Star Cast: Sohum Shah

Director: Girish Kohli

Crazxy Movie Review Synopsis:
CRAZXY is the story of a man in danger. Dr Abhimanyu Sood (Sohum Shah) works in a Delhi hospital. He leaves for his workplace with Rs. 5 crores in his car. Suddenly, he gets a call from a mysterious man who claims that he has kidnapped his daughter Vedika (Unnati Surana). Abhimanyu, at first, assumes that it’s a prank call. But soon, reality dawns upon him. The kidnapper asks for a ransom of Rs. 5 crores for his daughter’s life. Abhimanyu gets suspicious; he wonders whether the kidnapper knows that he’s carrying Rs. 5 crores. He doubts his ex-wife Bobby (voiced by Nimisha Sajayan), especially at the instigation of his current partner (voiced by Shilpa Shukla). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Crazxy Movie Story Review:
Girish Kohli’s story is minimal. Yet, Girish Kohli’s screenplay is gripping and keeps the viewers engaged only to go haywire in the climax. Girish Kohli’s dialogues are straight out of life.

Girish Kohli’s direction is fair as the whole film is a one-actor show for most parts. Yet, one realizes this much later. This is because, unlike many such films which are set in one location, the protagonist in CRAZXY is running around. The other actors do join him but only through audio calls and rarely through video calls. Hence, it doesn’t give an incomplete feeling. In the second half, the film goes to dizzying heights in the scene where Abhimanyu changes the tyre of his car while also dealing with a crisis at work. It is one of the most unique scenes of Bollywood and will be loved.

But in the end, the film comes crashing down. The suspense is unpredictable but it’s also silly and will not be accepted by a majority of the moviegoers. Moreover, the lack of buzz will also prove detrimental.

Crazxy Movie Review Performances:
Sohum Shah single-handedly shoulders the film and plays his role with panache. He’s exceptional in the tyre-changing scene as well as in the climax, though the latter is let down by the writing, as mentioned above. Unnati Surana leaves a mark in a small role. Speaking of the voiceovers, Tinnu Anand is the best of the lot; his voice is instantly recognizable. Nimisha Sajayan and Shilpa Shukla are equally good followed by Piyush Mishra (Dr Nilay Majumdar)

Crazxy movie music and other technical aspects:
Vishal Bhardwaj’s music is okay. ‘Paapi’ stands out while the recreations of ‘Abhimanyu Chakravyuh Mein’ and ‘Goli Maar Bheje Mein’ are impressive. Jesper Kyd’s background score is top-class and elevates impact.

Sunil Ramkrishna Borkar and Kuldeep Mamania’s cinematography gives a big-screen feel. Sheetal Duggal and Amit Waghchaure’s production design and Abhilasha Devnani’s costumes are authentic. Vicky Arora’s action is realistic. Sanyukta Kaza and Rythem Lath’s editing is satisfactory.

Crazxy Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, CRAZXY rests on Sohum Shah’s bravura performance and some engaging moments. But the film suffers big time due to the disappointing climax. The limited hype might further affect its box office prospects.

Star Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Shashank Arora, Vineet Kumar Singh

