Manoj Kumar R
Indian Express·Ottplay·Desimartini
Most Divergent Takes
- Vikram (2022)1.0 vs TRM 5.6-4.6
- Veera Simha Reddy (2023)1.0 vs TRM 4.4-3.4
- Karnan (2021)10.0 vs TRM 6.9+3.1
- Akhanda (2021)1.0 vs TRM 3.9-2.9
- Ante... Sundaraniki! (2022)8.0 vs TRM 6.3+1.7
Leader
2026 · Indian Express
Serendipity is the permanent quality of director Vikram's films. Gang Leader is rife with such easy and major reliefs for characters in desperate situations, which undercuts the dramatic tension in the narration. It is not a bad film but that doesn't mean it is outstanding either.
Waltair Veerayya
2023 · Indian Express
Neither Chiranjeevi nor Ravi Teja can save this film from drowning in shallowness. The filmmakers don't want the audience to respond to the character Waltair Veerayya, but they want us to venerate before the star playing Waltair Veerayya.
Veera Simha Reddy
2023 · Indian Express
This Nandamuri Balakrishna starrer has no soul. The troubling part of Veera Simha Reddy, by that token most of Balakrishna's movies, is that it argues it's okay to kill to solve a problem.
Kadaisi Vivasayi
2022 · Indian Express
Kadaisi Vivasayi is a deeply philosophical film that uses the story of the last farmer in a village to explore profound questions about meaning, inheritance, and spiritual transcendence. Manikandan's direction and the subtle, heartwarming performance by non-professional actor Nallandi create a meditation on what it means to live a meaningful life in an age of information and materialism.
Ante... Sundaraniki!
2022 · Indian Express
Ante Sundaraniki is snappy, fast-paced and a lot of fun. Writer-director Vivek Athreya infuses this comedy with the energy of a thriller. The real selling point of Ante Sundaraniki is Vivek's love and grasp of the Telugu language.
Vikram
2022 · Indian Express
Even by his own standards, his latest film Saamy Square is an utterly ludicrous attempt that exposes his unwillingness to finetune his filmmaking skills with changing times. Scene after scene, Hari keeps giving you a reason to hate this film and the actors who helped the director to translate his absurd ideas onto the big screen.
Thallumaala
2022 · Indian Express
On the surface, Thallumaala offers a lot of fun and entertainment. It's a youthful movie with Tovino Thomas managing to look 10 years younger by achieving a slim physique.
777 Charlie
2022 · Indian Express
Charlie is the heart and soul of the film. And this canine actor has delivered some of the most adorable and feel-good moments that we have seen in a long time. The makers of 777 Charlie deserve a pat on the back for believing that people would still respond to movies that offer a quieter experience of self-reflection about the absurdity of life.
Sita Ramam
2022 · Indian Express
The way the romance develops between Ram and Sita feels forced. The back and forth conversation between the two wide-eyed young people is naive, uninteresting and feels overly stretched. The film majorly rests on the good looks of its actors to make it tolerable.
Rorschach
2022 · Indian Express
Mammootty magnificently embodies the psychological condition of a man with bottomless vengeance. Director Nissam Basheer and Sameer dig way deeper to reveal the darkest parts of the human psyche, piecing together such a delicious puzzle in a twisted and diabolic film that keeps you shocked at the possibilities of how far a human being can go when consumed by vengeance.
Akhanda
2021 · Indian Express
Akhanda is a sensible and deeply thoughtful movie about how some unscrupulous men exploit people's religious beliefs for petty gains. I must have mixed up the movies as I am still unsettled by the onslaught on my senses. My eardrums are still throbbing after they were subjected to S Thaman's incessant background score, which could outdo the screams and whistles in a packed movie theatre.
Master
2021 · Indian Express
Master is neither a nail-biter like Maanagaram nor a pacy thriller like Kaithi. Master is the most fun, sensible, enjoyable and good looking movie that Vijay has done in a long time. That said, Master is neither completely a Vijay film nor entirely a Lokesh Kanagaraj film. Lokesh's self-imposed limitations and obligation to be in fan-service undermine the film's impact.
