Reviews

Nithya Menen & Sharaf U Dheen unleash delightful havoc in this fun, over-the-top and chuckle-worthy comedy about dysfunctional family dynamics. Maala Parvathi is the standout in a star-studded supporting cast with Renji Panicker, Ashokan & Shanthi Krishna also pitch-perfect in their roles.

Master Peace touches upon key issues of personal space, individual choice and career aspirations that become points of contention in any relationship and neatly critiques the Indian tradition of over-involvement of in-laws in any newly married couple's lives.

An enjoyable gag-filled narrative makes sure that the laughs are as hard-hitting as the social commentary. Recommended!

Director Vighnesh Raja defies generic investigative thriller tropes to deliver meticulously etched-out characters, harnessing the capabilities of his two leads to the fullest extent. Sarathkumar & Ashok Selvan excel as a yin vs yang buddy cop pairing, delivering a compelling thriller that will have you hooked!

This has to be the finest atmospheric thriller in Tamil cinema since the critically and commercially acclaimed "Ratsasan (2018)" with slow but assured pacing, intense character studies, finely calibrated performances and unexpected twists and turns. The pulsating music and sound design contribute to building the tension even more. A mandatory theatre watch!

Be it the never-before-seen attention to detail in the Aliens franchise or the style and oomph brought into the Terminator franchise, James Cameron has never been one to shy away from pushing the envelope in his films. The virtuoso director builds on his immense worldbuilding from "Avatar (2009)", showing that the past 13 years have been well worth the wait, narrating a dizzying visual epic of otherworldly proportions.

We rejoin Jake Sully (now fully in the body of his Na'vi avatar) on the distant planet of "Pandora" where he has to comprehend the everchanging dynamics of his growing family while also coming to terms with new threats from human invaders, hell-bent on exploiting the mineral riches of his adopted homeland. Cameron builds on the story arcs of the characters he so intricately introduced in Avatar 1 and gives us a fair bit of new ones, who add to the rich tapestry of deeply relatable and emotional character journeys that we are invited to be a part of.

Avatar 2's visual grandeur cannot be put into words, such is the sheer scale and enormity at which Cameron expands his world-building. The CGI and motion capture work that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has given us seems like child's play when compared to the jaw-dropping sets and stunt sequences that Cameron has dared to conceive in this lodestar of a project that is sure to become the benchmark for all further films in the sci-fi genre. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana deliver immense motion-capture-enhanced performances with Kate Winslet, Stephen Lang and Britain Dalton essaying solid supporting acts.

James Cameron seems to revel in the weight of expectations placed on his shoulders by a generation of fans that grew up watching his exploits in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)" and "Titanic (1997)", and delivers on his promise of expanding on the Avatar Universe. With three more sequels planned in the franchise, one cannot even begin to fathom what the 68-year-old era-defining auteur has in store for us in the coming years. Experience "Avatar: The Way Of Water" in a theatre near you as soon as you can and if possible in IMAX! We can't recommend it enough!

Bollywood has struggled recently to deliver original storylines that become acceptable to mainstream audiences, with projects like Brahmastra clearly derivative of cult Hollywood franchises like Star Wars while box office blockbusters like Drishyam 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 are remakes of Malayalam hits. After enthralling us with the smash hit "Sthree" in 2018, Amar Kaushik returns as Bollywood's unlikely hero, delivering in Bhediya a disruptively original horror comedy that takes the werewolf horror archetype that Hollywood had built, giving it a zesty desi twist and flavor.

Varun Dhawan stars as "Bhaskar" a cunning but good-natured contractor who arrives in rural Arunachal Pradesh to facilitate the smooth takeover of tribal lands for a massive construction project. It is there that he encounters a mystical wolf-like creature who seems to be guarding the forest lands against encroachment and pillaging. Despite the predictable storyline and template jump-scare thrills, "Bhediya" manages to catch you by surprise with its delightful comedy, mainly courtesy of superb supporting performances from Abhishek Banerjee and Deepak Dobriyal.

While director Amar Kaushik revels in his home genre, DOP Jishnu Bhattacharjee soaks in the rich jungle tapestry of Arunachal Pradesh to brilliant effect, blending the folk horror tale smoothly into the rich and lush surroundings. The BGM and music from Sachin-Jigar play no small part in contributing to the initial playfulness in the narrative, and rev up to another level, building up the tension as the stakes get higher towards the final act.

Amar Kaushik's horror-verse seems to be slowly and steadily gearing up as the No.1 most bankable franchise in Bollywood, right next to Rohit Shetty's "Copverse" and the promising Yash Raj "Spyverse" that is going to feature Shah Rukh Khan in the upcoming Republic Day 2023 release "Pathan". As the franchisification of Bollywood gathers steam, one hopes that the filmmakers don't compromise on generating original storylines and fall victim to box office and commercialisation pressures. "Bhediya" is a splendid theatre watch, especially in 3D and is now running to packed theatres!

Whether it be his breakthrough role in "Vicky Donor (2012)" or his bravery in picking up uncomfortable subjects that typical heroes in Bollywood shy away from such as in "Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017)" (hero with erectile dysfunction) and "Bala (2019)" (balding hero), Ayushmann Khurrana has always managed to surprise audiences with his films. Just when one was starting to think that the star's career had hit a zenith and was on a downward spiral with recent flicks like "Anek (2022)" and "Doctor G (2022)" failing to make any impact at the box office, the virtuoso performer turns it up a notch with a film laced with razor-sharp wit and immense fun that is sure to entertain audiences across the spectrum.

