‘Matka’ is technically proficient with special mention to the cinematography department but suffers from the regular clichés of a gangster movie. Varun Tej does his level best managing to rise above the ordinary material but it isn’t enough to salvage the movie.
Main Cast: Varun Tej, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Nora Fatehi, and Naveen Chandra
Director: Karuna Kumar
Producer: Vijender Reddy Teegala and Rajani Talluri
Music Director: GV Prakash Kumar
Cinematography: Kishor Kumar
Rating: 2/5
Four films old, director Karuna Kumar has created a niche with Palasa 1978 (2020) and Sridevi Soda Centre (2021). Both dealt with the themes of caste and class in a hard-hitting manner.
With Matka, the director has moved out of his usual space making a gangster movie based on a real-life Matka gambler Ratan Khetri.
The attempt to get mainstream acceptance is clearly visible. However, the movie feels like a stale leftover of other films in the same space.
Synopsis
The slight freshness in Matka only comes from the gambling background and the huge dent it left on the Indian economy. However, this aspect isn’t enough to save the film as the movie lacks the major highs needed for this genre.
In simple terms, the story of Matka is set in the background of Visakhapatnam between 1958 and 1962. It traces the journey of Varun Tej’s Vasu, coming to the city as a refugee and how the tough circumstances shaped his journey as a gambler and gangster.
One of the very few positive aspects of Matka is the recreation of the bygone era. Cinematographer A Kishore Kumar does a wonderful job of capturing both the retro vibe and also the various timelines through his lens. Special mention must be made of the scenes in the market yard.
Analysis
‘Matka’ is written and directed by Karuna Kumar. (Instagram)
The first half is mostly a slog given the predictable scenarios and not much effort being made in showcasing the graph of the protagonist. It is just a series of moments to establish Vasu’s heroism. At regular intervals, slides flash indicating a change in the passage of time but this technique comes across as superficial trying to hide the lack of depth.
The movie only gets interesting when it showcases the network of Matka gambling. How much money was made out of this and the consequences of this dangerous game engage the audiences for a while. The addiction of people towards gambling though set in 60’s feels contemporary.
The CBI investigation headed by an earnest Naveen Chandra has its moments too. But this also doesn’t last for long as the movie gets back to being a formulaic fare.
The love story between Varun Tej’s Vasu and Meenakshi Chaudhary’s Sujatha should have been the emotional backbone of the movie; unfortunately, the drab writing plays a spoilsport. There is no proper build-up to how both of them fall for each other.
As a result of this, the distance in their marriage because of Vasu’s greed doesn’t register strongly.
Performances
Varun Tej in ‘Matka’. (X)
Meenakshi Chaudhary suffers on account of a sketchy characterization after her wonderful performance in Lucky Baskhar (2024).
Varun Tej in the title role has given it his all; he does a fine job of portraying Vasu’s transition from a normal young man to a Matka king.
The role of Vasu gives Varun space to explore grey areas and he does go full throttle. But on some occasions, his gangster act feels repetitive lacking the nuances to bring out some variation.
The supporting cast comprising of Naveen Chandra, Kishore, and Satyam Rajesh are competent but none of them stand out.
GV Prakash’s music isn’t great but two songs “Le Le Raja” and “Tassadiya” are visually fine. The background music also leaves a lot to be desired.
Final take
To sum it up Matka is strictly for those who enjoy conventional gangster films.
(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
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
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’. (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)
Main Cast: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashavi Majumdar, Kay Kay Menon, Saqib Saleem, Sikander Kher, and Simran Bagga
Director: Raj and DK
Producer: Syed Zaid Ali and Alek Conic
Music Director: Sachin- Jigar
Cinematography:J ohn Heurlin Aidt
Rating :3/5
The American show Citadel (2023) is considered to be one of the most expensive web series produced. However, the response was quite lukewarm with not-so-great reviews from both the critics and the audiences. Despite that season two of Citadel has been announced.
Raj and DK’s Citadel: Honey and Bunny is a spin-off to this show. It doesn’t completely match up to the finesse of Raj and DK’s previous web shows— The Family Man (2019) and Farzi (2023)—but still it keeps you hooked.
The storyline of Citadel: Honey Bunny moves along two parallel timelines 1992 and 2000. Honey (Samantha) is an ambitious young woman who has run away from home with dreams of becoming an actress.
