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Guild Reviews

Image of scene from the film A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy (English)

A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros: a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits await these improbable and incomparable friends.

Cast: Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell, Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Tanzyn Crawford, Daniel Ings, Sam Spruell, Henry Ashton, Edward Ashley, Shaun Thomas


FCG Member Reviewer Sonal Pandya
Sonal Pandya | Times Now, Zoom
Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell's GOT Series Is Rewarding Trip Back To Westeros

Sat, January 17 2026

Created by George RR Martin and Ira Parker, this smaller on-the-road story set in the world of Game of Thrones captivates from the get-go, with an underdog character and plenty of action.

There are a lot of familiar themes in the Game of Thrones (GOT) spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Based on the Dunk and Egg novellas from George RR Martin, the six-part series follows a different kind of hero, a hedge knight named Dunk, who wants to make a name for himself. This is the story of the gentle giant who goes on to become Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his trusty squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). Created by Martin and Ira Parker, the HBO series stands out from the other shows in this world, GOT and House of the Dragon. What makes A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms more appealing is its story of the underdog who goes up against the noblest names in the kingdom. This tale of valour and honor will immediately grab attention.

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Image of scene from the film Hijack S02
Hijack S02

Drama (English)

Expert negotiator Sam Nelson is in for the ride of his life—and so is everyone on board with him—after a group of hijackers take control. Sam will try every move in his playbook to take them down...as the stakes grow higher by the second.

Cast: Idris Elba, Christine Adams, Albrecht Schuch, Christian Näthe, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Lisa Vicari, Dejan Bućin, Karima McAdams, Jasmine Bayes


FCG Member Reviewer Sonal Pandya
Sonal Pandya | Times Now, Zoom
Idris Elba's Hostage Drama Is Exhausting, Leads Nowhere

Fri, January 16 2026

After three years, Idris Elba's Sam Nelson is back in another hijack situation, but this time, the action moves underground in a narrative that wears viewers out.

Planes, trains, and automobiles. If there is a third season of Hijack, a car seems the most likely scenario. Until then, the series has relocated to snowy, cold Berlin for its second season. Idris Elba stars as the unlucky Sam Nelson, who finds himself in another life-or-death situation after the Flight KA29 hijacking. Created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith, the Apple TV series gives Sam Nelson a personal reason to be invested in this latest hijack. The eight-episode series cannot sustain the tension as it introduces new obstacles for Sam to face.

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Image of scene from the film Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimayil
Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimayil

Comedy, Drama (Tamil)

A village official attending a wedding becomes entangled in an escalating family dispute over power and old resentments, testing his leadership as he tries to contain the situation.

Cast: Jiiva, Prathana Nathan, Ilavarasu, Thambi Ramaiah, Meenakshi Dinesh, Jensan Diwakar, V.G. Jaiwanth, Sarjin Kumar, Rajesh Pandian, Amith Mohan Rajeswari
Director: Nithish Sahadev
Writer: Nithish Sahadev, Sanjo Joesph, Anuraj OB


FCG Member Reviewer Janani K
Janani K | India Today
Jiiva's heartfelt satire wins with warmth

Thu, January 15 2026

Directed by Nithish Sahadev, the political satire starring Jiiva, Thambi Ramaiah and Ilavarasu is a realistic drama that's harmless and full of heart. It brings forth how human egos affect the lives of their loved ones.

In a world where audiences constantly gravitate towards big spectacle films, your heart still aches for a cute, funny movie that tugs at your heartstrings, makes you laugh, and lets you simply enjoy your time at the theatre. While these films don’t get the same attention as big-budget entertainers, they hold a special place in your heart. That’s exactly what Jiiva’s Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimayil offers.

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Image of scene from the film Taskaree: The Smugglers Web
Taskaree: The Smugglers Web

Crime, Mystery, Drama (Hindi)

A dedicated customs officer and his team take on a notorious smuggler leading a powerful syndicate, but unexpected obstacles threaten their mission.

Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Sharad Kelkar, Anurag Sinha, Zoya Afroz, Nandish Singh, Amruta Khanvilkar, Anuja Sathe, Freddy Daruwala, Jameel Khan, Sumit Nijhawan
Director: Neeraj Pandey, Raghav Jairath
Writer: Vipul K Rawal, Neeraj Pandey


FCG Member Reviewer Upma Singh
Upma Singh | Navbharat Times
तस्करी की नई दुनिया, मगर फॉर्मूले पुराने

Thu, January 15 2026

फलां एयरपोर्ट पर इतने लाख का सोना पकड़ा गया। फलां आदमी शरीर में इतने किलो ड्रग्स बांधकर ला रहा था। तस्करी की ऐसी खबरें हम अक्सर सुनते रहते हैं। बीते साल ही कन्नड़ अभिनेत्री रान्या राव के सोने की तस्करी के किस्से सुर्खियों में रहे। तस्करी के इसी काले धंधे और इन पर लगाम लगाने वाले कस्टम अधिकारियों की चुनौतियों का रोचक ताना-बाना दिखाती है, वेब सीरीज ‘तस्करी: द स्मगलर्स वेब’। नीरज पांडे और राघव जयरथ निर्देशित यह सीरीज एक ओर जहां स्‍मगलिंग के इंटरनेशनल नेटवर्क से रूबरू करवाती है, वहीं कस्टम अफसरों की जिंदगी, काम के तरीकों, और चुनौतियों को भी गहराई से दिखाती है। हालांकि, बाद में ट्विस्ट और कमर्श‍ियल मसाले जोड़ने के चक्कर में यह बॉलीवुडिया फॉर्मूलों में फंस जाती है।

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Image of scene from the film People We Meet on Vacation
People We Meet on Vacation

Romance, Comedy, Drama (English)

Poppy's a free spirit. Alex loves a plan. After years of summer vacations, these polar-opposite pals wonder if they could be a perfect romantic match.

Cast: Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Lucien Laviscount, Lukas Gage, Miles Heizer, Alan Ruck, Molly Shannon, Tommy Do
Director: Brett Haley


FCG Member Reviewer Priyanka Roy
Priyanka Roy | The Telegraph
An enjoyable watch, making up for lack of surprise with its agreeable charm

Thu, January 15 2026

Despite predictable elements typical of rom-coms, its charm is amplified by solid performances from Emily Bader and Tom Blyth.

We find ourselves in an age where romance — not to be confused with love — is manufactured, off screen as much as it is on it. The list of perennial favourites in the Hollywood romantic-comedy genre rarely deviate beyond When Harry Met Sally, Notting Hill, The Notebook, and You’ve Got Mail, and I am not just talking about someone like me who is of a certain vintage. Gen-Z may argue — “What about To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before?” or “Haven’t you watched La La Land?” — and with solid enough reason, but a classic rom-com for the ages has been a long time coming.

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FCG Member Reviewer Sonal Pandya
Sonal Pandya | Times Now, Zoom
Tom Blyth, Emily Bader Charm In Funny, Delightful Rom-Com

Sat, January 10 2026

Adapted from Emily Henry's popular book, the story of best friends Alex (Tom Blyth) and Poppy (Emily Bader) soars beyond the cliches.

The first adaptation of author Emily Henry’s work is off to a flying start. Director Brett Haley stays close to Henry’s work with People We Meet on Vacation, as two best friends, Alex (Tom Blyth) and Poppy (Emily Bader), reunite every summer to travel to new places. Of course, with every trip, their relationship changes as they wonder if they could be right for one another. The Netflix film doesn’t change the genre by any means, but Blyth and Bader elevate the material with their chemistry and witty banter.

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Image of scene from the film Ponies
Ponies

Drama (English)

In 1977 Moscow, two "PONIES" ("persons of no interest") become CIA operatives and uncover a Cold War conspiracy their husbands were killed for.

