Sreeju Sudhakaran
Bollywood Life·Rediff·DNA India
Most Divergent Takes
- Bhooth Bangla (2026)2.0 vs TRM 5.0-3.0
- Housefull 3 (2016)7.0 vs TRM 4.4+2.6
- Peddi (2026)3.0 vs TRM 5.3-2.3
- Teraa Surroor (2016)6.0 vs TRM 3.7+2.3
- Babumoshai Bandookbaaz (2017)7.0 vs TRM 4.9+2.1
Balan - The Boy
2026 · Rediff
A riveting mother-son drama with a superb first half, Balan: The Boy loses some of its grip after an ambitious but uneven turn.
Varavu
2026 · Rediff
Shaji Kailas delivers familiar mass moments, but Varavu never rises above its dated revenge formula. Despite stylish action and a few engaging moments, the revenge drama lacks emotional weight and logical storytelling to leave a lasting impact.
I, Nobody
2026 · Rediff
A terrific first half makes I, Nobody look like a great thriller, until an increasingly muddled second half loses the plot. Despite its technical finesse, I, Nobody loses momentum in an overstuffed second half that struggles to match the promise of its brilliant opening.
Moana
2026 · Rediff
The live-action Moana faithfully recreates the original, but rarely captures its magic. It just can't justify its own existence, much like the Mulan remake. It is just Disney flexing that whatever it creates will be consumed by nostalgia-fueled audiences.
Pati Patni Aur Woh Do
2026 · Rediff
If only Pati Patni Aur Woh Do were as funny as its director clearly intended it to be, that would have been another reason to celebrate. The film suffers from a severe shortage of genuinely funny one-liners and the screenplay lacks the sharpness needed for situational comedy to consistently land.
Dhamaal 4
2026 · Rediff
Dhamaal 4 disappoints with its lazy writing, recycled gags, and problematic humour, despite a committed ensemble cast. The film's humour is largely infantile, relying on slapstick and recycled gags, with few genuine laughs. The way Dhamaal 4 treats its female characters reveals that the filmmakers have little interest in keeping pace with the times.
Drishyam 3
2026 · Rediff
Drishyam 3 proves that even Georgekutty's genius can't outsmart the exhausting weight of a needlessly stretched franchise. The film struggles in the second half as its overly convoluted twists and manipulative reveals fail to match the intelligence of the previous instalments. Drishyam 3 ends up the weakest film in the franchise, one where the cracks in Georgekutty's brilliant façade become too large to plaster over.
Nagabandham
2026 · Rediff
Nagabandham promises a fantasy treasure hunt adventure but ultimately devolves into a senselessly violent and shallow revenge saga. Virat Karrna cannot rescue a film that mistakes relentless onscreen violence and religious rhetoric for compelling storytelling.
Minions & Monsters
2026 · Rediff
Minions & Monsters entertains with its cinematic nostalgia baits, even if it never quite escapes the franchise's familiar storytelling flaws. While the Minions continue to be funny and these films keep minting money at the box office, the yellow critters still lack the main character energy needed to sustain a feature. The films built around them struggle to deliver a compelling emotional arc that goes beyond making you laugh every few minutes.
Con City
2026 · Rediff
Con City has a fun premise and a handful of clever scams, but its biggest con is failing to convince you it's smarter than it really is. The scam is what the movie is doing to itself by believing it is smart enough to hoodwink the viewer into thinking it is smarter than it actually is.
Uyir
2026 · Rediff
Despite its intriguing premise, Uyir never quite cracks the mystery, relying instead on emotional drama to deliver its final blow. Predictable twists, excessive flashbacks and uneven writing prevent the murder mystery from reaching its full potential. The good work is derailed by three extensive flashbacks that completely demystify the suspense and reduce everything to a generic, run-of-the-mill thriller.
Ananthan Kaadu
2026 · Rediff
Indrans' standout performance deserves a sharper screenplay than this over-edited, all-too-familiar revenge saga. Ananthan Kaadu is edited in such a manner that every shot is robbed of impact through hyperactive cutting, and the ambitious political commentary is reduced to a revenge drama you have seen umpteen times before.
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai
2026 · Rediff
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai remains a David Dhawan comedy frozen in time, with dated humour and recycled plotlines that fail to land despite energetic performances. If you have already accepted that many of those David Dhawan comedies people claim to miss have aged rather poorly, this film is unlikely to change your mind.