In pursuit of becoming an actor, her path crosses with that of Varun Dhawan’s Bunny a stunt coordinator. The friendship blossoms into love however Bunny is not what he appears to be. He is leading a double life as a spy for a secret agency.
Synopsis
Things take a turn when Honey, who first approaches Bunny to seek his help in becoming an actor, requests him to train her to be a spy.
Though Bunny initially hesitates, he soon agrees seeing her courage. Amidst this, enters another character Baba, played by Kay Kay Menon.
Kay Kay Menon is the leader of the spy group. He is also the one who has turned Bunny’s life around by picking him up from the orphanage and bringing him up with lots of love. Due to this, Bunny is devoted and loyal to Baba.
The aim of Kay Kay Menon and Co is to bring down “Operation Talwar” sabotaging a rival spy organization “Citadel” in the process.
As the mission progresses, big differences creep up between Honey and Bunny leading to a major cycle of events.
This is the story in brief, which is now available on Amazon Prime Video.
What works and what doesn’t
Samantha and Varun from ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’. (X)
A strong aspect of Citadel: Honey Bunny is how Raj and DK have crafted the love story of the two primary characters. From the initial meet-cute moments to them developing feelings for each other has been wonderfully written and enacted.
The chemistry between Varun and Samantha comes across as organic. Even the scene leading up to their first kiss in the middle of a fun moment doesn’t feel forced.
Another strong aspect of Citadel: Honey Bunny is the dynamics between Baba and Bunny. Kay Kay Menon’s Baba is someone who alternates between being a bad man and also a fatherly figure for not just Bunny but the other guys too.
He inspires both fear and respect. The conversations between Baba and Bunny have an emotional depth with a particular mention of an orphanage scene in the sixth episode. Kay Kay Menon as usual does a very fine job of capturing the various nuances of Baba.
The production design of Citadel: Honey Bunny is quite commendable. Raj and DK along with the technical crew do a fine job in transporting the viewers back to the 90s and early 2000s.
One major problem with Citadel: Honey Bunny is the constant back-and-forth exploring the motivations of the various characters. This back-and-forth does help in giving a psychological insight into how the various struggles have shaped up the protagonists but it also slows down the show.
Another problem with Citadel: Honey Bunny is the underdevelopment of Simran’s character. Her character of Zooni needed better etching to have a stronger impact.
Performances
Samantha with Kashavi in ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’. (X)
Child actor Kashavi Majumdar playing Honey and Bunny’s daughter Nadia proves to be a major ace of this web series. Nadia has had to grow up well before time. She is thrust into the dark underbelly of the spy world.
Kashavi does a terrific job of portraying the internal conflict of a young girl whose carefree childhood has gone for a toss. She more than holds her own opposite Samantha brilliantly conveying resilience. The mother-and-daughter scenes give the show some of its best moments.
Samantha as Honey is successful in bringing out both the inner strength and vulnerability of her role. She simply aces the action sequences bringing in the intensity of a mother who is also a deadly spy.
A particular scene where she takes on a group of assassins while gently closing her daughter’s eyes to shield her from the bloodshed is brilliantly written and executed. Action is one of the mainstays of Citadel: Honey Bunny and the fight sequences are indeed a treat to watch particularly for those who like raw action.
Varun Dhawan as Bunny also shines particularly in the emotional scenes. A special mention must be made of his few scenes with Kashavi Majumdar. Saqib Saleem as the menacing KD also makes a striking impact. He proves to be a worthy opponent for Samantha and Varun.
Final take
To sum it up Citadel: Honey Bunny is worth a watch for those who are into gritty action and the spy world.
(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula.)
Writer Jack Weatherford goes beyond the popular perception of Genghis Khan as a ruthless man and a bloodthirsty nomad. He presents the warrior in a different light presenting him as a progressive leader who encouraged the right to one’s own religion belief among other aspects. The novel also touches upon the role of Mongol women as administrators
Jack Weatherford’s Genghis Khan and the making of the Modern World looks at the rise of Genghis Khan along with throwing light on the various aspects of the Mongol empire. Through his writings Jack Weatherford has touched upon the impact of Mongols in different parts of Asia and Europe.
From the very beginning the writer draws the viewers into the world of the Mongols and Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan’s gradual rise to power and glory has been excellently documented. Even before he reached the age of 10 the father was poisoned, and the family was excluded from the clan. They had to survive in an extremely harsh environment. Additionally, Genghis Khan was kept as a slave for many years.
