Subhajit Dinda

Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo (2023) Hindi, Disney+Hotstar Series. My Rating: 4.5 / 5 A cocktail of different genres that is spicy, bitter, salty, sour and a bit sweet, in all heady mix that gives a wholesome entertainment. A woman named Savitri runs a drug cartel from the interiors of Rajasthan along with her daughter, two daughter-in-law and several other women, faces a crisis from a old rival named Monk while her two sons, who work abroad are oblivious of the fact. Backed by excellent writing, this series of eight episodes (roughly 50 minutes per episode) doesn't feel monotonous and each episode ends with a good cliffhanger. Homi Adajania's direction is fine and he extracts good performances from his cast. Adajania gives importance to all the main characters and etches out the finer aspects of their characteristics very aptly without losing the plotline. The camera captures the arid land and the interior of the palace with a sense a dread and desolation. The editing is very good , although the runtime of the entire series could have been cut by 35-40 minutes (a reduction of 4-5 minutes per episode), which would have enhanced the viewing experience. The performances of the entire cast is good. Radhika Madan as the daughter Shanta, just does what she recently did in Asman Bharadwaj's Kuttey, and is at best decent. Ashish Verma as the elder son Harish is fit as comical figure but later on is very good as his character graph changes. Angira Dhar as Kajal, the choti Bahu is very good and is given a fine character arc. Varun Mitra as the younger son Kapil is a perfect casting, he gives a great performance. Naseer sahab is fine in a small role. Priyasha Bharadwaj is exceptional as a young Savitri. This is an young actress that can have good future. Dipak Dobriyal as Monk, oh! Those eyes, those damn spine chilling eyes. Dobriyal essays his character so menacingly wonderfully that you often marvel, how criminally this actor has been underutilized so far. And then there is Savitri aka Rani Baa, the matriarch, the leader of the Rani Cooperative played brilliantly by Dimple Kapadia. What's with this Homi & Dimple combo, they have been creating magic since Being Cyrus and here the magic has matured so much like fine wine to create a mythic ballad in a warm, arid land. What Dimple does in this series, is not mine to tell but yours to experience. So, go watch this series, a cocktail of saas bahus, drug cartel, thriller and an Indian western that will fascinate you. I am eagerly waiting for season 2.

Karnan (2021) Tamil, Amazon Prime, Movie Reveiw, My Rating : 4.5/5 Watching Karnan gives you the vibes of watching a master paint on his canvas, simple yet sophisticated to start with, but as you delve deeper the dark, eerie undertones creep out until you try to break the shackles of the bondage of horror and finally the sense of unappeased liberation that neither comforts you nor scares you. The opening scene of the movie will hit you with gloom and shock, as a young girl child having an epileptic fit is shown lying in middle of the road and the buses, cars, trucks, bikes go past her without a care. The camera unflinchingly shows you the hard and bitter end to the young girl's life. Partly influenced by the real events of 1995 Kodiyankulam Caste violence and partly a reinterpretation of Mahabharata, the story of the movie is set in the Podiyankulam village where a marginalized and ostracized section of people reside. The people of the village are fun loving, hard working but they don't own the land and they do not have a bus stop. The elders of the village have rescinded themselves to this life and hope that someone from this village will get a Government job some day and the village will see better days then, but the youth specially, Karnan (Dhanush) rebels and demands that their village will not be called a wasteland by others and all buses should make a stop there. The only bus stop in that area is far and built near an upper caste village. How Karnan manages to unite the village and stand up to their rights is what the rest of the film shows. This movie is a story of not one man, but an entire community that has been ostracized, victimized, terrorized into a slave mentality that acts as the chain of bondage in their minds (brilliantly showcased by Mari Selvaraj through the use of a donkey whose forelegs are tied) that they forget to stand up for their rights but a single spark can ignite lost self respect and sense of liberty and that voice is Karnan. The depiction of Mahabharata is through the story of Duryodhan and Karna, but here Duryodhanan (G M Kumar) is the father of Karnan. Also Karnan wins Draupathai (Rajisa Vijayan in a fiesty and passionate role). Karnan's friend and guide is Yeaman Raja (Lal in an impressive act), who is his grandfather. This tale of rising up to the oppressors (in the film represented by upper caste village and mainly the Police) by the oppressed is elevated by Director Mari Selaraj's beautiful use of symbolism through animals, a hawk that represents the Predators, the dog that is the bystander, the cat that reflects a laziness of the community, the pigs that shows the apathy of the villages houses, the donkey as mentioned earlier that shows slavery, the horse that signifies liberty, the fish and fish hook signifies a scheming trap and the motif of headless gods and the child goddess that signifies a forsaken community and the sword, the village sword that symbolizes a meaningless violence with nobody winning. Theni Eswar's cinematography is wonderfully created and makes the movie visually stand out in a grandiose manner with tragic undertones. Preformances by the entire cast is brilliant and Dhanush deserves all the awards that can be given to him. This is a movie that is less written on paper and more created on a celluloid canvas a la great masterpieces like Van Gogh"s "Starry night" and Rousseau 's "The Dream"; simple themes with a myriad of deeper and complex themes arising as we delve in. Do watch this masterpiece.

