It may look like a Hollywood action thriller, but at its heart, Tiger Zinda Hai is an unabashed masala movie. The excessive use of slow motion shots and the constant fall back to comedy keep reminding you, this film wasn’t made in Hollywood.

JHMS is a happy romantic comedy that you can sing and dance along with. Pritam’s music is a stand out feature. The performances are really strong. The film’s dramatic soul rests in Imtiaz Ali’s usual Sufi belief where the story and characters tell you that the universe transpires to make lovers meet. That what you’re looking for is looking for you. If romance excites you, this one’s got all the right notes.

Indu Sarkar is no satire or subliminal piece on the history of Indian politics. It takes too many cinematic liberties, but thankfully its focus on the strong female lead lends it credibility and keeps the jingoism curbed. The performances are certainly its strength. Thankfully its rights outnumber its wrongs, making it an engaging watch for sure. 

Had the screenplay of Berlin Syndrome not taken so many liberties, it could’ve been a modern classic. Even though it falls short of greatness, it still is head and shoulders above the average thriller.

Director Alankrita Shrivastava has crafted a bold and beautiful film. It showcases a serious problem with society with the right amount of élan. It takes a heavy subject and presents it with alacrity. This film affirms your faith in girl power. Its a definite must watch.

Chris Nolan’s films are also generally apolitical and the fact that he’s managed to stay that way with Dunkirk, a World War II saga is spectacular. The underlying critique of war and focus on survival and hope is what makes this film so great. Dunkirk isn’t just an old war epic, this is a certified movie watching experience that cannot be missed.

But what makes this film more than just a sensational piece of cinema is its reflection into relationships. Four stories get intertwined as the characters keep crossing paths. While the narrative isn’t always crystal clear, the emotions are strong and the story of Shab is its strength.

The biggest problem with the film is that the second half deviates from the dark and delicious themes of the first, to indulge in the revenge drama track. While the situations in the second half are written with perfect logic, they are bit lofty. The action and the suspense approach distracts from the much more powerful story of mother, daughter and a family slowly nursing itself out of tragedy. But that’s how it plays out. The crucial moment in the climax though, makes it all worth the while. Mom is quite literally a thrill-a-minute ride. Its scenes are powerful and the best part is, the effort put in by the actors. Director Ravi Udyawar crafts an intense, taut and gratifying thriller. It’s a must watch.

Director Kabir Khan peppers Tubelight with many moments, but they’re not all convincing. For most parts his film stays glued to the miracle approach. That the simpleton and his faith will prevail. The Gandhian ideologies help out, and we’ve seen Rajkumar Hirani work wonders with them before, but with Tubelight they just remain as accessories. Khan crafts a beautiful looking film, but its relevance and themes only appear in flickers. This is a sweet little film alright, but the emotional inconsistencies just don’t iron out. It’s a classic case of what could’ve been a great film, settles for much less.

Bank Chor and its ‘smart comedy’ setup, especially in the second half isn’t the most intelligent piece of creative writing. Even though the film and its narrative treatment feels like a Delhi Belly, it never quite becomes as detailed and sharp as it should be. But what Bank Chor excels at is creating a hilarious banter between its lead characters. Three guys deliver some excellent punchlines and quirky dialogue to entertain in a breezy two-hour film. Director Bumpy and his team of writers may not have done enough to please the classes, but their spunky little film has enough thrills and laughs to give the massy crowds value for money. Bank Chor is definitely a comedy worth watching.