Jack Weatherford has focused a lot on the formative years of Genghis Khan particularly his life as a slave, the military campaigns have been given less importance, but this isn’t a major flaw as we get a psychological insight into the warrior that Genghis Khan became in the future. The description of Mongol war tactics though not so detailed still makes for a fascinating read.
Genghis Khan and the making of the Modern World book banner
A noteworthy aspect about the novel is the description of the women by Jack Weatherford. The various women mentioned in the novel come across as strong personalities. At one point they practically run the empire. Yes, they do meet an unpleasant end but still the chapters related to these women are very engrossing giving an insight into the Mongol culture.
Another fascinating aspect of the book is how the Mongol innovations spread across boundaries. Connecting both the east and the west they were able to build a global economy and also an early modern globalization. In fact, many of the modern world features can be attributed to Genghis Khan and his followers.
The various aspects of the Mongol reign that include introduction of paper currency, tolerance towards subjects who practiced different religions also make the book very interesting. However, the many positive aspects of the Mongol reign may across as too patronizing for some readers making them question the authenticity.
Overall Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World is a must read for those who are into history particularly for those wanting to know the other side of Genghis Khan.
Amaran ticks all the boxes of a typical army movie. As viewers you know where the film is headed still the tight writing coupled with the performances make it an engaging watch. Sai Pallavi as Indu Rebecca Varghese adds an emotional depth to her mostly one note character
Starcast: Sivakarthikeyan, Sai Pallavi, Bhuvan Arora, Rahul Bose, Geetha Kailasam and others
Direction and screenplay: Rajkumar Periyaswamy
Additional screenplay: Stefan Richer
Based on: India’s Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes
Producers: Kamal Haasan, R Mahendran and Vivek Krishnani
Production Companies: Raaj Kamal Films International and Sony Pictures Films India
Cinematography: CH Sai
Music: GV Prakash Kumar
Running time: 2 hours and 49 minutes
Rajkumar Periyaswamy’s Amaran follows a certain template particularly the beats of Adavi Sesh’s Major. Just like the protagonist of Major here too the hero Mukund decides at an early age that he will join the army. Unlike both parents who are not happy with their son’s decision in Major, here the father is quite supportive. The mother though prays to God that he should fail the army test which of course doesn’t happen. There is also the angle of the future in laws who are dead against their daughter marrying an army man. The death of Major Mukund while battling a deadly enemy is also something that the viewers can see from a mile. In spite of the predictable scenarios Amaran touches an emotional chord particularly for those coming from army families. Even if you aren’t a fan of movies with army background Amaran is still enjoyable.
Amaran follows a certain template particularly the beats of Adavi Sesh’s Major
Amaran is told from the perspective of Major Mukund’s wife Indu Rebecca Varghese (an excellent Sai Pallavi). How love blossomed between them in Madras Christian college. Indhu has a major stage fear which Mukund helps her overcome. The movie plays like a series of flashbacks showing the different facets of Mukund as a son, lover, husband, father alongside his various roles in the army.
Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi in Amaran
The heart of Amaran is the love story and the director has done a wonderful job in showcasing the various stages of the relationship. The tender moments between Mukund and Indhu make the viewers wish that the real-life story had panned out differently. A couple of scenes worth mentioning here are the one where Mukund leans on Indhu’s shoulder saying that he didn’t think military training would be this tough and wants to sleep on her shoulders for a while. Similarly, there is an adorable video call where Mukund calms down Indhu’s tensions making her temporarily forget the kilometers of distance between them.
Mention must also be made of the dynamics between Indhu and Geeta Kailasam’s Geetha Varadarajan. Initially Geeta is dead against their marriage and even tries to sabotage the relationship but soon they become thick friends. The commonality between them is the pain of separation and the underlying love for Mukund.
A major portion of Mukund’s military life is set amidst the backdrop of political insurgency in Kashmir. The numerous battles of CRPF in dealing with the militant outfits has been well documented. There are scenes of Indian army working closely with the camps of ex militants wanting to start a fresh life. A few members of the Kashmiri youth are also seen working in the Indian army which doesn’t go down well with a certain community.
There are lines hinting on how the tension filled atmosphere is due to the people sitting in the government. The film also gives a brief glimpse into the emotional turmoil of the militant families. However, the presentation of Kashmir conflict needed greater depth. At the end of day Rajkumar Periyaswamy reduces the decades long upheaval to a superficial good versus bad saga. For example, the scenes of stone pelting are shown to be an act of terrorism ignoring the fact that it is also a form of protest. In its quest to honor Mukund’s bravery the political complexity of the issue is sidetracked.
