'The Accidental Prime Minister': Nothing accidental about it (Movie Review)

Film: "The Accidental Prime Minister"; Director: Vijay Ratnakar Gutte; Cast: Anupam Kher, Akshaye Khanna, Aahana Kumra, Suzanne Bernert and Arjun Mathur.

Entertainment News: If you enjoy political satires, "The Accidental Prime Minister" may not be the film that its makers would recommend for you. Outwardly, the intent and purpose of this fiercely political parable is to give us the "real" picture of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's parent party and how it manipulated him into fronting their dynastic designs.

And how much more real can it get than Anupam Kher as Mr. Singh? The beard, the turban, the soft hushed barely audible voice (make sure you get your seats in a Dolby equipped theater)... Anupam gets the externals so right that we scarcely care about what lies beneath.

And what lies! If we are to believe this film, then Manmohan Singh was a 'baba' in the woods, an angel in disguise, a scholar and academician thrown into the cesspit of politics, manipulated into supporting the Congress monarchy by a scheming mother-son pair. And we all know who they are, giggle giggle.

There is nothing accidental about "The Accidental Prime Minister". The not-so-hidden agenda is to show Sonia Gandhi and her two children in the worst light possible. And it can't get any worse than Suzanne Bernert as Sonia Gandhi. Suzanne arches her eyebrows so sharply, I feared for her facial well-being.

Read my full review here → The Accidental Prime Minister Movie Review

'Cabaret': Comedy masquerading as drama of doomed damsel (Movie Review)

Film: "Cabaret" (ZEE5); Director: Kaustav Narayan Niyogi; Cast: Richa Chadha, Gulshan Devaiah and S. Sreesanth

Entertainment News: Do you recall those ravishing, sizzling cabaret numbers by Helen in the movies of the 1970s? Indeed? What's more, do you recall the 1972 Liza Minnelli exemplary titled "Cabaret" for which the on-screen actress won an Oscar?

Okay. Now erase the memories of Helen and Minnelli. Chances are, after seeing "Cabaret", you would never want look at another cabaret number. On second thought, it would be hard for you to go to the following Richa Chadha film without a shiver of worry.
This one drags you down to the dungeons of despair. Windowless and dingy.

"Cabaret" opens with brutish policeman in Jharkhand gunning down a husband and after that approaching her gruffly for sexual favors. Vipin Sachdeva, who plays the policeman, doesn't keep it unpretentious. For what reason should he, while everything around him shouts for consideration. He simply unzips his trousers and tells the woman to get on with it. This is a man in yoni-form.

Read my full review here → Cabaret Movie Review

Movie Review: 'Thugs Of Hindostan' is redeemed by Bachchan's towering presence

A straight-laced fiction mounted in a historical set-up, director Vijay Krishna Acharya's "Thugs of Hindostan" is a sprawling, ambitious 164-minute epic action adventure.

Entertainment News: The story begins Circa 1795 when the British East India Company tries to annex the princely state of Ronakpur. When negotiations fail, they assassinate its ruler Mirza (Ronit Roy) and his son Aslam. Mirza's trusted Lieutenant Khudabaksh Azaad (Amitabh Bachchan) escapes from the British's bullets, taking along with him Mirza's young daughter Zafira.

Khudabaksh aka Azaad along with his band of Thugs, give a tough time to the foreigners as they aspire to free the country.

Threatened by Azaad's growing popularity, the British engage Firangi Mallah (Aamir Khan), a small-time but ambitious con man, to locate and capture Azaad.

Thugs of Hindostan Movie Review

Everything about this film is in capital letters preceded by articles; the story befitting the intertextual clash of the good against evil, the mounting on the massive scale and casting of the leads.

While the two legendary icons of the Indian screen are pitted against each other, Aamir Khan steals the show with his flamboyance. He is the pulsating heart of the narrative. He brings his character to life with his energetic on-screen presence, priceless expressions on his visage, flawless dancing and agility during the action scenes.

↓↓↓ Read my full movie review ↓↓↓

Thugs of Hindostan Review

'Pakhi': Amateurishly crafted and tedious to watch (Movie Review)

The narrative begins with Suhani, a young girl getting conned into the flesh trade operated by a goon called Bali (Sumeet Kant Kaul).

Entertainment News: Coming from a National Award winning director and the "Natya Bushan" winner, "Pakhi" is a huge let down.

