THE SABARMATI REPORT fails to impress due to its haphazard execution & loose ends in the script Movie Review: THE SABARMATI REPORT fails to impress

Star Cast: Vikrant Massey, Ridhi Dogra, Raashii Khanna

Director: Dheeraj Sarna

The Sabarmati Report Movie Review Synopsis:

THE SABARMATI REPORT is the story of two journalists trying to search for the truth. The year is 2002. Samar Kumar (Vikrant Massey) is a Delhi-based cameraman who works for EBT News in the entertainment beat. The star reporter of this news channel is Manika (Ridhi Dogra). Her reporting is quite respected and also watched by millions across the country. On February 27, 2002, her editor Raman Talwar informs her that two bogies of the Sabarmati Express were set on fire early in the morning at Godhra. Manika rushes to the sleepy Gujarat town along with Samar. Both investigate and talk to the locals in Godhra and they realize that what happened on February 27 was not an accident. Yet, Manika stresses that the episode was an accident and blames the state government for it. Samar has reservations about the stifling of truth. He independently goes to the civil hospital in Godhra and speaks to the survivors who confirm that certain miscreants purposely set fire to the coaches. Samar submits these tapes to the EBT News. However, only Manika's tape is aired on air. Samar blasts Raman and Manika in front of the office. Samar is fired and the management makes sure that he doesn't get a job elsewhere. 5 years pass. In 2007, Amrita Gill (Raashii Khanna) joins EBT and is a fan girl of Manika. Manika and Raman realize that the sitting chief minister of Gujarat will be re-elected. As part of the plans to get into his good books, they decide to get Amrita to do a follow-up story on the Godhra episode. While going through the archives, Amrita stumbles upon Samar's hospital footage. She realizes that it's contrary to the rest of the investigation conducted by Manika on the incident. She decides to meet Samar and both start working on The Sabarmati Report. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

The Sabarmati Report Movie Story Review:

The story is one-sided and doesn't cover all aspects of the episode. Arjun Bhandegaonkar and Avinash Singh Tomar's screenplay is gripping but also has several loose ends. Dheeraj Sarna's dialogues (additional dialogues by Arjun Bhandegaonkar and Avinash Singh Tomar) are sharp.

Dheeraj Sarna's direction is not up to the mark. To give credit where it's due, he has extracted fine performances from the lead actors. He also keeps the duration in check. A few scenes stand out like Samar's outburst, Samar and Amrita escaping from the Vadodara locality, etc. The bond shared by Samar and Amrita makes for a nice watch. It's also heartening that the makers pay tribute to the victims of the train incident.

Raja Ram – The Sabarmati Report | Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, Ridhi Dogra | Kavita Krishnamurthy, Suresh Wadkar, Kartik Kush

On the flipside, the film tries to put the blame of the episode majorly on wrong reporting, as if that's the only reason for what conspired later on. If one goes by the film, then EBT News is the only news channel operating in India and that they had the power to alter the truth single-handedly. Those who are aware of this incident will know that many others were also responsible for the deaths that occurred later on but the film makes no mention of it. The direction is also haphazard at times and the story abruptly jumps as well. The audience will fail to understand how and why the case was filed against Samar and why no legal action was taken against Amrita since she was also a part of the investigation. Towards the end, we see Amrita reporting on the ‘real’ truth before Manika cuts her off. But how come a novice like Amrita even gets the opportunity to go on air without the approval of the seniors? These minuses far outweigh the pluses and hence, the film becomes a laughable affair.

The Sabarmati Report Movie Review Performances:

Vikrant Massey puts in an earnest effort and delivers a hard-hitting performance. The film is a bit watchable, thanks to him and the other lead actors. Ridhi Dogra shines and looks convincing as a no-nonsense media personality. Shockingly, she disappears after a point. Raashii Khanna has a late entry but makes up for it with her memorable performance. Barkha Singh (Shloka) is lovely in a cameo. Sundip Ved (Senior Minister), Digvijay Purohit (Rajeev; EBT head) and the actor playing Raman Talwar leave a huge mark. The others who do well are the actors essaying the roles of Mishra ji, Zainab (receptionist at Tiranga Lodge), Sadia, Arun Barda, Sajid Batlawala, Sadam Supariwala and Hamid Qadri. Lastly, Hella Stichlmair (Senior leader of the opposition party) is very bad.

The Sabarmati Report movie music and other technical aspects:

As for the songs, 'Tere Mere Darmiyan' is forgettable while 'Raja Ram' manages to register. Ketan Sodha's background score is impactful. Amalendu Chaudhary's cinematography is appropriate. The late Rajat Poddarr's production design is well-researched. Leepakshi Ellawadi's costumes and Aejaz Gulab's action are realistic. Manan Sagar's editing is slick but has jerks in some places.

The Sabarmati Report Movie Review Conclusion:

On the whole, THE SABARMATI REPORT fails to impress due to its haphazard execution & loose ends in the script. At the box office, it will be flop show.

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With a compelling premise and award-worthy performances GLADIATOR II is a fitting sequel Movie Review: GLADIATOR II is a fitting sequel

Star Cast: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington

Director: Ridley Scott

Gladiator II Movie Review Synopsis: GLADIATOR II is the story of a war prisoner who turns into a hero. Sixteen years after the events of the first part, the condition of the Roman Empire has further deteriorated. The empire is ruled by two incompetent emperors, Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), who want to expand the territory while ignoring the woes of the subjects. At their insistence, General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invades Numidia which is headed by Jugartha (Peter Mensah). One of the brave fighters in his army is Hanno (Paul Mescal). He and his wife Arishat (Yuval Gonen) fight courageously. But Arishat dies and Rome captures Numidia. Hanno, Jugartha and others are taken as prisoners and taken to the outskirts of Rome. Here, Hanno is bought by Macrinus (Denzel Washington) and the latter plans to make the former fight in the arena at the Colosseum. Meanwhile, Acacius is unhappy with the back-to-back wars. His wife is none other than Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), the daughter of the deceased noble king Marcus Aurelius. They and some members of the Senate plan a rebellion against the emperors. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Gladiator II Movie Story Review: Peter Craig and David Scarpa's story is full of drama and action. David Scarpa's screenplay is praiseworthy as it nicely takes the story forward from the memorable first part. The narrative is peppered with action and politics which will keep the viewers intrigued. The dialogues are simple and sharp.

Ridley Scott's direction, as expected, is marvellous. He had set a benchmark with GLADIATOR [2000] and hence, it’s a big risk to make its sequel. But Ridley succeeds and how. The characters in the first part were memorable but one doesn't miss them as the newer ones are also likeable. In fact, a few of them like the Emperors and Marinus are very well fleshed out and their mere presence adds to the madness. Although the suspense around Hanno is predictable, one doesn't mind as it unravelled beautifully. The fights are riveting and the challenge goes one level up this time. The Colosseum scenes are superb but watch out for Hanno's fight with the baboons; it's something to watch out for.

