Newsmagg, Samastipur (2024)

11/08/2023

GADAR 2 is the story of a son and a father. After the events of the first half, Ashraf Ali (Amrish Puri) is slammed in Pakistan, and at the insistence of Hamid Iqbal, he is hanged. 17 years later, in 1971, Tara Singh (Sunny Deol) is residing peacefully with his wife Sakeena (Ameesha Patel) and son Charanjeet Singh aka Jeete (Utkarsh Sharma). The Indian army is preparing for war with Pakistan. Lieutenant Colonel Devendra Rawat (Gaurav Chopra) asks Tara to help a particular army unit that is stuck at the border while fighting the Pakistani army. Tara not only provides the Indian army unit with ammunition but also fights the enemy. The Pakistani army captures several Indian soldiers and truck drivers, who were with Tara. Tara is nowhere and is presumed to be imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan. Sakeena is devastated and so is Jeete. Jeete is unable to bear her mother’s condition. He runs to Pakistan on a fake passport to find his father. He meets Gul Khan aka Gullu (Mushtaq Khan) and Ashraf Ali’s brother Abdul Ali (Ehsan Khan) and asks for their assistance so that he can infiltrate Kot Lakhpat jail. As part of their plan, Jeete masquerades as a cook in the house of Kurban Khan (Mushtaq Kak). Jeete gets the job thanks to Kurban’s daughter Muskaan (Simratt Kaur), who falls for him. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Shaktimaan's story has all the trappings of a commercial entertainer and is apt for the sequel of a historic blockbuster like GADAR – EK PREM KATHA [2001]. Shaktimaan's screenplay is decent. He has peppered the narrative with mass scenes. But in several places, it’s unimaginative. Shaktimaan's dialogues are clapworthy in certain scenes.

Anil Sharma's direction is fine. He has handled certain scenes like a pro like Tara answering what Jeete’s last wish is, Tara eyeing the hand pump and the shot thereafter and Jeete coming across a benevolent lady. Moreover, the first part is very memorable and the viewers already have a connection with Tara Singh. Hence, the mere appearance of Tara Singh on the big screen is enough to get the audience excited. There’s also a strong patriotic undercurrent that will work big time with the viewers. Besides, the father-son bond is moving in certain places.

On the flipside, the film is too long. The first half gets quite tedious and it might make viewers restless since Sunny Deol is missing from the film at this point for a good 30 minutes. The second half starts with a bang but after a point, it seemed like the makers ran out of ideas. Compare this with GADAR – EK PREM KATHA where though the second half was about Tara and his family running from the Pakistani authorities, there was a lot happening and one didn’t move from their seats even for a second. That kind of effect is missing in the sequel, sadly.

Speaking of performances, Sunny Deol is terrific. His screen presence is electrifying and it’s a pleasure to see him perform so energetically even at this age. Ameesha Patel is hardly there and is wasted. Utkarsh Sharma tries to give his best shot. But his performance leaves a lot to be desired. Manish Wadhwa is over the top but it works for his character. Simratt Kaur is lovely. Ehsan Khan, Mushtaq Khan and Mushtaq Kak are okay. Gaurav Chopra is fine. Aaditya Sharma (Imtehaan; Darmiyaan's nephew) is there for the heck of it. Lubna Salim (Pakistani mausi) is adorable.

Gadar 2 | Official Trailer | Sunny Deol | Ameesha Patel

Mithoon's music fails to work and is nowhere close to the outstanding music score of the first part. 'Udd Jaa Kaale Kaava', its climax version and 'Main Nikla Gaddi Leke' work chiefly because they are recreations. 'Dil Jhoom' and 'Chal Tere Ishq Mein' fail to impress. The makers should remove one of these songs, ideally. 'Khairiyat' and 'Sura Soi' don’t have a shelf life. Monty Sharma's background score has mass appeal.

