MovieBuzZ: Featured Movies

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Devara Part 1
Year:	2024
Released:	2024 Sep 26
Runtime:	N/A
Genre:	Action, Drama, Thriller
Director:	Koratala Siva
Actors:	N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Saif Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor
Language:	Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada
Country:	India
Awards:	N/A
Writer:	Koratala Siva
Plot:	An epic action saga set against coastal lands, which briefs about rip-roaring ,emotionally charged incidents in the periodic timeline, also comprises the titular protagonist being the rescuer to deprived and fear to evildoers.

Review: Director Koratala Siva’s Devara: Part 1, starring Jr NTR, Saif Ali Khan, and Janhvi Kapoor, delivers a visually grand and action-packed experience but falls short in narrative depth and character development. Jr NTR, returning to the silver screen after the success of RRR, shines in his dual portrayal of Devara and Vara, delivering intense, commendable performances that elevate the film—particularly in the action sequences, his ability to emote, and his effortless dancing skills. His commanding presence, powerful dialogue delivery, and seamless dance moves stand out, though the story itself doesn’t offer the same level of intrigue or excitement.

While the first half is engrossing, with Koratala Siva effectively building the world of Erra Samudram (Red Sea) and setting up the conflict, the second half suffers from pacing issues and predictable plot developments. Saif Ali Khan, in his Telugu debut, is convincing as the vengeful Bhaira, but his dynamism is underutilised, leaving his character lacking the depth to make the antagonist truly stand out. Janhvi Kapoor, as Thangam, gets a limited role and appears in a couple of songs, which is a letdown. Her character’s childhood presence in the first half could have been better incorporated into the second half.

Thangalaan

Thangalaan

2024 ‧ Action/Adventure

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Thangalaan
Year:	2024
Released:	2024 Aug 15
Runtime:	156 min
Genre:	Action, Adventure, Drama
Director:	Pa. Ranjith
Actors:	Vikram, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Malavika Mohanan
Language:	Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Oriya, Bengali
Country:	India
Awards:	N/A
Writer:	Azhagiyae Periyavan, Tamil Praba, Tamizh Prabha
Plot:	Based on the true events that revolve around the lives of mine workers in the Kolar Gold Fields, Karnataka.

Review: With Thangalaan, Pa Ranjith crafts a stunning spectacle on human greed, societal oppression, and self-assertion. The film often feels like a psychedelic trip through pages of history, and Ranjith, through the story of Thangalaan (a fantastic Vikram, who delivers a beast of a performance that is full of fury and fear), takes us from the 18th century onwards all the way back to 5 BCE.

When Thangalaan begins, we are introduced to the simple 18th century life of its titular character, who is one of the very few land-owning members in his community. Most of them are already bonded labours to a landlord, who has managed to deprive them of their land through crooked means. And soon, Thangalaan, too, falls a victim to his wily ways.

But he sees a way out when Clement, a British explorer, seeks help from the community to get gold from a region believed to be haunted. Thangalaan, who has already heard of his forefather's vain attempt at getting gold from the region, decides to accompany Clement, hoping that discovering gold might help him earn money to win back his land and even empower his people. Can he succeed in his mission, especially when it's not just the unforgiving landscape that's standing in the way.

Premalu

Premalu

2024 ‧ Comedy/Romance

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Premalu
Year:	2024
Released:	2023 Feb 09
Runtime:	156 min
Genre:	Comedy, Romance
Director:	Girish A.D.
Actors:	Naslen, Mamitha Baiju, Shyam Mohan
Language:	Malayalam, Telugu
Country:	India
Awards:	N/A
Writer:	Girish A.D., Kiran Josey
Plot:	Sachin pursues romance but finds himself caught between two potential partners, leading to amusing complications.

Review: "Premalu 2024" proved to be a delightful surprise. I found this romantic comedy to be thoroughly engaging from beginning to end. The fresh-faced cast delivered charming and natural performances that drew me right into their quirky, relatable world.

I was impressed with how well the actors embodied their characters. There's a genuine quality to their interactions and emotions that adds an extra layer of enjoyment. The film's pacing is lively, moving from scene to scene with ease and preventing any dull moments from creeping in.

The humor is lighthearted and genuine, never feeling forced or over-the-top. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. "Premalu 2024" has a pleasant feel-good atmosphere that left me smiling long after the credits rolled.

If you're looking for a fun and heartwarming romantic comedy with a dash of youthful energy, I definitely recommend giving "Premalu 2024" a watch!