On the flipside, the film starts on a sluggish note. There are moments in the film in between where the film stagnates and also gets confusing, especially with regards to Macrinus’ actions. Those expecting lots of action might be disappointed as there's an important political track which forms a major chunk of the film. The action, meanwhile, is very gory. Though the fights will give a paisa-vasool time to viewers, some of them seem to be historically inaccurate, especially showing the arena filled with water and sharks.

Gladiator II Movie Review Performances: Paul Mescal plays the lead role with aplomb and looks convincing as a fearless soldier with a tragic past. Denzel Washington is the surprise of the film. He takes the film many notches higher with his character and his nuanced performance. An Oscar nomination-worthy act! Pedro Pascal underplays his part neatly. Connie Nielsen, as always, is lovely and graceful. Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger leave a tremendous mark. Peter Mensah and Yuval Gonen are fair in cameos. Alexander Karim (Ravi) shines and his character would be loved by the audience in India. The others who do a good job are Lior Raz (Viggo), Derek Jacobi (Senator Gracchus), Tim McInnerny (Thraex) and Matt Lucas (Master of Ceremonies).

Gladiator II movie music and other technical aspects: Harry Gregson-Williams's music enhances the impact. John Mathieson's cinematography is breathtaking and detailed. Arthur Max's production design is well-researched. Janty Yates and David Crossman's costumes are authentic. The VFX is top-class. The action is entertaining but too gory, as per the requirement of the story. Claire Simpson and Sam Restivo's editing could have been slicker.

Gladiator II Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, GLADIATOR II is a fitting sequel to one of the most loved films of Hollywood and rests on a compelling premise, award-worthy performances, top-notch drama and action. At the box office, it is set to open on a fair note and has the potential to emerge as a surprise success.

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Despite a superb performance, KANGUVA suffers due to a weak direction and similarities with other Pan-India films Movie Review: KANGUVA has a superb performance but suffers due to weak direction.

Star Cast: Suriya, Bobby Deol

Director: Siva

Kanguva Movie Review Synopsis: KANGUVA is the story of a brave warrior. The film is set in two timelines. In 2024, Francis (Suriya) is a bounty hunter in Goa who catches criminals for the police. His rival is his ex-girlfriend Angel (Disha Patani), who's also a bounty hunter. While trying to nab a gangster named Jittu, Francis bumps into a kid named Zeta. Zeta is a kid with extraordinary abilities who has escaped from a secret facility. Francis doesn't know Zeta and yet gets drawn to him. Meanwhile, in 1070 AD, Kanguva (Suriya) is the chief on the island of Perumachi. It is one of the five islands which are next to each other. The other four islands are Mandyaru, Venkadu, Mukkadu and Arthi. The Romans want to capture this region and they enlist the help of Kodavan. He informs the Romans that Perumachi warriors are too brave and they need to be eliminated not just by force but also through intelligence. Kodavan tries to do so but is caught red-handed by Kanguva. He kills him. His wife jumps into the pyre and asks Kanguva to take care of her son, Poruva. Meanwhile, the Romans now approach Arthi's ruthless chief Udhiran (Bobby Deol) to fight Kanguva and his army. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Kanguva Movie Story Review: Adi Narayana's story has a lot of weight. Siva's screenplay, however, fails to do justice to the plot. But a few scenes are well thought out. Madan Karky's dialogues are normal and are devoid of any powerful one-liners.

Siva's direction is grand. He has tried his best to present an epic cinematic experience to the viewers. This is evident not just in the 1070 AD track but also in the present-day scenes. The latter are stylishly executed. The enmity between the two tribes and the characteristics of the five islands are imaginative. The father-son bond is touching.

On the flipside, the film is too loud. The direction is weak in several places. Certain scenes must have sounded great on paper but didn’t translate as intended on celluloid. Also, it comes at a time when viewers are probably bored of watching ruthless, animal-like humans baying for each other's blood. Since it comes too late in the day, viewers will draw parallels with films like BAAHUBALI, DEVARA etc. For instance, Udhiran's tribe seems very similar to Kalkeyas of BAAHUBALI. The present-day portions, meanwhile, give a deja vu of KALKI 2898 AD due to the presence of Disha and the mention of bounty hunters. The film ends with the promise of a sequel and it fails to excite viewers. Kanguva (Hindi) – Release Trailer | Suriya | Bobby Deol

Kanguva Movie Review Performances: Suriya gives more than a hundred per cent to the role and makes the film watchable. As Francis, he’s cool but as Kanguva, he’s fiery and looks convincing as a brave leader who can take on several enemies at once. The child actor (whose name is nowhere mentioned surprisingly by the makers) has a crucial role and does a fabulous job. Bobby Deol looks menacing but his performance leaves a lot to be desired. Disha Patani looks sizzling but hardly has anything to do. Yogi Babu (Colt 95) and Redin Kingsley (Accelerator) raise limited laughs. The other actors do well.

Kanguva movie music and other technical aspects: Devi Sri Prasad's music is catchy. The theme song 'Naayak'is exhilarating. 'Fire Song' is grand. However, showing Suriya moving his tongue as a dance step is embarrassing.'Maafi' is soulful. 'YOLO' is forced. Devi Sri Prasad's background score adds to the cinematic appeal.

Vetri Palanisamy's cinematography is spectacular, especially the scenes shot at the beach. T Udhayakumar, Renjith Venugopal Saravakumar's sound design is horrible as it is needlessly loud. Milan's production design is detailed and authentic. Anu Vardhan's costumes for Suriya are appealing while Dhatsha Pillai Maria Merlyn's costumes are realistic. Supreme Sundar's action is very disturbing. Nishad Yusuf's editing is appropriate.

Kanguva Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, KANGUVA has a superb performance by Suriya but the film suffers due to a weak direction and similarities with other Pan-India films.

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VIJAY 69 is a light-hearted inspirational tale that works due to the relatability factor, performance and climax Movie Review: VIJAY 69 is a light-hearted tale that works due to the relatability, performance and climax.

Star Cast: Anupam Kher, Mihir Ahuja

Director: Akshay Roy

Vijay 69 Movie Review Synopsis: VIJAY 69 is the story of an extraordinary man. Vijay Mathew, 69, lives alone in Mumbai's Victoria Society. He was once a swimming coach and lost his wife Anna (Ekavali) 15 years ago due to cancer. Due to a certain episode, he suddenly realizes that he hasn't done anything significant in life. Hence, he starts looking for a purpose. One day, he learns that Aditya Jaiswal (Mihir Ahuja), 18, who lives in the same colony is all set to become the youngest person in India to participate in a triathlon. Vijay researches and realizes that if he also participates in this race, he'll become India's oldest person to complete a triathlon. Hence, Vijay applies for it and after some hindrance, his application gets accepted. However, he'll have to extensively train for the triathlon as it involves 1.5 km of swimming, 40 km of cycling and 10 km of running. Vijay's daughter Deeksha (Sulagna Panigrahi) is against this idea. Moreover, due to society politics, there's a possibility that Vijay might get ousted from the race. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Vijay 69 Movie Story Review: Akshay Roy's story is simple. Akshay Roy's screenplay is well-written and thought of. Akshay Roy's dialogues (additional dialogues by Abbas Tyrewala) are hilarious and creative.