Ayushmann stars as "Maanav Khurrana" a quintessential egotistical Bollywood hero with an overblown sense of self, a clear satire on the mainstream heroes of the Hindi industry. How the star gets enters into a bitter feud with a Haryana strongman politician "Bhurra" (played by an immense Jaideep Ahlawat) and the ensuing chaos forms the rest of the story. Director Anirudh Iyer threads the needle with the screenplay, finding the right balance between bone-crunching action and rib-tickling zingers to keep audiences hooked.

The script by Neeraj Yadav never lets up in the number of twists and turns it brings in during the chaotic journey of our two lead protagonists, with the excellent action choreography and stunts adding mass to the witty zingers and one-liners that form part of the cat and mouse chase. The storytelling and direction are so on-point that even the placement of an item number serves to move the narrative forward convincingly and without the tension and fun element dissipating. Ahlwat and Khurranna consistently one-up each other during their combination sequences, serving to elevate both their performances.

After a string of pedestrian mainstream misadventures and template remakes, Bollywood has really turned a corner in 2022 with wholly original entertainers like "Darlings", "Monica O My Darling", "Bhediya" and now "An Action Hero". One hopes that the top film industry in India finally understands audience exhaustion with constant remakes and films that tread the beaten path and invests more time and energy towards fresher and more disruptive scripts and storylines. Trust Ayushmann to lead the way in this direction-" An Action Hero" is a surefire must-watch in theatres!

No single filmmaker can stake a claim to have made the kind of disruptive impact that James Gunn has in both the Marvel and DC Universes. The wickedly original creator conjured up not just the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy franchise for the MCU but followed up that up by re-invigorating the Suicide Squad mythos for DC and then went on to showcase his prowess in the TV series space, with the smash-hit "Peacemaker (2022)". It is no surprise that the head honchos at DC snapped him up to head the DC Studios projects going forward, but alas, he has to leave behind his Marvel projects for the same.

The creator is not done with the MCU just yet, with this eagerly awaited Holiday Special and the forthcoming third and reportedly final Guardians of the Galaxy-3 film being his swansong in a universe that he has had such a big role in building. In this wacky 40-minute journey, we follow Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) as they embark on a harebrained journey to Earth to kidnap Kevin Bacon (who hilariously plays himself) as a "Christmas present" to Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), who is still reeling from Gamora's loss, from the events of "Avengers: Endgame (2019)".

Dave Bautista and Pom Klomentieff carry forward the sparkling chemistry that made them such a wholesome, quirkily funny duo in the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films, winning your heart both with their innocence and their spot-on physical comedy. James Gunn as usual weaves a madcap universe where everything goes and yet you cannot help but get sucked into the mayhem and find yourself enjoying the ride.

Marvel seems to have unlocked a new short-format goldmine with their feature presentations, following up the highly-rated "Werewolf By Night" with this engaging Holiday Special, which fittingly serves as the final property of MCU's fabled Phase 4. One cannot wait for Jame Gunn's final Marvel project, "Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3", slated for a May 2023 release as the celebrated creator is sure to give the project his all. The Guardians Holiday special is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar and is highly recommended!

Imagine a movie featuring Sreenivasan's ultra-despicable character "Viswanathan" from "Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988)" as the main protagonist? That is exactly the wacky idea with which editor turned director Abhinav Sundar Nayak has conceived the immensely enjoyable black comedy "Mukundan Unni Associates" that throws caution to the wind and delivers a laugh riot sans any moral sermons or lessons about karma.

Vineeth Sreenivasan stars as a Machiavellian lawyer who stars venturing into ambulance chasing on realizing that conventional methods will not give him the success that he so craves. Standing in his way is veteran ambulance chaser Advocate Venu (a superb Suraj Venjaramoodu) and a host of other roadblocks which he looks to circumvent in typically diabolical ways. The way the director uses fourth-wall breaking and inner monologues to take the narrative forward is nothing short of genius and it is through this that he delivers most of the zany comedy in the film.

The casting is spot on throughout the film, with even minor characters playing their part to perfection, especially Tanvi Ram, George Kora, Sudhi Koppa and a fine Arsha Chandini Baiju, who had earlier caught the eye in the Karikku web series "Average Ambili". The writing from the director himself and co-writer Vimal Gopalakrishnan never let the tension and humor let up, carrying both forward with equal aplomb and even manage deliver some jarring surprises just when we think the film's climax is starting to meander along expected lines.

Just when Basil Joseph was starting to stake a claim for the title of this generation's "Sreenivasan" with his immense performance in "Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey", Vineeth Sreenivasan produces the goods in "Mukundan Unni Associates", turning in a performance his dad would have been proud of. This is the fourth-wall breaking meta dark comedy that we didn't know we deserved and is, needless to say, highly recommended!

No franchise within the vaunted Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) had ever managed to create the hype and goodwill of "Black Panther (2018)" when it released for the first time, showcasing yet again that cinema has power like no other medium to make traditionally marginalised communities feel empowered and represented in popular culture. Director Ryan Coogler and company carry on the good work they initiated in 2018, expanding the Black Panther subverse to include Meso-American culture and ethos in the best possible way, paying rich tribute to the memory of Chadwick Boseman in the process.

We rejoin Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) in the techno-futuristic African country of Wakanda as they mourn the loss of Prince T'Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) after he dies of a mysterious ailment. As the country comes to grips with the loss of their charismatic leader, new threats start to emerge from the woodworks, chief among them a winged mer-man "Namor" (Tenoch Huerta) who seems to represent a hidden Meso-American tribe with access to ungodly amounts of Vibranium, who doesn't seem to have peaceful co-existence on his agenda. How Wakanda handles this disruptive change to the global power structure forms the rest of the story.

