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A still from ‘Daman’ | Photo Credit: Panorama Studios An inspiring tale of a fearless young doctor whose initiative helped in bringing down cases of Malaria in the remote areas of Odisha, Damon is a timely prescription for those who want to watch cinema with a reason. Set in 2015, it is the Hindi version … Read More “‘Daman’ Odia movie review: Chasing cynicism in Malkangiri” »
Brandon Fraser in ‘The Whale’ The decidedly hard-to-watch The whale begins with an essay on Herman Melville’s moby dick being read aloud to a morbidly obese English teacher, Charlie (Brendan Fraser), who seems to be having a heart attack. Incidentally, the full title of Melville’s 1851 novel is Moby Dick; or, The Whale, Charlie asks … Read More “‘The Whale’ movie review: Brendan Fraser magnificently rescues this maudlin, over-cooked tale” »
A still from ‘Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat’ There comes a phase in the career of filmmakers when they test their relevance in the mindscape of young hearts. It seems director Anurag Kashyap is passing through that phase. Years after he broke conventions of love stories with Dev Dhis latest attempt at reinvention is a … Read More “‘Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat’ movie review: Anurag Kashyap’s romance-drama is almost engaging, but not quite there” »
A still from ‘Iratta’ One cannot be sure of it, but it could be the confidence that a filmmaker gets from having something solid right at the end that has contributed to some of the rather lazy phases of writing in Irata, Rohit MG Krishnan’s debut directorial. Rohit, who has also scripted the film, cannot … Read More “‘Iratta’ movie review: Joju George’s double act and a gut-wrenching climax redeems this police procedural” »
Aditya Rawal and Zahan Kapoor in a still from ‘Faraaz’ | Photo Credit: Viacom18 Studios A rousing take on the rot that is corroding the youth in the name of religious ideology, Hansal Mehta’s Faraazis about standing up to bigotry. It is also about protecting the flame of faith that could guide the young out … Read More “‘Faraaz’ movie review: Hansal Mehta’s film hangs between hope and hell and stands up to bigotry “ »
A still from ‘Knock at the Cabin’ | Photo Credit: Universal Pictures Knock! Knock! Who’s there? Happening Happening who? Happening at The Cabin at the End of the World. Yes, I know it’s silly but there is something about M. Night Shyamalan’s latest feature that makes me think facetiously. Based on Paul G. Tremblay’s The … Read More “‘Knock at the Cabin’ movie review: M. Night Shyamalan’s latest is mildly entertaining at best” »
Tina Shilparaj and Suhas in ‘Writer Padmabhushan’ Writer and first-time director Shanmukha Prasanth wants his audience to believe that Writer Padmabhushan is the coming-of-age story of its protagonist who aspires to be one of the best writers in contemporary Telugu literature. In the process, he also packs in a social commentary and pulls a surprise … Read More “‘Writer Padmabhushan’ movie review: Suhas and Rohini are impressive in this heartwarming coming-of-age drama” »
Some films instantly draw viewers into their world and the many characters that inhabit it. Some films keep viewers at an arm’s length, unmoved by what is happening on screen. And then there are movies that are midway between the two possibilities. Micheal, the Telugu-Tamil gangster drama that is also dubbed in Hindi, Kannada and … Read More “‘Michael’ movie review: Sundeep Kishan reinvents himself in director Ranjit Jeyakodi’s labour of love that does not soar” »
RJ Balaji in ‘Run Baby Run’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement An ordinary man trapped in an extraordinary situation. Jiyen Krishnakumar’s Run Baby Runstarring RJ Balaji, expands this one-line so effectively in its first half. When Sathya (played by Balaji), an upper-middle-class bank employee, returns to his car after purchasing a gift for his fiancée, … Read More “‘Run Baby Run’ movie review: RJ Balaji dons a new avatar in this could-have-been-better suspense thriller” »
Srimathi and Yogi Babu in a still from ‘Bommai Nayagi’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement An arrhythmic arrangement of musical notes that eventually becomes an ascending scale; this is how one can picture the tempo of writer-director Shan’s Bommai Nayagi, There’s a sense of disconnect between the scenes that set up the film. We see … Read More “‘Bommai Nayagi’ movie review: Yogi Babu excels in this impressive take on justice and judiciary” »