The Common Man Speaks

Singham Again review: Time-pass family action film despite some hiccups

November 1, 2024 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

Rohit Shetty’s cop sagas started with the brilliant Singham (2011). It was obvious for him to bring out a sequel to it. But Singham Returns (2014) turned out to be just an average fare. His latest and third outing in the series, Singham Again, is better than the 2014 film. Hence, it keeps alive his Cop Universe, which also contains the enjoyable Simmba (2018) and Sooryavanshi (2021).

In the pre-climax scene in Sooryvanshi, Bajirao Singham (Ajay Devgn) vows to finish off the terrorist Omar Hafiz (Jackie Shroff), who is hiding in Kashmir. As fate would have it, Singham soon gets posted in Kashmir and during the start of Singham Again, he captures Omar in an operation. Omar warns Singham that he will have to deal with a new evil force.

Meanwhile, Singham’s wife Avni (Kareena Kapoor Khan) is a part of India’s cultural ministry and is currently staging the Ram-Leela for nine days in a modern way for today’s youth. The new evil force mentioned by Omar is Danger Lanka (Arjun Kapoor), who has an eye on Avni. He carries out a mission to abduct her and takes her to Sri Lanka. There is nothing much known about Danger Lanka.

But this doesn’t soften up Singham as he promises to bring Avni back. He takes the help of IPS (Indian Police Service) officer Shakti Shetty (Deepika Padukone), ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police) Satya (Tiger Shroff), Inspector Sangram Bhalerao aka Simmba (Ranveer Singh) and Anti-Terror squad officer Sooryavanshi (Akshay Kumar).

Singham Again Review

Singham Again doesn’t start on a promising note. The all-important entry of Singham is lukewarm. On top of that, we have already seen it twice in the trailer and the title song released before the film. But what puzzles you the most is the capturing of Omar Hafiz. It seems as if the terrorist gives himself away to Singham while the latter walks away with the credit and accolades. It is also easy to notice the body double of Shroff in that sequence where his character carries out bike stunts.

However, the film starts getting better once the abduction angle comes in and we are introduced to different characters. The entry of Tiger Shroff is the best of all because it happens when you least expect it. He has also performed better than his recent outings as he has underplayed himself.  

The story of Ramayana in the Ram Leela running parallel to Singham’s story is impressively done and plays a major role in you rooting for the good guys. The action and stunts, which are the vital elements in Shetty’s Cop Universe, succeed in providing the desired effect on the big screen. But the film also successfully keeps the humour quotient high, especially during a few meta references.

However, Singham Again ends just like a regular larger-than-life action film. Although there is a feel-good factor in the end, it lacks something special. After witnessing the finale of few other big scale action films of the recent past, you expect more, especially when an ensemble action cast has assembled.

Singham Again is also hampered by the decision of the makers to show way too much in its lengthy trailer, which kills the surprise factor. This had impacted Sooryavanshi too. It impacts this film even more.

Apart from the title track, there are no songs here. But the new title track isn’t as effective as the original one and you also miss its signature tune in the background score. Girish Kant and Raza Hussain Mehta’s camerawork fits the bill.

Coming to the rest of the cast, Ajay Devgn succeeds in commanding respect as a revered figure. Kareena Kapoor Khan provides a satisfactory act. Ranveer Singh appears over-the-top at the start but he makes up for it later on with a hilarious performance. Deepika Padukone, as Shakti Shetty aka Lady Singham, is decent. Akshay Kumar is likeable in a cameo.

But the surprise factor is Arjun Kapoor. He has reinvented himself as a ruthless villain. Jackie Shroff, as the other bad guy, fits his character well. Dayanand Shetty, in a cameo, continues doing what he had done in the TV show CID.

Overall: Despite some hiccups, Singham Again succeeds in being a time-pass family action entertainer for the festive season. The tiny cameo of Salman Khan in the end and the announcement of the next film in the franchise titled Chulbul Singham also helps its cause.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Director: Rohit Shetty

Producers: Reliance Entertainment, Jio Studios, Rohit Shetty Picturez, Devgn Films and Cinergy

Writers: Kshitij Patwardhan, Yunus Sajawal, Sandeep Saket, Anusha Nandakumar, Abhijeet Khuman, Shantanu Srivastava, Rohit Shetty, Milap Zaveri and Vidhi Ghodgaonkar

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Jackie Shroff, Akshay Kumar

Also read: Indi(r)a’s Emergency review: Shows the period’s relevance today

Filed Under: Bollywood Tagged With: Chulbul Singham, Salman Khan Singham Again, Singham 2024 Review, Singham 3 Review, Singham Again Movie Review, Singham Again Review, Singham Again Story

Boong (Manipuri movie) review: Fine blend of heart-touching moments and natural humour

October 26, 2024 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

Aijaz Khan’s Hamid and Danish Renzu’s Half Widow are the names that easily come to my mind when it comes to movies about husbands going missing. But both the aforementioned films have the backdrop of the political crisis in Kashmir. This is where filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi’s Manipuri movie Boong stands apart. It is more of a personal story of a boy whose father goes missing not due to any political tensions.

