saivenkat02 Reviews

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Blah!!

[4/10 · 16 December 2023]

The makers overrate themselves too seriously! The ending was not a "I want my audience to use their brains and map out their path forward". It was clearly done as a "shock technique" and taking advantage of all the resulting polarizing opinions that people will dole out for the film.

Could've spent some more money and made this into a series, and this would've actually had a better reaction overall. At many parts, this film gave the deja vu of the TV series "Lost". The lead cast did their job well, and primarily take almost all of my 4 stars.

The highlight of this otherwise "Blah" film was the smart meta usage of the iconic TV show "Friends" and how it lightens up lives. I gotta go back to Friends now, after this drab!

A Thursday (2022)

Truly engaging and leaves you satisfied!

[9/10 · 27 November 2022]

This was a really really engaging and entertaining film. Setup in similar fashion to "A Wednesday", you can easily sense the similarities but this movie deals with its own set of issues and there is quite enough amount of effort to make this its own space. Yami Gautam is exceptional as Naina, and the same goes to Atul Kulkarni and Neha Dhupia who excel in their roles. Like most Bollywood thrillers, this movie also has some hiccups in the 2nd half, but the final reveal was EXTREMELY well orchestrated and leaves you spellbound when you find out who the culprit is. This movie is a must watch for those who enjoy good intentioned Bollywood popcorn thrillers that make a sincere effort to tell a story while also trying to entertain you.

Friends (1994–2004)

Ultimatus!

[10/10 · 16 August 2022]

I started watching this show for the first time in 2020, which is 16 years after the final season aired on TV! Never could buy into shows that used laughter tracks (found it repulsive) but somehow the hype for this show always kept growing louder and louder around me, and after 5-6 failed attempts, I tried one more time... And VOILA! Season 1 took time to get into, but once past it, Seasons 2-6 were just freakingly amazing!! The best seasons of the show! By the end of S6, you develop deep attachments towards the cast and the remaining seasons, though not as great, still have a lot of good stuff. The acting in this show is truly exceptional and the comedy is priceless! And its also beautifully complimented with family drama to keep it well rounded! Will always be a fan favorite! I've finished possibly 4-5 reruns of this by now.

Friends: The Reunion (2021 TV Special)

Loved it!!

[10/10 · 18 October 2021]

In a weird way, I started watching the original series (Friends) after watching a few clippings of this reunion. I had never watched Friends before and never understood the hype!! But somehow chancing upon this reunion clips, I landed on Friends! WHOA! Best few months of my life! Comedy and emotions in a roller coaster! I started watching the reunion when I was in the 7th season of the original. Can easily say that this reunion is done so tastefully and hits all the right points! But gosh, Cox looks so unrecognizable from the Monica that we saw in the series. What did she do to herself? I watched this for Jen mainly, and she was fun! Always watching it to see if there are some sparks between Jen and David and there was one absolutely terrific reveal that 'Roschel' fans will lap up (me too)! Lots of background tidbits for the fan to really enjoy! If you love Friends, you should've already watched it. If you haven't watched Friends yet, you might be pulled towards it by this reunion.... Try it out!!

Bombay (1995)

Cant get better beyond this!

[10/10 · 24 August 2021]

A movie that shakes you to the core emotionally! And aided by what is classified as "exceptionally great music". When brilliant film making marries with exceptional music score, the result is BOMBAY!! The Mani Ratnam - AR Rahman combo already set things on fire with Roja, but what they accomplish with Bombay is breathtaking. I am writing this review 26 years after this movie released, and in my 100's of times watching this, never have I experienced a boring moment and the nostalgia keeps getting stronger each time I watch it!

Sanju (2018)

The director who just doesn't stop giving!!

