Blog | Amodini's Movie Reviews - Part 27Amodini's Movie Reviews | Movie Reviews by Year, Genre and Rating

Movie Review : Padmaavat

Posted on April 28, 2018 by amodini

Rating : Average (3/5)
Genre : Historical
Year : 2018
Running time : 2 hours 44 minutes
Director : Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast : Deepika Padukone, Ranvir Singh, Shahid Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari, Raza Murad, Jim Sarbh, Anupriya Goenka
Kid rating : G

I’ve finally seen Padmaavat, and post-these-3-hours of my life, I remember why I didn’t want to watch this film in the first place. I do think director and film-maker Bhansali is very talented – Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is one of my favorites. That film had a plot, romance, humor, ups and downs. Not so with his more recent products; the “style” seems to have swallowed up the substance in his films. Plus he also seems to be in love with his own work. Ergo, problems with the editing. The film goes on forever (e.g. Ram Leela); 2.5 hours or more.

Padmaavat follows a similar pattern – long, long film full of exquisitely designed sets, intricate costumes and jewelry and grand, sweeping locales. There is however only so much stupendousness that the eye can take before you start to zone it out, and long for a real film sans the fripperies. Bhansali seems to be missing the forest for the trees.

You’ll know that this film is loosely based on Queen of Chittor, Rani Padmavati’s Jauhar upon Alauddin Khilji’s attack and Chittor’s imminent defeat. Gorgeous Deepika Padukone plays Padmaavati, Shahid Kapoor plays her husband Maharaja Ratan Singh and Ranvir Singh is the marauding, savage invader Alauddin Khilji. While Padukone and Singh are well suited to their characters, Kapoor is miscast, because he appears to not have the stature or the commanding presence which you’d think he’d have as this brave warrior king. He seems so much better suited to “modern” films like Kaminey. Singh is all kohl-laden eyes, scarred face, clad in shaggy fur, and brings a ferociousness to this role.

Deepika is lithe and luminous as the almost-monastic huntress of deer, when she first encounters Ratan Singh. She succumbs to the charms of this already-married man, and post-marriage prefers to remain safely ensconced in the palace dancing the ghoomar to hunting. Bummer! That’s the other problem with this film – yes, freedom of speech and expression and all, but it is still troubling to think that despite all the disclaimers, this film does glamorize Jauhar/Sati. It does! Indeed, it’s a downer to think that Rani Padmini/Padmavati, well-versed in dance, music, and warfare, fearless and fancy-free ends her life by jumping into a fire, to protect her honor, per social diktat.

However, credit where it is due: Bhansali is a genius. He brings a unique vision, artistry and execution to make larger than life films. Now if only he could go back to his roots and make films which aren’t just grand spectacles steeped in patriarchal story-telling, that would be nice.

Kidwise: Nothing really troubling for the younger set, although I doubt that younger kids could sit through this almost 3 hour long self-indulgent extravaganza.

Posted in 2018, bollywood, book to film, directors, drama, historical, rating-PG, romance | Comments Off

Movie Preview : Raazi (release 11th May, 2018)

Posted on April 21, 2018 by amodini

A spy story starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal (of Masaan fame), this thriller is directed by Meghna Gulzar.

Posted in 2018, bollywood, drama, New Films, Previews, spy movie, suspense, thriller | 1 Comment

Movie Review : Secret Superstar

Posted on April 15, 2018 by amodini

Rating : Good (3.85/5)
Genre : Drama
Year : 2017
Running time : 2 hours 35 minutes
Director : Advait Chandan
Cast : Zaira Wasim, Meher Vij, Raj Arjun, Aamir Khan, Tirth Sharma
Kid rating : G

Insia (Wasim) is a high schooler with a passion for singing. Her conservative father (Arjun) barely tolerates this “frivolous” interest, while her loving mother Najma (Vij) surreptitiously supports Insia. When Insia starts posting her singing videos online, she receives many accolades and an offer of work from flamboyant music director Shakti Kumar (Khan). All her dreams come to naught however, when Insia’s father forbids her singing and decides to ship the family overseas.