Cast: Emilia Clarke, Haley Lu Richardson, Adrian Lester, Artjom Gilz, Nicholas Podany, Petro Ninovskyi, Vic Michaelis


FCG Member Reviewer Sonal Pandya
Sonal Pandya | Times Now, Zoom
Emilia Clarke, Haley Lu Richardson's Cold War Spy Thriller Strings Along Intriguing Mystery

Thu, January 15 2026

Created by Susanna Fogel and David Iserson, Ponies attempts to take viewers back in time to the 1970s at the height of the Cold War with two widows leading the charge.

Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke and The White Lotus’s Haley Lu Richardson team up as two American women bound by the same fate in an unknown country. The dramedy Ponies, created by Susanna Fogel and David Iserson, has the two women who are opposites in every way become undercover CIA operatives to solve a personal case. While the situations the two find themselves in grow increasingly wild and unbelievable, the actresses manage to carve space within the story for their characters to stand out. The title Ponies stands for ‘Persons of No Interest’ in intelligence terms.

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Image of scene from the film Anaganaga Oka Raju
Anaganaga Oka Raju

Romance, Comedy (Telugu)

In the Godavari region, Raju, a carefree man with no clear goals in life falls in love with Charulata, a beautiful girl. To win her over, Raju must contest and win the local body elections.

Cast: Naveen Polishetty, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Rao Ramesh, Tarak Ponnappa, Goparaju Ramana, Ananth Babu, Madhusudhan Rao, Bhadram, Chammak Chandra, Mahesh Achanta
Director: Maari
Writer: Maari


FCG Member Reviewer Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Sangeetha Devi Dundoo | The Hindu
Naveen Polishetty strikes again in an uneven yet fun ride

Wed, January 14 2026

Naveen Polishetty and director Maari give a hilarious spin to a wafer-thin story. Though the gag-fest feels overdrawn and uneven, the lead actors make it watchable

Two years after the urban romcom Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty(2023), actor-screenwriter Naveen Polishetty returns with another film laced with humour. In contrast to the restraint he showed in that film, Naveen unabashedly plays to the gallery in Anaganaga Oka Raju. The humour is delivered through gags that come at such a rapid pace that the audience may not get a breather to pause and reflect.

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Image of scene from the film Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu
Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu

Action, Comedy, Mystery (Telugu)

National security officer Vara Prasad, protecting his estranged wife and kids from a vengeful ex-cop, sees it as a chance to rebuild their relationship after six years apart.

Cast: Chiranjeevi, Nayanthara, Venkatesh, Catherine Tresa, Harsha Vardhan, Abhinav Gomatam, Sachin Khedekar, Sharat Saxena, Sudev Nair, Srinivasa Reddy
Director: Anil Ravipudi
Writer: Anil Ravipudi


FCG Member Reviewer Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Sangeetha Devi Dundoo | The Hindu
Chiranjeevi’s playful return, with Venkatesh in tow

Mon, January 12 2026

Director Anil Ravipudi plays to the gallery once again, with comedy and a dash of nostalgia

Certain things are a given in a film written and directed by Anil Ravipudi. There will be ample comedy, even if much of it is unabashedly silly. Viewers familiar with his work know not to expect nuance, or much by way of technical polish. In Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, his first collaboration with Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi, Ravipudi leans into these strengths, loading the film with humour and fanboy moments that bank on the actor’s nostalgic appeal. The chief pleasure lies in watching Chiranjeevi clearly enjoying himself, aided by an extended cameo from Venkatesh Daggubati and the presence of Nayanthara.

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Image of scene from the film Freedom at Midnight S02
FCG Rating for the film Freedom at Midnight S02: 71/100
Freedom at Midnight S02

Drama, War & Politics (Hindi)

Freedom at Midnight is the electrifying story of India's struggle for independence. Based on the bestselling book of the same name, it recounts the partition of India and Pakistan, and the religious and socio-political dynamics of the era.

