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Guild Reviews

Image of scene from the film Toaster
FCG Rating for the film Toaster: 47/100
Toaster

Comedy (Hindi)

Murder and chaos erupt when a miser becomes obsessed with a toaster he gave as a wedding gift.

Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, Abhishek Banerjee, Upendra Limaye, Seema Pahwa, Farah Khan, Archana Puran Singh, Jitendra Joshi, Pratik Gandhi, Patralekhaa
Director: Vivek Daschaudary


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Srivathsan Nadadhur | Independent Film Critic

A Complete Brain Roast

Thu, April 16 2026

Ramakant, a miserly middle-class man is obsessed with saving every penny. When a wedding he and his wife (Sanya Malhotra) attended is abruptly called off, he embarks on a bizarre, relentless quest to get back the expensive toaster they gifted. His pursuit results in series of mishaps, accidental murders, blackmail, amidst a group of eccentric neighbours. It is simply a bad day at work for Rajkummar Rao. While he has pulled off comedies effortlessly before, this one is too much of a farce to salvage, and the cluelessness is visible on screen. Sanya Malhotra puts up a neat show, as she generally does, though her role contributes little to the proceedings.

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Priyanka Roy | The Telegraph

The laughs dry up in Toaster, but the madness ensures a good one-time watch

Thu, April 16 2026

There is something about Rajkummar Rao’s comic timing — subtle or not — that always hits home. In Ludo, we saw it in the undying love that his ’80s-styled character had for Mithunda — displayed via moves, mohawk and the breathless rattling of the menu at the joint he served in as a waiter. In one of his earlier films, Talaash, where he played the supporting role of a cop, his character’s dilemma to stay or leave, while in the background, when his boss, played by Aamir Khan, engages in a shouting match with his wife (Rani Mukerji) in a public space, proved to be a masterclass in understated lightness in a scene that was otherwise exceptionally intense. In Stree 2, a franchise that has given him immense opportunity to flaunt his comedic chops, the scene where his Vicky desperately mimics Jana’s (Abhishek Banerjee) mother in wholly unintelligible phrases just to drown out her grating voice, is meme gold.

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Suchin Mehrotra | The Hollywood Reporter India writing for The Quint

Rajkummar Rao's Confused Comedy Wastes a Great Premise

Thu, April 16 2026

Loses the plot when it stops being about the actual missing toaster, writes Suchin Mehrotra.

Toaster—the confused new comedy on Netflix from debut director Vivek Daschaudhary and the first film from actors Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa’s new production house, Kampa Films—wastes a great premise. Meet Ramakant (Rajkummar is never NOT a joy to watch in a comedy) who’s a terrifyingly, debilitatingly cheap. I’m talking ‘argues for a six-rupee refund on his phone bill’ level kanjoos. His way of being includes taking his wife to the local gurdwara for langar to celebrate their wedding anniversary, and sneaking toast from his neighbour every morning to save himself from having to pay for breakfast. That, or attending local political rallies or religious processions for the free food.

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Image of scene from the film Pallichattambi
Pallichattambi

Action, Drama (Malayalam)

Small-town schemer Chattambi survives by staying ahead of his neighbors through risky plans. When his plans backfire, he has to depend on extricating himself from the mess he created.

Cast: Tovino Thomas, Kayadu Lohar, Vijayaraghavan, Sudheer Karamana, T G Ravi, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Johny Antony, Nishanth Sagar, Eldho Mathew, Prasanth Alexander
Director: Dijo Jose Antony
Writer: Suresh Babu


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Janani K | India Today

Tovino Thomas fights hard, but the script doesn't

Thu, April 16 2026

Director Dijo Jose Antony's Pallichattambi, starring Tovino Thomas, Kayadu Lohar and Vijayaraghavan, is a routine drama on feudalism and approach. While the film concentrates on scale, it struggles in terms of treatment.

A film’s mood is established in its initial few minutes. Pallichattambi opens with massive hype surrounding a feudal lord who oppresses people, without revealing his face. The narrative follows how the Church stood against the communist government in the 1950s, highlighting the history of the Liberation Struggle. Set in 1958 in the village of Kaaniyar, the story follows the Church as it seeks a strong protector against the rising influence of Communist workers. They find Krishnan Pillai, also known as Pallichattambi (the church rowdy), as their unlikely messiah. Pillai arrives in Kaaniyar as Pothan Christopher with the sole aim of halting the spread of communism.

