Movie Reviews |

Ishaqzaade | Movie Review

Ishaqzaade

Ishaqzaade is an example of how a film without a proper script can get ruined. Its got some amazing chemistry between the lead pair, but like many other films these days, doesn’t have the script power to give them the boost.

Director Habib Faisal (writer and director – Do Dooni Chaar, screenplay and dialogue – Band Baaja Baaraat) had a promising story line at hand, but unfortunately, he doesn’t convert it into a promising script. Ishaqzaade, though predictable, starts of really well. Kids of the rival Hindu and Muslim families, fighting initially but slowly falling in love. This half of the story (the first half) is very good, pacy, and has some amazing moments. The chemistry between Arjun and Parineeti is perfect, and you have an ideal interval bang. And then starts the trouble cos the latter half goes haywire, and Faisal loses it all. So you have a pretty much boring second half which ends with one of the most ridiculous and clichéd climax ever. Nevertheless, the film is entertaining and every character, though mostly clichéd again, is very well sketched. The dialogues are very well written, and the screenplay is pretty neat. Only if he had come up with a better script, he would have had a definite winner at hand.

On the acting front, Parineeti steals the show. She has a very meaty role and she takes full advantage of it. She is a total firebrand and looks absolutely b-e-a-utiful (I have a new favorite actress). She breathes life even into a dying script. Arjun Kapoor makes a very good debut. He looks very raw, but to his advantage, the character needed that rawness. He still has a long way to go though. The rest of the relatively new cast is pretty good.

On the technical front, music by Amit Trivedi is very good. I am love with the title track and ‘Pareshan’. The background score could have had a little more punch to it. Cinematography by Hemant Chaturvedi is fantastic. Editing by Aarti Bajaj is good. The film barely crosses the two-hour mark. Production values by Yash Raj are, as usual, good.

Overall, an entertaining film. Plus points are good performances and Parineeti. A dull second half and the cliched climax form the other extreme. It’s not a movie you need to run to the theater for, unless you wanna watch the gorgeous/pretty/beautiful Parineeti scorch the screen.

Acting: 8.5/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 5/10
Technical Aspects: 8/10
Is it worth your time and money??: Hmm… That’s a tough one. I guess yes, for its got some awesome performances by Parineeti, and even Arjun. Give it a shot at your leisure.

Verdict: 7/10

Gabbar Singh | Movie Review

Gabbar Singh

After more than a decade, Pawan Kalyan is back!! After delivering one dud after another post Khushi, this is one film you can watch only for PK. I watched it in a single screen, and the effect was mind-blowing. This movie is a treat for PK fans!!

Director Harish Shankar is a guy with talent. I remember watching Shock on the first day. Though it’s on my list of the worst films I’ve watched, his approach to the film was commendable. And now, for his third film, he does what no other director in the recent past could do – he extracts the best out of Pawan Kalyan. Though the film is a remake, firstly, he made sure to change it to suit the Telugu nativity and the hype surrounding PK. He made sure to highlight PK in every single frame of the film, and his characterization is perfect. He also inserted some amazing entertaining moments into the script. The Antakshari episode and Bramhanadam cut out episodes are few the best moments of the film. On the down side, concentrating only on PK made the film lose its pace mid way through. Few minutes before the interval, the interval bang, and the climax are a bore. The screenplay (Ramesh Reddy, Vegesna Satish and Harish Shankar) is a tad bit slow, and ineffective at times. But otherwise, the direction is pretty neat.

There is nothing much to say about PK, but that he is awesome. His antics are pretty good, and he gets into the skin of the character. Enough said. Shruthi Haasan is horrendous as his lady-love though. She is so bloody thin, that it looked as if a piece of cloth was wrapped around a stick. And she can’t act for nuts. Abhimanyu Singh was alright as the antagonist, but no where close to Sonu Sood in the Hindi version. Ali and Bramhanandam are good, but you expect much more from them. Suhasini, Kota, Nagineedu, Ajay are all alright.

