Category: OTT Films & Webseries

Posted on

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar : Not Neeraj Pandey’s best still this heist thriller has its high points

The central performances of Avinash Tiwary and Jimmy Shergill majorly contribute in making the movie engaging even when things go astray.
Sikandar Ka Muqaddar (Hindi), 29-11-2024, Drama, Thriller, 2 hours 23 minutes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Jimmy Shergill, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Rajeev Mehta
  • Director: Neeraj Pandey
  • Producer: Shital Bhatia
  • Music Director: Payal Dev
  • Cinematography: Arvind Singh
  • Rating: 3/5

Neeraj Pandey’s latest work plays along the lines of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece Les Miserables. There are themes of moral ambiguity and the relentless persuasion of a cop spanning across years.

More than a thriller Sikandar Ka Muqaddar streaming on Netflix, works as an interesting character study of two individuals whose lives undergo a significant change in the backdrop of a heist.

Synopsis

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar begins off on a high note. A heist happens at a diamond exhibition in the year 2009. Jimmy Shergill’s Jaswinder Singh zeroes on three suspects based on his instincts, something that Jaswinder is very proud of.

The suspects are Sikandar Sharma (Avinash Tiwary), Kamini Singh (Tamannah Bhatia) and Mangesh Desai (Rajiv Mehta). As Jawinder Singh gets deeper into the case the pursuit turns into an endless obsession significantly affecting both his personal and professional life.

Eventually, no one is convicted and the case gradually slips away from people’s memory but Jaswinder is thoroughly convinced that one of the three has definitely stolen the diamond. His primary suspect is Sikandar Sharma. This is the story in brief.

What works and what doesn’t

Stills from the film Sikandar Ka Muqaddar
Stills from the film ‘Sikandar Ka Muqaddar’. (X)

Director Neeraj Pandey along with co-writer Vipul K Rawal waste no time in setting up the proceedings, Jaswinder Singh’s questioning of the three suspects and his strong belief in instincts pique the viewer’s interest in who stole the diamond.

Things are gripping till the point of no convictions being made and Jaswinder Singh losing his job. The movie starts stagnating once it gets into the mode of non-linear storytelling. The constant intercuts do more harm than good.

However, the flashback portion does have some good stretches too. The best is Sikandar’s character battling one major hardship after the other. Also, no character is completely good or evil here. Whether it is the suspects or the cop they come across as individuals driven by the circumstances around them.

Sikandar’s struggles have been shown in detail and it does strike an emotional chord. The film though could have done a little more exploration of Jaswinder’s life post his suspension. Having said that the scars left by the passage of time come across strongly.

Apart from the constant intercuts the movie does suffer from being a slow burn testing the viewer’s patience. The ending also lacks the punch that Neeraj Pandey is known for in his previous movies like Baby (2015) and Special Chabbis (2013).

Performances

Avinash Tiwary and Tamannaah Bhatia in Sikandar Ka Muqaddar
Avinash Tiwary and Tamannaah Bhatia in ‘Sikandar Ka Muqaddar’. (X)

A strong aspect of Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is undoubtedly the strong acting performances particularly that of Avinash Tiwary and Jimmy Shergill. Both the actors rise above the uneven material keeping the viewers invested. Jimmy Shergill who had played the role of a cop previously in films like A Wednesday, managed to bring freshness to this role too.

The character of Jaswinder starts as a cop with a perfect record but soon becomes a wreck in his relentless pursuit. Jimmy does a fantastic job of portraying the various nuances. The fall from grace could have been better explored, yet Jimmy makes the viewers feel the pain of Jaswinder.

Avinash Tiwary is also wonderful as the man who rebuilds his life amidst the constant harassment. He particularly shines in portraying the emotional turmoil of Sikandar.

Apart from these two, Tamannah Bhatia also makes a striking impact as a single mother with secrets of her own. Despite lesser screen time the actress does a very fine job in making the viewers empathize with Kamini’s problems.

Final take

To sum it up Sikandar Ka Muqaddar has good performances and some strong passages making it watchable.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/reviews/sikandar-ka-muqaddar-movie-review/

Posted on

Vikkatakavi – The Chronicles of Amaragiri web series review: An engrossing, first of its kind Telangana detective show

In spite of some rough edges, director Pradeep immerses the viewers into the world of Amaragiri. The mixture of Telangana folk beliefs with the subplot of bio war enhances the narrative. Promising young talent Naresh Agastya delivers another solid act
Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri (Telugu), 28-11-2024, Drama, 6 episodes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Naresh Agastya, Megha Akash, Shiju Menon, Tarak Ponnappa, Raghu Kunche, Mukthar Khan, and Amit Tiwari
  • Director: Pradeep Maddali
  • Producer: Rajani Talluri
  • Music Director: Ajay Arasada
  • Cinematography: Shoeb Siddiquie
  • Rating: 3.5/5

In the last few years, Telangana culture has had a major influx into mainstream Telugu cinema through stories or characters.

A major reason for that is the consistent portrayal and telling of Telangana by the likes of Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Vishwak Sen, Tharun Bhascker and Siddhu Jonnalagadda.

Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri the new web series streaming on ZEE 5, directed by Pradeep Maddalli and written by Saitej Desheaj is a good addition to this trend. Through the six episodes, Pradeep and Saitej have effectively mixed the Telangana folklore with the detective genre.