Boong is set in a small village in Manipur, which is close to the border of Myanmar. It tells the story of a school-going kid Boong (Gugun Kipgen) and his mother Mandakini (Bala Hijam Ningthoujam). Boong’s father Joykumar (Hamom Sadananda) left for Myanmar some time back in search of work and hasn’t returned yet. He is untraceable. Mandakini is managing the household all by herself. The mother-son duo refuse to believe murmurs about his death.

Boong’s best friend Raju Agarwal (Angom Sanamatum) and his father Sudhir (Vikram Kochhar), whose family relocated to Manipur from Rajasthan since over a 100 years, share their pain. Circumstances ensure that Boong and Raju secretly team up to find the former’s missing father. Whether they succeed forms the rest of the story.

Boong Manipuri movie

Although the above synopsis might sound sad or serious, the film is anything but that. In fact, for a large part of the duration, it will make you giggle with occasional laugh out loud moments as well. However, the narrative and presentation doesn’t take the seriousness of the issue away even for a bit.

Lakshmipriya Devi has captured the minutest details of life in this part of the world while keeping the entertainment factor alive. Along with this, the lens of cinematographer Tanay Satam has provided a visual treat of this eye-pleasing location.  

But what stands out the most are the conversations between the four pivotal characters, especially Boong and Raju. Their innocence is fully visible, even while they perform naughty acts. Apart from the writing and the direction, this has been possible also because of the brilliant acts by the child actors Gugun Kipgen and Angom Sanamatum.

Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, in the role of a single mother, displays various emotions with ease, at times saying a lot without saying much. Vikram Kochhar, known for his work in a number of mainstream Hindi films, performs his task well and speaks fluent Manipuri.  

Boong, however, would have been even superlative if there was more clarity and background on Boong’s father’s disappearance. Fortunately for the makers, the film has so much working for itself that you can somehow ignore this point, especially due to the moving climax. Thankfully, is not a film that only provides a glimpse into the lives of the main character. It has a proper closure.

Overall: Boong is a fine blend of heart-touching moments and natural humour.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Lakshmipriya Devi

Producer: Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment and Suitable Pictures

Cast: Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar

Runtime: 94 minutes

Boong was screened at the recently-concluded 27th MAMI Mumbai Film Festival

Also read: Indi(r)a’s Emergency review: Shows the period’s relevance today

Filed Under: Regional cinema Tagged With: Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, Boong Manipuri Movie Review, Boong Movie Review, Boong Review, Gugun Kipgen, Lakshmipriya Devi, Vikram Kochhar

Yek Number review: Ambitious propaganda that turns unintentionally hilarious  

October 10, 2024 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

A couple of weeks ago, we saw the release of Dharmaveer 2, in which a deceased political hero, Anand Dighe, was used to glorify and popularize Maharashtra’s current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Now, the same kind of propaganda has become the core of another Marathi movie. Titled Yek Number, the film aims to glorify Raj Thackeray, the chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

As one finally leaves the cinema hall after this 160-minute saga, one just wonders whether, after Hindi cinema, Marathi too will regularly churn out political propaganda films.

Yek Number starts off in a small village in Maharashtra and it revolves around the life of a youngster Pratap (Dhairya Gholap). He believes he is the man Friday of the local MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) but he is actually his slave. He dreams of becoming an MLA and his yes men continuously massage his ego.

Pratap’s second dream is to marry Pinky (Sayli Patil), his childhood love. She has been a die-hard fan of Raj Thackeray since she was a kid. When Pratap once asks for her hand in marriage, she promises to marry him if he convinces Thackeray to visit their village. Pratap readily takes up the challenge and vows to complete the task in the next 24 hours. However, when he reaches Mumbai, he realizes that his mission is far difficult than he imagined. Meanwhile, terrorists from across the border are planning something sinister in Mumbai.

