Deva: A competent investigative drama bolstered by an engaging second half

Right since the first teaser of Deva, there has been a lot of speculation on it being a remake of Rosshan Andrrews’s own Mumbai Police (2013).

Shahid and the rest of the team have reiterated that Deva isn’t Mumbai Police but after seeing the film it’s clear that Roshaan Andrrews has taken inspiration from his own movie.

Thankfully though, Deva has its own unique flavour, unlike the Kalees-directed Baby John, which had plenty of South drama.

Synopsis

For those who haven’t seen Mumbai PoliceDeva focuses on inspector Dev Ambre (Shahid Kapoor). He is very arrogant along with being hot-headed.

Dev Ambre has zero tolerance for rules while carrying out his police duties within the boundaries of what he considers right. At the same time, he is seen sharing a solid brotherhood with ACP Rohan D’ Silva ( an impactful Pavail Gulati).

Pravesh Rana plays a senior officer and the boss of Dev called Farhan. Farhan often gets angry with Dev’s ways of doing his duty but still stands with him.

Pooja Hegde plays a crime journalist called Diya, she is the daughter of a constable. Dev and Diya eventually fall in love but Dev’s life takes a very dramatic turn when Rohan is shot by a mysterious killer while he is being felicitated.

This is the story in brief.

Strong and weak aspects

The beginning portions of Deva are mostly a series of sequences celebrating his machismo. Shades of Shahid Kapoor’s blockbuster and very polarizing Kabir Singh can be found in numerous instances.

But the movie picks up pace after the tragic death of Rohan. There are constant twists and turns with intricate subplots.

The interval bang showcasing the serious accident of Dev, resulting in a memory loss is a major high point as the viewers, particularly those who haven’t seen Mumbai Police would be tensed about the killer’s identity.

Deva is an action thriller

In the second half, the viewers see Shahid’s persona changing as Dev grapples with what he was once while handling an important task at hand.

There is a distinct mellowness in the way he goes about things, but at the same time, there is a quiet determination too. This has come out brilliantly in both the writing done by many like Abbas Dalal and Hussain Dalal, coupled with Shahid Kapoor’s acting performance.

Mention must also be made of the dialogues where the court criticizes Deva’s hooligan ways strictly warning him that police are not meant to behave like rowdies terrorising people.

A major problem with Deva is its women characters and a haphazard love story. Pooja Hegde as Divya looks gorgeous as always playing the honest crime journalist competently but the way her track has been integrated leaves a lot to be desired.

Kubbra Sait as a women cop doesn’t add much to the proceedings either. The character of Kubbra Sait could have added a different dimension given that we mostly see men as police officers. But she becomes more of an add-on, not serving much purpose.

Shahid’s show all the way

There is an important plot twist in the pre-climax. Many details of which cannot be revealed here but this portion gives an emotional subtext into the hyper-aggressive nature of Deva in the first half.

Shahid Kapoor in Deva
Shahid Kapoor in ‘Deva’. (x)

Shahid brings in a raw intensity brilliantly capturing the emotional turmoil of a man carrying the burden of his father’s criminal past.

The revelation of who is the killer and the motivations behind it will definitely shock the viewers. The brotherhood between Pavail Gulati and Shahid Kapoor has also come out well.

Pavail Gulati brings in an emotional depth proving to be the perfect anthesis to Shahid’s Deva. Pravesh Rana also lends solid support as the senior inspector; he brings both authority and warmth to the part.

Mumbai, an integral part

The use of Mumbai’s rustic surroundings brings in an extra layer. The city with its many layers becomes a character in itself, the cinematography of Amith Ray is simply brilliant.

A particular mention must also be made of how he captures the action sequences designed by Parvaz Sheikh and Abbas Ali Moghul among others.

The songs don’t make much of an impression except for “Bhasad Macha”, the combination of Shahid Kapoor’s electric dance moves along with the raw energy packs in a major punch. However, Jakes Bejoy’s background score is of the highest order elevating the intense scenes.

Final take

To sum it up Deva thankfully doesn’t completely glorify the cops, something which we have seen a lot in mainstream cinema. At the same time, a much better first half would make this investigative drama a more wholesome experience.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

The Storyteller: A powerful ode to the eternal power of stories and the voices that shape them

Legendary director Satayit Ray is a man of numerous talents. He was not only a celebrated director but also a wonderful writer. His stories remain relevant today.

In 2021, a Netflix anthology titled Ray was released. The very talented directors Abhishek Chaubey, Srijit Mukherjee, and Vasan Bala did absolute justice to Satyajit Ray’s stories.

Now you have a feature film The Storyteller directed by Anant Mahadevan based on his short story streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar.

Synopsis

Just like his other stories, this one too holds significant relevance even today, raising important questions. The movie delivers a powerful message about how stories by themselves don’t hold magic; it’s the storyteller who breathes life into them.

The core of The Storyteller is two men of two very different thought processes and backgrounds. Paresh Rawal plays Tarini a man who has never stuck to one proper job throughout his life. However, his one constant love is storytelling.

He enjoys telling stories but is very afraid of putting them down on paper. On the other hand, you have Adil Hussain’s Garodia, a Gujarati businessman from Ahmadabad. Garodia sells luxurious cotton sheets to provide sleep for the rest of the world but he suffers from the plague of insomnia.

To get over his insomnia he puts an advertisement for a storyteller who will put him to sleep through stories. Tarini comes across this advertisement and upon his friend’s insistence decides to become a storyteller given his love for stories.

