Category: OTT Films & Webseries

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Maamla Legal Hai: An Entertaining Legal Satire Led By A Delightful Ravi Kishan

At times the series feels like an OTT version of Subhash Kapoor’s ‘Jolly LLB’. But still, this Rahul Pandey’s directorial is very much its own best.
  • Main Cast: Ravi Kishan, Nidhi Bist, Yashpal Sharma, and Naila Grewal
  • Director: Rahul Pandey
  • Producer: Amit Golani and Biswapati Sarkar
  • Music Director: Nilotpal Bora
  • Cinematography: Milind Jog
  • Genre: Comedy, Drama
  • Rating: 3.5/5
  • Episodes: 8
  • Published in: Southfirst

Subjects revolving around courtrooms and lawyers always make for an interesting subject. Reason: They represent a form of hope for a common man as Saurabh Shukla’s judge Sunderlal Tripathi says at an important juncture in Jolly LLB 2 (2017).

Subhash Kapoor’s Jolly LLB films engaged the audience thoroughly with witty dialogues and touched upon different social topics.

For example, Jolly LLB (2013) was about a hit-and-run case. It was about the death of some labourers who were run over by a land cruiser while sleeping on the footpath.

Jolly LLB 2 was related to a fake encounter. To begin with, in both films, the protagonists are not very likeable advocates. But they grow a conscience as the plot moves along.

Synopsis

Now, you have Maamla Legal Hai set in the district court of Patparganj. The eight episodes portray a variety of eccentric cases inspired by real-life stories.

VD Tyagi (Ravi Kishan) is a street-smart advocate who aspires to become the bar association president. Tyagi excels at finding loopholes in the legal system to win cases.

He has two assistants who are hilariously nicknamed as law and order.

Sujatha (Nidhi Bhist) dreams of having her chamber one day.

Ravi Kishan in ‘Maamla Legal Hai’. (X)

Vishwas Pandey (Anant V Joshi) is the court manager.

Ananya Shroff (Naila Grewal) is a Harvard-returned advocate with dreams of providing legal aid to the underserved. However, she faces a harsh reality in Patparganj.

In simple terms, the story deals with the wacky nature of the district court and some small-town problems.

Director Rahul Randey deserves distinction marks for how he packages serious issues while maintaining the entertainment quotient.

He touches upon how the strikes of lawyers affect the cases, the connubial rights of prisoners, etc.

Among the many bizarre cases, my favourite one is that of a husband who wants a divorce because his wife does not feel shy during their wedding night.

This may be as unbelievable but at the end of the episode, you have a newspaper clipping showing how this had really happened.

The web series also makes a strong statement on how law and justice are two very different beasts; they should be the same in the ideal world though. This comes out firmly in an episode where Naila Grewal’s character faces a moral predicament while tackling a case.

Well-written characters

Naila Grewal in ‘Maamla Legal Hai’. (X)

The characters have been written with a lot of care. A good example of nuanced writing is Ananya’s constant dilemma regarding her idealism that clashes with pragmatism.

Though she is well-versed in law, there are junctures where the reality sets in and Ananya‘s desire to deliver justice takes a step back.

Similarly, Ravi Kishan’s VD Tyagi may come across as very cunning but he has his humanity, which comes out strongly in a particular episode.

About the performances, Ravi Kishan leads the ensemble with his brilliant performance. The actor does a swell job of portraying the transformation that his character goes through, from being shrewd he comes to understand the power bestowed on him.

However, the complicated relationship of Tyagi with his father needed to be better explored.

At times, the show gets into a melodramatic zone, which doesn’t gel with the overall tonality.

Among the other actors, Nidhi Bisht also makes a big impact with her comic timing and matches up to Ravi Kishan.

Naila Grewal, as an outsider to this bizarre world, also fares well in portraying the existential crisis.

Anant V Joshi’s character is pretty similar to the one in 12th Fail (2023), but he is still fine in what he does.

Verdict

Maamla Legal Hai is a hilarious satire that needs to be watched for its social commentary and striking performances.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/maamla-legal-hai-web-series-review/

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Poacher: This Gripping Ecological Drama Thriller Is A Reminder Of The Need For Peaceful Coexistence Between Man And Nature

Richie Mehta makes a scathing commentary on the human ambition of wanting to dominate every aspect of the world and its repercussions.
Poacher (Malayalam)
  • Main Cast: Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, and Ankith Madhav
  • Director: Richie Mehta
  • Producer: Alia Bhatt and Prerna Singh
  • Music Director: Andrew Lockington
  • Cinematography: Johan Huerlin Aidt
  • Genre: Action Thriller
  • Episodes: 8
  • Rating: 4/5
  • First Published in: Southfirst

Richie Mehta’s Delhi Crime (2019 and 2022) is easily one of the best web series that has come out in the last decade. Both seasons were gripping, not just as an investigative thriller, but the human drama is equally powerful.

Not surprisingly, Shefali Shah got a lot of acclaim for her brilliant performance. The senior actor got a new lease of life with that show.

Now, the director is back with another binge-worthy show. This time around, Richie Mehta focused his lens on the burning issue of poaching (hunting animals illegally) — in this case, the ivory of elephants being smuggled.