Sivakarthikeyan as the brave army man
Talking about the fights the movie has some well-choreographed combat sequences like the scene where Mukund’s fellow army man cum friend leaps on to a grenade with only a wooden board as a shield. Even the pre climax of Mukund battling with the enemy in a confined space is thrilling. Cinematographer CH Sai deserves distinction marks for a job very well done. He does a wonderful job in capturing both the scenic beauty of Kashmir and also the ambush sequences. GV Prakash Kumar’s background score is another asset for the movie particularly in the action sequences. The songs are quite melodious.
The role of major Mukund is truly a game changer for Sivakarthikeyan. It is vastly different from what he usually does, he springs a very pleasant surprise transforming from a boy next door in the initial portions to a brave army man. The best part of Sivakarthikeyan’s performance is how he manages to convey a certain sense of vulnerability and humanness underneath the tough exterior. For example, there is a scene in the second half where he tears up pleading with the senior officer by Rahul Bose. Sai Pallavi as already mentioned plays a mostly one note character a constant cheerleader for the husband however adverse the circumstances are. In the hands of a weak actor Indhu would have been annoying but given Sai Pallavi’s acting prowess she adds a lot of emotional depth with her nuanced act. She is particularly good in the breakdown scene post Mukund’s death.
Sai Pallavi adds a lot of emotional depth with her nuanced acting
The supporting cast comprises of actors in small yet significant parts. Geeta Kailasam as the mother makes a striking impact. Among the actors playing Mukund’s colleagues Bhuvan Arora does a wonderful job. Rahul Bose as the senior officer brings in the required authority and a sense of empathy. Talking about Mukund’s scenes with the colleagues a mention must be made of the portion where Mukund and his fellow men discuss about movies with references to Thuppakki and Fahadh Fassil. The camaraderie has come out well.
To sum it up Amaran makes for a satisfying war drama in spite of some glitches.
Ranveer Singh as Simmba is one of the few bright spots. His wisecracks lift the films energy significantly in the second half but the movie overall reeks of datedness
Main Cast: Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Akshay Kumar
Director: Rohit Shetty
Producer: Rohit Shetty, Ajay Devgan and Jyothi Deshpande
Music Director: Ravi Basur and Thaman S
Cinematography: Girish Kant Raza Hussain Mehta
There was a period when Rohit Shetty was one of the most commercially successful directors with a terrific track record.
Movies like the Golmaal franchise and Chennai Express (2013) were huge hits with the masses lapping them up, despite fair share of criticism.
However, since the pandemic, things have been going downhill for the director, starting with Ranveer Singh’s Cirkus (2022), a slapstick comedy that produced more groans than laughs. His web series debut, The Indian Police (2024), also didn’t generate much of a favourable response either.
Certain overconfidence has gotten into the director, and Singham Again is the perfect example of this.
Synopsis
The movie has a galaxy of stars and the trademark Rohit Shetty elements but it proves to be a festival dampener. The attempt to link Ramayana with the Singham universe comes across as jarring with zero novelty.
In simple terms, the story of Singham Again focuses on the kidnap of Avni Bajirao Singham (Kareena Kapoor Khan). Bajirao Singham (Ajay Devgan) has to save his wife from the clutches of a deadly villain played by Arjun Kapoor. Since Bajirao cannot do everything on his own, others like Deepika Padukone’s Shakti Shetty, Ranveer Singh’s Simmbaa, and Tiger Shroff’s ACP Satya among others come to the aid of their guru.
All this runs parallel to the Ramleela. A nine-day program meant to convince the audiences that Ramayana is not some myth but actually history.
What works and what doesn’t
Ranveer Singh in ‘Singham Again’. (X)
The first half of Singham Again is all about establishing the Ramayana connection. How Rama and Sita’s story represents true love and the various symbolisms. This soon gets tiring and it also doesn’t help that the movie’s trailer established all the Ramayana parallels along with the introduction of all-stars. As a result, the entire first half feels like a never-ending slow grind.
Dialogues like “India ghuske maarta hai Dushmanon Ko” feel like a forced attempt to evoke patriotic feelings. It is only towards the interval that the movie gets mildly interesting.