Pinky’s demand and Pratap’s determination to fulfill the same is difficult to believe. Plus, there is a major flaw. When Pratap is unable to fulfill the task in 24 hours, it should mean that he failed in his mission. But he continues to pursue Thackeray for days.

However, what all happens in the film later makes this flaw appear minor. We are dished out various twists and characters with an ultimate aim of hero-worship and propaganda. Among these points, what stands out is the angle of a lookalike of Raj Thackeray and his acts. But what takes the cake is the Pakistani assassinators’ angle, which provides the maximum unintentional laughter (can’t reveal more to avoid spoilers).

Yek Number is filmmaker Rajesh Mapuskar’s third feature film after gems like Ferrari Ki Sawaari (2012) and Ventilator (2016). Needless to say, it is difficult to imagine that he has made this one. More so because there is absolute lack of subtlety when it comes to hero worship. The film is also packaged like many of those unconvincing action films of the 1990s.   

The technical aspects (cinematography, editing and background score) are not much to talk about. Ajay-Atul’s music, ‘Jahir Jhala Jagala’ is the only impressive track, but even that one gives a déjà vu of their previous songs.

Dhairya Gholap has screen presence but his performance falls in just decent category. Sayli Patil shows promise, despite not having a large screen time. The actor playing Thackeray’s lookalike is the most convincing of all. Tejaswini Pandit, in a cameo, is passable.

The few plusses in Yek Number are the twists in the second half that make the film watchable, even if they lack complete conviction. But these positives are surely not enough to override the many negatives.

Rating: Yek.5

Director: Rajesh Mapuskar

Producers: Nadiadwala Grandson and Sahyadri Films

Writers: Tejaswini Pandit, Dhairya Gholap, Vinayak Purushottam, Mayuresh Joshi and Arvind Jagtap

Cast: Dhairya Gholap, Sayli Patil  

Also Read: Dharmaveer 2 review: The film is more like an election pitch

Filed Under: Marathi movies Tagged With: Marathi movie review, Yek Number Marathi Movie, Yek Number Movie Review, Yek Number Raj Thackeray, Yek Number Review, Yek Number Story

Scenes From A Pandemic (short film) review

September 29, 2024 by Keyur Seta 2 Comments

The title of filmmaker Tanmaya Shekhar’s short Hindi movie Scenes From A Pandemic is self-explanatory. It throws light on the period when India, along with the rest of the world, faced the menace of COVID-19 aka Coronavirus.

The story starts off in December 2019 when the Jaipur-based young Molshri (Molshri) lands a job offer in Mumbai. She is too attached to her parents (Arif Patel and Aarti Desai) and is searching for ways to refuse the offer. But she finally gives in after some encouragement from her best friend Shruti (Bhavya Grover), who has also landed a job in Mumbai.

Molshri and Shruti shift to Mumbai and take an expensive apartment on rent in Bandra. Molshri is all set to begin a new life in a new city with dreams of a bright future. However, the COVID-19 pandemic arrives in March 2020 and changes her life forever.

We all have memories of the various COVID-19 waves and that too unpleasant ones. We have either seen people go through a drastic change in their lives during this period or have faced the same ourselves. Scenes From A Pandemic provides an intimate and real picture of what the protagonist and her family goes through during that period.

Interestingly, almost the entire film is narrated through a screen of a smart phone. The filmmaker has executed the idea in an impressive way, especially when some story developments happen through Instagram stories. And this is done in a way that one develops deep concern for Molshri’s life. The cinematography (Manas Godara, Tanmaya Shekhar and Molshri) and editing (Radhika Pathak) have crucial contributions.  

Molshri’s performance also plays a key role in creating the desired effect. She displays her character’s joy and sorrow with ease. Bhavya Grover, Arif Patel and Aarti Desai are impressive too in their supporting roles.

Although there are no major minuses, the arrival of the COVID-19, which is nothing short of a demon, should have been elaborated more in the narrative. Other than that, Scenes From A Pandemic is realistic and moving coming-of-age saga of a youngster.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Tanmaya Shekhar

Producers: Tanmaya Shekhar and Molshri

Cast: Molshri, Bhavya Grover, Arif Patel, Aarti Desai, Vijendra Chaubey

Watch the film below:

Also Read: Indi(r)a’s Emergency review: Shows the period’s relevance today

Filed Under: Short Films Tagged With: COVID 19 Stories, Molshri Actress, Pandemic Stories, Scenes From A Pandemic Review, Scenes From A Pandemic Short Film, Short Film Review, Tanmaya Shekhar

Dharmaveer 2 review: The film is more like an election pitch

September 28, 2024 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

Filmmaker Pravin Vitthal Tarde’s Dharmaveer: Mukkam Post Thane (2022), the first film in the series, spoke about the rise and the greatness of the late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe, who was from Thane. The film was a good biopic that also worked as a commercial entertainer with a fine act from Prasad Oak as Dighe.

