Mayasabha - Rise of the Titans
War & Politics, Drama (Telugu)
Two rival politicians from different backgrounds rise through Andhra Pradesh's power structure in the 1970s-80s. KKN and MSR navigate caste politics and personal ambition during a pivotal era in Indian history. (more…)
Court Kacheri
Comedy, Drama (Hindi)
A father-son relationship story with a coming-of-age legal drama infused with sharp wit, intense courtroom battles, and an exploration of... (more…)
Guild Reviews
Coolie
Action, Thriller, Crime (Tamil)
A mysterious man takes a stand against a corrupt syndicate exploiting and abusing the workers of a port town.
Cast:
Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, Aamir Khan, Reba Monica John, Monisha Blessy, Baburaj
Director:
Lokesh Kanagaraj
(Writing for Medium)
Hype vs Reality in Rajinikanth’s Latest
Mon, August 18 2025
Superstar Rajinikanth’s latest movie Coolie is trash! At least, that’s what the general consensus among reviewers seems to be. There are reports about falling footfalls, defying earlier expectations of it becoming Tamil cinema’s 1000-crore grosser. But if we set aside these endless discussions about ticket sales — which, let’s face it, none of us have any stake in — our financial fate won’t change, no matter how many crores the movie makes. Why would we give even a two-hoot about a film’s commercial success? That’s a discussion for another day. Coming back to Coolie, I initially refused to read any reviews or listen to anyone’s opinions. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t avoid stumbling upon multiple negative takes. The headlines all said the same thing: “Coolie is a huge disappointment.” “Lokesh Kanagaraj fails to deliver on expectations.” Memes and posts across social media screamed the same.
Not enough Lokesh Kanagaraj in Rajinikanth's latest
Sun, August 17 2025
There are four key pieces of information on the Coolie poster. Above the title: ‘Superstar Rajinikanth’. And below: ‘Written & directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj’, ‘An Anirudh musical’, ‘An Anbariv action’. In the end, the film ends up less than the sum of these imposing parts. It isn’t sterile, it has something of all their personalities, but no one brings their A-game. The film starts with its best idea: Soubin Shahir as the heavy. He plays Dayal, an enforcer at a Visakhapatnam dockyard, responsible for keeping workers afraid and details of his employer’s smuggling racket from leaking out. It’s inspired casting, transforming the mild-looking Malayalam actor into a loathsome sadist. Shahir jumps in headfirst, radiating mean little guy malevolence as he hacks, bludgeons and gurgles psychotically.
Lokesh Imitates Lokesh In A Convoluted 'Baashha' Reprise
Sat, August 16 2025
Lokesh Kanagaraj is no longer a “young” filmmaker. He’s been around for eight years and six films, and it’s become easy to predict the exact manner in which he works on his screenplays. Back when he introduced the Gatling gun towards the end of the much-loved Kaithi, we didn’t just get one of Tamil cinema’s most exhilarating climaxes, we also got a textbook example of what one can do with a great Chekhov’s Gun. Five films and an artillery later, you’re able to make out the beats of what he’s trying to achieve, hours before his films get there. So when we saw a happy picture of Parthiban/Leo and family feeding their newly domesticated hyena, you could sense that the wild animal would make a return later on in the film. And by the time we hit Coolie, our minds are working overtime when a pointless character walks past a closed door with another pointless character revealing how lethal the inmate of that room is. It may have been a gun in Kaithi, a canon in Vikram, a box and arrow in Master and the Hyena in Leo, but with Coolie, Lokesh has possibly realised that he’s making a film so big that he can now afford to cast a full-time superstar from another industry as his Chekhov’s Gun.
