Ithiri Neram
Romance, Comedy (Malayalam)
On his way to a long-overdue drinking party with two friends, Anish receives an unexpected call from Anjana, a past lover visiting the city. Their decision to meet sets the stage for an evening of easy banter, reopened wounds, and (more…)
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
Action, Adventure, Fantasy (Malayalam)
The story follows Chandra , a mysterious, goth-influenced woman who has just moved to Bangalore and begins working night shifts at a café. Across the road from her apartment live Sunny and Venu, two aimless bachelors. Sunny becomes infatuated with (more…)
Single Salma
Comedy, Family (Hindi)
A woman from Lucknow, India, who has dedicated her life to supporting her family, yet continues to be identified as single and “unsettled” due to remaining unmarried. (more…)
Maharani S04
Drama (Hindi)
A political drama set in Bihar of 1990's, this story shows how an illiterate woman handles the state as Chief Minister. Rani Bharti's life takes an interesting turn when her husband Bheem Singh Bharti, announces her as the next chief (more…)
Guild Reviews
Ithiri Neram
Romance, Comedy (Malayalam)
On his way to a long-overdue drinking party with two friends, Anish receives an unexpected call from Anjana, a past lover visiting the city. Their decision to meet sets the stage for an evening of easy banter, reopened wounds, and difficult choices.
Cast:
Roshan Mathew, Zarin Shihab, Nandhu, Anand Manmadhan, Kannan Nayar, Athulya Sreeni, Krishnan Balakrishnan, Jeo Baby, Srinesh Pai, Sreekala Suresh
Director:
Prasanth Vijay
Writer:
Vishak Shakti
Fri, November 14 2025
If done well, conversational films carry an undeniable charm. The context and dialogue must hold our attention, and the actors must know how to talk. It all sounds easy, although the absence of location changes can quickly make any film monotonous. In Prasanth Vijay’s Ithiri Neram, we meet podcast host Anish (Roshan Mathew), who reconnects with his former girlfriend Anjana (Zarin Shihab). Before we realise it, a brief encounter turns into an unforgettable night for the two.
Sat, November 8 2025
Despite the detours, 'Ithiri Neram' leaves you feeling both the pleasures of returning to a dreamlike moment in the past and the pain that only long-lost love can make you feel, albeit for a little while.
When we meet Aneesh (Roshan Mathew) and Anjana (Zarin Shihab) for the first time, Aneesh refers to this ex-girlfriend of his as… Anjana. They’re meeting after seven long years, after their respective heartbreaks, and yet through their easy comfort, we begin to feel like “Anjana” is still too formal a name for Aneesh to be calling her. It’s the easiest name to shorten to Anju and yet, by the end of this meeting, when we realise Anish’s Anjana has now become Anju again, we cannot remember when this shift happened.
Fri, November 7 2025
With ‘Ithiri Neram’, Prasanth Vijay crafts a deeply felt conversational drama with an uncommon turn.
All that two people who were eons ago the world to each other get, when they meet years later, is just a little while (’Ithiri Neram’) to spend together. Each word uttered between them carries with it the weight of their past and the mystery of each other’s present and the paths their lives have taken in the intervening years. In Prasanth Vijay’s third film Ithiri Neram, much has changed in the lives of Anjana (Zarin Shihab) and Anish (Roshan Mathew) from the last time they talked, yet when they meet, it is as if they never stopped talking.
Nuremberg
History, Drama, Thriller, War (English)
In postwar Germany, an American psychiatrist must determine whether Nazi prisoners are fit to go on trial for war crimes, and finds himself in a complex battle of intellect and ethics with Hermann Göring, Hitler's right-hand man.
Cast:
Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Mark O'Brien, Colin Hanks, Wrenn Schmidt, Lydia Peckham, Lotte Verbeek, Richard E. Grant
Director:
James Vanderbilt
Writer:
James Vanderbilt
Fri, November 14 2025
The film refuses to mistake punishment for closure.
In Frederic Raphael’s book, Eyes Wide Open – on the making of Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut (1998), which Raphael co-wrote with Kubrick – at one point, they discuss Schindler’s List. The much-revered, Oscar-sweeping 1995 film by Steven Spielberg is cut down to size by Kubrick for its triumphant, hopeful climax. Something that betrays the way Kubrick sees the Holocaust essentially as a tale of failure. Even though I don’t fully concur with the thesis, I do see where Kubrick was coming from. That the Holocaust was a singular example of systemic moral failure is something that is acutely understood by James Vanderbilt’s Nuremberg – a film named after the infamous trial where the Allies prosecuted the surviving officers of the Nazi high command for crimes against humanity. What’s surprising about Vanderbilt’s film is its awareness isn’t instantly apparent. But how it reveals itself slowly.