Tuner
2026 · Rediff
Tuner may feel familiar, but its fab sound design, slickly edited heists and strong performances make it feel refreshingly sharp. What works for Tuner is the sharp rhythm in which those pieces are made to fall into their respective places, and the film consistently finds inventive ways to make the familiar feel compelling, particularly through its use of sound and in exploring the lead character's condition.
Patriot
2026 · Rediff
Patriot is a grounded, stylistic thriller with ace performances that aligns itself with cerebral Hollywood spy thrillers such as The Insider, Snowden and Body of Lies in the way it structures its chain of events around a high-profile political scandal. The film largely succeeds in conveying a cautionary message about the unsettling implications of compromising personal privacy in the name of safety, though it occasionally leans on convenient leaps of logic.
Kara
2026 · Rediff
Kara had the makings of a fine heist thriller anchored by a superlative Dhanush, but a slack screenplay in crucial stretches and an overdose of melodrama ensure it only works in patches.
Kara
2026 · Rediff
Kara had the makings of a fine heist thriller anchored by a superlative Dhanush, but a slack screenplay in crucial stretches and an overdose of melodrama ensure it only works in patches.
Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam
2026 · Rediff
Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam emerges as a surprisingly superior sequel, boldly transitioning from a slice-of-life narrative to a dark comedy crime-thriller.
Made in Korea
2026 · Rediff
Made in Korea had the potential to be a culturally rich coming-of-age story but settles for a generic template with an underdeveloped location setting. Despite being set in South Korea, the film barely uses its location as a narrative or emotional tool.
Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past
2026 · Rediff
Haunted 3D: Echoes Of The Past has no real scares, no real acting, no real sets, no real drama, no real crows and no real 3D effects. The first time the ghost shows his pasty CGI face in 3D, the audience was laughing. The film's USP is not the scares but the unintentional laughs.
The Furious
2026 · Rediff
The Furious's jaw-dropping action scenes are so ferocious and inventive that they leave you gasping for breath. The stunt choreography is raw, vicious and exquisite in its execution. It could very well be the best action film not just of the year, but one of the best from the present decade.
Bhooth Bangla
2026 · Rediff
Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan's highly anticipated reunion in Bhooth Bangla attempts to revive their classic comedic synergy but ultimately falls flat, delivering a forgettable horror-comedy. Unless you still find random slaps funny, the humour struggles to rise above the painfully mediocre.
Balan - The Boy
2026 · Rediff
A riveting mother-son drama with a superb first half, Balan: The Boy loses some of its grip after an ambitious but uneven turn. If the first half is a masterclass in slow-burn storytelling, then the second half takes quite a bold turn that struggles to match the excellence established earlier.
Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam
2026 · Rediff
Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam emerges as a surprisingly superior sequel, boldly transitioning from a slice-of-life narrative to a dark comedy crime-thriller. Bharathanatyam 2 is a far superior follow-up to the first film (and, at the time of writing, also a box-office success, unlike the original which had underperformed). If you are willing to go along with this dark shift -- and judging by the audience response in my screening, many are -- Bharathanatyam 2 takes the risk and comes out as a winner with it.
The Drama
2026 · Rediff
The Drama is what you can call a 'feel-bad' romance done right. Yet, it is precisely this ambiguity that makes the film a curious, chaotic affair, helped generously by Oscar-calibrated performances from Robert Pattinson and Zendaya.
Beast
2026 · Rediff
Blast mixes engaging family drama with massy martial arts mayhem to deliver a thoroughly entertaining action ride. The film succeeds largely because of its well-staged action sequences, engaging family dynamic and crowd-pleasing mass moments. Arjun Sarja, Abhirami and Preity Mukhundhan deliver confident performances that give dramatic weight to the film.
Kattalan
2026 · Rediff
Kattalan tries to roar like Marco with blood-soaked violence and mass swagger, but ends up as a noisy, identity-less actioner with little bite. Kattalan is simply a dull, identity-less action film that lumbers from one fight scene to another without rhythm, coherence or even technical finesse.
Karuppu
2026 · Rediff
Karuppu begins with a striking idea of God battling a broken justice system, only to turn into a routine Suriya mass spectacle. The trouble is that R J Balaji and his team of writers seem to run out of ideas about how best to execute it, eventually settling for the safest and most unimaginative route possible. It is unfortunate that in doing so, the second half nosedives so dramatically and never truly recovers.
Athiradi
2026 · Rediff
Tovino Thomas storms into Athiradi like a one-man festival riot, turning this colourful campus entertainer into a loud, chaotic and mostly enjoyable ego clash. Athiradi may not possess the storytelling heft of Ayyappanum Koshiyum or Ponman nor the technical jazziness of Thallumaala, but it remains a colourful, energetic entertainer powered significantly by spirited performances from Basil Joseph and especially Tovino Thomas.