Pushpa: The Rise
2021 · Indian Express
Allu Arjun walks away with the film with his strong performance. He embraces his deglamorized look and delivers a memorable performance.
Shyam Singha Roy
2021 · Indian Express
The period portions of the film is a sight for sore eyes. The retro look of Nani and Sai Pallavi oozes charm. Pallavi's classical dance performance draped in a red saree is a sight to behold.
Maanaadu
2021 · Indian Express
Maanaadu offers more reasons to celebrate it. In particular, SJ Suryah's performance, which brings the circus to the town... The editing of the movie is another big plus. Editor Praveen KL's work brings a lot of clarity to the movie, which makes it enjoyable for a wider audience.
Sarpatta Parambarai
2021 · Indian Express
Sarpatta Parambarai is arguably the best boxing film in the history of Tamil cinema. Ranjith has broken new ground in the genre by simply trying to be mindful of the sport he's dealing with. He has tried to show boxing as authentically as possible.
Jai Bhim
2021 · Indian Express
Suriya inhabits the role of a firebrand advocate with ease. It is as if he's not just performing the lines written by the director, but believes in every word and gesture he delivers in this film.
Karnan
2021 · Indian Express
Director Mari Selvaraj's Karnan is a revolutionary, unlike Pariyerum Perumal, he doesn't take insults lying down. Karnan is fearless and he hits back when needed much to our satisfaction. This film will pull you in and make you experience what a heavily persecuted community goes through.
Churuli
2021 · Indian Express
Lijo Jose Pellissery has done a beautiful job of visually imagining the mysterious maze laid down by screenwriter S. Hareesh. Cinematographer Madhu Neelakandan has explored the picturesque scenery of Churuli from various and vivid angles, giving us a pleasant viewing experience.
Nayattu
2021 · Indian Express
Nayattu is as much a thriller as it is the indictment of the failure of the public to be reasonable. Director Martin Prakkat has done a terrific job in visually bringing out all the keen observations of Kabir and painting a bigger picture of the system, which is bent to keep the public in dark.
V
2020 · Indian Express
V is a much-needed relief for film buffs who are on the lookout for fresh entertainment. V is not the popcorn movie that we deserve but the one we need right now.
World Famous Lover
2020 · Indian Express
World Famous Lover is not a cheesy romantic story about a man hurting from inside and fighting to win back the love of his life. It is an indictment of the male gaze that fails to see the other side of the story: women. Vijay Deverakonda is in his element here as a bleeding, wailing and reckless lover.
KGF-1
2018 · Indian Express
The impressively-mounted sets make up for Prashanth Neel's flimsy storyline. Composer Ravi Basrur lifts up the scenes with his terrific background orchestra.
The Greatest of All Time
2024 · Desimartini · Sep 2024
Venkat Prabhu's big swing with Thalapathy Vijay fizzles.
Captain Miller
2024 · Ottplay · Jan 2024
Captain Miller may be set in the period of the British Raj, but the themes, concepts and issues that it deals with feel timely and relevant.
Kaathal - The Core
2023 · Ottplay · Nov 2023
Kaathal – The Core is the latest addition to the growing list of Mammootty's modern classics, adding a new layer to the evolving landscape of Malayalam cinema. The film navigates through a myriad of sensitive subjects and personal choices deeply influenced by the age-old societal concern of "What will people say?" while suggesting that this concern is ultimately overrated and inconsequential.
Jailer
2023 · Ottplay · Aug 2023
Jailer is a highly entertaining crowd-pleaser. Nothing path-breaking but it is sure to become an enjoyable delight for the masses.
Custody
2023 · Ottplay · May 2023
Venkat Prabhu, who previously showcased his inventiveness with Maanaadu, disappoints with Custody. Custody had the task of redefining the onscreen image of Naga Chaitanya, but by the end of the movie, Chaitanya remains a pretty boy, and the film fails to deliver the edge needed for an effective action drama.