The series also pays homage to the legendary Tenali Rama Krishnan, known for his wit and intellect in equal measure.

Synopsis

The story of Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri is set in the 1970s, in a village called Amaragiri. In this village, people lose their memories as soon they visit the haunted Devathala Gutta.

The story then follows Naresh Agastya’s Ramakrishna aka Vikkatakavi. He is not just a brilliant student but is also known for his exceptional investigation skills. Ramakrishna embarks on a dangerous journey for an emotional reason.

A constant tussle between superstitions and rationalism enhances the plot. The show also has some attention-grabbing twists that keep the viewers guessing about the reasons behind these mysterious happenings. There is a strong connection between Ramakrishna’s past and the happenings in Amaragiri, which adds to the emotional quotient, in addition to the thrills.

Strong technical support

Naresh Agastya in Vikkatakavi
Naresh Agastya in ‘Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri’. (X)

A strong aspect of Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri is its world-building. Shoeb Siddiqui’s work, particularly, stands out among the technical aspects. The rustic village atmospherics along with the night sequences set in the forest draw the audiences into the world of Amaragiri.

The production design and costumes are mighty effective in transporting the viewers into a by gone era. Ajay Arsada’s background score is very effective in enhancing the tension-filled sequences.

Apart from the technical aspects Pradeep Malladi also deserves appreciation for how he has integrated the local beliefs of Telangana people with the subplot of a bio war.  Special mention must also be made of the actors playing the village people.

Performances

The romance between Naresh Agastya and Megha Akash is understated without hijacking the central theme. Megha Akash hasn’t got a lot to do but she does have a lovely presence.

Naresh Agastya continues to showcase his versatility with an arresting portrayal of a detective. After this year’s Paruvu Naresh shows a different facet of him. The boyish charm coupled with intensity make him the perfect choice for the central character.

In the supporting cast, Raghu Kanche impresses the most with his terrific act. The way he conveys the negative traits with just expressions is a delight to watch. Tarak Ponnappa and Mukhtar Khan too are proficient in their roles.

Among the speed bumps, the final act needed a much better punch, given the intricate build-up. The final episodes feel lengthy as the viewers tend to form an idea of how things will ultimately go. The series also taps into nationalistic sentiments, but this aspect feels forced.

Final take

Keeping aside the rough edges Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri is a solid addition to the evolving Telugu OTT space. Definitely worth watching for those like stories with elements of mysticism and thrills.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/telugu/vikkatakavi-the-chronicles-of-amaragiri-web-series-review-an-engrossing-first-of-its-kind-telangana-detective-show/

Posted on

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2: A pulpy sequel with engaging twists and a Shakesperean touch

Ya Kaali Kaali Aankhein Season 2 web series banner

A famous quote of Shakespeare on how “The course of true love never did run smooth” perfectly describes this twisted love story. Director Sidharth Sengupta along with his co-writers maintain a palpable tension about what would be the fate of Tahir Raj Bhasin’s Vikrant

Starcast: Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anchal Singh, Surya Sharma, Swetha Tripathi, Arunoday Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Gurmeet Choudhary and others

Director: Sidharth Sengupta

Writers: Varun Bodola, Anahata Menon etc

Producers: Jyoti Sagar and Sidharth Sengupta

Production Company: Edgestorm

Cinematography: Murli Krishna

No of episodes: 6

Streaming site: Netflix

For those who aren’t familiar with Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein season 1 it was a twisted love story with a gender twist. Instead of a male obsessive lover there was a possessive female in the form of Anchal Singh’s Purva. She makes life hell for Tahir Raj Bhasin’s Vikrant. What made the show click in spite of a familiar love triangle was its treatment. Director Sidharth Sengupta kept the viewers guessing about what turn the story would take. The performances of Tahir Raj Bhasin and Anchal Singh in particular also made the show engrossing. Season 2 of Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein is for most part a worthy follow up to Season 1. There are enough tension filled moments to keep the viewers hooked and the characterizations of Tahir Raj Bhasin and Anchal Singh are like an icing on the cake.

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 1

Season 2 of Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein begins with the kidnap of Aanchal Singh’s Purva. The kidnapper is Arunoday Singh’s Jalan but the one who orchestrated the entire situation is Vikrant. Vikrant had actually hired Jalan to get rid of Purva forever but now Jalan has double crossed Vikrant. The reason for Jalan’s double crossing is he wants more money. Adding to Vikrant’s woes is his lover Shikha (Swetha Tripathi) getting married to another man. Additional problems pile up for Vikrant with the entry of Guru (Gurmeet Choudhary). He is a tech savvy agent along with being Purva’s close friend. At one point Guru and Shikha had spent considerable time together and he had confessed his feelings of love to Purva too. But Purva had made it very clear that she doesn’t love him. Guru is determined to bring Purva back at any cost, it is both professional and personal for him. He gets suspicious of Vikrant having a hand in the kidnap leading to an exciting cat and mouse game.

A strong aspect of Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein season 2 like the first season is the layered characterization of Tahir Raj Bhasin. Towards the end of season 1 Vikrant had transformed from a normal small-town boy to a man on mission. The characterization had undergone a significant change with Vikrant becoming a morally ambivalent person. In this season the grey shades are more pronounced. Much like Sushmita Sen’s Aarya Vikrant too is forced to bring out the inner demon in him. He was just a normal guy wanting to lead a happy life with his sweetheart Shikha and stay away from both Purva and her politician father Akheraj Awasthi (Saurabh Shukla) but due to certain circumstances his life had taken a very different route.