A very unexpected friendship develops between the two, but things take a very drastic turn when Garodia starts exploiting the stories of Tarini leading to significant differences.

Strong aspects

Adil Hussain in The Storyteller
Adil Hussain in ‘The Storyteller’. (X)

A very strong aspect of The Storyteller is undoubtedly the characterizations of the two principal characters.

Tarini is a quintessential Bengali with a huge love for Rabindranath Tagore books, fish and Durga puja among others. He loves losing himself in the stories he narrates.

Garodia on the other hand completely embodies a typical Gujarati businessman. His personality comes out strikingly in the design of the house, major focus on numbers and very importantly possessing lots of books but not reading them.

He has a certain obsession about finding success in business leaving little time for artistic traits.

The pace of the movie

This contrast drives the movie in many ways. Director Ananth Mahadevan does a very fine job of exploring this through an unhurried mode of narration.

Paresh Rawal in ‘The Storyteller’. (X)

The pacing of The Storyteller and its aesthetics often reflects that of the art house Bengali movies. This can be a major deterrent for some particularly today’s audiences who are used to a certain kind of cinema.

But this unhurried mode of narration is also a major strength of the movie.

A special mention must also be made of how Tarini doesn’t directly confront Garodia, instead he cleverly exposes the man as a plagiarist.

It is subtle but still powerful. At the same time, the movie also focuses on the shared need of stories through the two men even if they are culturally and thematically very different from each other.

This comes out powerfully in the climax where the director talks about how both men may tell the same tale but their versions will diverge leaving the viewers to decide for themselves which version they prefer.

A social commentary

Through the character of Garodia, the movie also reflects on the exploitation of creative prowess—Rich people wanting to come across as intellectual. This has relevance to today’s digital age. Certain writers are paid a lot of money to ghostwrite the tweets of some so that they come across as humorous.

A certain need and insecurity is what drives Garodia to plagiarize Tarini’s stories. The insecurity of Garodia is not just reflected in stealing Tarini’s stories but also in consuming fish even though he is repelled by the smell of it. In a way, Garodia comes across as a tragic figure as he wants to fit in.

Among the stories narrated by Tarini a mention must be made of the spy pigeon during World War 2 and also a hundred-year-old tree in the Aravali forests.

Technical aspects and characterisation

The Storyteller also benefits from the wonderful atmosphere. Cinematographer Alphonso Roy does a terrific job of capturing the ethos of both Kolkata and Ahmadabad through his lens. The art design also takes the viewers back in time, making it an immersive experience.

‘The Storyteller’ is based on Satyajit Ray’s story. (X)

Talking about the two leads, both Paresh Rawal and Adil Hussain deliver terrific performances, Paresh Rawal completely embodies the typical characteristics of a Bengali man with flair.

He effortlessly gets into the skin of the role proving why he is such a legend once again. His punch lines are a sheer delight whether it is cursing capitalism or the line about plagiarism.

A dialogue needs to be particularly mentioned here. “Nakal Ke Liye Bhi Akal Chahiye” (You need intelligence to even copy something).

Adil Hussain matches step to step-with his delightful act of an insecure businessman. Adil comes across as a half antagonist and a half sympathetic figure; both of which he captures splendidly.

Senior actress Revathy has an extended special appearance as Saraswati. In spite of the brief screen time, Revathy makes her presence amply felt. Mention must also be made of Tannishtha Chatterjee as the Tamil librarian. Her scenes with Paresh though few are still wonderful to watch.

The songs of the legendary writer and poet Rabindranath Tagore such as Purano Shei Dinner Kotha and Tumi Robe Nirobe and the various other folk songs have been seamlessly integrated into the narrative as well.

Final take

To sum it up The Storyteller is a must-watch for fans of serious cinema and of course the many admirers of Satyajit Ray too.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

Sky Force : A competent and refreshing war drama avoiding the usual bombastic-ness

Subjects involving our beloved neighbour Pakistan have been one of Bollywood’s pet themes over many years, whether it is the likes of Kabir Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) or Aditya Dhar’s Uri (2019).

The love and hate-relationship between India and Pakistan has been the emotional fodder for numerous movies. When it comes to war movies portraying Pakistan there has been an increasing trend of playing to the gallery with zero nuances, of course, exceptions are also there like the Meghana Gulzar-directed Raazi (2018), a movie which looked at the human cost of war.

Synopsis

Sky Force directed by Sandeep Kelwani and Abhishek Anil Kapur is set during the tumulus war of 1965. The movie follows India’s daring and successful airstrike on Pakistani’s heavily protected Sargodha airbase.

In this very successful mission, the rebellious squadron leader TK Tabby (a promising Veer Pahariya) goes missing. He has a major disregard for protocols, which leads to him flying solo into the enemy territory during a sky-force mission.

TK Tabby goes missing and the higher authorities in the military have zero interest in knowing his whereabouts given his rebellious nature. It is left to Akshay Kumar’s KO Tiger Ahuja to uncover the mystery.

KO Ahuja is both a wing commander and also a fatherly figure to Tabby. The movie follows KO Ahuja’s relentless quest.

Sharad Kelkar in an extended special appearance plays Pakistani squadron leader Ahmed Hussain. He turns out to be a major link for Tiger Ahuja in unravelling the mystery.

What works and what doesn’t 

There is no denying that Sky Force has a bumpy start. The initial sequences of camaraderie and the air training portions have a distinct hangover from Siddarth Anand’s Fighter a movie which also featured many air combat sequences.

But the movie soon settles down as the intensity of the 1965 War takes centre stage.

