Fantastic Beasts 2 - the new entry in the Pottertown

- Dibyaraj Dutta

(An honest review by a potterhead)

[No major spoiler]

After a wait of almost 2 years, the new Fantastic Beasts movie is out. And boy! Potterheads cannot help but be ecstasized. But wait! Does the movie really live upto all the hype and expectations around it? Or is it all show and no go?

Venom: the new anti-hero in the town

By - Harpreet Singh Dhillon

Image source: Google

It's almost autumn, and with the marvel cinematic universe launching some great hits this year, the recent spider-man spin-off venom just filled a gap that was present amidst the next marvel movies that are to come.

Starring Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, this dynamic and talented actor has outdone himself yet again.

ভিলেজ ৰকষ্টাৰ : এক সপোনৰ যাত্ৰা

- Ajay Das

এবুকু সপোন আৰু সীমাহীন আশাৰ অন্য এটি নাম "ভিলেজ ৰকষ্টাৰ"। বাস্তৱৰ এটি জীয়া কাহিনী ইমান নিখুঁত ভাবে উপস্থাপন কৰা হৈছে যে ছবি নে তথ্যচিত্ৰ দৰ্শকে মনিবয়ে নোৱাৰে। 

এক নিৰ্ভেজাল, অকৃত্ৰিম, জীয়া কাহিনীয়ে সকলোৰে মাজত প্ৰৱেশ কৰিব ধৰে। এক কাব্যিক গতিৰে চিনেমাখনৰ কাহিনীয়ে গতি কৰে। আৱহ সংগীতৰ প্ৰতিটো সুৰ, প্ৰতিটো দৃশ্য আমাৰ অতিকৈ হৃদয়ৰ কাষৰ, যদিওবা বহুতেই শিপা ডাল পাহৰি পেলাইছে। তথাপিও বহুতৰ বাবে আমাৰ প্ৰকৃত ঠিকনাটোৰ সৈতে পৰিচয় কৰাই দিলে। জীৱনৰ কোনো কোন ক্ষণত বিচাৰি ফুৰা সতেজতা খিনি আপুনি বা মই এই ছবিখনত বিচাৰি পাম। 

"এই সময় সেই সময়" - বাস্তৱত জন্মিত কল্পনা"

- শ্ৰুতিলেখা দেৱী

Pic for Representation purpose

ড৹ ৰীতা চৌধুৰী - নামটোৰ গভীৰতা হয়তো মই বুজি নাপালোহেঁতেন, যদিহে 'এই সময় সেই সময়' পঢ়াৰ সুযোগ মই নাপালোহেঁতেন। এনে এখন কিতাপৰ ওপৰত মতামত জনোৱাটো কঠিন। এয়া এক প্ৰচেষ্টা মাথোঁ।

উপন‍্যাসখনৰ পটভূমি 'অসম আন্দোলন' আৰু তাৰ পিছৰ পৰিস্থিতি, যি আন্দোলনে অসমীয়া জাতিৰ অস্তিত্ব জীয়াই ৰখাৰ বাট মুকলি কৰি দিছিল। সেই আন্দোলনে কেনেকৈ এচাম অসমীয়াক ৰাজনীতিৰ মেৰপাকত সুমু্ৱাই পেলাইছিল আৰু তাৰ ফলশ্ৰুতিত কি কি হৈছিল সেই সকলো ঘটনাৰ বৰ্ণনাৰে পৰিপূৰ্ণ - 'এই সময় সেই সময়'। ই সম্পূৰ্ণৰূপে কাল্পনিক যদিও সেই কল্পনা বাস্তৱৰ কঠিন মাটিৰে গঢ়া। সমাজ, নাৰী, ৰাজনীতি, দৰিদ্ৰতা আদি সামাজিক দিশসমূহক শব্দৰূপ দিয়াৰ প্ৰচেষ্টাতে জন্ম হৈ উঠিছে অদিতি, চন্দন, অৰণ‍্য, কাজৰি, কস্তুৰী, সুকন‍্যা, অলকেশ, শুভংকৰ তথা অমিতৰ দৰে চৰিত্ৰৰ। আনন্দ, আশা, বিশ্বাসৰ লগতে একেখন সমাজতে সহবাস কৰে হতাশা, আশ্চৰ্য, যন্ত্ৰণায়ো যাক স্বচ্ছৰূপত ফুটাই তুলিছে কেৱল ড৹ ৰীতা চৌধুৰীৰ দৰে এগৰাকী সাহিত‍্যিকৰ তীক্ষ্ণ কলমে।

