Kalki 2898 AD
Drama, Action, Fantasy, Science Fiction (Telugu)
In the year 2898 AD, around 6000 years after Kurukshetra war, Ashwatthama gears up for his final battle of redemption at the sign of hope in a dystopian world and Bhairava, a wisecracking and self-interested bounty hunter, tired of the (more…)
Guild Reviews
Shukrana
Drama (Punjabi)
A close-knit family living in a rural community navigate marriage proposals and pregnancies, alongside a tragedy which threatens to tear them apart.
Cast:
Neeru Bajwa, Seema Kaushal, Jass Bajwa, B.N. Sharma, Rupinder Rupi, Sukhwinder Chahal, Parminder Gill, Harby Sangha, Honey Mattu, Simran Chahal
Director:
Simerjit Singh
Writer:
Jagdeep Warring
A cursory portrayal of the predicament of young widows
Fri, September 27 2024
Directed by Simerjit Singh, Shukrana is the latest Punjabi film to highlight gender issues while exploring some of the cracks within a joint family set up. Starring Neeru Bajwa, Amrit Maan, and Jass Bajwa, the movie examines individual agency of women, particularly in its treatment of young widows. Jeona (Jass Bajwa) and Veeran (Neeru Bajwa) are a happily married couple who live in a joint family. Jeona is the glue that holds the family together and he quells any murmurs of dissent with his good nature and largesse. As a loving and supportive husband, he encourages his wife to continue to work after her marriage, countering some opposing views at home. As luck would have it, the perfect life of the couple is jolted when Jeona dies in a freak accident. An expecting mother, Veeran’s life is turned upside down and she must figure out her place as a single mother, while encountering societal prejudice and patriarchy.
Sucha Soorma
History, Thriller (Punjabi)
An uncompromising folklore figure of the early 20th century faces a dilemma when his best friend and his sister-in-law are caught in an illicit relationship.
Cast:
Babbu Mann, Suvinder Vicky, Mahabir Bhullar, Jag Singh, Sameksha Oswal, Sukhwinder Raj, Harinder Bhullar, Gurdev Dhaliwal, Gurinder Makna
Director:
Amitoj Mann
Writer:
Gurpreet Ratol
A Sloppy Film Unworthy of the Punjabi Folk Legend
Mon, September 23 2024
Watching a Punjabi film, let alone reviewing it, even for a diehard Punjabi, comes with its own set of misgivings. Sadly enough, as we sit through Sucha Soorma — touted as famous singer-actor Babbu Maan’s comeback film after a gap of four years — doubts turn into a deep, gnawing realisation about said misgivings and a discomfiting feeling. It’s near impossible to rationalise why we are making such films in this day and age, which do not reflect upon the changing matrix of our society; or if they do, god help us. Undoubtedly, this Amitoj Maan directorial is a period film set sometime during the British rule in India, in the early 20th century, even though the only date definitively stated in the film is the year in which the hero, Sucha Soorma (Babbu Maan), was hanged. The very first scene deludes you to believe that here, perhaps, was a warrior who stood up for the downtrodden.
Thalaivettiyan Paalayam
Comedy (Tamil)
Siddharth, a resident of City, is the new Panchayat Secretary of Thalaivettiyaan Paalayam. His sudden village life, panchayat work and the people he meets in it do not lack comedy
Cast:
Abishek Kumar, Chetan, Anand Sami, Devadarshini, Paul Raj
Fitting remake of Panchayat with excellent cast
Fri, September 20 2024
In the world of Indian web series, the Hindi show Panchayat managed to earn one of the top spots. This year, the third season of Panchayat was released and opened to positive reviews. Now, Panchayat has come to Tamil as Thalaivettiyaan Paalayam. Directed by Naga, the show is a light-hearted entertainer, with simplicity as its greatest asset. Siddharth (Abishek Kumar) is a city-bred youngster who has been posted as the panchayat secretary in Tirunelveli’s Thalaivettiyaan Paalayam. The village still lives in the past with no tinge of modernism or westernisation. Meenakshi Devi (Devadarshini) is the panchayat’s chairperson. But, for some reason, she is stuck to doing household chores while her husband, Meenakshi Sundaram, carries out the chairperson’s responsibilities.
Ardaas Sarbat De Bhale Di
Drama, Family (Punjabi)
Gurmukh Singh and diverse individuals embark on a pilgrimage to Sri Hazur Sahib, and during their bus journey, their personal prayers become a shared Ardaas.