Disclosure Day
2026 · Rediff
Steven Spielberg returns to familiar extraterrestrial territory, but Disclosure Day never quite achieves the emotional lift-off it is aiming for. In flashes, it has the markings of an awesome Steven Spielberg masterpiece. As a whole, it leaves you wanting more, but not in a 'leaving Isla Nublar' kind of way that makes you crave a return visit even if it means sitting through disappointing sequels.
Peddi
2026 · Rediff
Peddi buries its powerful story about caste identity and social inequality beneath hero worship, regressive romance and exhausting excesses. The screenplay is so obsessed with glorifying the hero's ruggedness that almost nobody else gets much room to shine, and the film's objectification of its female lead is increasingly uncomfortable to watch.
Thor: Ragnarok
2017 · Bollywood Life · Nov 2017
Thor: Ragnarok is definitely one of the most gorgeous-looking and as well the funniest Marvel movie till date. Chris Hemsworth's charming performance, a really strong supporting cast and Taika Waititi's confident direction make for one entertaining superhero movie with dollops of humour. Also make sure you catch the post-credit scenes, as one of them hints about a very big movie that will come out next year.
Blade Runner 2049
2017 · Bollywood Life · Oct 2017
Is Blade Runner 2049 the greatest sequel ever made, as some fans have claimed? I don't think so, as that honour still lies with The Godfather Part II and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Blade Runner 2049 is an improvement on the original movie, when it comes to ideas and definitely, technical values. The movie is an absolute marvel visually, but if the narration and the editing had been worked upon, the movie would have ended up as an instant classic. Do watch Blade Runner 2049 if you are a huge fan of the original.
Chef
2017 · Bollywood Life · Oct 2017
Chef is a really good adaptation of the Hollywood movie that does justice to its theme while adding its own flavours. Aided by Saif, Padmapriya and Svar's performances and Menon's confident direction, Chef merges family drama with food appreciation in a nearly seamless manner. Despite its hiccups, Chef is a breezy watch that will leave you with a desperate craving for food.
Bhoomi
2017 · Bollywood Life · Sep 2017
With its done to death theme, Bhoomi is just old wine served in a new bottle, and does little to stand apart from the pack. The only saving graces are its intentions and the performances by Dutt, Hydari and Kelkar. Bhoomi will benefit a lot for being Sanjay Dutt's comeback. But when it comes to the other way around, well, I do wish Sanjay Dutt would have chosen a better movie as his comeback.
Newton
2017 · Bollywood Life · Sep 2017
Newton is one of the best-made satires in Bollywood, especially since it is a genre that is nearly dying in Indian cinema. It shows us a stark portrayal of democracy. Though it is not exactly mainstream in its sensibilities, there are enough moments to laugh with the characters, and sometimes at our own selves. Brilliantly enacted, well-written and smartly directed, Newton is a must-watch if you have a craving for good cinema.
Lucknow Central
2017 · Bollywood Life · Sep 2017
Since the movie is about a group of prisoners forming a band, music has to be the core of the film and it has to connect with the listeners. Thankfully the soundtrack of Lucknow Central largely succeeds at that, though we miss an angst-filled rock number like Hulchul from Qaidi Band, a movie with a similar theme released a month ago. Still, the album is overall pleasant, and I will recommend it solely for Rangdaari.
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
2017 · Bollywood Life · Sep 2017
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan could have been the best romantic comedy Bollywood has seen in years. It tackles a risky premise, the humour was brilliant and the performances were first-rate. Unfortunately, the writing suffers a 'gent's problem' towards the end, leaving us high and dry. Still, I would recommend you to watch SMS purely for the humour and Ayushmann-Bhumi's amazing chemistry.
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
2017 · Bollywood Life · Aug 2017
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz is a violent drama filled with terrific dialogues, engaging sequences and fab performances, led by the always brilliant Nawazuddin Siddiqui. If you have taste for gritty gangster drama, with a sprinkling of dark humour, then this Bandookbaaz is for you.
Bareilly Ki Barfi
2017 · Bollywood Life · Aug 2017
Bareilly ki Barfi boasts of a delightful first half, but a weak second half. But some really funny writing and terrific performances by Rajkummar Rao, Ayushmann Khurrana, along with a brilliant supporting cast, add sweetness to the narrative. While it may not get high marks in its screenplay, it definitely is one of the better rom-coms of the year.
