17 C Bollywood / The New Indian Express
If you thought Salman Khan was on autopilot in his last, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023), in Sikandar he desperately tries not to be. I dont know what is worse. While in KKBKKJ Bhai played Bhai , in the latest AR Murugadoss actioner he plays a character. There is a semblance of a story, a hint of a plot. I know that is the bare minimum requirement in a film, but thats what reviewing for Hindi cinema has become: hunting for scraps. A Salman Khan film is a genre of its own, comparable only to a
Kalyan Shankars MAD Square is the cinematic equivalent of an inside joke told once too often. Sequels walk a tightrope between fan service and innovation, and MAD Square takes the safer route where it delivers more of the same but without the electric unpredictability that made MAD such a riotous surprise. Its like a standup comedians material has been decoded, and no matter the setup, we know the journey of the joke, and unless you love the style too much, it is hard to enjoy beyond a point. Di
Yogaraj Bhats Mungaru Male remains one of Kannada cinemas most iconic love stories, largely because it captured love in its pure, fresh, and chaotic essence. The monsoon rains, as the perfect metaphor for love, swept audiences away in their beauty and unpredictability, leaving a lasting impact on audiences. So, when Bhat returns with another love story, expectations are naturally high, especially considering how Mungaru Male still casts a long shadow over his career. But does Manada Kadaldu live
Its been a long time since one saw an inventive use of movie title font and its placement in the narrative. So when I saw Ram (Nithiin), the films noble-hearted protagonist, jump against the backdrop of glitzy skyscrapers which gradually mould into letter of the films title (Robinhood), I was naturally excited. An action-entertainer that actually promises to play on its comic book theme with similar playfulness? Little did I know that it was the beginning of a slow journey downhill Venky Kudumu
Steven Soderberghs Black Bag is a slick yet intricately plotted espionage thriller. It provides fascinating insights into the duality of couples whose professions demand maintaining an air of secrecy all the time. This inherent duality means deceit and dishonesty become second nature to them. Take British intelligence officers George (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), for instance. Georges senior Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgard) tells him to look into the leak of a confidential softwar
The beginning of Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2 feels like you are eavesdropping on an interesting conversation between strangers on a train. You dont know the context, you dont know their personalities, of the people they are talking about, or their world, but if the tone is right and the story intriguing, you cannot help but get pulled in. SU Arunkumars film is thankfully devoid of the guilt of being a nosy co-passenger and is full of indulgent fun. Straight out of the gate, the director presents