Kaala Paani : Arguably the most moving, emotional, eye opening, factual Hindi TV series of this year.

Kaala Paani is a story of nature’s wrath, a mysterious illness and humanity at Andaman and Nicobar islands. The story is set in the future, showing us our harsh future because of our doings in this century till now. The star cast is superb, it was good to watch Ashutosh gowariker acting.

Oraka

“It is Biswapati Sarkar’s story and he stumbled upon this idea during a family vacation to Andaman and Nicobar long back. One of the guides told him that the place was known as Kaala Paani and kaal meant mrityu (death), so there was no escape from here. When he shared the idea of being stuck in a placewith me, it immediately got me interested. We had the idea during the pre-pandemic stage. Also, the subject of survival drama wasn’t much explored till now.” – Sameer Saxena (Executive Director). We are seeing biswapati Sarkar’s work since tvf happened 12 years back and he is just great in terms of everything.

I absolutely loved the story line, the characters, the acting, and the story building pace. It has loss, it has science, it has nature, it has the very important reasons we have so forgotten about the jungle. I almost at a time thought of this Indian version of Dark but with no time travel in it.

A must watch, people should now invest themselves more in something different from the main stream. It’s high to watch something which can add something to you as a person.

Thank you Netflix.

King Richard

A sports drama is always expected to be inspirational and hard hitting which shows the struggles of being or becoming a sports person. King Richard does more than that.

King Richard is a tale of a father and his daughters who became the best sportspersons world has ever seen. Will smith delivers a impactful and perfectly worried father performance, a person who has planned everything for his daughters, whatever the circumstances or achivements made by his daughters, he goes with his plan only. He is so determined that he has already decided the coach under whom serena and venus will get training, the city, the tournaments, the time to not play tennis and play normal kids’ games.

Why venus williams and serena williams are the best players out there? Why they are so hard to beat? Why many players got engaged in controversies and also got banned for illegal drug use but they were never? Why everyone knows these 2 names whether or not you know anything about tennis at all? These all questions are answered in this film.

Jon Bernthal has done a tidy job potraying Rick Macci. Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton are awesome as venus and serena respectively. Brandi williams gave a hard hitting performance. Will Smith might earn his 3rd nomination for an academy award.

Raising Voices : Review

A totally predictable but needs attention spanish  drama series by Netflix.

Raising Voices is actually a story of a girl who is raised her voice against a series of rape done through many years by a teacher with a particular student who was her friend back then, she realised that after a kind of rape also happened with herself.

I don’t know why in every Spanish, french series smoking and drugs are shown so casually that it is very normal to do it in teenage or before, there will be a gay or lesbian (Just like Olympics’24) relationship of course with some trauma of sexuality or family mixed with a crime can be murder or rape.

Nicole Wallace is an emerging actress who can act in these types of Hanna Becker roles very nicely. Her character arc was also good in this series. From the scene only I knew the plot but I was waiting for the motive that will be a party or school teacher or someone from family. Last episode is bang on! In the middle series it gets unnecessary and without logic that is why this scene and this story. In spanish and french series I guess they don’t think that cigarettes are too manufactured in this world, as everyone is making joints every 2 mins of the movie. When you are representing such a sensitive topic “Rape at School” or “Sexuall Harrasment” I don’t think you need to confuse audience and make them understand the casualness of doing sex everytime but not when done inconsequentially it is understandable. Every character’s acting is good also the story Is ok but it is nothing much different than other Netflix serieses on same topic which have a different thing to tell which great story line like 13 reasons why, unbelievable. Oh they are American! My bad!

Laapataa Ladies : Kiran Rao’s directorial debut has my whole heart!

Laapataa Ladies is an example of how a simple writing and impactful acting and dialogues can be such a delightful watch that you will cry, smile, and laugh all together!

A boy was coming by boat and train with his newly wedded wife where he misplaced his wife with someone else’s. Now he has to find his wife, the bride he mistakenly bought with him is on a run as her ambition is something else, his wife who was left at train is at different far away station she founds some alliance there at a chai shop with an old lady who teaches are the harsh reality, she knows nothing of her husband Village and also will not return to her own village.

