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Category: Movies

  • Modern Love Chennai – An Outstandingly Unique Serving Of Deep Love!

    Modern Love Chennai – An Outstandingly Unique Serving Of Deep Love!

    Modern Love Chennai is clearly the best Indian anthology of Modern Love. All the six stories are amazingly different with their innovative take on love. Beautifully written, all the  stories are sensitively and emphatically presented to keep you thinking long after the end. A wonderful eclectic collection of seasoned true love! 

    Ninaivo Oru Paravai (Memory Is A Bird) is clearly the pick of the lot. It is the director’s version of ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’. A couple breaks up but soon one partner loses his memory and only remembers the positive sunshine of the relationship. What should the other partner do? The visuals are very dark but creatively shot. The entire look of the movie is aesthetically unique and creates a great impact. Wamiqa Gabbi is splendid! 

    Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal (Deers That Live In A Bird’s Nest) is a radically different take on relationships. An extremely mature wife meets her husband’s new lover to discuss the new and interesting situation. She accepts her husband’s new love and never humiliates the lover as ‘other woman’. She helps the children and her adjust to the new world where all of them can co-exist beautifully. No judgements, only acceptance and understanding. 

    Balaji Sakthivel’s Imaigal (Blur) is a very moving tale. Young girl Devi has a very rare eye condition where she is eventually going to lose her eye-sight. Her boyfriend marries her inspite of the potential challenges. Life unfolds its obstacles as she gradually looses her eye-sight thereby causing ripples in their life. A new take on ‘Happily Ever After’. 

    Marghazi is a journey of adolescent romance and ephemeral encounters that uplift the spirits. Love heals!  

    Kaadhal Enbadhu Kannula Heart Irukkura Emoji is a story of cinephile Mallika (Ritu Varma) who searches for a perfect partner through school, college and adulthood. The larger than life world of cinema defines her love and life. 

    Lalagunda Bommaigal is a very very interesting tale with wacky characters – how a heart-broken and fiery young working woman finds love amidst prediction by a godman. Watch out for the ‘Jingrudha Dhanga’ song!

    Music is an equally important star of the series and master Ilaiyaraaja shines with wonderful compositions. All directors have exploited the freedom to paint their shades of love on the open canvas. 

    A must watch!

  • The Bollywood Review – 2022

    The Bollywood Review – 2022

    Quick Summary:

    1. Southern Spice was the topic of Bollywood in 2022. Did Bollywood lose the plot to Southern entertainers? Yes and No.
    2. Indian audience has been pampered by best of the global cinema in the last two years of Covid. The mediocrity is shunned. Template movie making is rejected.
    3. Bollywood was indeed outclassed by Southern movies in the big budget masala category – RRR is roaring across India and making an impact at Oscars. Kantara posters are in North India. KGF2 rules. Pre-Bahubali days, no South Indian movie would last beyond a week in North. Today, they are having a golden run. Southern movies have shown that audience will return to cinema – give them worthy content!
    4. Ponniyn Selvan 1, Yashoda, Sita Ramam and Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya He have continued the Southern supremacy. Radhe Shyam proved that audience is unforgiving.
    5. Bollywood’s Brahmastra to Southern challenge was a mixed success – did not live to expectations. The biggest Bollywood blockbuster was also a Southern remake – Drishyam 2.
    6. Remember 100 crore club? In 2019, 100 crore was passe, 200 crore was becoming common and 300 crore club was the new sign of success. In 2022, only a few movies hit the 100 crore club – Gangubai Kathiawadi, The Kashmir Files, Bhool Bhulaiya 2, Brahmastra and Drishyam 2. Clearly, audience is spending money wisely and Bollywood is bleeding with its self-inflicted wounds.
    7. Shamshera, Samrat Prithviraj, Raksha Bandhan, Lala Singh Chaddha, Liger, Ram Setu, Cirkus, Jayesbhai Jordaar – Perfect examples of big names and big banners producing duds.
    8. Bollywood did have amazing movies in 2022 as well – but they did not capture the headlines. The list is showcased below.
    9. Gujarati Film Industry came out of age and had a steady churn of interesting movies.
    10. Alia maintained her numero uno status with Gangubai. She was also a part of Brahmastra, Darlings and RRR. Shefali Shah rose with Salsa, Darlings and Dr G – not to forget Delhi Crime 2 and Humans.

