Asad Khan

A. R. Murugadoss’s Sikandar has moments of promise but ultimately struggles to rise above its flaws. While the director has managed to create a fast-paced film that never quite drags, the overall experience is held back by weak storytelling and poor casting choices. One of the highlights of Sikandar is its background score and title music. The background music adds a layer of intensity that helps elevate several scenes. The background music is well-composed and contributes to the film's atmosphere, making even some of the weaker sequences more engaging. However, the problems begin with the story or rather, the lack of a compelling one. The script feels underdeveloped, lacking depth and direction. The plot fails to convince or invest the viewer, which in turn hampers the performance. Even Salman Khan, despite his star power, seems to be working with very little. His charisma carries some parts, but it’s not enough to save the film. The supporting cast is another major letdown. The casting choices beyond Khan appear weak and mismatched, which makes it difficult for any subplot or emotional thread to resonate. Because the cast cannot support the weight of the film, the already thin narrative collapses further. Additionally, the film tends to become preachy at times, delivering moral lessons that feel out of place and forced. The lead character’s arc doesn’t sit well within the film’s broader storyline, making the narrative feel disjointed. In the end, Sikandar comes across as a missed opportunity. It had the potential to be a gripping action drama but was let down by poor writing, ineffective casting, and a reliance on Salman Khan’s fan base rather than strong storytelling. While the music and pace offer some relief, they are not enough to make this film truly memorable.

I watched Mrs. on Zee5 last night, and honestly, it left me speechless. The film has been a major talking point online, with many people criticising it, claiming that men work too and that women doing household chores aren’t a big deal. But I feel like most of these people haven’t even watched the movie. The film isn’t saying that men don’t work or that they don’t get tired. It’s not dismissing their efforts or saying they don’t deserve respect. All it does is highlight that women work too, they get exhausted too, and they also deserve recognition for the relentless effort they put in every single day. The cast delivers a powerful performance, especially Sanya Malhotra in the lead role, she conveys the film’s message beautifully and truly deserves applause. Some argue that this isn’t the reality anymore, and if that’s the case for you, then that’s great! But the truth is, it still is the reality for many, even if they’re not part of your immediate circle. And if you can’t relate to it, that’s okay too, just see it as a story, a piece of fiction. What’s the fuss about? It’s an emotional watch, and I liked it. I’d rate it 4/5.

“Kho Gaye Hum Kahan” is a refreshing and insightful film that perfectly captures the lives of today’s youth, who are entangled in the virtual world, constantly seeking validation from strangers on social media. Starring Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Adarsh Gourav, each actor has delivered an impressive performance that brings depth to their characters and the story. The film beautifully emphasizes the importance of real-life connections over digital likes and follows. With great music that keeps you engaged, it’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. This is a must-watch for young audiences. I’d rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

"Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya" is a delightful romantic comedy that charms audiences with its unique premise and stellar performances. Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon shine as the lead pair, with Kriti's portrayal of a human-like AI robot being particularly commendable. The film's storyline, revolving around Shahid unknowingly falling in love with Kriti's robotic character, takes a comic turn, keeping viewers entertained throughout. One of the highlights of the movie is its music, which adds depth and emotion to the narrative. The songs are not only a big hit but also truly enjoyable, enhancing the overall experience. With its perfect blend of romance and comedy, "Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya" is an ideal choice for couples celebrating Valentine's Day or families seeking a lighthearted break. It deserves a solid 4/5 or 8/10 stars for its engaging story, fantastic performances, and memorable music.

"Fighter" delivers a thrilling cinematic experience with its impressive aerial action sequences, earning it a well-deserved spot on the big screen. The CGI, VFX, and technical aspects are meticulously crafted, enhancing the realism of the adrenaline-pumping scenes. Hrithik Roshan takes center stage, dominating the film with his charismatic performance. However, the supporting cast, including Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor, gets limited opportunities to shine. The movie's music stands out, featuring beautiful beats that complement the high-octane action. On the downside, the dialogues fall short, sounding cheap and disconnected from the characters portrayed. Regrettably, the story fails to match the overall quality of the film. It leans on a clichéd jingoistic narrative, revolving around Pakistan and Muslim characters, ultimately leaving the audience with a disappointing storyline. Despite its flaws, "Fighter" is a worthwhile one-time theatrical watch, scoring 3.5/5 or 7/10 stars for its gripping action and cinematic elements.

