Jawan is disproportionately extolled for making political comments, but it is a small film like Bhagwan Bharose that usually sticks its neck out, notes Deepa Gahlot.
Even the worst movies have a song, a scene, or a performance that makes all the effort of making a film worthwhile. This one should have been scrapped at script stage, declares Deepa Gahlot.
Women Of My Billion is stark and disturbing, but at the end of it Srishti Bakshi is still able to say, 'My India is not beyond repair', observes Deepa Gahlot.
The top 10 films of the year may not be great by themselves but they stand out amidst the other OTT releases.
There are no great emotional highs or lows in Dono. It is just made up of little moments of normal interactions between young people, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Choona is too slow, has redundant characters and needless complications, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Kunal Kemmu's default mode performing comedy is overacting. When surrounded by much more competent theatre-trained actors, he falls consistently short. (In the past, this role would have been tailor-made for Govinda), observes Deepa Gahlot.
The year was rich in content as far as Web series were concerned.
Article 370 is not as crude as some of the openly propagandist films made in recent times. It could at least open up a discussion on what is to be done to heal the wounds of the people of Kashmir, which years of shrieking TV debaters could not do, feels Deepa Gahlot.
The harum-scarum-ness of Kaala is astounding, exclaims Deepa Gahlot.
In spite of a selection of fine actors doing their best, and an eye-catching visual quality, Rana Naidu is more disturbing than entertaining, feels Deepa Gahlot.
From an observation of middle class insecurities and parents burdening their children with their dreams, the film becomes an underdog story, notes Deepa Gahlot.
Watching Haddi after a meal is not advised since some scenes could induce nausea, warns Deepa Gahlot.
Music School tries hard to make a case -- like 3 Idiots and Taare Zameen Par before -- to let children follow their artistic passions and not try to fit them into pre-set moulds, to which people might nod their heads in agreement before packing their children off to coaching class, notes Deepa Gahlot.
Pankaj Tripathi anchored the first two seasons with his performance. Here, he is made to sit it out for most of the show, and none of the actors, except for a fiery Ali Fazal, have the charisma to hold the viewer's attention, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Bhakshak should create some awareness and maybe raise some compassion towards victims of abuse, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Aarya Aakhri Vaar should have been slicker and more polished than the first, or at least ended with a louder bang, observes Deepa Gahlot.
The Freelancer has been made with workman-like efficiency, but the subject of Islamic terrorism could do with a break, points out Deepa Gahlot.
'No small artistic film can even hope to win, except, maybe, as random tokenism,' asserts Deepa Gahlot.
The three women, because of their names and position, would get the eyeballs anyway, but if they do not rise above the superficial, it would be a wasted opportunity to reach out to and inspire women in particular, observes Deepa Gahlot.
The Song Of Scorpions is a reminder, if one were needed, that Irrfan was not just a star actor but a true artiste, observes Deepa Gahlot.
A movie like Bad Boy being made in 2023 would have been just as unwatchable no matter who made it. That Rajkumar Santoshi has, is almost heart-breaking, sighs Deepa Gahlot.
Alaya F actually holds the film together, pulling out the right emotions required, and not letting the slightest scepticism leak out of those large, expressive eyes, observes Deepa Gahlot.
It is possible that today's kids would find Gutar Gu too vanilla but it might have greater nostalgia-inducing appeal for older viewers, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Hunter Tootega Nahi, Todega is bizarre, unintentionally funny, discovers Deepa Gahlot.
If Trial Period was not such a slight piece of film-making, it would have some problematic messaging, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Ria and Varun seem to live in a bubble where they have hardly any friends and are never seen doing normal young people things like just hanging out with the gang. There is a hell of a lot of snogging, but hardly any real conversation, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Kanika's problem is so ridiculous, it is surprising she did not discover till the age of 32 what every teen knows, sighs Deepa Gahlot.
The Night Manager has no surprises, feels Deepa Gahlot.
Mister Mummy is neither a comedy nor an emotional drama, observes Deepa Gahlot.
...She does not have the acting heft, of say Sridevi in English Vinglish, or Vidya Balan in Tumhari Sulu, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Jee Karda is a dish with a lot of garnish, but no flavour, observes Deepa Gahlot.
With its slick cinematography and breathless pace, Bloody Daddy is not really made for OTT, but that's where it ends up, notes Deepa Gahlot.
In terms of plot, Season 4 matches Season 1. It is grim, fast-paced and engaging, recommends Deepa Gahlot.
What goes in favour of Asur 2 is its pace and novelty, even though the approach has all the hokiness of a comic book, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Lakadbaggha takes up too many issues and does not do justice to them, points out Deepa Gahlot.
Yeh Meri Family is rescued by the actors. All of them have delivered on the warmth and crankiness of a close-knit family without putting on any hum saath saath hain fakery, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Ranveer v/s Wild with Bear Grylls is enjoyable because Ranveer Singh makes it so, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Code Name: Tiranga makes Deepa Gahlot feel nostalgic for Naam Shabana and forgive Dhaakad.
As India successfully lands Chandrayaan-3, does the moon look as beautiful as one's beloved or has the Chanda Mama of folk ditties acquired a whole new meaning?
