Kunal Guha
Mumbai Mirror
Most Divergent Takes
- Aisa Yeh Jahaan (2015)1.0 vs TRM 4.2-3.2
- Uvaa (2015)1.0 vs TRM 4.2-3.2
- X: Past Is Present (2015)2.0 vs TRM 4.5-2.5
- M Cream (2016)2.0 vs TRM 4.2-2.2
- Dilwale (2015)3.0 vs TRM 5.1-2.1
Panipat
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Dec 2019
This Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon starrer ticks all the boxes but struggles to conceptualise out of the box sequences
The Sky Is Pink
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Oct 2019
Writers Juhi Chaturvedi and Nilesh Maniyar ensure that the film's morbid subject is rendered in a light, accessible manner. But while the dialogue sets a friendly tone, the background score takes it a bit too far and sometimes, seems distractingly upbeat for the proceedings. Director Shonali Bose is certain of what she wants to achieve through this story — depict a crushing yet inspiring story of a girl who has accepted that the odds aren't in her favour and yet, hopes to get even with life.
War
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Oct 2019
War packs in a bit of everything. Chase sequences on supercars over snow-covered terrains, and also on sportbikes — zipping through cobblestone streets across Europe. Then, there are vehicles being tossed from the sky and off cliffs to make Rohit Shetty proud. And even the unarmed combat sequences include a jab, stab, and lockdown to tick all the boxes. But when the film's chief villain and India's most wanted happens to be called Ilyasi, the joke seems to be on us.
Dream Girl
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2019
This film had tremendous potential just for the one-line brief that may have excited investors to back it. While it packs in some sharp one-liners and furnishes bizarre situations, it doesn't go beyond that. It's almost as if the makers were so excited with the very premise that they didn't bother to figure out where they wanted to take this story.
Chhichhore
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2019
Nitesh Tiwari's film celebrates friendships that survive the test of time...
Mission Mangal
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2019
Releasing on the day ISRO completes a half-century, Mission Mangal seems a timely tribute to the unsung heroes who don't wear a cape. But for a film that documents a singularly inspiring story, the writing doesn't manage to conjure the thrill surrounding this epic achievement.
Jabariya Jodi
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2019
This Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra film is a scrambled mess...
Judgementall Hai Kya
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2019
Kangana Ranaut and Rajkummar Rao's film struggles to keep the audience consistently interested...
Super 30
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2019
Vikas Bahl's Super 30 delivers by excessively leaning on Hindi cinema's oldest formula — detailing an underdog who strives to rise above his circumstances and even helps those less fortunate achieve ultimate glory.
Article 15
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2019
Article 15 serves as a bitter reminder of the disdainful atrocities that befalls those who are profiled. The film, however, gets a bit tiring in parts when the message seems to be incessantly hammered down. It also takes the lazy route of literally slipping what it hopes to convey, in the dialogue.
Kabir Singh
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2019
This Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani adaptation of Arjun Reddy could have been 40 minutes shorter
Game Over
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2019
If the first half could've been knocked off and this was dedicatedly a film about home invasion, it would've surely been a more focussed, if not a more thrilling watch. But then, that would have been an entirely different film.
Bharat
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2019
Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif-starrer is a melodramatic mess that overtly idolises its one-dimensional lead
PM Narendra Modi
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2019
Indian biopics rarely manage a holistic portrait. Usually hagiographic, these reel-life renditions have hardly been held back by reality. Historians say biopics deliver immortality, as they serve as a record of our times, and need to be factually accurate.
India's Most Wanted
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2019
Known for sharp thrillers such as Aamir and No One Killed Jessica, director Raj Kumar Gupta has set a bar that only few have managed to scale. But, as they say, high expectations inevitably lead to disappointment. Given the compelling material to work with at hand, this could've rendered a cracking, edge-of-the-seat watch. But predictable turns and lack of cinematic liberties fail to infuse the film with much-required tension.
De De Pyaar De
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2019
The film's deceptive title may throw many off. But the message that De De Pyaar De packs is loud and clear — love cannot be sought by courtship alone, accepting and adapting play an intrinsic role too. So if you're going for a geriatric, be prepared to date the dentures too.
Student of the Year 2
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2019
Helming the second in the franchise that catapulted the careers of Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan, would surely come with great responsibility. But Malhotra plays it on the back-foot, hoping to crack it with a formulaic plot and clichéd characters that barely go beyond the call of duty. Perhaps, it's time for the makers to return to film school?
