Star Cast: Keanu Reeves, Ben Schwartz, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, Jim Carrey

Director: Jeff Fowler

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Review Synopsis:
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 is the story of three friends reuniting against a new adversary. In Prison Island, Tokyo Bay, Japan, Shadow (Keanu Reeves), a powerful hedgehog, kept in suspended animation, suddenly gets activated after 50 years. He escapes from prison and reaches the city of Tokyo. The Guardian Of Nations (GUN) urgently summons Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba) for help. The trio reach Tokyo and try to fight Shadow, but they are unsuccessful. Team Sonic meets GUN Commander Walters (Tom Bulter), who shares the story of Shadow’s past and origin. Suddenly, he is killed by Doctor Ivo Robotnik’s (Jim Carrey) drones. This is when Team Sonic realizes that Robotnik is also responsible for the happenings. But soon, they meet him and find out that Robotnik didn’t activate the drones. Robotnik is aghast that his technology is being misused and he forms an uneasy alliance with Team Sonic to stop Shadow and to find out who got him out of prison after five decades. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Story Review:
Pat Casey and Josh Miller’s story is quite good and thrilling. Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington’s screenplay is very pacy and gripping. But it doesn’t leave much scope for humour. The dialogues are very witty and hilarious.

Jeff Fowler’s direction is supreme. The film is shorter than the earlier and Jeff packs in a lot in 110 minutes. The USP this time is not just Sonic and Robotnik’s adventures but also Robotnik’s bond with his grandfather Professor Gerald Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Their scenes take the cake, especially their dance sequence. Some other scenes that work are madness in Tokyo, Shadow’s flashback and how team Sonic infiltrates GUN’s headquarters in London. The finale is nail-biting.

On the flipside, the film gets a bit dark this time. In the earlier parts, the humour was given a lot of prominence but that’s not the case here. Also, there are too many tracks and characters, and the narrative gets messy in some places. Lastly, there’s a post-credit scene for the first time in this series and it’s not worth it. The mid-credit scene, however, adds to the fun.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Review Performances:
Keanu Reeves is a welcome addition and aptly voices Shadow. Ben Schwartz, Colleen O’Shaughnessey and Idris Elba are impressive yet again. Jim Carrey once again rocks the show and it’s clear that he’s having a blast playing the dual characters. James Marsden (Tom Wachowski) and Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski) lend able support. Tom Butler and Lee Majdoub (Agent Stone) are decent. Alyla Browne (Maria) leaves a huge mark.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 movie music and other technical aspects:
Tom Holkenborg’s music is satisfactory. Brandon Trost adds to the film’s grandeur. Eleanor Baker’s costumes are realistic while Luke Freeborn’s production design is well-researched. The action is a bit gory this time while the VFX is top-class. Al LeVine’s editing is slick.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 is a decent entertainer. The film’s advance ticket sales are encouraging and hence, it has a chance to score at the box office in this dry period.

Star Cast: Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi

Director: Kalees

Baby John Movie Review Synopsis:
BABY JOHN is the story of a protective father. John D’Silva (Varun Dhawan), a restaurateur, stays in Alappuzha, Kerala with his daughter Khushi (Zara Zyanna). He dotes on her and is bringing her up with the right values. John forms a bond with Khushi’s teacher Tara (Wamiqa Gabbi). Tara takes John’s help, without his knowledge, when she rescues a girl and approaches the cops. John is aghast when he learns about Tara’s actions due to his past with the police force. A complaint is filed against a dreaded henchman, Boss (Jaffer Sadiq). Assuming that John complained to the police and that he’s a common man, Boss and his men attack him. But John turns out to be a beast. He finishes them off ruthlessly. Tara sees him attacking the goons and learns that he’s none other than Satya Verma, who was once the DCP and the husband of Dr. Meera (Keerthy Suresh). But his confrontation with Nanaji (Jackie Shroff) proves to be a turning point in his life. Hence, he decides to leave the force and live as a common man. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Baby John Movie Story Review:
Atlee’s story is massy but also a bit outdated. Kalees’s screenplay tries to rise above the plot and is infused with mass moments. However, the writing could have been better. Sumit Arora’s dialogues add to the mass touch.

Kalees’s direction is commercial. The film is mounted on a huge scale and it has been handled appropriately. The bond shared by the father and the daughter is adorable while the romantic track also has its moments. But the best is reserved for the mass elevation scenes. The scenes that are memorable are John attacking the goons at night, Satya and Meera’s first meeting, Satya searching for Amba (Snigddha Suman) and what happens thereafter. The pre-interval block is when the film goes on another level and it’ll be greeted with whistles and claps. Post-interval, Satya’s meeting with the parents and the shootout at his residence stand out. The scene of Bhima Rane (Shrikant Yadav) and the North Eastern kid is well thought out.

On the flipside, BABY JOHN comes too late in the day as it gives a déjà vu of SIMMBA [2018], JAWAN [2023] etc. The execution is overall satisfactory but in some places, it’s haphazard. The product placement of Center Fresh and Astral Pipes is quite in-your-face. But the biggest issue is that of the writing. BABY JOHN is a remake of THERI, which arrived 8 years ago. A lot has changed since then in terms of tastes and trends and Atlee should have aligned the script accordingly. Moreover, the hero vs villain equation is not convincing. Usually, the villain needs to be so powerful that the audience should wonder how the hero would defeat him. But in BABY JOHN, the hero becomes all-powerful once he harms Nanaji big time and doesn’t face consequences from the police department or the government. Nana takes revenge much later. But by then, it becomes clear that Satya can finish Nanaji, whenever he wants. This aspect severely impacts the goings-on.

Baby John – Trailer | Atlee | Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff

Baby John Movie Review Performances:
Varun Dhawan delivers a sincere performance and excels in the action and emotional scenes. However, it’s not convincing to show him as a DCP as he seems young for that position. Ideally, there should have been a reason why he managed to rise through the ranks so early in his life. Keerthy Suresh makes a superb debut in Bollywood and has an arresting screen presence. Wamiqa Gabbi, as expected, rocks the show, albeit in a supporting role. Jackie Shroff looks menacing and does a brilliant job. But he’s let down by the writing. Zara Zyanna is adorable. However, a few of her dialogues are not audible properly. Jaffer Sadiq is apt for the part. Shrikant Yadav lends able support. Rajpal Yadav (Ram Sevak) is seen in a different avatar and would be loved by the audience. Sheeba Chaddha (Madhvi Verma; Satya’s mother) is dependable as always. Zakir Hussain (Baldev Patil) and Prakash Belawadi (Yashraj Mukherjee) are strictly okay. Omkar Das Manikpuri (Badrinath) and Mona Ambegaonkar (the doctor who tries to revive Amba) are fair. Lastly, Salman Khan’s cameo is quite entertaining.

Baby John movie music and other technical aspects:
Thaman S’s music is not of chartbuster variety. The title song is the only song that stands out. ‘Nain Matakka’ is well picturized while ‘Pikley Pom’ is passable. ‘Bandobast’ is too similar to ‘Zinda Banda’.  ‘Hazaar Baar’ and ‘Gudda Guddi’ are forgettable. Thaman S’s background score is energetic.

Kiran Koushik’s cinematography is satisfactory. Anl Arasu, Stunt Silva, Anbariv, Yannick Ben, Sunil Rodrigues, Kaloyan Vodenicharov, Manohar Verma, and Bronwin October’s action is violent but works well in a film like this. T Muthuraj’s production design is rich. Sheetal Iqbal Sharma’s costumes are appropriate while Shruthi Manjari’s costumes for Keerthy Suresh are appealing. NY VFXWaala’s VFX is superior. Ruben’s editing could have been slicker, especially in the first half.

Baby John Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, BABY JOHN is a mass entertainer which works due to the clapworthy moments, the message, Varun Dhawan’s energetic performance and the cameo by Salman Khan. At the box office, the film will benefit owing to the long holiday period and no competition until Republic Day.

Star Cast: Nana Patekar, Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur, Kushboo Sundar, Rajpal Yadav

Director: Anil Sharma

Vanvaas Movie Review Synopsis:
Vanvaas is the story of an old man and a young chap, both of whom are abandoned. Deepak Tyagi (Nana Patekar) lives in Shimla in a mansion named Vimla Sadan. He built the mansion and named it after his wife Vimla (Kushboo Sundar). Vimla passed away a few years ago. Deepak is a dementia patient and at times, he forgets that his wife is no more. He lives with his three sons, their wives and grandchildren. His sons and wives are fed up taking care of him and his tantrums. When Deepak decides to hand over the house to a trust, they conclude that enough is enough. They devise a plan – they would go on a holiday to Banaras and admit Deepak in an old-age home, without his consent. Deepak is not aware of this devious plan and travels to Banaras with them. There, his family faces a problem when all the old-age homes ask for ID proof. They refuse to accept this condition as they fear that Deepak will be returned back to Vimla Sadan once they realize that he’s not ready to stay in an old-age home. Hence, they ask the old age homes to admit him without any ID proof or details of the family address. They even agree to pay more but all the old age homes refuse the request. With no other option, they decide to abandon him at a Ghat. They take away his identity cards and even empty his medicine bottle. In the absence of his pills, Deepak forgets who he is and assumes that his children are in their teens. He starts looking for them but to no avail. This is when he comes across a petty thief Veeru (Utkarsh Sharma) who acts as his saviour. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Vanvaas Movie Story Review:
Anil Sharma, Sunil Sirvaiya and Amjad Ali’s story is very emotional and has the potential to touch a chord with the audience. Anil Sharma, Sunil Sirvaiya and Amjad Ali’s screenplay has its share of well-written and fleshed-out scenes but has a lot of rough edges as well, sadly. Anil Sharma, Sunil Sirvaiya and Amjad Ali’s dialogues are hard-hitting.

