Rishabh Suri
Hindustan Times
Most Divergent Takes
- Bhooth Bangla (2026)7.0 vs TRM 5.0+2.0
- Pati Patni Aur Woh Do (2026)7.0 vs TRM 5.2+1.8
- Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past (2026)2.0 vs TRM 3.4-1.4
- Tu Yaa Main (2026)7.0 vs TRM 5.6+1.4
- Baby Do Die Do (2026)5.0 vs TRM 6.2-1.2
Minions & Monsters
2026 · Hindustan Times
Brainrot is probably the internet's favourite word right now. Anything that defies logic or common sense is instantly labelled as such. And then comes a film like Minions & Monsters. Where do you even begin? How do you review something that's designed to be completely senseless, chaotic, yet somehow entertaining in the silliest way imaginable?
Alpha
2026 · Hindustan Times
Alpha proves two things. First, social media's habit of writing a film's fate months before release helps nobody. Second, not every film that survives online negativity necessarily warrants the benefit of the doubt. Alpha is neither the disaster naysayers had predicted nor the reinvention the SpyVerse needed after the disappointing War 2. It is a competently mounted but emotionally underwhelming film that delivers very few highs, largely courtesy Hrithik Roshan, but never finds a compelling pulse of its own.
Baby Do Die Do
2026 · Hindustan Times
Unfortunately, thrillers live and die by the suspense they create, and this one repeatedly undercuts itself by revealing too much, too soon. Add to that convenient plotting that rarely serves the narrative, and what could have been a gripping thriller ends up as a watchable one that never fully realises its potential.
Pati Patni Aur Woh Do
2026 · Hindustan Times
Pati, Patni Aur Woh Do is the kind of film that knows exactly what it wants to be and rarely loses sight of it. Packed with misunderstandings and energetic performances, it delivers enough laughs to justify the ride, even if some stretches work better than others.
Ikka
2026 · Hindustan Times
Ikka squanders a promising courtroom thriller with weak writing and an overreliance on star power. Instead, it leaves you wondering how a film with Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna ended up feeling this ordinary.
Cocktail 2
2026 · Hindustan Times
The original Cocktail was messy too, but it had heart and characters you cared about. This spiritual successor has the gloss, the glamour, but not the emotional punch. Some drinks are best served once.
Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past
2026 · Hindustan Times
Somehow, films as painstakingly assembled as Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga and Kangana Ranaut's Bharat Bhaagya Viddhaata have opened below Vikram Bhatt's latest horror flick. At this point, the supernatural isn't on screen; it's at the ticket window.
Bhooth Bangla
2026 · Hindustan Times
What we get, though, is a reunion that feels a little... bittersweet. Akshay Kumar keeps the laughs coming in Priyadarshan's horror comedy, but it feels a tad too familiar.
Kartavya
2026 · Hindustan Times
The film reaches it's destination, but leaves you thinking- and feeling- nothing.
Main Vaapas Aaunga
2026 · Hindustan Times
At this point, too many Hindi films look like they were run through the same Instagram filter: so ultra-smooth and polished, it barely resembles the real world. It leaves the film without any personality. The question arises: has Imtiaz Ali succumbed to it too?
Governor
2026 · Hindustan Times
At one point while watching Governor, it began to feel less like cinema and more like an economics class. There is simply too much information being packed in, without enough dramatic variation to keep the narrative engaging.
Accused
2026 · Hindustan Times
Accused deserves credit for daring to step into morally complex terrain. Yet, bold intent alone does not guarantee a satisfying experience. Uneven chemistry and a finale that lacks the sting it promises dilute the impact of what could have been a far more provocative film.
Toaster
2026 · Hindustan Times
At one point in Toaster, Ramakant (Rajkummar Rao) goads Inspector Balagode (Upendra Limaye) to "awaken the animal inside you" and that, for me, is the film's smartest, most tongue-in-cheek moment. It cheekily nods to Limaye's presence in the hit Animal (2023), but also makes you wonder if there's enough of that crackling energy here to truly power Toaster.