The movie also taps into the bureaucratic frustrations and political red tape. These issues are briefly touched upon effectively. The pre-interval sequence leading to the successful airstrike and then the subsequent disappearance of Tabby is wonderfully staged thoroughly involving the viewers.

The second half focuses on KO Ahuja’s relentless quest and from here on the movie engages the viewers emotionally.

How KO Ahuja finds the first lead thanks to Ahmed Hussain and his determination to uncover bringing closure and also justice to Sarah Ali Khan’s Geeta Vijaya —Tabby’s wife packs in an emotional punch.

The ultimate revelation and how Tabby gets his much-deserved due for his bravery has both been wonderfully written and enacted.

Dynamics between the leads

A major plus for the movie apart from the strong emotional resonance, are the dynamics between Tabby and KO Ahuja.

The on-screen camaraderie between the two characters has been wonderfully established. KO Ahuja sees his lost son in Tabby— there is visible warmth in the light-hearted scenes.

KO Ahuja is a father-like figure to Tabby, someone he respects deeply. Ahuja treats Tabby with warmth but maintains an authoritative stance. In one scene, Tabby is kept on standby and not allowed to take part in any action. When Tabby asks for an explanation, saying he has always looked up to Ahuja as a father, Ahuja responds firmly, “I don’t owe you any explanations.”

Sky Force is also refreshing in the sense that there are no in-your-face celebrations after India defeats Pakistan, no over-the-top dialogues looking down at Pakistan.

The animosity between the two nations isn’t going to last forever. There is a mutual sense of respect for men in uniform in both India and Pakistan. The scenes featuring Sharad Kelker as the Pakistani squadron leader is a very good example of this.

Technical aspects and performances

The action sequences designed by Parvez Shaikh and Craig MacRae are a delight to watch particularly for fans of air combat sequences.

Santhana Krishnan Ravichandrana’s cinematography is also stunning. He perfectly captures the intense action like an action-packed sequence between Veer Pahariya and Sharad Kelkar.

Tanishk Bagchi’s music is of a good standard barring one rather unnecessary party number. Among his compositions, the standout number not surprisingly goes to B Praak’s “O Maaye Teri Mitti Bulaye”. The composition along with B Praak’s soulful voice will move the audiences.

Talking about the main leads Akshay Kumar as KO Ahuja plays a senior officer and a concerned mentor with absolute finesse. He brings in a lot of gravitas making the viewers root for his character.

Veer Pahariya makes a confident debut; he plays the determined soldier with conviction effortlessly embodying a rebellious nature. Sharad Kelkar also leaves a significant impact in his brief role with a restraint act.

Nimrat Kaur and Sara Ali Khan play the typical army men-wife characters. They are good in their limited portions but the characterizations of both leave a lot to be desired.

Final take

To sum it up Sky Force is worth boarding on despite a familiar territory.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

Hisaab Barabar: Uneven screenplay ails Madhavan’s well intentioned fight against corruption

Ashwini Dhar’s Hisaab Barabar has its heart in the right place. The movie wants to educate the viewers about financial scams which common men often tend to overlook.

Through the central character played by R Madhavan, the movie wants to make the viewers more aware of the snowballing effect of corruption and how we should be extra vigilant.

These themes are indeed thought-provoking but Ashwini Dhar’s treatment leaves a lot to be desired.

Synopsis

The story of Hisaab Barbar focuses on an extremely righteous railway ticket examiner Radhe Mohan Sharma (a sincere R Madhavan). Radhe Mohan Sharma is an expert at accounts, his maths never goes wrong.

One day he notices a small discrepancy of ₹27.50 in his bank account. Upon further investigation, Sharma comes across a major financial scam worth ₹2, 400 crores. This financial scam has been orchestrated by a greedy banker Micky Mehta (an over-the-top but fun Neil Nitin Mukesh).

As Radhe navigates the various layers of corruption and bureaucracy he is confronted with various hurdles both professional and personal.

The other important character is played by Kriti Kulhari, the character Poonam Joshi starts as a love interest but as the plot progresses her real identity turns out to be something else.

On the shoulders of Madhavan

Neil Nitin Mukesh in Hisaab Barabar
Neil Nitin Mukesh in ‘Hisaab Barabar’. (X)

What saves Hisaab Barabar from completely falling off is undoubtedly the sincerity of R Madhavan. As the humble ticket collector facing off corrupt businessman R Madhavan does a very good job of portraying both vulnerability and determination.

He brings an emotional heft to the role, particularly in the portions where both his professional and personal life come to a standstill.

Niel Nitin Mukesh as the over-the-top antagonist often borders on being a caricature still it is clear that the actor has had a blast.

He chews the scenery with gleeful abandon perfectly oscillating between being menacing and also raising chuckles. His performance and characterization work as a perfect contrast to R Madhavan’s grounded act. The interplay between the two characters is undoubtedly a major plus for the movie.

Kriti Kulhari as Poonam Joshi has various shades, starting off as a love interest and then to her real identity. Kriti Kulhari does a very fine job although the romantic track between her and Madhavan comes across as a major speedbreaker.

The movie’s ultimate message about a common man’s strength and how with great determination one can overcome numerous challenges is indeed admirable. It leaves the viewers with a good feeling.

Flaws

Kriti Kulhari in Hisaab Barabar
Kriti Kulhari in ‘Hisaab Barabar’. (x)

As far as the flaws go, the biggest minus of Hisaab Barbar is the tonal inconsistencies, the balance between light-hearted humour and the seriousness required leaves a lot to be desired.