Akshay Roy's direction is neat. He keeps the tone of the film light and also ensures that the goings-on is relatable, especially for senior citizens. He also keeps the duration in check and packs in a lot in just 112 minutes. Vijay's track, of course, takes the cake but what also works is the bond shared by Vijay and Aditya. The intro scene is quite funny. Akshay, however, reserves the best for the last 15 minutes. One knows what'll happen but not how it'll happen. In this regard, the director succeeds and he'll also make viewers teary-eyed.

On the flipside, not all jokes work. The scene where Vijay jumps into the swimming pool while fighting with a parent and when he's asked to go for a medical test fails to evoke laughs. The entire Vijay vs Aditya clash is an interesting idea on paper but looks quite childish on screen. Moreover, there are too many abuses in the dialogues. Hence, one should keep this in mind as from the trailers, it seemed like a clean family entertainer.

Vijay 69 Movie Review Performances: Anupam Kher delivers a smashing performance. A role of this kind requires a lot, emotionally and physically, and Anupam gives his all to the role. He is excellent in the training scenes but watch out for him in scenes where he gets emotional. Chunky Panday (Dr Fali Bathena) is a bit over the top but it works for his role and he delivers ably. Mihir Ahuja, who rose to fame with THE ARCHIES, leaves a huge mark. He has a crucial role and is sure to get noticed. Guddi Maruti (Parminder Bakshi), Ekavali and Sulagna Panigrahi leave a huge mark. Adrija Sinha (Ruhi; content creator) is fair. Dharmendra Gohil (Aakash; Aditya's father) and Saanand Verma (Corrupt journalist) are quite good in their respective roles. Ketika Sharma (Malti) is lovely. Jiten Mukhi (Vivek Sagar), Paritosh Sand (Ranjit Kumar; who helps Vijay at the Triathlon Association of India), Abhhay Joshi (Sunil Saxena), Ravish Desai (Abhimanyu; Deeksha's husband) and Ayan Hasan Ali Khan (Akhil; Deeksha's son) are decent. Kunal Vijaykar (Kishore) and Ashwin Mushran (Jaag) are wasted.

Vijay 69 movie music and other technical aspects: VIJAY 69 is a song-less film. However, the song 'Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu' from WAQT [1965] is aptly used in the film and enhances the impact. Gaurav Chatterji's background score is light, just like the film's tone.

Sahil Bhardwaj's cinematography is appropriate in Mumbai scenes and quite breathtaking in the climax. Meenal Agarwal's production design and Darshan Jalan and Manish Tiwari's costumes are realistic. Sunil Rodrigues' action is impressive. Manas Mittal's editing is satisfactory.

Vijay 69 Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, VIJAY 69 is a light-hearted inspirational tale that works due to the relatability factor, Anupam Kher's marvellous performance and an emotional climax.

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Movie Review: VIJAY 69 is a light-hearted tale that works due to the relatability, performance and climax.

Star Cast: Anupam Kher, Mihir Ahuja

Director: Akshay Roy

Vijay 69 Movie Review Synopsis: VIJAY 69 is the story of an extraordinary man. Vijay Mathew, 69, lives alone in Mumbai's Victoria Society. He was once a swimming coach and lost his wife Anna (Ekavali) 15 years ago due to cancer. Due to a certain episode, he suddenly realizes that he hasn't done anything significant in life. Hence, he starts looking for a purpose. One day, he learns that Aditya Jaiswal (Mihir Ahuja), 18, who lives in the same colony is all set to become the youngest person in India to participate in a triathlon. Vijay researches and realizes that if he also participates in this race, he'll become India's oldest person to complete a triathlon. Hence, Vijay applies for it and after some hindrance, his application gets accepted. However, he'll have to extensively train for the triathlon as it involves 1.5 km of swimming, 40 km of cycling and 10 km of running. Vijay's daughter Deeksha (Sulagna Panigrahi) is against this idea. Moreover, due to society politics, there's a possibility that Vijay might get ousted from the race. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Vijay 69 Movie Story Review: Akshay Roy's story is simple. Akshay Roy's screenplay is well-written and thought of. Akshay Roy's dialogues (additional dialogues by Abbas Tyrewala) are hilarious and creative.

Akshay Roy's direction is neat. He keeps the tone of the film light and also ensures that the goings-on is relatable, especially for senior citizens. He also keeps the duration in check and packs in a lot in just 112 minutes. Vijay's track, of course, takes the cake but what also works is the bond shared by Vijay and Aditya. The intro scene is quite funny. Akshay, however, reserves the best for the last 15 minutes. One knows what'll happen but not how it'll happen. In this regard, the director succeeds and he'll also make viewers teary-eyed.

On the flipside, not all jokes work. The scene where Vijay jumps into the swimming pool while fighting with a parent and when he's asked to go for a medical test fails to evoke laughs. The entire Vijay vs Aditya clash is an interesting idea on paper but looks quite childish on screen. Moreover, there are too many abuses in the dialogues. Hence, one should keep this in mind as from the trailers, it seemed like a clean family entertainer.

Vijay 69 Movie Review Performances: Anupam Kher delivers a smashing performance. A role of this kind requires a lot, emotionally and physically, and Anupam gives his all to the role. He is excellent in the training scenes but watch out for him in scenes where he gets emotional. Chunky Panday (Dr Fali Bathena) is a bit over the top but it works for his role and he delivers ably. Mihir Ahuja, who rose to fame with THE ARCHIES, leaves a huge mark. He has a crucial role and is sure to get noticed. Guddi Maruti (Parminder Bakshi), Ekavali and Sulagna Panigrahi leave a huge mark. Adrija Sinha (Ruhi; content creator) is fair. Dharmendra Gohil (Aakash; Aditya's father) and Saanand Verma (Corrupt journalist) are quite good in their respective roles. Ketika Sharma (Malti) is lovely. Jiten Mukhi (Vivek Sagar), Paritosh Sand (Ranjit Kumar; who helps Vijay at the Triathlon Association of India), Abhhay Joshi (Sunil Saxena), Ravish Desai (Abhimanyu; Deeksha's husband) and Ayan Hasan Ali Khan (Akhil; Deeksha's son) are decent. Kunal Vijaykar (Kishore) and Ashwin Mushran (Jaag) are wasted.

Vijay 69 movie music and other technical aspects: VIJAY 69 is a song-less film. However, the song 'Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu' from WAQT [1965] is aptly used in the film and enhances the impact. Gaurav Chatterji's background score is light, just like the film's tone.