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

- Sidharth Sharma

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: A hodgepodge of love, friendship and betrayal!

Amidst all the nationalism driven controversies, Karan Johar’s much awaited directorial venture ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ hits the screens today. Not only is the film a vital project for KJo, who dons the director’s hat after a span of four years, it is a do-or-die situation for Ranbir Kapoor, who has been delivering back-to-back fiascoes for the last two years. Here’s our review of ADHM. Check it out!

M.S. Dhoni- The Untold Story

Sidharth Sharma

M.S. Dhoni- The Untold Story: Sushant Singh Rajput shines in this epic, but unduly overstretched film

Cast- Sushant Singh Rajput, Kiara Advani, Disha Patani, Anupam Kher, Rajesh Sharma, Bhumika Chawla, Harry Tangri

Direction- Neeraj Pandey

Verdict- 4/5

All the Cricket Buffs out there, brace yourself up! The biopic of India’s Captain Cool finally hits the screens and there could not have been a better reason to throng the theatres this weekend. Whether or not the movie is one of the best movies that could have ever been made on the life of the celebrated Indian Cricketer is still a debatable issue, but it certainly is the most honest and factual among the handful of sports biopic made in India.

5 reasons why Pink is a ‘must-watch’ movie this weekend

- Sidharth Sharma.

Cast- Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Andrea Tariang, Amitabh Bachchan, Angad Bedi, Vijay Varma

Direction- Aniruddha Roy Choudhury

Extroversion is a crime; a crime for women in India. And for a place like India, ‘Pink’ is a befitting reply to all those raised eyebrows judging a women’s character by her clothes and personality. Here are five reasons why Pink is a ‘must-watch’ movie this weekend:

Freaky Ali

- Sidharth Sharma.

Freaky Ali- Nawazuddin Siddiqui shines in this cliched, yet entertaining potboiler

Cast- Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Amy Jackson, Arbaaz Khan, Jas Arora, Nikitan Dheer, Seema Biswas.

Direction- Sohail Khan

Verdict- 3/5

From being a pickpocket in Munna Bhai M.B.B.S  to a solo lead in Freaky Ali, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s journey in Bollywood has been one of rags to riches. He has proved his worth time and again. And with Freaky Ali, he once again proves the fact that his acting mettle can overcome any limitations of the script.

5 reasons why Rustom would be a decent movie to watch this weekend

- Sidharth Sharma.

Over the years, Akshay Kumar has carved out a niche for himself. With movies like Airlift, Baby and Special 26, he has proved his worth time and again. As his latest film ‘Rustom’ hits the theatres today, we could not wait but watch it first day, first show. So, here is our review of the film- 5 reasons why Rustom would be a decent movie to watch this weekend.

Review Aggregation: Kabali

Rajnikanth starrer 'Kabali' has been creating storm worldwide. Starring Radhike Apte, Dhansika, Dinesh Ravi and Winston Chao in pivotal roles, this Pa- Ranjith directorial has been ruling the box office numbers, both domestically and internationally. "This is Rajnikanth's biggest release till date. His last two films- 'Lingaa' and 'Kochadaiyaan' have not performed so well. With 'Kabali', Rajnikanth has proved that he is, was and will be the Megastar", said a trade analyst.