As the protagonist passes away at the end of the first film, one wondered what the film’s sequel, Dharmaveer: Mukkam Post Thane 2, would have in store. As it turns out, the movie is nothing but a 157-minute long campaign for the upcoming assembly polls in Mahahrashtra.

The narrative of Dharmaveer 2 runs two tracks parallel. One is based in 2022 when Eknath Shinde (Kshitish Date) is a minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. The film starts off with the real incident of a gruesome lynching of two sadhus in Palghar. Shinde, along with a number of other MLAs, is disappointed with the way his government has handled this and various other issues in the state.

As Shinde and others wonder what to do next, they recall the life and incidents of their late hero Anand Dighe and how he used to solve various issues in his own way. Hence, the other track is the flashback featuring Dighe.

Right from the initial moments of the film, it becomes clear that this is a sequel made just for the sake of it. This keeps getting confirmed as the film starts moving ahead. The main aim of the narrative is to show Uddhav Thackeray’s then MVA government in a bad light. There are various potshots taken at him and their allies Congress and NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) without taking names.

Once the film moves into the second half, the narrative slowly makes Shinde as the central figure. For example, during the deadly second COVID wave, it is shown that Shinde and his aides alone were responsible for the lack of oxygen cylinders not becoming a problem in the state.

Similarly, the movie touches upon various aspects that would appease their target audience. Right from the utterance of the word ‘Bhagva’ every now and then to featuring scenes based around the staging of plays on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Nathuram Godse. In fact, in one scene it is also said that Hindi films are responsible for showing Hinduism in bad light. These are just a few examples.

From the few plusses, Tarde has shown that he knows the art of turning a simple scene in a whistle-worthy moment. But the biggest plusses here are the performances of Prasad Oak and Kshitish Date. Oak continues from where he left in the first film. He once again displays fear and switches onto compassion in a second in an effortless manner. Date gets ample scope this time and he succeeds in portraying the inner turmoil of Shinde, whether it’s through his body language or voice. The rest of the actors have cameos or extended cameos.  

But these points easily get overshadowed by the minuses. Surprisingly, the makers indirectly announce the third part of the series in the end.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Director: Pravin Vitthal Tarde

Producers: Sahil Motion Arts and Zee Studios

Cast: Prasad Oak, Kshitish Date

Also Read: Navra Maza Navsacha 2 review: Thoroughly entertaining surprise of the year

Filed Under: Marathi movies Tagged With: 2024 Maharashtra Election, Dharmaveer 2 Movie Review, Dharmaveer 2 Review, Dharmaveer 2 Story, Kshitish Date, Marathi Cinema, Politics, Prasad Oak

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 review: Thoroughly entertaining surprise of the year

September 22, 2024 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

It is quite common for movies to not live up to its exciting trailer. It is extremely rare for the opposite to happen. Sachin Pilgaonkar’s Navra Maza Navsacha 2 is that rare film that turns out to be many times better than its trailer. In other words, the film’s promo was misleading, but in a good way.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 is the sequel to the iconic and successful Navra Maza Navsacha (2004), which starred Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar in lead roles. The film ended with Vakratund aka Vacky (Sachin) somehow managing to fulfill his late father’s vow of visiting the Ganesh temple in Ganpatipule naked. He was pushed for the same by his wife Bhakti (Supriya). The couple also earns Rs. 8 crores as they help the police nab the criminal Babu Kalia (Pradeep Patwardhan).

Hence, in the second part Navra Maza Navsacha 2, Vacky and Bhakti are leading a comfortable life. Their daughter Shraddha (Hemal Ingle) has grown up. She is in love with Lambodar aka Lamby (Swapnil Joshi). Due to certain circumstances, this time Shraddha vows to get Lamby visit Ganpatipule temple naked along with other difficult conditions. Lamby somehow agrees and the four of them set out to for the trip through train.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 pretty much follows the same template as its predecessor with the ST bus being replaced by train and Ashok Saraf’s character being the ticket collector (TC) instead of the conductor. However, the characters and their funny mannerisms and the overall jokes and gigs are quite fresh and genuinely funny. In fact, barring some emotional moments, which were necessary, the movie is a complete laugh riot where even little things play a big role in getting you in splits.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2

Unlike the first film, the journey in the second one starts in the second half. The first half has some major conflict and drama. This takes you by surprise because none of this is shown in the trailer.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 brings back the nostalgia of the first film. But it is shot and presented like a film of today’s times. The balance is well maintained. The music falls in the decent category with ‘Dumroo Vaje’ turning out to be memorable.

Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar have carried on from where they left in the first film, bringing the same energy. Swapnil Joshi, despite his age, fits the character of a bachelor and succeeds in bringing Lamby alive. Hemal Ingle also performs well among the stalwarts. Like the first film, Ashok Saraf takes the cake despite arriving late. His act is not only funny but also moving.

The film has cameos and extended cameos from Siddharth Jadhav, Nirmiti Sawant, Jaywant Wadkar, Vijay Patkar, Vaibhav Mangle, Sonu Nigam, Ali Asgar, Johnny Lever, Shriya Pilgaonkar, among others.

Like the first film, there are a lot of creative liberties taken. But the major issue with the film is its timeline. The first movie ends in 2004. Considering Vacky and Bhakti had a kid right after the story’s completion, Shraddha would have been born in 2005. So her age should be 19. But there is no mention that she is very young and it’s difficult to believe that a modern girl like her decides to marry at such a young age in today’s times.

Vijay Patkar’s character is continued from the first film. But Nirmiti Sawant, who was Vacky’s aunt in the first movie, is now shown as Lambodar’s mother. At one point Ashok Saraf’s character is said to be the same from the first film. But then, Vacky and Bhakti never seem to recognize him. The same goes for a few other characters too.

But overall, Navra Maza Navsacha 2 is a thoroughly entertaining surprise of the year. And if you are a believer in Ganpati, you are in for a treat.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Director: Sachin Pilgaonkar

Producer: Sachin Pilgaonkar

Writer: Sachin Pilgaonkar

Cast: Sachin Pilgaonkar, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Swapnil Joshi, Hemal Ingle, Ashok Saraf

Also Read: Ashok Saraf on Lifeline, “More than the length, the strength of the character is important”

Filed Under: Marathi movies Tagged With: Ashok Saraf, Marathi Cinema, Marathi movie review, Navra Maza Navsacha 2 Review, Navra Maza Navsacha Sequel Review, Navra Maza Navsacha Story, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Swapnil Joshi

Photos: Kolkata’s old world charm captured on mobile

September 14, 2024 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

After watching visuals of Kolkata in various movies, TV shows and reading about its local places in stories of Feluda and Byomkesh Bakshi, I became eager to visit that place. After a lot of thoughts and delays, the trip finally happened in January this year (2024). The capital of West Bengal and its spirit impressed me thoroughly.

Kolkata Taxi
The iconic yellow taxi

A major reason for this is the old-world charm that the city has still retained. I felt that the main city is found in its simple, everyday scenes that ooze the word ‘art’. Whether it is the old yellow taxi or simply an old structure standing tall while enduring the test of times. The place and its surroundings somehow reminded me of the nostalgic 90s of my home place, Mumbai (then Bombay).  

Needless to say, I clicked plenty of pictures throughout my trip of just under a week. Hence, it was quite a task to zero in on 10-15 pictures that I loved the most and fit well in the theme of Kolkata’s old world charm.

No need to name the city once you see the hand drawn auto and the structure
This conductor was in no hurry to give the tickets
These red buildings instantly remind me of Basu Chatterji’s iconic TV show Byomkesh Bakshi
Life going around the famous Howrah Bridge
The old door and the old-fashioned bicycle are enough to take you in the flashback mode
The hand-drawn auto taking rest
This ancestral building still has its old name plate
The building that has stood the test of times
An unfamiliar sight
Simple doors that give away the name of the place they are based in
Available on every nook and corner

Also read: South Korea through the eyes of a vegetarian Indian

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Calcutta, Hand Rickshaw, Kolkata, North Kolkata, Old World, Old World Charm, Photos, Pictures, West Bengal, Yellow Taxi

Helly Shah and Barkha Sengupta starrer Zibah deals with Female Genital Mutilation

August 17, 2024 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

Filmmaker Arunjit Borah’s short film Zibah is based on the sensitive issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Produced by Sanjay Singh, Vivek Agarwal, Swati Agarwal and Pawan Singh, it stars Helly Shah, Barkha Sengupta, Ram Gopal Bajaj, Riju Bajaj, Shivani Sopuri and Achal Tankwal.