Sahil Bhardwaj's cinematography is appropriate in Mumbai scenes and quite breathtaking in the climax. Meenal Agarwal's production design and Darshan Jalan and Manish Tiwari's costumes are realistic. Sunil Rodrigues' action is impressive. Manas Mittal's editing is satisfactory.

Vijay 69 Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, VIJAY 69 is a light-hearted inspirational tale that works due to the relatability factor, Anupam Kher's marvellous performance and an emotional climax.

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SINGHAM AGAIN is a big Diwali dhamaka with mass-pleasing moments Movie Review: SINGHAM AGAIN is a Diwali dhamaka.

Star Cast: Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Tiger Shroff

Director: Rohit Shetty

Singham Again Movie Review Synopsis: SINGHAM AGAIN is the story of India's top cop trying to save his wife. Bajirao Singham (Ajay Devgn) is stationed in Kashmir where he arrests the dreaded terrorist Omar Hafiz (Jackie Shroff). Omar warns Singham that someone, who's a part of his team, will come and wreak havoc. Two years pass. Singham's wife Avni (Kareena Kapoor Khan) is staging a grand play on Ramayan which will go on for 9 days. Meanwhile, Singham finds out that Omar's team is smuggling drugs from Sri Lanka to India. Singham asks Madurai DCP Shakti Shetty aka Lady Singham (Deepika Padukone) to arrest the drug traffickers. She does but sadly Danger Lanka (Arjun Kapoor) arrives. He frees the prisoners and sets the police station on fire, killing all the cops. If that's not enough, he smartly tempts Avni to Rameshwaram and then abducts her. Singham swears revenge and he's joined by Shakti, Satya (Tiger Shroff), Simmba (Ranveer Singh) and Sooryavanshi (Akshay Kumar). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Singham Again Movie Story Review: Kshitij Patwardhan's story is simple. Yunus Sajawal, Kshitij Patwardhan, Sandeep Saket, Anusha Nandkumar, Abhijeet Khuman, and Rohit Shetty's screenplay is full of convenience. At the same time, it is also peppered with mass-pleasing moments. Shantanu Srivastava's dialogues (additional dialogues by Milap Zaveri, Vidhi Ghodgaonkar, Rohit Shetty) are whistle-worthy and are meant to excite the audience.

Rohit Shetty's direction is commercial. He succeeds big time with the responsibility of handling a multi-starrer film. Some actors have slightly less screen time but one can't deny that they all have been given memorable fight scenes. Hence, their fans won't be disappointed. The Ramayana angle is terrific and the way Rohit has drawn parallels is seen to be believed. Though the story is predictable, the director has thrown in some surprises. Satya's entry is sudden and would be loved by moviegoers. The humour quotient is also quite strong.

On the flipside, the way Omar gets arrested so easily is hard to digest. Secondly, there are too many cinematic liberties.

Singham Again | Official Trailer | A Rohit Shetty Cop Universe | In Cinemas 1st Nov

SINGHAM AGAIN starts on an okay note. The chase sequence in Kashmir is engaging but could have been written better. The sequence on situationship works well individually but as part of the film, it also tests patience as one waits for some action. Thankfully, the film gets better once Shakti enters the narrative. Danger Lanka's entry is scary. Satya, meanwhile, enters with a bang. The intermission point is great. In the second half, Simmba rocks the show with his antics and action. The climax is a bit convenient but just to see all the actors together is sure to give viewers a high. The film ends with the much-awaited cameo of Chulbul Pandey (Salman Khan).

Singham Again Movie Review Performances: Ajay Devgn turns into something else when he plays Singham and it shows on screen. Performance-wise, he is superb. Ranveer Singh has a crucial part. He goes overboard with some of his jokes but overall, he enhances the fun quotient of the film by many notches. Akshay Kumar has a late entry but as expected, he does a very good job, Kareena Kapoor Khan is the only one not doing action but she makes up for it with her screen presence and able performance. Tiger Shroff is great and proves that he’s still one of the best action stars today. Deepika Padukone is fiery and leaves a tremendous mark. Arjun Kapoor is a big surprise. He looks convincing as an evil villain. Jackie Shroff is okay and his track is a bit abrupt in the end. Ravi Kishan (Minister Raj Jaishankar) lends able support. Shweta Tiwari (Devika) and Dayanand Shetty (Daya) are memorable. Viren Vazirani (Shaurya; Singham's son) is fair. Rajshri Nair (Satya's mother) delivers a performance that would be loved by the moviegoers, especially by the ladies. Sara Afreen Khan (Mrigya) is okay. Lastly, Salman Khan is hardly there but his presence would lead to a frenzy in cinemas.

Singham Again movie music and other technical aspects: Ravi Basrur and Thaman S' music is disappointing. Ravi Basrur's background score, however, is exhilarating.

Girish Kant and Raza Hussain Mehta's cinematography is breathtaking. The locales of Kashmir and Sri Lanka, especially, are well-shot. Swapnil Bhalerao and Madhur Madhavan's production design is rich. Sunil Rodrigues and Grant Hulley's action and Rohit Shetty's action design is too good. Thankfully, it's not too gory. Navin Shetty's costumes are realistic and yet glamorous. NY VFXWaala's VFX is appealing. Bunty Nagi's editing is slick but it could have been slicker in the first half.

Singham Again Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, SINGHAM AGAIN is a big Diwali dhamaka. While it suffers from a screenplay of convenience and a weak soundtrack, it compensates with mass-pleasing moments, the parallels with Ramayana and the coming together of major stars - a phenomenon seen in Bollywood after ages. At the box office, the film is bound to strike gold and do extraordinary business. Critics be damned; this one is for the masses!

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BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3 is a well-made horror comedy which works Movie Review: BHOOL BHULAIYAA works due to its performances, script, execution and unpredictable climax

Star Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri

Director: Anees Bazmee

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Movie Review Synopsis: BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3 is the story of a haunted palace. Ruhaan aka Rooh Baba (Kartik Aaryan) and Tillu (Arun Kushwah) live in Kolkata and con people by pretending to be ghostbusters. One day, they are caught red-handed by Meera (Triptii Dimri) and her uncle (Rajesh Sharma). They even record a video clip that exposes him. However, they allow him to go scot-free if he is ready to accompany them to their ancestral palace in Rakhtghat. Ruhaan reluctantly agrees. Once he reaches there, he meets Meera’s father Raja saab (Vijay Raaz) and the rest of the family, who are living in abject poverty in a stable. This is because the palace is haunted by the evil spirit of Manjulika. The priest of the family (Manish Wadhwa) informs Ruhaan that he’s the one who can free the palace of this evil spirit as he looks ditto like Raja Dibrendranath, who was killed by Manjulika in 1824. Ruhaan is not interested but he has no choice. But he starts enjoying his time in Rakhtghat after he’s hailed for being a lookalike of the prince. He and Meera also fall for each other. Sadly, his happiness is short-lived. Manjulika’s spirit gets free. On the other hand, two mysterious women – Mallika (Vidya Balan) and Mandira (Madhuri Dixit) – arrive at Rakhtghat and add to the madness. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Movie Story Review: Aakash Kaushik's story is impressive as it’s not cliched and has a lot of interesting plot points. Aakash Kaushik's screenplay is top-notch. The writing keeps viewers intrigued and invested in the proceedings. Aakash Kaushik's dialogues are witty and funny in equal doses.