However, it has received mixed reviews from the critics. Shubra Gupta, of The Indian Express rated it 1.5 and said that, "This was the time when Rajinikanth should have reinvented himself for his directors have long stopped bothering about plot and characterisation. For when Rajinikant is on and at it, who cares?". Hindustan Times rated it 3 and stated that, "Like every other such movie, there are revenge kills and fast-paced scenes that keep you on edge. But just as things start getting wild, an emotional drama starts and puts you in sleep mode. This start-stop nature of the film will be criticised and analysed in days to come."

The film's plot is as follows: Kabaliswaran aka Kabali is the firebrand leader of a group of Tamil indentured labour in the Malaysian rubber plantations. A skirmish between the owners and the labour turns into a tragedy, and Kabali transforms from regular guy into an grizzled gang-boss.

Talking about the film, The Indian Express said that, "There could have been something there, given the history. But the treatment is both half-baked and half-hearted. Despite it being shot in Malaysia (new locations), the arch-villain being a local (new face), and the superstar given not one but two pretty young women (Apte as wife, Dhansika as daughter) as adoring satellites, this bloated, overlong enterprise cannot hide the fact that the superstar is distinctly slower, less nimble on his feet, making the holes in the film much more visible."

Aggregate Rating (from 10 reviews)- 2.5/5

SULTAN

Sidharth Sharma.

Movie Review: Sultan- Despite its minute flaws, the film manages to keep you hooked throughout!

Cast- Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma, Randeep Hooda, Amit Sadh

Direction- Ali Abbas Zafar

Verdict- 3.5/5

Salman Khan’s much anticipated film ‘Sultan’ hits the theatres today. With a screen count of over 4000 in India and 1100 in abroad, the film seems to be a propitious affair for the makers. The Eid release has always been a sure shot megahit for Salman at the box office. Given his inimitable stardom, a humongous advanced booking and a mid-week release, Sultan is a hit even before its release! But will it ‘hit’ the right chord with the audiences or will it be another forgettable mass entertainer?

Sultan Ali Khan (Khan), who runs a cable business in Haryana, falls for Aarfa (played by drop-dead gorgeous Anushka Sharma), a famous female wrestler. A chance meeting leads into love at first sight and soon, Sultan learns that she will marry only a wrestler. In order to be worthy of her, Sultan trains himself to become one of the finest wrestlers of the nation. The rest of the film traces Sultan’s rise and fall in life!

The best thing about Sultan is that it stays true to its character and blends Salman Khan with his character, unlike Khan’s previous movies in which characterization was done to amalgamate up to Salman’s persona. The story is clichéd, predictable but thoroughly entertaining. The screenplay (written by Aditya Chopra), loaded with drama, action and forced humour, could have been much better but nevertheless, it will not disappoint you. Except for the supposed-to-be-funny scenes, the film does have its moments. The first half is out-and-out entertaining but the second half is somewhat dragged.  The fight sequences fail to be edgy but are still better than those which Bollywood has witnessed since ages. The dialogues are sometimes tacky, but a few dialogues are indeed inspiring.

Salman Khan, who plays the titular role, has indeed challenged himself as an actor, as said by his director in one of his interviews. To get that type of physique is truly laudable. He emotes with utmost sincerity and delivers one of his best performances.  However, his ‘best’ is not good enough! He fails to get his accent right and in many scenes, he struggles to emote. Hope he overcomes his limitations in the years to come. Anushka Sharma delivers a power-packed performance and impresses us with her tremendous screen presence. Randeep Hooda, as the coach, leaves his mark despite a lesser screen time. Amit Sadh, as the owner of a Martial Arts Team, does a fine job. Other actors ably support the lead pair.

The Cinematographer splendidly captures the heart and soul of the desi akhadas and does an excellent job with his lens. The editing, however, could have been much sharper and a few of those ‘snail-paced’ scenes could have been trimmed off well. A running time of 170 mins could have been easily avoided!

Director Ali Abbas Zafar does an excellent job, once again. He brings out the best of his lead actor and succeeds to tame his acting skills. Most importantly, he delivers a power-packed film, depite the limitations of its script!

