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Govinda Naam Mera: An Entertaining Khichdi Of Genres

Not a masterpiece but an engaging watch!

Govinda Naam Mera (Hindi)

  • Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Kiara Advani, Bhumi Pednekar, Renuka Shahane, Amey Wagh, Dayanand Shetty, Sayaji Shinde, and Ranbir Kapoor (special appearance)
  • Director: Shashank Khaitan
  • Producers: Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Shashank Khaitan
  • Music: Meet Bros, Tanishkh Bagchi, B Praak, Sachin Jigar, and Rochak Kohli
  • Runtime: 2 hours and 11 minutes
  • OTT platform: Disney+Hotstar

Shashank Khaitan is known for directing romantic films: the Dulhania franchise and Janhvi Kapoor’s Dhadak. With Govinda Naam Mera, the director switches gears by mixing comedy with thriller.

It starts in a certain manner but soon goes on a different path altogether. Shashank Khaitan’s direction isn’t watertight but it is an enjoyable watch.

Govinda Naam Mera tells the story of a Bollywood background dancer Govinda Waghmare (Vicky Kaushal). He is also an aspiring choreographer.

Govinda is petrified of his spouse Gauri (Bhumi Pednekar). They live in a mansion in the heart of Mumbai but the mansion is caught in a legal dispute, thanks to Govinda’s father Gopi Vishwakarma (Wilson Tiger).

Vishwakarma is married to Charulata (Veenah Naair) and they have a son. However, he has an affair with Govinda’s mother Asha Waghmare (Renuka Shahane). Vishwakarma leaves the mansion for Asha when he dies.

Since then, Asha and Charulata keep fighting in court for the ownership of the mansion.


Additionally, Govinda’s marriage is in deep trouble. He is in love with his fellow background dancer Sukku (Kiara Advani) who wants him to leave Gauri, but it is easier said than done.

Fed up with Gauri’s behaviour, Govinda buys a gun for ₹2 lakh from inspector Javed (Dayanand Shetty). However, he doesn’t have the guts to shoot her.

Things take a turn when Govinda and Sukku are asked to choreograph a music video for Sandeep Dharkar aka Sandy (Jeeva), son of the dreaded politician Ajit Dharkar (Sayaji Shinde).

They agree but things don’t go according to plan. Ajit is furious with how the video turned out. Instead of paying the amount, he asks them for a refund.

In short, Govinda’s problems are aplenty. At this point, things change for the better but it doesn’t last long. He gets embroiled in a murder mystery.

The rest of the story is about how he gets out of all this mess and what happens to his dream of being a choreographer, among other aspects.

Over-the-top yet amusing to watch

Director Shashank Khaitan wastes no time in setting up the world of Govinda. His love for Sukku and his fear of Gauri makes you invested.

The scenes depicting the legal dispute are showcased in a light-hearted manner.

These portions are quite over-the-top but are amusing to watch. Ranbir Kapoor’s cameo has also been smartly integrated.

Sukku is a fan of Ranbir Kapoor, while Govinda is a fan of Ranveer. The interaction between Vicky and Ranbir is short but it brings a smile to your face.

There is also a reference to Brahmastra 2 when Ranbir talks about Ranveer playing the lead in his next production. It is a nice meta-touch.

Things slow down in the middle but the film becomes more engaging when Govinda gets embroiled in a murder mystery. From here on, there are some interesting twists and turns, particularly with the characters of Sukku and Govinda.

The final 30 minutes are particularly gripping and the ending does catch you off guard.

On the flip side, some of the plot points come across as contrived. A chase scene involving Govinda and Sandy in the second half could have been easily avoided.

Bhumi Pednekar as Gauri suffers from a sketchy characterisation. Her family background is never properly established and this reduces the impact of the character.

Vicky Kaushal’s best commercial outing

Talking about performances, Vicky Kaushal handles his role with ease. This is Vicky’s most commercial outing so far and the actor doesn’t look out of place in any scene.

His comic timing coupled with his energy propels the narrative in a big way.

Kiara looks beautiful as always but more importantly, she has a good part to play. The actress did a good job. A special mention must be made of her outburst in the second half.

Bhumi Pednekar is loud as required but there is nothing memorable.

Renuka Shahane wholeheartedly embraces the quirkiness of her character. She is fun to watch in her whacky avatar.

The music goes well with the mood of the film. The “Bijli” song, in particular, is energetic and has been well-choreographed by Ganesh Acharya.

Govinda Naam Mera isn’t a masterpiece. But, at the same time, it is not something that will make the audiences tear their hair in frustration.

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Avatar – The Way Of Water: A Visual Stunner That Is Equal Parts Exhilarating And Exhausting

Offers enough fodder for mind and heart.                                                                              

 Avatar: The Way of Water (English)

  • Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, and Cliff Curtis
  • Director: James Cameron
  • Producers: James Cameron and Jon Landau
  • Music: Simon Franglen
  • Runtime: 3 hours 12 minutes

Movie sequels are a tricky act. They don’t always fare well. And when you’ve got a sequel hitting theatres 13 years after the original, you better say a Hail Mary… Unless you’re James Cameron!