Director: Reema Kagti

Superboys Of Malegaon Movie Review Synopsis:
SUPERBOYS OF MALEGAON is the story of friendship and filmmaking. The year is 1997. Nasir Shaikh (Adarsh Gourav) runs a video parlour in Malegaon. He prefers to show world cinema and hence, he gets limited footfall while the other theatre in the vicinity benefits by showing popular Hindi films. To attract higher footfalls, Nasir edits action scenes from different old classics creatively and presents them to the viewers. It leads to house full shows as Nasir markets it as a 4-films-in-1-ticket show. Soon, the cops, accusing Nasir of piracy, raid the parlour and damage the equipment. This is when Nasir decides to make his own film so that he can’t be blamed for pirating any film. As expected, no one believes him and he’s mocked for it. Nasir even has to let go of his girlfriend, Mallika (Riddhi Kumar), as her father gets her married to a settled chap. Before their break up, Mallika insists that he should fulfil his dream of making a film. Soon, his friends like Shafique (Shashank Arora), Farogh (Vineet Kumar Singh), Akram (Anuj Singh Duhan), Aleem (Pallav Singh) and Irfan (Saqib Ayub), join him. Realizing that Malegaon residents desire to see a comedy, he decides to make a spoof version of SHOLAY [1975]. By doing so, he gives birth to the Malegaon film industry. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Superboys Of Malegaon Movie Story Review:
Varun Grover’s story is fascinating. Varun Grover’s screenplay is engaging and peppered with funny, emotional and dramatic moments. However, the writing does have a few rough edges. Varun Grover and Shoaib Zulfi Nazeer’s dialogues are sharp.

Reema Kagti’s direction is exceptional and uncomplicated. She establishes the setting and the characters and doesn’t waste time in establishing the crux of the story. The scenes of Nasir and his team trying to make the film and convince the residents about it are amusing and give a nice déjà vu of cult Marathi film, HARISHCHANDRACHI FACTORY [2010]. The film also focuses on friendship and it is a nice ode to the previous Excel entertainers like DIL CHAHTA HAI [2001], ROCK ON [2008], ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA [2011], FUKREY series, etc. A few scenes that stand out are Nasir editing films creatively, Mallika’s father rejecting the proposal, the entry scene of Trupti (Manjari Pupala) and the premiere scene. The intermission point is memorable. The last 20 minutes are captivating while the final scene is very moving and is sure to give goosebumps to the viewers.

On the flipside, the film dips at the beginning of the second half and also, there’s a shift in the tonality of the narrative. As the story moves from 2004 and then 2010, one wonders where the film is heading. A few tracks like Trupti’s domestic issues get a raw deal and a little more time should have been devoted to it. Also, the biggest issue with the film is that its trailer doesn’t do justice to its greatness. Its posters are also dull and as a result, the excitement surrounding the film is very limited.

Superboys Of Malegaon – Official Theatrical Trailer | In Cinemas – 28th Feb | Prime Video India

Superboys Of Malegaon Movie Review Performances:
Adarsh Gourav handles the lead part with perfection. He does justice to a character who is a leader and can influence his friends. Vineet Kumar Singh, after CHHAAVA, delivers yet another powerful performance. Watch out for him during the interval point. Shashank Arora doesn’t get much scope initially but dominates the show in the second half. He takes the climax to dizzying heights with his mere expressions. Manjari Pupala leaves a mark while Muskkaan Jaferi (Shabeena) once again proves her worth. Gyanendra Tripathi (Nihal; Nasir’s brother) is decent but his character is similar to the recently-released web series, BADA NAAM KARENGE. Anuj Singh Duhan, Pallav Singh, Saqib Ayub, Sanjay Dadich (Siraj), Abhinav Grover (Raju; tea seller) and Yash Yogendra (Asif Albela) lend able support. Dhananjay Kapoor (Nashik doctor) and Jagdish Rajpurohit (Sunny Talreja; producer) are fair.

Superboys Of Malegaon movie music and other technical aspects:
Sachin-Jigar’s music is poor. The sole song ‘Bande’ is forgettable. But Sachin-Jigar’s background score is very catchy and creative.

Swapnil S Sonawane’s cinematography is superior. Bhawna Sharma’s costumes are realistic. Sally White’s production design is impressive, especially the set of Prince Video Parlour and its changing décor over the years. Sally’s VFX is apt for this film. Anand Subaya’s editing could have been slicker at the beginning of the second half.

Superboys Of Malegaon Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, SUPERBOYS OF MALEGAON tells an unbelievable true story and is a fine celebration of friendship and cinema. Sadly, the film has hardly made any noise due to its dull assets. Hence, it would need a strong word of mouth to attract the viewers to cinemas.

