MovieBuzZ: Bollywood Movies

Berlin

Movie

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Director: Atul Sabharwal

Writer: Atul Sabharwal

Stars: Ishwak Singh. Kabir Bedi. Rahul Bose

Critic's Rating: 4.0/5

Story: Set in 1993 in New Delhi, Berlin is about a deaf-mute young man arrested as a suspected spy and murderer. A sign language expert is called in to help but soon finds himself caught up in a dangerous and complex web of espionage. With rival agencies and other hidden forces at play, a twist turns the case on its head: is the real spy hiding in plain sight?

Review: What makes a good spy? Jagdish Sondhi (Rahul Bose), the head of the Soviet Desk at the intelligence agency called Bureau, believes it’s sharp vision, hearing, and fit body. Yet, a scrawny and deaf-mute Ashok Kumar (Ishwak Singh) is suspected of being a German spy involved in a murder and an assassination conspiracy during Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s Indian visit in 1993. Pushkin Verma (Aparshakti Khurana), a teacher at a school for the deaf and mute, is appointed to interrogate Ashok. However, as the former delves deeper into the case, he discovers the shadowy truth about spies, bureaucracy, and politics as his ideas of nationalism change.

The thriller’s refreshing aspect is its authentic story, departing from the India-neighbourhood rivalry trope. Instead, it opts for a more nuanced exploration of internal politics, one-upmanship between intelligence agencies (Wing and Bureau), and what power dynamics can do to unsuspecting bystanders.

The A-team of writer-director Atul Sabharwal, editor Irene Dhar Malik, cinematographer Shreedutta Namjoshi, composer Krishna Kumar, and sound designer Anthony Ruban crafts a high-stakes game of espionage that will keep you on the edge of your seats throughout. The clever narrative is about the business of information trading and how the hearing and speech impaired are used as ‘walls’ between these ‘businessmen’ at a coffee house called Berlin. The title also alludes to the collapse of the Berlin Wall shortly before the movie’s setting

Ishwak Singh shines as he conveys emotions through his eyes and body language. Aparshakti Khurana is equally impressive as a simple teacher caught in the crossfire, bringing empathy and a quest for truth to the narrative. As both actors deliver brilliant character arcs, their understated connection is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Rahul Bose is impressive as a suave, wily, and sharp agent — he may not know the sign language, but Pushkin and Ishwak cannot fool him.

Sector 36

Sector 36

2024 ‧ Thriller/Drama

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Director: Aditya Nimbalkar

Writer: Bodhayan Roychaudhury

Stars: Vikrant Massey. Deepak Dobriyal. Akash Khurana

Critic's Rating: 3.5/5Story: Inspired by true events, the film delves into the mysterious disappearance of children from a local slum, following a police officer's intense investigation into a series of sinister crimes. Review: Can a film capture the horror of one of India's most gruesome crimes while still engaging its audience? Sector 36 attempts to do just that. This 123-minute film is a gripping crime thriller, loosely inspired by the Nithari serial killings of Noida (2005). With creative twists, the film revisits this harrowing story, offering a chilling and relentless narrative that’s not for the faint of heart. If crime thrillers are your genre, this film won't disappoint.
The film opens with a deeply unsettling scene where Prem (Vikrant Massey), a seemingly ordinary caretaker in Sector 36, Delhi, brutally dismembers a girl's body. On the surface, Prem appears to be a devoted family man, with a routine that includes watching 'Sab Banenge Crorepati' religiously. However, his dark side is revealed as he derives pleasure from murdering teenagers. As the cases of missing teenagers pile up, Inspector Ram Charan Pandey (Deepak Dobriyal) takes charge of the investigation.

Aditya Nimbalkar, in his directorial debut, delivers a provocative portrayal of the harsh realities and systemic issues in the quest for justice. The film sets a grim tone from the start, portraying Prem's descent into madness while underscoring themes of social inequality. The glimpses into Prem’s troubled past are well-conveyed, but they do little to evoke empathy for his character. Despite the compelling storyline by Bodhayan Roychaudhury, the film struggles to match the emotional intensity of the real-life events it draws inspiration from.

Yudhra

Yudhra

2024 ‧ Action/Thriller

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Director: Ravi Udyawar

Writers: Farhan Akhtar. Akshat Ghildial. Shridhar Raghavan

Stars: Malavika Mohanan. Raghav Juyal. Siddhant Chaturvedi

Critic's Rating: 3.0/5

Synopsis: A tragic past turns Yudhra (Siddhant Chaturvedi) into an eccentric young man with anger issues. He finds momentary solace in childhood sweetheart, Nikhat (Malavika Mohanan) but gets embroiled in the criminal activities of a drug cartel that leads him to a shocking truth.