3 stars for the film and 0.5 to Salman for daring to act in a movie like this; a movie which required him to showcase his acting mettle!

Final Verdict- A great ‘Eidi’ by Khan to all his fan. Others won’t regret watching it once, atleast!

Sarbjit

- Sidharth Sharma and Gitartha Kashyap.

Sarbjit: A poignant tale of captivity, spoiled by loads of melodrama!

Cast- Randeep Hooda, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Richa Chadda, Darshan Kumar

Direction- Omung Kumar

Verdict- 3/5

Last week witnessed the release of one of the highly anticipated biopics- 'Azhar', which was based on the life of tainted Indian Cricketer, Mohammed Azharuddin. This week, another biopic- 'Sarbjit' has taken the box office by storm. Warped on the life of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was feloniously convicted by a Pakistani Court on charges of Terrorism and Spying, 'Sarbjit' promises to be an excruciating tale of incarceration. But will be the film be even close to what has been promised by the trailer, or will it be another 'Azhar'? Read on to find out.

Indian filmmakers still have a long way to go when it comes to mastering the art of making biopics. While 'Azhar' was a commercial venture vitiated by manipulated facts, but saved by Hashmi's performance, 'Sarbjit' is a much more veristic approach on the subject matter. However, 'Sarbjit' couldn't save itself from falling into the clutches of melodrama, which dilutes the tension created in the first few scenes!

One fateful night, Sarbjit (Hooda), a squiffed farmer from Punjab, crosses the India-Pak border and is wrongfully convicted by a Pakistani Court on charges of Terrorism and Spying. The movie focuses on his sister Dalbit (Aishwarya), who boils the ocean to set her brother free. But will her efforts pay off?

If you happen to be a telly addict, you might know that an episode, loosely based on Sarabjit Singh, was telecast in a famous Crime Show. While the episode was a heart wrenching narrative adapted for the 'U' audiences, its silver screen counterpart depicts the harsh conditions Sarbjit is subjected to. The screenplay starts off on a brilliant note, making you commiserate for Hooda. Gradually, the film strikes a different note, becoming loud and irritating in certain parts, giving you the feel of a 90's film. Same holds true for the dialogues.

However, it is Hooda's jaw-dropping performance, that makes the film worth watching! He is one such actor who can be moulded into anything, such versatility is sure to garner him a lot of accolades. Richa Chadda, who plays Sarbjit's wife in the film, has the least screen time, but she makes her presence felt with an excellent performance. However, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan disappoints a tad with her performance. Being the centre-stage of the film, she does carry the film efficiently on her shoulders. But in certain parts, she goes over-the-top and cringy and couldn't resist herself from overacting! She is best in scenes where she doesn't screech much; she nails it with her silence. Her sibling chemistry with Hooda is best portrayed in scenes, where it doesn't matter much- towards the end. Darshan Kumar (seen in Mary Kom and NH10), as Sarbjit's lawyer, plays his part perfectly and doesn't disappoint.

Kiran Deohans' cinematography deserves an applause. He brilliantly portrays the atmosphere of the dingy cell where Sarbjit is captivated. The film could have been a bit more crisp in terms of editing, but nevertheless, it is not so disappointing.

Director Omung Kumar lacks the finesse he had displayed in Mary Kom. He could've thought of better methods of depicting struggle and protests, rather than just shrills. Rather than making the film a platform for Aishwarya to display her skills, he should have given proper emphasis on the narrative, which lacks the punch!

Final Verdict- If not anything, then watch it for Hooda's excellent performance!

Azhar

- Sidharth Sharma.

Azhar- Entertaining, but fails to leave any impression!

Cast- Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai, Nargis Fakhri, Lara Dutta, Gautam Gulati, Kunal Roy Kapur
Director- Tony D'Souza

Verdict- 3/5

After the enormous success of 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai' and 'The Dirty Picture', Ekta Kapoor is back with another biopic, 'Azhar'. Based on the life of India's Cricketing Legend (of his time)- Mohammad Azharuddin, who was involved in one of the biggest betting scandals, 'Azhar' has created quite a stir, thanks to its controversial subject! But will it appease to the audiences? 