Blank
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2019
The theory that all bearded men are terrorists is reinforced in this Sunny Deol thriller...
Badla
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Mar 2019
As an attorney in this film says, "It's all in the details—they can make or break a piece of evidence." And it is this acute attention to the various singularities presented in this film that makes it worth sitting through.
Total Dhamaal
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Feb 2019
Total Dhamaal is a one-time watch but only when it airs on TV on a Sunday afternoon when you can't seem to find the remote to turn it off.
Gully Boy
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Feb 2019
Parallels with Eminem's 8 Mile are inevitable because both rappers battle difficult domestic lives to explode on stage with material that relays their ordeals. But this gully boy proves that you don't need to be slim or shady as long as you can rhyme with reason.
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Feb 2019
This one may not achieve what 3 Idiots did for parents of engineering students with non-technical passions. But it has the recipe for a light-hearted comedy. Also, it subliminally yet successfully sensitises audiences to the challenges endured by same-sex couples when surrounded by those who refuse to understand or accept them.
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Jan 2019
Manikarnika is a blood-splattered odyssey that celebrates the warrior queen who stood her ground and even threatened the British Raj's ambitions in India. Most know of Jhansi ki Rani from the poem that aptly described the fearless queen. This biopic goes beyond heroics to reveal a resolute yet vulnerable figure. And even while the authenticity of all the events detailed here is debatable, it makes for a decent watch.
The Accidental Prime Minister
2019 · Mumbai Mirror · Jan 2019
What should a biopic deliver is a question that will garner various responses. A historian would want it to be a record of our times so that it could have resonance in the future. A filmmaker would seek dramatic points in the subject's life that would render a compelling narrative. A sociologist would want to assess if the person's life had any significant impact on society. We would like to stick with the one in the disclaimer: "this film is meant solely for the purpose of entertainment".
Zero
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Dec 2018
Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif-starrer is a half-baked love story...
Kedarnath
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Dec 2018
If one must watch a fictional account of a natural disaster, we can always turn to Hollywood blockbusters which have done it too well and too often. This just seems like watching an '80s Hindi movie for an hour-and-a-half and then an '80s shark movie for another 10 minutes.
Thugs of Hindostan
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Nov 2018
Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan's fantasy tale of retribution suffers due to mediocre execution...
Namaste England
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Oct 2018
Arjun Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra fail to deliver on their potential...
Badhaai Ho
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Oct 2018
This socially-awkward construct lends itself to such compelling material that even a compilation of reaction shots would suffice. But writers Shantanu Srivastava and Akshat Ghildial capitalise on the uneasiness of being in this pickle to script hilarious sequences that would leave you in splits.
Tumbbad
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Oct 2018
What doesn't kill you, makes you more resilient. And if you survive the version of Beelzebub in this film, you surely have the liver for heart-pounding horror.
Stree
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2018
Debutant director Amar Kaushik establishes the setting elaborately but doesn't manage to deliver on the writing. A film like this required a steady hand to carefully balance the chills and thrills along with the outlandish one-liners, ensuring neither is watered-down by the other.
Gold
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2018
Akshay Kumar's portrayal of Tapan Das is convincing and effective...
Soorma
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2018
Soorma applauds a deserving figure who has received national honours but sadly, hasn't been celebrated with the same fervour. A worthy hat-tip!
Sanju
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2018
Some may complain that Sanju makes light of the convicted actor's inglorious misadventures. But if one really hoped for a bittersweet account, we'd watch an Anurag Kashyap.
Veere Di Wedding
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2018
While this one works as a breezy film on girl bonding, it gets a bit tedious while taking a stab at patriarchy. In fact, a message it hopes to convey on the societal pressures endured by women is lazily tucked into a dialogue. "Pehle shaadi karo, phir bachcha, phir bachcha hua toh doosre bachche ka pressure." It almost seems like old whine in a new bottle.
Raazi
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2018
Unlike most films within the genre that focus chiefly on the 'operation', Raazi also delves into the debilitating position that secret agents who stumble in and out of the margins of history must sometimes assume. Given the political climate, this one's a relevant watch — especially since little has turned between the two nations over the years.
Nanu Ki Jaanu
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2018
...the biggest mystery of all remains, did the person who invested in this excuse for celluloid do so out of free will? We'll never know.