The attempt to inject humour in some of the crucial scenes leaves a very bad taste, a good example of this is a major scuffle between R Madhavan and a bank employee.

Instead of being taut and intense, the entire portion is reduced to a silly gag. The film also suffers from certain filminess, the resolution to the tussle between R Madhavan’s Radhe Mohan and Niel Nitin Mukesh’s Mickey cultivates in an overtly simplistic mode.

The operation of financial crimes also lacks the necessary depth, particularly for the more discerning audience, the production values are of a very low standard. The movie’s low budget is clearly visible in the tacky cinematography of Santhosh Thundiyil.

Final take

To sum it up Hisaab Barabar is a decent watch if you are looking for a time pass movie and are an R Madhavan admirer.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

Paatal Lok Season 2 : Fantastic deep dive into Nagaland’s socio-political landscape

For those who haven’t seen the first season of Paatal Lok, it was loosely inspired by Tarun Tejpal’s Novel The Story of My Assassins.

Acclaimed actor Neeraj Kabhi played the role of the journalist-novelist Tarun Tejpal. The show revolved around an assassination attempt gone wrong. Jaideep Ahlawat played a low-ranking officer called Hathiram Chaudhary.

Hathiram is suddenly assigned a high-profile case changing his life forever. The series also took inspiration from the traditional concepts of heaven, earth and hell.

These served as metaphors to explore the different classes of India along with other aspects. Through a police procedure, various burning topics like caste atrocities, media biases and Islamophobia among others were explored in an impactful manner.

Apart from Jaideep Ahlawat’s stellar act, the first season is also remembered for Abhishek Banerjee’s deadly Vishal Hathoda, a notorious hitman with a love for dogs.

The role of Vishal Hathoda showcased a different facet of him; Abhishek got rave reviews for his excellent act. After a gap of five years, Paatal Lok Season 2 has arrived amidst high expectations.

Bingeworthy season 2

Jaideep Ahlawat in Paatal Lok Season
Jaideep Ahlawat in ‘Paatal Lok Season 2’. (X)

Thankfully the second season turns out to be even more bingeworthy. What sets apart the second season is the setting of Nagaland, giving the viewers a new perspective on the socio-political situation of the state.

Just like the first season the second one also starts as a police procedural. The plot begins with the brutal murder of Jonathom Thom, a prominent personality of Nagaland.

Jonathom Thom was deeply involved in the peace process of the state involving 20, 000 crore investment. On the surface, this may appear as a simple peace process but there is a lot at stake for the local government.

Running parallel to this is the case of a missing daily wage labourer and a nightclub dancer. Hathiram Chaudhary is investigating this. On the other hand, Ishwak Singh who played Constable Ansari in the first season is now an IPS officer.

Ansari has deep respect for Hathiram’s honesty and investigation skills in spite of being in a higher place. As the plot progresses these threads become intertwined.

The eight-episode saga covers a vast range of topics like the socio-political turmoil of the North East, and the struggles of orphans who fall into the trap of crime.

Nagaland politics

Ishwak Singh in Paatal Lok Season 2
Ishwak Singh in ‘Paatal Lok Season 2’. (X)

A major USP of Paatal Lok Season 2 is undoubtedly its depiction of Nagaland politics. The contrast between the beautiful landscapes with the immense turmoil of the local population has been wonderfully depicted.

The writing team of the second season which also includes Abhishek Banerjee does a terrific job of bringing alive the ethnic clashes between the different groups.

One of the major themes in Paatal Lok season 2 is the insider versus outsider topic. There is a section of people who have come from outside creating their own identity. Despite being Nagaland residents for a long time, they have to pay a certain amount of money to a local group in the hope of ensuring their safety.

But sometimes even that doesn’t work. This comes out strikingly in a conversation between Haitharam and a local business family.

The character of Haitharam serves as a medium to make the viewers more aware of the major conflicts involving the North East.

Women stuck in oppressive system

The series also does a terrific job of exploring the plight of the numerous women stuck in an oppressive system. Director Avinash Arun Dhaware along with the writers presents this in a hard-hitting manner through the characters of Rose Lizo and Aslena Thom.

One is a young woman battling addiction; the other is a conflicted widow. Through these subplots, a strong statement is made about the numerous trials and tribulations faced by those living on the fringes of society.

The supporting cast has numerous actors from the Northeast. All of them do a very good job in their respective roles adding a certain authenticity. Avinash Arun Dhaware deserves a major appreciation for casting northeastern actors in supporting parts as this adds to the immersive experience giving it a rooted feel.

Characterisation

Apart from the political aspects, the interpersonal relationships particularly the one between Hathiram and Ansari have been brilliantly written and enacted. Both Haithram and Ansari are unsure of how to behave with each other given the shift in power dynamics.

This aspect also gives the show some of its best moments; an underlying thread of friendship despite the awkward scenarios has come out wonderfully.

Paatal Lok Season 2 is a crime thriller
‘Paatal Lok Season 2’ is a crime thriller. (X)

Special mention must also be made of Tillotama Shome’s SP Meghana Barua. A mother of a six-year-old son and a local police officer who has established her space in what is generally considered as a male bastion.

Meghana’s knowledge of local politics adds a fresh dimension. Tillotama does a fantastic job of portraying the different nuances although the character could have been more developed.

Gul Panag reprising her role of Hathiram’s wife doesn’t get a lot to do just like in the first season, still, she shines bright in the emotional scenes. Director Nagesh Kukunoor as the shrewd businessman with several skeletons in his closet also makes a strong impact.

