Gully Boy

Movie Review (Hindi)

"He is just a Gully Boy" said one of the characters in the movie. But “just the Gully boy” went on to rule hearts. Ranveer Singh, playing the reticent character Murad, expresses his dissatisfaction at the way things are in his world in the Dharavi slums through poetry. The energy levels in the movie rise with the entrance of MC Sher played by Siddhant Chaturvedi, the rapper who shows Murad a way out of the mundane. Our Gully Boy then raps his way into a confident individual able to stand up to his father’s dominance.

With actresses like Alia Bhatt and Kalki Koechlin providing support, the movie is bound to do well. The characters are well etched and the edit is fast. Dharavi stands out as a world holding many, many stories waiting to be told.

Director Zoya Akhtar certainly knows how to hold the attention of ciné goers, ending with the competition. It is an age-old trick which somehow always get the right reaction to a sense of vindication. I only wish the director had risen above this and taken the movie to a different level.

 Nevertheless, I loved the statement, so pregnant with hope and aspiration – Apna time aayega!

Uri

Movie Review (Hindi)

For a long time now, I have been hearing rumours about the Surgical strike by the Army on Pakistani soil being a fake incident, created by the Government to gain brownie points. Funnily enough, Uri takes off from these rumours and creates a damn good movie. The docudrama format helps in creating the authenticity required.

The choice of the protagonist, played by Vicky Kaushal, was bang on target. He got into the skin of the character and seemed to be comfortable being a Para Commando.

I think what stood out for the movie was the lack of long speeches exulting patriotism. It was the action that got the patriotic flame burning. The director, Aditya Dhar, has kept the story taut and does not loosen his grip which adds to the rawness.

A mother’s Alzhiemer’s, a dear friend’s death, a sister’s widowhood, a child losing a loving father, lawmakers taking risks for the greater good – all of these come together and burst forth spewing molten lava leaving behind an impactful movie that asks – “How’s the Josh?” You are bound to reply – “Very High!”

Bohemian Rhapsody

Movie Review (English)

This particular Rhapsody had me from the word Go. From the first scene, as the auditorium filled with the melodramatic music that only Queen could come up with, I began singing. Growing up, Queen was always on the top five of my most favourite rock bands.

So, I was quite apprehensive when I heard about this movie and I read a few reviews which were not full of praises. Anyway, anything to do with Queen, I needed to be in on it. And was I glad to have watched this wonderfully directed and superbly enacted movie!!

To be able to decide which aspect of Freddie Mercury to highlight, which years to look into and at the same time highlight the growth of this remarkable band was the work of some genius. To end the movie on the Live Aid concert note – was a well thought out move - the piece de resistance for Queen as far as performance goes. But of course, some of their best music was composed after this concert.

Thank you, Rami Malek (actor), Brian Singer (Director) and Anthony McCarten (Screenplay writer) for resurrecting Freddie and Queen so brilliantly. The slick edit got the movie going at a fast pace just apt for depicting Queen. 

I wanted to come out feeling good about Freddie and not dive into the darker world that he hid so well from his fans and I am glad I saw Freddie at his best!

Queen continues to Rock its fans making us feel like Champions!!

Badhaai Ho (Congratulations)

Movie Review (Hindi)

There are some things in life which the younger generation take for granted. For example – Parents are there primarily to fulfill the needs of children or the household. That they are two individuals who are human beings with the same sense and sensibilities as them does not seem logical to them.

So when a middle aged couple, (played expertly by Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao) expect another child after 16/17 years, there is a negative eruption in the house and bad jokes and rib poking float around among friends, relatives and acquaintances.

The movie deals with this subject and deals with it expertly. The elder son of the couple, Nakul (played by Ayushmann Khurrana) is working and has a girlfriend (played by Sanya Malhotra), his younger brother is in class XII and both become butts of jokes. Strangely, it is only when Nakul’s girlfriend Renee’s mother talks about the embarrassment that the older couple has caused, that Nakul speaks out for his parents and is able to see things in proper light.

Funnily enough, this kind of a situation, (late pregnancy), was a common occurrence just two generations ago.

Though the film is not a big budget one, meaning there are no huge stars in it, the actors are the best in the business. The person who simply stands out with her act is Nakul’s Granny, played by Surekha Sikri. She cantankerous, very annoyed with her daughter in law at all times, furious that the son and daughter- in-law should indulge in love making at their age but also standing up for them when society makes fun of them.
These are the kind of films that will rule the roost because they hit closer to home. It is primarily our story that we see on screen and we love to watch it from the outside watching how things unravel and then fall into place.

Andhadhun (Blind tune)

Movie Review (Hindi)

Director and screenplay writer, Sriram Raghavan is a master of thrillers and he has not let his audience down in this movie either. The title itself is interesting – Blind Tune – and the entire movie revolves on Andha and Dhun.

Akash, the protagonist, played by Ayushmann Khurrana, the apparently blind pianist who becomes a blind pianist and then becomes an apparently blind pianist does a wonderful job trying to anchor the story with his presence at places where he his not required.

The person who stands out for me is Simi played superbly by Tabu, the wife of Pramod Sinha (Anil Dhawan), the yesteryear actor. She lives only for herself and therefore faces no conscience trouble.

What keeps the audience glued are the amazing twists that stand out on the screen (quite literally). The later half is a bit pulled but even that ends with a huge bang and you come out smiling. An open ending is always the best way to keep the audience happy.

Manto

Movie Review (Hindi)

One thing is for sure – nothing has changed in the way governments run and the way dissent is looked at or the way truth is perceived.

The movie certainly worked its magic holding me in a trance for the entire duration. For me Saadat and Nawazuddin have merged. No one else could have brought him to life with such ease as him. All thanks to Nandita Das for directing so capably, a topic that was so vast and so complex - both the character Saadat Hasab Manto and the concept of Mantoiyat.

The dexterity became evident as the story weaved in Manto’s stories and his life. All my favourite stories were captured so sensitively and kudos again for getting the best in the industry to enact two-minute roles!! This does send the message that mantoiyat is here to stay.

The punch line came with Faiz Ahmed Faiz’ Bol, reawakening your conscience, giving you the courage to speak up in times when it is most required.

Mulk (Country)

Movie Review (Hindi)

Mulk gave me a sense of joy and relief. How did the censor board pass the movie? How did Anubhav Sinha decide to make a film on such a subject, knowing the kind of atmosphere that prevails today?

It was so novel to see a vulnerable Muslim family caught in the web of terrorism, fighting for their honour and dignity when one of them takes the path to terrorism. None of the members have any idea about the goings-on in the mind of the young boy played by Prateik Babbar. And once there is a terrorist in the family, it is easy for the rest of society, courts and security forces included, to brand the entire family as being involved in the business of terrorism.

Rishi Kapoor selects movies that give scope to get into characters which are not easy to essay and he does an excellent job. As the head of his family, Murad Ali Muhammad who is a lawyer, fights for his fundamental rights as an Indian citizen. He has to fight it out with his Muslim brethren as well. And the twist is that his daughter-in-law is Aarti (Malhotra) Muhammad (Taapsee Pannu) is a lawyer as well and takes on the fight for justice.  Then there is SSP Danish Javed, (Rajat Kapoor) who is hell bent on distancing himself from this Muslim family and creating an example where people will think twice before indulging in such activities. Of course, we have the prosecutor, Santosh Anand (Ashutosh Rana), who brings in all societal prejudices to prevail upon the family.

Yes, we as a society need to erase the created gap between Us and Them and not be dependent on politicians to do that for us. 

Movies that are made on real human emotions and stories can go a long way in undoing many wrongs.