Beyond the Clouds
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2018
It takes a Majidi to rise above the plot and offer audiences hope when things look south. Even here, he's determined to make it stick. It may not be a deep, immersive, dislocating experience one usually has when introduced to unwavering spirits and personal narratives that his cinema has come to be known for. But it's surely reminiscent of his previous work and sparkles up an appetite to revisit them.
October
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2018
Let's just say it — this film, like the October-born Librans, is moody and petulant and yet, almost obsessively sentimental.
Blackmail
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2018
It's a bit exhausting to narrate the multiple entanglements, but the trying situations retain pace and keep one interested, curious and concerned about the events to follow.
Hichki
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Mar 2018
Drafting an inspiring story about a teacher who manages to tame even those on the verge of delinquency will naturally tug on a certain emotion. Just that the number of films that have blindly lifted this formula renders this one to be almost formatted if not clichéd.
Pad Man
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Feb 2018
The film ticks every question it hopes to raise — if every female goes through it, why should it lead to embarrassment or even taint one as 'apavitra'? But it barely alters the squeamish attitude many hold against the routine discomfort biologically assigned to all womankind. And this is where R Balki slips. It was a noble cause for sure, if only the makers would have soaked up some of the melodrama.
Mukkabaaz
2018 · Mumbai Mirror · Jan 2018
Anurag Kashyap fans may be a bit disappointed here. The filmmaker who doesn't hold his blows, seems constricted in telling this story. Not that there aren't enough bloody noses and hammered eyes, but the overall treatment seems to be tweaked for universal appeal. There are scenes which scream Kashyap, but it's a 'milds' version of the filmmaker.
Ribbon
2017 · Mumbai Mirror · Jan 2018
Ribbon makes one realise several things about the world around us — jobs have become demanding beyond decency, maternity leave is a career killer and an inconvenience at best and trust no one with your minor child. But despite all the ills inflicted upon us, it summarises with the predictable message that if we band together, we'll get by.
Mubarakan
2017 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2017
Unlike many Bazmee films, this one's low on slapstick and heavy on sappy emotion. It's almost like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...meets No Entry. And while this blend lends the film substance, being uncharacteristic of the maker's style makes one feel like a victim of false advertising.
Tubelight
2017 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2017
Director Kabir Khan admitted in an interview that the objective of this cinematic tribute was to make the inspiring story accessible to a larger audience. And while Salman fans across the world would make for a substantial target, inflicting them with this preachy tale of leaning on 'yakeen' to get through life could be a tad misleading. But then again, we're addressing hardcore Bhai fans, who feel that hanging one's shades over the back of one's collar is the path to ultimate glory.
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
2017 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2017
Given the premise the first one set, this one was poised to be a big reveal for reasons that led to Kattapa's supposedly heinous act. But the flashback he narrates is engaging enough to serve as a suitable distraction and by the end of this film, this reveal is of little consequence.
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2016
While this would qualify as an average watch, in a cricket-crazed nation like ours, this hagiographic tribute serves as the highlights of an iconic match — packed with best shots, wickets and commentary to match.
Pink
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2016
This film makes one think of the benefits the Prime Minister's Swachh Bharat campaign could derive if a small part of it were assigned to the cleansing of our minds.
Baar Baar Dekho
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2016
This could've been a breezy love story but it takes itself too seriously and ends up like a masala khichdi with aspirations of being a risotto.
Island City
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2016
Writer-director Ruchika Oberoi's Fedora prize at last year's Venice Film Festival for Island City is well-deserved. Her approach to storytelling could be variously inspired by many, but she delivers on the style and format to make this a compelling watch.
Akira
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2016
Director A R Murugadoss' obsession with themes like good over evil, conscience over corruption and pow over bow continues with Akira.
A Flying Jatt
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2016
The film dies a progressive death when it takes itself too seriously.
Happy Bhag Jayegi
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2016
It would be a stretch to say this one redefines romcoms or is like none other in recent times. In fact, the climax sequence has the entire cast in a loony fit, much like an average Priyadarshan film. Director Mudassar Aziz's last, Dulha Mil Gaya (2010), wasn't exactly path-breaking and only helped us walk into this one with zero expectations, which were exceeded by this breezy watch. So, if you're in for a mild entertainer which won't make or ruin your mood, bhaag to a multiplex near you.