Cast: Sidhant Gupta, Chirag Vohra, Rajendra Chawla, Arif Zakaria, Rajesh Kumar
Director: Nikkhil Advani


FCG Member Reviewer Uday Bhatia
Uday Bhatia | Mint Lounge
Historical series returns stronger and richer

Mon, January 12 2026

A fraught, exciting second season of Nikkhil Advani's ‘Freedom at Midnight’ looks back at the months before and after India's independence

In the third episode of Freedom At Midnight’s second season, Abhishek Banerjee turns up as an unnamed Hindu rioter. Towards the end, he confronts Gandhi (Chirag Vohra), who’s fasting in yet another attempt to end the terrible sectarian violence in Calcutta. He berates the frail old man, yelling at him to eat, confessing to murder, finally breaking down. Gandhi, barely able to speak, advises him to wipe his heart of hatred.

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FCG Member Reviewer Upma Singh
Upma Singh | Navbharat Times

Mon, January 12 2026

लेखक विलियम एल शीरर की किताब ‘राइज ऐंड फॉल ऑफ थर्ड राईच’ की शुरुआती लाइन है, ‘दोज हू फॉरगेट हिस्ट्री आर कंडेम्ड टू रिपीट इट’ यानी जो अपना इतिहास भूल जाते हैं, वे उसे दोबारा दोहराते हैं। इसलिए, फिल्मकार निखिल आडवाणी अपनी सीरीज ‘फ्रीडम एट मिडनाइट’ के जरिए 1947 के उस ऐतिहासिक लेकिन विवादित पन्ने को पलटते हैं, जब देश को आजादी की कीमत बंटवारे के अब तक रिसने वाले जख्मों से चुकानी पड़ी थी। लैरी कॉलिन्स और डोमिनिक लैपियर की इसी नाम से लिखी चर्चित किताब पर आधारित इस सीरीज का दूसरा सीजन आ चुका है, जिसमें निखिल हिंदुस्तान और पाकिस्तान के स्वतंत्र अस्तित्व में आने के दौरान हुई हिंसा और उसके बाद के राजनीतिक-सामाजिक हालातों, चुनौतियों को बहुत ही गहराई और संवेदनशील ढंग से पर्दे पर उतारा है।

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FCG Member Reviewer Anuj Kumar
Anuj Kumar | The Hindu
Nikkhil Advani hits the sweet spot between text and context

Sat, January 10 2026

Intense, reflective, but selective in its depiction of events and agent provocateurs, the series humanises political icons and puts their era-defining decisions in perspective

History lovers often crave the human drama behind epochal events. They pine for the backroom intrigue, the clash of egos, the creases in the starched characters that decorate our history books, not to forget the impact of their moral stand on the man on the street. These days, ancient and medieval history offers plenty of elbow room to play with the past, but when it comes to modern Indian history, filmmakers tend to draw back, as the wounds are still fresh and memories of Partition linger.

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Image of scene from the film The Night Manager S02
The Night Manager S02

Drama, Mystery, Crime (English)

Former British soldier Jonathan Pine navigates the shadowy recesses of Whitehall and Washington where an unholy alliance operates between the intelligence community and the secret arms trade. To infiltrate the inner circle of lethal arms dealer Richard Onslow Roper, Pine must himself become a criminal.

Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Diego Calva, Camila Morrone, Paul Chahidi, Hayley Squires, Indira Varma, Unax Ugalde, Alberto Ammann, Diego Santos, Slavko Sobin


FCG Member Reviewer Sonal Pandya
Sonal Pandya | Times Now, Zoom
Tom Hiddleston's Bleak Spy Thriller Is Just As Riveting In Return

Sun, January 11 2026

The British spy series, based on John le Carré's works, is back after a decade with a more potent story in a new continent.

After 10 years, Tom Hiddleston is back in The Night Manager for a second season. Much time has passed since we last saw the character Jonathan Pine, but the spy world continues to have its shadowy figures ready to plunge civilization into darkness. Now, as a more seasoned intelligence agent, Pine tries to chase his past to stop another coup. The British spy thriller, created by David Farr, has a new urgency and even more dangerous criminal in its return on Amazon Prime Video.

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Image of scene from the film Song Sung Blue
Song Sung Blue

Drama, Music, Romance (English)

Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams.

