Category: OTT Films & Webseries

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Snow white (2025): A fun modern update to the damsel in distress trope

Rachael Zegler in the role of Snow White surrounded by the Dwarfs

Walt Disney production house latest attempt at reimagining an old fairy tale is entertaining in spite of some flaws. What makes Snow White mostly work is the reimaging of the central character as a more self-reliant young woman

Starcast: Rachael Zegler, Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap and others

Genre: Fantasy/musical

Director: Marc Webb

Screenplay: Erin Cressida Wilson

Based on: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Producers: Marc Platt and Jared LeBoff

Cinematography: Mandy Wanker

Music: Pasek and Paul etc

Streaming site: Disney+Hotstar

Running time: 1 hour and 49 minutes

In the last few years Walt Disney productions have been on a spat of remaking old fairy tales with modern sensibilities whether it is Aladdin in 2019 or now the latest Snow White. A couple of commonalities linking the two films are the musical format and more empowered women characters specifically the lead women. Snow White (2025) is no different from its predecessor, the movie is a mix of fantasy while dealing with real world themes. Not everything lands but the movie makes for a breezy watch with an assertive female protagonist.

Aladdin 2019

In simple terms the story focuses on Rachael Zegler’s Snow White. She is confined to her own castle by a demonically evil queen played by Gal Gadot. Snow White hopes to reclaim her rightful place. In this process she meets Andrew Burnap’s Jonathan, Unlike the prince character from the old one Jonathan is a charming bandit on the lines of Robin Hood. The rest of the story focuses on Snow White ending the reign of the evil queen.

A strong aspect of Snow White (2025) is the characterization of the central character coupled with Rachael Zegler’s act. Marc Webb along with Erin Cressida Wilson have done a good job in gradually building up the character, in the initial portions she comes across as a sweet but docile person however by the end the character becomes a leader standing up against the injustices. This entire transformation has come out strongly.

Mention must also be made of the understated romance between Rachael Zelger and Andrew Burnap. Andrew Burnap bandit is a welcome break from the regular character of a prince. Sure, the character could have done with more depth but the scenes between them make for a good watch. Andrew Burnap delivers a charismatic act in spite of the brief screen time.

Rachael Zelger and Andrew Burnap

Gal Gadot’s character has some modern touches too going beyond someone who is just jealous of Snow White and tormenting her, she is seen as a symbol of fascism plundering the riches of the land. There is a dictatorial way in which the character operates, and Gal does a very fine job in bringing out those shades. These touches elevate the movie beyond just another reimagining.

As far as the visuals go cinematographer Mandy Waker makes sure that the movie becomes a visual treat. The movie has a vibrant look to it and the special effects have been well integrated. The musical numbers make for a fun watch particularly ‘Waiting on a Wish’

One of the big flaws of the movie are the dwarf characters. Their bond with Snow White doesn’t make an impact due to the lazy writing, it feels like more of an add on due to their presence in the fairytale rather than something substantial. Also, the movie’s tonality alerting between fantasy and real-world issues doesn’t land on some occasions.

Final word: Watch Snow White (2025) if you are in the mood to watch something lighthearted and get yourself lost in a fantasy world.

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Stolen: A taut social thriller

Abhishek Banerjee in Stolen

Inspired from a true incident director Karan Tejpal presents a largely gripping and harrowing tale of the huge divide between the privileged and the poor. Stree and Vedaa actor Abhishek Banerjee once again proves his chameleon like ability in adapting to different roles, he knocks it out of the park as usual.

Starcast: Abhishek Banerjee, Shubham Vardan, Mia Mazeler and others

Genre: Thriller

Director: Karan Tejpal

Writer and producer: Gaurav Dhingra

Executive Producers: Kiran Rao, Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane

Production house: Jungle Book Studio

Running time: 1 hour and 55 minutes

Cinematography: Ishaan Ghosh

Streaming site: Amazon Prime

In structure Karan Tejpal’s Stolen shares more than one similarity with Navadeep Singh’s NH10. Just like that movie here too the urbane characters find themselves in a huge tangle, a world far removed from their comfortable lives. The two protagonists become the medium to explore a world which is far away from high rise buildings and the glittery urbane space. However Karan Tejpal gives Stolen its own distinct identity through two brothers who are as different as chalk and cheese. In spite of some rough edges Stolen for most part is largely engrossing drawing the viewers in.

Stolen begins at a small town railway station in Rajasthan. Gautam (Abhishek Banerjee) is waiting for his younger brother Raman (Shubam Vardan). Raman is coming in a train since he missed the flight. Next day there is an important family event, Gautam is desperate to return back home. However things don’t go according to plan and the reason for this is Jhumpa (Mia Mazeler). Jhumpa’s daughter is missing and Raman is briefly suspected by the police. Raman is cleared of the charges but the police ask the brothers to wait leading to several things. This is the story in brief.

A strong aspect of Stolen is the cinematography of Ishaan Ghosh. Ishaan Ghosh is very successful in capturing the gritty tone, the visuals have a lived in feel with the rusty atmospherics. Through his lens he presents an India that we don’t see in big budget mainstream movies. A major divide between the privileged and oppressed, a deep cynicism and an agony of those who aren’t blessed with the safety net. Ishaan Ghosh’s work also stands out in the tense chase sequences. Sure at times they do get repetitive still he does a first rate job in capturing the dreadful scenarios which both the brothers find themselves in.

