ENTERTAINMENT
Reeta Sanyal review: Adah Sharma-starrer anti-crime thriller is outlandish, whacky, pulpy and unserious
“Kitna bekaar show hai, 3rd episode mein pata chal gaya killer kaun hai”, a character says in Disney+ Hotstar’s Reeta Sanyal, a ten-episode crime dramedy that parodies and satirizes crime thrillers, poking fun at the police procedurals which have saturated the OTT space. It is a fresh, experimental approach towards adaptation.
ENTERTAINMENT
Zindaginama Review: Shreyas Talpade’s Slice-Of-Life Anthology Is A Brilliant Attempt At Breaking Mental Health Stigmas
With six hard-hitting episodes, each exploring a mental health condition, Zindaginama might just be the OTT show of the year. It is educational, informative and will tug at your heartstrings, despite some of its flaws. That it has a stellar cast—each member of which does complete justice to their roles is a plus.
ENTERTAINMENT
Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Waala Video Review: Rajkummar Rao, Tripti Dimri's Film Is Like A Sex Tape We Wish No One Gets To See
Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Waala Video is so bad, that it's bad. It offends the differently abled, the elderly and casually bodyshames even animals. Give this a watch if, as they say, you are ‘willing to leave your brainds at home’.
ENTERTAINMENT
Jigra movie review: Alia Bhatt, Vasan Bala's prison break thriller is too simplistic and predictable for its own good
Vasan Bala's Jigra doesn't really offer anything unique. A prison break thriller isn't something we haven't already seen before (think: Savi, which was released in May). Its simplistic commentary on feminism and class privilege plays spoilsport.
ENTERTAINMENT
Raat Jawaan Hai review: Near-perfect depiction of perils of balancing parenthood and adult friendships
Is parenting the end of partying? For Radhika, Suman and Avinash, it is not just the end of the party but their youthful get-togethers and movie dates. Parental guilt gets the best of these three friends as they try to balance their responsibilities towards kids along with their individual needs.
ENTERTAINMENT
Prime Video's The Tribe Review: Unrelatable, Obnoxious Influencers In LA Make For Surprisingly Good Reality TV
The target audience for The Tribe is the same as the target audience of Archies of Netflix—rich South Delhi, South Bombay GenZ kids who aspire to emulate this lifestyle. What doesn't work for The Tribe is just how unrelatable the show is.
ENTERTAINMENT
CTRL Movie Review: A Gripping Black Mirror-Esque Cyber Thriller Which Exposes The Dark Side Of All-Things-Digital
Vikramaditya Motwane’s CTRL is the lovechild between Dibakar Banerjee’s LSD 2 (2024), HER (2013) and Black Mirror (2014-19, TV series)—wrapped into a 1 hour, 38 minute exhilarating sequence which exposes the dark side of Internet and AI. The editing of the film by Jahaan Noble and attention to detail is brilliant.
ENTERTAINMENT
The Signature Movie Review: Anupam Kher’s Film Is A Painfully Realistic Depiction Of Caregiver Grief And Compassion Fatigue
While The Signature isn’t a flawless film, it is an important step towards making conversations around caregivers and compassion fatigue go mainstream. The film shines when it explores the ethical and moral dilemmas around Arvind’s decision and dips when it focuses too much on melodramatic Baghban-style parent-child relationship.
ENTERTAINMENT
Joker Folie à Deux movie review: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga's musical offers less harmony, more cacophony
While a considerable part of Joker (2019) played out in subways and the streets of Gotham City, Folie à Deux unfolds primarily in the courtroom. The fans (and this critic) felt robbed after sitting through a 2 hour, 33 minute courtroom drama-cum-musical which never really takes off.
ENTERTAINMENT
The Legend of Maula Jatt Review: Fawad Khan’s GoT-Coded War Epic Is Derivative, RIdden With Cliches
The Legend of Maula Jatt Review: Hold your gandaasis, everyone! The Legend of Maula Jatt is Game of Thrones set in Punjab. The lack of novelty and the derivative nature of the film plays spoilsport even though the plot and performances are impressive.
ENTERTAINMENT
Devara: Part 1 Review: Jr NTR’s action drama has majestic visuals, nail-biting action, marred by a predictable plot
In Devara: Part 1, Jr NTR pushes a heavy ship consignment off a cliff, kills dangerous sea creatures and comes back from death. He also aces the sentimental scenes and hand-to-hand combat. Kortala Siva’s film is immensely watchable, even if it is marred by a predictable plot and an unnecessary long runtime.
ENTERTAINMENT
Taaza Khabar season 2 review: Bhuvan Bam’s ‘Vardaan’ works wonders in this ambitious, slightly melodramatic season
Yet again, Bhuvan Bam impresses as Vasya. The character is heroic, yet ordinary. Despite some of its flaws, Taaza Khabar is very taaza (read: A breath of fresh air). Among the many OTT shows that can barely justify their 8 episode run, Taaza Khabar season 2 is is surely worth your time.
