What lies within you, lies ahead of you
Sandeep Adnani
Author: sandeepadnani
Sandeep Adnani is the Amazon #1 Bestselling Author of ‘The Codes of the Exiled Rogue’ , ‘The Origin of the Exiled Rogue’ and ‘The Prophecy of the Exiled Rogue’ eBooks. He nurtured this metaphysical and transformational fiction idea for over six years before publishing the first part in July 2019. All three books of ‘The Exiled Rogue Series’, a trilogy about the purpose and meaning of life and beyond, are Amazon #1 Bestsellers in multiple categories.
His first book, The Codes of the Exiled Rogue was declared an Award-Winning Finalist in the Fiction: Visionary category of the 2021 International Book Awards.
His second book, The Origin of the Exiled Rogue was an Award Winner in the Science Fiction: Alien/Space category of the 2021 American Fiction Awards. It was also an Award-Winning Finalist in the Visionary Fiction category of the 2021 American Fiction Awards.
His third book, The Prophecy of the Exiled Rogue was an Award Winning Finalist in the Fiction: Visionary category of the 2021 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest.
The omnibus of the trilogy, The Exiled Rogue Series, won the Silver Medal at the Global Book Awards 2022, in the Metaphysical & Visionary Fiction category and Gold Winner at the ABLE Awards in 2024 in the Book Series category.
Embarking on new genres, he has seven new stand-alone books in the offing. In 2021, he completed writing a futuristic sci-fi-romance which he is currently querying. The unpublished manuscript was a finalist for the Writing Award in the 2022 Page Turner Awards.
He finished writing a mystery novel in 2022 and an Alternate Fiction novella in 2023. He has published three non-fiction novellas in the YOU DECIDE series. He is currently working on an illustrated children's book.
He changed careers from the advertising/media industry and is now a mental health counsellor in Melbourne, with bases in Mumbai and Dubai as well.
Iron Man 3
Robert Downey Jr. is back in his arrogant, suave, genius avatar, a little humbled this time round. The movie has a string of spectacular action scenes, which are spaced out between some slow drama, which get a little too sluggish at times. We are used to seeing one guy in a super suit, here we get a treat with multiple super suits, but see much less of Tony Stark’s dry wit than we would like. Watch out for the ‘intense’ Sir Ben Kingsley!
An action treat with brilliant special effects, it fulfils the promise of a summer blockbuster.
3/5
Scary Movie 5
Spoof, tongue in cheek, slapstick and ridiculous comedy can either see you through the whole film, or you’re wondering why the moron next to you (that would be me), is laughing. Either you like it or you don’t.
2.5/5
The Croods
We have seen cave people before, but never has their life been presented in a real comic sense. What did they think? How were their survival instincts? Were they scared of anything new? What were their social norms and behaviour towards each other? Saying all this and making it funny and visually rich, is no small feat. And that’s just what this movie does.
4/5
Nautanki Saala
Ayushman Khurana does it again, but not without some help from his able co-star Kunaal Roy Kapur. Talk about being an overly good Samaritan (which is the only thing I couldn’t digest), this film takes you on an unpredictable journey with lots of witty writing, smart laughs and intelligent direction. Some scenes are brilliant, while others drag.
The ‘nautanki’ aspect is played out well, in the real and stage lives of the characters. Old songs ‘So gaya yeh jahaan’ and ‘Dhak Dhak karney laga’ are remixed and used well. You get the ‘Bluffmaster’ feel from the film, a movie which wasn’t appreciated as much as it should have been. This too, might have the same fate.
Cut some length and this film will surely fare better.
2.5/5
Ek Thi Daayan
Daayan isn’t a word one hears in daily conversation. It usually has comical or insulting references, but is a word to describe an evil witch. Horror as a genre is yet to receive a proper treatment and viewership in Hindi movies. Bollywood usually dabbles with both horror and thriller genres, achieving a little of both but not fully developing either. This film is a good example.
The movie has set its premise in the promos itself, so you know exactly what you are going for when you walk in to the cinema. The beginning credits song has a haunting and eerie quality. If the entire film had caught that mood, it would have been a stellar flick.
Vishal Bhardwaj’s finishing touches are visible in an Ekta Kapoor film, and they take it up a notch higher than expected. The story builds a world and the characters act within it. There is a myth and the plot develops around it. Some scary moments and good character development make a good first half. It’s the songs and lack of terror which make a damp second half.
Overall this is film which is not tacky or laughable, but cannot be taken seriously either.
2/5
The perks of being a wallflower
Remember how hard it was growing up, a teenager dealing with issues, trying to fit in, make friends, deal with a crush, excel at school and so much more? Well here’s a film which has so many characters that represent many or all of the above aspects.
Many talented and well-known individuals make up the cast, but the story is the main hero. We see high school through a freshman named Charlie, who gets through the year with two friends, Patrick and Sam, who are seniors. Many issues surface as outcomes of their interaction, some from the past, and some from the present. How they deal with them is the strength of the film.
The movie is sensitive, captures the age and their problems with unapologetic reality. The moments are made dramatic not by action, but by tender, detailed expression. Brilliant acting by the cast and excellent sound, direction and screenplay by the crew.
4/5
Oblivion
Without further ado I give you something to make no ado of… what a waste of time this film was. Yeah there were many layers, yes we got the gist of what you are trying to say, show and do. But it was so pointless. After all the parameters and problems are figured out, we are faced with a highly predictable end. Tom says something to Sally. I am saying the same thing to Tom in my head.
1.5/5
Jurassic Park 3D
Two decades later, one of my favourite films comes alive on screen, in 3D. Like Titanic 3D, this film didn’t have any additional scenes and the 3D was for depth perception, adding to the existing effects of the film but didn’t feel like anything new. The film is everything it was in 1993, bringing back teenage memories and the thrill of watching dinosaurs.
The Trilogy was well received but part 4 has been in talks since the last decade. Finally, we have news that Jurassic Park 4 is being released on 13th June 2014.
Django Unchained
Now I am not a fan of gore, though this movie didn’t rely on it for effect, it used it as a by product of its style. What a brilliant story! Its long for a Hollywood film, at almost 2 hours 45 minutes, but it keeps you glued!
Slavery, some startling facts about the ‘sport’ some people indulged in at that time, shocking inhuman punishments, suave and sophisticated murders, witty comrades and a most unusual and unique dinner conversation, make this a worthy film for the ones that can brave it.
Leonardo Di Caprio, Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Samuel Jackson, Kerry Washington, surprise, shock, entertain, enthral you and the many supporting cast members shine in this merciless bounty hunter journey.
Full points for a simple title, slick direction and for bringing alive an era so forgotten and some of it for good reason… Tarantino, take a bow!
4/5
Movies&Musings 