Najeeb Khan's cinematography is neat. Muneesh Sappal's production design is realistic yet appealing. Ravi Varma, Tinu Verma, Sham Kaushal and Abbas Ali Moghul's action is one of the USPs of the film. Gagan Oberoi's costumes for Sunny Deol are quite cool. Nidhi Yasha's costumes for the rest of the characters are passable. Pixelld Studios and Prisca's VFX is good in the Amrish Puri shot but poor in the rest of the scenes. Ashfaq Makrani and Sanjay Sankla's editing is not upto the mark. Certain scenes seem disjointed. Also, the film should have been shorter by 10-15 minutes.

On the whole, GADAR 2 works big time due to a strong franchise value, the right release period, and a narrative that instills patriotism. At the box office, it will open huge and break records in the mass belts. The holidays in Week One will help the movie rake in huge moolah.

Gadar 2 Movie Review 2023 : Gadar 2 Critics Rating 4.0/5. GADAR 2 is the story of a son and a father. After the events of the first half, Ashraf Ali (Amrish Puri) is slammed in Pakistan, and at the insistence of Hamid Iqbal, he is hanged. 17 years later, in 1971, Tara Singh (Sunny Deol) is residing....

10/08/2023

OMG 2 is the story of a father fighting for his son. Kanti Sharan Mugdal (Pankaj Tripathi) resides in Mahakaal Nagri. He runs a shop that sells pooja items in the temple complex. He also resides in the vicinity with his wife Indumati, son Vivek (Aarush Verma) and daughter Damyanti. All is going well in their lives until one day, Vivek is hospitalized for overdose of Vi**ra. Kanti learns about it and at first hides it from his Indumati and Damyanti. But soon, a video of him ma********ng in the school toilet goes viral. The school principal Atal Nath Maheswari (Arun Govil) decides to rusticate Vivek for his 'indecent' act. Kanti is advised to leave town and lie low for a few days along with his family. This is when Lord Shiva sends his messenger (Akshay Kumar) to help Kanti fight for his son. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Amit Rai's story is splendid and the need of the hour. Amit Rai's screenplay is gripping. He has peppered the film with plenty of entertaining and thought-provoking moments. Also, the way he has merged the importance of s*x education and the divine element is seen to be believed. Amit Rai's dialogues are sharp and clap worthy.

Amit Rai's direction is simple. He has kept the narrative uncomplicated and effortlessly talks about taboo topics. The way Kanti learns about his son's predicament is praiseworthy. The flashback idea works well. The film obviously goes on another level when the courtroom drama begins. Several scenes stand out here like Indumati and Damyanti being interrogated by Kamini (Yami Gautam Dhar) and the scene of the s*x worker. A lot of issues are raised without getting preachy. The finale is quite impactful.

On the flipside, the director doesn't sum up the film properly. Kanti doesn't address an important point about how no action was taken by the school against the bully who shot Vivek's video. Similarly, the defendants don't raise the point that Vivek almost got arrested for attempting to murder charge. Lastly, a few developments are convenient.

Speaking of performances, Pankaj Tripathi is too good. He entertains with his antics and also impresses with his meaningful monologues. Akshay Kumar sadly doesn't have a lot of screen time. Yet, he leaves a huge mark. He looks dashing and his performance is exemplary. Yami Gautam Dhar is a surprise as one has never seen her play such a part. Aarush Verma puts up a confident act. Arun Govil is dependable. The same goes for Govind Namdev (priest) and Brijendra Kala (Dr Gagan Malviya). Pavan Malhotra (Judge Purushottam Nagar) is the surprise of the film. The actors playing Dr B D Shah, medical shop owner and Pranlal Mutho are also fine.

OMG 2 – Official Trailer | Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi, Yami Gautam | Amit Rai

Songs don't have a shelf life. 'Har Har Mahadev', however, stands out as it’s very well shot. 'Oonchi Oonchi Waadi', 'Ho Tayyar' and 'Akelo Chal Padiyo' are forgettable. Mangesh Dhakde's background score is in sync with the film's theme.

