Suprateek Chatterjee
Huffingtonpost.in·Firstpost·Hindustan Times·TimeOut
Mirzya
2016 · Oct 2016
...a gorgeous-looking drama let down by a threadbare script, amateurish acting, and unbearably laboured storytelling.
Pink
2016 · Sep 2016
Pink will likely be dubbed an 'important' movie, because it is. Its underlying themes of slut-shaming, consent, and societal double standards are impactful enough, despite the consistent lack of subtlety, and are rarely discussed with such openness in Hindi cinema. However, none of this excuses the fact that the end product is a middling, slapdash drama that goes out of its way to dumb itself down and manipulate the audience.
Akira
2016 · Sep 2016
Anyway, what is made clear by then is that we're in for a 2 hour 20-odd minute ride that is not above resorting to contrivances, shaky logic or outrageous coincidences to further its story. A drama about corrupt policemen, blackmailers, and one incredibly plucky girl, Akira spends its first half being somewhat watchable — thanks mostly to an enjoyable performance by Anurag Kashyap (more on this later) — and its second becoming progressively more unbearable.
Thithi
2016 · Aug 2016
Thithi isn't issue-based, unlike many Indian films that have traditionally received such acclaim. Despite depicting many aspects of rural Indian life — patriarchy, religious beliefs, and teenage sexuality, for instance — it isn't 'important' or a 'must-watch'. It has no flag to wave, and no apparent desire to kick-start conversations on hot-button issues.
A Flying Jatt
2016 · Aug 2016
No amount of well-intentioned subtext about taking care of our environment — as though no one in India has ever watched an episode of Captain Planet — can save this atrociously directed film.
Rustom
2016 · Aug 2016
In the hands of a more capable writer and director, this could've been a great role. Alas, Rustom only ends up being yet another forgettable venture for the star.
Budhia Singh – Born to Run
2016 · Aug 2016
This is a story so fantastical that it's hard to believe it really happened, which makes it an excellent subject for a feature film. Padhi, to some extent, succeeds in crafting an engaging narrative, albeit with the most predictable of devices.
Dishoom
2016 · Jul 2016
Dishoom feels like a missed opportunity. All that budget, all these resources (read: stars), and the best Dhawan (whose previous directorial credit was the insufferable Desi Boyz) could make was a mildly amusing, templatised movie that couldn't go two hours without succumbing to mediocrity? What a waste.
Sultan
2016 · Jul 2016
Zafar's film is likely to have mass appeal and even win appreciation. But the yardstick being used is Salman's filmography itself, and I reject the notion that the star is his own genre because it's a convenient excuse to make mediocre films that will be over-praised merely if one gets a few of the basics right.
Raman Raghav 2.0
2016 · Jun 2016
Kashyap's vision is almost devoid of humanism; he wants us not only to examine the muck, but literally drown in it (as Ramanna literally does at one point). The problem is that there's no way to do that without feeling utterly disgusted by yourself.
Udta Punjab
2016 · Jun 2016
Rough patches notwithstanding, Udta Punjab is an undeniably exhilarating watch, a trip truly worth taking (downer included). With his third film, Chaubey has fine-tuned his unique directorial voice and pushed the boundaries of commercial cinema. Here's hoping censorship, or anything else, never even attempts to get in his way again.
Housefull 3
2016 · Jun 2016
Predictably, it all ends with an imbecilic climax that, within the Universal Spectrum of Silliness, lies between 'Scooby Doo' and 'Priyadarshan'. But then, it seems that Sajid-Farhad are content to stay in this space: it's clearly working out for them. Meanwhile, the search for a truly good silly comedy from Bollywood continues.
Waiting
2016 · May 2016
As a viewing experience, Waiting is refreshingly restrained when compared to most other Hindi films. It struck me as a cross between Lost In Translation (2003) and The Descendants (2011).