The character sketches of Singham’s team barring Ranveer Singh also prove to be a dampener. Deepika Padukone as Shakti Shetty never convinces the viewers that she can be Lady Singham. The stale dialogue delivery coupled with the accent is tough to endure.
Tiger Shroff as ACP Satya has even less to do. He is supposed to be modelled on Lakshman but it seems that Tiger was roped in more as a stunt coordinator rather than an actor.
Performances
Arjun Kapoor in ‘Singham Again’. (X)
The film’s second half is significantly better thanks to Ranveer Singh’s energy and his punch lines. The actor lifts the movie’s energy single-handedly. In one instance, Simmbba is seen talking to Kareena’s Avni about how someone’s wife is always getting into trouble in this Cop Verse.
In the climactic sequence, he looks at Deepika and says “Deko Abhi family bhi badh raha hai”, adding to the laughs.
Arjun Kapoor as Danger Lanka/ Zubair Hafeez gets the menacing attitude right. Yes, some polishing is required but he manages to make for a strong villain.
Ajay Devgan does well within the script’s limitations. As an actor, there isn’t a lot to explore but he is his usual competent self.
Kareena Kapoor Khan looks radiant but after Crew and The Buckingham Murders this is just another movie where she is more of a show piece waiting to be rescued.
Final take
There is nothing to rave about either the film’s music or its cinematography. In conclusion, Singham Again fails to roar. It is high time that Rohit gets out of the action and comedy zone.
The best part of Anees Bazmee’s direction is how he keeps the audiences guessing about who the real Manjulika is. Kartik Aaryan is hugely entertaining as the fake ghost buster.
Main Cast:Vidya Balan, Kartik Aaryan, Madhuri Dixit, and Tripti Dimri
Director: Anees Bazmee
Producer: Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar
Music Director: Tanishk Bagchi
Cinematography: Manu Anand
2024 has been the year of horror with most of the big grossers belonging to this genre. The best examples of this phenomenon are Stree 2 and Munjya of Maddock and Vikas Bahl’s comeback vehicle Shaitaan.
All these films have been very successful in scaring audiences and making huge profits for producers.
Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in 2022 was a massive hit giving the Hindi Film industry a much-needed respite, it skyrocketed Kartik Aaryan’s career making him one of the most bankable Gen- z actors. And now you have Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.
Anees Bazmee has once again delivered a perfect festive entertainer. This time apart from the laughs and scares there is also a poignant message on inclusivity and acceptance.
Synopsis
The storyline of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 focuses on a con baba called Ruhaan Randhawa/Rooh Baba. In the 2022 Bhool Bhulaiyaa Kartik Aaryan had to put up an act of being a ghost expert due to certain circumstances, in this 2024 movie he becomes a full-fledged conman accompanied by a partner in crime.
Things are going smoothly, in fact too smooth. His life takes a major turn when approached by a girl called Meera (Tripti Dimri) and her uncle played by Rajesh Sharma. Both belong to a once-upon-a-time royal family of Bengal. Except, for now, the palace descendants of this dynasty are in utter poverty.
Meera asks him to do a false exorcism in order to save them from these circumstances. Ruhaan agrees to a payment of ₹1 crore. This is the story in brief.
Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit in ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’. (X)
The best part of Bhool Bhulaiyaa is how Anees Bazmee has integrated horror, comedy and mystery in equal measures. For a major chunk of the movie, the audiences feel that either Vidya Balan’s Malikka or Madhuri Dixit’s Mandira could be Manjulika.
A lot of suspense has been built around the identity of Manjulika, keeping the viewers constantly guessing.
The reveal however shocks the audience, like an unexpected googly which a batsman doesn’t see coming, which obviously cannot be revealed here. What also adds to this reveal is a poignant flashback connected to homosexuality.
The solution to the ghost problem is also different from what we generally come to expect in these movies. It is a brave climax, for which, both Anees Bazmee and writer Aakash Kaushik deserve a major appreciation.
Performances
‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ is a comedy horror. (X)
Kartik’s acting in the scenes where his character expresses hurt over the betrayal of close ones is splendid.
Talking about the humour portions a special mention must be made of Vijay Raaz as the impoverished head of the royal family. He raises many chuckles with his deadpan humour.
His scenes with Kartik are a delight to watch, their dynamics raise many laughs. The track involving Sanjay Mishra, Ashwini Kaleskar and Rajpal Yadav could have been done with better dialogues but still, it delivers some laughs.
