The base plot of the new Malayalam film Dear Vaappi is a generic mix of entrepreneurial struggles and a father-daughter relationship. But the R&D of the script is just terrible. With those bumper sticker dialogues drenched in utopian positivity, this cliched motivation drama feels like two-hour-long harassment. Amira and her father, Basheer, are the central… Continue reading Dear Vaappi Review | An Entrepreneurial Drama That Induces Cringe Instead of Inspiration
Tag: Lal
Vichitram Review | A Flawed Yet Appreciable Haunted House Thriller
Vichitram, directed by Achu Vijayan, is definitely following a template that is familiar to us. But it isn’t a movie that is devoid of craft. In every horror movie with a ghost, there will be a part that will show a detailed flashback about what happened. Even though there is a lack of clarity in… Continue reading Vichitram Review | A Flawed Yet Appreciable Haunted House Thriller
Mahaveeryar Review | An Imperfect Yet Impressive Fantasy
Abrid Shine has always chosen themes that were unique for his movies. His new movie, Mahaveeryar, starring Nivin Pauly and Asif Ali, is a wacky fantasy that gets a satirical treatment with political layers. While it does hold your interest with its fantasy element and political statements, there is a sense of vagueness in some… Continue reading Mahaveeryar Review | An Imperfect Yet Impressive Fantasy
Panthrand
Panthrand, the new movie from Leo Thaddeus, is this biblical adaptation set in the backdrop of Kerala. It takes a while for the divine drama to let the viewer know its plan. But the structuring of the drama is so dull that even when they reveal the surreal side of the story, the narrative’s emotional… Continue reading Panthrand
Jan-e-Man
What I found fascinating about debutant Chidambaram’s movie Jan-e-Man is that the margin for error is extremely thin for this film. The plot of the movie has two extremes that have a stark contrast. But the way it culminates made me admire the writing of this film. Chidambaram takes this plot that feels like a… Continue reading Jan-e-Man
Karnan
With his first film Pariyerum Perumal, Mari Selvaraj had made it very clear that he will be approaching his movies with brutal honesty. His new movie Karnan, starring Dhanush in the title role, is an exhilarating drama with so many layers. The caste-based oppression is the theme that drives the story forward. But Mari Selvaraj… Continue reading Karnan
Sulthan
It seems like Tamil Cinema’s newfound obsession with saving farmers won’t have an end for some time. There was a time when this “Vyavasayam” theme felt like a political stand of the artists involved in those films. But now, they are creating template movies with the distressed farmer becoming a mere backdrop. The new Karthi… Continue reading Sulthan
Kala
Once in a while, you come across films that don’t want to fit into any mold. That doesn’t want to please a targeted audience. That doesn’t want to convey a message or even have a typical story structure. Kala was one such unique experience. If you have seen Steven Spielberg’s first film, Duel, you would… Continue reading Kala