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Mar 2013
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Chhichhore
...allows us to revisit that first flush of youth. The film never matches the the inspired grunge vibe of In Which Annie Gives it Those Ones (1989) or the magic of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. But it’s a satisfying journey back to woh din!
Sep 2019
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102 Not Out
Despite the flaws, the emotions connect. And if like me, you are of a certain vintage, you will get a nostalgic head-rush when you see Rishi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan in the same frame.
May 2018
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Gangs Of Wasseypur
...is by turns absorbing and frustrating. Watching it feels like gorging on too much good food, leaving you feeling more exhausted than satiated. But there is enough in the sound and fury to enjoy.
Jun 2012
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2.0
Shankar’s cinema uniquely combines scale with social message. Just in case you’ve missed the point of this film, at the end, Dr. Vaseegaran spells it out again. Like everything else in 2.0, it’s a tiring overdose.
Nov 2018
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War
...is very much a bromance which sparkles because Hrithik and Tiger are combative without being competitive. I had a good time. I think you will too.
Oct 2019
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Shaitan
Slowly but surely Shaitan loses steam, becomes repetitive and ends in a whimper. Which is a shame because Nambiar has talent to burn.
Jun 2011
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Parmanu
Sharma unashamedly plays the patriotic card. Without apology, he yanks our heartstrings and evokes a rush of pride when the bombs finally explode. Larger questions about megaton killing machines go unasked. You might question the authenticity and plausibility of what you see in Parmanu but it does deliver on drama.
May 2018
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Photograph
...doesn’t come together as beautifully as The Lunchbox did. The screenplay isn’t as sharp or insightful. In places the film is so quiet that it feels inert. I’m not going to lie – I did get impatient. And yet the next morning, I found myself thinking about Rafi and Miloni. There is a tenderness that stays with you.
Mar 2019
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Kites
...the film doesn’t become more than the sum of its parts because the second half is flat and in places, outright foolish.
May 2010
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Yeh Saali Zindagi
The film is much too long, indulgent and exhausting but if you’re willing to work with it, there is considerable fun to be had.
Feb 2011
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Dear Zindagi
...is a bumpy ride but, all things considered, it’s still one worth taking — especially for the sheer pleasure of watching Alia soar.
Nov 2016
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Nov 2017
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Love Sonia
The plot feels like it is designed to reflect newspaper headlines and everything gets resolved so easily that it seems implausible. But Sonia’s tortured face will haunt you.
Sep 2018
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Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota
...is a fanboy’s ode to the movies. Writer and director Vasan Bala goes back to his childhood and summons up the films he grew up loving – from Hong Kong martial arts movies to Manmohan Desai.
Mar 2019
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Raajneeti
...a mixed bag. The film has moments of ferocious power and just as many flaws.
Jun 2010
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Nov 2013
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Ajji
In some scenes, it feels like the director is almost reveling in your discomfort. The bleakness snuffs out the humanity of these characters. The ugliness is so unrelenting that you begin to ask, why am I subjecting myself to this.
Nov 2017
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Article 15
Article 15 of the Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth but in much of India, caste continues to constitute identity. Article 15 is that rare thing – a mainstream Hindi film that confronts this horror. For that alone, it deserves applause.
Jun 2019
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Sarbjit
...might be heavy-handed storytelling but it has its heart in the right place.
May 2016
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Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
...is engaging enough, as we say in Mumbai, time-pass. Go for it.7
Nov 2009
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The Japanese Wife
...is an acquired taste. But if you’re the type of viewer who is willing to sacrifice pacing for poignance, I recommend you go for it.
Apr 2010
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Bhoothnath Returns
...is unnecessarily bloated. It has far too much sermonising. The narrative is simplistic and naïve. And yet I recommend that you see the film — because it is also heartfelt, genuinely moving and, for the first half at least, slyly funny.
Apr 2014
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Dabangg
There are too many songs and too, too much fighting, which becomes more gory and gratuitous as the film unfolds. Dabangg feels longer than it is and way more exhausting than it should. Still I recommend that you see the film for the sheer pleasure of watching Salman Khan in top form.
Sep 2010
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May 2012
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Haraamkhor
Despite the jerks, Haraamkhor is a strong debut. Shlok Sharma has an observant eye and the ability to empathise with even the vilest among us. That should hold him in good stead.
Jan 2017
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Angrezi Medium
...even when the writing gets sloppy and tedious, the emotions feel authentic because the actors in the frame are so damn good.
Mar 2020
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Kill Dil
...doesn't have weight or enduring value. But while it lasts, Shaad makes sure you're having a good time.
Nov 2014