OPERATION SAFED SAGAR SERIES REVIEW

One can heap praise on this fantastic six-episode Netflix show for numerous aspects: technical prowess in the action department; spot-on casting; an engaging screenplay; earnest performances. Yet, what stands out the most is its restraint. The restraint to eschew over-the-top jingoism; the restraint to avoid caricaturing the Pakistani establishment and Army, however problematic they were in real life; the restraint to prevent the screenplay from being hijacked by gratuitous subplots.

War dramas are a tried-and-tested genre. There’s barely any room to manoeuvre the screenplay to deliver twists and turns or play around with character arcs to satisfy creative indulgences. Most of the tropes have been employed by Hindi cinema before. The story of Kargil itself has been depicted in scores of films: LOC Kargil, Lakshya, Shershaah and Gunjan Saxena are the recent ones that come to mind. Yet, by embracing all these limitations, the show weaponises familiarity (and the restraint I lauded above) to craft a riveting narrative built around the Air Force’s contribution to, and support for, the Army in reclaiming Indian territory from Pakistan that was illegally captured to coerce India into relinquishing its hold on the much-disputed Kashmir.

The first few episodes, which serve as a build-up to the actual war, are judiciously written. The characters, their conflicts and dialogue exchanges are relatable; the sortie exercises of the pilots are compelling; the politics, war planning and power struggles playing out on the other side of the border are utterly convincing. The latter half of the show is dominated by breathtaking action scenes. There are moments when the edginess takes a back seat and the screenplay treads predictable territory, but even then, the show rarely runs out of fuel.

In a case of inspired casting, Manu Rishi Chaddha, who plays Pervez Musharraf, and Vinay Pathak, who plays Nawaz Sharif, practically steal every scene they are in. Equally inspired is the casting of Siddharth as the late Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, who needs just one scene to remind us what a good actor he is. The show is replete with seasoned actors like Jimmy Shergill and Adil Hussain, alongside a bunch of lesser-known faces like Abhay Verma (The Family Man), Mihir Ahuja, Prajakta Koli and many others. Let’s just say: no one disappoints.

Rating: 4/5

A restrained war drama that knows exactly when to roar—and when to hold its fire.

DRISHYAM 3 (ORIGINAL) REVIEW

If someone told me back in 2013 when I watched the OG Drishyam that the legacy, story and characters are going to live on sequel after sequel, I wouldn’t believe it. In fact when I recently learnt that there is going to be a part 3, I was skeptical. For me, part 2 had reached the pinnacle of suspense and it had all the elements of a grand finale. Renewing the series raised concerns that the makers were possibly burdened by the box office pressure and lure to deliver yet another blockbuster.

Now, having watched part 3 of what I think is the best franchise ever made in India, I’m convinced that there is still scope for more. Not because there are many loose ends in the latest film, but because the story has been set up in such a way right from the beginning. And because I want more, of course! Who wouldn’t want to continue to be invested in Georgekutty’s sly and almost maniacal efforts to bulletproof his family from outside threats?

The big man to thank for all of this is director Jeetu Joseph, who has nurtured Drishyam over the years like his own child. Not tainted by the tendency to needlessly experiment or re-invent the wheel, a big part of why Drishyam has been working is the by-the-book filmmaking by Jeetu Joseph. The trick is to let the film be driven by the fear and anticipation that something bad is about to happen even when everything seems perfectly normal on the outside. In that sense, by letting the film direct itself, Jeetu has displayed the restraint of a great filmmaker.

What’s also somehow holding this film together is Mohanlal’s outstanding performance, or should I say the lack of performance. His eyes have the ability to transform a blank piece of paper in the script to a gripping scene on screen.

Abhishek Pathak, the director of the second part of Drishyam in Hindi, recently said in an interview that the Hindi version of this latest installment was written independently of the Malayalam script, under the pretext of catering specially to a Hindi audience. In my opinion, that’s the dumbest thing to do. It’s like taking away a grown up child from his/her biological parents and then leaving the rest of the upbringing in the hands of the foster parents. The plot is universally engaging and requires no tailor-made tweaking.

I’m going with 4/5 for Drishyam 3. Although I think part 2 was slightly better, and the final twist is a bit of a stretch and out of character even for a guy as smart as Georgekutty, it’s all in service of delivering what Drishyam has come to be known for over the years and is in its DNA: shock value. Let’s celebrate this insanely original piece of work that has redefined the boundaries of mystery films.

THE LINCOLN LAWYER S4 REVIEW

The first word that comes to mind when I think about The Lincoln Lawyer series is ‘charming’. There is a certain sincerity in the writing, the treatment of its characters, the plot development and acting performances that stands out from other shows. There is probably a better word to describe the show, but let’s settle on charming for now. 