Anees Bazmee's direction is splendid. He proved with BHOOL BHULAIYAA 2 [2022] that he knows how to ace the horror comedy genre and he confirms this aspect in BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3. The scare element works big time and at the same time, he has made sure that the goings-on aren’t too scary and that it’s suitable for the family audience. He also keeps the proceedings light despite the presence of an evil ghost. However, what works big time is that Anees doesn’t lay out all his cards at the onset. He unravels the mystery gradually and hence, every 15-20 minutes, viewers will learn of a new development, which they wouldn’t have expected.

On the flipside, the humour quotient is lesser this time, especially when compared to BHOOL BHULAIYAA 2. On the other hand, there are too many songs. The film stagnates in the middle of the second half. The track of Vicky Khanna (Shataf Figar) is interesting but doesn’t land as intended.

BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3 begins on a solid note and Rooh Baba and Meera’s entry scenes are funny. The scene where Ruhaan learns about the poverty in the royal family will bring the house down. Mallika’s entry is dramatic while the intermission point is terrific. The second half also starts on a superb note. But the best is reserved for the finale. It’ll astonish the viewers as they won’t see the twist coming. The film ends on a dramatic and justified note.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (Official Trailer): Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Triptii Dimri

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Movie Review Performances: Kartik Aaryan is in top form and this time, he’ll surprise viewers with the range of his performance. His comic timing, like always, is spot-on and he looks quite dashing from start to finish. His dance moves are something to watch out for in this film. Vidya Balan gives a power-packed performance and succeeds in keeping her act mysterious. Madhuri Dixit has a late entry but she makes up for it with her screen presence, dance and performance. Triptii Dimri gets a bit overshadowed but manages to make a mark in some key scenes. She looks quite stunning in the scene where she wears a saree. Rajpal Yadav (Chota Pandit), Sanjay Mishra (Bada Pandit) and Ashwini Kalsekar (Panditain) raise laughs although in a few sequences, the writing could have been better. Rajesh Sharma and Vijay Raaz lend able support. Manish Wadhwa is very impressive and suits the part to the T. Arun Kushwah is fair while Shataf Figar does well, but his scene seems unwanted. Kanchan Mullick (Faulad Singh) and Denzil Smith (Maharaj in 1824) are decent.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 movie music and other technical aspects: The songs add to the glamour and entertainment value. The title track is peppy although the one in part 2 was better. 'Beiraada'is stunning while 'Hukkush Phukkush'is catchy. 'Jaana Samjho Na' is forced. Finally, 'Ami Je Tomar 3.0' is the soul of the film. Sandeep Shirodkar's background score is in sync with the happenings on screen.

Manu Anand's cinematography is breathtaking. Watch out for him the way he has shot Ladakh like never before. Manohar Verma's action is realistic. The late Rajat Poddarr's production design is stunning. Sheetal Sharma's costumes for Kartik Aaryan and Triptii Dimri are stylish while Niharika Bhasin's costumes for the rest of the actors are appealing. RedChillies.VFX's VFX matches global standards. Sanjay Sankla's editing is functional.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3 is a well-made horror comedy which works due to its performances, taut script, creative execution and above all, an unpredictable climax which will leave viewers shocked. At the box office, the film will easily enter Bollywood’s 200 cr. club and has the potential to give a tough fight to the other Diwali biggie, SINGHAM AGAIN.

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DO PATTI has an interesting subject in hand but the film suffers due to weak direction Movie Review: DO PATTI has an interesting subject in hand

Star Cast: Kriti Sanon, Kajol, Shaheer Sheikh

Director: Shashanka Chaturvedi

Do Patti Movie Review Synopsis:

DO PATTI is the story of twin sisters and a cop. Saumya (Kriti Sanon) resides in Devpur, Uttarakhand with her caretaker (Tanvi Azmi). Saumya's twin sister Shailee (Kriti Sanon) is away for higher studies. Shailee has been jealous of Saumya since childhood as the latter was more sensitive and also had health issues. Saumya meets Dhruv Sood (Shaheer Sheikh), who runs an adventure sport company in the town. Dhruv helps Saumya get over her fear of flying while paragliding and she falls for him. This is when Shailee returns. She senses that Saumya is in love with Dhruv. Hence, to get even with her, she starts flirting with Dhruv. Dhruv, too, gets attracted to her and they begin an affair. However, Dhruv soon gets tired of Shailee's reckless behaviour. His politician father also asks him to stay away from Shailee and insists that he should marry a homely girl. Hence, Dhruv asks Saumya's hand for marriage. Saumya agrees and Shailee promises to make her life hell. On top of it, Dhruv indulges in domestic violence. Amid all this madness, Vidya Jyothi Kanwar (Kajol) joins the Devpur Police Station. She senses what Saumya is going through and decides to help her. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Do Patti Movie Review Synopsis:

Kanika Dhillon's story is intriguing and has a dash of mystery. Kanika Dhillon's screenplay is decent and keeps viewers engaged. Kanika Dhillon's dialogues are sharp.

Shashanka Chaturvedi's direction is not up to the mark. To give credit where it's due, the flashback and back-and-forth narrative does keep viewers engaged. A few scenes stand out like Saumya and Dhruv's first meeting, Shailee and Dhruv's first meeting, the madness at Saumya and Dhruv's wedding, etc. There’s an angle of domestic violence and it's quite hard-hitting. The scene where Dhruv brutally assaults Saumya, while a sad song is played in the background, is disturbing.

On the flipside, certain traits of the characters are not established well, and this hampers the impact. For instance, Saumya's mental health could have been better explained. It would have added an interesting layer and made viewers wonder if she was guilty. Without this aspect, one already knows that it's Dhruv who is guilty and no one else. There’s a twist in the pre-climax which will be unexpected for a section of viewers. Again, the impact is limited as a character trait was not fleshed out well. In short, the makers had to work a little more on Saumya’s character, her phobias, etc. It’s also bewildering to see that the judge merely looks at the medicines and believes what the lawyer claims about Saumya’s mental condition. In reality, the judge would summon the doctor to the court to better understand the condition of the patient. Lastly, Shailee’s change of heart also doesn’t seem organic and happens suddenly.