UNindian
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2016
While most gags fall flat, Lee is decidedly bad enough to be good in a dream sequence where he shakes a leg to "Jumme Ki Raat" (Kick) — like a freak reality show contestant.
Rustom
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2016
This one's worth a watch only for Akshay Kumar. But if you're looking for laughs, Esha Gupta could help too.
Budhia Singh – Born to Run
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2016
Despite being a film pegged on fighting over all odds, this one works not just as an inspirational watch, but for being an impression of the despicable state of affairs governing sports today. Sprint to a multiplex near you.
Fever
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2016
Director Rajeev Jhaveri attempts a Hollywood-style narrative with conviction but underestimating the audience's intellect and oversimplifying the plot makes it a tiring watch.
The Legend of Michael Mishra
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2016
When you sign up for an Arshad Warsi movie, you expect mildly amusing one-liners, a couple of thumkas and, perhaps, a few well-placed punches to wrap up the proceedings. But this one barely delivers on either.
Chauthi Koot
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2016
Gurvinder Singh deserves full marks for this National Award winner. He narrates a simple story which says a lot more than it literally does.
Dishoom
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2016
Dishoom jabs a hole into every action thriller ever made and packs in tested tropes - like two unlikely cops paired together for a mission to save someone of national significance. Harbouring much contempt for each other initially, their misadventures ensure that much bromance brews before the director calls it a wrap. Just like every other Will Smith or Bruce Willis or Chris Tucker movie.
M Cream
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2016
At some point, Figs' father (Tom Alter in an ill-fitting suit) shared, "You need to stop running if you want to find what you're looking for." For the audience, the answer lies outside the screen.
Great Grand Masti
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2016
Only one piece of advice for those rushing to catch this: carry along a chastity belt. It would be useful only if worn over the head, covering your eyes and ears.
Sultan
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2016
Writer-director Ali Abbas Zafar, whose filmography includes lacklustre films like Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and Gunday, breaks a jinx with this delightful flick. He builds the muscled monolith's narrative effectively to garner empathy for his turbulent journey.
Shorgul
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2016
Veteran Ashutosh Rana is mostly contained and Jimmy Shergill is controlled in his insults. But Turkish debutant Suha Gezen is a bit too loud by average sonic standards of someone grieving multiple setbacks. A highoctane dialogue in the film reinstates the supposed moral of the film, "Dangon mein Hindu ya Mulasmaan nahin marta, insaniyat marta hain." While this is true, watching this film till the very end can be terminal for audiences of all religions too.
Rough Book
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2016
This film also challenges Google's inability in answering all questions of life. The questions put forth to illustrate this point include, "How do you increase the sales of a cooking oil manufacturer?, and "Why did Beyonce apologise to a NASA scientist." Yes, this was covered in a physics class. To evade legal proceedings from the internet giant, a suitable disclaimer that praises the world's most popular internet search engine, is tucked into the end credits. This one, is only to caution audiences.
Raman Raghav 2.0
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2016
Indian slasher films (the few that have managed to be produced) have been typical fare: solely focusing on the act and the investigation that leads to the capture of the offender. But Raman Raghav 2.0 offers access to the dark mental alleys of its troubled hero, so much so that his parallel world and sick mind achieve a twisted logic. This one's certainly not a date film. But hey, a jolty squeeze on the upper arm can do much for your love life.
Dhanak
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2016
This film portrays Rajasthan as the land of the forever happy - where breaking into a song doesn't warrant an excuse and ghevar is the national sweet and acceptable main course. The film's one-dimensional storyline desperately seeks conflict but only ends up straying from uncertainties, much like Ram Gopal Varma films evade a steady camera.
Udta Punjab
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2016
...the film takes a preachy stance in repeatedly conveying the debilitating life of addicts. It adopts a Films Division documentary approach in a tedious sequence that explains the supply chain operation of various drugs.
Te3n
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2016
Like any thriller, the money here is on figuring out the perpetrator, hopefully before those hunting the person in the film can.
Waiting
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2016
The film deserves a watch for being one that doesn't try too hard and for its approach to an extreme situation. Sure, there's a lot of sobbing, resentment and much of 'what if' and 'I should have'. But there's also reasoning, acceptance and the ability to envision a life beyond the catastrophic event.
Veerappan
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2016
It's upsetting that Ram Gopal Varma fans have to put up with this. Even the very few and far between visual flourishes are merely reminders of an auteur that was.
