Stranger Things S05
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Action & Adventure (English)
When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and one strange little girl. (more…)
Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri
Romance, Comedy (Hindi)
When a carefree NRI wedding planner and a headstrong novelist collide during a wild summer in Croatia, sparks fly in ways neither expected. What begins as playful clashes soon transforms into something deeper – only to be tested when love, (more…)
Guild Reviews
Ikkis
History, War, Drama (Hindi)
Against the backdrop of the 1971 war, Arun Khetrapal defies all odds to become a Second Lieutenant and India's youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient.
Cast:
Agastya Nanda, Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat, Simar Bhatia, Ekavali Khanna, Shree Bishnoi, Sikandar Kher, Madhusudan Bishnoi, Suhasini Mulay, Vivaan Shah
Director:
Sriram Raghavan
Writer:
Sriram Raghavan, Pooja Ladha Surti, Arijit Biswas
Triumph that outlives the war
Mon, January 5 2026
Set against the turbulent dawn of the 1970s, Ikkis opens on the formative years of Arun Khetrapal (Agastya Nanda), a young army officer of exceptional promise undergoing rigorous training to command a tank regiment. Distinguished early for his leadership, Arun appears poised for a life defined by purpose and quiet fulfilment. Love, too, smiles upon him in the form of Kiran (Simar Bhatia), and the future stretches before him, radiant with possibility. History, however, is rarely so benevolent. The outbreak of the 1971 war with Pakistan violently disrupts this fragile equilibrium, thrusting Arun—just twenty-one—into the crucible where youth, duty, and destiny irrevocably converge.
(Writing for The Common Man Speaks)
A war film that gives an anti-war message in a profound way
Mon, January 5 2026
Ikkis is primarily about a young man who fought the 1971 India-Pakistan war and attained martyrdom. In a typical Hindi war film, we would have shown his life from childhood or teenage years to him joining the army, fighting for the nation and ultimately sacrificing his life for the country. But Ikkis isn’t a typical war film by any means. Along with portraying the martyrdom of the young man, the film gives equal importance at giving an anti-war message through the track of Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat. It says loudly without saying much – ultimately there are humans on both sides of the border who die during a war. And the film achieves this even while showing the bravery of a young martyr.
Determinedly Swims Against the Tide of Jingoistic War Films, and Makes Shore
Sat, January 3 2026
I found myself tearing up a few times while watching Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis. It’s not because of the film alone, which is based on the military service of India’s youngest Paramvir Chakra awardee, Second Lt Arun Khetarpal – who died during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. It had more to do with the Bollywood war film – a genre that has assumed the responsibility to rile up obvious jingoistic sentiments, thinking it’s the only way to make itself a successful enterprise. Raghavan is too much of a ‘thinking’ and a self-assured filmmaker to give into the temptations of the box office. We’ve also seen dozens of these idols exhibit feet of clay in the last decade.
Stranger Things S05
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Action & Adventure (English)
When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and one strange little girl.
Cast:
Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton
Vol 3: Millie And Jamie Deliver Satisfying - But Safe - Final Showdown
Sun, January 4 2026
It all comes down to this! The Netflix series, Stranger Things, ends with a big bang and lots of emotional moments with the last episode titled The Rightside Up. Co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer must wind down the story of Hawkins, Indiana, and its residents, who were terrorised by the Upside Down for the past five seasons. Now, they must vanquish the big villain and make it out alive. The result is a satisfying but expected ending that is sure to leave fans discussing it for years to come.
Vol. 2: Sets up the action for the grand finale.
Fri, December 26 2025
Exposition. Explanation. Emotion. Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 2 rests on these three Es. The other ‘E’ that worms its way into the three episodes of this volume — before the grand finale drops less than a week later — is ‘Exotic Matter’ and with it the realisation (courtesy Dustin Henderson) that everything we have thought of the Upside Down over the last decade is not really it. In reality, the evil parallel dimension that has been at the heart of Stranger Things is, well, not a parallel dimension at all. It is, in fact, a wormhole to an even worse dimension that Vecna is trying to “collapse”, with an eye on taking over the world.
Vol. 2: Noah Schnapp, Jamie Campbell Bower Take Centerstage In Heated Final Battle
Fri, December 26 2025
The second part of Stranger Things opens after the exhilarating and devastating events of the last four episodes of Season 5. Noah Schnapp’s Will Byers has powers, and Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) has captured all 12 children to the Upside Down for his grand plan. What’s afoot? Co-created by the Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross, the final season of the Netflix show hurtles towards an epic showdown that promises casualties this time. Who will make it out alive at the end?
