SHARMAJEE KI BETI is a sweet entertainer that works due to its relatability Movie Review: SHARMAJEE KI BETI is a sweet entertainer

Star Cast: Divya Dutta, Sakshi Tanwar, Sharib Hashmi, Saiyami Kher, Vanshika Taparia

Director: Tahira Kashyap Khurrana

Sharmajee Ki Beti Movie Review Synopsis: SHARMAJEE KI BETI is the story of three women. Swati Sharma (Vanshika Taparia) is a 13-year-old girl who studies in Class 8 at SB Gurukul High School. She lives with her parents – mother Jyoti (Sakshi Tanwar), who teaches in a coaching centre, and father Sudhir (Sharib Hashmi). Swati is worried as she hasn’t gotten her periods. She confides about it to her best friend Gurveen Sharma (Arista Mehta). She, too, hasn’t started chumming but seems cool about it. Gurveen is the daughter of Kiran Sharma (Divya Dutta), a housewife who has just shifted from Patiala. She yearns for company but everyone around her, including her husband Vinod Sharma (Parvin Dabas), is too busy. Kiran’s neighbour is Tanvi Sharma (Saiyami Kher), a budding cricketer. She’s in a relationship with Rohan (Ravjeet Singh), an aspiring actor, who keeps taunting Tanvi and encourages her to quit cricket. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Sharmajee Ki Beti Movie Story Review: Tahira Kashyap Khurrana's story is relatable as it talks about everyday problems, happiness and struggles. Tahira Kashyap Khurrana's screenplay is breezy but doesn’t go on a high. Tahira Kashyap Khurrana's dialogues are hilarious and witty and keep the interest going.

Tahira Kashyap Khurrana's direction is lovely. As a newcomer, she impresses as she knows the technicalities and excels while handling three tracks simultaneously. Through all three tales, she makes some important comments and it’s easy to decipher even for a layman. The best track, hands down, is that of the 13-year-old who’s dying to get her periods. Something of this sort hasn’t been seen before and hence, it stands out. Even the mother-daughter track might be clichéd, but it works. The track of the bored housewife is the most relatable. The story of the cricketer, though arresting, doesn’t leave the same impact as the rest of the two stories.

On the flipside, the film stagnates in places, especially in the second half. There are certain turning points in the two tracks like Swati blasting her mother or Kiran finding the truth about her husband. One expects it to have an immediate consequence in those tracks. But nothing of that sort happens. It kind of gets forgotten and the director comes back to it only after 20-30 minutes and by then, the impact of those dramatic scenes loses sheen. The gay angle seems forced. Kiran finding her calling happens suddenly and the process is never shown. Lastly, though the dialogues are too funny, to see a 13-year-old delivering so many punchlines is also difficult to digest.

Sharmajee Ki Beti Movie Review Performances: Vanshika Taparia takes the cake and dominates everyone with her real and entertaining performance. This is a feat, considering this film has several talented artists. Sakshi Tanwar plays her part with a lot of grace. She does well but could have done better in the monologue scene. Sharib Hashmi is adorable as always and only he could have played this role with such finesse. Divya Dutta essays a part that many women would be able to relate with. Performance-wise, she’s first-rate Saiyami Kher puts her best foot forward but due to the cricket angle, it reminds of her act in GHOOMER [2023]. Arista Mehta leaves a huge mark. Parvin Dabas is okay in a small role. Ravjeet Singh is aptly cast. Sushant Ghadge (Chotu) is lovely while Sunita Malhotra (Divya Dutta's mother) brings the house down.

Sharmajee Ki Beti movie review music and other technical aspects: Songs are nicely infused into the narrative. 'Falak' comes at an important juncture and elevates the impact. 'Khudi' is uplifting while 'Jind Mahi' is soulful. Anant Bhat's background score is overused in some places.

Rakesh Haridas' cinematography is appropriate. Tanvi Patil's production design is straight out of life. Irfan Khatri's costumes are in sync with the characters and their personalities. Antara Lahiri's editing is fine.

Sharmajee Ki Beti Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, SHARMAJEE KI BETI is a sweet entertainer that works due to its relatability, novel funny moments and performances.

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KALKI 2898 AD delivers a unique experience to audiences Movie Review: KALKI 2898 AD delivers a unique experience to audiences

Star Cast: Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone

Director: Nag Ashwin

Kalki 2898 AD Movie Synopsis: KALKI 2898 AD is the story of an extraordinary man in the future. The year is 2898 AD. Bhairava (Prabhas) is a bounty hunter who lives in the last city on earth - Kashi. All other cities have vanished and the residents of Kashi live a hand-to-mouth existence. The elite residents, meanwhile, reside in a place called 'Complex'. Bhairava's dream is to earn enough money to get a place in the Complex. The Complex is governed by a commander named Manas (Saswata Chatterjee) and he reports to Supreme Yaskin (Kamal Haasan). Yaskin has begun 'Project K' and has imprisoned expecting mothers for an experiment. One such mother is Sumati (Deepika Padukone). Unknown to the Complex residents and armed forces, one of her colleagues is Lily (Kavya Ramachandran), a rebel. These rebels are against the Complex and reside in a secret location named Shambala. Circumstances compel Lily to get Sumati out of the Complex before she gets killed. A bounty is placed on Sumati and Bhairava goes behind her. All of a sudden, Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan) is awakened and he decides to save Sumati's life at any cost. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Kalki 2898 AD Movie Story Review: Nag Ashwin's story is fantastic and has merged mythology with the future seamlessly. Nag Ashwin's screenplay (additional screenplay by Rutham Samar) has some loose ends. Still, he compensates for it with the rest of the script which is taut and compelling. Sai Madhav Burra's dialogues (additional dialogues by B S Sarwagna Kumar) are okay but a few of the Easter Eggs one-liners add to the humour.

Nag Ashwin's direction is supreme. From the very start, it is clear that this is a genuine effort. The mythology angle is the USP and it is not added just for the heck of it. Moreover, the way it's smartly merged with the story of the dystopian era is seen to be believed. The characters and their arcs add to the fun and madness and once they all come together, the film goes on a high. The numerous cameos also contribute to the entertainment quotient. The finale is the best part of the enterprise and expect a lot of whistles and claps at this point.

On the flipside, except for the introduction scene and intermission point, the first half is weak. The world of 2898 AD is not explained properly and hence, viewers might not get connected to it completely. Moreover, the experiment of Yaskin is not clearly explained and it might confuse viewers. Lastly, a few scenes and moments might give a deja vu of films like MAD MAX and even BAAHUBALI.