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata
2026 · Hindustan Times
A nail-biting tribute to courage under fire by Kangana Ranaut and her coactors.
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai
2026 · Hindustan Times
Varun Dhawan and co deliver laughs in this flawed and at times fun entertainer.
Mardaani 3
2026 · Hindustan Times
Mardaani 3 arrives with quiet confidence, fronted by Rani Mukerji, who has turned Shivani Shivaji Roy into less of a character and more of a moral force.
Maa Behen
2026 · Hindustan Times
Three women and a body in the house. On paper, Maa Behen sounds like a recipe tailor-made for outrageous fun. But the film is far from being just another comic thriller, and that's where it earns a few brownie points.
Cocktail 2
2026 · Hindustan Times
The difference? One is a meditation on memory. The other is a reminder that some memories are best left untouched.
Border 2
2026 · Hindustan Times
In an era dominated by CGI and green screens, nostalgia remains the only special effect money cannot buy. Border 2 takes it several notches higher, not just through its soundtrack, but by bringing back the original force of nature, Sunny Deol.
Tu Yaa Main
2026 · Hindustan Times
Watching Tu Yaa Main almost became an embarrassing experience in the climax. One particular sequence had me on the edge of my seat, and I actually gasped.
O'Romeo
2026 · Hindustan Times
When an emotional, high-voltage scene on screen makes you titter instead of tearing up, you know something is not right. Somewhere between the filmmaker's intent and the audience's reception, the emotion gets lost in translation. That is the central tragedy of Vishal Bhardwaj's most massy film yet, O'Romeo.
The Odyssey
2026 · Hindustan Times
Overall, The Odyssey is easier to admire than to love. Its scale is staggering, craft unquestionable. But its emotional pull isn't always as immediate as its visual grandeur. Even so, Nolan delivers a thoughtful and rewarding adaptation that embraces the spirit of Homer's epic without reducing it to mere spectacle.
Welcome to the Jungle
2026 · Hindustan Times
It is an exciting time at the movies. A Partition romance, a romantic comedy, and a horror flick are all playing in theatres simultaneously- and more importantly, all are working. Add a madcap comedy to the lineup, and audiences are genuinely spoilt for choice.
120 Bahadur
2025 · Hindustan Times
What 120 Bahadur needed was a stronger emotional spine throughout to bind its technical strengths together. The craft is certainly there, the intention is unwavering, but the film stops short of delivering the kind of lingering impact a story of this magnitude deserves.
Dhurandhar
2025 · Hindustan Times
Dhurandhar's three-and-a-half-hour length works against it, but Aditya Dhar's direction, aided by the performances - chiefly Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna - elevate the film. Trim thirty minutes and this would have been a knockout. As it stands, it is a sturdy watch.
De De Pyaar De 2
2025 · Hindustan Times
De De Pyaar De 2 works not because it surprises you, but because it stays honest about what it is: a breezy, mildly chaotic take on modern relationships. With Madhavan and Ajay at the centre and a cast that never slacks, it makes for an easy watch.
Jolly LLB 3
2025 · Hindustan Times
This is a franchise that has never leaned on song and dance routines, macho swagger, or cameos. Its strength lies in compelling plots and strong performances.
Superboys of Malegaon
2025 · Hindustan Times
Superboys of Malegaon is a delightful ride—a rare one without any boring moments. Reema Kagti's film is an ode to cinema peppered with nuanced performances and brilliant technical work. It's a declaration to our industry, which is struggling to find what makes theatre viewing tick with audiences.
Bangarraju
2022 · Hindustan Times
There's a scene in Bandar where Sanya Malhotra's character, sister to Samar (Bobby Deol), breaks down during a jail visit to him. The rawness of her frustration, coupled with Sanya's convincing performance, makes the moment land with force and draws you in completely. It is one of those scenes where the emotions feel so authentic that you stop watching actors and start seeing people.