 

Do Patti Movie Review Performances:

Kriti Sanon performs both roles with panache. Thankfully, the way both characters are designed, it is easy to distinguish them and Kriti, with her performance, further makes them seem distinct. As Saumya, she underplays well and as Shailee, she’s quite confident. Kajol has less screen time in the first half but dominates the show with her performance and strong screen presence. Shaheer Sheikh looks dashing and gets his act right. Viewers will love him during his initial scenes and then hate him equally once he shows his true colours. Tanvi Azmi and Brijendra Kala (Katoch) lend able support. Prachee Shah Paandya (Shobhna Pundir) and Rohit Tiwari (Niren; Saumya and Shailee's father) are fine in small roles. Vivek Mushran (Deepak; Saumya and Shailee's chacha) is wasted. Chittranjan Tripathy (Kumar; lawyer) leaves a mark. Manoj Bakshi (Tyagi; tourism minister) raises laughs while Mohit Chauhan (Prithvi Singh Sood; Dhurv's father) and Sohaila Kapur (Justice Aruna Goel) are decent.

Do Patti movie music and other technical aspects:

Sachet-Parampara's music is average. 'Thhayein Thhayein' is foot-tapping. 'Jaadu' and 'Raanjhan' are soulful but won’t have a shelf life. 'Maaiyaa' is well woven into the narrative. 'Akhiyaan De Kol' is missing from the film. Anurag Saikia's background score is impactful and novel.

Mart Ratassepp's cinematography is simple as well as breathtaking. Nikhil Kowale's production design is not authentic. Sheetal Iqbal Sharma's costumes for Saumya’s character are simple while Sanam Ratansi's costumes for Shailee are bold and glamorous, as per the character requirement. Radhika Mehra's costumes for the rest of the actors are appropriate. Riyaz Shaikh, Habib Sayed, Craig Macrae and Parvez Shaikh's action is realistic while Openslate's VFX is a bit tacky, especially in the paragliding scenes. Naman Arora and Hemal Kothari's editing is fair.

Do Patti Movie Review Conclusion:

On the whole, DO PATTI has an interesting subject in hand and is laced with fine performances by Kriti Sanon and Kajol. However, the film suffers due to weak direction and loose ends in the script.

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VENOM: THE LAST DANCE rests on a paisa vasool second half, but sections of the audience might not accept the climax Movie Review: Despite a paisa vasool second half some may not accept the climax of VENOM: THE LAST DANCE.

Star Cast: Tom Hardy stars, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans

Director: Kelly Marcel

Venom: The Last Dance Movie Review Synopsis: VENOM: THE LAST DANCE is the story of a huge threat looming on Earth. After the events of VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE [2021], Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), along with Venom, is hiding in Mexico. After they end up killing four baddies, they decide to run away. Eddie realizes that he can move to New York and blackmail a judge into helping him. While flying back to the USA, Eddie and Venom get attacked by a xenophage, which has been sent by Knull from planet Klyntar. Knull is looking for a codex, which Venom and Eddie have. Venom informs Eddie that if one of them dies, the codex gets destroyed. Hence, they both need to be alive as well as ensure that they can defeat xenophages as well as Knull. But the xenophages are dangerous and it won't be easy to eliminate them. On top of it, Eddie is being hunted by General Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor). He is aware that Eddie needs to be killed to save the world. On top of it, there's also Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham), Dr Paine (Juno Temple) and Clark Backo (Sadie) to add to the madness. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Venom: The Last Dance Movie Story Review: Tom Hardy and Kelly Marcel's story is entertaining. Kelly Marcel's screenplay is uncomplicated though the moviegoers this time might take a while to comprehend the conflict. The dialogues add to the fun and drama.

Kelly Marcel's direction is massy. He manages to keep the interest levels up from start to finish and packs in a lot in 110 minutes. He reserves the best for the second half. The last 30 minutes are action-packed and have some fine nail-biting moments. In the first half, a scene that stands out is the fight near the waterfall.

On the flipside, the director takes a while to build up. The Venom character is not even there in some scenes as the other character gets established and one does miss the protagonist here. The whole angle of the judge in New York is laughable. They could have thought of a better reason for Eddie to return knowing that he's the most wanted person in the States. The climax might not be acceptable to a section of the film viewers. Lastly, there's no romantic track and it'll surely be missed since it formed an important part of the series.

Venom: The Last Dance Movie Review Performances: Tom Hardy is at ease like before and he's most entertaining in scenes where Eddie has to pretend that no alien exists in him. Chiwetel Ejiofor lends able support. Stephen Graham does fine but his character is horribly wasted after a point, especially when so much time is spent on establishing his track. Rhys Ifans (Martin Moon) leaves a huge mark. Alanna Ubach (Nova Moon) and the actors playing their children are fine. Juno Temple and Clark Backo lend able support.

Venom: The Last Dance movie music and other technical aspects: Dan Deacon's music has a cinematic appeal.  Fabian Wagner's cinematography is spectacular. Sean Haworth and Chris Lowe's production design is rich. Daniel Orlandi's costumes are non-glamorous, as per the requirements of the characters. The VFX is top class while the action is very gory and disturbing. Mark Sanger's editing is slick.

Venom: The Last Dance Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, VENOM: THE LAST DANCE rests on a paisa vasool second half although the climax might not be acceptable to all sections of the audience. Nevertheless, the popularity of the series and the encouraging advance sales will ensure that the film has a decent performance at the box office, despite the big Diwali releases next week.

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Movie Review: THE WILD ROBOT is a wholesome entertainer

Star Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Kit Connor, Pedro Pascal

Director: Chris Sanders

The Wild Robot Movie Review Synopsis: THE WILD ROBOT is the story of an unlikely bond between a robot and a bird. A robot named Rozzum 7134 aka Roz (Lupita Nyong'o) washes ashore on a remote island. An amphibious animal accidentally activates her. Roz is designed to be an all-purpose robot and starts promoting her service to the animals. The animals, however, get scared and run away on seeing her. One animal attacks Roz and while running, she unintentionally crushes a goose nest. All but one egg survives. The egg hatches and the baby goose sees Roz. The baby assumes Roz is his mother and starts following her. Pinktail (Catherine O'Hara), a mother opossum, instructs Roz to feed the goose and teach her how to swim and fly before the migration begins. Roz considers this as her task, and she dedicatedly tries to fulfil it. She falters and gets help from Fink (Pedro Pascal), a shrewd fox. Roz and Fink name the goose Brightbill (Kit Connor). The trio form a great team, but Brightbill soon realizes that he's a misfit among the other birds due to the upbringing given by Roz. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

The Wild Robot Movie Story Review: THE WILD ROBOT is based on the book of the same name, written by Peter Brown. The story is adventurous and unexpected. Chris Sanders' screenplay is effective and packs in a lot in just 102 minutes. The dialogues are witty and also conversational.

Chris Sanders' direction is wholesome. The film has emotional, dramatic, thrilling and even action moments. Chris peppers the narrative with all these aspects. The robot has been well fleshed out and despite his obvious robotic eyes, one's heart goes out for her when she's in crisis. What also works is the fact that one doesn't know where the story would go next. The second half is better than the first and the scene where Roz rescues all animals from biting cold is applause worthy.

