Rohit Panikker
Filmfare·TimesNowNews
Most Divergent Takes
- Balan - The Boy (2026)8.0 vs TRM 5.9+2.1
- Thangalaan (2024)8.0 vs TRM 6.2+1.8
- Ananthan Kaadu (2026)6.0 vs TRM 4.3+1.7
- Bromance (2025)7.0 vs TRM 5.5+1.5
- Raayan (2024)7.0 vs TRM 5.6+1.4
Beast
2026 · Filmfare
Preity Mukhundhan shines alongside Arjun in a lively action-comedy that finds plenty of fun in its unusual family dynamic. The film never seems particularly concerned with realism, and it is better for it. Powered by an engaging Preity Mukhundhan, a dependable Arjun and a filmmaker who clearly enjoys spending time with these characters, Blast remains consistently watchable because of the enthusiasm behind it.
Jailer 2
2026 · Filmfare
Jailer 2 works best when Nelson trusts the combination of Rajinikanth's screen presence, irreverent humour and well-staged action. Its problems emerge when every character introduction becomes an event and every confrontation an opportunity for spectacle. The film remains entertaining, but struggles to maintain a consistent sense of purpose once its second half gets underway.
Kara
2026 · Filmfare
A restrained performance from Dhanush and strong visual craft hold attention, but uneven writing and tonal shifts limit Kara's overall impact. The film works in parts, but there are stretches where the writing simplifies or rushes material that needed greater attention. In the end, it settles into something less cohesive than it intends to be, held together to a significant extent by Dhanush.
Karuppu
2026 · Filmfare
Karuppu does not fully reconcile all of its ideas, but its combination of cultural specificity, social anger and star power gives it a distinct presence within contemporary Tamil cinema. Karuppu may not achieve perfect balance between mythology, message and mass entertainment, but it remains an ambitious and often compelling film whose strengths outweigh its shortcomings.
Ananthan Kaadu
2026 · Filmfare
Politics drives Ananthan Kaadu's story, not just its backdrop. Familiar revenge tropes dilute the second half, but strong performances keep it engaging. The film wants to be both a political chronicle and a commercial revenge thriller, succeeding far more often when it remembers it is the former.
Thudakkam
2026 · Filmfare
Thudakkam doesn't quite rise above the familiar beats of the survival thriller, but it remains an engaging watch. Jude Anthany Joseph gets enough out of a straightforward premise to keep the film moving, even when the screenplay settles for safer choices.
Drishyam 3
2026 · Filmfare
Mohanlal delivers a deeply internalised performance in a thoughtful, emotionally layered thriller that values introspection over twists. The result is an engaging, often compelling thriller that benefits enormously from Mohanlal's deeply internalised performance and the emotional history of its characters, even if the film occasionally struggles under the weight of its own mythology.
Kattalan
2026 · Filmfare
Atmospheric and technically impressive, Kattalan mistakes relentless intensity and myth-making for emotional depth and narrative weight. By the time the climax arrives, the violence has stopped feeling shocking and started feeling repetitive. The film wants its men to feel mythic, but mythology without interiority eventually starts feeling like posture.
Parimala and Co
2026 · Filmfare
Parimala and Co never quite finds the consistency needed to fully capitalise on its premise. While Pandiraaj's attempt at black comedy doesn't always land with the precision the genre demands, the film's strong performances and relatable family dynamics give it enough charm to make the journey worthwhile.
DC
2026 · Filmfare
For all its technical accomplishment, however, DC never completely escapes its biggest weakness. The emotional core gets buried beneath the body count, and this reimagining never quite captures the emotional weight of the story that inspired it.
Dorothy
2026 · Filmfare
The result is uneven, occasionally overextended, and undeniably provocative. But it is also sincere, visually assured and driven by performances that give its most unconventional ideas an emotional foundation. Dorothy ultimately works best not as a film about a twist, but as a film about the consequences of being forced to live as someone you are not.
Baththa
2026 · Filmfare
Baththa is a warm, engaging period drama elevated by the creative understanding between Balaji Tharaneetharan and Vijay Sethupathi. While the screenplay could have delved deeper into the consequences of its protagonist's actions, the film's central relationship, humour and performances compensate for its uneven pacing and tonal shifts.
Balan - The Boy
2026 · Filmfare
Chidambaram crafts a haunting, emotionally rich coming-of-age tale that lingers despite its occasional flaws. The film creates an atmosphere of quiet unease where every conversation feels loaded with history and every recollection carries the possibility of revelation, though ambiguity sometimes limits emotional involvement when it becomes an end in itself rather than a storytelling choice.
I, Nobody
2026 · Filmfare
The film is far more compelling when it asks questions than when it starts answering them. As the screenplay begins connecting every thread, some of the ambiguity that made the opening hour so engrossing starts disappearing. I, Nobody doesn't completely fulfil the promise of its intriguing setup, but it remains an engaging thriller built on a strong central performance, and a confident hold over its central mystery.
Kalamkaval
2025 · Filmfare
Kalamkaval is a thoughtful and carefully-crafted thriller that prioritises mood over momentum. Viewers who enjoy slow building tension will find much to appreciate. Those looking for tighter plotting and a more decisive payoff may feel slightly unsatisfied.
Thudarum
2025 · Filmfare
Mohanlal delivers a deeply empathetic performance, portraying Shanmugham with sensitivity. In his hands, the character becomes not just a victim of circumstance, but a symbol of quiet resistance. Ultimately, Thudarum is a well-made drama that rewards viewers who appreciate slow-burn storytelling.
Ronth
2025 · Filmfare · Jun 2025
Ronth isn't here to thrill. It's here to haunt. It's a quiet, unhurried, and deeply unsettling portrait of what it means to patrol the line between order and morality—and what happens when that line begins to blur.
L2: Empuraan
2025 · TimesNowNews · Mar 2025
L2: Empuraan is an action-packed visual spectacle that expands the Lucifer universe with compelling power struggles and intricate character evolution.
Bromance
2025 · TimesNowNews · Feb 2025
A fun watch with its hilarious performances and infectious energy.
Dominic and the Ladies' Purse
2025 · TimesNowNews · Jan 2025
An engaging Sherlock-esque mystery that keeps you guessing all the way, with Dominic pulled into a dark web of sinister reveals involving a missing persons case, a murder, a stalker, and the mysterious story of a dancer.
Thangalaan
2024 · TimesNowNews · Aug 2024
Thangalaan offers a satisfactory experience in visual and cerebral storytelling, blending the search for gold with supernatural mythology and the moral consequences of greed during the British Raj.
Raayan
2024 · TimesNowNews · Jul 2024
Raayan presents old wine in a slightly different and interesting new bottle, offering a familiar yet somewhat fresh take on the revenge thriller genre.