Maharaja

Maharaja

2024 ‧ Action/Thriller

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Maharaja
Year:	2024
Released:	2024 Jun 14
Runtime:	150 min
Genre:	Action, Drama, Thriller
Director:	Nithilan Saminathan
Actors:	Vijay Sethupathi, Anurag Kashyap, Mamta Mohandas
Language:	Tamil
Country:	India
Awards:	N/A
Writer:	Nithilan Saminathan
Plot:	A barber seeks vengeance after his home is burglarized, cryptically telling police his "lakshmi" has been taken, leaving them uncertain if it's a person or object. His quest to recover the elusive "lakshmi" unfolds.

Review: Maharaja (2024) Tamil movie Review: All I knew was that this movie is from the director of "Kurangu Bommai" that had been released in 2017, though it was a good thriller it didn't do that well. This is Nithilan Swaminathan's second movie after a gap of seven years. However, you get a feeling that this 50th movie or so of this already veteran director. Also, this one is in fact 50th movie of Vijay Sethupathi whose fan I had become after watching his initial movies starting from "Pizza". This one should be a case study of how screen play of movie should be written taking simplest of stories and how characters should be developed in the script.

Any movie would be great if it doesn't allow you to guess what is going to happen next? The suspense should not only be edge of the seat, but it should have many wow moments that is beyond audience's wildest imagination. Also, it should be more than engrossing and not just that, it should take you along as the story unfolds on the screen. In such a way that you end up feeling that you are part of what is happening. Finally, it should make you think long after you return home. Maharaja does all that and becomes one of the best Tamil movies of this year and the best 50th movie for Vijay Sethupathi.

Take a bow to the director Nithilan Swaminathan for creating magic with amazing screen play from a simple story. You will think it is just another simple story only when you get to decipher the complete plot of this amazing movie. And you may have to see this movie more than once to get everything that you witnessed in the first view. I am really glad that this movie just came when everyone thought Malayalam movies are doing great even with Tamil audience and everyone started asking, what had happened to Tamil movie makers as they couldn't cater to the requirement of Tamil speaking audience?

So much was the impact that old movies were re-released in the theaters due to lack of any good new movies to compete with Malayalam to Tamil dubbed movies. Technically this movie is brilliant in all ways. The major technical success is the wonderful BGM by Ajaneesh Loknath of KGF fame. I always associate him with loud BGM that not only vibrates chairs of theater also makes you buy a bottle of Amurthanjan/Headache balm. However, this one is an exception and crisp editing by Philomin Raj. Coming to performances, Vijay Sethupathi stands out both playing the younger version (Whom I like most) and the older version with good make up and even mannerism.

Aavesham

Aavesham

2024 ‧ Action/Comedy

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Aavesham
Year:	2024
Released:	2024 Apr 11
Runtime:	155 min
Genre:	Action, Comedy
Director:	Jithu Madhavan
Actors:	Fahadh Faasil, Hipzster, Mithun Jai Shankar
Language:	Malayalam
Country:	India
Awards:	N/A
Writer:	Jithu Madhavan
Plot:	Three teenagers reach Bangalore for their engineering degree and gets involved in a fight with seniors. They find a local gangster named Ranga to help them take revenge.

Review: Just when you think Fahadh Faasil - or FaFa - has aced some of the best characters he could possibly get in his career, he goes all out as Ranga in writer-director Jithu Madhavan's goofball gangster film Aavesham.

When three Malayali students join an engineering college in Bengaluru and get brutally ragged, they decide to get revenge on their seniors with the help of some local gangs. Their search at local drinking holes leads to a chance meeting with Ranga anna, who they find has a lot of manpower and clout, as a gangster.

Ranga takes an immediate liking to the kids, though they are not quite sure of what to make of his villain origin-story that his gang members narrate about him. While they begin to accompany him on his contract fights, the youngsters who have never seen Ranga, wonder if he is really capable of pulling any punches himself. But they enjoy his lavish hospitality and drinks for a while before they use him to take revenge on their seniors.

Now the trio have a bad-boy image at the institute, but at heart they are just innocent youngsters who want to keep their families happy. So when the fail all their papers and the college issues a warning, they want to cut ties with Ranga, who has become quite attached to them. Will they be able to safely get out of Ranga’s network and do well in college forms the rest of the story.

Apart from scripting superb side characters, Jithu has crafted the comic timing of his dialogues well and they are executed superbly by Fafa and Sajin Gopu, who plays Ranga’s man-Friday. The chemistry between them is the cause for much comedy; probably of the most well-done pairing in recent times. All the actors in the supporting roles have done a great job. At nearly 150 minutes, the second half seems to stretch on and on, and would have benefitted from some major trimming.

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.