The story of Poacher is based on real-life incidents that took place in Kerala.

Through the eight episodes, Richie Mehta makes a scathing commentary on the human ambition of wanting to dominate every aspect of the world and the repercussions of that on wildlife.

Synopsis

At the heart of its story are some determined forest officers led by Mala (Nimisha Sajayan). Mala’s life mission is to ensure that the poachers are apprehended and paid for their crimes.

A still from the series ‘Poacher’. (X)

She has a deep bond with the forest and the wildlife. She is emotionally driven for a reason, which is better understood by watching the web show rather than saying it.

And then, there are Alan (Roshan Mathew) and Neel (Dibyendu Bhattacharya).

These three officers and a few more people lead an extensive investigation from Kerala to Delhi.

The human–animal conflict and the need for wildlife conversation is a critical socio-political issue that concerns the lives of not just animals but also human beings.

Richie Mehta does an amazing job of making the viewers feel empathetic towards the plight of these majestic creatures.

Running parallel to the investigative drama is a much-needed perspective from the animal kingdom. Some scenes showcase the retaliation of animals.

Through these portions, the director makes the viewers contemplate deeply—even those not passionately interested in wildlife about the potential consequences, if the roles were to be reversed.

Many important questions have been raised about the dynamics between humans and animals.

Analysis

Though primarily a Malayalam web series, there are also segments where the actors speak in Hindi, English and a bit of Bengali. But this switch does not hamper the flow thanks to the captivating narration and the brilliant performances.

Nimisha Sajayan in ‘Poacher’. (X)

This is the second web series of this year after Abhishek Chaubey’s Killer Soup, where the characters alternate between different languages. This is indeed a good trend.

Coming back to Poacher, Richie Mehta also does a wonderful job of exploring the intricate world of poaching.

He talks about how poachers are just pawns in the bigger scheme of things and how the bigger evils are the wealthy dealers and the monstrous human beings who want to dominate the food chain.

Poacher is also technically solid, with particular mention of the cinematography of Johan Huerlin. He does a swell job of capturing both the beauty and the terror of the events happening in the forests of Kerala.

Although Poacher is mostly gripping, some of the climatic scenes could have been done with a tighter edit.

The performances across the board are simply fantastic.

Nimisha Sajayan delivers a spectacular performance by effortlessly conveying the grit and turmoil of Mala.

After The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) and Chithha (2023), this is another powerhouse performance from this brilliant actor.

Roshan Mathew works a perfect foil by bringing in some much-needed lightness. He is very effective in bringing out the humour and sensitivity of Alan.

Dibyendu Bhattacharya’s performance is also top-notch. He brings out the hot-headedness of Neel without any hiccups.

The other supportive characters also shine in their respective parts.

Final take

Poacher is a must-watch on many counts. It is easily one of the best web shows you will find this year.

Richie Mehta did it again with a thought-provoking show, and Alia Bhatt consolidated her position as a quality producer.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/poacher-malayalam-web-series-review/

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Bhamakalapam 2: A Delicious Sequel With An ‘In-Form’ Priya Mani

Director Abhimanyu Tadimeti keeps the viewers thoroughly intrigued. The characterisation of Priya Mani’s Anupama continues to be a big highlight.
Bhamakalapam 2 (Telugu); Crime Thriller, 2 hours 8 minutes U/A
  • Main Cast: Priya Mani, Shranya Pradeep, Bramhaji, and Seerat Kapoor
  • Director: Abhimanyu Tadimeti
  • Producer: Sudheer Edara and Bhogavalli Bapineedu
  • Music Director: Prashanth V Vihari
  • Cinematography: Deepak Yaragera
  • Rating: 3.5
  • Published in: Southfirst

Bhamakalapam (2022), directed by Abhimanyu Tadimeti, was an engrossing thriller with elements of crime, greed, and religion.

The pivot of the first part was about an extremely valuable egg that is worth ₹200 crore. This egg is stolen by someone and gets lost again.

Priya Mani’s Anupama was a homemaker-cum-YouTuber who kept a sharp eye on the neighbourhood. In a way, she was the Sherlock Homes of her apartment.

Abhimanyu Tadimeti did a good job of building the mystery around the egg along with making a strong statement about finding god within you.

The first part was released in 2022 and now, you have the sequel after a gap of two years.

The second part begins with Anupama and her family shifting to a new place.

Synopsis

Priya Mani and Sharanya Pradeep in ‘Bhamakalapam 2’, a thriller. (X)

Anupama’s husband Mohan (Pradeep Rudra) asks her to not meddle in other people’s issues. Meanwhile, Anupama launches a restaurant with the revenue generated from YouTube.

She makes Shilpa (Sharanya Pradeep) her business partner.

Just when everything seems to be going well, the life of Anupama takes a drastic turn.

She unintentionally helps the police in catching a criminal while practising driving with the instructor next to her.

Bramhaji plays the teacher. He uses this incident to increase the popularity of his driving school.

