Freedom at Midnight S02
Drama, War & Politics (Hindi)
Freedom at Midnight is the electrifying story of India's struggle for independence. Based on the bestselling book of the same name, it recounts the partition of India and Pakistan, and the religious and socio-political dynamics of the era. (more…)
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…)
The Raja Saab
Comedy, Horror, Fantasy (Telugu)
A young heir embraces both his royal heritage and rebellious spirit as he rises to power, establishing unprecedented rules during his reign as Raja Saab. (more…)
Guild Reviews
Freedom at Midnight S02
Drama, War & Politics (Hindi)
Freedom at Midnight is the electrifying story of India's struggle for independence. Based on the bestselling book of the same name, it recounts the partition of India and Pakistan, and the religious and socio-political dynamics of the era.
Cast:
Sidhant Gupta, Chirag Vohra, Rajendra Chawla, Arif Zakaria, Rajesh Kumar
Director:
Nikkhil Advani
Mon, January 12 2026
लेखक विलियम एल शीरर की किताब ‘राइज ऐंड फॉल ऑफ थर्ड राईच’ की शुरुआती लाइन है, ‘दोज हू फॉरगेट हिस्ट्री आर कंडेम्ड टू रिपीट इट’ यानी जो अपना इतिहास भूल जाते हैं, वे उसे दोबारा दोहराते हैं। इसलिए, फिल्मकार निखिल आडवाणी अपनी सीरीज ‘फ्रीडम एट मिडनाइट’ के जरिए 1947 के उस ऐतिहासिक लेकिन विवादित पन्ने को पलटते हैं, जब देश को आजादी की कीमत बंटवारे के अब तक रिसने वाले जख्मों से चुकानी पड़ी थी। लैरी कॉलिन्स और डोमिनिक लैपियर की इसी नाम से लिखी चर्चित किताब पर आधारित इस सीरीज का दूसरा सीजन आ चुका है, जिसमें निखिल हिंदुस्तान और पाकिस्तान के स्वतंत्र अस्तित्व में आने के दौरान हुई हिंसा और उसके बाद के राजनीतिक-सामाजिक हालातों, चुनौतियों को बहुत ही गहराई और संवेदनशील ढंग से पर्दे पर उतारा है।
Nikkhil Advani hits the sweet spot between text and context
Sat, January 10 2026
History lovers often crave the human drama behind epochal events. They pine for the backroom intrigue, the clash of egos, the creases in the starched characters that decorate our history books, not to forget the impact of their moral stand on the man on the street. These days, ancient and medieval history offers plenty of elbow room to play with the past, but when it comes to modern Indian history, filmmakers tend to draw back, as the wounds are still fresh and memories of Partition linger.
Nikkhil Advani's Historical Series Delves Deep Into Partition Trauma
Sat, January 10 2026
After premiering in November 2024 on SonyLIV, Freedom at Midnight has returned to pick up the story after independence was announced for India and Pakistan by the British Raj. The historical drama, created by Nikkhil Advani, is more thoughtful and poignant in this second season as the emotional impact of the Partition hits you deep. Backed by a strong cast and excellent writing, Freedom at Midnight takes viewers right in to the heart of creating the two neighbouring nations and the toll it created for the citizens, then and now.
Parasakthi
Action, Drama, Romance (Tamil)
1965 Tamil Nadu, India: Chezhiyan becomes entangled in an agitation that threatens the very livelihood of the people of the Madras State. His attempts to protect his passionate student brother put him into a life and death struggle with an intelligence agent whose fanaticism is only met by his ruthlessness.
Cast:
Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, Sreeleela, Atharvaa Murali, Dev Ramnath, Prithvi Pandiarajan, Basil Joseph, Guru Somasundaram, Chetan, Rana Daggubati
Director:
Sudha Kongara Prasad
(Writing for OTT Play)
The Revolution Has A Face, Not A Character
Sun, January 11 2026
In Parasakthi — the 2026 version, not the seminal 1952 Krishnan-Panju film written by M Karunanidhi — Sudha Kongara often films Sivakarthikeyan in silhouettes. We meet Chezhiyan (helpfully working as a Tamizh name as well as a call to a revolutionary like Che) in 1959, and what we first see is his outline amidst darkness as he holds an effigy (the language of Hindi anthropomorphised) and threatens to stop a train. It is an immersive entry for a hero in a film based on the anti-Hindi agitations of 1965 in the Madras state. We see him as a student leader, an activist and a revolutionary. And the silhouette gives him shape and form, but not characteristics. It centres the movement and students as its ultimate progenitors.
