Tag: Netflix

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The Game (You Never Play Alone): An important cautionary thriller led by a brilliant Shraddha Srinath

Rajesh M Selva’s The Game (You Never Play Alone) has a strong beginning keeping the viewers invested for 2 thirds of the narrative. Things though start stagnating from the middle episodes with underdeveloped villains and also the gaming portions. Nevertheless, this Tamil web series throws light on important issues like data tracking and how technology in the wrong hands can be a very harmful tool. It also helps that Shraddha Srinath is in excellent form getting into the skin of the role

Starcast: Shraddha Srinath, Santhosh Prathap, Chandini Tamilarasan and others

Genre: Thriller/drama

Writer: Deepthi Govindarajan

Director: Rajesh M Selva

Music: Simon K. King

Cinematography: Akilesh Kathamuthu

Producers: Sameer Nair and Pramod Cheruvalath

Production Company: Applause Entertainment

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: Netflix

The growing age of technology is both a Boone and bane for the current times. In one way technology has made our lives easier in connecting with people far away and also the vast information helping in increase of our knowledge. However, this massive digital age also comes with major side effects. One of this includes losing connect with the real world and also data impeachment. Numerous movies have come on this topic whether its the 2010 American Drama The Social Network or the two Ananya Pandey’s starrers Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and CTRL. The Game (You Never Play Alone) is the latest addition to this genre. This Shraddha Sranath starrer is a remake of the French show Le Jeu.

A still from the web series

The broad storyline of this seven-episode show follows the tumultuous journey of Shraddha Srinath’s Kavya. She is a talented game developer alongside her husband Anoop (Santhosh Prathap). Both work at a leading game company called Moon bolt. Their professional lives are going well but Kavya often faces scrutiny on the account of her gender. There is this constant pressure of proving her skills in a male dominated office.

Things take a traumatic turn at an award night. She is attacked by an unknown group of men and is left traumatized both physically and mentally. Chandini Tamilrasan plays officer Bhanumati. She gets deep into the case revealing a series of chilling incidents connected to online abuse and misogyny. Running alongside this is the track of Kavya’s niece Tara. Tara becomes the target of online predators. How all these are interconnected forms the basic premise.

Chandi Tamilrasan as police officer

A strong aspect of The Game (That You Never Play Alone) is the technical department. Cinematographer Akhilesh Kathamuthu does an excellent job in capturing the intensity of urban life as well as the scenes of online harassment. The psychological horror is palpable with appropriately lit frames. Sudharshan’s background music too enhances the tension filled moments. As viewers you feel a certain anxiety on what will happen next especially till the mid part.

Director Rajesh M Selva also deserves credit for how he has explored the topics of social media abuse which includes misogyny along with the challenges faced by women in professional spaces. The last one comes through a jealous colleague. The subplot of the jealous colleague and how this leads to several things is underdeveloped nevertheless the aspect of male ego being hurt is an important one.

The character of Shraddha Srinath coupled with her performance is another major ace especially the emotional parts. The way Shraddha portrays the emotions of resilience, vulnerability and solid inner strength is a delight to watch. She is the glue holding the show even when things start to fall apart.

Santhosh Prathap brings in a certain warmth as a husband who stands tall with Kavya in spite of some tensions in the marriage. The tender moments between the two are a delight to watch with Anoop giving major husband goals. Chandini Tamilrasan too does a fine job in balancing professional diligence with empathy. This trio play a crucial role in making the show engaging.

A tender moment between the two

As already mentioned The Game (Which You Never Play Alone) keeps the viewers invested for 2 thirds. However, things start stagnating while exploring the motives of the villain gang. This track needed more solid writing. As a result, the built-up tension somewhat dilutes. Also the gaming background needed more depth.

There is a surface level treatment with the glossy backdrop. More insight into the functioning of the gaming world would have enhanced the proceedings. These two aspects stop the show from soaring higher.

Final word: In spite of a muddled second act and a tame climax The Game (Which You Never Play Alone) makes for an important watch especially for those who are into digital thrillers.

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The Ba***ds of Bollywood: Aryan Khan hits a sixer

Director Aryan Khan delivers a delightful whimsical ride backed with strong satire. The debut director doesn’t spare anyone, and this includes events from his real life too. It’s clear that Aryan has all the trappings of a successful mainstream director. He deserves appreciation for choosing an unconventional route when he could have easily been launched as a leading man

Starcast: Lakshya Lalwani , Raghav Juyal, Bobby Deol, Sahher Bambaa, Manoj Pahwa, Mona Singh, Anya Singh, Rajat Bedi, Manish Chaudhari and others

Genre: Satire

Creator, director and writer: Aryan Khan

Additional writers: Bilal Siddiqui and Manav Chauhan

Producer: Gauri Khan

Executive producers: Bonnie Jain and Akshat Verma

Production Company: Red Chilies Entertainment

Music: Sashwat Sachadeva and Anirudh Ravichander

Cinematography: Jay Pinak Oza

No of episodes: 7

Streaming site: Netflix The Ba***ds of Bollywood directed by Aryan Khan could have been a feature film instead of a web series. The plot is hardcore masala with comedy, action, star crossed lovers and a mind-boggling twist that is sure to leave the viewers polarized. Much like Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance The Ba***ds of Bollywood is a percipient take on the starry world of Bollywood. However, this goes a step ahead in dealing with the insider outsider debate, exploitative producers and the uncertain nature of fame among others.