It’s safe to say that he did a great job not letting the buzz around Avatar: The Way of Water die for over a decade. But where he really hit the nail on the head – and probably the only place – is with the visual effects. The underwater sequences are simply breathtaking and are further enhanced by the advances in 3D technology. The sequel, however, doesn’t completely match the emotional highs of the first part, but one can say that there is still enough for the audience to take home.

Going back to the beginning

Before going into Avatar 2‘s plot, let’s do a quick recap of Avatar. It takes us along on a US Armed Forces mission to an Earth-sized moon in orbit around a massive star. This new world, Pandora, is a rich source of minerals. While Pandora doesn’t pose a threat to Earth, military officials are sent to attack and conquer it. (Wakanda Forever, anyone?) Pandora is inhabited by the Na’vi – blue-skinned, golden-eyed sapient extraterrestrial humanoids. Since Pandora doesn’t have an oxygen-rich atmosphere like Earth, humans visiting Pandora use Na’vi lookalikes – called avatars – whose mind is controlled by them.


Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is a young paraplegic Marine who is recruited for the mission because his genes match that of his dead identical twin, who was an original member of the mission. However, things quickly change when Jack starts interacting with the Na’vi and begins to understand their culture. He also falls in love with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). Eventually, Jack turns into a full-fledged Na’vi.

A major plot point of Avatar was about protecting the ecosystem through the Na’vi. The US Armed Forces, on the other hand, represented corporate greed.

Is it a story worth telling?

Avatar: The Way of Water begins by establishing Jack and Neytiri’s family – them and their four children, all living peacefully. However, the happiness doesn’t last long as humans – General Frances Ardmore (Edie Falco) and Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) [yup, him again!] – return to Pandora. And, obviously, they are hell-bent on destroying Jack and his family. Left with no other choice, Jack and his family leave his adopted home and seek refuge with the Metkayina – an oceanic Na’vi clan. You’ll have to watch the movie to find out whether Jack and his family find a place with this new clan. And, more importantly, how they face the new challenges thrown their way.

It has its best moments

It takes some time for the plot of Avatar 2 to really kick in. Scenes establishing Jack as a family man could have been shorter and to the point, perhaps. Things take a turn for the better when the focus shifts to the Metkayina clan. The portions of the movie where Jack and his family are seen adjusting to the ways of the water give the film some of its best moments. The social commentary in Avatar 2 isn’t as strong as the first one, but there are still some pertinent issues that the director raises. Chief among them is humanity’s attitude towards other life forms. There is a disturbing scene involving the killing of a highly intelligent and emotional sea creature to further drive the point home.

Cinematography chops to die for

Russell Carpenter’s cinematography is easily one of the biggest highlights of the film. The cinematographer did a splendid job of capturing not just the scenic beauty but also the breathtaking action scenes that take place in the water. The action department also deserves a mention here. The fight scenes are exhilarating and I guarantee you that, on more than one occasion, the audience will break out into cheers and applause.

On the flip side, the editing is a tad loose and there are far too many scenes that see a drop in interest.

Another hiccup with Avatar 2 is its portrayal of the children — particularly Jack’s sons. There is nothing unique that the director brings to the table in their depiction. It is strictly surface-level.

Sam & Zoe at their best

Needless to say, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana are easily the best of the lot.

Sam is brilliant as the protector of the family, in contrast to his role in the first movie as an amateur who is struggling to learn the ways of the Na’vi. He brings in both physicality and emotional depth.

Zoe Saldana is her fiery self and does a swell job of bringing out the emotions of a protective yet petrified mother.

In all, Avatar: The Way of Water lacks the brevity of Avatar but there is enough fodder for the mind and heart.

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CAT: Randeep Hooda Leads This Powerful Concoction Of Militancy And Drugs

Directors Balwinder Singh along with Janjua Rupinder and others present a Punjab that goes much beyond the mustard fields and Bhangra dances

CAT (Hindi Web Series)           4 out of 5

Starcast: Randeep Hooda, Hasleen Kaur, Survinder Vicky and others

Creator, writer and director: Balwinder Singh Janjua

Additional writers: Rupinder Chahal, Anil Rodhan and Jimmy Singh

Additional directors: Rupinder Chahal and Jimmy Singh

Producers: Balwinder Singh Janjua and Panchali Chakraverty

Production companies: Movie Tunnel Production and Jelly Bean Entertainment

Genre: Crime thriller/drama

No of episodes: 8

Streaming site: Netflix

The representation of Punjab in Hindi Cinema so far has been largely about mustard fields, Bhangra dances and families living in big havelis. However there have also been exceptions like Abhishek Chaubey’s Udta Punjab. Udta Punjab was a searing take on the heavy drug abuse and its aftereffects in Punjab. For obvious reasons it faced issues with the censor: however the film eventually came out with flying colors. CAT directed by Balwinder Singh Janjua tackles both militancy and drugs through its protagonist. The past of CAT aka Garry aka Gurnam singh was ravaged by militancy and his future is threatened by drugs.