Jathi Ratnalu (2021) Telegu, Amazon Prime, Movie Review My Rating: 3.75/5 Three little pigs visits the big bad wolf and realize that their small pen is worthy of living after all. In an universe of silly sausages (courtsey: Albert Uderzo from his book "Asterix and Obelix: All at Sea"), the three silliest sausages, Srikanth (Navin Polishetty), Ravi (Rahul Ramakrishna) and Sekhar (Priyadarshi) make a journey from their hometown Jogipet to Hyderabad (The big bad wolf as referred earlier), so that they can be worth something and be respected in their hometown. They arrive at Hyderabad and blackmail a friend from hometown to move into posh apartment. Srikanth falls in love with his neighbour's daughter, Shamili aka Chitti (Faria Abdullah), a dreamy eyed girl, who aspires to dance, to which her father (Naresh) objects. Events turn serious (funnily, idiotically), when the new Sports Minister, Chanakya (Murli Sharma) turns up injured in their apartment and the three end up as accused of assaulting the minister. How the three get out of the mess is what follows as laughs and satires abound entertain you throughout. The three lead characters are peculiar but their performances are so straight faced that it is the hallmark of the movie. Srikanth, who can tell which type of bangles is great for a girl, just by sizing her hands, loathes his father's shop and is always speaking awful English, for instance, in one scene he says to a waiter," French wine" and when the waiter says, "with", he replies, "with English subtitles "; hilarious. Ravi is the eternal drunkard and victim of love failure, who gets angry easily, and if anybody reproaches him, he will say sadly, "If you think it's my fault, I'll leave". Sekhar is an expert at rice cooking and is always charmed by whistles from pressure cookers. At a point in the beginning, Sekhar says, "Sarfaroshi ke Tamnana, Samantha aur Rashmika, Hamare saath hai". This silly absurdist universe is wonderfully created and thankfully the female lead is not reduced to a prop. Chitti has her share of idiocies as well. The only problem for me was the character arc of Minister Chanakya, it should have been explored a bit more. The title of the movie literally translates to "Jewels of the Nation" and is a humorous take on the three monkeys of Gandhi. Anudeep KV directs with a zealous craziness that reflects on framework and shot blockages and heightens the absurdness of the movie. Siddam Manohar's camera speaks the language of the movie with its colors and lights. There was room for improvement in the screenplay, editing and music. Definitely watch this madcap comedy in these troubled times and cackle up to your fullest. And if you think yourself to be an "honest citizen kane" watch this movie now.

The Priest (2021) Malayalam, Amazon Prime, Movie Review, My Rating : 3.25/5 A thriller that starts off as a normal murder mystery but gradually transforms into a paranormal one. This movie can be compared to a tree that bears fruit after painstaking efforts but the fruits is so sweet that the effort is worth. Father Carmen Benedict (Mammooty) is a priest who helps the police and other people(?!) solve crimes. A girl, Diya (Saniya Iyappan) brings him a case of many members of Alatt family committing suicides within a few years. This case leads to a young orphan girl, Ameya Gabriel (Monica) and Father Benedict becomes very interested about her. Ameya, a peculiar child, takes a like to her new teacher, Jessie Cherian (Nikhila Vimal). Jessie finds out that Ameya is an orphan like her and grows to like her. But when she meets her boyfriend, Ameya gets irritated and gradually Jessie realizes that Ameya is obsessed with her and asks for Father Benedict's help. There are many beautiful layers to this story that peel off gradually to reveal new twists and in final act, the director throws off the audience by not doing the predictable which makes the end really special. At the heart of the story is not the Priest but a wonderful bond between 3 females. Mammooty has done these type of roles many times, yet he brings a transcendental melancholy into the character of Father Benedict. Others do their part effectively. The direction by Jofin T. Chacko is great at times and just pathetic sometimes. A scene where you would expect jump scares does not have it and those that have are very small in duration. The sound effects are not effective enough for a paranormal thriller and the editing is sketchy. The sequences of exorcism and the end scene were beautifully shot. The production designs should have better in the exorcism scenes. In all, a good enough movie to watch and pass the time.