Sharing about the subject of the film, Riju Bajaj told us, “It is a story of this young girl, who is very ambitious, aspirational and wants to conquer the world and make a career. She is a modern girl from Mumbai who wants to be like any other girl. Her marriage gets fixed. So, her family is worried whether she would be accepted by her in-laws. The reason is that her khatna hasn’t been done because her mother didn’t want that to happen. The father wasn’t happy with it. So, he said that although you have not done it, at some point you will have to do it because of the norm. The pressure mounts and the local clerics convince that it had to be done.”

He continued, “The issue of Female Genital Mutilation kicks in very strongly in the film. It is discussed and the repercussions of it are shown. Generally, this is done when the girl is a baby. At that stage, it’s easier to do. But after the girl has grown and turns above 15, it becomes very difficult and life threatening also. A lot of parents get into the pressure and put the child under the knife for this thing. A film on this subject is very relevant and new. When the script came to us, we were not aware that such a thing happens. So, it kind of enlightened us.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Short Cuts | TSC (@theshortkuts)

After reading the script, Riju Bajaj immediately said yes while his father and veteran artiste Ram Gopal Bajaj found it beautiful. The latter was starring in a television show with Helly Shah. That’s how he asked her about acting in Zibah. “Being a television star, he was unsure whether she would do this subject,” said Riju Bajaj. “But Helly immediately said yes without blinking an eye. She is a TV star. So, for her to say yes for this kind of a subject was a great step.”

Zibah will be released on YouTube on August 21.

Also read: Stree 2 review: Niren Bhatt’s dialogues shine the most in this horror-comedy

Filed Under: Short Films Tagged With: Riju Bajaj, Short Film, YouTube, Zibah Barkha Sengupta, Zibah Helly Shah, Zibah Movie, Zibah Short Film

Stree 2 review: Niren Bhatt’s dialogues shine the most in this horror-comedy

August 15, 2024 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

Filmmaker Amar Kaushik’s Stree was about the villagers of Chanderi fighting against a female evil spirit called Stree, who attacks and takes away the men residing in the village. After a lot of twists and turns, the men are freed in the end and Stree vanishes after her long braid is cut. But in the end, the viewers are given a hint that the mysterious girl with no name (Shraddha Kapoor) is a witch after she leaves the village.

The story of Stree 2 continues a few years later when Chanderi is a peaceful place. Vicky (Rajkummar Rao) and his best friend Bittu (Aparshakti Khurana) are leading a happy-go-lucky life, except that the former is still waiting for the girl with no name (Shraddha) as he loves her. Their buddy Jana (Abhishek Banerjee) is in Delhi studying to become an IAS officer.

However, the peaceful life of Chanderi gets disturbed after Bittu’s girlfriend Chitti (Anya Singh) goes missing, as opposed to men going missing in the first part. This time, a demon called Sarkata (a man without a head) is responsible for the mayhem. The villagers believe that Vicky will once again free them from the evil force. Vicky takes help from his usual friends Bittu and Rudra (Pankaj Tripathi). They call back Jana from Delhi.

The basic plot of Stree 2 is not only similar to Stree but also akin to a lot of stories about a monster creating havoc in people’s lives. Plus, what happens in the end is anybody’s guess. Hence, it is important in such films for the journey to the end to be funny and gripping. This happens in Stree 2 through its regular doses of humour.  

As far as the film’s making is concerned, the biggest star here is the writer Niren Bhatt. His dialogues are not only consistently hilarious but also worth remembering later. The meta references of the latest films and some happenings of the country are the icing on the cake. In fact, there is not much of a story development in the first half. But you will hardly notice that, thanks to Bhatt’s humour. Plus, director Amar Kaushik’s handling of the tale is also praiseworthy.

Stree 2 is technically more sound that the first film. Jishnu Bhattacharjee’s camerawork gets noticed regularly, especially in the horror sequences. Background scorer Justin Varghese doesn’t get carried away by the genre. Hemanti Sarkar’s sleek editing also falls in the positive. The VFX, a crucial part of such genre of films, is of a high standard.

The performances are also praiseworthy. Rajkummar Rao is in top form, especially during the comic sequences. The same can be said about Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee. These four actors do complete justice to the dialogues during their conversations, which are aplenty. Shraddha Kapoor gets more scope later on and she plays her part well.

The surprise factor in the form of Akshay Kumar’s cameo works well. He is highly impactful. Varun Dhawan (from Bhediya) and Tamannaah Bhatia’s cameos fit in the narrative. But Atul Srivastava, Aakash Dabhade and Mushtaq Khan, who are carried forward from the first film, are hardly there.