Sangarsha Ghadana (The Art of Warfare)
Crime, Drama (Malayalam)
Kodamazha Suni, a retired organised crime leader, is compelled to return to his homeland after his former gang is attacked by an unknown adversary. Haunted by his past decisions, Suni's journey mirrors the battles of ancient warriors, as he faces his greatest adversary yet. As the conflict deepens, Suni’s thought process is explored through the wisdom of an ancient Chinese text, revealing the timeless struggle between strategy, surveillance, and survival
Cast:
Vishnu Agasthya, Zhinz Shan, Rahul Rajagopal, Sreenath Babu, Mrudula Murali, Sanup Padavedan, Jain Andrews, Megha Ranjini Krishnan, Manoj Kana
Director:
Krishand
Writer:
Krishand
Krishand’s rumination on the futility of war brims with quiet inventiveness
Sun, August 17 2025
The anticipation of violence is as mind-numbing as violence itself — the expectation that someone who has taken a hit will retaliate, with several ways to do so. In Sangarsha Ghadana - The Art of Warfare, which begins with a violent hit by one gang on another, filmmaker Krishand prolongs this anticipation to upset the audience’s expectations of what would transpire during that period. Kodamazha Suni (Sanup Padaveedan), a former gangster who has moved on and is now living a respectable life, has just lost four of his trusted lieutenants in a brutal attack by an unknown gang led by Kunjan (Vishnu Agasthya). One would expect the man to be plotting his revenge, especially when he sits with the other members of his former gang. The comical policemen tailing him also probably expected the same. But go closer, and the conversations are about a pepper drink and special masala dosa that Suni would like to have before leaving the city.
War 2
Action, Adventure, Thriller (Hindi)
Years ago Agent Kabir went rogue, became India’s greatest villain ever. As he descends further into the deepest shadows... India sends its deadliest, most lethal agent after him, Agent Vikram A Special Units Officer who is more than Kabir’s equal and a relentless Terminator driven by his own demons, determined to put a bullet into Kabir’s skull.
Cast:
N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Hrithik Roshan, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Alia Bhatt, K.C. Shankar, Varun Badola
Director:
Ayan Mukerji
(Writing for The Daily Eye)
Chopra’s aiming for pan-India domination misfires
Sun, August 17 2025
Let’s begin with a universal truth: a film doesn’t necessarily need a new idea. Sometimes, all it takes is a snazzy new coat of paint, some brooding stares, an international flight or six, and voilà! You have a fresh treatment. Or so one hopes. Enter: War 2. The sequel to 2019’s War has been handed over to Ayan Mukerji, who trades in time travel (Brahmāstra flashbacks, anyone?) for testosterone, tactical, and tight t-shirts. Taking the reins from Siddharth Anand, Mukerji attempts to inject some emotional heft into the franchise, perhaps believing that what this series really needed was… feelings. The result? A three-hour cocktail of high-octane set-pieces, soul-searching monologues, and chase sequences that last longer than most gym memberships.
Impossible Mission
Sat, August 16 2025
It is challenging to identify any redeeming qualities in this high-budget, multi-crore disaster. From the action sequences to the storyline, particularly the action, this film disrespects the audience’s intelligence, even if one assumes that the audience possesses a wide range of sensibilities.
(Writing for The Juggernaut)
The Spy Thriller That Forgot the Thrill
Sat, August 16 2025
In 2019, Siddharth Anand’s War gave us answers. That, yes, a big, pulpy blockbuster could look slick enough to make your eyes dance. That the camera doesn’t just love Hrithik Roshan — it worships him in salt-and-pepper mode, an object of thirst so undeniable even Tiger Shroff’s stoic glare softens in submission. That Shroff, with his balletic precision and coiled physicality, could turn action into poetry — especially when put chest-to-chest with Roshan, eyes locked, breath mingling. And that somewhere between the beaches, bullets, and blatant homoerotic stares, mainstream Bollywood might have finally figured out how to make spy thrillers pure cinema.
Fixed
Animation, Comedy (English)
After learning he's getting neutered, a dog has 24 hours to squeeze in one last balls-to-the-wall adventure with the boys.