"Animal," directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, offers a captivating experience with impressive background music, memorable songs, and technical finesse. However, the film stumbles in terms of story strength and screenplay execution, featuring temporal shifts that lack coherence and fail to enhance the narrative. While the first half engages with its fast pace, the second half unnecessarily prolongs the story, leaving the film feeling overly lengthy and lacking character development, especially with Ranbir Kapoor's character. His abrupt temporal shifts lack clear reasoning, contributing to a disjointed narrative. Despite a touching emotional scene between Anil Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor towards the end, it arrives too late, leaving the audience fatigued and eager for closure. The credit scenes, though appealing, add to the film's unnecessary length. Ranbir Kapoor's character, portrayed as a hero, raises concerns due to his criminal actions, lack of respect for others, blatant misogyny, and attitude problems. The film's attempt to celebrate such a character is problematic, as it glorifies a man-child who in reality needs therapy. Actress Rashmika Mandanna's performance is very poor, making her unfit for the role. She was struggling to deliver convincing dialogue and lacked depth in her portrayal. It's disheartening to witness Bollywood failing with films like "Animal." The industry has the potential for impactful cinema but seems to fall for subpar narratives. They should strive for better storytelling and more nuanced character portrayals and should avoid the pitfalls of glorifying problematic characters for the sake of entertainment.

Tiger 3 treads familiar ground but stumbles in comparison to its predecessors, warranting a modest 2-star rating out of 5. While it plays its part in developing the YRF Spy Universe, as a standalone, it's just okay and could easily be skipped. The film's Achilles' heel lies in its repetitive storyline and lacklustre dialogue. Salman Khan's usual charm is conspicuously absent, failing to infuse the movie with the magic seen in earlier instalments. Despite these drawbacks, Emraan Hashmi impresses as the main enemy, though the film could have tapped more into his potential. On a positive note, Katrina Kaif delivers a commendable performance with riveting action sequences and a more substantial role, injecting some vitality into the overall experience. In the realm of the Tiger franchise, this third instalment falls short, making it a lukewarm addition to the series. While it might be worth a single watch for fans of the genre, it lacks the spark to make it a memorable cinematic experience.

Who thought that there'd be a Bollywood version of Forrest Gump many many years after the original came out and won awards and hearts? Nevertheless, we have an adaptation that after several modifications, is made to suit our country's audience which luckily keeps the original story intact. We can see this movie through Forrest Gump's lens or can see it as a standalone story for there still are a huge number of people who haven't seen the original. According to me, irrespective of the way we see Laal Singh Chaddha, the movie is indeed likable and makes you smile for its innocence and beauty. The storyline is good, it's intriguing enough for the audience to feel curious about how it'll evolve further but that's in the first half where the story goes fast and is fun to watch. In the second half, sadly it feels to have lost its momentum and feels a little stretched which could've easily been worked upon. The acting by all the actors present is fair, the movie is primarily dependent on Aamir Khan who does a satisfactory job but the graphics that are used for making him look young feel extremely unsatisfactory. The technology somehow works for Kareena Kapoor who delivers a very good performance but unfortunately just doesn't work for Aamir making the scenes look animated at times. The actor only looks natural when his character grows up, and his age is closer to Aamir's real age. This technique of age reduction hurts the experience. There are few changes in the storyline compared to the original. The first is of Kareena but her character and performance make up to the original but the unpredictable change of story in Muhammad's character feels completely unnecessary and foolish. It doesn't serve any purpose and should've better not been touched. Anyway, apart from a few hiccups as mentioned above, the storyline is quite adorable and the chemistry between Aamir and Kareena does a fine job. It's a decent movie, a kind of movie that can be seen on the big screen but can be skipped for a TV release as well.

It's really a movie which you'll enjoy. Tom Cruise appears as charming as he is today. The scenes which invoice fighter planes are mesmerizing and pretty enjoyable. The cast delivers a good performance and the movie was really well made, keeping in mind that it was made in the 1980's. It's a movie worth watching!