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Gulmohar: A Tale Of A Dysfunctional Family Propelled By The Presence Of Veterans

Sharmila, Manoj & Simran’s show!

Gulmohar (Hindi)

  • Cast: Sharmila Tagore, Manoj Bajpai, Simran, and Amol Palekar
  • Writer-Director: Rahul V Chittella
  • Producers: Vikesh Bhutani, Rahul Chittella, and Shujaat Saudagar
  • Music: Siddarth Kosala and Alan Demoss
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar
  • Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes

There was a time when the portrayal of families was largely sugar-coated on the big screen. Everything used to be hunky dory until an outsider comes along and creates a rift.

For a long time, the majority of family dramas followed this template. However, this has changed in recent times thanks to directors like Zoya Akhtar and Shakun Batra.

Dil Dhadakne Do and Kapoor & Sons are examples of families where interpersonal relationships were shown on shaky grounds.

Gulmohar directed by Rahul V Chittella pretty much falls under the same space. There is also a semblance of Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding.

The big charm of watching the film lies in seeing veterans like Sharmila Tagore and Manoj Bajpai sharing screen space. Their parts are easily the best thing about the film.

However, the movie would have come out better if the director hadn’t tried to cram too many things.

Synopsis

Gulmohar begins with a get-together of the Batras. Kusum (Sharmila Tagore) is the matriarch of the Batra family. She leaves everyone baffled with the announcement that she bought a house for herself in Pondicherry.

She also declares that she won’t be moving in with her son Arun (Manoj Bajpai) into his new apartment. Kusum feels that she has done enough for her family and now wants to follow her heart.

Arun is quite rattled by her decision. But, being an obedient son, he doesn’t let his displeasure show.

Suraj Sharma plays Arun’s son Aditya who also wants to live separately from his wife. This leads to a strained relationship between father and son.

Arun’s biggest solace is his wife Indu (Simran). The twist in the tale here is that Arun is adopted. As a result, he always needs an affirmation that he belongs to the Batra family.

Amidst all this chaos, some dark secrets tumble out which threaten to shake the entire foundation of the family.

Explores interpersonal relationships

The best thing about Gulmohar is how Rahul V Chittella explores interpersonal relationships. Two tracks, in particular, stand out. One being Manoj and Sharmila Tagore, and the other Manoj and Simran.

The character of Kusum is someone that many modern women would identify with. Through Kusum, the director also touches upon the hidden desires of women.

The scene where Kusum talks to her granddaughter about her early days, marriage and motherhood is so endearing to watch.

The scenes between Manoj and Sharmila are also filled with a lot of warmth. We wish to see more of them.

A scene that particularly stands out is when mother and son go through the family photos together. The portions of Arun and Indu are another major highlight of Gulmohar.

There is an authenticity to their portrayal as a mature couple who have gone through many ups and downs. The scenes of Indu imitating her mother-in-law behind her back lead to some amusing moments.

Indu is the pillar who is holding everything together when the family seems to be falling apart. Simran as Indu is a treat to watch and she more than holds her own opposite both Sharmila and Manoj Bajpai.

The performances

Among the extended family, Amol Palaker is brilliant as the brother-in-law of Kusum. It is a role that is in complete contrast to Farzi. It is a delight to watch the senior actor embracing the grey shades of his role.

Not surprisingly, it is Manoj Bajpai and Sharmila Tagore who hold the proceedings.

Manoj Bajpai’s Arun is a complex part. But, as expected, he does full justice to his role. He makes the struggles of Arun so relatable.

Sharmila Tagore is elegantly personified as the progressive matriarch. She effortlessly charms her way through to the audience’s heart. She is brilliant in both the lighter and emotional bits.

Suraj Sharma as Aditya is one big minus. He comes across as mostly wooden and his passion to become an App developer hasn’t got the required fire.

The music composed by Siddarth Khosla and Alan Demoss is soothing. The ghazal number by Talat Aziz, in particular, stands out.

The drawbacks

However, Gulmohar is not just about the family dynamics of the Batras.

The director also looks into the lives of the staff employed at the villa along with an extended family.

A good example of this is the romantic relationship between the cook (Reshma) and the watchman (Jitender).

Their romance is very reminiscent of Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding. Initially, these portions have a certain charm. But, after a point, it hampers the proceedings.

There is also an attempt at advocating same-sex relationships. But this track hasn’t been intricately woven.

Verdict

Gulmohar is a treat for the fans of Manoj Bajpai and Sharmila Tagore.

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Selfiee: Clash Between A Superstar And His Fan Keeps You Engrossed

Akshay & Emraan are a treat to watch!

Selfiee (Hindi)

  • Cast: Akshay Kumar, Emraan Hashmi, Diana Penty, and Nushrratt Bharuccha; Mrunal Thakur and Yo Yo Honey Singh (special appearances)
  • Writer-Director: Raj Mehta
  • Producers: Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Listin Stephen, Supriya Menon and Prithviraj Sukumaran
  • Music: Anu Malik, Tanishk Bagchi, and Yo Yo Honey Singh
  • Runtime: 2 hours 25 minutes

There is something magical about the bond that a fan shares with his\her favourite actor. Driving Licence, the 2021-released Malayalam film written by the late Sachy and directed by Lal Jr, was both entertaining and insightful on what happens if the fan takes on his favourite actor due to a misunderstanding.

It was also a brilliant take on the psyche of human nature. Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi’s Selfiee is an official remake of the Malayalam movie.

