GOOD BAD UGLY (TAMIL) (2025)

Self referencing to past glory days is a tested trope for fan service in big star movies, especially in recent times. But, when a trope is given a too long a rope to span an entire movie, to feel like self reference Pro Max level, the end product is this (இது🤦🏽‍♂️). 

It is, at best, GOOD, if you are a Thala fan(atic) Pro Max, which director Adhik Ravichandran clearly appears to be. 

If you are not, as is the case of unlucky majority, this LOUD movie veers wildly between a BAD & UGLY mishmash of a messy drive down memory lane of Thala filmography. 

Remix of past hit numbers, presence of not one, but two of evergreen divas of Tamil cinema, Thala seeming to have a ball of a time with a steady stream of super solo-mo shots - nothing seems to come to the aid here as the movie sinks beyond any scope for salvage.

BAD / UGLY - Depends on your tolerance !

(Grrrrr)RATING - 2/5 

PS - Streaming on Netflix 

KOHRRA (PUNJABI) (2023)

Set in a small town in Punjab, Kohrra (Mist), a six part web series,  is, at its surface level, a slow burn investigation into the mysterious murder of a young NRI man shortly before his marriage.

What makes it exceptional is the way it constructs its universe of characters - all flawed in some measure - and succeeds in taking a deep dive into their lives scarred with deep-seated traumatic episodes and struggles set against the wider landscape of today's Punjab with its issues like addiction, feudal and patriarchal society, and much more.

The emotions are affective even as the mystery builds on the viewers - engrossing us like a winter's mist that shrouds an entire city, gradually in the beginning and building steadily to engulf it entirely.

Excellent casting who deliver in aces and fine writing which builds in several layers make this one of the best series in recent times.

A MUST WATCH !

RATING - 4/5

PS - Streaming on Netflix

DAHAAD (HINDI) - Season 1

A police investigative thriller, set in a small town of Rajasthan, follows the journey of a bunch of cops on the trail of a serial killer who preys on desperate women.

Gripping for the most part, this 8-part series has sincere performances from a stellar cast headlined by a feisty Sonakshi Sinha and chilling Vijay Verma who are supported ably by Gulshan Devaiah, Sohum Shah and others.

Series creators Reema Kagti and Zoya Akthar who had earlier collaborated on Talaash have delivered a solid thriller that is firmly grounded in the small-town landscape. They have layered the narrative with seamlessly woven strands of a searing commentary on the oppressions based on caste and gender into the narrative. My major grouse was on their failure to amp up the final act.

WORTH A WATCH !

RATING - 3.5/5

Streaming on Amazon Prime

SINNERS (ENGLISH) (2025)

Michael Jordan plays twins (Smoke & Stack) returning to their rural Mississippi home after making a minor fortune in Chicago. They purchase an abandoned factory and convert it into a juke club for their fellow coloured folks. What begins as night of revelry with mind-blowing music and more soon descends into madness as few bloodthirsty vampires come calling to the party as uninsured guests. 

Director Ryan Coogler (Creed & Black Panther movies) creates a layered narrative blending visual splendour, delicious groovy blues music, stellar cast, themes of blacks-ploitation, crime and vampire action in this blockbuster entertainer.

AN ENGROSSING ENTERTAINER !

RATING - 3.5/5

TOURIST FAMILY (TAMIL) (2025)

A Sri Lankan Tamil family of four flee the financial crisis of the island nation's failing economy looking for greener pastures across the Palk Strait. They manage to slip through the border patrols and reach a Chennai colony to make a living while covering their tracks of being identified as illegal immigrants. 

Can they find a safe abode and survive in a colony filled with families who appear strangers to one another despite living in close quarters for several years..? 

Movies about refugees generally fall into a tired and often torturous template of heightened melodrama that magnifies the suffering of the lot - both in the homeland that they escape and the new-found homes in the alien shores where they try to fit into.

