It really can’t get any better than this, can it? The year has just begun and we have one of the finest, most vibrant and fulfilling coming-of-age films in living memory.

“Mai…” often leaves us teary-eyed with its portrayal of a generation that doesn’t know how to value its elders. The treatment of the theme is stiff and prosaic at times. But Ashaji melts all our misgivings. Her innate warmth connects well with the audience.

With first-rate performances by both Nushrat and Kartik, this is one love story you can’t afford to miss.

‘Jalpari’ is a little gem, with a message on female foeticide that is so critical, and a heart so large that the narration could easily have been submerged in the social statement.

“Khap” should be commended for attempting a socially-relevant theme with some amount of detachment and equanimity.

Murder 2 is not a pleasant film to view. The psychopath’s killings are done in graphic detail. The storytelling offers no respite from the brutality. Most of the time we are looking at happenings that we would rather not see. But see, we must.

Unwittingly thus, “Bheja Fry 2” becomes a metaphor for what is wrong with popular Indian comedy today, unlike the comedies of the 1960s and 1970s: lack of fresh ideas and creative talents with the sense and timing enough to execute it.