Tanya

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This was so cute, light and fresh. A little over the top cheesy too, but that’s how teenage relationships actually tend to be. It’s such vibrant celebration of diversity. From trans to asexual, everyone gets a voice. Loved Nick and Tao my two absolutely fav characters. Nick’s such a huge green flag, nope, correction, he’s a whole green forest, a jewel. And Tao is just so adorable with his love for his friends. He didn’t want to lose them and starts to freak out. I tend to get like that too so I understand. All the other characters were also really great and I thoroughly enjoyed this show. It’s very fluffy, heartwearming and feel good. Though the presence of so many LGBT characters was kind of too loud. Would have love to see a straight couple in the mix too. Don’t get me wrong but as a straight person I kind of felt left out from such a cool mix of people. Wish there was more of it showing Charlie coming out of his past and becoming more confident. Maybe that’s for season 3? Let’s see ❤

Heartstopper

This movie was really entertaining. I love to see how bollywood is moving away from its conventional storytelling and try new concepts. Murder Mubarak is a fresh tale that revolves around numerous characters from an elite club in Delhi. It makes it difficult to pinpoint who the real culprit maybe, but I kind of got the feeling from the start because of the subtle hints dropped here and there. Loved the portrayal of all characters. Pankaj Tripathi is always a delight to watch. Sara’s acting was a bit overdone. But other than that, really loved the rich storytelling and the web of nuances here and there. Love to see Karishma back on screen and Dimple exploring a variety of characters as well. The star studded cast with various famous actors is just cherry on top of the cake.

Murder Mubarak

2 likes

Honestly? I loved it. I’ve been waiting for this show ever since it was announced. And when released the reviews made me hesitate, but I listened to my heart and watched it nonetheless. And I can’t understand the people giving reviews. This is a masterpiece! I know people are criticizing SLB for highlighting the tawaif culture and red light districts but this was the reality of women and we should be grateful that various aspects of India’s history are being explored and presented to the world. The opulence, the extravagance, the costumes and the poetic dialogues, Bhansali never fails to serve. I loved how each character had their own demons to fight and stories to tell. Alam’s actor choice is the only one I was not happy with. Her acting is flat, I couldn’t figure out when she’s laughing or crying. She was not really able to capture the innocence or the deep romantic display that was demanded from the her character. Other than that the casting was on point. Manisha was the star of the show. Queen in all senses. You can’t focus on a single character when she’s on the screen. And leading from behind is Sonakshi. I never knew she could act so well. Or maybe SLB brought out the best in her. But God she slayed?! Absolutely enjoyed the beef between Malikajan and Fareedan. Didn’t like how things were wrapped abruptly though and given a patriotic context. Not everything needs it, or maybe not everytime it needs to be shown in the same way. People might not agree with me, but I felt that the patriotic angle was forced. Would love to see a season 2, with post independence heeramandi! And more focus on Malikajan and Fareedan pls!

Heeramandi

6 likes

Brilliant story telling by Amish once again! Meticulously detailed and descriptive plot of the strategies both parties employ to beat the other in this mighty war. But this one disappointed me slightly, having read all 6 of his initial books about the Meluha Verse. I feel like the three brilliant prequels to this book lead to nothing major as was promised. Repetitive lines that borderline irritate the reader, unnecessary descriptions of things like ants and elephants, and hard to digest plot changes somewhat let me down. Expect spoilers from here on: Sita having breakfast with Raavan and Kumbhkaran? Really? I didn’t really appreciate how Raavan has been depicted as a softie in this novel after the heinous deeds and smart strategies and plans he executed in the initial books. And omitting important events and characters from the story and making way for new diversions didn’t really sit well with me. I understand that the writer would have wanted to make the plot unique and fresh, because otherwise it would’ve been monotonous for us to read the same story again that we have been hearing about since our childhood. But why completely remove Sugreev’s character and make Ram and Bali fight in a combat? Ayodhyan army along with Bharat and Shatrughan aiding Ram was okay, even though it’s a major plot change, but Bharat killing Indrajit and not Lakshaman? I would have appreciated if Amish had tried to find new ways to narrate the same tale like how Shatrughan came up with a brilliant strategy to build the Ram Setu with wood and floating rocks or how Hanuman came up with the idea to burn the crops growing on the outskirts of the Lankan Capital, Sigiriya. These are not exactly the replicas of the original story but do preserve the essence nonetheless. Another plot hole in my opinion is how Ram’s army was able to build a whole bridge without Raavan’s brilliant spy network (so stated in book 3) getting a whiff of it or how 300 elephants were marched across the bridge without the Lankans knowing, even after the idea of the bridge had been unveiled. And it almost feels the writer is only trying to make all the odds perfect for Ram and his army to win. Raavan himself just wants to be killed at the hands of Ram, without putting up a good fight. His son was more into the war than him. Moreover, Ram looks like a mere puppet in the hands of the Malayaputras and Vayuputras, who are just staging an image for him/Sita to be the Vishnu Indians will believe to be victorious against their enemy: Raavan. Even though we catch glimpses of his righteous commands like helping the Lankans with the medicine or his amazing battle strategies, I somehow felt his character was diminished owing to the loud narrations and character arcs of others. I thoroughly enjoyed the first three books and was expecting something spectacular owing to the brilliant stories and characters laid out in the prequels. But Amish disappointed me with this one. Hope the last installment of this series does justice to the story.

