'Even if Setters shows no inclination to understand the dark desperation that drives parents to buy marks for undeserving children, it could've made a little more effort to be sly or suspenseful,' says Sukanya Verma.
'At the end of the day, this is Bachchan's film.' 'Despite the distracting makeup, his famous baritone and indisputable flair for dedicated inanity lend Mirza an air of significance,' observes Sukanya Verma.
Sherni is a triumph -- a sublime outcome of purpose and storytelling falling in place, applauds Sukanya Verma.
The hits and misses of the week.
The hits and misses of the week.
'Stree's allegorical approach doesn't interfere with its need to endear and entertain.' 'Important ideas of empowerment and item songs as well as chills and chuckle coexist to fulfil its objective of thoda hasao, thoda darao,' says Sukanya Verma.
Raja Sen feels Dedh Ishqiya is a genuinely smart film.
Despite all its drawbacks, I was engrossed in Toofaan and the intensity Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra imbues it with for most part, observes Sukanya Verma.
The hits and misses of the week.
The hits and misses of the week.
Apart from the music, Mawra and Harshvardhan's chemistry is the only saving grace, feels Namrata Thakker.
'The nervousness is to deliver and if we do well, the nervousness will be, what do we do from here.'
Second Hand Husband is entertaining in parts, says Nishi Tiwari.
'I knew that since I would be designing for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film, the aesthetics would have to be correct.' 'He doesn't show poverty in his films.' 'He won't show someone standing on the streets in phate hue kapde.'
'It's also a movie-crazed kid's idea of a great time,' discovers Sreehari Nair.
The top posts on social media from your favourite Bollywood celebrities.
Monsoon Mangoes is pretentious and looks tacky as most of frames are jaded, warns Paresh C Palicha.
While Pa Ranjith proved yet again to be the salt of the earth in his land mafia film, Zoya Akhtar took a haphazard route to make something that was hardly rooted in Asia's biggest slum, feels J Jagannath.
The year saw some standout performances from lesser known actors.
You'll come out laughing till your sides hurt, promises Sukanya Verma.
'After Gully Boy, many interesting projects started coming my way.' 'But things really changed with the Filmfare. Now, people notice me.' 'It's a good space, where you don't have to tell people who you are.'
More than the leads, it's the supporting cast that stay true to the milieu and brace Banjo's banality and triviality with refreshing zing and idiosyncrasy, says Sukanya Verma.
Pinch your nerves, and trust the ghoul -- blood will be spilled; women, children, and grouchy old men will be dismembered! observes Sreehari Nair.
Diljit Dosanjh's striking self-possession, like the champion he's portraying, doesn't let it come in the way of a performance that screams g-o-a-l, feels Sukanya Verma.
Spending some time on sets of this sports film was a fun experience, says Jahnavi Patel.
'Gully Boy is a pulsating salute to the new angry India and its youth,' says Aseem Chhabra who watched Zoya Akhtar's movie at the Berlin film festival.
Gully Boy is a glorious blend of hip-hop and assured filmmaking, promises Sukanya Verma.
'Once the flaky fizz vaporises into nonsense and noise, a sense of tedium begins to steep in. Even so, at its 124 minutes running time, Dishoom doesn't hobble for too long to hurt one's butt or brain, says Sukanya Verma.
'...that it takes fantasy seriously as a part of real life'... A fascinating excerpt from Jonathan Gil Harris's book, Masala Shakespeare: How A Firangi Writer Became Indian.
'When it comes to work, he forgets his sleep, his food, everything.' 'He is too involved in the process and that gives him strength.'
L K Advani's observation on Narendra Modi, an attempt to cut the BJP's prime ministerial nominee down to size, billing him a mere event manager like Vijay Raaz in Mira Nair's film Monsoon Wedding, speaks volumes about their differences... In the coming days, the Congress and BJP may lock horns over the AgustaWestland chopper deal. In an Italian court, Guido Haschke, one of the accused middlemen who allegedly bribed the Indian side, has sought a plea bargain to reduce his jail term if convicted. On or around April 11, we will know how much Haschke is ready to reveal. Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt detects which way the political wind is blowing these days.
'It's a performance that puts the Bachchan hysteria to shame,' observes Sreehari Nair.
God bless Ritesh Batra, raves Sukanya Verma.
Sukanya Verma looks at the various baap-beti equations depicted on the screen.