Palm Royale S02
Drama, Comedy (English)
In 1969, an ambitious woman aspires to cross the line between the haves and have-nots to secure her seat at America's most exclusive, fashionable, and treacherous table: Palm Beach high society.
Cast:
Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb, Amber Chardae Robinson, Kaia Gerber, Laura Dern, Allison Janney
Thu, November 13 2025
Kristen Wiig returns as the aspiring socialite in this shaky, complex period drama that quickly becomes melodramatic.
The first season of Apple TV’s Palm Royale, while intriguing, had a shaky narrative. That mainly had to do with its large cast of characters; it was hard to keep up with who’s who. Loosely based on Juliet McDaniel’s 2018 novel, Mr & Mrs American Pie, the series adds a few more characters and ups the melodrama, making for a confusing watch. Despite the complexity, the ensemble cast of the dark comedy plunges on with their stylish costumes and lavish production that takes the action away from 1960s Palm Beach, Florida.
Baramulla
Horror (Hindi)
A police officer investigating missing children cases discovers disturbing truths while supernatural occurrences threaten his family and Baramulla's tranquility.
Cast:
Manav Kaul, Neelofar Hamid, Masoom Mumtaz Khan, Arista Mehta, Baby Kiara Khanna, Ashwini Koul, Nazneen Madan, Mir Sarwar, Vikas Shukla, Bhasha Sumbli
Director:
Aditya Suhas Jambhale
Writer:
Aditya Suhas Jambhale
Wed, November 12 2025
2016 का साल। कश्मीर का बारामूला कस्बा। वही बारामूला जिसे वराहमूल और वर्मूल भी कहा गया। एक फंक्शन में तमाशा दिखा रहे जादूगर के बक्से से स्थानीय एम.एल.ए. का बच्चा ’गायब’ हो जाता है। तफ्तीश के लिए डी.एस.पी. रिदवान की वहां पोस्टिंग होती है। कुछ और बच्चे भी ’गायब’ हो रहे हैं। रिदवान को उन आतंकियों पर शक है जो बच्चों को पत्थरबाज बना रहे हैं। उधर जिस पुराने मकान में रिदवान और उनका परिवार रह रहा है वहां भी कुछ अजीब हरकतें हो रही हैं। कोई साया है जो उनके बेटे के संग खेलता है। बेटी को लगता है कि इस घर में कोई कुत्ता भी है। एक दिन रिदवान की बेटी भी ’गायब’ हो जाती है। कौन है इसके पीछे? क्या राज़ है इस घर का? बच्चे ’गायब’ क्यों हो रहे हैं, कैसे हो रहे हैं, कौन कर रहा है, कहां हैं वे बच्चे…?
Tue, November 11 2025
Leaning on the supernatural, Baramulla is propagandist in intent but structured in gripping filmmaking. This distils the seductive craft and the dangers of an Aditya Dhar film.
There is something called an Aditya Dhar film. The emphasis might feel odd, given that he has directed only one feature till now, and the second is waiting in the wings. But the projects he has been involved in the capacity of a writer and producer, most notably Article 370 (2024), bear the distinct stamp of his filmmaking. Tenets of this include compelling set pieces, imposing artistry, and bigoted politics. In Baramulla, the latest film he has bankrolled, all these are heightened to greater, more dangerous heights.
Sat, November 8 2025
Baramulla takes an unconventional approach to depict the terror and trauma in Kashmir. Despite its slow pace and uneven narrative at times, it effectively captures the haunting atmosphere of the region.
Horrors of the land, horrors of the mind and horrors of the past coalesce in Baramulla. The result is an intriguing concoction which may often feel unique, but also one that makes for an uneven ride. Set against the potent backdrop of Kashmir — as is evident from its unequivocal title — Baramulla explores the historically ravaged land where the terror of the present and the trauma of the past co-exist on an everyday basis, one often seeping into the other.
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
Action, Adventure, Fantasy (Malayalam)
The story follows Chandra , a mysterious, goth-influenced woman who has just moved to Bangalore and begins working night shifts at a café. Across the road from her apartment live Sunny and Venu, two aimless bachelors. Sunny becomes infatuated with Chandra, observing her odd routines, strange visitors, and reclusive nature. Their dynamic changes
Cast:
Kalyani Priyadarshan, Naslen, Chandu Salimkumar, Arun Kurian, Sandy, Vijayaraghavan, Mammootty, Dulquer Salmaan, Tovino Thomas, Nithya Shri
Director:
Dominic Arun
Mon, November 10 2025
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is perhaps the most overrated Indian movie of the year. We discuss the film’s inert narrative, jarring action, and inelegant world-building that includes an unnecessary detour into Kantara territory. We also talk about where the franchise could head next, and why it would immediately be better if merged with the universe.