Tenoch Huerta is an absolute revelation as "Namor", a winged mutant superhero based in the depths of the ocean, a Marvel Comics creation that came much before DC Comics' "Aquaman", in 1939, created by writer-artist Bill Everett. Kevin Feige and the think tanks at Marvel brilliantly reconned his origin story from Greek origins based in Atlantis to Meso-American heraldry that achieved the proverbial "hitting two birds with one stone" bullseye. Not only does it expand the universe to represent Latin American culture and sensibilities, but it also neatly avoids comparisons with DC's Jason Momoa-led "Aquaman" franchise.

With stunning imagery, dance and musical numbers and moving farewell and tribute sequences, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" will be enshrined as a fitting farewell to Chadwick Boseman, who reflected everything expected of a true superhero even in his real life, by bravely fighting cancer. With the introduction of Dominque Thorne aka "Iron Heart" and the revelation of "Namor" as MCU's second mutant after "Ms Marvel", the film also serves up the promise of a mouth-watering upcoming Phase 5 as vaunted Phase 4 draws to a close. "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is now playing in a theatre near you and is highly recommended!

The Breathe franchise from Amazon Prime Video had a fantastic start with the original 2018 "Breathe" featuring Madhavan becoming a trendsetter for OTT shows in India with its imaginative plotline and fantastic acting performances. Once Abhishek Bachchan took over from Madhavan in the sequel series "Breathe: Into the Shadows" which had its first season in 2020, the show has suffered from predictability and tepid writing, hitting almost every cliche in the book. Season 2 suffers from the same lack of genuine suspense and thrills, even as Abhishek Bachchan, Naveen Kasturia, Nithya Menen and Amit Sadh try their best to make up for the same with telling performances.

Abhishek Bachchan stars as Avinash Sabharwal, a disgraced former psychiatrist who suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder, with his split personality, the vengeful, megalomaniacal "J" being proved to be a violent serial killer in Season 1. Locked in an asylum for treatment, Season 2 shows how Avinash/J still manages to orchestrate a series of ritualistic murders from behind bars using his manipulative skills and prowess as a doctor. Amit Sadh delivers another eye-catching performance as the steadfast police officer "Kabir Sawant", hot on the heels of this dreaded serial killer who resurfaces to terrorise Delhi.

Creator Mayank Sharma paints a vivid universe and sucks you into the troubled psyche of Avinash/J, but with almost every twist clear to the audiences from the get go, the series very rarely ventures into must-watch territory. Naveen Kasturia raises his stock yet again after enthralling all of us in "TVF Aspirants", with a fantastic performance as "Victor", who serves as a confidant and aide-de-camp to "J". Saiyami Kher is wasted in a bit-part role unworthy of an actress of her calibre while the always dependable Zakir Hussain shines in a deliciously grey-shaded character role.

"Breathe: Into the Shadows" does not have the spine-tingling suspense or the unexpected, visceral twists of path-breaking thriller shows like "Family Man", "Suzhal" or "Asur", but is rendered largely watchable by its clutch of fine lead performances. Each episode seems overstretched and if the editors had done a finer job of trimming the run-time and making the suspense and jump-scares more palpable, this series would have been more binge-worthy. Catch "Breathe: Into the Shadows: Season 2" on Amazon Prime Video, after setting your expectations right!

Jeethu Joseph has reveled in taking existing thriller archetypes and dismantling them with his scripts that often turn the narrative on its head with completely unexpected twists and thrills. Despite some missteps in his filmography like "Oozham (2016)" and "The Body (2019)", the veteran master of murder mysteries returns to full form in "Kooman", effectively using an excellent Asif Ali to narrate an immersive tale of a deeply damaged investigator hot on the heels of an elusive, psychotic serial killer.

Asif Ali disappears into the character of "Giri", a scheming, near-megalomaniacal police constable, who while excelling in his deductive and investigative skills, often displays psychotic tendencies and a desire to get back at people who he perceives as having wronged him. His mentor, retired CI Somasekharan (an on-point Renji Panicker) tries his darndest to keep him in check and diverts his energies to the search for a ritualistic serial killer who has eluded authorities for decades.

While the first half of the film painstakingly builds up the multifaceted character of "Giri", Jeethu Joseph pulls off a masterful set of twists in the second half that turns the narrative flow on its head, making the audience root for the grey-shaded protagonist. Jaffer Idukki excels in yet another well-written supporting role, while Hannah Reji Koshy, Baburaj and the ever-dependable Pauly Valsan turn in noteworthy performances.

But it is the writing from K. R Krishna Kumar and the mold-breaking directorial prowess of Jeethu Joseph that is the true hero here, utilizing the diminutive Asif Ali to glorious effect, riding on their depiction of the unassuming but observant and intelligent investigator rather than the alpha male, all-conquering superhero detective that mainstream cinema has driven down out throats for far too long. Trust Jeethu Joseph to innovate yet again in a genre that has craved ingenuity for ages now. "Kooman" is a refreshing thriller and a must-watch theatre experience. Highly recommended!

Movies depicting the aftermath of a sexual assault are incredibly difficult to watch and often too triggering for many to sit through, but deliver some of the most profound and impactful filmmaking we have seen on screen of late, be it the Oscar-nominated "Promising Young Woman (2020)" or the moving Netflix series "Unbelievable (2019)". Although "Luckiest Girl Alive" doesn't rise to such astronomic levels in terms of pure craft, the Mila Kunis starrer is a chilling account of how society's first reaction to such assault is always victim-shaming and how toxic masculinity continues to be celebrated.

