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 The unpublished manuscript was a finalist for the Writing Award in the 2022 Page Turner Awards.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.

Rise of the Guardians

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

A very different take on Jack Frost and the other heroes for children, this film has practically revived the idea of ‘belief’ in a vivid visual sense. Santa Claus, the Tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny have excellent characters, but its Jack Frost and his role as the guardian against the Boogie Man, which brings out the finer details of the story. It’s difficult to keep imparting the same values through new stories, but here it is done with gusto and finesse. Excellent animation and even more effective story telling, make this film a feel good family watch, perfectly timed to release during the festive season!

4/5

Paranorman

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

A ‘sixth sense’ for the animated world, this film walks the tight rope between the two films mentioned above (dark and feel good). Norman is blessed (or cursed) with an ability to see dead beings and animals. Wait, not only see, but have full blown conversations (and interactions) with them!

He is then faced with the town curse, a witch and her 7 culprits, who sentenced her to death hundreds of years ago. How will Norman help, is the question? Aptly answered with some funny animation, gory in a spoof kind of way, dealing with a very complex issue, but hey, kids nowadays are bombarded with so much info, why not this?

The end result, is a decent flick. I wouldn’t call it a must watch, but a can watch.

2.5/5

Table No. 21

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

This flick is a well crafted, well directed film, but the story is not without its share of flaws. After a while we get to see a film based on a game, especially where the stakes are high. Thanks to all the games we see on Indian and International Television, in their various forms, at times the film appears as a theatre telecast of a TV show!

A happy couple win a trip and land up in Fiji for a holiday, where an eccentric man offers to give them a whopping prize amount for a seemingly simple game, with a not so clear-cut fundamental rule, ‘You Lie, You Die!’. What starts off as straightforward, quickly becomes complex, challenging and gripping, both for the audience, as well as the characters on screen. Regular flashbacks add to the mystery and everything ties together effectively in the end.

The message the film carries is quite important and via many of the scenes and situations, leaves a big impact on the viewers. The production values of the film are decent, it is the many questions unanswered that make you wonder, why, how, where, when? But those do not impact the film in a negative way, though if all was in place, this would be one of the best films in 2013.

The film is doing well thanks to word of mouth, the reviews are good and the film deserves its ‘A’ status for it is disturbing and eye-opening in many ways!

Play the game… this one’s a winner!

3.5/5

The Impossible

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

Reading about a natural disaster and watching it on the news is totally different from watching a film about it, which brings it to life, changing your role from ‘the spectator’ to ‘the victim’. This switch in your state of mind and the way the movie is shot makes it traumatic to watch where you hope that you too, survive the ordeal that the characters are going through on screen. The fact that it’s based on a true story during a calamity which singlehandedly changed warning systems and catapulted Tsunamis into the top 3 most dangerous catastrophes, doesn’t make it any easier on the eyes.

What would you do in such a scenario? No one and nothing can prepare you for something like this, even though you do pick up some tips after watching this film. For all you can rely upon, in a time so brutal, is humanity. Everything else, as you will see in the film, is a series of events which you probably won’t even remember. This film tries very hard to replicate what happened that fateful day in 2004, and its biggest strength is that it captures details and nuances which you imagine would be experienced in such an event. Your senses would be heightened, your survival instincts would be at their best, the dangers that can hurt you are countless and your only hope is your will to make it through.

The events are told through the eyes of a family of five, (based on the real life story) that experience many of the horrors one can and would, during and after such a calamity. What actually happened to thousands of people is vividly presented and the value of one human life matters so much when it is your own family or friend. You will be in awe at the strength of nature, when its balance is disrupted and it crosses all barriers.

Watch the film to marvel at the flawless direction, how they shot and captured many scenes, applaud the acting by every cast member, especially Naomi Watts and above all be grateful for the family you have.

4/5

The Hobbit

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment
Carrying the weight of a world famous, award winning, extremely successful trilogy of films like Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson brings us The Hobbit. Based on a book (which isn’t particularly long at 310 pages considering this film is the first of a trilogy as well), it is the prequel to LOTR.

There is effective story telling and character building from the start, the audience is of course thr…illed to see Gandalf and other characters, don’t forget serious fans have been waiting to see their favourites since 2003.

What follows are a series of sticky situations, it is an unexpected journey after all 😉 Spectacular special effects, very detailed and well crafted, it is superior film making all the way.

What works against the film is its length, and also watching it in 3D with so many effects becomes too much for the eyes to handle, so when you rest them, you miss the proceedings. It finishes very aptly, preparing audiences for what to expect in the 2nd film.

For fans, its a must see. For people like me, it was a good watch.

3/5