Mon, November 10 2025
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is perhaps the most overrated Indian movie of the year. We discuss the film’s inert narrative, jarring action, and inelegant world-building that includes an unnecessary detour into Kantara territory. We also talk about where the franchise could head next, and why it would immediately be better if merged with the universe.
Mon, September 15 2025
I’ll be honest — I had developed superhero fatigue. In fact, a general fatigue for anything big-scale and action-driven on the big screen. A movie that fit that bill was not my obvious choice. And looking at how juggernauts like Coolie (starring Superstar Rajinikanth) and War 2 (with Jr NTR and Hrithik Roshan) received underwhelming responses, it seems I’m not alone. So when I first saw the trailer of Lokah: Chapter 1 — Chandra, my reaction was: “Not the movie I want to watch right now.” Look at the films that have actually struck a chord with audiences recently — without over-the-top marketing or manufactured FOMO. From Tourist Family to Dragon, Thudarum to Hridayapoorvam, and even Soup from So — audiences have embraced heartfelt, emotional stories. That goes against the post-COVID “wisdom” that only large-scale spectacles will sell tickets.
Single Salma
Comedy, Family (Hindi)
A woman from Lucknow, India, who has dedicated her life to supporting her family, yet continues to be identified as single and “unsettled” due to remaining unmarried.
Cast:
Huma Qureshi, Shreyas Talpade, Sunny Singh, Eleanor Williams, Kanwaljit Singh, Navni Parihar, Prabhat Kumar Lahiri, Nidhi Singh, Lauren Gottlieb, Sharon Drain
Director:
Nachiket Samant
Writer:
Ravi Kumar, Amina Khan
Sat, November 8 2025
Nachiket Samant's film subscribes to stereotypes without peddling them and perpetuates predictability without ruining them. This might sound easy, but maintaining such a balance is a feat.
Films centring on women are often tethered to an issue and conclude with a resolution. This is as much a roadmap as an outline; an overused detour and a rewarding shorthand. Nachiket Samant’s Single Salma ascribes to this with commitment. The protagonist, as the name suggests, is a single woman and her singlehood, as the first ten minutes hint, is the issue. She is 33, the eldest among the four siblings, and is drowning in responsibilities. As most stories like this go, by the end, Salma ought to have her life in control, deliver a spiel about being overlooked for being a girl, find love and find herself in the process. She does, and yet all of this feels novel.
Sun, November 2 2025
हमारे समाज में लड़की तीस की हो जाए, तो घर-परिवार क्या, गांव-जवार, मुहल्ले-रिश्तेदार हर किसी को उसकी शादी की चिंता सताने लगती है। फुसफुसाहट तेज हो जाती है कि इतनी बड़ी उम्र की लड़की से कौन करेगा शादी? इसी रिलेटेबल विषय पर केंद्रित है, हुमा कुरैशी स्टारर फिल्म ‘सिंगल सलमा’, जो लड़कियों के अस्तित्व से जुड़े कई और मुद्दों को पुरजोर तरीके से उठाती है।
The Taj Story
Drama (Hindi)
Vishnu Das is a local guide who becomes driven by a curiosity to uncover the true history behind the iconic Taj Mahal monument.
Cast:
Paresh Rawal, Namit Das, Zakir Hussain, Sneha Wagh, Amruta Khanvilkar, Shishir Sharma, Brijendra Kala, Akhilendra Mishra, Shrikant Verma, Anil George
Director:
Tushar Amrish Goel
Writer:
Tushar Amrish Goel
Sat, November 8 2025
Erratic writing is the film's biggest, but by no means the only, drawback
Notwithstanding the title, The Taj Story does not have much of a story to tell. What it does peddle by way of a narrative has not only been done to death over the decades but has also been debunked in several courts of the land, including the apex one. The writer of the film is constrained to admit as much in a series of title cards before the end-credits begin to roll. The Taj Story is bargain-basement filmmaking that draws inspiration from unsubstantiated history to create a piece of cinema that expects full-on explosions from dud-bombs. It wends its way through prickly territory only to end up without a case strong enough to make itself essential viewing for those who care for the truth.
Thu, November 6 2025
The film follows in the tradition of 'Padmaavat', 'Tanhaji,' and 'Chhaava' in pushing a Hindutva line.