Kalki 2898 AD Trailer – Hindi | Prabhas | Amitabh Bachchan | Kamal Haasan | Deepika Padukone

Kalki 2898 AD Movie Performances: Prabhas is in top form. He is great in the action scenes but watch out for him in the funny sequences. He plays to the gallery convincingly. Amitabh Bachchan shines and how. He has a mass action avatar and only he could have played this part. Deepika Padukone's casting adds to the film and she delivers a first-rate performance. Kamal Haasan is there for just two scenes and rocks the show. Disha Patani (Roxie) looks sizzling but her role is forced into the narrative. Kavya Ramachandran and Saswata Chatterjee lend able support. Brahmanandam (Rajan) raises laughs. Shobana (Mariam) and Anna Ben (Kyra) leave a huge mark. Anil George (Bani), Pasupathy (Veeran), Ayaz Pasha (Ajju) and Keya Nair (Raia) are fair. Keerthy Suresh is great as the voice of Bujji. Lastly, Mrunal Thakur, S S Rajamouli, Ram Gopal Varma, Vijay Deverakonda, Dulquer Salmaan etc are too good in special appearances.

Kalki 2898 AD music and other technical aspects: Santhosh Narayanan's music is very poor. Not a single song is memorable. Santhosh Narayanan's background score is terrific.

Djordje Stojiljkovic's cinematography is too good, especially in the chase sequences. Nitin Zihani Choudhary's production design is imaginative. The costumes are stylish and have a futuristic vibe. The VFX matches global standards and doesn't look tacky even in a single frame. King Solomon, Andy Long, Peter Heins, Satish, Anbariv and Nick Powell's action could have been more exciting but overall, they contribute to the entertainment and the scale of the film. Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao's editing is overall fine but could have been slicker in a few scenes. The fight scenes between Amitabh Bachchan and Prabhas, for instance, were too long and even repetitive.

Kalki 2898 AD Movie Conclusion: On the whole, KALKI 2898 AD stands as a grandiose spectacle that depicts the future like never before in Indian cinema and also merges mythology seamlessly, thereby delivering a unique experience to the audiences. At the box office, it has taken a flying start and with a positive word of mouth, it has the potential to scale dizzying heights.

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MAHARAJ makes an important comment. The protests and legal issues will further increase its viewership Movie Review: MAHARAJ makes an important comment

Star Cast: Junaid Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shalini Pandey, Sharvari

Director: Siddharth P Malhotra

Maharaj Movie Synopsis: MAHARAJ is the story of a reformer’s fight against a priest. The year is 1861. Karsandas Mulji (Junaid Khan) resides in Bombay (present-day Mumbai) with his father Mulji Bhai (Sandeep Mehta), mama and widowed masi (Sneha Desai). Karsandas is a reformer who works with progressive men like Dadabhai Naoroji. He's a religious man but doesn't believe in blind faith. He's engaged to Kishori (Shalini Pandey) and they are all set to marry. Kishori is a devout follower of Jadunathji (Jaideep Ahlawat), the priest of the biggest 'haveli' (temple) in Bombay. Jadunathji selects Kishori for a ceremony called 'charan sparsh', which involves the priest sleeping with an unmarried woman. Karsandas sees Kishori in a compromising position with the Maharaj and he disowns her. He also questions this practice which he feels exploits women. He decides to raise his voice and as a result, he is disowned by his father. He tries to educate society, but the people of his community don't see any wrong in letting the Maharaj sleep with the women in their family. On top of that, the Maharaj uses his influence to crush him. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Maharaj Movie Story Review: MAHARAJ is based on the book of the same name by Saurabh Shah. Vipul Mehta's adapted story is powerful and progressive. Vipul Mehta's screenplay (additional screenplay by Sneha Desai) is engaging and is peppered with dramatic moments. Sneha Desai's dialogues are appropriate for the period in which it is set and are sharp.

Siddharth P Malhotra's direction is simple. He doesn't waste time and the story begins from the first scene itself. He also understands the sensitivity of the plot and takes care of it. The film raises several questions but doesn't attack any religion. Through the protagonist's talks, it is clear that he's targeting exploitation in the garb of religion. He also doesn't go overboard and yet, packs a punch. The scene where Karsandas sees his fiancé with the Maharaj is disturbing but is not titillating. A few other scenes that stand out are Karsandas being ousted from his house, Karsandas' monologue after the temple is shut and Karsandas challenging the Maharaj. The finale is clapworthy.

On the flipside, after a strong first half, the film loses steam in between. The romantic track is lovely, but it slows down the film in the second half. Also, the defamation case track begins late, and it's not riddled with tension. In fact, it's predictable. Lastly, the film gives a déjà vu of similar films and shows in this zone like OMG OH MY GOD, PK, AASHARAM etc.

Maharaj Movie Performances: Junaid Khan doesn’t have the conventional hero looks and he makes up for it with his acting talent. He’s a bit raw but for a debutant, it’s a fine performance, nevertheless. Jaideep Ahlawat leaves a tremendous mark, as expected. The most amazing thing about his act is how his character is compelled to smile and can’t vent his anger. The way he manages to put it forward is praiseworthy. Shalini Pandey is adorable and shines in an emotional scene. Sharvari has a crucial role, though she’s credited under ‘Special Appearance’. She adds to the film’s laughter quotient and gets into the skin of her character as a lady with a strong Gujarati accent. Jay Upadhyay (Giridhar Khawas) lends able support and suits the part. Sanjay Goradia (Nanubhai) is adorable. Sneha Desai (Bhabhu) is memorable. Sandeep Mehta, Kamlesh Oza (Shaam ji), Priyal Gor (Leelavati), Sunil Gupta (Dadabhai Naoroji), Utkarsh Mazumdar (Lalvanji Maharaj), Jamie Alter (defence lawyer), Mark Bennington (prosecutor), Edward Sonnenblick (Judge Sausse) and Vaibhav Tatwawadi (Dr Bhau Daji Lad) are fair.

Maharaj music and other technical aspects: Sohail Sen's music is lovely. 'Holi Ke Rang Maa' is foot-tapping, vibrant and can become a rage on the Festival of Colours. 'Haan Ke Haan' is sweet, but it also lengthens the film. 'Achutam Keshavam', sung by Sonu Nigam, is soulful. Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara's background score has a cinematic feel.

Rajeev Ravi's cinematography is satisfactory. Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray's production design is researched. Maxima Basu's costumes are straight out of the bygone era and also have a glamorous appeal. Hive FX's VFX is fine but could have been better in certain scenes. Shweta Venkat's editing is neat.

Maharaj Movie Conclusion: On the whole, MAHARAJ picks up a controversial topic but also makes an important comment. The protests and the legal issues faced by the film have created tremendous curiosity and will further increase its viewership.