Song Sung Blue
Drama, Music, Romance (English)
Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams.
Cast:
Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Hudson Hilbert Hensley, Shyaporn Theerakulstit
Director:
Craig Brewer
Writer:
Craig Brewer
Love on the Rocks
Sun, January 11 2026
Song Sung Blue is inspired by the music of Neil Diamond but it is not a biopic of the famed singer. Rather, it presents a biographical narrative of the individuals who established a tribute band dedicated to Neil Diamond. The documentary featuring Mike and Claire Sardina shares the same title as this film and acts as a source of inspiration for the storyline.
Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson in an aching duet of love and life
Tue, December 9 2025
“Nostalgia sells,” says Patsy Cline impersonator Claire (Kate Hudson) to an exasperated Mike (Hugh Jackman) in Song Sung Blue. He had just refused to don a Don Ho getup at a paying gig. If it weren’t a film and the actors weren’t well-known, this would be the last scenario where any sparks might fly. In a striking dramatization of a true story, the duo come together, romantically and professionally, to become a hit among Milwaukee’s music lovers, who take Neil Diamond’s songs like a sweet pill. Beyond the onstage fireworks, the unbelievable love and family story of Lightning and Thunder takes shape in Craig Brewer’s musical melodrama.
People We Meet on Vacation
Romance, Comedy, Drama (English)
Poppy's a free spirit. Alex loves a plan. After years of summer vacations, these polar-opposite pals wonder if they could be a perfect romantic match.
Cast:
Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Lucien Laviscount, Lukas Gage, Miles Heizer, Alan Ruck, Molly Shannon, Tommy Do
Director:
Brett Haley
Tom Blyth, Emily Bader Charm In Funny, Delightful Rom-Com
Sat, January 10 2026
The first adaptation of author Emily Henry’s work is off to a flying start. Director Brett Haley stays close to Henry’s work with People We Meet on Vacation, as two best friends, Alex (Tom Blyth) and Poppy (Emily Bader), reunite every summer to travel to new places. Of course, with every trip, their relationship changes as they wonder if they could be right for one another. The Netflix film doesn’t change the genre by any means, but Blyth and Bader elevate the material with their chemistry and witty banter.
The Raja Saab
Comedy, Horror, Fantasy (Telugu)
A young heir embraces both his royal heritage and rebellious spirit as he rises to power, establishing unprecedented rules during his reign as Raja Saab.
Cast:
Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, Zarina Wahab, Samuthirakani, VTV Ganesh, Saptagiri
Director:
Maruthi Dasari
Writer:
Maruthi Dasari
Sat, January 10 2026
A bizarre spectacle where the joke never lands
Sat, January 10 2026
Early on in The Raja Saab, a health scare prompts Prabhas to ask comedian Mahesh Achanta to fetch an odd assortment of items, from footwear to cigarettes. When Mahesh asks if he is serious, Prabhas snaps back with: do the needful — call an ambulance. The exchange is meant to be funny, but it lands flat, setting the tone for what follows. Written and directed by Maruthi, The Raja Saab aims to rewind Telugu cinema to a pre-Baahubali Prabhas — when he thrived in light-hearted roles with space for romance and comedy, à la Darling or Mr Perfect. The actor appears willing to embrace this blend of horror, comedy, fantasy and romance. Yet the film collapses into a baffling hotchpotch that squanders a promising premise. At 189 minutes, it becomes an endurance test, where the occasional spark of fun is smothered by a dull, meandering narrative.
Prabhas's horror comedy is devoid of charm, thrills and chills
Sat, January 10 2026
Prabhas’s much-anticipated film, The Raja Saab is about a search for a missing grandfather. Over its three-hour runtime, viewers also end up searching for more than a grandfather. They seek plot cohesion, character depth, genuine scares, or consistent entertainment value - must-haves for every film. Like the film’s protagonist wandering through a haunted palace, you may feel a lack of clear direction or a fully satisfying destination. The Raja Saab begins with Raja (Prabhas) living with his grandmother Gangamma, played by Zarina Wahab. Gangamma suffers from Alzheimer’s and remembers only her missing husband Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt) and her grandson. She tells Raja to keep looking for his missing grandfather, who often appears in her dreams.
Laalo
Family, Drama (Gujarati)
A rickshaw driver trapped in a farmhouse confronts his past demons while experiencing visions of Lord Krishna, who guides him through a transformative journey of self-discovery and healing.