As Haithram Jaideep immerses himself coming with a superlative act again, the way he portrays the strong determination while battling both professional and personal issues is a sheer delight to watch.

Ishwak Singh is also terrific giving solid support as a young police officer dealing with the complexities of his new role.

Final take

To sum it up Paatal Lok Season 2 is absolutely binge-worthy, and a must-watch for fans of Paatal Lok Season One, and Jaideep Ahalwat admirers.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

Animal’s People: A haunting account of Bhopal gas tragedy aftereffects through a fictional story and setting

Animal’s People Novel

The novel Animal’s People deals with many significant themes like abuse of human rights whether it is the people coming from the lower sections of society or the differently abled ones, the huge impact of environmental degradation and lastly resilience of human spirit enabling people to fight all odds among others. Indra Sinha truly deserves all the appreciation the book has got. Though first published in 2007 the novel still feels very relevant

The Bhopal gas Leak is one of the biggest tragedies in the history of mankind. Apart from the huge death toll the leak also led to survivors having major health problems like respiratory issues, blindness and other maladies resulting from exposure to toxic gas. Although many years have passed since then the horrors of that period can never be forgotten particularly for the residents of that area. The Bhopal Gas tragedy also had a major impact on both environment and economy of our country.

In 2023 Yash Raj Banners Produced a show called The Railway Men focusing on a few unsung heroes who put their lives at stake saving as many lives as they could on that fateful night. First time director Shiv Rawail did a terrific job in exploring the moral corruption within the political landscape like the chief of the union carbide factory getting away with his sins. The series also presented a realistic picture of the terrible aftereffects.

The Railway Men directed by Shiv Rawail

Indra Sinha’s 2007 novel on the other hand is set in the fictional city of Khaufpura, this place is home to a devasting gas explosion. It goes without saying the place of Khaufpura and the events there resemble the immense tragedy of the Bhopal Gas leak. Coming back to this novel the story focuses on a young man of 19 years. He was born just a few days before the explosion of chemical factory. This young man calling himself Animal walks on all fours with a twisted back. Although born with a terrible condition he never looks for sympathy, in fact he rejects all kinds of sympathy sprouting profanities for most part and obsessing about sex. His life undergoes a significant change with the entry of an American doctor called Elli. Elli wants to open a free clinic for the still suffering townsfolk. This is the brief outline of the very disturbing Indra Sinha novel.

A strong aspect of Animal’s people is how Indra Sinha has written the main character. There is an infectious energy with a never say attitude about this 19-year-old boy. He often becomes a narrator giving the readers an insight into the major divide between the have and have nots in the area of Khaufpura, this young man also represents the lives of many individuals whose life have undergone extreme changes because of the devastating catastrophes like this.

In spite of his language bordering on profanities on numerous occasions there is also a certain endearing quality to him. A lot of dark humor is generated with his character often leaving the viewers in splits. Good examples of the dark humor are the following lines

“Is it kind to remind a blind man that he could once, see? The priests who whisper magic in the ears of the corpses, they’re not saying, “Cheer up, you used to be alive.’ The juxtaposition of the devasting atmospherics and the dark humor has been wonderfully done by Indra Sinha.

Apart from his spunky nature the novel also does a very good in job in exploring how at times he is haunted by the ghosts of the past and a hidden desire to be loved.

As already mentioned, Indra Sinha’s Animal’s people also dwells into numerous socio-political themes. A very good example of this is about the difficulty in achieving social justice, how the government’s need to protect corporate companies makes things very complicated.

The environmental degradation and its terrible consequences also comes out very strong in Indra Sinha’s writings. The novel often feels like a wakeup call for the common man.

Another important part of the novel is the theme of identity. There are some occasions in the novel where our protagonist is seen struggling internally concerning his appearance as an animal however towards the end, he finally does make peace with it. This acceptance of his new identity comes out strongly in the line “Stay four- foot, “I’m the one and only Animal.”

For those who haven’t still read this excellent novel please do read it, Animal’s People is a must read for serious readers.

A Real Pain: A poignant holocaust drama with the backdrop of two polar opposite cousins

Director and writer Jessie Eisenberg delivers a moving tale of inherited scars. The film comes across as a more of a character exploration than a plot driven one. The evolving bond between the cousins in spite of their mismatched personalities give many poignant moments

Writer and director: Jessie Eisenberg

Starcast: Jessie Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan and others

Producers: Ewan Puszczynska, Jennifer Semler, Emma Stone and others

Production Companies: Topic Studios, Fruit Tree and others

Cinematography: Michael Dymek

Running time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Genre: Drama/comedy

The genocide of the Jews by the Nazi Germany under the hugely dictatorial leadership of Adolf Hitler is something that can never be forgotten. Although the holocaust had taken place in the 1930’s the scars left by that very traumatic incident still persists. The psychological trauma endured by the survivors manifests in numerous ways. Some examples are sleep disorders, anxiety and night terrors, It is an extremely painful chapter in history and a huge blot on mankind. Unfortunately the mankind has learned northing from the past. The current Israel and Hamas War is the perfect example of this. The tactics employed by the Israel government are being compared to the Nazi ways. In a way the movie A Real Pain reflects the current scenarios through the holocaust tragedy.

