Imon Sarkar

Review: RRR What separates a great director from a good one is his power of conviction. An over the top action sequence can become a complete caricature in the hand of an ordinary director (as we have seen in many Indian movies). However, if the director can convince you by pulling you in under his vision, you'll end up whistling and clapping in that very scene. In my opinion, SS Rajamouli has mastered this trick of conviction. The result is one visual extravaganza after another. RRR is a visual marvel, no doubt about that. But what makes the movie more than just an optical wonder is its heartfelt emotional core. From the very beginning you feel for both Ram and Bheema. You root for Bheema because of his cause. You sympathise for Ram because you get the dilemma that he is in. And when the two join hands, things literally explode. With the fine marriage of an emotionally charged story with awe-inspiring opulence and splendour- RRR is truly something that Indian cinema can be proud of. Both Jr. NTR and Ram Charan are absolute fire in their roles, while Ajay Devgn lends an added intensity to the proceedings. As usual M.M. Kreevani's music and background score work as the backbone of the film, elevating its key moments. RRR is a film that demands big screen viewing. The only downside for some can be its action sequences as some of those really push the boundaries of logic and physics. But to be frank by that time I was so emotionally involved with our two protagonists that I could not care less. Don't miss it and be prepared to be overwhelmed by the sheer awesomeness that is the vision of SS Rajamouli. P.S. A special mention must be made about the pre-interval sequence. Exceptionally choreographed and intensely performed. And try to stop yourself from clapping when you see what emerges out of that truck alongside Jr. NTR. 🔥💥❤

Movie Review: Bachchhan Pandey How much you like or dislike Bachchhan Paandey is directly related to what you are expecting out of it. Because if masala mass entertainers are not your cup of tea, then you should stay away from it. But if it is, then you are in for a treat. I was not too hopeful about the movie considering it comes from the great director who gave us Housefull 4. However, Farhad Samji gets the job done just right here because he has a great cast to pull it off. He just takes the basics of Jigarthanda, throws out all its nuances, and makes a family entertainer that mostly delivers the goods. But Bachchhan Paandey would have crashed from the first frame had there not been a certain Akshay Kumar at its core. As Bachchhan Paandey, the don who believes 'bhaukaal machake rakhne ke liye darr ka hona zaroori hai!', Akshay Kumar takes swag and attitude to a whole new level. He is genuinely menacing when needed, but he is also fantastic in the comic and emotional bits. He gets able support from his co-stars. Arshad Warsi proves once again that he is great in comedy and we need to see more of him. Kriti Sanon does not have much scope to emote, but does well nonetheless. Pankaj Tripathi is crackling in an extended cameo. With a rousing background score, cool cinematography and some rib-tickling comedy, Bachchhan Paandey is a jolly good ride. Surprisingly in spite of all the bloody action in the movie, it finally preaches why rising above hatred is important on a personal level for the betterment of society. In these times of vengeance and calls for revenge, a mass masala movie that'll definitely be derided by cinephiles all around, speaking for non-violence and reformation is indeed special.

Review: Dracula Sir I was really in two minds about watching Dracula Sir this Puja. On one hand, it has an actor that I admire greatly and consider to be the best thing that has happened to Bengali movie industry since Ritwick Chakraborty. On the other hand, the director of the movie has written Obhishopto Nighty and directed Biday Byomkesh in the past and I did not like any of them. But in the end, the curiosity to see one of my favourite actors again on the big screen got the better of me and I decided to give Dracula Sir a chance. I am glad that I did. Dracula Sir is not a great movie, far from it actually. But thanks to a mesmerizing Anirban Bhattacharya, some haunting tunes and a heartfelt third act, it ended up pleasantly surprising me. It moved me more than I had anticipated, and ended up being a rewarding experience. The story moves between 1971 and 2020. In the 1971 portions we see the doomed love story between Amol and Manjari. In the present era, we find Raktim trying to deal with his two protruding canine teeth and the problems that come with them. How the past shapes the present and eventually changes Raktim's future forms the rest of the story. It is not unique, and the first half for the most part is jarring and some scenes made me restless because they did not feel authentic enough. But as mentioned earlier, the third act is beautifully put together and they make up for the shortcomings of the first half to a large extent. Also, when you come to the conclusion and look back, you can realize why certain things felt a bit disjointed before. Of the cast, Bidipta Chakraborty is reliably good, so is Rudranil Ghosh and Supriyo Dutta. Mimi Chakraborty looks good, but does not get much scope to flex her acting muscles. But Dracula Sir belongs to Anirban Bhattacharya. He is there in almost every frame of the movie and his towering performance takes the film to a whole new level. You can see the sadness in his eyes, you can sense his helplessness. His vulnerability wins you over and you want him to end up with Manjari. Even though it seems unattainable, you crave for a happy ending for his sake. A mention must be made of Amit-Ishan's beautiful score that shrouds the film with a sense of all-pervasive melancholia. I particularly loved how the song Abar Jonmo Nebo has been used throughout the narrative. Overall Debaloy Bhattacharya's Dracula Sir is a film that would polarize audiences. It would probably generate extreme reactions. So far as I am concerned, I had limited expectations, and the movie, with its lingering sadness and beautiful, open-ended denouement, exceeded them quite comfortably. This is not an easy film to recommend. If you like Anirban Bhattacharya, it is a must-watch for you. If you like your movies to leave a bittersweet aftertaste, give this one a chance. #DraculaSir