Ultimately however, Shahid is Raj Kumar’s triumph. His Shahid has strength, anguish and a controlled anger but also real charm. His smile lights up the frame.

See Shahid for him. I’m going with three and a half stars.

Fruitvale Station doesn’t stridently point fingers or offer any comfort. It depicts an awful tragedy with restraint and power. I’m going with four stars and recommending that you see it.

Rush is gripping and deeply satisfying. I’m going with four stars and recommending that you see it.

The Lunchbox is poignant and powerful. It will make you laugh and cry. And it will also make you hungry – I was dying to eat paneer kofta and bhindi when it finished. I’m going with four stars and absolutely insisting that you see it.

Shuddh Desi Romance loses steam in the second half — it’s almost as if, suddenly, Manish and Jaideep didn’t know where to take their story and characters. Also, I’m old school, so the ending left me dissatisfied. But that doesn’t take away from what has been accomplished here. This film is a dose of adrenalin.

We’re The Millers is the cinematic equivalent of fast food – formulaic, disposable entertainment that will keep you busy, even make you laugh out loud but leave no trace once it’s over.

Madras Cafe is flawed but also ambitious and brave. I’m going with three stars and recommending that you see it.

The beauty is that underneath the swagger, Akshay also locates the loneliness and heartache of a monster hobbled by love. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed watching him this much.

There is enough pep in Fukrey to make it pleasantly diverting. I’m not suggesting that you drop everything and get to the theatre. But if you happen to stroll in, you are likely to come out smiling.

Bombay Talkies is a unique experiment that works very well. The collaboration between four leading directors suggests a confidence that was rare in the industry even a decade ago. I believe that things can only get better from here on.