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 The unpublished manuscript was a finalist for the Writing Award in the 2022 Page Turner Awards.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

The fault in our stars (2014)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

Once in a while a movie comes along that touches you, awakens you, moves you, inspires you, resurrects a part of you that you thought was dead, so to say.

“Depression isn’t a side effect of cancer, it’s a side effect of dying.”

“The world isn’t a wish granting factory.”

Many such pearls of ‘infinite’ wisdom take you into an ‘oblivion’ of emotion. When a film transports you on to the very streets, skies, rivers and roads it shows, with thoughts of the depth, divinity and tragedy of love, you know it has worked on ALL levels. The love in question is not just between two people, but between parents and children, between friends, and the way it is captured is authentically real.

Two cancer ridden teens fall in love and traverse countries and each others hearts. I wanted to remember every detail, because I dreaded their fate. I wanted to live their lives even more fully, because it was going to pass them by, just like all of ours are. Their dislikes were mine and I celebrated their moments, playing a quiet witness to their fragile yet indefatigable existence.

The lead pair Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort (of ‘Divergent’ fame) bring alive a morbid chemistry which is tinged with regret and a fighting spirit. Eulogies and romantic moments, gestures and wishes unfulfilled, they are every bit the brave sufferers we adore. Their best friend, Nat Wolff is candid, their parents are strong, the scenario is bleak but love somehow still blossoms and perseveres.

Young director Josh Boone has handled a complex story brilliantly. Based on the best selling book by John Green, it just added one more reader to its millions.

4/5

image

Bobby Jasoos (2014)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

Vidya Balan is back in many avatars to subtly amuse and investigate the going-ons in her neighbourhood. She is a budding detective, trying to get a decent case to make her independent and tickle her skills. Her accent is adorable and her antics unpredictable.

The strength of the film lies in its simplicity. It doesn’t pretend to be anything big or dramatic, it is sincere, funny, true to its socio-economic setting with characters we can relate to.

Bobby a.k.a. Bilquis is one of 3 sisters in a conservative Muslim family in Hyderabad. A boisterous rebel, she gets a mysterious case and takes us on a short 2 hour journey in the nooks and crannies of the old city area.

She is ably supported by a host of characters; Ali Fazal, Tanvi Azmi, Kiran Kumar, Arjun Bajwa, Zarina Wahab, Rajendra Gupta, Prasad Barve and Supriya Pathak as her ever understanding mother, quite a departure from ‘Dhankorbaa’ in Ram Leela.

Debut director Samar Shaikh presents us a refreshing story that entertains in an endearing way.

3/5

Goodbye June and half of 2014

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

Mangi Midnite. Dedh Ishqiya. 19th January. YJHD on DVD. Gadda da Vidda. Illuminate. Delhi with Lamhe gang. Valentine’s with DeeJay. Mumbai T2. MAANVIK. Sidhu sisters & Harry Potter. College memories, London friends. Oscar night. Gulaab Gang. Queen. A ‘see you soon’. Lakme weekend. Preps for April. The universe ALWAYS provides. Laughed till I cried. Italy vs Germany. Shonali turns 20! Mehendi playlist. Aer & Haagen Dazs. 13th April. Rio 2 and farewell at Indigo. Mayyur’s Mumbai store launch. 50 GOLDEN YEARS. Reunions, dance, chanting and more! Vows renewed. Love is a 4-letter-word spelled T-I-M-E. Mumbai layover with an oath. Beautiful Berlin by buggy, bicycle, boat and foot. DeeJay save the week. Old friends, childhood families. 3 day birthday. 4 movies and 1 play. Jhalak Dikhlaja 7! Eiffel Tower & Brooklyn Bridge. Twitter, finally! Comic tragedy 1. Goodbye Toshiba, Welcome Dell. Soul lessons. Mini Musings. How to train your dragon 2. Comic tragedy 2. Full Circle @ Royal China. 22 June. 6 sunny / 2 blustery afternoons & 1 nostalgic night. In gratitude…

Ek Villain (2014)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

Once again Sidharth Malhotra has done a film where he plays a supporting actor in the guise of the lead. What’s worse is this story is clearly about the ‘villain’, which he is not. The true villain in this film is the script, who can’t decide which genre it wants to fall into. Jumping from romance, to serial killer, to cop drama, to gangster, it leaves the viewer with a half-baked taste of all.

Shraddha Kapoor is different from her docile ways in her earlier film, bordering on annoying but still screeches her way through an act that needed more convincing. Sidharth has been pitched as ‘the angry young man’ but wasn’t angry enough. Neither was he bitter or sad enough. The intensity the role required was perhaps a bit too mature for his talents. He did his best though.

The show stopper and stealer was Riteish Deshmukh, a psychotic middle class man who was true to his character. Sadly none of the three leads were supported by director Mohit Suri or the script to perform in a logical manner. They went with a story that asked for the entire patience threshold of the audience, a bit too much with very little respite. Gaping flaws and loopholes in motive and plot make it a very difficult watch.