    Let’s look at the wonderful movies of 2022:

    1. Jalsa
    2. Monica O My Darling
    3. Chupp
    4. Love Hostel
    5. Gangubai Kathiawadi
    6. Jhund
    7. Badhaai Do
    8. Dobaara
    9. Blurr
    10. Thar
    11. Qala
    12. Action Hero
    13. RK / rKay
    14. Matto Ki Saikil
    15. Vikram Vedha

    Notable Mentions: Uunchai, Gehraiyaan, Jaadugar, Drishyam 2

  • The Banshees Of Inisherin: Melancholic. Macabre. Maddening. Morbid. Must-Watch.

    The Banshees Of Inisherin: Melancholic. Macabre. Maddening. Morbid. Must-Watch.

    An impeccable, thought provoking and insightful epic of human relationships and life!

    When friendships break!

    When existential questions hurt!

    Just like every other day, Padraic visits his best friend Colm for the ritualistic trip to the local pub. Colm refuses to speak and breaks the friendship which devastates Padraic to no end. Padraic persists on winning back his friend but Colm is equally stubborn and threatens to cut off his fingers one by one if Padriac does not back off! Ouch! And shockingly, he walks the talk! Heart-breaking and horrifying!

    What a story….what an impressive set of eclectic characters!

    Colm is a thinker who wants to have a purposeful life and leaving a lasting impression on the world! His icy cold rejection of Colm is incisive – “I just don’t like you no more”!

    Padraic just wants to be nice human being and feels kindness is what one will be remembered for! His reactions to Colm as well as his interactions with animals are moving!

    Dominic is the troubled teenager who steals the show when he says “there goes that dream”!

    Padriac’s sister Siobhan is a wise, well-read and strong woman with dreams and ambition…Her silence pierces as well as her retorts like “not another silent man in Inisherin”

    And what an ending! Will not spoil the beans…tell what you think of it?

    Colin Farell and Brendan Gleeson’s chemistry as two friends at odd is amazing! The whole range of emotions from confusion to shock to anger is well a master class in acting – expressed with eyes and body language! Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan are rock solid and lift the movie to a next level.

    Martin McDonagh focusses on human relationship and small town absurdities with the backdrop of war in a remote Irish island. Life in a judgemental and probing community can be claustrophobic and maddening! The writing and screenplay is very meaningful and incisive – translated impeccably on the big screen with an emphatic treatment! The cinematography is a character in itself and transports you to the beautifully Irish countryside. The visuals and music have a calming effect – acting as a meditative healing amidst the melancholic pain!

    A movie that will touch you and set you thinking!

  • Avatar – The Way Of Water: Breathtakingly Immersive Experience Of A Disappointing Movie

    Avatar – The Way Of Water: Breathtakingly Immersive Experience Of A Disappointing Movie

    Avatar is one of the greatest cinematic experience. A game-changing visionary movie. Apart from pathbreaking technology, it introduced us to the blue bodied Na’vi of Pandora moon, raised our environmental consciousness way before Greta Thunberg and made us feel ‘I see you’. It reigned as the highest grossing movie for a decade since its release in 2009.  

    Avatar 2 is called Avatar – The Way Of Water. It is second of the five instalments that will continue to be released every 2 years till 2028. 

    Jake Sully and his family flee the forest to take refuge with amphibian tribe Metkayina. The green canvas turns to turquoise Maldives like pristine waters. After the initial tense proceedings, things settle down and they together fight the common enemy – sky people – the humans. 