Both Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit lend a mysterious aura and are mighty effective in making the movie more suspenseful. Both have their dramatic moments as well, which they make complete use of.
Kartik Aaryan successfully takes off from where he left off in the second part. He brings the house down on many occasions with his comic timing.
His reaction shots to numerous jump scares are a delight to watch. In the second role too he is equally poignant.
What brings down the film somewhat is a half-baked love story between Ruhaan and Meera. In the last couple of years, Tripti has been trying to actively transition into a mainstream glamorous heroine and this has been pretty awkward to watch. Here too the actress looks out of place in the song and dance routine.
As far as the soundtrack goes “Ami Je Tomar 3.0” is easily the best of the lot. This song appears in various junctures apart from the faceoff between Vidya and Madhuri. Shreya Ghoshal’s singing coupled with the placement makes it a hugely enjoyable number.
Final take
To sum it up Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is a perfect festive entertainer, particularly for those not so keen on logic and of course Kartik Aryan fans as well.
In the age of pan India Films, and reducing screenspace for women, it has become even more necessary for the actresses to take charge of the stories they are part of.
In the last few years, many Bollywood actresses have turned producers. They have produced films either starring themselves in lead roles or having new talents in prominent parts.
This trend of actresses turning producers proved to be a healthy change, giving them greater control over their roles, and allowing them to explore more challenging roles which mainstream cinema doesn’t always provide. While the box office figures for these movies aren’t massive, there is creative satisfaction.
It is a well-known fact that in today’s age of pan-Indian cinema, actresses are getting reduced to mere dolls with very little to do. Even the romantic track with heroes has become all about the male gaze.
In the recent big-budget film Devara (2024)—Janhvi Kapoor’s Tollywood debut, the actress makes her appearance only in the second half that too for a brief while. She is reduced to a person lusting after the hero and dancing to the sensuous “Chuttamalle”.
In this scenario, it becomes even more necessary for the actresses to take charge of the stories they are part of. Here is a list of actresses turning producers and the projects they undertook.
Anushka Sharma
One of the actresses who turned a producer early on was Anushka Sharma. She launched her own production company Clean Slate Filmz in the year 2013.
The first movie produced under her banner was NH 10 (2015), a gripping thriller. The film is about honour killings, in which a city couple find themselves witness to a brutal incident of honour killing leaving deep scars. In the film, Anushka Sharma portrays a wide range of emotions, from confidence to despair, to finally rage.
Anushka Sharma in ‘Phillauri’. (X)
After the intense NH10, the actress did a complete U-Turn with her next production Phillauri (2017). In 2018, she produced and acted in yet another milestone film in her career— Pari.
While Philauri dealt primarily with superstitions in a comic tone, it also spoke about long-lost love and the culture of music and poetry in Punjab.
In this movie, she played a strong-willed woman with a flair for writing poetry. Later in the movie, she plays the role of a friendly spirit giving Anushka ample scope to demonstrate both her comic and dramatic chops.
Post Phillauri there was the horror movie Pari in the backdrop of satanic cults. Pari was a challenging part both physically and emotionally for Anushka. She was in equal parts scary and also emotionally vulnerable delivering a knock-out act.
All these movies are not major grossers at the box office but they showcased Anushka’s versatility in taking on challenging roles.
Roping in new talents
Tripti Dimri in ‘Bulbbul’. (X)
Apart from the above-mentioned ones Anushka has also backed movies featuring young talents, a case in point being Bulbbul (2020) and Qala (2022).
Both these movies featured young actress Tripti Dimri in author-backed roles. They opened to great reviews marking Tripti as a promising young talent which unfortunately the actress has not been able to capitalize on. Bulbbul also had another upcoming actor Avinash Tiwary making a strong impression.
Anushka also produced the critically acclaimed Amazon show Paatal Lok (2020).
Paatal Lok had the Raazi actor Jaideep Ahlawat in a breakthrough performance. The show gave Jaideep space to display his talent and he didn’t disappoint.
The show was also a breakthrough for Abhishek Banerjee, generally known for comic roles in the Stree franchise, the actor was extremely convincing as the deadly assassin.
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra in ‘Sky Is Pink’. (X)
Another prominent actress Priyanka Chopra has also backed hatke movies under Purple Pebble Pictures. Apart from the likes of Sky Is Pink (2019) and The White Tiger (2021) Priyanka has produced movies in Marathi as well.
