Bharat Review: "Ye Naya India hai." Salman should realize that!

This week  saw the release of 2019’s biggest summer release, the Salman ‘Bhai’ Khan starrer ‘Bharat’, based on the Korean film, “An Ode to my Father”. The movie has an outstanding supporting cast that includes names like Ayesha Raza, Kumud Mishra, Sunil Grover, Shashank Arora etc. Post watching Bharat, it can surely be said that Salman Khan still has commitment issues.

                                                            

What’s Good: Acting(yes, acting!): With such an amazing supporting cast, the acting is pitch perfect. Even Katrina Kaif manages to act well. It’s ‘Bharat’ aka Bhai who lets us down (like always).  Music: Vishal Shekhar’s music is one of the better things about this movie. The Aunt-Nephew connection: The subtle undertones of the relation are pretty decent. Cinematography: The cinematography is pretty decently done.

                                             

What’s Bad: Length: At approximately 167 minutes, the movie highly overstays its welcome, drags a lot in the first half. Direction: Ali Abbas Zafar’s direction is one of the biggest problems of the movie. He decides to borrow the main storyline but forgets to add emotions to the movie. Forced Patriotism: The patriotism is forced. Absolutely unnecessary. Various shades of Salman: Salman is super highly unconvincing as his timeline spans over 70 years pass. Not only that, Salman practically becomes invincible in this drama. 

                                              

Bharat is not good, not average. It is an above average watch that too only suited for single screen and not the multiplex. I am going with 2.0 stars for this Salman starrer. At least, it is one of the better Salman Khan movies to have released.

                                             

P.S. So glad that Priyanka Chopra walked out of this drama.

DDPD Review: Le Le Pyaar Le!

This week saw the release of Ajay Devgn and Tabu's 'De De Pyaar De' which was directed by debutante Akiv Ali. The premise revolves around a man who goes to India with his girlfriend to his family for their approval. An interesting premise, let's see how it is:

                                                       

What's Good: Acting: Tabu is an absolute delight. Devgn and Rakul Preet are good. The supporting cast and many surprise appearances are phenomenal and elevate the movie experience. Music: The music is nice and the revamp 'Hauli Hauli' will stick with you for long. Comic Timing: The comic timing is simply pitch-perfect. Message and Strong Emotion: The movie has a message which may not have been delivered is not interesting but is important and laced with strong emotions.

                                                 

What's Bad: Dialogues: The dialogues are poorly scripted. First Half: Takes a lot of time to build up. Poor Rakul-Ajay Chemistry: There is barely any spark in the chemistry between them. Penultimate 15 minutes: The penultimate simply spoils the ride the movie took us for and undid the magic it was creating.

                                                   

Overall, De De Pyaar De is an amazing joyride which leaves you happy and surely is a One Time Watch which could have been better. It was surprisingly a good movie with a good message given in a 'thanda' way. I am going with 3 stars for De De Pyaar De and an extra 0.5 for Tabu!

                                                   

P.S. We have all known Tabu the 'actor', DDPD introduces us to Tabu the 'Diva'!

John Wick 3 Review: Now that's how you make a sequel!

John Wick series is an action based thriller franchise whose last movie John Wick: Chapter 2 hit the screens in 2017. John Wick 3: Parabellum (meaning prepare for war in Russian) hit the screens this 15th May and can be said: "This is how one makes a sequel." 

                                               

What's Good: Acting: Keanu Reeves yet again tells us that no one apart from him can play 'Jonathan Wick' and Ian McShane tells us that no one can play the manager of the Continental better than him. Action Sequence: The action sequences are beyond outstanding and well choreographed. Story: Begins from where the prequel had left, the story is interesting and engaging. Background Score: The background score dwells very well with the narration. Pacing: The 129 minutes of the movie pass unnoticed. The brilliance of the director and the screenplay writer.

                                              

What's Bad: Poor Climax: The climax somehow reduces the impact of the movie big time. Intertwingling narratives: The multi-narrative pattern for this movie somehow just increases the level of confusion.

                                         

John Wick 3: Parabellum is a fine action thriller elevated because of the story, characters and John Wick himself. I am going with 3.75 stars for the movie. Also, eagerly waiting for John Wick 4! An absolute treat for lovers of the franchise and for those who haven't seen this franchise, there is still time that you watch this amazing action thriller!

                                       

P.S. It is perhaps the best in the franchise for me and if not the best then at par with Chapter 1 and way above Chapter 2

Avengers EndGame Review: An outstanding culmination of 21 movies!

10 years and 21 movies later, the most anticipated  Marvel movie "Avengers: EndGame" has finally hit the screens. There is a going to be a lot of tears, denials as a few major characters finally bid goodbye to the characters we have seen as we grew up.

                                              

What's Good: Acting: Needless to say, all these heroes are played by the actors over a decade now, so yes all is done to perfection. Story: Could not have been presented in a better way. Action, Dialogues, and Cinematography: Does not hit a false note anywhere.