The Housemaid
Mystery, Thriller (English)
Trying to escape her past, Millie Calloway accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Nina and Andrew Winchester. But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous—a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal, and power.
Cast:
Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Indiana Elle, Arabella Olivia Clark, Megan Ferguson, Ellen Tamaki, Amanda Joy Erickson
Director:
Paul Feig
One Batty After Another
Sat, January 3 2026
Imagine if you were forcibly confined in a room without food, and your captor is so cruel that he compels you to inflict twenty-one cuts on your stomach with shattered chinaware, merely for amusement. If you somehow manage to escape and imprison your captor in that room, what would your next step be? (a) Seek medical assistance (b) Flee from that house as fast as possible or (c) Relax in the living room and watch television. The character in The Housemaid opts for the absurd choice of C, while the menacing figure upstairs attempts to break free
Sirai
Drama, Romance (Tamil)
As he transfers a young convict from prison to court, a police officer learns about the chain of events that led to the young man's conviction for violence.
Cast:
Vikram Prabhu, Lk akshay kumar, Anishma Anilkumar, Ananda Thambirajah, Vaishaali vijay, Rajapandi
Director:
Suresh Rajakumari
Writer:
Suresh Rajakumari
Well-Written Drama About a Cop Transforming from Hero to Human
Fri, January 2 2026
As far-fetched as it may seem, one can make the case for Sirai to be added to a list of suggested reading material along with Rajinikanth’s Vettaiyan. They are both films about impossibly upright protagonists who invariably prefer to take law into their own hands, as long as it fits into their notions of having a moral conscience. They are both films that begin by making us sympathise with these heroes, who are as good as the heroes of a hundred other cop movies, only to then realise that even they could go terribly wrong. Their transformation from a trigger-happy hero to an empathetic human is the arc both films take. But if Vettaiyan was burdened by the weight of its mega star voltage, Sirai is more than happy to make the movie about other characters too, resulting in an unadulterated debate about encounter killings and the biases that make this act more complex.
Vikram Prabhu film tackles minority struggle, bias with quiet strength
Fri, December 26 2025
Actor Vikram Prabhu’s choice of scripts has been impressive in the recent past. His upcoming venture, Sirai, marks his second collaboration with writer Tamizh (also an actor) after their critically acclaimed Taanakkaran. Sirai, like Taanakkaran, casts Vikram Prabhu’s protagonist as a police officer, but from the district armed reserve wing.
Psych Siddhartha
Comedy, Romance (Telugu)
Siddharth's life is a string of misfortunes, losing love, money, and dignity, making him the unwitting star of a slum-based comedy of errors. Hope only reappears in the form of Shravya, a no-nonsense single mother. However, just as Siddharth begins to rebuild his life and pursue a chance at love, his past resurfaces to threaten everything.
Cast:
Nandu Vijay Krishna, Yamini Bhaskar, Priyanka Srinivas, Sukesh Reddy, Sakshi Chaturvedi, Pradyumna Billuri, Bobby Ratakonda, Narsing Wadekar
Director:
Varun Reddy
Writer:
Varun Reddy
Shree Nandu and Yaamini Bhaskar impress in an edgy relationship drama
Fri, January 2 2026
There’s something disarming about a first-time filmmaker’s eagerness to break free of established norms of storytelling. Architect-turned-filmmaker Varun Reddy’s Telugu film Psych Siddhartha is a case in point. Varun, who has written and co-produced the film with actor Shree Nandu, presents a fairly simple relationship drama like a comic book for adults, wanting to speak the language of Gen Z. The film may not be perfect but ushers in a promising voice that’s eager to push the boundaries of storytelling.
Krantijyoti Vidyalay Marathi Madhyam
Comedy, Drama (Marathi)
Students and teachers from a Marathi school come together to save their school from demolition, as an international school is set to be built in its place. Personal challenges merge with institutional struggles as they seek preservation of Marathi-medium schools and their local culture, while also acknowledging the need for change.