Over the years numerous movies and documentaries have been made with the subject of the holocaust like the deeply disturbing The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas. The Boy in The Stripped Pajamas focused on a friendship between the son of a German officer and a Jewish Prisoner. The climax of The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas is deeply haunting to even this day. There is also Steven Spielberg’s excellent Schindler’s list. Schindler’s list focused on the bravery of a German industrialist saving many polish/ Jewish refugees by employing them in his factories during the hugely tumultuous World War 2. In spite of the above mentioned movies with similar topic A Real Pain has its own uniqueness.

The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas

Schindler’s List

In simple terms the plot of A Real Pain focuses on two Jewish cousins. David (Jessie Eisenberg) and Benji (Kiera Culkin). Both of them are travelling to Poland to visit their late grandmother’s home as a way of honoring her memory, she was an holocaust survivor. David and Benji have very contrasting personalities. David is more reserved and also a settled family man with a stable job. Benji on the other hand is extremely free spirited with zero filters. Benji is anti- capitalist and also often prone to emotional outbursts making David uncomfortable. The cousins do share a playful camaraderie but there is also an underlying tension which comes out strongly. This is the story in brief.

Kiera Culkin and Jessie Eisenberg

A strong aspect of A Real Pain is the intermingling of the holocaust tragedy with the complex dynamics of the cousins. In a way the film feels similar to Nitesh Tiwari’s Bawaal. A movie which mixed relationship drama and the world war 2 horrors. But there is a huge difference in the way the directors have handled the extremely sensitive topic. Nitesh Tiwari on one hand made an absolute mess, but Jessie Eisenberg treats the sensitive subject with the respect that it deserves.

A particular mention must be made of the scenes where the cousins are forced to confront the scars of the holocaust which in turn brings out their personal/ emotional crises. The dialogues coupled with the acting leaves a huge impact. As the journey progress the relationship flows through many ebbs. All this has come out wonderfully. The changes in the relationship by the end of the journey and how they are more accepting of each other has come out in a subtle and grounded manner.

Among the lighter scenes a special mention must be made of the portion where Benji coaxes Jim into breaking rules. The scenario is predictable but the understated approach brings a smile to the viewers face. One of the extremely poignant moments in A Real Pain involves the visit to Nazi concentration camp where Benji has a huge breakdown. A deep emotional catharsis is apparent. This moment makes David realize that beneath his cousin’s happy go lucky demeanor there is also a major inner sadness.

Although the focus is mostly on the cousins the supporting characters also get their due like Kurt Egyiawan as Eloge. Eloge is a recent Jewish convert and a survivor of Rwandan genocide. His character and performance offers a poignant remainder on how the horrors of holocaust aren’t just confined to the past. Genocides have always been there and continue to persist like the ones happening in Gaza. Every member of the tour have their personal histories adding a lot of emotional heft.

Kieran Culkin as Benji delivers a truly superlative performance. He masterfully transitions between the character’s free spirited nature and the simmering anguish. Jessie Eisenberg on the other hand comes across as more of an observer to his cousin’s eccentricities still he too makes his presence amply felt. He particularly stands out in a breakdown scene while talking about his brother’s nature and the complex relationship that they share. Both the actor’s play off each other wonderfully.

Kieran Culkin as Benji masterfully transitions between the character’s free spirited nature and the simmering anguish

A Real Pain is also technically sound. The cinematography of Michael Dymek is of a very high order specifically in the portions related to Holocaust scars.

To Sum it up A Real Pain is a very worthy addition to the movies previously made on the subject of Holocaust.

Emergency review: A competent political drama about the consequences of unchecked power

The recent political movies from Bollywood have often bordered on being both tacky and amateurish. They often end up glorifying the current ruling party while showcasing the Opposition Congress as either fools or extreme villains.

With Kangana being a BJP MP, her political ideology is well-known. Emergency directed and written by Kangana has had a long battle before its eventual release.

The censor board had asked for numerous cuts. Recently even the Sikh organizations wanted a ban on it.

Synopsis

Setting aside the controversies, Emergency offers a fairly balanced portrayal of the life and times of Indira Gandhi.

Kangana Ranaut presents the controversial prime minister sometimes as a villain who got blinded by her son’s love doing terrible things. At the same time, the movie showcases the emotional turmoil that Indira went through, we see her getting haunted by her image in Shakespearean style.

Emergency begins with glimpses of Indira’s childhood; the story spans her tumultuous journey till the end highlighting the various trials and tribulations like her complex relationships with her father and the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as her husband Feroze Gandhi.

Portrayal of Emergency

On the sets of Emergency
On the sets of ‘Emergency’. (Supplied)

The best part of the Kangana directorial is undoubtedly the portrayal of events leading up to the extremely harrowing period of emergency.

Kangana showcases the very dangerous consequences of unchecked power. Political leaders are locked up and all the dissenters of Indira Gandhi are simply labelled as “anti-national”.

The media, especially the newspapers, supposed to represent the voice of the common man also suffered badly due to Indira Gandhi’s dictatorial ways. The discerning audience can definitely draw a parallel to today’s environment.

In the present times, anyone who raises their voice against Hindutva and BJP is labelled as anti-national and often put in prison for expressing their opinions.

Of course, Kangana wouldn’t have designed these portions keeping this aspect in mind, still, for those who can look beyond the obvious the parallels are very apparent.

Best moments

The dynamics between Indira and Sanjay also give the movie some of its best moments. Indira has a very soft corner for her son often overlooking his bratish ways. This unabashed love for the son makes her blind towards his deviousness.

Kangana Ranaut in Emergency
Kangana Ranaut in ‘Emergency’. (X)

The movie portrays Sanjay Gandhi as the major force behind the excessive brutality of the emergency. He was always confident about having his mother’s support. However, this changes when Indira develops a conscience deciding to take things under her control.

