Blog | Amodini's Movie Reviews - Part 20Amodini's Movie Reviews | Movie Reviews by Year, Genre and Rating

Movie Review : Super 30

Posted on August 17, 2019 by amodini

Rating : 3.6/5
Genre : Drama
Year : 2019
Running time : 2 hours 47 minutes
Director : Vikas Bahl
Cast : Hrithik Roshan, Sadhana singh, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrunal Thakur, Amit Sadh, Nandish Singh
Kid rating : G

Super 30, as you know, is based on the real life educational program started by Anand Kumar, who sought to educate 30 underprivileged kids and prepare them to sit for and pass the IIT JEE. The program has been very successful and the film tells us of how it started. I’m not sure how much of the film has been “dramatized” to make an impact but it does make a moving story, told with heart, and is a good watch.

Anand Kumar (Hrithik Roshan) comes from an impoverished background. When he joins an IIT-prep institute as a teacher, he realizes the plight of motivated students who are unable to afford the high price tag the coaching institute demands. The unfairness of it all strikes home. He ropes in his brother (Nandish Singh) and mother (Sadhana Singh) and starts his own free institute to coach poor students for the IIT JEE, under the belief that “Raja ka beta raja nahin banega” – the son of the king will be the king no more; he will be king who is worthy of ascending the throne.

For starters Super 30 is a classic underdog story, so the premise is pretty crowd-pleasing. Anand as a protagonist is almost powerless – he has neither money nor clout. His enemies (Aditya Srivastav as coaching institute owner Lallan Singh) are powerful, capable and willing to employ underhand tactics when words will not work. All Anand has is his belief in the rightness of his work, and the will to succeed.

Anand’s students come from poverty-stricken backgrounds and are beset with feelings of inadequacy and feel like imposters demanding an education, while the English-speaking rich kids of the other institutes poke fun at them for their clothes, language and behavior. Indeed, director Bahl (Queen, Chillar Party) has shown the class divide very well. It is an enormous chasm which Anand encourages his students to cross – the crossing is hard and movingly portrayed.

Super 30 is a journey, from the rocky start to the successful finish. The end is known of course, but the film makes the journey interesting. Kudos to Hrithik Roshan who turns in an amazing performance. While I still think that he is too pretty for the role, despite efforts to de-glamorise him, this is probably one of the best performances of his career.

It was lovely seeing yesteryear actress Sadhana Singh as Anand’s mother. Pankaj Tripathi (who seems to be in every film – not that I’m complaining) as the spineless Minister and Srivastav as the wily Lallan Singh make a mark on the film. Mrunal Thakur makes an impressive Bollywood debut and I look forward to seeing her in the upcoming Batla House.

Recommended.

Kidwise: Some scenes of violence although the film is primarily family-friendly and clean.

Posted in 2019, bollywood, directors, drama, family-friendly, New Films, rating-G, real-life-based, recommended, social issues | Comments Off

Movie Preview : Batla House (releases August 15th 2019)

Posted on August 10, 2019 by amodini

From the director of the magnificent D-Day comes Batla House. Starring John Abraham (with a mustache) the film is based on the real-life “Operation Batla House”. Eagerly anticipating this one!

Posted in 2019, action, directors, drama, New Films, Previews, real-life-based | Comments Off

Movie Review : Article 15

Posted on August 3, 2019 by amodini

Rating : 4.3/5
Genre : Drama
Year : 2019
Running time : 2 hours 20 minutes
Director : Anubhav Sinha
Cast : Ayushmann Khurana, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Sayani Gupta, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub, Nasser, Isha Talwar
Kid rating : A, R

Ayushman Khurana is Ayan Ranjan, an IPS officer posted to caste-ridden Uttar Pradesh. A modern, well-educated, city-bred young man Ayaan is astounded at the stranglehold of caste and creed in this community. When a gruesome rape/murder case come to light, Ayan realizes that he’ll have to fight corruption, and backward notions to provide justice to his people.

Anubhav Sinha surprises me very pleasantly. His Ra One was alright. I wasn’t impressed by Tum Bin2. I didn’t expect Article 15 to be this good a film. But it is! It is a fantastic film, and it might be the best film of the year. Sinha helms it expertly, layers it beautifully, building up his characters so that we know them, sympathize with them and root for them. Article 15 is also well-paced and ratchets up the tension nicely.

