It isn’t as daring as Anurag Kashyap’s debut ‘Paanch’ whose themes it clearly mirrors, but it’s got many moments that’ll surprise you.

This is a film with the perfect ingredients; made with honesty and a touch of innocence. No wonder it leaves you feeling very rewarded.

A living, breathing slice of busy Mumbai, this film has dark humor running through its veins: whether it’s the opening scene in which Tusshar and his partners rob a prominent author, or the scene in a restaurant’s toilet where Pitobash gets even with a former acquaintance. There is comedy even in the film’s dark climax, which for me was the only baffling portion of this film.

Yeh Saali Zindagi takes its time to unfold, but it’s a delicious little treat if you muster the patience for it. Under its rough exterior of criminals and gunshots, is a tale of slow-burning passion and unconditional love.

…at the heart of this film are its delightful leads. The ambitious but straightforward Shruti Kakkar, played with a zeal we haven’t seen before in Anushka Sharma’s previous roles. And Ranveer Singh as the unpolished but lovable Bittoo Sharma, who steals the film with a confident, uninhibited performance that is the best thing about this film.

Directed competently by Dhulia, who’s familiar and comfortable even with the dusty terrain, ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ is made with great attention to detail, and paints an honest, realistic picture of an India few of us can claim to know. Although repetitive occasionally and a tad long, the film raises two important questions: What could possibly drive a patriotic soldier into crossing over to the dark side? And although we call them sporting heroes, do we really care about our athletes once their careers are over?

Beautifully shot and aided by an evocative background score, ‘Dhobi Ghat’ is occasionally indulgent and moves at a glacial pace. Yet Rao creates some endearing characters, and embraces Mumbai despite its dichotomies. The result is a film that slowly grows on you.

… two big thumbs up for director Dibakar Banerjee’s Love, Sex aur Dhokha. It’s the kind of film you’ll be talking about for weeks.

It’s an assured, confident debut and one hell of a rollicking ride. A textured, compelling drama that’s unlike anything you’ve seen lately.

From the man behind those decade-defining Munnabhai films, however, it is far from his best work. I’m going with three out of five for director Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots, an earnest but calculated effort that runs, but never flies. Watch it anyway, because it’s the season to be jolly, and good laughs are guaranteed.