I don’t think anyone working in The Taj Story is acquainted with ‘confirmation bias’ as a concept. Or they’re deliberately ignorant – which is worse. I gauged this from a scene, where a noted lawyer character’s reaction to the declaration “I have evidence that the Taj Mahal wasn’t built by Shahjahan” is not “what is the evidence?” Instead, the lawyer’s voice sounds almost jubilant – like it’s some personal victory. The goal isn’t to find the ‘truth’. The ‘truth’ has already been ascertained in one’s imagination – so one simply needs to cherry-pick facts, poke inane holes in the widely-accepted version of history – to plant a seed of doubt. This isn’t a conclusion arrived at after rigorous thought – it’s shameless, weightless contrarianism for its own sake.
Maharani S04
Drama (Hindi)
A political drama set in Bihar of 1990's, this story shows how an illiterate woman handles the state as Chief Minister. Rani Bharti's life takes an interesting turn when her husband Bheem Singh Bharti, announces her as the next chief minister of Bihar. With casteism and traditional satraps in the background, will Rani survive this turn of events?
Cast:
Huma Qureshi, Sohum Shah, Amit Sial, Kani Kusruti, Pramod Pathak, Vineet Kumar, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Darsheel Safary
Director:
Puneet Prakash
Sat, November 8 2025
Huma Qureshi show offers old laced with some new in terms of actors, but the tone of the show refuses to change.
Season 4 of Maharani is largely a mix of the old laced with a bit of new, in terms of actors joining the ensemble. But the tone of the series, created by Subhash Kapoor, and directed this time by Puneet Prakash, is the same: wily netas double-crossing each other mainly in Delhi and Patna with sidebars in other state capitals, family feuds, and personal and professional rivalries. It’s tempting to speculate if the new season has dropped just in time with the on-going elections in Bihar: whatever, it does inject a bit of spice into a show in which tonal similiarity and the length of each episode is becoming a challenge.
Fri, November 7 2025
Huma Qureshi's Rani Bharti ends up repeating history on the national stage in the new season.
The political series Maharani returns with a big time jump and a new era as it expands beyond the state. Huma Qureshi is joined by several new faces in this latest instalment that sees the politics and the collaborations grow murkier. This next generation of the Bharti clan is more in focus as they begin to grow their political roots as well. Created by Subhash Kapoor, the SonyLIV show manages to inject more intrigue in its fourth season, leaving audiences keen to wonder what will happen next.
Fri, November 7 2025
साल 2021 में ओटीटी पर बिहार की राजनीति की ‘महारानी’ बनकर उतरीं रानी भारती ने दर्शकों का दिल पूरे बहुमत से जीता था। हुमा कुरैशी ने इस किरदार से दमदार छाप छोड़ी। घर में चूल्हा-चौका और गाय-भैंसों की सानी-पानी करने वाली एक आम औरत रानी कैसे रातोंरात बिहार की मुख्यमंत्री बनकर राजनीति के दांव-पेंच में उलझती और निकलती है, इस सफर से दर्शक जुड़ गए। अब सीरीज का चौथा सीजन आ चुका है, जहां रानी भारती बिहार से आगे बढ़कर देश की राजनीति में कदम रखती है। लेकिन पुनीत प्रकाश निर्देशित इस चौथे सीजन में न तो राजनीति के खेल का वह रोमांच है, ना ही रानी के व्यक्तित्व में वो पहले वाला दमखम।
Jatadhara
Action, Horror, Thriller (Telugu)
Investigates the enigma of Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, examining myths and theories about its alleged supernatural powers.
Cast:
Sudheer Babu, Sonakshi Sinha, Shilpa Shirodkar, Divya Khossla, Indira Krishnan, Ravi Prakash, Naveen Neni, Rohit Pathak, Jhansi, Rajiv Kanakala
Director:
Venkat Kalyan
Sat, November 8 2025
Somewhere in this choppy, chaotic enterprise is a film which wants to warn us about the evils of greed, and the importance of tradition. But it is basically yet another Sudheer Babu star vehicle.
Jatadhara movie review: Ghostbusters. Tantrics. Demons. Jatadhara picks up on elements made popular by the current rash of supernatural thrillers–Kantara, Stree– for a Sudheer Babu film which has Sonakshi Sinha making her Telugu debut. Pre-interval, Jatadhara meanders about setting up scenes between the believers and the naysayers. Shiva (Sudheer Babu) packs devices which are meant to go beep in the presence of spirits. He uses these liberally wherever he is, whether it is in the ruins where he bumps into pretty damsel Sitara (Divya Khossla), or sneaking into a tantric ritual where no such instruments are allowed.