Amalendu Chaudhary's cinematography is appropriate. Nikhil Kovale's production design is realistic. Leepakshi Ellawadi, Jiya Bhagiya and Mallika Chauhan's costumes are straight out of life. Suvir Nath's editing is fine.

On the whole OMG 2 is a bold, powerful, progressive, and sensitively handled film with powerful performances as its USP. At the box office, the 'Adults only' certification and the competition in the form of GADAR 2 is likely to impact its business prospects to a large extent. The movie will require a solid word of mouth to attract footfalls. Recommended for every child and every parent.

OMG 2 Movie Review 2023 : OMG 2 Critics Rating 4.0/5. OMG 2 is the story of a father fighting for his son. Kanti Sharan Mugdal (Pankaj Tripathi) resides in Mahakaal Nagri. He runs a shop that sells pooja items in the temple complex. He also resides in the vicinity with his wife Indumati, son Vivek (...

27/07/2023

Let me start with a proverb…

“Stab the body and it heals.

But injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.”

Matters of the heart can get complicated at times. That, in a nutshell, is the essence of ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI, which marks Karan Johar’s return to direction after seven long years.

On face-value, ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI may come across as yet another prem kahaani from Dharma. After all, KJo has a penchant for love stories, which is evident in his choice of films as a storyteller. However, ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI packs a lot more than Rocky and Rani’s romance in those [approx] 2.49 hours.

Now to the pertinent question: Does KJo get it right? Oh yes, he does. ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI wins Round 1 by casting the right names for the pivotal characters, namely Rocky [Ranveer Singh], Rani [Alia Bhatt] and the three stalwarts [Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi]. Having said that, the real triumph lies in its storytelling, which surprises you at several points. More on that later!

The plot *without* spoilers… Opposites attract! Rocky Randhawa [Ranveer Singh] and Rani Chatterjee [Alia Bhatt] are drawn towards each other, but realize that it’s not easy to win over their respective families. That’s when they hit upon the unique idea to switch places: Rocky will reside with Rani’s family in her house, while Rani will move into Rocky’s palatial mansion and win over his family.

Of course, there’s another subplot that moves concurrently, but we aren’t revealing that.

ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI is not an easy film to write and execute. It’s clear that KJo has moved on with the times. This is evident in the screenwriting — it’s progressive and addresses societal issues. Also women empowerment. Additionally, KJo knows how to translate emotions on screen, an aspect that plays out in the third act of the film.

It’s fascinating to see how the women [Alia, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Churni Ganguly, Ksh*tee Jog] take the centre stage this time. Sure, the men [Ranveer, Dharmendra, Aamir Bashir, Tota Roy Choudhury] are integral to the story, but the dramatic moments involving the women and some of the lines delivered by them are sure to leave an impact.

ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI bears the stamp of an accomplished storyteller, with KJo avoiding the tried-and-tested rom-com template to move things. For instance, the integration of timeless tracks in the narrative is so refreshingly hatke. Also, the dramatic twist before ‘Dhindhora Baje Re’ and the heated argument that follows is brilliant.

The writing [Ish*ta Moitra, Shashank Khaitan, Sumit Roy] doesn’t fall prey to mediocrity at any stage. It encompasses drama, emotions and romance seamlessly. Would like to make a special mention of the dialogues [Ish*ta Moitra], which garnishes the sequences beautifully. DoP Manush Nandan creates some stunning frames and does complete justice to the scale.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani – Official Trailer | Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt

The film overstays its welcome and how one wishes KJo and his editor [Nitin Baid] would’ve kept the run time in check, not stretching beyond 2.30 hours.

The soundtrack [Pritam] is catchy and peppy. ‘Tum Kya Mile’ has a strong shelf life, while ‘What Jhumka?’ is already popular on reels. ‘Dhindhora Baje Re’ — released few days prior to its theatrical release — is sure to climb the popularity charts once you watch the film and realise its relevance to the proceedings.