Cast:
Adam Devine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn, Fred Armisen, Bobby Moynihan, Beck Bennett, Michelle Buteau, River Gallo, Scott Weil, Aaron LaPlante
Director:
Genndy Tartakovsky
Utterly deranged, it’s perhaps the only cartoon film that could realistically be banned by the CBFC
Sat, August 16 2025
Animation hall-of-famer Genndy Tartakovsky latest film, Fixed, was originally set for a theatrical release, but was offloaded by Warner Bros. during a cost-cutting drive. While movies such as Coyote vs. Acme and Batgirl — both were dealt similar blows — remain sight unseen, it’s easy to imagine why the studio would’ve wanted to wash the scent of Fixed off of itself. A wiser move would’ve been to bury it in the backyard. Painfully unfunny, the train wreck of a movie feels interminable at even 80 minutes long; it’s crude, cringe, and filled with juvenile dialogue that makes you feel like you’re eavesdropping on a group of 12-year-old boys at the playground.
Raunchy Adult Animated Comedy About Dog About To Be Neutered Is Not For Faint-Hearted
Thu, August 14 2025
Fixed is not a family film. It is far, far from that. Instead, the animated feature on Netflix focuses on a dog named Bull who is about to lose his ‘manhood’ by being neutered at the vet. Along with three of his besties, he has a wild 24 hours before he is tamed. Think of Fixed as an animated The Hangover featuring canine characters. Filmmaker Genndy Tartakovsky’s new animated feature goes hard and may not be for everyone. Bull (voice of Adam DeVine) is a mutt who is loved by his family but they are tired of him humping anything that moves, including the aged Nana. The solution is to send him to the vet to get neutered once and for all. Bull’s pack of besties, boxer Rocco (voice of Idris Elba), dachshund Fetch (voice of Fred Armisen) and beagle Lucky (voice of Bobby Moynihan), try to reassure him, but he runs off to the city. They eventually track him down, leading to a night of mayhem where Bull tries to admit his feelings for Honey (voice of Kathryn Hahn), an Afghan hound who is being presented at the dog show. The pack’s misadventures make up much of the story.
Weapons
Horror, Mystery (English)
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.
Cast:
Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Justin Long, Amy Madigan, Cary Christopher, Austin Abrams, Whitmer Thomas, Callie Schuttera
Director:
Zach Cregger
Writer:
Zach Cregger
Indian directors are more terrified of making meaningful horror movies than you are of watching them
Sat, August 16 2025
Can a society that is terrified of confronting the evil at its core ever produce a single subversive piece of art? Certainly, Indian cinema is still taking baby steps when it comes to addressing our immorality; here, a movie about caste discrimination is a movie about caste discrimination, a movie about corporate greed is a movie about corporate greed, a movie about political corruption is a movie about political corruption. But it will be a while before our cinema is empowered to subvert. It will be a while before someone makes a gothic horror about crimes against women, or a creature feature about the Kashmir issue. It will be a while before we get a homegrown version of Barbarian director Zach Cregger’s brilliant new film, Weapons.
(Writing for OTT Play)
The Adolescence Of Horror
Thu, August 14 2025
Weapons opens and closes with a kid’s voiceover, but the anonymity of this narrator kind of ties into the film’s thematic fluidity. As viewers, we are simply wired to look for social cues, for hints and allegories. Weapons knows this and toys with our instincts. The meaning — or lack of it — lies in the eyes of the beholder. The horror in the film becomes anything we want it to be. For some, it could be a self-aware take on community trauma and urban isolation. For some, it could be a nifty riff on our biases about witchcraft and creepy relatives. For some, it could be a naughty satire on our perception of true-crime and supernatural stories. For some, it’s the wicked title, where the emotional ‘weaponisation’ of an entire town on edge prevents them from looking in the most obvious places. The twist — of a fragile outsider arriving to cast a voodoo over victims and turn them into literal weapons — is an entertaining rendition of this simple idea.
The most terrifying and twisted horror of the year
Tue, August 12 2025
When 17 kids from the same class mysteriously disappear from their homes on the same night except for one student (Alex) and the teacher (Julia Garner as Justine), the bewildered town seeks answers. While both survivors face scrutiny, Justine becomes the prime suspect. How did the kids vanish into thin air! Who’s behind these bizarre disappearances? This gripping small town mystery is like nothing you have seen before. Shocking at every turn, it never gets predictable. Very rarely do you come across a horror film that’s smartly layered, deeply unsettling, dark and amusing, all at once. Weapons ticks all the boxes. Be it the isolated setting, camera work or performances, you feel as much a part of this eerie mystery as the characters.