The person gets out on bail and starts threatening Anupama. To get out of this mess, Anupama and Shilpa approach Sadanand (Anish Gurwara), who used to work as the head of Narcotics Control. However, this only results in the situation becoming messier.

A situation comes when Anupama has to steal an illustration of an adult male chicken worth a lot of money. She has no other option.

Additionally, Anupama and Shilpa are selected to participate in a major cooking competition. Adding to this mix are the new characters like Jubeda (Seerat Kapoor).

Playing to the strengths

A big strength of Bhamakalapam 2 is the jugulbandi between Priya Mani and Sharanya.

The actors take off effortlessly from where they left off in the first part. Their scenes together leave the viewers in splits.

Abhimanyu Tadimeti also does a good job of developing the new characters.

For example, the viewers are initially supposed to sympathise with the character of Sadanand, an outcast officer. But soon, that changes with his behaviour towards Anupama. His plans of stealing the valuable item and how he goes about it keep the viewers on the hooks.

Similarly, the track of Seerat Kapoor, a former TV actor, has also been well-written. The character comes with grey shades that go beyond just her glamorous looks.

The portions of the heist mixed with the cooking competition are another highlight of the film.

A few minutes after the cooking competition begins, Anupama deliberately cuts her finger as it is time to execute the heist plan.

While doing Sadanand’s job, she also gives cooking instructions to Shilpa through the second earphone.

A far-fetched heist

A still from the film ‘Bhamakalapam 2’. (X)

The heist scenes are far-fetched in nature, but what makes them work is the handling of Abhimanyu Tadimeti.

Pre-climax also has a good twist regarding the illustration of the adult male chicken, but the subsequent sequence is not entirely satisfactory.

Almost every character has a gun in their hands, and the shooting scenes don’t add much to the narrative.

Also, the eventual fate of this adult male chicken goes out of the window. The director should have clarified this.

However, Abhimanyu Tadimeti does deserve credit for setting up a good base for part 3.

Priya Mani is once again spot-on in the title role. She portrays the mental strength of Anupama with absolute finesse.

Priya Mani is seen doing some action, and the actor excels in that, too.

Sharanya Pradeep raises many chuckles, particularly in the scenes where Shilpa has to cook solo.

Bramhaji, as the driving instructor, has a brief presence, but he is an absolute riot.

The rest of the actors are fine in their respective parts.

Final take

Bhamakalapam 2 makes the viewers eager for the third part.

It is streaming on Aha Video.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/bhamakalapam-2-movie-review/

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Love Storiyaan: Heart-Warming Tales Of Love

These stories of resilience leave the viewers with a feeling of happiness. The show works best since real-life couples narrate their stories.

These stories of resilience leave the viewers with a feeling of happiness. The show works best since real-life couples narrate their stories.
  • Main Cast: Aekta Kapoor, Ullekh NP, Nicholas Jonathan Kharnami, Rajani Karki Chhetri, Farida Saha, Sunit Kumar Saha, Rahul Banerjee, Subhadra Khaperde, Dhanya Ravindran, Homayon Khoram, Tista Das and Dipan Chakraborty.
  • Director: Hardik Mehta, Vivek Soni, Shazia Iqbal, Rahul Badwelkar, Akshay Indikar, Archana Phadke, Collin D’Cunha
  • Producers :Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra
  • Music Director: Shantanu Dutta, Sangeet Haldipur, Siddharth Haldipur, Sarang Kulkarni, Anurag Saikia
  • Cinematography: Rakesh Krishna Bhilare, Linesh Desai, Harshvir Oberai, Piyush Puty, Rohin Raveendran
  • Rating: 3.5
  • Published in : Southfirst

Love stories always make for a great watch, irrespective of their format. They make your heart skip even if you are not a romantic, at heart.

The basis of Love Storiyaan are the stories featured in India Love Project, an initiative by journalists Niloufer Venkatraman, Priya Ramani, and Samar Halarnkar.

Through the six episodes, directors Hardik Mehta, Vivek Soni, and Collin D’ Cuha, among others, touch upon various social and political constructs that hinder love.

The Love Storiyaan

The first story, “An Unsuitable Girl” (an interesting spin on Karan Johar’s “An Unsuitable Boy”), focuses on a Malayali man and a 40-year-old Punjab writer who is also a divorcee.

Hardik Mehta directed it.

The second story, “Love in the Air”, is about Shillong-based radio jockeys Nicholas J Kharnami and Rajan K Chettri.

The last four stories are more political in nature.

For example, Shazia Iqbal’s “Homecoming” is about a Kolkata-based couple who fell in love at the height of the Bangladesh Liberation Movement in 1971.

The fourth is “Raah Sangharsh Ki”, directed by Akshat Indikar. The political aspect comes out even more strongly in this tale of an inter-caste marriage between Brahmin IIT graduate Rahul Banerjee and Dalit girl Subhadra Khaperde.

They meet at the demonstration of Narmada Bachao Andolan.

The fifth one is “Faasley”. Director Archana Phadke focuses on the love between a Malayali woman and an Afghan man. They meet at a college in Russia and eventually end up together.

A situation arises when the woman moves to war-torn Afghanistan. This short talks about numerous challenges; one of the difficulties involves making ends meet in a war-torn Afghanistan.

