Prathyusha Kokku

Meghna Gulzar spins yet another masterpiece ahead of it's time. She brings poetry to scriptwriting the way only Gulzar's daughter can. When I heard that Meghna Gulzar was making Raazi I had decided way back then I was going to be watching this movie. I had watched her previous and first movie, Filhaal which dealt with a concept way ahead of it's time back then. Surrogacy and motherhood. There's something to the way this genuis approaches story telling. In a balanced way and yet open to interpretation. Kind of like how journalism should be but isn't. With the real life story of Raazi there was the same responsibility the story needed to carry. And Meghna Gulzar achieved it. For once, a movie about India and Pakistan is not right or wrong. For once, neither is India the villian nor is Pakistan. For once, and probably the second time in Indian cinema (first being Madras Cafe), the story took precedence over the politics of the situation it is based in. On a personal front I would have preffered a different lead actor. Alia Bhatt was not grey enough probably to do justice to the character, she was probably also not mature enough. In a couple of instances she exaggerated an emotion or continued an expression needlessly. The extremely talented ensemble however, held the movie strong and it was definitely an emotionally stirring experience.

After a week's wait and a lot of anticipation, I finally watched Sanju. What started out as a beautiful mix of a well written story and fabulous acting, soon turned out to be a point by point clarification of an underlying war between Sanjay Dutt and what is popularly referred to as 'akbaar'. Soon it started beginning to sound like the story writers were trying too hard to weave to make it 'seem' like it was all destined to be this way. While I whole heartedly agree that as a human being, even as an actor the media has taken him to town as they usually do and specially with his history and untoward connections, they've milked as much as they could to get their "according to sources" stories. Having said that, I also didn't think it was fair to portray him as a victim. Sanjay Dutt has been many things but he really isn't a victim. He has certainly faced consequences of his own bad decisions, one after another. I respected the man for fighting his battles in court, clearing his name as not a 'terrorist' and doing his time (well lesser than that) for possessing explosive firearms. Towards the end it felt lik e the movie was a personal ode from an influential friend to an influential friend with an explosive actor who really nailed every frame in the movie. I didn't think the story was well constructed, the dialogues were certainly lax, the only thing I would credit rajkumar hirani with is that he retained his signature of 'learnings' from his movies...and this time from jaadu ki jhappi to all izz well, we've reached 'ustaad'. Personally for me, I think they had enough and more material for an extremely tight and rounded movie if they had just focussed on Sanjay Dutt's initial years as a self proclaimed abandoned child at boarding school, rough times in college and how he dealt in and overcame his drug abuse and learnt to deal with his mum's passing. In the little they wrote and showed in the movie it really had potential to be all of the movie. The topic is relevant, relatable and is the need of the hour to be discussed between parents, family and society at large. Mental health, parental care during childhood and their consequences in a human's life along the way - all important things to discuss with young parents, young adults, teenagers. This movie and it's success at the box office is great for everyone involved but it's now set a precedent. In 5 or maybe 10 years down the line when some director/producer friend of Salman Khan will want to make a movie on 'Bhai'. It's waiting to happen and it will create another record on the opening weekend.

Darkest Hour is an 'okay' movie but for Gary Oldman's stupendous portrayal of a man, everybody (or at least I hope) loves to hate. I'm too well aware of Churchill's horse-blinded vision for his beloved "island", one which led to unnecessary and absolutely uncalled for suffering of humans many of whom were actually not his countrymen but were forced to fight British wars under the imperial umbrella, literally or otherwise. I could, never feel anything positive for the man, in as many times he's popularised by cinema or televised dramas. Which made it difficult for me to stop drooling all over Gary Oldman's performance, as unrecognisable as he seemed. The movie however could have done with a little more insight on what Britons thought of the circumstances of war not just a typist or a train carriage of citizens. In short, Darkest Hour is an okay movie worth a watch,Gary Oldman is definitely receiving his Oscar this coming March and I still immensely dislike Winston Churchill.

The hero of this movie, is it's MUSIC! The universe of Gully Boy literally had everything going for it, but for the slightly rough and yet inauthentic performances. Ranveer Singh cannot be counted in the above statement, he's probably shouldering and carrying this movie to the heights it deserves. I wish Alia and Kalki's characters had a bit more meat to their roles and trajectory to go through. Gender bias and strength is shown in superb in your face manner which is refreshing and needs to be re done time and again. While is still one of the best made this year (yet), it could have been better. Where the background score and music is so honest, true to the sense of self and situations in the movie - the performances were catering to it. It was nearly there though. Fabulous attempt nevertheless and always refreshing to watch something new in the cinemas. Probably the first Bollywood movie where the music speaks volumes more than the film itself.

