Punjab Pop Singer played by Diljit Dosanjh and his wife Amrajot Kaur (Parineeti Chopra).

Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’. (X)

The husband and wife were a popular duo who had sung many songs.

From here the movie goes into non-linear storytelling that talks about the formative years of Chamkila which had a huge influence on his music, and how he goes from a Dalit laborer to a singer who is both admired and criticized in equal measure for the brazen lyrics that are sexual in nature.

At times Amar Singh Chamkila also plays out like a whodunit giving an insight into the groups who had a big issue with how Chamkila didn’t adhere to the social diktats.

One of the things that majorly works for Amar Singh Chamkila is the characterization of the titular role. Diljit Dosanjh’s character is not a rebel by design.

There are scenes in the second half when Chamkila tries to move away from his regular songs and tried devotional, but the audiences want Chamkila to sing what he is famous for.

Chamkila is not someone who is dismissive of what is happening around him, but at the same time he is a man who chooses not to be bullied into submission.

In that way Chamkila’s character proves to be a worthy successor to the previous Imtiaz Ali protagonists whose intent was to live more freely and in the process discover their purpose in life.

Many pertinent questions

In the two hours and 26 minutes running time Imtiaz packs in many themes.

For example who gets to decide what an actual art is? Should an artist endure a lifetime of hate and humiliation for choices that are driven by circumstances? And finally how there is a huge difference between criticizing an art versus wanting to ban something that does not align with our tastes.

Parineeti Chopra in ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’. (X)

There are many powerful moments in Amar Singh Chamkila that stay in the viewers’ minds for a long time.

For example, a journalist comes to meet Chamkila and insists on having a personal interview. Chamkila is reluctant to the extent that he won’t even look into her eyes, the reason being this journalist has worn pants.

This portion works as a hard-hitting statement on how a singer has no issues in writing songs describing women’s sexuality in a raw manner but at the same time, modern clothing is a big problem for this man.

Amar Singh Chamkila also boasts of some hard-hitting dialogues. There is a scene where Chamkila talks about how everyone isn’t blessed with the privilege of thinking about what is right and wrong.

He goes on to add that he certainly is not in that position and makes music to just feel alive.

The film also has some archival footage showing the real Amar Singh Chamkila and the wife Amrajot Kaur, this is juxtaposed with the scenes of Diljit and Parineeti.

Sure this technique becomes distracting on occasions but still the raw footage makes it easier for the audiences to understand why the real Chamkila was considered as a threat by the purists.

Technical aspects

AR Rahman’s music coupled with Irshad Kamil’s lyrics is the backbone of Amar Singh Chamkila. Mohit Chauhan’s “Baaja” sets the tone perfectly capturing the spirit of Chamkila. “Tu Kya Jaane” is another wonderful number celebrating the love between the husband and wife.

The camerawork by Sylvester Fonseca is also first-rate. The cameraman deserves distinction marks for bringing alive the 1970’s and 80’s of Punjab. A particular mention must be made of the scenes where the village girls talk straight to the camera with some hilarious punchlines.

Imtiaz Ali also deserves credit for how he has depicted the impact of insurgency, both for Punjab and Chamkila’s professional life.

Performances

Diljit Dosanj in ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’. (X)

Diljit Dosanjh delivers a rousing performance in the title role. It goes without saying that Diljit’s histrionics is a major asset of the movie.

The actor portrays the vulnerability and the fighting spirit of Chamkila in a stellar manner.

Among the supporting cast, Anjum Batra, as the first musician who collaborated with Chamkila stands out the most.

Parineeti Chopra has her moments like the love ballad “Tu Kya Jaane” where she does a wonderful job in showcasing a love-struck woman but the role of Amarjot needed to be etched better and also deserved a stronger actor.

A film could also have done with a deeper dive into interpersonal relationships. The track of Chamkila’s first marriage before settling with Amarjot also feels patchy.

Verdict

Keeping aside these small niggles Amar Singh Chamkila is a glorious return to form for Imtiaz Ali. Diljit Dosanjh shows why he deserves to play the male lead in Hindi Cinema more often.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/amar-singh-chamkila-movie-review

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Inspector Rishi : A gripping whodunit that also makes strong points on how superstitious beliefs are used to create chaos

Notwithstanding the tacky CGI and some convoluted plot points, director JS Nandhini keeps the audience engrossed for the most part.
Inspector Rishi (Tamil) web series; 29-03-2024, Horror-Crime Drama, 10 Episodes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Naveen Chandra, Sunaina Yella, Srikrishna Dayal, Kanna Ravi, Malini Jeevarathnam, Kumaravel, and Harini Sundararajan
  • Director: JS Nandhini
  • Producer: JS Nandhini and Shukdev Lahiri
  • Music Director: Ashwath
  • Cinematography: Bargav Sridhar
  • Rating: 3.5/5
  • Published in: Southfirst

JS Nandhini’s Inspector Rishi begins with a group of tribes committing mass suicide inside a cave in the Thenakadu Forest near Coimbatore. The reason behind their suicide is a huge mystery and has not been cracked.

