Category: Short Takes

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8 AM Metro

Saw the movie 8:AM Metro on Zee 5. The plot revolves around a homemaker Iravati (Saiyami Kher). She suffers from severe panic attacks; a traumatic incident is the reason. Iravati has a massive phobia of trains. All this changes when she has to make a trip to Hyderabad. Her younger sister is about to deliver a baby. Iravati has no other option other than to navigate the new city while dealing with anxiety attacks. She is also a closeted poet. Gulshan Deviah’s Pritam is a banker who bumps into Iravati at the Metro station.

The beginning portions of 8 AM Metro give the feeling that this is going to be another story of a married woman who will find a companion outside marriage. However as the story progresses the movie moves into an altogether different zone. Director Raj Rachakonda raises some relevant points on the society’s attitude towards mental health along with how they are just asked to be strong. There is a brilliantly executed scene of role reversal where Iravati becomes society and Pritam her. The movie also effectively uses the medium of poetry and literature to give life lessons. An important twist regarding the personal life of Pritam also catches the viewers by suprise. It is one of those twists that the viewers definitely don’t see coming.

Although the movie is engrossing for most part, there are a few logical loopholes which the director should have taken care of. One of them is Iravati spending more time with Pritam than her younger sister who is on the verge of delivering a baby. Also Iravati living in a place which is some distance from the hospital comes across as absurd. Performances wise both Saiyami Kher and Gulshan Devaih are stellar, they also share a wonderful chemistry.

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Priyanka Chopra Autobiography Unfinished

Recently I have read Priyanka Chopra’s autobiography Unfinished, it is a collection of stories that cover the many aspects of her life both professional and personal. However Unfinished is not just the story of Priyanka Chopra, it is as much about her parents who were a big pillar of support in the process of Priyanka achieving global stardom.

This autobiography works best when Priyanka shares anecdotes about her parents. Oftentimes she paints them as superheroes. Her daddy was a doctor in the army. There is an instance where Priyanka talks about him dislodging a bullet from a dying soldier. Similarly the mother rescuing a girl child outside a hospital on a rainy night. Her father’s battle with cancer and how it took her a long time to cope with his death feels heartfelt.

But when it comes to the professional part the book needed more insight into how she brings her characters to life. For example Priyanka’s act in Barfi is hugely acclaimed. She expressed her sadness on her performance being overlooked at major award functions that year however there is no insight into how she became the character. After a point the novel becomes more of a Wikipedia entry with how she has emerged victorious overcoming obstacles. The only portion regarding the professional chapter that works is when she goes in detail about the failure of her musical career in America. Unfinished is no by means unreadable there is a crispness in the narration but the book could have done with more description of her acting process.

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Slumdog Millionaire

Recently I have read the book Slumdog Millionaire written by Vikas Swarup. I do not have many memories of the movie based on the book except for the Anil Kapoor portions, however I personally feel that the book is more superior in terms of how it juggles between the past and present of Ram Mohammad Thomas a boy from slums who goes on to create history by winning a game show.

Vikas Swarup does a lot of back and forth, at times it does become hard to follow the storyline given that the character of Ram Mohammad Thomas goes through many stages. But still the story holds your interest. Through the central character Vikas Swarup has touched upon the deep-rooted issue of the illegal child labor which destroys the lives of our future generation. There are disturbing scenes in the book where we see children being blinded.

The other societal evils touched upon are domestic violence, police torture etc. The final chapter though ends with a lot of hope for our protagonist in a truly filmy manner. The novel hasn’t got much romance unlike the movie where the love story played a key role however it has to be said that the readers don’t feel the need for romance. The life experiences of Ram Mohammad Thomas and how it helps him in winning the quiz is more than sufficient to keep the audiences engaged.

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My Short Take on Bramayugam

Yesterday watched a Malayalam movie Bramayugam on Sonyliv directed by Rahul Sadhasivan. Without giving much away Bramayugam is set in 17th century of Kerala. A Dalit singer Thevan (Arjun Ashokan) loses his way in the forest and ends up finding a dilapidated mansion where only two men stay Kodumon Poti (Mammootty) and the cook played by Sidharth Bharathan. Keeping in the tradition of the horror movie genre this is a mansion with many secrets. Initially Thevan’s stay is pleasant but things start going tipsy turvy soon.

One of the aspects that I liked about Bramayugam was how Rahul Sadhasivan mixed elements of folklore and religion. The movie also gets into a political zone about dialogues regarding oppression of lower caste and how the desire for power corrupts anyone whether you are rich or poor.

Technically Bramayugam is a solid product. The cinematography and sound design in particular deserve praise. Shehnad Jalal’s black and white cinematography is a treat to watch and the sound design enhances the horror.

Lastly the performances are also fine. Mammootty has shown the passion to constantly reinvent himself and Bramayugam is another fine example of that. The actor chews the scenery and terrifies the viewers with just his body language. Arjun Ashokan and Siddharth Bharatan are also fine in their respective parts.

A major problem with the movie are its post interval portions after the big reveal. The screenplay starts stagnating without much to look forward to. Rahul Sadhasivan’s Bhoothakaalam kept the viewers thoroughly engaged till the end but this doesn’t. Another issue with the film are the logical loopholes particularly regarding the character of the cook. This cook uses Thevan for his own purpose. Why he waits for such a long time is not clear.

Also we are shown that Kodumon Poti is someone who knows everything but when it comes to the cook’s background Kodumon Poti is shown to be surprised when his lineage is revealed. At the beginning of the film we have a Yakshi played by Amalda Liz but her purpose of seducing and killing men is an absolute blur

To sum it up Bramayugam has some strong points but it leaves it with you more questions than answers.