Aryan Khan makes a smashing debut

The broad storyline of this web series revolves around Lakshya Lalwani’s Aasmaan Singh. An outsider with big dreams. His debut becomes a major hit making him a sensation. Soon, things start getting complicated. The web series focuses on how Aasmaan navigates this starry and unpredictable world with the help of a loving family. Raghav Juyal plays Aasmaan’s buddy and an important anchor. Anya Singh on the other hand is the loyal manager. Bobby Deol plays a huge star who isn’t happy with his daughter Karishma (Sahher Bambaa) getting close to Aasmaan and vice versa.

A strong aspect concerning The Ba***ds of Bollywood is the self-aware and whimsical tone. The web series is peppered with numerous real-life scenarios. For example, there is a newcomer’s roundtable clearly modelled on the 2019 Rajeev Masand’s Actors roundtable. There is a cheeky node to Siddhanth Chaturvedi roasting Ananya Pandey. Similarly, one of the extended cameos features Karan playing a movie mafia version inspired from Kangana Ranaut’s comment.

There is a hilarious banter between Ranveer and Karan connected to Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. Karan talks to Ranveer about giving him a hit. Ranveer on the other hand replies back by saying he carried the movie on his shoulders.

Emraan Hashmi turns up as an intimacy coach, it’s a tip off to the actor’s famous real-life image. Raghav Juyal’s reaction on seeing Emraan is priceless. He bursts into an emotional state singing Emraan Hashmi’s famous songs. Emraan’s bewilderment on how to deal with this fan boy moment coupled with Raghav’s acting is brilliant.

Arshad Warsi as Gaffor Bai is used to represent the role of Mumbai underworld. The actor raises many chuckles with his acting. Above all Aryan Khan doesn’t spare himself either. You have an officer who is moddled on the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). In one scene Aasmaan is locked up in a jail and a cop says people get more famous after going in. After last years negative role in Kill Raghav showcases a different facet of himself. As Aasmaan’s buddy the actor lights up the screen with his effortless acting. He shares a wonderfulcamaraderie with Lakshya making their scenes a major highlight of the show.

Mention must also be made of Sahher Bambaa’s Karishma. The young actress brings in a certain vulnerability and a humanness making the character likeable in spite of the privileged background. The love angle between Aasmaan and Karishma is underwritten still the two young actors share a good chemistry.

What also grounds the show amidst the starry cameos and larger than life world is the family dynamics. Apart from Raghav Anya Singh also lends gravity as the loyal manager. The way she stands by Aasmaan in spite of the numerous hurdles is brilliant to watch. Similarly, Mona Singh and Vijayant Kohli as parents are also wonderful. Their conversations with Lakshya have an emotional resonance, especially the advice given by the father on never backing down. Manoj Pahwa as Aasmaan’s uncle also touches a chord with his own backstory.

The web series also looks at the unpredictable nature of show biz with Rajat Bedi’s Jaraj Saxena. On the surface the character may across as a comedic caricature. But there is a palpable pain as well and Rajat aces it.

Lakshya as the shows center pivot perfectly captures the different shades of Aasmaan. He brings alive the determination of Aasmaan along with a certain cheeky and arrogant nature. There are certain shades of Shah Rukh Khan in the way Aryan along with Bilal Siddqui etc have written the role. Lakshya also does very well in an important emotional outburst.

As one of the primary villains Bobby Deol packs a strong punch too. He brings in both a starry aura as well as solid acting in this multifaceted role. Manish Chaudhari also succeeds in bringing the required ruthlessness along with a misogynistic nature.

The music composed by multiple people goes perfectly well with the show’s eccentric tone. Special mention must be made of the tracks Rusiya and Who’s your Daddy.

Final word: Overall it’s a web series that Shah Rukh himself would have loved to either act or direct. Must be a proud moment for the father.

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Aap Jaisa Koi: Feminism wrapped in romance

R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Sheikh in Aap Jaise Ko

Director Vivek Soni takes the classic trope of gradual love in an arranged marriage to deliver stinging lessons on patriarchy. Men who appear to be modern on surface but actually placing themselves in authority. Vivek Soni along his writers do a fine job in calling out the double standards particularly in matters related to sexuality and desires

Starcast: R Madhavan, Fatima Sana Sheikh, Ayesha Raza, Namit Das, Manish Chaudhary and others

Genre: Romance

Director: Vivek Soni

Writers: Radhika Anand and Jehan Handa

Producers: Karan Johar, Somen Mishra, Aadar Poonawala etc

Production Company: Dharmatic Entertainment

,Music: Rochak Kohli and Justin Prabhakaran

Cinematography: Debojeet Ray

Running time: 1 hour and 55 minutes

Streaming site: Netflix

On the surface the plot of Aap Jaisa Koi feels a cross between Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani and R Madhavan’s own Tanu Weds Manu. Much like Alia Bhatt in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani Fatima Sana Sheikh also plays a fiercely opiniated Bengali here. R Madhavan’s character of a middle aged bachelor has shades of the soft Manu. Thankfully though Aap Jaisa Koi has its own identity specifically the subplot of Ayesha Raza representing the numerous married women facing casual sexism and misogyny and how she breaks out of the conventions by following her heart.

The story of Aap Jaisa Koi primarily revolves around two people belonging to different age brackets as well as varied thought processes. R Madhavan is a 40 plus Sanskrit professor Shrinenu Tripathi. Shrinenu is painfully shy, he hasn’t even kissed till now. In short an absolute virgin becoming the butt of jokes. The friend played by Namit Das introduces him to an anonymous world of chatting with unknown women, the site is Aap Jaisa Koi. The chats in this site have sexual undertones which Shrinenu thoroughly enjoys. Fatima Sana Sheikh is Madhu Bose. a lecturer from Kolkata. Both of them meet in an arranged marriage set up and sparks fly soon. However the path is far from easy. The obstacles are societal expectations and the traditional expectations of gender roles. This is the story in brief.