On the technical front, music by Devi Sri Prasad is pretty average. Except for a couple of songs, there is nothing new the album has to offer. I thought the background score could have been much better. The dialogues, written by Harish Shankar, are very very good. Cinematography by Jayanan Vincent is decent, nothing great. Editing by Gowtam Raju is way better than his last venture Racha, but still could have been crisp. The film seemed too long, and few scenes could have made the cut. Production values by Parameswara Art Productions are very good.

Overall, a decent film. If Salman Khan made Dabangg the third highest–grossing Bollywood film of all time, thanks to PK, Gabbar Singh has the potential to be the highest-grossing Tollywood film. Its boring at times, and makes you yawn. Nevertheless, its few amazing moments and what fans term as Pawanism make this film work.

Acting: 7.5/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 7/10
Technical Aspects: 7/10
Is it worth your time and money??: After a couple of disasters, a decent Telugu film. Give it a shot!! It’s way better than any of the other crap playing in town!! 🙂

Verdict: 8/10

Hugo | Movie Review

When was the last time you watched a film which made a difference to your life? When was the last time a movie made you question your purpose in this world?? Well, Hugo makes you do all that. It is one of the best films I’ve watched in my life. I loved it more than the Oscar-winning The Artist.

Though I’ve watched only a handful of his films yet, I love Martin Scorsese for his type of film making. He, without doubt, is one of the finest film makers in Hollywood. But Hugo is not a typical Scorsese film, for it aint got a dark side to it, there are no screenplay gimmicks, and no freeze frames. This one is an honest film with heart. It’s an adventure with which almost everyone can connect, where Scorsese tells the story of a twelve-year-old Hugo Cabret in the most affectionate way. Based on Brian Selznick’s novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the film is shot splendidly. Though the pace tends to get slow at times, it has these beautiful moments which make it an amazing film. Be it the budding romance between the Station Inspector Gustave and Lisette, or the one between Monsieur Frick and Madame Emile, or the moments created when Rene Tabard tells Mama Jeanne how beautiful she is, all are brilliantly shot. The direction is superb, and so is the screenplay by John Logan. Scorsese ends this masterpiece as an homage to cinema and the pioneers of film. He deserves a tribute himself, period.

Every character in the movie is finely crafted. Asa Butterfield wins your heart with his awesome performance as Hugo Cabret. His portrayal as the kid who is curious to fix broken things while longing to solve the mystery associated with the automaton is absolutely brilliant. Ben Kingsley’s performance as the pioneering French filmmaker Georges Melies is beautiful. He portrays the emotions to perfection. Chloë Grace Moretz is lively as Isabelle. The chemistry between her and Hugo is entrancing. Every other actor is perfect in their respective roles. It is, I believe, one of the best ensemble cast in a film in recent times.

On the technical front, Hugo is a magnum opus (5 Oscars prove it: Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing). Music by Howard Shore might not be that great, but the sound mixing was awesome. Cinematography by Robert Richardson was without doubt the finest work I’ve seen so far. The breathtaking opening shot of Paris, zooming into the railway station, moving in between the passengers on the platform and finally swooping up into the clock chambers setting onto Hugo is by far the best shot I’ve seen in any form of world cinema. Magnificent!! Editing by Thelma Schoonmaker is the only privative (I am inspired by Isabelle) of the entire film. A little over two hours, the film seemed long, and had some, I wouldn’t call them dull, but slow moments which could have easily made the cut. Art Direction by Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo is splendid. The 3D effects are fluid and flawless.

Overall, Hugo is an epic masterpiece expertly crafted by one of the finest directors of our time. It might be a little too long, but the heart wrenching tale of the twelve-year-old hooks you to your seat and makes you a part his adventure. It’s a film with a message, one which tells you that you have a purpose in this world, one which tells you never to stop chasing your dreams. I am inspired, and hope you will be too. Go watch it!!

