Blog | Amodini's Movie Reviews

Series Review : Farzi (2023)

Posted on February 24, 2023 by amodini

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre : Drama
Year : 2022
Season: 1 Episodes: 8
Director : Raj & DK
Cast : Shahid Kapoor, Bhuvan Arora, Vijay Sethupati, Rashi Khanna, Amol Palekar, Regina Cassandra
Kid rating : PG-15

Farzi starts off with a scene where we see two men kidnapped and blindfolded. And helpless unless unknown attackers. Then it goes backwards in time to show us how they got there.

Sunny (Shahid Kapoor) and Firoz (Bhuvan Arora), fast friends, are almost orphans. Sunny’s grandfather Nanaji runs an activist newspaper called Kranti complete with printing press and paraphernalia. Unfortunately, like most social activism, it doesn’t make money and when the lenders come calling, the press is shuttered.

Strapped for cash and scrounging around for a loan to help Nana, Sunny and Firoz finally hit up on a plan. They will print money directly on Nana’s printing press. Of course, law-abiding Nana will have no clue. Sunny is a skilled artist and Firoz an expert in printing, and together they manage to create very authentic looking counterfeit money. Thus the printing press is saved. The bad news is that once the immediate need is over the the itch doesn’t stop.

Continuing with their homespun counterfeiting operation, Sunny and Firoz get noticed by a police officer running an anti-counterfeiting operation, and by a gangster looking to make use of Sunny’s “artistic” skills. It is a slippery slope and Sunny has landed smack-dab into dangerous crime. Will he ever be able to regain his footing?

It is a while since we have seen Shahid Kapoor in anything quality. There was Kabir Singh but that was terrible. Then there was Jersey, which wasn’t much better. Fortunately for us, Farzi reminds me of Shahid in Kaminey. It is made by Raj and DK, who have made quite a name for themselves by doing innovative work; series like The Family Man and films like Shor In The City come to mind.

I like Farzi because it starts well, and keeps the momentum going. The characters are well defined, and the hero and his nemesis are fleshed out nicely. We sympathize with Sunny’s life and situation. We really are on his side, forgiving his missteps; Sunny is like a favorite nephew who’s lost his way. We also root for his biggest foe – the cop, Michael. Michael has his own problems. He has to kowtow to corrupt political masters to just perform his duty with integrity. His personal life has fallen apart, and his career marred by unfortunate events.

Farzi has some strong performances. Shahid Kapoor is really good as Sunny, torn between Nana’s strict morality and the lure of filthy lucre. Amol Palekar makes a surprise return to the small screen as Sunny’s Nana, but he isn’t as impactful as one would have thought he’d be, given his solid acting chops. Bhuvan Arora is the real surprise here, really owning Firoz’s role. He has appeared in smaller roles before (Chaman Bahaar, Dedh Ishqiya) but Farzi will put him on the map, so to speak.

Tamil superstar, Vijay Sethupati, is the indefatigable cop who won’t give up. He’ll sweet-talk or strong-arm, which ever is necessary to get the job done. He is supported ably by his right hand man Shekhar (Jaswant Dalal) and an energetic counterfeit expert, Megha Vyas (Rashi Khanna). KK Menon is marvelous as the chameleon-esque counterfeit king Mansoor Dalal.

Farzi ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger so Season 2 is coming. I only hope it comes fast.

Highly recommended.

Kidwise: Scenes of bloody violence, profanity.

Posted in 2023, action, Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime Video Recommendations, crime, directors, drama, Good Shows To Watch On Amazon Prime, New Shows on Amazon Prime, rating-PG15, recommended, series, suspense, thriller | Comments Off

Movie Review : Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey (2022)

Posted on February 17, 2023 by amodini

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Genre: Drama
Year: 2022
Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Director: Vipin Das
Cast: Darshana Rajendran, Basil Joseph, Aju Verghese
Kid rating: PG-15

Jaya (Darshana Rajendran) is a young girl living in a small conservative town. She wants to study further after high school, at a college outside her little town, but her parents are averse to the idea so she gets a degree at the local college. At the college, she forms a strong friendship with one of the professors. When her parents get wind of this, they quickly get her married to someone else, despite her objections.

When Jaya comes to her married home, she notices something odd. The living room glass table is cracked, and some of the furniture legs are dented as though someone has hit, or kicked it in a fit of temper. As she settles in, she realizes that her new husband, Rajesh (Basil Joseph) has certain likes and dislikes, and does not tolerate changes. One day, when things don’t go as per his demands, he slaps Jaya.