War Of Lanka (Ram Chandra Series Book 4)

4 likes

As a mythology nerd, I can easily testify that this counts among the best Indian Mythology series I’ve ever read. It offers content that is meticulously researched and presented in a captivating manner. I love how the story unfolds slowly and everything starts falling into place as various plot twists are unraveled. This series is a treat for those who enjoy reading mythological tales, but I believe it's also an excellent choice for newcomers to the genre seeking an engaging and thrilling read. I devoured all three of the books within a span of 5-6 days, that’s how deeply engrossed I was. However, there were a few aspects of the series that didn't resonate with me. Firstly the plot was pretty fast paced. There are multiple narrations going on in the second and third book, but I found the writer's transitions from one narration to another to be somewhat abrupt. Readers would likely prefer smoother transitions or perhaps separate chapters for different plot settings. Also some scenes could have been described with more patience and beauty so that plot twists would pop up when you least expect them. Another issue I encountered was how certain characters tended to go into lengthy discussions about specific topics. For instance, when Om discusses the significance of the number 9 with Parshuram or when Prithvi explains the 9 avatars of Vishnu or the various divine astras that existed in ancient times. When conveying factual information, some innovation or a different storytelling approach is needed to prevent it from feeling as monotonous as reading Wikipedia pages. Furthermore, I was somewhat disappointed by the shift in the story's focus from mythological theories and sci-fi elements to purely mythological and mystical events and narratives in the second and third books. I was expecting some kind of scientific explanation for various phenomenon that took place similar to how the reason for Om's immortality was initially described. However, events in the second and third books unfolded much like they do in various mythologies such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Nevertheless, these observations can be forgiven, considering that these are Akshat Gupta's initial writing ventures and after the cliffhanger at the end of Book 3 I expect much more interesting and engrossing tales from him!

The Hidden Hindu 2

1 like

This is a perfect example of what an entertainer should be! It contains all the necessary elements: comedy, a touch of romance, intelligently directed action, emotions, and, most importantly, an impactful story that conveys a message against corruption. Shah Rukh Khan shines brilliantly as an action hero in the film; his charisma is such that you can’t take your eyes off him whenever he’s on the screen. However, the rest of the cast's performance is somewhat mediocre. I really liked the actors who played the members in SRK’s anti-corruption squad. Deepika’s 15 minute cameo was far better than Nayanthara’s entire presence in the movie. No wonder she’s known as the queen. I felt that the focus on action and SRK’s back story was slightly more in the second half. I would have loved to see him and his squad execute more of the well-planned strategies they showcased in the first half. One aspect I didn't appreciate about the movie was the inclusion of unnecessary and illogically placed songs that seemed to pop out of nowhere. Moreover, these songs weren't even of the quality that one typically expects from spontaneous Bollywood musical numbers. Overall, it’s a must watch. Maybe there’s no point in reviewing this, as the crowd will flock to the cinemas no matter what to witness SRK’s magic on the big screen.

Jawan

One thing I need to give KJO credit for: whatever he makes it is absolutely cinematic and meticulous. This movie was a beautiful depiction of different families: one being a family drowning in patriarchy and orthodox mindsets even though the head of the family is a woman and the other being the epitome of an understanding, modern and loving family. Though I didn’t really like the forced chemistry between Rocky and Rani, I love how their love helped them and the audience bring about a change in perspectives and deep rooted mindsets. Rocky’s character stood out the most to me,thanks to Ranveer's brilliant acting and dialogue delivery. From Jaya Bachhan’s stern role to Shabana Azmi’s soulful portrayal of a woman searching for love all her life and from Alia’s father showcasing the pain of following his passion despite the society making fun of him to Ranveer’s mother who abandoned her passion to dedicate her life to her husband and family, everyone has done a great job. I felt Alia’s performance to be a bit lackluster, though I really love her Sari look in this movie. This movie delivers everything, from amazing songs, comedy, emotions, cinematic experiences and most importantly a message to the society to wake up from its patriarchal practices. The cherry on top is the song Kudmai. It’s just so beautiful when you see two families being purely happy upon the union of these lovebirds and heartiously accepting them.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