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ISHQ VISHK REBOUND has youthful appeal but it suffers due to a weak second half Movie Review: ISHQ VISHK REBOUND has youthful appeal

Star Cast: Rohit Saraf, Pashmina Roshan, Jibraan Khan, Naila Grrewal

Director: Nipun Avinash Dharmadhikari

Ishq Vishk Rebound Movie Synopsis: ISHQ VISHK REBOUND is the story of love, friendship and rebound. Raghav Pandit (Rohit Saraf), Sanya (Pashmina Roshan) and Sahir (Jibraan Khan) are childhood buddies from Dehradun. Sanya and Sahir start dating once they grow up. Raghav is very much involved in their lives and is always there for them. In college, he meets Riya (Naila Grrewal) and falls for her. She, too, develops feelings for him and both get into a relationship. Riya has reservations about how Raghav is 24x7 available for Sanya and Sahir. Sahir is going away for work and Sanya gets mad about it. They reach a point where they decide to break up. As always, Raghav gets an SOS call, that too, when he is about to get intimate with Riya. Riya is enraged that Raghav even picks up their call when they are all set to make love. She breaks up with him. Sahir goes away and Riya also seems to have moved on. Meanwhile, Raghav and Sanya get attracted to each other. They are contemplating giving their relationship a shot. Meanwhile, Sahir, who is unaware of what’s going on between them, is planning to patch up with Sanya. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Ishq Vishk Rebound Movie Story Review: Dr Vinay Chhawal, Vaishali Kamalakar Naik, and Ketan Pedgaonkar's story is promising. Dr Vinay Chhawal, Vaishali Kamalakar Naik, and Ketan Pedgaonkar's screenplay (additional screenplay by Akarsh Khurana and Nipun Avinash Dharmadhikari) has its share of moments. But it is also messed up in several places, especially in the second half. Akarsh Khurana's dialogues are conversational.

Nipun Avinash Dharmadhikari's direction is okay. To give credit where it's due, he gives the film a light-hearted treatment. It's been a while since we have seen a film in this zone and that also goes in the favour of this product. He infuses songs smoothly into the narrative and excels in some scenes like Raghav stealing the dog, Raghav's break up, Raghav going on the internet to look for answers, etc. The developments before the intermission are unexpected.

But once the conflicts arise, the film goes downhill. One of the biggest issues with the narrative is that it moves at a supersonic speed. It also seems like the makers chopped off some sequences to keep the duration in check. While doing so, the film suffers. For instance, viewers never fully understand the fractured bond between Sanya and her father. Sahir’s issues with his father (Shataf Figar) also come as a jolt, especially in the pre-climax. Riya’s character is wasted. Finally, the climax doesn’t leave one wowed.

Ishq Vishk Rebound Movie Performances: Rohit Saraf is the soul of the film. His cute looks and puppy eyes go well with the character he’s playing. Performance-wise, he’s first-rate. Pashmina Roshan looks stunning and has potential. However, she is too raw and needs to polish her acting skills, especially in the emotional scenes. Jibraan Khan puts up a confident act and delivers a smashing performance. Naila Grrewal puts her best foot forward but she’s hardly there. Shataf Figar lends able support. Kusha Kapila is entertaining. Supriya Pilgaonkar (Sanya’s mother) is lovely. Akarsh Khurana (Raghav’s father) and Shilpa Vishal Shetty (Raghav’s mother) are fair. Sheeba Chadha is good in a cameo.

Ishq Vishk Rebound music and other technical aspects: Rochak Kohli's music is alright. The recreated versions of 'Ishq Vishk Pyaar Vyaar', 'Chot Dil Pe Lagi' and 'Gore Gore Mukhde Pe' are functional. 'Soni Soni' is pleasant to the ears and is well-picturized. 'Jaavi Na' fails to make a mark. Ketan Sodha's background score is fine.

Milind Jog's cinematography is fair but is awkward in the low-angle shots. Nikhil Kovale's production design is appealing. Abhilasha Devnani & Manisha Melwani's costumes are glamorous but needlessly skimpy in the case of Pashmina. Amritpal Singh's action is minimal. Chandan Arora's editing is a bit choppy.

Ishq Vishk Rebound Movie Conclusion: On the whole, ISHQ VISHK REBOUND has youthful appeal but it suffers due to a weak second half. At the box office, it’ll go largely unnoticed.

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INSIDE OUT 2 is an entertainer for viewers of all ages and has the potential to surprise Movie Review: INSIDE OUT 2 is an entertainer for viewers of all ages

Star Cast: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman

Director: Kelsey Mann 

Inside Out 2 Movie Synopsis: INSIDE OUT 2 is the story of a teenage girl and her emotions. A year after the events of the first film, Riley (Kensington Tallman) has adjusted to her new life in San Francisco. She turns 13 and gets better at playing hockey. Meanwhile, inside her head, her emotions - Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Tony Hale), Anger (Lewis Black) and Disgust (Liza Lapira) - are doing their job beautifully and have created a new section called Sense of Self. It consists of memories and feelings that take up Riley's core personality. A night before Riley is about to leave for a hockey camp, she hits puberty. The mind workers barge in the headquarters and upgrade the console. Four new emotions - Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos) and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser) - also arrive. Things take a bad turn once Joy and Anxiety have a clash of opinions. On the other hand, Riley is having a hard time as her best friends, Bree and Grace, tell her that they are shifting to a different school. Riley also wants to be friends with the popular senior hockey player Valentina Ortiz (Lilimar) and wants to appear cool in front of her. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Inside Out 2 Movie Story Review: Kelsey Mann and Meg LeFauve's story is terrific. Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein's screenplay is top notch and imaginative. The dialogues further add to the entertainment.

Kelsey Mann's direction is uncomplicated. This is not an easy film to handle, especially for a debutant, but he succeeds. Thankfully, the first part had already set a template and Kelsey does justice to it. He also balances and ensures that he just doesn't focus on the wonders of Riley's mind and also simultaneously takes the story forward. A few aspects are too good like Mount Crushmore, consisting of Riley's crushes in the form of Mt Rushmore, a carnival which has hot air balloons of professions that Riley is interested in, etc. And most importantly, the makers raise a point about the importance of different emotions and how the mind is a mess in the early adolescence years. The depiction of Anxiety and panic attack in the climax is straight out of life.On the flipside, for those who have seen the first part, there's little novelty in terms of storytelling and even the plot. Yet again, Joy is out of headquarters and needs to be back; or else, Joy will face a tumultuous time. And though the makers try their best to add to the novelty, it doesn't wow you, like the first part. In short, the first part is too awesome and set a huge benchmark; the sequel, despite being a great flick individually, doesn't have the same effect as the predecessor.

Inside Out 2 Movie Performances: The voiceovers by Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith are the best. Maya Hawke takes the cake as Anxiety and gets it just right. Kensington Tallman is impressive while Lilimar suits the part of a popular player. Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Liza Lapira, Ayo Edebiri, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Yvette Nicole Brown (Coach Roberts) lend able support. James Austin Johnson (Pouchy) is adorable.

