Reviews

Synopsis: Based on one of the darkest chapters of India's *twisted* history, "The Kashmir Files" depicts the events (and contrasting narratives) surrounding the persecution, genocide & forced mass exodus endured by Kashmiri Pandits in their own homeland in 1990.

Review: The research done for this film is meticulous, to say the least. With stark attention to detail, the Filmmaker has presented the events as they occured, and also provided a snapshot of some authentic news articles & TV interviews. While it's practically impossible to depict each & every occurance related to the forced exodus of half a million Kashmir Pandits within a single film, the scenarist has wisely chosen a narrative pattern that encapsulates the gist of the tragedy. The screenplay alternates between past & present, and you have to see the film to realize how much sense this narrative structure makes. We get to see the perspectives of the victims, the so called "secular-liberals", the pillars of Democracy, the terrorists, the Kashmiri Muslims and the confused youth of today. The Director also throws light on "why & how" these tragic events were whitewashed since more than three decades. Talking about the actors on screen, Anupam Kher has given his career best performance and lived his role to the hilt.. he is the soul of the film. Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Bhasha Sumbli, Prakash Belawadi, Puneet Issar, Atul Srivastav & Chinmay Mandlekar are all in top form. Even the extras seem to be seasoned actors and leave a mark in their limited screentime. The brooding background score aptly conveys the mood of every scene, and the cinematography is excellent. The dialogues & conversations are extremely evocative, and these are used as an essential device to make the audience aware of certain facts. Despite being made within a modest budget of Rs. 20 crores, the production values of this film are impeccable.

There are well made films, and there are IMPORTANT films. The Kashmir Files is both - It is one of the most important films ever made in the history of Cinema. Hats off to Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri for his courage & conviction to bring this hard hitting true story to life. No amount of praise is high enough for his noble efforts.

The past cannot be changed, but historical lies must never be taken to the grave or passed over to the next generation. If we as a society remain in denial of bitter truths, it may potentially lead us to bigger tragedies. Dark truths surely discomfort us when they emerge from the shadows, but they eventually lead us to our catharsis & salvation.

Conclusion: Do yourselves a favour & watch this heart rending film.. It would be your acknowledgement of the horrific truths that were hushed & brushed under the carpet since the last 32 years by vested interests both within & outside our Nation. It would also be your tribute to those unfortunate Kashmiri Pandits who lost their family, their home, their identity, and ended up as refugees in their own country.

This landmark film doesn't need my validation, but if I have to give a rating it would be: 11/10.

Synopsis: In a village, a young tailor and a middle aged waiter gain some special abilities after being struck by lightning on the the same night. How they make use of these newfound powers and how their different paths converge, forms the crux of the story.

Review: I had a couple of misgivings before watching "Minnal Murali". Firstly, I was bothered about its 159 minute runtime. Secondly, I was expecting this to be a parody of Superhero films; since its Director Basil Joseph had given us the hilarious comedy Kunjiramayanam. However, after watching the film both these misgivings were put to rest. "Minnal Murali" was a breeze to watch and never felt stretched; as the character development of the hero and the anti-hero justifies the runtime. This is a coming of age Superhero story with a heart & humour. Even though the Director has taken inspiration from different Superhero films, this film is unique on its own and is not a cheap copy-paste job. The action sequences have been shot really well & the special effects are decent if we consider the modest budget of this Mollywood production. Coming to performances, Tovino Thomas looked refreshingly good and gave a convincing performance as the titular character. The anti-hero Guru Somasundaram brought a lot of pathos into his role as it was not a typical negative character. The supporting cast was in fine form as well. This film has some good situational humour which has always been Basil Joseph's forte. The background score is really good both in action as well as emotional scenes.

Verdict: Minnal Murali is a winner all the way; and this Mollywood Superhero definitely deserved a theatrical release. For now, enjoy it on Netflix.

My Rating: 9/10.

Synopsis: Peter Parker's life is a mess after Mysterio's dying words on camera "expose" him as Spider-man. On Peter's request, Dr. Strange casts a spell to help him out, but things go horribly wrong due to Peter's naivety. Now Peter has to deal with foes from alternate realities and also find a way to "fix" everything.