Meesha
Drama (Malayalam)
A forest guard, Midhun, invites his old friends to a reunion in the woods. What starts as a warm get-together slowly turns into a night of tension, betrayal, and survival, as secrets unravel and friendships crack under pressure.
Cast:
Kathir, Shine Tom Chacko, Hakkim Shajahan, Sudhi Koppa, Srikant Murali, Jeo Baby, Unni Lalu, Ranjith Vengodan
Director:
Emcy Joseph
Writer:
Emcy Joseph
A Solid Survival Drama That Loses Its Way In The Forest
Sat, August 16 2025
Hidden within the surface of Meesha (moustache) is an intense drama about lost friendships and betrayal. This friendship may be described simply as one between Anandhu (Hakim Shah) and Mithun (Kathir), but there are larger factors at play to keep them separate. From the outside, it looks like caste is what divides them most. Although they both appear to belong to the same financial class, Anandhu hails from privilege. He appears to stay in an agraharam, and when he struggles to find a job, we hear him complain about reservations and the surname that has kept him poor. On the other end is Mithun, a childhood buddy of Anandhu’s. But as they grow up together, they face societal hurdles that keep them apart. Mithun belongs to a community of fishermen, and he lives in a colony that becomes the hot topic of Meesha. A corporate textile factory is said to come up in this colony, promising jobs, homes, and money to each resident. It will likely lead to development in the future, but for now, it requires this group of 2000 to be relocated.
Constable Kanakam
Drama, Mystery (Telugu)
Kanakam, a brave young woman, becomes the first lady constable from her village. When she's posted to a new village where women are mysteriously disappearing, including her friend Chandrika, she begins an investigation. Despite facing resistance and shocking truths, Kanakam fights for justice and truth with courage and determination.
Cast:
Varsha Bollamma, Megha Lekha, Rajiv Kanakala, Srinivas Avasarala, Kishore Kumar Polimera, Jwala Koti, Rakendu Mouli, Prem Sagar
Director:
Prashanth Kumar Dimmala
Writer:
Prashanth Kumar Dimmala
(Writing for M9 News)
Thriller Past Expiry Date
Sat, August 16 2025
Kanaka Mahalakshmi a.k.a Kanakam, a feisty young woman, is deputed as a constable in Repalle in the 90s. While her male colleagues consistently undermine her capabilities, she finds an ally in a senior cop Sambasiva. Kanakam forges a strong bond with a folk artiste Chandrika, who goes missing. As the missing cases mount in the village, she goes all out to find answers. Varsha Bollamma effortlessly portrays the psychological evolution of Kanakam through the series, from an underdog staffer to an officer who’ll go to any length to seek the truth. She has an arresting screen presence, displaying an uncanny ability to hold a show on her shoulders. Srinivas Avasarala’s penchant for unconventional roles takes an interesting turn, and he responds well to it.
Andhera
Drama, Mystery (Hindi)
In this visceral tale of urban horror, a fearless cop and a haunted medical student must take on this living darkness to avert impending doom.
Cast:
Priya Bapat, Prajakta Koli, Karanvir Malhotra, Surveen Chawla, Vatsal Sheth, Parvin Dabas, Pranay Pachauri
Director:
Raghav Dhar
Writer:
Gaurav Desai, Raghav Dhar, Akshat Ghildial, Karan Anshuman, Chintan sarda, Karmanya Ahuja
(Writing for M9 News)
Ambitious but Confusing
Sat, August 16 2025
A young woman, Bani’s disappearance into a supernatural darkness leads a cop, Kalpana and a medical student, Jay, on a dangerous quest. They uncover a conspiracy by a pharma CEO, Madhu Uberai, who exploits human suffering. As they try to unravel the secrets behind the darkness, named Tama, they confront their traumas and an unstoppable evil in a final, epic battle to save reality. The show boasts of decent performances all around, though it’s designed to exhibit the vision of the creators more than anything else. Karanvir Malhotra delivers a neat performance as the troubled sibling, trying to make sense of his brother’s trauma. Prajakta Koli’s vibrant, easy-going presence helps her portrayal, and Priya Bapat lends a silent dignity to her sincere cop-act.