The choice of actors is perfect, that’s also one of the reasons why the written word carries weight. Ranveer Singh is terrific in a role that seems tailored for him. Agree, he has portrayed a North Indian character in the past [including his launch pad BAND BAAJA BAARAAT], but you cannot accuse him of repeating his act. He makes you laugh with his faulty English, but it’s in the emotional moments that he proves his calibre.

Alia Bhatt is in superb form. Her confidence — especially in sequences with Jaya Bachchan — is remarkable. And the outburst towards the pre-climax deserves brownie points. Also, her Bengali dialect will win her immense praise. Alia proves, yet again, that she’s in a league of her own. Moreover, she shares a wonderful chemistry with Ranveer.

The veterans leave a mark in their respective parts. Dharmendra is so good, it’s great to see him on the big screen after a hiatus. Jaya Bachchan is electrifying. Her commanding presence, authoritative attitude and cold stares — this is a stand-out act that’s sure to be talked about by moviegoers. Shabana Azmi is fantastic, delivers a controlled performance without going overboard in any sequence.

Aamir Bashir and Ksh*tee Jog [Ranveer’s parents] and Tota Roy Choudhury and Churni Ganguly [Alia’s parents] excel in their respective parts. Would like to make a special mention of Tota Roy Choudhury’s graceful dance on two occasions and Churni Ganguly’s sequence in a store.

On the whole, ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI is a well-packaged entertainer that has ample merits to strike a chord with the youth as well as families. At the box-office, it has the potential to emerge a success story.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review 2023 : Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Critics Rating 4.0/5. Let me start with a proverb… “Stab the body and it heals. But injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.” Matters of the heart can get complicated at times. That, in a nutshell, is t...

21/07/2023

BARBIE is the story of a doll who suffers a crisis. Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) lives in Barbieland, a matriarchal society along with other Barbies. Life is quite content as all the Barbie residents are confident and successful. They run the society and government with ease. The Ken residents, meanwhile, engage in recreational activities at the beach. Ken (Ryan Gosling) is in love with Stereotypical Barbie but the latter doesn’t reciprocate his feelings. All is going well until one day, Stereotypical Barbie realizes that she has developed flat feet and is getting thoughts about death. She also develops cellulite. She approaches Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon), an outcast, who suggests that she should travel to the Real World to find out the kid who’s playing with her. Weird Barbie believes that the child, who owns the doll, is struggling in real life and this is affecting Stereotypical Barbie. She leaves for the Real World and is accompanied by Ken when he hears that she wishes somebody accompanies her on this trip. Stereotypical Barbie reaches the Real World and her world comes crashing down. Ken, too, gets a reality check. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach's story is a masterstroke. The manner in which the writers have done justice to the iconic doll and also incorporated feminist themes is seen to be believed. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach's screenplay is highly entertaining. They have spoken about serious issues but have not compromised on entertainment. They have peppered the film with sufficient funny and crazy moments. The dialogues are terrific and some of them are sure to induce claps and hoots.

Greta Gerwig's direction does justice to the excellent plot at hand. She has kept the mood very light even though the film gets emotional in some places. The Barbie doll has a huge fan following and care has been taken that the brand doesn’t get hurt. Just like the LEGO MOVIE series, the unique characteristics of the Barbie toy set have been neatly incorporated into the narrative. At the same time, the way Greta has taken a funny dig at the manufacturing company, Mattel, is hilarious. But what one takes away from the film are its comments on patriarchy and women empowerment. It is unexpected and will be lapped up by the target audience.

On the flipside, the whole angle of the real world influencing life in Barbieland and vice versa is a bit difficult to understand. The fight at the beach in the pre-climax is imaginative but also random. It doesn’t induce laughs as intended. Lastly, the climax is difficult to digest and will leave audiences divided. Nevertheless, it leaves scope for a sequel.