I was completely engrossed in the story of Yoon Hyun Woo, also known as Jin Do Joon, and his relentless pursuit of revenge against the Jin family. his tale follows the journey of a dedicated employee who was wronged and unjustly killed, only to be reborn as the youngest grandson of Jin Yang Chul, the founder of the Soonyang Empire. Jin Do Jun grabs the opportunity and lays out a brilliant trap for the family members and plans his takeover of the company. The plot is tightly woven, keeping you hooked throughout. It also sheds light on the abuse of power and wealth by individuals in positions of influence, with little regard for the consequences on ordinary people. Jin Yang Chul's character stands out as the most intriguing harabuji (grandfather) I've encountered in any Korean drama. Jin Do Joon's unique bond with his grandpa is a true delight to witness, defined not by overt affection but through their strategic and tactical exchanges. I would’ve loved to see more of Seo Min Young’s and Jin Do Jun’s chemistry. All in all, if you don’t try to wrap your head around the why’s and how’s of Hyun Woo’s reincarnation and focus on how he makes use of his knowledge and intelligence to take revenge, you are in for a great treat. !! Spoiler Alert !! Though it’s undeniably satisfying how Jin Do Jun makes use of his knowledge of what is about to happen in the future to plan traps for the family members, it sometimes diminishes his intelligence and abilities, making it appear as if luck played a larger role. I would have loved to watch him being put in circumstances where he can make more use of his business acumen and crisis management skills. For example, whenever a board meeting to appoint him as CEO took place he just sat there and watched as the others dragged him down. AND THE ENDING. Though it makes sense for Kdrama writers to introduce plot twists and interesting endings that are justified even though the audience is not satisfied, I still FEEL SO FRUSTRATED. The show seemed to revolve around Jin Do Joon's journey of redemption rather than his quest for revenge. I was expecting Jin Do Jun to recover from the accident in the last episode but boom he actually recovers from a CLOSE SHOT WOUND IN HIS HEAD AND A FALL INTO A WATER BODY FROM A GREAT HEIGHT. Whatever he did in those 17 years to get revenge on the family is all put to waste, and the family doesn’t even get what they deserve till 20 years. Furthermore, it would have been gratifying to see the main leads, Hyun Woo and Seo Min Young, achieve a happy ending to their love story, given that they were about to get married. The constant loss and thwarted aspirations felt like an endless cycle of punishment for Hyun Woo. Also I would have loved to see Jin Do Jun reaching out to his original family and original self in more direct ways and helping them out, rather than the indirect plans he tries. He’s RICH now, he could’ve easily helped them. And the most important thing. The biggest elephant in the room. How can they get away with looking exactly the same? Like these people have a manager who looks exactly like their relative and no one cares to acknowledge that fact, not even Seo Min Young. I wonder if this is an intentional plot hole or the writers just decided to leave us wondering what the reason might be.

Reborn Rich

40 likes

This movie is truly exceptional; it possesses a poetic quality that serves as a reminder of many important aspects of life. It encourages us to slow down, savor the moment, refrain from making hasty decisions, and emphasize our presence for our families. As someone deeply passionate about travel, this film was a delightful treat for me. It chronicles the journey of three friends embarking on an adventure in Spain, driven solely by their desire to relish life and explore new experiences. While it may not be a practical endeavor for the average Indian to embark on a road trip to Europe, we all need to pause occasionally and find moments of tranquility, peace, and enjoyment with our loved ones. Sometimes, these experiences have the power to alter our perspective on life, and the answers we seek in our daily routines might reveal themselves. The issues that weigh us down in our monotonous lives often recede when we make the conscious choice to pause and reflect. This is what this beautiful movie is all about. Makes me want to kidnap my friends and take them on a trip to Goa :D

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

1 like

It's a testament to the sheer brilliance of the writers and creators that they've skillfully woven various aspects of Indian society into the plot. They convey their message with subtlety and dramatic beauty. This show paints a vivid picture of the diverse tapestry of Indian society, encompassing individuals from different religions, castes, classes, and sexual orientations. It masterfully blends emotions, decisions, mistakes, and compromises. The casting is truly exceptional! Sobhita Dhulipala's portrayal of Tara is not only stunning but also marked by thoroughly convincing acting. Her ability to convey emotions with subtlety and a unique style is commendable. Additionally, I've come to appreciate the remarkable talent of Arjun Mathur through his captivating character. Even though Jim and Kalki have only about 5-10 minutes of screen time, they are an absolute delight to watch. Shashank's poetic narration at the end of each episode adds a sense of tranquility and wonder to the viewing experience. Each episode unveils a unique story, with the lives of the main characters unfolding in the background, creating an engrossing narrative. I devoured both seasons in just two days, which is quite unusual for someone like me, who typically savors content at a more leisurely pace. I wholeheartedly recommend this cinematic masterpiece to everyone.

Made in Heaven

24 likes