Review: The much awaited conclusion to the MCU Spider-man trilogy is likely to be an emotional rollercoaster for fans - it would make them nostalgic, fascinated, shed tears of joy & pathos. Though the objective behind this "multiverse" film is fan service, it never feels as if the quality of filmmaking has been compromised to include the multiversal elements and Easter eggs. This is the biggest and most ambitious of all live-action Spider-man films; and Director Jon Watts has raised his own bar by giving this trilogy a rousing conclusion that conveys mystique, adventure, love, empathy, camaraderie, sacrifice & redemption. The background score by Michael Giacchino aptly captures the mood of every scene. All the actors are in fine form here, with the returning veterans stealing the show. It was a joy to see Alfred Molina's Doc Ock and Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin back, and the CGI aided facial de-aging worked wonders for their appearance. Returning as Electro V2, Jamie Foxx was much more impressive this time compared to his previous "blue" version. Benedict Cumberbatch's Dr. Strange was as charismatic as ever. Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Jacob Batalon, JK Simmons and a couple of returning actors leave a mark in their respective roles. The other two villains - Sandman & Lizard, are in their 'non-human' form for 99% of their screentime so I can't comment on the actors playing them. Finally, Tom Holland holds his own amid a strong starcast and delivers a memorable performance as Peter Parker/Spider-man. The visuals and action set pieces are truly spectacular, and the epic third act alone is worth all the wait. The subsequent resolution is bittersweet, and fans would not want the film to end.

A persistent issue with most MCU films (including the first two of this Spider-man trilogy), is the overtly jokey tone of the narrative. In this aspect, both Sam Raimi's and Mark Webb's Spider-man movies had a felicitious tone. Whereas in the MCU, characters act funny even in fatal situations thus making the whole act facetious. This time however, Jon Watts has used a more balanced tone. Yes, there are the usual jokes, banter and character references like a usual MCU film but here they were placed more appropriately. This is also Spider-man's most "independent" film in the trilogy yet, as there's no Ironman or Nick Fury to watch over him. There's only Dr. Strange, and he has been utilized more as a plot device than a superhero fighting alongside Spider-man.

If I had any major grouse with this film it was this: An imminent face-off between Spider-man and a villain in the first act was abruptly "cut". Just as the action was about to begin with the baddie's badass entry, Spidey found himself somewhere else. Why tease the audience if you are not going to show the fight? This scene is also in the trailers, but there's nothing more to it in the movie which is such a shame.

Irrespective of whether Jon Watts and Tom Holland come back for more Spider-man films, they should be proud of what they have done for the fans of this friendly neighborhood superhero.

Verdict: I am happy to conclude that "No Way Home" is a delightful treat for all Spider-man fans. It ticks all the boxes for a film of its genre.

Rating: 9/10.

Synopsis: Oliver Twist (Indrans) longs to establish a genuine communication with his elder son Antony (Sreenath Bhasi), who seldom gives his father any attention even within the house. Oliver is also curious to learn more about smartphones & social media; which unwittingly cause some problems in his family life.

Review: It isn't often that a film comes along which almost everybody can relate to. #Home is one of such rare films. A good story, emotions, humour, great acting, great direction - this film has everything. Veteran actor Indrans got the rare opportunity to showcase his underutilized talent, and he has shown how body language can be used to express feelings without involving a lot of words. He truly deserves all the accolades that he is going to be showered with. All the other actors were fabulous as well, and the casting was simply perfect. Writer-Director Rojin Thomas has struck gold in his third film (his debut directorial "Philips & the Monkey Pen" was also quite good, but pales in comparison to this). There is a good dose of situational humour sprinked here & there, and some of the scenes are truly howlarious. The film also teaches some very important life truths without appearing preachy, and even the emotional moments are devoid of any cliched melodrama. I had instinctively predicted the eventual 'twist' with accuracy, but even then the culmination felt extremely heartwarming. The 160 minute runtime did not bother me at all, in fact I never realized how time went by !

Conclusion: Overall, #Home is a near perfect cinematic experience that should be seen by the whole family. Don't miss it !

My rating: 10/10.

*SPOILER FREE REVIEW*

"Kuruthi" is based on an extremely relevant subject which has been presented in a very different manner. It is partly a home invasion, partly chase thriller with fabulous acting by one & all especially Mammukkoya, Prithviraj, Roshan & Srinda which is aided by compelling direction by Manu Warrier. There are a couple of flaws here & there but they don't spoil the flow & effect of the film. The cinematography by Abhinandan Ramanujam is visually arresting, while the foreboding background score by Jakes Bejoy enhances the dark mood of the proceedings. Without spoiling anything, I would say that the climax is well shot and the last scene has a classy touch. A thriller with a relevant social message is a very rare combination, and this is one such film. To conclude, "Kuruthi" is recommended viewing for mature audience.