Cut forward to 20 years, a series of bizarre murders happen inside the Thenakadu Forest.

Inspector Rishi Nandan (Naveen Chandra) investigates the case. He comes with a lot of emotional baggage.

Joining him in the investigation are local cops Kathryn (Sunaina), Ayyanar (Khanna Ravi), Chitra (Malini Jeevarathnam), and forest ranger Sathya (Srikrishna Dayal).

The locals believe that there are supernatural elements behind these killings. They consider a demigod called Vanaratchasi as the saviour of the forest.

Rishi, on the other hand, firmly believes that all these things are due to a human being with vengeance in mind.

In a nutshell, Inspector Rishi is about unravelling the mystery behind the murders with some impactful social commentary.

Analysis

Srikrishna Dayal plays Sathya Nambeesan in ‘Inspector Rishi’. (X)

The best part of Inspector Rishi is how director JS Nandhini has developed the interpersonal relationships between the characters.

As mentioned earlier, Rishi comes with a huge emotional baggage and is haunted by the death of his ex-girlfriend and has visions of her.

Rishi is also partially blind and as viewers, you are curious to know more about his past and what led to him losing an eye.

Similarly, there is also a homosexual love track featuring Chitra. Thankfully, this track has dealt with the required sensitivity without resorting to clichés.

A special mention must be made of a scene regarding the Vanaratchasi. Villagers talk about how gods like her suffered on account of their sexuality.

Chitra puts herself in the shoes of Vanaratchasi.

The professional and personal challenges of the various officers have been well integrated making the viewers care for them.

A gripping series

Ashwath scored the music for ‘Inspector Rishi’. (X)

Every episode ends on a gripping cliffhanger making the viewers more tense about who is causing this mayhem. Is human greed the reason behind all of this or something bigger?

Thankfully, Director JS Nandhini successfully ties up the knots.

The supernatural elements have also been showcased well, barring a few tackily staged special effects.

The horror comes from the brilliant background score which does not resort to the typical horror clichés.

JS Nandhini also deserves credit for how she has tackled the subplot of superstitious beliefs. There is some impactful social commentary on how superstitions can play with the minds of the most rational people and the chaos it creates.

The show also makes some important points on how human greed can destroy the environment and the need for eco-preservation.

Inspector Rishi also has folklore elements like the Gayatri and Puskhar-created web show Suzhal-The Vortex. The folk aspect makes the show even more gripping.

Coming to the flaws, the CGI is very tacky, to say the least. The show could have easily done away with the few CGI scenes.

Also, some of the descriptions and plot points feel a bit convoluted.

Final take

The performances led by Naveen Chandra and Malini Jeevarathnam are top-notch. Inspector Rishi is a must-watch for those who like whodunits with a dash of folklore.

It is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/inspector-rishi-telugu-web-series-review

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Patna Shuklla : An effective legal drama that focuses on an educational scam involving roll numbers

On more than one occasion, ‘Patna Shuklla’ feels like a flashback to the ‘Jolly LLB’ movies. But still, it makes for a good watch.
Patna Shuklla (Hindi), 29-03-2024, Crime, drama, 2 hours 5 minutes, U/A, OTT
  • Main Cast: Raveena Tandon, Manav Vij, Chandan Roy Sanyal, and late Satish Kaushik
  • Director: Vivek Budakoti
  • Producer: Arbaaz Khan
  • Music Director: Karan Kulkarni
  • Cinematography: Neha Parti Matiyani
  • Rating: 3/5
  • Published in: Southfirst

Courtroom dramas based on different social topics are one of the most explored genres in India Cinema. The latest in the genre is Vivek Budakoti’s Patna Shuklla.

It doesn’t throw any surprises, and the viewers can easily guess where the proceedings are headed. However, what works for Patna Shuklla is having its heart in the right place.

The director deserves credit for exploring the topic of mark sheet exchange.

This scam is carried out to help rich students pass the exam, despite not being academically brilliant.