This then happens again and again. Every time it does, Rajesh takes Jaya out for dinner and a movie and moves on. Until it happens again. Jaya is miserable and talks to her parents, but they advise patience and forbearance. She then realizes that she herself will have to do something to get out of this situation.

This Malayalam film deals with a serious issue using humor to drive home a point. It also shows “everyday misogyny” (like “The Great Indian Kitchen” did), where ill-treatment is so commonplace that no one even blinks. It is just the way things are. If she is being hit, she must have done something to deserve it. She must “adjust”. She must control her actions. She should stop asking questions. She should do everything per the likes of others. It also shows how “normalized” domestic violence is, how women are just supposed to take it. Society’s hypocrisy is out on display. While the woman must quietly submit to beatings, when the shoe is on the other foot, everyone is outraged.

You would not think that a film with this subject would be entertaining, but entertaining it is. Director Das has done an excellent job of fleshing out the characters and their reactions to different situations. The fights between Jaya and her husband, where she gives as good as she gets, are hilariously portrayed, complete with a running commentary and peppy music.

Darshana is an excellent actress, and she is quite fabulous as Jaya. Basil as her husband also does very well morphing from a bossy man quite set in his ways, to someone who is afraid to set foot in his own home.

Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised with this film. I went into it following a recommendation on Instagram, and did not expect the twist at all. Jaya, Jaya, Jaya, Jaya Hey works because it has a good balance between depicting an important social issue and light humor. Highly recommended.

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey is available to stream of Hulu/Hotstar. For other Malayalam recommendations check out this list of Malayalam films available on streaming platforms.

Kidwise: Scenes depicting domestic violence and physical abuse.

Posted in 2022, drama, feminism, Good movies on Hotstar, Hotstar, humor, malayalam, rating-PG15, recommended, social issues, women | Comments Off

Movie Review : Maja Ma (2022)

Posted on February 10, 2023 by amodini

Rating : ⭐️
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Year: 2022
Running time: 2 hours 14 minutes
Director: Anand Tiwari
Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Gajraj Rao, Rajit Kapoor, Sheeba Chaddha, Simone Singh, Ritwik Bhowmik
Kid rating: PG-15

Maja Ma is the most recent film to focus on a LGBTQ protagonist. There’s been a spate of these films and most seem to style themselves as “comedies”. Maja Ma is not among the worst of them, but it is pretty half-baked, logic-less and seems to exist in a reality unlike ours.

Pallavi Patel (Madhuri) is your ubiquitous Gujarati housewife – you know – stunning beauty, grace, exquisite dance moves and a handsome cook to boot. She’s doting on her family and fitting right in to the social structure as the perfect homemaker until beta dearest decides to fall in love with a Punjabi American girl. And his obnoxious in-laws to-be, the Hansrajs, fly to the motherland to check out the Patel family for themselves. The traditional-minded Patels appear to tick all the boxes for the Hansraj family until an ugly rumor rears its head.

The film has good intentions, but it has many flaws and a lot of stupidity. For starters, it is populated by some of the most annoying and poorly defined characters in recent film history. Bob and Pam Hansraj (Rajit Kapoor, Sheeba Chaddha) are ill-bred and snotty and give all Indian Americans a bad name. They also drip English in atrocious accents, and fawn cringily over anything they deem authentically Indian.

The Patels, except for Pallavi, are no less annoying. Pallavi’s social worker daughter Tara is a crusader for LGBTQ rights but surprisingly ignorant and uncaring of empathy or consent. Her banshee like haranguing of her mother drove me up the wall. The son Tejas is educated but apparently the education didn’t sink in, because he is all ready to “cure” his mother with some witch-doctor wala jhaad-phook.

Maja Ma is also very unrealistic. The events in the film, especially the ones that lead up to the turning point, are so contrived, I felt like I was watching some silly Indian soap-opera.

When Pallavi is outed, the entire world turns on her. She’s asked for proof of purity like some modern-day Sita, but when she takes a stand, things fall into place pretty magically. Everything is hunky-dory again, and she’s dancing the dandiya with her lady-love as the suddenly supportive family members look on affectionately. There is a story to be had somewhere here, but director Anand Tiwari has dumbed it down beyond recognition.