Sparsh srivastav is good at his work, he did a great job in jamtara and so in this one. Ravi kishan is a treat to watch. The story and character creation is so sweet and real nature that you will indulge in them in some hours only and when you do it will touch your heart deep down.

Kiran and Amir have done a good job. This movie will not change much in the villages about girls as it is made for that topic only but it will stir the water settled and I love the movie for the small moments that made me emotional.

Shaitaan (2024) : Nail Biting Non Predictable Thriller

Just watched Shaitaan and Ajay Devgan keeps up the expectations for you, he makes sure that you will never know what will be the main twist and ending to it!

Shaitaan is remade movie of a movie in Marathi called “Vash”, believe me R.Madhavan has done a brilliant job, I have seen Vash and Maddy is more brilliant. A happy family goes on a outing at there farm house at a hill station, on the way the daughter gets controlled by a person who then enters there home and asks daughter to take with forever , parents find themselves fighting to save there daughter and son from the evil.

Shaitaan is the perfect example why our parents always taught us that “Never eat or drink anything given by any stranger anywhere”. Janki Bodiwala who portrayed janvi the same actress who also played same role in the Marathi movie too, I don’t think no one would be able to act this one other than her so good choice by Ajay, R.Madhavan did so good job that you will absolutely forget that what was shown previously in movie before he came. Only 5 characters in the movie and everyone played a good role.

Whatever you expect will not happen in the movie, you will think many things that okay now God will enter or Some magic will happen but no, Ajay kept it real. Story is stitched so good that it is difficult to worry about alternate situations.

There will be mixed reviews about this movie, that this is not real or this could have been done and it is a one time watch. When you are watching a movie it is important that you believe the main logic of the movie and find your logic in it otherwise you will miss the fun. Shaitaan is a great movie with impactful screenplay and difficult to ignore bg music. In between the movie is streched a bit but it gives a comeback real hard.

I will definitely recommend this one with good sound and screen. Horrar is rare now!

Article 370 : A perfect work on Kashmir didn’t exist before..

Yesterday I watched Article 370 on the first day of its release, I expected a hard hitting movie with some Hindu Muslim dialogues but Damn! This Aditya Suhas Jambhale directed explainatory, cutting edge narrative, clean movie is difficult to get over now!

Yami Gautam has proved that subtle clean acting with to the point narrative with zero distractions is what can make a mark in people’s mind too. Movies like article 370 are very difficult to make, your r&d should be very strong, your way of showing or demonstrating things should be very much inclined to religious and political sentiments which this movie has clearly surpassed.

The slideshow presentation of article 370 and 367 was superb explaining it very clearly for normal audiences, the way they have not even used any Hindu Muslim quotes or interpretation is so good that you are watching a movie on Kashmir but with no religious sentiments hate done is level up for me.

The movie has action, the movie has parliament drama, the movie has spy drama. Ahh! The background is so good that every and what they want highlight is so clear, loved it!

Joyland : A heart wrenching tale of 3 persons of different genders

The most beautiful thing to come out of Pakistan since Bol I guess! A difficult watch but a worthy one.

Joyland is a story of a married person from a patriarchal joint family who desperately wants a baby boy from the youngest son and working wife, who gets a job of a cabarat dancer in a theatre where he falls in love with biba a dancer and choreographer also a trans. On the other hand the wife struggles at home after leaving her passion of makeup but never complains to her husband for it rather loves him. The character Haider (the youngest son) is a confused and good heart character. I am not that much interested in watching LGBTQ movies often but this made so much justice to story and drama I forgot that being a trans or gay or queer is even a thing or a different thing. They way of portraying every character in this movie without making any remarks about religion, caste, gender or country and also making you realise at the same time all those things only!