Cast:
Reeva Racch, Shruhad Goswami, Karan Joshi
Director:
Ankit Sakhiya
Writer:
Vicky Poornima, Krushansh Vaja, Ankit Sakhiya
While the film draws from Frank Capra's 'It's a Wonderful Life' and Vikramaditya Motwane's 'Trapped', it ultimately delivers a universal message about living with grace and generosity.
Sat, January 10 2026
आस्था और कर्म का मार्ग दिखलाती ‘लालो’
Sat, January 10 2026
पहले तो यह जान लीजिए कि ‘लालो’ हिन्दी में डब होकर आई एक गुजराती फिल्म है जिसे बिना उपयुक्त प्रचार के रिलीज़ कर दिया गया है, शायद यह सोच कर कि यह अपनी राह खुद बना लेगी। लेकिन इसे बनाने वाले लोग शायद हिन्दी के दर्शकों का मिज़ाज नहीं जानते कि ये लोग सिर्फ उसी चीज़ के पीछे भागते हैं जिसके भीतर भले ही दम हो या न हो लेकिन जिसका ढोल ज़ोर-ज़ोर से बजाया गया हो। तो सुनिए, इस फिल्म ‘लालो-श्रीकृष्ण सदा सहायते’ का ढोल इस तरह से बजाया जा सकता है कि अक्टूबर, 2025 में गुजराती में रिलीज़ हुई यह फिल्म गुजराती सिनेमा के इतिहास की सबसे बड़ी हिट फिल्म है। इसके आने से पहले जहां सबसे बड़ी हिट गुजराती फिल्म का कलैक्शन 50 करोड़ था वहीं इस फिल्म का कलैक्शन 120 करोड़ तक जा पहुंचा है। माउथ पब्लिसिटी के दम पर इतनी बड़ी हिट होने के बाद अब यह हिन्दी में डब होकर आई है। ज़ाहिर है इसमें कुछ तो खास होगा ही, आइए देखते हैं।
Haq
Drama (Hindi)
In 1980s India, Shazia Bano takes her husband to court after he abandons her and their children, sparking a national battle over faith, women’s rights, and justice.
Cast:
Yami Gautam, Emraan Hashmi, Danish Husain, Sheeba Chaddha, Vartika Singh, Aseem Hattangady
Director:
Suparn Verma
Writer:
Reshu Nath
A Spotify Review
Wed, January 7 2026
Haq, the new propaganda movie starring Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi, is even more insidious than Dhurandhar. We talk about the film’s harmful stereotypes, the irresponsibility of presenting an entire community as savages, and drawing a direct line between bad behaviour and faith. We also discuss the film’s sloppy storytelling, childish approach to complex ideas, and its constant need to spoon-feed its audience.
A Spotify Review
Wed, January 7 2026
Haq, the new propaganda movie starring Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi, is even more insidious than. We talk about the film’s harmful stereotypes, the irresponsibility of presenting an entire community as savages, and drawing a direct line between bad behaviour and faith. We also discuss the film’s sloppy storytelling, childish approach to complex ideas, and its constant need to spoon-feed its audience.
(Writing for OTT Play)
Suparn Varma’s Haq Is A Persuasive Take On The Shah Bano Case
Tue, November 11 2025
HAQ becomes a better film once it ends. The Suparn Verma directorial feature is based on the landmark 1985 Shah Bano case, where a Muslim woman won her right to alimony. Although personal, her fight assumed big proportions because it revealed the knotty relationship between Muslim Personal Law, where a husband is entitled to provide maintenance during the iddat period after divorce, and the Indian secular law. In this particular case, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Bano; later, the then-Congress government offset the judgment by sanctioning women to receive “reasonable and fair provision and maintenance" for three months after the divorce; Haq concludes by mentioning this, applauding, in the same breath, the current government for criminalising triple talaq and passing the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.
The Pitt S02
Drama (English)
The staff of Pittsburgh's Trauma Medical Center work around the clock to save lives in an overcrowded and underfunded emergency department.
Cast:
Noah Wyle, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, Sepideh Moafi
Emmy-Winning Medical Drama Makes Confident Return With New Obstacles, Faces
Tue, January 6 2026
The first season of HBO Max’s The Pitt became a breakout hit after it focused its attention on the forgotten frontline workers in a Pittsburgh hospital. Now, a year after its premiere, the medical drama is back with its unique storytelling format and more urgent conditions for its characters. With each episode taking place over an hour, The Pitt highlights the many challenges faced by healthcare workers in America. This time, the show unfolds over the busy national holiday on the Fourth of July and delves more into the doctors’ and nurses’ lives as well.
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.