The premise of Maja Ma is earth-shaking. Maja Ma asks the question but does not have the wherewithal or the gumption to provide any answers. The treatment is so superficial, I’m tempted to categorize this travesty of a film under Genre: Fantasy.

Highly de-recommended.

Kidwise: Unsuitable for the young ones.

Posted in 2022, 2023, Amazon Prime, bollywood, cringe-worthy, ecstatically stupid, rating-PG15, social issues, women | Comments Off

Movie Review : Mission Majnu (2023)

Posted on February 3, 2023 by amodini

Rating : ⭐️ 1/2
Genre: Spy thriller
Year: 2023
Running time: 2 hours 9 minutes
Director: Shantanu Bagchi
Cast: Siddharth Malhotra, Rashmika Mandana, Kumud Mishra, Sharib Hashmi, Parmeet Sethi, Rajit Kapoor
Kid rating: PG-15

Goodness, Mission Majnu was a dull film. Same old, same old and so very yawn-inducing!

Tariq (Siddhart Malhotra) is a poor tailor in Pakistan, subsisting on a meager salary and dear wifey’s love. But unknown to his nearest and dearest he’s a covert operative for Indian RAW. Amandeep (his real name) is tasked with finding out about the Pakistani attempt to create the nuclear bomb, following the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.

Most of the film focusses on Tariq’s life in Pakistan as he traipses about meeting other spies and speaking to his handler in India. There are some fleeting flashbacks which hint at a tragic past, and Amandeep’s desire to rid himself of it.

Mission Majnu suffers from poor character delineation, and uneven pacing. For a spy thriller it takes a mighty long time for things to get interesting (the film does pick up post-interval). There are many logical plot-holes, which I might forgive if there were other redeeming features about the film.

Kumud Mishra and Sharif Hashmi play other Indian spies. While Mishra does well, Hashmi who was quite good in the series Family Man feels over the top here. Or maybe that’s the writing. Tariq’s handler Sharma (played by Zakir Hussain) also feels caricaturish and ridiculously unprofessional.

Siddharth Malhotra who does fine here, is still miscast in this role. With those looks and that diction, he definitely does not look like an uneducated, poor tailor. Rashmika Mandana plays his blind wife, and for all the impact her role had in this film, she might as well as well have not been in it.

All in all, Mission Manu is a desultory attempt at yet another jaded cross-border spy film/romance. Quite skippable!

Kidwise: Some violence, but no sex/sleaze.

Posted in 2023, bollywood, Hindi movies on Netflix, historical, rating-PG15, Spy Thriller, suspense, thriller | Comments Off

Movie Review : Pathaan (2023)

Posted on January 27, 2023 by amodini

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Action/Thriller
Year: 2023
Running time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abrahan, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana
Kid rating: PG-15

Pathaan was so hyped-up I was sure it was going to be a stinker. I am very, very glad to say that it isn’t. The hype is real. 2023 gets its first real entertainer!

There are some disclaimers of course. Pathaan is a masala film through-and-through so leave your logical thinking caps at home, and be prepared to pooh-pooh at the laws of physics and gravity. For a film in the YRF Spy Universe (yes, that is a thing), Pathaan makes a fabulous job of it.

Here’s the gist: Pathaan (Shahrukh), a RAW agent, thought to be dead, surfaces 3 years later in pursuit of for-hire-terrorists Outfit-X. Their leader Jim (John Abraham) is also ex-RAW who feels betrayed by India, and is now on a mission to avenge himself. Jim has a a nefarious plan in place , and he and Dr. Rubina Mohsin (Deepika), his partner-in-crime, are all set to destroy India, unless someone can stop them.

Well, that someone can only be Pathaan! The film, through flashbacks reveals Pathaan’s previous encounters with Jim and his attempts to thwart him. This all happens in beautiful locales in Spain, France and Moscow, with Pathaan zipping across the globe, fighting the bad guys and falling for Rubina.

The film gets off to a quick start with some dramatic action scenes and the pace is unrelenting. The fight sequences are beautifully choreographed, and the “missions” that Pathaan goes on are well-depicted. The Moscow vault heist specifically was pretty impressive – reminded me of a mission in Mission Impossible , with the snazzy graphics and attention to detail. The chases feature helicopters, planes, motor-bikes and even a strap-on set of wings, which the villain and the hero hero wear for a climactic fight sequence mid-air.