Lastly, there is “Love Beyond Labels”. It is about the first transgender couple who got married in West Bengal.

Director Collin D’Cuha showcases their journey from seeking help to creating history.

Analysis

There is a template that these six episodes follow.

We begin with the couples in the present day. From here, it is about how they met and fell in love.

At times, there are old pictures, videos, and dramatised recreations. There is nothing per se wrong with this template, but the recreations do not have the same impact as the real-life couples talking about their love and the hurdles they overcame.

Keeping aside this aspect and the shaky staging at places, the directors have done a brilliant job of capturing the emotional core. They are helped by heartfelt narrations.

All the stories have their high points. For example, the first one has an adorable Malayali man. His scenes of trying to build a connection with the kids of his partner have a lot of warmth.

Love Storiyaan docu-series is streaming on Amazon Prime Video
‘Love Storiyaan’ docu-series is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. (X)

Helping him in this relationship are two dogs who play an important role. Dog lovers are going to have a feast.

My favourite segment of this docu-series is “Raah Sangharsh Ki”.

The love story between a Brahmin man and a Dalit activist has some hard-hitting moments. The scenes of Subhadra, in particular, stand out; like the one where she talks about casteism.

There are some strong moments of sarcastic humour too that raise chuckles. The viewers clearly understand that Akshat Indikar is in awe of Subhadra’s fearlessness.

In “Faasley”, Archana Phadke does a good job of recreating the war-torn Afghanistan.

The narration of falling in love with the common interest of Bollywood movies brings a smile to the viewer’s face.

There are also some bits where the woman talks about the large Afghan family of her husband and how they jelled with her, thus making her overcome the initial awkwardness.

Collin D’ Cunha’s “Love Beyond Labels” is a fitting end to this web show.

The director intermingles the concepts of sexuality and gender with ease. This is one of my other favourite segments.

The couple coming to terms with their bodies have some impactful dialogues.

Verdict

Love Storiyaan is a treat for those who like intimate love stories. This celebration of love should be on your watchlist. The docu-series is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/love-storiyaan-docu-series-review-heart-warming-tales-of-love/

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Aarya Season 3 (Antim Vaar): Sushmita Sen Delivers A Ferocious Performance In This Bumpy Yet Engaging Finale

The fast-paced narrative coupled with the interpersonal relationships make this show worth watching.
  • Main Cast: Sushmita Sen, Ila Arun, Sikander Kher, Viren Vazirani, Aarushi Bajaj, Pratyaksh Panwar, and Vikas Kumar
  • Director: Ram Madhvani, Kapil Sharma and Shraddha Pasi Jairath
  • Producer: Endemol Shine India and Ram Madhvani Films
  • Music Director: Vishal Khurana
  • Cinematography: Kavya Sharma
  • Rating: 3
  • Published in: Southfirst

The final part of season 3 begins with Sushmita Sen’s Aarya getting further entangled in the web of crime. The heroin has been caught by the cops and Aarya is desperate to get it back.

Nalini Sahiba (Ila Arun) and Abhimanyu (Shashvat Seth) are after her, besides a Russian drug dealer, Mikhail. On one hand, you have Aarya devising ways on how to deal with her new enemies, and on the other, she has lost the trust of her three children and the cracks are becoming wider.

Adding to the spice is ACP Khan (Vikas Kumar). He is on an intense hunt to find evidence against Aarya and finish the drug empire. The rest of the story is about whether Aarya can win back her children’s trust and what will be her end.

Much like the previous seasons, the biggest strength of this finale is the dynamics of Aarya with her offspring. While leading the business empire, Aarya is a formidable boss lady whom you don’t want to mess with. But with the children the matter is different.

There is a vulnerability and helplessness that comes out strongly. It is in these scenes that the show shines the brightest.

Fantastic Sushmita Sen

Sushmita Sen is fantastic in showcasing the various nuances. The actress shines the best in the portions where Aarya is down and out. The character of Aarya is no Mother India. She has her flaws, and some of her actions are questionable.

Among the youngsters, Aarushi Bajaj does most of the heavy lifting, her love story with Dhruv (Bhupendra) has some nice moments. The confrontation scenes between Aarya and the daughter have come out strongly.

Ila Arun, as Nalini Sahiba, also makes a strong impact. She is menacing without trying too hard. Shashvath Seth though goes way over the top with his antics. Sikander Kher as the loyal Daulat is fair. The same applies to Vikas Kumar. He continues to be earnest as a determined officer.

As mentioned above, the show has a fast-paced narrative. There are twists and turns at regular intervals with scenes of double-crossing. This keeps the viewers engaged. The use of tabla and Sanskrit shlokas as part of the background score also packs a punch.

What makes the finale a bumpy ride is the character of the son Veer (Viren Vazirani). The viewers had felt sympathy for him in the first part of the third season but here he comes as irritating with little to do.

He repeatedly talks about how his mother is responsible for the death of his fiancée Roop. This becomes tiresome after a point. Similarly, the writing comes with its share of loopholes.