Ventilator (2016) had director Ashutosh Gowariker in a major role. The movie opened to rave reviews apart from being a commercial success. Director Rajesh Mapuskar who also wrote the screenplay won awards for best screenplay and best debut director.
Speaking about her Hindi film, Sky Is Pink featured the actress in a multi-layered character. Her role as a determined parent spans from a young mother to an older woman. As a strong mother who wants to make sure that her child lives life to the fullest amidst a life-threatening disease, Priyanka‘s performance touched a huge chord with the audience.
The grief along with her inner strength is palpable in every scene.
In the English/Hindi movie The White Tiger Priyanka’s role was more of a supporting one, nevertheless, the actress made a striking impression.
The White Tiger had Adarsh Gaurav in the lead role, who got into the skin of his character. The movie opened new doors for the young talent.
Alia Bhatt
A poster of the film ‘Darlings’. (X)
The national award-winning actress Alia started her own production house with the movie Darlings (2022).
The film is a dark thriller/comedy about two domestic abuse survivors, with her character Badru representing the numerous housewives who put up with their husband’s abusive behaviour in the hope that they would change one day. This doesn’t happen and eventually, Badru is forced to take things into her own hands.
The transition of Alia’s Badru from a battered housewife to a stronger woman was exciting to watch though the process could have been better etched. It was brave of Alia to choose a subject like Darlings for her debut venture and by playing a domestic abuse survivor she represented numerous Indian women whose patience is mistaken for submissiveness.
Darlings was followed by presenting the Malayalam web series Poacher(2024). Poacher was a crime drama based on the real-life incidents of Elephant poaching. The series had Nimisha Sajayan in an intense performance giving her new fame.
After Poacher came Jigra (2024) which she produced along with Karan Johar.
Jigra is a story about a fiercely protective elder sister, who would do whatever it takes to save her brother from the death sentence. There are intense combat sequences with an ally turned foe in a jungle.
Keeping aside the box office numbers, Alia showcased a different side to her in this movie proving that she can pull off action as well. Apart from being an emotional drama Jigra also touched upon the consequences of a delayed justice system where innocent prisoners are forced to take extreme measures in order to find freedom.
Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone in ‘Chhappak’. (X)
In the year 2020 Deepika produced and starred in the flawed yet gutsy Chhappak movie under her banner Ka Productions.
Deepika took a huge risk with her stardom to play an acid attack survivor. In spite of falling short in a couple of sequences, Deepika was mostly competent in making the viewers feel the agony of Malati Agarwal based on the real-life Lakshmi Agarwal.
Taapsee Pannu
Pink (2014) actress Taapsee Pannu turned producer with the female buddy film Dhak Dhak (2023) under the banner Outsider Films. The movie focused on four women of different age groups and their journey of self-discovery on a long bike trip. It was a well-made feel good movie.
Kareena Kapoor Khan
Kareena Kapoor Khan also turned into a producer with a Hansal Mehta directorial The Buckingham Murders (2024). The name of her production house is Mahana Films.
Unlike her general glamorous roles, Kareena was seen in a very different avatar, a detective going through huge emotional turmoil while investigating a case. Kareena delivered a stunning performance, showcasing her versatility.
Kriti Sanon
Kriti Sanon in ‘Do Patti’. (X)
The last in this list is Kriti Sanon who co-produced the recently released Do Patti (2024) under her banner Blue Butterfly Films. The core concept of domestic abuse and the character graph of Kriti’s Saumya in this is similar to what Jasmeet K Reen already explored in Darlings.
Having said that it has to be mentioned that director Shashanka Chaturvedi brought his aspects too like post-traumatic stress and a jealous identical twin who undergoes a transformation. Playing two vastly different characters Kriti pushed herself as an actress coming up with a good performance.
Through the double act, Kriti showed that she can easily play a grey-shaded or a completely negative role.
Becoming decision-makers
In a way, this is a good trend as actresses are becoming decision-makers in showcasing women’s talent and pushing boundaries.
On the other hand, it is also a sad commentary on the film industry that actresses had to bankroll movies to display their talent, something which mainstream cinema is not giving them enough.