Phobia
2016 · May 2016
Kirpalani, whose previous credits include Ragini MMS (2011) and Darr @ The Mall (2014), displays impressive control over his craft in many portions of the movie (for once, I have no complaints about the background score, which for me is one of the surest signs of a director firmly in charge)
Sarbjit
2016 · May 2016
One small mercy is that the film isn't exactly jingoistic at heart and attempts to further the idea that India and Pakistan are essentially the same country. But the way things are depicted, especially a scene in which Dalbir says of Pakistanis that they are experts at backstabbing (with good reason, at that point), it's likely that many portions will be interpreted as being anti-Pakistan. This is what happens when a good idea is dumbed down — a tragedy tends to lose its complexity and becomes a convenient tool for propaganda.
Buddha in a Traffic Jam
2016 · May 2016
Agnihotri makes it all-too-evident that the film is a treatise on a clash of ideologies in this country, structuring his screenplay in chapters and an attempt to be balanced. However, by the time the film ends, it's very clear that it is meant to be a vehicle for the liberal variant of right-wing thought.
Azhar
2016 · May 2016
What a pity, though. Azhar could honestly have been a great biopic, even within its own self-imposed limitations. Instead, like Azharuddin, it chooses to ignore its own potential and thereby shoots itself in the foot.
Traffic
2016 · May 2016
A film like this should have been about the moments and emotions the characters feel during the journey. But the screenplay chooses filmi twists — including one slightly twisted narrative whose resolution is unbelievably tame — over these.
Nil Battey Sannata
2016 · Apr 2016
Despite all its attempts at sincerity, the film commits the cardinal sin of treating its school-going characters with a touch of condescension — a sin no film like this should commit.
Fan
2016 · Apr 2016
At the end of the day, it's up to King Khan to save the film from itself, and, for the first time in years, the man delivers.
The Jungle Book
2016 · Apr 2016
The Jungle Book of today is fantastic as a movie-going experience, and somewhat less as a cathartic one. As blockbuster entertainment, it is complete in every way; as a standalone work, it is a little too dependent on its staggering legacy.
Rocky Handsome
2016 · Mar 2016
Even at a multiplex-friendly 125 minutes, Rocky Handsome feels too long, mainly because it has nothing of real value to offer. The way the film is written, acted, and edited, it seems very clear that not much thought has gone into it. Presumably, Kamat thought the novelty value of the action sequences would carry it through. This is what happens when you start thinking of filmmaking as a day job, instead of the privilege it should be.
Kapoor & Sons
2016 · Mar 2016
Kapoor & Sons walks the tightrope between traditional Bollywood melodrama and a more evolved variant of the same, but its balance is all over the place. As a genuine tearjerker, I found it too superficial; as a study of characters, it felt a little incomplete. All I took away was a handful of warm and fuzzy moments. In most of them, a real-life Kapoor was present.
Teraa Surroor
2016 · Mar 2016
Even the title doesn't hold up, in relation with the film. 'Suroor' is Urdu for joy, and there is none to be found in this movie. Now, if only there were an Urdu word that sounded just like it and meant 'vanity'.
Jai Gangaajal
2016 · Mar 2016
...shoddily made movie, which is already overly loud, clunky, and at 158 minutes, overlong. Jha's Kashyap-esque use of upbeat music during moments of action or violence fails miserably, as neither the visuals nor the music are appealing enough.
Aligarh
2016 · Feb 2016
There is also the questionable decision of showing the same incident four times in the film, which ends up crossing the line from 'showing' to 'telling'. Like its protagonist, Aligarh is reluctant to assume an identity. It's perfectly fine for an individual to make that choice; films, however, may then have to ride on the strength of adjectives that don't necessarily tell you anything about its aesthetics.
Neerja
2016 · Feb 2016
The subject, the performances, and Madhvani's restrained direction are strong enough to ensure that few will leave theatres dry-eyed. Eat your heart out, Karan Johar — this is how it's done.
