Amit Masurkar’s protagonist in Newton is someone with a rare privilege – of having named himself. Played by Rajkummar Rao, Nutan Kumar cheekily alters two vital syllables in his uncool name and turns Newton Kumar.Continue reading
Years down the line, Daawat-e-Ishq’s music sounds still as flavourful…
Composers Sajid-Wajid have been around for almost two decades in Hindi cinema. However, bigtime success eluded them despite a handful of blockbusters. Inconsistent is the word if we evaluate them basis the quality of their soundtracksContinue reading
“Khandhar” – Inside Jamini’s tumbledown world of stillness and silence!
“Jamini, Jamini…” Calls out her mother in a frail yet demanding tone. This shout is one of the most haunting ones I have ever heard in Hindi cinema. There’s a lot to do with theContinue reading
“Simran” – A terrific Kangana Ranaut does feminism a great service!
In an early scene in Hansal Mehta’s Simran, the protagonist Praful Patel (Kangana Ranaut) is visiting a bank manager. Seeking a modest loan to buy a home in Georgia’s Minority Housing, Praful’s life is uneventful –Continue reading
“The Other Side of Hope” – About hatred, humanity and a little humour!
The initial reel of veteran Aki Kaurismäki’s The Other Side of Hope leaves us confused on the film’s genre. Famous for his rich oeuvre of clever, humorous plots, his latest film begins with a spate of silenceContinue reading
“Njandukalude Naattil Oridavela” marks the arrival of an assured filmmaker!
In one of the film’s funniest scenes, Kurian (Nivin Pauly) quizzes his grandfather’s nurse Yesudas (Sharafudeen) whether it’s appropriate to pursue a romantic relationship during one of your parents’ acute sickness. Yesudas is quick toContinue reading
“Shubh Mangal Saavdhan” – A hysterical attempt to redefine the masculine hero in cinema!
Director RS Prasanna’s Shubh Mangal Savdhaan is about the lead hero’s erectile dysfunction. The film doesn’t explicitly state it – evidently out of fear of a possible CBFC backlash. Facing a physical disability that doesn’tContinue reading
“Baadshaho” is from another era, filmmaking included…
The experience of watching Milan Luthria’s Baadshaho in a half-empty suburban Mumbai multiplex is peculiar by itself. Here’s one film made for the B & C centres – complete with a super hit romantic number,Continue reading
“A Gentleman” – Oodles of style spearhead this passable popcorn fare!
This is no spoiler but directors Raj & DK’s A Gentleman tries to fool you with what appears to be parallel narratives. We are in for the duo’s storytelling language that is famously humorous andContinue reading
“Bareilly Ki Barfi” – A charming tribute to small-town badasses!
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari‘s Bareilly Ki Barfi reminds me of Bhimsain Khurana’s Gharaonda. The story of an ambitious young man who uses his ladylove to manipulate a defenseless third party – all for a hassle-free future.Continue reading
