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Sanyukta Thakare

Mashable India

Sanyukta Thakare is a film journalist & critic turned content creator who discusses the cultural and social impacts of cinema. Currently, she works at Mashable India, and also covers anime, Korean drama and other Western content. Previously, she has worked for The Free Press Journal and DNA.

All reviews by Sanyukta Thakare

Image of scene from the film Chidiya

Chidiya

Adventure, Drama, Family (Hindi)

Amruta Subhash, Vinay Pathak’s Film Brings Back The Childhood Innocence

Sat, May 31 2025

Endearing

Directed and written by Mehran Amrohi, the film saw a long awaited release. The film has finally hit the screens decade later amid all the remakes and reboots. With a fresh and easy emotional story to follow, the film is an endearing tale of childhood innocence that we still have and aspire for as adults. However, the plot on forefront is a gruelling tale of two kids who have lost their father and in doing so lost their childhood too. The film begins with two brothers playing in the backyard of the chawl. Both Shanu and Bua love to loiter around as any kid would want to, but as any mother would, their mother, now the sole parent can’t bare the thought of losing the kids too. Worrying after then while also worrying about how to get by line after the death of their husband, the sole breadearner, Vaishnavi is left with no other option but to send the kids to work. The decision is not only to make sure they are walk the right path in life but to also help earn a living.

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Image of scene from the film Criminal Justice: A Family Matter

Criminal Justice: A Family Matter

Crime, Mystery, Drama (Hindi)

Pankaj Tripati Brings Back A Well-Written, Directed Drama

Sat, May 31 2025

Crime drama season 4 has another intriguing case

The show has returned for a new season with a new story that explores another crime. Directed by Rohan Sippy, the season 4 follows another criminal case taken on by Pankaj Tripathi’s character, Madhav Mishra. Mishra is known for fighting against injustice and for his clients, but this time, instead of taking a pro bono case, he finally accepts a case from a wealthy client. Even though it puts him at odds with a high-paying consultant job, Mishra decides to stick by his client and do justice to him. Season 4 does take a different path as compared to the plots in previous seasons, but Mishra hasn’t changed, which keeps the audience rooted in the story. Season 4 begins with Mishra taking on a consulting job for a big law firm to keep up with his status. The first case he is asked to be part of has him convincing the victim to settle, as it would be in his best interest. With a small settlement amount, Mishra begins to learn how the big companies work, however, it doesn’t sit well with him. On the other hand, Anju Nagpal wants Mishra to take on her husband’s case as is getting arrested by the cops for his girlfriend’s murder. Anju who lives right across walked in on Raj Nagpal holding a bleeding body of his GF Roshini after hearing their maid’s distressed scream.

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Image of scene from the film Inheritance

Inheritance

Thriller (English)

Bridgerton's Leading Lady Gets Stuck In A Cross Country Chase For Nothing

Fri, May 23 2025

Game Of Thrones prequel actor returns for a similar performance

Inheritance directed by Neil Burger of Limitless, Divergent, The Marsh King’s Daughter, also brings the similar thrill to the 2025 release. Led by Phoebe Dynevor aka Daphne Bridgerton of the hit Netflix series, the film is a crime drama with thriller elements that manage to keep you hooked. But the film doesn’t bring anything new or extraordinary to its genre with its direction or writing. The camera work approach does change things up, but it doesn’t change the experience of the film or the story. The film follows a Maya Welsh after the death of her mother, who she had been caring for the last nine months, watching her die. Maya losses her way after the death of her mother, and while her sister is worried about her, Maya jumps at the first chance to reconnect with her estrange father. Sam Welsh is played by Rhys Ifans, best known for his recent Game Of Thrones prequel character Ser Otto Hightower, shows up at the funeral after being out of touch for years. On showing up the first he does is offers a job to his daughter as a real-estate agent in Egypt.