Mention must also be made of the sibling dynamics. Abhishek Banerjee’s Gautam is the more corporate guy among the two trying to dissuade his brother from helping Jhumpa. Shubham Vardan’s Raman is the more considerate guy leading to an interesting clash of ideologies. At one point the contrast may across as too jarring but Karan Tejpal along with Gaurav Dhingra give a slight insight into why Raman connects with Jhumpa. In spite of different view points there is an undercurrent of love and affection too. The sibling dynamics makes the movie stand out from NH 1O also set in the same space.

Abhishek Banerjee and Shubham Vardan

Stolen is stuffed with numerous social issues like illegal surrogacy and the absolute lack of law and order. However at no point Stolen feels preachy, this is because of the thriller format. As viewers you are constantly tensed about what would be the fate of the three protagonists. It also helps that the movie has no unnecessary detours, no comic or romantic angle to slow down the proceedings.

Stolen also benefits immensely from its lead actors. Abhishek Banerjee shows a masterclass in acting. The way he portrays the different shades of Gautam effortlessly showcasing the eventual transformation is a sheer delight to watch. With this movie he once proves his capability in adapting to different roles. Shubham Vardan as Raman also lends solid support proving to be a perfect foil for Abhishek Banerjee, both the actors feed of each other wonderfully. As Jhumpa Mia Maezeler is very effective too bringing in a raw intensity without going melodramatic.

Mia Maezeler as Jhumpa

Although tight for most part Stolen does suffer from a couple of mishaps. One of them is a slightly repetitive nature of the brothers being chased. Also towards the end the movie does stray somewhat, a tighter edit in some portions would have definitely helped.

Final word: Stolen is a must watch for those seeking stories beyond entertainment.

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Kankhajura (centipede): A gripping psychological drama about flawed humans

The starcast of Kankhajura

Inspired from the Israeli thriller/drama Magpie Kankhajura focuses on some important issues like the impact of childhood traumas specifically bullying and how a need for validation leads to manipulative behavior. Through the character of Roshan Mathews’s Ashu director gives a message on the need to recognize and address childhood trauma. The slow burn nature isn’t for all, but the acting performances led by Roshan Mathew and Mohit Raina coupled with the themes makes it a thrilling watch

Starcast: Roshan Mathew, Mohit Raina, Sarah Jane Dias, Trinetra Halder and others

Genre: Crime drama

Story and direction: Chandan Arora

Additional story: Upendra Sidhaye

Producer: Ajay Rai

Cinematographers: Rajeev Rai and Vinod Illampally

No of episodes: 8

Streaming site: Sonyliv

Stories of flawed human always make for an interesting drama as most of us have some flaw or the other whether it is psychological or psychical. The meaning of Kankhajura is a pest called centipede. This pest is small in size but extremely dangerous just like one of the protogonists who can be very cunning and dangerous beneath the seemingly soft persona.

The storyline of Kankhajura focuses on the release of Roshan Mathew’s Ashu. He has spent fourteen years in jail and is desperate to reconnect with his brother Max (Mohit Raina). Max gives refugee to Ashu, but the acceptance comes with a calculative nature. The affection is almost absent, as the plot unfolds Ashu turns against Max due to certain reasons leading to the unraveling of dark secrets. This is the story in brief.

A strong aspect of Kankhajura is how Chandan Arora slowly builds up the tension between the two brothers leading to a crescendo. He gives ample psychological insight into the mindset of the two brothers. The themes of past traumas, sibling rivalry and unresolved guilt has been well integrated by the director.

The cinematography of Rajeev Rai and Vinod Illampaly also adds to the tension. Both the cinematographers present Goa in a different way than the viewers are used to seeing. They present Goa as a place of shadows and secrets unlike a usual paradise. The visual pallet they have chosen perfects compliments the theme of the show.

Mention must also be made of the women characters both Sarah Jane Dias and Trinetra Halder give very good support as the moral counterweights. Their characters have a strong individuality particularly Sara Jane Dias who doesn’t shy away from giving it back to Max pointing out his greedy nature whenever required. This strong personality is maintained throughout and as viewers you cheer for her when she walks out of the marriage in the climax.

Sarah Jane Dias

Trinetra Halder as a transgender plays her role with a lot of grace and is successful in bringing out the inner strength. Her scenes with Roshan Mathew showcase a different facet to Ashu making the viewers wish there was more of her. Trinetra Halder is a real-life transgender; this adds to a certain authenticity specifically in the portions where her character talks about the past.

Roshan Mathew and Trinetra Halder

Coming to the lead actors both Roshan Mathew and Mohit Raina knock it out of the park with their respective characters. As Ashu Roshan Mathew strikes the perfect balance between intensity and underplaying as the situation demands. The role could have easily gone into the zone of overacting, but Roshan Mathew doesn’t let that happen with his skilled act. The way he portrays anguish in particular is excellent. Mohit Raina also does a swell job with his restrained yet impactful act. He perfectly brings out the different layers like being charming and ruthless at the same time. Mention must also be made of Mahesh Shetty and Ninand Kamat playing the morally ambiguous allies. Heeba Shah as inspector Leena also makes an impact.

Although taught for most part Kankhajura isn’t without flaws. On occasions the story loses momentum with meandering subplots. Similarly, the pace at which the events unfold may not satisfy thriller buffs.

Final word: Kankhajura is a perfect watch for those who like character driven dramas at a leisure pace.

