SANGEE stands out for Sharib Hashmi's highly entertaining performance Movie Review: SANGEE stands out for Sharib Hashmi's highly entertaining performance

Star Cast: Sharib Hashmi, Sanjay Bishnoi, Shyamraj Patil, Vidya Malvade

Director: Sumit Kulkarni

Sangee Movie Review Synopsis: SANGEE is the story of three friends. Baman (Sharib Hashmi), Karan (Sanjay Bishnoi) and Akhil (Shyamraj Patil) are childhood buddies. Baman, a single man, lives in Pune. Karan lives in Mumbai with his wife Mohini (Vidya Malvade) and ailing mother (Farida Patel) while Akhil is settled in Mauritius with his wife Brinda (Mira Jagannath) and son Abhimanyu (Anish Railkar). Both Karan and Akhil have achieved financial success. Baman, however, is still struggling. He took a loan of Rs. 18 lakhs from Akhil and started a tours and travel company. But it got shut down in the pandemic. He now wants to set up a strawberry products factory. He calls Akhil and asks for Rs. 15 lakhs, though he hasn't paid back the earlier loan. Akhil expresses inability to give him the money this time. Hence, Baman heads to Mumbai to meet Karan. Akhil calls Karan and warns him that Baman might come to his place to ask for money. Karan makes it clear that though he's a childhood friend, he'll not lend a single paisa to Baman. Things, however, take a turn for Karan once the jovial Baman arrives at his place and persuades him to loan him the amount. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Sangee Movie Story Review: Thopte Vijaysinh Sarjerao's story is not much. Thopte Vijaysinh Sarjerao's screenplay, however, is engaging and keeps the interest going due to the various funny moments. Thopte Vijaysinh Sarjerao's dialogues are witty and raise a lot of laughs.

Sumit Kulkarni's direction is simplistic. There's not much of a plot and the film mainly relies on various funny moments and situations. And Sumit manages to succeed in this regard. The bond the friends share is heartening. The character of Baman takes the cake without a doubt and his antics will surely put a smile on the faces of the viewers. A few scenes that stand out are Baman pretending to be Karan's servant on the phone while speaking to Akhil, Mohini claiming to start a condom business, Karan lying that he's abroad, etc.

On the flipside, a little bit of confrontation and fights between the friends would have elevated the proceedings. After all, equations change as time passes and moreover, Baman is asking for a huge amount. Secondly, the track of the servant seems too similar to the Kanta Ben sequence in KAL HO NAA HO [2003]. The final scene of the servant, however, is funny. The climax is too convenient, especially Baman's conversation with Shailesh (Rohit Kokate). Lastly, the 'A' rating is unjustified for this film.

Sangee | Official Trailer | Sharib Hashmi | Vidya Malvade | Sanjay Bishnoi | Gaurav More

Sangee Movie Review Performances: Sharib Hashmi is the life of the film and in fact, he dominates everyone. He’s the apt choice for this role as he could nicely play a man who ideally should get on your nerves but at the same time, is too adorable. As expected, the actor nails it. Sanjay Bishnoi delivers a fine performance and compliments Sharib’s timing well. Shyamraj Patil has limited screen time and is fine. Vidya Malvade leaves a huge mark and even she shows her funny side in the condom scene. Mira Jagannath is decent in a cameo. Farida Patel is funny but her track should have had more meat. Anish Railkar and Rohit Kokate are okay. Gaurav More (More; servant) is fair.

Sangee movie music and other technical aspects: There’s only one song in the film, the title track. It's forgettable although it's well-placed in the film. Anurag Godbole's background score is in sync with the film’s mood. Sopan Purandare's cinematography is neat. The production design is a bit theatrical and TV show-like. Gayatri Chakradeo's costumes are straight out of life. Hemant Vansh's editing is appropriate. 

Sangee Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, SANGEE stands out for Sharib Hashmi's highly entertaining performance and its heartfelt commentary on friendship. However, at the box office, the film is likely to go largely unnoticed due to minimal awareness. The unwarranted 'A' certification for a film of this nature further limits its business prospects.

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AZAAD struggles to captivate due to a lacklustre first half, and a weak script Movie Review: AZAAD struggles to captivate

Star Cast: Ajay Devgn, Aaman Devgan, Rasha Thadani, Diana Penty

Director: Abhishek Kapoor

Azaad Movie Review Synopsis: AZAAD is the story of a young man and a horse. The year is 1920. Govind (Aaman Devgan) lives with his father Braj (Sandeep Shikhar), sister Daani (Jiya Amin), and nani (Natasha Rastogi) in the village of Bhusar in Central Province. Braj works at the stable of the village chieftain Rai Bahadur (Piyush Mishra). He has a son Tej Bahadur (Mohit Malik) and a daughter Janaki (Rasha Thadani). Tej Bahadur, like the father, is evil while Janaki has a sensitive side. One day, Govind accidentally rides the horse of Rai Bahadur while Janaki is doing horse riding in the royal stable. Govind is whipped for his mistake. Govind assumes that Janaki complained about him and despises him. Janaki doesn't celebrate Holi and no one in the village has the guts to apply colour on her. Govind, however, splashes colour on her face. Realizing that Rai Bahadur and Tej Bahadur might kill him, Govind runs away. In the jungles, he comes across a royal, beautiful horse. Govind immediately gets mesmerized. Soon, he realises that the horse's name is Azaad and he belongs to Vikram Singh (Ajay Devgn), a dreaded dacoit. Vikram's army captures Govind, assuming that he’s a cop or a spy. But they let him off when they realize that Govind is not harmful. Vikram gets fond of Govind and he also becomes a part of his army. However, Azaad has no such fondness for Govind. Meanwhile, Vikram's former partner Kesar (Diana Penty) is now the wife of Tej Bahadur. Tej, along with the British, wants to finish Vikram and they can go to any lengths for it. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Azaad Movie Story Review: Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair and Abhishek Kapoor's story has all the trappings of a mass entertainer. Ritesh Shah and Suresh Nair's screenplay (additional screenplay by Chandan Arora) has its share of riveting and clap-worthy moments but leaves a lot to be desired. Ritesh Shah's dialogues (additional dialogues by Chandan Arora) are memorable.

Abhishek Kapoor's direction is average. On the positive side, he keeps the narrative uncomplicated. The horse and dacoit aspect gives a pleasant déjà vu of the films of the 70s and 80s. Also, one roots for the hero as the villains are shown to be very evil. A few scenes are memorable like Govind meeting Vikram for the first time, Azaad drinking alcohol, Govind sneaking into Janaki’s room, Govind trying to befriend Azaad, etc. The finale is engaging.

On the flipside, the first half might make viewers a bit restless. It's only in the second half that the film becomes worth it to some extent during the climax. The character of Janaki gets a raw deal. The same goes for Kesar. In fact, except for Govind, Vikram Singh and the horse, the other characters are not given prominence. The love story is never established properly and this goes against the film heavily as one would definitely expect romance between the newcomers. The climax is a bit abrupt; ideally, there should have been a scene about what happened to the characters later on to sum up the tale. Moreover, the protagonist resorting to unethical means in the end might not be acceptable to a section of the audience.