Secret Superstar is not just teenage Insia’s story, it is her mother Najma’s story too, and of countless such other mothers and daughters who must keep their desires firmly tied down in the face of “traditional” mores. Underneath it all, Secret Superstar is a story of empowerment, and of breaking oppressive patriarchal shackles. It doesn’t get preachy though, but conveys its emotion with realistic character portrayals (yes, there are some flights of fancy) and by showing us the blow-by-blow, visceral damage that domestic violence does.

You might remember teenage actress Zaira Wasim from Dangal, where she played young Geeta Phogat. Here, she is lovely and luminous as the effervescent Insia, who questions the status quo, and persuades her mother to rebel. Meher Vij, the actress who plays Najma gives a nuanced portrayal of an abused wife, happy and laughing when her husband is away, and mute and subdued when he is around. I really felt for her character, because she is in a bad situation but still tries her level best to shield her kids from it. The really sad thing about that was the fact that she didn’t see, nay imagine, a scenario where things could be different.

Raj Arjun is Farookh, the man of the house, and he veritably exudes rage even as he says little; impressive acting prowess. His sharp, startlingly violent gestures made real the abusive, tension-filled home situation. Aamir is Shakti Kumar, and he is a real trip in that role – fur-clad, blonde-haired, bombastic and full of swagger but still retaining that heart of gold :). Amir makes this film better by just being in it, even in that relatively insignificant role. and And finally there is cute little Chintan (Sharma), Insia’s good school friend, who stands by her and supports her unselfishly; were that all relationships were so free from avarice!

Even though Secret Superstar hinges around domestic violence, it is not all gloom and doom. Kudos to director Chandan for beautifully melding the harsh elements with the sensitive, moving ones. Secret Superstar is a lovely, heartwarming film, and well worth the watch. It makes the #3 spot of my Best Films of 2017 list.

Kidwise: Some disturbing scenes of domestic violence, and (implied) physical abuse. Am recommending this film for older kids though.

Posted in 2017, Best hindi movies, bollywood, drama, family-friendly, feminism, Hindi movies on Netflix, lists, movies online, Netflix Recommendations, passes Bechdel Test, rating-G, recommended, social issues, women | 1 Comment

Movie Review : Qarib Qarib Singlle

Posted on April 8, 2018 by amodini

Rating : Good (3.5/5)
Genre : Romance
Year : 2017
Running time : 2 hours 5 minutes
Director : Tanuja Chandra
Cast : Irrfan Khan, Parvathy, Neha Dhupia, Brijendra Kala, Navneet Nishan
Kid rating : PG

Love stories featuring “mature” couples – as in not 20-somethings – are rare; the last one I remember was “Cheeni Kum”. In this mature romance, Qarib Qarib Single, the lonesome twosome are Jaya and Yogi. Jaya (Parvathy) is a middle-aged widow, who, desperate, tries to get out of singledom via online apps. Yogi (Khan) is a freewheeling bachelor, who’s had a string of true loves, all of whom he’s had to forsake. When Yogi posts a half-decent reply to Jaya’s profile on the dating app, they meet. However while he proposes future dates, Jaya is not quite sure. She wings it though and they travel together on a journey around India, visiting Yogi’s past loves, so Jaya can see them swooning in his wake (as he claims they will).

So, that’s the flimsy premise of the film, but fortunately for us, the movie isn’t as weak. Jaya and Yogi are both interesting in their own right. While Jaya is a sensitive people-pleaser who has trouble speaking her mind to so-called friends, Yogi is the opposite. He is out there, says and does out loud, but is a poet at heart. Apparently wealthy, Yogi doesn’t quit look it; he dresses like a roadside ruffian, in rumpled, garish clothing, and his overlong hair, braceleted wrists and ear studs are a turn-off to well-dressed, put-together Jaya. He flies by the seat of his pants, takes pleasure in the journey, at times so much so that he misses trains and flights leaving fuming, by-the-book Jaya to travel alone. Philosophically they are both very different people, but we hope they connect at a deeper level.