Interestingly, both Driving Licence and Selfiee have a lot of similarities with Shah Rukh Khan’s Fan. But in Fan, SRK’s Gaurav becomes a psycho who harms himself and also his idol. The war between the superstar and the fan was stretched endlessly with extreme violence.

However, in both Driving Licence and Selfiee, the treatment of the directors is far more mature with an amicable resolution at the end.

The story

Selfiee narrates the story of superstar Vijay Kumar (Akshay Kumar) who visits Bhopal for a shoot.

The film’s climax needs certain permissions which can only be granted if he has a valid driving licence. But Vijay Kumar loses his license and the new licence is yet to arrive.

A local politician, Vimala Tiwari (Meghana Malik) promises to get the new licence in two days. At the RTO office, she meets up with RTO inspector Om Prakash Aggarwal (Emraan Hashmi) who along with his son is a huge fan of Vijay Kumar. Indeed, their biggest dream is to click a selfie with their favourite actor.

As Vijay Kumar visits the RTO office at 7 AM the next day, the news gets leaked to the media. The superstar, who is already on an emotional edge due to personal issues, believes that Om Prakash alerted the media and he berates the latter in front of his colleagues and son.

Soon the news of Vijay Kumar not having a driving licence snowballs into a national issue. To make things worse, Om Prakash’s son gets hurt after a stone-throwing incident.

The RTO inspector assumes that it was all orchestrated by his idol Vijay Kumar. This leads to a huge battle between the superstar and his fan.

The rest of the story tells how this battle affects Vijay Kumar and how eventually things get reconciled.

The highlights

Director Raj Mehta and additional writer Rishabh Sharma retain the core of the original. But, at the same time, they make certain changes that help Selifee in a major way, particularly in the first half.

There are many potshots that Akshay sportingly takes on himself. For example, there is a scene where Vijay Kumar’s wife, played by Diana Penty, makes fun of her husband’s masoode-wali smile.

Similarly, a doctor advises him to do more classy films. The cherry on the cake though is the bit where Akshay Kumar takes a self-jibe at the number of films and brand advertisements that he has to do every year.

Raj Mehta also slips in a meta-reference to Vijay Kumar being a producer’s actor.

What adds even more to the fun factor is the presence of Abhimanyu Singh who plays Vijay Kumar’s contemporary. His character starts off his career at the same time as Vijay Kumar but there is a big difference in their statures now.

It is fun to watch Abhimanyu Singh trying his hand at physical comedy, given his general image. He lets his hair down and simply has a blast playing the jealous rival.

The interactions between Akshay and the local politician are another major highlight of the film.

Meghana Malik stands out with her impeccable comic timing. Her hunger for fame is relatable, given the political circus that we see in everyday life.

Emraan & Akshay are eye candies

Emraan Hashmi as Om Prakash finally gets a solid part after a long time. His transformation from a super fan to a nemesis, among other things, has been well etched out by both the director and writer.

In the beginning, Emraan doesn’t seem comfortable but he gets better as the film progresses. He shines particularly in the emotional bits.

The best thing about Akshay’s Vijay Kumar is the vulnerability beneath the entire swagger.

The actor does a good job of displaying not just the flamboyance of a superstar but also an equally good job of conveying the humanness beneath the stardom. This is easily the actor’s best performance in years.

Of the two leading ladies, Diana Penty lends a certain elegance to her part of a supportive wife who is a friend first and a spouse later. Her scenes with Akshay are filled with warmth.

Other technical crafts

The trouble with Selfiee starts midway through the second half.

The superstar versus fan moments could have done with more meat. The portions of Vijay Kumar taking the driving test feel a bit stretched.

The movie also takes a jibe at the phenomena of media trials. There is also a reference to the #BoycottBollywood movement. These are interesting scenes but they also get repetitive beyond a point.

Among the technicians, cinematographer Rajeev Ravi deserves appreciation for capturing the larger-than-life lifestyle of Vijay Kumar.

The music composed by Anu Malik and Co is not great but goes with the flow of the film. A special mention must be made of the opening song “Kudiyee Ni Teri” though.

Mrunal Thakur springs a pleasant surprise with her glamorous and hot avatar.

Verdict

In a nutshell, this Selfiee is worth a ride, particularly if you have ever been a fan of any actor.

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The Night Manager Season 1: A Thrilling Espionage Drama That Leaves You Wanting For More

Anil Kapoor & Aditya Roy Kapoor at their best!

The Night Manager (Hindi)

  • Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Tilottama Shone, Saswata Chatterjee, and Sobhita Dhulipala
  • Directors: Priyanka Ghosh, Rukh Nabeel, and Sandeep Modi
  • Music: Sam CS
  • Episodes: 4
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Espionage dramas if executed well can make for an exciting watch whether it is a movie or a web show.

For those who are not aware, The Night Manager directed by Sandeep Modi, Priyanka Ghose, and Rukh Nabeel is an official adaption of the highly acclaimed English web series which also had the same title.

Since I haven’t seen the English one, this will be a standalone review.

The web series begins with a prisoner escaping from a police van amidst rugged and snowy terrain. From here, we move to the Oriental Pearl Hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Violent protests, connected to the Rohingya migration, happen outside the hotel.

The audience is then introduced to the handsome night manager, Shaan Sengupta (Aditya Roy Kapoor). There is a mysterious aura about him beneath all his suaveness.