Star Cast: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce

Director: Brady Corbet

The Brutalist Movie Review Synopsis:
THE BRUTALIST is the story of a visionary architect. In 1947, László Tóth (Adrien Brody) arrives in the USA. He is a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor and also a reputed architect. But he’s a nobody in the USA and is forced to start from scratch. He has been forcibly separated by his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) at the concentration camp and he misses her dearly. In the USA, his cousin Attila (Alessandro Nivola) and his Catholic wife Audrey (Emma Laird) offer him accommodation and also a job at his furniture shop. One day, they meet Harry Lee Van Buren (Joe Alwyn) who asks them to renovate the library at their mansion as a surprise for his father, the wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce). László and Attila work hard and design a world-class library. Sadly, Harrison doesn’t like it and ousts the cousins from his estate. Attila blames László for the unexpected turn of events and kicks him out. As a result, László starts working as a coal labourer. Three years later, Harrison meets him and expresses regret over his behaviour. He offers him another job and through a common friend, also expedites the immigration of László’s wife and niece Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy). Life finally seems to be on track for László but soon, he comes across some shocking turn of events in his life. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

The Brutalist Movie Story Review:
Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold’s story is intriguing. Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold’s screenplay is gripping but only in a few places. The dialogues are realistic. Sadly, in a rare instance, this Universal Studios film has no subtitles and hence, it’s a struggle to understand certain dialogues, especially the ones mouthed by Adrien Brody in his Hungarian accent.

Brady Corbet’s direction is okay. To give credit where it’s due, he uses creative filmmaking styles that impress viewers, be it the unique opening credit cards, the use of music or the final scene being presented as if it’s a footage from the bygone era. The film gives the impression that it’s based on a true story. Some scenes that stand out are Harrison ousting László for renovating his library, Harrison and László meeting after three years, László meeting Erzsébet after ages, Harry informing László that they are ‘tolerating him’ etc. The pre-climax is arresting.

On the flipside, the film has a runtime of 202 minutes. It moves at a very slow pace and tests the patience of the audience. The narrative is a bit like a docu-drama, which might not be liked by a section of the moviegoers. As mentioned above, there are no subtitles and the censor cuts further hamper the impact.

The Brutalist Movie Review Performances:
Adrien Brody delivers one of the finest performances of his career, at par with his act in THE PIANIST [2002]. He also expresses through his expressions beautifully. Felicity Jones has a late entry and then dominates the show. Guy Pearce, on the other hand, has a dramatic entry scene and later on, impresses with his subtle but impactful performance. Raffey Cassidy leaves a mark in a small role. Joe Alwyn is impressive while Alessandro Nivola, Emma Laird, Isaach de Bankolé (Gordon), Stacy Martin (Maggie; Harrison’s daughter) and Jonathan Hyde (Leslie; builder) are decent.

The Brutalist movie music and other technical aspects:
Daniel Blumberg’s music is unconventional and adds to the cinematic appeal. Lol Crawley’s cinematography gives the film a grand appeal and is also immersive in several places. Judy Becker’s production design is very impressive and it is a must as it’s a film based on architecture. Kate Forbes’ costumes are realistic. Dávid Jancsó’s editing is slow.

The Brutalist Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, despite boasting powerhouse performances from Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce – each delivering award-worthy performances – THE BRUTALIST struggles to hold the Indian audience’s interest. While its 10 Oscar nominations have garnered global attention, the film’s sluggish narrative, lack of subtitles, excessive 202-minute runtime and censor cuts significantly dilute the experience.

Star Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Monica Barbaro, Edward Norton

Director: James Mangold 

A Complete Unknown Movie Review Synopsis:
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN is the story of a man who changed the face of music. The year is 1961. Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) arrives in a New York hospital to meet his music idol, Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy), who’s suffering from a terminal illness. At the hospital, Bob also bumps into fellow musician, Pete Seeger (Edward Norton). Pete is charmed by Bob’s music and offers to accommodate him for the night. Both get close and Pete introduces him to New York City’s folk scene. Albert Grossman (Dan Fogler) loves his performance and becomes his manager. As a result, his career takes off. He begins dating a girl named Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) and also simultaneously has an affair with a musician, Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). Soon, his ego, aloof nature and his quest to hide his origins cause cracks in his inter-personal relationships. What happens next forms the rest of the film. 

