Sandeep aur Pinky faraar (संदीप और पिंकी फरार)

Mandar's movie review

"Sandeep aur Pinky faraar (संदीप और पिंकी फरार)"

Watched Hindi movie Sandeep aur Pinky faraar (संदीप और पिंकी फरार). 

This film is directed by Dibakar Banerjee. Written by Dibakar Banerjee, Varun Grover. Produced by Dibakar Banerjee. Music by Anu Malik. Cinematography Anil Mehta. The film stars Parineeti Chopra, Arjun Kapoor, Nina Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Jaydeep Ahalawat and Rahul Kumar. The film runs for just over 2 hours and was released in Mar 2021. I watched it on Amazon Prime with Aditi on 21st Apr 2021.

Suspended Police constable Pinky (Arjun Kapoor) is tasked to take Sandeep (Parineeti) to meet her lover and boss. A fortunate incident tells them that both were destined to be killed. They run towards Nepal.

Who is trying to kill them? Why? Can they survive? What will be the price? How will it end. 

It's a movie with some difference. To start with Pinky is a male and Sandeep is a female. Why is it so? No idea. The heroine is pregnant, typically Hindi film heroines aren't. They run but are basically out of ideas except one. Generally Hindi film hero and heroines are full of ideas. Supporting characters do not have a change of heart and don't help them when everything seems lost. The film does not end with them kissing and living happily ever after. So it's not a typical Bollywood film. 

Parineeti acts well. Surprisingly so does Arjun. The role of hot headed Haryanwi Jat suits him. Supporting cast of accomplished actors fulfill their responsibility. 

The end however, is hastened. They run from the bad guys. Keep running for the entire film. But at the end when she succeeds, it's not shown how she succeeds and how she overcomes the pursuers. So it appears abrupt. 

A one time watch. 

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Sherni (शेरनी)

"Sherni (शेरनी)"

Watched Hindi movie "Sherni (शेरनी)". This movie is directed by Amit Masurkar. Produced by Bhushan Kumar and others. Writing credits Amit Masurkar, Yashaswi Mishra, Astha Tiku. Music Utkarsh Umesh Dhotekar. Cinematography by Rakesh Haridas. It stars Vidya Balan, Neeraj Kabi, Vijay Raaz, Mukul Chadda, Ila Arun, Sharat Saxena, Bijendra Kala. This movie was released on 18 Jun 2021 and runs for 2 hours 11 minutes. I watched the movie on Amazon Prime with Aditi, Jayant and Sucheeta on 18th Jun 2021.

Vidya, an upright forest officer, gets her posting after 6 years of desk job. A tigress, named T12, has killed couple of villagers. Two politicians, a hunter and her boss are trying to use this opportunity for their own gains while Vidya is trying to analyse root cause of the issue to find a permanent solution. 

What is at stake? What happens to the tigeress? Can Vidya find a solution? Who will prevail?

The concept is good but execution is pedestrian. It appears as if you are watching a documentary rather than a movie. The story drags on and on. Not enough drama, not enough action, not enough emotions, not enough excitement. The result is an insipid  recipe that you watch with a lot of expectation and become very disappointed. 

Vidya neither looks beautiful, nor dashing. Most of the time she appears either confused or clueless but with good intentions. Can't say she delivers a powerful performance. Neeraj and Vijay are very good. 

Directorial shortcomings? Character of Neeraj undergoes an inexplicable change. Although Vidya gets a field posting after 6 years she tells Neeraj that she got her purse from her last posting. Can villagers support the Cubs and for how long? What was the objective of bringing characters of Vidya's mother and mother in law?

Cinematography of jungle at night is very good and so is that of tigers. The selection of location (jungle) is also good, there's a thick canopy. 

Based on the name one thinks that Sherni is a dual meaning word. One for the real one and one for Vidya. But character of Vidya doesn't portray the fearless, fighter, indomitable lady. It appears like a good intentioned but helpless lady. End of the movie is very suggestive. But at the end of it you wonder why did I watch this movie?

Give it a miss.

Sardar ka grandson (सरदार का ग्रॅन्डसन)

"Sardar ka grandson (सरदार का ग्रॅन्डसन)"

Watched Hindi movie "Sardar ka grandson (सरदार का ग्रॅन्डसन)". This movie is directed by Kaashvie Nair. Produced by  Bhushan Kumar and others. Written by Anuja Chauhan, Kaashvie Nair. Music Tanishq Bagchi. Cinematography by Mahedra Shetty. It stars Arjun Kapoor, Rakulpreet Singh, Nina Gupta, John Abraham, Soni Razdan, Aditi Rao Haidari, Kanwaljit Singh, Kumud Mishra, Divya Seth, Priya Tondon, R. Bhakti Klein. This movie was released in 2021 and runs for 2 hours 20 minutes.  I watched the movie on Netflix with Aditi on 20th May 2021.

Sardar Kaur, a 90 year old lady, wants to go to Lahore to visit her pre-partition home once before she dies. Her grandson Amreek decides to fulfill her wish. But her Visa application is rejected. Amreek is still determined. 

Can he take her to Pakistan? Is the home still there? How can Sardar Kaur see her home before she dies?

Nina Gupta doesn't look 90 years old, neither does her acting and movements portray that age. A really old actress would have been a better choice. Now it's high time that Arjun starts acting. Kanwaljit breaks the shackles and plays a funny role. The real surprise package was Aditi Rao Haidari. She delivers a convincing performance. Kumud plays a different role, Mayor of Lahore. 