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Image of scene from the film Dacoit
FCG Rating for the film Dacoit: 40/100
Dacoit

Action, Romance, Thriller (Telugu)

A man is convicted for a crime he didn't commit owing to a betrayal by his better half. He hunts her down seeking vengeance, as their stories intertwine with a series of robberies.

Cast: Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, Anurag Kashyap, Prakash Raj, Sunil Varma, Zayn Marie Khan, Kamakshi Bhaskarla, Atul Kulkarni, Vaibhav Tatwawadi
Director: Shaneil Deo


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Shubhra Gupta | The Indian Express

Chase that runs out of steam

Thu, April 16 2026

It’s good to have Adivi Sesh back in action, building on his kinetic Kshanam-Goodachari persona. But his conflicted convict Hari, out for revenge against the love of his life (Mrunal Thakur), is overwrought.

This Telugu-Hindi thriller, meant to be a fast-paced romance between two good-looking people from opposite sides of the tracks, proves a few things: plots trying to be new shouldn’t feel familiar, it’s never a good idea to waste Prakash Raj, and that Anurag Kashyap needs to act a lot more, as he literally saves this film from sinking. It’s good to have Adivi Sesh back in action, building on his kinetic Kshanam-Goodachari persona. But his conflicted convict Hari, out for revenge against the love of his life (Mrunal Thakur), whom he holds responsible for his ruin, is overwrought. More underwhelming is Thakur as Saraswati, the upper-class, upper-caste woman whose idea of showing her lover a good time is to teach him how to drive on a straight road.

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Tusshar Sasi | Filmy Sasi

Too serious to be funny, too funny to be serious

Fri, April 10 2026

In cinema, or in the worlds that inspire it, some concepts are inherently dated. One such relic is dacoity. What do you picture when you hear of a film titled Dacoit? I go straight to the Chambal Valley, or maybe think of a Veerappan type, clad in camouflage, sporting a handlebar moustache, clutching hunting guns with a bullet rack slung diagonally across the torso. Given the dubious ways of Telugu cinema, I would at least expect one of those routine one-man battles against the system to protect mothers and sisters. Shaneil Deo’s film, however, delivers none of that. Instead, Dacoit tries to be everything else, none of which resembles a dacoit.

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Anmol Jamwal | Tried & Refused Productions

Bonnie & Clyde need to take a hike

Fri, April 10 2026

Image of scene from the film Margo's Got Money Troubles
Margo's Got Money Troubles

Drama, Comedy (English)

The daughter of a former Hooter's waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, Margo is a recent college dropout and aspiring writer. Faced with a new baby, mounting pile of bills, and dwindling number of ways to pay them, Margo must find a way forward.

Cast: Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, Nicole Kidman, Greg Kinnear, Thaddea Graham, Michael Angarano, Rico Nasty


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Sonal Pandya | Times Now

Elle Fanning Is Outstanding In Family Drama About Unplanned Pregnancy

Wed, April 15 2026

Based on the novel by Rufi Thorpe, the funny yet heartwarming TV series follows a young woman who gets knocked up by her college professor and decides to keep the baby

It takes a village to raise a child and the latest Apple TV series, Margot’s Got Money Troubles, enforces that notion. Created by David E. Kelley, it stars Elle Fanning in the lead as the title character, Margo Millet. Margo’s life does a 180 degrees once she becomes pregnant, but she remains committed to being the best mother that she can be to her child. The eight-part series takes some unexpected turns, particularly after Margo decides to create an OnlyFans account to earn money. But it’s the performances from the stellar cast that keeps the series grounded, as they all come together to help Margo raise her baby.

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Image of scene from the film Euphoria S03
Euphoria S03

Drama (English)

A group of high school students navigate love and friendships in a world of drugs, sex, trauma, and social media.

Cast: Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Eric Dane, Martha Kelly, Chloe Cherry, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje


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Sonal Pandya | Times Now

Zendaya Is Lone Bright Spot In Overhauled Drama That Shows Few Sparks

Wed, April 15 2026

Created by Sam Levinson, the HBO drama returns after four years to completely revamp the tone and characters fans have known and loved.

The Euphoria that fans loved from 2019 to 2022 is no more. The HBO series is back after four years for a third season with a five-year time jump to show the characters out of high school. But this new version of Euphoria has gone through a rehaul and the premiere episode has turned into a bizarre Western with Zendaya’s Rue leading the charge. While the writing and direction are largely uneven, the actors save the muddled attempt at Euphoria 2.0, which is still worth tuning in to, for nostalgia’s sake.