For those who don’t know the word CAT it refers to people who were roped by the Punjab police to spy against the militants. Certain events force a young Gary to become a CAT. He later quits that line of work and starts leading a peaceful life as a mechanic. However things take a turn when he finds that his younger brother is doing drugs much like many young men of Punjab. This leaves him with no other option other than to become a CAT again, this time the mission is busting a huge drug trafficking run by a political leader Madam Aulakh (Geeta Agarwal).

Randeep Hooda has a vast platform to display his histrionic and the actor does not disappoint.

However, this is just the surface of the story as many things are happening simultaneously. For example there is a sportsman turned drug trafficker Laadi (Dakssh Ajit Singh). Another important character is that of police officer Babita (Hasleen Kaur). In a nutshell the series is about whether Gurman is able to bust drug trafficking and more importantly whether he is being used as a pawn by his superiors.

The best thing about CAT is how the director along with his writers use the backdrop of militancy and drugs. Both are serious issues which need nuance and the team does a mighty good job. All the central characters have got their own back stories and this helps in adding more intrigue. Some of the back stories continue to unfold even in the last episodes but as an audience you don’t complain.

Balwinder Singh also deserves credit for how he intersperses the past and the present of Gurnam. They add to the drama and as an audience you root for Gurnam. Special mention here must be made of Abhishant Rana who plays Randeep’s younger version. Abhishant is terrific in his portrayal of a young man who has lost his parents. There is a scene where Abhishant kills a man in the field and blood splashes all over his face. It is a scene that is going to stay with you for some time.

Another track worth mentioning here is that of Survinder Vicky who plays Gurnam’s handler. The scenes featuring these two give the show some of its best moments.

Balwnder Singh Janjua, director, tackles both militancy and drug menace.

Through the eight episodes the director weaves a narrative that packs in a lot. The nexus between politicians and police, along with the web of doping in sports, gun culture among other aspects could have easily become convoluted.  But thankfully it doesn’t because of the tight direction and writing.

CAT gives Randeep Hooda a vast platform to display his histrionics and the actor doesn’t disappoint. With this performance he shows once again why he is one of the most talented actors around who deserves much more.

He is supremely effective in bringing both the vulnerability and strength of Gurnam. Among the supporting actors Hasleen Kaur does a wonderful job in her de-glam avatar. Survinder Vicky as the handler is brilliant in showcasing the ambition, jealousy and lust for power.

Final word: CAT is a thrilling ride that keeps you invested in the emotional journey of its protagonist. It takes us a step ahead from Udta Punjab. Randeep Hooda is the icing on the cake.

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Salaam Venky: Venky’s Spirit Deserves A Salute, But Not The Film

Too much melodrama!

Salaam Venky (Hindi)

  • Cast: Kajol, Vishal Jethwa, Ahana Kumra, Rahul Bose, Rajeev Khandelwal, Prakash Raj, Anant Mahadevan, Priya Mani, Kamal Sadanah, Maala Parvathi, Ridhi Kumar, Aneet Padda, and Aamir Khan (special appearance)
  • Director: Revathy
  • Producers: Suraj Singh, Shraddha Agrawal, and Varsha Kukreja
  • Music: Mithoon
  • Runtime: 2 hours 17 minutes

Salaam Venky, directed by Revathy, reminds the audiences of several films, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guazaarish.

In fact, the debate surrounding euthanasia (mercy killing) in this Kajol-starrer is inspired by Bhansali’s directorial.

However, to Revathy’s credit, she also brings the angle of organ donation through the protagonist.

The other significant influence is the 1971 classic Anand.

The protagonist, Venky, is heavily influenced by the late Rajesh Khanna’s philosophy in Anand. He firmly believes that “life must be big irrespective of the longevity”.

In Salaam Venky, Revathy tries to merge these two aspects, but it is not entirely successful.

There are some truly heartfelt moments, including an extended cameo of a big actor. However, the film never achieves its full potential.

The storyline

For those who are not aware, the story of Salaam Venky is inspired by the novel Last Hurrah. The novel itself was inspired by the true story of the 24-year-old chess player Kolavennu Venkatesh.

The movie follows the journey of a patient with the life-threatening condition DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy), which weakens the muscles from an early age.

Vishal Jethwa is Venkatesh Krishnan aka Venky. His mother is Sujatha Prasad (Kajol).


Venky was expected to live only 16 years. But his zest for life coupled with Sujata’s efforts made him reach 24; however, his death is now imminent. It is only a matter of time.

Venky wants to donate his organs before he dies and urges his mother to appeal for euthanasia. Naturally, Sujata is unwilling as she has not given up on her son yet.