Pathaan is a sleek, fast-moving action-filled movie. The screenplay is crisp, camera angles sophisticated and director Siddharth Anand is at pains to wow us with the techno-wizardry while also keeping us in the loop and engaged. The film balances out the drama and emotion with the action. There is love, betrayal, deceit, humor and patriotism. The characters have enough backstory and depth to make us root for them.

Shahrukh, displaying a ripped body, long locks and a rather scruffy getup, delivers a corker of a performance as Pathaan. Deepika is stunningly beautiful as Rubina “Rubai” Mohsin, and gets to do some real action – heavy-duty hand-to-hand combat, gun-battles, vault heists and clambering up and down buildings via helicopters and steel cable. John Abraham, who isn’t a great actor is impressive as good-looking villain Jim. His non-expressive face lends itself well to the cool, unfazed, steely demeanor of a super-villain.

Pathaan is really tight in the first half, with deft, crisp action and events that almost make sense, even if the physics doesn’t. Post-interval things got a bit loosey-goosey, but the film still manages to deliver a satisfying ending. I enjoyed Pathaan very much and look forward to what director Anand (who seems to be improving in leaps and bounds) can do next! A full-throated recommendation! Go watch!

Kidwise: Lots of violence. Scenes of torture (waterboarding etc). Suggestive dance moves.

Posted in 2023, action, bollywood, directors, drama, Good Hindi Movies To Watch, masala, rating-PG15, recommended, romance, spy movie, Spy Thriller, suspense, thriller | Comments Off

Movie Review : Kuttey (2023)

Posted on January 19, 2023 by amodini

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Genre: Drama
Year: 2023
Running time: 1 hour 49 minutes
Director: Aasman Bharadwaj
Cast: Tabu, Arjun Kapoor Konkona Sen Sharma, Radhika Madaan, Kumud Mishra, Naseeruddin Shah, Shardul Bharadwaj
Kid rating: PG-15

You might have thought when Kaminey burst upon the scene like a cult classic, that Kuttey was around the corner. Well, we have waited 13 years for it, and post-watch, while it does pass muster, it’s not quite the blockbuster I was hoping for.

The movie is another hairy, madcap, feisty tale populated by low-lifes, or as the film lovingly puts it “kuttey”. The cast of characters includes a crooked cop Gopal Tiwari (Arjun Kapoor) and his right hand man “Paaji” (Kumud Mishra), wily policewoman Pammi Sandra (Tabu), wheelchair-bound gangster Narayan Khobre (Naseeruddin Shah) and his grand-daughter Lovely (Radhika Madaan), Naxalite Laxmi (Konkona Sen Sharma) and her gang. All of these people cross paths when they attempt to steal a large amount of money from the same source. The result is not pretty.

Kuttey is directed by Vishal Bharadwaj’s son Aasman, and while Kuttey is no Kaminey, the lad does show promise. The film’s strength lies in the way it presents its characters to us one by one, and then gradually brings them into the scene of the heist. First one turns up, and then, surprise, there’s another, and another, until they are all in it, battling it out. The motivations – the need for the money are varied – and well portrayed. Also nice, and adding to the drama and the building tension, are the interactions between the characters before the big climax.

The flaw in the film is that it is too hurried – I wish director Bharadwaj had taken the time to build his characters and their backstories, imbue them with some redeeming qualities, and let us pick our favorites, before flinging them all into a death match. As it was, I felt like I’d been pushed into episode 3 of a series, with nary an introduction to the characters.

Honestly I didn’t care too much for any of them save Paaji, Lovely and Laxmi. These three seemed like they might have some goodness deep down in them if you looked very, very carefully, but the rest were all pretty negative. And what fun is it if you don’t actually care about any of them? Yes, they are all kuttey, but were there absolutely no redeeming characteristics to show?

The cast is large and spectacular. Arjun Kapoor is unsurprisingly the weakest link, which is quite a pity because he has so much screen time. Kapoor is passable in romantic roles like “2 States”, even in mildly tension-filled romances like the enjoyable “Sandeep aur Pinky Faraar”, but when a deeper dive is required Arjun isn’t quite your man. Tabu delivers an excellent performance as the shrewd, street-smart Pammi. Kumud Mishra is a marvel even in is his relatively small role, and I felt real sympathy for poor Paaji, pulled willy-nilly into this awful predicament, all wobbly-chinned and wary-eyed. Konkona Sen Sharma and Radhika Madaan in their tiny roles still manage to shine.

