Simran has so much going for it that you really want to like the film, root for Praful, draw satisfaction from a stellar performance of a fine artiste like Kangana. But then, something doesn’t work for the film. Unfortunately, it’s a great one-time watch which makes you wish that the makers had fine-tuned it enough to propel it towards a huge success!

Bahubali might well be a red letter moment for movie buffs in this country where a indigenous film is able to enthuse a mammoth of a reaction like this. For years we have been blabbering about content being king over the superstars Khans and Kapoors alike, but here is a film, which with regular actors who have grown to be monumental by the sheer credit of what they brought to the table. Give it up for Rajamouli for what he has managed to whip up. As for the film, it is a decadent watch that must be savored. We don’t see a reason to not watch it. There is nothing like a homegrown spectacle.

The underwritten love stories never realize their full potential and Phillauri treads down the familiar half-baked Bollywood path. What, however, stays consistently arresting is the film’s music which is every bit worth cherishing. With some better writing and some tight editing, the makers could’ve whipped up a Chamatkar. This isn’t half as novel, earnest or memorable. If idle, take that trip to the nearby multiplex, but make it about the caramel popcorn more than the ghost bride. She doesn’t have the menace, charm or intention to haunt you.

There are several humorous moments between the sturdy supporting actors which salvage the odds. Varun gets a standout one when he buys a kamino (kimono) for Alia. Do you watch it? Yes. For the point it makes. For Alia, who sparkles as a no nonsense, all business beauty. For Varun, who makes all the effort come together in the end. Let’s not underrate the boy. He can do it all, be gritty, act fabulously, be his character and all of it while dancing like a star. May be there is already a superstar here. 

What doesn’t work is the pace! It is awfully slow and between one scene and another, there is a light years’ gap. The superfluous dance numbers are nothing more than Rajesh Roshan going back to his young years to end the secret of his magic. The VFX work is shoddy and Gupta’s tinted Instagram-filterish view of every scene could get a bit tiring. Since the editing has its own share of flaws, the film in the second half makes you dreary.

The last fifteen minutes of the film are pacy and just about crackling. But it takes too long to get to the point. Obviously, novelty in rom-coms is a wrong expectation but this one seems sincere. What doesn’t convince me, however, is the reason for their commitment phobia. Shraddha’s character has some context, Adi, however, settles for being a regular boy with no backstory. There is a lot of heart, enough mush but not much to remember. We hear; OK Kanmani was better. Take your pick for this one – Remake or Original?

Dangal is an apt homage to their spirit. All you must want for Christmas is to watch this movie. This one is to cherish and for the keeps.

…despite these abundant things to appreciate, cinematically, Befikre is ridden with flaws. It has a convoluted second half. There is a genuine lack of impeccable chemistry but individually they do a smooth job to even out the odds. However, these hitches don’t kill the carefree spirit of the film. This one makes you want to rejoice, laugh with abandon, love unabashedly, kiss freely and dance with joy. Aur kya chahiye?
 
This movie feels a lot like love. 

The obviousness was absolutely absent in Kahaani and this time the guess work ends pretty soon, even before the story has unraveled its big mystery. The suspense is hardly piercing when it is muttered screen which is often a thriller’s biggest failure. 

…The mind games have gone obsolete. the actors are commendable – Jugal is worth a mention, Arjun is lightyears ahead of anything he has been seen in recent times but it pivots on Vidya, who shoulders it steadily. But the writing is loose, missing Sujoy’s crisp narrative from last night.