Acting: 9.5/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 9/10
Technical Aspects: 9/10
Is it worth your time and money??: Absolutely!! It’s a must watch for every film buff!!

Verdict: 9/10

Vicky Donor | Movie Review

So finally, after 2 weeks, here I was watching Vicky Donor. Having heard so many good things about the film, I was quite apprehensive on whether I would actually like it for I was going in with huge expectations. 10 minutes through, and it looked like I was in for a disaster. But then, it got better and better, and there was no looking back. It’s an awesome movie.

Director Shoojit Sircar brings onto screen a beautiful, lighthearted rom-com, set against the backdrop of sperm donation. In a country where the concept of sperm donation is still considered a taboo, and in a film industry where there are more double meaning dialogues than simple ones, he comes up with this brilliant masterpiece, throwing light on the tabooed subject without stooping low. He handled the subject in a very sensitive way, while making sure to insert some subtle comedy into the film. The direction is very good and he was able to generate best performances from the relatively new cast. Though it tends to get cheesy at times, Sircar comes up with some beautiful moments – mother and grand mother episodes, the wedding episode – brilliantly picturized. The dialogues by Juhi Chaturvedi are very well written, and help set the mood for the film. They have this typical Delhi flavor to them. The screenplay, also by Juhi, was very good.

I’ve never liked Ayushmann so much, until now that is. He couldn’t have asked for a better debut. He is fun to watch on-screen and it never seemed like was trying too hard either. His Punjabi accent and comic timing are his best assets. Yami Gautam is perfect as his love interest. She so got into the role, that I actually thought she was a Bong. She’s got a beautiful smile. Kamlesh Gill and Dolly Ahluwalia are the best saas-bahu pair I’ve seen in a long time. Their chemistry is extraordinary, especially in the drinking episode. Jayanti Das is very good as Ashima’s father. The scene where he talks about sex with Ashima is hilarious. The hands-down winner in the acting department though is Annu Kapoor. Be it his comic timing, or sensibility in serious episodes, he is an absolute delight to watch. There is no Vicky Donor without Dr. Chaddha, period!!

On the technical front, the movie is flawless. Music and background score is decent, and never too loud. Cinematography by Kamaljeet Negi is simple, yet perfect. Editing by Shekhar Prajapati is crispy. It’s a perfect debut for John Abraham as a producer. I only wish he didn’t flaunt himself in the end title credits.

Overall, a lovely movie with some impeccable direction and acting. The fact that a tabooed subject with sex as its background is able to run packed houses without being derogative in any sense shows how good this film actually is. It’s one film you might enjoy with your family as well. The second best film of the year for me (after Kahaani).

Acting: 9/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 8.5/10
Technical Aspects: 9/10
Is it worth your time and money??: Yes, don’t miss it!

Verdict: 9/10

The Avengers | Movie Review

Whoa.. what a movie!! The Avengers is two hours of non stop fun and action. After Mission Impossible, this is one film I’d love to watch over and over again. I’m Hulk smashed!!

It is quite a task to bring four super heroes into one film, and the expectations are pretty high. But director Joss Whedon does full justice by creating a spectacular action film. The script, co-written by Zak Penn, is pacy in itself, and Joss made sure that the story remains close to its roots. I thought there were a few instances which couldn’t be connected well with the previous films, but otherwise the direction was perfect. The way he inserted witty humor (Hulk smashing Loki was hilarious!!), and canned action episodes is commendable. The screenplay is very good. The last 30 minutes of the film was simply superb.

