RangiTaranga - ಭೂತರೋದನೆ on July 7th.

Story -

It revolves around a couple Gautam & Indu (Nirup Bhandari & Radhika Chetan) living in isolation in Ooty hiding from their past. As their past tries to consume them, Indu brings her family's past regarding the impending Bhootharadhane at her ancestral house in Kamarottu. As she convinces her husband to pay a visit to Kamarottu for this purpose they start encountering mysterious elements at the haunted house. In the meantime, a filmmaker posing as a journalist, Sandhya (Avantika Shetty) is in search for a novelist who too is living in isolation. What happens when all these 3 main characters cross path at the Kamarottu house? What is the reason behind Gautam & Indu living in isolation? What has actually happened in the past for them to be this scared? Will Sandhya find her mysterious novelist? What role does Kalinga Bhat (Sai Kumar) play here? All these form the rest of the story.

Positives -

1. The Casting is perfect. All the actors have come up with commendable performances.
2. The art direction & cinematography is top notch.
3. The background score is superb. Musically, One of the song Dennana stands out.
4. The movie does have effective twists.
5. The director has effectively handled the suspense factor.
6. The nail-biting episode towards the climax is noteworthy.
7. The movie's plot is novel.

Negatives -

1. The narration is very slow & it hinders the impact especially in the second half during crucial moments.
2. Unnecessary songs especially in the crucial second half. Yes, the songs are well shot but they do nothing but drag the film. It definitely tests your patience.
3. Too many flashbacks amidst the narration results in too much happening in quick succession. But thankfully, the final nail-biting episode makes up for it big time.
4. Editing should've been more crisp for a suspense thriller.
5. The climax should've been handled better matching the level of excitement created by the nail-biting scenes leading to the finale.

Performances -

Nirup Bhandari has a terrific voice. His performance is completely restrained throughout the movie. Radhika Chetan impresses big time. She has that soothing screen presence & her eyes do speak for her. Here's an actress to look out for. Avantika Shetty provides able support in the second half, she provides the lighter moment in this intense thriller & thus proving her mettle as an actress.

But it's Sai Kumar who comes out with flying colors. He shines like never before. And it is he who takes the film altogether to a different level in those last 15 minutes. Ananth Velu is good. Aravind Rao as the police inspector is first rate. It's only Shankar Ashwath whose role seems to be ill written compared to all other strong characters.

My Rating - 3/5 (for the attempt.)

Final Words - ಭೂತರೋದನೆ from July 7th - July 18th.

They've actually got beautiful looking starcast who are made for big screen. Kudos to the makers for perfect casting. When you had the main leads - Nirup Bhandari, Radhika Chetan & Avantika Shetty fully capable of carrying the story forward with their acting skills, wish the director had put more trust on them rather than relying heavily on songs to carry the story forward which in this case doesn't really happen that effectively.

Hope filmmakers while trying to narrate a suspense thriller, having succeeded in creating the suspense factor trust their story more than the songs. Songs don't really serve the purpose on a suspense thriller as much as a strongly executed scene does.

P.S. - It's indeed an example of how high expectations eventually kill. The film could've been a lot better. Nevertheless an effort worth giving a try.

And congratulations for the makers on their box office success, amidst the dominance of over-hyped Bahubali & a very well made Bajrangi Bhaijaan, this victory would definitely stand tall.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan - The most important film to deal with India-Pakistan relationship in recent times & is easily the better one.

Let me share this first, in the opening credits, the entire Salman Khan family's famous pic shot for Being Human campaign is used where Salman Khan sweetly thanks his whole family. This was later followed by crediting Salma Khan as one of the producer. Sweetest thing expected, as a loyal fan instant happiness looking at it.