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Royals: Superficial fun elevated by some strong performances

Ishaan Khattar and co

Royals directed by Priyanka Ghosh and Nupur Asthana often feels like a cross between the English web series Bridgeton and Shashanka Ghosh’s Khoobsurat. The initial episodes are more of a fizzle than a sizzle but the show does take a turn for the better in the later half particularly for those who like palace politics. Ishaan Khattar as Aviraaj is the series beating heart effortlessly combing swag with emotional depth

Starcast: Ishaan Khattar, Bhumi Pednekar, Sakshi Tanwar, Zeenat Aman, Vihaan Samraat, Chunky Pandey, Dino Morea, and others

Genre: Romance/drama

Directors: Priyanka Ghosh and Nupur Asthana

Writer: Neha Veena Sharma

Creators: Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy

Producer: Late Pritish Nandy

Production Company: Pritish Nandy Communications

Cinematographer: Nachiket Pangare

Music: Rooh and Joh

Episodes: 8

Streaming platform: Netflix

Ever since its release on May 9th the web series Royals has seen a very mixed response. Some have praised the performances and the visuals. There has also been a lot of criticism due to the hangover of films and web series set in the same space most notably Bridgeton, also the depiction of royal households has come under intense scanner with the members of erstwhile royal families expressing their displeasure. In spite of not so rave reviews Royals has seen a renewal for season 2.

There is no denying that Royals could have done with much more depth in terms of storytelling, a cut down on the glam quotient would have benefited the series immensely. Having said that Royals does make for a good guilty pleasure and the dramatic twist in the finale does set things nicely for season 2.

The storyline of Royals primarily centers on Morapur royal family. They are dealing with problems of various kinds like financial issues and the death of a king. Ishaan Khattar is Aviraaj, a reluctant prince. Aviraaj has no intention of taking over his father’s place but things take a turn where he is left with no other option. Aviraaj path crosses with Bhumi Pednekar’s Sophia. A self made entrepreneur with a fierce attitude. Sophia wants to turn this crumbling palace into something more luxurious. The two share a relationship swinging between hate and love leading to several developments.

A strong aspect of Royals is the production design and the cinematography department. The web series has a very rich look, the visual esthetics are absolutely on point transporting the viewers into the intriguing world of palace politics.

Talking about palace politics every relationship comes here with layers of manipulation and secrets traumas. Beneath the smiles there is a certain calculatedness making it entertaining specifically in the later episodes. At times it can get confusing too however it adds a lot of spice to the proceedings. The one liners is also a big USP of Royals. Numerous dialogues have shades of sarcasm, even when the script fails the conversations do pack a punch.

As already mentioned Ishaan Khattar’s Aviraaj is the beating heart of Royals. The character comes with different shades, on some occasions he comes across as an asshole with princely arrogance. At the same time he is also Chivalrous, this side comes out on more than one occasion in the scenes with Sophia. Ishaan delivers a splendid act embracing the grey shades of the role with panache, with this act he once proves his versatility in picking up different roles and doing justice to them. A particular scene worth mentioning here is the breakdown before the coronation. The best part of Ishaan’s performance is how he expresses the feelings of happiness, sorrow and other emotions through his eyes. Cannot wait to see his act in the upcoming Homebound which has already received great reviews. Apart from Ishaan Khattar Vihaan Samrat as Yuvraj Digvijay also gives solid support with his nuanced act. His character has the most grounded arc and the actor does a very good job. There is an interesting subplot of Digvijay of wanting to prove himself as a chef without the baggage of being a royal family member. Vihaan Samrat does a very fine job specifically in these portions. Mention must also be made of the scene where Digvijay clears the doubts of Aviraaj handling him with the required love.

Ishaan Khattar and Bhumi

Among the ladies Sakshi Tanwar has the meatiest role as maharani Padmaja. In spite of being a maharani Sakshi Tanwar’s character doesn’t come across as a usual rigid queen. The romantic subplot with the dashing Chunky Pandey shows a different facet to her personality. The way Sakshi portrays Padmaja’s need for love and embracing her libido (sexual desire) is a delight to watch. Veteran actress Zeenat Aman starts off promisingly but suffers on the account of a sketchy characterization, nevertheless Zeenat Aman plays her part with flair. Bhumi Pednekar as Sophia is a mixed bag. The actress looks glamorous with those stunning outfits looking every inch a fierce CEO but on the performance front she come across as rather flat with her expressions. She does ace some of the emotional ones like the portion where Sophia is ousted from her position however the consistency is missing. Also she doesn’t look comfortable in the dances with Ishaan, the chemistry between the two is quite underwhelming with Ishaan putting most of the effort.

Sakshi Tanwar and Zeenat Aman

A major problem with Royals is the clumsy treatment of the LGBTQIA+ representation. Milind Soman plays the father of Aviraaj. He is a closeted gay revealed at a crucial juncture. The past of Milind Soman’s character had good scope for emotional drama but the haphazard narration makes it more of a checklist to be added. Even the lesbian track with Kavya Trehan as Yuvarani Divyaranjini is more of an add on for inclusivity than cohesive storytelling.

The show also needed more depth in the writing of secondary characters, Milind Soman is mostly reduced to a wallpaper, the likes of Nora Fatehi and Dino Morea also don’t get much to do coming and going at the scripts convivence.

Final word: Royals makes for a fun watch provided you can get past the initial episodes and not looking for something very deep.