Qarib Qarib Singlle is a journey, both literally and metaphorically. The two take buses, taxis, trains and flights, and live in hotels, saris and ashrams. The affection between the two develops organically, or so we presume. I saw little evidence of it. There are a few scenes done beautifully, showing us Jaya’s tight reins on pent-up emotion, but other than that I was left wanting. Going into the film, we know how this will end, so it would have been satisfying to get some anecdotal evidence. There are a couple of very awkward, cringy scenes (these almost brought me to the end of my tether) where Ms.Always-in-control Jaya loses her inhibitions, and proceeds to pass out in the arms of our valiant hero. I’m not sure what director Chandra was trying to do there, but it didn’t work. The end when it comes, feels rushed, and a bit of a non-sequitur.

The film still works to a certain extent because of the two fantastic leads. Characterization wise, there were some holes, but Irrfan Khan is a such a marvelous thespian that he does much with little. His unkempt Yogi reads between the lines, subtly hints at his feelings, and slips in a soulful ditty here and there with ease. There is more to this man than meets the eye. Jaya’s character seemed a little more uneven, like I hadn’t been let in on some information about her. Still, Parvathy is also quite lovely, although at times it seems like she’s trying too hard. She is best in low-key, quiet moments, or as Jaya, quaking in rage (at falling for this thoroughly unsuitable man?).

I have to say that director Chandra gets the female angle down pat. For all the unevenness in Jaya’s characterization, I still think I get her, her insecurity, her being goaded into coupledom, her anger, and yes, her whining. Also, Chandra succeeds in building up Yogi as a man of mystery (I still have questions about him) which is nice from my female POV in a love-story. Yogi is nice but mysterious (where’s the moolah coming from? What does he really do? Why is he the way he is – a diamond in the rough?).

While QQS doesn’t quite fill one up with the warm-fuzzy feel-goodness, that one would be drowning in on watching a really great romance, it does leave us in a pleasant state of hopefulness. A decent one-time watch.

Kidwise: Clean. The kids will remain unscarred.

Posted in 2017, 2018, bollywood, directors, family-friendly, feel-good, rating-PG, romance, watchable | Comments Off

Movie Review : Raid (2018)

Posted on March 31, 2018 by amodini

Rating : Good (3.85/5)
Genre : Drama
Year : 2018
Running time : 2 hours 8 minutes
Director : Rajkumar Gupta
Cast : Ajay Devgn, Saurabh Shukla, Ileana D’Cruz
Kid rating : PG

Long time no see! That’s what I wanted to say when hero Ajay Devgan appeared dramatically on screen; director Gupta (Ghanchakkar, No One Killed Jessica) milked it, first his back, then the back of the head, then ever so slowly the familiar face. Devgan has the screen presence of an introverted powerhouse; someone who speaks little but does much. So this role is perfect for him, just as those others, where he played the honest cop (Gangajal, Singham) were, because here he is Amay Patnaik, an upright Income Tax Officer.

Newly transferred, Amay is settling into his posting when he is sent evidence of income tax fraud. The offender is the local well-connected, political bigwig, Rameshwar Singh (Shukla) aka “Tauji”. When Amay broaches the subject of a tax raid with his superiors, he is warned against the dangers of making an enemy out of Tauji, but he proceeds nevertheless. In Tauji however, Amay might have met his match.

While Raid is not unalike the many “good cop-against-corruption” films that we have seen, it is still a very satisfying watch. We know who the good guy is. We also know who the bad guy is. When the two tussle we know who will win. To watch this preordained end come to fruition, is still fun and engaging, primarily because of the two strong leads – Devgan and Shukla. Ajay has an almost surly, no-nonsense face and he puts it to good use in portraying the honest, polite-but-firm Amay. Shukla is a pleasure to watch. As the squat, lungi-kurta clad Tauji, sprawling leisurely on divans, he brings home the relaxed demeanor of the fearlessly corrupt man who is sure he is above the law. Raid is a clash of titans!

Part of the reason why this film succeeds is the depiction of nobility, because what else is altruism, but the highest form of nobility? A hero such as Amay (almost without flaws), an upright officer, a loving husband, and a kind and considerate human being is hard not to root for. Lately we had quite a few films (like Newton) which portray an altruistic, patriotic, dutiful hero well, and they all inspire in us with the same emotion: awe.