A series of tension-filled moments precede the introduction of Shaan. One of them is a tormented teenager who is trying to escape from the clutches of her husband — a criminal who is much older than her.

The girl seeks help from the night manager. Though Shaan tries his best not to get involved, he is nevertheless drawn in.

The criminal husband is an associate of a businessman, Shelly (Anil Kapoor). Shaan takes the help of Lipika Saikia Rao (Tilottama Shome) who works for Indian intelligence.

Despite his best efforts, he cannot save the teenager and this leaves him shattered. Years later, he gets an opportunity to redeem himself. But, this time, the risk is higher.

An engaging & gripping tale

The first season of The Night Manager primarily focuses on how Shaan manages to impress Shelly and gets access to his inner circle along with the events that follow.

The very opening scene of the web series leaves the viewers excited about what will happen next. You are immediately hooked onto the world of Shaan.

The track of a tormented teenager has been well integrated by the directors. As viewers, you want her to come out safe and are constantly rooting for Shaan to succeed.

Brownie points to directors

In a scene, Shaan witnesses the death of a person whom he promises to protect. A clear sense of helplessness is visible on his face. He just stands there in shock as grief slowly takes him over. The scene stands out for both its direction and acting.

The series becomes even better with the introduction of Tilottama Shome. She is a pregnant woman on the job. Thankfully, the directors don’t make her pregnancy the central point of discussion.

Her interactions with Aditya Roy Kapoor’s Shaan are easily one of the biggest highlights of the series. There are scenes of understated humour involving her that leaves the viewers in splits.

The makers also deserve credit for how they connect this fictional story to the unfortunate Rohingya genocide which, in turn, led to unrest in Bangladesh.

The forced migration of the Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar isn’t the central theme of the series but there is a certain sensitivity with which this aspect has been portrayed.

It brings a certain local connection that adds a different dimension to this Hindi adaption.

The interactions between Aditya Roy Kapoor and Anil Kapoor are peppered with some interesting moments. They make for a worthy antagonist-protagonist pair.

Noteworthy performances

There are a couple of things that could have been better though. One of them is the characterisation of Shobita Dhulipala. She comes across as more of an eye candy. Maybe more would be revealed about her in the second season.

Saswata Chatterjee as gay has an interesting character but some of the stereotypical behaviour could have been avoided. To his Saswata, he still makes his presence amply felt.

Aditya Roy Kapoor as Shaan makes for a charming Night Manager who is battling with his inner demons. His persona works well in building up the character. He is particularly good at showcasing the vulnerability of Shaan.

Anil Kapoor as Shelly continues his golden form. The character is not shown as an all-out evil person, which adds more intrigue to the subsequent second season.

The senior actor has been ageing like fine wine. This is one more feather in the cap of this immensely talented veteran.

Tilottama Shome displays her brilliance, once again. She nails both the intense and quirky bits.

Verdict

On the whole, The Night Manager is absolutely binge-worthy.

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Shehzada: Kartik Aaryan Tries Hard But This ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’ Remake Lacks Commercial Grip

Shehzada (Hindi)

Director: Rohit Dhawan

Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Paresh Rawal, Kriti Sanon, Ronit Roy, Sachin Kundalkar, Manisha Koirala, Rajpal Yadav, and others.

Producers: Bhushan Kumar, Allu Aravind, Kartik Aaryan, Aman Gill, and S Radha Krishna

Original story and screenplay: Trivikram

Music: Pritam

Duration: 2 hours 26 minutes

Trivikram’s Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo isn’t an example of great cinema. It is a commercial template film with all the elements of the 1980s and 1990s.

The storyline of Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, which raked in somewhere between $260-280 crore at the Box Office, was also hugely problematic.

However, what worked for it was its packaging. Director Trivikram Srinivas understands the pulse of the mass and as a result, he delivered an entertaining cocktail of romance, comedy, action, and drama.

The story

For those who haven’t seen Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, it is necessary to narrate the story in brief.

Shehzada starts with Valmiki (Paresh Rawal) in the midst of child swapping. He is extremely jealous of multi-millionaire Randeep Jindal (Ronit Roy).

Both of them had started their journey on the same scooter, but Randeep’s life took a turn for the better when the boss made him his son-in-law. The daughter is Yashu (Manisha Koirala).

There is a lot of inner resentment at this sudden change of fortune in Valmiki, resulting in the swapping of his baby with Randeep’s baby.

Randeep’s real son grows up as Valmiki’s son in a middle-class neighbourhood, while Valmiki’s son leads a luxurious life.

…And it continues

Cut to the present, Bantu (Kartik Aaryan) cannot understand why his father has more affection for Randeep’s son Raj (Ankur Rathee).

Mid way, Bantu learns of his true identity, which serves as the ideal time for an intermission.

As a true blue-blooded hero, he decides to solve the various problems of the Jindal household and also save them from a villainous gang led by Sarang (Sunny Hinduja).

Kriti Sanon plays the lawyer-cum-girlfriend (Samara). Sachin Kundalkar reprises his role from the original as the lovable grandfather.

It was Allu Arjun’s magic

Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo success was also hugely aided by the sheer screen presence of Allu Arjun, who made the audiences look past the many problematic elements.

The equation between Allu Arjun’s Bantu and Murali Sharma’s Valmiki was a major highlight. In fact, Murali Sharma can be called the second hero of the film.

S Thaman also contributed majorly by giving blockbuster music.

Director Rohit Dhawan tries to replicate the same energy with the remake. However, Shehzada turns out to be a dull cousin that makes the original look like a masterpiece.