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Anaganaga: Simplistic core but a relevant story on the need to reinvent the education system

The starcast of Anaganaga

Anaganaga directed and written by Sunny Sanjay is part Taare Zameen Par and part Dead Poets society. What powers Anaganaga in spite of the regular cliches is the emotional core involving the father and son along with how it effectively captures the cut throat world of academic competition. Sumanth as Vyas delivers a nuanced performance conveying a lot with his gaze

Starcast: Sumanth, Kajal Choudhary, Viharsh, Srinivas Avasarala and others

Director and writer: Sunny Sanjay

Genre: Drama

Producers: Rakesh Reddy Gaddam and Rudra Madireddy

Production Company: Krishi Entertainments

Music: Chandu Ravi

Cinematography: Pavan Pappula

Running time: 2 hours and 16 minutes

Streaming site: ETV Win

Anaganaga streaming on ETV Win is a khichdi of numerous movies, a rebellious teacher whose methods feel alien and how he or she transforms the students lives. However stories on the flawed education system has a relevancy to it as the problems still persist, the academic pressures of getting solid marks is something which numerous students face and same goes to the school management specifically the international schools who are in a race.

Sunny Sanjay as a writer and director does a fine job in addressing these themes through a strong father and son story. The plot focuses on the unconventional methods of Sumanth’s Vyas. He is a major advocate of concept based learning, his emphasis is on the students understanding the concept rather than just memorize everything. Vyas uses the method of storytelling in order to makes studies more engaging however the wife Bhagya played by a solid Kajal Choudhary doesn’t approve of his methods. Apart from being a wife and a mother Bhagya is also the school principle in which their son is studying. Things take a major turn when their son along with some more students fail in the exams. The management makes a decision of removing Vyas. The rest of the story focuses on what Vyas does next and how he pursues his goal of concept based learning through alternative methods.

A strong aspect of Anaganaga is the relatable family drama whether it is the husband and wife arguments over the clash of ideologies or the son’s emotional struggle with studies. This aspect makes the movie stand out from the other films which have depicted teachers fighting against the education system.

Sunny Sanjay deserves a major credit for how has developed the character of Bhagya. On the surface she may come across as coldhearted but at the same time as viewers you understand where she is coming from. Bhagya is the main bread winner of the family so there is a lot of financial stress on her, this often results her in clashing with the husband who isn’t after money much, additionally their ideas of parenting also vary. This clash of ideologies has come out well without going over the top. There is also nice understated romantic moments between the two like the portion where Vyas pacifies his wife. Later on we see Bhagya understanding her husband’s point of view.

Mention must also be made of how the director and writer has portrayed the dark side of academic competition. There is a scene of class toppers being rewarded on the podium, on the other hand those who have failed are publicly called out. Sunny Sanjay gives an important message on the need for empathy in education and how the race for marks and top ranks are harmful in the long run.

The father and son scenes are another plus for the movie. The way Vyas helps his son in gradually getting over his academics and stage fear lead to some poignant moments. A shared moment over Musfa and Simba story from the movie lion King adds an emotional depth specifically in the pre climax block. Viharsh as Ram does a very fine job inn conveying both the vulnerability and the eventual transformation. Anu Hassan’s extended cameo also deserves a mention, it gives an insight into Vyas formative years. She adds a lot of warmth giving Vyas a direction at an important juncture of his life. As Vyyas Sumanth perfectly embodies the quiet strength of a man who has firm belief on storytelling being a very good tool. He particularly shines in the portions involving the son. Among the rest Srinivas Avasarala suffers on the account of a stereotypical characterization. He does a fair job but the role needed more nuances than just being an opposition to Vyas.

Talking about the technical departments Chandu Ravi’s music is soothing. Mention must also be made of Pavan Kumar’s cinematography. He does a fine job in capturing the nuances of concept based learning through his lens.

A song from Anaganaga

A major problem with Anaganaga is the done to death troupes involving Vyas challenge against the school management. The portions of Vyas retaliation and how he becomes a threat for the traditional schools needed more depth. The film could have benefited with some more exploration of Vyas’s methods. Also the miraculous transformation of the failed students overnight becomes tough to digest.

Final word: Anaganaga is an important watch particularly for those interested in stories related to education.

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Chhorii 2: A gripping story of a dangerous cult and a mother’s fight

The horrors in Chhorii 2 much like the first part comes more from the regressive mindset. The paranormal entities here aren’t ghosts but a certain patriarchal rot and violence being justified under the name of tradition
  • Starcast: Nushrratt Bharuccha, Soha Ali Khan, Gashmeer Mahajani and others
  • Genre: Horror/thriller
  • Writer and director: Vishal Furia
  • Additional writer: Ajit Japtap
  • Producers: Bhushan Kumar, Vikram Malhotra and others
  • Production Companies: T- Series Films, Abundantia Entertainment etc
  • Cinematography: Anshul Chobey
  • Music: Adrija Gupta
  • Streaming site: Amazon Prime
  • Running time: 2 hours and 13 minutes

For those who haven’t seen Chhorii 1 the plot revolved around an eight month pregnant Sakshi played by Nushratt Bharuccha. Sakshi and her husband Hemant are a happily married couple. However due to the debts of Hemant they are forced to move somewhere else. The setting is a secluded place in a north Indian village reminiscent of Haryana. After a few days the husband makes a decision of going back to the city for arranging money. Sakshi soon stumbles upon a deadly secret related to Mita Vashist’s Bhanno Devi. Without giving away too much Chhorii effectively combined the horror elements and the important issue of female infanticide, the acting performances specifically that of Nushratt and Mita Vashist were of the highest order too. The movie is based on a Marathi film Lapachhapi.

Chhorii 1 movie image

Now you have the sequel to Chhorii after a gap of four years. The basic storyline of Chhorii 2 is about Sakshi’s return to the cursed village due to her missing daughter Ishaani (Hardik Sharma). Ishaani is in the grip of a dangerous cult who do demonic rituals. Sakshi is left no other option other than to fight back. Standing in the path of Sakshi is Soha Ali Khan’s Daasi ma (Soha Ali Khan). Soha Ali Khan is a shape shifting priestess in servitude of her master.