Based on true events akin to the last week's released "Love Sonia", "Pakhi" is the story of Pihu, a 10-year-old girl who is forced to marry an older person. It is her journey, which is the most painful journey the audience must endure and that is not because of Pihu's trails and tribulations but because the director takes us through a senseless and complex route.

Pakhi Movie

The narrative begins with Suhani, a young girl getting conned into the flesh trade operated by a goon called Bali (Sumeet Kant Kaul).

Circumstances make the brutal Bali believe that Suhani is lucky for him and so gives her a royal treatment compared to the other girls in his coterie. Several months later, Pihu, her brother Maulik and an older sister land in Bali's den after their uncle sells them to Bali.

While the older sister escapes the trauma by killing herself, Pihu is subjected to a Hyderabadi business man's gaze, who is keen to marry her. How Suhani helps Pihu and her brother escape from Bali's clutches forms the crux of the tale.

Read my full review → Pakhi Movie Review

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News Source: BS

'Ishqeria': An out-dated and poorly written love story (Movie Review)

A chick-flick, "Ishqeria" is a film about a small town girl Kuhu (Richa Chaddha) who falls madly in love with her college senior Raghav Dalmia (Neil Nitin Mukesh).

Entertainment News: "Sabko confuse karna band kar do". This harmless dialogue told in a jocular tone in the film, inadvertently sums up the fate of the narrative of this 2 hour film. Purportedly, a college love-story, this film ends up confusing the audience with its constant failed attempts to create suspense.

How she manipulates her way into his heart, the circumstances that lead to their separation and a happily-ever-after ending, is what this film is all about, albeit centred round a convoluted plot.
A hackneyed a la Mills & Boon love story set in Mussorie, there is nothing refreshing or new in the treatment of this film. The characters seem jaded and the drama, trite and oft-seen.

Ishqeria Movie

Narrated in a non-linear manner, the screenplay appears a tad confusing. The first half is seemingly watchable, while the second half drags and makes for tiresome viewing. The uncalled for playful suspense elements are over-stretched for no apparent reason and in the bargain lay bare gaping plot-holes.

Hinging on a wafer-thin and frivolous plot, the narrative is overextended and fails to involve the audience beyond the first half an hour. Richa Chaddha as Kuhu Singh, a small town girl, essays her character with sincerity and aplomb. She is effervescent and bubbly and lights up the screen with her energy.

Neil Nitin Mukesh as the sad rich boy, Raghav is staid and plays his studious character to perfection with restraint. The duo are ably supported by stereotypical characters who play their respective friends.

Read my full review → Ishqeria Movie Review

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News Source: BS

'Manto': A moving biopic, astutely told (Movie Review)

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's "Manto" taps into every feeling and mood of his complex erudite character. The actor doesn't miss a single heartbeat of his character.

Entertainment News: Director Nandita Das' "Manto" is a poignant and hard-hitting biopic about the controversial, Indo-Pakistani, Urdu short-story writer Sadat Hassan Manto. It is her tribute to Manto, albeit one she renders with honesty as she presents the celebrated writer with all his failings and greatness.

The film opens in Mumbai where a young and raring-to-go Manto is slowly but surely making his presence felt in the Indian film Industry. With the Partition breaking out, circumstances compel Manto to move to Pakistan and his life changes.

The film portrays how circumstances can break a straightforward and talented man who depicted the society through his unapologetic writing.

Manto Review

The Director succeeds in allowing the audience to be privy to the life of this author who lives in Lahore but has his heart belonging to Mumbai.

The narrative flows smoothly and the origination of some of his short stories like "Toba Tek Singh", "Khol Do" and "Thanda Gosht" are successfully depicted.

Like every character-driven film, this film too moves at a slow pace, but manages to keep you engrossed. The drama is in the inner turmoil within the character. You can feel Manto's frustrations as he feels incapacitated when in Lahore and this is enhanced by the circumstances and times he lives in.

Read my full review → Manto Movie Review

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News Source: BS

'Sanju' to 'Padmaavat', list of profitable films in 2018

After a miserable two years of flopping films and stagnant revenues, what has changed for the Rs 156-billion film industry?

Entertainment News: Sanju, Padmaavat, Raazi, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Bharat Ane Nenu, Rangasthalam. The list of profitable films in 2018 is getting longer. “It has been a great year so far,” says Nitin Tej Ahuja, publisher of trade magazine Box Office India.

Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi, one of the most profitable films of the year, has Alia Bhatt in the lead. She is not a star the trade would have bet on for a film that rests largely on her shoulders. However, the (real) story of an Indian girl who married a Pakistani army officer to spy on him during the 1971 war is an outstanding film. Audiences loved it and spent close to Rs 2 billion (in India and overseas) buying tickets to watch it. That is true for many of the top 50 films. What’s changed is the frequency with which such films, called ‘content films’, are doing well. In industry parlance, ‘content films’ are those without a star while ‘commercial’ or ‘masala’ films have big names.

Top Movies of 2018

“In the last few years, audience’s taste is changing and that change is now entering into the top 10 charts. Raazi, Sonu… it is not just about big actors not being there, it is about content. Earlier people used to watch big stars even if content was ok, now there is a drop in that,” says Kumar Ahuja, president, business development, Eros International Media. “In general, content films or more meaningful films are the norm rather than the exception,” adds Ajit Andhare, CEO, Viacom18 Motion Pictures.

Not only are such films these being made but these are pulling in revenues. “In the last six months, a lot of films have done a business of Rs 1 billion, Raazi, Raid, Veere Di Wedding,” points out Bhushan Kumar, chairman and managing director, Super Cassettes Industries (T-Series). “Compared to previous years, the first six months of 2018 have been a high earning one,” says a happy Apoorva Mehta, chief executive officer (CEO) of Dharma Productions, which....continue reading

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 News Source: BS

'Laila Majnu' is redeemed by a brilliant second-half (Movie Review)

It takes this revisionist version of "Laila Majnu" time to come its own. 

Entertainment News: For a very long spell of storytelling director Sajid Ali lets the story spin out of control, spiralling and wobbling this way and that as we watch a spiffy but vacuous Laila indulging in what would qualify as serious eve-teasing if she were a man.

"Woh toh aise hi ladko ko ghumati rehti hai," says a guy about our modern day Laila. Not a very charming reputation to have. But ask her if she cares. Laila is curious about....err, physical intimacy. When one of her friends is reputed to have liplocked with her lover, Laila stares at her friend's smooched lips in the classroom, as though the blackboard had just found a sexy replacement.

Laila Majnu Movie Review

Then Laila meets her match. Qais (impressive newcomer Avinash Tiwari) is cocky and confident, as if he knows the pages of the legendary romance inside-out. Yeah, he knows his love is destined to be doomed. But that won't stop him from enjoying his courtship in Kashmir with the 'adam'-teasing Laila.

They meet, they exchange glances and repartees. They dare one another to cross limits. But seldom do. They sing soprofic songs in scenic Kashmir and promise each other they would climb the neighbourhood mountain to see what's on the other side.
Sadly the view on the other side remains obfuscated. We never see beyond Laila's vanity and Qais' self-absorbed pain.

Read my full review → Laila Majnu Review

'Paltan': A realistic but lame war film (Movie Review)

Based on a true story, this J.P. Dutta's film opens with a scene of high tension that soon transports the viewer exactly where he or she would never want to be, in a war zone on the Indo-China Border.

Entertainment News: After an intense prologue, which shows the Chinese aggression during the 1962 and 1965 attacks on the banks of the Namka Chur River in Arunachal Pradesh, the narrative settles on the Nathu La and Cho La clashes of 1967. The film depicts the series of military clashes between India and China alongside the border of the Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim, then an Indian protectorate.

Paltan is the tale of the platoon from the Rajputana Rifles, under the command of Major General Sagat Singh (Jackie Shroff). On the ground level the platoon is led by Lieutenant Colonel Rai Singh Yadav (Arjun Rampal). He is seconded by Major Bhishen Singh (Sonu Sood) and Major Harbhajan Singh (Harshavardhan Rane) and they are assisted by Captain Prithvi Singh Dagar (Gurmeet Chaudhary). Each one of them have their moments of on-screen glory.

Paltan Movie Review

The watch-keepers living on the barren land, march in single file whenever they have a scuffle with their Chinese counterparts. Their face-offs seem legendary, which always seem to end on a dubious note, with "Hindi-Chini bhai bhai".

Designed in a formulaic manner, the narrative of this war film is interspersed with the personal lives of the protagonists. Each one has his share of onscreen personal moments, either with their parents, wife or fiance. So if you have seen any of J.P. Dutta's earlier films, then this is no different. The novelty in the treatment is missing.