Anil Sharma’s direction is simple. His old-school style of filmmaking gives a nice touch. Also, it’s very mainstream as it appeals to the target audience, that is, the families and the ones in B and C centres. The pain of the protagonist is very moving and the way he remembers his dead wife adds to the emotional quotient of the film. At the same time, his equation with the young thief with a heart of gold is heartening. Some scenes that work big time are Deepak being abandoned, Deepak and Veeru forming a bond over alcohol, the intermission point etc. Anil Sharma, however, reserves the best for the climax. It is very touching and is sure to make moviegoers teary-eyed.

On the flipside, the film looks similar to BAGHBAN (2003) and even BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN (2015) and 3 IDIOTS (2009). A few developments are bewildering. For instance, the family of Deepak doesn’t even get the death certificate ready after his ‘death’ and is reminded of it only after a month. The second half is too dragging. The entire track of Veeru hurting Meena (Simratt Kaur) unintentionally and Rampatiya Mausi ji’s (Ashwini Kalsekar) outburst needlessly add to the length. Lastly, the film is releasing with negligible buzz and it’ll impact its collections.

Vanvaas Official Trailer | Anil Sharma | Nana Patekar | Utkarsh Sharma | Simrat Kaur

Vanvaas Movie Review Performances:
Nana Patekar delivers an award-winning performance. Interestingly, he had played a similar role before in the Marathi film NATSAMRAT (2016) but he ensures that there would be no comparisons between the two. Utkarsh Sharma puts in a sincere effort and succeeds to some extent. But he could have done better in the emotional scenes. Simratt Kaur has a fine screen presence but is still raw. Kushboo Sundar is lovely in a cameo. Rajpal Yadav (Pappu) raises a lot of laughs. Ashwini Kalsekar is just okay. Hemantt Kher (Somu), Kettan Singh (Bablu), Paritosh Tripathi (Chutka), Bhakti Rathore (Manjari; Somu’s wife), Snehiil Dixit Mehraa (Anchal; Bablu’s wife) and Shruti Marathe (Pooja; Chutka’s wife) lend able support. Rajesh Sharma (Gautam Gupta) and Rajiv Gupta (Param Negi) leave a mark. Mushtaq Khan (Inspector Lal Singh) and Virendra Saxena (Shukla) don’t get much scope. Manish Wadhwa (Madhav) is great in a cameo.

Vanvaas movie music and other technical aspects:
Mithoon’s music is okay but is well inserted in the narrative. ‘Yaadon Ke Jharokhon Se’ and ‘Bandhan’ are played at crucial junctures and work. The same goes for ‘Ram Dhun’. ‘Geeli Maachis’ fails to make a mark. ‘Chhabili Ke Naina’ (by Monty Sharma) is forgettable. Monty Sharma’s background score is in sync with the film’s theme.

Kabir Lal’s cinematography is breathtaking and captures the locales of Banaras and Himachal Pradesh beautifully. It also gives the film a big-screen appeal. Muneesh Sappel’s production design is satisfactory. Neeta Lulla’s costumes for Utkarsh and Simrat are stylish while Niddhi Yasha’s costumes for the rest of the actors are realistic. Sham Kaushal’s action gives the film a mass appeal. Squad VFX’s VFX is a bit tacky. Sanjay Sankla’s editing could have been slicker.

Vanvaas Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, VANVAAS delivers a heartfelt and sincere narrative that resonates deeply. With its poignant subject matter and an emotionally charged climax, it holds the promise of becoming the BAGHBAN for this generation. At the box office, its potential may be hindered by limited pre-release buzz, lack of widespread awareness, and stiff competition from PUSHPA 2 and other new releases.

Star Cast: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Tiffany Boone, Thandiwe Newton

Director: Barry Jenkins 

Mufasa: The Lion King Movie Review Synopsis:
MUFASA: THE LION KING is the story of five misfits on an adventurous journey. After the events of the first part, Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter) proudly rule the Pride Lands. They go to a distant part of the kingdom to mate, leaving their daughter Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter) alone. Simba asks Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) to give them company, which they do. But the trio are joined by an unexpected guest – Rafiki (John Kani). He tells Kiara the story of her grandfather, Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) and where he came from. Rafiki reveals that Mufasa lived happily with his parents though their region experienced drought. The parents tell them of a land they call ‘Milele’ where there’s peace and greenery all around. One day, it starts raining heavily. The dam bursts and Mufasa is separated from his parents. He reaches a distant land where he befriends a cub, Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr). Taka is the son of Obasi (Lennie James) and also the successor to the throne. Obasi hates Mufasa, as he feels that he’s a stray who’ll betray Taka. But Taka and Obasi’s partner Eshe (Thandiwe Newton) develop a liking for Mufasa. Mufasa and Taka grow up and are inseparable. Sadly, the pride faces a challenge when The Outsiders, that is, a pack of white lions, headed by Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen), threaten to eliminate them all. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Mufasa: The Lion King Movie Story Review:
The story is damn good and nicely adds to this series. Jeff Nathanson’s screenplay is gripping and is peppered with entertaining and dramatic scenes. The dialogues are lovely, especially the philosophical ones.

Barry Jenkins’ direction is supreme. Making MUFASA: THE LION RISK is a risk as THE LION KING has a huge fan base across audiences of all groups and that too across the world. Trying to add to its storyline and making a prequel is a gamble that could have backfired, as it happened with JOKER recently. Thankfully, the risk pays off here. The first thing that appeals to the viewers is its grandeur. The film is mounted on a huge scale and the manner in which these animals are depicted is sure to amaze viewers, especially the children. Moreover, it has a great story to tell. There’s also consistency in characterization – Mufasa has been depicted in a certain way in the earlier part and in this flick, those traits are very much seen. In fact, viewers get to see how he learned these skills. There’s also a nice parallel drawn with certain happenings in THE LION KING. A few scenes that are memorable are Mufasa’s separation, Mufasa and Taka’s race, Mufasa advising Taka how to woo Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), the elephant stampede, etc.

On the flipside, Timon and Pumbaa this time fail to raise laughs. In fact, it seems like they are trying too hard. The final flight is a bit underwhelming. Thirdly, the viewers will get slightly confused in places because Taka and Mufasa look a bit similar, especially in wide shots. Lastly, the timing of the release in India can prove to be a slight problem.

Mufasa: The Lion King | Final Hindi Trailer | In Cinemas December 20

Mufasa: The Lion King Movie Review Performances:
Speaking of voiceovers, Aaron Pierre’s work is praiseworthy as he tries to get into the shoes of James Earl Jones, the original voice of Mufasa in THE LION KING and the 1994 animation film. But he manages to do very well and viewers won’t have complaints. Kelvin Harrison Jr is the next best followed by Tiffany Boone and Thandiwe Newton. Mads Mikkelsen is apt for the voice of the antagonist. John Kani is entertaining while Blue Ivy Carter is adorable. Lennie James, Donald Glover and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter do well. Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen try their best to raise laughs but are let down by the script. Preston Nyman (Zasu) is funnier.

Mufasa: The Lion King movie music and other technical aspects:
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music enhances the entertainment quotient. Some of the songs that work are ‘Milele’, ‘I Always Wanted A Brother’, ‘Tell Me It’s You’, ‘We Go Together’, and ‘Brother Betrayed’. ‘Bye Bye’ looks slightly out of place. Dave Metzger and Nicholas Britell’s background score has a cinematic appeal.

James Laxton’s cinematography is out of this world. Mark Friedberg’s production design is appealing. The VFX deserves a special mention as the animals look true to life. Joi McMillon’s editing is smooth.

Mufasa: The Lion King Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, MUFASA: THE LION KING is a grand visual entertainer, which deserves a watch in cinemas thanks to its big-screen appeal, stunning VFX and compelling storytelling. At the box office, it has the potential to be a super-hit like its predecessor but it will face some heat from PUSHPA 2 – THE RULE.

Star Cast: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron

Director: Shuchi Talati

Girls Will Be Girls Movie Review Synopsis:
GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS is the story of a school girl in love. In the late 1990s, Mira Kishore (Preeti Panigrahi) studies in Class 12 in a school on the foothills of the Himalayas. She is the first girl of the school to be elected as the head prefect and she takes up the responsibility seriously. She befriends Srinivas (Kesav Binoy Kiron), who has relocated from Hong Kong. Both get attracted to each other. Mira stays with her mother Anila (Kani Kusruti) and the latter catches the former talking to Srinivas. She asks Mira to bring Srinivas home. Anila and Srinivas strike up a friendship, which makes Mira jealous. On the other hand, Mira gets into the bad books of certain male students, when she complains about their misbehaviour to the principal, Bansal ma’am (Devika Shahani). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Girls Will Be Girls Movie Story Review:
Shuchi Talati’s story is simple and very relatable. Shuchi Talati’s screenplay is unhurried and straight out of life. At the same time, it is peppered with dramatic and even tense moments. Shuchi Talati’s dialogues are conversational.

Shuchi Talati’s direction does justice to the plot in hand. Though she doesn’t mention which era the film is set in, one soon understands that it is based before the millennium, at a time before cell phones became common and when one had to go to cyber cafes to access the internet. This aspect is fascinating. But the film is not light-hearted fare. Many scenes make viewers uncomfortable and angry. The sequence where Bansal ma’am puts the blame on female students when she learns about male students clicking their inappropriate pictures is a case in point. Moreover, the mother-daughter track is powerful and Shuchi nicely uses silences to depict the state of the characters. A few scenes that stand out are Mira and Srinivas at the rooftop, Mira and Anila dancing, Mira and Srinivas forced to study in different rooms and Srinivas’s birthday. The finale is nail-biting.

On the flipside, Shuchi should have simplified certain aspects like the equation between Anila and her hubby. Also, how was Srinivas managing all alone and what was his bond with his parents like? The absence of these aspects affects the impact. Lastly, it’s a niche film and is meant for a minuscule audience.