The genre of horror gives scope for stories that go beyond the commercial template. A good example of this is Sohum Shah’s Tumbbaad. The movie focused on ordinary human beings turning into monsters in order to satisfy their unlimited greed. It gave a strong message on these types of humans being more dangerous than a cursed supernatural entity. Another good example of horror genre being effectively used is Aamir Kaushik’s Stree 2, in this film the antagonist by the name of sarkate is used to explore the patriarchal mindset reminiscent of our sexist leaders who often blame a women’s modernity for the crimes happening on them. Vishal Furia’s Chhorii 2 is a good addition to this trend of movies.

As already mentioned the paranormal entities in Chhorii aren’t ghosts but a certain regressive mindset justified under the name of tradition. The portions of the patriarchal cult led by the character of Pradhan sends a chill down the viewers spine. Soha Ali Khan’s character of Daasi ma is both a villain and a victim. Villain because she stands in the way of Sakshi, however Daasi ma isn’t just a mouth piece for the activities of Pradhan she is also a victim of a certain kind of training. This layered characterization makes the movie very interesting.

Nushratt Bharuccha and Soha Ali Khan

The camerawork of Anshul Dobey is also of the highest order. The way he captures the underground maze and the numerous struggles of Sakshi through his lens is very praiseworthy. In fact the underground maze becomes a character in itself. The narrow tunnel becomes an allegory representing the societal structures which suffocate women generation after generation.

The main themes in Chhorii 2 are blind faith, misogyny, child marriage etc. All these come across effectively in simple yet effective moments like a young boy’s malicious behavior. An interesting plot device in Chhorii 2 is the major contrast in the stories that Sakshi and Daasi ma say to Ishaani. On one hand Sakshi tells tales of empowerment, on the other hand Daasi ma narrates manipulative stories using folklore as a device to make her submissive. This parallel storytelling adds an interesting social layer to the proceedings.

Talking about the jump scares the film could have done more with intense moments in that department. The eerie atmosphere is suitably effective but the jump scares lack a consistency factor. Also some of the secondary characters have been sketched way too loosely. They fade into oblivion leaving little to no impact. The movie also suffers from pacing issues in the final act and an abrupt ending which feels like more of a set up for the next part.

As Sakshi Nushrratt Bharuccha successfully takes off from the first movie. She does a very fine job in portraying both the motherly warmth and also the strong resolve of a warrior. Soha Ali Khan plays her complex character with the right amount of finesse, her grasp of the local dialect is impressive too. The supporting cast led by Gashmeer Mahajani as a police officer and Sakshi’s ally do a fine job too however the absence of Mita Vashist can be significantly felt.

Final word: Watch Chhorii 2 for its intense depiction of social issues and the acting performances.

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Test: An intriguing character study exploring the themes of morality and ambition

Much like its title Test plays out like a five-day test match in the beginning portions gradually building up the tension and the conflict points, however it hits a sixer with a crucial twist and the second half in particular plays out like a roller coaster.
  • Starcast: R Madhavan, Nayanathara. Siddarth, Meera Jasmine and others
  • Genre: Drama/thriller
  • Writer and director: S Sashikanth
  • Additional writer: Suman Kumar
  • Producers: Chakravarthy Ramachandra and S Sashikanth
  • Cinematography: Viraj Singh Gohli
  • Music: Shaktisree Gopalan
  • Production Company: Y NOT Studios
  • Streaming site: Netflix
  • Running time: 2 hours and 26 minutes

Characters with grey shades always make for fascinating on-screen characters, the reason being many of us have a grey area within us. More often than not a person being good or bad depends on how you react to the circumstances. Sometimes even the purest person can become evil due to an inability to cope with the challenges.

Test directed by S Sashikanth begins with an interesting quote. “A hero will sacrifice the person they love to save the world, but a villain will sacrifice the world in order to save the person they love.” this quote perfectly sums up the core theme of Test. The three protagonists are often pushed to their limits forcing them to choose between morality and self-interest. The plot of Test primarily focuses on three characters from different paths of life, but their journeys get intertwined. Arjun Viswanathan (Siddarth) is a major batsman going through a professional crisis. He is almost at the end of his career. There are huge rumors of him retiring during an important test series against Pakistan. In order to save his career Arjun resorts to media manipulation forcing the selectors to play him. On the other hand, you have R Madhavan’s Saravanan and Nayanathara’s Kumudha. Sarvanan is an MIT scientist struggling to get his project on alternative energy approved, he is also drowning in debt. Kumudha on the other hand is longing to become a mother through the procedure of IVF, but it isn’t happening due to certain problems. As the plot progresses all three characters face life alternating scenarios where their integrities are put at test.

As already mentioned, the movie Test plays along the lines of a five-day test match. A majority of the first half is devoted to establishing the different hurdles faced by the characters. Director S Shashikanth along with Suman Kumar slowly build up the simmering tension particularly the dynamics of R Madhavan and Nayanathara. Towards the end of the first half the movie gets into a thriller mode with the backdrop of match fixing and a crucial change in the character of Sarvanan. From here the graph of the movie becomes more interesting.

R Madhavan and Nayanathara share a magnetic chemistry

A strong aspect of Test is the psychological insight that the director and the writer have given exploring the motivations of the primary characters. This can be particularly felt in the character of R Madhavan. There is an interesting juxtaposition here. Saravanan is someone who is working on a groundbreaking project which could benefit the humanity however he doesn’t have the privileges of Siddarth’s Arjun. The survival struggle of Saravanan and Arjun’s fight for legacy raises interesting questions.