Based on a superhit 2015 novel of the same name written by Jessica Knoll, the movie traces the life and career of aspiring columnist "Ani Fanelli" (Mila Kunis) as she balances preparing for her upcoming wedding, a job that is at a crossroads while struggling with the PTSD of a grievous sexual assault from her past. As the mental anguish of all of it continues to take a call, the enterprising but vulnerable Ani is forced to face her demons and how she navigates the aftermath forms the rest of this disturbing but immersive mystery drama.

The performer in Mila Kunis has long been missing in action, with her last memorable outing being the fierce "Lily" in the Oscar-winning "Black Swan (2010)", with the actress seemingly having fallen into a rabbit hole of pointless romcoms. But the Golden Globe nominee sinks her teeth into this brilliantly written role and delivers a moving, dichotomous portrayal that balances ambition and industriousness with the emotional baggage and the scars of her scandalous past.

"Luckiest Girl Alive" is an excellent companion piece to other female-led literary works that translated into excellent mystery thrillers on screen, like "Gone Girl", "The Girl on the Train (2016)" as well as the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series. Be forewarned of difficult-to-stomach scenes of sexual assault and violence but I promise you, the final act will leave you satisfied with the culmination of events. Recommended!

In an era where critics and fans alike are lamenting the lack of genuine, heartwarming romcoms, the news that America's sweethearts Julia Roberts and George Clooney were reuniting for a simple feel-good film was music to the ears. The veteran performers thankfully deliver to large extent on their promise, more thanks to their earnest and charming performances than the writing of the film itself, providing an enjoyable escape for romcom aficionadoes.

Oscar winners Julia Roberts and George Clooney star as "Georgia" and "David", the divorced and fractious parents of the picture-perfect and beautiful newly minted law graduate "Lily" (Played by the excellent Kaitlyn Dever). When Lily takes an impulsive decision to marry a Balinese seaweed farmer during her grad trap, the estranged couple is forced to come to an agreement and set out for the picturesque island to break up their daughter's nuptials. The absolute mayhem that ensues as they scheme and sabotage the festivities form the rest of this story.

Director Ol Parker is an old hand in the romcom genre, with "Ticket To Paradise" being his fourth project as a director, after critical duds like "Imagine Me & You (2005)", "Now is Good (2012)" alongside the largely enjoyable "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2016)". Despite having delivered excellent screenwriting in "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2016)" as well as the two "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" films (2011 & 2015) during his early days as a writer before turning to direction, Parker's writing here is largely pedestrian and unimaginative, especially in the second half after setting up things intriguingly with a breezy first portion.

Even as the comedy waxes and wanes as the movie chugs along to its predictable conclusion, Clooney and Roberts sparkle on screen with their electric chemistry, natural wit and intelligent rejoinders, keeping the audience continuously engaged. And if you are someone like me who grew up watching these legendary performers set the box offices on fire with their antics and chemistry in the Oceans Trilogy, this is one nostalgic trip you wouldn't want to avoid. A recommended brainless feel-good watch!

Tragi-comedies are a very tricky genre to execute well on screen. While there have been numerous cases of success in Hollywood like "Amélie (2011)", "The Darjeeling Limited (2007)" and "Death At A Funeral (2010)", the genre is still in its nascent stage in Bollywood and India in general with only a few hits to its name, that too primarily after their OTT releases-like "Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi (2019)" and "Pagglait (2021)". So it was surprising that director Vikas Bahl, the visionary behind "Queen (2014)" and "Super 30 (2019)" chose the mainstream theatre release format for this genre-blender and it seems like this bravery was ill-conceived.

Amitabh Bachchan stars as "Harish Bhalla", the patriarch of the Bhalla household, who is just coming to terms with the sudden death of his loving wife "Gayatri", played by the effervescent Neena Gupta. Tasked with informing their busy and distant children of the tragic news, how he navigates the ensuing funeral and the idiosyncrasies of the family as they come together after a long time form the rest of the narrative. Rashmika Mandanna plays "Tara", Harish's only daughter and designated black sheep, after her consistent scorn towards his religious conservatism, made worse by her choice to go against his wishes and date a Muslim.

Despite its intriguing premise and a group of fine actors, a disjointed screenplay that moves along like a sequence of unrelated scenes without any real cohesion makes "Goodbye" a tedious watch. The director that gave us such natural comedy in "Queen" struggles to mount situations that deliver genuine humour, with most of the gags coming across as forced and contrived. Rashmika struggles with her Hindi accent as expected, this being her first Hindi original movie, but makes the best of an underwritten role, especially in the emotional sequences.

We are noboby to judge an Amitabh Bachchan performance and the veteran tries his best to salvage a meandering script. A scene where he gives a final goodbye to his beloved wife is a sure tearjerker but such sequences are few and far between in an otherwise, largely lackluster project which oscillates between drama and comedy inorganically, failing to deliver in both genres with equal aplomb. "Goodbye" is one film where I couldn't wait for the film to end and say "Goodbye" to an abysmal theatre experience. Not recommended!

While most superstars in South India struggle to surprise their audiences and have fallen into the status-quo trap, 3-time National Award Winner for Best Actor Mammootty has continuously managed to deliver roles that are far off the beaten track. In his very first production under his newly launched banner "Mammootty Kampany", the veteran thespian delivers a completely out-of-the-box revenge thriller that breaks every convention in Mollywood, giving us an immserve, brooding dark thriller that staggers with its mood-setting, buildup and its chilling conclusion.

Mammootty stars as Luke Antony, a mysterious NRI who turns up one day in a sleepy village hamlet, having seemingly lost track of his wife after they both were involved in a car accident. Hell bent on finding her or the perpetrators behind his disappearance, the stranger takes up residence in the town and eventually find out that the outwardly simple-minded villagers all have something to hide and their own secrets to protect. Director Nissam Basheer, who made a name for himself with his debut film "Kettiyollaanu Ente Maalakha (2019)", gets his casting spot on in his sophomore venture, with Jagadeesh, Bindu Panicker and Grace Antony shining in their respective roles.