Atomic Blonde
2017 · Bollywood Life · Aug 2017
Atomic Blonde is a treat for action lovers and fans of Charlize Theron, who is unbelievably badass while being sexy at it. The movie is not as riveting as the John Wick movies, but it has enough slick action scenes to satiate the action hound in you.
Munna Michael
2017 · Bollywood Life · Jul 2017
...if all you want to see Tiger Shroff dancing a lot and Nawaz being, well, Nawaz, then Munna Michael may be fleetingly entertaining for you. Otherwise, it is just a boring, confused masala flick masquerading as a half-hearted tribute to the late Michael Jackson.
Guest Iin London
2017 · Bollywood Life · Jul 2017
If you loved Athithi Tum Kab Jaoge, you better skip this one, for this is nothing but a poor, low-quality reboot of the 2010 movie.
The Big Sick
2017 · Bollywood Life · Jun 2017
The Big Sick is certainly the warmest romcom I have seen in recent times. When we complain that the romcom genre as a whole is not offering anything new to the patrons, The Big Sick shows us that there is enough life and charm in the genre. A highly recommended date movie that you should not miss with your beloved!
Cars 3
2017 · Bollywood Life · Jun 2017
Thankfully for Pixar, Cars 3 makes sure that the trilogy ends on a high, which actually wasn't much of a challenge since the last two movies were just average efforts. But there is an unspoken rule in movie land that the third movie is always the worst, which isn't the case with Lightning McQueen's third race. Quite recommended for kids and their parents for a family watch!
Behen Hogi Teri
2017 · Bollywood Life · Jun 2017
Behen Hogi Teri may not be as funny as the trailer has promised us, thanks to a sluggish second half and weak female characters. Nevertheless, it is still an entertaining watch, with all due credit to Rajkummar Rao's terrific performance, a great supporting cast and some really funny scenes. It may not be the comedy of the year, but Behen Hogi Teri doesn't end up being a decent time pass flick, that you can surely enjoy if you can overlook the flaws.
Sachin: A Billion Dreams
2017 · Bollywood Life · May 2017
Sachin: A Billion Dreams is easily the best movie on cricket, and whether you are a Sachin Tendulkar fan or not, you will find tears flowing through the sides of your cheeks at the end of the film.
Hindi Medium
2017 · Bollywood Life · May 2017
Hindi Medium is a very engaging piece of cinema, that will make us laugh, cry and even question our own role in how things like basic education are getting screwed up in our society.
Sarkar 3
2017 · DNA India · May 2017
Even if you are a diehard fan of Amitabh Bachchan, I would recommend you to give this movie a miss. Quite a disappointing way to end the much-loved franchise and Ram Gopal Varma can only blame himself for this.
Sarkar 3
2017 · Bollywood Life · May 2017
No two words about this…Sarkar 3 is a huge letdown for those who expected RGV to make a major comeback here. If only the maverick director had spent less time trolling Tiger Shroff and Vidyut Jammwal and instead focused on his craft, perhaps the trilogy could have been given a fitting farewell. Forget being The Godfather 3, Sarkar 3 ends up as The Hangover 3 of its Godfather-inspired franchise. Save for Amitabh Bachchan's dependable performance and the final twist, Sarkar 3 is avoidable!
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
2017 · Bollywood Life · Apr 2017
Baahubali 2 is an experience that should be enjoyed on the big screen. While the movie gets high points in most of the departments, we do wish Rajamouli could have given his magnum opus a befitting conclusion. Still, I would recommend the movie for Prabhas and Anushka Shetty's powerful performances and its epic grandeur. Special tip: Do watch the Telugu version to retain the original essence, instead of the dubbed ones. The theatres are playing the movie with subtitles.
Ghost in the Shell
2017 · Bollywood Life · Apr 2017
Ghost in The Shell has a marvelous, beautiful shell but the soul within gets bland at times. I would still recommend you to watch this movie for the amazing visual beauty each frame has to offer and of course, Scarlett Johansson.
Naam Shabana
2017 · Bollywood Life · Mar 2017
Watch Naam Shabana purely for Taapsee Pannu's fine performance and Akshay Kumar's enjoyable cameo, and also if you loved Baby too much. Just don't go into theatre expecting another quality stuff like Baby, even if the movie forces us to draw comparisons.
