Swarnameenaa

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Mannin manathudan meiyazhagan - A heartwarming film, simple, pure and genuine. The film was an immersive experience, evoking a wide range of emotions; I was laughing through hot tears for most of the movie. I said several prayers for a good ending, so we don't go back with something that would counter the goodness Meiyazhagan stood for. Grateful that they reunited. And it is probably such journeys to the past that helps us discover ourselves better, reform our practiced, apparently adaptive patterns, and connect with the joys of our inner child. The movie blended emotions, attachment to our roots, quirks and goodwill showing that these attributes can be passed onto generations. It is a case for all the innocent, hardworking humans, who reach great heights too, not just monetarily. Also, a story of several families that have moved into the cities, where the struggle for owning a house is equivalent to that of establising your own identity in the community. Meiyazhagan comes across with a sense of conviction in storytelling, nostalgia, grounded acting, and humanity. If only forgivance could be asked and given so easily, if only honesty may be respected and welcomed, so many relationships could be salvaged. Couldn't miss the fraternal bond between Arulmozhi Varman and Vandhiyathevan, as if in a different Universe. And the poster of 96 in one of the scenes was another Easter Egg. That's all my teary eyes could spot.

The movie pulls at our heartstrings. The fantasy part of it reminds us of the fragility of life... how our time on Earth is limited and when we don't know which our last chance is, it's better to treat every chance as the last: to show our love and care for others. In spite of the predictable course the movie takes, it leaves us with a heaviness, the emotions reach us and we wish things had turned out differently.

Whatever is there in Anna Ben's full, wide smile that makes people remember her?! Be it the security guard in Helen or the conductor of a bus in Kappela… This film starts like a regular romcom with the bonding of two innocent souls over the first half, setting stage for a travail of trust and treachery that's too far gone for rescue. One that no one even saw coming… But something right from the title scene warns the audience of an unknown yet definite danger in the near future. And the darkness that shrouds the interior of the bus, in one of the first few scenes, as Jessi closes the window, is crafted to create a deep sense of foreboding. Then, without explicitly stating, the film moves into a flashback of how Jessi and Vishnu(Roshan Mathew), a young auto rickshaw driver with a sleek smartphone, fall slowly in love, in the all too familiar way. The world turns upside down for them as Jessi decides to meet (finally) Vishnu in Kozhikode, but instead makes a run into Roy (Sreenath Bhasin), a rustic fellow waiting for a chance to make quick money. The big reveal happens suddenly, yet seamlessly, making the audience doubt if their interpretation is right, even as they hope that the village girl gets to keep her trust in humanity intact at the end of it all. The movie finishes on a beautiful, positive note and becomes a memorable experience that reiterates that not all heroes demand a show off. A thriller to remember by the debutante director Musthafa, that is spirited with the edge-of-seat-suspense, without being armed with sharp tools; one that captured the immaculate beauty of the countryside.

Some buildings just rise higher than the standard bricks and cement... They have a life of their own. One such (Haveli) is at the centre of Gulabo Sitabo. Fatima Mahal is the protagonist of this film and greed its villain. Mirza (Amitabh Bachchan), loves the mansion more than its owner, his Begum, and barely tolerates Baankey ( Ayushmann Khurrana) among other irksome tenants. He has to live out of allowances from the Begum which forces him to make money through mischievous ways (including theft), often finding himself at loggerheads with Baankey. The entry of scheming "archaeologist" and lawyer twist the plot further as each fill the owner and tenants with the desire for money and end up just short of bringing the roof down, literally... So, do the Haveli-wasis get the jackpot or do they make their painful exits? The crazy plot twist, that's the climax, is sure to come unexpected and have you splitting your sides. The women in the film, Farrukh Jafar(Begum) and Srishti Srivastava (Guddo, Baankey's sister) come off as willful and independent females determined to have some fun and make the best of their lives in spite of the circumstances. The film reminds us that, buildings may not last but the memories we make in them, do. The background score is a great support, along with the backdrop of Lucknow. It's a pleasure to watch Ayushmann and Amitabh, with his unmatched dedication, bond over the two hours of the movie, although the best of dialogues turn out to be the same ones as in the trailer. One suited for the family room especially during lockdown times. It's a pity that there's no space for a Romantic Gaana you can croon to with the Khurrana...