Tahir Raj Bhasin does a splendid job in pulling off Vikrant’s emotional turmoil. For example, there is a scene where Vikrant visits Shikha a day after her wedding to cover up an important matter. He is absolutely devasted on discovering that Shikha is no longer his and blames her for giving up. Shikha retorts by saying that he too had married Purva surrendering to the circumstances. The way Tahir portrays the breakdown of Vikrant’s ego in that particular moment is exemplary.

Tahir Raj Bhasin does a splendid job in pulling off Vikrant’s emotional turmoil

Some of Vikrant’s actions are indeed questionable but at the same time there is a strong vulnerability too making it hard for the viewers to dislike him completely. Apart from Tahir Anchal Singh’s Purva too successfully takes off from where she left from the previous season. The character of Purva in comparison to the first season is more layered. The viewers get a physiological insight into how she has grown into this extremely possessive person. Anchal does a very fine job in humanizing the role of an obsessive lover. The dynamics between Vikrant and Purva continue to be the major backbone of the web show.

Anchal Singh does a very fine job in humanizing the role of an obsessive lover

Special mention must also be made of Saurabh Shukla’s Akheraj Awasthi. His role of a powerful politician acquires new shades in season 2. There is a scene where Akheraj confesses on how he should have brought up his daughter better apologizing to Vikrant. Brijender Kala much like the first season raises many chuckles with his comic timing. A standout scene between Tahir and Brijender Kala is when Vikrant questions the father about his unwavering loyalty to Akheraj, how he is willing to sacrifice the entire family in name of devotion. In fact, both the fathers function as a major catalyst for how Vikrant and Purva have shaped up.

Gurmeet Choudhary as the new entrant proves to be a worthy opponent for Vikrant. He does a fine job in showcasing Guru’s determination along with the emotions of love. Anant Vijay Joshi of 12th Fail fame is only used to give a humorous touch to an otherwise tense narrative. His portions come as a welcome relief amidst the chaos although the writing could have been better. The show at times also suffers on the account of a few cinematic liberties like Guru’s omnipotent surveillance technology.

Murli Krishna’s cinematography is of a very high standard whether it is the snowcapped mountains or how he captures the brilliant action set pieces. The stunts designed by Amar Shetty are on par with any big screen action movie. The iconic title track of Baazigar ‘Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein’ has been recreated wonderfully. The recreated track enhances the tension at many places.

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein is definitely worth watching for those who like dark thrillers.

Posted on

Freedom At Midnight web series review: A brilliant exploration of events leading up to the partition

Director Nikhil Advani skillfully captures the political turmoil of the time, which ideally should have been the celebration of free India but ended as a harrowing experience with the religious conflicts. 
Freedom At Midnight (Hindi), 14-11-2024, Historical drama ,7 episodes, 13+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Sidhant Gupta, Chirag Vohra, Rajendra Chawla, Luke McGibney, Cordelia Bugeja, Arif Zakaria, Ira Dubey, Malishka Mendonsa, and Rajesh Kumar
  • Director: Nikhil Advani
  • Producer: Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani
  • Music Director: Ashutosh Patak
  • Cinematography: Malay Prakash
  • Rating: 4/5

Starting from Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and Salaam- E- Ishq (2007) director and producer Nikhil Advani has had a fascinating career so far.

He has dabbled in various genres whether it is the action dramas Batla House (2019) and D-Day (2013) or the two seasons of Mumbai Diaries— a medical thriller.

This year Nikhil further proved his versatility with the movie Vedaa—a gritty social drama with hardcore action.

Synopsis

The web series Freedom At Midnight, streaming on Sony Liv, though has to be the biggest risk taken by the director. Given the complexity of the events and also the probability of being accused of aligning to a particular political spectrum.

The series is based on the book “Freedom at Midnight” by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins.

Fortunately, Nikhil has passed the test with flying colours. He has succeeded in not only making a gripping series but at no point does the show take sides blaming a particular person or party. Instead, it places the viewers amidst the powerful leaders who have fought for India’s independence letting the audiences make their own judgments.

At the heart of Freedom At Midnight are the complex political scenarios represented by the numerous leaders. The main ones are Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (Sidhant Gupta), Sardar Vallabhai Patel (Rajendra Chawla), Mahatma Gandhi (Chirag Vohra), Mohammad Ali Jinnah (Arif Zakaria) and Lord Louis Mountbatten (Luke Mc Gibney).

Through the seven episodes, Nikhil Advani along with writers Gundeep Kaur, Ethan Taylor, Divy Nidhi Sharma, and Revantha Sarabai, gives a strong insight into the political machinations and the numerous differences of opinions leading to clashes.

Analysis

A still from the series Freedom At Midnight
A still from the series ‘Freedom At Midnight’. (X)

As already mentioned, Freedom At Midnight doesn’t take sides at any point, instead, it presents the viewers with various perspectives.

Whether it is Gandhiji’s unwavering idealism in spite of the clash of opinions between Nehru and Sardar Vallabhai Patel, or Jinnah’s uncompromising attitude on wanting Pakistan among others.

The series presents the leaders with their flaws, fears and contradictions. The best examples of this are the portions involving Jinnah’s calculated decisions or Nehru’s quiet torment.