Fitoor
2016 · Feb 2016
Fitoor takes a multi-layered classic, dilutes its themes of imperialism and social hierarchies, and chooses instead to interpret it in a more Bollywood-esque manner. But that isn't what's wrong with it. Ultimately, what prevents the film from truly soaring are the undeniable chinks in its otherwise attractive armour...
Deadpool
2016 · Feb 2016
Deadpool is entertaining as hell, erases bad memories of Reynold's Green Lantern (2011), and will be a great time at the movies, especially for fanboys. But it's been two days since I saw the movie and not much has stayed with me. I suppose that's the point, in which case, I'm okay not getting it.
Ghayal Once Again
2016 · Feb 2016
I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss Ghayal Once Again as run-of-the-mill cinematic trash. At best, it could be considered a minor stepping stone to a new aesthetic for easily digestible commercial cinema. At worst, it's a movie you could watch with your friends for the express purpose of having a good time, preferably after getting high. There are definitely worse ways to spend two hours of your time.
Airlift
2016 · Jan 2016
It is several steps ahead of Kumar's other recent January releases, Baby (2015) and Special 26 (2013), and deserves all the box-office it can get. The bar has been raised and it's about bloody time.
Wazir
2016 · Jan 2016
Wazir is a con job, endeavouring to show us layers that it chooses to do almost nothing with.
Dilwale
2015 · Dec 2015
This Movie Sucks, And We're All To Blame For Its Existence
Bajirao Mastani
2015 · Dec 2015
Bajirao Mastani is a loud, clunky melodrama that is largely interested in providing derivative cinematic thrills whilst pretending to be lyrical and meditative. That said, however, it is also often visually-arresting and romantic enough to sustain interest.
Angry Indian Goddesses
2015 · Dec 2015
Angry Indian Goddesses arrives with audience awards from Toronto and Rome, and it's easy to see why an international audience would appreciate this film. It presents India's gender issues on a platter to them, which is congruent with what they read; it's the same reason acclaimed films set in Africa often happen to be about genocide and extreme poverty.
Tamasha
2015 · Nov 2015
Like most of his films, it ultimately boils down to whether you buy his brand of movie romance, where journeys and conversations often turn out to be irreversibly life-changing. Tamasha isn't perfect, but it has heart and a sincerity of intent that sets it apart from many other films we've seen this year.
Titli
2015 · Oct 2015
Titli ties everything up with a somewhat contrived, fairy-tale-ish ending, but at least the packaging is satisfyingly gritty. In other words, it's like a plate of chicken curry in which the gravy is delicious, but the pieces don't have as much meat as they should.
Shaandaar
2015 · Oct 2015
Shaandaar isn't entirely unbearable — at least it saves itself from descending to Welcome Back-level garbage status courtesy a few performances.
Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2
2015 · Oct 2015
I have no doubt that this movie will do well at the box-office, which means that we can expect this to turn into a franchise that employs lesser-known, largely mediocre actors and uses misogyny as its Khan. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, that's one small step for Lokhandwala's economy, and one giant leap backward for womankind (not to mention cinema).
Jazbaa
2015 · Oct 2015
Jazbaa is yet another testament to commercial Hindi cinema's obsession with impact over intent, which leads to making films that they think will earn money via razzmatazz and star power, as opposed to adhering to the basics of screenwriting, acting, and direction. In other words, it's a perfect addition to Gupta's checkered oeuvre.
Talvar
2015 · Oct 2015
...there is no denying that Talvar is easily among the best Hindi films of the year. It is in equal parts absorbing, heartbreaking, and infuriating, much like the case it's based on.
Calendar Girls
2015 · Sep 2015
The biggest irony, of course, is that the movie is one long meta statement. As the story follows the predictable arc of the girls finding success only to face sexism, misogyny and betrayal at every corner, you realise with growing horror that Calendar Girls is also exactly that: an attempt at chixploitation in the garb of social-message filmmaking.