Debutant director Abhishan Jeevinth steers clear of this traditional narrative structure and presents the plight of this family with a rare and refreshing light touch that radiates a feel-good vibe in almost every frame. 

He strikes a brilliant balance between effusive comedy that keeps the flow light and sharply written drama that avoids the pitfalls of being preachy or pandering to popular notions on this emotional issue. 

Sasikumar and Simran along with the two debutant actors playing their sons as well as an ensemble cast of noted character artists provide a lived-in feel while composer Sean Roldan peppers the narrative with some warm heartfelt numbers that sound just apt.

A WHOLESOME ENTERTAINER !

RATING - 4/5

KA (TELUGU) (2024)

Set in the 70s in a quaint and remote village, the story kicks off with Vasudev, the village postman getting abducted by masked men to an unknown location. He is interrogated about his past using a machine that has hypnotizing powers. Apparently, Vasudev has been secretly reading letters addressed to others which has unexpected consequences.

Who are these masked men who seem to have no connection to the village ..? What is their interest in Vasudev..?

Debutant director duo - brothers Sujith and Sandeep - have crafted a unique thriller that builds gradually on its simple setting to culminate in an ending that is unexpected and exceptional.

Not saying much else, lest I might tread into spoiler territory.

AN ENGROSSING WATCH !

RATING - 3/5

PS - Streaming on Amazon Prime

L2 - EMPURAAN (MALYALAM) (2025)

As a sequel to a blockbuster, this is definitely grander - perhaps, twice as larger in scale - spanning several locations across multiple continents much like a Bond or Bourne movie, even as it builds on the basic narrative arc set in the politics of God's own country.

One can decipher multiple influences from home and abroad, as in the action set pieces - inspired from the universe of Prashant Neel or Telugu / Tamil flicks with generous dose of blood as well as Hollywood-esque heavy duty armaments with mighty explosions. All these elements are assembled to serve a reasonably coherent narrative arc with occasional goosebumps moments for the fans.

Mohanlal shines through as the titular dark angel as he looms over the entire film casting an oversized shadow on every frame. The rest of the ensemble cast including Manju Warrier, Tovino and others put in their best despite their limited character arcs.

Prithviraj continues to make his mark as a director as he handles the scale hitherto unseen in Malayalam movies. He delivers a pretty good masala flick which does not bore you despite its three hour long runtime.

Alas, bigger is not synonymous to better and the grander scale does not deliver the emotional beats of the first installment. Nevertheless, this is a commendable sequel that sets the tone for a fitting finale to cap the trilogy.

A SPECTACLE MOVIE (best enjoyed on a BIG screen) !

RATING - 3/5

NARAYANEENTE MOONNAANMAKKAL (MALAYALAM) (2025)

Three estranged brothers reunite with their families after decades in their ancestral home as their mother is drawing her final breaths. Beneath the courteous efforts to forge forgotten connections, unforgotten and unforgiven tensions from the past simmer. Could the siblings succeed in overcoming their differences..? How does the gen-next of the family, in their impressionable years and meeting for the first time connect..?

This is a movie that manages to achieve a difficult balancing act of being subtle and sensitive to the subjects being depicted without being judgmental on any of the characters who are all flawed at some level, as humans tend to be.

Director Sharan Venugopal displays remarkable restraint throughout as he skillfully steers his narrative away from the usual desi pitfalls of getting lewd (exploitative or exposing to titillate) or loud (melodramatic or emotionally manipulative). This is no small achievement in itself and to achieve all this within a crisp running time of less than two hours is a mark of his brilliance.

While the two young leads playing next generation of the family (especially, Garggi Ananthan, playing Athira) are perfectly cast for their respective roles, the seniors - Joju, Suraj & Lopez - are excellent too, carrying all their shades without hitting a wrong note.

The music by Rahul Raj - songs as well as the score - is another highlight.