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Image of scene from the film Bhool Chuk Maaf

Bhool Chuk Maaf

Comedy, Romance, Science Fiction (Hindi)

Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi's Family Entertainer Comes With A Heavy Lesson

Fri, May 23 2025

Only for those who wish to take it to heart

Bhool Chuk Maaf explores the time loop concept for the first time in Bollywood. The concept was rampant in Hollywood movies in early 2000s for chick flicks and made a comeback few years ago with comedy elements. However, Rajkummar Rao’s film gives its own spin to it. Still focusing on the social lesson behind it, the film brings along a comedy family entertainer about wedding which is just right for the season. Apart from good performances and comic relief the film’s music is also worth visiting theatres for. The film follows Ranjan and Titli’s love story and what the two go through to make sure they end up with each other. While Titli’s struggle is more based in reality and how women sacrifice in relationships, Ranjan’s struggle to win her over is more supernatural. Bhool Chuck Maaf begins with Ranjan and Titli running away from home to get married, but ending up in police station to get permission from their parents. Their wedding in fixed on one condition, Ranjan has to prove he is capable of taking care of Titli by landing a government job. The father-in-law asks for the condition to be met in mere one month, but Titli asking for some consideration lands Ranjan extra 30 days to land the job.

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Image of scene from the film Final Destination Bloodlines

Final Destination Bloodlines

Horror, Mystery (English)

Will Get You Cheering For All The Wrong Reasons

Wed, May 14 2025

Will traumatise a new set of generations

Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, the franchise returns with a fresh perspective and many nostalgic moments. Titled Final Destination Bloodlines, the film brings forth exactly what it promises with the title and the trailer. The story is pretty simple and follows through with every other film in the franchise, but the direction and screenplay get a major upgrade. The film takes you from cheering for the characters, rooting for them to surive to cheering for death and fullfilling his own destiny by taking everyone out.

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Image of scene from the film Maria

Maria

Drama, Music (English)

Angelina Jolie Led Biopic Breaks Your Heart With Pablo Larraín's Direction

Fri, May 9 2025

Must watch for cinematography

Maria Callas was an infamous opera singer known as one of the most renowned sopranos of the 20th century. Directed by Pablo Larrain of Spencer on Princess Diana and Jackie on Jacqueline Kennedy, this too does not disappoint with its storytelling and cinematography. Maria, is the third film by Pablo about an influential female public figure and it does not attempt to life the character or break it down. Instead we get a look into what little we know of the finale days of her life and career. The film follows the seven days before her death in Paris in 1977, as she reflects on her life and career.

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Image of scene from the film The Bhootnii

The Bhootnii

Comedy, Horror, Romance (Hindi)

Sanjay Dutt's Horror Comedy Is A Twisted Tale Of Love And Betrayal

Thu, May 1 2025

Gets in few good laughs

The Bhootnii directed and written by Sidhaant Sachdev, explores the horror comedy genre with 2000s vibe focusing on a love story and a forgotten ghost. The plot of the film has a clear path but the execution takes longer than needed to come to a conclusion. The second half does well with its comic timing and few emotional moments but the horror elements are not good enough to compete with the genre pioneers in Bollywood like Stree franchise. The film begins with the story of a mysterious tree that’s been worshiped by college students for as long as they can remember. Everyone prays to the tree for true love and hopes that the wishes comes true. While everyone believes in the tree, there is more to the story. A group in the college is also protesting against it believing that the tree is haunted and it’s causing death of kids whose true love didn’t come true. Past cases have also been revealed about how by Holi celebration, some former students died by taking their own lives.

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Image of scene from the film Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts*

Action, Adventure, Science Fiction (English)

New Avengers Film Is About The Void Inside You, Your Demons And Darkness

Thu, May 1 2025

Cucumber, Taco and a Chicken On Meth

Thunderbolts* are the New Avengers, we like it or not, but the world is going to shit and as we know it, the Avengers are not coming to save the day. As Valentina de Fontaine said there are bad guys and there are worse guys, so here we are on another action filled journey. The film comes with a few pleasant surprises. But for now, some bad guys decide to stand up and fill in for the missing good guys. Marvel is making big changes for the new phase and the latest film takes an up-close and personal look at the world and the darkness taking over it. But the Thunderbolts* quite literally bring the light back to New York City and a bit in our hearts.

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