Inside Out 2 music and other technical aspects: Andrea Datzman's music is in sync with the film's mood and theme. Adam Habib and Jonathan Pytko's cinematography is satisfactory. The VFX, as expected, is out of the world. Maurissa Horwitz's editing is slick.

Inside Out 2 Movie Conclusion: On the whole, INSIDE OUT 2 is an entertainer for viewers of all ages. At the box office, it has taken a decent opening and has the potential to surprise.

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CHANDU CHAMPION rests on Kartik Aaryan's powerful performance and some strong moments Movie Review: CHANDU CHAMPION rests on Kartik Aaryan's powerful performance

Star Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Vijay Raaz, Bhuvan Arora

Director: Kabir Khan

Chandu Champion Movie Synopsis: CHANDU CHAMPION is the story of a man who refused to surrender. The year is 1952. A young Murlikant Petkar (Kartik Aaryan) resides in Islampur, Maharashtra with his father, mother, and brother Jagannath. Murli and Jagannath witness K D Jadhav, the first Indian to win an Olympic medal, being welcomed with a lot of pomp and love at Karad railway station. Murlikant decides then and there that he'll also emerge victorious at the Olympics. His schoolmates make fun of him for his dream. They even call him 'Chandu Champion' to mock him. Murlikant joins the akhada of Ganpat Kaka (Ganesh Yadav). Murlikant is a keen observer, and he learns a lot of techniques just by observing the matches of other wrestlers. Ganpat sends him to play with Dagdu, the son of a local chieftain, Nanasaheb Patil, hoping that Dagdu will win, and the chieftain will feel proud. However, Murlikant gives Dagdu a crushing defeat. All hell breaks loose and Murlikant runs away. He hops onto a train where he meets Garnail Singh (Bhuvan Arora). When Murlikant informs him about his dream of winning an Olympic medal, Garnail suggests that he should join the Army. As luck would have it, Murlikant gets shortlisted and joins the armed forces. He also starts training in boxing under Tiger Ali (Vijay Raaz). All is going well until one day while fighting in the 1965 war in Kashmir, his life turns upside down. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Chandu Champion Movie Story Review: Kabir Khan, Sumit Arora, and Sudipto Sarkar's story is inspiring. It is based on the life of a person that not many people know about and that works in the favour of the makers. Kabir Khan, Sumit Arora, and Sudipto Sarkar's screenplay is captivating and is peppered with some dramatic and emotional moments. However, it leaves a lot to be desired as well. Kabir Khan, Sumit Arora, and Sudipto Sarkar's dialogues are normal, and a few one-liners are memorable.

Kabir Khan's direction has its share of plusses. The narrative moves back and forth between the events in 2017 and those between 1952 to 1972 and the transition is very smooth. This is especially true in the second half. He doesn't let the film get depressing and ensures that the film has mainstream appeal. A few scenes stand out like Murlikant defeating Dagdu, Murlikant's first meeting with Tiger Ali, Murlikant struggling to eat with a fork, etc. The intermission point seems like it's shot in one take, and it adds to the tension. Post-interval, the matka sequence is memorable and so is Murlikant's monologue in front of the Indian Olympic Association members. The finale is watchable and Murli imagining key moments of his life is a novel idea.

Chandu Champion | Official Trailer | Kartik Aaryan | Sajid Nadiadwala | Kabir Khan

On the flipside, the finale could have been nail-biting. The semi-final match has more edge-of-the-seat moments than the climax. Also, there's been a lot of sports films off late and that also affects the impact. Secondly, the reason for Murlikant to file a case against the President of India should have been depicted instead of him describing verbally. Then, the impact would have been more. And lastly, the family of Murlikant gets a raw deal. Murlikant runs away to Poona, and he never informs his parents or brother that he's safe. He's also not worried whether they are fine, especially when there's a threat to their life. It's also bewildering that his family had no idea he had reached the finals in the Olympics. They get to learn about it only through the radio. Due to this aspect, one doesn't get moved much by Murlikant's brother's scene when he tells the former that he can't take care of him.

Chandu Champion Movie Performances: Kartik Aaryan gets into the skin of the character and delivers a terrific performance. This is unlike anything he has done before, and he proves yet again that he’s a powerhouse of talent. He shines in the difficult scenes but watch out for him in the scene where he’s an old man. His transformation will astonish viewers. Vijay Raaz lends able support. He contributes a lot to the character with his performance. Bhuvan Arora is dependable. Bhagyashri Borse (Nayantara) is lovely in a cameo and has a striking screen presence. Rajpal Yadav (Topaz) is adorable and contributes to the film’s laughter quotient. Ganesh Yadav manages to register. Yashpal Sharma (Uttam Singh) and the actors playing Rajaram Petkar, Murlikant’s mother, Jagannath, Dagdu, Nansaheb Patil, and Murlikant’s son are fair. Ayan Khan deserves a special mention for playing the young Murlikant. Shreyas Talpade (Sachin Kamble) is the surprise of the film and is quite entertaining. Sonali Kulkarni is also quite good.

Chandu Champion music and other technical aspects: Pritam's music is disappointing. 'Satyanaas' is the only song that is memorable. The hook line of 'Tu Hai Champion' is catchy. 'Sarphira' and the other songs don't leave a mark. Julius Packiam's background score is well-infused.

Sudeep Chatterjee's cinematography is first-rate and gives the film a big-scale appeal. Rajnish Hedao's production design is first-rate. Rohit Chaturvedi's costumes are realistic. Amar Shetty's action is authentic and not too gory. Rob Miller's sports action is praiseworthy. Red Chillies.VFX and Do It Creative's VFX is top-class. Nitin Baid's editing is slick.

Chandu Champion Movie Conclusion: On the whole, CHANDU CHAMPION rests on Kartik Aaryan's powerful performance and some strong moments. At the box office, it will find appreciation and positive word of mouth from the target urban audience while in mass circuits, it may face some hurdle. It has a chance to succeed and sustain if the target urban audience gives it a thumbs up.

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BLACKOUT rests on an interesting idea and is laced with funny and thrilling moments Movie Review: BLACKOUT rests on an interesting idea.