A strong aspect of Aap Jaise Koi is the integration of different social issues like women’s desires along with the hypocritical attitude of men towards their choices. There is a key scene in the second half where Shrinenu and Madhu Bose have a split when everything is going right, the break up is connected to the dating site. Madhu Bose was also on the same site for a while chatting with many men. Shrinenu considers Madhu Bose a whore just because she chatted with numerous unknown males .The heated dialogues between the two exposes the double standards of men like Shrinenu who think of themselves as progressive but in actuality they are sexist.

In the beginning portions there is a heavy hangover of Manu in R Madhavan’s role but unlike that movie Shrinenu here comes with more shades. Post the bitter break up there are scenes of Shrinenu grappling with prejudices that he has never questioned so far. After a long time R Madhavan has returned back to the romantic set up and the actor is a delight to watch conveying the internal turmoil with just his body language. Fatima Sana Sheikh is confidence personified perfectly embodying the feministic attitude, additionally she looks gorgeous as well in the sarees.

Mention must also be made of Ayesha Raza’s heartfelt portrayal of a woman who hasn’t got the emotional love and often faces casual sexism from her husband. In spite of doing a job from home the husband doesn’t take her seriously, instead Manish Chaudhary’s character thinks that he is doing some favor by allowing her to work. This is where the theme of ingrained patriarchy comes in. This is cycle of inherited attitudes is very visible in Shrinenu’s view points towards Madhu being on Aap Jaisa Koi app. Manish Chaudhary is successful in making the viewers hate him, he perfectly embodies the character’s attitude making the role relatable.

The songs composed by Rochak Kohli and Justin Prabhakaran are soulful too. Jab Tu Sajan and Mila Tujhe stand out among the compositions. Both these numbers perfectly capture the blossoming romance.

Final word: Aap Jaisa Koi is a simple tale with feministic undertones. If you are in the mood for something breezy and are an R Madhavan fan do watch it.

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Royals: Superficial fun elevated by some strong performances

Ishaan Khattar and co

Royals directed by Priyanka Ghosh and Nupur Asthana often feels like a cross between the English web series Bridgeton and Shashanka Ghosh’s Khoobsurat. The initial episodes are more of a fizzle than a sizzle but the show does take a turn for the better in the later half particularly for those who like palace politics. Ishaan Khattar as Aviraaj is the series beating heart effortlessly combing swag with emotional depth

Starcast: Ishaan Khattar, Bhumi Pednekar, Sakshi Tanwar, Zeenat Aman, Vihaan Samraat, Chunky Pandey, Dino Morea, and others

Genre: Romance/drama

Directors: Priyanka Ghosh and Nupur Asthana

Writer: Neha Veena Sharma

Creators: Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy

Producer: Late Pritish Nandy

Production Company: Pritish Nandy Communications

Cinematographer: Nachiket Pangare

Music: Rooh and Joh

Episodes: 8

Streaming platform: Netflix

Ever since its release on May 9th the web series Royals has seen a very mixed response. Some have praised the performances and the visuals. There has also been a lot of criticism due to the hangover of films and web series set in the same space most notably Bridgeton, also the depiction of royal households has come under intense scanner with the members of erstwhile royal families expressing their displeasure. In spite of not so rave reviews Royals has seen a renewal for season 2.

There is no denying that Royals could have done with much more depth in terms of storytelling, a cut down on the glam quotient would have benefited the series immensely. Having said that Royals does make for a good guilty pleasure and the dramatic twist in the finale does set things nicely for season 2.

The storyline of Royals primarily centers on Morapur royal family. They are dealing with problems of various kinds like financial issues and the death of a king. Ishaan Khattar is Aviraaj, a reluctant prince. Aviraaj has no intention of taking over his father’s place but things take a turn where he is left with no other option. Aviraaj path crosses with Bhumi Pednekar’s Sophia. A self made entrepreneur with a fierce attitude. Sophia wants to turn this crumbling palace into something more luxurious. The two share a relationship swinging between hate and love leading to several developments.

A strong aspect of Royals is the production design and the cinematography department. The web series has a very rich look, the visual esthetics are absolutely on point transporting the viewers into the intriguing world of palace politics.

Talking about palace politics every relationship comes here with layers of manipulation and secrets traumas. Beneath the smiles there is a certain calculatedness making it entertaining specifically in the later episodes. At times it can get confusing too however it adds a lot of spice to the proceedings. The one liners is also a big USP of Royals. Numerous dialogues have shades of sarcasm, even when the script fails the conversations do pack a punch.

As already mentioned Ishaan Khattar’s Aviraaj is the beating heart of Royals. The character comes with different shades, on some occasions he comes across as an asshole with princely arrogance. At the same time he is also Chivalrous, this side comes out on more than one occasion in the scenes with Sophia. Ishaan delivers a splendid act embracing the grey shades of the role with panache, with this act he once proves his versatility in picking up different roles and doing justice to them. A particular scene worth mentioning here is the breakdown before the coronation. The best part of Ishaan’s performance is how he expresses the feelings of happiness, sorrow and other emotions through his eyes. Cannot wait to see his act in the upcoming Homebound which has already received great reviews. Apart from Ishaan Khattar Vihaan Samrat as Yuvraj Digvijay also gives solid support with his nuanced act. His character has the most grounded arc and the actor does a very good job. There is an interesting subplot of Digvijay of wanting to prove himself as a chef without the baggage of being a royal family member. Vihaan Samrat does a very fine job specifically in these portions. Mention must also be made of the scene where Digvijay clears the doubts of Aviraaj handling him with the required love.