I must say that Khurana can really pick his films. Article 15 is proof and what a remarkable film it is! Ayan is a hero unlike any other – a soft-spoken, non-snarling (for comparisons with Singham – which I also liked) mature young man who doesn’t flex his muscles or even engage in a single fist-fight. He leads by example, with courage and grit, not giving in to baser compulsions or stooping to the levels of his enemies – the stuff that true heroes are made of!

In most traditional Hindi films, the hero is this almost God-like character with astonishing good-looks, astounding physical prowess, the ability to beat up a dozen goons with ease, and/or wily street-smarts. Khurana’s Ayan has none of these (although he cuts a fine figure with that moustache) and comes across as a down-to-earth man grappling with extraordinary issues, using brain instead of brawn. Even without these hero-ish qualities, there is no doubt that Ayan is the hero, just by dint of his evolved thinking and the courage he displays. So very refreshing!

Ayan’s sounding board, his conscience, is girlfriend Aditi (Isha Talwar), who, in her brief role, does well. Khurana of course is marvelous. Equally marvelous is Manoj Pahwa as Brahmdatt Singh, the corrupt officer under Ayaan. Kumud Mishra is Jatav, the Dalit man who has risen up to being a Sub Inspector but still serves in deference to the upper-caste Brahmdatt Singh. Mishra is magnificent; he makes the film better just by being in it.

From start to finish, Article 15 is a fine product. Its strong storyline, wonderful acting and awe-inspiring message are worth watching. Highly recommended.

Kid-wise: Scenes of violence against women, intimidation, and women strung up from a tree.

Posted in 2019, bollywood, drama, New Films, rating-A, rating-R, real-life-based, recommended, social issues | Comments Off

Movie Review : Judgmentall Hai Kya

Posted on July 28, 2019 by amodini

Rating : 2.5/5
Genre : Thriller
Year : 2019
Running time : 1 hour 57 minutes
Director : Prakash Kovelamudi
Cast : Kangana Ranaut, Rajkumar Rao, Jimmy Shergill, Amrita Puri, Amyra Dastur
Kid rating : A, R

Kangana is Bobby, a voice-over artist with a serious wannabe-heroine vibe. She also has had a tragic past, which has led to various neuroses – she’s the very definition of eccentric, to put it mildly. When a chirpy, very-much-in-love couple move in next door, and Bobby crushes on the husband, you know that bad things are a-coming for the Mrs.

So I’m going in expecting another Kaun, but Kaun it is not. Judgmental Hai Kya is a valiant effort at the psychotic-murder-mystery genre, and it does start off well. But it wanes, and how!

Maybe I’ve had my fill of well-done English films of this genre. Maybe it is that post-intermission the film gets predictable. Maybe it is that the characters explain themselves too much, it is all laid out for you to see, no guessing required.

Ranaut and Rao do well – there is none better to play a crazy, unhinged character than Kangana – but they can’t help the poor execution. The supporting cast is good too, but alas! They can’t do much either. Director Kovelamudi can’t build the tension, or inject the required amount of nail-biting suspense into the movie. There is no sinister undercurrent, no dark presence of evil like there should be.

What is done well is portraying the schizophrenic aspects of Kangana’s life. But that trippy, smart depiction aside, Judgmental doesn’t quite cut it. The 2.5 stars are for trying.

Kidwise: Not gory, but scenes of violence involving blood and sharp objects.

Posted in 2019, bollywood, drama, New Films, rating-A, rating-R, suspense, thriller | Comments Off

Movie Preview : Mission Mangal (releases August 15th)

Posted on July 27, 2019 by amodini

Based on India’s successful launch of Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission), Mission Mangal has a great cast: Vidya Balan, Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari (of Pink) and Sonakshi Sinha. And the trailer looks interesting!