Story -
A Pakistani mute girl (Harshaal Malhotra) gets lost in India, finds a true good heart Samaritan Pavan Kumar Chaturvedi (Salman Khan) who is a Bajrang Bali bhakt makes it his mission to return to her parents in Pakistan without any visa or passport. What all happens in this entire journey of Pavan & Munni, what all hurdles they face? If one Hindu guy can leave his everything to make sure the daughter of Pakistan gets back to her parents safely then what will Pakistan do to this honest Indian guy in getting back to his people / country forms rest of the story.


Plusses -
1. Harshaali Malhotra. It's worth watching the film for her smile itself let alone her superstar act which makes this a must watch.
2. The initial 15 minutes dedicated to establish Harshaali's story is the best.
3. The Hanuman Bhakt, Salman Khan's introduction & his immediate chemistry with Harshaali.
4. The crisp pace in the first half though interrupted with few songs but still gets it right giving out a sweet narrative.
5. The subtle comedy scenes are a delight. No forced humor, no comedy scenes for the sake of comedy, everything's part of the narrative.
6. The scenes where Munni's religion & nationality is revealed.
7. The pre-interval scene shot in the most powerful way. Get your hands on the tissues because Harshaali will succeed in making you cry.
8. Kareena Kapoor's character bringing all the needed maturity to the film without getting preachy. Salman's character is so innocent that it makes Kareena's role all the more vital in the narrative.
9. Nawazuddin Siddique. He shines throughout the second half because he & Harshaali taken on the narrative from here.
10. The strong camaraderie between the trio. Watch out for the scenes where Nawaz calls Salman his begum in burqa.
11. Strong India-Pakistan bonding captured in the film. No other film has done this before. This definitely is the true peace ambassador between India-Pakistan.
12. The entire final 15 minutes. Kabir Khan has vowed to make you cry, no subtlety & the performance by Salman Khan in these 15 minutes, bravo. If Harshaali makes you cry in the first half, towards the end of the film both Salman Khan & Harshaali team up successfully.

Minuses -
1. The narrative takes up too much liberties makes certain scenes way too convenient. The plus point is that the emotions created are so strong, the characters are positive & innocent that you instantly let these stuff go. But on the negative side, these liberties lack subtlety & are more onto your face.
2. The songs does decrease the pace. I loved Tu Jo Mila & Zindagi, even more I even didn't mind Chicken song but for most of the audience Chicken song definitely feels dragging the narrative as it just doesn't fit in for that long because the scene before the song achieves the right emotions including humor that the song doesn't really has anything to achieve.
3. The logic in the second half. What works? It's a film especially the one that creates the strong feeling "The world would be a better place if this actually happened in reality?" Give yourself up to the film then the logic stuff will never be the issue. Want to nitpick then this point 3 is rightfully added in the minuses.

Performances -
Harshaali Malhotra as Shahida aka Munni is the real superstar in the movie. She wins your heart from the first glimpse of her. She makes you laugh, she makes you cry, she definitely makes you fall in love with her. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is what it is because of her.
Salman Khan as Pavan Kumar Chaturvedi, salute to the Megastar who finally came out his comfort zone, thoroughly underplayed his character like a veteran. This is not Salman Khan playing Salman Khan like his previous character. This is Salman Khan actually living the character Pavan. Note this, he doesn't have much dialogues once Nawaz enters. So all you see Salman Khan is enacting through his expressions only. The last 20 minutes proves what a terrific actor Salman is. A real treat.
Nawazuddin Siddique as Chand Nawab is in superb form. He takes on the narrative in the second half. He's way too spontaneous, he's undoubtedly hilarious but when the emotional moments creep in, make way for one of the best actor in our country. Why the film is titled Bajrangi Bhaijaan, follow Nawaz's character to know the reason.
Kareena Kapoor Khan as Rasika brings in the much needed maturity to the film through her character. Once again a controlled decent performance from her. She supports Salman Khan's character & helps Pavan grow in his journey with Munni.
Om Puri in a special appearance is very much effective.
Sharat Saxena as Rasika's father is first rate. He gets loud as much as the character needs him to be.

