Interview: Vijay Deverakonda on his angst over Arjun Reddy criticism
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View Article“Pati Patni Aur Woh”… This remake needed to be funnier, but it does...
The other woman isn’t a humble secretary, like in the earlier movie. She’s more powerful — this inversion of power is one of the things that makes this remake interesting. Spoilers ahead… Can a...
View Article“Mardaani 2.”… An excellent Rani Mukerji anchors a solid (if unsurprising)...
The fact that the star is a woman adds extra punch to the machoness of the title. A woman — even one as small of build as Rani Mukerji’s Shivani Shivaji Roy IPS — can do everything a man does. She can...
View Article“Dabangg 3.”… Salman Khan stars in yet another sequel that tarnishes the...
The writing is terrible. It can’t decide whether to devote time to Chulbul Pandey’s “origins story” or focus on the present day, with a new villain. Spoilers ahead… The difference between a masala...
View Article“Good Newwz”… Akshay, Kareena, Diljit and Kiara star in a riotous comedy of...
If Diljit Dosanjh’s persona were a movie, I’d imagine it’d be something like this: genial, casual, comfortable with its blingy brightness, not particularly out to transform the world but impossible to...
View ArticleA bit of hand-wringing about Deepika Padukone and ‘Chhapaak’
Read the full article on Film Companion, here: https://www.filmcompanion.in/chhapaak-deepika-padukone-laxmi-agarwal-acid-attack-survivor-meghna-gulzar/ As an actor, as a very beautiful actor, Deepika...
View Article“Chhapaak”… Deepika Padukone stars in an issue-heavy movie that Meghna Gulzar...
This isn’t the angry film I thought it would be. It is, surprisingly, filled with laughter and hope, and a solid companion piece to ‘Uyare’. Spoilers ahead… What is it about acid attacks that makes...
View Article“Panga”… A superb Kangana Ranaut anchors a sports drama that’s really a story...
Every sports movie needs a twist. The twist, here, is that, in attempting a comeback, the protagonist becomes a symbol for many people (especially women) whose dreams were thwarted by reality. Spoilers...
View ArticleReaders Write In #139: ‘Panga’ Inspiration: A mum looking for second chances…
(by Madhuri Kannan) When I watched the Hindi movie ‘Panga’ trailer, I was reminded of a lot of thoughts that were going on in my mind a couple of years ago. The days when I had happily taken a break...
View Article“Jawaani Jaaneman”… Saif Ali Khan plays an older version of a Saif Ali Khan...
The film has neither the glib snap of a sitcom nor the depth of a drama nor the giddiness of a ‘Birdcage’-like farce. Spoilers ahead… In an industry more attuned to sequels, Nitin Kakkar’s Jawaani...
View ArticleReaders Write In #141: Indian historical pieces and why they suck- a ran
(by Sudharshan Garg) A Rani of Jhansi jumps almost what seems to be a 100 feet from the rampart of a castle on a horse, the horse must be “Superhorse” as it lands without injury and she rides away, to...
View Article“Love Aaj Kal (2020)”…
I’ll write down some thoughts at some point, but meanwhile, readers can comment…
View Article“Shikara”…
I’ll write down some thoughts at some point, but meanwhile, readers can comment…
View ArticleReaders Write In #145: ‘Love Aaj Kal’ and why we need to respect our auteurs
(by N Madhusudhan) I haven’t seen Love AajKal (2020) yet. The vicious attack against the film, which is supposedly Imtiaz Ali’s worst, has slightly dented my interest levels. This has happened before....
View Article#AskBR – Hey Ram (20th anniversary)
In which I answer a few questions on an older film… or a new one… or talk about actors and directors… or take on a few YouTube comments… For more, subscribe to FILM COMPANION SOUTH:...
View ArticleMissing migrant workers, Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s poetry, and the many textures...
Ekta Mittal speaks about her 28-minute film ‘Gumnaam Din’ (Missing Days), which is being screened in the Berlinale Shorts section. You can read the full article on Film Companion, here:...
View Article“Eeb Allay Ooo!”… Prateek Vats’ Berlinale Panorama selection is a surreal,...
Yes, the plot revolves around the real-life menace of monkeys that plagues government buildings in the capital — but could it also be that the animals represent those that run the System? Spoilers...
View Article“Laila Aur Satt Geet”… Pushpendra Singh’s Kashmir-set folktale, which had its...
Laila herself may be a stand-in for Kashmir. Look how people keep talking about her beauty. Isn’t that what Jahangir implied in the most famous lines about the state! Spoilers ahead… You can read the...
View Article“Baaghi 3.”… Tiger Shroff’s one-man-army show is content to stay at a...
The action set-ups are spectacular. But the lack of variety in the moves kills a lot of the stunts, along with the relentless slo-mo. Spoilers ahead… There’s a bad, bad man who lives in Syria. He’s...
View Article“Angrezi Medium”… Irrfan Khan sinks with other talented actors in a...
The film is so wretchedly written, tonally so all over the place that it set my teeth on edge – especially the relentless cutesiness. Spoilers ahead… Tony is a shady man who specialises in smuggling...
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