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Image of scene from the film Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa
FCG Rating for the film Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa: 64/100
Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa

Thriller, Mystery, Drama (Hindi)

At an anniversary party, Sohrab Handa is found dead, with his throat slit in the hall. As the investigation unravels, friendships are tested, and secrets are revealed.

Cast: Vinay Pathak, Koel Purie, Neil Bhoopalam, Palomi Ghosh, Sharat Katariya, Sadiya Siddiqui, Rajat Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey, Danish Husain, Waluscha D'Souza
Director: Rajat Kapoor
Writer: Rajat Kapoor


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Srivathsan Nadadhur | Independent Film Critic writing for M9 News

Agatha Christie-Style Mystery Works In Parts

Mon, April 13 2026

Raman and Jayanti invite friends to a resort to celebrate their tenth anniversary. The party turns nasty when a guest, Sohrab Handa, starts bullying everyone and exposing their secrets. By morning, Sohrab is found murdered. Since the house was locked, the killer must be one of the friends. Inspector Qureshi arrives to find the truth, proving that even ‘nice’ people can hide a deadly streak.

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Nonika Singh | The Tribune

Whodunit amid depths of moral abyss

Sat, April 11 2026

The film aims to lift the veil on many things, most importantly how dysfunctional relationships work under the garb of yaari-dosti, bonhomie and pyar-mohabbat of blood ties

Without much ado, the film comes straight to the point. A man, but obviously Sohrab Handa (Vinay Pathak), is found murdered in a living room. For those of us who have seen ‘Knives Out’, the basic template does not come as a surprise. A whole lot of men and women, relatives and friends have assembled in this picturesque getaway home. Expectedly, the fingers of suspicion point in all possible directions. There is the disgruntled father (MK Raina), sleepwalking wife Isha (Koel Purie), business partner Raman Chawla (Neil Bhoopalam) who we later learn wants Sohrab out of their business, and TV anchor Kumar (Danish Husain) of a crime show, ‘Pardafaash’. Like most things here, this name hasn’t been chosen randomly.

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Anuj Kumar | The Hindu

The pathology of a bully

Fri, April 10 2026

Vinay Pathak’s brutal turn exposes the toxicity of dysfunctional relationships cloaked in civility in this Rajat Kapoor whodunit

Quietly subversive and more interested in human frailty than genre payoffs, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a quintessential Rajat Kapoor film. It doesn’t reinvent the whodunit, but it humanises it, turning a murder mystery into a mirror held up to the insidious violence we inflict on the people we claim to love. The final reveal and tonal balance don’t fully satisfy, but it is a respectable experiment that fiercely tugs at the deepest strings of the heart. To celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, Raman (Neil Bhoopalam) and Jayanti (Palomi Ghosh) invite a close group of friends and family for an intimate getaway at a sprawling century-old mansion in the hills. Among the guests is Raman’s business partner, Sohrab Handa (Vinay Pathak), a sharp-tongued, unapologetically abrasive presence who dominates every conversation with his acid wit and honesty. Sohrab is perceptive, knowing which insecurities to poke and how to cloak them in humour.

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Image of scene from the film The Boys S05
The Boys S05

Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure (English)

A group of vigilantes known informally as “The Boys” set out to take down corrupt superheroes with no more than blue-collar grit and a willingness to fight dirty.

Cast: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Nathan Mitchell


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Sonal Pandya | Times Now

Timely Superhero Satire Hurtles Forward In Gory, Satisfying Finale

Sun, April 12 2026

In its final season, the gang goes all out to stop the evil Homelander, who has become more unhinged than ever.

After seven years and 32 episodes, The Boys is finally in its home stretch. The Amazon Prime Video series, based on the comic book series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, features a group called The Boys that wants to take down egomaniacal Homelander (Antony Starr), the leader of the world’s Supes. With each season, Homelander has become more and more deranged and powerful. As the stories in the superhero satire begin to echo the real-life events of our world, the show has turned into more of a drama than the social commentary it was meant to be. In the final battle, the characters viewers have grown to love and hate over five seasons are fighting for life and death in a gruesome and dark ending.

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Image of scene from the film Hacks S05
Hacks S05

Comedy, Drama (English)

Explore a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old.

Cast: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Mark Indelicato, Rose Abdoo


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Sonal Pandya | Times Now

Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder Take Victory Lap Ahead Of Series Ending

Sun, April 12 2026

In their farewell season, actresses Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder hilariously attempt to cement the legacy for their characters.