Co-creators Ted Humphrey and David Kelly are back with S4 of this affable Netflix series. While retaining the inherent charm, witty dialogues, kickass characters and a well-paced screenplay that builds the plot brick by brick, Haller & Associates show no signs of slowing down. 

Known for his unorthodox tricks in the courtroom and his penchant for aggregating enemies in the form of the LAPD, Armenian mafia, DA, and God knows who else, Mickey ‘fucking’ Haller (as he is lovably called) is under strict judicial scrutiny in this season. Pitted against practically the entire system in LA, the show traces his navigation from prison to freedom.

Mickey (played by the charming Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) is in handcuffs for most of the season not just because he is accused of murder, but also because Manuel’s performance is simply arresting. It’s a performance that skillfully switches from delivering snarky remarks with panache in one moment to the next where he is commanding authority as he scalpels out the lies hiding behind a witness‘s testimony. It’s really hard not to be bowled over by his charm (I apologize for the injudicious use of this word) whenever he lands a blow on the prosecutor.

It would be a crime to give away more details about the delicious plot of this season, but be rest assured that the makers have done complete justice to the legacy of the show. The magic of the previous seasons is preserved in letter and spirit! The ensemble cast remains largely untouched, with a few characters added for good measure. There is a certain fluidity in the writing that helps the show take off exactly from where it was left, not just in terms of story but also in character continuity. 

I’m going with 4/5 stars for season 4 of Lincoln Lawyer. It’s one of the most clean and entertaining shows I’ve ever watched (did I forget to mention ‘charming’?). I’m not sure how religiously the makers have stuck to the original source material (all 4 seasons are adaptations of different books in the Lincoln Lawyer world), but it would be almost rude to not thank author Michael Connelly for laying a solid foundation to build on. 

IKKIS MOVIE REVIEW

Films like Johnny Gaddar, Andhadhun, Merry Christmas among others had already cemented Sriram Raghavan’s reputation as the undisputed king of noir and suspense in the Hindi film industry. Ikkis, however, marks a departure from his comfort zone to tell a story of strength & valor demonstrated by late Indian Army Tank Commander Arun Khetarpal Singh, who was martyred in the Indo-Pak war of 1971. Without bearing an inkling of resemblance to any of his previous films, Ikkis is as much an ode to Singh’s courage as it is a testament to Raghavan’s versatility. 

Ikkis is a befitting title in more ways than one. In the story’s context, of course, it represents the age at which Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal died on the battlefield. In the context of military rituals, the phrase “ikkis topon ki salami” is a grand ceremonial 21-gun salute that symbolizes ultimate respect for a martyr. Coincidentally, Agastya Nanda (the lead actor of the film, who by the way is a spitting image of Abhishek Bachchan in some angles) was 21 years old when signed for the film. This was a bold casting choice and has paid off very well. 

Writing a period war film while consciously avoiding the trappings that accompany this genre is a tricky task. There’s not much wiggle room to refashion the story to suit certain cinematic sensibilities. The characters, too, cannot be tinkered with too much to uphold respect for the soldiers. On top of that, Indian war films are known to be excessively jingoistic and one dimensional, leaving a filmmaker creatively straitjacketed. In Ikkis, however, Raghavan and writers do a fine job of eschewing the temptation to paint in broad strokes and instead present the actors as real flesh and blood characters, including the Pakistanis. What truly stands out, though, is the way in which the action is staged. Choreographed with the help of Russian stunt directors, these scenes transport you directly to the battlefield and commandeer your full attention. 

The film, unfortunately, is not without its share of flaws. The first half is merely peppered with anecdotes from journeys of the main characters in the two criss-crossing timelines. Although sporadically engaging and competently directed, the film never feels more than a sum of its parts. But if you’re able to get through this initial phase of uneventfulness, you’ll be handsomely rewarded by what follows. It has a solid uplifting core, and the terrific cast leave no stone unturned in doing all the emotional heavy lifting.

I’m going with 3.5/5 for Ikkis. Although the aching plea for peace might strike someone as naive, a little dose of positivity has never done any harm. As the end credits rolled, I was caught juggling the dual tasks of wiping off my tears and applauding at the same time. My efforts to do so were clearly a lost cause, much unlike what the film has achieved.