Overall rating: 8.5/10.

The movie is based on the premise "To hide one truth even a hundred lies may not suffice". Hari (Sreenivasan) is living a happy married life with Viji (Monisha). But when his good friend cum neighbour Ravi (Siddique) gets engaged to Indu (Shobana), Hari loses his peace of mind because Indu knows a dark secret from his past which may shatter his marital life if revealed. How Hari decides to deal with this tricky situation forms the rest of the story. The movie has some really hilarious scenes & dialogues, enlivened by the wonderful ensemble cast. The background score complements the tone of the film and there is only one song that comes towards the end of the movie. The Direction by Chandrasekharan is competent and he succeeds in portraying Hari's anxious state of mind. Overall, "Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam" is an underrated, wholesome family entertainer that will put a smile on your face. Recommended: 8/10.

'Tourist Home' depicts the happenings in the lives of unrelated characters living in 10 separate rooms of a Tourist Home, over a short period of time. I had bought the DVD of this film after my curiosity was piqued by the catchline on the cover - "10 Writers, 1 Director, 1 Shot". The makers of this film claim that the film has been shot in a single take, which sounds like an accomplishment in itself. Unfortunately, the film in itself is a total mess for it's laborious to watch despite the involvement of 10 writers. It seems like the Director(Shebi) got so involved in the technical aspect of shooting the film in a single shot that he didn't pay much attention to make the story appear interesting on screen. All the actors in the film have done a decent job, but they can't salvage the film when the Direction itself is so weak. As a viewer it was difficult to feel invested in any story/character arc. The ending was as lame an ending as I have ever seen, with an absurd 'twist'. This film is an apt example that no matter how interesting an idea is, it's the overall execution of the story material that matters, not just the technical aspect. Not recommended.

Synopsis: "Ayyappanum Koshiyum" revolves around the protracted duel between Ayyappan Nair (Biju Menon playing the role of a Senior Sub-Inspector of Police who comes from an unprivileged background), and Koshy Kurien (Prithviraj as a retired Army Havildar who belongs to a wealthy & influential family). The seeds of the conflict between these 2 characters are sown within the first few minutes of the movie, and the story goes on to detail the methods these men use to destroy each other, even without caring for the larger consequences of their actions.

Review: This is Sachy's second Directorial venture in Malayalam after 2015's Superhit "Anarkali" that had the same duo of Prithviraj & Biju Menon in the lead. While they were cast as close friends in that film, this film pits them as enemies. And in my personal opinion, for both Prithviraj & Biju Menon the characters of Koshy & Ayyappan are among the most uncharacteristic roles they have ever played, and to their credit they have succeeded at breathing life & blood into both these characters. As the egoistic bigmouth who masks his insecurities and humanity most of the time - Prithviraj is fabulous as Ex-Havildar Koshy. The actions of his character are quite unlikable, but even so Prithviraj manages to make the viewer empathize with him. In contrast, Biju Menon plays Sub-Inspector Ayyappan Nair with superb restraint; though the character appears sober and civilized on the surface, we can also see that he is hiding a raging storm within that can demolish anyone when its lets loose. Its really good to see Biju Menon play such a meaty character that highlights his underrated acting prowess (instead of the usual comic roles he usually does), and let's hope that he gets to play more of such weighty roles. Everyone in the supporting cast has performed their roles to perfection, though the standout is veteran Director Ranjith playing the role of Kurien John (Koshi's father) - an arrogant man of wealth & privilege, with a conceited sense of Male Ego. Also notable are Gowri Nandha as Ayyappan's wife and Anil Nedumangad as Circle Inspector Sathish. The screenplay deserves credit for efficiently spacing out the various conflicts even while allowing us to get a good look into the mindset of the different characters. The story and events are narrated quite realistically, and even though a couple of sequences are not entirely convincing, that does not effect the flow or substance of the film. The Cinematography & Background score ably complement the various hues & tones of the film. As both the Writer & Director of this movie, Sachy has done a commendable job in extracting fine performances from the entire cast, and he has also succeeded in depicting this story of conflict in an extremely engaging manner.