The scenes of religious discord leading to incidents of communal violence give the show some of its best emotional scenes. Although these scenes are set in a particular time period, there is contemporariness to them, as religious discord, is still a major issue in the present time.

Technical brilliance

Freedom At Midnight is a historical drama
‘Freedom At Midnight’ is a historical drama. (X)

Freedom At Midnight immerses the viewers from the first frame and a major reason for this is Malay Prakash’s cinematography.

The close-up shots of the emotional upheavals faced by Nehru, and Gandhi in particular transports the viewers into those turbulent times making them feel that they are watching the happenings from up close.

Both the cinematography and the production design are the main pillars of this web show.

Talking about the production design, the scenes of the Viceroy’s house along with the portions showcasing the riot-torn neighbourhoods serve as a perfect masterclass in creating an authentic world in an era where VFX is dominating mainstream cinema.

Ashutosh Patak’s music is equally poignant enhancing the series’ emotional scenes significantly. There is a haunting quality to the tunes in perfect sync with the nature of the show.

Performances

Sidhant Gupta as Nehru in ‘Freedom At Midnight’. (X)

The performances of the entire cast are brilliant starting from Sidhant Gupta. The young actor successfully takes off from his fantastic performance in Jubilee (2023).

As Jawaharlal Nehru, he perfectly portrays the inner conflicts of a leader who is torn between his ideals and the grim pragmatism that was the need of the hour, his scenes with Chirag Vohra’s Gandhi in particular are very impressive.

The scenes of the unfortunate discord and how he portrays a quiet resolve are truly brilliant.

Arif Zakaria is also terrific making sure that Mohammad Ali Jinnah never becomes a caricature. He portrays him as a complex personality with shades of frailty, ambition and conviction.

Jinnah is someone who is both formidable and tragically flawed. Both the writing and Arif Zakaria’s performance bring out these nuances wonderfully.

Chirag Vohra as Gandhi plays his part with lots of grace. His performance particularly in the scenes of anguish is praiseworthy.

Rajendra Chawla as Sardar Patel portrays both the grit and the gentleness of the leader in a perfect manner. Special mention must also be made of Rajesh Kumar playing Liaquat Ali Khan. The actor makes for a perfect partner in crime for Jinnah.

The women characters though needed better etching. Both Ira Dubey’s Fatima and also the actress playing Lady Mountbatten are introduced with great promise but end up mostly relegated to the background.

Final take

Keeping aside this small niggle, Freedom At Midnight is a moving emotional tale of how freedom came at a heavy price.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/freedom-at-midnight-web-series-review-a-brilliant-exploration-of-events-leading-up-to-the-partition/

Posted on

Vijay 69 review: An endearing slice of life movie with a brilliant Anupam Kher

Director Akshay Roy delivers a strong message on how it is never too late to chase your dreams. The core point of ‘Vijay 69’ is age is just a number and it should never come in the way of achieving your ambitions
Vijay 69 (Hindi); 08-11-2024, Dramedy, 1 hour 52 minutes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Anupam Kher, Chunkey Pandey, and Mihir Ahuja
  • Director: Akshay Roy
  • Producer: Maneesh Sharma
  • Music Director:Gaurav Chatterji
  • Cinematography: Sahil Bhardwaj
  • Rating: 3/5

Akshay Roy’s Vijay 69 perfectly fits the genre of a slice-of-life film, something which has become rare in the increasing pan-Indian cinema. The film released on Netflix, does drag in some portions, particularly the starting scenes but after the initial stumbles, the movie grows on you. The central plot of Vijay 69 plot focuses on Anupam Kher’s Vijay Mathew. Vijay Mathew is a former athlete apart from being a swimming coach. He sacrifices his once-promising athletic career to take care of his terminally ill wife.

Synopsis

The movie begins with Vijay Mathew presumed to be dead. His best friend Fali (caricaturish yet entertaining Chunkey Pandey) mentions Vijay only as a garba king and a rummy champion.

This leads Vijay to reflect on his life, he decides to participate in a triathlon despite little support from his daughter and the general society.

A strong aspect of Vijay 69 is the strong friendship between Vijay and Fali. The witty banter between them is thoroughly entertaining. Their scenes together have the perfect blend of humour and also some heart-touching moments.

Another track worth mentioning here is the unexpected friendship between Anupam Kher’s Vijay and a rival athlete Aditya Jaiswal played by Mihir Ahuja. It lends an interesting angle to the story. The light scenes between them in spite of the significant age gap are a delight to watch.

Through this subplot, director Akshay Roy also emphasises how the age gap is not a barrier to friendship. It only becomes a barrier if you let it be.

As already mentioned, the movie begins on a tacky note. The production design in the initial bits makes it look more like a TV Serial and some of the forced humour does irritate the viewers, however, the movie soon becomes gripping when Vijay decides to start life afresh.

Performances

Anupam Kher in Vijay 69
Anupam Kher in ‘Vijay 69’. (X)

Anupam Kher in the titular role is simply fantastic. He does a terrific job of portraying the emotional turmoil and never-say-die attitude.

Special mention must be made of his acting in the triathlon sequences. The way he conveys determination despite obvious tiredness is a master class in acting. He is the movie’s main stay making the viewers root for Vijay even though the plot meanders in some places.

Chunkey Pandey’s accent does border on far on being farcical, still, the actor delivers a charismatic performance.