The award-winning comedy Hacks is going out with a bang as Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder return for one last ride as Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels, respectively. The bitingly funny series about Hollywood and the current state of comedy has been following the veteran stand-up comedian for the past four seasons and as it enters its last chapter, Hacks is ready to go down as one of the greats. Co-created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W Downs, and Jen Statsky, the HBO comedy closes itself out in a way that will make everyone satisfied.

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Image of scene from the film Toh Ti Ani Fuji
FCG Rating for the film Toh Ti Ani Fuji: 64/100
Toh Ti Ani Fuji

Romance, Drama (Marathi)

In a world where love is filtered, scored and predicted, a couple in Pune, India, collides in a fierce, consuming romance. What begins in urgency and desire slowly fractures. Time intrudes. Ambition shifts. Affection turns conditional. What once felt infinite begins to bruise and break. Seven years later, beneath the shadow of Mount Fuji, they meet again. Japan is quieter. The air is thinner. They are no longer who they were. Carrying different lives, different scars, they stand face to face with a past that never truly left them. Can love survive its own history or does it merely haunt those who try to return to it? Toh, Ti Ani Fuji is an intimate, visually driven meditation on love, memory and the fragile, devastating hope of second chances.

Cast: Lalit Prabhakar, Mrinmayee Godbole, Omprakash Shinde
Director: Mohit Takalkar


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Deepak Dua | Independent Film Journalist & Critic

सधी, संभली प्रेम कहानी ‘मैं वो और फुजी’

Sat, April 11 2026

फिल्म दिखाती है कि इस पीढ़ी को रिश्ते बनाना और तोड़ना तो आता है, रिश्ते निभाने में ये लोग डगमगा जाते हैं...

जापान के फुजी पर्वत को नखरे वाला पर्वत माना जाता है। कभी यह मीलों दूर से भी दिख जाता है तो कभी पास से भी नज़र नहीं आता है। ज़्यादातर तो यह बादलों में ही छिपा रहता है और कभी अचानक से मन मोहने वाली अदाएं बिखेरने लगता है। हालांकि यह सवा तीन सौ साल पहले आखिरी बार फटा था लेकिन आज भी इसे एक जीवित ज्वालामुखी माना जाता है। इस फिल्म में फुजी का क्या किरदार है, यह आगे समझेंगे लेकिन पहले यह जान लीजिए कि सोनीलिव पर आई यह एक मराठी फिल्म है जिसका मूल नाम ‘तो ती आणि फुजी’ (Toh Ti Ani Fuji) (मैं वो और फुजी Main Woh Aur Fuji) है और यह मराठी के साथ-साथ हिन्दी में भी देखी जा सकती है।

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Srivathsan Nadadhur | Independent Film Critic writing for M9 News

A Messy Yet Watchable Breakup Story

Sat, April 11 2026

A couple in Pune loses their way in an intense but toxic romance that collapses under the weight of ego and ambition. Seven years after their breakup, they unexpectedly reunite in Japan. Against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, they must confront their painful past and the possible road ahead. The film predominantly revolves around the couple, and both the leads, Lalit Prabhakar and Mrinmayee Godbole, hold the fort with assurance. Lalit plays the more complex role with a better character graph; he’s efficient because you ultimately understand the man’s trauma and also despise him for his abusive behaviour towards his partner. Mrinmayee Godbole, as the woman bearing the brunt of mounting debts and an insensitive love interest, delivers an intense yet delicate portrayal that lingers long after the film ends. Omprakash Shinde is not left with much to do. The child artiste Kabir Jueelee Deven makes a mark with his happy-go-lucky presence.

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Shubhra Gupta | The Indian Express

A relationship drama that feels fresh and urgent

Fri, April 10 2026

Directed by Mohit Takalkar and written by Irawati Karnik, Toh Ti Ani Fuji is the kind of grown-up relationship drama which feels fresh, contemporary and urgent.

This Marathi language feature involves a pair of former lovers accidentally bumping into each other in Tokyo years after their painful parting. The meeting between Toh (He, Lalit Prabhakar) and Ti (She, Mrinmayee Godbole) causes facades to be peeled off, re-opening old wounds: can these two forgive each other, and is forgetting on the cards? Directed by Mohit Takalkar and written by Irawati Karnik, Toh Ti Ani Fuji is the kind of grown-up relationship drama which feels fresh, contemporary and urgent: as Toh and Ti are drawn to each other, trying to see how they fit in, we see just how complex the thing between two people can be, where ‘extreme hatred and extreme love’, as one of the two puts it, can appear to be the two sides of the same coin.