On the acting front, Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) takes the lead with his ever-charming arrogant flair. He mouths some of the best lines in the film as expected. Chris Evans (Captain America) is perfect. I would have expected him to act a little more surprised with the happenings around him after waking from 70 years sleep though. Mark Ruffalo was good, but I liked Edward Norton (Incredible Hulk) better. His character is the best sketched one in the movie, and this might be the best Hulk movie ever. Him smashing Loki was one of the best scenes in the movie (almost every one in the theater was clapping and hooting for it). Chris Hemsworth (Thor) was excellent, but I thought he had minimum footage. I would have loved to see more of him. Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) looked hot, but I thought her character was not very well explained. Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) is great. The best act of the movie for me though was by Tom Hiddleston (Loki). His expressions and mannerisms were excellent. His character could have been more fearsome though. Samuel Jackson (Nick Fury) was alright.

On the technical front, music by Alan Silvestri is very good. Cinematography by Seamus McGarvey is of top-notch quality. The action episodes were excellently picturized. Editing by Jeffrey Ford and Lisa Lassek is crisp and perfect. You are left wanting more towards the end of the movie.The graphic work is excellent and the 3D effects deserve a special mention.

Overall, an entertaining film. Some great acting, good direction and amazing effects make this a must watch for every action film fan. Whether you’ve watched the rest of the series or not, you’ll surely enjoy this one. Go get Hulk smashed!!

Acting: 9/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 9/10
Technical Aspects: 9/10
Is it worth your time and money??: Yes, totally worth it!!

Verdict: 9/10

Dammu | Movie Review

Dammu dummu kottuku poyindi!!

After Racha, looks like we have another winner at hand!! It’s like NTR declaring ‘When RCT can make such a dumb ass flick, why can’t I??’. God, save me from this madness!!

I sometimes wonder if these guys watch their films before releasing them. I can understand if Balakrishna or Mohan Babu do such pathetic films, but young actors like RCT or NTR working on such unreasonable scripts is not justified. Wonder when these guys will learn!!

Boyapati Srinu is one of the most enthusiastic directors I’ve seen in recent times. He is so enthusiastic, that he forgets all sensibilities. Story by M. Ratnam is about age-old family feuds, and Boyapati adds so much drama to it that we start to yawn or even maybe crack a joke when some one’s dying on-screen. The story calls for lot of sentiment, but Srinu was never able to generate any strong emotions. The relation between mother, sisters and the son seemed so artificial. And the acting is sometimes so loud. The screenplay is not so great as well. The first half is bearable, and even the second half is tolerable until the last 30 minutes or so. And then, he ruins it. With long sentimental dialogues added to some pathetic direction, the movie starts to get onto your nerves. One third of the theater got empty on the first day for this last few minutes, imagine that!!

On the acting front, almost everyone is wasted. Bramhanadam, Ali, Bhanu Priya, Suman, Abhinaya, Kota, etc., all looked out-of-place. Except for Nassar and Venu, no one else had significant screen presence. Trisha and Karthika had no footage, and were only there for the songs. Karthika’s character was so bloody irritating to add to the drama/trauma.

NTR happens to be the only saving grace of the sinking boat. He comes up with a dynamic performance and this can be rated as one of his best (Thank god that unlike someone, he can act!!). His coming timing, and mannerisms are really good. On the downside, he has put on tons of weight, which I think effected his dancing capabilities. He looked like his dad, Harikrishna, in a couple of scenes, which was actually scary (We don’t need another HK, please!!). With such acting talent, I only wish he picked better scripts.

On technical front, the movie fares average. Music by Keeravani is alright, but the background music was a mixed bag. Cinematography by Arthur Wilson is pretty good. The action sequences were well captured. Art by Anand Sai was sad. We’ve been seeing the same sets for almost every film now. Editing by Kotagiri Venketeswara Rao is decent enough for the pathetic script. I wish he could edit the last 30 minutes to 3 minutes though. The graphic work is commendable.

Overall, go watch this flick only if you happen to be a family or NTR fan. There is big possibility that you might get disappointed too, but hey, if you don’t watch it, who else will?? 😀

Acting: 6/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 2/10
Technical Aspects: 6/10
Is it worth your time and money??: No, unless you happen to be this huge NTR fan.