Speaking of performances, Margot Robbie looks every inch like a Barbie doll. She owns the character and one can see that she’s having fun with it. She also shines in the emotional sequences. Ryan Gosling is terrific. Ken is miles away from anything else he has done before. But he effortlessly slips into his character. Kate McKinnon leaves a mark. America Ferrera (Gloria) is the surprise of the film. Her monologue is one of the highpoints. Will Ferrell (Mattel CEO) is too good. The other actors who do well are Issa Rae (President Barbie), Sharon Rooney (Lawyer Barbie), Simu Liu (Ken), Ariana Greenblatt (Sasha) and Rhea Perlman (Ruth Handler).

Music is neatly incorporated into the narrative. ‘Pink’ is catchy and has a Disney animation film feel. ‘Barbie World’ and ‘I’m Just Ken’ are also well-tuned. Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt's music is in sync with the film's mood and theme. Rodrigo Prieto's cinematography is neat. Sarah Greenwood's production is beautiful and imaginative. The Barbieworld, especially, is very appealing. Jacqueline Durran's costumes are absolutely gorgeous and spot-on. It is sure to become a rage. VFX is top-class. Nick Houy's editing is fine.

On the whole, BARBIE is a vibrant entertainer and it also makes an important comment on patriarchy and women empowerment. At the box office, it is all set for a fine opening. If the womenfolk and the family audience accept the film wholeheartedly, it has the potential to emerge as the biggest non-dubbed Hollywood grosser in India.

Barbie (English) Movie Review 2023 : Barbie (English) Critics Rating 3.5/5. BARBIE is the story of a doll who suffers a crisis. Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) lives in Barbieland, a matriarchal society along with other Barbies. Life is quite content as all the Barbie residents are confident an...

21/07/2023

TRIAL PERIOD is the story of a mother who hires a father on rent. Anamaya Roy Choudhry aka Ana (Genelia Deshmukh) is a single parent to son Romi (Zidane Braz). They reside in Delhi's CR Park. Ana works as an architect and tries her best to attend to Romi's needs. She also has the support of her loving neighbours, Mamaji (Shakti Kapoor) and Mamiji (Sheeba Chadha). Yet, Romi feels the absence of his father. He is bullied in school and doesn't tell Ana about it as he feels that it'll add to her stress. Romi often hangs at Mamaji's house and he observes that the latter is obsessed with watching a channel called Tele Mandli. The viewers of this channel are encouraged to buy various kinds of products. If they are unsatisfied with their purchase, they can return it within the thirty-day trial period. Romi, one day, demands that Mamaji should order a father from Tele Mandli! Ana, Mamamji and Mamiji obviously try to explain to him that it's not possible. But an adamant Romi refuses to understand. Ana hits upon an idea - she decides to bring a boring man as a trial father. She is convinced that Romi would detest him and he'll stop asking for a father figure in his life. Ana's search leads her to Prajapati Dwivedi (Manav Kaul) aka PD, a teacher from Ujjain who is in Delhi to find a teaching job. He decides to take up the offer as he isn't getting employment and also after his only relative in the capital city, Shrivastav (Gajraj Rao) forces him to go for it. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Aleya Sen's story is hilarious and could have made for a fun-filled comic caper. Kunwar Shiv Singh, Akshat Trivedi and Aleya Sen's screenplay fails to do justice. Some scenes are well written but several sequences are insipid. Aleya Sen and Akshat Trivedi's dialogues are fine.

Aleya Sen's direction is not up to the mark. To give credit where it’s due, she has handled some of the aspects of the film sensitively. A few scenes stand out like Ana pouring her heart out to PD, PD asking why ‘Talk time’ is not a part of their schedule and Ana’s father making a valid point about how Romi will be affected once the ‘trial period’ will be over. The bullying episode is not fully convincing but the point comes across nicely. Also, the way Ana and Romi warm up to PD despite their cultural differences is sweet.

On the flipside, the introduction scenes are poor. The film takes a while to come to the main focus of the story, that is, a man being hired as a father. The editing is jerky. The scene where Romi gives a speech on fathers and fails seems like a poor imitation of a similar scene in KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI [1998]. The sequence of a drunk Ana talking to PD starts off well but then falters. The finale is predictable and the ‘Wow’ factor is missing.

