Sudhir Srinivasan

Bachelor Movie Review: A takedown of toxic masculinity that isn’t

Perhaps the only really interesting portion in Bachelor starring GV Prakash Kumar is when matters of a court come into focus, and a ‘domestic abuse’ case gets debated Darling (GV Prakash Kumar) in Bachelor is hardly a darling—the name, an evident attempt at a joke. He urinates on laptops, endangers friends with reckless riding, barely goes to work, lies…

Venkat Prabhu: I wish our stars would encourage fresh ideas

The filmmaker, who has hit gold with Maanaadu, speaks of foreign film inspirations and unrealised dreams Filmmaker Venkat Prabhu has been shaped by his love for films—international films specifically. “I may not read much, but I watch a lot of films,” he says, and admits what everyone has always known about his work: “I’m influenced a…

Maanaadu Movie Review: A riveting take on time loop underlined by clever writing

This film, that mounts opposition to the vilification of Muslims, is a smart entertainer, devoid of ‘commercial compromises’ With Maanaadu, Venkat Prabhu imports a largely Western plot device—time loop—into our mainstream cinema. The director, ever self-aware, makes references in his latest film to Hollywood work like Groundhog Day (the mother of all time-loop films), Happy Death Day… and in…

Siva: I seek happiness over appreciation

The filmmaker, for whom directing actor Rajinikanth in Annaatthe is a dream realised, talks about the experience and the film Little Siva was 10 years old when he got the enviable chance to meet his idol, Rajinikanth. His family was already into the business of filmmaking, and hence came this opportunity. Thirty-odd years later, Siva…

Annaatthe Movie Review: An emotional Rajinikanth in a throwback film that doesn’t reach its potential

Simply put, it’s a film that is designed to cater to everyone, a story where Rajini’s character typically begins with comedy, and then, goes on to get emotional and violent When Rajinikanth laughs, happiness courses through you. When he cries, sadness washes over you. It’s a rare connection he has forged with the audience over…