Posted in 2019, bollywood, drama, New Films, Previews | Comments Off

Movie Review : Luka Chuppi (2019)

Posted on July 13, 2019 by amodini

Rating : 3/5
Genre : Comedy
Year : 2019
Running time : 2 hours 6 minutes
Director : Laxman Utekar
Cast : Kriti Sanon, Karthik Aryan, Vinay Pathak, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana
Kid rating : PG

Luka Chuppi stars Kriti Sanon as Rashmi, a modern girl, daughter of orthodox Hindu politician Vishnu Trivedi (the marvelous Vinay Pathak). Kartik Aryan is Vinod ‘Guddu’ Shukla, a television reporter in Mathura who works with free-spirited Rashmi, when she needs an internship and dad calls in a favor. The two fall in love, but Rashmi is unwilling to make any commitments until they test-drive the relationship. They hatch a plan to try a live-in relationship away from home, but all that can go wrong with this scheme does.

OK, so this movie turned out to be better than expected. The comedy is mostly situational, with the occasional double entendre thrown in. The plot’s pretty basic and pits the modern generation against the tradition-steeped parents, where the youngsters preach live-in and the oldies are the moral police. Except when the tables are turned, Rashmi and Co. realize how much they value the sanctity of society-ordained marriage (what!). Ergo, Luka Chuppi is not the kind of film that you take away any gyan from, because it’s pretty confused itself.

Since it is Mathura and Gwalior, director Utekar goes to town with the small-town homilies on sanskaar, the nosy neighbors, the suspicious landlord etc. The whole small-town milieu is done well and fun to watch.

The lead roles do not require too much acting; there is some dialog-baazi and lots of squirming ☺. Some romancing, song and dance. Sanon and Aryan serve adequately. It is the fabulous supporting cast that makes the film – Pathak as the self-righteous father, Alka Amin as the emotional, weepy mother, Aparshakti Khurana as Guddu’s friend and Pankaj Tripathi as the lecherous brother-in-law are all very good.

The plot does have some holes – how does Rashmi turn out to be so different from her tradionalist dad and her ghungat-shrouded mother? And for all the sermonizing about how young people are forward-thinking, how does a modern gal like Rashmi forget her career aspirations the moment she dons a mangalsutra? Sexism anyone?

Luka Chuppi take on progressiveness appears gimmicky and based on the flavor of the month because it knows not what it wants, and philosophically doesn’t have a leg to stand upon. However it still works as a decent, light comedy. Quite alright for a one-time watch.

Kidwise: Pretty non-scarring.

Posted in 2019, bollywood, comedy, masala, rating-PG, romance | Comments Off

Movie Preview : Super 30 (releases July 12th, 2019)

Posted on July 6, 2019 by amodini

Super 30, based on the real life work of mathematician Anand Kumar in educating and preparing under-privileged children for the IIT JEE entrance exam, stars Hrithik Roshan and Mrunal Thakur in the lead roles.

Me thinks Hrithik too pretty to play earthy, Patna-based geek, but we shall see. Trailer looks good, with attempts to rustic-ize Hrithik’s looks.

Posted in 2019, bollywood, drama, New Films, Previews, real-life-based | Comments Off

Movie Review : Game Over (2019)

Posted on June 29, 2019 by amodini

Rating : 3.3/5
Genre : Thriller
Year : 2019
Running time : 2 hours
Director : Ashwin Saravanan
Cast : Taapsee Pannu, Vinodhini Vaidynathan, Parvathi T.
Kid rating : PG-15

Swapna (Pannu) and maid Kalamma (Vaidyanathan) live in a house in Gurugram/Gurgaon. Owing to a horrific incident in the past, Swapna suffers from PTSD and anxiety attacks. As a result she is a scared and depressed recluse and works from home as a game developer. An unusual meeting with a stranger gives her hope and she decides to fight to rebuild her life. However problems arise in the shape of a serial killer who makes her his next target.

If you’ve seen the trailer you know the storyline and predictable end: hapless girl in wheelchair battles psychotic killer. And wins. Given that, the director must build the how and why – which is, IMHO, hard. The whole genre is hard, because you have to get it just right to maintain the edge-of-seat-suspense. Keeping that in mind, Game Over is a valiant effort but does not make it into must-see territory.