Review: Siddhant Chaturvedi (as Yudhra) amps up his inner MC Sher to portray a hothead battling daddy issues and strange love for lizards. He gets triggered at the drop of a hat but has his heart in the right place. As an out-and-out mercurial action hero, he pulls off the angry young man with a twist convincingly despite his innocent baby face. He may not look menacing but packs a punch.

Yudhra finds ruthless adversaries in drug lord Firoz (Raj Arjun) and his son Shafiq (Raghav Juyal). The former hams a bit but Raghav has quickly emerged as one of the most interesting antagonists in recent times. On the heels of violent action thriller ‘Kill’ comes yet another striking performance from the dancer-turned-actor who knows how to play the freak. Ram Kapoor plays a suspicious cop and Gajraj Rao, Yudhra’s father.

The cutting-edge action serves as the film’s backbone and its biggest asset. The music store sequence featuring Malavika, Siddhant and Raghav is one of the finest action scenes in a Bollywood movie. The bicycle parkour scene is nerve-racking too. Action director Nick Powell, known for his work in Gladiator, has worked on the movie and the action choreography keeps you on tenterhooks for a reason. It is intense, gripping and integral to storytelling. The film is technically sound. You appreciate the neurotic world building and the unique background score, but the story lacks emotional heft.

Though the posters may mislead you into believing that this is an old school crime drama (belonging to the Vaastav era), Yudhra is far from that. It is contemporary in nature. You wish it had the compelling structure of its predecessors where the angry young man had a cause to rebel. Even with aimless anger, a film can find its footing and Yudhra shows ample promise but doesn’t quite capitalize on its intentional sankiness (insanity). The first half builds momentum and creates an anticipation of a solid twist, but the second half douses its own fire before things could get all heated. The film never reaches the tipping point despite showing promise and that’s frustrating.

Director Ravi Udyawar uses action and violence as cinematic language to give you that rage room effect. The style and stunts are on point, but the story meanders. Characters are skillfully created, and their swagger ensures there’s not a single dull moment. Siddhant and Malavika look great but lack the chemistry required to establish their connect.

Munjya

Munjya

2024 ‧ Horror/Comedy

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Director: Aditya Sarpotdar

Writer: Niren Bhatt. Yogesh Chandekar. Tushar

Ajgaonkar

Stars: Sharvari. Abhay Verma. Mona Singh

Critic's Rating: 3.0/5

Story: When a young man visiting his ancestral village unwittingly unleashes a vengeful spirit, Munjya, he must save himself and his love interest from its clutches. This tryst with the childlike creature throws him into a hilarious and terrifying adventure.

Review: Director Aditya Sarpotdar’s horror comedy, inspired by Indian folklore, takes the viewer on an atmospheric adventure early on. The story unfolds in 1952 in the idyllic Konkan countryside, where young Gotya resorts to black magic to win an older girl Munni’s heart. However, he tragically loses his life as his attempt backfires. Since he dies within 10 days of his ‘munj’ (thread ceremony), he becomes a restless spirit, Munjya, trapped in a tree.

Fast-forward to the present, Munjya latches on to his descendant, Bittu (Abhay Verma), fixated on fulfilling his unfulfilled desire—to marry Munni and set his spirit free. However, in a turn of events, Munjya sets his sights on Bittu's love interest, Bela (Sharvari). A ride filled with laughter and horror follows as Bittu scrambles to save himself and Bela from Munjya's clutches. As the film’s story progresses, the comedy often dilutes the tension the horror elements build. The energy slips in the second half as the narrative prioritises goofy scenes such as spirits swapping, a self-proclaimed godman (S Sathyaraj) helping the protagonist, and so on.

Cinematographer Saurabh Goswami skilfully captures the beauty and eeriness of forests and ruins, while the light and shadow play and the occasional jump scares further amplify the mood. The film boasts a well-crafted Munjya (who may remind you of The Lord of the Rings's Gollum), brought to life through advanced CGI, but his spirit possessing other characters towards the end seems spoofy.

Abhay Verma delivers a delightful performance as Bittu, convincingly portraying the character's fear and excelling in comedic scenes. Sharvari complements him well as Bela. Supporting actors Mona Singh as Bittu's fiery Punjabi mother, Pammi, and S Sathyaraj as the quirky godman leave a lasting impression.