First things first, 'Azhar' is not a biopic, as disclaimed by the makers. This becomes evident towards the second half of the film, as several facts have been tampered with, to present this tainted cricketer in good light. The movie starts off with a sting operation, showing Azhar's (Hashmi) involvement in a betting scandal, alongwith bookie M.K. Sharma (Rajesh Sharma). The movie, then moves back and forth in narrative, showing Azhar's life in bits and pieces- his journey as a cricketer, his 'nikaah' with Naureen (Prachi Desai), his affairs with Sangita (Fakhri) and his involvement in the scandal. The climax focuses on redeeming Azhar's lost reputation and on clearing his name in the scandal.

The story, although fictional, has been well penned out but is let down by a feeble screenplay. The first half manages to keep you hooked (especially the first 20-30 minutes), but then the narrative loses steam midway. The proceedings happen just for the sake of it, and there is not much emotional connect with the audiences. The betting scandal, although mentioned throughout the film, has practically been given a backseat in terms of narrative. The characterisation (apart from Azhar) has not been properly done with. The film does have its moments, but those are easily forgettable. The dialogues, though hackneyed, are mass-appealing.

Emraan Hashmi does a commendable job in the titular role, amongst the entire star cast. His body language, as usual, does the talking. He manages to overcome the limitations of the screenplay and carries off the film well. Prachi Desai, in a brief role as Naureen, does manage to grab eyeballs with her performance. Nargis Fakhri, as Sangita, is far from good. She adds a lot to the glam quotient, but when it comes to acting, she is totally blank. Gautam Gulati makes an impressive debut as Ravi. Lara Dutta saves the second half of the film with her energetic performance as a lawyer, Meera Verma. Kunal Roy Kapur, as Reddy, is lovable. His accent and the climax stint will be loved by the audiences! Other supporting actors perform equally well!

Cinematography is strictly average. It could have been much better in some parts, but overall it is passable. Editing and background score have been sincerely dealt with and save the film from sinking.

Tony D'Souza's direction is somewhat amateurish. He does manage to keep you hooked throughout the film, but does not leave any impact on the audiences, which was required for a movie of this genre. Clearly, a passable venture it is!

P.S- Don't have any high expectations from the film. Only then, you will like it!

Final Verdict- You won't regret watching it once, atleast.

FAN

- Sidharth Sharma.

Fan: This SRK v/s SRK drama is flawed yet entertaining

Cast- Shahrukh Khan, Waluscha D’Souza, Sayani Gupta, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Deepika Amin, Yogendra Tiku

Director- Maneesh Sharma

Verdict- 3.5/5

During the initial days of his career, SRKs claim to stardom was his portrayal of villainous roles- be it in Darr, Baazigar or Anjaam. Years later, he uses the tried-and-tested formula in one of the most anticipated films of the year, Fan. Will ‘Fan’ prove to be a landmark film or will it just be another ‘no-brainer’?

Gaurav Chandna (SRK), a die-hard fan of superstar Aryan Khanna (once again, SRK), runs a cyber café in Delhi. A lookalike of Aryan, Gaurav makes it big in his colony when he wins the ‘best actor’ trophy at the annual competition of his colony ( some ‘Super Sitara Competition’) by mimicking Aryan. Trouble sets in when Gaurav decides to visit Mumbai to wish Aryan on his birthday and dedicate his trophy to him. Will Gaurav understand his limits or will he go too-far to fulfill his obsession?

A refreshing take on the obsession of a fan, the movie has been well-conceptualized and is one of the most unconventional films seen in recent times. However, the screenplay plays a spoilsport. The first half of the film has been prodigiously executed, keeping the proceedings completely realistic and compelling. The cyber café action sequence has been convincingly choreographed. But as Gaurav Chandna steps out of his house to meet Aryan, logic gradually steps out of the film. The confrontation scene between Gaurav and Aryan in Mumbai has been well shot. But the second half becomes somewhat quixotic. Why, on earth, would a superstar go chasing his harasser, all by himself? Aryan has been shown to be extremely impuissant towards the second half, which makes the narrative even more implausible. The climax, although predictable, is the accent of the film.