Synopsis

Raveena Tandon and Anushka Kaushik in a still from ‘Patna Shuklla’. (Screengrab)

Tanvi Shukla (Raveena Tandon) is a small-time lawyer. She specialises in writing affidavits apart from her cooking skills.

Her life takes a dramatic turn when a third-year BSC student Rinki Kumari (Anuskha Kaushik) approaches her. Rinki fails an exam but firmly believes that some mischief has happened.

Tanvi Shukla decides to fight for the girl but things are not so easy.

A big hurdle comes in the form of Raghubir Singh (Jatin Goswami), who files a nomination in the upcoming elections. He warns Tanvi against proceeding with the case.

Soon, Tanvi finds herself in a huge crossfire that has repercussions in her personal life.

To put it simply, Patna Shuklla is about how Tanvi delivers justice for Rinki by overcoming various hurdles.

In the past too, several movies have shed light on the flaws in the education system. But director Vivek Budakoti is successful in engaging the viewers.

The process of exchanging exam papers and how it affects the careers of underprivileged students has been depicted well.

The scenes between Rinki and Tanvi have some solid emotional moments. The viewers can feel the desperation of Rinki and root for her to succeed.

Performances

What also works majorly for Patna Shuklla is the characterisation and Raveena Tandon’s performance in the title role.

The actor does a good job of portraying the grit of Shuklla. Raveena shines in the intense portions and is equally good at showcasing her vulnerability.

A particular mention must be made of her performance after an important revelation where she breaks down.

Manav Vij as Tanvi’s husband is also crucial to the storyline.

Raveena Tandon and Chandan Roy Sanyal in ‘Patna Shuklla’. (Screengrab)

Initially, he doesn’t take a stand for his wife and discourages her from proceeding further. But he is not a monster either who imposes himself.

Manav Vij makes a striking impact as a man, who comes with his inner dilemmas regarding his wife’s stand.

Late Satish Kaushik has a pleasing presence as a lower court judge. For the large part of the movie, there is an easygoing nature but at the same time, he is not a judge who can be taken for granted.

Satish Kaushik portrays the different facets with his usual effervescence.

The rest of the performances are also mostly spot-on, with a particular mention of Anuskha Kaushik.

What does not work for Patna Shuklla though is the huge deja vu of the Jolly LLB films.

For example, Chandan Roy Sanyal plays an opposing lawyer modelled on Annu Kapoor and Boman Irani.

Chandan Roy Sanyal is decent but is unable to bring the required verve. As a result, the courtroom sequences between Raveena and him feel one-sided.

The songs also come across as uninvited guests slowing down the proceedings.

Verdict

At two hours and 5 minutes, Patna Shuklla makes for a crisp and gripping watch in spite of the Jolly LLB hangover.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/patna-shuklla-hindi-movie-review/

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Ae Watan Mere Watan: A Moderately Engaging Tale Of An Unsung Hero

Kannan Iyer deserves credit for bringing to live an unheard talefrom the pages of history but sharper writing and a stronger actor would have made this movie more memorable.
21-03-2024, Biographical Drama, 2 hours and 13 minutes U/A, OTT
  • Main Cast: Sara Ali Khan, Sparsh Shrivastav, Anand Tiwari, Emraan Hashmi, Sachin Kedekar, and Abhay Verma
  • Director: Kannan Iyer
  • Producer: Karan Johar and Somen Mishra
  • Music Director: Mukund Suryawanshi, Akashdeep Sengupta, and Sashi Suman
  • Cinematography: Amalendu Choudary

India’s independence is a result of many people’s blood and sweat. These include not just the ones that we have read in history books.

There are many unsung heroes about whom we have little to no knowledge.

Kannan Iyers Ae Watan Mere Watan is about one such personality.

Synopsis

Usha Mehta (Sara Ali Khan) is a big devotee of Mahatma Gandhi.

Her father Hariprasad Mehta (Sachin Kedakar) is a judge working for the British regime. Neither he approves of his daughter’s rebellious nature nor Usha likes the ways of her father.

Things take a dramatic turn when Mahatma Gandhi and some more leaders are imprisoned during the Quit India Movement.

The British have complete control over the media. The radio, in particular, becomes a medium to divide the nation by spreading misinformation.

In retaliation, Usha and her fellow revolutionaries launch a radio channel — Congress Radio.

The Congress Radio becomes an instant hit; it catches the attention of Ram Manohar Lohia (Emraan Hashmi).

Ram Manohar Lohia was a pre-independence leader who managed not to get caught by the British.