Star Cast: Vikrant Massey, Mouni Roy, Sunil Grover, Jisshu Sengupta

Director: Devang Shashin Bhavsar

Blackout Movie Synopsis: BLACKOUT is the story of a bunch of madcap characters. Lenny Dsouza (Vikrant Massey) works in Pune as a crime journalist and is known for his explosive sting operations. He arrives home to his wife Roshni (Ruhani Sharma), who's cooking. The dal gets burnt and electricity gets cut. Roshni asks him to buy anda pao. On the way, he bumps into his friend Ravi (Anantvijay Joshi) and he goes to drop him at his residence, situated on the outskirts of Pune. Meanwhile, a criminal gang loots a jewellery shop. Lenny bangs into the gang's van while they are on the run. The vehicle turns upside down and Lenny runs to check the condition. He realizes the occupants of the van are dead. He also sees a lot of booty in the van. He takes one box, full of jewellery, and escapes. He then runs his car over a mysterious man (Kelly Dorji). From here on, his life turns hell as he meets bizarre characters like Thik (Karan Sudhakar Sonawane), Thak (Saurabh Dilip Ghadge), Shruti Mehra (Mouni Roy) and a drunkard poet (Sunil Grover). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Blackout Movie Story Review: Devang Shashin Bhavsar's story is promising. Devang Shashin Bhavsar's screenplay has its charm. There have been some films in this zone – where the story unfolds in one night amid a lot of crime and madness – but this film stands out. However, in the second half, the script becomes messy. Abbas Dalal and Hussain Dalal's dialogues are funny and keep the interest going.

Devang Shashin Bhavsar's direction is neat. There are several tracks and characters and yet, the film never gets confusing even for a second. The funny moments are aplenty while the intermission point is dramatic.

On the flipside, the second half is weak. The gang war scene seems unnecessary and doesn't gel with the overall narrative of the film. The mid-credit scene neither leaves the audience in awe nor gives them a surprise. It could have been easily done away with. A few developments are also bewildering. It’s silly that the gang cut off the electricity out of an entire city to loot a store! No one taught them, it seems, that they could have simply switched off the electricity in the area of the store or just the building where the jewellery store was located. This important track is forgotten, and the director doesn't go back to it until a certain point in the second half. The climax, lastly, doesn't give a feeling of high.

Blackout Trailer | Streaming On JioCinema Premium | 7th Jun | Vikrant Massey, Mouni Roy, Sunil Grover

Blackout Movie Performances: Vikrant Massey delivers a fine performance, as expected. This time, he plays to the gallery and seems convincing. Sunil Grover is the biggest surprise of the film. He has been depicted in a massy avatar and it adds to the fun. Mouni Roy has a late entry and is dependable. Jisshu Sengupta gets to play an interesting character, but he's let down by the writing. Karan Sudhakar Sonawane and Saurabh Dilip Ghadge are highly entertaining and make confident debuts. Ruhani Sharma and Anantvijay Joshi lend able support. Prasad Oak (Inspector Patil) and Chhaya Kadam (MLA Anita Naik) are decent. Sooraj Pops (Mugli Anna) fails to impress while Kelly Dorji is wasted.

Blackout music and other technical aspects: The songs by Vishal Mishra's music don't register, be it 'Chitralekha' or 'Kya Hua'. John Stewart Eduri's background score vibes with the quirky theme of the film.

Anubhav Bansal's cinematography is satisfactory. Priya Suhass' production design is functional. Sheetal Iqbal Sharma's costumes are realistic. Manohar Verma's action works. Famous Studios' VFX is top-class. Unnikrishnan P P's editing could have been slicker, especially in the second half.

Blackout Movie Conclusion: On the whole, BLACKOUT rests on an interesting idea and is laced with funny and thrilling moments. But due to a weak second half, it turns out to be an average flick.

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MUNJYA is an entertaining horror-comedy with a gripping second half. Movie Review: MUNJYA is an entertaining horror comedy with a gripping second half.

Star Cast: Sharvari, Abhay Verma, Mona Singh, S Sathyaraj

Director: Aditya Sarpotdar

Munjya Movie Synopsis: MUNJYA is the story of a menacing spirit. Bittu (Abhay Verma) resides in Pune with his mother Pammi (Mona Singh) and grandmother (Suhasini Joshi). Pammi runs a beauty parlour and Bittu helps her in her business. He's in love with his neighbour, Bela (Sharvari) but never gets a chance to confess his love. Rukku (Bhagyashree Limaye), Bittu's cousin, is about to get engaged. Hence, Bittu, Pammi and the grandmother travel to Rukku's place in a seaside town in Konkan, Maharashtra. Rukku's father, Balu Kaka (Ajay Purkar), opens old wounds about their family and how Bittu's father died in a freak accident. An angry and sad Bittu storms out of Balu's house and heads to Chetukwadi, a haunted locality. Here, he bumps into Munjya, a spirit of one of his forefathers who passed away in 1952 and who's looking for his bride, a girl named Munni. Munjya is tied to a banyan tree in Chetukwadi but circumstances are such that he gets attached to Bittu. Moreover, only Bittu can see him and Munjya makes his life hell as he asks him to find Munni. But Munni has shifted from Munjya's village long back and finding her will be a tough job for him. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Munjya Movie Story Review: Yogesh Chandekar's story is fascinating. There have been different films on different kinds of spirits but this is the first film on a 'munjya' and hence, it stands out. Niren Bhatt's screenplay is captivating but has some loose ends in the first half. Niren Bhatt's dialogues add to the entertainment quotient of the film.

Aditya Sarpotdar's direction is effective. The director uses his skills to build an eerie atmosphere. At the same time, he also doesn't sacrifice the humour bit and eventually, the film ends up having both comedy and horror in equal doses. He keeps the narrative fast-paced and doesn't let viewers feel bored. He neatly introduces the back story at the very start and then takes the plot forward. The second half is much better with the climax turning out to be full of twists and turns. The film ends on an intriguing note and watch out for the mid-credit scene.

On the flipside, the first half could have been better. It also gets a bit heavy as too much information is thrown at the viewer and it's only in the second half that things get clear. Some jokes don't have the desired impact. Also, in places, the narrative moves too quickly. For instance, the scene where Bittu finally finds Munni could have been executed in a better fashion. Also, while the director sums up all the tracks properly, he doesn't provide details on what happened to a crucial character.

Munjya – Official Trailer | Sharvari Wagh | Abhay Verma

Munjya Movie Performances: Sharvari has a strong screen presence; when she's in the frame, one doesn't look at anyone else. Performance-wise, she's first-rate and looks sizzling in the song ‘Taras’. However, she doesn’t have much to do in the first half. Abhay Verma gets into the skin of his character and gives a very able performance. He also gets his body language right. Mona Singh leaves a huge mark in a supporting role.  Suhasini Joshi is adorable. Despite limited screen time, she rocks the show. S Sathyaraj (Elvis Karim Prabhakar) is very entertaining and his casting adds a lot to the film.  Bhagyashree Limaye is okay while Ajay Purkar is superb. One can't help but hate him. Taranjot Singh (Spielberg) raises laughs; however, his love track emerges suddenly. Richard Lovatt (Kuba) is decent and gets a raw deal. Shrutii Marrathe (Gotya's mother) doesn't have much to do. Ayush Ulagadde makes his presence felt.

Munjya music and other technical aspects: Sachin–Jigar's music is well-woven into the narrative. 'Taras' is foot-tapping and well-shot. 'Tenu Khabar Nahi' is soulful while 'Haijamalo' is in sync with the film's theme. Justin Varghese's background score enhances the impact.