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Ambajipeta Marriage Band

Dushyant Kathikeni’s Ambajipeta Marriage band has a heavy hangover of Tamil rustic dramas reminiscent of PA Ranjith and Vetrimaaran films but still this movie makes for an impressive social drama. Suhas once again plays to his strength as a young man from lower caste. He is a barber by profession but also works as a drummer on certain occasions. The sister Padmavathi (Sharanya Pradeep) is a government school teacher who is fierce in nature and doesn’t take things lying down. Things take a dramatic turn when Padmavathi is humiliated by the landlord Venkat (Nithin Prasanna) leading to a chain of events where the siblings fight back. Newcomer Shivani Nagaram plays the villains sister and hero’s love interest.

The storyline of Ambajipeta Marriage band is as old as hills but what it makes it gripping is the narration particularly in the second half. The love story has its moments as well especially a scene in the barber shop. The chemistry between Suhas and Shivani works well. Shivani has a confidence presence about her. She does a fine job in the cute moments as well as the intense emotional scene with Suhas in the latter half. the film though becomes more engaging in the second half. The director Dushyant has done a good job in exploring themes of self-respect and honor.

Wajid Baig’s cinematography is another plus for the movie. He captures the rustic surroundings well through his lens. Both Sharanya and Suhas also power the film with their performances. Suhas’s role has two shades. One is the lover boy act already seen in Colour Photo and Writer Padmabhushan. But Suhas scores most when he has to show agression. The anger is palpable. Sharanya Pradeep also leaves a lasting impact successfully showcasing the different shades of her role. Nithin Prasanna makes the viewers hate him thoroughly which is the need of the role

Ambajipeta Marriage band can be watched for those who love movies tackling social issues

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Agatha Christie’s Autobiography

Agatha Christie needs no introduction. I know it is a cliched expression, still I couldn’t help it. She has enthralled millions of readers with her thriller stories.  Her creations of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple have stayed on in the minds of many people. The best way to describe her autobiography would be an insightful read with many interesting anecdotes whether its her journey of writing, or working as a war maid in a world war and her two marriages.

One of the most engaging portions in the book is regarding her journey as a detective writer. She explains why she made her detective a Belgian in detail. Following are a few lines from the novel that shed light on her thought process.

“Why not make my detective a Belgian? There were all types of refugees. How about a refugee police officer? A retired police officer. He should have been an inspector, so that he would have  a certain knowledge of crime. He would be meticulous, very tidy, I thought to myself, as I cleared away a good many untidy odds and ends in my own bedroom.”

One of the other impactful portions in the book is her narration of working as a war maid. She brings alive the horrors of that time. Regarding her two marriages I enjoyed the part she wrote about her second husband Max Mallowan who is an archeologist. Her archeological expeditions with him make for a good read.

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My Short Take On The Book The Hidden Life Of Trees

This Peter Wohlleben’s work will significantly change the way people would look at trees again. The writer has described them with human feelings and this makes the book thoroughly enjoyable. Throughout the book Peter has talked about how trees communicate, nurture each other and also help their fellow trees when ill or upset.

One of the most engaging chapters in the book is the one where the trees are seen warning the nearby ones about a possible attack on them. Peter Wohlleben talks in detail about how the neighboring trees release toxins and terpenes. The release of these help in protection from stress.

One of the other engaging chapter is the one where the writer talks about the slow growth of the tress and how they live a long life. The mother tree makes sure that the child tree does not grow fast while at the same time providing good nutrition.

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Mohanlal and Anaswara Rajan’s Neru


Jeetu Joseph’s Neru is no Drishyam. There are no big twists and turns here. The plot is set up within the first ten minutes. A blind girl Sara (Anaswara Rajan) is sexually assaulted by an intruder who turns out to be a cliched spoilt brat. In spite of being blind Sara is a skilled sculptor. Mohanlal plays a not so confident lawyer Vijaymohan who eventually gets back his rhythm. The legendary actor perfectly blends into the narrative and plays his supporting role to perfection.

Siddiqui and Priyamani also make for competent adversaries. However the best bits of the film belong to Anaswara Rajan. Her character of Sara has been designed with the right mixture of vulnerability and braveness. Through her role Jeetu Joseph talks about how a rape victim should not hide behind a veil and let that dark chapter define her existence. Jeetu Joseph also does a brilliant job in showcasing the grit of a blind girl. Her eyes not functioning does not make her any less of a human being. Sara has other senses that make up for what she lacks. Anaswara Rajan does an outstanding job and more than holds her own opposite these seasoned actors. (Streaming site Disney+Hotstar)

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My short take on Hanuman

Finally watched Prashanth Varma’s Hanuman starring Teja Sajja, Amrita Iyer, Varalakshmi Sarathkumar and Vinay Rai among others. It is the perfect amalgamation of Devotion, superhero and pop culture. Teja Sajja’s character goes from carefree/impish to eventually realizing his powers and using them for the greater good.

Teja Sajja as Hanumanthu has an energetic presence about him and he pulls off the different shades. The women characters fortunately are no push overs. Varalakshmi Sarathkumar playing the elder sister has a strong personality both in the way the role has been written and enacted. The actress also gets her own mass moment which is a delight to watch. Amrita Iyer also does well as Hanumanthu’s sweetheart. She is not just the typical love interest. Ravi Teja’s voiceover to a monkey called Koti provide some laughs. The visual effects are also topnotch. This in spite of the budget being nowhere close to Adipurush. Om Raut and the team can easily learn from Hanuman.
Final word: Do watch, it is thoroughly entertaining for all ages.