Overall, it is yet another lovely addition to the ever-growing pantheon of Malayalam cinema that continues to excel in exploring the oft-overlooked dimensions of our collective human coexistence.

A SUBTLE & SENSITIVE MASTERPIECE !

RATING - 4/5

GAME CHANGER (TELUGU) (2025)

A sort of return to form for Director Shankar who stumbled badly and delivered a disaster in Indian sequel which was his previous outing. The story from director Karthik Subbaraj pits an upright and dynamic bureaucrat against a power hungry politician buttressed by a corrupt system.

The writing and execution follows Shankar's familiar template with some contemporary updates. Yet, it largely works and delivers the wares for a commercial potboiler, thanks largely to Ram Charan firing on all cylinders and powering it through a double role. He gets able support from an ensemble cast including SJ Suryah as a menacing antagonist, a goofy Jayaram, Srikanth, Samuthirakani, Anjali, and Kiara Advani besides several others who appear in a blink-n-miss minor roles like Achyuth Kumar, Vennela Kishore, and Brahmanandam.

Shankar has continued to splurge on the making including songs mounted on grandiose scale with eye popping colours that saturate the large screen from edge to edge. Ditto for his mandatory emotional flashback stretch which is at best average and is utterly predictable despite dramatic gravitas of Ram Charan and Anjali trying their best. Nevertheless, the cat and mouse game between the leads has enough drama and punchy twists to sustain momentum and interest.

While Shankar has upped his game from his previous debacle, this is still a far cry from his yesteryear blockbusters which find several echoes through the movie. If you keep your expectations limited, this is a fairly engaging game.

WORTH A ONE TIME WATCH !

RATING - 3/5

AMARAN (TAMIL) (2024)

Biopics, especially of army veterans, are an unexplored genre in Tamil cinema. Director Rajkumar Periasamy takes this road less traveled as he narrates the story of Major Mukund Varadarajan who was martyred in Kashmir shortly after celebrating his 31st birthday. 

The unusual casting of leads - Siva Karthikeyan (SK) and Sai Pallavi - has worked exceptionally well as both provide stellar performances. SK undergoes a spectacular transformation in his muscular physicality as well as a controlled performance that is as distant from his usual casual self as snowy Kashmir is from sunny shores of Kanyakumari. Sai Pallavi is once again phenomenal as the emotional anchor to this film. 

Amaran is a fine attempt as it blends the personal life comprising of an affecting love story along with a valorous life of a professional army man with exemplary leadership skills. The director deserves credit for steering clear of the usual pitfalls of loud jingoism and teary melodrama that mire most movies of this genre. 

RATING - 3.5/5

A VERY GOOD WATCH !

PS - Streaming on Netflix

RIFLE CLUB (MALAYALAM) (2024)

Two love birds on the run from predatory gangsters seek refuge in a rifle club nestled in the verdant Western ghats. The club traces its lineage to Tipu and colonials with its proud members transcending age or gender stereotypes. When the gangsters in pursuit land at the gates of the club, all hell breaks loose.

Director Ashiq Abu orchestrates a mayhem manufactured in malevolent Malyali gunslinger heaven set to a thumping score from Rex Vijayan.

The stellar cast including Dileesh Pothan, Anurag Kashyap, Varni Vishwanath, Vijaya Raghavan, Surabhi Lakshmi, Dharshana Rajendran and many more hit the bulls-eye delivering their roles with comic panache.

Overall, this is a stylish thriller mounted on a wafer thin premise where the count of bullets matter much more than the body count.

A DOUBLE-BARRELLED DELIGHT !

RATING - 3.5/5

OFFSIDE (PERSIAN) (2006)

In Iran, women are not allowed as audience in sporting events which is preserved as exclusive domain of men. A group of soccer loving girls, dressed as boys,  try to sneak into a football stadium to witness a match of their national team. The movie captures the events that unfold when they are caught by the police.

