A terrific central performance from Allu Arjun and plenty of sharp dialogues, and yet, Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1 should have done better Let it be said clearly and loudly that the foremost attraction in Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1 is the characterisation of the protagonist, Pushpa, and in equal parts, the performance of Allu Arjun that’s…
Category: Film Reviews
Jail Movie Review: An exhausting experience
Jail isn’t exactly worried about infusing characters with strength or personality. Its fundamental purpose seems to be simply to manipulate you into feeling some connection Towards the end of Jail, the text on screen read, “Sila sambavangalukku piragu…” It caught me off-guard—wait, is that not why we are watching the film? Would you mind sharing with us…
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…
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…
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…
Sudhir Srinivasan 