Phillauri
2017 · Bollywood Life · Mar 2017
Phillauri has some spirited performance from its lead actors, unfortunately, the same spirit has not gone into the making of the movie. What's started off as a promising film ends up as a boring and a tiresome hotchpotch by the end. Going by the nearly empty theatre hall where I watched the movie and the muted response the movie received at the end, I am sure #ShashiWasThere is actually scaring people away from the screens. Highly Avoidable!
Trapped
2017 · Bollywood Life · Mar 2017
Trapped is a unique and engaging thriller, bolstered by a fine performance by Rajkummar Rao. It might not appeal to frontbenchers with a taste of commercial cinema, but for those who want something different from Bollywood, Trapped is recommended watch for you, albeit a bold and uneasy one.
Beauty and the Beast
2017 · Bollywood Life · Mar 2017
Beauty and The Beast may not work the same magic as The Jungle Book did for Disney last year. However, it is surely an arresting piece of visual brilliance that has to be seen on big screen to get the full experience. While not all songs work and they make some portions drag, the fairy tale romance is still alive when it comes to every scene featuring Emma Watson and the Beast. Though Beauty and The Beast is a classic tale, it is also a very much needed moral lesson to our glamour obsessed world, that beauty is skin deep. Recommended to watch it in IMAX screens.
Raees
2017 · Bollywood Life · Jan 2017
As a movie, Raees is definitely a letdown especially for those who expect a Deewar-like dhamakedaar masala movie. Fans of Shah Rukh Khan might give the movie its huge initial but don't expect the road ahead to be a smooth ride. And warning for all superstars – acting with Nawazuddin Siddiqui is injurious to your own dramatic talents – he can steal your glory right from under your nose.
Haraamkhor
2017 · Bollywood Life · Jan 2017
Haraamkhor is definitely not everyone's cup thanks to its gritty subject. However it is not exactly a fantastic piece of art either, even though it had the potential to be one. But thanks to the spectacular performances of Nawazuddin, Tripathi and the kids, Haraamkhor can be an uncomfortable one-time watch.
Passengers
2017 · Bollywood Life · Jan 2017
If you are in it for Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence necking each other in space, then Passengers could be an okay date movie for you.
Rogue One
2016 · Bollywood Life · Dec 2016
Rogue One is certainly a proud entry to the much loved franchise, but it is certainly no Empire Strikes Back that it so want to be in the revived canon. The serious tone that embalms the entire movie feels a bit jarring when compared to the family-friendly franchise. However, the movie boasts of some terrific visuals, an action-packed third act and Darth Vader at his menacing best even in that small role. An engaging one-time watch, for sure!
Befikre
2016 · Bollywood Life · Dec 2016
Befikre might have its flaws, but it still deserves your time thanks to a breezy narrative and fantastic performances by Ranveer and Vaani. Expect something on the lines of DDLJ and you will be disappointed. However, if you have a thing for entertaining romcoms, then Befikre can be that fun date movie for you.
Rock On 2
2016 · Bollywood Life · Nov 2016
Rock On 2 is like that stomach ache we get for liking a chocolate and then splurging too much on it. Even though the cast members are good, and the direction is decent, you can't scream like a fanboy during this performance, like you did eight years ago. Magik may have returned, but the original magic is sorely missing. Avoid, if you don't wanna get disappointed.
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story
2016 · Bollywood Life · Sep 2016
The film ends with 2011 World Cup final match, where Dhoni hits that brilliant six to seal the deal. If you loved that moment and the man who made that moment real, then MS Dhoni: The Untold Story should be your weekend watch. Also the fact that it is Sushant Singh Rajput's best film to date.
The Magnificent Seven
2016 · Bollywood Life · Sep 2016
If I had to chose favourites, I would actually go for Rajkumar Santoshi's underrated China Gate, over both The Magnificent Seven films. Purely because the former scores over the latter with a far more terrifying villain and better written team bonding scenes. Watch The Magnificent Seven if you are a Chris Pratt fan or a sucker for the genre.
The Magnificent Seven
2016 · DNA India · Sep 2016
If I had to chose favourites, I would actually go for Rajkumar Santoshi's underrated China Gate, over both The Magnificent Seven films. Purely because the former scores over the latter with a far more terrifying villain and a better written team bonding scenes. Watch The Magnificent Seven if you are a Chris Pratt fan or a sucker for the genre.
Banjo
2016 · Bollywood Life · Sep 2016
Banjo would have been a really good entertainer, if the film had stuck to what the title had promised, instead of straying to other subplots. If you are a Mumbaikar then this is a one time watch for you.