Sat, November 8 2025
Jatadhara is an engaging, visually striking supernatural thriller that successfully merges commercial spectacle with artistic expression. It begins with a mythical narrative of how hundreds of years ago, with absence of banks or safe deposit vaults, when people used to store and hide gold and valuables beneath their homes to safeguard their hard earned wealth from dacoits. The introduction goes back and forth from the current day seminar on paranormal phenomenon and ghosts by the Indian Paranormal League where one attendee stands out declaring that he strongly believes that there are no ghosts.
Fri, November 7 2025
देश में कई ऐसी जगहें हैं, जहां सुपरनैचरल ताकतों के होने की किवदंतियां मशहूर रही हैं। उन्हीं में से एक है केरल का पद्मनाभस्वामी मंदिर, जिसके एक बंद तहखाने का रहस्य आज भी लोगों को हैरान करता है। मान्यता है कि इस तहखाने में अपार धन-संपदा है, जिसकी रक्षा अलौकिक शक्तियां करती हैं और इसे जबरदस्ती खोलने की कोशिश करने पर विपदा का सामना करना पड़ता है। इसी लोककथा पर आधारित है, सुधीर बाबू और सोनाक्षी सिन्हा स्टारर फिल्म ‘जटाधरा’, जो तेलुगू और हिंदी दोनों भाषाओं में रिलीज हुई है।
Aaromaley
Comedy, Romance, Drama (Tamil)
Ajith grew up believing that love should feel like the movies – magical, dramatic, and meant to last forever. But real life keeps breaking his heart, as every small smile or kind gesture turns into another big misunderstanding. When a major fiasco lands him in trouble, his parents force him into a job at a matrimony agency, the last place a hopeless romantic should be. He meets Anjali there, his no-nonsense boss who believes love is logic, not magic. What follows is a hilarious clash between dreams and reality as Ajith learns the hard way that love isn’t magical, it’s earned. When he finally understands what love truly means, it is gone. Years later, destiny gives him one last chance, but will love wait this time?
Cast:
Kishen Das, Harshath Khan, Shivathmika, VTV Ganesh, MV Namritha, Sandhya Winfred, Tulasi, Sibi Chakravarthy
Director:
Sarang Thiagu
Fri, November 7 2025
Director Sarang Thiagu's 'Aaromaley', starring Kishen Das, Shivathmika and Harshath Khan, is a warm and fuzzy romantic entertainer that is all heart. Strong characterisations and realistic conversations make us look past minor shortcomings.
‘Aaromaley’ arrives at a time when Tamil cinema desperately needs light, feel-good romantic dramas. Directed by Sarang Thiagu and starring Kishen Das, Shivathmika Rajashekar, and Harshath Khan, this warm romantic entertainer offers genuine laughs and authentic moments that mirror real-life relationships. It carves out space for itself by focusing not on larger-than-life heroes, but on ordinary people navigating honest feelings.
Pluribus
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy (English)
The most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.
Cast:
Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Carlos-Manuel Vesga
Fri, November 7 2025
Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan's new sci-fi series is delightfully unpredictable and innovative.
Two of Vince Gilligan’s creations likely sit on the list of the best all-time great TV shows of all time. After Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, all eyes are on Gilligan’s next Pluribus starring Rhea Seehorn, and it does not disappoint. Set in a world where a virus has taken over humanity, one woman fights to save civilization from being taken over. Will she be successful? To find out more about this complacent new world, tune in weekly on Fridays to Pluribus.
Thode Door Thode Paas
Drama (Hindi)
Retired naval officer Ashwin Mehta takes an unconventional step to bring his family close. Each member gets 1 crore rupees if they can stay away from all their gadgets for 6 months!
Cast:
Pankaj Kapur, Mona Singh, Kunaal Roy Kapur
Fri, November 7 2025
The five-episode series written by Shiirshak S Anand and directed by Ajay Bhuyan is out on ZEE5.
Thode Door Thode Paas is a comedy drama that explores a modern family’s attempt to unplug and reconnect. Set in the lively Mehta household, the ZEE5 series follows Simran (Mona Singh), who runs a bridal wear boutique out of her garage, her husband Kunal (Kunaal Roy Kapur), an online numerologist, their 19-year-old daughter Avni (Ayesha Kaduskar) and school-going son Vivaan (Sartaaj Kakkar). Kunal has added four extra As to his son’s name to fix his fortunes, yet his report card doesn’t have even one A.