But soon, she reconciles with this bitter truth and accepts her son’s wishes. She finds a lawyer named Parvez Alam (Rahul Bose) with the help of Dr Shekhar (Rajeev Khandelwal).

The court agrees to hear the case but there is still a long way to go. Of course, Venky loses the case but he sparks a much-needed debate.

Apart from the aforementioned characters, there is also Aamir Khan in an extended cameo. But only Kajol can see him!

What really worked?

Before getting into the negatives, it is necessary to say a few things about what works for the film.

Revathy extracts solid performances from most of her cast.

Kajol is resilient and vulnerable in equal parts. She balances both these aspects wonderfully. She is particularly good in the scenes where she is battling her inner demons.

However, the scene-stealer is easily Vishal Jethwa. He does a successful U-turn from his roles in Mardaani 2 and the web series Human, showing good range.

The filminess of Venky’s character would have been grating in the hands of a less capable actor, but Vishal more than rises to the occasion.

His cheerful attitude in the face of adversity does bring a smile to your face.

A particular mention must be made of Venky’s scenes with his love Nandini (Aneet Padda). They are heartwarming and provide some much-needed respite.

One of the other subplots worth mentioning here is the one between Kajol and Aamir. Aamir has a mysterious presence and whenever he appears, there is curiosity in the minds of the audience.

The scenes between the two are few, but they leave a solid impact. Aamir, in an extended cameo here, is more watchable than in his last two ventures.

What didn’t work?

The second half is definitely more gripping than the first. The courtroom scenes between Rahul Bose and Priya Mani, the opposing lawyer, have some meat.

The arguments for and against euthanasia along with organ donation give the film some of its best moments.

However, the biggest issue with Salaam Venky is the tone that Revathy adopts, particularly in the first half. There is too much melodrama, which is not really needed, given the explosive content.

Additionally, the dialogues with filmy references feel overdone after a particular point. On more than one occasion, these dialogues come across as cringe rather than fun.

Some of the other subplots could have also been avoided. The case in point is Venky’s father, who makes an unnecessary comeback, only to disappear after showing how insensitive he was as a father and husband in the flashback.

Aahana Kumara as the TV reporter also doesn’t add much to the plot. The TV debates shown are artificial.

Music by Mithoon is pleasant, but the songs could have been more heartfelt.

Overall, Salaam Venky has all the right ingredients, but the garnishing is the problem!

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Hit 2: A Taut Police Procedural That Is More Gripping Than Its Predecessor

Leaves you excited for the third part.

HIT: The Second Case (Telugu)

  • Cast: Adivi Sesh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Suhas, Rao Ramesh, Tanikella Bharani, Posani Krishnamurali, Komalle Prasad, Srikanth Iyengar, and Maganti Srikanth
  • Director: Sailesh Kolanu
  • Producers: Prashanti Tipirneni and Nani
  • Music: MM Srilkeha, Suresh Bobbili, and John Stewart Eduri
  • Runtime: 2 hours

Not much was expected when Hit (The First Case) hit the theatres. However, the film surprised many thanks to its arresting screenplay. Vishwak Sen was also applauded for his performance as the officer battling with post traumatic stress.

There were certain issues with the storytelling. The climax was a downer and some of the investigation scenes lacked cohesiveness, but still the film was appreciated for its novelty.

The sequel has Adavi Sesh taking over the reins from Vishwak Sen, but the characterisations of both the heroes are as different as chalk and cheese. Expectations from the sequel are far more thanks to the well-received trailer and its leading man.

The setting of Hit (The Second Case) is Visakhapatnam. Before we are introduced to SP Krishna Dev (Adavi Sesh) there is an important incident that sets the tone of the story.

It is about a man who accidently stumbles upon his wife’s extramarital affair. Expectedly he gets angry and orders her to go away.

The wife goes to a women’s organization and paints a picture of her husband mentally harassing her. This leads to the husband’s humiliation and subsequently he loses his job as well. Later on we also find out that he had committed suicide.

Enter Adavi Sesh

After this prologue the scene shifts to the introduction of Adavi Sesh. Unlike the brooding Vishwak Sen’s Vikram Rudraraju, Adavi Sesh’s KD is more relaxed in the way he conducts his investigations. KD is also a chai addict. For him visiting a crime scene can wait, but not chai.

KD has a live-in relationship with his girlfriend Aarya (Meenakshi Chaudhary). Rao Ramesh plays KD’s superior. KD is someone who is also known for his wit and sarcasm and this adds a different dimension to the character. Maganti Srinath reprises her role from the first part.

A tonal shift in the film happens when a woman is found dead in a gruesome manner. This brings to the fore questions of women’s safety. From here on the film moves to into the zone of an SP versus a psychopath. Two more gruesome murders follow, and the pressure mounts on the police to catch this serial killer.

What is common between the murders is that all three women were part of a women’s organization. At one point it appears that everything has been solved, but soon a big twist comes. And this twist jolts the audiences.