Ishaan Khattar and Bhumi

Among the ladies Sakshi Tanwar has the meatiest role as maharani Padmaja. In spite of being a maharani Sakshi Tanwar’s character doesn’t come across as a usual rigid queen. The romantic subplot with the dashing Chunky Pandey shows a different facet to her personality. The way Sakshi portrays Padmaja’s need for love and embracing her libido (sexual desire) is a delight to watch. Veteran actress Zeenat Aman starts off promisingly but suffers on the account of a sketchy characterization, nevertheless Zeenat Aman plays her part with flair. Bhumi Pednekar as Sophia is a mixed bag. The actress looks glamorous with those stunning outfits looking every inch a fierce CEO but on the performance front she come across as rather flat with her expressions. She does ace some of the emotional ones like the portion where Sophia is ousted from her position however the consistency is missing. Also she doesn’t look comfortable in the dances with Ishaan, the chemistry between the two is quite underwhelming with Ishaan putting most of the effort.

Sakshi Tanwar and Zeenat Aman

A major problem with Royals is the clumsy treatment of the LGBTQIA+ representation. Milind Soman plays the father of Aviraaj. He is a closeted gay revealed at a crucial juncture. The past of Milind Soman’s character had good scope for emotional drama but the haphazard narration makes it more of a checklist to be added. Even the lesbian track with Kavya Trehan as Yuvarani Divyaranjini is more of an add on for inclusivity than cohesive storytelling.

The show also needed more depth in the writing of secondary characters, Milind Soman is mostly reduced to a wallpaper, the likes of Nora Fatehi and Dino Morea also don’t get much to do coming and going at the scripts convivence.

Final word: Royals makes for a fun watch provided you can get past the initial episodes and not looking for something very deep.

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Test: An intriguing character study exploring the themes of morality and ambition

Much like its title Test plays out like a five-day test match in the beginning portions gradually building up the tension and the conflict points, however it hits a sixer with a crucial twist and the second half in particular plays out like a roller coaster.
  • Starcast: R Madhavan, Nayanathara. Siddarth, Meera Jasmine and others
  • Genre: Drama/thriller
  • Writer and director: S Sashikanth
  • Additional writer: Suman Kumar
  • Producers: Chakravarthy Ramachandra and S Sashikanth
  • Cinematography: Viraj Singh Gohli
  • Music: Shaktisree Gopalan
  • Production Company: Y NOT Studios
  • Streaming site: Netflix
  • Running time: 2 hours and 26 minutes

Characters with grey shades always make for fascinating on-screen characters, the reason being many of us have a grey area within us. More often than not a person being good or bad depends on how you react to the circumstances. Sometimes even the purest person can become evil due to an inability to cope with the challenges.

Test directed by S Sashikanth begins with an interesting quote. “A hero will sacrifice the person they love to save the world, but a villain will sacrifice the world in order to save the person they love.” this quote perfectly sums up the core theme of Test. The three protagonists are often pushed to their limits forcing them to choose between morality and self-interest. The plot of Test primarily focuses on three characters from different paths of life, but their journeys get intertwined. Arjun Viswanathan (Siddarth) is a major batsman going through a professional crisis. He is almost at the end of his career. There are huge rumors of him retiring during an important test series against Pakistan. In order to save his career Arjun resorts to media manipulation forcing the selectors to play him. On the other hand, you have R Madhavan’s Saravanan and Nayanathara’s Kumudha. Sarvanan is an MIT scientist struggling to get his project on alternative energy approved, he is also drowning in debt. Kumudha on the other hand is longing to become a mother through the procedure of IVF, but it isn’t happening due to certain problems. As the plot progresses all three characters face life alternating scenarios where their integrities are put at test.

As already mentioned, the movie Test plays along the lines of a five-day test match. A majority of the first half is devoted to establishing the different hurdles faced by the characters. Director S Shashikanth along with Suman Kumar slowly build up the simmering tension particularly the dynamics of R Madhavan and Nayanathara. Towards the end of the first half the movie gets into a thriller mode with the backdrop of match fixing and a crucial change in the character of Sarvanan. From here the graph of the movie becomes more interesting.

R Madhavan and Nayanathara share a magnetic chemistry

A strong aspect of Test is the psychological insight that the director and the writer have given exploring the motivations of the primary characters. This can be particularly felt in the character of R Madhavan. There is an interesting juxtaposition here. Saravanan is someone who is working on a groundbreaking project which could benefit the humanity however he doesn’t have the privileges of Siddarth’s Arjun. The survival struggle of Saravanan and Arjun’s fight for legacy raises interesting questions.

Test also benefits immensely from the on-screen chemistry combined with the performances of Madhavan and Nayanthara. Both the actors share a magnetic chemistry whether it is some of the lovey Dovey moments or the more intense ones when their marriage starts to crumble. R Madhavan as Saravanan delivers a truly scintillating act. The way he goes from loving to slowly grey and eventually psychotic is brilliant to watch. A major reason for the second half turning out the way it does is due to his outstanding act. R Madhavan is truly aging like fine wine proving his versatility with wide range of characters. A specific portion worthy of mentioning here is a slap scene featuring Saravanan and Kumuda. A wide range of emotions are on display ranging from frustration, concern, instant guilt and then regret. This portion itself is a perfect example of why R Madhavan is one of the best actors working in the industry today. Nayanthara as Kumudha also delivers a strong act. The way she portrayals the dual shades of her role the motherly concern for her students by becoming their cheerleader at the same time the grey shades too is a sheer delight to watch.