Shehzada also has a few moments with Kartik Aaryan and Paresh Rawal trying their darnedest best but, unfortunately, their efforts aren’t enough to salvage this wreck.

But Kartik does his best

Before diving into the negatives, let’s cover some positives. Allu Arjun’s shoes are difficult to fill, let’s accept that first. He has a distinct swag that is tough to replicate.

Kartik Aaryan has done comedy and romance in the past too, but this one requires him to be an all-round hero.

To Kartik’s credit, he does embrace the film’s many absurdities with conviction. He brings a certain charm to the lighter moments. He is also good in the emotional scenes.

Paresh Rawal is a vastly experienced actor whose skills need no particular introduction. As Valmiki, the actor brings his usual gravitas. His scenes with Kartik are some of the redeeming parts of the film.

Music not on par with the original

Pritam’s music is no match for what S Thaman had created, but it’s not completely terrible either.

The title track sung by Sonu Nigam is quite groovy and does make you tap your feet. The romantic number Mera Sawaal ka, featuring Kartik and Kriti, is also quite enjoyable to watch and hear.

Some of the one-liners written by Hussain Dalal do bring a smile to the audience’s face. A mention here must be made of the scene between Rajpal Yadav and Kartik Aaryan.

Rajpal Yadav plays a police officer who comes to investigate the murder attempt on Randeep. The scene of Bantu explaining what is happening in the Jindal household leaves the audience in splits.

Lack of conviction

The biggest problem with Shehzada is the lack of conviction in the storytelling.

Rohit Dhawan’s style is clearly influenced by his dad David Dhawan, but Shehzada lacks the energy and wittiness of the best of David Dhawan films.

Stories like Shehzada primarily work based on how successful the director is in building a make-believe world, and Rohit falters here.

To Rohit’s credit, however, he does remove many of the unnecessary characters from the original, but it doesn’t help the film in any way as it mostly turns out to be a showreel for Kartik Aaryan.

Fleeting appearances

Characters appear and disappear at the fancy of the director. One example of this is the actor who plays Bantu’s sister. She sporadically appears in the first half and, in the later half, she is never seen again.

The portrayal of the rich kid in the original was also filled with lazy stereotypes, but here the director dumbs down the character to a whole new level.

Ankur Rathee as Raj comes across as more annoying than lazy. His emotional outburst leads to unintentional comedy rather than help the audience feel for the character.

Kriti Sanon is less objectified than Pooja, but her role as a feisty lawyer is absolutely dispensable. Ronit Roy and Manisha Koirala are sincere, but they deserved much more.

Verdict

In a nutshell, Shehzada is a poor replica that the Hindi film industry could have done away with.

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Amigos: A Tale Of Lookalikes Bolstered By Kalyanram’s Histrionics

An interesting experiment on doppelgangers.

Amigos (Telugu)

  • Cast: Nandamuri Kalyanram, Ashika Ranganath, Bramhaji, and Saptagari
  • Writer-Director: Rajendra Reddy
  • Producer: Mythri Movie Makers
  • Music: Ghibran
  • Runtime: 2 hours 19 minutes

Stories revolving around lookalikes usually end up being about identical twins lost at birth. But Rajendra Reddy’s Amigos is not that kind of clichéd tale of two lookalikes.

The three characters played by Kalyan Ram have nothing in common with how they have been brought up and what they do.

Additionally, one of Kalyan Ram’s characters has a mysterious aura about him. Kalyan Ram showed his penchant for choosing interesting stories with his last one Bimbisara.

In spite of the Rajamouli hangover, Bimbisara still had its own identity in how it dealt with the concept of time travel. There is a cruel and selfish king who ends up straddling two timelines.

Amigos is another different attempt by Kalyanram. Much like Bimbisara, this also lacks perfect storytelling. But still, it is worth your time.

The plot

Siddharth is a young man who runs a family business. One day, he is astonished to come across a website about doppelgangers.

On that website, he comes across two of his lookalikes — Manjunath and Michael. They meet up.

After a fun holiday in Goa, they come down to Hyderabad to help Siddharth with his love life.

The love interest here is Ishika (Ashika Ranganath), a girl who wants her husband to have superman qualities.

But things take a drastic turn with the entry of NIA. They are after one of the lookalikes. The rest of the story is about why NIA is hell-bent on catching this guy and how this affects the other two.

What works out and what doesn’t?

Amigos begins off on a slow note. The initial portions feel more like a setup and certain restlessness creeps up.

But things take a turn for the better when Siddharth meets his lookalikes.

The scenes in Goa are fun to watch. Scenes where Manjunath and Michael help Siddharth have their share of amusing moments.

The interval bang when the NIA catches up with one of Kalyanram’s lookalikes raises the stakes for a pulsating second half.

The second half is much better as there is an engrossing cat-and-mouse game between Siddharth and the antagonist. The antagonist is also played by Kalyanram.

Some tension-filled moments make the audience root for Siddharth.

The climax involving the doppelgangers is the biggest highlight of this enterprise. There is a certain joy that the audiences get when Siddharth gets rid of the bad guy.

The big issue with Amigos though is their formulaic nature in terms of the treatment. This is best reflected in the portrayal of NIA.

The NIA comes across as rather incapable on many occasions. On more than one occasion they look like buffoons. A stronger portrayal of NIA would have elevated the antagonist more.

The commercial elements of comedy, romance and action are a hit and a miss; particularly, the romance aspect.

