BAREILLY KI BARFI MOVIE REVIEW

I must admit I'm a sucker for films set in the heart of small towns in North India portraying the day to day lifestyle of the orthodox middle class. They carry a distinct flavor with them and when peppered with witty dialogue it makes for a cracking combination. Tanu weds Manu returns (which I feel is the best rom-com made of late), Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Aankhon Dekhi are a few examples that might prove my point. The fact is that such films aren't as much driven by plot as they are fuelled by character dynamics and quirky humor.

Okay, so now let's talk about Bareilly Ki Barfi. Given my penchant for such films and a promising trailer I was quite eager to indulge my sweet tooth. For most part it does tick all the right boxes. The Tiwari's (director Ashwini Iyer Tiwari and writer husband Nitesh Tiwari who helmed last year's Dangal) succeed in creating real flesh and blood characters whose playful banter evoke plenty of laugh out loud moments. The first half coasts along smoothly brimming with originality and smart one liners which keep you invested in the film, not bothering about where the story is leading to. For example, how can you not be amused by the way Seema Pahwa's character welcomes every male guest in the house with two essential questions of life ; Beta saadi (read shaadi) ho gayi tumhari? and Beta sarbath (read sharbath) peeyoge?. It's also equally hard not to be delighted by Rajkumar's prep for the role of a rough and tough bully with a swag and his comical exchanges with Ayushman.

Post intermission, however, things take a turn and the story loses much of its quirkiness when cornball moments take over from sharp humor, effectively stripping the film of its charming appeal.

The biggest strength of the film, though, lies in its casting. Kriti Sanon, who frankly talks and looks more urbane than small town, still manages to win hearts on account of her honest performance. Ayushman is expectedly in good form while Rajkumar, who clearly seems to be having a ball with his film choices, gets another opportunity to showcase his versatility. The actors who stand out among others are Seema Pahwa and Pankaj Tripathi, whose abundance of talent make you wonder why we don't get to see more of them in films.

I'm going with 3/5 for Bareilly Ki Barfi. Tiwari nicely ties up the loose ends in the climax, but blame it on the rocky screenplay or what the film falls short of the comic genius it so had the potential to be. Definitely worth a bite!!

DUNKIRK MOVIE REVIEW

Having watched Dunkirk, it's hard to describe the feat Nolan has achieved with this film. All I can say is that it is a riveting piece of cinema that is best enjoyed on an Imax screen.

Dunkirk can safely be termed as Nolan's most accessible film in recent times. Frankly, this is no path-breaking war film that pushes boundaries or envelopes of any sorts. But there are two master strokes which he employs that elevate Dunkirk to a higher pedestal. One, Hans Zimmer's captivating background score is not just considered a separate entity but is intrinsically woven into the screenplay to the extent that it becomes the driving force of the film. Two, Nolan very well understands that opting for a linear screenplay in such a scenario could have potentially turned the film into a slog, which is why he adopts a narrative where all three scenes of action (land, air and water) are intercut with each other to build a sense of urgency the film relies on.

Constantly and consciously avoiding cinematic trappings like backstories for the soldiers or gory images of bloodshed and violence, Nolan makes his intentions crystal clear from the very first frame; to create an atmosphere of impending fear and danger of uncertainty looming large that hooks you to the edge of your seats almost throughout the film. I was lucky enough to watch the film in a 4D cinema hall which multiplied the already heightened sense of tension.

However, the film doesn't come without its share of flaws. For me, particularly, decoding the British accent without subtitles was one hell of a task, as a result of which half the dialogues went over my head and I couldn't grasp those aspects of the story.

Nevertheless, I'm going with 4/5 for Dunkirk. At a crisp running time of 2 hours, this is an overwhelming film you can't afford to miss. 

JAGGA JASOOS MOVIE REVIEW

Bottom line : In their second collaboration after the highly successful Barfi, Anurag Basu and Ranbir Kapoor conduct yet another experiment with quirky characters and situations, much like a Utopian musical. The end result is that Jagga Jasoos is possibly the most polarizing film in recent times which may work for some but not for many. For most part, though, it worked for me.