Performance-wise, SRK is the show stealer. With the maximum screen time, SRK shines in each and every scene. This is clearly one of his career-defining performances. His portrayal of Gaurav Chandna, an obsessed fan, will be adored by the audiences. Greg Cannom has done a fantastic job with SRKs prosthetics and make-up, giving him the look of a 20-something. Sayani Gupta, as Aryan’s manager, manages to hold her own, despite a lesser screen time. Shriya Pilgaonkar, as Gaurav’s friend, looks adorable in a small, yet important role. Waluscha D’Souza, as Aryan’s wife, gets the least screen time and has nothing much to perform. Deepika Amin and Yogendra Tiku, as Gaurav’s parents, perform well.

The background score, by Andrea Guerra, fits into the mood of the film. Manu Anand’s cinematography manages to capture the movie beautifully. The scenes in Dubrovnik have been brilliantly shot. However, the editing could’ve been a bit more sharper.

Maneesh Sharma’s direction can be best describe as a mixture of ‘realism and formed’. The message he wanted to deliver comes across beautifully on the screen. Only if he had kept the second half grounded, the movie would have been way better.

3 stars for the film and 0.5 for SRK’s performance; his comeback as an ‘actor’!

Final Verdict- A treat for all SRK fans. Others wouldn’t regret watching it once!

Kapoor & Sons

- Sidharth Sharma and Gitartha Kashyap.

Kapoor & Sons - A mature drama, blazoned with only some flavors of a typical kJo movie!

Cast- Siddharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt, Rishi Kapoor, Ratna Pathak Shah, Rajat Kapoor
Direction- Shakun Batra

Verdict- 3.5/5

In 2001, the overwhelming success of 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham' was a feather in the cap for Karan Johar. Cut to 2016 and we are presented with 'Kapoor & Sons', a modern saga of dysfunctional families, from the house of Dharma Productions. But is the movie worth all the hype? 

Rahul (Fawad), a successful writer and Arjun (Sid), a struggling writer who works as a bartender, are brothers who return to their home in Coonor, upon hearing about their grandfather's (Rishi Kapoor) ill-health. However, things take a toll when they fall for the same girl, Tia (Alia). Amidst all the tension unraveling in the family- marriage issues between the parents (Ratna Pathak Shah and Rajat Kapoor), sexuality issues- will the Kapoor brothers be able to fulfill their grandfather's last wish- to click a family photograph with the title, 'Kapoor & Sons (since 1921)'?

The movie's asset is its narrative and an ensemble cast, which shows immense promise. Not to forget the precise characterization, which gives layers to each character. Such is the treatment of the plot that despite a simple predictable storyline, the movie doesn't give us a single moment to keep our eyes off the screen. The movie builds up on a great note and runs with a brisk pace. Each character has its own dark secrets, which unfold meticulously on screen and strengthen the proceedings. Unlike other Dharma films, this one is not totally a 'feel good' film, decorated with lustrous canvasses. However, it is not completely disgruntled, either!

Amidst all these comes the chartbuster 'Kar Gayi Chull', which has been scrupulously embodied in the film, without hagridding the pace!

Retrospecting the performances, among an ensemble case, is not a facile task. All the actors have performed exceptionally well, but the film actually belongs to Rishi Kapoor, Ratna Pathak Shah and Fawad Khan, who steal the show. Rishi Kapoor gets into the flesh of the character and this is clearly his most indelible renditions till date. Ratna Pathak Shah is an absolute delight to watch; her portrayal of a jealous wife will definitely be adorned by the spectators. Fawad Khan proves it once again that he is not just a 'face' to look out for. His acting prowess will inarguably augment his fan following by leaps and bounds. Sidharth Malhotra has improvised a lot since his previous films. He understands the gravity of his character and performs at par with his co-stars. Alia Bhatt, who is at the pinnacle of her career, adds one more gem to her kitty of films. She looks natural and shares a great chemistry with both Fawad and Sidharth. Rajat Kapoor and other actors pull off their respective parts with great zeal.