Katti Batti
2015 · Sep 2015
A Lukewarm Mess ...Katti Batti, feels like a manipulated product. There are two different stories at odds here: one that attempts to investigate why a relationship went sour and another about two people dealing with a crisis that affects their relationship. They may sound like similar things, but they aren't.
Hero
2015 · Sep 2015
Hero is a vacuous and self-indulgent exercise, akin to taking star kids on a field trip in order to show them the ropes. Do it, by all means, but why must you subject an audience to it?
Phantom
2015 · HuffingtonPost · Aug 2015
By the time the climax showed up, featuring a not-so-subtle nod to Titanic, the film's lapses in logic, bad performances, and simplistic understanding of world politics had left me in a stupor. I never thought I'd say this, but it almost made me want to re-watch Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Almost.
Gour Hari Dastaan
2015 · Aug 2015
...despite this film's relatively restrained storytelling, sincere attempt at subtlety, and overwhelmingly wonderful intentions, it falters on a number of levels. Gour Hari Dastaan is a peculiar film — one that attempts to emulate a somewhat dated style of arthouse cinema that works only in bits and parts. The rest of the time, at best, it's a bit of a snooze-fest; at worst, in some places, it's so far off the mark that it almost works as parody.
Bangistan
2015 · Aug 2015
Bangistan looks like it must've started as a good enough idea on paper before it got compromised for reasons best known to its makers. There are glimpses of a superior product in the way some shots and sequences are executed, but the overall product is an insult to their own efforts. Wes Anderson and Anees Bazmee is not a combination to aspire to. Ever.
Bāhubali: The Beginning
2015 · Huffingtonpost.in · Jul 2015
...all said and done, Baahubali: The Beginning is a remarkable achievement. What Rajamouli has pulled off here, despite its flaws, is nothing short of a miracle, especially when you take into account India's notoriously risk-averse filmmaking environment and when the film ends on a tantalising cliffhanger (paving the way for Baahubali: The Conclusion, due to release next year), once can't help but applaud his singularly brave vision. As the cliché goes, a journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step, but it doesn't really matter if that first step is shaky as long as it lands firmly and confidently.
Terminator Genisys
2015 · Huffingtonpost.in · Jul 2015
As anybody who is a fan of the first two films directed by James Cameron will tell you, there has never been any reason for any film on this subject to have existed beyond the year 1991, since Judgment Day -- an apocalyptic event that wipes out much of humanity -- was said to have been averted.
ABCD 2
2015 · Jun 2015
Despite the over-the-top-ness and the general inanity on display, you might even find yourself rooting for 'India Stunners' in the movie's appropriately emotional climax. That's the surest sign of a genre film having gotten at least the basics right.
Jurassic World
2015 · Jun 2015
Trevorrow's hold on the proceedings is firm and it helps that the visual effects are absolutely first-rate. As the movie hurtles towards a massive climax that becomes a chance for at least one raptor to display admirable acting chops, it redeems itself and ends up becoming the best among the sequels in this franchise. However, in its effort to pay tribute, it misses out on the vital human touch that made 'Jurassic Park' one of the most enduring blockbusters in Hollywood history.
Hamari Adhuri Kahani
2015 · Jun 2015
'Hamari...' is a ham-fest that wallows in the kind of melodrama that Hindi cinema left behind a while ago, only shot with such lens flare much wow. It is difficult to see actors of Balan and Rao's stature plod through a script that's this clichéd and take it seriously, resulting in career-worst performances from both of them.
Tanu Weds Manu: Returns
2015 · Huffingtonpost.in · May 2015
As in the first movie, the biggest problem with 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns' is the complete lack of insight into what makes the lead pair -- or anyone, really -- fall in love with each other. According to the film, Manu is an intelligent, sensible guy, but his actions defy logic. By the time the proceedings roll towards an end, the film is firmly from his point-of-view, and both Kanganas exist only to show that there are basically two kinds of women: hysterical and self-centered; and sober and self-sacrificial.