Animal

Animal

2023 ‧ Action/Crime

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Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Writers: Suresh Bandaru. Saurabh Gupta. Pranay Reddy Vanga

Stars: Ranbir Kapoor. Anil Kapoor. Bobby Deol

Critic's Rating: 2.5/5

Synopsis: Having craved for his rich father’s (Anil Kapoor) love and attention all his life, an unhinged Vijay (Ranbir Kapoor) gets obsessive and violent when his dad is attacked. Seeking revenge and hunting down the conspirators become his only aim. Picture Godfather on steroids, devoid of its psychological tension.

Review: Blood is thicker than water according to the film’s protagonist. The safety and unity of family is sacrosanct no matter how twisted the relations. We are even led to believe that dysfunctional is better than broken.

Through an exhausting runtime of 3 hours, 21 minutes, comprising extreme bloodshed, testosterone and blatant misogyny, writer-director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for his controversial statements and thoughts, glorifies the alpha male once again through his Godfather-esque tale.

When his father is shot, Vijay declares himself as the ‘man of the house’ and takes matters into his own hands. He assures his father that he’ll safeguard their steel empire and family’s legacy but revenge first.

Despite anger and daddy issues, he has an active love life. He seduces Geetanjali (Rashmika Mandanna), through his toxic macho traits and erratic, inappropriate humour. “Don’t call me bhaiyya. I don’t have brotherly feelings for you.” He compliments her childbearing hips and like Christian Grey, whisks her away in his private jet for some high-altitude dom/sub love making. “You were the bottom, you didn’t have to do much”, he comments after. He even expects her to forgive his infidelity because she forgives his other crimes anyway. “Aap log mahinay ke chaar din pad badalne par bolte ho, main din mein chaar baar pad badal raha hu”, he argues post an injury, questioning women’s right to complain about period pain.

Pop culture has often glorified bad boys. There’s always something attractive about people who refuse to toe the line. Vanga takes this romanticisation a bit too far. Even as his take on women and violence unsettle you immensely as a viewer, those are his preferences for a protagonist as a director, and he is free to have them. The bigger issue is the lack of purpose in the story. His gun-wielding angry young man comes across as a rebel without a cause.

Laapataa Ladies

Laapataa Ladies

2023 ‧ Comedy/Drama

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Director: Kiran Rao

Writers: Biplab GoswamiDivyanidhi SharmaSneha Desai

Stars: Nitanshi GoelPratibha RantaSparsh Shrivastava

Critic's Rating: 4.0/5

Story: Trouble ensues when two young brides Phool Kumari (Nitanshi Goel) and Pushpa (Pratibha Ratna) get accidentally swapped during a train journey. Phool’s hapless husband Deepak Kumar (Sparsh Shrivastav) seeks help from a corrupt cop Shyam Manohar (Ravi Kishan), adding to the chaos.

Review: Kiran Rao’s directorial debut ‘Dhobi Ghat’ was a haunting, almost voyeuristic portrait of shattered hope, and dreams in Mumbai. Set in rural India, Laapataa Ladies, a sharp satire, is her return to direction after 14 years and the dramedy stuns you with its clever social commentary and heartfelt sisterhood.

Laced with delightful moments, the messaging isn't overbearing. It never overshadows the entertainment quotient as Rao masterfully uses humour and veiled identity (ghunghat) to reflect upon deep-seated patriarchy and its repercussions. Her light-hearted, slice-of-life storytelling makes a solid case for women empowerment, education, and equality without disparaging men or succumbing to prejudice. “Dowry nahi liya toh ladke mein khot hogi”, comments a female character mocking a liberal man.

Family friendly and acutely observed, Biplab Goswami and Sneha Desai’s story and script provide food for thought. Every character is flawed but likeable, especially the corrupt but conscientious Shyam Manohar. Ravi Kishan is outstanding in his portrayal of a man, who is both greedy and just. The lead new faces do a commendable job, too.

The film’s most memorable scene sums up the movie’s intent perfectly. Hardened by life, a middle-aged tea stall owner Manju (an impeccable Chhaya Kadam who sort of replays her Sairat character) chooses to live alone instead of tolerating disrespect and domestic violence. She tells Phool, “If those who love you have a right to hit you, I exercised my right, too. (mic drop! No Animal was harmed in the making of this one liner).”

A girl is never smart, she is over smart. A woman is not clever, she is cunning. Laapataa Ladies tramples these age-old narratives by stating loud and clear, “A ‘respectable’ girl is the biggest fraud in society’, as it conditions her to not question the status quo. The story doesn’t allow women to play the victim card either. It sternly says, “It’s not shameful to be a fool but being proud of one’s ignorance is a shame.”