Verdict: 4.5/10

Titanic (3D) | Movie Review

Now how does one rate a classic like Titanic?? I was 11 years old when the movie first released and I still remember the first time I went to watch it. I barely had any knowledge about movies back then, but the sheer grandeur and brilliance of this movie made me watch it a billion times over and over!! (Twice in the last five days in 3D!!)

After working on action classics like The Terminator, Rambo, Aliens and True Lies, James Cameron comes up with one of the best romantic, epic movies of all times. The way he adds fiction to the true story is absolutely brilliant. The script is too long, dialogues a little cheesy, screenplay a tad slow, but the whole package together is so beautiful that you end up falling in love with the movie. Bottom line, I’m no one to talk about this man.

Twenty-two year old Kate Winslet looks gorgeous as Rose DeWitt Bukate, and plays her role to perfection. Her performance in the climax is so bloody haunting that I have goosebumps even now thinking about it. Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal as Jack Dawson is one of his best works to date. The chemistry between them is probably the finest you will ever see on-screen. The rest of the cast, Billy Zane, Bill Paxton, Kathy Bates, Victor Garber, and every other actor, is excellent. It’s a shame that it didn’t win any Oscars for acting!

Cinematography by Russell Carpenter is absolutely splendid. The way he captured the romantic moments between Rose and Jack in the first half, and the disastrous sinking in the latter half is terrific. It is one of the best work on cinematography I’ve seen to date. Editing by James Cameron, Conrad Buff IV and Richard A. Harris is perfect. Music by James Horner is absolutely brilliant. Be it the foot tapping Irish music for the real party under-decks, the musicians playing till the last-minute before the sink, or the ever loved “My Heart Will Go On”, master-pieces!!

James Cameron spent over a year with 300 people to digitally remaster the 1997 version into 3D. And the effort pays off, for it was fantastic to watch this masterpiece on big screen again. The 3D effect wasn’t so great, but seriously, who cares?? It’s TITANIC!! 3D or not, go re-live this magnum opus all over again!

Verdict: NA

Racha | Movie Review

Racha Whoa, what a movie!! Splendid is not the word. Racha is one of the best movies I’ve seen so far this year. In one sentence, Racha picha racha ga undi!!

Director Sampath Nandi had a very good script at hand, and he was able to get all aspects of film making right. Tamanna looked gorgeous and she performed to her best. Brahmanandam was simply superb with his comedy, and the rest of the cast, including Geeta, who played Tamanna’s mom, were superb. But the undoubted star of the movie was Ram Charan. He was simply extraordinary. His dances and fights were excellent. He looked like Chiranjeevi in most shots and his dialogue delivery was brilliant.

Excellent music, awesome fights, superb cinematography and best editing, Ram Charan definitely has a winner at hand. It’s a splendid movie. Don’t miss it!!

Verdict: NA

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People who are happy with the review, please do not read any further. It’s a humble request!!

The rest, read on…

I have to admit this, what a film! If I had no brains, this definitely would have been a classic. Thank god for I am still sane and haven’t lost it yet!

Firstly, I’d like to know if the director Sampath Nandi is an educated man. If so, is he from this generation, or is he re-living in his after life?? Cos in my opinion, no sensible man would try to make such kind of dumb-ass pathetic movie. The story made no absolute sense, and the screenplay was horrendous. The best part for me was when, out of the blue, our villain arranges for traps and Ninja warriors in a jungle in AP, minutes after discovering where our hero is. I mean how did he even do that?? Wow!!

Ram Charan, where do I even start?? Ok, his dances are pretty good, but someone needs to tell this moron (spare my words), that his dances alone are not going to make him a mega power star or what ever he’s called. Trust me, if he weren’t Chiranjeevi’s son (who happens to be one of my favorite “actors”), this guy wouldn’t even get to be hero’s sidekick. Maghadeera was a hit because of Rajamouli, not this jackass.