    The aquatic flora and fauna is the best part of the movie. Dazzling and enchanting! The whale like tulkun is the showstopper – gentle giant that is bigger than Mumbai flats. The climax is a return to Titanic world for James Cameron – even Kate Winslet joins the reunion! 

    Avatar 2 is a beautiful spectacle but too long and has no gripping plot to speak of. New owner Disney add family dynamics to the environment and imperialism themes. One can give James Cameron the credit to be singularly focused on the simple narrative. 

    Avatar – The Way Of Water is a one time big screen watch. It is debuting in more 50,000 screens at the same time across all major countries. If you do not watch it, our hearts will still go on….

  • Qala Review: Visually Spectacular Musical Pyschodrama

    Qala Review: Visually Spectacular Musical Pyschodrama

    Qala Review: Visually Spectacular Musical Pyschodrama

    Qala – Where Guru Dutt meets Bhansali meets Vikramditya Motwane!

    Qala is a work of art! Picture perfect frames, scintillating music, brilliant acting and empathetic treatment make Qala a great watch!

    Qala is the story Qala Manjushree – a famous Bollywood singer and winner of Golden Vinyl record, who is struggling with parental disdain and personal guilt. She has unbridled ambitions in a highly misogynistic society and she actualises her dreams with intriguing choices. The pyrrhic victory takes an epic toll on her. She shines outside but is burning within. She is calm but broken within.

    Triptii is the perfect choice for Qala who shows fragility, ambition, vulnerability, guilt, jealousy, hurt, power and many other colours in a single canvass. She constantly reminded me of Natalie Portman’s Black Swan act – only with Organza Sarees and high neck quarter sleeve blouses.

    Swastika Mukherjee is equally amazing as Urmila – who had learned the hard realities of life and tells her daughter to work harder in a man’s world. Her apathy to Qala and her affection to Sajan are two sides of the same coin. Stoic Swastika!

    Irffan Khan’s son Babil makes a great impact in a brief but significant role. He immerses himself in the character – like his Dad. He and supporting cast uplift the movie.

    Full marks to Anvika Dutta for creating a beautiful dark painting with multiple shades. The icy cold Himachal and warm Kolkata are so strikingly different – even the mood and clothing of characters.

    Technically brilliant, gorgeously shot and strong direction. Loved the metaphors – Moth, Mercury, Snowfall, Cuckoo! Moth embraces Organza saree….Strong screenplay. Loved dialogues – “The times change. This is an old trick of time.” “Naam ke aage pandit lagna chahiye, uske peeche bai nahi”.

    The brilliant film’s biggest star is the music. What a composer Amit Trivedi has become – each and every song is so impeccable and integral to the story line. Shauq is a masterpiece which convey’s heartbreak while Ghode Pe Sawaar brings nostalgia of the past era. Nirbhau Nirvair is awesome! Magical!

    Watch it! What remains with us are handmade painting visuals, mesmerising music, moth motifs, organza sarees and lots of thoughts – Qala is a remarkable movie!

    Caveat: A dark movie – not for everyone! Not a masala entertainer or typical Netflix skin and crime thriler! Qala is an acquired taste!

  • ‘Monica O My Darling’ Review: Womaniya Blast In A Musical Comic Thriller!

    ‘Monica O My Darling’ Review: Womaniya Blast In A Musical Comic Thriller!

    A taut pop culture rich thriller with unapologetic eccentric characters! A social climber has it all – great job, beautiful fiancé and a bright future – till things go south! A femme fatale secretary and a kick-ass police officer create a mad energy of its own! And there are murders along the way!

    Huma Qureshi & Radhika Apte have a blast in the intriguing murder mystery! Huma Quereshi is a riot. Radhika Apte is completely sassy. Lovely to see them enjoying in their well-written characters. Rajukumar Rao does a great job but he has been there, done that. A great ensemble cast.