The film moves briskly, and builds steadily up to the climax. The ending scene was a bit of a damp squib – you saw it coming a mile away. Kuttey does feel a bit rough around the edges. Hopefully, with time, director Aasman Bharadwaj moves to sophisticated camera angles, and crisper scene executions, but this was a good effort – Kuttey is an interesting film and well worth a watch.

Kidwise: Violent and bloody scenes. Profane language, a general miasma of seedy corruption and some adult situations.

Posted in 2023, bollywood, crime, dark, directors, drama, Good Hindi Movies To Watch, rating-PG13, suspense, thriller | Comments Off

Best Series of 2022

Posted on January 13, 2023 by amodini

#10. Nirmal Pathak ki Ghar Wapsi (Season 1, SonyLIV)

This 5 episode series on SonyLiv is about a city-bred young writer Nirmal Pathak (Vaibhav Tatwawadi) returning home to his village after having lived in the city all his life. The storyline has nice twists and turns and there’s a lot of backstory to catch up on. In the end it is a classic, layered good versus evil tale and the first season just manages to get the fire started.

#9. Masaba Masaba (Season 2, Netflix)

Our favorite, mouthy fashion designer and her mummy are back and Masaba has more to say! Quite fun, although a little less spontaneous than the previous season, Season 2 gets in a little deeper on emotional and controversial topics. The romance with Dhairya is still not quite happening, but there’s hope for Season 3! Masaba Masaba Season 2 is warm, light, lovely, and feel-good!

#8. Ghar Waapsi (Season 1, Hotstar)

Shekhar Dwivedi (Vishal Vashishtha) is returning to his parental home in Indore after a long while. He’s been laid off at work, and is at pains to conceal the fact from the family. While at home, Shekhar reconnects with old friends, makes new ones and reminisces on the time gone by. Ghar Waapsi, like Gullak, focuses on family and relationships, but is not quite as overtly ooey-gooey. The 6 episodes go fast!

#7. Guilty Minds (Season 1, Amazon Prime)

Guilty Minds is about 2 lawyer friends practicing their version of the law. Kashaf Quaze (Shriya Pilgaonkar) and Deepak Rana (Varun Mitra) are law school friends. Both fight cases in court, sometimes as opposing counsel, but their friendship remains strong. Guilty Minds is the “law” version of ER, and is quite comparable in quality. Also just as binge-able!

#6. Eternally Confused and Eager for Love (Season 1, Netflix)

This is a series about a whole lot of nothing but quite fun and quirky. Ray (Vihaan Samaat) is a 20-something young man looking to find the perfect girl. Aiding him in this are overbearing mummy and daddy (Suchitra Pillai , Rahul Bose). There’s also Ray’s inner voice – an actual character here (remember the quirk?). Think of this series as a fluffier Panchayat for the city crowd, minus the real-world problems, social work and self-realization.

#5. Rocket Boys (Season 1, SonyLIV)

Rocket Boys, an extraordinary look at India’s nuclear program, is well-made and interesting, despite all the science-y bits. Jim Sarbh stars as Indian physicist Homi Bhabha and Ishwak Singh (whom we saw in last year’s fabulous Paatal Lok) is Vikram Sarabhai. The 8 episode series is directed by Abhay Pannu and helmed by Nikhil Advani.

#4. Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein (Season 1, Netflix)

This dark, violent series is quite unpredictable. We go from what we think is a tepid small-town tale to an intense drama where conversations are sprinkled with casual references of severed limbs and murder. Tahir Raj Bhasin (whom we also saw in the very interesting time-bending Looop Lapeta), Shweta Tripathi, Aanchal Singh and Saurabh Shukla star.

#3. Panchayat (Season 2, Amazon Prime)

Much like it’s clean, wholesome predecessor, Season 2 of Panchayat is a winner. Our naive do-gooder protagonist Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) is continuing his work in Phulera village, while thinking of next steps for his future. The needle has moved on the romance angle, and the friendship with the Pradhan’s daughter Rinki progresses. Quite lovely – I binged it in a day!

#2. Gullak (Season 3, SonyLIV)

Gullak is a series about a family of four – the father Santosh Mishra (Jameel Khan), the mother Shanti (Geetanjali Kulkarni), the elder son Annu (Vaibhav Raj Gupta) and younger son Aman (Harsh Mayar), living in a small town and dealing with the ups and downs of everyday, middle-class life. Every episode deals with some new problem, ends with a resolution, and lots of heart-warming feel-goodness about love and family. Gullak Season 3 is a must-watch.