Girls Will Be Girls Movie Review Performances:
Preeti Panigrahi makes a confident debut. Her dialogue delivery is great but watch how amazingly she communicates through her eyes. Kani Kusruti, who was recently seen in another globally acclaimed film ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT, delivers yet another spectacular performance. Kesav Binoy Kiron is dashing and performance-wise, he’s first-rate. Devika Shahani plays her part aptly. Kajol Chugh (Priya; Mira’s friend) and Akash Pramanik (Harik; who proposes to Mira) lend able support. Jitin Gulati (Harish) is wasted.

Girls Will Be Girls movie music and other technical aspects:
There’s only one original song in, by Sneha Khanwalkar, ‘Nazar’, which works well in the film. However, it won’t have a shelf life. Pierre Oberkampf’s background score is minimal but impactful.

Jih-E Peng’s cinematography adds to the realism and is creative. Avyakta Kapur’s production design is authentic. Shaahid Amir’s costumes are well-researched and go well with the era shown. Amrita David’s editing is neat but is too slow in some scenes.

Girls Will Be Girls Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS tells an important tale with utmost sensitivity and has the potential to resonate big time with its target audience.

Star Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Shahana Goswami, Arrchita Agarwaal

Director: Kanu Behl

Despatch Movie Review Synopsis:
DESPATCH is the story of a brave journalist. The year is 2012. Joy Bag (Manoj Bajpayee) is a crime journalist who works at a newspaper called Despatch. His marriage with Shweta Bag (Shahana Goswami) is on the rocks and he’s having an affair with Prerna Prakash (Arrchita Agarwaal), a young reporter at Despatch. There’s pressure on him to deliver breaking stories as the newspaper business is going down due to the rise of digital websites. He happens to find a lead about the killer of Shetty, a notorious gangster. He even learns that the cops are all set to catch the killer from a dockyard. Joy persuades the cop to join them and even gets a chance to investigate the killer, named Pappu Sangli (Nitin Goel). Pappu ends up revealing that he stole a file from the Vigilance office in Delhi at the behest of GDR builders. Joy starts to probe this story and soon realizes that a 2G scam, worth thousands of crores, has taken place and no one even has a whiff of it. If he breaks the story, he’ll go down in history, but the challenges remain. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Despatch Movie Story Review:
Ishani Banerjee and Kanu Behl’s story, loosely inspired by the J Dey murder case, is well-researched. Ishani Banerjee and Kanu Behl’s screenplay has its share of moments but gets too messy. Ishani Banerjee and Kanu Behl’s dialogues are straight out of life and even sharp.

Kanu Behl’s direction is average. On the positive side, he shows the characters very realistically. We often see period films which are based in the pre-2000 era. Kanu chooses to show the world in 2012 when the internet existed, but it was still a new world for many. Kanu is known to execute the confrontational scenes brilliantly and he continues his good work in DESPATCH. A few scenes that stand out are Joy’s face-off with a guest, Joy almost being killed by Pappu, Prerna and Joy checking out a flat and the aftermath, Joy meeting a builder and asking for a flat, etc. The scene where Joy runs from the data centre is hilarious and also quite nail-biting. The scenes of Joy and Shweta in their bedroom and later in the Delhi hotel are quite shocking.

Despatch | Official Trailer | Manoj Bajpayee | Shahana Goswami | Premieres 13th Dec Only On ZEE5

Soon, however, the film loses grip as it becomes too complicated. Though its run time is 155 minutes, one feels like watching a 3.30 hour plus saga. The finale would leave viewers with mixed reactions. Lastly, the director leaves several questions unanswered, and it will surely leave viewers dejected.

Despatch Movie Review Performances:
Manoj Bajpayee makes the film watchable, and he tries to rise above the script. He’s too good from start to finish but watch out for him in the climax; he’s something else. Shahana Goswami has limited screen time, but she rocks the show, as expected. It’s not easy to play this part and she makes it look effortless. Arrchita Agarwaal makes a confident debut. Rii Sen (Noori) has a striking screen presence and is too good. Mamik Singh (Silva), Hansa Singh (Nisha Lodha) and Kabiir Sadanand (Wadhwa) are lovely in their respective cameo performances. Salim Siddiqui (Ameel bhai) and Dilip Shankar (Rajdass; lawyer) appear in just one scene but leave a mark. Veena Mehta (Joy’s mother) and Ajoy Chakraborty (Somak Majumdar; Joy’s boss) lend able support. Parvati Sehgal (Varsha Rajput) is introduced in a way that one expects that she’ll have an important role. But she’s wasted. Nitin Goel, Anand Alkunte (Inspector Bhosle), Arun Behl (Suresh Contractor), Rajneesh Khullar (Chintu Singh), Amit Srikant Singh (Softlayer manager) and Nikhil Vijay (informer in the bar) also do very well.

Despatch movie music and other technical aspects:
DESPATCH is a song-less film. Sneha Khanwalkar’s background score is top-notch. Siddharth Diwan’s cinematography is raw and adds to the realism. Fabeha Sultana Khan’s costumes are straight out of life. Shruti Gupte’s production design is authentic. Vikram Dahiya’s action is as real as it gets. Manas Mittal and Samarth Dixit’s editing could have been simplified.

Despatch Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, DESPATCH rests on some fine performances and well-executed confrontational sequences. But due to a complicated narrative and long length, the impact gets diluted.

Star Cast: Vikrant Massey, Medha Shankr

Director: Jaskunwar Kohli

Zero Se Restart Movie Review Synopsis:
ZERO SE RESTART throws light on how the epic film 12TH FAIL [2023] was made. The documentary begins by showing how no one wanted this film to be made. But it was producer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s conviction that ensured that the movie was made to the best of its capacity, leading to its insane box office success and critical acclaim.

Zero Se Restart Movie Story Review:
ZERO SE RESTART begins on a wonderful note showcasing the touching climax scene of the film. This is followed by prep going on the film nine months before it went on floors. Director Jaskunwar Singh Kohli, also the narrator of the film, executes this part stylishly with the use of texts and hilarious dialogues. In fact, his biggest success is that despite being a documentary, the film never gets boring. The narrative, happenings on screen and background score keep the interest going. He also goes back and forth in the narrative. The film students, especially, will be fascinated by how Vidhu Vinod Chopra managed to make the film in challenging situations. The manner in which he timed a shot in such a way that the train in the background can be seen will leave viewers in awe. Moreover, the way he managed to film shots in the crowded Mukherjee Nagar is also unbelievable. A few scenes that are memorable are Vidhu scolding students for looking into the camera, Vidhu assuming that no one knows who Vikrant is and his epic fight with a goon. How he managed to find the railway canteen and flour mill are also lovely scenes.

Zero Se Restart (Official Trailer) | Vidhu Vinod Chopra | In Cinemas 13th December, 2024

On the flipside, the narrative has a few issues. It patiently shows how every location was finalized but for some reason, the director chooses to skip how the final interval round scene was shot. Medha Shankr, who became a sensation after this film, is hardly seen and no information is given about her casting. This is strange since the documentary throws light on the casting of Vikrant Massey and even the supporting actors. Lastly, it is a documentary at the end of the day and hence, it is too niche. At a time, when the audience is wary of watching even feature films in cinemas, expecting them to spend Rs. 200 or 300 for a documentary will be foolhardy. In fact, a film like this is meant for OTT and not for cinemas at all.

Nevertheless, Jaskunwar Kohli does a great job as narrator, editor and director. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, credited as the consulting editor and director, also is praiseworthy. He’s also one of the ‘heroes’ of the film as he has the maximum screen space and he’s too entertaining.

Zero Se Restart movie music and other technical aspects:
Shantanu Moitra’s song doesn’t work but his background score adds to the intrigue. The sound, however, could have been better. A few dialogues are not audible due to background noise and it’s a must that this film releases with subtitles.

Zero Se Restart Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, ZERO SE RESTART is a well-intentioned venture that documents the challenges of making one of the most loved films in recent times. However, it has zero chance of succeeding in cinemas due to its documentary nature, negligible awareness and high ticket rates. The insane competition from PUSHPA 2 – THE RULE will further dent its prospects.

Star Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu, Saiyami Kher

Director: Rahul Dholakia

Agni Movie Review Synopsis:
AGNI is the story of unsung heroes. Vitthalrao Dhonduba Surve (Pratik Gandhi) is the chief of Parel Fire Station, Mumbai. Joseph aka Jazz (Udit Arora), Avni Purohit (Saiyami Kher), Ganpat Shinde and others work under him. Mahadev Nigade (Jitendra Joshi), chief of Byculla Fire Station, is Vitthal’s close friend. Vitthal is married to Rukmini (Sai Tamhankar) and her brother and Vitthal’s brother-in-law is the corrupt inspector Samit Sawant (Divyenndu). Viithal and Samit don’t see eye-to-eye but interestingly, Vitthal’s son Amar aka Amya (Kabir Shah) is a fan of Samit. On January 16, 2017, the Parel Fire Station is informed of a fire in an upmarket restaurant. The team tries their best, but the extreme blaze destroys everything in the property. Vitthal is shocked to see the unusual, blue-coloured flame emitting from the restaurant. During the investigation, Avni realizes that though the restaurant had multiple violations, the fire was not accidental and was possibly a case of arson. She also suspects that the recent fire instances at a theatre and a club also had the same pattern. In other words, there’s someone out there who’s causing these fires and hence, Vitthal and Avni appeal to the cops and BMC to act upon it. But their plea falls on deaf ears. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Agni Movie Story Review:
Rahul Dholakia’s story is significant and the need of the hour. Rahul Dholakia’s screenplay is very engaging. The film just doesn’t focus on the work of the firefighters but also has a whodunit angle. Vijay Maurya’s dialogues are conversational while a few one-liners stand out.

Rahul Dholakia’s direction is appropriate. He keeps the story as a priority and then focuses on adding commercial elements. He nicely sucks the audience into the world of firefighters and their challenges, be it not being seen as heroes by society or the absence of even a medical insurance. The tussle between the cop and firefighter makes for a great watch, especially the scene at the latter’s home. There’s suspense in the narrative which is sure to shock viewers. The finale is nail-biting. On top of it, there’s also unexpected humour. The madness that ensues at a high-scale restaurant in the second half is very funny.