Conclusion: In these times when most people have short attention spans and low patience, Directors naturally find it difficult to keep the audience involved in any movie that is over 2 hours long. However, Writer-Director Sachy has managed to go against the trend and made an extremely engaging movie with a runtime of nearly 3 hours (177 minutes). He deserves all the applause for this cinematic achievement. "Ayyappanum Koshiyum" is an engaging duel of 2 men who are as different as chalk & cheese, and it makes for a highly enjoyable viewing.

The synopsis: In Kochi city, Police Officers are being mysteriously kidnapped & brutally tortured to death by a group of serial killers who are too clever to be tracked down. The serials killers also mock the entire City Police & drop cryptic clues after every execution. The Police enlist the assistance of Criminologist Anwar Hussain (Kunchako Boban), to trace the killers before its too late.

Review: It is quite a tricky feat to impress the audience in the not so common "Crime Thriller" genre, and the task of holding the audience attention through 143 mins of Running time is never easy to accomplish. Yet, the team behind "Anjaam Pathira" takes up this heavy challenge and succeeds big time. The casting of the movie is mighty impressive, and all the actors have performed their roles admirably. Kunchako Boban plays one of the most memorable roles of his career as an investigative Criminologist, and he is aptly supported by Sreenath Bhasi playing a mischievous Computer Hacker, Unnimaya Prasad playing DCP Catherine & Jinu Joseph playing ACP Arun. Special mention to Jaffer Idukki & Indrans who leave a lasting impact in their brief roles. Apart from having a strong script that surprises the audience from time to time, "Anjaam Pathira" also ends on a very impactful note, and the audience were seen applauding the film as the credits started rolling. The movie has quite a heavy undertone & a horror film kind of atmosphere to it, yet it also connects emotionally with the viewer when the actual suspense is revealed. The final few scenes are truly memorable as the movie reaches its "bittersweet" conclusion. Midhun Manual Thomas deserves to be lauded for deviating from his normal comic caper fare and delivering such a layered crime story, that scores in all departments be it Acting, Cinematography, Background Score, Script & Direction. (Due to its disturbing content, the movie is not advisable for children below 10 yrs or weak hearted people). There is not much physical violence, but the tone & atmosphere of the film is quite dark. Some viewers may compare this film to the Tamil Film "Ratsasan" & the Malayalam film "Memories", and even though there may be a few similarities between them, "Anjaam Pathira" is very much an original film and in my humble opinion far superior to both of them, in terms of Script, Direction & other technical aspects. The film sets a new benchmark in the genre of Crime Thrillers in Malayalam Cinema, and it would be interesting to see if more Malayalam Directors try to replicate the success of this film.

Verdict: "Anjaam Pathira" is easily among the best Investigative Crime Thriller ever made in Malayalam, and it definitely matches up to International standards in its Direction, performances & Production Design. Highly recommended !!!

Synopsis: Arthur Fleck - a party clown and aspiring stand-up comedian, always finds life throwing sh!t at him. Already frustrated, his mental health worsens when the Govt stops funding his psychatric counselling & meds. How Arthur's personality devolves from a benign guy to a sociopath forms the rest of the plot.

Review: "Joker" is a multilayered film helmed by Todd Philips with an Oscar worthy turn by Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role. The film is so affecting, it stays with you long after the end credits roll. It would be unnecessary to compare Joaquin's Joker with Ledger's Oscar winning turn as the Joker, since the same character is written differently in both films, yet both the brilliant actors succeed in leaving their own impression on the viewer. The violence in this film has been overhyped by some critics, the film is more a character study/drama with only a few scenes of violence that are essential to show the characters' devolution. Those expecting an "action" film, are likely to be disappointed. Special mention for the ominous background score by Hildur Guðnadóttir.

Though this movie was planned as a standalone, I hope the success of this film inspires a Sequel. Well done, Todd Phillips & Co. Looking forward to see more from you.

My rating: 10/10.

The new Spider-Man is truly amazing! One would ideally give the verdict in the latter half of the review, but I'd rather say it right at the beginning.

What a great year it is turning out to be for fans of superhero franchises! First we had 'The Avengers', now we get 'The Amazing Spider- Man' and July 20 shall see the final chapter of Chris Nolan's Batman "rise"!

