Nishtha Jain deserves a standing ovation for her work but for that she first needs an audience.

Go for it!

Gulabi Gang looks into the women’s movement, in one of the most rural parts of the country, with microscopic detail. These women are old, poor and from backward castes, who are shunned by the society and humiliated, raped and murdered by their own fathers, brothers and husbands. Born out of the atrocities is this gang, whose courage and resilience is worth documenting. Nishtha Jain deserves a standing ovation for her work but for that she first needs an audience. Go for it!

Rush has all the elements to not let you sleep. It has an unnecessary thumping background score and over-the-top dialogue. So if you decide to go for this film, do yourself a favour and carry along a crocin strip.That might just help.

Bedabrata Pain’s Chittagong is a fitting tribute to one of the most important chapters in Indian history. This delightfully intense film makes you believe that one doesn’t need a thumping background score and over-the-top melodrama to portray patriotism. All you need is a heart that beats for your nation and a fire within.

English Vinglish is almost a masterstroke of a debut for director Gauri Shinde. There is a strong director at work here. The characters are underplayed and so are the emotions. Despite having a few lump-in-your-throat moments, the film doesn’t hold your collar and compel you to shed tears. Instead, it lets you enjoy the feel-good moments at an adequate pace. Well-shot and crisply edited, this film has a fresh feel to it. Also, Amit Trivedi with his hip tunes and modern sound gives a distinct vibe to the film.

Heroine has an episodic feel to it. The movie is a merger of various personalities, which unfortunately don’t fall on the same page in the end. Making it seem disjointed and amateurish. There is a line in the film which Mahi, a bi-polar patient, tells her mom, “My life is fully under control.” Well, the same can’t be said about the film.

Shanghai works not just because it excels in its genre. But for the people that you see in the film – their problems, actions and the situations thrown at them which the audience can easily relate to. The gritty milieu and an equally edgy soundtrack play an important role in keeping you engaged. Also, the use of satire is evident: tragedy and comedy, death and life, exist side by side.