The sophomore venture from Director Nelson pulls Sivakarthikeyan (SK) out of his usual comfort zone of simple rom-coms and happy-go-lucky comical hero.
SK is an army doctor who is driven purely by practical considerations which border on the extreme and is also apparently bereft of any emotions.
Even as the narrative begins we see his fiancee ditching him for his lack of emotional support. However, when her family is pushed into dire straits when a young kid is kidnapped, SK steps in to help retrieve the kid.
Nelson handles the serious issue of human trafficking within a broader canvas of a black comedy which is original in its flavour and highly effective in execution with lots of laugh out loud moments, even in the most unusual and unexpected places.
It takes a special conviction and talent to have SK as a hero and not allowing him to even crack a smile for almost the entire length of the movie even as the audience are having a laugh riot.
Director Nelson surprises us constantly as he steers clear of conventional genre tropes and delivers a unique flick with his own distinct imprint. He is definitely a talent to look forward to.
Based on few episodes in the Cyber Crime Cell of Kochi, where two jobless youth who are good with cyberspace assist the cops, this is a very well made thriller.
The cases range from combating movie piracy to morphed porn clips and even murders in cold blood, with financial frauds and the usual thrown in.
Director Tharun Moorthy has crafted a film benefits from neat writing which weaves in emotions while including just the right dose of humour and pathos along with crisp editing and a racy score from Jakes Bejoy elevate the movie.
At long last, after almost half a century, author Frank Herbert's pathbreaking sci-fi novel (published in 1965) gets a worthy movie adaptation. Dune, which has spawned 14 more novels as prequels and sequels and continues to grow, remains the defining benchmark for sci-fi world building.
The story is set several thousands of years into the future when mankind lords over several galaxies with highly evolved physical and mental capabilities. It is a future that unfolds thousands of years after humankind overcomes the challenge from thinking machines which threatened to enslave humankind.
At a basic level, it might follow the familiar template of an action adventure set in a desolate planet where a young prince leads an oppressed clan against a cruel villain who had killed his father to usurp a rightful throne.
While Dune captures only half of the first book in the series, there is no doubt whatsoever that this is an epic movie in almost every dimension as the entire team from the ensemble cast to the technical crew have risen to deliver exceptional contributions. This movie also sets a high watermark in seamlessly weaving together breathtaking real life imagery from stunning landscapes and spectacular CGI to deliver jaw dropping frames with finesse.
In his interviews, director Denis Villeneuve has confessed that this has been a passion project as it marks the realization of his long cherished childhood dream to see Dune on the big screen. And.. the painstaking efforts of the entire team is amply evident in the level of detailing that has been devoted in making every frame of this grand saga. The director effortlessly translates the expansive universe of Dune to cinema as he delivers an adaptation that is mesmerizing and marvelous in equal measure which magically transports the viewers to this dreamy landscape.
This is as much an ode to the book as it is to the big screen movie experience, even more so as it marks the opening of cinemas across the world. Frank Herbert would have gladly approved of this majestic masterpiece which redefines movie magic for our times.
Move over Star Wars and LOTR ... Dune heralds its arrival to take over the throne as defining movie experience of our times with a monumental masterpiece.
An EPIC SPECTACLE !
A MUST WATCH !!
PS - Watch it on the biggest IMAX screen possible. ... & thereafter, start reading the books.
This documentary, spanning three episodes, seeks to unravel the mystery behind a chilling incident which happened in Delhi in 2018.
An entire family consisting of 11 members - three generations with ages ranging between 15 to 85 - were found dead.
Was it mass suicide...?
Or... A well planned massacre ....?
Or... Something even beyond that...?
The episodes sift through multiple pieces of evidence and accounts from several sources to deconstruct the dense mystery.
HIGHLY DISTURBING & DEFINITELY NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, this docu-series is nevertheless a must watch for it forces the viewers to reflect on the fault lines that remain hidden below the seemingly normal surface of our society.
Two families - one Hindu & one Muslim - that have suffered tragic personal losses in a natural calamity are trying to find common cause reconciling to their current predicament while struggling with painful memories. They choose to remain in their homes amidst idyllic surroundings even as they are left at the fringes and almost forgotten by the larger community that has moved on - literally & figuratively. The serene coexistence of these these two families is shaken to the core when the ripples from the simmering communal discontent from beyond seeps into their backyard.
What follows is a first rate thriller that is so much more than just a thriller. This is yet another masterclass from the hallowed pantheons of Malayalam cinema that continues to raise the bar for quality content on almost a weekly basis.
The real hero here is writer Anish Pallyal who deserves rich kudos for crafting this nail-biter with a richly layered narrative that delves into timely themes on faith, doubt, fear, trust, prejudice and most importantly, the all-consuming hatred for the "others". With his limited set of characters, he is successful in providing a stark commentary on how the contemporary society continues to remain fraught with frighteningly fragile fault-lines. The narrative also explores the effects of doubts that continue to fester in minds despite the deep faith nurtured over decades as it constantly confronts the protagonist with difficult existential questions.
The performances from the ensemble cast consisting of Prithviraj, Roshan Mathew, Srindaa, Mammukoya, Murali Gopy, Shine Tom Chacko and others are uniformly top notch. The score from Jakes Bejoy along with cinematography by Abinandhan Ramanujam amplify the tension indoors as well as outdoors.
Director Manu Warrier deserves kudos for managing this tight rope walk of communicating the contents without being preachy even while maintaining a tight leash for presenting a taut thriller.
A MUST WATCH !