A sports comedy centered on women in Iran is something that could well be in the realm of the impossible. Yet, noted director Jafar Panahi presents a sharp and layered snapshot of the contemporary Iranian society, condition of their women wallowing under the strict controls placed on them by the theocracy and the multiple - often ridiculous - ironies of such edicts, laced with oodles of humour. 

This movie benefits immensely from the fact that it was shot in real settings of the stadium with Iran playing Bahrain in a World Cup qualifier. Consequently, the entire movie has a festive and electric spirit which is matched by the sheer spunk of some of the girls who are diehard fans of the game. 

Just like a tense football match between two evenly matched sides, the movie grabs attention from the first minute and does not let go till its very last as Panahi mines comic gold at almost every turn of events and crafts a narrative with a natural, yet unpredictable flow. 

It won a silver bear in Berlinale besides many other laurels.

RATING - 4/5

AN EL CLASSICO INDEED !

PS - Streaming on Prime Video

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING - PART I (ENGLISH) (2023)

In the seventh installment of the MI series, Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie have crafted a superlative action flick. The movie barrels down its 243 minutes runtime very much like its age-defying superstar who continues to sprint immaculately.

It hits a relentless pace from the word go till its exciting cliff hanger of an ending looking into an exciting abyss and what is waiting to unfold in the sequel to be released next year as we await it with bated breath.

It does everything one could ask for - familiar set of characters from IMF along with some new ones, machiavellian villains seeking world dominance, a foe that is contemporary, globe-trotting narrative propelled by brilliant action sequences including a crazy chase, a healthy sprinkling of humour and a few strands of emotional beats between the key characters, and at the heart of it all, Tom Cruise who is still hitting it out of the park, even after crossing sixty - a perfect recipe for a summer blockbuster.

RATING - 4/5

A MUST WATCH (definitely on the BIG  screen) !

VIKRAM (TAMIL) (2022)

A) Well made Action movies

B) Noirish thrillers

C) Vijay Sethupathi

D) Fahad Faasil

E) Aniruddh

F) Lokesh Kanagaraj

G) Ulaga Naayagan Kamal

If you are a fan of any / all of the above, you are getting more than the BANG for your buck in VIKRAM !

Lokesh has outdone himself in almost every aspect and delivers a delectable fare.

If that is not good enough ...

He whets your appetite with vignettes of something MUCH MUCH MORE (delicious biriyani) that is still cooking …

MUST WATCH !!

PS - Do watch / rewatch / remember Kaithi before watching this

DOCTOR (TAMIL) (2021)

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.

AN EXCELLENT ENTERTAINER !

PS - Streaming on Netflix

OPERATION JAVA (MALAYALAM) (2021)

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. 

I liked it a lot.

AN EFFICIENT THRILLER !!

PS - Streaming on ZEE5

KURUTHI (MALAYALAM) (2021)

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 (KANNADA) (2021)

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).

A GENUINE TREAT !!

RATING - 4/5

PS - Streaming on ZEE5

PAGGLAIT (HINDI) (2021)

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.

MUST WATCH !!

RATING - 4/5

OTT - NETFLIX

JERSEY (TELUGU) (2019)

Jersey would definitely rank among the notable sports dramas I have enjoyed recently. The entire team has excelled.

Nani is spot on as the cricketer out to prove himself well beyond the conventionally accepted shelf life. He seems to have hit a purple patch with back-to-back good outings with Jersey after Gang Leader. Shraddha Srinath is among the better actresses in the latest crop. She does well in a character which could have been better written.

Director Gowtam Tinnanuri's sophomore effort (after an above average debut with Malli Raavaa) is  sincere and tugs at the heart without being too melodramatic. He is remaking this in Hindi with Shahid Kapoor (🤞🏽).

After, Dear Comrade, this is another commendable cricket based drama from Tollywood which hits most of the right notes.

VERY SATISFYING WATCH !!

RATING - 3.5/5 

PS - Streaming on Zee5