ENTERTAINMENT
Love, Sitara movie review: Well-intentioned film tries to portray dysfunctional family dynamics, misses the mark by a mile
Love, Sitara review: At one hour, forty five-minute film, Love, Sitara unfolds like a school skit, The acting performances of almost the entire cast (with the bare exception of Rodrigues) is subpar at best, inadequate at worst. At no point do you feel emotionally invested in characters.
ENTERTAINMENT
Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval Review: Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss But Please Be Kind To One Another
Ellen DeGeneres’s new stand-up special reeks of hypocrisy. Not only does the once-celebrated queer icon avoid accountability, but actively plays the victim trying to deflect blame on her staff, by implying that she is a ‘strong woman’---one who denied her employees bereavement leave. Now that Ellen is out of the public eye, all I can say is—good riddance!
ENTERTAINMENT
The Boy And The Heron Review: Stunning Visuals, Phenomenal World Building Elevate This Emotionally Stunted Film
‘The Boy And The Heron’ is phenomenal. But it left me feeling underwhelmed on the emotional front. As the credits rolled, I realized I was waiting for a cathartic release which never came. Miyazaki seems to have spent all his creative faculties on world building and conjuring stunning visuals. What seems missing is an emotional gut-punch that one would expect from a film that explores grief.
ENTERTAINMENT
Yudhra Review: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal Fight Tooth-And-Nail To Save This Middling Psychedelic Actioner
An ambitious attempt at creating a psychedelic mood piece, Yudhra leaves much to be desired in terms of the plot. Watch the film only for its eccentric characters and slick action.
ENTERTAINMENT
Sector 36 movie review: Vikrant Massey, Deepak Dobriyal’s crime thriller is a phenomenal exposé on abuse and privilege
Vikrant Massey is simply phenomenal as a creepy, predatory man who murders children in cold blood. His sinister laugh, deadpan look and an overall Jeffrey Dahmer-like aura will send shivers down your spine.
ENTERTAINMENT
The Buckingham Murders Review: Underwhelms As A Crime Drama, Impresses As An Exploration Of Communalism Among Immigrants
A crime procedural investigating a series of murders in Buckinghamshire, the film offers nuanced commentary on communalism, religious hatred and LGBTQ+ phobia, even if it isn't as gripping or intense as one would expect.
ENTERTAINMENT
Emily In Paris Season 4 Part 2 Review: Emily's Roman Detour Makes This Season A Tedious, Exhausting Watch
‘Italy Mahaepisode’ of Emily in Paris is here. For a show that's set in France and has ‘Paris’ in its title which would surprise the views? Take a trip to Italy, of course! Emily's Roman Detour is tiresome, tedious and frankly, exhausting.
ENTERTAINMENT
Tanaav Season 2 Review: Manav Vij, Arbaaz Khan's Kashmiri Fauda Continues To Be An Underwhelming Crime Thriller
Tanaav Season 2 Review: WhIle Tanaav season 2 is supported well by powerful acting performances by Manav Vij, Rajat Kapoor and even Shashank Arora, a lackluster plot and tried-and-tested formulas play spoilsport.
ENTERTAINMENT
The Perfect Couple Review: Nicole Kidman, Ishaan Khatter-starrer whodunit is White Lotus on steroids
The Perfect Couple Review: We all want a show every once in a while that is hilariously unhinged, a show that pulls back no punches and goes absolutely apeshit crazy with its characters and their dynamics. The Perfect Couple fits the bill perfectly.
ENTERTAINMENT
Call Me Bae Review: Ananya Panday's bougie princess act is elevated by a ‘Wake Up Sid’-esque coming-of-age story
Call Me Bae Review: A South Delhi bougie princess suddenly losing all her wealth and being forced to live a life like the rest of us plebs? Now that's a helluva premise! Clichéd, yes but promising too! Does ‘Call Me Bae’ do justice to it?
ENTERTAINMENT
Call Me Bae Review: Ananya Panday's Bougie Princess Act Is Elevated By A ‘Wake Up Sid’-Esque Coming-Of-Age Story
Call Me Bae Review: A South Delhi bougie princess suddenly losing all her wealth and being forced to live a life like the rest of us plebs? Now that's a helluva premise! Clichéd, yes but promising too! Does ‘Call Me Bae’ do justice to it?
ENTERTAINMENT
Cadets web series review: Unintentionally hilarious military drama Is dead on arrival
Cadets on JioCinema Review: What works for Cadets is its 90s-coded aesthetic. The vibe is very Hip-Hip Hurray (‘90s Zee TV show)-meets-Lakshaya. The show tries its best to accentuate the camaraderie and brotherhood between its four principle characters but it isn't convincing at all.