Review : Before I start reviewing the film, here's a sneak-peek into the world Basu has so affectionately created : Firstly, the characters mostly converse in songs (Because guess what, the lovable eponymous hero stammers while talking and hence prefers singing out loud). Secondly, logic seems to be the last thing on Basu and his writers' minds (which is accentuated in scenes like when the two leads effortlessly pilot a plane just by reading the operating manual, or where Katrina falls off great heights only to suffer minor injuries). Lastly, the story line is frankly farcical. It is important you re-align your expectations with the above facts before venturing in to this madcap journey. I had a friend sitting next to me who was constantly cringing at the buffoonery on display. That's precisely why I used the word "polarizing" to describe the film.

Having said that, I was thoroughly amused by this relatively unprecedented style of film-making, especially for Bollywood. Basu, clearly is in strong control of his craft, and he does an endearing job of giving us plenty of joyous and teary-eyed moments that's better experienced than described. There's a lot of guilty pleasure to be had in the series of misadventures the story and its characters take us through. All this quirkiness (a big shout out to Pritam for rendering some of his best tunes) works like magic in the first half but the makers can't seem to sustain this effervescent energy in the last half an hour or so of the film. It is at this juncture that randomness and repetition seep in and the muddled up screenplay populated with too many subplots further causes partial derailment of the euphoric bandwagon the film hitherto was. It doesn't pause as much as even to try making sense of all the proceedings unfolding on screen.

But the real binding force in the film is, undoubtedly, Ranbir Kapoor. I haven't come across another actor who whips up such an infectious energy each time he takes command. Here's an actor who, despite having a checkered career, doesn't shy away from confronting challenging roles and always puts his best foot forward.

I'm going with 3/5 for Jagga Jasoos. Despite its hiccups, it's an honest film that stays faithful to what it set out to achieve. More than anything else, watch it for Ranbir who's mere presence on screen makes up for many of the film's inconsistencies. 

TRAPPED MOVIE REVIEW

Trapped, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane (his third film after Udaan and Lootera) is a 102-minute long survival drama about a man trapped in his own apartment without the basic essentials for a living like food, electricity or water. It is then, unsurprising that the role could be pulled off so effectively only by an actor of Rajkumar Rao's caliber, who plays the part with such conviction that he never appears to act; he literally disappears into the character.

It is really hard to review the film without getting into the minutiae of the story, which I do not want to ruin for you. Let's just say Trapped is definitely not an easy film to sit through given the confined spaces, minimal dialogue, relaxed pacing and the distinctive non-filmy feel lingering throughout, but it still remains a bold and important film that challenges the conventional methodology of film-making. The prime reason for the film not turning into a slog is the sharp and focused direction by Motwane. Brick by brick, he builds such an authentic and palpable atmosphere that you feel you're breathing with the character. Also, in the process he draws out a winning performance from Rajkumar, whose unwavering commitment to approach even the most uncomfortable of scenes deserves a huge round of applause.

I'm going with 3.5/5. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but go in with dollops of patience and you won't regret it. In the end, much unlike its name, Trapped is a liberating experience. 

RANGOON MOVIE REVIEW

Rangoon, directed by Vishal Bharadwaj, is such an unendurable and unapologetically tedious film to sit through that it urges you to question your faith in Hindi cinema itself. Still, there is nothing more disappointing than watching a filmmaker of his caliber blatantly abandon his masterful vision and impassioned storytelling for the sake of elaborate set-pieces and the desperate but misplaced desire to deliver nothing short of an epic.

The film starts off with an impressive war set-up of the British forces invading the Japanese battalion in Rangoon. We are then informed about the Indian National Army devising a strategy to overthrow the British forces under the leadership of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. So far so good. The film, from here on, revolves around a love triangle between its leads with a loose, snail-paced narrative constantly punctured by mediocre songs, hammy acting and hopelessly misguided attempts at evoking sentiments of nationalism, especially in the final act, which by the way, turns out to be quite unintentionally hilarious.

And all of this, believe it or not, is the brain-child of one of the most influential filmmakers of our times. Barring Saat Khoon Maaf, Vishal Bharadwaj has delivered something special in every film of his. Be it the ingenious adaptations of Shakespeare (Maqbool, Omkara and Haider) or the remarkable noir-film Kaminey, VB never failed to surprise us with his unconventional take on dark, cynical themes laced with the right dosage of rationality. Also, blame it on the indifferent storytelling or not, for a director who entrusted Irrfan Khan and Tabu with roles of a lifetime, Rangoon doesn’t boast of any affecting performances either. Nor do you often associate the words predictable or dull with his films, but Rangoon is a serious test of patience. There are flashes of conviction on part of VB in the second half, but unfortunately by then, the ship has sunk deep.