Of course, this Congress Radio also comes under the notice of the British and they decide to track down the people behind this radio channel.

The rest of the story is about how Usha and her comrades fight to keep the radio alive and the role of Ram Manohar Lohia in this.

Back in 1942

Sara Ali Khan on the sets of ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’. (X)

A strong aspect of Ae Watan Mere Watan is how Kannan Iyer has recreated the pre-independence era.

The production design and cinematography, in particular, deserve praise for a job well done.

The costumes along with the architecture of buildings etc are spot on.

Usha’s dynamics with her father Hariprasad give the film some of its best moments — whether it is the scenes of playful innocence in her childhood like the one where Usha is watching Serbian birds flying in the sky and talks about wanting to have wings, or the later portions where the father and daughter have heated arguments given their different ideologies.

The scene where Hariprasad writes a letter to his daughter after Usha is jailed has been wonderfully written and performed.

Another track which deserves a mention is that of Sparsh Srivastava’s Fahad. Fahad suffers from polio but this physical disability never comes in the way of his zeal.

Inconsistent writing

There are two major issues with Ae Watan Mere Watan. One is the lack of more impactful writing by Darab Farooqui and Kannan Iyer.

The ineffective writing is particularly reflected in the love story between Usha and Abhay Varma’s character Kaushik.

Kaushik is not just a comrade but loves Usha. However, this aspect never comes out strong.

Another example of weak writing comes in the portions of Usha using a transmitter and the radio for the first time. We are never shown how Usha learns to use these things.

Compare this to the scenes of Alia’s Sehmat in Raazi (2018), the difference is as clear as day and light, both in terms of staging and acting performance.

Music and background score are of great importance for a film like this. But the movie is a big letdown in that area, too. None of the songs including the title track register.

Performances

Emraan Hashmi in ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’. (X)

Sparsh Srivastava shows that his terrific performance in Laaptaa Ladies (2024) was no fluke. He portrays the fighting spirit of Fahad in a heart-touching manner.

Emraan Hashmi, as Manohar Lohia, makes a late entry but makes a striking impact. The actor also gets some impactful dialogue which he nails. For instance, there is a scene in a dark room.

A person is trying to generate light by using matchsticks but the matchsticks are getting doused.

You have the following dialogue by Manohar Lohia. “Chahe Kitni bhi teeliyan bujh jayein, hamaare seene ki aag kabhi nahi bujheg,” (No matter how many matchsticks get doused, the fire in our hearts will always remain.)

As Usha Mehta, Sara Ali Khan is like a fish out of water. The actor is earnest but her shrill dialogue delivery annoys the viewers, big time. She is unable to bring the required conviction.

The British characters are, of course, your usual stereotypes and they leave zero impact.

Particularly irritating to watch is Alex O ‘Niel as the antagonist who is given the responsibility of apprehending Usha and co.

Final take

To conclude an unsung hero like Usha Mehta deserved a far better movie based on her life.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/ae-watan-mere-watan-movie-review/

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Big Girls Don’t Cry: Successfully Evokes A Sense Of Nostalgia, Particularly For Those Who Attended Boarding Schools

A tighter edit and deletion of some parallel stories concerning the adults would make ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ more cohesive.
Big Girls Don’t Cry (Hindi), 14-03-2024, Drama, 7 episodes, 16+. OTT
  • Main Cast: Pooja Bhatt, Raima Sen, Loveleen Misra, and Afrah Sayed
  • Director: Nitya Mehra, Karan Kapadia, Kopal Naithani and Sudhansu Saria
  • Producer: Ashi Dua Sara and Karan Kapadia
  • Music Director: Amit Trivedi
  • Cinematography: Cherin Paul and Kabir Tejpal
  • Rating: 3/5

Adolescence is a significant part of everyone’s life. Big Girls Don’t Cry, created by Nitya Mehra, primarily focuses on a group of girls from a fictionalised boarding school.

These include Kavya Yadav (Vidushi), Leah Joseph aka Ludo (Avantika Vadanapu), and Noor Hassan (Afrah Sayed), among others.

Pooja Bhatt plays the stern school principal reminiscent of Amitabh Bachchan’s role in Mohabbatein (2000).

There is also Zoya Hussain as the drama teacher.

In simple terms, the story of Big Girls Don’t Cry is about teenage girls grappling with academics, sexuality, classism, equality, etc.

Analysis

‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ web series is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. (X)

A strong aspect of Big Girls Don’t Cry is the distinct personalities of the seven girls. The writers have penned interesting parts for them all. This makes the show engaging.