Agni – Official Trailer | Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu | Prime Video India

On the flipside, in some places, things are not simplified, and it might confuse the audience. For instance, it takes a while until viewers understand that Mahadev works at a different fire station. The twist is unpredictable, but it also raises certain questions as the intention of the villain is not fully convincing. It’s also not clear how did he aim to make his voice heard through his actions.

Agni Movie Review Performances:
Pratik Gandhi, as always, puts in a sincere effort and plays the lead part with aplomb. Divyenndu is the life of the film and enhances impact with his performance and comic timing. Sai Tamhankar puts up a superb act and delivers a confident performance. Saiyami Kher leaves a huge mark as the fiery firefighter. Jitendra Joshi, as expected, rocks the show and has a crucial part to play in the narrative. Udit Arora and Kabir Shah manage to register. Sakhi Gokhale (Sayali; Samit’s wife) is a great find. Anant Jog (Deputy CM) is over the top, but it works for his role. Pramod Pathak (Pankaj Mishra) raises a few laughs. Paritosh Tiwari (Torch), Kanchan Pagare (Kamble; cop), Abhishek Khandekar (Tawde; cop) and Aatul (Uday Raj Balsara) also do well.

Agni movie music and other technical aspects:
AGNI is a song-less film. John Stewart Eduri’s background score adds to the tension and chaos. K U Mohanan’s cinematography is top-class and gives the film a big-screen appeal. Darshan Jalan and Neelanchal Ghosh’s costumes are straight out of life. Dr K Ravi Verma’s action is engaging while the VFX is superior. Acropolis, Sumit Basu, Snigdha Basu and Rajnish Hedao’s production design is realistic. Deepa Bhatia’s editing is smooth.

Agni Movie Review Conclusion:
Overall, AGNI is worth watching for its performances, suspense and heartfelt tribute to firefighters, the unsung heroes of our society. This technically superior film truly deserved a theatrical release.

Star Cast: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil

Director: Sukumar

Pushpa 2 – The Rule Movie Review Synopsis:
PUSHPA 2 – THE RULE is the story of a smuggler and his confrontation with a ruthless cop. After the events of the first part, Pushpa Raj (Allu Arjun) continues to grow and thrive. He decides to expand the business and hence, woos an international client, Hamid (Saurabh Sachdeva). Hamid demands a high amount of red sandalwood and agrees to pay an insanely high amount. But he also demands for the largest consignment ever. Pushpa uses all his contacts to ensure that the client’s needs are met. However, he faces several challenges. SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil) has gone all out to stop Pushpa’s activities. Srinu (Sunil) and Daksha (Anasuya Bharadwaj) also come out to halt Pushpa due to past enmity. They try to influence the syndicate and provoke them to oust Pushpa. On top of it, Pushpa is still mocked by Mohan (Ajay) for being an illegitimate child. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Pushpa 2 – The Rule Movie Story Review:
Sukumar’s story is terrific. Sukumar’s screenplay, like the first half, is full of top-notch dramatic and action scenes. Srikanth Vissa’s dialogues are hard-hitting and the Hindi translation is very good.

Sukumar’s direction is splendid. The director had a challenge in hand as the previous part had become a sensation. Hence, the sequel had to at least match, if not go beyond the predecessor. In this regard, Sukumar comes out with flying colours. He organically takes the story forward and peppers it with loads of drama, action, emotion, and above all, swag. The film is very lengthy but one won’t mind as every scene screams mass. Moreover, the treatment this time is more Pan-India, which adds to its appeal.

On the flipside, despite no boring scene in the film, the film does feel lengthy in places. Secondly, the scene of the female character being harassed by the kidnappers is treated in 90s style and is not in good taste. Lastly, the end credits roll very quickly. It seems like it was added just for the heck of it and is unfair on the part of the hundreds of people who worked tirelessly on the film.

PUSHPA 2 – THE RULE begins with a rocking entry sequence of the protagonist and it’ll be loved by the masses. Pushpa’s decision to change the Chief Minister is amusing and this whole track is memorable. His scenes with Shekhawat also stand out, especially at the intermission. Post interval, two songs appear back-to-back but one doesn’t mind as a lot happens in this juncture. Srivalli’s outburst is clapworthy. The way the female character is harassed in the kidnapping scene is slightly distasteful. However, the action scene thereafter is out of the world and will lead to a frenzy in cinemas. The finale is emotional and the film ends with the promise of a third part.

Pushpa 2 – The Rule Trailer (Hindi) | Allu Arjun | Rashmika Mandanna | Fahadh Faasil

Pushpa 2 – The Rule Movie Review Performances:
Allu Arjun is outstanding to say the least. He takes his performance a few notches higher compared to the first part and ensures that audiences get their money’s worth. Rashmika Mandanna is a revelation this time. She proves that she’s a fine performer and also has great comic timing. Fahadh Faasil gets lot more screen time and he rocks the show. He speaks a lot through his expressions, which adds to the film’s entertainment quotient. Saurabh Sachdeva is fine in a cameo. Sunil and Anasuya Bharadwaj are over the top but it works for their respective characters. Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari (Keshav) and Rao Ramesh (Siddappa) leave a huge mark. Ajay, Kalpalatha (Pushpa’s mother Parvati), and Pavani Karanam (Pushpa’s niece Kaveri) lend able support. The actors playing Bicha Reddy, Jakha Reddy, Bugga Reddy, CM Narsimha Reddy and MP Pratap Reddy also do well. Sreeleela is sizzling in the item song.

Pushpa 2 – The Rule movie music and other technical aspects:
Devi Sri Prasad’s music is not of chartbuster variety but the songs are well picturized. ‘Pushpa Pushpa’ is massy while ‘Peelings’ is catchy. ‘Angaaron’ comes at a great point. ‘Kissik’ is again well shot and will be seen in a different light when one understands the context of its lyrics. There’s one more song, ‘Maha Kali’ which is sure to become a talking point. Devi Sri Prasad’s background score is in sync with the film’s theme.

Miresłow Kuba Brożek’s cinematography is award worthy especially in the action scenes. Peter Hein, ‘Dragon’ Prakash, Kecha and Navakanth’s action sets new benchmark, especially in the climax. S Ramakrishna and Monica Nigotre’s production design is appealing while Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma’s costumes are rich. VFX is superior. Navin Nooli’s editing is appropriate.

Pushpa 2 – The Rule Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, PUSHPA 2 – THE RULE is a wildfire entertainer with mass appeal, blending intense action, gripping drama, and emotional depth. Allu Arjun’s unmatched swag elevates the film, making it a must-watch for fans and audiences alike. At the box office, the historic craze and record-breaking advance bookings will lead to an earth-shattering box office. It holds the potential to create new benchmarks and emerge as an all-time blockbuster. Don’t miss.

Star Cast: Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, Jimmy Sheirgill

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar Movie Review Synopsis:
SIKANDAR KA MUQADDAR is the story of a cop and three suspects. On February 15, 2009, the 10th DFFI Exhibition is held at the NICSO Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. Kamini Singh (Tamannaah Bhatia) and Mangesh Desai (Rajeev Mehta) are stationed at the stall of Divine Diamonds & Jewellery, where they work. Sikandar Sharma (Avinash Tiwary), a computer technician, is at the exhibition to check the audio-visual slides. Suddenly, Santosh Kamble (Praful Joshi), a cop on duty at the exhibition, gets an anonymous tip that a robbery is going to take place by four armed assailants. Acting on the tip, the cops locate the robbers and assassinate them. All the attendees of the exhibition, meanwhile, are asked to be at the refuge area. Once the bodies of the robbers are taken away, Kamini and Mangesh return to their stall only to find that red solitaires worth Rs. 50-60 crores have gone missing. The CCTV cameras were shut by the robbers and hence, the cops don’t have the option to check who took away the solitaires. Jaswinder Singh (Jimmy Sheirgill), an expert cop who has solved all cases assigned to them, is asked to investigate. He’s known for his sharp ‘mool-vriti’ (instincts). Based on his instincts, he concludes that the solitaires are flicked by either Sikandar, Kamini or Mangesh. All of them are strip-searched but he fails to find the valuables from them. Nevertheless, he arrests them and even asks the court for a seven-day remand. Meanwhile, the film also has a track set in 2024 where Jaswinder is no longer the decorated officer that he once was. He’s still keeping tabs on Sikandar, who’s now settled in Abu Dhabi, UAE. When Sikandar returns to India, they decide to meet to settle past scores. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar Movie Story Review:
Neeraj Pandey’s story is promising. Neeraj Pandey and Vipul K Rawal’s screenplay, however, is unconvincing and also has loose ends. A few sequences are very well written though. Neeraj Pandey and Vipul K Rawal’s dialogues are conversational and yet, pack a punch.

Neeraj Pandey’s direction is uncomplicated despite the back-and-forth narrative. To give credit where it’s due, he does engage viewers with his trademark execution. The story is unusual; one hasn’t seen anything like this before and this keeps viewers gripped. The film starts with a bang and it’s also the best part of the film. A few scenes that stand out are Sikandar and Jaswinder meeting at the rooftop bar after ages, the romance brewing between Sikandar and Kamini, the courtroom scenes, etc.

On the flipside, the second half is what pulls down the film. One expects fireworks or at least that Neeraj will sum up the film neatly. He falters on both these fronts. The suspense is a bit unexpected but not entirely unpredictable. It also raises many questions, especially the intent of the thief. The dark secret of one of the characters is difficult to digest, especially the circumstance that leads to this development. It is also bewildering that one of the characters is forgotten after a point and one wonders why that person was even there in the film in the first place. Lastly, the final scene fails to entice.

