Dhadak lacks the unbridled consonance and passion of Sairat, on which it is based, but the lead pair and a compelling second half make it worth a visit. Janhvi Kapoor's star presence is unmistakable as Parthavi Singh. She is talented, dewy, and has inherited Sridevi's grace and easy charm. Ishaan Khatter's Madhukar Bagla is au naturel,… Continue reading Dhadak: Ishaan and Jhanvi shine, but the beat is missing
Soorma: For the win
Diljit Dosanjh, who won acclaim for second lead roles, gets to play his first title role as international hockey player Sandeep Singh in Soorma. The best thing about the actor is the softness about him, along with an earnest wicked, which has quite the disarming effect on women. Diljit adds quiet strength, finesse, and power to… Continue reading Soorma: For the win
Sanju: Flawed and zany, but not a terrorist
I love Sanjay Dutt. The cool Indian rockstar superstar with heart. An impossibly flawed hero who has failed many times, and mustered up the strength to pick himself up, face and address his demons. No doubt the actor has been wed to trouble all his life. Yet he also showed up, every single time, bigger… Continue reading Sanju: Flawed and zany, but not a terrorist
Sydney Film Festival: Decoding Manto and Mehsampur
Life can be distressing for creative souls who strive to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. The consequence of their honesty could be killings or attacks, even in a civilised society. Sound familiar? Indian films Manto and Mehsampur, directed by Nandita Das and Kabir Singh Chowdhry respectively, which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival this year,… Continue reading Sydney Film Festival: Decoding Manto and Mehsampur
Nandita Das: Manto’s view of women and the dignity he gave to them is rare
Nandita Das does not need an introduction. Her body of work speaks for her. She is known for her unique acting, and now directing choices. She quietly defied moulds with expert performances in Fire, Earth, Kannathil Muthamittal, Azhagi, Kamli, Before The Rains and Ramchand Pakistani. Her directorial debut Firaaq, which she co-wrote with Shuchi Kothari, was… Continue reading Nandita Das: Manto’s view of women and the dignity he gave to them is rare
Veere Di Wedding: Of filter-free, fun and fabulous Veeres
Veere Di Wedding was worth every micro second of the long wait if we go by famous words uttered by the ever-articulate Swara Bhasker: "It's taken 105 years for mainstream Bollywood to make a film about four girlfriends and none of them are falling in love with the same guy." Truth. We haven't had a high-spirited… Continue reading Veere Di Wedding: Of filter-free, fun and fabulous Veeres
Raazi: Eye Spy
“Trust your instinct. It won't fail you,” Khalid Mir tells Sehmat Khan, a college girl, as he sets her up for an exceptional journey she is about to take. The sound suggestion comes after training her for just a month, soon she will be assigned on duty to spy on her husband’s family. Director Meghana Gulzar’s… Continue reading Raazi: Eye Spy
102 Not Out: Two men and an empty nest
At long last, a pair of old men share the driving seat in an emotional movie ride. Statistics tell us that women outlive men in their lifespans. But what happens when their partners perish earlier and men are left alone in the empty nest? With 102 Not Out, director Umesh Shukla makes a gentle and entertaining attempt… Continue reading 102 Not Out: Two men and an empty nest
October: Slow Cooked Love
October is like that rare, precious and real moment which arrives in our prescribed lives completely unannounced. Like a soft petal, or a floating cloud, or a silent wave. Filled with calm and spontaneity. Making us wonder what to do with it. Savour it? Live it? Run from it? Fast forward it? Solid, ready, and patient, it waits… Continue reading October: Slow Cooked Love
Pari: Date With The Devil
The devil is in the detail: a simple story is fairly layered in the way it is told. Prosit Roy's Pari is definitely not a fairytale. In fact, it is scary, gruesome and quite confronting to watch in parts. Yet I left the theatre with a fuzzy feeling after an evocative, emotional climax and post… Continue reading Pari: Date With The Devil
cinemaspotter.com 