Raaz Reboot
2016 · Bollywood Life · Sep 2016
The biggest raaz about the film is why this is even called a Reboot, when there is nothing new Vikram Bhatt has to offer. Apart from an interesting twist, the rest of the film is just bland! Watch it at your own risk.
UNindian
2016 · Bollywood Life · Aug 2016
UnIndian, despite its flaws, still has all the ingredients to be a feel good date movie. With a runtime less than two hours, it won't make you shuffle much in your seats. Watch the film for Brett Lee's charming debut and Tannishtha Chatterjee showing once again that she is a versatile performer.
Rustom
2016 · Bollywood Life · Aug 2016
Rustom is not a bad film in essence, however a little more conviction in the narrative could have made it one of the best courtroom dramas of all time. Watch it purely for Akshay Kumar or watch it if you want to know the basic skeleton of the Nanavati case (if you are too lazy to read its Wikipedia page).
Mohenjo Daro
2016 · Bollywood Life · Aug 2016
This is no Lagaan. This is no Jodha Akbar. Mohenjo Daro may be better that Ashutosh's What's Your Raashee? (actually anything is better than that bore), but the film is a let down on several counts. Watch it only if you want to satiate your curiosity about that era (even that won't help much) or for Hrithik Roshan. If you want to see a film that lets you learn more about the Indus Valley civilization, forget the idea and open your third standard history books.
Dishoom
2016 · Bollywood Life · Jul 2016
Dishoom may not be the best action spectacle Bollywood has made. However, it is still entertaining thanks to John and Varun's camaraderie, and a few funny scenes. At two hours in runtime, it can be worth your ticket.
Kabali
2016 · Bollywood Life · Jul 2016
Riding on so much hype and Rajinikanth's star power, Kabali turns out to be a huge disappointment. Though Rajinikanth keeps on saying Magizchi (Cheers! in English) in the film, there is very less to cheer about anywhere in here, even for his die-hard fans. Only watch the film if you want to know why there is so much craze over Rajinikanth.
Shorgul
2016 · Bollywood Life · Jul 2016
I will make my verdict about this film short – Avoidable, unless you are the ones who enjoy bad schlocky films!
Finding Dory
2016 · Bollywood Life · Jun 2016
Finding Dory may not be the Godfather 2 or The Empire Strikes Back of the animation genre. Yet, it is a film that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults! Go for it…
Udta Punjab
2016 · Bollywood Life · Jun 2016
Udta Punjab is definitely Bollywood cinema at its bravest, and also works as an eye-opener for people ignorant of the evils that's plaguing our youth. Everyone involved in the making of the film should be lauded for backing such a film, when our viewers are still not able to get over the blockbuster fever. Yes, the film is very dark and mature, needed a tighter narrative and might not even be a 100-crore grosser, but still…it is a film our society desperately needs!
Do Lafzon Ki Kahani
2016 · Bollywood Life · Jun 2016
This could be Deepak Tijori's best directorial effort, but that doesn't say much about the film. If it wasn't for the performances of both Randeep and Kajal, especially the former, the film would have been a total disaster. Can give a miss. P.S. – what was the idea of setting the film in Malaysia, when every second person you meet is an Indian?
Housefull 3
2016 · Bollywood Life · Jun 2016
Housefull 3 is neither the best comedy film in Bollywood nor it aims to be. Yet, it is the best film of the franchise (not that there is much to aim there…), as it is far more entertaining and funnier than its predecessors. Go for it, if you like mindless entertainers, and I am sure you will not be disappointed! Bye bye Sajid Khan, you will NOT be missed at all!
Phobia
2016 · Bollywood Life · May 2016
Radhika Apte's terrific performance and a few genuine jump scares make the thriller watchable!
Veerappan
2016 · Bollywood Life · May 2016
Veerappan may be a let down if everyone expected this to be on lines with Band Queen or Paan Singh Tomar. However, there is a still a reason to smile here as we get to see the signs of RGV's lost brilliance. If it was not for the lifeless performances from most of the cast and the silly BG score, this would have been a better film.
The Angry Birds Movie
2016 · Bollywood Life · May 2016
The Angry Birds movie has nothing extraordinary to offer, but it is still an enjoyable one time watch thanks to a few funny scenes and great animation. Go for it if you are a fan of the game, or rather if your kids are pestering you to take them.
X-Men: Apocalypse
2016 · Bollywood Life · May 2016
X-Men: Apocalypse might not be as bad as Batman V Superman, but it is definitely the most disappointing of the First Class trilogy. Watch it if you only are a true X-Men fans and love mindless CGI action spectacles. The rest of us will thrive in the memories of Civil War.