The four directors have also succeeded in evoking a sense of nostalgia. Many teenage girls will identify with the characters in more than one way.

Among this group of girls, my favourite track is that of Vidushi’s Kavya Yadav. She plays a scholarship student who is trying hard to fit in with the popular gang of girls. Vidushi delivers a solid performance.

My other favourite character is Dia Mallik played by Akshita Sood. Dia is a rebel who finds defiance and solace in poetry.

She has little interest in conventions and norms. Akshita Sood also deserves brownie points for her wonderful performance.

However, a major problem with Big Girls Don’t Cry is the dragged narrative in the middle portions, particularly after the third episode. The length of the episodes could have been easily trimmed.

Also, a few adult characters have been terribly wasted and don’t add any value to the narrative. The likes of Raima Sen, and Suchitra Pillai feel force-fitted.

The same applies to Dolly Ahluwalia in an unnecessary cameo.

Performances

Overall, the performances of the girls are good. There is required rawness and sincerity.

Among the adults, Pooja Bhatt makes a striking impact as the stern principal, who also has a vulnerable side. She exudes a fierce nature without any hiccups.

Zoya Hussain as a drama teacher comes across as a much-needed respite. Some of her conversations with the students make a solid impact.

The musical pieces are another strength of the show. For example, there is the peppy title track by Amit Trivedi. The songs blend well into the narrative.

Verdict

Big Girls Don’t Cry can be watched, provided you like coming-of-age teen content. It is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/big-girls-dont-cry-web-series-review/

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Save The Tigers 2: Deeply Explores Marital Problems With The Right Mix Of Humour And Drama

In spite of some hitches, this Arun Kothapally’s directorial is a good follow-up to Season 1 (‘Save The Tigers’).
  • Main Cast: Priyadarshi, Abhinav Gomatam, Chaitanya Krishna, Jordar Sujatha, Pavani Gangi Reddy, Deviyani Sharma, Gangavva, Seerat Kapoor, Darshana Banik, Venu Yaldandi, Satya Krishnan, Rohini, and Aarthi Ganeshkar
  • Director: Arun Kothapally
  • Producer: Mahi V Raghav and Chinna Vasudeva Reddy
  • Music Director: Ajay Arasada
  • Cinematography: SV Vishweshwar
  • Genre: Comedy Drama
  • Rating: 3.5/5
  • Episodes: 7
  • Published in: Southfirst

Director Teja Kakumanu’s web series Save The Tigers (2023) was a hilarious show about three frustrated married men — Ghanta Ravi (Priyadarshi), Rahul (Abhinav Gomatam), and Vikram (Krishna Chaitanya).

There is nothing common among them in terms of backgrounds. But still, there is a connecting factor that binds them.

In spite of the obvious similarities with Anil Ravipudi’s F2 (2019), the first season was very much its own beast. The director was successful in creating conflicts that have substance.

For example, Vikram’s wife is an activist-cum-lawyer. Their daughter is the emotional anchor just like many other children.

The first season also subtly touched upon important topics like workplace harassment. Not surprisingly, Save The Tigers become a huge success. It was easily one of the most loved shows of last year.

Save The Tigers 2

A still from the Telugu web series ‘Save The Tigers 2’. (X)

Now, we have Save The Tigers 2 with a new director Arun Kothapally. Coming to Season 2, Arun Kothapally adds new flavours by going deeper into marital problems but at the same time maintaining the entertainment quotient.

Season 1 ended up with Ghanta Ravi, Rahul, and Vikram being detained by the police on the suspicion of having a hand in the disappearance of actress Hamsalekha (Seerat Kapoor).

The trio indeed meet Hamsalekha, though unintentionally, on the particular drunken night. But the fact is they had nothing to do with her disappearance.

Fortunately, for the trio, Hamsalekha comes to their aid and the three are released from jail. Hamsalekha also ends up forming a bond with them, particularly Ghanta Ravi. This doesn’t go well with Ghanta Ravi’s wife Hymavathi (Jordar Sujatha).

The wives are fed up with the antics of their respective husbands and seek help from a psychiatrist (Sathya Krishnan). The rest of the story is about the three men navigating marriage while facing new problems.

Additionally, you also have individual journeys. For example, Ghanta Ravi has ambitions of becoming a corporator.

On the other hand, Rahul is penning a script for Hamsalekha.

An underlying theme of Season 2 is how people easily believe the gossip spread by news channels, particularly news about actresses and come to a negative judgment about them. This comes out strongly in the track of Priyadarshi and Seerat Kapoor.