This Prajakta Koli series is a juvenile mish-mash
Fri, August 15 2025
The hardest thing about this show is also the easiest. Once you accept the fact that heightened hokeyness is key to both the characters and the construct, you begin admiring the straight-faced seriousness with which everyone gets with the plan, with nary an eye roll or giggle in sight. Without giving too much away, and I suppose I couldn’t even if I wanted to, so outlandish is everything, the ‘andhera’ in the title turns out to be a malevolent entity which threatens to enslave human-kind. It has wriggly tentacles which probe and fasten, whisking victims away into a never-never land where they lie in suspension, neither dead nor alive, mere husks.
Will The Real Darkness Please Stand Up?
Thu, August 14 2025
Cold on the heels of Mandala Murders, Andhera (“darkness”) is yet another supernatural thriller that ends up becoming a cautionary tale on narrative ambition. This genre of horror is so shapeless that, if the theme isn’t as culturally focused as a Khauf or even an Asur, it tends to spiral into several directions without doing justice to any. It’s like a batsman who keeps swinging big — regardless of the match situation — under the pretext of “intent”. It doesn’t help that Andhera is one of the longest Hindi shows of the year. Or perhaps its 8 episodes feel longer because the world-building just never stops building; it’s not a good sign when a central character says “we were wrong all along” in the penultimate episode. It’s obvious that I’ve run out of patience because I usually don’t hit the ground running with criticism in the opening paragraph. I like some suspense and world-building too. But life is short and, if the title is anything to go by, I’m one typo away from reviewing the suburb I live in (Andheri).
Mayasabha - Rise of the Titans
War & Politics, Drama (Telugu)
Two rival politicians from different backgrounds rise through Andhra Pradesh's power structure in the 1970s-80s. KKN and MSR navigate caste politics and personal ambition during a pivotal era in Indian history.
Cast:
Aadhi Pinisetty, Chaitanya Rao, Sai Kumar, Divya Dutta
Deva Katta's Political Drama Hampered By Weak Writing and Stiff Acting
Fri, August 15 2025
I suppose the first thing you need to know about Mayasabha is that it is an incomplete show—like most shows these days, hungering for your attention to make you watch their second season, they forget to complete the first. So, before you strap on for this nine-episode saga, know there will be nine more. How has this become common practice among the streamers? Imagine being pushed out of a theatre post interval, and being told that this is all we get to see for now—come later, pay again, for more. They have collectively ruined storytelling as an art form, fracturing it into parts that can be sold cheaply at the marketplace for attention. Mayasabha, also like most shows today, is written with a lethargic hand and an unexcited imagination, beginning with a high-stakes, political, livewire moment, only to recede into a long, winding flashback. We will not return to that high-stakes moment in this season—that is for later.
(Writing for Binged)
A Smart Blend of Reality and Fiction
Sat, August 9 2025
Born to a humble farmer, Krishnama Naidu is a rebellious son with firm views on society and justice, nursing political ambitions. Rami Reddy, an MBBS student, is trying to outgrow the shadow of his father, a notorious goon. A national emergency is declared by the authoritarian PM Iravati Basu, and as Andhra Pradesh descends into chaos, a change in order seems imminent. Aadhi Pinisetty delivers a fabulous performance as KKN, showcasing his evolution as a tactful leader and as a man of many dimensions. He brings authority to Naidu’s persona while making the character relatable to the viewer. Playing Rami Reddy, an unlikely entrant in politics, Chaitanya Rao Madadi lends enthusiasm and agility to the portrayal.