A Complete Unknown Movie Story Review:
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN is based on the book ‘Dylan Goes Electric!’ by Elijah Wald. The story is interesting as not many would know about the life of Bob Dylan. James Mangold and Jay Cocks’ screenplay is a mixed bag. It’s captivating for most parts but it’s also stretched at several places. The dialogues are fine.

James Mangold’s direction is decent. The protagonist is well fleshed out and to see his life journey is fascinating. The best part of the enterprise is the songs and the compelled performances add to the impact. A few scenes that stand out are Bob’s first meeting with Woody and Pete, Pete’s court hearing, Sylvie’s argument with Bob before her Europe trip, Bob performing ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ in his house, Bob meeting Bob Neuwirth (Will Harrison) in the elevator etc. The last 20-25 minutes are arresting.

On the flipside, the film is too long and a few scenes are repetitive. The periphery characters don’t get their due and their equation with Bob doesn’t get established neatly. Moreover, it follows a predictable pattern of other musical biopics like BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY [2018], ELVIS [2022] etc. 

A Complete Unknown Movie Review Performances:
Timothée Chalamet delivers a true-blue Oscar-worthy performance. He works hard on his accent and body language and yet, manages to make it look natural. He has also sung the songs and it elevates the impact. Monica Barbaro too does well with her act and singing. Edward Norton is dependable as always and all three of them deserve the Oscar nominations. Elle Fanning leaves a mark. Scoot McNairy plays a difficult part with conviction. Dan Fogler, Will Harrison, Boyd Holbrook and Eriko Hatsune (Toshi; Pete’s wife) lend able support. 

A Complete Unknown movie music and other technical aspects:
The songs are one of the USPs of the film. A few tracks that are memorable are ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’, ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’, ‘Song To Woody’, ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’ etc. The background score is appropriate.

Phedon Papamichael’s cinematography is praiseworthy. François Audouy’s production design brings alive the bygone era. Arianne Phillips’ costumes are authentic. Andrew Buckland and Scott Morris’ editing is weak. 

A Complete Unknown Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN is an overlong and sluggish affair that struggles to maintain momentum. However, Timothée Chalamet’s powerful performance holds the narrative together to a great extent. Releasing during Oscar week, the film might see a slight boost in footfalls from Monday, if it manages to clinch a couple of awards.

Star Cast: Ashutosh Rana, Sheeba Chaddha, Pavail Gulati, Isha Talwar

Director: Seemaa Desai

Kaushaljis VS Kaushal Movie Review Synopsis:
KAUSHALJIS VS KAUSHAL is the story of a son and his parents in a precarious situation. Yug (Pavail Gulati) works in Noida in the Van Gogh Advertising company, run by Maurya (Ashish Chowdhry). His father Sahil (Ashutosh Rana) and his mother Sangita (Sheeba Chaddha) reside in Kannauj. While Sahil works in a scent factory, Sangita likes to make perfumes as a hobby. Sahil wanted to be a qawwal but never got a chance due to his responsibilities. He and Sangita often quarrel over this and every other issue under the sun. Yug returns home for Holi and sees his parents quarrelling. He blasts them and suggests a permanent solution to it. Meanwhile, Yug meets Kiara (Isha Talwar) and both fall in love. Kiara comes from a broken family and dreams of marrying a man whose parents are together. One day, Yug goes to Kannauj and learns that his parents took his suggestion seriously and have headed for a divorce! On the other hand, Kiara lands up at Kannauj to meet his ‘loving’ parents. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Kaushaljis VS Kaushal Movie Story Review:
Seemaa Desai’s story is amusing and reminds one of the ‘Ayushmann Khurrana brand of cinema’. Seemaa Desai’s screenplay is engaging and peppered with some nice emotional and funny moments. Siddharth Goel and Seemaa Desai’s dialogues are memorable.

