As for Titli the film, the future in a mainstream movie environment looks bleak. If you seek entertainment and/or stories with redemption look elsewhere. But if cynicism and hopelessness excite you, this is the movie for you.

Vikas Bahl should’ve done better with Shaandaar. The biggest mistake he makes is to not trust his actors. In scenes where he opts for animation, he should’ve just let Pankaj Kapur and Alia Bhatt do the magic. But he doesn’t. He chooses to rely on cheap frills. And no matter how much money you spend padding up gimmicks, they don’t work like the real thing.

Ace cinematographer Binod Pradhan helms the director’s chair for Wedding Pullav. No wonders then that the visuals of the film, in the locales of Thailand look spectacular. But the storytelling lacks focus and the execution of the ideas seems trite. Perhaps things would’ve been different with a better set of lead actors and a more established filmmaker on board. But for now, Wedding Pullav is an undercooked film, lacking the right kind of spice and flavour.

PKP2 is definitely worth a watch. The misogyny is present, but it stays in the under current. The story is just fantastic. The film is not just relevant to our times, it is a straight laced portrayal of our lives. The frivolity of modern relationships and the ease with which people deceive themselves are all presented with the right dash of humour. This one is definitely an upgrade on its original. And a very good film for youngsters.

Good actors in a not so good film, is a scenario all too common in Hindi cinema. Jazbaa is another addition. Sanjay Gupta has brought in all his trademark moves, the green tinge, the slow motion shots and the jumpy editing. But while the visuals look slick, the story is really all too old and the presentation feels jaded. Watch this if you must for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who’s still in top form. Pity her comeback film doesn’t measure up to her efforts.

Calendar Girls is more than a decent watch. It’s takes a frivolous subject and weaves an engaging story around it.

Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon is the quintessential family film. It’s comfortable entertainment with the right amount of popcorn quality. True to the masala formula, there are plenty of songs and exotic locations. There’s no action but a generous helping of humour. But all that genre specifics are part of a film that’s severely undercooked. Yes it will make you chuckle more than once, but two hours later you won’t remember a single thing.

The direction nearly goes haywire. A lot of things don’t make sense in this ambitious project about differing timelines. The songs especially pop in without notice or need. The characters behave erratically and the story doesn’t make too much sense either. The predictable climax is a real disappointment. A classic case of wasted opportunity.

Director Nikhil Advani’s efforts in making Katti Batti are pretty evident. His film looks top notch with its visuals as well as detailing all on mark. The opening credits done with the stop motion video is a nice touch too. It’s just the total turnaround from being a quirky romance to a weepy love saga seems a bit jarred. The humour doesn’t work at all. The music is just about okay as well. It could all have been slightly better, but even so, what plays out on screen is largely good enough for fans of the romantic genre.

While there’s nothing new on offer in terms of story, the fresh new faces and a brisk runtime of 131 minutes make Hero a breezy entertainer.