Cinematography is not typical of other Dharma films, but perhaps that was needed to illustrate this modern saga of dysfunctional families and to match up to the urbanised approach of storytelling. The movie has been well edited, disallowing any unwanted scenes and keeping the pace strictly in-check. 

Shakun Batra's direction (of 'Ek Main aur Ek Tu' fame) is truly marvelous. His approach towards modern storytelling is something to look out for. Hope to see more of his works in the years to come!

Final Verdict- A 'Pre-Holi' treat by Bollywood. You will definitely enjoy this quirky tale!

Neerja

- Sidharth Sharma.

Neerja- An Inspiring Tale of Gallantry, which will leave you tear-jerking!

Cast- Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku, Shekhar Ravjiani
Direction- Ram Madhvani

Verdict- 4/5

One of the highly anticipated movies of 2016, ‘Neerja’, released on 19th February. Based on the life of Neerja Bhanot, the youngest recipient of Ashok Chakra awards, ‘Neerja’ narrates the real-life heroic tale of Neerja Bhanot, who died while saving the lives of 359 passengers on the Pan-Am Flight hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. Will it be able to strike gold at the Box-Office?

Neerja Bhanot, a 23 year old Air Purser-cum-Model and a die-hard fan of Rajesh Khanna, boards the Pan Am Flight as the Chief Purser, which gets hijacked by terrorists at the Karachi Airport. The rest of the movie shows how Neerja saves the lives of passengers on board, with her sheer determination and presence of mind.

The highlight of Neerja is its taut story and screenplay, which engages the audience from the start to the end. There is not a single dull moment in the film. The use of flashbacks fortifies the narrative and improves the characterization. The best thing about ‘Neerja’ is realism; nothing has been exaggerated or tempered with. Also, hand-held camera work and an excellent Background Score build up the much-needed tension during its two-hour run!

Sonam Kapoor excels as Neerja. Once she gets into the skin of her character, she simply nails it! She displays just the right-amount of fear and tension in the hijack scenes. Clearly, one of her finest performances till date! Shabana Azmi and Yogendra Tiku, as Neerja’s parents deliver a splendid performance. Not to forget, the terrorists, who look absolutely convincing and deliver a first-string performance! Debutante Shekhar Ravjiani, as Neerja’s love interest performs well in a special appearance.   

Final Verdict- A must watch! Miss it at your own risk

Deadpool (2016)

- Anonymous.

Bloody, rude, vulgar, stupid, SOOOOOO Awesome! P.S. Don't take your Kids to see this

Stars: Ryan Reynolds,  Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller 

Director:Tim Miller

Recommendation level: 8/10

A superhero movie has never been funnier than "Deadpool." Or more outlandish – or obscene. That should come as quite a relief to fans of Marvel Comics' “Merc with a Mouth” anti-hero and especially Ryan Reynolds, who labored a long time to get Deadpool's his own solo adventure on the big screen, a process that entailed – according to Deadpool, at least – fondling 20th Century Fox's prized asset whose name "rhymes with Pullverine."

Deadpool is one of the very few characters in the Marvel universe that can break the fourth wall,making pop culture references, and slicing up bad guys and is self aware. And the movie really got because it is rife with meta-humour which can be seen in the very beginning with the best opening credits scene ever.

The action scenes are also a lot of fun. From the sword fighting, to the shooting, to the acrobatics, they were all filmed really well. It delivers on the violence too, which is cartoonish enough but it doesn't go too much into Blade territory. As touted during the opening credits, “the real heroes here” are writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (ZOMBIELAND). While the narrative is a fairly straight-forward origin story, even with its use of flashbacks to add interest, the spark that ignites is found within their insanely snappy, witty dialogue. They even blessedly get in a few jabs at X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE and GREEN LANTERN.
The story is quite simple here. Its a love and revenge story. It is well paced though as it is told in a non-linear style.