[10/10 · 30 June 2018]

Rajkumar Hirani - remember the name!! He has made 4 films before this, and all of them are classics that are a collector's delight! And here he returns, to the place where he started (with his favorite Munnabhai; this time narrating his story) and he somehow finds a way to deliver his 5th consecutive classic. Somehow this man knows the pulse of the audience inside out, and like a magician, he creates classics out of thin air. And Ranbir Kapoor nails the titular character in a way that shocks audiences. He becomes a carbon copy of Sanjay Dutt to the point where people think "is this really Ranbir Kapoor?". This film could become the gold standard for biopics and adaptations of real life stories. Paresh Rawal as Sunil Dutt and Vicky Kaushal as the friend of Sanju, deliver their lifetime performances. Others in small cameos significantly add to the delight, the music (especially Kar Har Maidan) is so uplifting. Cant think much of negatives, but if you need to pick one, its the slight reduction in comedy and the slight increase in emotional drama thats typically associated with a Hirani film. But all in all, this is going to be another collector's delight and will stand the test of time. And for all those asking whether this sanitizes Dutt's image - well that's in your hands. For me, the film shows his bad side and human side. And being a firm believer that there is no black and white in this world, I dont care with this "image" thing.

Quantico (2015–2018)

Takes it's time!

[9/10 · 24 September 2016]

I am not sure if most of these negative reviews are giving up on the show too early. I didn't sync up at all with the first few episodes. But I decided to give it time for obvious reasons, Priyanka Chopra and the fact that I am from India and I know her from there. P.s: Like on reviewer here pointed out, I am not a sucker for Indian melodrama as I have loved many American shows which are highly rated by the emotionless people.

This show flips back and forth between the flashback and reality with such alarming pace that at times it feels "oh come on, why couldn't you just stay there?". But this show gets very interesting in plot as each episode goes. Like peeling the skin one by one. I am continuing with this one and will wait for Season 2 to go on some streaming site as I like binge watching this.

Pink (III) (2016)

Slap in your face!

[10/10 · 17 September 2016]

This movie is more of a 'slap in your face' drama that really entertains, fortunately. For a third world society like India (no offence in using the term 'third world'; we indeed are and its not derogatory), we still grapple big time with issues regarding perception and objectification of women. This movie takes each of that, head on and talks about all those supposedly uncomfortable things as if to say 'well if we are not going to talk about it, who is?". Commendable effort from Aniruddha Chowdry (director), Shoojit Sircar (director of Piku; producer of this film) and the legendary Amitabh Bachchan. All actors were first rate, including the villains and the people who sat in that court as props. The movie fires the bullet right from the title card and never stops. This is a movie that will be celebrated for a long time, or so I hope!

Vai Raja Vai (2015)

A good entertainer that drags towards its end

[8/10 · 17 July 2016]

Let me start off saying that this film is very under rated. Its a very feel good entertainer which has the right commercial elements along with an engaging story line with ESP at its core. After a more serious and sensitive movie '3', Aishwarya indulges in a more commercial film here. But the comedy (led by Vivek, Sathish and co), the superb music by Yuvan Shankar Raja, the engaging screenplay (more on the issues in second half coming up in the negatives) and the technical aspects make this film very entertaining. Gautham Karthik is good though his inexperience shows in places. Priya Anand is eye candy and so is Tapsee. Vivek, Satish and co are a riot. They hold the first half brilliantly. Yuvan's music is a huge plus, with the "Pachchai Vanna" being the highlight. But the 2nd half falters. The film goes almost haywire. The Dhanush cameo in the end looked forced, in order to please the front benches. But overall, a nice film for a weekend time pass.

Neerja (2016)

Heart Wrenching Salute!

[10/10 · 21 February 2016]

One of the best ever films to have been released in recent times, paying tribute to one of India's biggest heroes, Neerja Bhanot. Breaking all stereotypes/clichés and showing the country and the world how it is done, Neerja Bhanot is a super hero in my humble opinion. And after watching this film, I am onto Google searching up everything about her, which says the film succeeds big time. Sonam Kapoor is very surprisingly terrific as the title character. A film thats a huge shot in her career where she has been ridiculed. Shabana Azmi aces her role like always, and is top notch. Neerja's dad is also first rate. The film could have been crisper in the 2nd half, but thats a very tiny deterrent. Hats off to Ram Madhvani for showing this tale to the world. Long live Neerja's soul and sacrifice!

The Martian (2015)

Entertaining, Dramatic and fun!