Azaad Official Trailer | Ajay Devgn | Aaman Devgan | Rasha Thadani

Azaad Movie Review Performances: Aaman Devgan makes a confident debut and it's clear that he has worked hard. He looks convincing while riding the horse and his dance in the Holi song is mesmerizing. Rasha Thadani commands attention with her captivating screen presence and displays immense potential. Unfortunately, her screen time in the first half is quite limited. Ajay Devgn has a supporting role and as always, he's too good. Diana Penty is sincere but her character lacks meat. Mohit Malik does fine in his debut role. Piyush Mishra is fair. Sandeep Shikhar, Jiya Amin, Natasha Rastogi, Andrew Crouch (James Cummings), Dylan Jones (Lord Cummings), Rakesh Sharma (Jamal), Akshay Anand (Biru) and Neeraj Kadela (Mute Priest) are decent.

Azaad movie music and other technical aspects: Amit Trivedi's music doesn't have the desired effect. 'Uyi Amma' is the only song that is memorable. 'Birangay' works due to the choreography. 'Aazaad Hai Tu' and 'Azaad Hai Tu (Reprise)' are forgettable. 'Ajeeb-O-Gareeb' has a vintage feel.

Hitesh Sonik's background score has a cinematic feel. Setu's cinematography is satisfactory and it's very good in the race sequence in the climax. Akshay Tyagi and Jade By Monica and Karishma's costumes are stylish and yet, in sync with the era. Saini S Johray's production design is authentic. Ian Van Temperly and Aejaz Gulab's action is not too gory. NY VFXWaala's VFX is impressive but gets tacky in the hyena scene. Chandan Arora's editing is functional.

Azaad Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, AZAAD struggles to captivate due to a lacklustre first half, a weak script, and the absence of a romantic angle. At the box office, the limited buzz around the film will pose challenges, though the Cinema Lovers Day offer might provide some relief to an extent on Day 1.

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A REAL PAIN rests on some funny scenes and an award-worthy performance Movie Review: A REAL PAIN has its share of funny and moving scenes with an award-worthy performance

Star Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin

Director: Jesse Eisenberg 

A Real Pain Movie Review Synopsis: A REAL PAIN is the story of two cousins on a life-changing trip. Jewish cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benjamin aka Benji (Kieran Culkin) reside in the USA. They head to Poland as part of a Nazi-German Holocaust tour. As per the arrangement, they plan to leave the tour a day early to visit the childhood home of their late grandmother who survived the Holocaust and shifted to the USA. They land in Warsaw and proceed to the hotel where they meet their tour guide James (Will Sharpe), a recently divorced middle-aged woman Marcia (Jennifer Grey), an old couple Diane (Liza Sadovy) and Mark (Daniel Oreskes) and a recently converted Black man Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan). David is an introvert and reserved while Benji is free-spirited and likes to speak his mind. Benji's behaviour gets a little extreme at times and Benji has no choice but to bear it and even apologize to other tour members during the course of their journey. What happens next forms the rest of the film. 

A Real Pain Movie Story Review: Jesse Eisenberg's story is striking. Jesse Eisenberg's screenplay incorporates laughter and tragedy beautifully. However, towards the end, the writing falters.

Jesse Eisenberg's direction is simple. The film is just 90 minutes long and yet, Jesse manages to incorporate a lot into the narrative. The film begins on a funny note but soon, the confrontation and emotional moments take over and it makes for a great experience. The Indian audience will see a sort of familiarity - while the Europan road trip aspect gives a deja vu of ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA [2011], the Holocaust connection might remind one of BAWAAL [2023]. Of course, the goings-on here are totally different. The characters are also well fleshed out, especially David and Benji. Benji might also remind viewers of Zach Galifianakis’ character in THE HANGOVER but once the emotional and dark side of the character comes to the fore, the similarities end.

On the flipside, the scene where David and Benji finally reach their grandmother's place is very underwhelming. The finale is probably justified but it’s also a bit abrupt and somewhere leaves a bit to be desired. Lastly, the film is too niche and will appeal only to a section of the audience. 

A Real Pain Movie Review Performances: Jesse Eisenberg is behind the camera as well as in front of it and he comes out with flying colours on all fronts. He plays the socially awkward person with deep insecurity with panache. Kieran Culkin takes the cake as he plays the difficult part with ease. When David says ‘I love him, I hate him and I want to kill him,’ you can’t help but agree as Kieran brings that complicated aspect to life beautifully. Will Sharpe leaves a mark, especially in the scene where Benji gives him constructive feedback. Jennifer Grey is lovely while Kurt Egyiawan lends able support. Liza Sadovy and Daniel Oreskes also do well. 

A Real Pain movie music and other technical aspects: A REAL PAIN has a minimal background score and it comprises piano pieces by Polish composer Frédéric Chopin (performed by Tzvi Erez). The use of little music adds to the realism and also niche value. Michał Dymek’s cinematography is spectacular and would tempt viewers to visit Poland. Mela Melak's production design and Malgorzata Fudala's costumes are straight out of life. Robert Nassau's editing is slick. 

A Real Pain Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, A REAL PAIN has its share of funny and moving scenes and rests on an award-worthy performance by Kieran Culkin. At the box office, the film will struggle due to the niche appeal and little awareness. However, it might spring a surprise if the film manages to secure a couple of Oscar nominations, once the list is announced next week.

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GAME CHANGER is yet another mass-appealing saga from Shankar that works due to the clapworthy moments Movie Review: GAME CHANGER is yet another mass-appealing saga from Shankar.

Star Cast: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah

Director: Shankar

Game Changer Movie Review Synopsis: GAME CHANGER is the story of an honest citizen of India. H Ram Nandan (Ram Charan) is a student with temper issues. He falls in love with Deepika (Kiara Advani), a medical student in the same college. She advises him to channel his anger for a better cause and also insists that he should try to be an IAS officer. She strictly instructs him not to be an IPS officer as she knows that he, with his anger issues, will cause havoc. As luck would have it, he fails to crack the IAS exam but manages to pass the IPS examination. As a result, Deepika dumps him. Ram turns into an honest cop and also keeps attempting the IAS exam every year and one day, he manages to pass with flying colours. He becomes the collector of his hometown Vishakapatnam and starts taking heavy action against corrupt industrialists and politicians. This affects the business of Mopidev (S J Suryah), the son of CM Satyamoorthi (Srikanth). Satyamoorthi's dark past comes to haunt him, and he strictly tells his party members to not indulge in any form of corruption to earn money until the elections. Mopidev is anyway unhappy with this idea and Ram's actions further hurt him. He decides to eliminate Ram once and for all. Meanwhile, Satyamoorthi has a strange connection with Ram, and it comes to the fore in the most unexpected manner. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Game Changer Movie Story Review: Karthik Subbaraj's story is hard-hitting. Vivek's screenplay has a few rough edges but overall, it is peppered with ample action, drama, humour and even twists and turns. Rajendra Sapre's dialogues in Hindi are normal.