The background music provided by Midhun Mukundan, the virtuoso behind the smash hit renditions of "Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana", ensnares you fully into this hypnotic world of vengeance, deceit and retribution where you are never fully aware of the motivations and moral compasses of the characters before you. The script and dialogues from Sameer Abdul will continuously keep you guessing while the eclectic camera work from Nimish Ravi doubles the impact of the gruesome proceedings on screen.

"Rorschach" might not be everybody's cup of tea given its insistence not to spoon feed the moralities and convictions of its characters to its audience and its open-endedness in terms of several character arcs. But for fans of moody, atmospheric thriller with dollops of dark humour, this is a definite must-watch and a much-needed break from the template thriller Mollywood has fallen prey to off late. After "Munnariyippu (2014)" and "Puzhu (2022)", Mammootty continues to dazzle in a grey-shaded character and one wishes that the writers in Mollywood rise up to the challenge and give him more such unconventional roles where we can see his full range on display.

When Prithviraj, the original director behind the hit Malayalam film "Lucifer" (2019), on which Godfather is based, was asked who he would pick from Tollywood to play the main character essayed by Mohanlal in the original, he was quick to point to Chiranjeevi. Perhaps no other actor has brought to screen larger-than-life massy heroes on screen than the legendary superstar, with mega-blockbusters like "Mutha Mestri (1993)" and "Indra (2002)" still revered by audiences. In that respect, Ram Charan pulled off a major coup in acquiring the remake rights of Lucifer, understanding that the role is tailor-made to play to his father's strengths.

The megastar plays "Brahma" an astute political operator and heir-apparent to the Chief Minister who passes away abrupts, leaving behind a power vacuum and a slew of political opportunists who want to make hay while the sun shines. The CM's son-in-law Jai (Satyadev) as well as the Home Minister, Verma (Murali Sharma) lead a faction that will stop at nothing to ensure Brahma doesn't grab power and the ensuing political machinations, treachery and violence form the rest of the story. Director Mohan Raja builds on the original source material rather than copying it frame by frame, delivering more mass elevation sequences suitable for the superstar he had at his disposal

The Performances

Given better writing and a more well-rounded character to essay, Chiranjeevi makes a rollicking comeback to the mass hero role, oozing all the gravitas and panache that was missing in misadventures like "Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019)" and "Acharya (2022)". Satyadev and Murali Sharma excel in their supporting roles while Nayantara shines in a nuanced, restrained performance as the beleaguered, troubled daughter of the CM. Salman Khan's cameo, however, sticks out like a sore thumb, delivering some of the most inept, laughably over-the-top action sequences in the film that spoil the intricate mind games that had made the film highly enjoyable up until that point.

Despite a final act laden with mind-bogglingly stupid and inane action sequences, Chiranjeevi's swag and style pull through the mayhem and ensure you leave the theatre hall satisfied. It is especially rewarding to see the megastar in his true element and with Ram Charan and the Konidela Production Company having secured the rights for other Malayalam hits like "Driving License (2019)" and reportedly even the magnum-opus "Bheeshma Parvam (2022)", there will be more opportunities down the line for the superstar to shine, backed up by strong writing. "Godfather" is a fairly enjoyable watch in theatres, and will be a true treat for Chiranjeevi fans.

Telugu mass cinema has never been one for logic and realism, but certain films insult the intelligence of audiences so much that they become unwatchable after a certain point. "Ghost" from Nagarjuna is one such barrage of endless cliches stuffed between some well-choreographed action sequences, that tests your patience while giving you a massive headache from the mayhem going on pointlessly on screen.

Superstar Nagarjuna stars as "Vikram" an ex-Interpol agent who is forced to come out of retirement after some business rivals threaten his sister (Gul Panag) and her family. Aided by his ex-flame "Priya" (Sonal Chauhan), how he turns the tables on the people out to harm them form the rest of this super-cliched, oft-repeated storyline.

Director Praveen Sattaru who had previously delivered the National Award-winning romance anthology "Chandamama Kathalu" in 2014, is clearly out of sorts in this film and was unable to leverage the talented cast he had at his disposal. Nagarjuna's trademark style and panache is utilized only in the action sequences, with the dialogue and confrontations with the antagonists lacking any real tension, suspense or mass elevation.

The stunt choreography from Dinesh Subbarayan and Kecha are the lone saving grace of the film, although why an ex-Interpol supercop has to resort to katana swords to tackle gun-wielding gangsters is beyond me. It also doesn't help matters that these stylish fight sequences are interspersed between large, boring sections of plot points and contrived twists that you can see coming from a mile away.

Nagarjuna, Sonal Chauhan and Anikha Surendran turn in the best possible performances given the laughably inept scripts they were given to work with, but cannot save this film from being anything but an eyesore and an earsore. "Ghost" will be a difficult watch for even the most hardcore of Nagarjuna fans and is definitely not recommended! Avoid at all costs!

Comedian-singer turned filmmaker Nadirsha had a promising start as a director in Malayalam, delivering back to back superhits in the slapstick comedies "Amar Akbar Antony (2015)" and "Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan (2016)". The talented auteur has however, hit a bit of a rough patch off late, with "Mera Naam Shaaji (2019)" and more recently, Dileep-starrer "Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan (2022)" coming across as dull affairs, panned by critics and fans alike. It is perhaps because of this that he pivoted genres, moving away from his trademark comedies to a broodish, atmospheric thriller in "Eesho" that is alas, watchable only in parts.