A lovey dovey moment between R Madhavan and Nayanathara

Siddarth as Arjun though could have done with more intensity. His act is more internalized and does suffer somewhat from weak writing. Having said that Siddarth also gets into his groove when the stakes become very high, and Arjun goes through an emotional upheaval connected to the missing son. Meera Jasmine as Arjun’s wife does a fine job too. The confrontation scenes between the two actors strike the right emotional cord. Having said that here too the writing could have been much better. The subplot of India and Pakistan test match feels like more of an add on and doesn’t add much to the proceedings.

Siddarth as Arjun

The music by Shaktisree Gopalan is a major speed breaker. The songs don’t add much value to the proceedings. However, the cinematography of Viraj Singh Gohli is of a good standard. A particular mention must be made of his work during the emotional scenes.

Final word: Watch Test if you like complex human dramas and of course if you are an R Madhavan fan

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Adolescence: A haunting cautionary tale particularly for parents

Behind the scenes third episode of Adolescence web series

Adolescence directed by Philip Barantini is a thought provoking tale on the modern pressures faced by parents in this rapidly changing world thanks to the massive technological developments. The director does a fantastic job in exploring the issues of societal pressures and online radicalization among others.

Starcast: Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, Ashley Walters, Faye Marsay and others

Direction: Philip Barantini

Creator and writer: Stephen Graham

Additional writer: Jack Thorne

Music: Aaron May and David Ridley

Producer: Jo Johnson

Production Companies: Its All Made Up Productions, One Shoe Films etc.

Cinematographer: Matthew Lewis

No of episodes: 4

Streaming site: Netflix

Raising a child successfully is easily one of the most difficult tasks for any parent more so in today’s digital age. The influences from outside specifically the online culture comes with its share of both positives and negatives. Additionally giving your child sufficient time isn’t easy for those who have hectic working schedules. The latest Netflix show Adolescence has been the talk of the town ever since its release. The series has struck a huge chord with not just the western audiences but it has also broken language barriers. A prime reason for that is the shows central theme which has a universal resonance.

The central plot of Adolescence is the arrest of James Miller (an outstanding Owen Cooper). James is arrested for the murder of his fellow female classmate in the nearby woods. Stephen Graham and Christine Tremarco play James Miller’s parents Eddie Miller and Manda Miller respectively. Naturally both of them are heartbroken at this revelation. Their life undergoes a 360 degrees turn struggling to comprehend on how their seemingly good son can be capable of a crime like this. Adolescence doesn’t play out like a traditional whodunit because after a point it is firmly established that James is indeed the killer. The focus is more on the psychological and emotional trauma faced by the family.

A major strength of Adolescence web series is how Philip Barantini along with Stephan Graham present a realistic picture on the issues faced by modern parents. On many occasions Adolescence holds a mirror to today’s society hitting a raw nerve. By the end of the show many parents or going to be ones will definitely think about how much are they really present in the lives of their children.

The show also does a very good job in portraying the hidden struggles which youngsters face unknown to the parents and how a huge divide is coming between the parents and children. Adolescence also presents a disturbing picture on the dangers of online bullying and incel culture. Incel culture refers to a community of men who are frustrated with their inability to attract women sexually. They often blame the women for their failures.

Another big strength of Adolescence is the characterization of the central character coupled with Owen Cooper’s outstanding act. The series doesn’t entirely demonize James Miller, instead the show treats him as a victim of an ecosystem which fosters alienation. The perfect example of this is the scene between James and clinical psychologist Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty).

Erin Doherty as the clinical psychologist

In this portion a psychological insight is given into the actions of James with specific focus on the culture of incel and online bullying. There is a dignity and sensitivity in the way these portions have been filmed. The entire track reminds the viewers of James not being a complete adult yet. The fact that James is still a growing boy makes the situation even more tragic.

Mention must also be made of Ashley Walters as DI Bascombe. There is a nuanced approach in the way the role has been written and performed. At no point DI Bascombe comes across as overly aggressive or antagonistic.

Ashley Walter as DI Bascombe

As James Miller Owen Cooper expertly handles a complex role way above his age. A particular mention must be made of his performance in the third episode. The unhinged manner in which he plays the series most crucial portion firmly establishes him as a talent to look out.

Stephen Graham is another actor who stands out with his heartfelt portrayal of an emotionally charged father. The way he portrays the feelings of guilt, grief and self doubt is a sheer delight to watch. The actor specifically stands out in the scene where he questions his entire existence of being a parent. One of the most stand out scenes belong to Stephen Graham and Manda Miller. There is a very poignant conversation between them when Stephen Graham’s Eddie says the following dialogue.

Stephen Graham is another actor who stands out with his heartfelt portrayal of an emotionally charged father

“I used to play with him, then work picked up and I started coming home late. Maybe I didn’t give him the time I should have”. This dialogue very aptly sums up the importance of an emotional presence in the life of a child.

Another very striking aspect of Adolescence web series is the way the show has been shot. Cinematographer Matthew Lewis has filmed each episode as continuous shots with no visible cuts. This adds to the immersive nature of the show.

The one slight flaw in Adolescence is the lack of complete perspective from the side of girl’s family. Obviously the girl’s parents would also be going through major emotional upheavals. But this isn’t touched upon in the slightest.

Final word: Adolescence is a spine chilling drama very much worth your time. The show is truly a banger.