French Biriyani (2020) Kannada (Amazon Prime), Movie Review, My Rating : 3/5. A comedy of errors that is very aware of itself and packed with jokes galore. Simon (Sal Yusuf) is a French National who comes to Bangalore to attend a conference, but due to a strike he couldn’t find his pickup guy, and instead is picked up by Suleiman (Pitobash Tripathy) who mistakes him as a smuggler bringing goods for his Don Muscle Mani (Mahantesh Hiremath). When Suleiman's car is stopped by strikers, Simon gets out and takes the auto of Ashgar (Danish Sait). Then follows a crazy journey, as both Gangsters and Police chases Simon and Ashgar. The movie is filled with good jokes and punchlines and some of them are bound to make you go ROFL and some are very subtle and highly aware of what’s going on in the country. The “racist" joke (pun!) in the police station between Simon and the Inspector is absolutely hilarious, the scene where the cow eats up Simon’s mobile and everyone offers suggestions is very witty and deftly done. A crazy man in lock up imagines himself as a Great Magician is humorous, insightful and serendipitous. The movie is so self aware that the climax takes place in a theater named Climax Theatre. Acting honours definitely go to Danish and Mahantesh. The director did a good job of tying up all the sub-plots and providing a neat finish. The cinematography is adequate and this is the first Bengaluru movie I saw where the IT parks were not shown while capturing the rustle and bustle of the Garden City very nicely, a commendable job. The music is very experimental but the songs do not interrupt the proceedings. The long gaps between the gags sometimes frustrates and the editing could have been tighter. The background noise was unnecessarily high at times. Overall a funny experimental comedy that laughs at itself and the society that is worth watching.

LOOTCASE (2020) Hindi (Disney+Hotstar), Movie Review, My rating : 3.5/5. A comic thriller that serves a great entrée, falls flat with the main course but some how manages to put up a palatable dessert. A middle class man, Nandan (Kunal Khemu), who lives with his devout wife Lata (Rasika Dugal) and son Ayush, accidentally stumbles upon a suitcase full of money while returning from work one night. The money was supposed to be sent to a Minister from Corrupt MLA Patil (Gajraj Rao), who entrusted the job to Omar (Sumit Nijhawan). Omar is attacked by Bala Rathore's (Vijay Raaz) men, who steals the money but abandons it while fleeing from the police. An enraged Patil engages Inspector Kolte (Ranvir Shorey) to recover the suitcase. The movie starts in a very gripping manner and continues to hold attention for 40 odd minutes and then drops pace due to unnecessary songs and too much focus on the protagonist. However, towards the climax the movie picks up but Bollywoodishly culminates into a predictable end. The main attraction is the performance by the cast, Kunal Khemu, Rasika Dugal, Ranvir Shorey and others, but the star attractions are Vijay Raaz and Gajraj Rao. Vijay Raaz delivers deadpan humor with his wild life metaphors with such a panache that warms and amuses. Gajraj Rao brings a pleasing yet malicious tone to his character that brings out his character so well without having to show much. I wish these actors had more screen time. The writing and screenplay are shabby in parts that effects the overall tonality of the movie. The direction could have been better but still adequate. The cinematography shines in parts. The editing should have been tighter. I am giving half marks extra just for Vijay Raaz and Gajraj Rao. In conclusion, Lootcase is a fun filled thrill ride that should bring some smile in these difficult times.