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar | Official Trailer | Tamannaah Bhatia, Jimmy Shergill, Avinash Tiwary

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar Movie Review Performances:
Avinash Tiwary, as expected, rises above the script and completely seems apt as a battered common man. He’s also effortless in some difficult scenes. Tamannaah Bhatia, as always, has a stunning screen presence and is first-rate as a performer. Jimmy Sheirgill is the best part of the film and tries to elevate the impact of several scenes. Rajeev Mehta is decent but is hardly there. Divya Dutta (Kaushalya Singh) is lovely in a cameo. Ridhima Pandit (Priya Sawant) and Zoya Afroz (Tabassum) do well in small roles. Santanu Ghatak (Anoop; who gives the tip) is entertaining. Praful Joshi, Khurshed Lawyer (Parker; advocate), Rashmi Shukla (Female judge), Ashrut Jain (Manish; Sikandar’s friend) and Aparna Upadhyay (Sikandar’s mother) leave a huge mark. Shivraj Walvekar (Shrikant Wagh; ACP in 2024), Bharat Jha (Tiwari; landlord), Arpit Mishra (Mama ji), Anil Pandey (Male judge) and K S Krishnan (Anna) are decent.

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar movie music and other technical aspects:
There’s only one song ‘Thehre Rahen’, which is okay but it is picturized beautifully. Sanjoy Chowdhury’s background score carries the trademark Neeraj Pandey stamp.

Arvind Singh’s cinematography is splendid and the panning shots especially add to the intrigue value. Mayur Sharma’s production design is fair but too bright in some scenes. Falguni Thakore’s costumes are realistic. Amar Shetty’s action is minimal. Praveen Kathikuloth’s editing could have been slicker.

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, SIKANDAR KA MUQADDAR has some fine performances by the lead cast but it suffers due to a weak second half, unexciting climax and loose ends in the script.

Star Cast: Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson

Director: David Derrick Jr, Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller

Moana 2 Movie Review Synopsis:
MOANA 2 is the story of a wayfinder and a demigod. A few years after the events of the first part, Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) is now exploring other islands in order to find more people. One day, she gets a vision from her ancestor, the greatest wayfinder of her island, Tautai Vasa (Gerald Ramsey) that a powerful evil God Nalo wanted to power over the mortals. Hence, he sunk a mystical island, Motufetu. For the sake of the future of her island, she needs to revive Motufetu. Doing so will also end the chaos caused by Nalo. Hence, Moana sets on a journey and this time she’s joined by three more island residents. On the other hand, Maui (Dwayne Johnson) is also on the same mission, but he’s imprisoned by Nalo’s enforcer, Matangi (Awhimai Fraser). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Moana 2 Movie Story Review:
Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller and Bek Smith’s story is fascinating and tries to take the story forward organically. Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller’s screenplay has its moments but this time, the developments are slightly underwhelming. The dialogues lift the impact in several scenes.

David Derrick Jr, Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller’s direction is grand and simplified. MOANA’s first part was known for its vibrant grandeur, and they make sure that this aspect is enhanced in the sequel. The cute moments of the hen and the pig and the bond shared by the protagonist with her younger sister are adorable. Moana and her crew’s interaction with Kakamora takes the cake.

On the flipside, the goings on don’t have the same impact as last time. It is difficult to digest that Moana is so scared of the adventure, especially since she undertook a similar route in the previous edition. The entire track of Matangi and Moana look out of place and even the humour seems limited in many scenes. The climax also is okay as it’s abrupt. The makers even have a mid-credit scene this time with the promise of a third part.

Moana 2 Movie Review Performances:
Auliʻi Cravalho beautifully uses her voice and brings the character of Moana to life. Dwayne Johnson is highly entertaining and just apt for the role. Awhimai Fraser does well. Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda (Simea; Moana’s sister) is very cute. The others who leave a mark are Gerald Ramsey, Hualālai Chung (Moni; Maui fan), Rose Matafeo (Loto), David Fane (Kele; farmer), Temuera Morrison (Tui; Moana’s father), Rachel House (Sina; Moana’s mother), Rachel House (Tala; Moana’s grandmother).

Moana 2 movie music and other technical aspects:
Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foaʻi, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear’s music is one of the USPs. The songs that work big time are ‘We’re Back’, ‘Beyond’, ‘What Could Be Better Than This’, ‘Can I Get a Chee Hoo?’ and ‘Get Lost’. The background score is in sync with the film’s theme.

Ian Gooding’s production design is spectacular. The animation, as expected, is top-class. Jeremy Milton and Michael Louis Hill’s editing is slick.

Moana 2 Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, MOANA 2 has its share of funny and emotional moments but is a bit underwhelming compared to the first part. At the box office, the film will have some advantage due to no competition, popularity of the franchise and Cinema Lovers Day.

Star Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Ahilya Bhamroo

Director: Shoojit Sircar

I Want To Talk Movie Review Synopsis:
I WANT TO TALK is the story of a man whose life takes a shocking turn. Arjun Sen (Abhishek Bachchan) lives in a city in California, USA and is a ruthless marketing genius. He is separated from his wife Indrani and his daughter Reya (Pearle Dey) visits him 3-4 days a week. One day, while sharing his pitch with a client, Arjun falls sick and is hospitalized. The doctors inform him that he is suffering from laryngeal cancer, a type of cancer that develops in the tissues of the larynx, or voice box. Arjun is even told that he might not live to see Christmas that year. Arjun is shattered and to make matters worse, he loses his house in an alimony battle. His company also fires him. At the insistence of his friend Subodh, he takes a second opinion and approaches Dr Jayanta Deb (Jayant Kripalani), a top cancer specialist. He patiently explains to Arjun about the multiple surgeries that he’ll have to go through and also lets him know that he can extend his life by two years. Arjun accepts and undergoes the surgeries. He has to shave his head and his relationship with his daughter further gets fractured. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

I Want To Talk Movie Story Review:
I WANT TO TALK is based on the book ‘Raising A Father’ by Arjun Sen. The story is unbelievable. Ritesh Shah’s screenplay (additional screenplay by Tushar Sheetal Jain) is devoid of typical entertaining moments but is peppered with subtle emotions. Ritesh Shah’s dialogues are realistic and straight out of life.

Shoojit Sircar’s direction is niche and yet engaging. He doesn’t use the commercial tropes that others do or which even he did, in limited doses, in films like PIKU [2015]. The lead character is not instantly likeable and is socially awkward. Yet, one gets drawn into the world and the battle that the protagonist has to go through. Several scenes stand out but the ones with his daughter Reya are special. Two scenes that are memorable are when Reya asks Arjun to show her his scars and when a grown-up Reya (Ahilya Bhamroo) suddenly hugs him. The track of Nancy (Kristin Goddard) is very moving and would be loved. Arjun’s bond with his doctor is amusing yet lovely.

On the flipside, the story jumps timelines and at times, it becomes difficult to understand how many weeks or months or years have passed. Certain aspects should have been better explained. For instance, the daughter’s bond with her mother and her having to switch between houses. Moreover, Arjun’s family is nowhere to be seen in the first half, and they appear all of a sudden in the second half. It is not shown if they contacted him and gave him moral support. For a major part of the film, one actually assumes that Arjun has no family members apart from his daughter. Also, one never gets to understand how Arjun managed his finances all these years, especially when he didn’t have a stable job. Lastly and most importantly, the treatment of the film is very niche, and this would alienate a major chunk of the audience. The title of the film also makes it clear what the zone of the film is.

I Want To Talk – Trailer | Shoojit Sircar | Abhishek Bachchan | Rising Sun Films | Kino Works

I Want To Talk Movie Review Performances:
Abhishek Bachchan delivers one of the greatest performances of his career. One forgets that one is watching Abhishek on screen as he goes into the skin of his character effortlessly. He even alters his dialogue delivery and that adds to the impact. He’s sure to benefit big time with this film. Pearle Dey leaves a huge mark as the young Reya. Ahilya Bhamroo, meanwhile, is outstanding and it’s difficult to imagine that it’s her debut performance. Jayant Kripalani lends able support and is great as a doctor who is irritated by Arjun’s behaviour but still has a soft spot for him. Kristin Goddard is adorable, and she rocks in the scene when she talks to Arjun on the phone and a day later at his residence. Johny Lever looks a bit out of place but nevertheless, he’s lovely. The actor playing Subodh lends able support.

I Want To Talk movie music and other technical aspects:
Taba Chake’s music is forgettable. George Joseph and Koyna’s background score is very minimal but impactful.

Avik Mukhopadhayay’s cinematography is stunning. The lensman, going by Shoojit Sircar’s style, doesn’t shoot at the usual tourist spots and yet manages to make the city seem appealing. Veera Kapur Ee’s costumes and Mansi Dhruv Mehta’s production design are straight out of life. Shabana Latif’s make-up and prosthetics and Petr Gorshenin’s special prosthetics deserve a special mention as it is very praiseworthy. Chandrashekhar Prajapati’s editing is neat. Though the film is just 122 minutes long, it seems a bit long in some scenes and hence could have been shorter by 5-10 minutes.

I Want To Talk Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, I WANT TO TALK tells an emotional story and rests on award-winning performances by Abhishek Bachchan and Ahilya Bhamroo. But due to its niche treatment, title and execution, it is meant for a minuscule section of the audience, and this would affect its box office prospects.

Star Cast: Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam

Director: Payal Kapadia

All We Imagine As Light Movie Review Synopsis:
ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT is the story of three women. Prabha (Kani Kusruti) works as a nurse at K L Ratan Hospital in Mumbai. Her husband dumped her and left for Germany. Prabha stays with a younger nurse, Anu (Divya Prabha). The latter is secretly in love with a man named Shiaz (Hridhu Haroon) and she has kept the relationship fiercely private due to their religious differences. Prabha’s friend and confidant in the hospital is Parvati (Chhaya Kadam), a cook who is facing eviction from her decades-old residence from a builder. Prabha tries her best to help Parvati in her fight, but the effort proves futile. Parvati decides to leave Mumbai and return to her hometown in Konkan, Maharashtra. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

All We Imagine As Light Movie Story Review:
Payal Kapadia’s story is relatable. Payal Kapadia’s screenplay is unhurried and gives viewers a chance to understand the lives of the characters authentically. Payal Kapadia’s dialogues are straight out of life.