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Nadaaniyan (innocence/ naivety) : A confident debut from Ibrahim Ali Khan

Director Shauna Gautam along with the writers don’t break any new grounds here as the movie feels like a recycled version of several Dharma rom coms still the plot moves at a brisk pace and some of the emotional moments in the later half do land. It also helps that Ibrahim and Khushi share a cute chemistry
  • Starcast: Ibrahim Ali Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Sunil Shetty, Mahima Choudhary, Dia Mirza, Jugal Hansraj and others
  • Direction: Shauna Gautam
  • Genre: Romantic comedy
  • Screenplay: Ishita Moitra, Jehan Handa and Riva Razdan Kapoor,
  • Story: Riva Razdan Kapoor
  • Music: Sachin Jigar
  • Cinematography: Anuj Samtani
  • Production Company: Dharmatic Entertainment
  • Producers: Karan Johar, Somen Mishra and Apoorva Mehta
  • Running time: 1 hour and 59 minutes
  • Streaming site: Netflix

Nadaaniyan streaming on Netflix much like the 2023 Archies serves as more of a launch pad for star kids in this case Ibrahim Ali Khan rather than telling a cohesive story. Unlike Archies though Nadanniyan isn’t unwatchable, the storyline moves at a brisk pace leaving viewers little time to ponder on the flimsy scenarios particularly for the undemanding audiences. The movie also does succeed in positioning Ibrahim Ali Khan as the next chocolate boy something which I will get to later.

Nadaaniyan begins with establishing the character of Pia Jaisingh (Khushi Kapoor). Pia is an elite Delhi girl dealing with the issues of a broken family. She is on the verge of loosing her sister like best friends due to certain lie. In order to save her friendship she persuades the new joinee Arjun Mehta (Ibrahim Ali Khan) to become her boyfriend for Rs 25, 000 per week. Arjun comes from a less polished background, he agrees to this proposal for furthering his own ambitions. What starts off as pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend takes a very drastic turn when things become serious. This is the story in brief.

One of the things which work in Nadaaniyan is its self aware tone. Right from the first frame director Shauma Gautam succeeds in establishing the character traits particularly that of Pia and her rich folk without wasting any time. The director does a fine job in capturing how a lot of gen z looks at the concept of love. The characters use the help of AL to express romantic feelings. At one point Pia makes Arjun Mehta pose romantically just to get some social media likes.

Although Nadaaniyan operates on a strictly surface level it has also got some nice emotional touches particularly in the later half when Pia and Arjun actually fall in love. Pia is someone who comes from a patriarchal family where the father played by a daper Sunil Shetty thinks that the law firm Jaisingh&Sons needs a male heir to carry forward their legacy. Jugal Hansraj and Dia Mirza on the other hand play the cool parents of Arjun. How their actions indirectly play a strong role in strengthening their love is interesting to watch.

Talking about debutant Ibrahim Ali Khan the young actor has a very striking resemblance to father Saif Ali Khan. He gives a major deja vu of the 90’s Saif with his chiseled physique and overall body language. Ibrahim makes an impressive debut particularly in the key dramatic scenes like the portion where Arjun has a breakdown expressing his emotional vulnerability. Khushi Kapoor’s Pia Singh starts off as more of a barbie doll but as the plot progress Pia emerges as a strong personality. Khushi like Ibrahim also does a competent job in the emotionally charged moments. The chemistry between Ibrahim and Khushi is also good within the confines of the flimsy script.

Ibrahim Ali Khan gives a major deja vu of father Saif Ali Khan in the 90’s

Sunil Shetty and Mahima Choudhary lend some much needed gravitas as a once married couple dealing with problems of their own. Jugal Hansraj and Dia Mirza play the lovable parents to the hilt. Both of them play their roles with a lot of warmth.

Dia Mirza and Jugal Hansraj

A major problem with Nadaaniyan is how it borrows quite a bit from the staple cliches found in Dharma romantic films. This is very evident in the characterization of Mahima Choudhary who initially looks down upon Arjun just because his father is a doctor and not some businessman. The depiction of class divide is very similar to the one already seen in 2012’s Student of The Year. The movie also briefly dwells into the issue of patriarchy through the mindset of Sunil Shetty’s role but it doesn’t dig deep enough.

Anuj Samtani’s cinematography goes perfectly well with the nature of the movie. It’s very glossy giving it a rich look. Sachin Jigar’s music has a couple of soulful songs. Among the songs the title track is the best of the lot. Sung by Jonita Gandhi, Sachin Jigar and Varun Jain the track perfectly captures the movie’s central theme of youthful mistakes, love and discovery. Mention must also be made of Ishq Mein sung by Sachet Tandon. Ishq Mein perfectly embodies the euphoria of love.

Final word: Watch Nadaaniyan if you are curious to know on how Ibrahim Ali Khan has fared in his debut or are in the mood for something undemanding.

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Dabba Cartel : Solid performances marred with uneven narrative

More than a crime drama, ‘Dabba Cartel’ works as an interesting character study of women across different strata of society.

Dabba Cartel (Hindi), 28-02-2025, Action, Drama, 7 episodes, 16+, OTT

  • Main Cast: Shabhana Azmi, Jyothika, Shalini Pandey, Nimisha Sajayan, Anjali Anand, and Sai Tamhankar
  • Director: Hitesh Bhatia
  • Producer: Farhan Akhar, Ritesh Sidwani, and Shibani Akhtar
  • Music Director: Gaurav Raina and Tarana Marwah
  • Cinematography: Eeshit Narain
  • Rating: 3/5

Hitesh Bhatia’s Dabba Cartel centres on various women across different social strata. The director is successful in creating interesting characters and also making some impactful social commentary.

More than a crime drama, Dabba Cartel works as an interesting character study of women across different strata of society.

Synopsis

There is Raji (Shalini Pandey) running a small Tiffin service with her maid Mala (Nimisha Sajyayan), this soon becomes a drug cartel service thanks to Mala.