Test also benefits immensely from the on-screen chemistry combined with the performances of Madhavan and Nayanthara. Both the actors share a magnetic chemistry whether it is some of the lovey Dovey moments or the more intense ones when their marriage starts to crumble. R Madhavan as Saravanan delivers a truly scintillating act. The way he goes from loving to slowly grey and eventually psychotic is brilliant to watch. A major reason for the second half turning out the way it does is due to his outstanding act. R Madhavan is truly aging like fine wine proving his versatility with wide range of characters. A specific portion worthy of mentioning here is a slap scene featuring Saravanan and Kumuda. A wide range of emotions are on display ranging from frustration, concern, instant guilt and then regret. This portion itself is a perfect example of why R Madhavan is one of the best actors working in the industry today. Nayanthara as Kumudha also delivers a strong act. The way she portrayals the dual shades of her role the motherly concern for her students by becoming their cheerleader at the same time the grey shades too is a sheer delight to watch.

A lovey dovey moment between R Madhavan and Nayanathara

Siddarth as Arjun though could have done with more intensity. His act is more internalized and does suffer somewhat from weak writing. Having said that Siddarth also gets into his groove when the stakes become very high, and Arjun goes through an emotional upheaval connected to the missing son. Meera Jasmine as Arjun’s wife does a fine job too. The confrontation scenes between the two actors strike the right emotional cord. Having said that here too the writing could have been much better. The subplot of India and Pakistan test match feels like more of an add on and doesn’t add much to the proceedings.

Siddarth as Arjun

The music by Shaktisree Gopalan is a major speed breaker. The songs don’t add much value to the proceedings. However, the cinematography of Viraj Singh Gohli is of a good standard. A particular mention must be made of his work during the emotional scenes.

Final word: Watch Test if you like complex human dramas and of course if you are an R Madhavan fan

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Adolescence: A haunting cautionary tale particularly for parents

Behind the scenes third episode of Adolescence web series

Adolescence directed by Philip Barantini is a thought provoking tale on the modern pressures faced by parents in this rapidly changing world thanks to the massive technological developments. The director does a fantastic job in exploring the issues of societal pressures and online radicalization among others.

Starcast: Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, Ashley Walters, Faye Marsay and others

Direction: Philip Barantini

Creator and writer: Stephen Graham

Additional writer: Jack Thorne

Music: Aaron May and David Ridley

Producer: Jo Johnson

Production Companies: Its All Made Up Productions, One Shoe Films etc.

Cinematographer: Matthew Lewis

No of episodes: 4

Streaming site: Netflix

Raising a child successfully is easily one of the most difficult tasks for any parent more so in today’s digital age. The influences from outside specifically the online culture comes with its share of both positives and negatives. Additionally giving your child sufficient time isn’t easy for those who have hectic working schedules. The latest Netflix show Adolescence has been the talk of the town ever since its release. The series has struck a huge chord with not just the western audiences but it has also broken language barriers. A prime reason for that is the shows central theme which has a universal resonance.

The central plot of Adolescence is the arrest of James Miller (an outstanding Owen Cooper). James is arrested for the murder of his fellow female classmate in the nearby woods. Stephen Graham and Christine Tremarco play James Miller’s parents Eddie Miller and Manda Miller respectively. Naturally both of them are heartbroken at this revelation. Their life undergoes a 360 degrees turn struggling to comprehend on how their seemingly good son can be capable of a crime like this. Adolescence doesn’t play out like a traditional whodunit because after a point it is firmly established that James is indeed the killer. The focus is more on the psychological and emotional trauma faced by the family.

A major strength of Adolescence web series is how Philip Barantini along with Stephan Graham present a realistic picture on the issues faced by modern parents. On many occasions Adolescence holds a mirror to today’s society hitting a raw nerve. By the end of the show many parents or going to be ones will definitely think about how much are they really present in the lives of their children.

The show also does a very good job in portraying the hidden struggles which youngsters face unknown to the parents and how a huge divide is coming between the parents and children. Adolescence also presents a disturbing picture on the dangers of online bullying and incel culture. Incel culture refers to a community of men who are frustrated with their inability to attract women sexually. They often blame the women for their failures.

Another big strength of Adolescence is the characterization of the central character coupled with Owen Cooper’s outstanding act. The series doesn’t entirely demonize James Miller, instead the show treats him as a victim of an ecosystem which fosters alienation. The perfect example of this is the scene between James and clinical psychologist Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty).

Erin Doherty as the clinical psychologist

In this portion a psychological insight is given into the actions of James with specific focus on the culture of incel and online bullying. There is a dignity and sensitivity in the way these portions have been filmed. The entire track reminds the viewers of James not being a complete adult yet. The fact that James is still a growing boy makes the situation even more tragic.

Mention must also be made of Ashley Walters as DI Bascombe. There is a nuanced approach in the way the role has been written and performed. At no point DI Bascombe comes across as overly aggressive or antagonistic.

Ashley Walter as DI Bascombe

As James Miller Owen Cooper expertly handles a complex role way above his age. A particular mention must be made of his performance in the third episode. The unhinged manner in which he plays the series most crucial portion firmly establishes him as a talent to look out.

Stephen Graham is another actor who stands out with his heartfelt portrayal of an emotionally charged father. The way he portrays the feelings of guilt, grief and self doubt is a sheer delight to watch. The actor specifically stands out in the scene where he questions his entire existence of being a parent. One of the most stand out scenes belong to Stephen Graham and Manda Miller. There is a very poignant conversation between them when Stephen Graham’s Eddie says the following dialogue.

