M H Shaikh

Pushpa 2 is finally out amid all the deadlines and controversy and every frame proves how high the production value of the movie is, The scenes are full of grandeur. It's an out-and-out Allu Arjun show throughout, with many elevation moments involved. He also explores the human side of the character well in the second half, but those moments don't really connect with you due to weak writing. Rashmika's characterization in the first half is a letdown and a bit overly dramatic, but it gets better and more meaningful in the second half. The camerawork is well-done, capturing Allu Arjun from all angles. The background score blends well to elevate moments, and the songs are enjoyable in theaters. The biggest flaw of the film is its writing. Despite a whopping runtime of 3 hours and 20 minutes, the story doesn't really progress from where it was left in part one. Fahadh's character which created terror in the first part, has been reduced to that of a joker. The Jathara sequence is magnificently shot and conveys the right message, but towards the end, the same messaging and plot points are repeated. Other plots that were left incomplete could've been explored instead. The fight sequences are okay with a few highlights, although the climax fight feels over-the-top, even within that world. The climax is unconventional and ends on a low point. Overall, Pushpa 2 overlooks core story progression while focusing on its lavish production value. Overall : ☆☆

Writer-Director Sukumar teams up with Icon Star Allu Arjun for a 2-part Crime Thriller that has huge masala entertainment quotient atleast for Hindi Audiences. Allu Arjun is the star throughout & hogs the limelight. Rashmika Mandanna plays her part well. Character named Cutlet provides comedic relief. Dhananjay, Fahadh Faasil & Shatru play their part really well. The Background Score & Sound Design are the immediate highlights of the film. Devi Sri Prasad & Resul Pookutty deserve the loudest applause. The Action Choreography and a Unique Jungle Cinematography was highly impressive. The Dialogues, too, were entertaining. However, the film is too long. A large part of the 1st half is spent on a subplot that felt problematic & inappropriate. The pace was heavily slowed as the film dwelled on inconsequential subplots. Overall, it's an enjoyable & entertaining movie with breathtaking action & an omnipotent Allu Arjun that has set the bar high for the sequel! Overall - 4/5

Writer-Director Sukumar teams up with Icon Star Allu Arjun for a 2-part Crime Thriller that has huge masala entertainment quotient atleast for Hindi Audiences. Allu Arjun is the star throughout & hogs the limelight. Rashmika Mandanna plays her part well. Character named Cutlet provides comedic relief. Dhananjay, Fahadh Faasil & Shatru play their part really well. The Background Score & Sound Design are the immediate highlights of the film. Devi Sri Prasad & Resul Pookutty deserve the loudest applause. The Action Choreography and a Unique Jungle Cinematography was highly impressive. The Dialogues, too, were entertaining. However, the film is too long. A large part of the 1st half is spent on a subplot that felt problematic & inappropriate. The pace was heavily slowed as the film dwelled on inconsequential subplots. Overall, it's an enjoyable & entertaining movie with breathtaking action & an omnipotent Allu Arjun that has set the bar high for the sequel! Overall - 3.5/5

This film comes as close to perfection as possible. Writer-Director Venkat Prabhu presents a film that completely redefines the 'time-loop' Sci-Fi genre and shatters it's boundaries. STR is the undoubted star throughout only to be matched by SJ Suryah. Their face-off is cinematic gold. They are well supported by Kalyani Priyadarshan, Karunakaran and YG Mahendran. Rest of the cast, too, perform brilliantly. The Plot is supreme here with very clever writing, acknowledging its 'inspirations' and adding a mind-boggling twist of its own. The Editing was executed perfectly by Praveen KL while Richard M Nathan's cinematography kept us on the edge-of-our-seats, literally! Yuvan Shankar Raja's Music simply enhances every dramatic moment. The Dialogues & References are hard-hitting, jokes land most often and the social message is loud & clear. The action, although over-the-top at times, is entertaining, nonetheless. However, minor inconsistencies, sub-par VFX, few convenient plot points and a slow setup slightly hamper this thoroughly entertaining thriller. Overall, it is one of the finest films of the year and we wish to have watched it in Theatres! Highly Recommended! Overall - 3/5

This Ajay Singh directorial focuses on a flight attendant who plots a diamond heist with her boyfriend on an airplane. The film is an interesting watch that keeps one guessing throughout, as the story progresses. Although the film has few usual traits, it stays effective with its mix and maintains a balance in its screenplay that makes it a smart & interesting watch. Yami Gautam shines in her role & gets the due she deserves with an effective performance. Sunny Kaushal delivers with hai significant role. Sharad Kelkar, Indraneil Sengupta & Barun Chanda and others support we'll. The Background Music complements the movie well. The plot never deviates & always stays one step ahead to keep you interested. Overall, "CNKB" is an engaging & smart watch that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Recommended! OVERALL - 3/5

