The Family Man 3
Drama, Action & Adventure (Hindi)
The story of a middle-class man who works for a special cell of the National Investigation Agency. While he tries to protect the nation from terrorists, he also has to protect his family from the impact of his secretive, high-pressure, (more…)
Nishaanchi
Crime, Drama (Hindi)
Twin brothers, identical looks but different values, face brotherhood, betrayal, love, and redemption. Their paths weave through crime into a deeper story of human nature and its results. (more…)
120 Bahadur
Action, War (Hindi)
Valiant Indian soldiers fight against Chinese troops during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, preventing a potential occupation of Ladakh region in the Battle of Rezang La. (more…)
De De Pyaar De 2
Comedy, Romance (Hindi)
Ashish confronts the ultimate challenge of his age-gap romance as he visits Ayesha's family home. (more…)
Guild Reviews
120 Bahadur
Action, War (Hindi)
Valiant Indian soldiers fight against Chinese troops during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, preventing a potential occupation of Ladakh region in the Battle of Rezang La.
Cast:
Farhan Akhtar, Raashii Khanna, Sparsh Walia, Ankit Siwach, Vivan Bhatena, Dhanveer Singh, Brijesh Karanwal, Sahib Verma, Eijaz Khan, Ajinkya Deo
Director:
Razneesh Ghai
(Writing for The Daily Eye)
A BAttle Remembered Forever
Mon, November 24 2025
In the last decade, Hindi cinema has witnessed a surge of patriotic historical dramas, each striving to present tales of courage rooted in pivotal moments of India’s past. Within this landscape, 120 Bahadur, directed by Razneesh “Razy” Ghai, sets its sights on one of the most stirring chapters of the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict. Farhan Akhtar steps into the challenging role of Major Shaitan Singh, the charismatic commander whose steadfast leadership during the Battle of Rezang La has long been revered but insufficiently explored on film. The result is a work that marries emotional solemnity with the visceral spectacle of war, aiming to honour a legacy that remains vital to national memory.
मिट्टी पर मिटने वालों की अमिट कहानी
Fri, November 21 2025
1962 का समय। हिन्दी-चीनी भाई-भाई के नारे को ठोकर मारते हुए चीन ने भारत की पीठ में खंजर भोंका था। उसी युद्ध में 18 नवंबर, 1962 को लद्दाख के रेज़ांग ला में एक ऐसी अनोखी लड़ाई लड़ी गई थी जिसमें 120 वीर सिपाहियों की चार्ली कंपनी ने मेजर शैतान सिंह की अगुआई में तीन हज़ार चीनी सैनिकों से भिड़ते हुए उन्हें पीछे हटने पर मजबूर कर दिया था। उस लड़ाई में मात्र 6 सैनिक जीवित बचे थे और मेजर शैतान सिंह समेत बाकी वीरों ने मौत को गले लगाया था। बाद में मेजर शैतान सिंह को मरणोपरांत परमवीर चक्र और उनके सिपाहियों में से आठ को वीर चक्र, एक को अति विशिष्ट सेवा मैडल, चार को सेना पदक व अन्य सम्मान दिए गए। अगर उस दिन ये लोग वहां डट कर नहीं रहते तो चीन भारत में काफी अंदर तक कब्ज़ा कर चुका होता। उन्हीं वीर अहीर सिपाहियों और राजपूत मेजर शैतान सिंह भाटी के अदम्य साहस को सलाम करती है निर्माता फरहान अख्तर की यह फिल्म ‘120 बहादुर’। फरहान अख्तर इसके लिए प्रशंसा के हकदार हैं।
Indo-China war film has a surprisingly soft edge
Fri, November 21 2025
Partly by choice, partly through circumstance, 120 Bahadur is out of sync with the times. Razneesh Ghai’s film, about a famous battle in the Sino-Indian war of 1962, chooses to be stirring, even square. Most Hindi war films adopt a very different tone now. Some viewers might be reminded of the wholesomeness of Lakshya, directed by Farhan Akhtar, 120 Bahadur’s lead actor. That film was made 21 years ago but it may as well be 40 considering how little it has in common with hard, cynical, triumphant films like Uri and Shershaah and Fighter.
The Family Man 3
Drama, Action & Adventure (Hindi)
The story of a middle-class man who works for a special cell of the National Investigation Agency. While he tries to protect the nation from terrorists, he also has to protect his family from the impact of his secretive, high-pressure, and low paying job.