There is a hugely poignant moment after the death of Sanjay Gandhi. Many common people are seen celebrating the death of this spoilt brat linking him to a Raavan. Indira has a major breakdown in the car repenting about the way she has brought up her son.

A major problem with Emergency is its docu-drama feel. At certain points, the movie feels like a rushed narration of the major events in Indira Gandhi’s life.

Indira Gandhi’s return to power and the entire Blue Star operation leading to her being gunned down suffer on the account of an episodic feel.

These parts needed better layering for the viewers to develop a more emotional connection with the protagonist.

Kangana as Indira Gandhi

A poster of the film Emergency
A poster of the film ‘Emergency’. (X)

Kangana Ranaut as Indira Gandhi takes a while to get used to. Her initial speeches in the parliament suffer on account of her squeaky voice however as the movie progresses Kangana Ranaut also becomes better.

The actress particularly shines in the sequences showcasing Indira Gandhi’s emotional turmoil, the scenes where she is haunted by her fate and later expresses remorse have been well portrayed by the actor.

For some, the redemption arc may come across as being calculative to avoid further backlash, still the way these portions have been written and performed is wonderful to watch.

Talking about other actors, Vishak Nair as Sanjay Gandhi is also terrific perfectly portraying the reckless nature of Sanjay. He imbibes Sanjay’s ruthlessness wonderfully making the viewers detest him.

Seniors Anupam Kher and the late Satish Kaushik make their presence amply felt too, as a moral counterpoint to Indira Gandhi. They play Jayaprakash Narayan and Jagjvan Ram respectively.

The dashing Milind Sonam as the famous field Marshal Sam Manekshaw also gives a good account of Manekshaw. Lastly, Shreyas Talpade as Advani also brings a certain authenticity.

Technical aspects

The cinematography of Tuesto Nagata also deserves a special mention. His work particularly in the disturbing emergency is outstanding. Through his lens, Tuesto Nagata does a very fine job of capturing the immense turmoil that the nation had gone through.

The songs come across as more of unwanted guests. The political leaders lip-syncing songs come across as unnecessary; still, “Ae Meri Jaan” sung by the legendary Hariharan makes for a soothing listen and a good watch.

Final take

Keeping aside the rushed storytelling and its docu-drama feel, Emergency makes for a good watch provided you are into political dramas.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

Sankranthiki Vasthunam review: A fun filled Sankranti outing in trademark Anil Ravipudi style

In a short span of time, Anil Ravipudi has established himself as a successful commercial director. His stories rely more on punch lines and outlandish humour rather than a coherent storyline.

However, the conviction with which he narrates his stories and the actor’s commitment makes them hugely enjoyable. Very good examples are F2: Fun and Frustration (2019) and its sequel F3 (2022).

The director also proved his versatility with the action drama Bhagavant Kesari in 2023. He did a fine job in merging Nandamuri Balakrishna’s stardom with strong beats of women empowerment.

Synopsis

With Sankranthiki Vasthunam, the director returns to familiar territory. A whacky comedy with elements of family drama, the storyline isn’t high on logic, and often borders on being farcical, but what holds the movie together majorly is Venkatesh’s brilliant act coupled with Anil Ravipudi’s narration.

Sankranthiki Vasthunam begins off with a kidnap scenario. A CEO of the world’s number one tech company Aakella (Srinivas Avasarala) is kidnapped on his visit to India. The government has a big responsibility to bring Aakella back.

Venkatesh plays suspended officer YD Raju, extremely well known for his notorious handling of criminals, shooting them at his will.

Due to the numerous complaints of a human rights organization YD Raju is suspended. Meenakshi Chaudhary plays VD Raju’s ex-girlfriend and a police officer herself. Meenakshi and YD Raju had a bitter break-up.

YD Raju makes a promise not to marry anyone else but it turns out that he is a happily married man with Bhagyalakshmi (Aishwarya Rajesh). They have four kids, among the kids, Bheemla Revanth Pavan Sai Subhash is the most important one.

Meenakshi comes to VD Raju’s place to seek help from him and also a certain hope of reconnecting but is thoroughly shocked to know that he has moved on. The rest of the story focuses on the tangle that VD Raju finds himself in and how Meenakshi and Co are able to free Aakella with his help. There is a small subplot as well connected to the importance of respecting teachers.

Strong aspects

Sankranthiki Vasthunam is a comedy entertainer
‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’ is a comedy entertainer. (X)

A strong aspect of Sankranthiki Vasthunam is undoubtedly the characterization of Venkatesh, coupled with his wonderful act. The senior actor isn’t new to the genre of humour.

The actor’s comic timing in movies like Malliswari (2004), F2 and F3 along with Nuvvu Naaku Nachav (2001) has brought the house down raising many chuckles. Still, director Anil Ravipudi brings out a different side to his comedy.

As a man caught between his ex and his wife, while handling the important task at hand Venkatesh is simply brilliant. He brings the house down on many occasions with his expressions and lifts many of the movie’s comic moments with his wonderful sense of timing.

Performances

Venkatesh portrays a loving family man, an ex-lover and a smart cop in a wonderful manner. A particular mention must be of the pre-climax fight when his character lets out all the pent-up angst. There is a super mix of action and comedy thoroughly entertaining the viewers.

His chemistry with both Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Chaudhary is the icing on the cake. The scenes involving a trio are super fun to watch as well.