Seemaa Desai’s direction is neat. The setting looks real and is not pretentious. The characters also seem believable. The conflict in the tale raises a lot of laughs, especially at the mid-point of the film. At the same time, the emotional moments tug at your heartstrings. A few scenes that stand out are the four members of the family on a video call, Yug’s outburst and Yug and Kiara’s meeting at the café. The scene where Yug learns about divorce is hilarious. The next scene where Kiara arrives unexpectedly also adds to the madness. In the second half, the qawwali program is memorable and also the one where Sahil asks Yug to place his hand over his head.

On the flipside, the film is very talk-heavy; fewer dialogues would have had a better impact. A few scenes like Yug not recognizing his childhood friends or foreigners enjoying Holi had no relevance to the storyline and were needlessly added. Though the makers try their best, the idea of a middle-aged couple heading for divorce in a conservative town is unconvincing as it would have led to a lot of brouhaha; this aspect wasn’t shown at all. Lastly, except for divorce, the other conflicts get resolved very easily.

Kaushaljis VS Kaushal Movie Review Performances:
Ashutosh Rana and Sheeba Chaddha steal the show. Both are equally exceptional and take the film many notches higher with their mere presence. Pavail Gulati is dashing and does justice to his part. Isha Talwar has a dazzling smile and performance-wise, she’s first rate.  Brijendra Kala (Aseem) and Grusha Kapoor (Sheela) are dependable while Deeksha Joshi (Reet; Yug’s sister) leaves a mark. Yash Chaturvedi (Chatty), Neha Panda (Yug’s office colleague) and Ashish Chowdhry are decent in small roles.

Kaushaljis VS Kaushal movie music and other technical aspects:
The songs don’t leave a mark, except ‘Man Yeh Bawra’ and the qawwali song. Saurabh Bhalerao’s background score is appropriate. Preeti Sharma’s costumes are straight out of life and stylish for Pavail Gulati and Isha Talwar. Sumitraj Mishra’s production design is authentic. Mayur Hardas’s editing could have been slicker. The 131-minute-long film should have been shorter by 10-15 minutes.

Kaushaljis VS Kaushal Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, KAUSHALJIS VS KAUSHAL is a touching saga and is meant to be watched with the whole family. The awareness of the film is very limited and hopefully, the positive word of mouth will lead to a healthy viewership.

Star Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh, Bhumi Pednekar

Director: Mudassar Aziz 

Mere Husband Ki Biwi Movie Review Synopsis:
MERE HUSBAND KI BIWI is the story of a man torn between two women. Ankur Chadda (Arjun Kapoor) has got divorced from Prabhleen Kaur Dhillon (Bhumi Pednekar). He’s shattered as the dissolution of the marriage was very ugly. One day, he meets Antara Khanna (Rakul Preet Singh), his college classmate. Sparks fly between the two. Antara realizes that Ankur gets nightmares about his ugly fights with Prabhleen. Ankur tells Antara about his past and yet, Antara accepts him. All is going well until one day, he learns that Prabhleen has met with an accident. To his horror, Prabhleen is diagnosed with retrograde amnesia. She has forgotten the last five years of her life and her last memory is Ankur proposing to her. The doctor, Arun Mathur (Tiku Talsania) advises Ankur to be around her and to make sure that she doesn’t get any shock or trauma. What happens next forms the rest of the film. 

Mere Husband Ki Biwi Movie Story Review:
Mudassar Aziz’s story has all the trappings of a fun-filled flick. Mudassar Aziz’s screenplay is not consistent. While a few scenes are worthy, a few of them don’t entice. Mudassar Aziz’s dialogues are one of the best parts of the film.