More than the music, it is the background score that elevates the film. Ghibran provides a rousing BGM that adds to the characters, particularly in the scenes of Michael.

The remix of “Enno Ratrulostayi” deserves a mention here as it provides some relief.

The performances

Ashika Ranganath is pleasant but her character Ishika’s dreams of wanting a superman husband also come across as rather clichéd.

Amigos is mostly a Kalyanram film as the actor is present in almost all the frames. He is successful in showcasing the variations between the three characters.

He is most effective as the villain who would go to any lengths in his mission.

The actor also deserves appreciation for the distinct voice modulation in this part. His portrayal of Manjunath’s innocence also deserves appreciation.

Bramhaji is the only other actor who stands out. He has a lengthy part and the senior actor does well as expected.

Verdict

In a nutshell, this tale of doppelgangers will make you curious about finding your lookalikes even though it comes with its own set of dangers.

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Writer Padmabhushan: A Simple Story With A Lot Of Heart

Do not miss!

Writer Padmabhushan (Telugu)

  • Cast: Suhas, Tina Shilparaj, Rohini, Ashish Vidyarthi, Gouri Priya, Goparaju, and Ashok Kumar
  • Writer-director: Shanmukha Prasanth
  • Producers: Anurag Reddy and Sharat Chandra
  • Music: Shekar Chandra and Kalyan Nayak
  • Runtime: 2 hours 23 minutes

A well-made underdog story is always good to watch irrespective of which field it is set in. On the surface, Shanmukha Prasanth’s Writer Padmabhushan may appear to be just another tale of an underdog.

But it packs in some major surprises along the way, particularly the climax which the audiences don’t see coming.

The plot focuses on a middle-class family in Vijayawada. Padmabhushan (Suhas) is an assistant librarian with a huge dream of becoming a famous writer. He has already written and published his first book Tholi Adugu (First Step).

There are scenes where he often daydreams of fans squabbling to get his autograph. However, the reality is different. He gives free copies to those visiting his friend’s salon in the hope that someone will read it.

Padmabhushan’s parents – Madhusudan (Ashish Vidyarthi) and Saraswati (Rohini) – have a firm belief in their son’s abilities. Madhusudan is a clerk in a registrar’s office while his mother is a housewife.

In a turn of events, Padmabhushan suddenly becomes famous with a new book coming out in his name which, apparently, is written by an anonymous person. The person also runs a blog in his name.

Padmabhushan is initially uncomfortable but soon starts revelling in his newfound success. His personal life also undergoes a huge change with his marriage getting fixed.

But then, all these changes suddenly when the blog becomes stagnant and questions are raised about why he stopped writing.

The rest of the story covers multiple aspects. The most important among them is the anonymous person’s actual identity and why he/she is using Padmabhushan’s name.

Relatable & hilarious

Writer Padmabhushan is relatable even for those who are not aspiring writers. At the very outset, the director makes the viewers identify with the protagonist’s love for books.

Whether it is the scenes of him imagining that his book is a massive success or the scenes where he slips in his book to members of the library along with other library books making it look accidental.

The middle-class lifestyle has an authenticity to it. The family portions between Suhas, Ashish Vidyarthi and Rohini have plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

A good example of this is the scene where the entire family switches from auto to cab just to make their presence felt at a wedding.

The romantic angle between Padmabhushan and Sarika (Tina Shilparaj) begins off on an awkward note but becomes better as the story goes along.

A particular mention must be made of the scene where the two visit an almost empty theatre. There is a hilarious bit that raises some chuckles.

However, it has to be said that the love story could have been done with more plausibility in terms of how Sarika agrees to marry Padmabhushan.

The second half becomes even better with the introduction of a new character played by Gouri Priya. There is a different angle that the director brings in with this track.

The best part of Writer Padmabhushan is the climax where an important revelation is made regarding a key character. This revelation is intermixed with the film’s opening scene which takes in a government school.

The performances

Director Shanmukha Prasanth is supremely effective in conveying an important message without making it heavy-handed or preachy.

The climax cannot be revealed here for obvious reasons but it definitely adds more depth to the proceedings.

Suhas essays Padmabhushan with a lot of sincerity and is successful in carrying the film on his shoulders.

The surprise package, though, is Ashish Vidyarthi. He is someone who is generally known for his negative roles. But here, the actor plays an adorable dad which has a good mix of fun and emotions. He makes the character even more adorable with his performance.

Rohini brings a lot of warmth to her part and her performance in the final portions is particularly heartwarming.

Verdict

Despite minor blips, Writer Padmabhushan is worth your time, particularly if you want to take a break from the mega action films which, of late, have become a norm.

It is a simple movie with emotions everyone can relate to.

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Michael: A Stylish Action Drama That Is Bogged Down By Déjà Vu

Ranjit Jeyakodi michael

Substance missing!

Michael (Telugu)

  • Cast: Sundeep Kishan, Divyansha Kaushik, Gautam Vasudev Menon, Varun Sandesh, Vijay Sethupati, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar
  • Writer-director: Ranjit Jeyakodi
  • Producers: Bharath Chowdary and Pushkar Ram Mohan Rao
  • Music: Sam CS
  • Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes

Gangster films are one of the most clichéd genres in the history of Cinema, across all languages. It has been attempted in different forms, starting from the classic Godfather series directed by Francis Ford Coppola. There is hardly anything new left to explore.

However, a well-made gangster film is always exciting to watch, provided the director can bring a different dimension within the familiar territory.