Shankar's direction is massy and after the very disappointing HINDUSTANI 2 [2024], he's back in form in a space that he excels in. A lot happens in the film, and it even spans various eras. But thanks to his execution, it makes for a seamless watch. Most importantly, it is very simplistic and appeals to the common man. Since it deals with corruption, it is bound to touch a chord. Moreover, the various unexpected moments add to the fun. The intermission point is when the audience will go bonkers. The scene where drones lift the EVMs is another memorable scene.

On the flipside, Shankar doesn't devote proper time to the very important flashback track, especially what happens to the young Ram after a certain point. The mother track is also not given the prominence as required and this dilutes the impact. In fact, Ram's foster family is forgotten after a point. Lastly, though the second half has its charm, it pales compared to the very awesome first half.

Game Changer Movie Review Performances: Ram Charan looks dashing and plays on the front foot. He’s superb while doing action and dance but watch out for him in the emotional scenes. Kiara Advani looks stunning and puts her best foot forward. Sadly, she’s hardly there in the film. S J Suryah is terrific. He plays to the gallery and his act would be loved by the masses. Anjali (Parvathy) is fine but is let down by the writing. Her act also gives a déjà vu of Devasena in BAAHUBALI. Sunil (Side Satyam) is too good and provides a lot of laughs. Vennela Kishore (stalker), however, is wasted and his role might not be liked by a section of the audience. Jayaram (Ramachandra Reddy) is over the top, but it works for his character. Srikanth and Samuthirakani (Sabhapati) lend able support. Brahmanandam is funny, as expected.

Game Changer Trailer (Hindi) | Ram Charan | Kiara Advani | Shankar | Thaman S | Dil Raju | Shirish

Game Changer movie music and other technical aspects: Thaman S's music is not up to the mark. 'Dam Tu Dikhaja' stands out thanks to its wonderful choreography. 'Dhop' is okay while 'Jaragandi' is forced. 'Jaana Hairaan Sa' is missing from the film. Thaman S's background score is energetic.

S Thirunavukkarasu's cinematography adds to the mass appeal. Anbariv's action is not too gory and works well for a film of this kind. Avinash Kolla's art direction is too loud, especially in the songs. But otherwise, it is fine. The costumes are rich. Shameer Muhammed and Antony Ruben's editing is satisfactory but too quick during the flashback scenes.

Game Changer Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, GAME CHANGER is yet another mass-appealing anti-corruption saga from Shankar that works due to the clapworthy moments, twists and turns, relatable goings-on and performances of Ram Charan and S J Suryah. At the box office, the limited buzz will affect its opening, but it has the potential to pick up and take advantage of the dry period.

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FATEH is a slick action entertainer that exposes the horrors of loan apps Movie Review: A slick action entertainer FATEH exposes the horrors of loan apps

Star Cast: Sonu Sood, Jacqueline Fernandez, Naseeruddin Shah

Director: Sonu Sood

Fateh Movie Review Synopsis: FATEH is the story of a man fighting cyber criminals. Fateh Singh (Sonu Sood) resides in Moga, Punjab, and works as a supervisor at a dairy farm. He's well respected in the village and likes to secretly help those in need. His neighbour in the village is Nimrit (Shiv Jyoti Rajput) and they both share a lovely bond. Nimrit runs a mobile shop and she is also an agent of a loan app called ‘Kisht Pe’. Through her, many villagers opt for a quick loan and thus benefit. But later on, they have a hard time paying interest even after paying off the loan. The loan agents threaten the villagers and even resort to sending fake nude pics of their family members in case the money is not paid in time. Sandhu (Binnu Dhillon) is one such harrowed villager who takes a loan and then is unable to pay the interest. With no other option, he ends his life. Meanwhile, Nimrit has disappeared. Fateh decides to track her down. He heads to Delhi and soon, comes face to face with the loan app sharks. Unknown to them, Fateh is no common man. He's a well-trained assassin. Meanwhile, Fateh is not alone. He's helped by ethical hacker, Khushi (Jacqueline Fernandez). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Fateh Movie Story Review: Sonu Sood's story is just okay. Sonu Sood and Ankur Pajni's screenplay (additional screenplay by Sankalp Rawal, Rudra Anand, Shyam Nirmal) is fast-paced and a few moments are well thought out. Sonu Sood and Ankur Pajni's dialogues are ordinary.

Sonu Sood's direction is stylish. He intercuts certain scenes with style and that adds to the fun. A few scenes that stand out are Fateh with Chaddha (Akashdeep Sabir) and his men at the theatre, Fateh meeting the cop Nishit Biswas (Dibyendu Bhattacharya) for the first time, a corrupt cop revealing that the password to his laptop is Satyamev Jayate etc. Also, the 140-minute-long flick doesn't bore even for a moment. Moreover, its the first film that speaks about the horrors of loan apps and that makes FATEH an extremely relevant flick.

On the flipside, the film seems to have borrowed heavily from ANIMAL, JOHN WICK etc. The scene where Fateh fights masked men in a narrow corridor seems very similar to the Ranbir Kapoor starrer. Secondly, the audience will be left confused about Nimrit’s feelings for Fateh. Was she attracted to him or simply saw him as a brother? The makers should have simplified this aspect.

Fateh | Official Trailer l Sonu Sood | Jacqueline Fernandez | In Cinemas 10th January

Fateh Movie Review Performances: Sonu Sood as an actor puts his best foot forward. He keeps his act restrained and looks great while performing action. Jacqueline Fernandez delivers a sincere performance. However, the romantic track is very weak. Naseeruddin Shah’s (Raza) casting adds a lot to the film and he’s dependable as always. Vijay Raaz (Satya Prakash) is seen in a very different role and does fine. Dibyendu Bhattacharya leaves a huge mark. Akashdeep Sabir is there for just one scene and is too good. Shiv Jyoti Rajput, Binnu Dhillon, Prakash Belawadi (Aayappa) and Sheeba Akashdeep (Nirmit's mother) lend able support. Soundous Moufakir (Raza’s assistant) is fair.

Fateh movie music and other technical aspects: The music fails to entice. 'Fateh Kar Fateh' is not well utilized. 'Nindiya' and 'Rona Taqdeer' are good compositions but seem a bit out of place in a film like this. 'Call To Life' is the best of the lot as it’s like the theme song. 'Hitman' is played in the end credits. John Stewart Eduri's background score has a cinematic appeal.

Vincenzo Condorelli's cinematography is slick, especially in the action scenes. Lee Whittaker, Rampyare Ramdhari Yadav, Riyaz Nasir Shaikh and Habib Haji Sayed's action is very gory, as is the norm nowadays. Tariq Umar Khan and Nadiri Tariq Khan's production design and Gopika Gulwadi's costumes are appropriate. Yash Parikh's editing is satisfactory.