Mad Max: Fury Road
2015 · May 2015
'Mad Max: Fury Road' is a rare action movie in today's times in that that it looks and feels like the product of a fully realised vision. It possesses the vital ingredient missing in most CGI-laden summer blockbusters: a sense of clockwork synchronicity between its various departments. The cinematography, costumes, make-up, background score, and action sequences don't come across as disparate elements fighting individually for the viewer's attention -- they work as one unit to serve the script and that alone.
Piku
2015 · Huffingtonpost.in · May 2015
Piku is a movie that urges one to approach life with healthy amounts of levity. It isn't perfect, sure, but it achieves the unique distinction of being a crowd-pleaser while spending a considerable amount of screen-time talking about Things You Don't Talk About, Ever.
Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami
2014 · Firstpost · Oct 2014
Sadly, Ekkees is a film that was filled with potential but is undone by its flaws – much like the system it attempts to satirise.
Haider
2014 · Firstpost · Oct 2014
If we get a movie better than Haider in the remainder of 2014, let's count this as a really good year. At this point, the chances of that happening don't seem likely.
Mardaani
2014 · Firstpost · Aug 2014
Mardaani is a better commercial film than most and Sarkar's best film since Parineeta. However, if there is one solid reason to watch this movie, it's Bhasin's Walter-White-as-played-by-Seth-Green act. The young actor, who was impressive even in his brief appearance in One By Two earlier this year, seems like a talent to watch out for. Next time, hopefully, he'll have more meat to chew on.
Amit Sahni Ki List
2014 · Firstpost · Jul 2014
Amit Sahni…, on the other hand, is a movie that never really had any ambition to begin with. A standard story of a typically yuppie investment banker (Das as an awkward version of himself) is looking for love based on a list he made in college after a bad break-up. It appears to be a painful rehash of familiar plot-lines from sitcoms like Seinfeld, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, and more.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
2014 · Firstpost · Jul 2014
Andy Serkis is God. That's it. Those four words up there are pretty much all you need to hear in terms of a reason to go watch Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes in theatres.
Chef
2014 · Firstpost · Jun 2014
Chef isn't a memorable film, but there's really nothing wrong with it. It's feelgood, like comfort food.
Maleficent
2014 · Firstpost · May 2014
Here was a chance to really add some life, some humanity to an iconic character, and Jolie squanders it with an expressionless and dispassionate performance. Perhaps she did this film just to cash in on Disney's rejuvenated box-office clout. Viewers, however, should prove her wrong by simply re-watching Frozen.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
2014 · Firstpost · May 2014
It must be said that, despite these what-could-have-been niggles, X-Men: Days Of Future Past is a perfectly competent comic book movie that delivers the goods and admirably so. From its uniformly excellent cast (McAvoy is especially good) to John Ottman's brass-laden score, this is your favourite restaurant serving up your favourite meal on an attractive platter. Don't expect the world from the condiments and sauces and you'll do just fine.
The Xposé
2014 · Firstpost · May 2014
It's a stupid film that knows it's a stupid film and celebrates it, without being melodramatic or overlong (it runs for just under two hours). Come to think of it, that's a lot like every Yo Yo Honey Singh song ever.
Manjunath
2014 · Firstpost · May 2014
Much like last year's brilliant Sundance winner Fruitvale Station (a similarly structured film based on real events), Manjunath isn't interested in trying to add drama through events – in the first minute of the film, you're told that the protagonist was murdered. It instead attempts to build a solid, complex character sketch, showing Manjunath (played by debutant Sasho Satish Sarathy) as a cheery, fun-loving and regular guy who hangs out with his friends.
Kya Dilli Kya Lahore
2014 · Firstpost · May 2014
...deserves to be watched, but the filmed version is still a gem that needed a little more polish. The producer, Karan Arora, would do well to think about backing a stage adaptation of the same story and touring the country with the same cast. All he needs to do is fire Shandilya.