Ranjit Jeyakodi’s Michael is well-mounted with a lot of technical finesse. But all that sheen is not enough to cover a weak storyline. At more than one place it looks like he wanted to make another KGF.

sundeep vijay michael
Sundeep Kishan and Vijay Sethupathi on the sets of ‘Michael’. (sundeepkishan/Twitter)

Michael is set in Mumbai in the 90s. Sundeep Kishan plays an orphan (titular role) who grows up in Mumbai.

Gurunath (Gautham Vasudev Menon) is a leading gangster in Mumbai and Michael saves Gurunath from his enemies, not once but twice. Gurunath treats Michael as his son, much to the disdain of his real son Amarnath (Varun Sandesh).

Michael quickly climbs up the ladder and soon becomes a vital cog in the circle of Gurunath. Gurunath even hands over the business of a bar to him. This bar is frequently visited by some of the worst gangs in Mumbai.

Things take a turn when Michael is assigned a huge responsibility. Gurunath gives him the task of finding out the last living member of his rival gang who wants him dead.

Michael heads to Delhi and his path crosses with that of Theera (Divyansha Kaushik). He gets close to her with a particular purpose and ends up falling in love with her, despite Theera’s repeated warnings.

However, Amarnath, who is meanwhile burning with jealousy, has his plans. The rest of the story looks at multiple things.

Is Michael successful in his mission? But more importantly what is the true motive of Michael in saving Gurunath?

The performances

Sundeep Kishan is someone who is known for a particular image. But, with Michael, the actor is successful in showing a different side of himself.

As Michael, he doesn’t speak a lot but is super effective in conveying the character’s mystery and menace through his body language.

Gautham Vasudev Menon makes for a classy antagonist. There is a certain swagger that the filmmaker-actor brings to the table.

Anasuya Bhardwaj’s role is an extension of what she did in Pushpa. But still, she is effective in conveying the anguish of a mother who has lost her son.

Vijay Sethupati and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar appear midway through the second half. They have extended cameos and the presence of these two momentarily lifts the second half.

michael poster
A poster of Sundeep Kishan’s Michael. (sundeepkishan/Twitter)

In spite of the familiar terrain, there is no denying that Michael starts well. The introduction of Sundeep Kishan and his makeover as an action hero is wonderful to watch.

Also, the interaction between Michael and Gurunath is peppered with some wonderful lines.

There are certain scenes where Gurunath reads lines books from such as “Macbeth” and “The Godfather”. This adds a certain layer to the role of Gurunath.

Even Varun Sandesh’s hammy portrayal of a jealous son keeps the audience invested.

The initial portions between Michael and Theera have a certain intrigue about them.

The romantic portions start on an unusual note and we are constantly guessing about the real motivations of Theera. But the film soon starts slipping and never really recovers.

After a point, Theera spends most of her time crying. But at no point does the audiences feel any emotional connection with her.

A major reason for that is weak writing. As a result, Theera ends up being just a prop in the larger scheme of things.

The technical crafts

The second half, in particular, tests the audience’s patience with endless action scenes.

The big reveal in the climax isn’t hard to guess as it is an amalgamation of Yash’s KGF films and Prabhas-starrer Munna.

There is also a long-drawn voiceover at the end which goes on and on.

The action scenes choreographed by Dinesh Kasi are definitely effective when viewed in isolation. But when viewed in the context of the film, they feel never-ending, particularly in the second half.

Technically, the film comes across as a polished product.

The cinematography by Kiran Koushik is excellent. Sam CS’s background score and music are also in perfect sync. They hugely contribute to elevating the scenes even though the script lets the film down.

The 90s of Mumbai have also been successfully recreated.

Verdict

This Michael has the required style and swagger but the missing element is substance!

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Pathaan: An Entertaining Globetrotter With A Lesson On What Makes One A Patriot

Worth the four-year wait!

Pathaan (Hindi)

  • Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Ashutosh Rana, Dimple Kapadia, Gautam Rode, Gavie Chahal, Shaji Choudhary, and Salman Khan (cameo)
  • Director: Siddharth Anand
  • Producer: Aditya Chopra
  • Music: Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara
  • Runtime: 2 hours 26 minutes

In the climax of Pathaan, Shah Rukh Khan talks about how a true soldier doesn’t ask what the country has done for him but reflects on what he can do for the country. This one dialogue perfectly sums up the essence of the film.

In fact, Pathaan can be called SRK’s answer to those who question his patriotism time and again.

In style, Pathaan is reminiscent of the Tiger film (Ek Tha Tiger and Tiger Zinda Hai) and also 2019’s War. All of them have been produced by Yash Raj Banner.

This is an extension of that universe where the focus is on giving a complete package which will make the audiences, particularly the masses, happy.

The story

The movie begins with India’s revocation of Article 370 (Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir).

This affects a Pakistani officer who feels that India is doing a huge mistake. This officer joins hands with an ex-RAW agent Jim (John Abraham) who was wronged by his own people.

Aiding Jim in this mission is the mysterious Rubai (Deepika Padukone). Rubai is not what she appears to be and it is only in the second half that her real identity is revealed.

The rest of the story is about how RAW agent Pathaan (Shah Rukh) locks horns with Jim across continents and who eventually wins.

Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana play important parts.

What worked out?

As earlier said, the focus here is on giving a complete package and director Siddharth Anand does succeed in keeping the audiences engaged, more so if you buy into the treatment.