The rest of the story is about why the serial killer is specifically targeting this section. And, most importantly, whether KD is able to put a stop to all this.

The many pluses of Hit2

Hit2 is a film which works on many counts, starting from the technical team. John Stewart Eduri’s background score has the required tension. The effectiveness of his background score can be particularly felt when KD has to race against time.

Cinematographer Manikandan is effective in showcasing Vizag in a different light. The production design also deserves a special mention.

Meenakshi Chaudary in Hit2 has more to do than Ruhani Sharma in Hit1, and the actress does a good job. Both Adavi Sesh and Meenakshi have a good chemistry. Director Sailesh Kolanu treats their live-in relationship in a matter of fact way without making it a big thing.

KD’s scenes with Aarya’s mother (Geetha Bhascker) bring a certain fun element in an otherwise tense ridden film. The audiences miss seeing more of Geeta Bhascker.

The film also briefly touches upon extra-judicial killings and police encounters being celebrated. It is just a brief subplot but nevertheless Sailesh Kolanu makes some valid points.

Creating the back-story

The major area where Hit2 scores over its first part is in the motivation of the killer. The back-story of the villain and why he does what he does has been brought out superbly. Moreover, the actor playing the villain is somebody that the audiences would never have thought of.

Portions of the climax aren’t easy to digest, but as an audience you nevertheless come out satisfied.

Hit2 majorly rests on the shoulders of Adavi Sesh and the actor doesn’t disappoint. KD is a character with various shades and he plays it with a finesse that we have come to associate with him. He has been part of thrillers previously too but Hit2 showcases the actor in a different light.

Of the rest, Suhas and Maganti Srinath hold their own. Some of the senior actors haven’t been properly used by the director. And these include Rao Ramesh and Tanikella Bharani.

Another minor complaint: The scenes of Adavi Sesh with Posani Krishna Murali — they don’t add much weight to the film.

The music by MM Srilekha and Suresh Bobbili is functional. However, there is one romantic song which is both good to watch and hear.

Hit (The Second Case) leaves you excited for the third part, and also a possible crossover between the three heroes in the future.

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Freddy: Karthik Aryan Scores A+, But The Film Could Have Been So Much More

The extra half-star is purely for Karthik Aryan’s transformation!

Freddy (Hindi)

  • Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Alaya F, Jennifer Piccinato, Karan A Pandit, Sajjad Delfrooz, Harshika Kewalramani, and Tripti Agarwal
  • Director: Shashanka Ghosh
  • Producers: Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa Kapoor, Jay Shewakramani, Narendra Hirawat, and Shreyans Hirawat
  • Music: Clinton Cerejo and Pritam
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar
  • Runtime: 2 hours 13 minutes

Karthik Aryan is someone who is synonymous with lighter roles. Whether it is the Pyar kaa Punchnama series or the recent Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. In between there was also Ram Madhvani’s Dhammaka, but Karthik is someone who is still largely associated with comedy and romance.

With Freddy, the actor does something drastically different. The same applies to director Shashanka Ghosh as well.

There is no denying that Freddy starts off promisingly, but it soon becomes a mundane revenge drama.

Freddy tells the story of Dr Freddy Ginwala (Karthik Aryan). Freddy is someone who has difficulty in communicating with people other than his patients. He is haunted by a childhood trauma. Freddy is a respected dentist but he has no friends except for a tortoise. He desperately wants companionship but it is not happening anytime soon.

Things take a turn when Freddy spots Kainaaz (Alaya F) at a wedding. It is love at first sight for Freddy. Kainaaz is a victim of an abusive marriage. Freddy soon becomes her companion; he also hatches a plan with Kainaaz to bump off her husband.

However, Kainaaz is not what she appears to be and soon enough Freddy faces a big jolt.

The rest of the story is about how Freddy’s personality goes through a sea change and what happens at the end.

The second-half problem

As mentioned, Freddy begins well enough. The social awkwardness of Freddy is well established and as an audience you are invested in his journey. Freddy’s desperation to find a partner makes you root for him. Alaya F’s entry spices up the film. There isn’t much scope for romantic chemistry, but still both Karthik and Alaya are wonderful to watch together.

Things go fine until the big twist comes along. From here the film enters the territory of Shahid and Kareena Kapoor starrer Fida. Much like that film, here, too, Freddy is seething with rage.

Shashanka Ghosh tries to give more dimensions to Freddy, throwing in the angles of mental health and childhood trauma. However, these efforts come across as rather half-baked.

The revenge of Freddy has also been portrayed in a haphazard manner. The thrills are mostly missing.

Kudos to Karthik Aryan

In the title role, Karthik Aryan gives it his all. There is a visible transformation that you see in his body language. He has drastically alternated his trademark mannerisms and merged himself into the character.

Alaya F embraces the dark shades of her character wholeheartedly. Her character-switch is rather abrupt but Alaya is consistently watchable.

