Movie Review : Avengers Endgame

The Law of Universe!

A Review without spoilers.

Avengers Endgame

Every story that connects the audience to their deepest emotions and exemplifies the law of universe will always resonate well with the masses. Each track of Marvel in the Avengers series has been built around the basic laws of the universe and human emotions. However, what works most for them is the way they blend their stories seamlessly and come out with this aww! Struck wonders of movies. Endgame is one of those heartwarming, pulse racing, everything one has been looking forward to movie.

I am only stating the obvious that we have derived through their campaign of ads and trailers. Its visually amazing and appealing. There would not have been a better story line than what they have pursued. It does deserve all the applause it has been getting, though not sure whether it justifies the hype it has created. It is definitely a multi-cast, multi-verse movie but it’s also just a fictional movie.

Spoilers are only effective if you let the hype engulf your mind to the vastness and scope of Avengers series. Endgame should be watched like any of their other Avenger movies, and you will be genuinely delighted. Since, it is a fictional Sci-Fi, the concept will remain over the top. But again that has worked out well with the direction and story-telling. I am not naming the cast or the director, as we all know them from previous series of their movies. If One isn't aware, one needs to watch their earlier movies to really enjoy and feel the impact that Endgame creates.

I will keep my review short, as we all know it is the movie to watch and an experience to not miss.

Enjoy your show and your time.

MOVIE REVIEW: ROMEO. AKBAR. WALTER (RAW)

Served Raw!

R.A.W

A Spy well hidden among us, would you have the eye to spot one? Spying an invisible patriotism that remains hidden and hence strong. The strength of mind, and its heightened senses with instincts makes for a good spy. This is what the movie R.A.W wants us to believe. Like lot of movies with messages this year, R.A.W too carries a message about the unsung heroes of our country. Director Robbie Grewal who is also one of the writers isn’t able to effectively loop the message in our brains. There is nothing new as far as direction goes or with screen play or the script. The End of the movie however, is the most interesting bit that can made my time’s worth sitting through unwanted untimely songs, romance and emotional outbursts.

There are two actors that provide a realistic and believable shade to R.A.W. The obvious one is Mr.Jackie Shroff who plays (Shrikant Rai) the head of R.A.W the intelligence agency of India. He is the one that plans, plots to recruit Jhon Abraham (Romeo) to be placed as spy in Pakistan occupied Kashmir to gain intelligence from Pakistan about their strategies before a war could erupt between the nations for the freedom of Bangladesh. The training of the spy and its script reminds us of the movie Razi. Most of the time R.A.W seems to be mirroring Razi except for the gender of the lead. Though the movie is simple, it is made too long to try our patience.  Jackie Shroff is the only delight to watch. He makes his part look real and impressive. John on the other hand does not have many dialogues to deliver and is not able to ignite the pleasure of watching a proper spy come to life on the screen. The other actor impressive is Sikander Kher playing (Col Khudabaksh Khan) who is part of ISI and is on to Romeo suspecting him to be an Indian spy. Sikander’s Pakistani Urdu hindi dialect is bang on right and his serious eye glare looks like he is putting the fear of god on to his subjects. Mouni Roy who plays the Indian diplomat in Kashmir is unwanted and is rather  a hurdle to the ongoing story line that R.A.W should have adopted.

It is definitely an Espionage movie but a very average attempt to showcase it. There are few bits of brilliance that the makers have got right. I wouldn’t still recommend this movie to waste your time on. I would rather go watch another better entertainer or catch up a sports game instead. RAW is served quite raw and hence remains undigested.

WEB SERIES REVIEW: FLIP

The Indian Disturbia!