A reboot and prequel of sorts, it is inevitable that most of us compare Mark Webb's Spider-Man to the previous Spider-Man trilogy directed by Sam Raimi, starring Tobery Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. Is it as good as Raimi's 'Spider-Man' which came out about 10 years back in 2002? How similar, different or better is it?

The basic plot of Webb's reboot stays the same so don't go expecting major novelty in the first half.

A young Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) finds himself lonely and attracted to classmate Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). His friends bully him while as caretakers; aunt and uncle expect him to be more responsible. Amidst all this, a spider bits him, turning Peter Parker into Spider- Man, a helpful vigilante.

Webb however modifies Peter's character traits and makes him more interesting, intriguing, even a tad immature. He has no qualms in declaring that he is not morally obligated or responsible to make everyone happy. Unlike Maguire, Garfield is not saintly, shy, conscious or extreme nerdy before or after he dons his spidey outfit. He makes mistakes, loses his cool, exploits his super powers, speaks his heart out, prefers being aloof. He even lets Gwen know right from the beginning that he fancies her...so no 'good friends' drama there fortunately.

Webb also makes his love interest more appealing and less annoying. Unlike Mary Jane, Gwen is not a spineless damsel in distress. She is not an indecisive emotional fool either. She reads Peter's mind and knows what she needs to do. She even fights, risks her life to save Peter. The biggest highlight of the film is the sizzling chemistry between Garfield and Emma. The real life couple looks great together on screen too. Their love story makes you smile. Their terrace kiss is as special as the upside down kiss in Spider-Man (2002). Garfield shoots his web on Emma, pulls her towards him, grabs her in his arms and leans in for a kiss... iconic indeed.

As far as the bad guys are concerned, Rhys Ifans plays Dr Connors who becomes a huge dinosaur like lizard, thus a huge threat to Spider-Man. He is not entirely a villain though. Even with limited screen time, Emma Stone is very charming & impressive as Peter's love interest. Irrfan Khan has just about two scenes, but he does get noticed & is likely to return for the sequel.

The special effects, cinematography, stunts are mind-blowing. The very first scene where Peter starts discovering his newly found powers on a moving train is superbly shot. The action in the school fight & climax is incredible too. As for Spidey's trademark web-swinging, this has easily the BEST web-swinging sequences ever conceived, take my word for that. And if you are watching this in 3D, Imax viewing would be awesome. Even as Spider-Man shoots his web in the air, you will literally dodge to avoid being his target! The 3D is not gimmicky & is used mainly in the action sequences.

Last and not the least, Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man is supremely charming. With his expressive face & body language, he looks the part both as Peter Parker & Spiderman. He makes us forget that Tobey Maguire played the same character in 3 successful films before! He executes his role differently with no resemblance to Tobey. He is rebellious, vulnerable, romantic, amateur (he works on his web powers as they don't come naturally to him), practices before becoming a pro at flying and falling from skyscrapers. He even googles his unforgiving spandex outfit before zeroing in on one.

If you are a true Spiderman fan, you would be glad to welcome him back in the new avatar. This is the second best Spiderman film, after Spiderman 2. Its easily better than the first & third Spiderman films helmed by Sam Raimi.

Verdict: Simply amazing - 8.5/10!

"The best things in life come in small packages.." This adage came to my mind when I stepped out after watching 'Vicky Donor'.. Easily the best socially relevant comedy made in recent times, this one needs to be appreciated for its natural wit & intelligence in dealing with a sensitive issue in a non-preachy way. The movie manages to entertain as well as enlighten, & thats' a rare feat in context of Hindi Cinema. The movie succeeds in driving home its point in a subtle manner. Newcomer "Ayush-Man" is a complete natural in his roguishly charming Delhi guy act, while fellow débutante Yaami Gautam has extremely likable screen presence & is a competent performer as well. As a pair, both of them have a great on-screen chemistry, & their romantic track blends well with the story. On the other hand, every member of the supporting cast is an absolute delight to watch, especially Anu Kapoor as "Doctor Fertility". The music is also quite good, with "Paani Da Rang..." being the best pick with its soothing composition. There is some emotional drama in the 2nd half & the culmination is arguably convenient, yet it suits the "feel-good" tone of the film. Overall, this is a crisply entertaining movie with a BIG heart. Highly recommended for lovers of good cinema, & a welcome break from all the crude slapstick "comedies" that are regularly dished out at the Indian Box Office in the name of entertainment. A complete surprise package!