Apart from the first half, the film also has a few more glitches. The horror sequences become repetitive as they are already done do death in a number of Hindi horror films. The film also needed to be shorter in duration considering its story material. This is also felt in the post-credit sequences, which are too lengthy.

Overall: Stree 2 is a worthy sequel and another positive addition to Maddock Films’ horror-comedy universe.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Director: Amar Kaushik

Producers: Maddock Films and Jio Studios

Writer: Niren Bhatt

Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee

Also read: Maharaj review: Karsandas Mulji’s story, unfortunately, is relevant even after 160 years

Filed Under: Bollywood Tagged With: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Stree 2 Movie Review, Stree 2 Review, Stree 2 Spoilers, Stree 2 Story

Ashok Saraf on Lifeline, “More than the length, the strength of the character is important”

July 19, 2024 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

Veteran legend Ashok Saraf will next be seen in the Marathi film Lifeline. The movie is a social drama with the theme of superstition vs science. Directed by the first timer Saahil Shirwaikar, it will see a tussle between a surgeon, played by Saraf, and a Hindu priest specializing on last rites, essayed by another veteran Madhav Abhyankar.

During the trailer launch of Lifeline last evening, Saraf expressed his happiness at being offered a role in a film with such a subject. He said, “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Saahil Shirwaikar and his father Rajesh Shirwaikar (writer) for choosing such a subject. Till now, nobody even thought about this message that is in the interest of the society. People will understand that importance of doctors (from this film) and their point of view on doctors will change.”

Adding more about the subject, Saraf added, “Blind faith and science are poles apart. They can’t come together. But that conflict has been handled in such a beautiful way in this film that it will stay in the hearts of the audience.”

Saraf also revealed that his screen-time in the film isn’t large but that’s not a concern for him. “My role is very important,” he said. “Its length is less (but) the role has a lot of weightage. So, apart from my role, what else happened in the shoot, I am not aware. But I knew the story. When he (Saahil) narrated it to me, I instantly said yes. The length of the role is not a problem for me. The strength of the role is more important. What I will show through my role and how much it will impact the audience is important for me.”

During the course of the discussion, Saraf was asked the reason for trusting a newcomer like Saahil Shirwaikar and instantly agreeing to do his film. He said, “I felt the one who takes up such a theme with so much confidence, he must have done a lot of study on it. My only criteria were whether I will get to do something different, which I am always searching. I found that in this role. Once I get such a role, I don’t think about its length.”

Lifeline also stars Jaywant Wadkar, Bharat Dabholkar, Hemangi Kavi, Sharmila Shinde, among others. Produced by Crescendo Entertainment, the movie is all set to release in theatres on August 2.

Also read: Paradise (English-Sinhala-Malayalam) review: Provides a gradual hard-hitting jolt

Filed Under: Marathi movies Tagged With: Ashok Saraf, Ashok Saraf Interview, Lifeline Marathi Movie, Lifeline Movie, Madhav Abhyankar, Marathi Cinema, Marathi movies

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • …
  • 91
  • Next Page »

Like Us on Facebook

Pages

  • About Me

Categories

  • Bollywood
  • Cricket
  • Documentaries
  • Environment
  • Events
  • Food
  • Forgotten Moments
  • Gujarati Cinema
  • Health
  • Hollywood
  • Humour
  • International Cinema
  • Literature
  • Marathi movies
  • Miscellaneous
  • Mumbai
  • Music
  • National
  • Personal experience
  • Pictures
  • Plays
  • Poem/ Shayaris
  • Regional cinema
  • Rumour Alert
  • Short Films
  • Socio/Political
  • Spiritual
  • Travel
  • TV
  • Uncategorized
  • Web Series
  • Young Achievers