ANGREZI MEDIUM (2020) Hindi, Movie review, My rating : 3.5/5 A story that has its heart in the right place boosted by some fantastic moments and superlative performances but ends up with a sense of incompleteness. Champak Bansal (Irrfan Khan), a sweet shop owner in Udaipur, is a confused man embroiled in a legal battle with his cousin brother Gopi Bansal (Deepak Dobriyal) while raising a daughter, Tarika ( Radhika Madan) as a single parent. Tarika is very ambitious about studying abroad from her childhood and as she gets older this becomes her life's goal. She secures good marks in her board exams and secures a spot for studying in London, but events take a turn and she is denied permission. Then begins Champak's struggles to make his daughters's dream come true and he is supported by Gopi. The trials and tribulations of the two bickering brothers to get Tarika enrolled in a London University is what forms the rest of the story. The movie manages to capture many aspects, a small town girl dreaming big beyond her means without caring how her father will afford it and how she falls in love with the lifestyle of London with aspirations of self empowerment and freedom; the struggles of a small town father to fulfill his daughter's wish; the bonding beteeen two warring brothers and their bitter-sweet moments; corruption in small town Courts and the illegal foreign travel agents. The performances are the highlights of the movie. Pankaj Tripathi shines in a brief appearance. Kiku Sharda, Ranvir Shorey and Dimple Kapadia are impressive. Kareena's character could have been played by anyone else. Radhika Madan is good in the first half but her performance drops in the second. The stars of the show are definitely Irrfan Khan and Deepak Dobriyal. They are amusing, poignant and mesmerizing in their acting. The direction of Homi Adjania is very good. The story is well written though certain adjustments in the second half would have worked wonders. Definitely watch this movie, if not for anything else, just for the mind boggling performances of Irrfan Khan and Deepak Dobriyal.

Creeped Out (2019) Netflix Web Series, English, Season 1 Review My rating : 4/5 Creeped Out is a marvellously crafted "Goosebumps"esque delicacy that caters mainly to teenagers but can be enjoyed by everyone because of the thrilling narratives. This Netflix show not only tells really awesome stories but also leaves a message that addresses some critical aspects of teenage psyche. The first two episodes really hooked me in as they address very key issues of teenagers: over-dependence on smartphone and embarrassment due to parent behaviour. The stories are very well enacted and the characters are very relatable. The season 1 has 13 episodes and some of the stories are not up to the mark, but at least 6 episodes really impressed me with fascinating stories and excellent acting. The episodes 1, 2, 5, 6, 12 & 13 are the ones that impressed me the most. The overall writing of the 12 stories (12 & 13 is one story) is good enough supported by good production quality. The music is perfectly suited to the mood of the stories and the direction is commendable. The only negative that I have is the scrappy editing and bad casting in some episodes. Also wish all the stories were as good as the ones I liked. Overall, this is a very good supernatural series that not only entertains but also gives very important lessons in life.

THE TWO POPES (2019) English, Movie review, My rating : 3.5/5 A dramatic, humane and humour-laced rendition of the dialogues between two wise geriatrics with opposite ideals that gives an engrossing movie watching experience. Based on the true events, this Netflix movie portrays the long discussions between Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) and the future Pope, Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) about their radically different ideas for the future of the Catholic Church, their past and their hobbies. In the process, the two venerable individuals realize their inner demons and form a bond to carve a path for the Vatican's future amidst the Vatican leaks scandal. The movie has a relaxed pace which may not appeal to many, but as you go through the initial few minutes, you are astounded and mesmerized by the ethereal performances of the two lead actors. Anthony Hopkins etches out the complexity, hesitancy and loneliness of the character in a dignified pertinacious manner that allows you to empathize with him. Jonathan Pryce brings to life the humourous, affable and tormented aspects of his character with a mellifluous respectability which warms your heart. Director Fernando Meirelles creates a visually rich drama with the superb screenplay by Anthony McCarten (whose book , "The Pope" is adapted here). The cinematography, music and editing provides a charming effect that adds to the tonality of the movie. Finally, this movie proves that a simple, slow, engaging narrative with two exceptional actors can culminate in a pleasurable and thought-provoking movie. Just watch the movie for the phenomenal acting performances.

Klaus (2019) English-Animated, Movie review, My rating : 4/5 A movie that delves into the myth of Santa Claus with such an original and endearing storytelling that will warm your hearts and bring tears of happiness. The first animated feature film from Netflix tells the story of an idle postman, Jesper (voiced by Jason Schwartzman), banished to set up a post office in the frigid, dark town of Smeernsburg, who befriends a reclusive toy maker Klaus (voiced by JK Simmons) to deliver joy into the hearts of the children in the grim town. Director Sergio Pablos, who has cowrtten this magical origin story with Zach Lewis and Jim Mahoney puts together the whole movie with much love and detail that leaves you in an elevated mood. Boosted by sublime voice acting, specially by Jason Schwartzman, this charming film will ignite your soul with tenderness in this Christmas season. A captivating surprise from Netflix that is as appeasing as the best animated movies in terms of both content and quality. A definite watch for everyone.