Saurabh Goswami's cinematography is neat. The locales of Kudal and Guhagar are beautifully captured by the lensman. Amit Ray and Subrata Chakraborty's production design is realistic. Sheetal Iqbal Sharma's costumes are straight out of life while the ones worn by Sharvari are appealing. R P Yadav and Darrell Mclean's action is not gory. Redefine's VFX is praiseworthy. The character of Munjya, especially, is very well conceptualized and created. Monisha R Baldawa's editing is slick.

Munjya Movie Conclusion: On the whole, MUNJYA is an entertaining horror-comedy with a gripping second half. At the box office, the film might start slow but it has the potential to pick up due to the genre, word of mouth and connection with the Maddock Cinematic Universe.

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BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE provides humour and action in ample doses Movie Review: BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE provides humour

Star Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence

Director: Adil & Bilall

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Movie Synopsis: BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE is the story of two cops on the run. Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Miles Burnett (Martin Lawrence) continue to fight crime in Miami. Mike finally decides to settle down. He marries Christine (Melanie Liburd). At his wedding, Marcus dances like there's no tomorrow and suffers a heart attack. In his dreams, he sees the late Captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) who tells him that his time is not up yet and also that their life is going to turn around. Soon, James McGrath (Eric Dane) enters the narrative. He frames the Captain as being involved with the drug mafia. The new Captain, Grice (Jason Davis) concludes that Conrad was corrupt and begins the investigation. Mike and Marcus refuse to believe so and swear to clear the name of their beloved Captain. In doing so, they get accused of criminal activity and turn into fugitives. What happens next forms the rest of the film. 

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Movie Story Review: Chris Bremner and Will Beall's story is ordinary and also clichéd. Chris Bremner and Will Beall's screenplay, however, is very effective and keeps the interest going. The dialogues are one of the film's USP's and add to the fun.

Adil & Bilall's direction is neat and also stylish. This is the shortest BAD BOYS film to date and yet, the makers manage to pack in a lot. The character arcs are fascinating. Marcus, who became 'non-violent' in the last film, is now the complete opposite and also free-spirited and it is sure to raise laughs. The action scenes keep the viewers gripped. The action scenes that stand out are the one in the aeroplane, the elevator and the one in Marcus’ house. What also works is the bond shared by Armando Aretas (Jacob Scipio) with the bad boys.

On the flipside, the villain track is not well fleshed out. This happened even in the first BAD BOYS film. But the third part set a record in this regard where the antagonist was given her due and also an unpredictable back story. The antagonist, hence, fails to leave a strong mark in this film. The action at the strip club seemed forced. In fact, the film drops in the middle. Lastly, the hype seems very limited this time.

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Movie Performances: Martin Lawrence takes the cake this time. He provides the maximum laughs and is very convincing. Will Smith keeps it subtle as he’s mainly reacting to Martin's bizarre one-liners. Yet, it doesn't look out of character for him and is impressive. Eric Dane is okay as the villain and is let down by the writing. Joe Pantoliano is adorable. Jason Davis is hardly there. Melanie Liburd, Paola Núñez (Rita), Rhea Seehorn (Judy) and Quinn Hemphill (Callie) lend able support and deliver fine performances. Ioan Gruffudd (Lockwood) leaves a mark in the second half. Jacob Scipio makes his presence felt and looks cool in the action scenes. Tiffany Haddish is entertaining. Dennis Greene (Reggie McDonald) is the surprise of the film. John Salley (Fletcher) and DJ Khaled (Manny) are okay in cameos. Jay Shetty's special appearance is a surprise.

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die music and other technical aspects: Lorne Balfe's music is exhilarating. Robrecht Heyvaert's cinematography is breathtaking. Jon Billington's production design is top-class. Janie Bryant's costumes are appealing. The action is a bit gory and adds to the madness, particularly in the climax. Asaf Eisenberg and Dan Lebental's editing is slick.

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Movie Conclusion: On the whole, BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE provides humour and action in ample doses. However, it'll need a thumbs up from the target audience to excel at the box office.

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MR & MRS MAHI is a decent flick with the performances, plot and a clap-worthy interval point as its USP Movie Review: MR & MRS MAHI is a decent flick with fine performances

Star Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor

Director: Sharan Sharma

Mr & Mrs Mahi Movie Synopsis: MR & MRS MAHI is the story of a cricket-crazy couple. The year is 2017. Jaipur-based Mahendra Agarwal (Rajkummar Rao) fails to get selected for the state team as his last shot goes awry. He has no choice but to start working in his father’s (Kumud Mishra) sports shop. 5 years later, Mahendra meets Dr Mahima (Janhvi Kapoor) for an arranged marriage. Mahendra’s father lies that Mahendra has helped expand their business significantly. Mahendra confesses to Mahima that this isn’t true at all. Mahima gets drawn to Mahendra’s honesty and she agrees to marry him. On the first night, Mahendra is pleasantly surprised to learn that Mahima is crazy about cricket. This attracts them to each other even more. Mahendra falls crazily for Mahima and while doing so, he gets careless in running the sports shop, resulting in losses. Mahima tells a shattered Mahendra that he should give another chance to his cricket career. Mahendra meets his coach, Benny Dayal Shukla (Rajesh Sharma). He gives him a chance and yet again, Mahendra fails. This is when Benny advises him to turn coach. One day, he sees Mahima playing cricket flawlessly. He asks her to leave medical practice, where she anyway isn’t happy, and train under him. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Mr & Mrs Mahi Movie Story Review: Nikhil Mehrotra and Sharan Sharma's story has the potential. We have seen films about failed individuals coaching aspiring players to success. But here, the coach is the husband and that gives a novel touch. Nikhil Mehrotra and Sharan Sharma's screenplay is smooth. The first half is quite rich in emotions and humour. But the writing has some loose ends in places. Nikhil Mehrotra and Sharan Sharma's dialogues are well-worded for most parts of the film.

Sharan Sharma's direction is effective. He has done a fine job with the high points and there are many of them like Mahendra gifting a tie to Mahima’s father, Mahendra and Mahima realizing their love for cricket in each other, Mahendra thanking Mahima for happiness, etc. The intermission point is clap-worthy.

Post-interval, the film takes a turn as Mahima’s cricketing career commences. However, from here on, the film gets predictable as one can guess what will happen next. There has also been an overdose of sports films. As a result, viewers might not break into applause towards the end. The track of the husband getting jealous of his wife gives a strong déjà vu of ABHIMAAN [1973]. Moreover, the dialogues that were incredible throughout the film lack the punch in two crucial scenes in the climax. Also, the character of the mother is crucial but is given a raw deal. She is absent in the last part of the film though she contributes incredibly to the narrative. 