Mudassar Aziz’s direction is simple. The characters are well-defined and the game of one upmanship between the two heroines keeps one engaged. The creative use of black and white in the flashback portion while depicting the female protagonists in colour makes for an interesting watch. A few scenes that stand out are Ricky’s (Dino Morea) entry, the proposal at Prabhleen’s place and at the mall, chaos at the Delhi airport and the dumb charades episode.

On the flipside, though the film has funny dialogues, it suffers from a lack of funny scenes. The situations give a déjà vu of SONU KE TITU KI SWEETY, DE DE PYAAR DE and even HOUSEFULL series. Some of the developments are plain silly and hence, one loses interest. Lastly, the makers show flashes of Prabhleen throwing wine at Ankur and breaking the television set. But these shots are missing during the main flashback track. It is bewildering why the makers did so as these shots were probably the reason why Ankur was getting nightmares. 

Mere Husband Ki Biwi | Official Trailer | Arjun Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh, Bhumi Pednekar

Mere Husband Ki Biwi Movie Review Performances:
Arjun Kapoor puts in a sincere effort. He’s especially great in scenes where he is wooing Bhumi Pednekar and Rakul Preet Singh in the first half and his angry monologue at the bar. Rakul Preet Singh looks ravishing and puts her best foot forward. However, she’s let down in some scenes by the writing. Bhumi Pednekar owns her part. She is also apt to play this particular role. Harsh Gujral (Rehan Qureshi) raises a lot of laughs and dominates all the actors in some scenes. Dino Morea and Aditya Seal (Rajeev) leave a mark. Tiku Talsania and Mukesh Rishi (Prabhleen’s father) are hardly there but are memorable. Shakti Kapoor (Ankur’s father), Kanwaljit Singh (Antara’s father), Anita Raj (Antara’s mother) and others are okay. 

Mere Husband Ki Biwi movie music and other technical aspects:
As for the songs, ‘Gori Hai Kalaiyan’ stands out. ‘Sawariya Ji’ is like the theme of the film and is well woven into the narrative. Even ‘Channa Tu Bemisal’ is nicely utilized. ‘Ikk Vaari’ and ‘Rabba Mereya’ fail to register.

John Stewart Eduri’s background score is in sync with the theme of the film. Manoj Kumar Khatoi’s cinematography is appropriate. Rupin Suchak’s production design is rich. Eka Lakhani’s styling for Arjun Kapoor and Sanam Ratansi’s styling for the rest of the characters is praiseworthy. The lead actors look quite glamorous. Picture Post Studios’ VFX is appropriate. Ninad Khanolkar’s editing is fine. 

Mere Husband Ki Biwi Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, MERE HUSBAND KI BIWI is built on an interesting premise and is elevated by strong performances from its lead actors. While the storytelling could have been more compelling, the film still offers moments of entertainment. At the box office, positive word of mouth can help it carve its space despite competition from CHHAAVA.

Star Cast: Yami Gautam, Pratik Gandhi

Director: Rishab Seth

Dhoom Dhaam Movie Review Synopsis:
DHOOM DHAAM is the story of a newly married couple’s crazy night. Veer Poddar (Pratik Gandhi) is an Ahmedabad-based vet. His marriage is fixed to Koyal Chadha (Yami Gautam), a Mumbai-based girl. They marry in Mumbai and then check into a five-star hotel on their wedding night. Suddenly, two mysterious men, Harshvardhan Sathe (Eijaz Khan) and Sachin Bhide (Pavitra Sarkar), knock on their door and ask Veer, “Where is Charlie?”. Veer assures them that he doesn’t know anybody named Charlie. They brandish a gun and force him to confess. This is when Koyal attacks Sathe and Bhide and snatches the gun from them. The duo escapes while the goons chase them. Veer gets a series of shocks at this point. He was told that Koyal is a simple and demure girl, and he is shocked to see her badass avatar. Moreover, he has to find out who Charlie is and why these goons want to know about it from him. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Dhoom Dhaam Movie Story Review:
Aarsh Vora and Aditya Dhar’s story is fantastic. Aarsh Vora and Aditya Dhar’s screenplay does full justice to the plot, and they pepper the film with a lot of entertaining and crazy moments. Aditya Dhar’s dialogues (additional dialogues by Rishab Seth) are witty and add to the humour.