National Award-winner "Jayasurya" stars as the eponymous "Eesho" a mysterious truck driver who chances upon a seemingly chance encounter with the night watchman of an ATM, Ramachandran (Jaffer Idukki) after his vehicle breaks down. Ramachandran is coincidentally, the star witness in a scandalous rape case with the main accused being an influential businessman. With his life under constant threat and his key secret testimony set for the next morning, how the duo navigate the trials and tribulations that come their way on this fateful night form the rest of the story.

Sub-par filmmakers mistake subject-oriented films for just being preachy vehicles where they can shamelessly push their ideas and propoganda. While the film's heart is in the right place, talking about child abuse, the way it is presented comes across as inorganic and contrived and the dialogue resorts to mere sermons for long stretches. Jayasurya and Jaffer Idukki are both seasoned performers and excel in their roles, but the writing is unable to match up to their levels in many places.

Eesho's predictable plotline is another major eyesore, with the so-called twist in the final act obvious to the audience from the get-go, not providing any real surprise element or thrills requisite of a well-made thriller. Nadirsha has made a brave attempt in going for a genre he is not well-versed in but is unable to backup his novel idea with immersive writing in an era where Malayalam is churning out superb thriller like "Attention Please (2022)" and "Bhoothakaalam". You can watch "Eesho" for superb performances from Jayasurya and Jaffer Idukki, for there is not much else to savour. The film is now streaming on SonyLIV, in its original Malayalam as well as in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada dubs, all with English subtitles.

The duo of Pushkar and Gayathri have enthralled audiences in the South, first with their original smash hit Tamil film "Vikram Vedhan (2017)" and now most recently with the hit Amazon prime series "Suzhal (2022)". But to make a smooth transition into the tumultuous world of Bollywood is a mean ask but the two capable filmmakers pass the test with flying colours, delivering a faithful remake of the cult classic, enhanced by the unmistakeable swag of superstar Hrithik Roshan.

Roshan stars as the titular "Vedha" a ferocious gangster terrorizing the streets of Lucknow. Saif Ali Khan plays "Vikram", the trigger-happy encounter specialist cop leading the task force assigned with curbing the gangsters of the city. Although both actors don't the same range as the ace performers in the original film, namely National Award winner Vijay Sethupathi and R Madhavan, the directors smartly pivot the character to play to these actors' strengths. The confrontation sequences between the gangster and the cop are laced with mass and gravitas, with Hrithik especially excelling in the stunt sequences with his agility and panache.

The gritty, serpentine streets of Lucknow are depicted in painstaking detail as the makers transpose the impact that Chennai had in the original movie, to a North Indian context. The storyline sticks to the original but with Hrithik's version of Vedha coming across as wackier, more gung-ho and fanatical than the smoother, more reserved depiction by Vijay Sethupathi.

Bollywood remakes of South blockbusters seldom rise to meet the standards of their original versions. Ajay Devgn's "Drishyam (2015)" and Shahid Kapoor's "Kabir Singh (2019)" stand at one end of the spectrum, having delivered while most remakes end up in the trash pile, case in point being dismal efforts like "Force (2011)", "Rowdy Rathore (2012)" and "Bhaagi 2 (2018)". Thankfully, due to the deft direction of Pushkar-Gayathri and earnest performances from the two lead actors, "Vikram Vedha" ends up in the former category, as a faithful remake that also stands apart with its contextualized take on the Vikramaditya-Betaal folktale. A recommended watch in theatres!

Murder mystery thrillers are a dime a dozen in Tamil, with most of the recent efforts like "Cadaver (2022)" and "Dejavu (2022)" falling into cliched rhythms and failing to offer anything fresh or exciting to viewers. It is in this scenario that director Innasi Pandiyan comes in with a deliciously original, widely imaginative twist on the much-overdone genre with "Diary", which deserves all the praise in the world for challenging the status quo and succeeding to an extent, despite some sluggish pacing and subpar acting in parts.

Arulnithi is quietly carving a niche for himself in the thriller space and stars here as a newly minted Sub Inspector of Police who is assigned a decade-old cold case about couples being mysteriously killed in a hill station. As he unravels the antecedents behind these perplexing murders, layers upon layers of convoluted motivations and supernatural elements reveal themselves, threatening to derail his investigation.

Pavithra Marimuthu shines as Arulnithi's fellow investigator and lady love while other supporting actors like Sha Ra and Chaams provide nothing but cringe-worthy performances with their trite comic performances. The script is often filled with simplistic, formulaic dialogues and there are several loopholes in the investigation but the final reveal in the third act and the ingenuity in the concepts the director reveals therein, paper over the cracks.

Arulnithi continues to build his profile as a bankable leading man in Kollywood, with "Diary" further enhancing the reputation he had built with his earlier hit thriller, the enjoyable "D Block (2022)". He is well aware of his limitations as an actor and uses his intensity and physicality as well as a key script sense to pick characters that play to these strengths. Have some patience to sit through the largely run-of-the-mill first half of "Diary" and I promise you, awe-inspiring surprises await you in the final act. A recommended film, currently streaming on Aha Tamil!

Perhaps no Indian film released in 2022 sans RRR and KGF2 has arrived in theatres with the ungodly hype that accompanied Mani Ratnam's "Ponniyin Selvan I". Based on the cult 1955 book series by Kalki Krishnamurthy, many icons like MGR and Kamal Hassan have attempted to recreate the magnum opus on screen but it took a visionary of Mani Ratnam's caliber to finally bring the project to fruition. With an ensemble cast and an exceptional technical crew backing him, the master director weaves his magic wand to create an immensely enjoyable period spectacle, albeit with its shares of minor bumps and flaws.