Special mention to the actress who played Harshaali's mother. The biggest plus is the first initial 15 minutes, the mother-daughter bonding, mother's pain of losing her child, she contributes immensely in creating the right mood.

My Rating = 3.5/5
As a Fan = 4.5/5

Final Words - Bajrangi Bhaijaan is the most important film to deal with India-Pakistan relationship in recent times & is easily the better one.

P.S. - There's a shirtless scene of Bhai. Only thing is it's not shot in usual style. But man Sultan is going to be epic.

Baahubali Half Review: Half praises now, the rest of the praises will come in 2016.

Straight up warning: The film as it's title explains is only The Beginning of a wonderful story. The conclusion of the story will be told only in 2016 when the second part releases.

Story - 

Sivudu (Prabhas) is saved by Sivagami (Ramya Krishna) from the soldiers who've turned against Baahubali family. Before she drowns in the river, she makes sure the baby is in safe hands. But an infertile woman who can't have kids decide to raise Sivudu as her own kid without knowing who he really is. The instinct of Baahubali blood in Sivudu makes him reach for the impossible with the help of Avantika (Tamannaah) who is on her own mission to save her Queen Devasena (Anushka Shetty) from the hands of the baddie Bhallaladeva (Rana Daggubati). Without knowing Devasena is his real mother, Sivudu volunteers to save her. He's in the enemy land, saving his own mother without actually knowing her, fighting his own real enemies who've sworn to kill him & more than that he cannot understand a battalion of people who consider him as god. Who is he? What is his back story? Why people consider him as god? Who was his father? These questions are only half answered in the second half because everything else is reserved for 2016 by super clever SS Rajamouli.

Plusses -

1. The very first shot involving the huge waterfalls & Sivagami's way of saving the baby. You'll know you've a winner already. Masterstroke by SS Rajamouli.

2. The next few minutes involving Prabhas & ofcourse the huge waterfall followed by the giant "Lingaa" which you've seen in the posters. Yet another winning scene.

3. Tamannaah as Avantika looks like a real angel. She's a feast to our eyes & her beauty is meant to be watched on the big screen.

4. The introduction of Rana Daggubati. He was born to play this role.

5. Only Ramya Krishna could've done justice to this character of Sivagami. Very matured & powerful performance.

6. We only see Anushka Shetty playing the older Devasena but she has one scene with super powerful dialogue delivery. She is very convincing.

7. All the visuals right from giant waterfalls, giant avalanche, beautiful scenaries, giant statues, giant kingdom... It's money well spent. Every frame shows the hard work.

8. Action scenes are top notch. The war scenes is again something to be seen only on the big screen. Simply the best. Haters who cried foul of 300 copy etc... Slap yourself & come to the theaters so that you can once again slap yourself.

Minusses - 

1. Songs, especially the item song which was needless. Other songs have super hot Tamannaah so even if the songs are the negative point nobody can complain the visuals. Seriously I can go on & on praising. I only wish the songs to be more catchy even though the lyrics are very meaningful & part of the storyline.

2. Some scenes do give you a feeling of predictability.

3. Oh yeah this one thanks to CBFC... I got distracted at every scene involving an animal be it elephant, snake, horse or baison. The CBFC has forced the makers to display the disclaimer "C.G.I." which irritated me throughout.

The Best Part - It's how the first part ends. The way it ends makes up for any of the feeling of predictability created in our minds. That's again a masterstroke by SS Rajamouli which gets the audience super excited for the second part releasing next year. 

Why SS Rajamouli is a Genius? - He has captured the audience in his grip. If you've to watch the second part, you must watch the first part. And whoever has watched the first part cannot stop himself/herself from watching the second half. It's the power of his vision & narration. If you think the story is predictable, you would still want to experience the vision of SS Rajamouli.

My Rating - 3.5/5

Final Words - I would be proud to have this film representing Indian Cinema. Like I said all these are only half praises. The rest of the praises will be showered next year.

Watch the film.... OUR FILM.