Final take

Aarya Season 3 (Antim Vaar) is a treat for Sushmita Sen fans. It is great to see the actress doing solid work by getting roles she wouldn’t get in mainstream cinema. Both Aarya and Taali are reminders of how Sushmita Sen deserves better movie roles.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/aarya-season-3-antim-vaar-web-series-review/

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Bhakshak: A Hard-Hitting Saga That Makes Pertinent Points On The Power Of Real Journalism

‘Bhakshak’ is not everyone’s cup of tea but it is a must-watch for those who like gritty dramas based on real-life incidents.
  • Main Cast: Bhumi Pednekar, Sanjay Mishra, Sai Tamhankar, Aditya Srivastava, and Surya Sharma
  • Director: Pulkit
  • Producer: Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma
  • Music Director: Anurag Saikia and Anuj Garg
  • Cinematography: Kumar Sourabh
  • Rating: 3.5
  • Published in: Southfirst

Directed by Pulkit and written by Jyotsana Nath Pulkit, Bhakshak is based on the horrific incidents reported in a shelter home in Muzaffarpur, Bihar.

Several girls were sexually abused in the shelter home run by a politician.

Real-life incidents always make for a gripping cinema, provided they are well-directed. Thankfully, the director along with the writer, has done a brilliant job of keeping the viewers engaged.

The film does meander at places, and there was no real need for the songs. But still, all said and done, Bhakshak is a must-watch.

Synopsis

Bhumi Pednekar in a still from ‘Bhakshak’. (X)

Vaishali Singh (Bhumi Pednekar ) is a small-time independent journalist who runs a news channel called “Koshish“. In simple terms, the movie is about her attempts to bring forth the reality of Munnawarpur shelter home.

The man running this shelter home is also a journalist named Bansi Sahu (Aditya Srivastava). Bansi Sahu has strong political connections and has zero remorse about his activities.

So, it becomes an uphill task for Vaishali and her colleague Baskar Sinha (Sanjay Mishra) to expose the truth.

Authentic sans melodrama

‘Bhakshak’ is a thriller that revolves around child sexual abuse. (X)

Director Pulkit does not waste any time in setting up the plot.

Bhakshak starts on a disturbing note that sets the base for the drama to follow.

A strong aspect of the film is how the director shows the struggle of Vaishali in digging for the truth. She faces challenges in both her professional and personal life.

We see Vaishali constantly going out for long hours and this results in problems with her husband (Surya Sharma), who is shown to be frustrated with the erratic timings of his wife.

Additionally, the in-laws feel that Vaishali should soon become a mother.

There are showdowns between the husband and wife. Many working women would relate to Vaishali’s struggles.

The sexual exploitation done in the shelter home has also been portrayed with the required sensitivity. A section of viewers are sure to feel highly emotional.

The director also deserves credit for not taking the melodramatic route and exaggerating scenes for the cause of the effect because the nature of crime is disturbing in itself.

Director Pulkit also deserves credit for how he has portrayed journalism and Journalists.

There is not a single scene of journalists screaming in front of the cinema in a filmy manner. He keeps it authentic.

Pulkit also takes digs at the section of people who unquestioningly believe in WhatsApp forwards.

However, at certain places, the film loses grip with some repetitive writing. The songs are not needed. For example, the song towards the climax.

Mesmerising performances

Aditya Srivastava in ‘Bhakshak’. (X)

Apart from the strong writing. Bhakshak also scores big on the performance front.

Bhumi Pednekar aces her part of a fearless journalist. She does a perfect job of showcasing the mannerisms, and her dialect is also praiseworthy.

Sanjay Mishra is wonderful. He brings in the much-required humour in certain situations. His rapport with Bhumi’s Vaishali is a delight to watch.

Aditya Srivastava makes for a truly despicable villain. The actor makes the viewers hate Bansi Sahu with just his facial expressions. Sai Tamhankar, as SSP Jasmeet Kaut, plays an important role. She brings in a certain gravitas.

Verdict

Bhakshak is the perfect example of how to make a hard-hitting drama. Do take time for it. The film is streaming on Netflix.

(Views expressed here personal.)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/bhakshak-hindi-movie-review/

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Miss Perfect Web Series Review: A Farfetched Plot But A Breezy Watch

The show is about how love happens between Lavanya and Rohit and the multiple subplots taking place simultaneously.
Miss Perfect (Telugu)

Main Cast: Lavanya Tripathi, Abijeet Duddala, Abhignya Vuthaluru, Jhansi, Harsha Vardhan, Mahesh Vitta, and Harsh Roshan
Director: Vishvak Khanderao
Producer: Supriya Yarlagadda
Music Director: Prashant R Vihari
Cinematography: Aditya Javvadi
Rating: 2.5/5
Published in: SOUTH FIRST

Certain people are obsessed with perfection. They cannot even bear a slight bit of messiness. Not just common people but even big stars have admitted to having OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). Director Vishvak Kandero takes this topic in Miss Perfect and mixes elements of the then COVID-19 pandemic.

