/images/members/Srivathsan.png

Srivathsan Nadadhur

Independent Film Critic

Srivathsan Nadadhur is a senior entertainment journalist with over 11 years of media experience who writes about movies, literature, culture, and lifestyle and has contributed to The Hindu, Times of India, Deccan Herald, The NEWS Minute and Film Companion in the past.

All reviews by Srivathsan Nadadhur

Image of scene from the film Toaster

Toaster

Comedy (Hindi)

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.

Continue Reading…

Image of scene from the film Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa

Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa

Thriller, Mystery, Drama (Hindi)

(Written 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.

Continue Reading…

Image of scene from the film Kaakee Circus

Kaakee Circus

Comedy, Crime, Mystery (Tamil)

(Written 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.

Continue Reading…

Image of scene from the film Toh Ti Ani Fuji

Toh Ti Ani Fuji

Romance, Drama (Marathi)

(Written 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.

Continue Reading…

Image of scene from the film Hello Bachhon

Hello Bachhon

Drama (Hindi)

4-Hour-Long PR Effort Fails to Land

Sat, March 7 2026

Alakh Pandey struggles to keep his small coaching centre alive while massive corporations try to buy him out. He faces constant betrayals, teacher resignations, and mounting debts. Meanwhile, his students battle poverty and academic failure, fighting a system stacked against them. Refusing to sell his soul, Alakh takes his mission online, sparking a high-stakes revolution to make education a right for the masses. There is no discrediting the value that Viineet Kumar Singh, Vikram Kochhar, and Girija Oak Godbole bring as performers, but this is definitely not a show that gives much value to their mettle. It simply takes their presence for granted, offering them toothless characters. Viineet’s awkwardness in his performance is quite palpable; he struggles to bring Alakh Pandey alive due to the flat writing. The supporting cast is formidable, though their stories lack any impact.

Continue Reading…

Image of scene from the film Jab Khuli Kitaab

Jab Khuli Kitaab

Comedy, Drama, Family (Hindi)

(Written for M9 News)

Terrific Idea Loses Its Fizz Quickly

Sat, March 7 2026

Gopal and Anasuya, a couple married for 50 years, suddenly announce they are getting a divorce. The news creates an immediate crisis for their grown children and extended family. As the legal process begins, Gopal’s stubbornness clashes with Anasuya’s need for independence. The home becomes a battlefield of old secrets and modern grievances, forcing everyone to question their equation.

Continue Reading…

Image of scene from the film S Saraswathi

S Saraswathi

Crime, Drama (Telugu)

(Written for The Hindu)

An exhausting crime saga that offers nothing new

Fri, March 6 2026

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, in her directorial debut, falls short both as an actor and a storyteller

It is not often that women-led mainstream films find their way into theatres in Telugu cinema. When they do, they are mostly directed by men and turn out to be cautionary statements about social ills women confront on a daily basis. Though this is understandable given the crime rate against women and children, it also indicates how such films become a limiting portrait of the lives of women and seldom tap into the essence of their lives beyond victimhood. S Saraswathi, which marks actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar’s directorial debut and is produced by her sister Pooja Sarathkumar, falls prey to this very trope where a woman’s story is largely equated with her suffering. Charting the journey of Lakshmi (Varalaxmi), who works as a nurse in a metropolis, the film is a thriller drama with a non-linear screenplay and the story nearly makes a case for revenge as a necessity.

Continue Reading…

Image of scene from the film Subedaar

Subedaar

Action, Crime, Drama (Hindi)

(Written for M9 News)

Strong Anil Kapoor, Middling Actioner

Fri, March 6 2026

Retired Subedaar Arjun Maurya returns to his hometown, seeking to mend the bond with his daughter, Shyama. His peace is shattered when a sand-mafia heir, Prince, comes in his way. Pushed to his limit, the soldier reawakens his military instincts. Arjun must navigate a personal war of redemption and a battle against Babli Didi’s criminal empire to protect his family and honour. Anil Kapoor’s raw intensity, brought alive with his physicality and sharp dialogue delivery, is easily the film’s lifeline. If you manage to take the film seriously, it is all about his visceral screen presence. Radhika Madan has a decent character arc as the rebellious, grieving daughter, though the performance is hardly her best.

Continue Reading…

Latest Reviews

Image of scene from the film Bhooth Bangla
FCG Rating for the film Bhooth Bangla: 36/100
Bhooth Bangla

Horror, Comedy (Hindi)

A man inherits a palace in rural Mangalpur and plans his sister's wedding there, but strange… (more)

Image of scene from the film Matka King
FCG Rating for the film Matka King: 56/100
Matka King

Drama, Crime (Hindi)

In this fictional tale set in 1960s Mumbai, an enterprising cotton trader who craves legitimacy and… (more)

Image of scene from the film Toaster
FCG Rating for the film Toaster: 48/100
Toaster

Comedy (Hindi)

Murder and chaos erupt when a miser becomes obsessed with a toaster he gave as a… (more)

Image of scene from the film Mr. X
Mr. X

Action, Thriller (Tamil)

(more)