Sahil Bhardwaj’s cinematography in the triathlon sequences deserves distinction marks. The way he captures the excitement and the tension through his lens is wonderful to watch. The finale does border on being overdramatic; still, it leaves you with a happy feeling.

There isn’t much place for music in this kind of narrative nevertheless the song “Aage bhii Jaane na tuu” from the 1965 movie Waqt works as a poignant number on seizing the day.

Among the other supporting cast, Vrajesh Hirjee makes his presence amply felt as Vijay’s initially reluctant coach.

Final take

In conclusion, Vijay 69 has a relevant message at its core making it a heart-warming watch in spite of the flaws.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/vijay-69-movie-review/

Posted on

1000 Babies: A well-crafted atmospheric thriller with a brilliant Neena Gupta

1000 Babies web series a well-crafted atmospheric thriller

The show suffers somewhat on the account of few unnecessary diversions along with some stagnation in the middle episodes nevertheless there is enough fodder for those who like mystery stories

Starcast: Sanju Sivaram, Neena Gupta, Rahman and others

Writer and director: Najeem Koya

Additional writer: Arouz Irfan

Music director: Sankar Sharma

Producers: Arya and Shaji Nadesan

Production Company: August Cinema

Cinematography: Faiz Siddik

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: Disney+Hotstar

1000 Babies written and directed by Najeem Koya starts in the year 2010. Neena Gupta is Sarah Ouseph an eccentric older woman living with her son Bibin Ouseph (Sanju Sivram). Bibin is stuck in the job of a lab technician in spite of having a brilliant mind. Sarah as already mentioned is an eccentric woman, she spends a lot of time scribbling on the walls with the markers given by the son. For Bibin there is nothing wrong with his mother. He showers her with lots of love in spite of her strange behavior. Sarah has a mysterious past which the son isn’t aware of. One day she discloses everything leading to a dangerous chain of events. Fast forward to 2022 inspector Aji Kurian (Rahman) is investigating the murder of a well-known actress. Initially it looks a simple case, but Aji soon realizes that there is much more than what meets the eye. Everything is linked to Sarah’s secret.

Neena Gupta as the eccentric old woman Sarah Ouseph

A strong aspect of 1000 Babies is how Najeem Koya along with Arouz Irfan explore the psychology behind the perpetrator’s actions. The direction and the writing are mostly focused without trying to unnecessary mislead the audiences. The web series also deserves credit for not getting into the typical cliches used to depict the mental processes behind the actions of these men.

The flashback episodes of Neena Gupta add a lot of depth to the series. The past portions elevate Sarah Ouseph from just a crazy old woman. The portions of Sarah as the mother to Bipin and also a nurse in a hospital situated in Alappuzha show a different side to Sarah. As expected Neena Gupta tugs at the viewers heart with a moving performance.

Sanju Sivaram’s Bipin is another multi-faceted character. He starts off as a sweet caring man eventually transforming into a very different personality as the series progresses. Sanju Sivaram nails the various shades of Bipin.

Sanju Sivaram’s Bipin is also a multifaceted character. The actor nails the various shades of Bipin

The cinematography of Faiz Siddik adds to the eeriness of the show. His camerawork enhances the eerie portions significantly. His work deserves major appreciation in the tension filled interrogation scenes and also Sarah and Bipin’s house in the beginning episode.

Rahman as the headstrong investigator also comes up with a strong act. The situations that he has to put up with are stereotypical but still the actor comes up with a good performance.

Rehman as the headstrong investigator also comes up with a strong act

As already said the middle episodes of 1000 Babies does stagnate a bit and the running time does make the viewers impatient. Also, there are a couple of plot conveniences which the show could have done away with. For example, there is a portion where Aji Kurian hits a dead end, but he quickly gets a clue without any effort from his side. Still all things considered 1000 Babies is an engaging thriller.

Posted on

Do Patti: A gripping cautionary tale about the consequences of abusive relationships and how women should fight back

Do Patti movie banner

A common factor binding Do Patti and Alia Bhatt’s debut production Darlings is women taking control of their lives when everything seems to have hit a dead end. Kudos to Kriti Sanon for choosing a sensitive subject like domestic abuse for her maiden production venture.

Starcast: Kriti Sanon, Shaheer Sheik, Kajol, Tanvi Azmi, Brijendra Kala and others

Director: Shashanka Chaturvedi

Writer: Kanika Dhillon

Producers: Kanika Dhillon and Kriti Sanon

Production Companies: Kathha Pictures, Blue Butterfly Films and Vipin Agnihotri Films

Songs: Sachet- Parampara and Taniskh Bagchi

Streaming site: Netflix

Running time: 2 hours and 7 minutes

In the last few years numerous Bollywood actresses have turned producers pushing the envelope with interesting stories and strong female characters. Irrespective of the box office numbers these characters have created a solid impact. Case in point being the films produced under Anuskha Sharma’s Clean Slate Filmz. A particular mention must be made of her turn in the horror movie Pari. She played a battered young woman with a haunting past. Priyanka Chopra is another actress who has produced good movies like Sky Is Pink and The White Tiger. Her heart wrenching portrayal of a determined mother in the former was nothing less than extraordinary. One of our major commercial stars Deepika Padukone also entered into production with the flawed yet gusty Chhapaak. The biggest star of this generation Alia has produced two movies and presented one Malayalam web series Poacher under Eternal Sunshine Productions. Both Darlings and Jigra dealt with contrastingly different subjects. Darlings focused on a domestic abuse survivor, Jigra on the other hand dealt with the delayed justice system through a morally complex elder sister. Kriti Sanon’s Do Patti is a good addition to the above-mentioned films.