Raid’s ending is a bit of a damp squib, but that doesn’t derail this engrossing, well-paced film. Ileana seems wasted in her short role of dutiful wife delivering lunch dabbas to hubby dearest. The music was humdrum.

On the whole, while Raid is not your finesse-filled shiny work of art, it is a great watch, and well worth the time and money.

Posted in 2018, bollywood, directors, drama, rating-G, social issues | Comments Off

Movie Preview : Blackmail (releases 6th April, 2018)

Posted on March 24, 2018 by amodini

From Abhinay Deo, director of Delhi Belly, comes Blackmail. Kirti Kulhari (of the lovely Pink) and Irrfan Khan star in this tangled story of blackmail.

Posted in 2018, bollywood, crime, directors, drama, Previews, suspense | Comments Off

The Best Hindi Films of 2017

Posted on March 17, 2018 by amodini

The interesting thing in the below 10 movies is that they actually have a story, an interesting premise, a situation which keeps us interested. The 10 are:

#10: Bareilly ki Barfi

Small-town girl meets small-town boy. Rajkummar Rao and Ayushman Khurana manage to make this one of the better films of the year. Flawed but nice!

#9: Jolly LLB2

The sequel to the much-loved Jolly LLB, this one is a little worse for wear. Akshay Kumar and the lovely Huma Qureishi star.

#8: Mom

A thriller with the late Sridevi in a primetime role. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is an old-school detective, and manages to impress even in relatively little screen time.

#7: Toilet: Ek Prem Katha

Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar star in this social drama touting the many merits of the modern toilet. Progressive and pleasant.

#6: Shubh Mangal Saavdhan

This quirky film about erectile dysfunction stars Bhumi Pednekar (she’s had quite a year) and Ayushmann Khurana. Touchy subject but well-handled.

#5: Anaarkali of Aarah

Swara Bhaskara, as the main lead, does good in this drama where a nautch girl seeks revenge for a perceived dishonor.

#4: Simran

A lady with her own mind, Praful Patel aka Simran, makes some bad decisions. Ergo, rocky life for her. Interesting drama for us.

#3: Secret Superstar

A young schoolgirl wants to sing, and can, sort-of, with the help of her supportive mother.

#2: Newton

An idealistic, honest, incorruptible young man attempts to facilitate free and fair elections in a problematic part of the country. The going for him is not smooth.

#1: Lipstick Under My Burkha

Four women, with inter-connected stories, rebel against the patriarchal status quo.

Posted in 2017, 2018, annual roundup, Best hindi movies, bollywood, lists, recommended, Top 10 | 1 Comment

Movie Preview : Raid (releases 16th March, 2018)

Posted on March 10, 2018 by amodini

The honest Indian cop/bureacrat story has long since been a favorite of film-makers, right from Manoj Bajpayi’s remarkable Shool, to Arshad Warsi’s Sehar and many more. Here’s another movie of the same genre with Ajay Devgan playing an imaandar tax collector, and the magnificent Saurabh Shukla his corrupt nemesis.

Posted in 2018, bollywood, drama, Previews | Comments Off

Movie Review : Padman

Posted on March 3, 2018 by amodini

Rating : Excellent (4.3/5)
Genre : Drama
Year : 2018
Running time : 2 hours 20 minutes
Director : R. Balki
Cast : Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte, Sonam Kapoor
Kid rating : PG

Akshay Kumar is Lakshmikant Chauhan, a semi-literate machinist living in his village in Madhya Pradesh. At the beginning of the film, we see him get married to Gayatri (Radhika Apte). When, perchance, one day he spies her hiding a dirty scrap of cloth, he realizes that this is what she uses during her menstruation cycle, a time she is relegated to a little room outside the house. Appalled he tries to get her to use sanitary napkins, but his concern is rebuffed because of the expense, and his “perverted” nosing around in women’s affairs. He does not give up however, and the film takes us through his efforts to produce a low-cost sanitary napkin.