    The music is terrific and adds to the quirky fun. Songs like ‘ Yeh Ek Zindagi’, ‘Love you so much that I want to kill you’ ‘Bye Bye Adios’ etc are a character in itself!

    Smart writing, strong screenplay, fabulous dialogues, marvellous acting and outstanding music make it a nice watch. Editing could have been better. Director Vasan Bala creates a cool cocktail of Johnny Gaddar, Sriram Raghavan and James Hadley Chase novels.

    Worth a watch!

  • ‘Rorschach’ Movie Review: Deeply Intriguing Psychological Neo Noir Thriller

    ‘Rorschach’ Movie Review: Deeply Intriguing Psychological Neo Noir Thriller

    ‘Rorschach’ Movie Review: Deeply Intriguing Psychological Neo Noir Thriller

    A bewildering movie that justifies its title – Rorschach means a projective psychological test that uses a subject’s interpretation of 10 standard black or colored inkblot designs to assess personality traits and emotional tendencies.

    The movie tests your perception of the film? Your feelings, your characteristics and you! The movie also tests the key characters in the outstanding drama – all of who showcase numerous shades of grey.

    A rich businessman for Dubai arrives in a tranquil village and sets a chain of interesting events. Gradually, the pieces of puzzle unearth and we get a sense of protagonist’s true intentions arising from a mental state. I am resisting the temptation to leak the big story!

    The revenge drama keep you on the edge of the seat. One is attracted to the maze and gets deeper and deeper! Though the pace gets little slow after half time when the real plot is revealed!

    Mammootty shines and does full justice to the movie! What a layered and smooth performance where he surrenders to the script – you become part of his insidiousness! Acting masterclass! Hats off! But it is Bindu Panicker who outshines seething Mammootty for me – her menacing matriarch act of self-preservation is outstanding!

    The movie is technically superb with music, car, house and village as impeccable components. Loved the English tracks of the movie – enhanced the mood of the film. Full marks to the director!

    Watch it – A very unique slow burn!

  • Kantara Review: “wooooooaaaav”  Insanely WOW! 

    Kantara Review: “wooooooaaaav”  Insanely WOW! 

    Kantara Review: “wooooooaaaav”  Insanely WOW! 

    Kantara is a must watch movie! A true cinematic experience that deserves a big screen immersion! 

    Kantara is an outstanding mesh of visual extravaganza, creative storytelling and mind blowing performances! Full credit to actor director writer Rishabh Shetty for staying true to local milieu & rustic taste while avoiding the temptation to masculinize the movie like the recent southern potboilers. 

    Kantara brings together diverse threads to create a unique fabric:

    – Human being’s search for peace and sukoon

    – Local beliefs and culture 

    – Human greed and nature’s bounty

    – Human rights and rule of law

    Technically world-class, sensitive treatment, awesome cinematography and powerful vivid music take us straight to the coastal Karnataka life – the Bhoot Kala festival, the Kambala event, wild boar hunting etc. Daiva’s scream guarantees goosebumps!  

    The last fifteen minutes have taken the movie to next level with Rishabh’s performance – the climax will keep people talking for a long time! 

    Kantra – Watch it – The power of cinema that will stay on….

    And yes, if you love Kantara, do not forget to watch Tumbadd – one of India’s finest movie! And the one I rate  one notch higher than Kantara!

  • Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard – A Gripping Crime Docu-Thriller!

    Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard – A Gripping Crime Docu-Thriller!

    • German FinTech’s Unicorn
    • Silicon Valley Innovation From The Land Of Automobiles
    • Black Turtleneck Wearing Witty CEO
    • Death Threats, Thugs & Spies
    • Funding Of Militia & Influencing European Elections
    • Suave COO Features In Europol’s Most Wanted Fugitives
    • Yet Another Financial Fraud

    All of the above and much more!

    Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard, is a Netflix Documentary that unfolds one of the biggest corporate corruption and financial fraud case of the recent times! Wirecard went bust after its dubious malpractices were discovered and a staggering $1.9 billion was found missing from its books. Skandal! is based on Financial Times’ Dan McCrum’s book ‘Money Men: A Hot Startup, A Billion Dollar Fraud, A Fight for the Truth’. Dan was the person who unravelled the Wirecard fraud. 

    Skandal! explains the entire Wirecard drama and its intricacies in a lucid and engaging manner – through a mixture of graphical story telling, rich interviews and brilliant insights. The journalists where followed and spied by Wirecard’s investigators. They were suspended due to smart counter-allegations by Wirecard and a short trader was threatened by thugs. Lots of interesting histrionics! 

    How did Wirecard execute the scam? Who were responsible? While Skandal! answers such questions about the Wirecard saga, its raises important queries as well: 

    • How did the Wirecard fraud go unnoticed for so long?
    • What loopholes were exploited? Are they fixed?
    • Did German politicians and media turn a Nelson’s Eye to Wirecard?

    Lots of truth is still not unknown. The former Wirecard COO Jan Marsalek disappeared shortly and is currently wanted by the German police. He is listed on Europol’s list of Europe’s most wanted fugitives. CEO Braun resigned and was arrested on suspicion of false accounting and market manipulation. 

    Watch it!

    A few thoughts do emerge….

    As always, it was the Wirecard employees, customers and common investors who had to pay the price!

    Wirecard had some of the best and extremely talented technologists and business experts, who brought great ideas to life. Many innovative ideas came to an abrupt end and many employees suffered for no fault of theirs. 

    Wirecard was a darling of investors. The whole financial world watched how Wirecard surpassed CommerzBank and Deutsche Bank, the traditional Financial heavyweights. There was a move to buy Deutsche Bank as well. All investments turned sour!

    And biggest casualty was the image of Germany and Germans – extremely hard working, honest, focussed, passionate and determined champions! 

    #netflix #wirecard #financialtimes #scam #fintech

  • Sita Ramam Review: A Picturesque & Charming Love Story

    Sita Ramam Review: A Picturesque & Charming Love Story

    Breathtaking Visuals. Beautiful Music. Ravishing Actors With Crackling Chemistry. A Poignant Romance Worth Watching – With A Nudge For Humanity!

    Sita Ramam is an epic story set in 1960s and 1980s – a time of simplicity, snail mails, steam engines and landline phones. A modern telling of Ramayana where a Pakistan-origin student Afreen (Rashmika Mandana) is the Hanuman tasked with handing over Indian Army’s Rama’s (Dulquer Salmaan) letter to Sita (Mrunal Thakur). During the pursuit of this task, the hot-headed India-hater Afreen discovers true meaning of love, hope and sacrifice which change her perspective. And we discover the elegant and engaging love story of Rama and Sita. And the movie has a similar ending like all the greatest love stories and all ‘divine and pure love stories’!

    Dulquer Salmaan oozes charisma and innocence – an epitome of virtues. Our Rama is straight from Rajshri-Barjatya movies – the classic Prem! Mrunal Thakur showcases a plethora of colors with her layered and textured performance in an amazing handmade canvas paint movie. She is glamorous, confident, alluring and vulnerable! Rashmika is impressive. 

    Vishal Chandrasekhar’s music is awesome and cinematography is astounding – each frame is composed beautifully. Excellent dialogues transcend the movie beyond just being a love story – Ram tells a terrorist that hopefully he can discover real Quran in his next live. Or the statement that loving your country is great but hating the other country to prove your love for your country is not cool. The movie could have benefited from better editing for sure. 

    Sita Ramam is a clean wholesome love story – a welcome break from the world of sex, crime and violence driven OTT. Good love stories never go out of fashion and humanity always matters!

    Watch it!

    Dulquer Salmaan, Mrunal Thakur in Sita Ramam Movie HD Images

    #cinema #indiancinema #sitaramam #lovestories #romance #bollywood #dulquersalmaan #mrunalthakur #love #sunshine #bliss