Downton Abbey : A New Era (2022)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

For fans of the show, this film will feel more like home than the first movie. The first one was fanfare, a way to pull the audiences into the cinemas. This one is unapologetically like the show, moving with a balance of its grace, urgency, mystery and flurry.

To say that it is entertaining won’t do justice to it. It is engaging, beautifully written and does justice all characters and their arcs.

To watch them on screen feels like we are privy to a family home video, such is the connection with the Crawley family.

Watch it to mark the end of the old era and welcome the new one!

5/5

The Fame Game (2022)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

The waters of fame run deep, to win the game you have to play long.

What starts as a case of a missing superstar, quickly becomes an unravelling of her whole family and many of those around her.

It has multiple layers and messages, all communicated with ease, but in their own time. The entrapments of fame are evident throughout, with little done to hide or mask them.

Madhuri has given a brilliant and understated performance and is ably supported by a stellar cast, all of whom do a splendid job in portraying their respective arcs. No character is two dimensional and they all have more going on than meets the eye.

The verdict? A riveting display of the realities of the business, the families of those involved and how their struggles and backstories are never known or thought of.

Loosely based around many theories of stars in Bollywood and perhaps on their real lives too, it is a must watch with all doors open for a second season! Bravo to the creator Sri Rao and directors Bejoy Nambiar and Karishma Kohli.

The Kashmir Files (2022)

On By sandeepadnani1 Comment

A recap of our shocking history filled with many heartbreaking details which are based on true events, the film isn’t easy to watch. Not only because of the atrocities, but because of the inaction of the government in power then and the way this episode has been forgotten entirely.

The film sets a mood from the very beginning, building on it without relying on music or histrionics. We see different sides to the story, the role of different elements, some told in passing, others in more detail.

Watch it to revise the history of the land, those that led to its prosperity and those that ultimately ruined it. Great performances by the cast and crew and bravo to Vivek Agnihotri for his astute direction.

History can be forgotten but not denied.

4/5

Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)

On By sandeepadnaniLeave a comment

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is synonymous with portraying strong women and their point of view. This is a tale which shows the heroics of Gangubai, a woman wronged by love, who rights the life of many as she fights the good fight.

SLB has struck to the brief. There is grandeur in the details, which form the backdrop for the talents of the entire cast. The highlights are Alia Bhatt, Seema Pahwa and Vijay Raaz. The performances grip you, the writing entertains, enlightens and jolts you, the songs and turning points give you hope in a world which has been cast aside.

We get glimpses of the lives of many such women, their back stories and tragedies, but the film doesn’t dwell on that. It’s always looking forward, as did the protagonist in real life, while imparting many life lessons, philosophies and truths in her candid manner.

Different from his earlier films but with his trademark for the dramatic, this one is another feather in his illustrious cap.

A must watch for its strength and dignity.

4/5