Cast:
Sachin Khedekar, Amey Wagh, Siddharth Chandekar, Prajakta Koli, Kshitee Jog, Harish Dudhade, Kadambari Kadam, Pushkaraj Chirputkar
Director:
Hemant Dhome
Writer:
Hemant Dhome
Tackles an important issue but in a convenient way
Fri, January 2 2026
The film revolves around a 99-year-old Marathi school in Alibaug called Krantijyoti Vidyalay Marathi Madhyam. The school is everything for its Principal Shirke sir (Sachin Khedekar). But currently, the school doesn’t have any future. The state government has ordered to raze the school as, according to them, its lease period is over and the structure of the building has become weak. The plan is also to make an English medium international school in its place. This has happened to thousands of Marathi schools in Maharashtra.
LBW: Love Beyond Wicket
Drama, Comedy (Tamil)
A washed-up PT teacher, a legendary coach and a generation of misfit students come together to save a legacy.
Cast:
Vikranth, Niyathi Kadambi, Sindhu Shyam, Nikhil Nair, Akshathaa Ajit, Harish, Naveen, Karthi, Ayaz Khan
Director:
Ganesh Karthikeyan
Writer:
Aruna Rakhee
Fri, January 2 2026
Growing up in the 1990s, I spent many summer evenings fiddling with a Panasonic remote and searching for a very specific brand of TV entertainment. My father had his old movies and news channels, my mother had her Hollywood soaps, but my obsession with sports led me to expect that elusive beast on the small screen: an Indian cricket-themed serial. There were plenty of army stories, family sitcoms, horror shows, mythological dramas, campus romcoms. But not enough cricket stories were being told in a decade where Sachin Tendulkar had elevated the game to mythical heights; it’s almost like filmmakers were afraid to mess with India’s newest religion. So I settled for Bodyline reruns instead. LBW: Love Beyond Wicket is probably the kind of serial my 11-year-old self was craving for — a slice-of-life, tacky, tropey, clumsy, but oddly sweet college-cricket television serial (not web series, mind you) with bite-sized episodes, Disney-coded stakes and a soap-opera aesthetic.
Mindiyum Paranjum
Romance, Drama (Malayalam)
A man and woman navigate the highs and lows of a long-distance relationship.
Cast:
Unni Mukundan, Aparna Balamurali, Jude Anthany Joseph, Maala Parvathi, Jaffer Idukki, Sanju Madhu, RJ Murugan, Sohan Seenulal, Vijitha Vijayakumar, Geethi Sangeetha
Director:
Arun Bose
Writer:
Mridul George, Arun Bose
Aparna Balamurali and Unni Mukundan's Long-Distance Relationship Drama is a Thing of Joy
Mon, December 29 2025
Rain isn’t just a character in Mindiyum Paranjum as much as it is this film’s entire ensemble cast. It has moods and meanings, faults, and feelings, all of which keep drifting in based on how Leena (Aparna Balamurali) or Sanal (Unni Mukundan) perceive it. For Sanal, rain is a happy sight for tired eyes. He lives in Dubai where it rains once a year. In the song that plays in the background, Sanal associates the rain with the imagery of being able to see Leena again, his wife who lives in Kerala. During their conversations, Sanal asks Leena if it’s raining and if it’s cold; more than worry, these questions come with a bit of mischief, that of a husband who has forgotten what it felt like to touch his wife.
Goodbye June
Drama (English)
Four siblings' lives change drastically when their ailing mother takes a turn for the worse over the holiday season.
Cast:
Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, Stephen Merchant, Fisayo Akinade, Jeremy Swift, Raza Jaffrey
Director:
Kate Winslet
Writer:
Joe Anders
Clunky but charming and held together by a top-notch cast
Sun, December 28 2025
Though it may not qualify as a typical feel-good, mushed-up Christmas watch, Goodbye June is a well performed and sincerely mounted family drama, which, however, springs no surprises. Sometimes clunky, but mostly charming and held together by a bunch of memorable performances, Goodbye June is the directorial debut of Kate Winslet, who works out of a script written by Joe Anders, her 22-year-old son with ex husband and filmmaker Sam Mendes. Winslet also stars as one of the principal characters.
Anaconda
Adventure, Comedy, Horror (English)
A group of friends facing mid-life crises head to the rainforest with the intention of remaking their favorite movie from their youth, only to find themselves in a fight for their lives against natural disasters, giant snakes and violent criminals.
