Metro (Tamil, 2016)
Metro is a riveting crime thriller where good writing and technical wizardry overcome some amateur performances by the protagonist and the antagonist.
Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu (Kannada, 2016)
Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu is an emotional thriller that is saved by the veterans, Anant Nag & Achyutha Kumar with Sruthi Hariharan also chipping in ably. Had the acting & editing been tauter, it would have engaged a lot more.
Lens (English, 2015)
Lens is well-intentioned independent film that is technically & thematically rich while it depicts voyeurism in digital space. It could have been much more hard-hitting had the language been chosen as Tamizh rather than English.
Sairat (Marathi, 2016)
Films like Sairat that are thematically and cinematically rich are rare. The hype associated with the film fueled by both the critics & audience is certainly justified. It is extremely refreshing to see the Indian audience embrace such a film full of fresh-faces whole-heartedly. Do not miss this in THEATRES!
Gender Stereotype Inversion in Indian Cinema
Just like how Cricket has always revered its batsmen more than its bowlers, Cinema in general has always been Hero-dominated rather than give space for the Heroines. There have however been quite a few instances across the world where few women have risen above the men to have scripts solely based on them and their ability to shoulder the film, a Meryl Streep for example. And of course, there are quite a few filmmakers who do not go by the agenda of hero or a heroine but rather let the script dictate the choice of the protagonist’s gender.
Velainnu Vanthutta Vellakaran (Tamil, 2016)
The hilarious comedy that is strewn all over the movie is powerful enough to make the audience to forget the average execution of a timeworn and incredibly thin story line, while they are busy laughing their lungs out – a proven modus operandi that is bound to succeed!
Iraivi (Tamil, 2016)
If Iraivi can be likened to an Onion, the core layers of it have enough juice in them to make your eyes (senses) cringe & root for the women in it but how much you root for them is impeded by its prominent and contrived outer layers, much like the outer layers of onion that are functionless.
Uriyadi (Tamil, 2016)
‘Uriyadi’ is a one-of-a-kind hard hitting and gutsy movie aimed at creating a thriller that builds equal portions of intrigue and suspense with some clear thoughts going into the making - a veracious attempt that respects the intelligence of the audience!
Thithi (Kannada, 2016)
Regional (read Non-Bollywood) Films that appeal evenly across the nation and even across the globe are extremely rare. In that vein, Thithi is certainly a precious gem as it conveys philosophy in a comical fashion using real people in the most un-cinematic of ways!
Idhu Namma Aalu (Tamil, 2016)
‘Idhu Namma Aalu’ attempts to be a breezy urban rom-com with some attractive stars essaying the lead roles. However, post the 1st half, the film becomes almost unbearable with the amount of cheesiness on show, and Soori’s wisecracks are the only saving grace.