Sarbjit
2016 · Bollywood Life · May 2016
Sarbjit should have been the film that could have brought out issues of human rights being oppressed in favour of political games, but what it turns out to be is a nearly three hours of inconsistent and flawed storytelling. Watch the film purely for the performances, especially Randeep's and the core plot!
Azhar
2016 · Bollywood Life · May 2016
Like last year's Talwar, the movie should have left the decision for the audiences to make whether Azhar was the wronged one or not. However, the makers lacked the guts to do so, making this a totally one sided match. But kudos to Emraan Hashmi who makes the proceedings believable!
Captain America: Civil War
2016 · Bollywood Life · May 2016
If you have been a Marvel Fan all along, go for it. If you have been a Spider-Man fan all along, go for it. If you have been a superhero movie fan, go for it. If you hated Batman v Superman for being no fun at all, go for it! In short, go for it!
Fan
2016 · Bollywood Life · Apr 2016
Make no mistake, this is SRK's best film in the last five years, especially after the likes of Happy New Year and Dilwale. However, this could have been a much better flick, if the makers could have toned down certain sequences and made it a more realistic one. Nevertheless, watch the film because you wanted SRK to do something different, and he delivers exactly that! SRK, I am still your Jabra fan… this film, not so much!
The Jungle Book
2016 · Bollywood Life · Apr 2016
This is one of the best Jungle Book adaptions on screen and also one of the best live action motion-capture films I have seen in years. Just wondering how Warner Bros will top this with their version of the book that will come next year. The summer holidays just started off with a bang!
Teraa Surroor
2016 · Bollywood Life · Mar 2016
Teraa Surroor delivers as a true Himesh Reshammiya film. It is a typical masala entertainer with some great music. If you liked Aap Ka Suroor, then Teraa Surroor definitely won't disappoint.
Jai Gangaajal
2016 · Bollywood Life · Mar 2016
After having watched Mrityudand, Gangaajal, Raajneeti, it is easy to say that this is one of Jha's weaker projects. Perhaps, if he could have focused more on the screenplay than on making it a launchpad for himself, this could have been a better film. Watch it only for Priyanka Chopra, but then you might end up feeling sorry for her! After Quantico, Oscars and Baywatch reboot, she deserved much much better!
The Revenant
2016 · Bollywood Life · Feb 2016
Alejandro G Inarritu's survival drama may be filled with flaws, but the splendid cinematography and the performances by Leo and Tom Hardy make it one time must watch! As for the Oscar chances, this could be Leo's year….unless a certain Michael Fassbender plays spoilsport!
Neerja
2016 · Bollywood Life · Feb 2016
Neerja's last words to her mother in the film is a famous Rajesh Khanna dialogue about Pushpa and her tears! Even though I hate them a lot, you just can't leave the hall with dry eyes! Aamir, you have more company in the crying club. Go watch one of the best Hindi films made in recent times ASAP!
Deadpool
2016 · Bollywood Life · Feb 2016
Despite its flaws, Deadpool is by far one of the more enjoyable films released in recent time. Though the film doesn't break new grounds when it comes to plot, it more than makes it up with its crazy narrative! Have no doubts – this SHOULD be your movie of the week i.e. if you don't mind your superhero say the F word a lot, and kill without second thoughts!
Sanam Re
2016 · Bollywood Life · Feb 2016
Watch this film only if your intention is to break up with your partner on the most romantic day of the year!
The Finest Hours
2016 · Bollywood Life · Feb 2016
TFH is still a compelling disaster drama that will certainly not feel like two hours wasted, especially when things get going. If disaster flicks are your thing, this is certainly recommended, but not in 3D though!
Saala Khadoos
2016 · Bollywood Life · Jan 2016
Saala Khadoos could have been a decent sports drama, if it had the touch of a master storyteller like Shimit Amin. Sadly, it turns out to be neither as memorable as Chak De India, nor as inspiring as Priyanka Chopra's Mary Kom. At best, Saala Khadoos is a strictly average affair! Watch it only for the performances of the lead actors!
Rajini Murugan
2016 · Bollywood Life · Jan 2016
While the film has its faults, the film is a decent family entertainer with some clean hilarious comedy. Watch it purely for Sivakarthikeyan and Soori's antics and you will leave the theatre with a smile on your face!