#1. Delhi Crime (Season 2, Netflix)

DCP Varthika Chaturvedi (Shefali Chhaya) and her crew return with an investigation into gruesome home killings, especially among the senior citizens of New Delhi. Season 2 is just as intense and fast-paced as Season 1. All 5 episodes are directed beautifully by Tanuj Chopra, and the superb cast brings it home!

Posted in Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime Video Recommendations, annual roundup, comedy, coming of age, directors, drama, Good Shows To Watch On Amazon Prime, Good Shows to Watch On Netflix, historical, humor, mini-reviews, mystery, Netflix Recommendations, outstanding, recommended, romance, series, social issues, SonyLiv, suspense, Top 10 | Comments Off

Best Hindi Movies of 2022

Posted on January 5, 2023 by amodini

#10. Good Luck Jerry

This one is a twisty, funny, dark comedy about 2 sisters inadvertently drawn into a life of crime. Jahnavi Kapoor play Jaya “Jerry” Kumari, a nervous type, who must bend the rules to procure some funds for her sick mother’s (a fabulous Mita Vashisht) treatment. The hairy scheme gets hairier, and the climax is a zany, entertaining mishmash with lots of bumbling characters.

#9. Looop Lapeta

An offbeat, mind-bending film about time loops and do-overs, Loop Lapeta was fun to watch. Taapsee Pannu and Tahir Raj Bhasin star as a very much in-love couple who bumble their way through a variety of escapades.

#8. Jalsa

Jalsa is about 2 mothers on the opposite sides of a moral quandary. Director Triveni, and actresses Shefali Chaya Shah and Vidya Balan make this a must-see movie!

#7. Shabash Mithu

A biopic about India Women’s Cricket Team captain Mithali Dorai Raj, Shabash Mithu is a compelling film, simply told and well-acted. Taapsee Pannu stars here (her second film on the Top 10 of 2022!) along with Vijay Raaz.

#6. Gangubai Kathiawadi

Alia Bhatt stars as Gangubai Kathiawadi, Mumbai’s madam, brothel-owner and activist. She does quite well in a role I though she looked too young for. The film, being a Sanjay Leela Bhansali production smacks of color, pomp and quality.

#5. Doctor G

This humor-filled film wears its feminist cred on its sleeve. Ayushmann Khurana as the titular role, a student doctor who needs to understand some eye-opening truths. The supporting cast makes Doctor G a stellar watch!

#4. Badhaai Do

Badhaai Do is about a lesbian woman and a gay man and how the twain shall meet. And live happily ever after. The subject is heavy, but the treatment is sound and presented with a dash of situational humor. Badhaai Do is lively and peppy, filled with familiar-looking characters and people like us. Quite fun and forward-looking!

#3. An Action Hero

Ayushmann Khurana is a Bollywood action hero in this dramatic, action-packed film, where he has to turn his screen-life theatrics into real-life fight sequences. Jaideep Ahlawat plays his bull-like, menacing nemesis. A fabulous Friday night entertainer!

#2. Laal Singh Chaddha

It is hard to remake a classic, but Aamir tries and succeeds. Aiming for a desi touch to this Indian remake of Forest Gump, Laal Singh Chaddha sparkles and manages to give us those warm, fuzzy feelings.

#1. Gehraiyaan

Gehraiyaan is an angsty love-story, with all the juicy add-ons: drama, betrayal and deceit. Deepika is fantastic as lovely, leggy yoga-teacher Al and the rest of the handsome young cast don’t do too bad a job either. Shakun Batra (who also helmed the lovely Kapoor & Sons) directs.

Posted in 2022, annual roundup, Best hindi movies, bollywood, Good Hindi Movies To Watch, Hindi Movies List, outstanding, recommended, Top 10 | Comments Off

Movie Review : An Action Hero (2022)

Posted on December 16, 2022 by amodini

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Genre: Action/Drama
Year: 2022
Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Director: Anirudh Iyer
Cast: Ayushman Khurana, Jaideep Ahlawat
Kid rating: PG-13

Bollywood is being grammatical; note the “An” in “An Action Hero”. Presumable, because he is the one and only? Ayushmann Khurana stars as super star Maanav who accidentally gets embroiled in a murder. He is forced to flee from the authorities and put his theoretical fighting skills to the test in the real world.