Trial Period – Official Trailer | Genelia D’Souza | Manav Kaul | Streaming Free 21 July | JioCinema

Speaking of performances, Genelia Deshmukh puts in a sincere effort and is very likeable. Manav Kaul steals the show. It’s also good to see him in a comic role for a change. Zidane Braz is cute and does very well. His dialogues, at a few places, are difficult to comprehend. Shakti Kapoor and Sheeba Chadha are dependable. Gajraj Rao leaves a huge mark in a small role. Barun Chandra (Ana’s father) and Aprajita Bajaj (Ana’s mother) are damn good.

Only one song registers – 'Gole Male'. 'Dhappa', 'Dheere' and 'Papa Superhero' are forgettable. Anupam Roy's background score is much better. Manoj Khatoi's cinematography is simple. Rohini Sen's production design is realistic. Karishma Gulati's costumes are straight out of life. Genelia’s saree in the Diwali song is beautiful. Shahnawaz Mosani's editing could have been sharper, especially in the beginning. The transition in several scenes is too quick.

On the whole, TRIAL PERIOD rests on fine performances and a few good scenes. But it suffers on account of insipid script and direction.

Trial Period Movie Review 2023 : Trial Period Critics Rating 2.5/5. TRIAL PERIOD is the story of a mother who hires a father on rent. Anamaya Roy Choudhry aka Ana (Genelia Deshmukh) is a single parent to son Romi (Zidane Braz). They reside in Delhi's CR Park. Ana works as an architect and tries her....

20/07/2023

BAWAAL is the story of a dysfunctional couple. Ajay Dixit aka Ajju (Varun Dhawan) resides in Lucknow with his father (Manoj Pahwa) and mother. He strongly believes in maintaining an image and aura around himself. This strategy has worked big time for him. He’s a history teacher in a school and though he doesn’t know the subject well, he’s able to maintain the perception that he’s good at it. His marriage is arranged with Nisha (Janhvi Kapoor) and he agrees as it would help maintain his image. This is because Nisha ticks all boxes – she’s good-looking, belongs to a reputed family and was a topper in college. However, Nisha suffers from epilepsy. She confesses about it to Ajju and also adds that she hasn’t suffered a fit in 10 years. Ajju accepts her condition, thinking that it won’t be a problem. However, on the day of the wedding, Nisha suffers a fit as she forgets to take her medicines. Ajju is devastated and he starts maintaining a distance, much to the annoyance of Nisha and his parents. Once, they all confront him over it and he leaves home in a huff. In school, he slaps a student in anger when the latter asks him a question related to World War II and taunts Ajju that he doesn’t have the answer. Unfortunately for Ajju, the kid turns out to be the son of an MLA (Mukesh Tiwari). On MLA’s pressure, Ajju is suspended. Realizing that his image has taken a beating, he devises a plan. He decides to take a Europe tour and educate his students about World War II by visiting the locations where the war was fought. He doesn’t have the money and his father won’t sponsor his trip if he goes solo. Hence, he tells Nisha to accompany him on the trip. How this trip changes their lives forms the rest of the film.

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's story is novel and promising. Nikhil Mehrotra, Shreyas Jain, Piyush Gupta and Nitesh Tiwari's screenplay does justice to the unconventional plot in hand. They follow the DANGAL [2016] and CHHICHHORE [2019] model effectively – give a strong message but at the same time, ensure that there’s sufficient entertainment to entice the audiences. Nikhil Mehrotra, Shreyas Jain, Piyush Gupta and Nitesh Tiwari's dialogues are witty and a few of them raise laughs.

Nitesh Tiwari's direction is neat. One of the best aspects of his ex*****on is that he keeps the narrative uncomplicated. Despite the World War II backdrop, it is very easy for the layman to understand what’s going on and what the makers are trying to indicate. The characters of Ajju and Nisha are also well-fleshed out and how their dynamics change over the course of the trip makes for a riveting watch.