The last 10 minutes of the film were the best, but to ask you to watch all of it for that would be unfair.

1.5/5

30 second relationship

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

If you live in Mumbai, you will inadvertently know which traffic signals are going to have hawkers and where you will expect not to encounter them. It was one calm sunny afternoon where I matched eyes with a young, energetic lad at a busy junction. He must be a teenager, trying to forge a connection by making me see my need for his wares, more than his need to make a sale. Time was limited, any movement from my side would be seen as a positive sign towards my wallet and a sale would be initiated. I, on the other hand, was just staring into his eyes, transfixed, as if I was getting a mental relay of his story. His and many others who share his plight, of how difficult life is but he is still making an honest living by selling something. Alas, the connection was broken, the signal turned green and before I could even buy something to support him, or contemplate what he was selling in the first place, the moment was over. We had moved.  

How to train your dragon 2 (2014)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

Much awaited sequel to the 2010 film that grossed almost 500 million dollars, the adorable toothless and boar-headed hiccup are back with an adventure very grand in scale but sincere to the story. Loosely inspired by Cressida Cowell’s book, the characters are original, fleshed out and lovable.

Director Dean DeBlois does not waste any time, engaging the audience from the first frame. Life has changed in Berk, where the once feared dragons are now very much part of the landscape. An attempt to map neighbouring lands leads them to a mysterious cave and an alpha dragon called the ‘Bewilderbeast’. What ensues are reunions, battles, the good old power angle and A-class animation that would rival the CGI of any block buster you have seen in recent times.

Besides being technically brilliant, the music, background score, and characterisation make this film rich in every way. A veritable gold mine for the viewer and a tough challenge as a sequel, the cast and crew have succeeded on every front.

Non-stop mythical entertainment!

3.5/5

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

Tom Cruise romances the audiences into reliving his death, over and over, for this apocalyptic film. Time manipulation is quickly explained until we settle into a comfortable ‘video game like’ routine, where we watch the events unfold, desperately hoping he finds a way to move forward.

It’s an unusual set of circumstances, so either ‘you enjoy the loop’ or you curse your choice of cinema viewing. I fell in the former group, not appreciating the 3D, but liked the editing. To keep such a plot fresh and linked is not easy, but James Herbert was up to the task.

Director Doug Liman has a repertoire of work which makes this subject right up his alley. Emily Blunt is the object of Tom’s ’50 first dates’, barring the romance of course.

The aliens are menacing and the destruction is grand. Mad Eye Moody makes a cameo, a cherry on the top of this entertaining pie.

3/5

Filmistaan (2014)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

Like trying to grow something in the desert, this film dared to do a comic take on being held hostage in very serious circumstances, but pulled it off well.

An Indian is mistakenly abducted from Rajasthan by extremists. His acting, mimicry, passion for films keep him sane, and the village folk entertained, while he plans various escapes from Pakistan.

The beauty lies in passing moments, which explore deep ties and similarities between our cultures, the celebration of humanity, friendships, and of course bizarre situations which are again given an unbelievable comic twist.

The film could be shorter, but it’s heart is in the right place. The solace of a familiar film or song is given a whole new meaning here.

Debut director Nitin Kakkar and principal actor Sharib Hashmi, who has also penned the dialogues bring alive on screen a very grim silver lining.

3.5/5

Blended (2014)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

A mature ‘from-com’ (family romantic comedy), this film provided far more laughs than expected.

Though the characters seemed like caricatures, the comedy wasn’t compromised. We have 5 kids, 2 single parents and what was obviously a South African government sponsored promotion camouflaged as a holiday.

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore look and act their parts well, but it works because of the ensemble, the exotic setting, the not so predictable scenes and of course, the very expected ones.

Though the cinema was sparsely occupied, everybody seemed in the mood to be ‘blended’. A comedy film works well if you are not the only person laughing (which I sometimes was), but most of the time we all seemed to enjoy the humour.

Fun in Sun City and beyond!

3/5

Maleficent (2014)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

Debut director Robert Stromberg presents us with the back story of the antagonist in ‘Sleeping Beauty’, portrayed by the multi-faceted Angelina Jolie.

It was a tricky role, she could have easily gone over the top or fallen flat. Angelina constantly walks the tight rope in this regard, slowly showing her journey from a loving trusting fairy to a heart broken, angry victim. Her vindictive actions are not evil for the sake of being evil, but clearly a result of hurt and pain. To achieve that balance was perhaps even more difficult than the brilliant special effects. Her minimal expressions and steely presence communicate volumes, her slight intonation of voice giving it the ‘fairy tale’ feel.

The story presents us with natural human emotions and the learning: ‘never say never’. True love, parenting, pursuit of power, being a guardian are all shown in a fresh, humane light.

Watch to see a new hero and a new villain in an old enchanting tale.

3/5