Mala secretly distributes a certain kind of Viagra to get extra cash. As a frustrated single mother grappling with society’s degradation of her, she wants to make sure that her daughter gets the best education.

Adding to the mix is a local broker, Shahida (Anjali Anand), and Varuna (Jyothika), the wife of Shankar Dasgupta (Jisshu Sengupta), a top executive at a pharmaceutical giant. Varuna, an ex-employee of the company, is now a regular housewife. Her relationship with her husband is on the brink of disintegration.

Shabana Azmi plays Raji’s mother-in-law referred to as Baa aka Sheila. She has a dark secret of her own. Due to certain circumstances, these five women form a group. On the surface, the connection between women and a drug cartel may seem dubious but here it’s more about survival rather than power.

Strengths

Shabana Azmi in Dabba Cartel
Shabana Azmi in ‘Dabba Cartel’. (X)

A strong aspect of Dabba Cartel is how Hitesh Batia uses the set-up of the pharmaceutical company. It becomes a very useful accessory for women to run the drug cartel while using the Tiffin service grounded in home-cooked meals as a front.

This setup is used cleverly to play up on some of the societal norms that we reduce women to particularly homemakers.

Thankfully director Hitesh Bhatia, along with the writers Vishnu Menon and Bhavana Kher ground the narrative from the lived experience of these women. The show is shaped more by the biases which play a significant role and the subsequent decisions they make under pressure.

The show also excels in its depiction of gender dynamics. The male characters, particularly the husbands are very dismissive of their wives, particularly Shankar.

There is a brilliant confrontation between Varuna and Shankar, concerning an important revelation. This revelation acts as a major drive for Varuna.

In more ways than one Dabba Cartel is a character-driven show rather than a plot-driven one.

Flaws

A major problem with Drug Cartel is some of the patchily written tracks. For example, in the beginning episodes, a character called Chavan is given a lot of importance but is soon forgotten after a point.

Even the LGBTQ+ track involving Anjali Anand’ Shahida and Sai Tamhankar’ Preeti isn’t organically woven. Varuna’s acceptance in the group could also have been better written particularly given that she is an outsider for others.

Characterisation

Gajraj Rao in Dabba Cartel
Gajraj Rao in ‘Dabba Cartel’. (X)

The supposed invisibility of these housewives becomes their biggest weapon. Mention must also be made of the track involving Gajaraj Rao and an eager-to-prove police officer played by Sai Tamhankar.

Gajraj Rao’s character is an officer from Narcotics who wants to unveil the duplicities happening in the pharmaceutical company VivaLife. His detective-like persona coupled with the desperation of Sai Tamhankar’s Preeti in solving her first major case adds an interesting layer to the web show, particularly in the middle episodes.

Some of the tension-filled moments where a heist kind of mission takes place with the use of the song from the famous Excel Entertainment movie Don add a touch of mischievousness.

Performances

Shalini Pandey and Jyothika in Dabba Cartel
Shalini Pandey and Jyothika in ‘Dabba Cartel’. (X)

Not surprisingly, Dabba Cartel is mostly shouldered by its female cast with particular mention of Shabana Azmi, Nimisha Sajayan and Jyothika.

Shabana Azmi has a towering presence and portrays the role with her usual finesse, she conveys a lot through her eyes and overall body language. Nimisha Sajayan does a very good job of capturing the fiery nature of a woman from a marginalized community.

The character’s need for respect has been portrayed brilliantly by the actor. Jyothika as the seemingly happy housewife with a growing resentment is also a delight to watch.

Among the men, Gajraj Rao leaves the biggest impact as the no-nonsense investigator followed by Jisshu Sengupta.

Technical aspects

The music composed by Gaurav Raina and Tarana Marwah is funky jellying perfectly with the nature of the series.

Eeshit Narian’s cinematography is also of a very good standard. He effectively captures the rooted middle-class milieu through his lens. His cinematography is particularly impressive in the scenes of the crowded alleys and the heavy monsoons.

Final take

To sum it up Dabba Cartel doesn’t completely deliver, still, the show is worth watching for its fantastic female cast.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/dabba-cartel-web-series-review-solid-performances-marred-with-uneven-narrative/

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Anuja (short movie): An emotional tale of sisterhood

In its run time of 22 minutes director Adam J Graves subtly touches upon the issue of child labor, however the movie never becomes depressing as the focus is on hope for a better future

Sometimes a short film become a very powerful medium for a director to talk about important subjects. A short movie by nature needs a concise narrative and this can be very helpful for certain directors who aren’t comfortable with the long format of movies and web shows. Anuja directed by Adam J Graves and backed by Guneet Monga, Priyanka Chopra etc has made international waves. Its one of the five movies that has been nominated for the Oscar in the Best Live Action Short Film Category and deservedly so.

The storyline of Anuja streaming on Netflix focuses on two sisters Anuja (Sajda Pathan) and Palak (Ananya Shanbag). Both work in a government factory of Delhi. Things take a dramatic turn when Anuja is given an opportunity of life time due to her strong mathematical skills. It sheds light on the dilemmas faced by Anuja of wanting to break out of the social hierarchy while making sure that she is also able to survive. Through this tale of two sisters the movie gives a glimpse into the dark underbelly of child labor. The movie also takes digs on the nature of matrimonial ads where the focus is always on fair skinned brides.

The best part of Anuja is how it highlights the struggles of marginalized children. Their desires of going to school clashing with the necessity of earning livelihood. This has come out well in the dilemmas faced by both the sisters particularly Sajda Pathan.

