Kara
2026 · The Hindu
What Kara promises in the first 10 minutes is a grand cat-and-mouse game between a determined robber and an equally determined cop. What Kara dishes out — after an overlong 161-minute runtime — is melodramatic fare that cannot make up its mind on what it wants to be.
Nooru Sami
2026 · The Hindu
You almost wish the rest of the film had emotional heft like this. Alas, it doesn't. The biggest problem with Nooru Sami is the multitude of conflicts packed in it; it would have helped to focus on the central internal conflict of the mother's remarriage alone, rather than throw in other angles that have nowhere to go.
Varisu
2023 · The Hindu
For a first half that relies heavily on the slow, TV serial-like sequences, Varisu has little heft to the emotional beats; the mother-son relationship seems superficial, while the brothers' tussle to take over a multi-crore business seems trivial. It is only in the second half that Varisu picks up some steam.
Once More
2026 · The Hindu · Aug 2026
Despite some of these sluggish moments, especially in the second half, this Arjun Das-starrer deserves a bit of a look-in, just for the way it handles a mature romance. Once More polama?
Dude
2025 · The Hindu · Oct 2025
Their chemistry is what makes Dude tick. While Pradeep scores not only in the humour part but also in the emotional sequences, Mamitha displays a range of expressions, especially when she is caught in a tug-of-war like situation during a wedding. Like him or not, Dude does mark Pradeep Ranganathan's arrival on the big stage.
Maareesan
2025 · The Hindu · Jul 2025
Maareesan explores the aspect of dementia in good measure by taking up a protagonist who has forgetfulness — that itself is a triumph. While the first half is a slow burn with leisurely atmosphere-building and very little happening, an arresting interval block sets things up nicely for a thriller, and the film deserves a look in for its cheekily woven popular Ilaiyaraaja number.
3BHK
2025 · The Hindu · Jul 2025
3BHK feels like a tight hug of reassurance. In a year that gave us Kudumbasthan and Tourist Family, 3BHK is a worthy addition to the list of feel-good entertainers. It shines light on the family, without veering into any unnecessary commercial elements such as fights or songs.
Tourist Family
2025 · The Hindu · May 2025
Tourist Family is all about boundaries and ways to break them. The fuzzy feeling slowly gives way for some deeper emotional beats, exploring themes of generosity and kindness over language or nationality, with strong performances and a timely reminder to love thy neighbour.