Ashis Rout

"I urge everyone—this isn’t a film to be watched for the first time on your phone, laptop, or even a projector. You have to step into a cinema hall, or else you’ll miss experiencing one of India’s greatest cinematic achievements."✨ Watching "Kantara: Chapter 1" was like being called by a deity. In Sanatana culture, they say you can’t go near a deity unless you’re summoned, and that’s exactly how this film felt. I didn’t just watch it, I experienced it. The horse chase, the madness of the interval, the storm before the pre-climax, and then that climax—each scene pulled me deeper into something sacred, something way beyond cinema. What stood out most was the daring blend of tone in the climactic battle. Traditionally, Indian epics—Baahubali being the prime example—hold a solemn, unwavering seriousness in their war sequences. But here, Rishab Shetty breaks that mold. The comic punches woven into the heat of the battle are not only hilarious but land so naturally that they never break the emotional rhythm. Instead, they enhance it, allowing the audience to breathe while staying rooted in the tension. It’s a rare balance that showcases the director’s mastery and the actors’ seamless timing. To see this ensemble—who earlier this year also gifted us "Su From So"—back on screen was a visual celebration in itself. The performers embody the film’s spiritual gravity and primal energy with unmatched force, making every frame alive. And as for the visuals, Indian cinema has truly never seen anything like this before. I’d cut half a mark only for the inside-well sequence—the way it was shown graphically didn’t quite work for me, but until now, no commercial spectacle had dared to touch the benchmark set by Baahubali 2. Yet "Kantara: Chapter 1" not only reaches that height but sits above it—every aspect sharper, more immersive, and more soul-stirring. This is not just a film; it is an offering. 🎬

Review of Thug Life (2025) By a true cinephile who breathes cinema As someone who admires the depth of cinema, it reminded me of how Kamal Sir played a 60-year-old in Nayakan at the age of just 30. This time, in Thug Life, he flips that challenge—Portraying a 35-40-year-old character at the age of 70 with such energy and pace in the movie's black-and-white intro was, for me, a masterstroke. Kamal Haasan as (Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker) and Joju George as (Pathros) truly moved me through there performances. The direction kept me engaged throughout—there wasn't a single moment where I felt bored. See, gangster stories may often follow familiar narrative patterns, but what really matters is how the story is presented. Here, the presentation and visuals stood out. Honestly, who else can match Mani Ratnam when it comes to storytelling through visuals? Speaking of visuals, every frame was a masterclass. Whether it was the film’s black-and-white opening, the tragic suicide scene of Manickam’s daughter, the single take of the marriage sequece of Sakthivel's Daughter, the breathtaking drone shots of the SUV moving through snowy paths in Nepal, or the stylized action sequences shot with the Phantom Flex camera and etc—each visual was crafted with cinematic brilliance. And then there's A.R. Rahman’s music—what can I say? I don’t even feel worthy of commenting on it. But if I had to pick a moment that stayed with me, it was the hauntingly beautiful vocal score that underlined the parental bond. That truly elevated the emotion. That said, I did feel that Silambarasan TR as Amaran could have delivered a stronger performance—it felt just average to me. Also, when Sakthivela returns from nepal, instead of explaining what happened over two years through dialogues, I wish the film had shown us some of it visually. It would’ve added more depth. Seeing Kamal Haasan and Abhirami Gopikumar share the screen again after Virumaandi (2004) filled me with nostalgia. Some bonds and memories never fade, and this film captured that essence beautifully. "Thug Life isn’t just a film—it’s a reminder of why true cinema lies in how a story is told, not just what it tells." 🎭🎬