Mr. And Mrs. Mahi – Official Trailer | In Cinemas 31st May | Rajkummar Rao | Janhvi Kapoor

Mr & Mrs Mahi Movie Performances: Rajkummar Rao is natural. There’s no false note to his performance and in the second half, he does a very good job. Janhvi Kapoor proves her worth yet again. This was a physically demanding film and she excels. Kumud Mishra is dependable. Rajesh Sharma is lovely, as expected. Zarina Wahab is too good but sadly, she is hardly there. Her character becomes very crucial in the pre-climax but in the first half and finale, she is not given her due. Purnendu Bhattacharya (Mahima’s father) and Yamini Das (Mahima’s mother) are decent. Arjit Taneja (Sikandar) is okay. 

Mr & Mrs Mahi music and other technical aspects: Music is not of the chartbuster variety though 'Dekhha Tenu' is catchy. 'Agar Ho Tum' and 'Junoon Hain' are well-woven into the narrative. 'Roya Jab Tu' and 'Tu Hain Toh' don't register.

John Stewart Eduri's background score is exhilarating. Anay Om Goswamy's cinematography is appropriate. Sharanya Menon's production design is realistic. Anaita Shroff Adajania and Varsha-Shilpa's costumes are straight out of life. Nitin Baid's editing is satisfactory but could have been slicker in a few places.

Mr & Mrs Mahi Movie Conclusion: On the whole, MR & MRS MAHI is a decent flick with the performances, plot and a clap-worthy interval point as its USP. However, the second half is predictable and it comes at a time when the audience is fatigued by sport films. Nevertheless, it is set for a good opening thanks to the Cinema Lovers Day offer. A positive word of mouth should help the film sail through at the box office.

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MR & MRS MAHI is a decent flick with the performances, plot and a clap-worthy interval point as its USP Movie Review: MR & MRS MAHI is a decent flick with the performances

Star Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor

Director: Sharan Sharma

Mr & Mrs Mahi Movie Synopsis: MR & MRS MAHI is the story of a cricket-crazy couple. The year is 2017. Jaipur-based Mahendra Agarwal (Rajkummar Rao) fails to get selected for the state team as his last shot goes awry. He has no choice but to start working in his father’s (Kumud Mishra) sports shop. 5 years later, Mahendra meets Dr Mahima (Janhvi Kapoor) for an arranged marriage. Mahendra’s father lies that Mahendra has helped expand their business significantly. Mahendra confesses to Mahima that this isn’t true at all. Mahima gets drawn to Mahendra’s honesty and she agrees to marry him. On the first night, Mahendra is pleasantly surprised to learn that Mahima is crazy about cricket. This attracts them to each other even more. Mahendra falls crazily for Mahima and while doing so, he gets careless in running the sports shop, resulting in losses. Mahima tells a shattered Mahendra that he should give another chance to his cricket career. Mahendra meets his coach, Benny Dayal Shukla (Rajesh Sharma). He gives him a chance and yet again, Mahendra fails. This is when Benny advises him to turn coach. One day, he sees Mahima playing cricket flawlessly. He asks her to leave medical practice, where she anyway isn’t happy, and train under him. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Mr & Mrs Mahi Movie Story Review: Nikhil Mehrotra and Sharan Sharma's story has the potential. We have seen films about failed individuals coaching aspiring players to success. But here, the coach is the husband and that gives a novel touch. Nikhil Mehrotra and Sharan Sharma's screenplay is smooth. The first half is quite rich in emotions and humour. But the writing has some loose ends in places. Nikhil Mehrotra and Sharan Sharma's dialogues are well-worded for most parts of the film.

Sharan Sharma's direction is effective. He has done a fine job with the high points and there are many of them like Mahendra gifting a tie to Mahima’s father, Mahendra and Mahima realizing their love for cricket in each other, Mahendra thanking Mahima for happiness, etc. The intermission point is clap-worthy.

Post-interval, the film takes a turn as Mahima’s cricketing career commences. However, from here on, the film gets predictable as one can guess what will happen next. There has also been an overdose of sports films. As a result, viewers might not break into applause towards the end. The track of the husband getting jealous of his wife gives a strong déjà vu of ABHIMAAN [1973]. Moreover, the dialogues that were incredible throughout the film lack the punch in two crucial scenes in the climax. Also, the character of the mother is crucial but is given a raw deal. She is absent in the last part of the film though she contributes incredibly to the narrative. 

Mr. And Mrs. Mahi – Official Trailer | In Cinemas 31st May | Rajkummar Rao | Janhvi Kapoor

Mr & Mrs Mahi Movie Performances: Rajkummar Rao is natural. There’s no false note to his performance and in the second half, he does a very good job. Janhvi Kapoor proves her worth yet again. This was a physically demanding film and she excels. Kumud Mishra is dependable. Rajesh Sharma is lovely, as expected. Zarina Wahab is too good but sadly, she is hardly there. Her character becomes very crucial in the pre-climax but in the first half and finale, she is not given her due. Purnendu Bhattacharya (Mahima’s father) and Yamini Das (Mahima’s mother) are decent. Arjit Taneja (Sikandar) is okay. 

Mr & Mrs Mahi music and other technical aspects: Music is not of the chartbuster variety though 'Dekhha Tenu' is catchy. 'Agar Ho Tum' and 'Junoon Hain' are well-woven into the narrative. 'Roya Jab Tu' and 'Tu Hain Toh' don't register.

John Stewart Eduri's background score is exhilarating. Anay Om Goswamy's cinematography is appropriate. Sharanya Menon's production design is realistic. Anaita Shroff Adajania and Varsha-Shilpa's costumes are straight out of life. Nitin Baid's editing is satisfactory but could have been slicker in a few places.

Mr & Mrs Mahi Movie Conclusion: On the whole, MR & MRS MAHI is a decent flick with the performances, plot and a clap-worthy interval point as its USP. However, the second half is predictable and it comes at a time when the audience is fatigued by sport films. Nevertheless, it is set for a good opening thanks to the Cinema Lovers Day offer. A positive word of mouth should help the film sail through at the box office.

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SAVI works due to the plot, performances and an engaging second half Movie Review: SAVI works due to the plot and performances.

