The Common Man Speaks

Happy Birthday (Short Film) review: Anupam Kher starrer gradually shakes you up

May 28, 2023 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

The title Happy Birthday appears pleasant. But filmmaker Prasad Kadam’s short film, which is named the same, is anything but pleasant and I am saying this in a good way.

Happy Birthday tells the story of Rattoo Oshidaar (Anupam Kher), a religious aged Parsi gentleman who stays alone in Mumbai. He is a medium who helps people interact with their loved ones who are no more. A lady Beth Rose (Aahana Kumra) once visits him as she wants to ask some questions to his late son.

Beth carries the guilt of her son’s death and that has made life miserable for her. What happens after Rattoo Oshidaar takes up the task of contacting her dead son forms the rest of the story.

The biggest plus about Happy Birthday, which is written by Mehak Mirza Prabhu, is that the film keeps changing its mood every now and then and that too in a span of just 18 minutes. And it does that effortlessly and convincingly through the contribution of various departments. For example, at the start you get a feeling that the film is about a helpless old man but the inclusion of the supernatural element brings about a gradual change in your feeling.

But what really takes the cake is the climax for which you are not prepared. Without giving away any spoilers or hinting about them, the finale not only shakes you up but also ensures that you keep thinking about that moment and keep asking various questions. The film doesn’t provide its own interpretation and lets you interpret the back story and the intention of one character.

While the film scores high in the final moments, one also feels that there was a bit more to it or there should have been an announcement about a sequel. Surely, this story has the potential of giving you much more.

Also read: When SRK did a panchayat 33 years ago

The effect of the entire film depended on the performance of Anupam Kher. If he would have faltered even a little, the impact would have been reduced. But he doesn’t as he brings his vast experience at play while playing a difficult character. Aahana Kumra too is reliable in a challenging role. She too contributes in generating the final effect.

Overall: Happy Birthday is an enjoyable short film with a shocking climax.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Prasad Kadam

Writer: Mehak Mirza Prabhu

Cast: Anupam Kher and Aahana Kumra

Watch the film:

Filed Under: Bollywood Tagged With: Aahana Kumra, Anupam Kher short film, Happy Birthday Anupam Kher movie, Happy Birthday movie, Happy Birthday short film, Prasad Kadam movie

Sirf Ek Bandaa reminds us why there should be NO censorship on OTT

May 27, 2023 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

Filmmaker Apoorv Singh Karki’s Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai seems inspired from the real life case of self-proclaimed Godman Asaram, who got convicted for rape and is currently in prison for the same. The film stars Manoj Bajpayee as lawyer PC Solanki, … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Bollywood, Socio/Political Tagged With: Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi Hai, Sirf Ek Bandaa Asaram Bapu, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai Story, Sirf Ek Bandaa Manoj Bajpayee, Sirf Ek Bandaa movie

The Kerala Story is hardly convincing but that’s not its biggest issue

May 10, 2023 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

Filmmaker Sudipto Sen’s The Kerala Story, which is produced and creatively directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, tells the story of three young girls Shalini Unnikrishnan (Adah Sharma), Nimah (Yogita Bihani) and Geetanjali (Siddhi Idnani) from Kerala. … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Bollywood, Socio/Political Tagged With: Kerala Story fake claims, Kerala Story truth, The Kerala Story free shows, The Kerala Story propaganda, The Kerala Story review, The Kerala Story story

Sari (Marathi movie) review: This love story also works as a mystery drama

May 4, 2023 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

Over the last seven years, one has seen several love stories in Marathi. However, almost all of them were based on the same theme as Sairat after the Nagaraj Manjule’s movie became a huge runaway success in 2016. But with directors KS Ashoka and … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Marathi movies Tagged With: Marathi movie reviews, Ritika Shrotri, Sari Marathi movie, Sari Marathi movie review, Sari Movie Review, Sari Review

Maharashtra Shaheer (Marathi movie) review

April 29, 2023 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

Biopics are in vogue not just in Hindi but also in various regional cinema of the country. Marathi cinema too has seen its share of biopics in recent years on revered personalities from Maharashtra in films like Lokmanya: Ek Yugpurush, Ani… Dr … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Marathi movies Tagged With: Ankush Chaudhari Maharashtra Shahir, Kedar Shinde, Maharashtra Shaheer movie review, Maharashtra Shaheer review, Maharashtra Shahir review, Marathi Film Review, Marathi movie reviews

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan review: Almost a biopic of Bhai marred by the fictional part  

April 21, 2023 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

There are films that don’t live up to the goodness of its trailer. There are very few that go beyond the promo. But there are also films that perfectly match the trailer. Farhad Samji’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is that film. However, this isn’t a … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Bollywood Tagged With: Farhad Samji, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan Movie Reviews, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan Rating, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan Review, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan story, KKBKKJ review, Pooja Hegde, Salman Khan, Venkatesh Daggubati

My sudden meet with Sachin Tendulkar, thanks to team Australia: Birthday Special

April 20, 2023 by Keyur Seta 2 Comments

The dream of every cricket fan not just in India but also outside is to meet the great Sachin Tendulkar at least once. More so if you have grown up parallel to his career in the 90s, like I have. My first and only meet (so far) with Tendulkar … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Cricket Tagged With: 2004, Australian team, Autograph, Brabourne Stadium, CCI, Cricket Club Of India, Sachin Tendulkar, Sachin Tendulkar anecdote

Ghar Banduk Biryani review: Nagraj Manjule-starrer is a one-time watch 

April 7, 2023 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

When a film has an unusual title like Ghar Banduk Biryani, the first thing one eagerly awaits to know is its meaning in the context of the film. During the movie’s first half itself, we get some clarity on the title. This is not the only plus point … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Marathi movies Tagged With: Akash Thosar, Ghar Banduk Biryani, Ghar Banduk Biryani Movie Review, Ghar Banduk Biryani Review, Marathi movie review, movie review, Nagraj Manjule, Review, Sayaji Shinde

Bheed highlights a pandemic MORE dangerous than COVID-19

March 25, 2023 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

Anubhav Sinha’s Bheed, which mainly stars Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar, Pankaj Kapur and Ashutosh Rana, looks back at the period when the COVID-19 pandemic commenced in India and how the lockdown imposed to curb the same turned out to be a nightmare … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Bollywood Tagged With: Anubhav Sinha, Bheed, Bhumi Pednekar, Coronavirus, COVID 19, Lockdown, Migrant workers, Pandemic, Pankaj Kapur, Rajkummar Rao, Story

When 2 instances of bowler picking 4 wickets in 4 balls happened in a single English season

March 12, 2023 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

Hattricks don’t happen often on a cricket field. But taking 4 wickets in 4 balls is even rare. Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga is the only bowler ever to pick up 4 in 4 not once but twice. There aren’t too many instances of bowlers achieving this feat. … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Cricket Tagged With: 4 wickets in 4 balls, County Cricket England, Double Hattrick, Hampshire, Hattrick, India Vs Hampshire, Kevan James, Leicestershire, Shaun Pollock, Warwickshire

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