If I should relate one with this movie, it would be Heavy. Heavy with emotions Heavy with content Heavy with dialogues And not even an unabashed flow of tears can make it any light... Nor any amount of exposure to this genre, real(Last Lecture by Randy Pausch or Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom) or fictional (The Fault in Our Stars by John Green) can prepare one for the way it beautifies the positivity of living against the grim reality of certain, announced, death. Songs are great too... As is the casting. As it's a retelling of real life incidents, we are better able to appreciate the efforts that parents take to care for their (special) children, in spite of all odds that life keeps throwing at them. #Prayers for those with similar conditions.

A well crafted murder investigation of a(few?) serial killer(s?)... An amateur criminologist(Kunchako Boban) curious to uncover criminal minds... A wayward, but skilled, hacker (Sreenath Bhasi)with a hurt ego... An unrelenting schedule for the Kochi cops, whose lives are under a grave threat... A convincing backstory that has the audience almost supporting the villain's vengeful vehemence... A seamless background score, phenomenal photography, with a cast that is only a little less than justified... A worthy watch for thrill seekers that doesn't disappoint.

Imagine Mouna Raagam in Haridwar and you have Dum Laga Ke Haisha. The difference: Prem (Ayushmann) has not even passed class 10 and Sandhya (Bhumi Padnekar) is a teacher aspirant... Also a little bulky. This apparently seems to be the problem for Prem, who finds it difficult to acknowledge her, and insults her too... But, that's not it. Prem has grown to feel inadequate, unworthy of someone else's love, furthered by his father's dominance in the household. Someone who's blind to one's one strengths can't see another's... Unable to love himself, he naturally cannot embrace his relationship with Sandhya. Things escalate to divorce. And of course, that's when the tables turn... Concluding with an eponymous village contest which involves wives piggybacking off husbands. The movie is predictable and simple yet with an effective narrative that doesn't let you know the passage of time. 80's songs keep you company for the length of the movie... Moh moh ke Dage is a song that will ring in your ears too.

When you start with the expectation of a very regular rom-com, Dulquer Salman as the only source of charm, you get "conned" over. This is what happens when you focus on "Kannum Kannum" part and not the "Kollaiyadithal". 😉 ( After a song from Mani Ratnam's Thiruda Thiruda) Siddharth and Kallis are the cool sporty guys having the time of their lives as youthful, techies freelancing app development. Until the Love arrow hits them too. Two orphaned girls join the ride, who are backed by sad stories, and making ends meet righteously. Then, about twenty minutes into the movie, the boys figure that their extravagance has cost them and they need some quick money. Hence a online shopping scam. ( Leaves you a little more wary of the online trend. ) Now it's officially a con story. Enter the cop: Gautam Vasudev Menon, as DSP Prathap, with his chilly villainous looks, hot on their tails. The lovestruck boys want to mend their ways, after that one big loot... And then off are the quartet to Goa. Wham! It's the police. Guess who's been conned now? The boys and The audience. Gone are the virtuous girls, fooling the gullible with their gracefulness! With that big loot. Intermission it is. The movie gets more interesting from there with more layers revealed and one final heist before their game can be up... Now we have four, not two, criminals whose moral compass steadily points south. Yet, the audience are left rooting for them. Rakshan and Dulquer make a good pair, their humor hitting right on most occasions. The tech details don't comes as a bore. Ritu Varma, female lead, essays her role neatly. The film is rife with twists, leaving the audience guessing, as there is no repetition of plots. The music doesn't strike as impactful though. The downer is that the criminals have it too convenient to believe, inspite of the details given. And one of the last scenes featuring G V Menon comes as a breeze. You may be expecting something of the kind, but it still shines as a big plus for the movie. Overall it's a fun movie delivering no message to take home. That's no problem. We have a lot of preachy films. In fact the film is not an overdose of any one aspect, excepy, maybe hoodwink.

"कोशिश करनेवालों की हार भी हो सकता है" That's okay because there are no losers but fighters with new lessons. Raghav, the only son of divorced couple- Annirudh and Maya- is an IIT aspirant waiting for his JEE results, hoping to make it, just like his parents... When things go the other way, he gives up on life, takes a leap into death's lap... With multiple fractures and contusions, he's in the CCU. Annirudh wants to make up for the lost time by reliving the memories of his college days, end up reviving romance and all ... His friends, almost family, are all back to narrate the one big event- a sports championship- in person, that changed their lives and their outlooks. So, does Raghav get back to normal life? Where does that leave Anni's and Maya's relationship? The movie could have been shorter and more crisp... The background score and lyrics can keep you hooked... और, श्रद्धा के बाल बढ़ सकते है पर उम्र नहीं!