Star Cast: Divya Khossla, Anil Kapoor, Harshvardhan Rane

Director: Abhinay Deo

Savi Movie Synopsis: SAVI is the story of a woman trying to save her husband. Savi Sachdev (Divya Khossla) is a homemaker who resides in Liverpool with her husband Nakul Sachdev (Harshvardhan Rane), who works in a construction company, and son Adi (Mairaj Kakkar). Life is going fine until one day, Nakul is arrested by DI Ayesha Hassan (Himanshi Choudhry) for the murder of his boss, Stefani Fowler. Nakul pleads to the cops that he’s innocent. However, the evidence against him is tremendous. Stefani had humiliated Nakul in the past and this gave the latter a solid motive. Secondly, Stefani was killed after being hit with a fire extinguisher. Nakul’s fingerprints are found on the extinguisher. Also, his coat has blood stains, that belong to Stefani. The court awards him a life sentence. Savi’s life comes crashing down. Meanwhile, Nakul gets into trouble in Shrewsbury Prison. A notorious gangster, Razaq, asks Nakul to keep a packet of drugs safe. Nakul is beaten up when he refuses to do so. Razaq is kept in solitary confinement but only for a month. Nakul is hospitalized and files a complaint against Razaq for the assault. Razaq’s man warns Nakul to take back the complaint; or else, Razaq will teach him a lesson once he’s out of solitary confinement in three days. Nakul refuses to bow down. This is when Savi decides to get her husband out of jail. While researching prison breaks, she comes across the book written by Joydeep Paul (Anil Kapoor). He has escaped from jail a record seven times! Savi tries to meet him to get tips. But Joydeep is extremely reclusive. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Savi Movie Story Review: SAVI is the remake of a French film POUR ELLE [2008]. The story is promising. Parveez Sheikh and Aseem Arora's adapted screenplay works as it's pacy and is peppered with engaging moments. The writing in the first half, however, could have been better.  Aseem Arora's dialogues are fine and at places, the one-liners are dipped in black humour.

Abhinay Deo's direction is decent. He keeps the duration in check (2 hours 6 minutes) and the use of humour in certain places adds to the entertainment value of the film. The second half can make or break the film and in the case of SAVI, the post-interval portions are much better, especially once the protagonist puts her plan into action. There's a twist in the climax that will be unpredictable for most viewers.

On the flipside, the first half is weak and the interest dips at this point. The intermission point also comes at a not-so-exciting juncture. There are too many cinematic liberties; the manner in which Savi is able to get her husband out is very convenient. The same goes for the whole button angle. Also, the promos give a slightly misleading idea about Savi's actual plan to save her husband.

Savi (Trailer): Divya Khossla, Anil Kapoor, Harshvardhan Rane

Savi Movie Performances: Divya Khossla plays the lead part with panache and put up a fine act in the second half. Harshavardhan Rane, as always, is dependable and delivers a great performance. He also looks quite dashing. Anil Kapoor has a bit of a late entry. His screen time is limited and yet, he makes up for it with his entertaining act. Mairaj Kakkar is passable. Himanshi Choudhry leaves a mark. The same goes for Raageshwari Loomba Swaroop (Simrit) although her character is not well fleshed out. The others like Supreet Bedi (Anu), Alex Dower (Detective Stevens), Adrian Stretton (Detective Lucus), Jacob Medows (Slim Jim) and Ackeem Gibbs (Rox) are fine.

Savi music and other technical aspects: The only track that stands out is the catchy song 'Khol Pinjra'. Arkadeep Karmakar's background score is appropriate. Chinamay Salaskar's cinematography is neat. The locales of the UK are well shot. Priyanka Bhatt's costumes are normal. Sunil Nigwekar's production design is realistic. Shaan Mohammad's editing is slick.

Savi Movie Conclusion: On the whole, SAVI works due to the plot, performances and an engaging second half however the cinematic liberties play spoilsport. At the box office, it will be an average fare.

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ATLAS works due to the plot and Jennifer Lopez’s performance but it’s unconvincing and convenient Movie Review: ATLAS works due to the plot and Jennifer Lopez’s performance

Star Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Mark Strong, Sterling K Brown

Director: Brad Peyton

Atlas Movie Synopsis: ATLAS is the story of an analyst trying to stop an AI terrorist. Val Shepherd (Lana Parrilla) of Shepherd Robotics develops an AI robot named Harlan (Simu Liu). Things go wrong and Harlan becomes very powerful. He weaponizes other AI bots and begins to attack humanity. Various countries together develop an organization named the International Coalition of Nations (ICN) to tackle the threat. They successfully destroy the AI bots. Harlan escapes into the space to save himself but leaves a message that he'll be back soon. 28 years pass. Casca Vix (Abraham Popoola), an agent of Harlan, is found on Earth and with great difficulty, he's captured by ICN forces. Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez), daughter of Val and who has deeply studied Harlan, is called to investigate Casca. She smartly finds the location of Harlan from Casca. Harlan is residing on the planet named 'GR 39, Andromeda Galaxy'. General Jake Boothe (Mark Strong) puts up a squad to travel to GR 39 and capture Harlan. Atlas, at first, warns General and Colonel Elias Banks (Sterling K Brown) that this can be a suicidal mission since it's an un-researched territory and moreover, Harlan will be equipped to attack the forces. Elias, who's heading the mission, assures Atlas that they have the best of the weapons and assistance from AI to capture Harlan. Atlas requests the General that she'd like to accompany Elias on the mission as she is the best person to understand Harlan. The General agrees. The squad heads to GR 39 and even before they land on the planet, things go haywire. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Atlas Movie Story Review: Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite's story is promising and talks about the threats as well as advantages of AI. Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite's screenplay is engaging but, in several places, it's unconvincing. The dialogues are sharp and add to the humour quotient.

Brad Peyton's direction is decent. He keeps the run time in check (120 minutes). Also, despite it being a sci-fi film, the focus is not just on action and VFX. One of the most memorable aspects of the film is the bond that Atlas shares with the AI bot, Smith (voiced by Gregory James Cohan). A few dramatic and emotional moments stand out.

On the flipside, the biggest issue with the film is that certain developments are difficult to digest. It is bewildering that General Boothe immediately deployed his soldiers to capture a dangerous terrorist like Harlan that too on a planet that is completely alien territory for humans. One expects humans to study the planet for a few years before sending soldiers. Instead, the soldiers are sent in a few days! Also, there's inconsistency. At times, Harlan and his army seem to be all-powerful and yet, Atlas is able to escape from captivity in the pre-climax by easily destroying Harlan's squad.

Atlas Movie Performances: Jennifer Lopez, however, rocks the show. She plays a difficult role with perfection and scores with this performance-heavy role. Simu Liu has limited screen time and is decent at best. Abraham Popoola leaves a huge mark with his robot-like expressions and dialogue delivery. Sterling K Brown is dependable and the same goes for Mark Strong. Lana Parrilla is nice in a cameo. Finally, Gregory James Cohan is terrific as the voice of Smith.

Atlas music and other technical aspects: Andrew Lockington's music is appropriate for a film of this kind. John Schwartzman's cinematography is splendid. Barry Chusid's production design is rich and fascinating. Daniel Orlandi's costumes are realistic. The VFX matches global standards. The action is entertaining. Bob Ducsay's editing is smooth.

Atlas Movie Conclusion: On the whole, ATLAS works due to the plot and Jennifer Lopez’s performance. However, since it’s unconvincing and convenient, the film turns out to be an average fare.

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