The rest of the cast are there just for the sake of filling the screen.

Freddy is a decent attempt at making a psychological crime thriller. However, a lot more effort was the need of the hour, the extra half-star is purely for Karthik Aryan’s transformation.

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Bhediya: A Strong Cautionary Tale On The Importance Of Environment

Varun is brilliant, while Kriti gets relegated to the background!

Bhediya (Hindi)

  • Cast: Varun Dhawan, Abhishek Benarjee, Deepak Dobriyal, Paalin Kabak, and Kriti Sanon
  • Director: Aamir Kaushik
  • Producer: Dinesh Vijan
  • Music: Sachin-Jigar
  • Runtime: 2 hours and 36 minutes

Aamir Kaushik is known for his wacky sense of storytelling: his previous films Stree and Bala are examples.

Stree was based on the folk tale, “Oh Woman Come Tomorrow”. He gave it a feminist touch, elevating the film from the usual horror-comedy genre.

In Bala, Kaushik used humour to convey an important message on baldness and societal standards of beauty.

With Bhediya, Kaushik once again scripts a folk tale with a strong message. This time, the setting is Arunachal Pradesh.

In Bhediya, he focuses his lens on how progress should not be at the cost of the environment. There is also a commentary on how the northeast people are alienated.

These are heavy themes but Kaushik makes them non-preachy through his storytelling.

The plot of Bhediya is centred on a small-time contractor Bhaskar (Varun Dhawan). He gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is given a road-construction contract inside the dense forests of Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh.

This is his biggest project. But he is aware that this project will destroy the environment.

He also knows that the project would not benefit the local population. Still, he wants to continue the work for the benefits it brings.

His cousin Janardan (Abhishek Banerjee) accompanies him. He has a local friend, Jomin (Paalin Kabak).

Deepak Dobriyal plays sub-contractor Panda. One night, Bhaskar is stranded in the jungle and is bitten by a bhediya (wolf).

Veterinary doctor Anki (Kriti Sanon with a weird hairstyle) provides him first-aid.

However, things start getting worse for Bhaskar because he was bitten by a supernatural wolf. As a result, he too gets some supernatural powers now.

On the other hand, certain people associated with this controversial project are getting killed due to a particular animal.

The rest of the story is about how this mystery is solved and how Bhaskar manages to overcome his inner conflict. This is the synopsis of Bhediya.

Terrific visual effects

The best thing about the movie is how the director balances horror and comedy.

The scenes of Varun transforming into a werewolf at night will give goosebumps to the audience, more so if you are watching it in 3D.

The background music by Sachin-Jigar coupled with the cinematography of Jishnu Bhattacharjee heightens the impact of these scenes.

The computer-generated ‘wolf effects’ are in perfect sync with the nature of the film. The hard work that has gone behind the scenes is evident.

Comedy is a mixed bag

Abhishek Benerjee mostly handles the comedy part. He is a real hoot and often leaves the audience in splits.

Varun’s camaraderie with both Abhishek Benerjee and Paalin Kabak gives the film some of its best moments.

Paalin Kabak also stands on his own, particularly in the scene where he expresses his frustration about the stereotypes associated with northeastern people.

Deepak Dobriyal is fun to watch.

But some of the jokes are rather in bad taste. A case in point is the scene where Varun’s bum becomes a point of discussion; there is also some unnecessary toilet humour which dragged quite a bit.

There are also some avoidable racist jokes.

Varun is brilliant, Kriti is underused

Another major win for the film is how the character of Varun has been designed coupled with the actor’s terrific performance.

Bhaskar is someone who starts with an indifferent attitude towards nature. Becoming rich is his only ambition. However, all these changes after he gets bitten by the supernatural wolf.

The audiences get to see him going through a lot of internal conflicts and eventually changing for the better.

Varun captures all these shades meticulously. He also deserves huge credit for the physical transformation that he goes through when the wolf takes over.

Kriti Sanon has a mysterious presence much like Shraddha Kapoor in Stree. And just like Shraddha, Kriti is largely relegated to the background except for the pre-climax twist.

It has a good emotional touch. However, the impact would have been more if Kriti was better used it from the beginning. Her romance with Varun is rather half-baked.

Sachin-Jigar’s music was better in Stree than in this film but they more than make it up with their background score.

Rajkumar Rao and Aparshakti Khuranna make a surprise appearance, in the end, leaving the audiences curious about a possible crossover film between Bhediya and Stree in future.

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Drishyam 2 (Hindi): A Solid Remake That Stands On Its Own Feet. 