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Image of scene from the film Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam
Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam

Comedy, Thriller (Malayalam)

The family's journey to Sreekandapuram to settle the late Bharathan Nair's second wife and son takes a dark turn when an issue from his past resurfaces, leading to an unexpected crime. Forced into a desperate cover-up to protect their future, the family must navigate a treacherous path of secrecy and mounting pressure, determined to overcome any obstacle by any means necessary.

Cast: Saiju Kurup, Kalaranjini, Swathi Das Prabhu, Sruthy Suresh, Baby Jean, Jinil Rex, Jivin Rex, Vinay Forrt, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Jagadish
Director: Krishnadas Murali
Writer: Krishnadas Murali, Vishnu R Pradeep


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S. R. Praveen | The Hindu

A rationalist bent to its dark humour makes this better than the original

Sat, April 11 2026

Helped by fine performances, director Krishnadas Murali reimagines the theme of the original to offer a somewhat engaging dark comedy

A dead body in the house can be one of the most horrific situations or a source of mirth, depending on the tone and treatment that a movie adopts. Mohiniyattam, which gently spoofs Drishyam, turns the situation into a hilarious affair, with periodic reminders of the dead man’s deceitful nature, supposedly to make us laugh without any sense of guilt. Sequels often end up as pale imitations of the original. But in conceiving a sequel to the mildly funny Bharathanatyam (which incidentally was a spoof of Balettan), Krishnadas Murali reimagines the original’s basic theme, injecting it with loads of dark humour and turning it into a markedly better film, like Vaazha 2 last week.

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Image of scene from the film Kaakee Circus
Kaakee Circus

Comedy, Crime, Mystery (Tamil)

A small town in Tamil Nadu wakes up to chaos when a temple donation box is stolen from the sub-jail. Soon, the investigation led by two eccentric policemen unravels secrets more than they can handle.

Cast: Subash Selvam, Munishkanth, Rajesh Madhavan, Gauthami Nair, Vinsu Rachel Sam, Nakkalites Savithiri, Abdool Lee, Maruthupandian, Rakesh Ushar, Vigneshwar Suresh
Director: Ameen Barif
Writer: Ameen Barif


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Srivathsan Nadadhur | Independent Film Critic writing for M9 News

Light-Hearted, Time-Pass Investigation Comedy

Sat, April 11 2026

After a security breach in a small jail, a thief sneaks inside to steal a locked donation box. Two very different police officers, Anbuchelvan and Arjun, try to solve the crime, but things get messy when local YouTubers start filming everything for views. Between the weird prisoners and the media circus, the officers struggle to catch the clever thief who is using all the noise and confusion to stay hidden. Munishkanth appears at home as a laidback officer on the verge of retirement; it’s a role tailor-made for him. He’s alright, but it honestly doesn’t feel like a surprise. Subash Selvam, playing an ambitious constable, is more agile and enjoys stepping into the shoes of his role, hardly going overboard.

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Image of scene from the film Youth
Youth

Comedy, Romance, Drama (Tamil)

Youth follows Praveen, a 15-year-old boy who enters adolescence determined to find true love before school ends. As he goes through multiple relationships and heartbreaks, he slowly begins to understand what love truly means. Along the way, the experiences shape his growth, maturity, and outlook on life.

Cast: Ken Karunaas, Anishma Anilkumar, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Devadarshini, Meenakshi Dinesh, Priyanshi Yadav, Abison Thevarasa, Sarath, Eshwar Santhanalakshmi, Nalini
Director: Ken Karunaas
Writer: Ken Karunaas


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Kirubhakar Purushothaman | News 18

A fun ride that loses its way

Fri, April 10 2026

Ken Karunas’s debut film is 'self-aware' enough to see its flaws, but not brave enough to fix them

Over the years, Tamil cinema has trained the mass audience to always root for the loser. For example, Maan Karate’s protagonist, Peter (Sivakarthikeyan), is the poster boy for this brand of hero. In essence, Peter has no redeeming qualities. He is a lazy and incompetent bloke who lives off a gang that has a premonition that he will win a boxing contest. For a villain, the film features a character who has toiled his entire life to become a professional boxer. Yet, the film encourages the audience to back the hero because he is supposed to be relatable to the masses. Isn’t it easy to imagine a person winning in life without any effort?

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