For any hero versus villain story to work, the antagonist must come across as equally strong and this is where the director succeeds the most.

John Abraham’s Jim has a solid back story. Jim isn’t your regular clichéd villain.

He is always a step ahead of our hero and this adds more zing to the victory of the film at the end. The action scenes between SRK and John have both style and grit.

What also helps Pathaan is the fast-paced screenplay of Shridhar Raghavan, particularly in the first half.

The non-linear narrative hopping from one continent to another is filled with interesting twists and turns. A perfect example of that is Deepika’s Rubai.

At one point, we feel that she is with John and the next second with SRK. This helps in increasing the curiosity of the audience.

One of my favourite scenes in the first half is how SRK gets his name Pathaan. His scenes with the locals of Afghanistan are filled with a certain warmth.

Another major highlight of Pathaan is the train sequence involving Salman’s Tiger and SRK’s Pathaan.

The elaborate action sequence of both taking on the baddies is a delight to watch, more so if you are a fan of the stars.

The interaction between the two superstars has moments of nice humour. Not surprisingly this sequence got the biggest whistle in the theatres.

The music by Vishal and Shekhar is quite groovy, particularly the song “Besharam Rang”.

What didn’t work out?

One major issue with Pathaan is the abrupt love angle between SRK and Deepika. It practically jumps out of nowhere.

More focus has been given to creating a sensual chemistry between the two stars rather than an emotional gravitas.

Deepika looks great in her action sequences and makes for a perfect action heroine. But beyond the glamour, there isn’t much.

In fact, Dimple Kapadia in a smaller role lends more gravitas.

Another major issue is the simplistic and clichéd manner in which it deals with the topic of patriotism. And the Pakistani angle doesn’t add much to the story.

The real eye feasts

As Pathaan, Shah Rukh has a blast playing a full-fledged action hero.  It is a part which gives him ample opportunities to be both rugged and charming and SRK doesn’t falter.

However, it is John Abraham who springs a pleasant surprise. After a series of subpar outings, John is finally in form.

He not only looks menacing but also shines in portions where Jim expresses his angst about being betrayed.

Verdict

For hardcore SRK fans, Pathaan is well worth the four years wait. For neutrals, it is worth a watch if you can get past the simplistic treatment.

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Mission Majnu: This ‘Raazi’ Redux Lacks The Required Heft

Not a goosebump spy thriller!

Mission Majnu (Hindi)

  • Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Rashmika Mandanna, Parmeet Sethi, Sharib Hashmi, Mir Sarwar, Kumud Mishra, Arjan Bajwa, Zakir Hussain, and Rajit Kapur
  • Director: Shantanu Bagchi
  • Producers: Ronnie Screwvala, Amar Butala, and Garima Mehta
  • Music: Tanishk Bagchi, Rochak Kohli, and Arko
  • OTT platform: Netflix
  • Runtime: 2 hours 9 minutes

Stories about unsung heroes, both fictional and based on real-life incidents, have become a genre in itself.

If we talk about fictional narratives, we have War, and The Tiger franchise, both produced by the Yash Raj banner. On the other hand, we have Meghana Gulzar’s Raazi and Vishnu Vardhan’s Shershah which are based on real-life events.

Shantanu Bagchi’s Mission Majnu tries to have the heft of Alia Bhatt’s Raazi. At the same time, it tries to be larger than life. This mixed khichdi never takes off.

Sure, the film has its moments but you get the feeling that it could have been so much more.

The timeline of Mission Majnu is set in the 1970s. It narrates the story of a covert spy agent who resides in Pakistan.

In the beginning, audiences are told that India has successfully carried out its first nuclear bomb test which shocks Pakistan. Now, the neighbouring country wants to build a nuclear bomb to destroy India.

Pakistan takes the assistance of a great scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan (Mir Sarwar), for the job. On learning this, the RAW hires spy agent Tariq alias Amandeep Ajitpal Singh (Siddarth Malhotra) to find out the location of and neutralise the nuclear facility.


Tariq is a tailor working in Pakistan. The rest of the story deals with how he finds the secret location and, in the process, saves India from the evil plan of Pakistan.

There is also the subplot of Nasreen (Rashmika Mandana), a visually impaired woman who has no idea about the real identity of her husband Tariq. Now, this reminds us of both Raazi and also Fanna.

Emotional quotient missing

Mission Majnu begins on a rather slow note with the unnecessary love angle of Tariq and Nasreen. The portion between Siddarth and Rashmika tests the audience’s patience in a big way.

What also doesn’t help the film is the convenient manner in which Tariq goes about his mission. You don’t feel tensed for Tariq which is a big drawback for a film of this genre.

The scenes where Tariq extracts sensitive information from the army brigadier appear too easy. Even random strangers don’t feel anything amiss when Tariq asks for crucial details.

It is only with the entry of Sharib Hashmi that things take a move on.

The scene before the interval takes the audience by surprise with an important twist revealed about the supporting character played by Kumud Mishra.

The scenes featuring the trio are easily the best part of the film. Their camaraderie elevates the film in a big way.

The second half gives some goosebump moments like an important train sequence featuring Sidharth.

Special mention must also be made of the shootout involving the various Indian RAW agents living in Pakistan. It is a sequence that has been well shot and leaves you sad.

Performances & technical crafts

Sidharth Malhotra as Tariq gives his best shot and is somewhat successful in making the audiences empathise with him, in spite of a fractured script.