Cast:
Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Daniela Melchior, Thandiwe Newton, Steve Zahn, Ione Skye, Selton Mello, Ben Lawson, Ice Cube, John Billingsley
Director:
Tom Gormican
Slithering again
Sun, December 28 2025
One might not expect that a film released in 1997, centered around a giant snake, would spawn four sequels and a Mandarin version that premiered earlier this year. Anaconda was a light-hearted and entertaining film that captivated audiences at the time. Some films and all snakes should be left alone – Anaconda is certainly one of them- the film and snake, both.
Paul Rudd, Jack Black film is all hiss, hardly any bite
Fri, December 26 2025
Anaconda movie review: Help, the ssssnake is back. Not just any old wriggly creature, but the giant anaconda, which is out hunting humans again in the jungles of South America. Those who’ve seen the 1997 original, starring Jennifer Lopez-Owen Wilson-Jon Voight-Ice Cube and the reptile with a monstrous maw, will remember just how scary it was. The relentless chase– this is a snake which hunts in water, over land, and on tall tree-tops– was all kinds of scary with people falling off boats, thrashing in the jaws of the snake, turning the water bloody.
Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri
Romance, Comedy (Hindi)
When a carefree NRI wedding planner and a headstrong novelist collide during a wild summer in Croatia, sparks fly in ways neither expected. What begins as playful clashes soon transforms into something deeper – only to be tested when love, family, and tradition pull them in opposite directions.
Cast:
Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday, Arjan Panwar, Neena Gupta, Jackie Shroff, Mahima Chaudhry, Tiku Talsania
Director:
Sameer Vidwans
Writer:
Karan Shrikant Sharma
What's luv got to do with it?
Sun, December 28 2025
Directed by Sameer Vidwans, the film Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri is proof that a film and it’s title can be overwhelmingly long. The title itself gives us adequate warning and feels like an endurance test, and the film faithfully lives up to it. By the midpoint, which feels like an eternity, one realizes that only half of the title has been addressed.
Lovely locales is all there is to fall for
Sat, December 27 2025
For some time, Dharma Productions has been wearing its progressive heart and beliefs on its sleeve. That’s all very well, what more do you want from the proponents of ‘rich lives matter’? Like the typical gloss and shine signature of its cinema, it can’t quite bid adieu to its glitzy USP. Any wonder then that the storyline spends the first half in picturesque Croatia. The ‘to-die-for’ locales of the European nation on the coast of the Adriatic Sea is where love blossoms between our two lovebirds.
Flip, Frivolous, And Not As Much Fun
Fri, December 26 2025
Flip, frivolous and not as much fun as it aspires to be: that about sums up the first half of Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. If you get through that phase of the film without switching off, the rom-com, post-intermission, stumbles with intent into family drama territory. The turnaround is as striking as it is surprising. The emotional core that Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri finds in the second half pushes the narrative out of a monotonous loop and towards a radical new direction. But that is not to say that everything that the film attempts, lands.
Sarvam Maya
Mystery, Comedy (Malayalam)
A man who loses his belief in God meets the spirit of a young woman unable to remember what happened to her.
Cast:
Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese, Preity Mukhundhan, Riya Shibu, Althaf Salim, Madhu Warrier, Janardhanan, Anand Ekarshi, Arun Ajikumar, Raghunath Paleri
Director:
Akhil Sathyan
Writer:
Akhil Sathyan
Nivin Pauly Anchors A Clumsy But Heartfelt Horror-Comedy
Fri, December 26 2025
Prabhendu (Nivin Pauly) is an atheist. Belonging to a Namboothiri family of priests, he abandoned this life, along with the sacred thread and its material comforts, to become a dirt-poor musician. Directed by Akhil Sathyan, Sarvam Maya (Everything is an Illusion) puts a quandary to him—what if he sees a ghost? Will he, then, believe in god, believe that things which cannot be sensed can exist and apply pressure on our lives, regardless?
Nivin Pauly's ghost story is irresistible, full of charm
Thu, December 25 2025
Sarvam Maya translates to “everything is an illusion,” and it is perhaps the perfect title for this Nivin Pauly-starrer that blends horror, comedy and fantasy. Releasing on Christmas, the film is an antidote to all the extra-violent, hyper-masculine films that rely on over-the-top theatrics. But, Sarvam Maya leaves you laughing out loud despite tackling sensitive topics like faith, belief and grief.