Stephen Graham is another actor who stands out with his heartfelt portrayal of an emotionally charged father

“I used to play with him, then work picked up and I started coming home late. Maybe I didn’t give him the time I should have”. This dialogue very aptly sums up the importance of an emotional presence in the life of a child.

Another very striking aspect of Adolescence web series is the way the show has been shot. Cinematographer Matthew Lewis has filmed each episode as continuous shots with no visible cuts. This adds to the immersive nature of the show.

The one slight flaw in Adolescence is the lack of complete perspective from the side of girl’s family. Obviously the girl’s parents would also be going through major emotional upheavals. But this isn’t touched upon in the slightest.

Final word: Adolescence is a spine chilling drama very much worth your time. The show is truly a banger.

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Dabba Cartel : Solid performances marred with uneven narrative

More than a crime drama, ‘Dabba Cartel’ works as an interesting character study of women across different strata of society.

Dabba Cartel (Hindi), 28-02-2025, Action, Drama, 7 episodes, 16+, OTT

  • Main Cast: Shabhana Azmi, Jyothika, Shalini Pandey, Nimisha Sajayan, Anjali Anand, and Sai Tamhankar
  • Director: Hitesh Bhatia
  • Producer: Farhan Akhar, Ritesh Sidwani, and Shibani Akhtar
  • Music Director: Gaurav Raina and Tarana Marwah
  • Cinematography: Eeshit Narain
  • Rating: 3/5

Hitesh Bhatia’s Dabba Cartel centres on various women across different social strata. The director is successful in creating interesting characters and also making some impactful social commentary.

More than a crime drama, Dabba Cartel works as an interesting character study of women across different strata of society.

Synopsis

There is Raji (Shalini Pandey) running a small Tiffin service with her maid Mala (Nimisha Sajyayan), this soon becomes a drug cartel service thanks to Mala.

Mala secretly distributes a certain kind of Viagra to get extra cash. As a frustrated single mother grappling with society’s degradation of her, she wants to make sure that her daughter gets the best education.

Adding to the mix is a local broker, Shahida (Anjali Anand), and Varuna (Jyothika), the wife of Shankar Dasgupta (Jisshu Sengupta), a top executive at a pharmaceutical giant. Varuna, an ex-employee of the company, is now a regular housewife. Her relationship with her husband is on the brink of disintegration.

Shabana Azmi plays Raji’s mother-in-law referred to as Baa aka Sheila. She has a dark secret of her own. Due to certain circumstances, these five women form a group. On the surface, the connection between women and a drug cartel may seem dubious but here it’s more about survival rather than power.

Strengths

Shabana Azmi in Dabba Cartel
Shabana Azmi in ‘Dabba Cartel’. (X)

A strong aspect of Dabba Cartel is how Hitesh Batia uses the set-up of the pharmaceutical company. It becomes a very useful accessory for women to run the drug cartel while using the Tiffin service grounded in home-cooked meals as a front.

This setup is used cleverly to play up on some of the societal norms that we reduce women to particularly homemakers.

Thankfully director Hitesh Bhatia, along with the writers Vishnu Menon and Bhavana Kher ground the narrative from the lived experience of these women. The show is shaped more by the biases which play a significant role and the subsequent decisions they make under pressure.

The show also excels in its depiction of gender dynamics. The male characters, particularly the husbands are very dismissive of their wives, particularly Shankar.

There is a brilliant confrontation between Varuna and Shankar, concerning an important revelation. This revelation acts as a major drive for Varuna.

In more ways than one Dabba Cartel is a character-driven show rather than a plot-driven one.

Flaws

A major problem with Drug Cartel is some of the patchily written tracks. For example, in the beginning episodes, a character called Chavan is given a lot of importance but is soon forgotten after a point.

Even the LGBTQ+ track involving Anjali Anand’ Shahida and Sai Tamhankar’ Preeti isn’t organically woven. Varuna’s acceptance in the group could also have been better written particularly given that she is an outsider for others.

Characterisation

Gajraj Rao in Dabba Cartel
Gajraj Rao in ‘Dabba Cartel’. (X)

The supposed invisibility of these housewives becomes their biggest weapon. Mention must also be made of the track involving Gajaraj Rao and an eager-to-prove police officer played by Sai Tamhankar.

Gajraj Rao’s character is an officer from Narcotics who wants to unveil the duplicities happening in the pharmaceutical company VivaLife. His detective-like persona coupled with the desperation of Sai Tamhankar’s Preeti in solving her first major case adds an interesting layer to the web show, particularly in the middle episodes.

Some of the tension-filled moments where a heist kind of mission takes place with the use of the song from the famous Excel Entertainment movie Don add a touch of mischievousness.

Performances

Shalini Pandey and Jyothika in Dabba Cartel
Shalini Pandey and Jyothika in ‘Dabba Cartel’. (X)

Not surprisingly, Dabba Cartel is mostly shouldered by its female cast with particular mention of Shabana Azmi, Nimisha Sajayan and Jyothika.

Shabana Azmi has a towering presence and portrays the role with her usual finesse, she conveys a lot through her eyes and overall body language. Nimisha Sajayan does a very good job of capturing the fiery nature of a woman from a marginalized community.

The character’s need for respect has been portrayed brilliantly by the actor. Jyothika as the seemingly happy housewife with a growing resentment is also a delight to watch.

Among the men, Gajraj Rao leaves the biggest impact as the no-nonsense investigator followed by Jisshu Sengupta.