Kumud Mishra and Sharib Hashmi as the Indian agents are brilliant in their respective parts and their death scenes have a certain poignancy.

Rashmika Mandanna doesn’t bring much depth to her part. Her chemistry with Sid is rather flat. This becomes a major hindrance in audiences empathising with her when Tariq’s secret is out.

The music composed by Tanishk Bagchi, Rochak Kohli, and Arko is quite good. Special mention must be made of the songs sung by Sonu Nigam.

Verdict

In a nutshell, Mission Majnu might not be a goosebump spy thriller but a necessary story to be told.

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Farzi: Another Global Crime Tackled With Finesse

A perfect package of entertainment

Summary

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Vijay Sethupati, Rashi Khanna, Ragina Cassandra, Amol Palekar, Bhuvan Arora, and Zakir Hussain.
Director: Raj and DK
Producer: Raj and DK
Music: Sachin- Jigar, Tanishk Bagchi, and Ketan Sodha
Genre: Crime thriller
OTT platform: Amazon prime
Episodes: 8

The director duo of Raj and DK specialise in taking global issues and looking at them through a humanistic lens.

For example, in The Family Man Season 2, Through the character Raji — a hardened LTTE militant — played by Samantha they made a point that a freedom fighter for some could become a terrorist for others.

The crime — counterfeit currency

Most of the characters in The Family Man series had their share of moral ambiguities.

In Farzi, Raj and DK looked at the issue of counterfeit money.

Counterfeit currency — as everyone knows — is a currency that is not genuine but made to look exactly genuine to deceive people.

Farzi has similarities with both seasons of The Family Man, in the sense that here also a cat-and-mouse game along with a troubled personal life does exist.

Farzi is not as tight as the two seasons of The Family Man but there still is a lot to like here.

Farzi captures the journey of an antihero Sunny (Shahid Kapoor).

Sunny is a small-scale sketch artist with a lot of pent-up anger towards the system.

Sunny’s grandfather — played by veteran actor Amol Palekar — is an old-time journalist.

He runs a revolutionary magazine called Kranti, which does not sell much similar to most magazines of that genre.

As a result, a situation arises where the magazine has to be shut down following huge debts.

The tale around the crime

To revive the magazine, Sunny and his best friend Firoz (Bhuvan Arora) start designing counterfeit money.

Soon, Sunny and Firoz come to the notice of Mansoor (Kay Kay Menon), who is the biggest name in the world of counterfeiting, and become part of Mansoor’s business.

Initially, it is all about saving Nanu’s Kranti magazine but soon it becomes more of a self-destruction.

Parallel to this you have Michael (Vijay Sethupati) who is a fiery task force officer, hell-bent on eradicating fake currency in India.

He shares an interesting equation with the central minister played by Zakir Hussain. In this mix, there is also Megha (Rashi Khanna). Megha is an important cog in the team of Michael.

The rest of the story focuses on whether Michael will be successful in his mission or not and more importantly how Sunny’s life changes because of this illegal business.

The best of an anti-hero

The best part of Farzi is how the directors make you empathise with its anti-hero.

Audiences know that Sunny’s actions are not right but at the same time, they understand where Sunny is coming from.

There are many layers to Sunny, and through him, the director presents a psychological portrait of a man who is consumed by greed.

During the course, Sunny’s personality changes so much that even his loved ones fail to recognise him anymore.

Vijay Sethupati at his best

Farzi also dwells deeply into the topic of the production of fake notes and their infiltration into the economy. These details have a certain shock value and keep the audiences engrossed.

By its very nature, Farzi falls under gritty space but at the same time, there are also some highly entertaining moments.

The best of them involves Vijay Sethupati’s Michael and the central minister.

Their banter is filled with many entertaining lines that bring much-needed relief.

Raj and DK also deserve credit for the portrayal of Rashi Khanna’s Megha who can be seen in different spaces, not just her professional life.

Khanna plays Megha with the right amount of spunk even after standing opposite more experienced actors like Vijay Sethupati and Shahid Kapoor.

The rest of the cast’s performance

Sunny’s equation with grandpa has also got some tender moments.

There is a quiet dignity that Amol Palekar lends to his part as an idealistic journalist.

However, a little more info about the objectives of Kranti magazine would have made his character even more memorable.

The same applies to Michael’s troubled personal life. His moments with his wife (Ragina Cassandra) and the son are sweet but in the scheme of things they come across as more of an add-on.

There are a couple of scenes where Vijay Sethupati converses with Manoj Bajpai’s Srikant Tiwari from The Family Man series. This hints at a possible crossover between the two agents in season two of Farzi.

Shahid Kapoor’s knock-out performance

Shahid Kapoor as Sunny delivers a knockout performance. Shahid has always been good at playing conflicted heroes and in Farzi too he lives up to it. He captures the various shades of Sunny with the required finesse.

Vijay Sethupati is a treat to watch as the fiery task force officer.

It takes a little time to get used to hearing Vijay Sethupati speak Hindi but he grows on you as the series progresses.

He is at his best, particularly in the lighter moments. Kay Kay Menon is someone who doesn’t need a particular introduction and here too the veteran is in solid form.

Last but not least Bhuvan Arora gives solid support. He instantly makes you fall in love with Firoz.

The verdict

The technical departments led by cinematographer Pankaj Kumar are also in perfect sync with the gritty nature of the series.

In a nutshell, Raj and DK continue their streak of delivering solid content with a perfect package of important issues and entertainment.