Fateh Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, FATEH is a slick action entertainer that exposes the horrors of loan apps, a burning issue in the country right now. Sonu Sood is impressive as an actor and also as director in this film that has the potential to surprise though the opening will be impacted due to limited buzz.

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FATEH rests on an ordinary storyline and also gives a déjà vu of previous films Movie Review: With an ordinary storyline FATEH gives major deja vu feels

Star Cast: Sonu Sood, Jacqueline Fernandez, Naseeruddin Shah

Director: Sonu Sood

Fateh Movie Review Synopsis: FATEH is the story of a man fighting cyber criminals. Fateh Singh (Sonu Sood) resides in Moga, Punjab, and works as a supervisor at a dairy farm. He's well respected in the village and likes to secretly help those in need. His neighbour in the village is Nimrit (Shiv Jyoti Rajput) and they both share a lovely bond. Nimrit runs a mobile shop and she is also an agent of a loan app called ‘Kisht Pe’. Through her, many villagers opt for a quick loan and thus benefit. But later on, they have a hard time paying interest even after paying off the loan. The loan agents threaten the villagers and even resort to sending fake nude pics of their family members in case the money is not paid in time. Sandhu (Binnu Dhillon) is one such harrowed villager who takes a loan and then is unable to pay the interest. With no other option, he ends his life. Meanwhile, Nimrit has disappeared. Fateh decides to track her down. He heads to Delhi and soon, comes face to face with the loan app sharks. Unknown to them, Fateh is no common man. He's a well-trained assassin. Meanwhile, Fateh is not alone. He's helped by ethical hacker, Khushi (Jacqueline Fernandez). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Fateh Movie Story Review: Sonu Sood's story is just okay. Sonu Sood and Ankur Pajni's screenplay (additional screenplay by Sankalp Rawal, Rudra Anand, Shyam Nirmal) is clichéd though a few moments are well thought out. Sonu Sood and Ankur Pajni's dialogues are ordinary.

Sonu Sood's direction is stylish but suffers due to certain reasons. To give credit where it's due, he intercuts certain scenes with style and that adds to the fun. A few scenes that stand out are Fateh with Chaddha (Akashdeep Sabir) and his men at the theatre, Fateh meeting the cop Nishit Biswas (Dibyendu Bhattacharya) for the first time, a corrupt cop revealing that the password to his laptop is Satyamev Jayate etc. Also, the 140-minute-long flick doesn't bore even for a moment.

On the flipside, the film seems to have borrowed heavily from ANIMAL, JOHN WICK etc. The scene where Fateh fights masked men in a narrow corridor seems very similar to the Ranbir Kapoor starrer. The plot of an assassin who picks up the weapons once again after living a peaceful life has also been beaten to death in many films, including in the recently released BABY JOHN. The backstory of Fateh and even Nimrit is weak and the makers should have invested more time in it. A novel aspect of the story is loan apps and their dangers but it doesn’t get the prominence it deserves. The focus is on Fateh and how he fights the baddies but this aspect has been seen many times. Lastly, the audience will be left confused about Nimrit’s feelings for Fateh. Was she attracted to him or simply saw him as a brother? The makers should have simplified this aspect.

Fateh | Official Trailer l Sonu Sood | Jacqueline Fernandez | In Cinemas 10th January

Fateh Movie Review Performances: Sonu Sood as an actor puts his best foot forward. He keeps his act restrained and looks great while performing action. Jacqueline Fernandez delivers a sincere performance. However, the romantic track is very weak. Naseeruddin Shah’s (Raza) casting adds a lot to the film and he’s dependable as always. Vijay Raaz (Satya Prakash) is seen in a very different role and does fine. Dibyendu Bhattacharya leaves a huge mark. Akashdeep Sabir is there for just one scene and is too good. Shiv Jyoti Rajput, Binnu Dhillon, Prakash Belawadi (Aayappa) and Sheeba Akashdeep (Nirmit's mother) lend able support. Soundous Moufakir (Raza’s assistant) is fair.

Fateh movie music and other technical aspects: The music fails to entice. 'Fateh Kar Fateh' is not well utilized. 'Nindiya' and 'Rona Taqdeer' are good compositions but seem a bit out of place in a film like this. 'Call To Life' is the best of the lot as it’s like the theme song. 'Hitman' is played in the end credits. John Stewart Eduri's background score has a cinematic appeal.

Vincenzo Condorelli's cinematography is slick, especially in the action scenes. Lee Whittaker, Rampyare Ramdhari Yadav, Riyaz Nasir Shaikh and Habib Haji Sayed's action is very gory, as is the norm nowadays. Tariq Umar Khan and Nadiri Tariq Khan's production design and Gopika Gulwadi's costumes are appropriate. Yash Parikh's editing is satisfactory.

Fateh Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, FATEH rests on an ordinary storyline and also gives a déjà vu of films like ANIMAL and JOHN WICK. At the box office, it’ll face a tough time despite limited competition until Republic Day.

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SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 is a decent entertainer and has a chance at the box office Movie Review: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 is a decent entertainer

Star Cast: Keanu Reeves, Ben Schwartz, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, Jim Carrey

Director: Jeff Fowler

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Review Synopsis: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 is the story of three friends reuniting against a new adversary. In Prison Island, Tokyo Bay, Japan, Shadow (Keanu Reeves), a powerful hedgehog, kept in suspended animation, suddenly gets activated after 50 years. He escapes from prison and reaches the city of Tokyo. The Guardian Of Nations (GUN) urgently summons Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba) for help. The trio reach Tokyo and try to fight Shadow, but they are unsuccessful. Team Sonic meets GUN Commander Walters (Tom Bulter), who shares the story of Shadow's past and origin. Suddenly, he is killed by Doctor Ivo Robotnik's (Jim Carrey) drones. This is when Team Sonic realizes that Robotnik is also responsible for the happenings. But soon, they meet him and find out that Robotnik didn't activate the drones. Robotnik is aghast that his technology is being misused and he forms an uneasy alliance with Team Sonic to stop Shadow and to find out who got him out of prison after five decades. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Story Review: Pat Casey and Josh Miller's story is quite good and thrilling. Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington's screenplay is very pacy and gripping. But it doesn't leave much scope for humour. The dialogues are very witty and hilarious.

Jeff Fowler's direction is supreme. The film is shorter than the earlier and Jeff packs in a lot in 110 minutes. The USP this time is not just Sonic and Robotnik's adventures but also Robotnik's bond with his grandfather Professor Gerald Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Their scenes take the cake, especially their dance sequence. Some other scenes that work are madness in Tokyo, Shadow's flashback and how team Sonic infiltrates GUN's headquarters in London. The finale is nail-biting.