Flip

If we are to visualize any dark content as the name suggests we think of dark, black, gore, dirty, filthy visuals. Flip definitely falls in the category of dark series with quite a bit of gore in it. Surprising though is that it’s visual backgrounds and cinematography deserve the adjective beautiful. The Movie Shaitan director Bejoy Nambiar has done a great number with Flip. He makes us rake our brain to the part that can be completely naked, dark and absolutely mean. The drone shots are amazing and a good mystery build up till the end. This is absolutely an entertaining binge watch over the weekend or an independent watch every day. With a total of 4 episodes 45 minutes each, has a different story to tell with the same inference to dark psychological behavior patterns of humans that the obvious disturbing behavior is acceptable and just for the masses.

My Review  1^st Episode – The Hunt

This one is absolutely beautiful to watch, has some amazing drone shots of the waterfalls, River, Trees and the sprawling jungle full of red clothed humans are being hunted. There can be many potential parables about the hunter and the hunted but I am not going to give this one out. it’s a progressive mystery through out the episode and giving out the story would dilute the effect on individual brain watching it. This episode cast has Sheetal Menon playing Raza, throwing in some great action along with superlative acting. The character is most striking at the very end of the episode. The end of the episode leaves your brain with disturbing answers of your own and that is the brilliance of – The Hunt.

More episode reviews to continue...

Movie Review: Mard ko Dard Nahin Hota.

No Pain Much Gain!

Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota.

How we all wish that somehow, we cease to feel pain and curse it when we do. So, to make a movie on pain that isn’t felt yet experienced, scores on originality of content. All content however are inspirations and references from other works. This defines the most genuine and true effort towards the art or craft  of Storytelling. “Mard ko dard nahin hota” is one of the lines from a famous movie, delivered by legendary Amitabh Bachchan and the strength of this dialogue still inspires film makers.  

Director Vasan Bala has used subtle and fine humor through out Mard ko dard nahi hota to narrate his version of a person if was not to feel the physical pain would not actually escape to experience pain in his life.  The editing, screen play and direction especially of the action sequence is excellent. The hilarious bits aren’t over the top and synchronized seamlessly in every screenplay. Mard ko dard nahin hota is very well made artistically and is extremely entertaining. All action sequences are great and flawless. Most of them are karate and hand kombat. The debutant Abhimanyu Dassani who plays Surya jisko dard nahi hota, doesn’t look like a debutant. His acting is perfect along with action. Radhika Madan who plays his childhood friend Supri is impressive with her action scenes. Not a single blow or punch is out of place and has preformed all her stunts on her own. Coming from the Tele world she is surprisingly the actor we all call an all-rounder. Mahesh Manjrekar as Surya’s Grandfather (Azuba) is excellent with his short jibes and comic timing. He creates the perfect masala for an entertainer. The two Characters (Jimmy and Karate Mani) played by Gulshan Devaiah is every rupee’s worth to watch.  He is the soul of the movie and his acting is effortless like flowing water he is flowing as well.

The movie could have been shortened as there wasn’t much to its story than what is revealed in its first hour. It sometimes feels deliberately stretched and can lead to some boredom. I will say that it is very well thought and executed concept that will leave a lasting impact after having watched it.

I recommend that it should definitely be a good surprising movie to watch, in spite of the heavy story it is extremely light for the eyes and brain. Enjoy it!

Movie Review : Kesari

Forgotten Reality of Indian Mettle!

 Kesari

We live in fortunate times where our scope and sphere are unlimited. The lost stories of our History that rust in dust are now screaming of its well-deserved glory. Patriotism in films is at its high. The content era is here. Kesari is content that can intensify emotions, sour heartbeats and waterworks at the end. However, the resurrection of the Hand combat battle is a time travel experience to it’s reality. That being said is not the only part of the movie that compels your body to sweat in the Air conditioning. Each character has its bravery transcend heroism making fictional super heroes look like play toys. There are scenes that engross your brain to the intensity of ignorance to the gore, however according to me Director Anurag Singh manages to balance this aspect to not let it look like gore and yet give the audience the exact virtual experience of the brutality suffered by the 21 brave soldiers of the 36 Sikh Regiment of the British Army in India. This battle is a tale of 21 Sikh Soldier’s willing decision to fight to the last to prevent the Afghani Afridi/Orakazi tribe that attacked the fort of Saragarhi with strength of about 10000-12000 men.

