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 The unpublished manuscript was a finalist for the Writing Award in the 2022 Page Turner Awards.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

Jason Bourne (2016)

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Seeing Matt Damon as Jason Bourne has a certain nostalgic quality. His strength and aggression is at complete odds with his inner turmoil. The film comprised of a few very well choreographed pursuit scenes and a mix of the believable and the unfathomable.

There is a part of Bourne’s past which he has blocked out. There are some files found by a hacker. The files contain a clue and the rest is a series of cat and mouse chases across cities.

Technology can be so intrusive and yet we depend on it so much, a constant battle of privacy vs. security. Though this is the underlying theme I wish director Paul Greengrass would have developed it more.

Alicia Vikander has a ‘grey’ character, who will probably be part of the next film. Julia Stiles has a mysterious entry and exit, her motives unclear. Tommy Lee Jones hasn’t aged well, but pulls off the stiff director of the CIA nonetheless.

Fast paced with plenty of destructive chases make for the staple action film.

2.5/5

Rustom (2016)

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Touted as a thriller the film directed by Tinu Suresh Desai is an average story, engaging at points and recreating parts of the era successfully.

‘Decorated Navy Officer’ Akshay Kumar is happily married to Illeana D’Cruz. Something which they establish quickly. Why things fall apart is unclear, and when it’s revealed its not convincing. What ensues is clear, but how well it was planned wasn’t. In short, characters are not developed well, some half baked and others erratic. Akshay is generic while Illeana is the female lead, who has a few scenes.

Pavan Malhotra as the good cop, Arjan Bajwa as the victim and Esha Gupta as his vamp sister pay homage to the black/white characters in the 60s. But somewhere along the line contemporary and period film making are blurred.

It is doing well because of the ruin running alongside it. It’s based on a true story which makes it more appealing and everyone likes to see a cleaner vintage Mumbai.

2.5/5

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Wishing India a happy Independence Day is like wishing a great grand mother a sweet 16 birthday. Cradling civilisation, she has been around since time immemorial, cajoling the world with her knowledge and stories, welcoming everyone into her home, nourishing her countless generations and supporting their existence with her bountiful nature. But just like the generation we are, we say a quick hello to her and get easily distracted. Take care of her, listen to her wisdom, love her faults as you do her qualities, and above all, respect her resilience.

Happy English birthday… You have aged well 🙂

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Happy Friendship Day everyone! Blessed with an abundance of awesome and mad moments with fun souls all around the globe! Cheers to good times and great memories!

Ice Age : Collision Course

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The gang is back in the 5th instalment, where they very ambitiously attempt to avoid and possibly change the course of a meteoric collision.

The comedy that unfolds is not predictable but consistent with previous films. Granny has greater presence which makes it more fun.

Enjoyed it because I like the characters and know their back stories. Their evolution combined with humour makes it an easy watch.

2.5/5

Ghostbusters (2016)

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Director Paul Feig was aiming for a good laugh and they fairly achieved it. The film seems like a prequel to the former one, but has its own original take on the story.

Melissa McCarthy has let the ensemble cast take centre stage and provided her share of laughs. Kristen Wiig is uptight yet adventurous, Kate McKinnon is whacky and eccentric and Leslie Jones is brave and feisty. The surprise package is Chris Hemsworth who successfully plays blonde but charms in the end.

A fun flick which doesn’t take itself seriously. Watch till the end credits finish for the complete experience 👻

3/5

Madaari (2016)

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A must watch for every Indian, this film tells us a truth we all know. The way it is narrated makes us part of the injustice and connects it with our real life.

Director Nishikant Kamat takes on a difficult subject and handles it with a lot of courage, challenging everything that’s in power. Or the concept of power itself, which has been eating away slowly at our existence.

Irrfan has done many memorable roles and this will be counted as one of them. He is understated with sparks of immense angst that show from time to time. What caused that angst and his actions in general make up the film.

Jimmy Shergill plays the law who is cleverly trying to catch him. Child actor Vishesh Bansal plays an important role of a young boy that understands much more than you think it does, or should. We have a bunch of politicians which show us how agendas, loyalties and prejudices make such a big part of how our system is run.

The sad truth where we are left powerless on how to change it, but there it is.

3.5/5

The BFG

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Steven Spielberg may not have made a blockbuster or box office money spinner but it’s still a sweet gentle tale which is made with great care and detail.

The Big Friendly Giant is a reminder of our childhoods, a simpler time where stories were all we had. Roald Dahl, a celebrated writer, contributed greatly to literature and story telling. This movie is just that, a story where you can immerse yourself and be captivated by its imagination which is brought alive by visual brilliance.

Actors Ruby Barnhill, Mark Rylane and Penelope Wilton deserve mention for doing their roles so sincerely and in the spirit of a fantasy tale.

2/5

Dishoom

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At its best a ‘kuch bhi’ silliness, at worst a no brainer, abandon logic, zero logic flick by Rohit Dhawan, where Varun Dhawan entertains sporadically with his silly antics. John Abraham is wooden, but it serves his character well. Jacqueline is eye candy who has her promised item number. Poor Akshay Khanna is a laughable villain and Rahul Dev even more so. Akshay Kumar’s cameo steals the show.

1.5/5