RATING - 4.5/5
PS - Streaming on Amzon Prime
Hero is a barber in a small town in Karnataka. Heroine has ditched him and is married to a dreaded gangster. Villain is extremely cruel, sadistic, has an alligator for pet and commands a gang of brutal henchmen. When the frustrated hero gets an opportunity to enter the house of villain set in the middle of a vast estate, hoping to kill the heroine for ditching him, all hell breaks loose. Add a few more oddball characters like a zany cook, a petrified vet brought in to treat the alligator's loss of appetite and a henchman who is obsessed with hunting wild boars. Throw in a truckload of weapons from primitive clubs, knives in every size to guns and bombs which are used in stylized action set-pieces choreographed with gusto by Vikram Mor. What follows is a weird, whacky, bloody black comedy that takes us on a rollercoaster ride which is engaging to the most part.
The fact that the entire movie was made by a cast and crew of 24 members in the height of COVID lockdown makes it all the more appealing.
Rishabh is spot on as the bumbling barber; Ganavi provides the ideal foil as she brings the right amount of charm, guts and intrigue to her role. The rest of the cast who are also multitasking as miscellaneous crew members do a competent job.
Ajaneesh Loknath revs up the sequences adding an all new dimension to the movie with his pitch-perfect score as well as lilting songs while cinematographer Aravind Kashyap excels with his verdant visuals as well as the action sequences which are superlative.
Debutant director M Bharath Raj who has co-written this gem deserves kudos for delivering a deliciously dark comedy which could make Tarantino happy. He clearly holds the potential to become the latest addition to the celebrated club of the brave new wave of Kannada auteurs consisting of Pawan Kumar (Lucia), Anup Bhandari (Rangitaranga), Hemanth Rao (Godhibanna Sadharana Mykattu and Kavaludari) and the spectacular Shetty duo - Rakshit (Ullidavaru Kandante) and Rishabh (Kirik Party).
This is the story of Sandhya Giri, a young woman widowed within few months after her arranged marriage. To the surprise of those around her, Sandhya is unable to grieve for her deceased husband as she finds that he was little more than a stranger to her. The story unfolds over the days when she along with the extended family go through the motions of last rites and picking up the pieces of their hitherto carefully ordered life. Sandhya embarks on an inner journey of discovery of her husband, his world & rediscovery of her own self, her priorities and purpose in life.
Despite dealing with a dark and difficult theme, writer-director Umesh Bist succeeds in consistently mining sparkling humour from the morbid moments as well the muddle of the mundane household milieus (like the calling bell tunes) in equal measure and with effortless ease. Conversations suffused with sharp wit and impressive art direction create an authentic lived in feel of a house nestled in the bylanes of small town India.
The movie benefits from the abundant talents of a top notch supporting cast consisting of a mix of dependable veterans like Ashutosh Rana, Sheeba Chaddha, Raghuveer Yadav, Rajesh Tailang, Sayani Gupta, Jameel Khan along with the rest of lesser known actors who excel in their respective parts. Ashutosh Rana and Sheeba Chaddha are exceptional as the grieving parents smouldering in sorrow after their catastrophic loss and trying to get a grip on their chaotic reality.
Nevertheless, the movie belongs to Sanya Malhotra who is spectacular as she gets into the skin of her character of Sandhya Giri and owns it completely. This is a superlative performance as she manages to effortlessly navigate between moments of morose loss and mirth and is sure to establish her as an actor par excellence.
Umesh Bist's writing strikes a subtle balance at multiple levels - adding healthy doses of humour while avoiding caricatures; has its share of poignant moments without descending into loud melodrama; manages to capture the complex dynamics of an extended family without creating any evil villains. While Pagglait might share some resonance with Vikas Bahl's Queen, I reckon it is a bigger challenge to pull off and director Umesh Bist deserves kudos for his deft handling of this difficult theme.
An alcoholic professor is forced to teach in a correctional home for young offenders. He is pitted against a dreaded criminal who maintains a strangle hold on the institution and forces the children there to commit violent crimes on his behalf.
After two back to back hits in Maanagaram and Kaithi, director Lokesh Kanagaraj hits a hat trick as he delivers a major star powered action blockbuster. In Master, Lokesh strikes a sweet spot between making his own kind of film and a star vehicle for a larger than life star like Vijay.
In the process, he shatters multiple star movie myths and proves that -
- a star movie can indeed exist without a mandatory hero introduction song or forced duets in exotic locales
- it is indeed possible to write a decent story and place the star at the center of it rather than stringing a series of fanboy servicing moments and call it a BIG movie.
- the antagonist need not be a mere one-note caricature; in fact, if he can be strong(er) and could have a solid backstory, it helps the movie and elevates the hero
- comical moments can be written seamlessly into the narrative and you don't need a separate comedy track with Yogi Babu or Satish or such others
- the hero need not be a macho invincible and could be clueless or could even depend on others to save the day / damsel in distress.
- even a three hour movie could be fairly engaging and not feel too much of a drag.
Lokesh sparkles with his writing in the manner in which he has created a hero who is both fallible and vulnerable, a villain who is forged in a crucible of crime as well as pain and is not a mere pushover, the way he weaves comical elements seamlessly into the narrative, the references to multiple hit movies from the past including Vijay's and his own earlier hits. He has a penchant for writing crackling confrontation scenes suffused with tension as well as effective action set pieces. Anirudh's rocking score and peppy songs amp up the energy of key sequences.
Vijay seems to have mastered the art of looking fresher and younger with each passing movie. He owns the character of JD in all its swag as well as failings and he delivers in aces. Vijay Sethupathi is excellent in radiating effortless evil and menace and mixes it up with his own style of casual and comical banter.
Lokesh has managed to make his signature style mass movie - a paisa-vasool entertainer - and deserves plaudits for succeeding admirably for the most part.