Cast:
Manoj Bajpayee, Priyamani, Vedant Sinha, Ashlesha Thakur, Darshan Kumaar, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nimrat Kaur
The Audacious Mischief of the Earlier Parts is Missing
Sun, November 23 2025
In episode four of the third season of The Family Man – Srikant Tiwari (Manoj Bajpayee) gets nostalgic. He asks JK (Sharib Hashmi) if he remembers Kareem – a dissident Kashmiri student who was killed in the first season because of Srikant’s misplaced suspicion. I might be reading too much into it, but it almost felt like creators Raj Nidimoru, Krishna D.K. and Suman Kumar were getting wistful about a time during the first season when there was endless possibility.
Same ‘Family Man’ elan
Sat, November 22 2025
Gifted actor Jaideep Ahlawat is not the only common factor between the second season of ‘Paatal Lok’ and the third outing of ‘The Family Man’. At first glance, the plot too seems achingly similar. The storyline is set in the beauteous Northeast — Nagaland, to be precise. A peace accord with the rebels is in order and a grandfather-grandson conflict forms a solid leitmotif. Despite these familiarities, creators Raj & DK are on top of their game once again.
Manoj Bajpayee-Jaideep Ahlawat show is frantic yet obvious
Fri, November 21 2025
The Family Man Season 3 starts from where Season 2 had left off, with top TASC agent Srikant (Manoj Bajpayee) finding himself embroiled in a snowballing crisis in Nagaland. The stakes are higher than ever. Serial bombs have claimed lives. A major casualty can be the high-profile ‘Project Sahakar’, which we are told is on the verge of being signed by ‘all rebel leaders’ in the North East: it is an initiative close to pro-active PM Basu’s (Seema Biswas) heart, meant to address long-standing grievances, and hold out promise of lasting peace and prosperity.
Theeyavar Kulai Nadunga
Crime, Thriller (Tamil)
An Investigative Police officer teams up with an autism school teacher to solve the mystery of a cruel murder happened in a school for autistic children.
Cast:
Arjun Sarja, Aishwarya Rajesh, Ramkumar Ganesan, Abhirami Venkatachalam, Prankster Rahul, Guruappa Krishna Reddy, Praveen Raja
Director:
Dinesh Lakshmanan
Questionable choices drown out the superficially good intentions
Sun, November 23 2025
Theeyavar Kulai Nadunga opens with the gruesome murder of writer Jebanesan (Logu NPKS) on a lonely road, in the middle of the night, by someone wearing a black suit, black shades, and a black helmet. Is it a serial killer? Why was the writer in tears when talking to his daughter? Why was he killed so brutally? Even as these questions crop up, we are introduced to Inspector Magudapathy (Arjun), a no-nonsense cop, who casually reads the book, “Hidden Evidence”. The film wastes no time in plonking Magudapathy right in the middle of this murder, and he is assigned the case since it happened in his jurisdiction. So far, so good, and I hoped this feeling would stay longer… Alas!
Mask
Comedy, Crime, Thriller, Drama (Tamil)
Cast:
Kavin Raj, Andrea Jeremiah, Ruhani Sharma, Vetrimaaran, Kalloori Vinoth, Nelson Dilipkumar
Director:
Vikranan Ashok
Writer:
Vikranan Ashok
Ungainly detours hide a delectable dark comedy
Sun, November 23 2025
Mask opens with a heist done by a masked gang, and a quirky voiceover by director Nelson. He introduces the players in a rather whimsical way. We have a gang of robbers. We have the philanthropist Bhoomi (Andrea Jeremiah), who needs to find the robbers. We have politician Manivannan (Pawan Krishna), who also needs to find the robbers. And then… we have Velu (Kavin), who… You guessed it right… has to find the robbers. And what do the robbers have to do? Exist in plain sight and wait for the various players to find their way to them. But Mask doesn’t build up to a crescendo as most of the films in this genre do. Instead, it is happier giving brief bursts of energy that might not stay for long, but it is entertaining while it lasts.