On the flipside, the second half gets a bit heavy. Though the masses would understand the goings-on, they might not relate to it as the idea is niche. The run time is also longer in the second half. Moreover, the writing is unconvincing in several places. It’s difficult to digest that Ajju is able to pretend that he’s teaching history well and the principal or the management don’t even have a whiff of it simply because he is able to create a ‘mahaul’ about it. It’s also strange that no guy ever dated a girl like Nisha especially when she hasn’t suffered an epileptic attack in a decade. The bag exchange track is funny but one wonders why Ajju doesn't call the Gujarati person and get the bags exchanged, especially when he has his contact details. This along with the fact that Ajju not knowing about the viral video is difficult to fathom since he is quite concerned about his image.

BAWAAL starts on a fine note. Ajju’s entry is heroic but Nisha’s introduction scene comes as a surprise. The marital problems and Ajju being compelled to go to Europe are entertaining scenes. The character of Kalpesh is hilarious and after ages has one seen a comic relief track in a Hindi film. Ajju and Nisha going on separate Paris sightseeing tours is lovely. The intermission point might have seemed interesting on paper but didn’t have the desired impact on screen. Post-interval, it’s heartening to see Ajju and Nisha getting close. The World War II parallels are intriguing. The first such scene is superb. The second scene in the climax, however, seems repetitive. The finale is a little stretched but the film ends on a fine note.

Bawaal – Official Trailer | Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor | Prime Video India

Varun Dhawan delivers an accomplished performance. He played a character in a similar zone in BADRINATH KI DULHANIA [2017] but he ensures both performances don’t seem similar. He shines in the second half, especially. Janhvi Kapoor, too, shows a marked improvement in her performance. She’s a bit subtle and that works best for her performance. Manoj Pahwa (Ajju's father) and Anjuman Saxena (Ajju's mother) leave a huge mark. Prateek Pachori (Bipin) is dependable. Vyas Hemang (Kalpesh) is the surprise of the film. Shashie Vermaa (Principal) and Mukesh Tiwari are okay.

As for the songs, 'Dilon Ki Doriyan' is the best of the lot and is well choreographed. 'Dil Se Dil Tak' and 'Tumhe Kitna Pyaar Karte' are okay. 'Kat Jayega' is terrific and very well-picturized. Daniel B George's background score has a cinematic appeal.

Mitesh Mirchandani's cinematography is beautiful and the European locales are well captured. Aditya Kanwar's production design is realistic. Stefan Richter's action is not too gory and is there to give an idea of the atrocities committed in the bygone era. Maxima Basu's costumes (for India schedule) are straight out of life and glamorous in the song 'Dilon Ki Doriyan'. Shahikant Sinhaa's costumes (for the Europe schedule) add to the fun, especially Ajju’s clothes. White Apple Studios' VFX could have been better. Charu Shree Roy's editing should have been crisper.

On the whole, BAWAAL makes an important comment in a novel yet entertaining manner. It also rests on the bravura performances of Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor.

Bawaal Movie Review 2023 : Bawaal Critics Rating 3.5/5. BAWAAL is the story of a dysfunctional couple. Ajay Dixit aka Ajju (Varun Dhawan) resides in Lucknow with his father (Manoj Pahwa) and mother. He strongly believes in maintaining an image and aura around himself. This strategy has worked big ti...

20/07/2023

OPPENHEIMER is the story of a brilliant scientist. J Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is an American-born Jewish who has earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry. After securing a PhD in physics from the University of Göttingen in Germany in 1927, he returns to the USA and joins the physics department at the University of California, Berkeley. Here, he makes significant contributions to theoretical physics, including achievements in quantum mechanics and nuclear physics. His works get noticed by the US government and they hire him on the Manhattan Project. At his insistence, he is appointed director of the project's Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico. Oppenheimer is also the one to suggest the remote place for the laboratory and asks Lt Gen Leslie Groves (Matt Damon) to ensure a makeshift town is built, complete with bars, church, school, etc. His team of scientists is also encouraged to bring their families so that their work doesn't suffer due to loneliness and homesickness. His mission is simple - he has to develop the first nuclear weapons after it comes to light that Germany has already started a nuclear weapons program. How J Robert Oppenheimer has to face several challenges to achieve his goal and how his life changes after World War II forms the rest of the film.