Payal Kapadia’s direction is film festival-like and gives a déjà vu of SHIP OF THESEUS [2013] and other such niche films based in Mumbai. Her execution is such that it is difficult sometimes to imagine that one is watching a film. Moreover, the loneliness aspect ties the three women together and it’s the most striking part of the film, especially that of Prabha. In her case, it’s also heartbreaking. At the same time, it’s also joyful that these three women are independent in their own way and are also there for each other.

On the flipside, the film gets abstract at an important juncture, and it’ll leave viewers bewildered. The audience would also feel dejected as the director keeps some questions unanswered. Both these aspects would heavily impact the small section of the audience that the film is targeting. Lastly, despite the buzz generated by the film overseas, there’s very little excitement or even awareness in India about it.

All We Imagine As Light Movie Review Performances:
Kani Kusruti gets into the soul of the character completely. She has minimal dialogues and speaks a lot through her eyes. Divya Prabha understands her part perfectly and performs accordingly. Chhaya Kadam, as expected, rocks the show. Her role might seem similar to the one she played in LAAPATAA LADIES [2024] but no complaints as she is too good. Hridhu Haroon, Azees Nedumangad (Dr Manoj) and Anand Sami (drowned man) lend able support.

All We Imagine As Light movie music and other technical aspects:
ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT is a song-less film. Topshe’s music is minimal and neatly merges with the narrative style. Ranabir Das’ cinematography is raw and almost makes you feel that you are peeping into their lives. Maxima Basu’s costumes and Piyusha Chalke, Shamim Khan and Yashasvi Sabharwal’s production design are straight out of life. Clément Pinteaux’s editing is slow moving but at a few places, it stagnates.

All We Imagine As Light Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT has its share of lovely moments but will suffer heavily at the box office due to the niche treatment, sudden abstract narrative and negligible buzz.

Star Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande

Director: Jon M Chu

Wicked Movie Review Synopsis:
WICKED is the story of friendship. In the land of Oz, Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) lives in Munchkinland with her father, Governor Thropp (Andy Nyman) and paraplegic sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode). Elphaba’s mother died while giving birth to Nessarose. Elphaba has green skin and hence, her father detests her and she also finds it difficult to adjust socially. She realizes that she has certain magical powers. Nessarose gets admission in the prestigious University of Shiz. Elphaba goes to drop her sister to the university where she bumps into Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande), a popular young woman who wants to be in the good books of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), the Dean of Sorcery at Shiz University. But Madame Morrible, instead, sets her eyes on Elphaba especially when the latter accidentally performs magic. The Dean asks Elphaba to secure an admission in Shiz and as luck would have it, her roommate is Glinda. Both are as different as chalk and cheese. Meanwhile, strange developments happen at the University and in Oz. The animals, who could talk, are being forced to go silent and leave their professor jobs. Elphaba decides to help. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Wicked Movie Story Review:
WICKED is based on the musical of the same name by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. The story is fascinating and rich with some interesting characters. Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox’s screenplay is entertaining and ensures that the songs are organically woven into the narrative. The script, however, moves at a sluggish pace. The dialogues are funny and witty.

Jon M Chu’s direction is supreme. He handles the grandeur and the musical element with panache. The USP of the film is the friendship that develops between the two girls and it makes for a nice watch. Their dance sequence before the intermission is memorable. The track of Doctor Dillamond (Peter Dinklage) also stands out big time. The film ends on an intriguing note and leaves viewers curious about what the sequel will be all about.

On the flipside, the biggest issue of the film is its run time. At 160 minutes, it’s too lengthy. The story hardly moves in the first hour as the makers spend their time introducing and developing characters. A few songs also act as roadblocks. Lastly, though the film is all set to open with a bang in the home market, its buzz is limited in India.

Wicked Movie Review Performances:
Cynthia Erivo performs ably. It’s a difficult role but she pulls off it without making it seem like much of an effort. However, it is Ariana Grande who steals the show with her antics, singing, cuteness and performance. Michelle Yeoh, as always, is dependable. Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero Tigelaar) has a late entry but dominates the show. Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater (Boq) lend able support. Jeff Goldblum (Wizard Of Oz) leaves a mark in a small role. Andy Nyman and Keala Settle (Miss Coddle) do well. Peter Dinklage and Sharon D Clarke (Dulcibear) do a good job with their voiceovers.

Wicked movie music and other technical aspects:
John Powell and Stephen Schwartz’s music is one of the biggest highlights of the film. A few songs that stand out for their composition, choreography and picturization are ‘Dancing Through Life’, ‘Popular’, ‘Loathed’, ‘One Short Day’ and ‘Defying Gravity’. A few songs, however, seem out of tune in some places. The background score does justice to the fantasy element.

Alice Brooks’s cinematography is stunning. Paul Tazewell’s costumes are appealing and can become a rage, a la BARBIE [2023]. Nathan Crowley’s production design adds to the visual beauty. The VFX is out of the world. Myron Kerstein’s editing is weak.

Wicked Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, WICKED is a visually stunning musical fantasy. However, due to the long length and limited buzz among the Indian audience, the film might struggle to accumulate the collections that it deserves.

Star Cast: Vikrant Massey, Ridhi Dogra, Raashii Khanna

Director: Dheeraj Sarna

The Sabarmati Report Movie Review Synopsis:

THE SABARMATI REPORT is the story of two journalists trying to search for the truth. The year is 2002. Samar Kumar (Vikrant Massey) is a Delhi-based cameraman who works for EBT News in the entertainment beat. The star reporter of this news channel is Manika (Ridhi Dogra). Her reporting is quite respected and also watched by millions across the country. On February 27, 2002, her editor Raman Talwar informs her that two bogies of the Sabarmati Express were set on fire early in the morning at Godhra. Manika rushes to the sleepy Gujarat town along with Samar. Both investigate and talk to the locals in Godhra and they realize that what happened on February 27 was not an accident. Yet, Manika stresses that the episode was an accident and blames the state government for it. Samar has reservations about the stifling of truth. He independently goes to the civil hospital in Godhra and speaks to the survivors who confirm that certain miscreants purposely set fire to the coaches. Samar submits these tapes to the EBT News. However, only Manika’s tape is aired on air. Samar blasts Raman and Manika in front of the office. Samar is fired and the management makes sure that he doesn’t get a job elsewhere. 5 years pass. In 2007, Amrita Gill (Raashii Khanna) joins EBT and is a fan girl of Manika. Manika and Raman realize that the sitting chief minister of Gujarat will be re-elected. As part of the plans to get into his good books, they decide to get Amrita to do a follow-up story on the Godhra episode. While going through the archives, Amrita stumbles upon Samar’s hospital footage. She realizes that it’s contrary to the rest of the investigation conducted by Manika on the incident. She decides to meet Samar and both start working on The Sabarmati Report. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

The Sabarmati Report Movie Story Review:

The story is one-sided and doesn’t cover all aspects of the episode. Arjun Bhandegaonkar and Avinash Singh Tomar’s screenplay is gripping but also has several loose ends. Dheeraj Sarna’s dialogues (additional dialogues by Arjun Bhandegaonkar and Avinash Singh Tomar) are sharp.

Dheeraj Sarna’s direction is not up to the mark. To give credit where it’s due, he has extracted fine performances from the lead actors. He also keeps the duration in check. A few scenes stand out like Samar’s outburst, Samar and Amrita escaping from the Vadodara locality, etc. The bond shared by Samar and Amrita makes for a nice watch. It’s also heartening that the makers pay tribute to the victims of the train incident.

Raja Ram – The Sabarmati Report | Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, Ridhi Dogra | Kavita Krishnamurthy, Suresh Wadkar, Kartik Kush

On the flipside, the film tries to put the blame of the episode majorly on wrong reporting, as if that’s the only reason for what conspired later on. If one goes by the film, then EBT News is the only news channel operating in India and that they had the power to alter the truth single-handedly. Those who are aware of this incident will know that many others were also responsible for the deaths that occurred later on but the film makes no mention of it. The direction is also haphazard at times and the story abruptly jumps as well. The audience will fail to understand how and why the case was filed against Samar and why no legal action was taken against Amrita since she was also a part of the investigation. Towards the end, we see Amrita reporting on the ‘real’ truth before Manika cuts her off. But how come a novice like Amrita even gets the opportunity to go on air without the approval of the seniors? These minuses far outweigh the pluses and hence, the film becomes a laughable affair.

The Sabarmati Report Movie Review Performances:

Vikrant Massey puts in an earnest effort and delivers a hard-hitting performance. The film is a bit watchable, thanks to him and the other lead actors. Ridhi Dogra shines and looks convincing as a no-nonsense media personality. Shockingly, she disappears after a point. Raashii Khanna has a late entry but makes up for it with her memorable performance. Barkha Singh (Shloka) is lovely in a cameo. Sundip Ved (Senior Minister), Digvijay Purohit (Rajeev; EBT head) and the actor playing Raman Talwar leave a huge mark. The others who do well are the actors essaying the roles of Mishra ji, Zainab (receptionist at Tiranga Lodge), Sadia, Arun Barda, Sajid Batlawala, Sadam Supariwala and Hamid Qadri. Lastly, Hella Stichlmair (Senior leader of the opposition party) is very bad.

The Sabarmati Report movie music and other technical aspects:

As for the songs, ‘Tere Mere Darmiyan’ is forgettable while ‘Raja Ram’ manages to register. Ketan Sodha’s background score is impactful. Amalendu Chaudhary’s cinematography is appropriate. The late Rajat Poddarr’s production design is well-researched. Leepakshi Ellawadi’s costumes and Aejaz Gulab’s action are realistic. Manan Sagar’s editing is slick but has jerks in some places.