The best moment of the movie is when the wife is happy at the Mela, the husband is happy with biba and the father is happy with sharing his true self with a widow that is the real Joyland for anyone. Keeping it real, raw and at the same time dramatic with humour, love, tragedy and in the end regret.

Did you ever find your joyland?

Killers of the flower moon : The Tragic Real Story Of Osage Nation Murders

First of all I will say I am not even an inch close to what the OG of Cinema Martin Scorsese can think in his mind when he creates his masterpieces. Killers of the flower moon is based on a non-fictional book with the same name by David Grann’s 2017 book of the same name, the movie focuses on the FBI’s investigation of serial murders of the members of a Native American tribe in Osage County, Oklahoma, after oil is discovered on their land. The film features Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, and Lily Gladstone in primary roles. The film marks Scorsese’s sixth collaboration with DiCaprio and tenth with DeNiro, respectively

Set in 1920s’ Oklahoma, this highly anticipated crime drama film follows the story of Ernest Burkhart and his wife Mollie Kyle from Osage Nation, with the towering and strong presence of his uncle, influential cattle rancher William Hale, always looming over them. It’s clear that Burkhart and Hale are after the Osage tribe’s wealth, thanks to the abundance of oil found in their land.

The story and characters are based on real people but Martin is focusing more on explaining the Osage community and the burkhart’s character. He still believes in his authentic way of filmmaking showing scenes and the life of a character with no filters. He uses Cinematography as a weapon to showcase the time and feel of that time rather than attracting you with VFX action or blood that every other director does. The last 20 mins of the creative sound stage drama scene explaining the rest of the story was absolutely a masterpiece of a sequence.

Scorsese even met the members of the Osage tribe to gain first-hand experience of how authentic the characters in his movie should be. He agreed to focus on the plight of the tribe rather than introducing a ‘White’ savior to put an end to their troubles. This is why the narrative shifted from the investigation to examining the other central characters, with Kyle’s struggles being depicted in plenty. This is also why Gladstone is already competing for the best actress for this role at the Oscars. Evidently, Scorsese has attempted to do complete justice to the original story of the tribe, but the visual spectacle is also bound to take some creative liberties to push the narrative forward.

We are so lucky he is still making movies believe me when I say, Martin Scorsese, Leo, Robert de Niro have already achieved and done what they could in cinema but today’s generation are lucky to watch this.

Animal Review : A crazy vanga’s personal mission.

A story about a boy whose father is probably the richest man in the country who loves his father and family more than anything in this world but his love is overdosed and rebellious. Then comes a brother whose father was insulted previously and the vengeance begins. How about this story of 4-5 lines in 3yhrs 21mins movie, yes it can happen when you talk about Sandeep Reddy Vanga as this director is on a personal mission to prove that being rebellious, violent, and naked with honesty is the only solution now.

Ranbir Kapoor is a crazy actor, his hard work is visible in the movie, he has given his all acting in this movie every physical transformation possible. Bobby deol made his mark with no dialogue and just 15-20 mins of screen presence and he was the main villain. Rashmika seriously needs to work on her Hindi and rate of speech of dialogues. Anil Kapoor as always did a great job but I think sandeep could have used him more for the emotions between father and son (and that was the main theme of the movie).

Sandeep’s direction is more about showing it raw and violent and according to his own imagination of the world. His movies suffer with very less logic and right writing. Some scenes are absolutely unnecessary, the one with Ranbir killing around 50-100 people with an axe while all his former brothers and fighter stands and sings a song with guns but not firing those on them, ranvijay (ranbir) was neither alone nor he says that he will fight alone, it was just sandeep’s personal thing to show violence unnecessary with a Punjabi song. The fight between geetanjali played by rashmika and ranvijay was badly written and portrayed the dialogues are clear and long unnecessarily, at a point of time it was unbearable to watch.

Sandeep’s bgm in every single scene from start to beginning is absolutely fantastic, his character development is good, his shifting time in the movie is fantastic. Actually he targets the young audience more than family, be it Arjun Reddy or Kabir singh both had mixed reviews too because his views on the world are harsh and violent and manly. He is not here to teach anything but just to entertain you!