Kesari does carry the emotional elements to connect the audience to the human and emotional side of these Sikh men. The makers have tried to put few logical elements that may have influenced the invasion of this fort, but have missed the adequate impact, however the script is quite moving and does not have repetitive slogan or band wagon of patriotic upliftment. The satire has few hits and few misses. The Romantic angles are just case building, seemingly filling the reel time. Kesari could have been kept short and simple with merit in its content and absolute accuracy of its recorded event in the history. The extra parts are the safety commercial nets with an obvious section of Indian cinema audience that resonates with it. With Akshay Kumar as the lead Kesari as Havildar Ishar Singh is and undoubted winner. The fierce hand combat battle is an excellent piece and gives the audience glimpse of how Havildar Ishar Singh’s mental strength would have made him command a battalion of 21 soldiers to fight a battle with an obvious outcome against the invading 10000 men. There would have been simply no one else bringing Havildar Ishar Singh back to life on silver screen other than Akshay Kumar.  He justifies the other aspects of the character of a Jat Singh. The bravery of each soldier is depicted well and is compelling that one would want to look beyond the adjective called “Brave” and “confidence” for them.

This chapter out of our glorious history that our army has been so long demanding the government to include in our history text books seals their demand. The movie deserves the watch for its story which is made to provide the virtual experience of the never seen bravery and confident minds of soldiers to end the enemy at all costs is not even imagined in fiction. The documented claim of 21 soldiers killing at least 180 men of the enemy with only basic weapons is bravery beyond the realm of mind's eye. It is not a tale but an outcome of an intensified brave mind and souls that succeeded in its toughest ask. I strongly Implore to let it live and bask in the glory it deserves.        

Movie Review : Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Straight walk on wobbly grounds!

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Love cannot be Found Where It Doesn’t Exist, Nor Can it be Hidden where It Truly Does. – William Shakespeare.

We are a country obsessed with Love and its shenanigans, so many careers and businesses have flourished on the story telling about Love. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisha Laga is one of those love stories with what they call in the movie containing the element of “ Syappa.” It in a way also elevates the present level of syappa being traditionally shown in Romantic movies. Two lovers trying to win hearts of the world and family against them, with a twist of inter-cast love-shove and finally they woe the audience with a message of undying eternal love between two individuals.  This time it is about the Family and world’s real acceptance of Love regardless of the gender mix.  

The movie opens like a typical romantic Bollywood movie with the fun and frolic of a wedding incomplete without Love sprouting out of first sight. All the incognito hormones raging and screaming for more of the intimacy with light touches and brushes of body make a fun mix tadka, with finally a watch full hot-headed brother with heightened senses of vision, hearing and morality, deciphers the love mystery and catches the culprit to hold captive with all means possible. So begins the same old merry-go-round of characters with escapes, chases, rage, tears and fears on the part of audience.  The escapee is Sonal K Ahuja who portrays ( Sweety Chaudhary ) Daughter of  (Balbir Chaudhary ) played by Anil Kapoor who is a forced business tycoon by his mother, nurturing the childhood ambition of being India’s best chef residing in a small town called Moga in Punjab. Finally, Sweety in one of her escapes meets (Sahil Mirza) Rajkumar Rao a struggling play writer in Delhi, son of a famous film producer who is set to create his own niche without family’s help or involvement. She seeks friendship while he interprets it as a sign of true love. This is pretty much the first half of the movie. But as the famous writer once wrote…

The course of True Love never did Run Smooth. – William Shakespeare.