Do Patti is a good addition to the above-mentioned films

The story of Do Patti is set in the fictional hill station of Devaipur. It focuses on a pair of identical twins Saumya and Shelle, they are as different as chalk and cheese. Their relationship has always been strained. Out of the two Saumya needs more care given her constant paranoia. Shelle on the other is the wilder one. From an early age itself Shelle has harbored jealousy towards Saumya. Her feeling is that Saumya gets way more love from the family, according to her Saumya puts up the act of being paranoid to get more love. A good example of Shelle’s animosity is the scene where she cuts a small portion of her sister’s hair as a child. Years later this animosity takes a hugely dangerous turn with the arrival of Dhruv (fantastic Shaheer Sheikh). Dhruv gets quickly attracted to Shelle as her wild nature is more appealing to him over Saumya’s demureness. But in a major turn of events, his marriage takes place with Saumya leading to further friction among the siblings. Initially Dhruv appears to be a good husband but soon his short temperedness comes to the fore. Kajol plays police inspector Vidya Jyothi. This is the story in brief.

Kriti Sanon in a double role

A strong aspect of Do Patti is the depiction of sibling rivalry particularly the characterization of Shelle. Writer Kanika Dhillon is known for writing unorthodox women. The best example being Taapsee Pannu in the Haseen Dil Ruba movies and Manmarziyaan. Here too the writer has given interesting character traits adding to the thrill quotient of the movie. Both Saumya and Shelle carry a deep emotional baggage of their own, it is just that they have chosen different methods. In case of Saumya it is about internalizing, for Shelle escapism is the defense. This has come out well both in terms of writing and the stellar acting performance of Kriti.

The unraveling of Shaheer Sheikh’s Dhruv, how the role starts off and the eventual revelation of his true colors is also a delight to watch. Shaheer Sheikh plays the unpredictable husband with aplomb making a striking impact.

Shaheer Sheikh plays the unpredictable husband with aplomb

Through Do Patti director Shashanka Chaturvedi and Kanika Dhillon have focused on pertinent topics. The portrayal of post-traumatic stress and childhood trauma have been dealt in a poignant manner.

The depiction of domestic abuse is raw in nature, a scene which needs to be mentioned here is a disturbing altercation between Dhruv and Saumya. It is a very upsetting moment which many domestic abuse survivors will relate with.

Do Patti also plays out like an Agatha Christie Thriller. The twists and turns are fairly engrossing. A big twist leading to a poignant flashback deserves a special mention. Through the flashback there is an important message on reporting domestic violence.

Performances wise Do Patti is very much a Kriti Sanon showreel. She aces both the parts with equal ease whether it is grey shades and the eventual remorse of Shelle or the demure Saumya who will tug at your heartstrings. Kajol as police inspector Vidya Jyothi fits the part of a no- nonsense police officer, she does a fine job in portraying the tough attitude, but the Haryanvi accent feels jarring. The moral dilemmas of Vidya Jyothi at one point also needed better etching. Tanvi Azmi as the supportive caretaker brings in a lot of warmth in her small yet significant part.

Sachet Parampara and Tanishk Bagchi’s songs are just above average. The CGI and the camerawork though are of a high order more so in the portions which have two Kriti’s.

Posted on

Khel Khel Mein: A deadly game of revelations

Director Mudassar Aziz successfully dwells into the themes of how much we really know our friends and partners. The game of surrendering phones leads to a major chaos, unexpected secrets tumble out leading to major conflicts

  • Starcast: Akshay Kumar, Vani Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, Aditya Seal, Ammy Virk, Pragya Jaiswal, Fardeen Khan and others
  • Direction, screenplay and story: Mudassar Aziz
  • Based on: Perfect Strangers by Paolo Genovese
  • Producers: Ashwin Varde, Bhushan Kumar, Vipul D. Shah and others
  • Music: Tanishk Bagchi, Rochak Kohli, Guru Randhawa and Raj Ranjodh
  • Cinematography: Manoj Kumar Khatoi
  • Production house: T- Series Films and Wakaoo Films and White World Productions
  • Running time: 2 hours and 21 minutes
  • Streaming site: Netflix

Mudassar Aziz’s Khel Khel Mein based on the Italian movie Perfetti Sconoscuit (Perfect Strangers) has been remade in several languages including the Malayalam movie 12th Man. 12th Man was directed by Jeethu Joseph reuniting him with Mohanlal. What makes the subject of Perfect Strangers so relatable is the exploration of how smartphones create havoc in a what appears to be a perfect marriage. Jeetu Joseph’s 12th Man was more of a mystery/thriller with his signature touches. Khel Khel Mein on the other hand is more of a matrimonial comedy. Every time the movie switches into a tense mode a comic scene follows soon.

The Italian movie Perfect Strangers has been remade into several languages including the Malayalam movie 12th Man

The plot of Khel Khel Mein is set against the backdrop of a big Indian wedding. You have three couples along with a bachelor friend. The night before the wedding Vani Kapoor’s Vartika suggests a game of surrendering their mobiles. Everyone has the license to read or listen to whatever message or video call that will come. What starts off as fun soon goes into a very murky territory. This is the story in brief.