Animal is a normal Sandeep Reddy Vanga movie with less story and more action and raw violence and vengeance. Lines like this movie will change the Indian cinema forever, well not even an inch, and it is the best movie of ranbir, no. Everything nowadays is hyped so much unnecessarily that it becomes the only one to consider in your life for relevance. Animal is not a bad movie nor is it the best one as it was hyped.

The Fall of The House of Usher :- Well-crafted Story telling.

Fall of Usher is a limited series streaming on Netflix which tells us a controversial story behind the Usher family, a short story written by American writer Edgar Allen Poe first published in 1839 but the director has taken that story to 2023. Clever direction, stunning camera work and impeccable story telling makes this series a Bing-worthy gothic horror drama tv mini series.

Horror is a genre which nowadays is difficult to make, people tend to find logic and story now in horror which is good but it was not like this before. House of Usher doesn’t focus on making you afraid rather it will make you shocked and unsettle and go crazy about how and why. The cinematography is so good, I love the camera tricks and that’s what’s needed in a thriller drama.

The story telling is at its best, the main protagonist’s voice is deep and you will have an interest in listening to it. In the end you get to know that it was as simple as SAW or wrong turn or any other horror movie but, the journey man, the acting by every character and the message behind every death is deep. They have crafted so nicely you stick to screens till the last.

Don’t compare this with horror tv series you have what this have they don’t have it and what they have house of Usher don’t. The director chose to stay true with writers work and story that’s why this is so compelling, boring at times but copes up. If you love cinema, drama, good story with excellent camera work but less scientific reason behind it and a fun yet unsettling ride. House of Usher should be on the screen right now!

Loki : Season 2 Review

Welcome to the Marvel’s comeback and it is a strong one!

Loki season starts exactly as it is left in season 1, but this time cursed with a power which is unknown to him and which could be the turning point of the whole MCU. He finds out who has actually written the TVA guide book and starts finding ravonna who is on her verge to find the end of the time but happens to find the origins of TVA. So much is there in season that at one it is not easy to digest and cope up with but the writing and all characters’ acting is so good that you will be comfortable.

In a recent interview of Tom Hiddleston with Jimmy Fallon he said that “season is not only the conclusion of Loki but my 14 years of life that I have spent in the MCU”, imagine a person has given his 14 years to a production house just for a character which was a side character after Avengers. He is just in love with Loki he acts so personally that it looks very easy and natural.

Kang is impossible to defeat, he has almost infinite lifetimes, created his own timeline my goodness and created even life in it, God? Nope here comes quatumania and Loki these two movies have changed the case now, Loki can now do things that Kang can do too and the food news is that Loki is not a villain anymore. The most underrated actor of Loki live action TV series is Jonathan Majors playing he who remains and victor timely, you will know when you see it!

Loki teaches us to write our own books rather than being a background character in someone else’s and then, and only then, will we be able to find our own “glorious purpose.”

Easily Loki can be the best MCU series ever made. Still on my list Daredevil will be on No. 1, what do you think?

Bodies Tv Series :- A British try for the German Dark

Bodies is a time traveling limited series streaming on Netflix.

First of all I want to say that time travelling cinema is difficult to justify more than to make in today’s world when people have already seen marvels of movies on it. Bodies have a different way to present that, they are showing 4 parallel times in each episode.

A body appears in 4 different years at the same place, same time, but in different years. 4 investigating officers try to find out about the body. Things go twisted when one officer finds out about the previous bodies too.

Like dark had one man who is the master mind of time, bodies have the same. But this is less mind bending and more thrilling or you can say teaching peace to us.

First 3 episodes are only to build the story, now in between you may think to stop it and watch something else but after 4th one man the series will give you shocks. They have so clearly maintained the time explanation also with the exact feel of that time. It is not easy to show 2053 and then show 1890 again, kudos to the hard work they have done.

You should not miss this one if you want an intelligent ride on time travel. Netflix made sure to cover your weekend!