There is gossip about Ghanta Ravi and Hamsalekha having an affair even though there is not an ounce of reality in it.

Analysis

Pavani Gangi Reddy, Jordar Sujatha, and Deviyani Sharma in ‘Save The Tigers 2’. (Screengrab)

The web series makes some strong points on how people are easily influenced by rumours and come to a conclusion without having the patience to verify.

Among the marital problems explored, there are the themes of “seven-year itch” and “seeking the easy way out”. For instance, Vikram is working on a new project with Harika (Darshna Banik).

It starts as a purely professional one but they end up getting attracted to each other. Fortunately, better sense prevails as Vikram realises the need to understand his wife better.

Director Arun Kothpally also takes some jibes at the advertisement industry on how they sell lies beautifully.

Talking about the comic sequences, the portions of Abhinav Gomatam and the house help played by Rohini are a major highlight. Their scenes bring the house down much like the first season.

A special mention must be made of the conversation where Rohini’s character talks about her business aspirations with Rahul. She asks him about what captions can be written on an autorickshaw, it is simply hilarious.

There are a couple of things which bog down Save The Tigers 2. One of them is an episode involving how the system of marriage came about. There is nothing wrong with the humour per se in these portions but the brief subplot comes across as an unwanted guest breaking the flow.

Also, the portions involving the allowance of pets in an apartment feel patchy.

Performances

Chaitanya Krishna, Priyadarshi, and Abhinav Gomatam in ‘Save The Tigers 2’. (X)

Talking about the performances,  Priyadarshi  leads from the front once again. His character has an arc that showcases both his comic and dramatic skills.

The emotional sequences of Ghanta Ravi with the daughter have come out brilliantly. There is a heart-touching scene when the daughter opens up about how she was earlier ashamed about her father being a dairy farm owner, but now that has changed.

Abhinav Gomatam continues to leave the viewers in splits with his comic timing. His delivery of the liners in particular deserves a special mention.

Krishna Chaitanya provides able support although he doesn’t have as much scope as the other two.

Among the female leads, Jordar Sujatha leaves the biggest impact with her strong act. There are occasions when she may come across as too loud for some but still her no-holds-barred manner is a delight to watch.

Additionally, she also shares a good chemistry with Priyadarshi. Her emotional scenes with Priyadarshi give the show some of its best moments.

Deviyani Sharma’s role is softer in comparison to the first season. But still, the actress has done a fairly decent job.

Pavani Gangi Reddy as the doctor-wife does her part well.

Final take

Keeping aside the small niggles, Save The Tigers 2 is very much bingeworthy.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/telugu/save-the-tigers-2-telugu-web-series-review/

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Murder Mubarak: A Toothless Whodunit That Fails To Capture The Spirit Of Anuja Chauhan’s Novel ‘Club You To Death’

Director Homi Adajania tries to mix humour with suspense but fails spectacularly. Also, too many characters add to the fatigue.
  • Main Cast: Sara Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Vijay Varma, Dimple Kapadia, Tisca Chopra, Pankaj Tripathi, and Sanjay Kapoor
  • Director: Homi Adajania
  • Producer: Maddock Films
  • Music Director: Sachin-Jigar
  • Cinematography: Linesh Desai
  • Genre: Murder Mystery-Comedy
  • Rating: 2/5
  • Run Time: 2 Hours 21 minutes
  • Published in: Southfirst

Anuja Chauhan’s 2021 novel “Club You To Death” was much more than just a murder mystery. It was a book that looked at discrimination based on class. The novel was a social satire in many ways.

For those who haven’t read Anuja Chauhan’s work, the setting of the movie is the Royal Delhi Club, known for its lavish parties and high-profile guests.

A murder is committed on its premises and ACP Bhavani Singh (Pankaj Tripathi) is given the responsibility of unravelling the mystery.

Bhavani Singh’s character is modelled on British writer Agatha Christie’s hugely popular fictional detective Hercule Poirot.

Also, there is Karisma Kapoor as superstar Shehnaz Noorani.

The lives of these rich people are juxtaposed with the working class.

For example, there is a caretaker with dementia Guppie Ram (Brijendra Kala).

In simple terms, the story is about what led to the death of the Zumba instructor Leo Mathews (Ashim Gulati) along with the various secrets of the suspects.

Analysis

A still from ‘Murder Mubarak’. (X)

What makes Murder Mubarak somewhat tolerable is the basic storyline.

Sure, the narrative style is tedious but the suspense of who the murderer is keeps the viewers going.