Cast:
Gurpreet Ghuggi, Gippy Grewal, Jasmin Bhasin, Malkeet Rauni, Sardar Sohi, Rana Jung Bahadur, Prince Kanwaljit Singh, Nirmal Rishi, Seema Kaushal, Gurpreet Bhangu
Director:
Gippy Grewal
Writer:
Gippy Grewal
An emotional, earnest, yet tedious tearjerker
Fri, September 13 2024
The third installment in the Ardaas film series, Ardaas Sarbat De Bhale Di (2024) brings to light the travails of the human condition and our relative inability to deal with them with fortitude. Directed and written by Gippy Grewal, the Punjabi-language film stars Grewal, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Jasmine Bhasin and Prince Kanwaljit Singh. Devotional films have been the mainstay of Punjabi cinema since its inception, and Gippy Grewal’s Ardaas series renewed interest in the genre in 2016, with the release of the first Ardaas. Directed by Grewal, all three Ardaas films stress on the teachings from the Gurbani (the hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib), while highlighting common social issues.
The Penguin
Drama, Crime (English)
With the city in peril following the seawall's collapse, Oswald "Oz" Cobb seeks to fill the power vacuum left by the death of Carmine Falcone and finally give his mother Francis the life he's always promised. But first, Oz must confront his enemies and his own demoralizing reputation as "the Penguin."
Cast:
Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O'Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Theo Rossi, Michael Kelly
An absolute blast
Thu, September 12 2024
The Penguin—premiering September 19 on HBO and Max—arrives amidst a shifting mood in a space that’s been overdone. It’s another small-screen extension of a superhero movie. Who asked for it? This kind of blatant intellectual property exploitation, solely greenlit to boost a streaming service devoid of an identity, that expands the lives of minor Gotham characters and crime families. Comic book storytelling has already taken over everything. And, what, it’s on HBO too now? (The Penguin was greenlit as a Max original in 2022, but in July, the executives pivoted and stuck the HBO sticker on it.) Isn’t anything sacred anymore? Here’s the good news: infused with the energy of an all-time HBO hit, The Sopranos, the new DC spin-off miniseries is worthy of the HBO branding.
ARM
Action, Adventure, Drama (Malayalam)
Set in the Northern Kerala in 1900, 1950 and 1990, Three generations of heroes Maniyan, Kunjikelu and Ajayan, try to protect the most important treasure of the Land.
Cast:
Tovino Thomas, Krithi Shetty, Surabhi Lakshmi, Basil Joseph, Rohini, Harish Uthaman, Jagadish, Pramod Shetty, Nisthar Ahamed, Sudheesh
Director:
Jithin Laal
Writer:
Sujith Nambiar
Tovino Thomas's film features interesting plot but lacks high moments
Thu, September 12 2024
Ajayante Randam Moshanam aka ARM features Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas in triple roles. Directed by Jithin Laal and written by Sujith Nambiar, the film generated significant interest through its posters and trailer. But has ARM lived up to everyone’s expectations? Let’s find out! The story begins with Kunji Kelu (Tovino Thomas), an exceptional warrior, whois granted the opportunity to request for a special gift from the king. He asks for a deity crafted from a unique rock that fell from a meteorite and struck their village, Haripuram. The story then shifts to Maniyan (Tovino Thomas), a clever thief who is accused of stealing the deity.
The Perfect Couple
Drama, Mystery, Crime (English)
Amelia is about to marry into one of the wealthiest families on Nantucket, until a shocking death derails the wedding — and turns everyone into a suspect.
Cast:
Nicole Kidman, Eve Hewson, Liev Schreiber, Billy Howle, Meghann Fahy, Jack Reynor, Dakota Fanning, Donna Lynne Champlin, Michael Beach, Sam Nivola
Sun, September 8 2024
Goat
Drama, Adventure (Malayalam)
Indian migrant worker Najeeb Muhammad goes to Saudi Arabia to earn money. However, in a twist of fate, he finds himself living a slave-like existence, herding goats in the middle of the desert.
Cast:
Prithviraj Sukumaran, K R Gokul, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Talib Al Balushi, Rik Aby, Robin Das, Amala Paul, Shobha Mohan, Nasar Karutheni, Baburaj Thiruvalla
Director:
Blessy
Writer:
Blessy
Brilliant Vijay shoulders Venkat Prabhu's film with wafer-thin plot
Thu, September 5 2024
‘The Greatest of All Time’ aka ‘GOAT’ is Thalapathy Vijay’s penultimate film before he fully commits to politics. Tracing his career, one would truly understand why ‘GOAT’ is probably the perfect title for Vijay. Director Venkat Prabhu’s spy thriller further establishes Thalapathy Vijay as truly ’the greatest of all time’. Gandhi (Vijay), along with Sunil (Prashanth), Kalyan (Prabhudheva) and Ajay (Ajmal Ameer), forms the Special Anti-Terrorism Squad (SATS), led by Nasser (Jayaram). A fun and efficient team, they get the job done without much hassle. However, when Gandhi takes his pregnant wife (Sneha) and son Jeevan on a mission to Thailand, he faces a tragic loss, prompting him to seek a less risky job.
Saripodhaa Sanivaaram
Action, Thriller (Telugu)
Set in Sokulapalem, bound by a promise to his mother, Surya, an LIC agent leads a normal life on six days, maintains a careful ledger of everyone made him angry,unleashing his anger only on Saturdays, solely for justifiable reasons. A tragic incident pits him on a collision course with the ruthless and borderline-manic cop Daya.
