Nna Thaan Case Kodu (NTCK) meaning “then, you file a case” is a film rooted in the nativity of Kerala. You can make this out from the title itself which is a very colloquial line in Malayalam challenging someone to “put” a case on you. The setting of the film which is a small town... Continue Reading →
30 Years of Roja and Rahman!
This piece was originally written for the news portal “The News Minute” and was carried on 15th Aug 2022. The link to the piece is here: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/30-years-roja-movie-gave-us-musical-marvel-ar-rahman-166867 Mani Ratnam’s super hit film Roja was released on August 15, 30 years ago. When we saw the film, we understood why the makers opted for a Saturday... Continue Reading →
Laal Singh Chaddha – My Flash Review!
First the disclosures. I have not watched Forrest Gump. I watched Laal Singh Chaddha (LSC) in isolation as a film and my review has no comparative references to the original. I have also attempted to look at the film filtering the surround sound that preceded the release. The film opens with the longest disclaimer I... Continue Reading →
Darlings – My Flash Review
There are films which you find interesting and look forward to writing about them. And there are those that are ordinary and you go through the motions of writing a review. Darlings starring Alia Bhatt that dropped on OTT (skipping a theatrical release surprisingly) falls in the first category. So, right there, you have got... Continue Reading →
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect – My Flash Review!
In a sense, this film – Rocketry is very much like The Kashmir Files! It is a subject that we are privy to, but only in parts. It’s a subject that needs to be told to the public at large. Again, it’s a subject that leads to catharsis for the people involved and brings a... Continue Reading →
With Vikram, has Lokesh Kanagaraj cracked the code for ‘star’ films?
This piece was originally written for the news portal “The News Minute” and was carried on the 21st July, 2022. This is my 25th article for the portal since I started writing for them in 2017! The link to the piece is here: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vikram-lokesh-kanagaraj-has-steered-clear-star-film-trap-166061 With just one film, Tamil cinema has got its mojo back.... Continue Reading →
Vikram – My (late) Flash Review!
I had missed watching Vikram when it was released in theatres and so caught up with it this weekend when it dropped on Disney-Hotstar! The best part of the film is, it unabashedly sticks to just action as a genre and doesn’t even attempt to go anywhere else. But is that enough to keep you... Continue Reading →
30 Years of Mala da… Annamala…!
This piece was originally written for the news portal “The News Minute” and was carried on the 27th June, 2022. The link to the piece is here: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/mala-da-annamalai-30-years-rajinikanth-s-super-duper-hit-165330 In the last many years post Sivaji – The Boss, if directors and writers have been struggling to make a “Super Star” film that is universally appealing... Continue Reading →
CBI 5: The Brain – My Flash Review
In Malayalam cinema, if Mohanlal’s Drishyam franchise endeared itself to the millennial generation, for the Doordarshan generation, it is Mammootty’s “CBI” Franchise. What started way back in 1988 with ‘Oru CBI Diary Kurippu’, the first in the series, has now got into the 5th sequel with the latest release – CBI 5: The Brain. This... Continue Reading →
Jana Gana Mana – My Flash Review!
The Malayalam film – Jana Gana Mana starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Suraj Venjaramoodu dropped on OTT few weeks ago after what I hear was a theatrical hit. I also got prompted by few friends of mine to watch this film and so it was with heightened expectations that I watched the film. Within few minutes... Continue Reading →