Here, director Homi Adjania and the writers must be given credit.

The last 20 minutes of Bhavani Singh solving the case is interesting.

Among the sprawling cast, Pankaj Tripathi has the most fun. The dependable actor brings his charismatic charm and also gets some good lines.

For instance, in a scene, he says “Aaj kal anti-national banne ke liye zyada patishram nahi karna padta hai (These days, it is quite easy to be labelled anti-national).

A big problem with Murder Mubarak is the overindulgence of Homi Adajania. This can be seen in how the director overstretches the narrative.

Most characters have also been poorly etched; a case in point is Vijay Varma and Dimple Kapadia.

In the second half, there is a badly placed love story between Sara Ali Khan and Vijay Varma while they are doing their parallel investigation.

The writing and the chemistry between the actors are weak.

Sara Ali Khan has one important scene in a crucial flashback towards the end. But the actor messes that scene up with her overacting. As a result, the viewers do not feel the emotional turmoil of her role.

Final take

Despite its engaging subject and an interesting set of actors, Murder Mubarak is a major misfire.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/murder-mubarak-hindi-movie-review/

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Maharani Season 3: A Gripping Tale Of Politics And Revenge

Just like the previous two seasons, the web show shines the brightest when it focuses on the politics of Bihar.
  • Main Cast: Huma Qureshi, Sohum Shah, Amit Sial, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya
  • Director: Saurabh Bhave
  • Producer: Naren Kumar and Dimple Kharbanda
  • Music Director: Rohit Sharma
  • Cinematography: Anup Singh
  • Genre: Political Drama
  • Episodes: 8
  • Rating: 3.5/5
  • Published in: Southfirst

For those who haven’t seen the first two seasons, Maharani—created and written by Subhash Kapoor, is loosely inspired by the incidents in the 1990s Bihar.

It was when seasoned politician Lalu Prasad Yadav declared and made his homemaker-wife Rabri Devi his successor.

Season 1

The first season of Maharani was set from 1995 to 1999 and had characters inspired by Naxal and left-wing militants.

Rani Bharati (Huma Quereshi) is the wife of Bihar CM Bheema Bharti (Sohum Shah). In unforeseen circumstances, Bheema Bharti gets severely wounded and appoints his wife Rani as a technical CM until he recovers.

Rani Bharti is a simple woman who is happy with her domestic life. But now, she has to deal with government files, corruption and the caste massacres happening within the state.

In addition, she is not a literate woman.

Initially, Rani Bharti feels like a fish out of the water and wants to return to her simple life. But, eventually, she becomes a firm administrator and wins admirers.

As she grows more confident the inevitable clashes with her husband happen. Season 1 ended with Bheema Bharti going to jail on charges of corruption.

Season 2

In Season 2, Bheema runs a proxy government from jail. Bharti is facing opposition from her husband and the rival politician Naveen Kumar (Amit Sial).

Naveen and Bheema used to be friends. But now, they are big-time foes.

The issues dealt with this backdrop were the demand for a separate Jharkhand state along with the chilling death of Shilpi Jain and Gautam Singh that sent shock waves for both Rani and the state of Bihar.

In this scenario, some of Rani’s decisions don’t go well with her party members. Season 2 ended with Rani Bharti going to jail for a crime she did not commit, and the death of her husband Bheema.

Season 3

Now, you have Season 3, after a gap of one and a half years.

Maharani Season 3 begins with the life of Rani Bharti in prison. She utilises her time in jail to complete her education, which she left midway because of her father.

Rani Bharti also makes moves to strike back against her opponents. In simple terms, Season 3 focuses on how Rani Bharti proves her innocence and comes out of the complex web orchestrated by the cunning Navin Kumar.

The series plays out like an intense game of chess after a point.

Analysis

Huma Qureshi in ‘Maharani Season 3’. (X)

A strong point of Maharani Season 3 is the socio-political commentary.

Director Saurabh Bhave touches upon the illegal sale of liquor despite an alcohol ban in the state. He presents an authentic picture of how this illegal sale leads to the flourishing of illicit crimes.

Apart from the illegal sale of liquor the show also dwells on unauthorized dealings and the brutal electoral tactics.

Saurabh Bhave has also done a good job of showcasing the effect of power struggles and how nasty the political landscape can be. The cutthroat world of politics keeps the viewers thoroughly engaged even when the proceedings become predictable and slightly tedious.

The clinical way Rani Bharati goes about her revenge and completes her education has been well presented.

On the flipside, some twists suffer from weak writing and the middle portions could have done with more thrills.