Abhishek Pathak delivers a solid thriller that will satisfy the audiences even if you have seen the original Malayalam film

Drishyam 2 (Hindi)           3.5 out of 5

Starcast: Ajay Devgan, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Akshay Khanna and others

Direction, screenplay and dialogues: Abhishek Pathak

Additional screenplay and dialogues: Aamil Keeyan Khan

Producers: Bhushan Kumar, Abhishek Pathak, Krishan Kumar and Kumar Mangat Pathak

Production companies: Viacom 18 Studios, T- Series Films and Panorama Studios

Original story: Jeetu Joseph

Based on: Drishyam 2 (Malayalam) by Jeetu Joseph

Music: Devi Sri Prasad

Genre: Crime thriller/drama

Running time: 2 hours and 20 minutes

Jeetu Joseph’s Drishyam films can easily fit in any language; the emotions in both the films are something that audiences can connect to irrespective of where they come from. When Jeetu Joseph made Drishyam 2 there were certain apprehensions about the sequel matching up to the original. But the director proved his skeptics wrong by delivering a highly satisfying sequel. Not surprisingly Drishyam 2 was remade into Telugu as well; Jeetu Joseph directed the Telugu version as well.  Now you have Hindi Drishyam 2 headlined by Ajay Devgan and directed by Abhishek Pathak. Late Nishikant Kamat had directed the first part. 

Drishyam 2 comes at a time when we are going through a saturation of remakes. However the film has created a certain buzz thanks to a well cut trailer and also the star cast. This time there is Akshaye Khanna too playing the police officer who takes on Ajay Devgan’s Vijay Salgaonkar. 

The story of Drishyam 2 starts off with a slight recap of the first part. This recap helps the audiences to reconnect with the events. Seven years have passed but Vijay’s family is still haunted by that traumatic night and the events that followed. Vijay has now got his own film theatre. In fact he is writing a story too with plans of producing a film. Former inspector Meera Deshmuk (Tabu) is still searching for answers and closure regarding her son’s death. Nandini (Shriya Saran) cannot sleep alone at night. Whenever Vijay isn’t there she asks her neighborhood lady to sleep her. Anju (Ishita Dutta) suffers from fits during high tension moments. Tarun Ahlawat (Akshay Khanna) is a friend of Meera and is hell bent on making sure that Vijay is punished, however that is easier said than done. This is the basic synopsis. 

The first half of Drishyam 2 is slow paced and a lot of time is spent on setting things up. But Abhishek Pathak does a good job in keeping the audiences invested. The family dynamics don’t have the same warmth as the Malayalam and Telugu versions, but still there is enough meat. Some of the twists won’t be a surprise for those who have seen the Malayalam film. However there is a lot there for even those who have seen the Malayalam film. 

The film gathers steam with the introduction of Akshay Khanna. Akshay Khanna commands the viewer’s attention with his strong screen presence. The cat and mouse game which proceeds keeps the audiences engrossed. My favorite bit in the second half is when Akshay’s character visits the family of Vijay. The tension is palpable throughout. This in spite of the fact that Akshay Khanna never raises his voice, his demeanor is more than enough. Akshay Khanna brings a certain authority to his part and his one liners are too good. 

The background score by Devi Sri Prasad also helps immensely in building up the suspense. The background score adds to the thrills particularly in the second half when things start getting serious. Sudhir Kumar’s cinematography is another major plus for the film. His cinematography adds to the immersive experience. 

Much like the original Malyalam film and the Telugu remake here too as audiences you empathize with both Ajay Devgan and Tabu. There are no heroes and villains here. Both these actors don’t need a particular introduction about their acting capabilities. Their work speaks for themselves. 

Ajay Devgan is brilliant as the protective husband and father who would go any lengths to save them. Tabu has less screen time but she commands your attention as the mother who is waiting to strike back. 

Shriya Saran is fairly effective as Nandini but Meena did a better job in the Malayalam and Telugu Films. Kamlesh Sawant brings in the required ruthless to his part of a cop who is thirsty for revenge.  Final word: Drishyam 2 is a worthy successor. There are enough thrills backed by some solid performances. 

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Uunchai: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara For The Older Generation

A delightful trek that is high on visuals and emotions

Uunchai (Hindi)            3.5 out of 5

Starcast: Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Denzongpa, Sarika and others

Director: Sooraj R. Barjatya

Story: Sunil Gandhi

Producers: Kamal Kumar Barjatya, Mahaveer Jain and others

Production Company: Rajashri Productions

Music: Amit Trivedi

Genre: Adventure/drama

Running time: 2 hours and 53 minutes

Sooraj Barjatya is one of the most successful commercial directors of the 90’s. He made Salman Khan into an overnight star with Maine Pyar Kiya. For a long time Salman’s off screen persona was synonymous with his onscreen image of Prem, thanks to the way the director presented him in multiple films. Often times the director repeated himself with simplistic plots. It was mostly set around large families and half way through an unfortunate incident happened resulting in a deep divide. Inevitably the protagonist would set things right with his basic goodness. Even his last film Prem Rathan Dhan Payo ticked all the boxes of 90’s family dramas; the only difference being that PPDP was set in a princely state where monarchy still exists.

