Let me be clear – I didn’t go in looking for complexity. Junglee could’ve played like a fun action adventure. One of my fondest childhood memories is watching Haathi Mere Saathi which had Rajesh Khanna cavorting with four elephants. I don’t remember what the film was about but I remember the delight I felt when I saw it. I was really hoping that Junglee would recreate some of that magic.

Three hours after the press show, I’m yet to regain my senses of smell, taste, touch, hearing and full eyesight. If I were a character in the film, there would have been eight bullets in me by now but I’d still be writing. And milking my last line. So I’m going to be as polite and restrained as possible here. The only way Kesari could have done justice to its source material is if it didn’t exist.

Why Cheat India can’t decide if Rocky is a hero or villain. I don’t have a problem with that. What’s harder to take is the inconsistent tonality and the convoluted second act. Every time you think the film has reached a climax, Soumik tacks on another end. Because Why Cheat India wants to both celebrate and punish Rocky. But that, like the hybrid of fact and fiction, needed far more imagination and audacity.

An Unabashed Love Letter To The Indian Army…The dance between a realistic terrorist drama and rousing action thriller proves to be too much

If you have young children, you might consider giving Mary Poppins Returns a chance. I think they will enjoy it. There is less fodder here for adults but perhaps like me, you can distract yourself by admiring the sharp cut and fit of Mary’s coats.

A Bizarre Story That Leaves You Stumped, And Eventually, Sad…

A Script So Visibly Manipulative That It’s Difficult To Stay Invested…The film is basically every parent’s nightmare, but attempts to up the emotional stakes fall flat because they are repetitive and obvious

There are many magical things onscreen – including some wonderfully creative creatures – but the film is weighed down by its dense plot

Kajol and Riddhi Sen feature in this story about a middle-aged, middle-class woman who must rediscover herself and find a life outside of her son. It’s a worthy idea but the narration is almost entirely lacking in insight or authenticity

Kajol and Riddhi Sen feature in this story about a middle-aged, middle-class woman who must rediscover herself and find a life outside of her son. It’s a worthy idea but the narration is almost entirely lacking in insight or authenticity

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