Deva Katta delivers an intriguing high stakes drama
Sat, August 9 2025
Sony LIV’s new Telugu web series, Mayasabha, opens with a familiar disclaimer: any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental. Yet it does not take long to draw parallels between its characters and the political giants who shaped undivided Andhra Pradesh. Echoes of NT Rama Rao, the actor-turned-leader; YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the doctor-turned-politician; and the current chief minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, and several others ripple throughout the storyline. Titled Rise of the Titans, the show’s first season is a sharp and dramatic commentary on the socio-political fabric of the State. Ambitious in scope and often gripping in execution, the series draws viewers into a world of power struggles, shifting loyalties and behind-the-scenes drama.
The Assassin
Crime, Drama, Mystery (English)
Secluded on a remote Greek island, retired assassin Julie has a somewhat thorny reunion with her estranged son, Edward, visiting from England. Armed with questions around new information on his paternity, Edward battles to find the right time to speak to his frustratingly distant mother. But, when the moment finally presents itself, things take a deadly turn as Julie’s dangerous past catches up with her and they are forced to flee the island and go on the run together.
Cast:
Freddie Highmore, Keeley Hawes, David Dencik, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Gerald Kyd, Devon Terrell, Gina Gershon, Ibraim Cândido, Aurora Marion, Elie Haddad
Keeley Hawes, Freddie Highmore's Show Brings Back Fun And Drama In Thriller
Fri, August 15 2025
The Assasin is a crime thriller created by Harry and Jack Williams and led by Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore, which follows a mother and son duo as their past begins to haunt them. While the mother is an assassin the son returns to her asking questions about who his father is. Meanwhile, a unknown group puts a heavy bounty on her head making it impossible for the two of them to have real conversation without racking up dead bodies around them. The show begins with Keeley Hawes as Julie at a young age in 1994, fighting off a group of Russians to get to her target. Despite being offered a lot of money, she finished her mission and left the money behind. However, just as she confirms her kill and is about to move on to her next, the timer on her watch rings out to let her know it’s time to check the pregnancy test. 31 years later, Julie has retired and is living on a small Greek island alone while waiting for her estranged son to come visit her.
Court Kacheri
Comedy, Drama (Hindi)
A father-son relationship story with a coming-of-age legal drama infused with sharp wit, intense courtroom battles, and an exploration of...
Cast:
Ashish Verma, Pavan Malhotra, Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Puneet Batra
Director:
Ruchir Arun
TVF takes Panchayat formula to small-town courtrooms; Pavan Malhotra is as watchable as ever
Fri, August 15 2025
Shifting focus from panchayats and chikitsalayas, TVF takes the legal route to tell the story of a generational conflict revolving around small-town court kacheris. Is Harish Mathur, whose acumen in the court-room has earned him legions of fans, wrong to assume that his son Param will follow in his footsteps? Is Param right in wanting to forge his own path, which will take him far away from both his father’s chosen profession, as well as the land of his birth?
मनोरंजन की अदालत में कमजोर निकला टीवीएफ का ये केस
Thu, August 14 2025
कोर्ट कचहरी और काले कोट वाले वकीलों से लोग अमूमन दूर ही रहना पसंद करते हैं, इसलिए उनकी दुनिया से अंजान भी होते हैं। ऐसे में, न्याय के इस मंदिर के इर्द-गिर्द ढंग से कहानी बुनी जाए तो एक ताजगी और नयापन जरूर महसूस होता है। जैसा कि बीते साल आई वेब सीरीज ‘मामला लीगल है’ को लेकर महसूस हुआ था। रवि किशन स्टारर यह सीरीज टीवीएफ (द वायरल फीवर) से निकले विश्वपति सरकार और समीर सक्सेना ने बनाई थी। वहीं, अब TVF के मूल कर्ता धर्ता अरुणाभ कुमार इसी विषय पर नई सीरीज ‘कोर्ट कचहरी’ लेकर आए हैं, जिसमें दो पीढ़ियों यानी पिता-पुत्र के बीच करियर की आजादी को लेकर तनातनी का तड़का भी है, मगर इसके बावजूद मामला सही से सेट नहीं हो पाया है और उनका यह केस (सीरीज) कमजोर रह गया है।
A Performative TVF Dramedy That Loses A Case to Itself
Wed, August 13 2025
Court Kacheri does a lot right for its first three (out of five) episodes. It unfolds as a legal dramedy that questions its own identity. The young protagonist, Param (Ashish Verma), is a reluctant second-generation lawyer by virtue of being the son of a popular senior advocate, Harish Mathur (Pawan Malhotra). Param detests the profession — he’s seen his dad entertain all kinds of criminals, shady clients and corrupt politicians over the years. All he wants to do is leave for either Dubai or Canada, but a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) becomes a conflict after he’s caught in a fake-marksheet scam. Basically, he’s a nepo-baby who can’t handle the pressure of legacy. The outsider, Suraj (Puneet Batra), is Harish’s loyal assistant. Unlike Param, he wishes he was his mentor’s son with silver-spoon privileges; his passion for law sees him hustle to start a secret practice with a friend (Amarjeet Singh) behind Harish’s back. In short, there’s a toxic patriarch and two boys desperate to escape his shadow and become their own men.