[9/10 · 20 February 2016]

Seriously reading all the reviews here, I thought this was one of the most hated films. But I watched it and..... I loved it! The drama was so entertaining. And I almost shed that happy tear when they announced "We got him (Watney)....". This was a human emotion drama with a sci-fi backdrop. Why do Americans take their movies so seriously? Or anyone for that matter? I in fact felt that certain places could have been injected with some more drama (e.g. people finding out Watney is still alive, etc.). Matt Damon was fantastic, and so was his rest of the crew. The people who played the NASA heads and all did a great job. This is a popcorn flick and it super entertains. If you are the emotional types, have some handkerfs available.

Airlift (2016)

Steals Hearts!

[10/10 · 22 January 2016]

After Bajrangi Bhaijaan, this one is the next heart stealer! In an industry where good films are not as often coming, movies like these are hugely treasured. Airlift is a real story where humanity is celebrated, and a movie on humanity needs to strike the right chord to enter the audience's hearts. And this one very memorably goes! Akshay Kumar gives his heart and soul to the role and is a huge reason why the movie achieves its heights. The screenplay and direction are top notch, and the music is very hum worthy. And best thing, it felt like it ended early as audiences were wanting more. Seriously Indian cinema standards will take a rise more with this movie. Highly recommended watch!

Dilwale (2015)

Fast and Furious Type Entertainment!

[9/10 · 19 December 2015]

Great entertainment! This film is worth watching for the fun it provides and the acting backs it up. Kajol in a very different role, walks away with all plaudits. Hers is a knockout performance. SRK is effective as the big brother and is also good in the romantic portions. The music is very effective, with Gerua being a chart buster. The other actors are efficient. Negatives of course are that it could have been more on the drama/romantic side to cater to SRK-Kajol fans and less of the Rohit Shetty style. Too much of silly comedy drags proceedings in second half. But overall, its an entertaining watch, especially if you are an SRK-Kajol fan.

Papanasam (2015)

Surpasses the original!

[10/10 · 14 August 2015]

This is a rare instance where the remake surpasses the original. Not many remakes do that. But Tamil cinema has quite a few memorable instances like Ghilli and Vasoolraja MBBS that stepped above the remakes and became better films. Papanasam joins that list now. Kamal Haasan makes Mohanlal look so uninteresting, bland and inept. Yes, that final climax scene was slightly overdose of the melodramatic Kamal Haasan but that's his strength and that's why people love him. He comes from the Sivaji school of acting (his mentor is Sivaji Ganesan as said by him umpteen times).

The film is so superbly blended into the Tamil nativity that a lot of effort and detail have been done by the makers to achieve this. The girl who plays the elder daughter is top notch, and so is the younger one. Gautami passes muster. Asha Sharrath (the cop) is as brilliant as she did in the original. Kalabhavan Mani goes one step above the original's actor to deliver a knockout performance. The music greatly aids the film with the haunting background score (very well done Ghibran). Overall, the Kamal Haasan factor lifts the film above the original easily. Note: I watched Drishyam (Malayalam) first, but now I regret it. I wish I watched Papanasam first. But out of the two, I will end up watching Papanasam again.

Indru Netru Naalai (2015)

Probably one of Indian cinema's smartest!

[10/10 · 19 July 2015]

When compared with Indian cinema's history, this movie should rank amongst one of the most smartest and probably one of the most entertaining sci-fi films. Sci-fi genre has not been attempted much here and even though Hollywood's staple is sci-fi, for India sci-fi is something that we still want to do but don't have the capacity to do.

This movie moves forward and backwards within the time machine concept and the way it blends into the everyday life is a delight to watch! At a lot of places, logic is given a lot of importance and though its not flawless, its pretty close to it. The acting is top notch and the music aptly supports. But its the thinking and the style of execution that deserves full marks. Cinematography is also top notch. Do not miss this movie! Its very surprising that this movie is not hugely celebrated in India right now. This movie deserves more praise than the current VFX marvel of India, Baahubali.

Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)

Witty, High Energy, Humorous Take on relationships

[10/10 · 23 June 2015]

I would rate this movie a 20 if that option was available. I did not go to this movie with the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara hangover (though I must say, ZNMD made me crave to watch another Zoya Akthar movie and so DDD was on my top list for quite some time). I must say, Zoya outdid herself here. All that humor from ZNMD is perfectly intact here, and even more. This is more of a family entertainer and the acting here borders on spectacular at various times. Ranveer Singh and Anil Kapoor are obvious winners, but Priyanka and Shefali are not much behind. The film's biggest strength are its dialogs (Farhan Akthar). The wit in the dialogs can crack you up very easily. The music is hummable, with the Gallan Goodiyan number being a brilliant "one take" song.

I can watch this any number of times (already 5 times). If drama coupled with witty humor is your cup of tea, run to the theater and watch Dil Dhadakne Do now.

Touch (2012–2013)

Brilliant start!

[10/10 · 17 March 2012]

Normally when something comes with humongous expectations, the probability of failure is pretty high and most often the product doesn't live up to expectations. But the first episode of "Touch" more than lives up to expectations. In fact it surprises you and leaves you jaw dropping at a few places. The storyline is very exciting and keeps you hooked, and the performances are just perfect and complement the script and the story. Kiefer in his new avatar looks as good as he ever has been. The young kid will be having more work to do in the coming episodes and he is super promising too. The background score for this show also was in sync with the kind of genre it was attempting to position itself onto. Waiting for the next part!

Enthiran (2010)

A fun ride that you will remember for a long time

[9/10 · 3 October 2010]

Endhiran is an awesome fun ride of epic proportions as far as Indian cinema is concerned. The director Shankar has tried really hard to match the film up with the standards set by Hollywood and for Indian cinema standards, he takes big steps towards that dream. The graphics and the CG work in the film is truly spectacular. The first half is racy and filled with lot of feel good moments. The second half starts off slow, but picks up momentum right before the last 40 minutes. The last 40 minutes is a RIOT and at the end it leaves us breathless!!! Rajnikanth fits into the character of a Robot like a glove, and Aishwarya Rai looks stunning and dances like she has a spring in her feet. Rahman's music comes alive with the visuals, which are shot very beautifully by Shankar. But his background score could have been better. The sets for the movie are very grand and stylish as per the standards set by Shankar. Director Shankar is the ultimate winner, and Indian cinema should salute him for enhancing its reputation

Thalapathi (1991)

Timeless Masterpiece from Mani!

[10/10 · 10 March 2010]

For this movie, 10 out of 10 is probably too low. That's how good this movie is. Among Tamil cinema's timeless classics, it came in the late 80's and now its 2010 but still I watch it with the same enthusiasm and clap/whistle at some of the dialogues from this film. Maniratnam had a hard time directing Rajnikanth and Mammootty but if he can give a product like this through such hardships, I pray he goes through such hardships again (Sorry Mani Sir!). Ilayaraja is the life and soul of this film. Rajni's best ever performance along with Mammooty. There were the few Nayagan inspirations (Doing good for 4 people cannot be wrong, the inspector beating the hero and then the inspector getting killed by the same hero, etc). Who else can take the Karna-Duryodhana friendship from the Mahabharatha and weave such a magical story in accordance to today's times? Mani is magic!

Agni Natchathiram (1988)

great movie from Mani Ratnam

[10/10 · 28 May 2005]

this is a great movie from Mani Ratnam.. it depicted the love hate relationship between the two brothers who were born to different mothers superbly. Mani Ratnam is one of the finest film makers in Indian cinema. he has the potential of making the best films in history of world cinema!! The songs of the movie are just classics with the Raja Rajathi Raja song the best!!! Some of the other songs too rock.. Ilayaraja has showcased his talents in this movie in a big way. This movie also lead to many movies coming in the same genre, notable one being the Vijay-Surya movie "Naerukku Naer". My favorite scene of the movie is the one where Karthik's sister gets teased by some goons in the train and she moves to the other compartment where her step brother Prabhu is with his lover Amala and this girl calls Prabhu 'Anna' (brother) and asks him to save her from the goons!