DHURANDHAR MOVIE REVIEW

If a film is roughly 200 minutes long and you don’t want it to end because it is so much fun, that speaks a lot about its sensational appeal. Dhurandhar is one such film. It isn’t an easy watch for sure. It glorifies violence in an unprecedented way; there’s a generous use of gaalis throughout the film (the stuff of nightmares for the Indian censor board); the scene related to the 26/11 attack might evoke strong feelings for some. Yet, what separates Dhurandhar from films like Animal is that all of the above excesses are in service of dialing up the entertainment quotient of the film. To that extent, director Aditya Dhar has done a remarkable job. Can he be called the real ‘Dharandhar’?

Despite the competent writing and direction, Dhar’s biggest achievement lies in the marshaling of an extremely talented cast who hold back no punches in bringing this high-octane drama to life. Ranveer Singh shines through a deliberately understated performance. Akshaye Khanna seems to have had a lot of fun with the role of a lifetime. Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi and a bunch of lesser known faces all rise to the occasion and make a meal of their parts. 

The film has its share of flaws, of course. I found the first half too long. An Indian spy trying to infiltrate a Pakistani group is not novel, and this lack of originality made the 2-hour long first half feel unreasonably stretched. 

I’m still going with 4/5 for Dhurandhar. If you have the appetite for all the gore and more, give it a chance. You won’t be disappointed. It’s that rare film where the hype is justified. 

HOMELAND SERIES REVIEW

Where do I start?

It’s intimidating to even attempt reviewing what I think is one of the best shows ever made. It’s hard to articulate my admiration for Homeland. 

Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, the next season presents itself to upend that notion and serve you with the same bold writing, a myriad of colorful characters, gritty direction and utterly convincing performances if not more. Thanks to the pitch-perfect casting, not a single actor looks out of place. Some seasons, of course, are a little weaker than the others, but even when the show doesn’t appear to be at its biting best, it still remains way above the standards set by ‘regular’ shows. When we talk of great shows, I’ve heard a lot of Breaking Bad, Succession, Game of Thrones, etc. But not once did I hear Homeland being counted among the best. For a show whose filmmaking not only touched the epitome of excellence but also handsomely sustained it for 8 seasons, it’s an absolute shame. 

Each season follows a different primary storyline with multiple interconnecting threads. You cannot and should not make the mistake of skipping a season. The action keeps shifting between US, Berlin, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Israel and multiple other regions rocked by the instability perpetuated by warring extremist groups. Amidst the thicket of all the drama, espionage, double crossings and negotiations, what truly stands out is that the show never shies away from laying bare the moral dilemmas faced by the key decision makers in the government who only act under the pretext of serving one’s nation: an entity born out of our collective imagined reality.

As extolled before, the show boasts of phenomenal actors. Yet, it can’t be said enough how much the show rests on the able shoulders of the two protagonists: Carrie Mathison (played by Claire Danes) and Saul Berenson (played by Mandy Patinkin). Their majestic performances matches up to the solid storytelling and even towers above the weaker episodes to keep the proceedings consistently engaging. 

I’m going with a perfect 5/5. After consuming about 100 hours of the show, there’s a big Homeland-shaped void in my life. 

YOU (Netflix show) REVIEW

Chilling, disturbing, misogynistic and yet somehow deliciously thrilling, YOU is a must-watch for anyone in search of a frequently engaging edge of a seat drama riddled with volatile twists. 

The reason I used the phrase ‘frequently engaging’ is because it is, in fact, far from perfect. The show spanning 5 seasons, much like its characters, goes through waves of highs & lows and mood swings during which many episodes deviate from the main plot and become occasionally tiring to watch. Each episode in each season is roughly around the same time (50 min per episode and 10 episodes per season), and I wish the makers didn’t feel the need to stick to the same length for those episodes which could easily have been wrapped up in around 30 minutes.

Still, if there’s one reason why I insist you watch YOU, it is for lead actor Penn Badgley. Joe Goldberg (the main protagonist played by Penn) is one of the most complex written characters with multiple facades of fear, believability, vulnerability, creepy romance among others, and yet Penn portrays the role with a dignified comfort that’s so rare to find. Although the show boasts of countless unforgettable characters played by extremely competent actors, Penn’s omnipresence through his voiceovers and impeccable acting makes it quite hard to associate the show with anyone or anything else but him.

It’s impossible not to be mesmerized by the plot development, intelligent twists and the sheer unpredictability of the actions of the principal characters. It’s a show which you’re willing to wholeheartedly accept with all its flaws. In all the hoo ha of the double crossings, scheming partners and waterfall murders (meaning one murder leading to the other), the central and recurring theme is to question if it’s ultimately wrong to judge the actions of an adult in isolation from the hardships and neglect they face in their childhoods.

I’m going with an average of 4/5 for all the seasons combined. Although each season has its own merits and drawbacks (the details of which I chose not to discuss in this review), I felt it’s more fitting to think of it and review it as one homogenous entity.