Director Venky Atluri is successful in transporting the viewers into the world of bank scams and how people made huge fortunes on stock markets by exploiting the banking system. What also makes the movie work is the characterization of Baskhar, a normal middle class bank employee wanting to change the family fortunes through whatever it takes
Starcast: Dulquer Salmaan, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Rithvik P. Sai Kumar, Ramki, Tinnu Anand and others
Director and writer: Venky Atluri
Producers: Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya
Production Companies: Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas
Music: G. V Prakash Kumar
Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Cinematography: Nimish Ravi
Before the Tamil Film Vaathi starring Dhanush the filmography of Venky Atluri was dominated by romantic movies. Vaathi showcased a different side to Venky Atluri, though far from perfect the director did a fair job in exploring right to education and also some institutions which treat education as business. With his latest Lucky Baskhar the director has once again stepped out of his comfort zone dealing with a subject involving the banking system and the stock market. He pulls it off for most part.
Venky Atluri has once again stepped out of his comfort zone dealing with a subject involving the banking system and the stock market
The story of Lucky Baskhar is set in the period of the early 90’s. Dulquer Salmaan is the main protagonist. Baskhar is a middle-class employee working in Magadh Bank. Meenakshi Chaudhary of Hit 2 and Guntur Kaaram fame is the wife Sumathi, Rithivik plays the son. Baskhar’s salary is mere nine thousand rupees, given the large family consisting of brother, sister and father this money is nowhere sufficient to support them. Additionally, debts are also there. Also adding to Bashkar’s woes are the in laws who don’t shy away from expressing their dissatisfaction with his financial condition. The final nail in the coffin happens when Baskhar doesn’t get the promotion he was expecting. Frustrated with the circumstances Baskhar treads a very dangerous path starting with a small scam. Baskhar’s new path changes his entire personality causing friction with those closest to him. This is the story in brief.
The theme of financial crime set against the backdrop of a bank is a new genre for Telugu Cinema. Thankfully director Venky Atluri doesn’t make it overtly complicated. The banking system and the functioning of stock markets are presented in such a way even a lay men can understand.
Lucky Baskhar also works due to the effective world building of a bygone era. Venky Atluri along with the cinematographer Nimish Ravi do a wonderful job in transporting the viewers into the Bombay of 1989 and 1990 giving the viewers a lived-in feel.
The portrayal of the middle-class life in terms of the conversations and the overall texture is a big plus for the movie. This particularly reflects in the ups and downs of Baskhar and Sumati’s relationship. The dialogues often have a philosophical tone, but they never get verbose. A Trivikram flavor can be found in the dialogues related to the concepts of success, failure and greed.
The financial struggles of Baskhar are presented in a crisp yet very impactful manner. The humiliations and the financial hardships which he undergoes makes the viewers empathize with him even when he takes a route which isn’t ethically right.
What also enhances the films are the constant twists and turns. Every venture of Baskhar feels like a mini adventure where the viewers are constantly guessing on how Baskhar will come out triumphs.
Baskhar’s huge rise and the subsequent crash has a lot of emotional depth. Baskhar’s regret over his actions has come out wonderfully too.
The biggest ace of Lucky Bashkar though is its leading man. Dulquer has always experimented with a range of characters making them his own. Here too he does a swell job in portraying the various nuances. He is simply terrific both as a struggling middle class man and also showcasing the subsequent arrogance of Bashkar as he loses the way. The actor is particularly impressive in the emotional scene like the portion where he vents out his frustration on not being promoted in spite of slogging hard for 3 years and winning the best employee award consecutively.
Dulquer Salmaan does a swell job in portraying the various nuances of Bashkar
Meenakshi Chaudhary gets a far better role in this one compared to the tiny part in Guntur Kaaram. She makes full use of it delivering a strong act particularly the portions where Sumati expresses her rage at the change in Bashkar.
Meenakshi Chaudary asSumathi alsodelivers a strong act
G V Prakash’s songs flow seamlessly into the narrative. Particular mention must be of the Srimathi Garu song. It is a soothing romantic number enhanced by the chemistry of Dulquer and Meenakshi. His background score also deserves distinction marks. It adds to the thrill quotient significantly.
Dulquer and Meenakshi in Srimathi Garu song
The ending of Lucky Baskhar is also interesting. The director completely leaves it to the viewers to judge the actions of Baskhar.
While mostly engaging Lucky Baskhar has a couple of loose ends. One of them is a sequence involving Raghu Babu and a cop. It feels dragged, also the movie needed a stronger opposition to Baskhar given how he always comes out unscathed in spite of how tough the situations are like the pre- climax and climax.
Leaving aside these small niggles Lucky Baskhar is an entertaining thriller/drama particularly for die hard Dulquer fans.
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.