(Writing for OTT Play)
One Of The Worst Tamil Films Of 2025
Sat, November 22 2025
Vikarnan Ashok’s Mask begins in chaos. Not of the good cinematic kind. It’s not a film with a handful of characters overwhelmed by their own endgames. It’s not the cinema where chaos is orchestrated to give the audience a high, one where so many things happen so fast that we hold our breath in unison, only for that single moment to strike when we let loose. Mask inadvertently orchestrates chaos. It has a narration voiced by director Nelson Dilipkumar. It has overlapping dialogues, layer over layer, along with this narration. It also has GV Prakash’s incongruent score. We witness a loot, Money Heist style but with MR Radha masks and then Nelson introduces us to a host of characters, chiefly Velu (Kavin), who has caused two deaths thanks to his paramour Rathi (Ruhani Sharma), and Bhoomi (Andrea Jermiah), a philanthropist who saves children from human trafficking but she might also be into the flesh trade and probably moonlights as a power broker. Confused much? Mask is one such hurriedly put-together meal of different cuisines with no flavour profile.
Mastiii 4
Comedy (Hindi)
Three frustrated husbands seek freedom from their dull marriages. A wild idea promises escape and excitement. But what follows is anything but expected.
Cast:
Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi, Aftab Shivdasani, Ruhi Singh, Shreya Sharma, Elnaaz Norouzi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shaad Randhawa, Nishant Malkani, Arshad Warsi
Director:
Milap Zaveri
Writer:
Milap Zaveri, Farrukh Dhondy
Brain-Dead, Aimed Solely At Killing You
Sat, November 22 2025
As someone in her 30s, I have a lot of worries: ageing parents, climate change, whimsical world leaders and the growing cost of living. But late at night, when struggling to sleep, one thought plagues me the most: how is Milap Zaveri still making films? This isn’t a personal affront, at least no more than what his films unleash on us. But really, lesser filmmakers have dwindled into oblivion and here’s Zaveri with two films in one year, and while one seemed like the worst, the other has somehow surpassed it.
Eternal Sunshine of the Stunted Male Mind
Fri, November 21 2025
It’s only noon and I’ve already had three showers today. Under normal circumstances, I’d say it’s because I had to step out in the morning and Mumbai’s AQI is beyond redemption. Under normal circumstances, that’s a perfectly valid reason. But these are extraordinary circumstances. I stepped out to watch a morning show of Mastiii 4, a cinematic pollutant so noxious that I’ve been frantically trying to wash off its fumes after reaching home. Say what you may about a Milap Zaveri film, but it works wonders for my personal hygiene.
Premante
Romance, Thriller (Telugu)
A new bride's happiness is put to the test when she notices her husband's suspicious behaviour.
Cast:
Priyadarshi Pullikonda, Anandhi, Suma Kanakala
Priyadarshi anchors a quirky, uneven relationship drama
Sat, November 22 2025
This is a film in which a man slender enough to slip sideways through the bars of a police-station lockup chooses not to walk out when the cops are not watching. Instead, he quietly takes a constable’s phone while the officer dozes off, slips back into the lockup, and starts watching reels. With moments like this, director Navaneeth lays out the film’s grammar early on — through the quirks of the principal characters played by Priyadarshi and Anandhi, and even through this random man in the station — signalling that Premante (love means…) is not a conventional relationship drama. Anything can happen, and the film wants viewers to simply go along for the ride.
Dining With the Kapoors
Documentary, Family (Hindi)
Delve into the intimate world of the Kapoor dynasty, one of Hindi cinema's most illustrious families, as they share their treasured memories, laughter and culinary delights.
Cast:
Saif Ali Khan, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Armaan Jain, Agastya Nanda, Zahan Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Randhir Kapoor
Director:
Smriti Mundhra, Geeta Singh
Writer:
Armaan Jain, Smriti Mundhra
Ranbir, Kareena And Karisma Serve Up A Playful Celebration Of Family, Films And Food
Sat, November 22 2025
Raj Kapoor’s daughter Rima Jain proclaims in Dining with the Kapoors, “The entire Kapoor family is a dramatic family.” Several generations of India’s famous film family come together to celebrate their roots, especially Raj and his wife, Krishna Raj Kapoor. The hour-long special brings cousins, siblings, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and in-laws together for a chaotic but candid ode to family and the bonds that endure. Directed by Smriti Mundhra and created by Armaan Jain, Dining with the Kapoors is not a deep dive into family history but instead a snapshot into some of their traditions.