On the flipside, the film gets a bit dark this time. In the earlier parts, the humour was given a lot of prominence but that's not the case here. Also, there are too many tracks and characters, and the narrative gets messy in some places. Lastly, there's a post-credit scene for the first time in this series and it's not worth it. The mid-credit scene, however, adds to the fun.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Review Performances: Keanu Reeves is a welcome addition and aptly voices Shadow. Ben Schwartz, Colleen O'Shaughnessey and Idris Elba are impressive yet again. Jim Carrey once again rocks the show and it's clear that he's having a blast playing the dual characters. James Marsden (Tom Wachowski) and Tika Sumpter (Maddie Wachowski) lend able support. Tom Butler and Lee Majdoub (Agent Stone) are decent. Alyla Browne (Maria) leaves a huge mark.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 movie music and other technical aspects: Tom Holkenborg's music is satisfactory. Brandon Trost adds to the film's grandeur. Eleanor Baker's costumes are realistic while Luke Freeborn's production design is well-researched. The action is a bit gory this time while the VFX is top-class. Al LeVine's editing is slick.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 is a decent entertainer. The film's advance ticket sales are encouraging and hence, it has a chance to score at the box office in this dry period.

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With clapworth moments and energetic performances BABY JOHN is an entertainer which works Movie Review: BABY JOHN is a mass entertainer which works

Star Cast: Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi

Director: Kalees

Baby John Movie Review Synopsis: BABY JOHN is the story of a protective father. John D’Silva (Varun Dhawan), a restaurateur, stays in Alappuzha, Kerala with his daughter Khushi (Zara Zyanna). He dotes on her and is bringing her up with the right values. John forms a bond with Khushi's teacher Tara (Wamiqa Gabbi). Tara takes John's help, without his knowledge, when she rescues a girl and approaches the cops. John is aghast when he learns about Tara’s actions due to his past with the police force. A complaint is filed against a dreaded henchman, Boss (Jaffer Sadiq). Assuming that John complained to the police and that he’s a common man, Boss and his men attack him. But John turns out to be a beast. He finishes them off ruthlessly. Tara sees him attacking the goons and learns that he's none other than Satya Verma, who was once the DCP and the husband of Dr. Meera (Keerthy Suresh). But his confrontation with Nanaji (Jackie Shroff) proves to be a turning point in his life. Hence, he decides to leave the force and live as a common man. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Baby John Movie Story Review: Atlee's story is massy but also a bit outdated. Kalees's screenplay tries to rise above the plot and is infused with mass moments. However, the writing could have been better. Sumit Arora's dialogues add to the mass touch.

Kalees's direction is commercial. The film is mounted on a huge scale and it has been handled appropriately. The bond shared by the father and the daughter is adorable while the romantic track also has its moments. But the best is reserved for the mass elevation scenes. The scenes that are memorable are John attacking the goons at night, Satya and Meera’s first meeting, Satya searching for Amba (Snigddha Suman) and what happens thereafter. The pre-interval block is when the film goes on another level and it’ll be greeted with whistles and claps. Post-interval, Satya’s meeting with the parents and the shootout at his residence stand out. The scene of Bhima Rane (Shrikant Yadav) and the North Eastern kid is well thought out.

On the flipside, BABY JOHN comes too late in the day as it gives a déjà vu of SIMMBA [2018], JAWAN [2023] etc. The execution is overall satisfactory but in some places, it's haphazard. The product placement of Center Fresh and Astral Pipes is quite in-your-face. But the biggest issue is that of the writing. BABY JOHN is a remake of THERI, which arrived 8 years ago. A lot has changed since then in terms of tastes and trends and Atlee should have aligned the script accordingly. Moreover, the hero vs villain equation is not convincing. Usually, the villain needs to be so powerful that the audience should wonder how the hero would defeat him. But in BABY JOHN, the hero becomes all-powerful once he harms Nanaji big time and doesn’t face consequences from the police department or the government. Nana takes revenge much later. But by then, it becomes clear that Satya can finish Nanaji, whenever he wants. This aspect severely impacts the goings-on.

Baby John – Trailer | Atlee | Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff

Baby John Movie Review Performances: Varun Dhawan delivers a sincere performance and excels in the action and emotional scenes. However, it’s not convincing to show him as a DCP as he seems young for that position. Ideally, there should have been a reason why he managed to rise through the ranks so early in his life. Keerthy Suresh makes a superb debut in Bollywood and has an arresting screen presence. Wamiqa Gabbi, as expected, rocks the show, albeit in a supporting role. Jackie Shroff looks menacing and does a brilliant job. But he’s let down by the writing. Zara Zyanna is adorable. However, a few of her dialogues are not audible properly. Jaffer Sadiq is apt for the part. Shrikant Yadav lends able support. Rajpal Yadav (Ram Sevak) is seen in a different avatar and would be loved by the audience. Sheeba Chaddha (Madhvi Verma; Satya's mother) is dependable as always. Zakir Hussain (Baldev Patil) and Prakash Belawadi (Yashraj Mukherjee) are strictly okay. Omkar Das Manikpuri (Badrinath) and Mona Ambegaonkar (the doctor who tries to revive Amba) are fair. Lastly, Salman Khan’s cameo is quite entertaining.

Baby John movie music and other technical aspects: Thaman S's music is not of chartbuster variety. The title song is the only song that stands out. 'Nain Matakka' is well picturized while 'Pikley Pom' is passable. 'Bandobast' is too similar to 'Zinda Banda'.  'Hazaar Baar' and 'Gudda Guddi' are forgettable. Thaman S's background score is energetic.

Kiran Koushik's cinematography is satisfactory. Anl Arasu, Stunt Silva, Anbariv, Yannick Ben, Sunil Rodrigues, Kaloyan Vodenicharov, Manohar Verma, and Bronwin October's action is violent but works well in a film like this. T Muthuraj's production design is rich. Sheetal Iqbal Sharma's costumes are appropriate while Shruthi Manjari's costumes for Keerthy Suresh are appealing. NY VFXWaala's VFX is superior. Ruben's editing could have been slicker, especially in the first half.

Baby John Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, BABY JOHN is a mass entertainer which works due to the clapworthy moments, the message, Varun Dhawan’s energetic performance and the cameo by Salman Khan. At the box office, the film will benefit owing to the long holiday period and no competition until Republic Day.