OPPENHEIMER is based on the 2005 biography 'American Prometheus' by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin. The story is splendid and what works in the favour of the film is that not many are aware of the life of J Robert Oppenheimer and what all he had to go through, more so after the War. Christopher Nolan's screenplay is very intriguing. He packs in a lot in 180 minutes and ensures that the film keeps viewers hooked. The dialogues enhance the film’s appeal considerably.

Christopher Nolan's direction, as expected, is nothing short of genius. The narrative isn’t linear. It goes back and forth and multiple parallel tracks are going on. As a result, viewers get curious about certain incidents whose hints are provided. Nolan, however, lays out the card at the correct time and this works big time for the film. Moreover, the way he has used sounds and background score effectively is seen to be believed.

On the flipside, as it happens with any Nolan film, OPPENHEIMER is complicated. It takes a while to get used to the narrative style. Thanks to parallel tracks and complicated jargon in places, it is important that one sees the film with full concentration. Even then, a few scenes and aspects are bound to go over the heads of the layman. For instance, not many will be able to get why some scenes are shown in Black & White. The romance track is crucial but not enough time is given to it. Hence, Oppenheimer’s love affairs seem too quick. The much talked about ‘Chevaliar incident’ is also not executed in a just manner. Lastly, the second half is stretched.

OPPENHEIMER’s beginning portions are okay. The initial 15-20 minutes is when the various characters are introduced. The film gets better once Oppenheimer meets Leslie Groves and comes on board for the Manhattan Project. The manner in which Oppenheimer gets his work done in the remote down makes for an entertaining watch. Post-interval, the Trinity test and the build-up to the scene are outstanding. Some viewers might feel underwhelmed since this scene has been hyped unrealistically. The investigation scenes, which also run parallel, are very gripping. The finale is smart.

Cillian Murphy delivers an Oscar-worthy performance. He’s natural and gets totally into the skin of his character. One completely forgets his past works and that’s the power of his acting. Matt Damon, too, gives his best shot while Robert Downey Jr (Lewis Strauss) in an unusual role rocks. Emily Blunt (Kitty) leaves a tremendous mark and the same goes for Florence Pugh (Jean Tatlock). One wishes the latter had more screen time. Rami Malek (David Hall) is terrific in a cameo. Jason Clarke (Roger Robb) stands out. Casey Affleck (Boris Pash), Kenneth Branagh (Niels Bohr), Benny Safdie (Edward Teller), Dylan Arnold (Frank Oppenheimer), Matthias Schweighöfer (Werner Heisenberg) and Josh Hartnett (Ernest Lawrence) also do well. Tom Conti (Albert Einstein) is lovely

Ludwig Göransson's music is one of the USPs of the film. The theme enhances the impact in several scenes. Special mention should also go to Richard King's sound design. Hoyte van Hoytema's cinematography is outstanding and very impactful. The close-up shots, especially, add a lot to the narrative. Ruth De Jong's production design is reminiscent of the bygone era. Ellen Mirojnick's costumes are straight out of the 40s and 50s. Jennifer Lame's editing could have been crisper.

On the whole, OPPENHEIMER makes for a superb cinematic experience. The insane demand for tickets, especially in the IMAX version, and the sky-high ticket prices will ensure the film takes a huge opening and emerges as one of the biggest Hollywood hits of 2023. It also proves that Christopher Nolan has emerged as an enviable brand in India as it’s due to his association as a director with the film that will pull audiences to cinemas.

Oppenheimer (English) Movie Review 2023 : Oppenheimer (English) Critics Rating 4.0/5. OPPENHEIMER is the story of a brilliant scientist. J Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is an American-born Jewish who has earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry. After securing a PhD in physics from the Universi...

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