Rishab Seth’s direction is very engaging. The film’s humour comes not just from the dialogues but also the reactions of the characters and in this regard, Rishab comes out with flying colours. He gets many other aspects right as well – the characters are introduced quickly but neatly, and he packs in a lot in just 108 minutes. In an interesting scene, he establishes Charlie’s relevance very early in the film after the drama begins. One fears the plot will now stagnate with nothing much happening other than a cat-and-mouse chase. But the twist in the tale in the pre-climax further enhances interest. The scenes in between which work are Koyal going on an abusive rant, Koyal’s hard-hitting monologue, the chase sequence in the beginning, Veer treating an injured Koyal, etc. Usually, in such films, the climax is haywire but that doesn’t happen here thankfully.

On the flipside, the film is riddled with cinematic liberties and in a few places, it gets too much. Secondly, the strip club scene seems a bit out of place.

Dhoom Dhaam Movie Review Performances:
Yami Gautam delivers an entertaining performance and outshines everyone in the film. Her comic timing is spot-on. She goes over the top, as required, but also knows where to draw a fine line. She proves why she’s one of the finest actors of our times. Pratik Gandhi, as expected, is great and he ensures that his performance is different from that of another comic caper, MADGAON EXPRESS [2024]. He raises laughs with his reactions, and it works big time. Eijaz Khan is too good, and his act gets better as the film progresses. Kavin Dave (Khushwant Kapoor), Anand Potdukhe (Pradeep; who has kept the families hostage), Sanaya Pithawala (Suhana; nerdy friend), Veronika Arora (Peehu; Koyal’s younger sister) and Garima Yagnik (Kanika; Koyal’s best friend) leave a huge mark. Mukul Chadda (Sachin Ribeiro; CID), Mustafa Ahmed (Sunny; stripper), Mushtaq Khan (Watchman) and Veena Mehta (Mushtaq Khan’s wife) also do well in small roles. Pavitra Sarkar, Neelu Kohli (Nandini; Koyal’s mother), Babla Kocchar (Gulshan; Koyal’s father), Dharmesh Vyas (Vedant; Veer’s father) and Nimisha Vakharia (Suhasini; Veer’s mother) don’t get much scope. Prateik Babbar (Arya) is great in a cameo.

Dhoom Dhaam movie music and other technical aspects:
Clinton Cerejo and Bianca Gomes’ music doesn’t work as intended, be it ‘How Are You’, ‘Haseeno’ or ‘Silsila’. But Clinton Cerejo and Bianca Gomes’ background score is as per the film’s mood. The BGM played when Yami abuses is hilarious.

Siddharth Bharat Vasani’s cinematography is impressive. Monica Balsara’s production design is appealing. Mandeep Kaue, Divvya Gambhir and Nidhhi Gambhir’s costumes are realistic and yet glamorous. Stefan Richter and Vikram Dahiya’s action looks very authentic but is not disturbing. Studios Coolfx’s VFX is appropriate. Shivkumar V Panicker’s editing is slick.

Dhoom Dhaam Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, DHOOM DHAAM is a crazy ride that works due to the hilarious moments, crisp-and-slick narrative and entertaining performances by Yami Gautam and Pratik Gandhi. Had it been released in cinemas, might have turned out to be a surprise hit.

