NAVTEJ Singh (Naffi)

Deepika Captivates In This Glossy Affair. When you have Karan Johar as Producer & the ravishing Deepika Padukone in the lead, then you know it’s gotta be more than just “Koffee with Karan!” It’s a heady brew of beautiful people carrying the lavish lifestyle of California Bel Air types, scenic settings of fabulous beach houses & a magnificent 40-foot white yacht which sails the open blue seas, giving the feel of Mykonos in the Mediterranean. Against this backdrop unfolds a series of dysfunctional relationships, love gone awry, infidelity and a dramatic twist at the end which requires Deepika to take a vital secret to the grave. The full 2-hours movie is carried totally by Deepika - and Deepika alone. She handles a troubled relationship with her fiancé & straying off into to new-found love with elan. She’s undoubtedly a competent actress, and her beauty overshadows her co-star Siddhant Chatirvedi, who sails through the film with a one-dimensional look. The movie will appeal to today’s millennials and no wonder it’s currently trending at the top not only in India but in international markets. The look & feel is very unIndian, what with much of the dialogues in English and liberal use of the “F” word (which will affect some sensibilities). If you are a fan of Deepika (who isn’t?) you’ll not want to miss it. One final point - the rolling credits at the end mention an “Intimacy Director!” Vow! This should give a hint of the special treatment given to the love-making scenes. Pretty bold for an Indian film, and with a top star like Deepika to boot! I won’t say more - watch it to get surprised. Verdict: Bring out the popcorn 🍿!

Madhuri in Glass Bottle. Mid-way through this hyped series and I couldn’t carry on! Poor dialogues, superficial characterisations and a laboured attempt to present the glossy side of the Bollywood star system without saying much about its warts and all. The whole thing looks too contrived, devoid of emotional connect or redeeming quality. It's not enough to simply evoke nostalgia, pull those chords, put Madhuri Dixit in a variety of gorgeous flowing costumes and call it a day! The Director Sri Rao missed the plot on this one! Watch it only if you’re a die-hard Madhuri fan.

Reminiscent of the spaghetti westerns of the ‘70s made famous by Sergei Leone, which made Clint Eastwood a big star. Dialogues by Anuraq Kashyap are in the style of this genre, laconic with long lapses of silence. The savagery and dark imagery of the violence depicted hits one full frontal. The bandits are here and there doing their thing but makes you wonder what was their purpose. The villagers seem to be posing for poster shots, in silence, although the focus on women’s breasts stands out as a feast for the eyes in this barren and arid landscape. Anil Kapoor casts his son as the vengeful nemesis who shakes up the idyllic life in the peaceful dessert, adding some excitement to the police inspector’s life before his retirement. But the younger Kapoor fails to be convincing in his role, which seemed more suited for someone of Ajay Devgan’s intensity. Overall it’s a passable watch with the cinematography of the Thar desert being it’s only redeeming and outstanding factor.

The film is an eye-opener to the challenges faced in tiger conservation. It has a layered narrative with intricately woven sub-texts to the main story line of a killer Tigress on the loose. Beautifully filmed in Madhya Pradesh. Makes you feel you’re on a hunt - a safari adventure. The film gives good insight into the politics on the ground. Really “pathetic” (as Vidya calls out her senior out of frustration) to see collusion between the forest department officers and local politicians at the expense of the Tiger. Vidya Balan drives the movie with a measured and nuanced performance. She’s fully in her element in the role of the newly-posted forest officer. More than T12 (code for the Tigress), Vidya is the main force of the film! I have been to Jim Corbett Park and spent a night in the Guest House in the middle of the forest reserve. The nocturnal sights and sounds of wild animals one experiences in the jungle come alive in this film. It’s a real treat to relive the experience. This movie is not standard Bollywood fare. It’ll make you think about the environmental challenges confronting society, long after the end-titles run out.

This film is arguably the best movie Bollywood has made on the boxing sport. The same director who gave us the stirring tale of the legendary runner Milka Singh, which also starred Farhan Akhtar. Well timed for the Olympics going on in Tokyo. It’s an interesting narrative of a street fighter who transforms into a professional boxer, with an underlying love story which exposes strong communal sentiments in Indian society. Aziz Ali is no Mohammed Ali, although he’s inspired by the legendary “pretty face” of boxing. There’s shades of “ ROCKY,” but Farhan is no Stallone, although he’s done a creditable job in a physically demanding role. The final boxing match is well choreographed and will take you to an emotional high. The theme song of “Toofan” is not anywhere near “Rocky’s” song, but it will get to you. Watch it for the thrills - especially for sports fans.

It’s based on the fundamental issue of trust in relationships. Once trust is broken everything else goes down with it. This serial could have been wrapped up in one season of 6 episodes. Season two becomes a drag, with its quota of melodrama. You should watch it for two reasons - the very compelling performance of Rasika Dugal. She is one of the finest TV actresses today and measures up to the demand of the role of the wronged wife. Second, the enchanting beauty of Coonor. It’s hard to imagine such a place exists in India. The streets are orderly, the countryside is well manicured with tea estates and English-style homes dot the landscape, which you could be mistaken to think is in a countryside in England. Overall a good watch, especially if you are curious about how infidelity can ruin lives.

This show is at risk of being Forgotten, like the Forgotten Army! Shoehoning in a romantic subplot against the backdrop of a real tragedy detracts from the serious subject. As someone said, “War is hell, but can it ever be pretty?” The romantic track with Surinder, who should have been concerned with graver matters, and a young photographer with a misplaced sense of identity, derails the narrative to triviality. Kabir Khan obviously couldn’t resist mixing melodrama with real war drama to tell the story. The CGI work was mediocre and unimpressive. There were only two things which held my attention throughout the five episodes: first, the archival footages of the Battle of Singapore and actual scenes of the INA making through the Burmese jungles to reach the border with India; Second, the contemporary scenes of Singapore’s colonial buildings which are shown in their pristine glory - something which only Singaporean viewers like me would be able to relate to - the City Hall, from where Netaji gave his rousing speech to the thousands of INA volunteers who had gathered on the Padang (Field) in front of it, the Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore Cricket Club, Fullerton Building, and the INA Memorial located at the Esplanade in memory of the fallen soldiers. Pity, even SRK’s narration couldn’t create the sparkle !

10 years after the block buster “Band Baja Baraat” comes another breezy romantic caper with a full dose of Punjju Weddings, Matching-making and zany humour to keep you in splits on a Sunday afternoon. Yami Gautam (Vicki Donor) and Vikrant Massey are no Ranvir Singh & Anushka Sharma, but they still make an entertaining pair. The plot is hackneyed, but it’s good time pass if you enjoy Punjabi samosas !