It's a fantastic concept. But the director takes easy route to present the story, so the execution is shallow, although he shows flashes of brilliance. For example the scene when Sardar visits and touches the house. 

Set of house in Lahore is too obvious and hence doesn't look realistic. Inexplicably, a house that is unused for years hasn't accumulated dust. Arjun does everything from design to jacking to driving the truck, despite having a team. 

There are several small details that are missed. Things like use of car jacks for the house, jacking them by hand when loaded and loading the structure on truck instead of multiple SPMT's, forgetting about the electric wires etc. defy engineering logic. Some basic engineering input was needed. 

Why call it Grandson of Sardar? Was director trying to bask in the reflected glory of movie 'Son of Sardar'? 'Sardar ka ghar' would have been a better title.

Watch it,  if you are ready to forget it soon  enough. 

47 Ronin

"47 Ronin"

Watched English movie "47 Ronin". Direction Carl Rinsch. Screenplay: Chris Morgan, Hossein Amini. Produced by Pamela Abdy, Eric McLeod. Cinematography John Mathieson. Music by Ilan Eshkeri. It features Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi, Ko Shibasaki. The movie was released in 2013 and runs for about 2 hours. I watched it on Netflix on 14th May 2021.

It's the story in the times of feudal Japan. Lord Kira conspires with a witch that forces Lord Asano to draw sword. Shogun orders him death by Seppuk (Killing oneself by honor). After his death his team of Samurai become Ronin (Leaderless and disgraced Samurai). They wait for one year and exact the revenge of their masters death. 

This movie is based on actual historical event which has become pride of Japan. Generally when a movie is made, director id's allowed to take artistic liberty. Here he takes too much liberty. Character of Keanu Reeves, son of an English father and Japanese mother. Love story between him and Asano's daughter. Adding a witch to assist Kira. All of these characters are additions and don't appear in the original.

I have read a book by same name and posted a review of a book in Feb 2016 on my book review blog. I had recommended to read it. Apart from the fact that 47 Ronin take revenge of their master's death, the movie and book are as different as chalk and cheese.

Acting is good, especially, Hiroyuki Sanada. Fight scenes are also very well choreographed and look authentic. Special effects are very good. Especially when the witch transforms and moves as a cloth.

It's a good change with all Japanese cast except Keanu Reeves. Although divorced from known story, it's an entertaining movie. I was surprised to know that this movie made a loss.

Recommend to watch for a change. 

Unpaused

Mandar's movie review

"Unpaused".

Watched English movie "Unpaused". 

This movie is directed by Raj & DK, Nitya Mehra, Nikkhil Advani, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Avinash Arun. Written by Devika Bhagat, Nitya Mehra, Reshu Nath, Vidur Nauriyal, Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh. Produced by Raj & DK, Madhu Bhojwani, Monisha Advani, Baisakhi Nair, Sanjeevkumar Nair. It stars Gulshan Devaiah, Sumeet Vyas, Saiyami Kher, Richa Chadda, Abhishek Banerjee, Ratna Pathak Shah, Ishwak Singh, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Rinku Rajguru, Lillete Dubey. Music by Tanishq Bagchi, Payal Dev, Parth Parekh, Shishir A. Samantha, Gaurav Kadu. Cinematography by Pankaj Kumar, Jay Oza, John Jacob Payyapalli, Navagat Prakash, Kaushal Shah. Film runs for about 1 hour 53 minutes and was released in 2020. I watched it with Aditi on 13th May 2021 on Amazon Prime.

This movie is a collection of 5 short stories. The stories revolve around the lives of people impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. 

Glitch

This story happens in 2030 when people haven't gone out of the house for years. Everything is virtual. Computer selects Ayesha (a COVID warrior) and Ahan (a non-warrior) for a date. Is it a glitch

The apartment

After 5 girls accuse her husband of sexual harassment, ashamed, Richa decides to commit suicide, twice, when the Doorbell rings. Will she, won't she?

Rat-a-tat

Lillete, an irritated, angry and complaining senior citizen, has a young neighbour (Rinku). Rinku has a rat problem.

Vishaanu

A Rajastani worker is stuck in Mumbai with his wife and son. Where will he stay? How long can he survive? Does he and his wife have an unknown side?

Chand Mubarak

Ratna a paranoid, lonely old lady takes a ride in Rafiq's auto rickshaw. Can she stand him, or anyone else?

All these stories are with the backdrop of Covid and the way behavioral changes have occurred in its aftermath. The stark realities.  However despite these outward changes the human heart and emotions are the same. They crave for company and friendship. Despite the social restrictions, they surface. But they surface in peculiar ways. Each story has a female protagonist. 

The actors are all established and they deliver powerful performances. Be it Richa Chaddha, Lillete Dubey, Rinku Rajguru, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Abhishe Banerjee or Ratna Pathak Shah. Each one delivers convincingly. 4 ot of 5 stories have a happy ending. 

Special mention for Geetika's performance. When her horseman tells her that they have to leave, her expressions are priceless. The happiness and comfort replaced by harsh reality in 5 seconds.

First story appears weak as compared to others. 

Recommend watching. 

For more movie reviews, please visit:

Mandar's Movie reviews

http://mandarmoviereviews.blogspot.com