The characterization of the government factory supervisor as the calculative villain may across as too predictable but it mirrors the harsh reality. Another striking aspect of Anuja is how it looks at the idea of stealing from the perspective of the downtrodden.

The idea of stealing is generally termed to be bad but sometimes the downtrodden are left with no other option. The exploration of the morality concept in today’s world has come out strongly through this angle. A particular mention must be made of the scene where Palak steals a left over cloth for a reason. She questions the supervisor on why her thieving of left over garments is such a crime.

Both the child actors Sajda and Ananya Shanbag deliver very good performances making the viewers believe in the deep love that the sisters have for each other.

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Black Warrant web series review: A gritty insider account into the functioning of Asia’s biggest prison— Tihar

Creator and director Vikramaditya Motwane presents a very gritty picture of the deeply horrifying situations where it is very difficult for a prisoner to reform.

Black Warrant (Hindi), 10-01-2025, Action, Drama, 7 episodes16+, OTT

  • Main Cast: Zahan Kapoor, Rahul Bhat, Paramvir Singh Cheema, and Anurag Thakur
  • Director: Vikramaditya Motwane, Satyanshu Singh, Rohin Raveendran Nair, and Arkesh Ajay
  • Producer: Andolan Films, Applause Entertainment, and Confluence Media
  • Music Director: Ajay Jayanthi
  • Cinematography: Saumyananda Sahi
  • Rating: 4/5

For those who are not aware Vikramaditya Motwane’s latest work is based on the novel of the same name Black Warrant.

It was written by a jailer about the notorious functioning of the Tihar Jail set in the 80’s.

The novel explores the intricate power structure and the various hierarchies based on both caste and religion.

Synopsis

In this web series adaption of the novel Zahan Kapoor plays Sunil Gupta, a shy and confused man starting off as a meek person who eventually grows in confidence and becomes a determined jailer wanting to bring reform. And he eventually does succeed as well.

Sunil Gupta is credited with starting Tihar’s first legal aid cell. The series showcases the various experiences of Sunil starting from his meeting with the enigmatic Charles Sobharaj (a charming Siddhant Gupta).

Then you have also got the killers of PM Indira Gandhi among many others. Rahul Bhatt plays the morally grey deputy jailer Tomar. The other important characters are played by Paramveer Cheema and Anurag Thakur.

Strengths of the series

Zahan Kapoor in Black Warrant
Zahan Kapoor in ‘Black Warrant’. (X)

A strong aspect of Black Warrant is the authentic depiction of the prison world with no artificiality. The division of the prisoners based on their caste, religion and money has come out strongly in numerous scenes.

The operation of the numerous gangs within the prison makes the viewers think about the flawed system where there isn’t much scope for reform. The web series also touches upon the plight of innocent prisoners, the category who are a victim of some malicious police officers.

Black Warrant also dwells on how the prisoners are often viewed as inhuman by the jail authorities. There is a brilliant scene involving a research scholar. This person comes to Tihar jail to get a psychological insight into the minds of prisoners. As a response an inmate says “Why do you want to do research on people like us struck in a cage are we animals?”

To this, the character says, “I am researching to prove you people are not animals.” This perfectly sums up the general attitude of the jail authorities. There is a deeply disturbing portion when Sunil along with his colleagues finds out about a senior jailor making money by depriving the prisoners of their basic needs.

Strong characterisation

Another big strength of Black Warrant is the characterization of Zahan Kapoor. The character of Sunil starts off as a vulnerable young man who in no way looks like a tough jailor capable of controlling the prison inmates but as the series progresses we see Sunil getting more confident.

Black Warrant is a jail drama
‘Black Warrant’ is a jail drama. (X)

There is a palpable determination in the way he wants to bring out prison reforms. Zahan does a very good job of bringing out these nuances. The young actor proves that he is truly worthy of the illustrious Kapoor lineage.

The web series also dwells on how the lives of Jailers aren’t very glamorous at least back in the 80’s. There is an important scene where Sunil’s father tells his son to not reveal his profession while seeing a prospective bride, however, Sunil doesn’t follow his father’s advice, instead, he talks about his profession with absolute honesty.

Black Warrant also works due to the way the other important characters have been written with utmost care. Both Anurag Thakur and Paramveer Cheema also have solid graphs. The camaraderie shared between the characters isn’t hammered in; still, it works strong when required.

Many of the subplots in the web series are inspired by real-life incidents from the times of Indira Gandhi’s government. Certain capital punishments reflect deeply entranced class and casteist biases.

Then you also have the prisoners belonging to a more affluent part of the prison. A serial killer is seen roaming free; there is also an instigator of murder getting plenty of time to have romantic meetings. Apart from these you also have the arrest of JNU Students. There is a hilarious scene exposing the incompetent nature of jail staff.

Technical aspects and performances

Saumyananda Sahi’s cinematography is another major plus. He does a very good in recreating both the 80’s atmosphere and also the grittiness of the prison portions.

Apart from Zahan Kapoor’s breakthrough performance the show also benefits from Rahul Bhatt’s stellar turn. As a mostly self-serving boss with moments of genuine empathy for his fellow men Rahul Bhatt is simply fantastic.

Sidhant Gupta in the role of Charles Sobhraj has brief screen time but the young actor makes his presence amply felt. He perfectly captures the body language starting from the accented dialogue delivery.

The women characters in Black Warrant are mostly relegated to the background except for Rajshri Deshpande— as the firebrand reporter. This is only the slight flaw of the web series.

Final take

Overall Black Warrant is a must-watch for those who like gritty stories based on real-life incidents.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/black-warrant-web-series-review-a-gritty-insider-account-into-the-functioning-of-asias-biggest-prison-tihar/