Read my full review → Paltan Review

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Nawazuddin Siddiqui's 'Manto' movie trailer to be out on Independence Day

The trailer of Nawazuddin Siddiqui's "Manto", which is helmed by acclaimed actress-filmmaker Nandita Das, will release on digital platforms on Independence Day.

Entertainment News : The trailer of Nawazuddin Siddiqui's "Manto", which is helmed by acclaimed actress-filmmaker Nandita Das, will release on digital platforms on Independence Day.

"Manto", co-produced by HP Studios, Filmstoc and Viacom18 Motion Pictures, traces the life of writer Saadat Hasan Manto. Nawazuddin will be seen bringing the character to life.

"Viacom18, one of our main producers and the ones leading the marketing and distribution for the film along with HP studios, decided to launch the trailer digitally. This was completely their idea," Nandita told IANS.

The film follows the most tumultuous years in the life of iconoclastic writer Manto and those of the countries -- India and Pakistan -- which Manto inhabited and chronicled. The film stars Rasika Dugal as Manto's wife and Tahir Raj Bhasin, Rishi Kapoor and Divya Dutta in key roles.

Talking about Manto, she said: "Manto stood for freedom of expression, both through his writings and the struggles he went through in his life. He challenged all forms of orthodoxy and despite six cases slapped on him, he believed in the power of the written word. That kind of conviction and the courage to follow it through is inspirational."

How do you think the status of freedom of expression in India?

Know → Manto Movie Release Date

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News Source : BS

Kareena Kapoor and Akshay Kumar's upcoming movie 'Good News' to release in July, 2019

Here's some 'Good News' for all Kareena Kapoor Khan and Akshay Kumar fans!

Entertainment News: Here's some 'Good News' for all Kareena Kapoor Khan and Akshay Kumar fans!

Their upcoming film, which will bring back the on-screen jodi of Akshay and Kareena after a long hiatus of nine years, is all set to hit the big screens on July 19, next year.

Karan Johar is producing 'Good News' under his banner Dharma Productions.

The ace filmmaker took to social media to make the announcement, writing, "#GoodNews IS HERE! Bringing a fantastic cast of @akshaykumar, #KareenaKapoorKhan, @diljitdosanjh & @Advani_Kiara to the big screen with our debutant director @raj_a_mehta! This DRAMEDY's due date is 19th July 2019! @apoorvamehta18 @ShashankKhaitan @DharmaMovies #CapeOfGoodFilms"

An excited Akshay also took to Twitter to share the news. He wrote, "Good News! That's the name of our film and so is the news I am sharing :) It is a 'dramedy' Due Date 19th July, 2019."

The film, which reportedly revolves around a couple who is trying to have a baby, also stars Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani in..Continue reading

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News Source: BS

‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’ Review: This bromance vs romance is worth watching

What could have been a more perceptive behavioral comedy about adulthood, turns into a tone-deaf tale about two men.

• Film: “Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety”
• Director: Luv Ranjan;
• Cast: Kartik Aryan, Nushrat Bharucha, Sunny Singh;
• Rating: **** ½

Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety Movie Review : There is something to be said in favor of the spoken word in the movies, or the dialogue as its known. When sharply written, these words can embrace the characters in layers of unvarnished molten gold.

Sure enough the repartees in “Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety” (SKTKS) just roll off the characters’ tongues making them sound sassy and sombre even when they are being mean and vicious just because it suits the script’s purposes.

And God knows, this film needs no excuse to let the words flow. So full marks to co-writer Rahul Mody and Luv Ranjan for investing the vivacious proceedings with a verbal gusto that I found to be more sparkling in wit and insinuations than the dialogues in any recent film.

SKTKS is the story of the eponymous Titu (Sunny Singh, suitably equanimous) who is a bit of a rich spoilt dullard mithaiwala’s son who falls in love with every human being in a skirt, the shorter the better. It takes Titu’s BFF Sonu(Kartik Aryan) to rescue Titu from his disastrous relationship crises time after time.

At one point in the slyly silken storytelling Kartik’s Sonu tells the manipulative gold digger a story of what he did to a boy in the classroom as a child when that boy troubled Titu.

Luv Ranjan is very clear in his reading of ‘bromantic’ relationships. The woman is often a gold-digging manipulative scheming lady.

 →  Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety Review  ←