It doesn’t have to be said that Padman is an important film. To think that Bollywood can take head-on the issues of menstrual taboo, and the resultant infections and ignorance that are widespread because of this taboo! Akshay Kumar has a dialog in the film where he tells his wife that women would rather die of diseases because of their “sharm” rather than speak-up and do something about an uncomfortable or dangerous situation. And true it is; menstruation is never spoken of openly, in India the buying of sanitary napkins is a furtive process, the product wrapped in opaque newspaper. While a natural biological process, it is associated with shame, and menstruating women are considered “impure”. Where the sanitary napkin hasn’t made its way – like in rural areas, because of cost or custom, things get even worse.

You probably have heard of the real “Padman” Arunachalam Muruganantham of Coimbatore, who has received many awards and much acclaim for his altruistic work. The film is a little different than actuality because it has been “adapted” for a commercial venture, and by that I mean that director R. Balki has infused the film with emotion and an (unnecessary) romance angle. Still it keeps the spirit of the man’s work. Let’s face it – the subject matter isn’t the most glamorous, so I love that the film keeps close to the central theme and explains the thought process/design of Arunachalam’s machine. Balki has done well.

Padman started low-key and kept that way, almost documentary-ish, until the second half. It got it’s second wind when Pari Walia (Sonam Kapoor) showed up as MBA student, who joins Chauhan in his efforts. Sonam is lovely as the fiercely independent Sardarni, although her character is a concoction; in reality there was no Pari. Radhika Apte as Gayatri is a good fit, while Akshay Kumar brings the earnestly comical Lakshmi to life. The high point of the film is Akshay’s UN talk where Chauhan, in his broken English, still manages to convey the importance of his invention, and the empowerment it brings into women’s lives.

Kidwise: I’m recommending this film for teens and above.

Posted in 2018, bio-pic, bollywood, drama, rating-PG, real-life-based, recommended, social issues, women | Comments Off

Movie Review : Newton

Posted on February 24, 2018 by amodini

Rating : Excellent (4.3/5)
Genre : Drama
Year : 2017
Running time : 1 hour 46 minutes
Director : Amit Masurkar
Cast : Rajkummar Rao, Anjali Patil, Pankaj Tripathi, Raghubir Yadav, Sanjay Misra
Kid rating : PG-13

Rajkummar Rao (is he on a roll or what?) is Nutan Kumar, a young, idealistic man, a little cog in the big, corrupt Indian bureaucratic machinery. By chance he is a part of the arm of government that is responsible for conducting free and fair elections in every part of India. Also perchance, he comes into contact with a pragmatic idealist, a grey-haired officer (Misra) who inspires him with some straight-talk, on doing the best one can in uncertain, difficult circumstances. Therefore when he is called upon to perform said duty (another colleague quails on traveling to a remote, Naxal-infested area) Nutan marches on headlong.

The film is a detailed treatise on the events that transpire when Nutan, or Newton, as he calls himself, actually reaches the remote Indian village. Everyone around him has imbibed of the “chalta-hai” attitude except for our Newton. He believes that his duty must be done, come hell or high-water. Ergo, there is opposition. Conflicts arise.

A film like Newton makes you think, stays with you days later. I must admit that a character like Newton, full of the clear-hearted goodness of altruism and patriotic duty, incorruptible and steadfast, brings a lump to the throat. A principled man is a rare creature, and the sight of one, even in fiction, leaves one dumbstruck in awe. There is much talk of equality, but in reality the poor, the weak, the easily-trodden-upon get the short end of the stick. Newton actually believes in equality, not because it is enshrined in the constitution or written into law, or decreed by the powers that be, but because that is what he truly believes. How can you not be on his side?

The film makes sharp commentary about the democratic process, the conceptual vs the way it actually plays out in real-life, in fetid Naxal-infested jungles, where the locals neither understand the National language (Hindi) nor the importance of their vote. They only know that the government mostly ignores them, and when it doesn’t, it is only to their detriment. It is a satire where on one hand we see the unwavering Newton bent on educating the handful of tribals who do turn up (or are rounded up perforce by the security task-force) to do their civic duty, and on the other the stolid, apathetic, corrupt government which will probably discount all his efforts. We hold the knowledge of both these opposing forces in our hearts, watch Newton negotiate and barter, threaten and cajole in an effort to do his duty, knowing full well the end result. We weep. A little. A lot.

Kidwise: There is some violence, but nothing too child-scarring. However the film’s import will be lost on the younger set.