A strong aspect of Khel Khel Mein is Mudassar Aziz’s portrayal of sensitive issues without getting preachy. The movie dwells on teenage sex, infertility and homosexuality among others. All this is backed with strong humor particularly from Akshay Kumar.

Akshay Kumar plays Dr Rishabh. He is an expert at telling white lies. It is refreshing to see Akshay back in the humor zone, a genre which he has aced previously. The actor generates many chuckles with his perfect comic timing. Apart from the humor scenes Akshay also shines in the portion where he gives advice to the teenage daughter about taking things to the next level with her boyfriend. The scene is treated with a lot of maturity giving the movie some depth. Another scene that needs to be mentioned here is the one where Akshay gives a speech on how marriage is not an ownership but a partnership. It is very poignant.

Akshay Kumar as Dr Rishabh. He generates many chuckles with his perfect comic timing

Apart from marital problems the movie also briefly touches upon homosexuality through the character of Fardeen Khan’s Kabir. Initially the actor doesn’t seem to have much to do but he makes a striking impact in the scene where Kabir opens up on his sexual preferences and being removed as a cricket coach in an all-boys school. The management had feared that a gay coach is not good for the students.

Fardeen Khan makes a striking impact in the scene where Kabir opens up on his sexual preferences

Taapsee Pannu shines the best among the female leads

Taapsee Pannu shines the best among the female leads. The Punjabi twang is reminiscent of what the viewers have already seen in last year’s Dunki but still the actress shines bright as a homemaker desperate to have babies. Without her husband’s knowledge she is looking to have children through an infertility clinic. A particular mention must be made of the scene when she lambasts her husband on hiding an important report. Ammy Vik as a hotheaded Sardar also makes a strong impact. He is especially good in the scene where he reminisces about a past love and an inability to keep people happy.

Among the rest Aditya Seal and Pragya Jaiswal also get their moments to shine. Just like the characters of Taapsee and Ammy’s these two also have some dark secrets, Vani Kapoor as the writer though suffers from a sketchy characterization. Her track is half-baked. Her idea of the phone game comes across as scheming than fun, as a result the taunt of Akshay Kumar at one point makes the viewers side with him. Also, the scene where she tries to be a cool mom to Akshay Kumar’s daughter doesn’t have the desired impact.

Another slight issue with Khel Khel Mein is the gag involving an attempted suicide. The punch lines are hilarious, and the absurdity of the situation does make the viewers laugh but in the overall scheme of things the makers could have done away with this.

Keeping aside these small niggles Khel Khel Mein is easily one of the most enjoyable Akshay Kumar movie of the recent past. The film would have fared much better with a solo release date instead of getting sandwiched with Stree 2.

Posted on

Jai Mahendran: A fun political satire on the functioning of government offices

Jai Mahendran web series banner

Director Srikanth Mohan successfully feeds upon the general impression that a common man has about the working system in government offices. While not outstanding, the show is a breezy watch if you are looking for some fun

Starcast: Saiju Kurup, Suhasini Maniratnam, Rahul Riji Nair, Miya George and others

Director: Srikanth Mohan

Writer: Rahul Riji Nair

Music: Siddarth Pradeep

Cinematography: Prashanth Raveendran

Streaming site: Sony Liv

No of episodes: 6

As the title suggests the story of Jai Mahendran focuses on the journey of a Deputy Tahsildar Mahendran (Saiju Kurup). Mahendran is the go-to man for any problems that department faces. By hook or crook, he always comes up with a successful idea. Often times he alternates between a miscreant and a helpful officer. However, his helpful nature is only restricted to those in power or the ones with connections. Writer Rahul Riji Nair plays Mahendran’s right-hand man Balu. Balu is the perfect accomplice to Mahendran. Soon Mahendran faces a major opposition in the form of Shoba (Suhasini Maniratnam). Shoba is the new sitting Tahsildar; unlike Mahendran she is a more honest officer. His life takes a drastic turn with her entry, he is no longer the all-powerful entity. This is the story in brief.

Saiju Kurup as Jai Mahendran and Suhasini Maniratnam as Shoba.

A strong aspect of Jai Mahendran are the fun dialogues coupled with the believable scenarios. Writer Rahul Riji Nair does a wonderful job in using satire to talk about what happens in a normal government office. Sure, the situations are stereotypical. You have officers who are both corrupt and lazy. They spend more time in having tea and indulging in activities that are not related to work. Files are passed on endlessly from one desk to another. The applicants come and go fully frustrated. Still the tight writing makes it an enjoyable show.

Regarding the functioning of the government offices two segments need to be mentioned here. One scene involves a young woman flirting on a phone while someone asks her to give an application form. Instead of cutting the call she gets annoyed. In another one an employee is busy munching o unni appams, when a person comes to find out where his government allocated land is. But this employee instead of answering the question asks the man to have one unni appam because they are tasty. Both these scenes may present an exaggerated picture, yet the lethargic nature of these employees comes across strongly.

The show also does a fine job in showcasing the dangers of office politics driven by differing political leanings.

What also makes the show engaging is the on-screen camaraderie between Saiju and Rahul Riji. The chemistry is absolutely spot on, as an actor Rahul Riji does a fine job in evoking comedy thorough his expressions more so in the scenes where he follows Mahendran blindly.

