deepankar lahiri

Brahmastra is an ambitious film. The content is rooted in Indian mythology and storytelling is a blend of Indian masala entertainers and Hollywood superhero films (Marvel). It aspires to be India's answer to the Marvel universe. The sheer effort toward that goal is commendable. The film does lack in the emotional quotient and screenplay, especially in the second half, but the build-up to the finale and the tantalising climax paving way for the next instalment is praiseworthy. Performances are decent. Cameos are brilliant. I wish these characters could be developed a little more and had a bigger part to play in the story than being mere gimmicks to entice the masses. An opportunity wasted here. The music is good. BGM & VFX are brilliant. Ayan Mukherjee's direction is good. He has almost managed to translate his huge vision on screen. Kudos for that. Overall looking at the current state of Bollywood here is an effort to create something new which is worth applauding. Brahmastra is a flawed spectacle but entertaining with some terrific moments. The film will score big at the box office and be a profitable venture for its makers. Hope part 2 will be bigger and better. The stage is set. ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Kesari based on a true story of a bunch of 21 Sikh soldiers under British India, who display tremendous bravery against 10000 Afgans in managing to hold them from capturing the fort of Saragarhi in North western frontier, now in Pakistan. On paper it is a sure shot blockbuster material.Alas!instead of being a rabble rousing film it turns out to be a whimper. Screenplay is weak.Dialogues are good.Film drags for a major part of its runtime only to come into its own in the final 15-25mins. Akshay Kumar gives a spirited performance but one cannot rise above the script.Kesari had potential lost but patch direction & screenplay fails the film. Holi is the saviour for the film at boxoffice. The films lifetime business will be 135-140 crores net at best.