This movie is so refreshing. I thought I was too jaded by superhero films but when you pick the right character to adapt, you can have so much fun with him or her. Deadpool brought us something different and it was awesome.

I had little interest of watching it in theatres but with the marketing team releasing all the crazy, cool lame posters got my attention. And i am thankful to them. 

You come to a movie like Deadpool for the comedy and action, but you get swept up in the love, the horror and the drama, ending up with quite a well rounded flick. In fact, it's one of the heftiest superhero origin stories told on film in recent years. This is a dessert with something for everyone to enjoy. But please, do not bring your children to see this movie.

P.S. Its a Marvel movie, so don't just leave the theatre after the movie. Wait for the end credit scene. Its Hillarious.

Fitoor

- Sidharth Sharma.

Fitoor- A Visually Captivating affair, but not upto the mark!

Cast- Tabu, Aditya Roy Kapur, Katrina Kaif, Lara Dutt, Rahul Bhat, Aditi Rao Hydari, Akshay Oberoi, Ajay Devgn

Direction- Abhishek Kapoor

Verdict- 3/5

 “There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.” The makers of Fitoor seem to have established this fact brilliantly in the first few frames. But what happens thereafter is a complex chain of events which leaves the viewers confused, frustrated and finally uninterested!

Young Noor (Mohammad Abrar) falls in love with Firdaus (Tunisha Sharma) at first sight. However, fate separates them when Firdaus is sent to London by her mother, Begum (Tabu). Few years later, a grown-up Noor (Aditya Roy Kapoor) moves to Delhi to pursue his artistic career, where he meets Firdaus (Katrina). He gets closer to Firdaus, only to realize that she is already engaged to Bilal (Rahul Bhat). Will Firdaus reciprocate her love for Noor?

Based on Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations, Fitoor had the potential to be an intense and interesting love story. Yes, it starts off on a great note but loses steam midway and becomes clumsy towards the end. The screenplay loses its pace at parts and becomes somewhat unconvincing towards the end. The introduction of too many sub-plots and plot twists seems to be unnecessary. Begum’s back-story tends to disrupt the build-up to the climax. The movie boasts of some high-voltage Dialoguebaazi, which does no good to the film!

Katrina Kaif looks stunning as Firdous and doesn’t disappoint with her performance. Aditya Roy Kapur does full justice to his character and he performs with utmost sincerity. His chemistry with Katrina is something to watch out for. However, the film actually belongs to Tabu, who delivers a stellar performance! She steals the show with her terrific performance, especially in the pre-climax scene. Young Noor and Firdaus, played by Mohammad Abrar and Tunisha Sharma respectively, deliver a phenomenal performance. Lara Dutt, as the curator and Rahul Bhat, as Bilal seem to be wasted in this movie. Ajay Devgn’s cameo is impressive. Aditi Rao Hydari, as the Young Begum, lends good support to the star-cast, inspite of her voice being dubbed by Tabu. Akshay Oberoi has almost nothing to perform in this movie!

However, the real hero of the movie is its cinematographer, Anay Goswamy, who manages to grasp our attention with his startling camera-work. The astounding visuals of Kashmir, the breath-taking scenes of Dal Lake make the first half of the film, a visual delight! He imparts an artistic touch to each and every frame and makes the film look extremely beautiful!

Director Abhishek Kapoor is known to have a class-appeal but this time, it backfires! He tries to stay true to each and every detail of the book, but in the process creates too many unnecessary plot-twists, getting entangled in its own web. Coz what looks good on paper, doesn’t always translate into a good film!

Final Verdict- Watch it if you are a die-hard Katrina-Aditya fan or you have nothing else to do this Valentine’s Day!