Reveals that the Kapoors are just another fun and boisterous family who love their food
Fri, November 21 2025
Any mention of the Kapoors elicits certain images — a twinkle-toed Raj Kapoor in Mera joota hai Japani, Shammi Kapoor’s ducktail hair having a life of its own as he brought every scene and song alive, a boyishly handsome Shashi Kapoor memorably declaring: “Mere paas maa hain” and Rishi Kapoor’s infectious smile, easy moves and enviable collection of pullovers…. What also comes to mind when we think of the Kapoors is the clan — across generations — gathering for their annual Christmas lunch, a tradition that the youngsters in the family have made a point to keep alive.
Eko
Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Drama (Malayalam)
In the misty hills of Kaattukunnu, an aging woman and her servant boy struggle to survive the ghosts of the past, as the hunt for Kuriyachan — a legendary dog breeder and outlaw — blurs the line between myth, memory, and vengeance, revealing that even in absence, he still rules the hills.
Cast:
Sandeep Pradeep, Vineeth Radhakrishnan, Binu Pappu, Narain, Ashokan, Biana Momin, Sim Zhi Fei, Saheer Mohammed
Director:
Dinjith Ayyathan
Writer:
Bahul Ramesh
A solid mystery thriller in which animals play as big a part as humans
Fri, November 21 2025
Pared down to its bare bones, Dinjith Ayyathan’sEko is a story of the search for a missing man, a colourful character about whom infinite chronicles and conflicting accounts are in circulation. To bite into these bare bones is not really the point. It is to savour the whole act of reaching it and revelling in that pleasure. Just like through a dense, deceptive forest with uncharted territory at every turn, the viewer is slowly drawn into this world where not a single character can be fully trusted.
The Family Plan 2
Action, Comedy (English)
Now that Dan's assassin days are behind him, all he wants for Christmas is quality time with his kids. But when he learns his daughter has her own plans, he books a family trip to London—putting them all in the crosshairs of an unexpected enemy.
Cast:
Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Kit Harington, Zoe Colletti, Van Crosby, Theodore Lindsey, Peter Lindsey, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Reda Elazouar
Director:
Simon Cellan Jones
Writer:
David Coggeshall
Kit Harington Makes For Weak Foil In Mark Wahlberg's Action Comedy Sequel
Fri, November 21 2025
The Family Plan, starring Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan, was a surprise hit of 2023 for Apple TV, so naturally it must be brought back. In the holiday sequel, The Family Plan 2, the Morgan family once again find themselves going on the run. However, changing the setting from the US to Europe lifts the spirit of the feature overall. But director Simon Cellan Jones and writer David Coggeshall have a villain problem on their hands for a second time.
Auto Queens
Documentary (Tamil)
Mohana is the president of the first trade union for women auto rickshaw drivers in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. As well as maneuvering her own auto through the busy streets of Chennai, she has to navigate a sexist and patriarchal system to secure equal opportunities for women drivers. She faces constant resistance—with conflicts and humiliations every day.
Director:
Sraiyanti
(Writing for The NEWS Minute)
Portrays a mobility revolution led by TN’s first women auto drivers’ union
Thu, November 20 2025
Cinematographer-turned-director Sraiyanti’s Auto Queens begins with a bird’s-eye view of Chennai and comes to rest at a safe distance above the bustling city’s coast when we hear two voices munching on fish and talking. “The worries of the world fade away at the beach,” one says. They are Mohana and Leela Rani, women auto drivers of Chennai who are here to buy a peaceful minute away from the roads of a rough city, one that is hostile and sceptical about carving public space for its women.
De De Pyaar De 2
Comedy, Romance (Hindi)
Ashish confronts the ultimate challenge of his age-gap romance as he visits Ayesha's family home.
Cast:
Ajay Devgn, Rakul Preet Singh, R. Madhavan, Gautami Kapoor, Ishita Dutta, Meezaan Jafri, Javed Jaffrey
Director:
Anshul Sharma
Love, Age, Chaos, Repeat
Thu, November 20 2025
That an older gentleman should tumble helplessly into infatuation with a sprightly young woman is hardly the stuff of headlines; it is practically a civic tradition in our cinema. But that a vivacious, bubble-gum-bright twenty-something should lose her heart to a much-married man with two full-grown offspring is an exotic rarity—particularly in the hallowed halls of Hindi films. The former trope has been inspected from every possible angle: by R. Balki with his Big-B-powered reverie Shabd, by Rakesh Omprakash Mehra’s Aks, and even by Basu Chatterjee’s Shaukeen, that unabashed comedy of lecherous seniors on the loose. Yet the idea of a 50-plus man seeking romantic renewal with a partner who isn’t his first, but his wife—round two—remains something our storytellers regard with the suspicion usually reserved for budget overruns.