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 46 other subscribers

Archives

  • June 2025 (5)
  • May 2025 (4)
  • April 2025 (7)
  • March 2025 (5)
  • February 2025 (1)
  • January 2025 (4)
  • December 2024 (2)
  • November 2024 (3)
  • October 2024 (2)
  • September 2024 (4)
  • August 2024 (2)
  • July 2024 (3)
  • June 2024 (4)
  • May 2024 (1)
  • April 2024 (2)
  • March 2024 (2)
  • February 2024 (4)
  • January 2024 (4)
  • December 2023 (2)
  • November 2023 (3)
  • October 2023 (3)
  • September 2023 (4)
  • August 2023 (3)
  • July 2023 (2)
  • June 2023 (2)
  • May 2023 (4)
  • April 2023 (4)
  • March 2023 (2)
  • February 2023 (1)
  • January 2023 (3)
  • December 2022 (2)
  • November 2022 (6)
  • October 2022 (7)
  • September 2022 (2)
  • August 2022 (2)
  • July 2022 (2)
  • June 2022 (4)
  • May 2022 (4)
  • April 2022 (4)
  • March 2022 (4)
  • February 2022 (3)
  • January 2022 (3)
  • December 2021 (3)
  • November 2021 (2)
  • October 2021 (3)
  • September 2021 (4)
  • August 2021 (3)
  • July 2021 (5)
  • June 2021 (2)
  • May 2021 (5)
  • April 2021 (3)
  • March 2021 (4)
  • February 2021 (4)
  • January 2021 (4)
  • December 2020 (6)
  • November 2020 (4)
  • October 2020 (6)
  • September 2020 (4)
  • August 2020 (6)
  • July 2020 (3)
  • June 2020 (2)
  • May 2020 (3)
  • April 2020 (4)
  • March 2020 (3)
  • February 2020 (3)
  • January 2020 (2)
  • December 2019 (3)
  • November 2019 (4)
  • October 2019 (3)
  • September 2019 (2)
  • August 2019 (4)
  • July 2019 (6)
  • June 2019 (6)
  • May 2019 (4)
  • April 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (2)
  • February 2019 (5)
  • January 2019 (5)
  • December 2018 (6)
  • November 2018 (4)
  • October 2018 (4)
  • September 2018 (3)
  • August 2018 (3)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (4)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • April 2018 (2)
  • March 2018 (2)
  • February 2018 (3)
  • January 2018 (3)
  • December 2017 (3)
  • November 2017 (3)
  • October 2017 (3)
  • September 2017 (3)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (4)
  • June 2017 (2)
  • May 2017 (3)
  • April 2017 (2)
  • March 2017 (3)
  • February 2017 (3)
  • January 2017 (4)
  • December 2016 (4)
  • November 2016 (3)
  • October 2016 (4)
  • September 2016 (2)
  • August 2016 (5)
  • July 2016 (4)
  • June 2016 (2)
  • May 2016 (4)
  • April 2016 (4)
  • March 2016 (4)
  • February 2016 (4)
  • January 2016 (5)
  • December 2015 (6)
  • November 2015 (4)
  • October 2015 (4)
  • September 2015 (8)
  • August 2015 (6)
  • July 2015 (5)
  • June 2015 (5)
  • May 2015 (10)
  • April 2015 (7)
  • March 2015 (4)
  • February 2015 (9)
  • January 2015 (11)
  • December 2014 (9)
  • November 2014 (10)
  • October 2014 (11)
  • September 2014 (9)
  • August 2014 (7)
  • July 2014 (7)
  • June 2014 (2)
  • May 2014 (4)
  • April 2014 (5)
  • March 2014 (1)
  • February 2014 (2)
  • January 2014 (4)
  • December 2013 (6)
  • November 2013 (8)
  • October 2013 (4)
  • September 2013 (2)
  • August 2013 (5)
  • July 2013 (2)
  • June 2013 (2)
  • May 2013 (7)
  • April 2013 (8)
  • March 2013 (11)
  • February 2013 (10)
  • January 2013 (14)
  • December 2012 (11)
  • November 2012 (6)
  • October 2012 (12)
  • September 2012 (15)
  • August 2012 (18)
  • July 2012 (14)
  • June 2012 (15)
  • May 2012 (7)
  • April 2012 (12)
  • March 2012 (15)
  • February 2012 (12)
  • January 2012 (17)
  • December 2011 (13)
  • November 2011 (12)
  • October 2011 (7)
  • September 2011 (4)
  • August 2011 (14)
  • July 2011 (6)
  • June 2011 (5)
  • May 2011 (5)
  • April 2011 (11)
  • March 2011 (4)
  • February 2011 (3)
  • January 2011 (6)
  • December 2010 (3)
  • November 2010 (2)
  • October 2010 (2)
  • September 2010 (1)
  • August 2010 (2)
  • July 2010 (3)
  • June 2010 (3)
  • May 2010 (1)
  • April 2010 (1)
  • March 2010 (3)
  • February 2010 (4)
  • January 2010 (3)
  • December 2009 (3)
  • November 2009 (4)
  • October 2009 (2)
  • September 2009 (2)
  • August 2009 (6)
  • July 2009 (3)

Copyright © 2025 · eleven40 Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in