Pagglait Review: A Pagglait you should love to reckon with!

 This week Netflix gifted us with Ashutosh Rana and Sanya Malhotra starrer,' Pagglait'. Pagglait boasts about a spectacular cast that includes names like Sheeba Chadha, Ashutosh Rana, Raghubir Yadav, Shruti Sharma, Meghana Malik, Rajesh Tailang among others. Oscar Winner Guneet Monga produces this heartwarming, moody, and moving piece of visual art directed by the first-time director, Umesh Bisht. 

                                                          

Sanya Malhotra is in absolute top form but it is the haunting performance of Ashutosh Rana as the grieving father that stayed with me long after the movie ended. The rest of the cast is ever-dependable with the credentials involved. The story by Umesh Bisht keeps story organic and very grounded. Arijit's debut as a composer is great just that at times, reduces the impact of some scenes. Umesh keeps the narrative straight and simple and that what drives the charm of this movie. The technical aspects of the movie are great and the runtime is just perfect under 2 hours. 

                                                       

   

With an album of approximately 26 songs, the music album of Pagglait overstays its welcome especially in the intimate moments which could've had the biggest impact. There are certain characters that needed some more backstory. The trailer sets a very wrong precedent for this movie therefore, it is advisable not to see this movie based on what's depicted in the trailer.

                                             

     

Pagglait is a movie that tells us about living, losing, letting-go and self-love. Sanya Malhotra is the performer we need and this is the Bollywood we have always loved! I'm going with 3.5 stars for this beautiful grounded spectacle! Do not miss it!

                                               

      

Ludo Review: An interesting Game which should've gone on longer!

 2 years after the debacle of 'Jagga Jasoos', director Anurag Kashyap is back with his multi starer movie, 'Ludo'. The movie stars Rajkummar Rao, Abhishek Bachchan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, Asha Negi, Pearl Maane, Fatima Sana Sheikh, Shalini Vatsa. It is scripted, directed, and photographed by Basu himself who collabs with his companion, Pritam for music!

                                                 

What's Good: Acting: This time RR walks away with the cake from Tripathiji's hand. He is terrific. Abhishek, Tripathiji, Aditya, Rohit, Pearl, Lata, and everyone else is absolutely PHENOMENAL. Fatima might be a hindrance however can be overlooked! Story: Basuji's writing is absolutely phenomenal. No one could have made an anthology so nicely and connected the dots so beautifully. Music: 'Hardum Humdum', 'Abaad Barbaad', 'Dil Julaha' are absolute gems and Pritam gives us one of the few albums worth remembering after Malang and Love Aaj Kal 2 this year! Technically:  The movie is pitch-perfect technically! Absolutely nails each and every aspect.

                                                  

                                   

What's Bad: Screenplay: Like most of the movies, the back and forth narrative does not work for me personally!         

                                     

Final Word: Ludo is a beautiful, colorful, funny Chaotic Mess and should not be missed by anybody! Bachchan shows us his capability as a fine actor and the fact that he deserves a great director who can justify his talent! The movies absolutely stunning and interesting like the game in real life! 4 stars! One cannot just miss it!

                               

Photograph Review: The development of this photograph is super tedious but the end product leaves you mesmerized!

This week was a quiet week at the box office considering 2 small budget movies 'Photograph' and 'Milan Talkies'. 'Photograph' is directed by Ritesh Batra (of Lunchbox fame) and stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Rafi and Sanya Malhotra as Miloni/Noorie in the lead roles who are ably supported by Farukh Jaffar as Rafi's grandmother. There was a bit of sceptical as I would have preferred Tigmanshu Dhulia's Milan Talkies to this movie. Here is my take on Ritesh Batra's Photograph.

                                              

What's Good: Performances: With Nawaz in the lead, there is not a single folly in his act as Rafi but it is Sanya Malhotra's Miloni who stays with you long after you leave the theatre. Terrific! An Ode to Mumbai: Ritesh Batra gives a tribute to Mumbai in a unique way, unlike the way he did in 'The Lunchbox'. Cinematography: One of the best scene in a long time (Tumbbad is an exception). Slow Burner: Being a slow burner, apparently works for this one.

                                           

What's Bad: PACING: This movie is bound to make you super impatient to the level that you prefer to pull your hair but then if you manage sitting through it, it is Heartening and worth the wait. Magic: No doubt, Ritesh Batra delivers what he wants to, but that innocence is somewhere lost in succession. Premise: The premise of the movie is very limited. Too much of Feeling: This movie wants you to feel a lot, which at times just does not work!

                                                      

Final Word: Photograph is a delightful watch but demands a lot of things to be felt and needs impatience. Walking out of this movie would be easy because it WILL test your patience but if you sit through, the end product is absolutely heartening. This movie expects you to feel a lot, and if you do then this photograph is worth hanging. But since it works for me in parts, I am going with 3 stars and I do not expect it to make numbers at the box office!

                                              

P.S. This review comes 24 hours after I viewed the film because there was a question of what to write, but since morning my mind has been constantly thinking about Miloni and that Beautiful Climax!