Lavanya Rao (Lavanya Tripathi) is a HR consultant. She has an obsessive-compulsive disorder for cleanliness and perfection. Lavanya comes to Hyderabad as she has joined a new job. At that time, lockdown is announced, and Lavanya is stuck in her apartment like others. Her maid Jyothi (Abhignya Vuthaluru) stops coming to work.

Rohit (Abijeet Duddala) is Lavanya’s neighbour. He lives in the apartment block opposite her. He is as messy as she is clean. Jyothi also works as a maid for Rohit. She requests Lavanya to inform him that she won’t be coming to work for a while.

Lavanya visits Rohit to inform the same but is shocked at the messiness in his flat. She ends up cleaning his house. In a rather weird turn of events, Lavanya ends up being a maid for Rohit.

Adding to the already chaotic situation, Lavanya’s father Gokul (Harshvardhan) is in a relationship with the apartment president Rajalakshmi (Jhansi). Lavanya has no idea about it. In simple terms, the story is about how love happens between Lavanya and Rohit and the multiple subplots simultaneously.

Analysis

As mentioned in the heading, Miss Perfect has a farfetched plot which takes some time to digest. Lavanya acting as a maid for Rohit is not only over the top but does not make any logical sense either.

Agree that Lavanya has a passion for cleanliness, but a highly qualified management professional becoming a maid for her neighbour just does not sit well.

Apart from the unbelievable nature of the story, another problem with Miss Perfect is that Lavanya’s OCD is merely used as a plot device for the leads to meet. It does not add much significance to the overall scheme of things.

But once you get past the bizarre nature of the plot, there is a quite bit to enjoy — the love story between Lavanya and Rohit has some cute moments. However, the biggest USP of Miss Perfect is the character of Jyothi and the subplot of her wanting to be a singer. There are many shades to her role, and the actress does a good job.

Performances

Abhignya Vuthaluru also shines in the comic bits. Her portions with Harsh Rohan, an aspiring YouTube influencer, leave the viewers in splits. Harshvardhan and Jhansi also have interesting roles, and the actors share a good chemistry. Their interactions bring a smile to the viewer’s face.

Gokul’s dilemma in revealing the relationship to his daughter is well-etched. Lavanya Tripathi as Lavanya does well in pulling off the eccentricities of her role. She skillfully portrays the internal struggle of her character. The actor somehow manages to make the viewers care in spite of the farfetched narrative. Abijeet Duddula is charming as Rohit.

Final take

Miss Perfect is a perfect watch if you are looking for clean entertainment. It is not a web series that would linger in your memory for a long time. But there is enough for fans of light-hearted shows.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/miss-perfect-web-series-review-a-farfetched-plot-but-a-breezy-watch/

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Karmma Calling: An Impressive Raveena Tandon, But A Feeble Tale Of Revenge

Main Cast: Raveena Tandon, Namrata Sheth, Varun Sood, Viraf Patel, and Vikramjeet Virk Director: Ruchi Narain
Producer: RAT films
Music Director: Relish
Cinematography: Bhushankumar Jain
Rating: 2/5

For any revenge drama to work, one aspect is of utmost importance; the viewers should feel a certain tension for the protagonist —whether or not she/he will achieve the goal. There should be moments where the protagonist is on the brink of loss.

For those not aware, the web series Karmma Calling, now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, is based on an American TV Show called Revenge (2017).

In this desi adaption, Raveena Tandon plays Indrani Kothari. She is a former actress and now a huge socialite in Alibaug. However, her life changes drastically with the entry of a mysterious young girl named Karma Talwar (Namrata Sheth).

The arrival of Karma turns many lives upside down. She has a score to settle with Indrani and the people connected to her.

In simple terms, Karmma Calling focuses on a young girl’s quest for retribution.

Redeeming factors

Namrata Sheth in Karmma Calling
Namrata Sheth in ‘Karmma Calling’. (X)

One of the few redeeming aspects of Karmma Calling is Raveena Tandon’s performance. OTT has opened a new space for senior actresses with author-backed roles; this web show is another example of the same.

Raveena pulls off the grey shades well. She also does well in the scenes showing the fragility of Indirani. Rohit Roy Bose, as Karma’s father, has an extended cameo. He only appears in the flashback, but still, he leaves an impact in the limited screen time.

The cinematography and the costume design are also appropriately glossy.

Director Ruchi Narain does a good job of exploring the politics of high society.

Loopholes in the web series

Varun Sood in Karmma Calling
Varun Sood in ‘Karmma Calling’. (X)

A major problem with Karmma Calling is the badly-written screenplay, particularly in the revenge portions.

For example, Karma is introduced as an orphan who acquires a lot of wealth. But there is no explanation of any shorts about how she ends up with so much money.

Additionally, no information is given about how she maintains a spacious house with no job other than plotting.

Even the scenes of Karma creating havoc in the life of Indrani and those connected to her leave little to no impact. A major reason is the easiness with which she executes her plans.

Namrata Sheth tries her best to rise above the lazy writing, but her rawness as an actor is visible.

The supporting characters also leave a lot to be desired in both writing and performance.

Viraf Patel plays a rich gay man who is a paternal figure for Karma. He is annoyingly over the top.