Kill

Kill

2023 ‧ Action/Thriller

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Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Writers: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat. Ayesha Syed

Stars: Lakshya. Raghav Juyal. Tanya Maniktala

Critic's Rating: 3.0/5

Story: NSG commando Amrit Rathod (Lakshya) and his girlfriend Tulika’s (Tanya Maniktala) train journey to Delhi takes a dangerous turn when a bunch of dacoits led by Fani (Raghav Juyal), hijack the train. At least 40 bandits attack the passengers to loot them. A brutal death compels Amrit to go on a killing spree.

Review: With no assistance whatsoever, can the love-struck fauji, single-handedly save the day?
In terms of relentless graphic violence, Kill seems like a John Wick admirer and spiritual successor of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, (thankfully) minus the blatant misogyny. What it perhaps required to borrow from Animal was its outstanding background music by Harshavardhan Rameshwar. Though similar in terms of vengeance driving the plot, Kill displays some form of moral compass.

After witnessing Amrit’s unhinged rage, a psychotic Fani tells the army man, ‘Tum rakshak nahi raakshas ho’. Beyond this one sentence, you wish the writing and characterisation displayed some depth, compelling you to question morality, principles or humanity. The storytelling focuses on brutal combat scenes alone for almost two hours, which are intense, even engaging but a tad tiring beyond a point.

The film breaks new ground in terms of its treatment. Be it Train to Busan or Bullet Train, a train journey turning into a nightmare theme has been explored by South Korean and American films before. It’s refreshing to see Hindi cinema attempting this genre and putting in a sincere effort. Set entirely in a confined space (coaches of a moving train), the narrative maintains if not heightens the intensity of gruesome fights. You can barely take a breather, which works. Action unfolds at lightning pace, but gets monotonous beyond a point as the story and characters lack emotional heft. Hardcore action films like Ghajini were able to project its trauma on you. In Kill, you are shocked and horrified but not moved by the extreme gore, bloodshed and heartache you witness. The action is well choreographed and not for the faint-hearted.

Chandu Champion

Chandu Champion

2024 ‧ Sport/Action

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Director: Kabir Khan

Writers: Sumit Arora. Kabir Khan. Sudipto Sarkar

Stars: Kartik Aaryan. Vijay Raaz. Bhuvan Arora

Critic's Rating: 3.5/5

Story: Based on a true story, the film celebrates the fascinating and surrealistic life of Murlikant Petkar, an army man and athlete, who won India its first Paralympic gold in 1972. His achievements and remarkable tryst with destiny lurked in anonymity, until he decided to claim the honour and respect he deserved.

Review: We often hear that it’s wise to leave the table if respect is not served. But what if you decide to sit at the table, compelling people to acknowledge your presence? Victory belongs to the most tenacious after all. Kabir Khan’s film celebrates this thought. It’s about building yourself as a champion, even when the world labels you as a chandu, chomu or looks at you as a laughing stock.

Oscillating between past and present, the story takes us through Petkar’s life, right from the 1950's to 2018, when he was finally awarded the Padma Shri. We discover that the man who nurtured an Olympic dream since his childhood has a strange love-hate relationship with fate and God. He survived when he didn’t hope he would and was left devastated when he least expected. However, never defeated.

The film has Forrest Gump’s free flowing nature and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’s essence to it, but unlike the two, this one feels a tad rebellious without a pertinent cause or conflict. Being ridiculed unleashes Petkar’s aggression, giving an outlet to his talent and persistence. He dared to question the naysayers, ‘Hasta kayko hai’, which ignited the fire within him. Medal se izzat milti hai, he tells himself.

Most sports biopics follow athletes who pursue a certain sport and excel in it against the odds. Kabir Khan’s film feels different because it’s about a man who desperately wants an Olympic medal, for which he tries everything – Wrestling, boxing and swimming. Sounds preposterous and ridiculously ambitious but that’s the fun of it. Petkar makes you wonder if being delusional to a certain level helps. Only then can you see yourself as a champion, even when no one thinks you are in the reckoning.

In many ways, Kartik Aaryan’s ambition to be taken seriously as an actor, coincides with the inner turmoil of the character he essays here. You almost hear him say, “Ae hasta kayko hai? Actor hai main actor.” Kabir Khan’s choice of leading man is a clever casting move. Kartik shows considerable restraint, spontaneity and brings a certain ease to his character that we haven’t seen from him before. He is impressively uninhibited in ‘Satyanaas’, a well-shot train song. Along with undergoing physical transformation, he does justice to the character’s emotional arc. Bhuvan Arora deserves a special mention as Petkar’s likeable sidekick. Rajpal Yadav and Vijay Raaz add a lot of depth to the story with their presence. For a sports drama, the music could have been far more inspiring though.