The Sabarmati Report Movie Review Conclusion:

On the whole, THE SABARMATI REPORT fails to impress due to its haphazard execution & loose ends in the script. At the box office, it will be flop show.

Star Cast: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington

Director: Ridley Scott

Gladiator II Movie Review Synopsis:
GLADIATOR II is the story of a war prisoner who turns into a hero. Sixteen years after the events of the first part, the condition of the Roman Empire has further deteriorated. The empire is ruled by two incompetent emperors, Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), who want to expand the territory while ignoring the woes of the subjects. At their insistence, General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invades Numidia which is headed by Jugartha (Peter Mensah). One of the brave fighters in his army is Hanno (Paul Mescal). He and his wife Arishat (Yuval Gonen) fight courageously. But Arishat dies and Rome captures Numidia. Hanno, Jugartha and others are taken as prisoners and taken to the outskirts of Rome. Here, Hanno is bought by Macrinus (Denzel Washington) and the latter plans to make the former fight in the arena at the Colosseum. Meanwhile, Acacius is unhappy with the back-to-back wars. His wife is none other than Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), the daughter of the deceased noble king Marcus Aurelius. They and some members of the Senate plan a rebellion against the emperors. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Gladiator II Movie Story Review:
Peter Craig and David Scarpa’s story is full of drama and action. David Scarpa’s screenplay is praiseworthy as it nicely takes the story forward from the memorable first part. The narrative is peppered with action and politics which will keep the viewers intrigued. The dialogues are simple and sharp.

Ridley Scott’s direction, as expected, is marvellous. He had set a benchmark with GLADIATOR [2000] and hence, it’s a big risk to make its sequel. But Ridley succeeds and how. The characters in the first part were memorable but one doesn’t miss them as the newer ones are also likeable. In fact, a few of them like the Emperors and Marinus are very well fleshed out and their mere presence adds to the madness. Although the suspense around Hanno is predictable, one doesn’t mind as it unravelled beautifully. The fights are riveting and the challenge goes one level up this time. The Colosseum scenes are superb but watch out for Hanno’s fight with the baboons; it’s something to watch out for.

On the flipside, the film starts on a sluggish note. There are moments in the film in between where the film stagnates and also gets confusing, especially with regards to Macrinus’ actions. Those expecting lots of action might be disappointed as there’s an important political track which forms a major chunk of the film. The action, meanwhile, is very gory. Though the fights will give a paisa-vasool time to viewers, some of them seem to be historically inaccurate, especially showing the arena filled with water and sharks.

Gladiator II Movie Review Performances:
Paul Mescal plays the lead role with aplomb and looks convincing as a fearless soldier with a tragic past. Denzel Washington is the surprise of the film. He takes the film many notches higher with his character and his nuanced performance. An Oscar nomination-worthy act! Pedro Pascal underplays his part neatly. Connie Nielsen, as always, is lovely and graceful. Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger leave a tremendous mark. Peter Mensah and Yuval Gonen are fair in cameos. Alexander Karim (Ravi) shines and his character would be loved by the audience in India. The others who do a good job are Lior Raz (Viggo), Derek Jacobi (Senator Gracchus), Tim McInnerny (Thraex) and Matt Lucas (Master of Ceremonies).

Gladiator II movie music and other technical aspects:
Harry Gregson-Williams’s music enhances the impact. John Mathieson’s cinematography is breathtaking and detailed. Arthur Max’s production design is well-researched. Janty Yates and David Crossman’s costumes are authentic. The VFX is top-class. The action is entertaining but too gory, as per the requirement of the story. Claire Simpson and Sam Restivo’s editing could have been slicker.

Gladiator II Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, GLADIATOR II is a fitting sequel to one of the most loved films of Hollywood and rests on a compelling premise, award-worthy performances, top-notch drama and action. At the box office, it is set to open on a fair note and has the potential to emerge as a surprise success.

Star Cast: Suriya, Bobby Deol

Director: Siva

Kanguva Movie Review Synopsis:
KANGUVA is the story of a brave warrior. The film is set in two timelines. In 2024, Francis (Suriya) is a bounty hunter in Goa who catches criminals for the police. His rival is his ex-girlfriend Angel (Disha Patani), who’s also a bounty hunter. While trying to nab a gangster named Jittu, Francis bumps into a kid named Zeta. Zeta is a kid with extraordinary abilities who has escaped from a secret facility. Francis doesn’t know Zeta and yet gets drawn to him. Meanwhile, in 1070 AD, Kanguva (Suriya) is the chief on the island of Perumachi. It is one of the five islands which are next to each other. The other four islands are Mandyaru, Venkadu, Mukkadu and Arthi. The Romans want to capture this region and they enlist the help of Kodavan. He informs the Romans that Perumachi warriors are too brave and they need to be eliminated not just by force but also through intelligence. Kodavan tries to do so but is caught red-handed by Kanguva. He kills him. His wife jumps into the pyre and asks Kanguva to take care of her son, Poruva. Meanwhile, the Romans now approach Arthi’s ruthless chief Udhiran (Bobby Deol) to fight Kanguva and his army. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Kanguva Movie Story Review:
Adi Narayana’s story has a lot of weight. Siva’s screenplay, however, fails to do justice to the plot. But a few scenes are well thought out. Madan Karky’s dialogues are normal and are devoid of any powerful one-liners.

Siva’s direction is grand. He has tried his best to present an epic cinematic experience to the viewers. This is evident not just in the 1070 AD track but also in the present-day scenes. The latter are stylishly executed. The enmity between the two tribes and the characteristics of the five islands are imaginative. The father-son bond is touching.

On the flipside, the film is too loud. The direction is weak in several places. Certain scenes must have sounded great on paper but didn’t translate as intended on celluloid. Also, it comes at a time when viewers are probably bored of watching ruthless, animal-like humans baying for each other’s blood. Since it comes too late in the day, viewers will draw parallels with films like BAAHUBALI, DEVARA etc. For instance, Udhiran’s tribe seems very similar to Kalkeyas of BAAHUBALI. The present-day portions, meanwhile, give a deja vu of KALKI 2898 AD due to the presence of Disha and the mention of bounty hunters. The film ends with the promise of a sequel and it fails to excite viewers.
Kanguva (Hindi) – Release Trailer | Suriya | Bobby Deol

Kanguva Movie Review Performances:
Suriya gives more than a hundred per cent to the role and makes the film watchable. As Francis, he’s cool but as Kanguva, he’s fiery and looks convincing as a brave leader who can take on several enemies at once. The child actor (whose name is nowhere mentioned surprisingly by the makers) has a crucial role and does a fabulous job. Bobby Deol looks menacing but his performance leaves a lot to be desired. Disha Patani looks sizzling but hardly has anything to do. Yogi Babu (Colt 95) and Redin Kingsley (Accelerator) raise limited laughs. The other actors do well.

Kanguva movie music and other technical aspects:
Devi Sri Prasad’s music is catchy. The theme song ‘Naayak’is exhilarating. ‘Fire Song’ is grand. However, showing Suriya moving his tongue as a dance step is embarrassing.’Maafi’ is soulful. ‘YOLO’ is forced. Devi Sri Prasad’s background score adds to the cinematic appeal.

Vetri Palanisamy’s cinematography is spectacular, especially the scenes shot at the beach. T Udhayakumar, Renjith Venugopal Saravakumar’s sound design is horrible as it is needlessly loud. Milan’s production design is detailed and authentic. Anu Vardhan’s costumes for Suriya are appealing while Dhatsha Pillai Maria Merlyn’s costumes are realistic. Supreme Sundar’s action is very disturbing. Nishad Yusuf’s editing is appropriate.

Kanguva Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, KANGUVA has a superb performance by Suriya but the film suffers due to a weak direction and similarities with other Pan-India films.

Star Cast: Anjini Dhawan, Pankaj Kap00r

Director: Ssanjay Tripaathy

Binny And Family Movie Review Synopsis:
BINNY AND FAMILY is the story of a young, rebellious girl. Bindiya Singh aka Binny (Anjini Dhawan) stays with her parents Vinay (Rajesh Kumar) and mother Radhika (Charu Shankar) in London, UK. The Singh family had relocated from Pune to London 5 years ago. Binny had problems adjusting but she never complained. Her best friend is Bhavesh Patel aka BP (Naman Tripathy), who also relocated to the UK at around the same time. All is going well until one day, S N Singh (Pankaj Kapoor), Vinay’s father, calls to inform that like every year, he and his wife Sharda (Himani Shivpuri) are flying down to London to reside with them for two months. This would mean that Binny will have to share her room with her grandparents. She is fine doing it every year but this year, she realizes that she’ll face a problem as her board exams are coming up. Days before S N Singh and Sharda were about to reach London, Binny and her parents hide alcohol bottles and ash tray from their house along with objectionable banners in Binny’s room. Once the grandparents are in London, life becomes difficult for Binny and her parents as they make sure the patriarch doesn’t admonish them. Some issues crop up but they sail through. S N Singh and Sharda return to India. Life is back to normal for Binny and her parents until one day, they get a jolt. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Binny And Family Movie Story Review:
Ssanjay Tripaathy’s story is entertaining and very relatable. Ssanjay Tripaathy’s screenplay is effective. The writer has loaded the narrative with very funny and touching moments which will surely appeal to audiences of all ages. Also, showing a family facing problems because of guests invading their space is very relatable for Indian audiences. Ssanjay Tripaathy and Naman Tripaathy’s dialogues are sharp and also funny in places.

Ssanjay Tripathyy’s direction is first-rate. He treats the film simply and that’s his biggest strength. The characters are well fleshed out and presented and also, unlike certain films in this space, BINNY AND FAMILY doesn’t antagonize the younger or even the older generation. He shows the plusses and minuses of both. His comment about effective communication comes out very well. In fact, the second half is the soul of the film and it takes the impact to dizzying heights.