Star Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Rashmika Mandanna

Director: Laxman Utekar

Chhaava Movie Review Synopsis:
CHHAVA is the story of a brave hero. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj passes away in 1680. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (Akshaye Khanna) and his members of the court are relieved that their biggest enemy is no more. They now dream of capturing the Deccan region. They get the shock of their life when Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj (Vicky Kaushal), the brave son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, attacks Burhanpur and loots the treasury. Aurangzeb swears revenge. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj knows that Aurangzeb will retaliate and hence, makes arrangements. But unknown to him, the politics within the family also make things easier for Aurangzeb to defeat the Maharaj. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Chhaava Movie Story Review:
CHAAVA is based on the book of the same name by Shivaji Sawant. Laxman Utekar, Rishi Virmani, Kaustubh Savarkar, Unman Bankar, and Omkar Mahajan’s story is neatly adapted into film format. Laxman Utekar, Rishi Virmani, Kaustubh Savarkar, Unman Bankar, and Omkar Mahajan’s screenplay is engaging. It is a bit dry in the first half but gets very engaging post-interval. Rishi Virmani’s dialogues are powerful and also clap-worthy in some scenes.

Laxman Utekar’s direction is splendid. We have seen him execute mid-sized films like LUKA CHUPPI [2019], MIMI [2021] and ZARA HATKE ZARA BACHKE [2024]. This is his grandest film yet and he handles it with a pro. The focus is not just on action but also on family conflicts. It adds a nice touch to the goings-on. The entry of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is outstanding and sets the mood of the film. Aurangzeb’s Burhanpur visit is another stunning sequence. One scene that stands out in the first half is the meeting of Maharaj with Akbar (Neil Bhoopalam). Post-interval, the comeback by the Maratha army makes for an exciting watch. But the best is reserved for the pre-climax. The manner in which Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj fights the Mughal army at Sangameshwar is seen to be believed.

On the flip side, the first half is a bit lengthy and devoid of the action that one would expect from a film like this. The music score is okay. Thirdly, it becomes difficult to remember the names of the Maratha armymen. In fact, when Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj learns of the demise of someone from his army in the second half, it takes viewers a while to realize who actually died. Lastly, the climax is disturbing and not for all kinds of audience.

Chhaava | Official Trailer | Vicky Kaushal | Rashmika Mandanna | Akshaye Khanna | Dinesh Vijan | Laxman Utekar

Chhaava Movie Review Performances:
Vicky Kaushal roars with his performance like never before. He gets into skin of his character and looks very convincing when he fights hundreds of people single handedly. His dialogue delivery is also powerful. Akshaye Khanna also delivers a performance to watch out for. His cold stares enhance his act to another level. Rashmika Mandanna makes her presence felt. She has a small but important role in the film. Ashutosh Rana (Hambir Rao) is dependable as always. The same applies to Diana Penty (Zeenat). Divya Dutta (Soyrabai) is too good but sadly, has limited screen time. Vineet Kumar Singh (Kavi Kalash) is the surprise of the film while Neil Bhoopalam rocks in an extended cameo. Others also do well.

Chhaava movie music and other technical aspects:
A R Rahman’s music is okay. ‘Aaye Re Toofaan’ stands out while ‘Jaane Tu’ and ‘Zinda Rahey’ are soulful. Sadly, the songs won’t have a long shelf life. A R Rahman’s background score, however, is out of the world. Many scenes get better thanks to the BGM.

Saurabh Goswami’s cinematography is spectacular. Parvez Shaikh and Todor Lazaroy’s action is cinematic but also very disturbing. Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray’s production design and Sheetal Iqbal Sharma’s costumes are royal and well-researched. Preetisheel Singh D’souza’s prosthetics deserves special mention, especially for Akshaye Khanna. Redefine’s VFX and Manish Pradhan’s editing could have been better.

Chhaava Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, CHHAAVA is a gripping historical spectacle that not only pays a fitting tribute to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj but also enthrals with its powerful storytelling, breathtaking battle sequences, grand visuals and stellar performances. Vicky Kaushal, in particular, delivers one of his career-best acts, while Laxman Utekar proves his versatility yet again. At the box office, the film has the potential to emerge as a strong performer, driven by its patriotic fervour, critical acclaim, and audience appreciation. A cinematic experience that deserves to be witnessed on the big screen!