However with Uunchai the director attempts something different, and for most part manages to pull it off. Barjatya not only takes a few elements from Farhan and Zoya Akhtar’s mode of storytelling but also takes inspiration from Nag Ashwin’s directorial debut ‘Yevade Subramanyam’. The inspiration can be clearly seen in the mountain scenes in the second half.

The film opens with a group of three friends- Amit Srivastava (Amitabh Bachchan), Om (Anupam Kher) and Javed (Boman Irani). There is also Mala (Sarika). These four are on a trek to reach the EBC (Everest base camp). The tour guide is Shraddha Gupta (A grumpy Parineeti Chopra). From there we move to a flashback from two months ago. This flashback involves the trio’s close friend Bhupen (A delightful Danny Denzonpa). It is refreshing to see Danny in this small but important part. His presence is felt throughout the film. Bhupen’s biggest desire is to go on a trek to the base camp of Everest with his three friends. However the friends are reluctant and they don’t take it too seriously. But things take a turn for bad after the birthday of Bhupen. The next morning he dies of cardiac arrest, this in spite of Bhupen being the fittest among the four. Amit decides to fulfill Bhupen’s last wish.

Both Om and Javed feel that Amit is being mad. But Amit manages to convince them about the importance of fulfilling their friend’s wish. However it is a trek that comes with many hurdles, the chief one being the age bracket that this trio comes under. Also Javed’s wife Shabina (Neena Gupta) is a controlling woman who doesn’t let him go outside the city and Mount Everest is a far off thing.

The rest of the story is about whether the trio is able to fulfill the last wish of their friend or not. Along the way the film also gives some important life lessons. These include how parents aren’t always in the right and children are not always in the wrong. How marriage partners sometimes need a certain distance, and lastly how love often can succumb to worldly comforts. The last one is brought out through the character of Mala. She has an important connection to Bhupen.

For any friendship film to work, the most essential aspect is that no character should end up overshadowing the others. A major reason why a Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara or a Dil Chahta Hai works is due to the way the characters were written. As an audience you root for all the three protagonists.

Here too Sooraj Barjatya gives equal space to all of them and makes you empathize with all. All the three have their own inner battles and the director does a splendid job in portraying them. Uunchai also dwells into the importance of solitude and successfully showcases how certain battles are best fought alone.

The individual back stories have also been smartly used by Sooraj Barjatya. They come in when you least expect it. Case in point being how Mala is connected to Bhupen, or even Amit’s past with a woman called Abhilasha (Nafisa Ali in a graceful special appearance). These stories add to the impact of the film.

The dialogues written by Abhishek Dixit are mostly heartwarming, both in the situations involving the friends and also the husband and wife scenes between Boman Irani and Neena Gupta.

The cinematography by Manoj Kumar Khatoi is simply splendid. He deserves distinction marks for how he captures the mountains through his lens. The trekking scenes of Amit, Om and Javed give us lot of thrills. This thrill is further enhanced by the cinematographer.

Anupam Kher, Amitabh Bachchan and Boman Irani, none of the three veteran actors disappoints

The action and stunts by Sham Kaushal are filled with the right amount of tension. For example there is a scene in the second half where all of them have to cross a bridge with the weather at its worst. The audiences get the feeling that something tragic will happen to Amit in particular. However no damage happens and the weather does settle down.

Also read: Thank God: A fantasy ride that you won’t mind hopping on

Music by Amit Trivedi is also good. My favorite is the Keti Ko song which leaves you with a smile on your face.

Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher and Bomal Irani in a jovial dance sequence

Coming to the flaws the length of the film could have been easily trimmed down. The first half feels indulgent at certain places. The trek could have begun much earlier rather than leaving it to the second half.

Another issue with the film is the way the character of Parineeti has been written and performed. She spends most of her time either being exasperated or being angry with the senior citizens. There is an attempt at humanizing her but it comes across as rather labored.

Uunchai boasts of fantastic veteran actors and none of the seniors disappoint. Amitabh Bachchan is marvellous as Amit Srivastava. He captures all the nuances without missing a single beat. Amitabh’s brilliance can be particularly seen at a crucial juncture in the second half; in this important scene his character is revealed to have Alzheimers. Om and Javed scold Amit for hiding his condition and decide to go back. This is followed by Amit’s long dialogue where he talks about the purpose of this trip and how he is not backing down now. Amitabh Bachchan does a swell job in bringing out the emotions of Amit.

Sarika leaves solid impression in her part

Anupam Kher has been on a roll this year with a knockout performance in Kashmir Files. The actor also made a huge impression with his small role in the Telugu film Karthikeya 2. With Uunchai Anupam continues his golden form. He excels in both the lighter and emotional bits. It is a delight to see Anupam getting one meaty role after another. Boman Irani compliments Amitabh and Anupam wonderfully. He conveys a lot with his body language. Sarika and Neena Gupta are also very good. They leave a solid impression in their respective parts.

Final word: Uunchai is rich in both visuals and also emotions. A tighter edit would have made it even better. But still this is a delightful trek with the smashing veterans leading it.