Director and writer Saravanan lays the groundwork by filling us in on Swapna’s past and her day-to-day struggles at living a normal life. However her character is always at a remove and I couldn’t quite get invested in her life. There was repetition in the portrayal of her story and there wasn’t enough nuance, leaving us with unanswered questions. Harping on the same chords didn’t do much good. Taapsee is a great actress (remember Manmarziyan?) but here she veers between 2 flavors – more harried and less harried.

The film has great “creepiness” factor – 2 women alone in a rambling old house in lacking-in-infrastructure Gurgaon. There are some genuinely scary moments, and I loved the way the game-angle is built into the climax! Game Over had the potential to be a crisp, taut thriller but is let down by limp editing and a patchy storyline. The film was originally made in Telugu/Tamil and dubbed in Hindi. The dubbing was stilted, and some of the translation was weird; it felt like the translation was almost word-to-word leading to a sentence structure which a natural Hindi speaker would never construct.

Kidwise: Scary for the young ones. Violence with sharp objects and shots of beheadings.

Posted in 2019, bollywood, crime, dark, rating-PG15, suspense, thriller, women | Comments Off

Movie Review : Bharat

Posted on June 22, 2019 by amodini

Rating : 2/5
Genre : Drama
Year : 2019
Running time : 2 hours 35 minutes
Director : Abbas ali Zafar
Cast : Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover, Disha Patani, Tabu, Jackie Shroff, Sonali Kulkarni
Kid rating : G

Bharat has a lofty tagline – journey of a man & a nation together – but do not be misled 🙂 . I’d set a low bar for this film and it surpassed my low expectations, but not my much.

The film is Bharat’s life story, told in flashback. Now an old man and a grandfather, Bharat still grapples with well-muscled thugs and reminisces about his tumultuous life. As an 8-year-old, he travels from Pakistan to India during Partition, losing track of his sister and father along the way, His remaining family manage to safely make their way to the home of his bua (father’s sister). There they settle and Bharat strives to make good the promise made to his father before they are separated – a promise to keep his family together.

Bharat’s story is based on the Korean film “Ode to my father”. It’s kinda Forest-Gumpish, where the protagonist progresses through life’s many challenges. Initially I had no idea that this was a Korean-film-spinoff, and as the film progressed and you were able to discern a pattern I was surprised that director Zafar had managed to cobble together this rather high-brow angle; he directed Sultan, which was decidedly earthy.

While the concept is good, it is well beyond the directorial prowess of Zafar, hence the poor execution. The film has been Bollywood-ized to add in nonsensical melodrama, and the logic is questionable (like I never got why Bharat couldn’t get married). The costumes and the language don’t quite fit with the era so that takes away from the “authenticity” feel.

Each event is portrayed in great detail – which would have been fine if it was a nuanced portrayal. However with Zafar’s relatively ham-handed approach, realism is out the window, Bharat becomes this all-in-one, can-do, always right, Bollywoodian superhero – very far from the everyman that he should have been, and I can’t really feel for his larger-than-life persona.

Salman as Bharat is like Salman in any other movie. Katrina who plays his love interest, Kumud, has been de-glamorized with curly, unkempt hair and glasses and does a decent job, although her dialog delivery needs work – it is so monotonous. Sunil Grover is Vilayati, Bharat’s life-long friend and sidekick. Disha Patani – whom you might remember from M.S.Dhoni – is statuesque and impressive when she is dancing, not so impressive when she is not. Also, she has very little impact on the story, so not much to work with. Everyone else – Tabu et. al. has bit roles.

The music is so-so. And the movie is long – could have been easily shortened by an hour. Bharat overall, is a little weaker than average; temper expectations accordingly if you go see this one.

Kidwise: Clean. Imbued with sexist stereotypes (but then what’s new?)

Posted in 2019, bollywood, historical, korean, rating-G, remake | Comments Off

Movie Preview : Kabir Singh (releases 21st June 2019)

Posted on June 15, 2019 by amodini

The trailer looks a little disturbing. But Kabir Singh should be promising given that this is Shahid Kapoor, who can act, and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who helmed the original Telugu move “Arjun Reddy” on which this film is based. Also starring – the lovely Kiara Advani, who was pretty promising in Lust Stories.