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Hudson Hilbert Hensley, Shyaporn Theerakulstit
Director: Craig Brewer
Writer: Craig Brewer


FCG Member Reviewer Sachin Chatte
Sachin Chatte | The Navhind Times Goa
Love on the Rocks

Sun, January 11 2026

Song Sung Blue is inspired by the music of Neil Diamond but it is not a biopic of the famed singer. Rather, it presents a biographical narrative of the individuals who established a tribute band dedicated to Neil Diamond. The documentary featuring Mike and Claire Sardina shares the same title as this film and acts as a source of inspiration for the storyline.

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FCG Member Reviewer Tusshar Sasi
Tusshar Sasi | Filmy Sasi
Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson in an aching duet of love and life

Tue, December 9 2025

“Nostalgia sells,” says Patsy Cline impersonator Claire (Kate Hudson) to an exasperated Mike (Hugh Jackman) in Song Sung Blue. He had just refused to don a Don Ho getup at a paying gig. If it weren’t a film and the actors weren’t well-known, this would be the last scenario where any sparks might fly. In a striking dramatization of a true story, the duo come together, romantically and professionally, to become a hit among Milwaukee’s music lovers, who take Neil Diamond’s songs like a sweet pill. Beyond the onstage fireworks, the unbelievable love and family story of Lightning and Thunder takes shape in Craig Brewer’s musical melodrama.

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Image of scene from the film The Raja Saab
FCG Rating for the film The Raja Saab: 28/100
The Raja Saab

Comedy, Horror, Fantasy (Telugu)

A young heir embraces both his royal heritage and rebellious spirit as he rises to power, establishing unprecedented rules during his reign as Raja Saab.

Cast: Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, Zarina Wahab, Samuthirakani, VTV Ganesh, Saptagiri
Director: Maruthi Dasari
Writer: Maruthi Dasari


FCG Member Reviewer Anmol Jamwal
Anmol Jamwal | Tried & Refused Productions
Prabhas needs to stop doing favours

Sat, January 10 2026

FCG Member Reviewer Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Sangeetha Devi Dundoo | The Hindu
A bizarre spectacle where the joke never lands

Sat, January 10 2026

Prabhas, Zarina Wahab and Sanjay Dutt try hard, but director Maruthi’s ‘The Raja Saab’ is a messy horror-comedy fantasy

Early on in The Raja Saab, a health scare prompts Prabhas to ask comedian Mahesh Achanta to fetch an odd assortment of items, from footwear to cigarettes. When Mahesh asks if he is serious, Prabhas snaps back with: do the needful — call an ambulance. The exchange is meant to be funny, but it lands flat, setting the tone for what follows. Written and directed by Maruthi, The Raja Saab aims to rewind Telugu cinema to a pre-Baahubali Prabhas — when he thrived in light-hearted roles with space for romance and comedy, à la Darling or Mr Perfect. The actor appears willing to embrace this blend of horror, comedy, fantasy and romance. Yet the film collapses into a baffling hotchpotch that squanders a promising premise. At 189 minutes, it becomes an endurance test, where the occasional spark of fun is smothered by a dull, meandering narrative.

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FCG Member Reviewer Janani K
Janani K | India Today
Prabhas's horror comedy is devoid of charm, thrills and chills

Sat, January 10 2026

Director Maruthi's The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt and Nidhhi Agerwal, is a fantasy horror comedy that relies heavily on the lead actor. However, there's hardly anything that's redeemable in this soulless film.

Prabhas’s much-anticipated film, The Raja Saab is about a search for a missing grandfather. Over its three-hour runtime, viewers also end up searching for more than a grandfather. They seek plot cohesion, character depth, genuine scares, or consistent entertainment value - must-haves for every film. Like the film’s protagonist wandering through a haunted palace, you may feel a lack of clear direction or a fully satisfying destination. The Raja Saab begins with Raja (Prabhas) living with his grandmother Gangamma, played by Zarina Wahab. Gangamma suffers from Alzheimer’s and remembers only her missing husband Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt) and her grandson. She tells Raja to keep looking for his missing grandfather, who often appears in her dreams.

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