Another strong point for Jai Mahendran is the dynamics between Shobha and Mahendran. Both of them are polar opposites in their functioning resulting in an underlying tension. The tussle between these two give the show some of its best moments. At one point an unlikely friendship happens too when both their careers are at a dead end.

Saiju Kurup in the role of Mahendran aces the various shades of his role starting off as a corrupt tahsildar to underdoing a major transformation. From the initial haughtiness to a sense of despair the actor does a very fine job. Having said that the characterization would have had a stronger impact if Srikanth Mohan had dwelled deeper into his moral compass. Suhasini Mainiratnam is also powerful as the superior officer bringing in the required authority. But even her characterization could have done with little more meat.

Technically there isn’t much to rave about. The title song is a perfect upbeat number, but the background score becomes very repetitive. Prasanth Raveendran’s visuals go well with the realistic setting.

Posted on

CTRL: Ananya Pandey leads a gripping thriller/drama on the side effects of AL which includes deep fakes and breach of personal data

Vikramaditya Motwane delivers a racy movie keeping things crisp for the most part. He does a fantastic job in showcasing how Gen Z rely more on an internet bot for seeking genuine advice rather than a living person.

  • Starcast: Ananya Pandey, Vihaan Samrat, Aparshakti Khurana (as the AL voice) and others
  • Director and writer: Vikramaditya Motwane
  • Additional writers: Avinash Sampat and Sumukhi Suresh
  • Producers: Nikhil Dwivedi and Arya Menon
  • Production companies: Saffron Magicworks and Andolan Films
  • Music: Sneha Khanwalkar
  • Cinematography: Pratik Shah
  • Running time: 1 hour and 39 minutes
  • Streaming site: Netflix

In certain ways Vikramaditya Motwane’s CTRL feels like an extension to last year’s Kho Gaye Hum Kahan which also dealt with the younger generation. Kho Gaye Hum Kahan skillfully explored the aspect of loneliness in digital age, the need of validification from complete strangers. Easily one of Ananya Pandey’s better performances in her short career so far. Vikramaditya Motwane in CTRL also explores the side effects of social media, but this is darker in tonality. CTRL is more of a cyber thriller leaving the viewers disturbed

In certain ways CTRL feels like an extension to last year’s Kho Gaye Hum Kahan

CTRL focuses on two social influencers Nella (Ananya Pandey) and Joe (Vihaan Samraat). They run a YouTube channel called NJoy. Their seemingly perfect relationship goes totally downhill when Nella catches Joe with another woman. Her plan was to surprise Joe by celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary in a live stream unfortunately for Nella things go completely downhill. A lot of chaos happens leaving Nella’s professional and personal life in shatters. In an attempt to resurrect her social media presence Nella comes across an AL platform featuring a digital bot, Allen. Allen becomes a big help for Nella in erasing Joe completely from her digital life and also planning her big comeback. Slowly this AL platform becomes a major influence behind every decision of Nella. He starts taking over her personal chats along with manipulating her into signing more brand deals. Things take a very dark turn when Joe goes inexplicably missing. Soon Nella finds herself in a lethal web of manipulation as she starts investigating the misuse of AL. This is the story in brief.

As already mentioned, CTRL is a racy thriller, Vikramaditya Motwane doesn’t waste any time in immersing the viewers into the world of Nella and Joe. The viewers see them curate every moment of their personal lives giving their followers the impression of them being the perfect couple. Motwane has used the technique of alternating between the real world and the digital landscape. This mood shift doesn’t come across as jarring thanks to the director’s handling of the subject and also Pratik Shah’s fantastic cinematography. Yashika Gor’s production design also adds to this seamlessness. Sneha Khanwalkar’s experimental score adds to the movie’s edgy atmosphere.

Nella and Joe give the impression of them being the perfect couple

A strong aspect of CTRL is how Vikramaditya Motwane makes the viewers ponder on certain things without becoming preachy. For example, whether sharing a glimpse of our personal life is more about seeking validation and in process gaining more followers and how much sharing on social media becomes too much sharing. There is no preachiness in the way these questions are asked but still the impact is hammer strong. There is an important scene when Joe questions Nella about whether her reasons for wanting to surprise him came from genuine love or the need to make a statement on social media. This scene perfectly captures the essence of the movie.

The movie is also successful in creating a sense of personal connect particularly for those who are heavily into AL. The personal harm that AL apps are capable of doing leave the viewers disturbed. Having said that the thriller aspect of CTRL could have done more exploration. The underlying conspiracies of AL in controlling our lives feel a little rushed as the movie focuses more on Nella’s personal struggles in regaining control of her life.

It goes without saying that CTRL is primarily an Ananya Pandey showcase, and the young actress doesn’t disappoint. She delivers a first-rate performance perfectly capturing the journey of Nella from a happy college student to a social media star and ultimately a broken soul. As a social media influencer, she goes over the top on occasions, but it goes perfectly with the tonality of those portions. Apart from Ananya’s performance the character sketch is also a big winner.

Ananya Pandey delivers a first-rate performance perfectly capturing the journey of Nella from a happy college student to a social media star and ultimately a broken soul

Vihaan Samrat as Joe also makes his presence felt more so in the monologue scenes at a critical juncture. Aparshakti Khurrana as the AL voice is also efficient in bringing a certain amount of eeriness.

To sum it up CTRL holds a perfect mirror to the Genz’s obsession over social media. The thriller aspects needed sharper writing but still there is a lot to enjoy.