The whole cast was absolutely wasted. Senior artists like Bramhanadam, Ali, Kota, Geeta, Mukesh Rushi, Nassar all looked like idiots. Cinematography by Sameer Reddy was alright (thank god for that), but editing by Gowtham Raju was pathetic. It’s the worst editing I’ve seen so far, for the scene changed on most occasions even without the artiste completing his or her dialogue. Dialogues bu Paruchri Brothers are a disaster. And music?? It was a relief, trust me, to have songs barging in into the script without any reason. Except for “Vaana Vaana” song, the rest were alright (Even third grade remixes are better than the one used in the movie).

Overall, a disaster. If this film is declared a hit (which I believe it is), I can’t imagine what will happen to the Telugu industry in the future.

Verdict: 4.5/10

I give this film a 4.5, for it made me laugh my lungs out on most occasions. The sheer stupidity was a pleasure to watch!!

There will not be any further detailed review about this movie. I’ve already wasted enough time on this!!

PS: The god’s did show mercy on me for I dared to watch this film. They not only got me a free ticket, but a cola, refreshments and additional 100 rupees!!

Agent Vinod | Movie Review

Agent Vinod is one of the weirdest films I’ve seen in recent times. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad film in entirety, but the taking, screenplay and cinematography were so bloody confusing that I began to wonder if The Matrix was simpler to understand.

Director Sriram Raghavan seemed to have been inspired from Casino Royale so much for he decided to make this film on pretty much like it. The plot is no where close, but to me, it seemed like a lot of shots were rip off’s from the James Bond film. Saif Ali Khan tried really hard and put a lot of time and effort to become the Indian Bond. He even put his decision on marrying Kareena on hold until the film was out. Alas, though he comes up with a pretty good performance, the boring, boring script fails him. Except for him, the millions of actors playing different characters in the film do nothing but confuse you. Of them, Kareena looked the most out of sorts.

The fast paced action in the film is so bloody fast that you can neither make head nor tail out of what’s happening on-screen. The cinematography, thought brilliant in few episodes, could have been way better. The screenplay, especially in the first half, is so confusing, that I couldn’t differentiate between the good and the bad guys.

Agent Vinod is a film you can watch once. Give it a shot if you have nothing else to do this weekend!!

Verdict: 6.5/10

For a detailed review, read on…

Plot
Vinod (Saif Ali Khan) is an Indian RAW agent trying to get hold of an ISI Colonel who is in turn trying to get hold of a suitcase bomb which could kill millions of people. In the process, he bumps into an undercover Pakistani ISI Agent Iram Parveen Bilal (Kareena Kapoor) who is also trying to get hold of the suitcase. Together, they travel from Moscow to Morocco, Latvia, Somalia, Karachi, and finally to India, only figure out that there is more to the conspiracy than what meets the eye.

Actors Performance
Saif Ali Khan looks suave and fits the bill perfectly. He carries the film on his shoulder with ease. Some of the dialogues mouthed by him are really good. But his characterization, though best of the lot, could have been much better. Kareena Kapoor, as already mentioned, looked pale and dead. He character required her to be sad for most part, but I thought she over did it. She looks gorgeous in “Dil Mera” song though. Ram Kapoor and Zakhir Hussain shine in their respective roles. Ravi Kishan and Prem Chopra are alright.

Story-Screenplay-Direction
Sriram Raghavan is a director with potential. With Agent Vinod, he tried to take his films a notch further with this film, but unfortunately for him, his efforts fall flat. The script is more or less a stitch of the Bourne, MI and Bond series; the problems with the stitch being the gaping loopholes and weak characterizations. The first half pretty much makes no sense, thanks to the mediocre screenplay. The second half helps us connect the dots, but not without rattling our brains. His brilliance though is showcased in the canning of “Raabta” song. The single shot sequence is one of the high points of the film. That apart, the direction is decent.