Aishwarya Rajesh as the jealous yet lovable wife does a great job too. There is a certain naivety to Bhagyalakshmi which Aishwarya pulls off wonderfully. Aishwarya’s portrayal of jealousy and insecurity whenever Meenakshi gets close to her husband is brilliant to watch.

Anil Ravipudi directorial Sankranthiki Vasthunam
Anil Ravipudi directorial ‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’. (X)

Meenakshi Chaudhary as the cop and an ex-girlfriend also gives a good account of herself. After playing the roles of housewife in Lucky Baskhar and Matka, this marks a different terrain for her and the actress more than holds her own opposite Venkatesh and Aishwarya Rajesh.

Special mention must also be made of Bheemla Revanth Pavan. As a boisterous kid with OTT-inspired curses, the child actor does a very good job. The chemistry between Venkatesh and Bheemla Revanth adds to the fun element.

Upender Limaye plays an eccentric cop with a high pitch. His scenes often border on being loud still it goes with the movie’s nature.

Technical aspects

Bheems Ceciroleo’s music is another asset for the movie with Ramana Gogula’s “Godari Gattu” being a major highlight. Apart from that, the song “Meenu” showcasing YD Raju and Meenakshi’s romantic past is also a fun number.

Talking about the movie’s flaws there is a shabbily written subplot about respecting and remembering your teachers. The message behind this is noble as teachers are an important pillar of society and worthy of respect, however, the way it has been integrated is patchy.

Also, the second half has moments of repetitiveness in terms of humour. Some sequences with farcical humour test the viewer’s patience.

Final take

To sum it up Sankranthiki Vasthunam is a perfect watch for those looking for light-hearted entertainment. Fans of Anil Ravipudi and Venkatesh will have a blast.

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

Daaku Maharaaj review: A mass feast for Balakrishna’s die hard fans

Bobby Kolli’s Daaku Maharaaj plays out like an unabashed love letter to the crazy fan following of Nandamuri Balakrishna.

Balakrishna’s connection with the masses is undeniable, regardless of whether you like the actor or not.

Bobby Kolli uses the connection to the hilt to keep the viewers invested.

Synopsis

In simple terms, the story of Daaku Maharaaj focuses on a civil engineer turned vigilante. The movie initially presents Balakrishna as Nanaji, a driver. However, Nanaji’s real intentions are different.

His true mission is to protect the granddaughter of the tea estate. The family is under threat from MLA Trimurthulu Naidu (Ravi Kishan).

Nanaji quietly eliminates the gangs related to Trimurthulu Naidu. Things take a dramatic turn when Nanaji’s real identity comes out.

Balwant Singh Thakur (Bobby Deol) is informed of Daaku Maharaaj’s reappearance—the second half shifts to an origin story.

Before becoming a vigilante Balakrishna’s Sitharam was an upright civil engineer. Sitharam’s aim was to bring water to the withered area of Sonapur in Madhya Pradesh. This area is ruled by the demonic family of Thakurs.

Bobby Deol’s Balwant Singh Thakur is the youngest among the brothers. The rest of the story focuses on the transformation of Sitharam and his connection with the granddaughter of the tea estate.

A showreel for Balakrishna

Daaku Maharaaj is an action thriller
‘Daaku Maharaaj’ is an action erntertainer. (X)

It goes without saying that Daaku Maharaaj is mostly a showreel for Nandamuri Balakrishna. The actor’s screen presence coupled with his histrionics is what makes the movie watchable even when the plot enters into an utterly mundane zone.

The actor’s delivery of punch lines is definitely something that hardcore fans will enjoy. He does a very good job of portraying Sitharam’s transition from an honest civil servant wanting to solve the problems of Sonapur through government methods into a vigilante.

A scene which deserves a particular mention is a breakdown portion in the flashback involving the death of a girl. The quire in the voice coupled with the tremble as he talks about the horrific death brings out the actor in Balakrishna.

Both Shraddha Srinath and Pragya Jaiswal make their entry in the second half as the spouses of Bobby Deol and Balakrishna respectively.

Both of them make their presence amply felt particularly Shraddha Srinath as the honest collector who goes against her husband. An emotional sequence between Shraddha and Balakrishna before the death of her character is hugely poignant.

Bobby Deol as the thoroughly aristocratic Thakur with zero emotions makes for a suitably cruel villain. He gets the patriarchal nature of an upper caste bigot to perfection, his confrontation scenes with Balakrishna like the pre-climax sequence are deadly.

Flaws

A major problem with Daaku Maharaaj is its tried and tested formula of good versus evil. The movie comes with zero surprises for those who have grown up on commercial Telugu cinema. The beats of the story become very predictable.

The movie also suffers on account of too much fan worship. The fan service gets nauseating after a point giving little enjoyment for the neutral audiences.

Daaku Maharaaj also suffers from the mostly flat characterizations of the supporting cast. Able comic actors like Satya and VTV Ganesh are given very little to play with. The likes of Shine Tom Chacko as a wacky cop on the hunt of the Daaku start off promisingly but end up being majorly sidelined as the movie becomes a celebration of Balakrishna’s aura.

Technical aspects

Apart from Balakrishna’s performance, Vijay Kartik’s cinematography is also of a good standard, the Chambal portions of the second half showcase his prowess as a cinematographer.

Thaman S’s songs don’t help the movie much but his background score is pulsating, it perfectly complements the cinematography of Vijay Kartik in the Chambal portions.

Final take

To sum it up Daaku Maharaaj is strictly for the hard-core Balakrishna admirers, the ones who worship the actor and watch movies only for him.

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