Writer - Director Anubhav Sinha's "Bheed" is a social drama revolving around the migration of labourers during the pandemic with the theme of social inequality. The film is a reminder of the hard times faced by most in the society while some reacted entirely differently. It's a reminder of how while most struggled to live, some lived in luxury. From caste system to religious demonization, from WhatsApp Fake News to Connections for Beds, the monochromatic lens captures everything & solidifies its impact. Rajkummar Rao & Bhumi Pednekar give a brilliant performance. Ashutosh Rana, Aditya Shrivastava, Dia Mirza, Kritika Kamra & Aditi Subedi support well. Pankaj Kapoor steals the show with his performance as a watchman. These powerful acting performances were equally complemented by hard-hitting dialogues. Music nails in the message. Screenplay, although good, felt scattered at times. Overall, an important film of our times, that'll stay with you well after the credits roll. OVERALL - 3.75/5

"Jai Bhim" is the once-in-a-year movie that shakes you to your core, that questions the system, the society & the people. It is more than a movie & more than a story. Based on the theme of Social Justice, Caste System & Police Brutality, Writer - Director TJ Gnanavel has created a film that'll stay with you for a long time. Suriya proves, ye again, why he is one of the most talented actors of Indian Cinema. Lijomol Jose steals the limelight with her incredible performance. Prakash Raj & K Manikandan have done a good job. Music is apt for the situation & guarantees goosebumps in some scenes. However, the length does feel like a slight drag. Overall, "Jai Bhim" will make you cry, it'll make you introspect but nevertheless it's a must watch! Overall - 4.9/5

Kay Kay Menon delivers a top-notch performance. Dialogues, expressions, action & everything in-between is delightful. Vinay Pathak was fun to watch. His loyalty to Himmat Singh is aspirational. Aftab Shivdasani does a good job. Shivjyoti Rajput was adorable & so lovable! Aadil Khan was a fierce baddie - ruthless & smart! Shot in some of the Best Locations during a pandemic, the efforts of the team are praiseworthy. Kyiv, London, Dubai & so many more, the camera work to capture these locations is stunning. The seamless transition between the use of drones & traditional filming equipment is brilliant. The background score gives me goosebumps everytime! The editing is quick and keeps the tension & audience engagement high throughout. Neeraj Pandey has gained a reputation of shining the spotlight on female characters in his creations & this series is no different. Women are used to depict an integral 'plot device' which gets a little repetitive after a point. The various characteristics of women depicted is appreciable but their 'disposable' felt questionable. This short 4-episode series is tightly written & well executed. The show opens the doors to a lot of Seasons of the main show while allowing this series to remain independent, if it chooses to be, just like the spin-off shows of the West. It has jokes, it has action, it has heartbreaks & it has love - all the ingredients to keep you hooked & leave you wanting more. So to answer the question - the hype may be overstated but the show is on the right path. Overall - 4.5/5

Veteran Crime Drama Director Mahesh Manjrekar teams up with Salman Khan to present a violent action crime drama that is a massy entertainer. The plot is about a man's thirst for revenge & a journey that makes him the same person he was revengeful against. Aayush Sharma is impressive & shines throughout. Salman Khan plays a supportive role but steals the limelight. Sachin Khedekar, Upendra Limaye & Sayaji Shinde played their part well. Only Mahesh Manjrekar could make veteran Marathi actors perform the way they did. The Background Score is the soul of the film & hits the right chords at the right time. Ravi Basrur & Hitesh Modak take a bow! The Cinematography & Editing maintain the tension while the dialogues were massy. However, some character inconsistencies, a slower 2nd half, quite evident plotholes and Aayush Sharma's relatively weak emotive expressions drag an otherwise good film. Overall, it's a violent crime drama with some clichéd plotlines but an amazing massy entertainer feel. Recommended Weekend Watch! Overall - 3/5

Writer-Producer-Director Ram Madhvani teams up with Kartik Aaryan for a decent crime thriller with some glaring potholes. Kartik Aaryan is at the centre throughout as he steps out of his comfort zone to put up a good performance. Mrunal Thakur had a special appearance while the rest of the cast has done a decent job. The film wastes no time & jumps right into the plot. Although, the movie is unable to provide a justified end. The suspense is well maintained and the audience is kept engaged in its short runtime. Ram lqadhvani's direction & vision are good but maybe not his finest. Fast paced edits and camera work enhance the experience. However, exaggerated portrayal of the system's failures, essentially minimal background score and some plotholes drag the film a bit down. Overall, it's a short & decent thriller that'can be watched once over the weekend for a good time! Overall - 3.9/5