Putulnaacher Itikotha (The Puppet's Tale)
Drama, History (Bengali)
Shashi, an urbane doctor, returns to his native village, a place seemingly mired in a backward way of life, for a short visit. As he becomes closely involved with the villagers, Shashi’s short stay threatens to become permanent.
Cast:
Abir Chatterjee, Jaya Ahsan, Parambrata Chatterjee, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Ananya Chatterjee, Surangana Bandyopadhyay, Shantilal Mukherjee, Pinaki Majumder
Director:
Suman Mukhopadhyay
Captures a Nation at the Crossroads of Eastern Philosophy and Western Skepticism
Thu, August 14 2025
Shashi (Abir Chatterjee) is not the ‘hero’ we’re used to seeing in mainstream cinema. He comes off as someone perpetually irate at the people around him, but it’s probably his powerlessness that gives way to his anger. The one and only doctor in a tiny hamlet in West Bengal, despite his best attempts, Shashi is never able to meet his own expectations. In the film’s first scene – he discovers a dead acquaintance, killed by a bolt of lightning. The man was on his way to find an educated groom for his teen daughter. More than anger, Shashi is disappointed how a life is lost in search of a 10th-pass prospect.
(Writing for OTT Play)
Captures The Anxiety Of A Man and A Country — On The Edge
Tue, February 4 2025
Suman Mukhopadhyay’s Putulnacher Itikatha or The Puppet’s Tale (part of the Big Screen Competition at International Film Festival Rotterdam this week) begins with a man on a boat, the twilight glistening in the swampy conditions surrounded by rural Bengal of the late 1930s. On the boat is Dr Shashi Bhuto (Abir Chatterjee), encountering his ancestral village and with it, death. “Everyone must face death someday”, his voiceover drones, insisting that he doesn’t, therefore, mourn. He lives a double life, one in his physical manifestation, as a doctor in a village in pre-Independence India, populated by people with little to no education and beset by all kinds of issues, from religious dogma, superstitions and lack of access to basic services amidst war in Europe and freedom struggle. His other life is in his head, his future he dreams of in a city, maybe London, as the affluent, posh doctor he wishes to be. In many ways, The Puppet’s Tale — adapted from Manik Bandopadhyay’s 1936 novel of the same name — is a curious film. It can be placed in the context of a particular time in India as well as a particular period in Indian cinema. It is set during a transitional, commotion-filled phase in modern Indian history — less than a decade for independence from British rule—with the movement touching every corner of the country. The film intentionally refrains from registering any of that. In cinema terms, it is almost two decades before Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali, which itself is a certain rural time capsule of new India, followed by forced migration towards busier parts of the country. Here, Shashi’s existential crisis takes precedence over India’s own. That’s not to say he is unbothered by the condition of a country that is just about incubating. His existential crisis eats away at him, he holds dreams of moving to London to be the doctor that he wants to be instead of toiling away treating the local villagers who are sceptical about his methods.