Cast:
Nani, S. J. Suryah, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Sai Kumar, Murali Sharma, Aditi Balan, Abhirami, Anitha Chowdary, Harshavardhan, Ajay
Director:
Vivek Athreya
Writer:
Vivek Athreya
Nani-SJ Suryah elevate Vivek Athreya's clever writing
Thu, August 29 2024
Watching a neatly woven commercial cinema is therapeutic in every sense. And when it is headlined by powerhouse performers, Nani and SJ Suryah, you know you’re in for a treat. ‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’ marks Nani and director Vivek Athreya’s second collaboration after ‘Ante Sundaraniki’. While ‘Ante Sundariniki’ was a cute rom-com, Nani and Vivek went all out for ‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’ by picking a masala entertainer with a family backdrop. Surya (Nani) is a loved elder child to his parents (Abhirami and Sai Kumar). But, his anger is his problem. His mother, who is counting her days, teaches him a unique way to keep his anger in check and let it out only on Saturdays. Surya makes note of people who wronged him on the rest of the days and gets time to process his anger till Saturday. And when he feels his anger is justified, he thrashes the people who angered him.
Minmini
Drama (Tamil)
When Praveenah arrives at a boarding school in Ooty, she discovers that her classmate Sabari is haunted by the crushing weight of survivor's guilt. Years later, their paths converge again on a thrilling Himalayan biking adventure, where Praveenah sets out to help Sabari confront his demons and find redemption from the suffocating grip of guilt.
Cast:
Esther Anil, Pravin Kishore, Gaurav Kaalai
Director:
Halitha Shameem
Writer:
Halitha Shameem
Halitha Shameem’s Himalayan outing leaves you cold
Thu, August 29 2024
Early in Minmini, inside a school during a chilly evening at Ooty, a candle goes off. A student offers to light it up with his candle. “When one candle lights up another, there’s no loss,” someone remarks.
The Rings of Power S02
Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama (English)
Beginning in a time of relative peace, we follow an ensemble cast of characters as they confront the re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
Cast:
Charlie Vickers, Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, Charles Edwards, Owain Arthur, Sophia Nomvete, Daniel Weyman, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Ismael Cruz Cordova
From pure torture to wild ambition
Wed, August 28 2024
Deep into Star Wars: The Last Jedi, shortly after defeating the Supreme Leader’s highly trained elite guards, the anti-hero Kylo Ren extends his hand out to the protagonist Rey and asks her to join him. Together, he says, they can rule the galaxy. He pushes her to confront her greatest fear and assures her that she means the world to him. On the whole, the scene is both epic and intimate. A similar moment occurs late in the second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as the series’ two most central forces clash in a swordfight. Sauron (Charlie Vickers) reiterates his desire to make Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) the queen of all Middle-earth. There’s nothing he wants more—and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to have her by his side.
Kalki 2898 AD
Drama, Action, Fantasy, Science Fiction (Telugu)
In the year 2898 AD, around 6000 years after Kurukshetra war, Ashwatthama gears up for his final battle of redemption at the sign of hope in a dystopian world and Bhairava, a wisecracking and self-interested bounty hunter, tired of the perilous life becomes the hurdle in the process.
Cast:
Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, Saswata Chatterjee, Shobana, Rajendra Prasad, Pasupathy, Anna Ben, Keya Nair
Director:
Nag Ashwin
A Spotify Review
Tue, August 27 2024
The year’s biggest Indian hit, Kalki 2898 AD, is just as irredeemable as Prabhas’ other recent films. But unlike those movies, this one barely features Prabhas at all and drags on for three hours without offering a single character you can latch on to. We talk about the film’s poor construction, subpar world-building, and superficial writing. We also discuss its shameless sequel-bait of a climax and wonder why people weren’t up in arms about being short-changed by writer-director Nag Ashwin.
Prabhas reigns supreme, Big B and Deepika Padukone exceptional
Thu, June 27 2024
It was 2015 when SS Rajamouli’s ‘Baahubali’ was released and blew everyone’s mind. To this day, the two ‘Baahubali’ films not only shattered box office records but also set a benchmark for films of the same ilk. Nealy a decade later, director Nag Ashwin, with monumental ambitions, gifted ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, set in a dystopian world. With futuristic ideas coupled with Hindu mythology, the film will surely blow your mind, just like ‘Baahubali’ did. Thousands of years after the Mahabharata war, Kashi became the last city of the world. And the world is ruled by Supreme Yaskin (Kamal Haasan), who is waiting for a magical serum to gain powers. The poor suffer in the city, while the rich enjoy their lives in the Complex, a place built for the privileged. It is Bhairava’s (Prabhas) dream to make it to the Complex. He is a bounty hunter doing petty jobs to earn the units that will enable him to earn his place in the Complex.
Mon, June 24 2024