Phobia
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2016
It would be a spoiler to define the genre of the film as it would give away much of the plot. And the thrills you take away from the film are directly proportional to how wild your imagination is. But following this watch, and if you're the kind to sleep with one eye open, ensure you grip your pillow tight, especially when you exit light.
Dear Dad
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2016
While this could've been a breezy indie mood film that travels to a few festivals, it may face a serious challenge as a commercial release in India. The problem with it is simple — not much happens. And what does, happens at a lethargic pace, which can be unnerving.
Azhar
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2016
A problem with this film is that it won't agree well with ardent Azhar fans, given the slips in factual accuracy. And his detractors would argue against his engineered victim image in the film. So the point is, who does that leave Azhar with?
Buddha in a Traffic Jam
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2016
The issue with this film is not that it packs in too many issues. It's just that it has too many of its own.
One Night Stand
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2016
When you sign up for a Sunny Leone film, there are expectations of a certain kind. For such a single-minded audience, Sunny delivers with foamy swipes across her body in slow-mo and openmouthed moans. But those hopeful for more, shouldn't be. As the title suggests, this isn't a story of free love, rather freelance lovemaking. And while extra-marital affairs have become jaded in films, milked largely by the Bhatts, this one targets a proposition close to the Indian male fantasy — having one with Sunny Leone.
Traffic
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2016
Organ donation is a noble cause that this film picks up to endorse. But the superficial focus on the humanitarian act only draws attention away from it.
Baaghi
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2016
Director Sabbir Khan should be credited for framing the well-conceptualised action scenes. But for the rest, writer Sanjeev Dutta left him with very little to play with. The songs in the film are great — only for your mid-film washroom visits. Almost 140 minutes long, Baaghi can get insufferable to a point that you hope the lead pair actually succumbs to the blows and we can all go home. But they don't.
Nil Battey Sannata
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2016
Director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari deserves credit for transforming a very average story with a predictable moral into a film that leaves you feeling snug and content.
Santa Banta Pvt Ltd
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2016
Capitalising on the iconic Sikh characters that caustic columnist and writer Khushwant Singh celebrated in his joke books, this is a cinematic blot that debunks that famous detergent slogan 'daag ache hain'.
Laal Rang
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2016
If you'd like a crash course in Haryanvi, this one covers the elementary level in just two hours and 25 minutes. But as a movie, it doesn't justify the cost of a multiplex ticket. Give it a few months, a world TV premiere is on the cards.
Fan
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2016
This film goes against the construct of a Yash Raj film. It has Shah Rukh Khan, but not a single song. It has a shaadi, but it's only peripheral to the story. It has a psychotic stalker but he doesn't believe in self-harm. It feels like a tribute to King Khan but SRK hasn't been more unlike himself in any other film. So, should you invest in such a risky watch? If you're an SRK fan, you don't care for approval. But even if you aren't, this one's a thrilling watch.
The Jungle Book
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Apr 2016
While the original story has little mystery and would even seem like a lame fantasy today, this adaptation, thanks to its visual bravado, makes it a contemporary classic.
Rocky Handsome
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Mar 2016
Given the film's single-minded obsession with crime and given the setting, it could've well been titled Madgaon Vice. But since the lead here is also the producer, we'll let this pass.
Aligarh
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Feb 2016
How one experiences this film mirrors one's opinions and preconceived notions of alternative sexualities. It's a film of many firsts. And given how most Hindi movies caricature homosexuals, this one is a reality check.
Neerja
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Feb 2016
If you've read about the real events that have inspired this film, you know how it will fold up. But even so, this one scores for managing to pack in a few surprises.
Ishq Forever
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Feb 2016
If you're keen on exploring parts of South Africa, off the B'wood map, this one's for you. But that's just one reason.
Loveshhuda
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Feb 2016
A novel theory suggested in the film is that faces of ageing seniors bear tells of decisions taken earlier in life. A frowning glory equals to having compromised with one's wishes. A delightful smile means the person has followed his/her heart. The moral? Don't give up on your dreams or be sour-faced for life.
Deadpool
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Feb 2016
Deadpool works for the same reason Comedy Central Roast does: it takes a dig at itself and heartily laughs at the cliches and idiosyncrasies associated with the genre.
