Author Archives: Vikram Bondal

Not exactly a movie buff, but getting there :)

Kavaludaari Kannada Movie Review – Ondanondu Kaaladalli

Bangalore! A city that elicits both sighs of nostalgia, and exclamations of disgust at the mention of its name. But like every other city, Bangalore too ended up burying its share of skeletons on the journey to becoming Bengaluru.

Hemanth M Rao who made his debut in 2016 with the impressive Godhi Banna Saadharna Mykattu shifts tracks to make a neo-noir thriller set in Bengalooru, but will Kavaludaari be able to keep audiences glued to their seats the way Godhi Banna did?Continue reading “Kavaludaari Kannada Movie Review – Ondanondu Kaaladalli”

Sonchiriya Movie Review: Dakus in the Dust

There used to be a time when the Daku movie was a staple in Bollywood. Right from the 40s, with Mehboob Khan’s Aurat (which he remade as Mother India), into the 60s with Dilip saab’s Gunga Jumna, it was the 70s when the genre hit its peak with blockbusters like Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Khote Sikkey and of course, the baap of them all, Sholay!

But while the genre flourished right up till the late 80s (Mardon Wali Baat, Aag Hi Aag), the resurgence of the family film through directors like Sooraj Barjatya, Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra led to daku movies being slowly relegated to B-grade cinema in the 90s, and relative obscurity in the 00s, what with a more urban brand of cinema coming in, save for the Paan Singh Tomar biopic, or the brilliant Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru from 2 years back.

Therefore, when the promos of Sonchiriya showed up with an ensemble cast and a brilliant soundtrack, the only thought that entered one’s mind was if this was going to be a throwback to old school Daku dramas, or would it be a more contemporary take on the lives of dacoits?Continue reading “Sonchiriya Movie Review: Dakus in the Dust”

Uri Movie Review: A Lobotomy of the Senses

The Uri Attack of 2016 was the straw that broke the back in India-Pakistan relations, leading to a diplomatic war between the two countries, and when news of a surgical strike behind enemy lines broke out, a few days later, there was much rejoicing among the public. Therefore, it was only natural, that the incident would find its way to the big screen, but is debutant director Aditya Dhar up to the task of narrating this exciting tale of guts and glory?

Major Vihaan Shergill (Vicky Kaushal) is a dedicated young military commando who after a successful mission in Myanmar, decides to resign from the army to take care of his Alzheimer’s stricken mother (Swaroop Sampat), but at the insistence of the Prime Minister (Rajit Kapur) and the National Security Advisor (Paresh Rawal), takes up desk job at the Army HQ in New Delhi.

But when the Uri attack occurs, and ends up hitting a little too close to home, will Vihaan heed the call of his conscience, and take the fight back to the enemy? With the support of a hawkish establishment, a steely glanced intelligence agent (Yami Gautam) and a grieving pilot (Kirti Kulhari), can Major Shergill win back India its lost honor, by striking fear, deep in the heart of the enemy?Continue reading “Uri Movie Review: A Lobotomy of the Senses”

Petta Movie Review: The Stars Are Out Tonight

There’s something to be said about the excitement in the air, as one walks into the theatre for a Rajinikanth movie. The old cliché about a Rajinikanth movie being an event didn’t ring true for a while, what with the critically reviled Kochadaiyaan and Lingaa and mixed feelings with regard to Kabali, but with Kaala, it seemed like the star for a change made way for the actor, and 2.0 was for the fans and fans alone.Continue reading “Petta Movie Review: The Stars Are Out Tonight”

KGF Chapter 1 Movie Review: All That Glitters…

What is it about a hero’s journey that fascinates a storyteller? Is it the fact that they are willing to go where nobody’s ever gone before, or their perseverance in staring down odds that might deter one even slightly lacking in spirit? With Ugramm, director Prashanth Neel made a rather impactful debut, and ensured that he’s a talent to watch out for.Continue reading “KGF Chapter 1 Movie Review: All That Glitters…”

Karwaan Movie Review: Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana

Death is a concept that has left itself open to many interpretations and reactions. To some, it’s the unshackling of the chains of responsibility. To some, it is merely a journey into the unknown. Some react to it by unleashing a torrent of grief, some pragmatically and some take their own time to process the loss.

Akarsh Khurana’s second directorial effort after the stoner comedy High-Jack attempts to give us a glimpse into the lives of 3 individuals, all dealing with their own definitions of loss, but the question is, does it translate into a satisfactory cinematic experience?Continue reading “Karwaan Movie Review: Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana”

Katheyondu Shuruvagide Movie Review – Learning To Fly

Love and adversity make for strange bedfellows. When one comes across love at the most inconvenient time possible, there is hesitancy that one faces, especially if one were to believe that one does not deserve love, or to be loved. Debutant director Senna Hegde attempts to give us a glimpse of what goes on in the minds of broken birds when the matters of the heart take control.

Tarun (Diganth) is a young entrepreneur struggling to keep his passion project, a holiday resort, afloat while resisting a buyout bid from a local builder. When a guest, Tanya (Pooja Devariya), shows up at the resort in the strangest circumstances possible, Tarun finds himself quite taken by her, and Tanya finds herself slowly being drawn into his world, populated by his loving uncle and aunt (Babu Hirannaiah and Aruna Balraj), and his supportive staff (Ashwin Rao Pallakki, Shreya Anchan and Prakash Thuminadu). But can these 2 wounded souls put aside their emotional baggage long enough to find love again?

Continue reading “Katheyondu Shuruvagide Movie Review – Learning To Fly”

Paddayi Tulu Movie Review: Shakespeare comes to the coast

It must be said, that the Bard’s works have a certain sense of longevity to them, considering they lend themselves to multiple forms of adaptations on different mediums even today. Macbeth for one, is a story that resonates with the public even today due to the underlying themes of greed, jealousy and guilt present in it.

Thus, when the National Award winning director, Abhaya Simha, adapts this age-old tale to a fishing community in coastal Karnataka, even eschewing the more widely spoken Kannada for the local Tulu dialect, one’s curiosity is aroused about how the story will turn out.

Continue reading “Paddayi Tulu Movie Review: Shakespeare comes to the coast”

Sanju Movie Review: Baba Ki Chowki

What can one say about Sanjay Dutt, that the multitudes of headlines, columns, think pieces, testimonials, and even an unauthorized biography, haven’t let us know? Dutt or Baba as he’s more fondly referred to by his fandom, ranging from colleagues in the film fraternity, to the man on the street, has always been a darling of the masses, in spite of his many misadventures with the law.Continue reading “Sanju Movie Review: Baba Ki Chowki”