On the flipside, Roz getting attacked and battered in the opening sequence is a bit repetitive. In order to keep the narrative crisp, the makers rush through some key scenes. The humour is limited and kids might not appreciate it. Also, one can’t help but draw parallels with WALL-E [2008], albeit for a few minutes in the beginning. Lastly, India is an unpredictable market for animation films, and one can't say for sure if the film will click with the Indian audience.

The Wild Robot Movie Review Performances: Lupita Nyong'o is terrific and effortlessly voices the robot that also has human-like qualities. Pedro Pascal adds to the entertainment value. Kit Connor is dependable while Catherine O'Hara’s voice has a motherly feel, which adds to the character’s trait. Bill Nighy (Longneck), Stephanie Hsu (Vontra), Mark Hamill (Thorn) and Matt Berry (Peddler) do well. Ving Rhames (Thunderbolt) leaves a mark, but the character disappears after a point.

The Wild Robot movie music and other technical aspects: Kris Bowers' music has a cinematic appeal. Chris Stover's cinematography is breathtaking. Raymond Zibach's production design is rich. The animation matches global standards though it's bewildering why the fire is depicted in an awkward red colour. Mary Blee's editing is crisp but too quick in some scenes.

The Wild Robot Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, THE WILD ROBOT is a wholesome entertainer but the dull pre-Diwali period and unpredictable market scenario for animation films in India might affect its collections.

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JIGRA rests on some emotional moments and Alia Bhatt’s performance, but the film suffers from a weak second half Movie Review: JIGRA rests on some emotional moments and Alia Bhatt’s performance.

Star Cast: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina

Director: Vasan Bala

Jigra Movie Review Synopsis: JIGRA is the story of a fearless sister. Satya (Alia Bhatt) and Ankur (Vedang Raina) are orphans. After the death of their parents, they are taken care of by Mr Mehtani (Akashdeep Sabir) and his family, who are their distant relatives. Satya works with them and handles their day-to-day affairs. Ankur and Mehtani’s son Kabir (Aditya Nanda) are buddies and have worked on a project. A client (Sikandar Kher) in the country of Hanshi Dao expresses interest in their venture. Ankur and Kabir, thus, travel to Hanshi Dao. Their meeting is successful but the same day, they get arrested after police find drugs in Kabir’s possession. The Mehtanis quickly send their lawyer Jaswant (Harssh Singh) to Hanshi Deo. As per the law of the country, drug possession leads to death punishment. Jaswant persuades Kabir to claim to the authorities that it was Ankur who was carrying drugs and not him. Ankur also confesses the same after giving an assurance that he’ll be set free in a few months. But Ankur is given the death sentence. Satya quickly heads to Hanshi Dao and is determined to get her brother out at any cost. There, she gets help from ex-gangster Shekhar Bhatia (Manoj Pahwa) and ex-cop Muthu (Rahul Ravindran). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Jigra Movie Story Review: Debashish Irengbam and Vasan Bala's story has potential. Debashish Irengbam and Vasan Bala's screenplay is engaging but also has its share of loose ends. Debashish Irengbam and Vasan Bala's dialogues are realistic.

Vasan Bala's direction is decent. With MARD KO DARD NAHI HOTA [2019] and MONICA O MY DARLING [2022], he has proved that he can stylishly execute certain scenes and increase their impact. JIGRA is no exception. He especially uses the slo-mo effect beautifully in the climax (watch out for the roof jump scene). One also gets moved by the plight of Satya and for most parts of the film, viewers would root for her. The intermission point is stylishly cut and is unexpected.

On the flipside, the second half is weak. The film falls once Satya and Muthu get into a confrontation. At this point, one loses respect for Satya. Muthu, after all, isn’t wrong but the actions of Satya make her seem like a psychopath. The finale is full of cinematic liberties. It's fine as most films will have that. But JIGRA is given a realistic treatment. Hence, the execution and content don’t match.

Jigra Movie Review Performances: Alia Bhatt, however, gives her heart and soul to the film. She ensures that Satya looks like someone who can go to any length and can fight anyone. She also shines in the emotional scenes. Watch out for her in the scene where she goes to the prison for the first time. Vedang Raina leaves a huge mark and proves that he has a bright future ahead. Manoj Pahwa is dependable as always and also adds some humour to the otherwise serious film. Rahul Ravindran is a great find and the same goes for Ankur Khanna (Rayyan). Vivek Gomber (OIC Hansraj Landa) is terrific and also gets the accent right flawlessly. Akashdeep Sabir, Harssh Singh and Aditya Nanda are decent. Akansha Ranjan Kapoor and Sikandar Kher's cameos are fair. Radhika Madan and Abhimanyu Dasani also feature in the film in blink-and-miss roles.

Jigra – Official Theatrical Trailer | Alia Bhatt | Vedang Raina

Jigra movie music and other technical aspects: Achint Thakkar's music works well in the film. 'Phoolon Ka Taaro Ka' is well composed while 'Tenu Sang Rakhna' has a haunting feel. The title track is soulful, and 'Pan India Area King' is funky. Achint Thakkar's background score has a cinematic feel.

Swapnil S Sonawane's cinematography is splendid, and the close shots are well shot. Mukund Gupta's production design is classy. Veera Kapur Ee's costumes and Vikram Dahiya's action are realistic. Prerna Saigal's editing could have been slicker.

Jigra Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, JIGRA rests on some emotional moments and a strong performance by Alia Bhatt. But due to a weak second half and mismatch between content and execution, the impact gets diluted. At the box office, it is likely to struggle.

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CTRL is gripping and is sure to become a talking point and amass considerable viewership Movie Review: CTRL is gripping and is sure to become a talking point

Star Cast: Ananya Panday, Vihaan Samat

Director: Vikramaditya Motwane

CTRL Movie Review Synopsis: CTRL is the story of a woman who falls into a dangerous, digital trap. Nalini aka Nella Awasthi (Ananya Panday), originally based in Delhi, lives in Mumbai with her boyfriend Joe Mascarenhas (Vihaan Samat). They have a social media channel called NJOY where they put up funny and cute videos and sketches. Their following is huge. Nella, however, gets consumed by their online avatar and is obsessed with increasing engagement and likes for their content. Joe feels neglected. He’s a part of a public interest tech group where he meets Shonali (Kamakshi Bhat). On Joe’s birthday, Nella goes live and decides to surprise him by landing up at Joe’s party with his tech buddies. She gets the shock of her life when she sees Joe kissing Shonali. An angry Nella breaks up with Joe. Since the live recording captured the moments of Joe kissing and Nella hitting Shonali, she goes viral for the wrong reasons and also gets trolled massively. While going through the comments, she comes across a suggestion – she should download an app named ‘Ctrl’ and delete Joe from her digital past. A depressed Nella downloads it and creates an AI avatar named Allen (voiced by Aparshakti Khurana), which is simply her name spelt backwards. Nella forms a bond with Allen as the latter begins to cleanly remove Joe from her pictures and videos. But unknown to Nella, the brains behind the ‘Ctrl’ app have ulterior motives. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

CTRL Movie Story Review: Avinash Sampath's story is novel and the need of the hour. Avinash Sampath and Vikramaditya Motwane's screenplay is imaginative. It is unlike any other Hindi film script due to the technical aspect and yet, it is simple and easy to understand. Sumukhi Suresh's dialogues are witty and add to the humour and drama.