On the flipside, the film’s first half is just decent. Of course, the second half is a winner but before the interval, there are instances where one might wonder where the film is heading. The track of Binny and Dhruv (Ti Khan) doesn’t have the desired impact. Lastly, a lot of dialogues are in English. Ideally, a film like this should have been released in the original Hinglish as well as dubbed Hindi versions.

BINNY AND FAMILY starts on an okay note. The fun begins once Binny learns that her grandparents are arriving in London. The scene where S N Singh gets angry over Binny sneaking out late at night is memorable. The other scenes that are well executed are Binny’s parents celebrating once S N Singh and Sharda leave and Binny’s outburst just before the intermission point. Post-interval, the film takes a dramatic turn. The Bihar sequence is great and the film goes on another level once the Singh’s come back to London. The climax is touching.

Binny And Family Movie Review Performances:
Anjini Dhawan makes a solid debut. She plays the difficult role with ease and also handles the lead part ably. Her dialogue delivery is also worthy. Pankaj Kapur rocks the show. The veteran actor has given several memorable performances but his act in BINNY AND FAMILY is one of his most accomplished ones. He does great in the first half but watch out for him post-interval. Rajesh Kumar and Charu Shankar are natural. Naman Tripathy is adorable and is the surprise of the film. Ti Khan is dashing and gives a fine performance. The actors playing Sanaya and Dr Ghosh are decent.

Binny And Family movie music and other technical aspects:
Lalit Pandit’s music doesn’t have a lasting impact but works well in the narrative. Both versions of ‘Kuch Hamare’ and ‘Zindagi’ are soulful. Arjuna Harjai’s background score is appropriate while Mohit Puri’s cinematography is breathtaking. The film has been shot in some beautiful locations in the UK. Leena Bhandula’s production design is appealing. The house of the Singh family is quite nicely decked up. Himanshi Nijhawan’s costumes are straight out of life. Sourabh Prabhudesai’s is smooth.

Binny And Family Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, BINNY AND FAMILY is a clean family entertainer with a very strong second half. It appeals to viewers of all ages and hence, has the potential to surprise if the target audience gives it a thumbs up.

Star Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga

Director: Todd Phillips

Joker: Folie à Deux Movie Review Synopsis:
JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX is the story of a nihilistic man who finds a lover. After the events of the first part, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is institutionalized at Arkham State Hospital for killing five men, including one on live television. Arthur hasn’t told anyone that his mother Penny Fleck (Frances Conroy) didn’t die naturally and that it was him who murdered her. He’s represented by Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), who sympathizes with Arthur and wants to prove in court that he has a split personality. Further, she wants to indicate to the jury that it was Joker and not Arthur that caused these killings. In Arkham, Arthur bumps into Lee (Lady Gaga). She has been institutionalized after she set fire to her parents’ apartment. She knows about Arthur’s past and is a fan. Both start a relationship in the prison. Lee is set free and she promises to attend his trials and that they both can have a future together. Lee’s presence adds a lot of joy in Arthur’s life. However, reality strikes when Maryanne tells Arthur about Lee’s past. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Joker: Folie à Deux Movie Story Review:
Todd Phillips and Scott Silver’s story is simple but they attempt to add a unique touch. However, Todd Phillips and Scott Silver’s screenplay doesn’t turn out as intended. The film is a bit confusing and a few of the developments in the story are not convincing at all. Todd Phillips and Scott Silver’s dialogues are sharp.

Todd Phillips’ direction is audacious as he takes the bold step of turning a film like this into a musical. The love affair between Arthur and Lee is also cinematic and makes for an interesting watch. A few courtroom scenes also stand out, especially when Arthur loses his cool over Maryanne’s ways in the court and Arthur, dressed as Joker, questions Leigh Gill (Gary Puddles).

On the flipside, the musical aspect backfires in places. This is not a Disney or even a LA LA LAND [2016] kind of film; to see the characters breaking out into a song at regular interviews seems awkward. Also, there are too many songs and it adds to the length. The final scene is unexpected but it also might not seem acceptable to many moviegoers.

Joker: Folie à Deux Movie Review Performances:
Joaquin Phoenix yet again steals the show. The impact might not seem as much as the first JOKER. This was probably because, during the first part, we didn’t know his performance would be this awesome. Here, our expectations are set. Nevertheless, he does a great job yet again. Lady Gaga is apt for the part. The way she gets into the skin of the character and performs merely through her expressions is seen to be believed. Her voice, of course, is soothing. Catherine Keener lends able support. Leigh Gill shines though he’s there for just one scene. The same applies to Steve Coogan (Paddy Meyers). Bill Smitrovich (Judge Herman Rothwax) and Brendan Gleeson (Jackie Sullivan) leave a huge mark. Harry Lawtey (Harvey Dent) and Ken Leung (Dr Liu) are fair. Zazie Beetz (Sophie Dumond; Arthur’s neighbour) is okay in a cameo. Jacob Lofland is hardly there but will be talked about a lot.

Joker: Folie à Deux movie music and other technical aspects:
Hildur Guðnadóttir’s music is lovely but doesn’t have the desired impact Hildur Guðnadóttir’s background score, however, is appropriate.

Lawrence Sher’s cinematography adds to the madness and chaos. Mark Friedberg’s production design is top-class.  Arianne Phillips’s costumes are stylish, especially the ones worn by Lady Gaga, and also in sync with the theme of the film. The VFX matches global standards while the action is realistic. Jeff Groth’s editing could have been slicker.

Joker: Folie à Deux Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX is a crazy ride but the impact is limited this time due to the complicated narrative and too many songs. At the box office, the clean run until October 11 and the goodwill of the first part will prove beneficial to some extent.

Star Cast: Ananya Panday, Vihaan Samat

Director: Vikramaditya Motwane

CTRL Movie Review Synopsis:
CTRL is the story of a woman who falls into a dangerous, digital trap. Nalini aka Nella Awasthi (Ananya Panday), originally based in Delhi, lives in Mumbai with her boyfriend Joe Mascarenhas (Vihaan Samat). They have a social media channel called NJOY where they put up funny and cute videos and sketches. Their following is huge. Nella, however, gets consumed by their online avatar and is obsessed with increasing engagement and likes for their content. Joe feels neglected. He’s a part of a public interest tech group where he meets Shonali (Kamakshi Bhat). On Joe’s birthday, Nella goes live and decides to surprise him by landing up at Joe’s party with his tech buddies. She gets the shock of her life when she sees Joe kissing Shonali. An angry Nella breaks up with Joe. Since the live recording captured the moments of Joe kissing and Nella hitting Shonali, she goes viral for the wrong reasons and also gets trolled massively. While going through the comments, she comes across a suggestion – she should download an app named ‘Ctrl’ and delete Joe from her digital past. A depressed Nella downloads it and creates an AI avatar named Allen (voiced by Aparshakti Khurana), which is simply her name spelt backwards. Nella forms a bond with Allen as the latter begins to cleanly remove Joe from her pictures and videos. But unknown to Nella, the brains behind the ‘Ctrl’ app have ulterior motives. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

CTRL Movie Story Review:
Avinash Sampath’s story is novel and the need of the hour. Avinash Sampath and Vikramaditya Motwane’s screenplay is imaginative. It is unlike any other Hindi film script due to the technical aspect and yet, it is simple and easy to understand. Sumukhi Suresh’s dialogues are witty and add to the humour and drama.

Vikramaditya Motwane’s direction is terrific. This is a screenlife movie along the lines of memorable flicks like UNFRIENDED [2014], SEARCHING [2018], etc. (Timur Bekmambetov, who pioneered these films is also the executive producer of CTRL). It is always a risk to pull off a film like this as one also needs to make sure that the digital graphics look slick and at the same time, it should be convincing that a character is using a device for a reason and not for the heck of it to fulfil the idea of a ‘screen film’. On both fronts, Vikramaditya succeeds. Technically, the film is great. The shots of Joe getting deleted slowly from Nella’s pictures are executed dramatically. The AI character of Allen looks harmless and also dangerous at the same time. Meanwhile, Vikramaditya also has a great story to tell and he does it with panache. It’s very real as we have all been consumed by the drama in the lives of content creators. The break-up track is hilarious and the film goes in a different zone once Nella lets Allen take control. A lot happens in the second half and that will astonish the audience.

On the flipside, the way Nella gets trapped is convincing but its consequences are not. The deepfake angle does get noticed but why it doesn’t become a big issue by internet activists is not easy to digest. The finale adds a nice touch but at the same time, it is not as impactful. The makers never care to explain how Nella’s family and relatives react to her fiasco in the last act.

CTRL Movie Review Performances:
Ananya Panday delivers a fine performance. She gets into the skin of the character and looks every inch like an influencer whose life is consumed by social media. She also does well in some of the challenging scenes. Vihaan Samat has limited screen time but makes up for it with his able performance. Devika Vatsa (Bina) is a great find while Kamakshi Bhat is decent. Ravish Desai (Aryan K) and Suchiita Niigam Patel (Nella’s mother) leave a mark in cameos. Tanmay Bhat, Rohan Joshi, Aaditya Kulshreshth, Nishant Tanwar and Vishal Dayama play themselves and add to the realism. Finally, Aparshakti Khurana is too good as the voice of Allen.

CTRL movie music and other technical aspects:
Sneha Khanwalkar’s music is modern. ‘Ulfat’ stands out as it’s very catchy. ‘B(h)adass’ is well picturized but ‘Ainwayi Yunhi’is okay. ‘Mera Boyfriend’ by Yashraj Mukhate is very hilarious. Sneha Khanwalkar’s background score is in sync with the film’s mood.

Pratik Shah’s cinematography is praiseworthy, despite the challenges. Yashika Gor’s production design and Shruti Kapoor’s costumes are straight out of life. Philm CGI’s VFX matches global standards. Jahaan Noble’s editing is slick.

CTRL Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, CTRL, the first screenlife film of Bollywood, is gripping and will also make viewers question their dependency on their devices. It is sure to become a talking point and thereby also amass considerable viewership.