Anshul Sharma's sequel is hit and miss comedy
Sun, November 16 2025
Ajay Devgn used to throw himself into comedies. I never thought he was a great comic (compare his effortful style to the ease of Akshay Kumar), but he more or less got the job done. But now, as with every other facet of his acting, Devgn’s comedy has lost its edge. In De De Pyaar De 2, he’s a beat behind everyone else, draining the energy in scenes when he should be cranking it up.
रिश्तों का एक और रंगीन पंचनामा
Sat, November 15 2025
साढ़े छह बरस पहले आई ‘दे दे प्यार दे’ में 50 बरस के अधेड़ आशीष को 26 बरस की कमसिन आयशा से प्यार हुआ था मगर बीच में आ गए थे आशीष के बीवी-बच्चे जिनसे वह 18 साल पहले अलग हो गया था। आशीष बेचारा असमंजस में फंस गया था कि पुराने रिश्ते निभाए या नए रिश्ते को थामे। लेकिन अंत में सब सुलझ गया था। क्या वाकई…! पहले आशीष आयशा को अपने परिवार से मिलवाने ले गया था और इस बार आयशा उसे अपने घर लाई है अपने परिवार से मिलवाने। यहां बात-बात पर खुद को ‘प्रगतिशील, पढ़े-लिखे, आधुनिक’ कहलवाने वाले उसके माता-पिता हैं जो आशीष से साल-डेढ़ साल ही बड़े हैं। भाई, भाभी, मासी, कज़िन, नानी, भाभी के माता-पिता वगैरह भी हैं। ऐसे में अपने पिता की उम्र के आशीष को वह कैसे सबसे मिलवाए, कैसे यह बताए कि हम दोनों शादी करने वाले हैं…? लेकिन जैसा कि फिल्मों में होता है, अंत में सब सुलझ जाता है। क्या वाकई…!
Nishaanchi
Crime, Drama (Hindi)
Twin brothers, identical looks but different values, face brotherhood, betrayal, love, and redemption. Their paths weave through crime into a deeper story of human nature and its results.
Cast:
Aaishvary Thackeray, Vedika Pinto, Monika Panwar, Kumud Mishra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Vineet Kumar Singh, Girish Sharma, Rajesh Kumar, Gaurav Singh, Saharsh Kumar Shukla
Director:
Anurag Kashyap
Writer:
Anurag Kashyap, Prasoon Mishra, Ranjan Chandel
A Spotify Review
Wed, November 19 2025
Anurag Kashyap’s Nishaanchi: Part 1 is a welcome return to form, and the long-awaited spiritual successor to Gangs of Wasseypur that his fans have been waiting for. We discuss the film’s complex approach to classic themes of revenge, betrayal, and jealousy, while also praising the central performances. Along the way, we commend Kashyap’s inimitable writing and inherent sympathy for the devil.
A Spotify Review
Wed, November 19 2025
Anurag Kashyap’s Nishaanchi: Part 1 is a welcome return to form, and the long-awaited spiritual successor to Gangs of Wasseypur that his fans have been waiting for. We discuss the film’s complex approach to classic themes of revenge, betrayal, and jealousy, while also praising the central performances. Along the way, we commend Kashyap’s inimitable writing and inherent sympathy for the devil.
Anuraag Kashyap Plays it Safe and Has His Eyes Fixed on the Box Office
Mon, September 22 2025
The strongest and weakest thing about Anurag Kashyap’s latest is that it is, indeed, an Anurag Kashyap film. As the film plodded along frustratingly in its third hour, I realised he’s still got the goods as a director. It’s something I gleaned from a tender moment in the sprawling 176-minute Nishaanchi. Wrestler-turned-goon Jabardast Singh (Vineet Kumar Singh) has just killed another pehelwaan (wrestler), after finding out he has wronged a local woman. This is Kanpur in 1996, and it’s not just the woman’s ‘honour’ Jabardast wants to avenge; he also wants to settle his score with a man (son-in-law of the president of the wrestling club), who got picked as the captain, ahead of Jabardast for years, forcing him to gulp his humiliation and give up wrestling to become a thug. In the scene, Jabardast is lying in bed with Manjiri (Monika Panwar) telling her he’ll have to surrender to the police. Being the right-hand man of a well-respected/feared thug, Jabardast has been assured that he’ll only have to serve a brief sentence, after which he will come back.