Other Departments
Music by Pritam is alright. He did a very good job ripping of some International tracks. “Raabta” is my favorite from the movie. Background score by Daniel George is pacy and good. Editing by Pooja Surti could have been crisp. Cinematography by Muraleedharan seemed very experimental. The upside down shot in the first few minutes, and the one shot picturization for “Rabta” song were brilliantly done. Action sequences by Perter Heins were, as usual, totally overboard, and made no sense to the naked eye. A lot of money was spent on the production (shot in 12 countries), and the effort is visible on-screen.

Kahaani | Movie Review

Vidya oh Vidya!! Wait, did I start my The Dirty Picture review with the same line?? Actually, who cares, for Vidya Balan has stumped me again!! This girl is absolutely brilliant, and is most probably gonna win all awards even in 2013!

Kahaani is a thought-provoking suspense thriller. It’s not perfect by any means, but the sheer presence of Vidya Balan, and some beautiful performances by the rest of the cast makes you forget all its flaws. Vidya is, am running out of adjectives here, stunning, and Parambrata Chatterjee is brilliant. After delivering a couple of duds, director Sujoy Ghosh comes up with a winner with the help of his co-writers Ritesh Shah, Sutapa Sikdar and Advaita Kala. As mentioned in the film, a pregnant woman searching for her lost husband against all odds makes you feel for her, and you can’t help but take part in her quest. Sujoy was able to maintain the tempo perfectly, creating beautiful moments, not once giving away the suspense to make you a part of that quest. Exciting screenplay, excellent cinematography in the bustling by-lanes of Kolkata, and a decent background score keep you, maybe not at the edge of you seat, but close enough.

Kahaani was not so well promoted, and doesn’t have good openings to boast off. It’s got no dancing numbers nor any sleazy skin shows. But it’s got Vidya, and Vidya brings all the entertainment we need. After The Wednesday, this is one of the best Bollywood thrillers I’ve come across. Don’t miss it!!

Verdict: 8/10 + 1 for Vidya

And for the first time so far, amma loved a movie more than me.
Amma’s Verdict: 9.5/10

For a detailed review, read on…

Plot
The film kicks off with a deadly gas attack in a metro rail in Kolkata. Two yeas post the attack, Vidya Bagchi (Vidya Balan), seven months pregnant, arrives in the city from London in search of her husband, Arnab Bagchi, who had come on a project at the National Data Center a couple of weeks ago, and has been missing ever since. Satyoki/Rana (Parambrata Chatterjee), Asst. Sub Inspector of the Kalighat Police Station offers to help her in the search. The rest of the story is about the mysterious turns and events which finally help her find her lost love.

Actors Performance
Enough said about Vidya Balan, so I am not going to talk about her any further. As already mentioned, rest of the cast, though relatively new, was absolutely perfect and helped sustain the suspense. Parambrata Chatterjee looked really handsome and came up with an amazingly good performance. Nawazuddin Siddiqui was perfect as the rude IB officer.

Story-Screenplay-Direction
It looks like Sujoy Ghosh and Advaita Kala had an interesting intensive story to tell, but lost some steam when it came to script writing (Ritesh Shah, Sutapa Sikdar and Sujoy Ghosh). There are a number of loopholes in the script. Nevertheless, director Sujoy Ghosh was able to pull it off without ridicule in the end. He was able to extract terrific performances while keeping the audience thrilled. The interval episode was canned really well, leaving you asking for more and the twist in the climax was totally unexpected. The screenplay (Sujoy Ghosh, Suresh Nair and Nikhil Vyas), though a little hazy in the beginning, was really good. Leaving apart a couple of blunders, it is all connected very well in the climax.

Other Departments
Music by Vishal and Shekhar (couple of songs were used in the movie) is pretty good. “Ekla Cholo Re” sung by Amitabh Bachchan is haunting. Background score is also good. Cinematography by Setu is awesome. He was able to capture the colors of Kolkata. Editing by Namrata Rao is neat. Production values by Viacom 18 are good.