Ghayal Once Again
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Feb 2016
While Ghayal was a path-breaking revenge story that won seven Filmfare Awards, this sequel won't manage as much traction. But if you're a Sunny Deol fanboy, this one ticks all: lung-tearing screams and crushing punches.
Wazir
2016 · Mumbai Mirror · Jan 2016
This one is worthy of a single watch, but only for Akhtar, who is relentless and determined in his efforts to make this film work.
Dilwale
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Dec 2015
SRK's money dialogue, "Aaj ke baad apna chehra mat dikhana, jaan le longa," seems like a threat for audiences willing to attempt a second watch.
Bajirao Mastani
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Dec 2015
The film extends a historical perspective to intolerance in India. Although a casual reference, it makes the audience reflect on how "mazhab ki bediya" continue to divide us centuries later.
Hate Story 3
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Dec 2015
There are films you love and those you hate. This one falls in the third, the ones you'd love to hate.
Angry Indian Goddesses
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Dec 2015
AIG's selling point is the honesty with which the leading women approach their characters and the uncontainable chutzpah they exude.
Tamasha
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Nov 2015
Tamasha would've been a dream on paper but a lot is lost in execution. Ranbir and Deepika's offscreen chemistry may be history but a romcom set in a scenic geography is usually a recipe for success. Whether this will be enough to influence the film's economics, we'll have to wait and watch.
Spectre
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Nov 2015
If you're a Bond fanboy, you wouldn't care for a verdict. But even if you're not, this one is a must-watch.
X: Past Is Present
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Nov 2015
The film may be called X: Past is Present, but it surely promises a headache in the immediate future.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Nov 2015
Being a Khan film releasing on Diwali, it would be hardly surprising if this one clocks the big three digits at the box office. But before investing 174 minutes (the runtime) of your life in watching this tale of a middle-aged raja wooing a rani half his age, be warned. Some of the dubsmashes of the title song are far more watchable (especially the one featuring a snake trying to ape Sonam's thumkas).
Charlie Ke Chakkar Mein
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Nov 2015
None of the cast members deserve a mention, and even The veteran actor, Shah, seems entirely wasted. Perhaps imagined as an engaging thriller, the acting school performances marginalise the story which would've read like a tale of breakthrough twists on paper. If only that sheet made it to the sets during filming, this would've been an entirely different film.
Main Aur Charles
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Nov 2015
In Charles' words, "Oyaltee has its own price to pay." But investing time to watch this one will only mean making a 'oyal' buffoon of yourself.
Titli
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Oct 2015
Titli seems to be made with the single-minded objective of leaving audiences with an unsettling feeling-A constant discomfort that can't be shrugged off, like a nasty itch at an unreachable part of your back. If this is what you seek from cinema, book your tickets now.
Shaandaar
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Oct 2015
Director Vikas Bahl, best known for helming films like Queen and Chillar Party, has acquired a reputation for himself and unfortunately for him, people have expectations from this one. But unlike his previous ventures, this one lacks soul, sensitivity and a scriptwriter.
Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Oct 2015
The top reason for the success of the first part was that it picked on rarely-discussed yet universally prevalent sufferings of committed men. The tacky yet hummable number "Ban Gaya Kutta'' (used in this film as a background number) even poked fun at their domesticated state. This film goes to say, that while every dog has his lay, the eternal sufferings that come along, are here to stay.
Wedding Pullav
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Oct 2015
Pullav is a delectable preparation, but this one will result in an upset stomach. Go for khichdi instead.
Talvar
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Oct 2015
One believes that the laws that govern our land are competent if not entirely snag-free. But Meghana Gulazar's Talvar subliminally suggests that while the system provides a framework for doling out justice, its construct can sometimes be a contraint. As a dialogue in the film explains, "Gathering information in an investigation is often called a legal act carried out illegally. The trick is to find a balance between what is legally right and what you, as an individual, feel is right."
Bhaag Johnny
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2015
Fundamentally, all chase films have someone on the run and someone trying to track the first 'someone' down. Where this one differs is that it fails to be unpredictable. Here, every kick, stab and car screech can be estimated accurately. You can make a correct choice each time, so to speak.
Katti Batti
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2015
An essential part of heartbreak films is the unsaid assurance that all will be well by the end. The only certainty here, is that this story of heartache will surely lead to a headache.