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With its poignant subject matter and an emotionally charged climax, VANVAAS delivers a heartfelt and sincere narrative Movie Review: VANVAAS delivers a heartfelt and sincere narrative

Star Cast: Nana Patekar, Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur, Kushboo Sundar, Rajpal Yadav

Director: Anil Sharma

Vanvaas Movie Review Synopsis: Vanvaas is the story of an old man and a young chap, both of whom are abandoned. Deepak Tyagi (Nana Patekar) lives in Shimla in a mansion named Vimla Sadan. He built the mansion and named it after his wife Vimla (Kushboo Sundar). Vimla passed away a few years ago. Deepak is a dementia patient and at times, he forgets that his wife is no more. He lives with his three sons, their wives and grandchildren. His sons and wives are fed up taking care of him and his tantrums. When Deepak decides to hand over the house to a trust, they conclude that enough is enough. They devise a plan - they would go on a holiday to Banaras and admit Deepak in an old-age home, without his consent. Deepak is not aware of this devious plan and travels to Banaras with them. There, his family faces a problem when all the old-age homes ask for ID proof. They refuse to accept this condition as they fear that Deepak will be returned back to Vimla Sadan once they realize that he's not ready to stay in an old-age home. Hence, they ask the old age homes to admit him without any ID proof or details of the family address. They even agree to pay more but all the old age homes refuse the request. With no other option, they decide to abandon him at a Ghat. They take away his identity cards and even empty his medicine bottle. In the absence of his pills, Deepak forgets who he is and assumes that his children are in their teens. He starts looking for them but to no avail. This is when he comes across a petty thief Veeru (Utkarsh Sharma) who acts as his saviour. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Vanvaas Movie Story Review: Anil Sharma, Sunil Sirvaiya and Amjad Ali's story is very emotional and has the potential to touch a chord with the audience. Anil Sharma, Sunil Sirvaiya and Amjad Ali's screenplay has its share of well-written and fleshed-out scenes but has a lot of rough edges as well, sadly. Anil Sharma, Sunil Sirvaiya and Amjad Ali's dialogues are hard-hitting.

Anil Sharma's direction is simple. His old-school style of filmmaking gives a nice touch. Also, it's very mainstream as it appeals to the target audience, that is, the families and the ones in B and C centres. The pain of the protagonist is very moving and the way he remembers his dead wife adds to the emotional quotient of the film. At the same time, his equation with the young thief with a heart of gold is heartening. Some scenes that work big time are Deepak being abandoned, Deepak and Veeru forming a bond over alcohol, the intermission point etc. Anil Sharma, however, reserves the best for the climax. It is very touching and is sure to make moviegoers teary-eyed.

On the flipside, the film looks similar to BAGHBAN (2003) and even BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN (2015) and 3 IDIOTS (2009). A few developments are bewildering. For instance, the family of Deepak doesn't even get the death certificate ready after his 'death' and is reminded of it only after a month. The second half is too dragging. The entire track of Veeru hurting Meena (Simratt Kaur) unintentionally and Rampatiya Mausi ji's (Ashwini Kalsekar) outburst needlessly add to the length. Lastly, the film is releasing with negligible buzz and it'll impact its collections.

Vanvaas Official Trailer | Anil Sharma | Nana Patekar | Utkarsh Sharma | Simrat Kaur

Vanvaas Movie Review Performances: Nana Patekar delivers an award-winning performance. Interestingly, he had played a similar role before in the Marathi film NATSAMRAT (2016) but he ensures that there would be no comparisons between the two. Utkarsh Sharma puts in a sincere effort and succeeds to some extent. But he could have done better in the emotional scenes. Simratt Kaur has a fine screen presence but is still raw. Kushboo Sundar is lovely in a cameo. Rajpal Yadav (Pappu) raises a lot of laughs. Ashwini Kalsekar is just okay. Hemantt Kher (Somu), Kettan Singh (Bablu), Paritosh Tripathi (Chutka), Bhakti Rathore (Manjari; Somu's wife), Snehiil Dixit Mehraa (Anchal; Bablu's wife) and Shruti Marathe (Pooja; Chutka's wife) lend able support. Rajesh Sharma (Gautam Gupta) and Rajiv Gupta (Param Negi) leave a mark. Mushtaq Khan (Inspector Lal Singh) and Virendra Saxena (Shukla) don't get much scope. Manish Wadhwa (Madhav) is great in a cameo.

Vanvaas movie music and other technical aspects: Mithoon's music is okay but is well inserted in the narrative. 'Yaadon Ke Jharokhon Se' and 'Bandhan' are played at crucial junctures and work. The same goes for 'Ram Dhun'. 'Geeli Maachis' fails to make a mark. 'Chhabili Ke Naina' (by Monty Sharma) is forgettable. Monty Sharma's background score is in sync with the film's theme.

Kabir Lal's cinematography is breathtaking and captures the locales of Banaras and Himachal Pradesh beautifully. It also gives the film a big-screen appeal. Muneesh Sappel's production design is satisfactory. Neeta Lulla's costumes for Utkarsh and Simrat are stylish while Niddhi Yasha's costumes for the rest of the actors are realistic. Sham Kaushal's action gives the film a mass appeal. Squad VFX's VFX is a bit tacky. Sanjay Sankla's editing could have been slicker.

Vanvaas Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, VANVAAS delivers a heartfelt and sincere narrative that resonates deeply. With its poignant subject matter and an emotionally charged climax, it holds the promise of becoming the BAGHBAN for this generation. At the box office, its potential may be hindered by limited pre-release buzz, lack of widespread awareness, and stiff competition from PUSHPA 2 and other new releases.

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MUFASA: THE LION KING is a grand visual entertainer, which deserves a watch in cinemas Movie Review: MUFASA: THE LION KING is a grand visual entertainer

Star Cast: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Tiffany Boone, Thandiwe Newton

Director: Barry Jenkins 

Mufasa: The Lion King Movie Review Synopsis: MUFASA: THE LION KING is the story of five misfits on an adventurous journey. After the events of the first part, Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter) proudly rule the Pride Lands. They go to a distant part of the kingdom to mate, leaving their daughter Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter) alone. Simba asks Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) to give them company, which they do. But the trio are joined by an unexpected guest - Rafiki (John Kani). He tells Kiara the story of her grandfather, Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) and where he came from. Rafiki reveals that Mufasa lived happily with his parents though their region experienced drought. The parents tell them of a land they call 'Milele' where there's peace and greenery all around. One day, it starts raining heavily. The dam bursts and Mufasa is separated from his parents. He reaches a distant land where he befriends a cub, Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr). Taka is the son of Obasi (Lennie James) and also the successor to the throne. Obasi hates Mufasa, as he feels that he's a stray who'll betray Taka. But Taka and Obasi's partner Eshe (Thandiwe Newton) develop a liking for Mufasa. Mufasa and Taka grow up and are inseparable. Sadly, the pride faces a challenge when The Outsiders, that is, a pack of white lions, headed by Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen), threaten to eliminate them all. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Mufasa: The Lion King Movie Story Review: The story is damn good and nicely adds to this series. Jeff Nathanson's screenplay is gripping and is peppered with entertaining and dramatic scenes. The dialogues are lovely, especially the philosophical ones.

Barry Jenkins' direction is supreme. Making MUFASA: THE LION RISK is a risk as THE LION KING has a huge fan base across audiences of all groups and that too across the world. Trying to add to its storyline and making a prequel is a gamble that could have backfired, as it happened with JOKER recently. Thankfully, the risk pays off here. The first thing that appeals to the viewers is its grandeur. The film is mounted on a huge scale and the manner in which these animals are depicted is sure to amaze viewers, especially the children. Moreover, it has a great story to tell. There's also consistency in characterization - Mufasa has been depicted in a certain way in the earlier part and in this flick, those traits are very much seen. In fact, viewers get to see how he learned these skills. There's also a nice parallel drawn with certain happenings in THE LION KING. A few scenes that are memorable are Mufasa's separation, Mufasa and Taka's race, Mufasa advising Taka how to woo Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), the elephant stampede, etc.