Varun Sood and Devangshi Sen, as Indrani’s rebellious children, make for good eye candy. But performance-wise, they come across as too stiff.

Final take

This revenge saga is terribly undernourished and can be easily given a miss.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/karmma-calling-web-series-review/

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Indian Police Force: Rohit Shetty’s OTT Debut Is Strictly For Those Who Enjoy His Brand Of Action Movies

Timepass…

2.5

Indian Police Force (Hindi)

  • Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Vivek Oberoi, Mayyank Taandon, and Nikitin Dheer
  • Directors: Rohit Shetty and Sushwanth Prakash
  • Producer: Rohit Shetty
  • Music: Lijo George-DJ Chetas
  • No. of episodes: 7
  • OTT platform: Amazon Prime Video

Rohit Shetty is a director primarily known for making two kinds of movies.

On one hand, there are the likes of Singham 1 (2011) and 2 (2014), Simmba (2018) and Sooryavanshi (2022). In these films, the leading men are presented in a massy way, flouting rules and encouraging extrajudicial action.

Then there is the Golmaal franchise (since 2006), Bol Bachchan (2012), and Chennai Express (2013). Here, the comedy strictly falls under the slapstick type, with a focus on wordplay rather than intelligent humour.

Rohit Shetty’s films have never been highly acclaimed, yet they have been massive money spinners except for Circus (2022).

Now, the director has made his OTT debut with the Indian Police Force, which is co-directed by Sushwanth Prakash.

The web series falls very much under his radar. In fact, on certain occasions, the series has a huge hangover of Sooryavanshi.

Synopsis

Sidarth Malhotra in Indian Police Force
Sidarth Malhotra in ‘Indian Police Force’. (X)

Indian Police Force begins with a series of bombings by the terrorist unit Indian Mujahideen. The bombings take place in Delhi on the occasion of Delhi Police Raising Day.

Kabir (Sidharth Malhotra) is a top officer in the Special Cell unit of Delhi Police. Vikram (Vivek Oberoi) is his senior. They both are entrusted with the task of weeding out bombers.

The mastermind of the bombings is the mysterious Zarar/Haider (Mayyank Taandon).

Zarar looks like an ordinary man from the outside with an innocent persona, but deep down, he hides many secrets.

As the plot progresses, Kabir and Vikram are joined by Tara (Shilpa Shetty) from Gujarat ATS.

There is some professional tension between Tara and Vikram. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between the Delhi police and Zarar.

The web series also looks at the sacrifices made in the line of duty by the numerous police officers.

USP of Indian Police Force

A big USP of Indian Police Force is how the back story of Zarar has been handled.

Sooryavanshi also featured a back-story about the actions done by Jackie Shroff’s Omar — the bad guy. But here, it has been fleshed out far better.

There is a touching love story between Zarar and Fareeda (Suchitra Bandekar). The moments between Mayyank and Suchitra have a certain tenderness.

As a result, Zarar comes out as a flesh and blood human being rather than just a Jihadi sprouting youngster. Mayyank Taandon does a brilliant job of portraying the varied nuances.

Performances

Among the cops, Shilpa Shetty is easily the best of the lot. The actor pulls off her part with élan.

Despite lesser screen time, Shilpa has a commanding presence, particularly in the scenes with Siddarth Malhotra.

Sidharth Malhotra’s act of Kabir is an extension of the patriotic roles he portrayed in Shershaah (2021) and Mission Majnu (2023). He does well in the action bits, which have some chases. But he overdoes the intensity in the serious scenes.

Vivek Oberoi is an absolute miscast. His character comes across as unintentionally funny. His dialogues evoke more laughter than touching a patriotic chord.

Sharad Kelkar has an extended cameo appearing in the sixth episode. The actor makes a significant impact.

Isha Talwar is seen in the role of a dead wife. Her character is only there to show the romantic side of Kabir, but it does not have any emotional heft.

Girish Kant and Raza Mehta’s cinematography is in perfect sync with the genre. They capture the numerous cities and landscapes efficiently through their lens.

A big problem with the Indian Police Force is that it gives the ‘been-there-and-done-that’ feeling. For those who have watched Rohit Shetty’s cop movies, there is nothing earth-shattering they will find here. Also, the trademark car flying sequences have been tiresome.

Final take

Indian Police Force is just about passable. The show can be best called a timepass actioner.

Perfume (Telugu)
Cast: Che Nag, Prachi Thaker, Abhinaya, Bushan, Rayala Harischandra, Meer, and Krishna Teja
Director: JD Swamy
Producers: J Sudhakar, Shiva B, Rajeev Kumar B, and Srinivas Lavuri
Music: Ajay Arasada
Runtime: 2 hours 20 minutes

3.5

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Killer Soup: Abhishek Chaubey Cooks A Delicious Meal With An Ode To The Works Of Both Shakespeare And Virginia Wolf

An impressive OTT debut by Abhishek Chaubey.