Kaanchi
2014 · Firstpost · Apr 2014
This is a vapid filmmaking exercise, done simply for the sake of launching a new heroine and executed by pulling favours from old friends and junior associates. It's an example of the kind of cinema that Bollywood needs to leave behind as soon as possible if it wants to appeal to a younger, smarter audience. It may be time for Ghai to hang up his boots before he destroys what remains of his legacy any further, and let his students take over. Surely they can't do a worse job than this?
2 States
2014 · Firstpost · Apr 2014
Put simply, 2 States is as much an accurate representation of IIM-A as Legally Blonde was of Harvard University, and as much an accurate look at relationships as, well, not even a Chetan Bhagat novel. As forgettable as the book was, it gets more of the detailing right and possesses a stronger, more authentic narrative. Consequently, 2 States ends up adhering to the established rule of the book being better than the movie.
Fandry
2013 · Firstpost · Apr 2014
Manjule's writing is so watertight that every occurrence in the screenplay feels natural. Ultimately,Fandry's greatest victory is that it flows with the same languid pace one would expect of village life, despite its hardships, and, by putting the viewer in Jabya's shoes, Manjule let you live in his world for a while.
Bhoothnath Returns
2014 · Firstpost · Apr 2014
In this sequel, which has the unmistakeable soul of a Munnabhai film, Tiwari borrows Hirani's tried-and-tested approach to storytelling that mixes calculated irreverence with overly optimistic world-views. At the same time, his vision is a lot more authentic and unflinching than the 3 Idiots director's rose-tinted, escapist vision.
Jal
2014 · Firstpost · Apr 2014
...a beautiful-looking but largely unwatchable film, one that aspires to be a work of art but fails in some of the most basic aspects of filmmaking.
Noah
2014 · Firstpost · Mar 2014
Were this a film by a lesser director, it would be easier to forgive these failings. It would be easy to enjoy Noah as a well-made popcorner that dares to explore dark themes while providing an intense visual experience. But what we have here is about 60 percent of a film that's about 140 percent longer and more flawed than we would've liked. It crumbles under the weight of its own myth – and that myth is Aronofsky, not Noah.
Gang of Ghosts
2014 · TimeOut · Mar 2014
Gang of Ghosts is an absolute disaster and a golden example of how handing over creative control of your story to somebody else can be a bad idea.
Ankhon Dekhi
2014 · Firstpost · Mar 2014
Aankhon Dekhi is not a film that will invite public love, the way Queen or Highway have managed to garner over the past month. It eschews typical Bollywood razzle-dazzle to paint a stark but vivid portrait of the search for meaning and truth in our lives, where the laughter and the tears both come from the truth laid bare on screen. It is an intensely rewarding experience, with an ending that will haunt you for days afterwards.
Gulaab Gang
2014 · Firstpost · Mar 2014
By the time the end rolls around, the film has descended into chaos and is impossible to take seriously. Sincere efforts from the entire cast can't save this well-intentioned venture from its own mediocrity. Meanwhile, I'm going to pretend that Juhi Chawla never did this film so as to keep the sanctity of my childhood crush intact.
Total Siyapaa
2014 · TimeOut · Mar 2014
A complete mess of an interesting premise, Total Siyapaa ends up being so unbearable that, at the press screening, several journalists made for the exit before the credits started rolling. It is with equal haste and enthusiasm that the cast and crew should leave this film behind as they move on to newer and better projects. The silver lining: film's under two hours.
Dallas Buyers Club
2014 · Firstpost · Feb 2014
What really elevates the film is the intensity of McConaughey's performance. Looking skeletal and broken, his eyes glitter with a steely sense of desperate determination.
Ajab Gazabb Love
2012 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2012
Ajab Gazabb Love is an extremely dated film, one that requires the complete suspension of logic, disbelief and high standards of humour. Now all you need to do is ask yourself: Is this what you go to the movies for?
Chakravyuh
2012 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2012
Chakravyuh is, ultimately, a victim of typical Bollywood excesses. A little more subtlety, a little less jingoism, and it might have worked better.