On the flipside, Timon and Pumbaa this time fail to raise laughs. In fact, it seems like they are trying too hard. The final flight is a bit underwhelming. Thirdly, the viewers will get slightly confused in places because Taka and Mufasa look a bit similar, especially in wide shots. Lastly, the timing of the release in India can prove to be a slight problem.

Mufasa: The Lion King | Final Hindi Trailer | In Cinemas December 20

Mufasa: The Lion King Movie Review Performances: Speaking of voiceovers, Aaron Pierre’s work is praiseworthy as he tries to get into the shoes of James Earl Jones, the original voice of Mufasa in THE LION KING and the 1994 animation film. But he manages to do very well and viewers won’t have complaints. Kelvin Harrison Jr is the next best followed by Tiffany Boone and Thandiwe Newton. Mads Mikkelsen is apt for the voice of the antagonist. John Kani is entertaining while Blue Ivy Carter is adorable. Lennie James, Donald Glover and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter do well. Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen try their best to raise laughs but are let down by the script. Preston Nyman (Zasu) is funnier.

Mufasa: The Lion King movie music and other technical aspects: Lin-Manuel Miranda's music enhances the entertainment quotient. Some of the songs that work are 'Milele', 'I Always Wanted A Brother', 'Tell Me It's You', 'We Go Together', and 'Brother Betrayed'. 'Bye Bye' looks slightly out of place. Dave Metzger and Nicholas Britell's background score has a cinematic appeal.

James Laxton's cinematography is out of this world. Mark Friedberg's production design is appealing. The VFX deserves a special mention as the animals look true to life. Joi McMillon's editing is smooth.

Mufasa: The Lion King Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, MUFASA: THE LION KING is a grand visual entertainer, which deserves a watch in cinemas thanks to its big-screen appeal, stunning VFX and compelling storytelling. At the box office, it has the potential to be a super-hit like its predecessor but it will face some heat from PUSHPA 2 – THE RULE.

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GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS tells an important tale with utmost sensitivity Movie Review: GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS tells an important tale

Star Cast: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron

Director: Shuchi Talati

Girls Will Be Girls Movie Review Synopsis: GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS is the story of a school girl in love. In the late 1990s, Mira Kishore (Preeti Panigrahi) studies in Class 12 in a school on the foothills of the Himalayas. She is the first girl of the school to be elected as the head prefect and she takes up the responsibility seriously. She befriends Srinivas (Kesav Binoy Kiron), who has relocated from Hong Kong. Both get attracted to each other. Mira stays with her mother Anila (Kani Kusruti) and the latter catches the former talking to Srinivas. She asks Mira to bring Srinivas home. Anila and Srinivas strike up a friendship, which makes Mira jealous. On the other hand, Mira gets into the bad books of certain male students, when she complains about their misbehaviour to the principal, Bansal ma'am (Devika Shahani). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Girls Will Be Girls Movie Story Review: Shuchi Talati's story is simple and very relatable. Shuchi Talati's screenplay is unhurried and straight out of life. At the same time, it is peppered with dramatic and even tense moments. Shuchi Talati's dialogues are conversational.

Shuchi Talati's direction does justice to the plot in hand. Though she doesn’t mention which era the film is set in, one soon understands that it is based before the millennium, at a time before cell phones became common and when one had to go to cyber cafes to access the internet. This aspect is fascinating. But the film is not light-hearted fare. Many scenes make viewers uncomfortable and angry. The sequence where Bansal ma’am puts the blame on female students when she learns about male students clicking their inappropriate pictures is a case in point. Moreover, the mother-daughter track is powerful and Shuchi nicely uses silences to depict the state of the characters. A few scenes that stand out are Mira and Srinivas at the rooftop, Mira and Anila dancing, Mira and Srinivas forced to study in different rooms and Srinivas’s birthday. The finale is nail-biting.

On the flipside, Shuchi should have simplified certain aspects like the equation between Anila and her hubby. Also, how was Srinivas managing all alone and what was his bond with his parents like? The absence of these aspects affects the impact. Lastly, it’s a niche film and is meant for a minuscule audience.

Girls Will Be Girls Movie Review Performances: Preeti Panigrahi makes a confident debut. Her dialogue delivery is great but watch how amazingly she communicates through her eyes. Kani Kusruti, who was recently seen in another globally acclaimed film ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT, delivers yet another spectacular performance. Kesav Binoy Kiron is dashing and performance-wise, he’s first-rate. Devika Shahani plays her part aptly. Kajol Chugh (Priya; Mira’s friend) and Akash Pramanik (Harik; who proposes to Mira) lend able support. Jitin Gulati (Harish) is wasted.

Girls Will Be Girls movie music and other technical aspects: There’s only one original song in, by Sneha Khanwalkar, 'Nazar', which works well in the film. However, it won’t have a shelf life. Pierre Oberkampf's background score is minimal but impactful.

Jih-E Peng's cinematography adds to the realism and is creative. Avyakta Kapur's production design is authentic. Shaahid Amir's costumes are well-researched and go well with the era shown. Amrita David's editing is neat but is too slow in some scenes.

Girls Will Be Girls Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS tells an important tale with utmost sensitivity and has the potential to resonate big time with its target audience.

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DESPATCH rests on fine performances, but suffers due to a complicated narrative and long length Movie Review: DESPATCH rests on some fine performances and well executed confrontational sequences

Star Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Shahana Goswami, Arrchita Agarwaal

Director: Kanu Behl

Despatch Movie Review Synopsis: DESPATCH is the story of a brave journalist. The year is 2012. Joy Bag (Manoj Bajpayee) is a crime journalist who works at a newspaper called Despatch. His marriage with Shweta Bag (Shahana Goswami) is on the rocks and he's having an affair with Prerna Prakash (Arrchita Agarwaal), a young reporter at Despatch. There's pressure on him to deliver breaking stories as the newspaper business is going down due to the rise of digital websites. He happens to find a lead about the killer of Shetty, a notorious gangster. He even learns that the cops are all set to catch the killer from a dockyard. Joy persuades the cop to join them and even gets a chance to investigate the killer, named Pappu Sangli (Nitin Goel). Pappu ends up revealing that he stole a file from the Vigilance office in Delhi at the behest of GDR builders. Joy starts to probe this story and soon realizes that a 2G scam, worth thousands of crores, has taken place and no one even has a whiff of it. If he breaks the story, he'll go down in history, but the challenges remain. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Despatch Movie Story Review: Ishani Banerjee and Kanu Behl's story, loosely inspired by the J Dey murder case, is well-researched. Ishani Banerjee and Kanu Behl's screenplay has its share of moments but gets too messy. Ishani Banerjee and Kanu Behl's dialogues are straight out of life and even sharp.