Set in the 10th century during the times when the Chola dynasty ruled over most of South India, Karthi stars as "Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan", commander to the crown prince Aditha Karikaalan (Vikram), and his journey to fulfill a set of tasks his liege lord sets out for him. Assigned with dismantling a seditious conspiracy brewing within the kingdom, the steadfast Vandiyadevan embarks on an arduous journey, with aid of the princess Kundavai (Trisha) as well as Karikaalan's younger brother, the titular "Ponniyin Selvan" (meaning Son of the river Ponni, played by Jayam Ravi).

Focussing more on drama elements and political machinations and in setting up the immense world detailed in the books, "Ponniyin Selvan" is devoid of the large canvas action sequences and mass moments of typical masala-period pieces like the Bahubali franchise and RRR. Case in point, one of the most enthralling sequences in the film was the confrontation between Trisha's "Kundavai" and the primary antagonist, the scheming "Nandini", played by Aishwarya Rai with each actress oozing menace and gravitas, aided by the excellent dialogues crafter by screenwriters Kumaravel and Jayamohan.

A R Rahman's music is unfortunately largely pedestrian with only the BGM composed for Trisha's character creating any real impact. The film also indulges in setting up too many things for its second part and meanders pointlessly for large portions post the interval. The climax showdown which was intended as a brutal skirmish doesn't come across convincingly, reducing the impact of the immersive politicking and mind games that led up to it. In short, PS-1 scores high in its drama elements while struggling to be convincing during its stunt sequences. Nevertheless, the painstaking worldbuilding, its clutch of ace performances and the level of political intrigue Mani Ratnam has managed to infuse into the storytelling make PS-1 a recommended watch in theatres! Cannot wait for the second part, set to release in 2023!

Delivering a hit in Bollywood while being primarily a South Actor has long been akin to crossing the Rubicon for many, with Dhanush being the last star to manage it, way back in 2013 with the soulful Raanjhanaa. Dulquer Salmaan has tried and burnt his hands in Hindi before, with both his earlier projects "Karwaan (2018)" and "The Zoya Factor (2019)" failing to make any impact at the box office. But it seems like the charming actor has emerged third time lucky with "Chup: The Revenge of the Artist" delivering consummate thrills leveraging a strong foundation of solid performance to give an enjoyable watch to viewers.

Dulquer stars as "Danny", a seemingly simple-minded florist who strikes a friendship with an up-and-coming film journalist played by the always dependable Shreya Dhanwanthary. As their relationship blossoms in the picturesque streets of Mumbai, their story becomes inextricably intertwined with a dogged cop's (Sunny Deol) search for an elusive, psychotic serial killer who seems to be focusing his wrath only on movie critics. With the central focus being on performances, director R Balki delivers a disturbing yet immersive experience with enough "out-of-the-box" plot twists to keep you hooked.

R Balki is that one rare Bollywood filmmaker who has managed to deliver hits in multiple genres, be it the dark comedy "Cheeni Kum (2007)", the emotional "Paa (2009)" or more motivational tales like "English Vinglish (2012)", "Padman (2018)" and "Mission Mangal (2019)". And he again sticks to his unpredictable guns, picking the most unconventional of choices in Dulquer to play his complicated lead character and the star rises to the challenge to reward the faith that was placed on him.

Dulquer continues to enthrall audiences across languages and his almost uncanny ability to speak multiple languages without a hint of a Malayalam accent is going to make a strong case for him to become the first true pan-India star while the likes of Yash and Allu Arjun have to depend on dubbing artists. After successes primarily being restricted to the romance genre, it is heartening to see Dulquer make inroads into grittier, more dark characters, first with the blockbuster "Kurup (2021)" in Malayalam and now with Chup. Having now delivered blockbusters in multiple languages like the Tamil ventures- "OK Kanmani (2015)" and "Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (2020) and the Telugu smash hit "Sita Ramam (2022)", one cannot wait to see what this talented actor conjures up next. Chup is now playing in theatres and is definitely recommended!

Indie experiments have always shaken up the status quo in Malayalam, be it Lijo Jose Pellissery's "Angamaly Diaries (2017)" or more recently, Senna Hegde's "Thinkalazcha Nischayam (2021)" and Krishand's "Avasa Vyooham (2022)". After having impressed all with his devastating short titled "Pra. Thoo. Mu" in the anthology "Freedom Fight (2022)", director Jithin Issac Thomas delivers a stunningly original atmospheric thriller in "Attention Please", which is easily one of the most eye-catching experimental Malayalam films of 2022.

Vishnu Govindhan stars as "Hari", a disgruntled, down-on-his-luck aspiring screenwriter whose twisted scripts are never taken seriously by his flatmates, played by Jithin and Anand Manmadhan. One fine evening, when the friends set out to enjoy a night of drinks, Hari starts narrating his most ingenious script so far, only for things to take a gruesome turn as the ensuing arguments amongst the gang reach a breaking point. The director builds up the tension with consummate ease, immersing the audience into the predicaments of our lead character and making us empathize with his sensibilities and insecurities.

Vishnu Govindhan is devastating as the bitter, under-appreciated writer and instantly hooks you into his engaging way of narrating tales and his expressive eyes give a hypnotic effect to proceedings. The entire supporting cast play their part in matching their talented lead, with Anand Manmadhan standing out with his prickly, irascible mannerisms and body language. The moody atmosphere built up by the director and the unexpected twists hold your attention for the entire crisply edited run time of just under two hours.