                                            

What's Bad: Captain Marvel: U have to see the movie to understand. Can't give out spoilers. Thorough Revision of Previous 21 Movies: Yes, the dots might connect sensibly and beautifully, but to understand the movie properly, a thorough revision is necessary. Length: Though one would not need any loo-breaks as the movie is captivating, a bit short movie would have been better.

                                         

Avengers: EndGame is an amazing culmination of the 21 MCU movies and does live up to the hype. Yes, one will definitely need tissues for the emotional heft this movie carries. I am going with 4 stars. If you aren't a Marvel fan, there is not a lot u  would prefer!

                                         

P.S. EndGame might be a shocker for you and will surely leave you in denial/sad.

Kalank Review: After Kalank, you will need a 'Palang' because 'Tabaah Ho Gaye'!

After so many delays, Dharma Productions magnum opus 'Kalank'  starring Aditya Roy Kapur, Sonakshi Sinha, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Kunal Kemmu, Kiara Advani, Anchint Kaur etc. etc. It is scripted and directed by a 1-filmed old director Abhishek Varman.

                                         

What's Good: Acting: Credit is given where it is due. Acting performances are top notch. Aditya and Sonakshi are hands down the best! They are ably supported by the rest of the ensemble cast but these rightfully deserve every accolade. Costume and Set Design: The costume and set design are absolutely spectacular and Bhansali level. Costumes are well depicted by Manish Malhotra. Music: Surprisingly, Pritam's music is one of the better things of this magnum opus.

                                        

What's Bad: Story: The story has so many interesting sub-plots which are let down because the main/central plot on which these sub-plots rest.  Screenplay and Direction:  A very poorly written screenplay and hapless direction play a major spoilsport. Duration: Stretching at 170 minutes, Kalank is wayyyy too long. Horrible CGI: The CGI made bull, other aspects, the superimposed scenes are supremely horrific and make the entire movie look superficial. Editing: Very poorly edited affair. Dialoguebaazi: The dialogues are heavy and instead of being serious, they make one laugh.

                                        

Final Word: Looking for an epic love saga? Clearly avoid. This KJo-Bhansali crossover is an absolute disaster. Though it has some of its moments, its failure to keep the viewer engaged helps its deterioration. I am going with 2 stars.

                                      

P.S. Madhuri's song 'Tabaah Ho Gaye' aptly sums up viewers experience after the movie.

Super Deluxe Review: Funny, Delicious and Pure Triumph!

Finally, exploring my boundaries to the Tamil Cinema with Vijay Sethupathi, Samantha Akkineni, Ramya Krishna starrer 'Super Deluxe' directed by Thiagarajan Kumararajan.  It deals with 3 parallel lives of these leads with an underlying social message that comes together at the end.

                                 

What's Good: Acting: The 3 leads are amazing with Vijay Sethupathi holding the baton as transgender Shilpa and is ably supported by each and every actor. Story: The story by Thiagarajan Kumararajan is an absolute delight engulfing social ideas as well. Direction and Cinematography: Kumararajan deserves applause for bringing such a story to the table. Humor and Situation: The humor and situation are so well done and scripted that just makes things funny.

                                          

What's Bad: Length: The length of Super Deluxe is 176 minutes, which is a tad bit long for a movie of such a subject. 

                                            

Final  Word: Super Deluxe is a Tamil film which will have a language barrier but can be watched and equally enjoyed with subtitles. Do NOT miss it especially if you like content and humorous cinema together. I am going with 4 stars for this movie!

                                      

Mom and Co Review: Zaaykedaar aur Swaadbhara.

Very often we end up surfing youtube to kill the time we have. And it is in these random moments that we come across some hidden gems, one such being Neelima Azeem's show, Mom and Co. which is directed by Ashish Ranglani and presented by The Zoom Studios.

                               

What's Good: Acting: The cast is pitch perfect for their roles. Neelima Azeem shines in her web debut as Aai and Ayush Joshi as Aditya is nearly perfect for his role. They are ably supported by Shreya, played by an effervescent Shreya Gupto. Story: A simple and a mature story should have been told by now and finally this happens. Direction: Ashish Ranglani's direction is amazing and is exactly how the story should have been told. Dialogues, Locations, Groundedness: The characters, locations, and the overall believability of the show is something, where it's the essence which is captured.

                                           

What's Bad: Season Finale: The season finale, however, seems that it was actually not needed and the show could have ended at episode 9. Predictability: The show is predictable yet charms you with it's simplicity.

                                           

Final Word: Mom and Co. is one of those series where a mother-son relationship is explored through food and how they deal with their mid-life crisis among other challenges. One of the best parts about this series is that It Is Freely available on youtube. I am going with 3.5 stars for this warm tale about a mother's love with subtle hints of gender equality. Do not miss it!

                                          

Avg. duration per episode: 20 minutes.
Available: Youtube.
Favorite Episode: 9.
Favorite Character: Aai.

P.S. It is one of those light breezy series that can be watched even as you work.