Vikramaditya Motwane's direction is terrific. This is a screenlife movie along the lines of memorable flicks like UNFRIENDED [2014], SEARCHING [2018], etc. (Timur Bekmambetov, who pioneered these films is also the executive producer of CTRL). It is always a risk to pull off a film like this as one also needs to make sure that the digital graphics look slick and at the same time, it should be convincing that a character is using a device for a reason and not for the heck of it to fulfil the idea of a ‘screen film’. On both fronts, Vikramaditya succeeds. Technically, the film is great. The shots of Joe getting deleted slowly from Nella’s pictures are executed dramatically. The AI character of Allen looks harmless and also dangerous at the same time. Meanwhile, Vikramaditya also has a great story to tell and he does it with panache. It's very real as we have all been consumed by the drama in the lives of content creators. The break-up track is hilarious and the film goes in a different zone once Nella lets Allen take control. A lot happens in the second half and that will astonish the audience.

On the flipside, the way Nella gets trapped is convincing but its consequences are not. The deepfake angle does get noticed but why it doesn't become a big issue by internet activists is not easy to digest. The finale adds a nice touch but at the same time, it is not as impactful. The makers never care to explain how Nella's family and relatives react to her fiasco in the last act.

CTRL Movie Review Performances: Ananya Panday delivers a fine performance. She gets into the skin of the character and looks every inch like an influencer whose life is consumed by social media. She also does well in some of the challenging scenes. Vihaan Samat has limited screen time but makes up for it with his able performance. Devika Vatsa (Bina) is a great find while Kamakshi Bhat is decent. Ravish Desai (Aryan K) and Suchiita Niigam Patel (Nella's mother) leave a mark in cameos. Tanmay Bhat, Rohan Joshi, Aaditya Kulshreshth, Nishant Tanwar and Vishal Dayama play themselves and add to the realism. Finally, Aparshakti Khurana is too good as the voice of Allen.

CTRL movie music and other technical aspects: Sneha Khanwalkar's music is modern. 'Ulfat' stands out as it's very catchy. 'B(h)adass' is well picturized but 'Ainwayi Yunhi'is okay. 'Mera Boyfriend' by Yashraj Mukhate is very hilarious. Sneha Khanwalkar's background score is in sync with the film’s mood.

Pratik Shah's cinematography is praiseworthy, despite the challenges. Yashika Gor's production design and Shruti Kapoor's costumes are straight out of life. Philm CGI's VFX matches global standards. Jahaan Noble's editing is slick.

CTRL Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, CTRL, the first screenlife film of Bollywood, is gripping and will also make viewers question their dependency on their devices. It is sure to become a talking point and thereby also amass considerable viewership.

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JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX is a crazy ride with a complicated narrative Movie Review: JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX is a crazy ride

Star Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga

Director: Todd Phillips

Joker: Folie à Deux Movie Review Synopsis: JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX is the story of a nihilistic man who finds a lover. After the events of the first part, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is institutionalized at Arkham State Hospital for killing five men, including one on live television. Arthur hasn’t told anyone that his mother Penny Fleck (Frances Conroy) didn’t die naturally and that it was him who murdered her. He's represented by Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), who sympathizes with Arthur and wants to prove in court that he has a split personality. Further, she wants to indicate to the jury that it was Joker and not Arthur that caused these killings. In Arkham, Arthur bumps into Lee (Lady Gaga). She has been institutionalized after she set fire to her parents' apartment. She knows about Arthur's past and is a fan. Both start a relationship in the prison. Lee is set free and she promises to attend his trials and that they both can have a future together. Lee's presence adds a lot of joy in Arthur's life. However, reality strikes when Maryanne tells Arthur about Lee's past. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Joker: Folie à Deux Movie Story Review: Todd Phillips and Scott Silver's story is simple but they attempt to add a unique touch. However, Todd Phillips and Scott Silver's screenplay doesn't turn out as intended. The film is a bit confusing and a few of the developments in the story are not convincing at all. Todd Phillips and Scott Silver's dialogues are sharp.

Todd Phillips' direction is audacious as he takes the bold step of turning a film like this into a musical. The love affair between Arthur and Lee is also cinematic and makes for an interesting watch. A few courtroom scenes also stand out, especially when Arthur loses his cool over Maryanne's ways in the court and Arthur, dressed as Joker, questions Leigh Gill (Gary Puddles).

On the flipside, the musical aspect backfires in places. This is not a Disney or even a LA LA LAND [2016] kind of film; to see the characters breaking out into a song at regular interviews seems awkward. Also, there are too many songs and it adds to the length. The final scene is unexpected but it also might not seem acceptable to many moviegoers.

Joker: Folie à Deux Movie Review Performances: Joaquin Phoenix yet again steals the show. The impact might not seem as much as the first JOKER. This was probably because, during the first part, we didn’t know his performance would be this awesome. Here, our expectations are set. Nevertheless, he does a great job yet again. Lady Gaga is apt for the part. The way she gets into the skin of the character and performs merely through her expressions is seen to be believed. Her voice, of course, is soothing. Catherine Keener lends able support. Leigh Gill shines though he’s there for just one scene. The same applies to Steve Coogan (Paddy Meyers). Bill Smitrovich (Judge Herman Rothwax) and Brendan Gleeson (Jackie Sullivan) leave a huge mark. Harry Lawtey (Harvey Dent) and Ken Leung (Dr Liu) are fair. Zazie Beetz (Sophie Dumond; Arthur's neighbour) is okay in a cameo. Jacob Lofland is hardly there but will be talked about a lot.

Joker: Folie à Deux movie music and other technical aspects: Hildur Guðnadóttir's music is lovely but doesn't have the desired impact Hildur Guðnadóttir's background score, however, is appropriate.

Lawrence Sher's cinematography adds to the madness and chaos. Mark Friedberg's production design is top-class.  Arianne Phillips's costumes are stylish, especially the ones worn by Lady Gaga, and also in sync with the theme of the film. The VFX matches global standards while the action is realistic. Jeff Groth's editing could have been slicker.

Joker: Folie à Deux Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX is a crazy ride but the impact is limited this time due to the complicated narrative and too many songs. At the box office, the clean run until October 11 and the goodwill of the first part will prove beneficial to some extent.

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