Chauranga
2016 · Bollywood Life · Jan 2016
Chauranga is certainly not your regular popcorn flick, with several scenes that will make the popcorn in your stomach toss and turn. But if you are an admirer of realistic cinema, this can be your movie of the weekend.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
2015 · Bollywood Life · Nov 2015
Sooraj Barjatya should never be blamed for believing in the goodness of the nineties and incorporating it in today's cinema. But what needs to be blamed is that he still sticks to the old style film-making and expects the audience to accept it. That's where Prem Ratan Dhan Payo as a film fails. What could have been Salman Khan's sweetest Diwali gift to his fans turns out to be so depressing that you wait for this festival to get over asap! If you are a true Salman Khan and have patience to bear melodrama for more than 3 hours, go enjoy the challenge!
Vedalam
2015 · Bollywood Life · Nov 2015
As much as I would like to praise Ajith as an actor, I would really need to criticise how he chooses his scripts. For Vedalam has nothing new to offer to the actor, other than tap on his already popular mass image. Though the teaser of the film and (even the title) gave us a slight hint of some supernatural stuff or split personality stuff, there is nothing of that sort in the film. Ajith's character is like any typical massy Tamil hero – he is an indestructible killing machine, for whom swords, hockey sticks, guns and 100 goons don't matter
Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2
2015 · Bollywood Life · Oct 2015
There is a saying that the first time, a new joke would work fine, but the second time around, it can only elicit forced chuckles if you don't bring anything new. PKP2 is not a terrible sequel per se, in fact, it is enjoyable especially if you haven't seen the first film. But if you have, you can easily guess where it's all going. Nonetheless, you can still have a few laughs. Just a warning for the guys, don't take your wife or girlfriend to the movie. If you laugh at any of the jokes, rest assured you will be sleeping on the couch tonight!
Katti Batti
2015 · Bollywood Life · Sep 2015
When I had seen the promos of the film, I had really great expectations from Katti Batti. But Nikhil Advani is in a cruel mood to disappoint us twice, after giving us a terrific D-Day. Watch this movie only if you are either a Imran Khan or Kangana Ranaut fan.
Welcome Back
2015 · Bollywood Life · Sep 2015
In Welcome Back, you have inserted the scenes from the first film to build context to why this film exists in the first place. You shouldn't have done that, 'cos every viewer in the theatre is there because they enjoyed that film. Those scenes only made me pine to watch that film again, go to IMDB and increase its rating. As for this film of yours, sorry sirs, Welcome Back is NOT welcome at all!
Manjhi: The Mountain Man
2015 · Bollywood Life · Aug 2015
This one is purely for those who love serious, meaningful cinema like the kinds of Masaan, and the ones who adore a gifted talent called Nawazuddin Siddiqui. If you are one of those, please book your tickets asap (i.e. if you haven't watched the leaked copy by now. And if you have, you missed the larger experience! The laptop screen really doesn't register the impact of a small man working against the mountain!).
Bangistan
2015 · Bollywood Life · Aug 2015
No two ways about it. Bangistan is a huge disappointment, especially since it came from the stable of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. As for the director, we recommend you to watch the 2010 British film Four Lions, to understand how to make a farce film on terrorism that entertains as well!
Pixels
2015 · Bollywood Life · Jul 2015
Though movie certainly has a lot of flaws, it is still a decent entertainer, especially when you are aware that it came from the Adam Sandler stable. Go with the least of expectations, and you won't come out disappointed!
Welcome to Karachi
2015 · DNA India · May 2015
The secondary characters, including Lauren Gottlieb, are weak and listless. The climax will make your jaw drop with the sheer amount of absurdity displayed. And it ends in a cliffhanger that totally disregards the final conflict. That's real lazy writing, dude! Watch Filmistan instead.
Welcome to Karachi
2015 · Bollywood Life · May 2015
If you are ones who found Sajid Khan movies funny or Navjot Singh Siddhu's jokes hilarious, this movie will work for you. The rest who are dreamers like me, that are waiting for that one great comedy that will keep us chuckling even after the show is over, well…that wait just got longer…
Bombay Velvet
2015 · Bollywood Life · May 2015
Even if you are an ardent Anurag fan and are expecting another Gangs of Wasseypur, better give it a miss instead of getting monumentally disappointed. However, if you have nothing else to do this weekend and want to have a feeling of how Bombay…sorry Mumbai looked like in the '60s, it's worth taking that risk.
Kuch Kuch Locha Hai
2015 · DNA India · May 2015
I would not even recommend this movie to Sunny Leone fans. Compared to KKLH, even Jism 2 feels like Citizen Kane (Okay, now I am going over-the-top!). Can anyone recommend a nice painkiller for a throbbing headache?