Huma Quereshi steals the show

Huma Quereshi successfully takes off from where she left off in the first two seasons. She nails the accent and portrays the inner strength of a woman who has come a long way from being called a misfit.

Amit Sial continues to be wickedly charming showcasing the shrewd demeanour of Naveen Kumar perfectly.

The other supporting characters played by Vineet Kumar and Dibyendu Bhattacharya are also in fine form.

Rohit Sharma’s music and Mangesh Dhadke’s background score add another layer to the show.

The song “Kaun Bola Ban Hai” particularly deserves a mention for its satirical tone about the supposed alcohol ban.

Verdict

Maharani Season 3 is a must-watch for those who like political thrillers.

It is streaming on Sony Liv.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/maharani-season-3-web-series-review-a-gripping-tale-of-politics-and-revenge/

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Showtime: An Entertaining But A Clichéd Take On The Inner Workings Of The Film Industry

Emraan Hashmi has always worked best when playing characters with grey areas and ‘Showtime’ is one more example of that.
  • Main Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Mahima Makwana, Rajeev Khandewal, Mouni Roy, Shriya Saran, and Naseerudin Shah
  • Director: Mihar Desai and Archit Kumar
  • Producer: Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra, and Mihir Desai
  • Music Director: Anand Bhaskar
  • Cinematography: Vivek Shah
  • Genre: Drama
  • Episodes: 4
  • Published in: Southfirst

The story of Showtime has an outlandish but interesting premise.

Raghu Khanna (Emraan Hashmi) is the heir apparent of a studio named Viktory, started by his father Viktor Khanna (Naseeruddin Shah).

The son and father have very different approaches towards filmmaking and the movie business. As a result, they are constantly at loggerheads.

Raghu’s latest production is Pyaar Dangerous. Raghu tries to bribe critics to give good reviews.

A critic of the news samachar is unwell therefore he asks the junior Mahika Nandy (Mahima Makwana) to review the film and say only positive stuff.

Emraan Hashmi in ‘Showtime’. (X)

Raghu’s aide Ziko (Gurpreet Saini) even gifts her the latest smartphone. But on TV, Mahika brutally blasts the film adding that she was given a bribe for a positive review. The review and Mahika’s confession go viral and she loses her job.

But that very night, Viktor Khanna invites Mahika to his home, where they have a heart-to-heart conversation. Mahika expresses her wish for Viktory Studios to return to the heartfelt films they used to make.

After a few hours, Viktor passes away and things take a ludicrous turn when it is revealed that Mahika is Viktor’s granddaughter.

Naturally, Raghu gets the shock of his life but things don’t end there.

The lawyers read out Viktor’s will, which says that the ownership of Viktory Studios has been handed over to the granddaughter.

This changes the lives of Raghu and Mahika forever. Nothing more can be revealed as numerous parallel subplots are integrated into the main story.

Analysis

Showtime works best when it focuses on the characters of Emraan Hashmi and Mahima Makwana.

The interpersonal dynamics and how Mahika takes on the big challenges after the initial shock give the show some of its best moments.

Emraan Hashmi has always worked best when playing characters with grey areas and Showtime is one more example of that.

His Raghu Khanna is supremely brash, hurting people close to him like his love interest Mouni Roy who also plays an item dancer with aspirations of becoming a heroine.

But beneath the brashness, there is also a vulnerability to him that comes through strongly.

Performances

Mahima Makwana in ‘Showtime’. (X)

Emraan Hashmi does a brilliant job of portraying the different shades.

Mahima Makwana also does well in showcasing the switch of a Mahika Nandy from a regular girl to an assertive boss lady.

Among the supporting characters, Rajeev Khandelwal makes the biggest impact. He plays an obnoxious superstar who outlives his stardom but continues to throw tantrums. The actor has a blast in portraying the eccentricities.

Showtime also tackles some important questions regarding South Cinema Vs Bollywood and what should be prioritised more — script or superstars.

What doesn’t work for Showtime is the overtop and formulaic approach taken by the directors.

Directors Mihir Desai and Archit Kumar try to merge real with reel ageing superstars losing touch with reality, and sexy item girls struggling to make a mark as actresses. But this showcase of Bollywood’s dark side offers nothing particularly new.

Also, many actors have been woefully underutilised. These include Naseerudin Shah and Mouni Roy.

Final take

Showtime can be watched if you like some harmless fun and Emraan Hashmi’s acting.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/showtime-webseries-review-an-entertaining-but-a-cliched-take-on-the-inner-workings-of-the-film-industry/