Technical aspects

The music composed by Gaurav Raina and Tarana Marwah is funky jellying perfectly with the nature of the series.

Eeshit Narian’s cinematography is also of a very good standard. He effectively captures the rooted middle-class milieu through his lens. His cinematography is particularly impressive in the scenes of the crowded alleys and the heavy monsoons.

Final take

To sum it up Dabba Cartel doesn’t completely deliver, still, the show is worth watching for its fantastic female cast.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/dabba-cartel-web-series-review-solid-performances-marred-with-uneven-narrative/

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Aashram Season 3 Part 2 : A strong conclusion

Director Prakash Jha once again succeeds in delivering a strong socio political drama headed by the fantastic cast. In spite of a few elongated stretches the series makes the viewers introspect about the hold that these fake babas have.
Aashram season 3 part 2 (Hindi), 27-02-2025, Drama, Thriller, 5 episodes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Bobby Deol, Aaditi Pohankar, Chandan Roy Sanyal, and Tridha Choudhary
  • Director: Prakash Jha
  • Producer: Prakash Jha
  • Music Director: Sunny Inder
  • Cinematography: Chandan Kowli
  • Rating: 3.5/5

The filmography of Prakash Jha has always been dominated by subjects of social importance.

Whether it is his initial films like Mrityudand (1997) focusing on injustice practices set in Bihar or even the later ones like Gangajaal, Apaharan and others.

The filmmaker has often drawn inspiration from real life. Of course, the results haven’t been always great, particularly in the last few years but the director’s commitment to portraying socially relevant issues is undeniable.

Synopsis

His web series debut Aashram streaming on Amazon MX player, which released its first instalment in 2020, marked the rebirth of both Prakash Jha and Bobby Deol. The core plot of Aashram revolves around a magnetic godman, played by a brilliant Bobby Deol.

Bobby Deol’s Nirala Baba pretends to be a messiah but in actuality, it is just a façade. Aaditi Pohankar’s Pammi starts off as one of his numerous devotees but things take a huge turn when she realizes that Nirala is no saint but a monster with ulterior motives.

In the second season, the viewers see Pammi turning against Nirala fighting a huge battle, and undergoing many tribulations, including the death of her close ones.

Additionally, the mother believes that her daughter has gone ashtray and is maligning the name of Baba Nirala to cover her wrongdoings.

The first part of Aashram’s third season saw Pammi getting some political support but due to certain change of events, she ended up behind bars.

A revenge

Aditi in Aashram Season 3 Part 2
Aditi in ‘Aashram Season 3 Part 2’. (X)

In the second part of Aashram’s third season, the focus is primarily on how Pammi makes a return back to the Aashram and systematically plots her revenge.

She puts a façade in front of Nirala Baba by saying that she has unnecessarily wronged him and now wants to correct her mistakes.

Baba Nirala arranges her bail and gets her shifted to the Aashram much to the disdain of his friend and partner in crime Bhopa Swami (Chandan Roy Sanyal).

Pammi pretends to be an ardent devotee but her actual intentions are different. The rest of the story focuses on how Pammi reveals the true colours of Nirala Baba to the court along with the back story of this magnetic godman who has several skeletons buried in his closet.

Strengths and flaws

A strong aspect of Aashram season 3 part two is how Pammi goes about her plan in an unhurried manner. The way she tempts Bhopa Swami turning Bhopa and Nirala against each other is interesting to watch.

A still from the film Aashram Season 3 Part 2
A still from the film ‘Aashram Season 3 Part 2’. (X)

The scenes of Pammi seducing Bhopa gradually might test the patience of some viewers but are necessary in the larger scheme of things.

The back story of Baba Nirala and how his manipulations come back to haunt him has been wonderfully written and enacted. The portions of Baba Nirala’s psychological battles are also gripping to watch.

The series also does a very fine job of raising uncomfortable questions about power and faith. Prakash Jha also does a fine job of showcasing devotion being a double-edged sword and how playing with someone’s faith through numerous lies can take you down however big your empire is.

The characterizations of the three central characters coupled with the performances are another major backbone, the transformation of Pammi from a victim to an avenger treading on a very dangerous path is a delight to watch.

Performances

Aaditi delivers a fantastic act perfectly capturing both the pain and anger while systematically plotting Baba Nirala’s downfall, the way she seduces Bhopa Swami by turning on the charm pretending to have accepted defeat makes for great viewing.

Bobby Deol in Aashram Season 3 Part 2
Bobby Deol in ‘Aashram Season 3 Part 2’. (X)

Bobby Deol as Nirala Baba delivers once again. This character has played a huge role in the rebirth of Bobby and that is clearly visible this time too.

Bobby once again delivers a first-rate performance portraying the various shades of his character with ease. The actor particularly shines in the scenes when the tables are turned against him like the dramatic breakdown during a crucial moment. His obsession with Pammi has undertones of genuine love.

Chandan Roy Sanyal has a bigger canvas to play with in comparison to the other seasons and the actor does a terrific job.

The devilish charm with which he portrays the role is a delight to watch, at the same time we also see a vulnerable side to him after he gets castrated by Nirala leading to a change in their dynamics. The confrontation scene between the two towards the end is a wonderful example of this.

Among the rest, Tridha Choudhary does a very fine job as a woman who quietly helps Pammi. Darshan Kumar as the determined police officer is also pretty solid although the screen time is quite limited.

Final take

To sum it up Aashram Season 3 Part 2 is a very satisfying conclusion.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/aashram-season-3-part-2-web-series-review-a-strong-conclusion/