I’m going with a generous 1.5/5 for Rangoon. I sincerely hope his next venture destroys all traces of this film from our memory. As it stands now, Rangoon is best described as Bharadwaj’s biggest and most arrogant piece of work.  

DANGAL MOVIE REVIEW

Bottomline : Just before you sign off on your list of favorite films this year (which, understandably, is a short one), Aamir Khan comes up with such an immensely likeable film that you're gleefully willing to overlook the occasional setbacks the film suffers on account of predictability and embrace it with all heart and full praise.

I can't recollect the last time I had this much fun at the cinema ever since Tanu Weds Manu Returns of early 2015. This inherently sincere and inspirational story employs the usual tropes of an Indian sports film, but it is filmed with such genuine affection for its characters and bolstered by such heartfelt performances (even the tiniest of characters have a moment to shine) that you can't help literally swell with pride as the lights come on which is when you realize that you've witnessed an important and a deeply satisfying film that will most likely endure the test of time.

The first fifteen minutes or so of the film feel like the extended trailer playing itself out and it takes some time to find its feet. But, from here on, when the haanikarak bapu decides to integrate training cum torture into his girls' lives, the film soars. The first half moves at a frenetic pace infused with a kind of dizzying fervor while the narrative itself is powered by an outstanding, earthy soundtrack by Pritam (who is having the time of his life after  Ae Dil Hain Mushkil and Dishoom this year) interspersed with imaginatively engaging lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya, arguably the finest lyricists of our times.

Director Nitesh Tiwari sinks his teeth into the film delivering a compelling drama that inspires and entertains in equal parts. He deserves praise for keeping Aamir's character on the backburner while silently fueling the film's vehicle even as the girls and wrestling at large, take centrestage.

Now, comparisons with Salman Khan's Sultan are inevitable. To be honest, Sultan was a silly film made only to cater to that section of the audience who wished to see Bhai shirtless for almost three-fourths of the film. But Dangal is much more than that. It addresses important issues like the imbalance in sex ratio of the hinterland where girls are brought up with the sole purpose of marrying them away. It is against this backdrop that the story of Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters plays a crucial role in shaping the thought process of that marginalized section of the society.

I'm going with 4/5 for Dangal. Few can challenge Aamir in the Dangal of Bollywood. The game, the film and 2016 have all finished in style. Take a bow, Mr. Aamir Khan!!

KAHANI 2 MOVIE REVIEW

Bottom line : Sujoy Ghosh and Vidya balan team up yet again for Kahani 2, a moody thriller that relies heavily on atmospherics and a fabulous background score to deliver thrills but, enter the second half, and the script inconsistencies accentuate itself to the point of partially derailing what was hitherto an enthralling film.

The one thing I admired most about Kahani 2 was that writer-director Sujoy Ghosh not once tries to recreate or tinker around with plot points or characters from his previous film Kahani, instead urging the audience to judge his new film for its own merits. And that is only fair because the milieu, story, actors are all entirely different and there is literally no common thread running between the two films (Except Kolkata, of course, which is more or less treated like a character in both films).

Having said that, Ghosh wastes no time in introducing his characters or spoon-feeding us with their backstories and instead delves straight into the plot, giving us a taut first-half replete with edge-of-the-seat moments thanks to the non-linear screenplay. It is a pity, then, that his story runs out of steam too soon and the film begins to fall apart like a house of cards. The story starts to feel familiar and twists can be spotted from a mile away. Also, unlike Kahani, which had a solid gut-punching revelation in the climax, Kahani 2 feels unsatisfying and underwhelming. The only positive takeaway from here on is that the makers keep the proceedings moving at a breakneck pace, which leaves you with precious little time to carp at the film's faults.

Of the performances, Jugal Hansraj is surprisingly effective and menacing while Arjun Rampal, although saddled with a weakly written role, does a good job as the officer who makes it his business to unravel the truth. The film, in the end, belongs to Vidya Balan. Completely submitting herself to the role of Durga Rani Singh, Vidya Balan shines in every frame and it's hard to find fault with her unwavering and committed performance.

I'm going with 3/5 for Kahani 2. It doesn't quite live up to the standards set by Kahani, but definitely deserves a watch for the gifted Vidya Balan, who gives us yet another reason to believe she's possibly the finest actress in the industry.