Maanav’s forced flight comes with many surprises and twists and turns. Friends are turning the other way, and he is fast losing supporters who believe in him. The internet is alight with rumors about his crime, and his ties to the underworld. In addition to the pursuing police, there are now also relatives of the murdered man – in particular a brother, a Haryanvi, politician brother called Bhoora (Ahlawat), baying for Maanav’s blood. In short, things look bleak. Will superstar Maanav ever arise from the ashes?

An Action Hero is a fabulous Friday night entertainer. It’s taut, fast-paced and peppered with well-done action sequences. It is the kind of film that forces you to focus and won’t let go. Khurana carries the film on his now-well-built-shoulders. He is a good actor, but in this film is a bit theatrical, a tad affected, like he knows he’s on stage and is being watched. Also, what’s with the receding hairline? His hero-wala persona seemed to appear intentionally older.

There isn’t a heroine in the film, although maybe a smidge of a romance wouldn’t have hurt (a la James Bond, not that I’m comparing the two). Jaideep Ahlawat (we saw him as a good cop in the gorgeous Paatal Lok) is menacing as bull-like Bhoora, an aggressive, blood-thirsty nemesis who won’t listen to reason even as he acknowledges it.

Anirudh Iyer debuting as full-blown director here does a great job of sewing up this thriller. The film is pure tension-filled drama – there are like 2 songs. A fun watch – go see!

Kidwise: Film has violence and profanity.

Posted in 2020, bollywood, directors, drama, humor, rating-PG, recommended, suspense, thriller | 1 Comment

Best Hindi Movies of 2021

Posted on October 30, 2022 by amodini

Before I get to The Top Ten Movies of 2022, I need to get to the Top Ten Movies of 2021. You know, in the interests of being orderly and methodical and having a running record of the Best Movies of Each Year since 1999 :). So here goes – the Top 5 Films of 2021 are below but the entire Top 10 list will be on the Best Movies by Year page.

#5. Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui

Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui was a fun film not only because it had a good message but because it depicted a real life scenario where it actually portrayed the prejudices in society. It’s quite a different subject for Bollywood – this tale of a transgender woman (played by the lovely Vaani Kapoor) – but director Abhishek Kapoor manages to present it without any forays into vulgarity or doublespeak. Ayushmann Khurana always does well and is a pleasure to watch – and this is one of those offbeat roles he seems to find his way to.

#4. The White Tiger

The White Tiger is based on Arvind Adiga’s Booker Prize Winner of the same name (I read it many years ago – review of the book at my book blog) and follows the book pretty faithfully. The book is about classism in modern India and our protagonist Balram is a man from the lower class aspiring to better his life. You read the book and acknowledge its truth, but to see the depiction of classism in the film is quite another thing – real and hard to ignore. American director Ramin Bahrani helms this film and Priyanka Chopra served as Executive Producer besides acting in this taut, dark film.

#3. Sherni

Director Amit Masurkar excels in making movies about grassroot issues (like Newton), and Sherni is another fantastic example of his work. In this film, Vidya Balan is an Indian Forest Officer where she has to stand her ground against the corruption, bluster and stupidity rampant in her department. In and as Sherni (meaning tigress) Vidya strives to do her job to the best of her ability, fighting against prejudice because of her gender. At work, her opinion is scoffed at because she is a “lady officer”. On the home front she must steel herself against taunts from family members as they remind her to be “womanly” and do her duty as a good Indian wife. Quite an interesting film!

#2. Pagglait

Pagglait is told from a female point of view. It showed one woman’s journey when she is widowed, her grief at the death of a distant husband she barely knew. In Pagglait, young Sandhya (played marvellously by Sanya Malhotra) is thrown into emotional turmoil at the unexpected tragedy, but the film is about more than that – it is about strength and grace and finding your own way. The writing was spot on, the star-cast was wonderful, and the film was heartfelt. Director Umesh Bisht has delivered a thoughtful, well-nuanced film in Pagglait.

#1. Sandeep aur Pinky Faraar

I watched Sandeep aur Pinky Faraar way after it was released and was surprised how good this film was. I do like the chemistry with this pair – Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra always seem to have that spark – remember Ishqzaade? The characters have fun with each other and this film has a different, unpredictable storyline with some nice plot twists, humor, good music and a heroine that you can root for. This juicy entertainer is the best film from 2021!