I booked tickets to watch Simmba with no expectations and actually expecting to be quite revolted with silly humour and stretched out stereotypical jokes like we've been put through in movies like Dabanng. I also expected a fair dose of sexism but man, was I proven wrong, and how!? Simmba continues the Singham legacy laid so well by Ajay Devgn and Rohit Shetty and adds Simmba's own flavour and humour. It actually felt like I was watching a good masala yet well intentioned Telugu movie with a great actor. I constantly kept thinking, "is there ANYTHING Ranveer Singh cannot do?". Yet again, he has proven himself actor extrordinaire with this effortless yet moving performance. The story line is similar to many movies before it, but what Rohit Shetty and Team have ensured with this movie, is the way they have chosen to portray gender, sexism, femininity and women in the film. How they have chosen to show falling in love and romance and asking out a girl. And finally, how the characters of this movie have a no-nonsense attitude about women's safety. If these were not enough reasons to watch the movie, Rohit Shetty has gifted India with it's first franchise - we had Singham, we now have Simmba and we are yet to see Sooryavanshi. The movie ends with clues very similar to Marvel and DC movies nowadays. Watch this movie to be entertained and for your heart to soar. And I've answered my question, "There is NOTHING Ranveer Singh cannot do".

What an absolutely resounding experience for a movie that has no dialogues. It's not often that a movie gets an ovation 5/6 weeks in to it's release. A Quiet Place is an exceptionally thought out story and a fabulously executed movie. I love that it's short without needlessly stretching the plot line. I watched and waited with baited breath almost just like a mute outsider watching as everything unfolds. Easily Krasinki's best work yet, both as an actor and undoubtedly as a director. You'll really want to watch this movie. I'm reiterating that it's not usual horror, it's a very intelligent movie with thrillls. I think that's as much as I would go in to classifying it. Don't miss it on account that you scare easily, this movie is really one for the times!

A few weeks before I had no idea who this "Mahanati" really was but decided to watch the movie anyway. The movie was the best way to answer my question, and how. To say this is a Telugu movie made by the best of the Telugu film industry fills my heart with such joy and pride, I really cannot begin to word it. From the cinematography, dialogues, acting, background score and the way the film is stitched across time periods in telling a tale of one woman. Daughter to someone she wasn't aware of, unrequitted in love and wrongfully guilted by her successes. This film is a beseeching ode to a human that was and will always live for others. Her time was short but she lived a life worth many lives. This saga of a biopic is easily the best Telugu movie I have watched in my lifetime. It should be the pride and joy of every Telugu speaking movie goer. Not Baahubali, Mahanati!

The movie is set in the early 70s during America's Nixon presidency and while politicians were still struggling, losing the battle in Vietnam. It speaks to many themes but in specific it beautifully encapsulates negligent and proud politicians, freedom of press, women's status in the work environment and their worth and salt in society itself. The sad coincidence of the times we live in right now directly reflecting a time 3 decades ago is not lost on me. Aside from the obvious superlative subdued performances across the cast, including but not limited to, Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks - watching the way this script was filmed made me question in my mind WHEN in India we would finally enjoy the privilege of 'the press serving the governed and not the governors'. When will we stop taking pride in strong arming the press to political manipulation and start being proud of having a range of free thinking and objective opinions to get our information and news from. Such a stimulating movie, Spielberg has done it again, made me fall in love with cinema.

There was absolutely no reason for me to walk through rain to the cinema to watch this movie but there was just something from watching the trailer that I just couldn't shake off, so I made my way. To say that this movie is a good one after a long time is a massive understatement and a great disservice to all those who have worked on it. I have actually not watched a movie quite this good since Deepa Mehta's triology. Have I got your attention now? Good. Because you HAVE to watch this movie. The story moves you to acknowledge all the varying emotions of a human who needs to survive but even in such desperate circumstances is able to find their humanity. The cinematography has blown my mind frame after frame. As an amateur photographer I know how time consuming it is to find the perfect frame, but I only click once may be thrice. To be filming multiple takes with such precision and calm aesthetic is so satisfying to watch. The shooting locations identified showed me a Mumbai I've never before been privy to, not even in other Mumbai based movies. The level of atmosphere, personality and colour in despair just blows your mind. For his first movie, Ishaan is impeccable and is born to act. He is definitely someone to look out for. Earnest and unabashed, it was a joy watching Aamir get about in the story. Excellent dialogues and beautifully directed. Majid Majidi, I'm looking for more of your movies. I'm sorry I haven't watched them yet, it clearly has been my loss.