The second half begins the journey of Sahil with help of (Chatro) played by the ever so talented Juhi Chawla who travel to Moga to win the Love of Sweety and her family. That’s when all the Shenanigans actually begin. The best scenes of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha toh Aisa Laga are between Balbir and Chatro who is a divorcee. They are the best bits of the film with marvelous set of comic and romance timing.  These are ever lasting actors with brilliance in their craft, that it is nearly impossible to associate them outside of the characters they play in the film.  The movie proceeds towards relaying its core civic message about the importance of family showing empathy and understanding towards a growing child confused by it's own internal mixed messages about the choices and attraction towards the same gender, and to let them live with the same amount of normalcy and affection as any and every child deserves. The romance between Sweety and her love interest Kuhu is shown beautifully without any awkward scene to avoid controversies and backlash. I particularly enjoyed this bit of love chemistry between two romantically involved individuals like in any good romantic film. The struggle however, in the movie is about the comedy which in most cases is average except between Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla. The story telling of the director Shelly Chopra Dhar doesn’t grip you to the movie, all the while easy predictability can give the boredom that even comedy fillers may not be able to lift. Overall it’s a good film to watch for some light time-pass and to watch if one has not yet grasped fully the message it portrays for the society at large. I end this review with this little quote I like.

 Trust your Intuition and be Guided by Love - Charles Eirsenstein

Movie Review Manikarnika : The Queen of Jhansi

One True Queen with Substance!

Manikarnika : The Queen of Jhansi

So much of our history is full of Courage and Heroics, which can be made into legendary films. Manikarnika is one of those Legendary films. We all have read about The Queen of Jhansi and know that she was the pioneer to sprout the idea of a free One complete  Bharat Varsha. Her courage and connect to the people at large made her the legend known as “Jhansi Ki Rani.”  A true Queen a rear Jewel in the Indian freedom fight with all the mettle of a fearless Warrior, Governor, Strategist and above all a True Leader. Manikarnika is all about this one True Queen with substance, hence you will see her occupy almost all the frames of the movie. I have no complaints as it is absolutely well deserved.

I don’t think any debutant director would have picked up a historical representation and portrayal of larger than life Hero like The Queen of Jhansi. Kangna Ranut gets full marks for directing along side Krish Jagarlamudi known for his work in Telugu Cinema.  Technically the war scenes and sword fight sequences are exceptionally perfected. However, the emotional side of the queen and her early life incidences require missing finesse. The initial sword tutorial sessions seem unfitting on Kangna who plays Manikarnika. But she pretty much makes up for them in the second half whereby she excels every move with extreme resilience and rigor making her credible for a warrior queen who has been playing with swords and horses since childhood. Every dilemma, emotion and helplessness of the situation that transforms into this courage that comes from within her, are these intense expressions of eyes, Kangna almost gives you goosebumps. The Patriotism that makes every woman in Jhansi fight for her queen is a voice that can shake the Himalayan ranges. Kangna playing this warrior queen is the ultimate tribute well given. Manikarnika may have well been dramatized and parts of other characters been reduced, but it’s purpose to show the life, choices, mental and physical strength of a woman with forward thinking, will give you an experience of history coming alive in front of your eyes. The dampener is the scripting for East India company whereby they have hardly any dialogues to deliver other than the few short ones on repeat mode.  The gruesomeness has been purposefully kept low. However, one can imagine the real intensity of these wars.

We should be watching Manikarnika along with our children, as this tale should replace fairy tales. Our children ought to know, what real courage and being fearless means? In today’s world where petty issues become the deciding factors for governance, and hashtags rule. The reality of what it real means to stand for something right and making hard choices needs to be reminded. I am glad that creative arts allow and make space for Manikarnika to remain immortal and our privileged generation to inspire and course correct. I never give stars to any movie in my review but I would give Manikarnika : The Queen of Jhansi 4 stars out of 5 for the fact to have been made. It will be a shame for any Indian anywhere in the world to ever miss an opportunity to watch it. The review would be incomplete without the mention of the end that left me feeling and thinking “Khub ladi Mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani.” Jai Hind!