"Attention Please" is a terrifically enacted, painstakingly built psychological thriller that provided much-needed innovation to the genre that has been plagued by boilerplate projects off late in Malayalam like "Heaven (2022)" and "John Luther (2022)". Vishnu Govindhan has proved himself to be a bankable character actor and one wishes that he gets meatier roles in mainstream projects going forward. "Attention Please" is now streaming on Netflix and is a definite must-watch!

Marvel can never be forgiven for reducing one of the most electrifying action heroes on the face of the planet in Don Lee to a bit-part role in "Eternals", failing to leverage his spontaneous, irreverent humour or hulking screen presence to any effect. Thankfully, Korean cinema continues to generate the best out of this iconic superstar, this time with the phenomenally enjoyable "The Roundup (2022)", a sequel to the iconic "The Outlaws (2017)" which in turn was remade into the bungling mess that was the Salman Khan-starrer "Radhe (2021)"

We rejoin audience favourite Ma Dong-seok or "Don Lee" as he is more affectionately known among his fans, back in his now legendary role as Inspector "Ma Seok-do", a rambunctious, irascible but duty-bound Korean cop with a devil-may-care attitude to protocol and procedure when it stands in the way of him and the criminals he tries to bring to heel. This time, he is tasked with executing a tricky extradition of a notorious kidnapper and extortionist in Vietnam.

Thrown into unfamiliar territory in a region where he has no jurisdiction, the story follows our steadfast cop as he overcomes bureaucratic red tape, a country with little to no laws and a fugitive who has nothing to lose, to ensure justice is served. Don Lee as usual delivers with his trademark hard-hitting punches, sensational action sequences and rib-tickling humour that director Lee Sang-yong manages to throw in at the most unexpected of junctures.

Son Seok-koo proves to be an able counterweight to Don Lee's machismo, as the more surgical but equally brutal antagonist, who revels in the sheer violence of it all. At the end of the day, "The Roundup" delivers on expectations - of a brutal, no-holds-barred slugfest with classic Don Lee mass elevation sequences. The man's aura is so unmatched that when superstar Sylvester Stallone acquired the English rights to remake his iconic "The Gangster, The Cop and The Devil (2019)", they decided to cast Don Lee himself rather than trying and failing to find somebody with the same screen presence in Hollywood."The Roundup" is highly recommended, and is now streaming on BookMyShow Stream in India!

Hostage/Refugee rescue dramas have delivered some of the most compelling cinema ever seen on screen. Be it the cult classic "Schindler's List (1993)" or the Oscar winning "Argo (2012)" or the Korean classic "Escape from Mogadishu (2021)" or if you were to take Indian examples, "Airlift (2016)" and "Take Off (2017)", perilous journeys of humans escaping persecution, especially when based on true events, instantly strikes a chord with audiences. "Jogi" starring Diljith Dosanjh had all the right elements for a compelling drama, being based on the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots, but stops short of greatness due to a bungled final act.

Diljith Dosanjh stars as the titular "Jogi" a simple government servant in Trilokhpuri, Delhi who gets swept into the carnage unleashed by Congress workers in 1984, in retaliation for Indira Gandhi being gunned down by her Sikh bodyguards in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The horror and human suffering of the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots are shown in intricate detail by director Ali Abbas Zafar and Dosanjh is especially terrific in the emotional sequences, playing the pain and helplessness of a man caught between grieving for his dead relatives and still duty-bound to rescue what is remaining of his family.

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Kumud Mishra are such seasoned performers that you are used to them turning in pitch-perfect performances and play able foil to a towering Dosanjh lead performance. The perilous journey the refugees embark on is displayed with elan, with the background score and crisp editing playing no small part in building up the nerves, as you are completely sold into their predicaments and plight.

Director Zafar has given us both era-defining triumphs like "Sultan (2016)" and damp squibs like "Bharat (2019)" and Jogi ends up being somewhere in the middle. A trite and tedious romantic back story, inserted at the fag end of the narrative when you expect the suspense and intrigue to hit fever pitch, creates a jarring effect on what was otherwise a superlative storyline. "Jogi" ends up being a case of what could have been, with the contrived final act spoiling a compelling story that deserved to be told and a Diljit Dosanjh performance for the ages. Watch it for the Diljit performance! The film is now streaming on Netflix!

Comedian turned virtuoso director and Oscar winner Jordan Peele has already proved himself to be a master of the horror genre, expertly interlacing thrills with hard-hitting social commentary to deliver smash hit films like "Get Out (2017)" and "Us (2019)". With "Nope", the director attempts his most ambitious project yet and passes with flying colors, giving us a stunningly original thriller that blends horror with sci-fi and leverages its talented cast to the fullest extent.

Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer star as two fractious siblings trying to make ends meet with their struggling California ranch. The desert skies above them start behaving mysteriously and how they handle the sinister incidents that occur around them forms the rest of the story. In direct contrast to his earlier ventures, Peele relies more on visual spectacle and special effects here than his character's performances to deliver scares and it pays off, with the desert's emptiness and picturesque scenery playing into the nefarious environment the maker is trying to set up.

Oscar-winner Kaluuya is expectedly full of nuanced brilliance in his portrayal while Keke Palmer is a surprise package, delivering a spunky take on her rebellious character of "Emerald Haywood". Steven Yuen, Michael Wincott and Brandon Perea excel in their supporting roles, with Peele continuing to prove that he has a talent for unearthing hidden talents and extracting the most from them.

While not hitting the classic high notes of "Get Out", "Nope" is an elegant, finely structured and highly engaging addition to the growing Jordan Peele filmography, constantly surprising the viewer with its twists and turns. The director's talent to instantly bewitch you with his intricate character studies and twisted plotlines combines this time with staggering visual effects to give an all-around thrilling experience. Recommended!