Kanu Behl's direction is average. On the positive side, he shows the characters very realistically. We often see period films which are based in the pre-2000 era. Kanu chooses to show the world in 2012 when the internet existed, but it was still a new world for many. Kanu is known to execute the confrontational scenes brilliantly and he continues his good work in DESPATCH. A few scenes that stand out are Joy's face-off with a guest, Joy almost being killed by Pappu, Prerna and Joy checking out a flat and the aftermath, Joy meeting a builder and asking for a flat, etc. The scene where Joy runs from the data centre is hilarious and also quite nail-biting. The scenes of Joy and Shweta in their bedroom and later in the Delhi hotel are quite shocking.

Despatch | Official Trailer | Manoj Bajpayee | Shahana Goswami | Premieres 13th Dec Only On ZEE5

Soon, however, the film loses grip as it becomes too complicated. Though its run time is 155 minutes, one feels like watching a 3.30 hour plus saga. The finale would leave viewers with mixed reactions. Lastly, the director leaves several questions unanswered, and it will surely leave viewers dejected.

Despatch Movie Review Performances: Manoj Bajpayee makes the film watchable, and he tries to rise above the script. He’s too good from start to finish but watch out for him in the climax; he’s something else. Shahana Goswami has limited screen time, but she rocks the show, as expected. It’s not easy to play this part and she makes it look effortless. Arrchita Agarwaal makes a confident debut. Rii Sen (Noori) has a striking screen presence and is too good. Mamik Singh (Silva), Hansa Singh (Nisha Lodha) and Kabiir Sadanand (Wadhwa) are lovely in their respective cameo performances. Salim Siddiqui (Ameel bhai) and Dilip Shankar (Rajdass; lawyer) appear in just one scene but leave a mark. Veena Mehta (Joy's mother) and Ajoy Chakraborty (Somak Majumdar; Joy's boss) lend able support. Parvati Sehgal (Varsha Rajput) is introduced in a way that one expects that she'll have an important role. But she's wasted. Nitin Goel, Anand Alkunte (Inspector Bhosle), Arun Behl (Suresh Contractor), Rajneesh Khullar (Chintu Singh), Amit Srikant Singh (Softlayer manager) and Nikhil Vijay (informer in the bar) also do very well.

Despatch movie music and other technical aspects: DESPATCH is a song-less film. Sneha Khanwalkar's background score is top-notch. Siddharth Diwan's cinematography is raw and adds to the realism. Fabeha Sultana Khan's costumes are straight out of life. Shruti Gupte's production design is authentic. Vikram Dahiya's action is as real as it gets. Manas Mittal and Samarth Dixit's editing could have been simplified.

Despatch Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, DESPATCH rests on some fine performances and well-executed confrontational sequences. But due to a complicated narrative and long length, the impact gets diluted.

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AGNI is worth watching for its performances, suspense and heartfelt tribute to firefighters Movie Review: AGNI is worth watching for its performances and suspense

Star Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu, Saiyami Kher

Director: Rahul Dholakia

Agni Movie Review Synopsis: AGNI is the story of unsung heroes. Vitthalrao Dhonduba Surve (Pratik Gandhi) is the chief of Parel Fire Station, Mumbai. Joseph aka Jazz (Udit Arora), Avni Purohit (Saiyami Kher), Ganpat Shinde and others work under him. Mahadev Nigade (Jitendra Joshi), chief of Byculla Fire Station, is Vitthal's close friend. Vitthal is married to Rukmini (Sai Tamhankar) and her brother and Vitthal's brother-in-law is the corrupt inspector Samit Sawant (Divyenndu). Viithal and Samit don't see eye-to-eye but interestingly, Vitthal's son Amar aka Amya (Kabir Shah) is a fan of Samit. On January 16, 2017, the Parel Fire Station is informed of a fire in an upmarket restaurant. The team tries their best, but the extreme blaze destroys everything in the property. Vitthal is shocked to see the unusual, blue-coloured flame emitting from the restaurant. During the investigation, Avni realizes that though the restaurant had multiple violations, the fire was not accidental and was possibly a case of arson. She also suspects that the recent fire instances at a theatre and a club also had the same pattern. In other words, there's someone out there who's causing these fires and hence, Vitthal and Avni appeal to the cops and BMC to act upon it. But their plea falls on deaf ears. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Agni Movie Story Review: Rahul Dholakia's story is significant and the need of the hour. Rahul Dholakia's screenplay is very engaging. The film just doesn’t focus on the work of the firefighters but also has a whodunit angle. Vijay Maurya's dialogues are conversational while a few one-liners stand out.

Rahul Dholakia's direction is appropriate. He keeps the story as a priority and then focuses on adding commercial elements. He nicely sucks the audience into the world of firefighters and their challenges, be it not being seen as heroes by society or the absence of even a medical insurance. The tussle between the cop and firefighter makes for a great watch, especially the scene at the latter’s home. There’s suspense in the narrative which is sure to shock viewers. The finale is nail-biting. On top of it, there’s also unexpected humour. The madness that ensues at a high-scale restaurant in the second half is very funny.

Agni – Official Trailer | Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu | Prime Video India

On the flipside, in some places, things are not simplified, and it might confuse the audience. For instance, it takes a while until viewers understand that Mahadev works at a different fire station. The twist is unpredictable, but it also raises certain questions as the intention of the villain is not fully convincing. It’s also not clear how did he aim to make his voice heard through his actions.

Agni Movie Review Performances: Pratik Gandhi, as always, puts in a sincere effort and plays the lead part with aplomb. Divyenndu is the life of the film and enhances impact with his performance and comic timing. Sai Tamhankar puts up a superb act and delivers a confident performance. Saiyami Kher leaves a huge mark as the fiery firefighter. Jitendra Joshi, as expected, rocks the show and has a crucial part to play in the narrative. Udit Arora and Kabir Shah manage to register. Sakhi Gokhale (Sayali; Samit's wife) is a great find. Anant Jog (Deputy CM) is over the top, but it works for his role. Pramod Pathak (Pankaj Mishra) raises a few laughs. Paritosh Tiwari (Torch), Kanchan Pagare (Kamble; cop), Abhishek Khandekar (Tawde; cop) and Aatul (Uday Raj Balsara) also do well.

Agni movie music and other technical aspects: AGNI is a song-less film. John Stewart Eduri's background score adds to the tension and chaos. K U Mohanan's cinematography is top-class and gives the film a big-screen appeal. Darshan Jalan and Neelanchal Ghosh's costumes are straight out of life. Dr K Ravi Verma's action is engaging while the VFX is superior. Acropolis, Sumit Basu, Snigdha Basu and Rajnish Hedao's production design is realistic. Deepa Bhatia's editing is smooth.

Agni Movie Review Conclusion: Overall, AGNI is worth watching for its performances, suspense and heartfelt tribute to firefighters, the unsung heroes of our society. This technically superior film truly deserved a theatrical release.

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