Meeruthiya Gangsters
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2015
Debutant director Zeishan Quadri makes all the classical mistakes of a first-timer. To begin with, he seems too consumed with the idea of infusing humour in tense sequences. This would've worked if the jabs were sharp and didn't undermine or diffuse the magnitude of the scene. Here, they only serve as a distraction. Secondly, when you seamlessly capture an entire scene in a single shot, you may pat yourself on the back. But when you repeatedly do it, it seems like a gimmick and that you're doing it just because you can.
Hero
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Sep 2015
The Hero that catapulted Jackie Shroff and Meenakshi Sheshadri to instant stardom had songs like Lambi Judai and Tu Mera Hero which can be partly credited, as they'd factor in the success of films then. But the predictable plot featuring a union of partners from disparate conditions: rich and poor, cop and robber, coolie and client, was passable even though over-utilised then. Today, this photocopy with no plot tweaks seems little more than a tired effort.
Manjhi: The Mountain Man
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2015
A 124-minute film about a man trying to pull down a mountain could be like staring at a construction site while stuck in a traffic jam. But this one weaves in enough entertainment and thrill to be a lot more than that.
Brothers
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2015
Director Karan Malhotra has a unique ability. He can douse anything into a tub of glycerine and make even a movie about MMA into one about loving your parents. After all, it's also about loving your producer.
Gour Hari Dastaan
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Aug 2015
Director Ananth Mahadevan plays it safe by ticking all the boxes: adapting a story that got enough press to have recall, getting former journalist C P Surendran to pen the screenplay, and casting faces who have a proven success rate in such films. But what he didn't account for is investing time to establish a mood and to allow his characters to find themselves instead of rushing into scripted characteristics. It's like the perfect school play, everyone knows their lines, everyone falls in line and little is left to mind.
Aisa Yeh Jahaan
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2015
This is India's first carbon neutral film. If you watch it, you'll wonder if the lack of carbon can be blamed for this celluloid disaster. Aisa Yeh Jahaan stands for grave urban issues: lack of green cover in metros, the Assamese being called Nepali, the homeless being reduced to hog on street food etc. But the audience will surely stand for a larger concern: to exit the screen and reach for a headache pill.
Masaan
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2015
Based on trailers, many would imagine Masaan to be a film meant for festival audiences. But with evolving audience tastes and the equity attached to novel storytelling,'mainstream' is hardly a word of any consequence.
Bāhubali: The Beginning
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Jul 2015
With Bahubali, Rajamouli has given us a new epic that generations from now will watch, analyse and appreciate. It not only sets a milestone in visual technique but also establishes a benchmark in storytelling.
Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2015
Debutant director Vinod Kapri was astute in picking a subject that tabloid headlines are made of. But in execution, he couldn't convey the mood of the story. Directing a satire can be tricky. It has to subliminally mock real events without making a Kapil Sharma sideshow of it. But subtlety is not a virtue this film banks on.
Uvaa
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2015
Films about youth striving for change and questioning authority have existed from the beginning of time. But it takes a little more than getting five shirtless boys to nose dive from a 15-feet cliff into water to make a Rang De Basanti.
ABCD 2
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2015
Anybody can dance, but not everybody can watch them do just that for 154 minutes (the film's run time) at a stretch. Enthusiasts, who feed on dance reality TV marathons and expect this to be little more than the best of Dance India Dance, will find it to be an audio-visual delight.
Hamari Adhuri Kahani
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2015
...what could've been a sensitive debate on whether battered wives can challenge societal norms to seek extramarital comfort, ends up being an eclectic mix of cliches. Did Vidya read the adhuri script before signing this film or did Emraan not get the puri signing amount? We'll never know.
Dil Dhadakne Do
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · Jun 2015
Those hoping for a cruise package at the cost of a movie ticket will be a bit disappointed as the indoor shots exceed the ones under the sun. But from what we get to see, chances are, this one could do for Istanbul what Dil Chahta Hai did for Goa.
P Se PM Tak
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2015
It is upsetting that the 67-yearold filmmaker credited for classics like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa will now include a debacle like this in his filmography. Also, veteran actors like Aanjjan Srivastav, Deepak Shirke and Mushtaq Khan are completely wasted here. There's little to go by for a story and the dialogues are probably more cringe-worthy than the next B-grade film.
Welcome to Karachi
2015 · Mumbai Mirror · May 2015
WTK isn't hilarious but has sparks of brilliance and is worth a watch.