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 The unpublished manuscript was a finalist for the Writing Award in the 2022 Page Turner Awards.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

Special 26

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Based on true events in India back in 1987, this film has a slow and steady pace. I don’t understand why filmmakers insist on shoving songs down our throat, especially in films like this. When it’s needed, please have them there, don’t keep them as loo and snack breaks. Anyway, moving on…

The CBI is looking for a group who poses as fake CBI and loots targeted individuals/companies. First of the many loop holes, which I shall not discuss, the films leaves many questions unanswered.

By the time the second half starts the film has picked its pace and you are engaged in the drama (barring any songs which appear for your benefit). Twists and turns present themselves and voila, you have a fitting end for a film which has many good actors. At least they will be remembered for a decent film.

A one time watch if nothing else to do, good for TV or flight.

2.5/5

ABCD

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Any Body Can Dance is India’s first 3D dance flick. It didn’t need to be 3D, barring a few scenes, being the first the dance orientated film was good enough. Remo has presented us with very good choreography, but not very balanced. It was concentrated on street style and hip hop, but we would have liked more traditional dance forms as well.

Stock caricature characters, ‘Good vs. Bad’, the ‘Under Dog vs. The one who has it all’ make it a predictable film, but we are not looking for a story here. Neither are we looking for acting, from the wooden Prabhudeva or the choreographers who are there to dance, not act. The surprise here is Ganesh Acharya, who acts, dances and is adorable in his part. Some of the hurdles that could crop up in a dance group/competition scenario are presented as twists and turns, with adequate solutions.

The end seems hurried, not well thought off and doesn’t tie up the film as it should. You saw the end coming and the way it’s done is disappointing. This is Remo’s second film, so we expected more. If it’s an extended Dance show you are after, it’s a good flick, otherwise it’s passable.

2/5

Midnight’s Children

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A rich tapestry of story telling, a plethora of talented actors, stunning visuals and some Magic Realism, combined with the tragedy of war and struggle for independence, make this film THE DEFINITIVE WATCH!

It is difficult to write about a movie which spans more than 7 decades, portrays changing cultures, uses undivided India as a catalyst, makes magic of the midnight of independence, romanticizes post independence, makes the wars (both civil and between neighbours) that followed as an invisible backdrop. It becomes more complex when it successfully does all this and more, showing you different sides of history and how it affected people’s lives, destinies and life paths.

You will lose count of how many characters are played by brilliant talent on screen. You will do so because here, THE STORY IS THE HERO. Based on Salman Rushdie’s novel, a 3 time booker winner, it is a literary treat as well as a very difficult story to adapt on screen. But it was done and done supremely well, by Deepa Mehta. This is her best work to date and should have gotten far more acclaim than it has.

In a world where stories have taken a back seat, this film makes you sit back in awe and wonder at how much one tale can tell, how much depth a story has, without going overboard. How much reality is weaved in to the story, never once making you believe one over the other, they both are equally remarkable.

The characters are complete, in their varied lengths and forms, with some excellent performances. I will not name them, leaving them and the film, to your own experience.

Watch this film to have your breathe taken away and be mesmerised by the talents of many celebrated individuals.

4.5/5

Lincoln

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Though Steven Spielberg doesn’t need to reaffirm why he is one of the most brilliant film-makers of our time, he still does with this very ambitious period film. We get to meet the quietly charismatic Abraham Lincoln, played magically by Daniel Day-Lewis, who just won the Golden Globe and BAFTA amongst many other awards for his performance.

The film is shot as if it captures history, LIVE! The cinematography, set and costumes are flawless. The supporting cast, all of them, effectively show us the 19th century America. The feelings about slavery and colour, which would shock the present viewer, were perfectly normal at that time. It’s Lincoln’s vision and his ability to communicate it via interesting and anecdotal story telling, that paved the way for a tolerant and free USA.

If you don’t have a good understanding of the amendments and how they were passed during that time, then this film is a crash course! It is perhaps its biggest strength but also its weakest point, for it gets too detailed and sluggish at times, in the effort to inform.

Tommy Lee Jones’ character provides the wit, humour and required lift in the graph of an otherwise temperate film, and it’s those moments which give us relief from the history lesson J

A long film which is brimming with talent, but maybe not with lasting entertainment.

3/5

Les Miserables

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It isn’t a wonder that you are completely overwhelmed with ‘Les Miserables’ because everything about the film is bursting forth with emotion, talent, detail and pain. The pain from love, separation, injustice, fear, bring this classic novel and long running musical to life on screen.

Written in 1862 by Victor Hugo, it was adapted for stage in 1980 (France) 1985 (UK) and 1987 (USA)…. Set against the 19th century French political turmoil, the story spans 17 years, where some characters survive struggles and some do not. The fact that the vocals were recorded live make the performances even more astonishing, but that is just one part of the brilliance of this film.

The production quality, the cinematography, the casting of EACH AND EVERY ARTIST, is top notch. Not only have the principal cast of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Redmayne and Sacha Baron Cohen shown terrific talent, but every character does their part supremely well. No wonder the Ensemble cast has been nominated 4 times and won twice!

How can you not be moved with what you see on the screen?They are wretched lives, which seem to have some or other redemption, but wretched nonetheless. While some get punished for stealing a loaf of bread, some are stripped of every shred of their dignity to survive. When we see how the rebellion started in France, it makes you think of all the people who fought for freedom of every nation, and how they drew strength from the small numbers who supported them.

The music, well, is legendary. Thankfully I was part of an audience who may not have appreciated it, but they didn’t let that hamper my experience.

The story challenges you in every way possible, there are plenty of twists and turns which keep the drama alive. You know that there might not be a happy ending, or a tragic one at that, but an end that the author saw fit. The story is 150 years old but is still relevant in times that have so drastically changed!

Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman stand apart from the brilliance and rightly so. Anne has won 8 awards, including the Golden Globe, she was nominated for 11 since this film got released and is on her way to win the BAFTA and Oscar, well deserved if she does.

This film may not be for everyone. It’s long at 2 hours 40 minutes, it’s an intense tragic/drama musical and the misery may not be for everyone to digest or appreciate. But it is a brilliant film and should be seen, heard, felt and experienced!

4/5

Jack Reacher

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It pays when you walk into a film not knowing anything about it! Tom Cruise was at his vintage best; restrained, mysterious, sharp, brooding, with excellent action and dry wit. Not rocket science writing, but good acting and decent direction make it an engaging watch, with a caricature of a villain and the damsel in distress, this time not only physically but morally and emotionally as well!

The final product? A story about a man, who appears from the fog, and disappears back into it, to prove a theory he doesn’t believe in… Interesting enough to lure you to cinema? Go for it!

3/5

Frankenweenie

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A stop motion 3D animation, it has been described as a family film but I doubt it will be seen in that light. To start with it is presented in black and white, the story is grim where we have an aloof introvert child who is trying to bring back his dead dog to life via a science experiment. Cheery? No! What follows though is unexpected and very well animated. The beauty of the film is keeping the whole parental guidance intact even after delving in such a subject. Full points to Tim Burton for presenting something so bold and dark, so well! Truly pushing the boundaries for the animated realm, which is not only restricted to one genre any longer!

3/5

Rise of the Guardians

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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

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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

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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