3.5

Killer Soup (Hindi)

  • Cast:  Manoj Bajpayee, Konkana Sen Sharma, Nassar, Sayaji Shinde, and Lal
  • Director: Abhishek Chaubey
  • Producers: Honey Tehran and Chetana Koshwik
  • Original Score: Benedict Taylor and Naresh Chandavarkar
  • No. of episodes: 8
  • OTT platform: Netflix

Abhishek Chaubey has proved to be more than a worthy protégé to the master filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. Starting from Ishqiya in 2010, he has created a space for himself in the industry.

Abhishek Chaubey’s movies have never been part of the big clubs, but he has earned a certain respect among moviegoers.

A case in point is 2016’s Udta Punjab, which ruffled many feathers for its honest portrayal of the drug situation in Punjab.

Now, he has made his OTT debut with Killer Soup, which has been anticipated for more than one reason: The lead actors, Manoj Bajpayee and Konkana Sen Sharma, who have proved their proficiency by playing distinct roles in both movies and web shows.

Additionally, the subject of Killer Soup is based on some real-life incidents. There is an uncanny similarity to a murder that happened in Telangana. A woman called Swathi Reddy killed her husband and burned his body with the help of her lover Rajesh.

Well, without much ado, let’s check the synopsis.

Synopsis

Manoj Bajpayee in Killer Soup
Manoj Bajpayee in ‘Killer Soup’. (X)

The setting of Killer Soup is the fictional town of Mainjur in South India. The story opens with the happy photographs of husband and wife Swathi (Konkana Sen Sharma) and Prabhu (Manoj Bajpayee). And then, we move to their daily routine, which includes Swathi preparing paya soup.

On the other hand, Prabhu chooses what to wear from his huge collection of printed shirts. Swathi aspires to open her restaurant where the star dish would be the paya soup.

Prabhu makes lofty promises to Swathi but does nothing substantial to help her achieve her goal. He maintains an image of a god-like man.

Swathi leads a double life. She wears a burkha and goes outside to meet two people. One is the woman who teaches her cooking, and the other is her lover Umesh (Manoj Bajpayee again).

Things turn drastically at the end of the first episode when Prabhu catches Swathi and Umesh.

From here begins a roller coaster of a journey where Umesh ends up replacing Prabhu. What follows is a delicious mix of a dark comedy and an investigative thriller.

Analysis

Konkona Sen Sharma in Killer Soup
Konkona Sen Sharma in ‘Killer Soup’. (X)

One of the things that stand out in Killer Soup is the mix of different languages.

All the characters alternate between English, Hindi, and Tamil. The vocabulary and diction have an authentic feel and don’t sound jarring at any point.

Abhishek Chaubey does a wonderful job of creating a lived-in world.

Anuj Rakesh Dhawan’s cinematography needs to be commended.

Killer Soup also has some impressive social commentary through the character of Konkana Sen Sharma.

Swathi is someone who has a single-minded ambition of opening her restaurant. There is a visible desperation in her need for respect and social stature. Here, the viewers are reminded of Sobhita Dhulipala’s Tara from Made in Heaven (2019 and 2023).

Swathi is not the only one who wants to have an identity of her own. Her niece Apeksha (Anula Navleker) dreams of getting enrolled in a fine arts school in Paris to escape her controlling family.

Shakespearean touch

Abhishek Chaubey's directorial Killer Soup
Abhishek Chaubey’s directorial ‘Killer Soup’. (X)

Abhishek Chaubey has also done a good job of incorporating the Shakespeare elements.

Hassan (Nassar), a cop, is on the cusp of retirement and wants to end his career on a high.

Aiding him in this investigation is the ghost of a private detective Kiran Nadar (Bagavathi Perumal). This ghost is visible only to Hassan and gives him valuable support whenever the senior officer is in the doldrums.

The director has used the technique of magic realism in the scenes where Hassan interacts with the ghost. Some viewers will feel a sense of absurdity but it is also equally fun to watch.

The characters of Swathi and Umesh have also been humanised. For example, Umesh has pangs of guilt and expresses his frustration of being in the shoes of someone else.

In the case of Swathi, there are occasions where she does come across as a lady Macbeth with her manipulative ways but at the same time, she has a genuine fondness for Apeksha that comes out on more than one occasion.

The supporting characters have also been written with a lot of care. The best examples of this are Sayaji Shinde and Nassar. Sayaji Shinde is a delight to watch as a no-nonsense man. He is the elder brother of Prabhu.

Nassar as the determined cop brings in a lot of integrity to his scenes. The actor also leaves you in splits in his interactions with the ghost.

Performances

As far as the lead actors are concerned, Konkana and Manoj Bajpayee are simply magical together and individually.

Konkana pulls off the different moods with absolute panache —going from loving to scary without any fumble.

Manoj Bajpayee is also wonderful, particularly as bumbling Umesh, who has no control over what is happening around him.

A slight flaw in the Killer Soup web series is the role of Malayalam actor Lal’s Lucas. Lucas is hinted to be a rebel leader before working for Sayaji Shinde’s Aravind, but the characterisation feels sketchy.

Lal makes a solid impression, but a better characterisation would have enhanced the performance.

Also, the editing leaves something to be desired at places.

Verdict

In all, Killer Soup is definitely a dish worth tasting. Abhishek Chaubey has made an impressive digital debut.

(Views expressed here are personal.)