Lust Stories 3's first story, featuring Radhika Apte and Konkona Sen Sharma, is well executed by Vikramaditya Motwane; the director keeps the tone light. The Korean drama connection is hilarious, and the twist at the end is unexpected. Kiran Rao's story, too, is quirky. Though there's suspense at the end, it's not completely convincing. Shakun Batra's story is the weakest of all, though a few moments are exceptionally executed. Vishal Bhardwaj's story is decent and fresh. However, the last two stories are too long and less effective. The entire film has a run time of 2 hours and 44 minutes, and it could have easily been shorter by 15-20 minutes. Both Radhika Apte and Konkona Sen Sharma deliver highly entertaining performances. Abhishek Banerjee and Vijay Varma, too, make their presence felt. Gurfateh Pirzada proves yet again that he’s an actor to watch out for. Sana Thampi is an excellent find. Ali Fazal and Radhikka Madan are equally impactful. Aditi Rao Hydari is adorable while Siddharth delivers a sincere performance. Rajat Kapoor (Therapist) flawlessly slips into the role. Gajraj Rao (Abbujaan) is very cute and only he could have pulled off the part. All in all, Lust Stories 3 is a timepass flick.

My rating - *** out of 5!

Vibe is a film right up the alley of director-writer-actor Kunal Kemmu. Hence, the humour is in the zone of Madgaon Express and Go Goa Gone. The first half is hilarious and most of the jokes land successfully. The twist is unexpected and keeps the interest going. The characters are well etched; the terrorism and national security angles are nicely infused, while the intermission point is a shocker. The humour continues post-interval but the jokes are fewer in this hour. Also, the film gets serious and even a bit routine and this is where the film falters. Certain aspects were not properly summed up, making us wonder why they were even introduced in the first place. Kunal Kemmu as an actor is too good. Playing such goofy roles comes naturally to him and even in Vibe, he essays it with full conviction. Preity Zinta looks stunning and performance-wise, she’s first-rate. Sparsh Srivastava ensures that he doesn't get overpowered and puts up a great act. Vanshika Dhir is a great find and has a crucial part. Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua (Bansi), Yashpal Sharma (Rawal) and Mark Bennington (Kareena's father) are fair. Rajesh Krishnan (Bug's Boss), Uorfi Javed (Chanchal Screwvala) and Aaditya Kulshreshth aka Kullu (Hardik's colleague) do well in cameos. All in all, despite the hiccups, Vibe is worth watching.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Daayra has an intriguing premise and in no time, it sucks viewers into the world. The locations are fresh, rarely seen in Hindi cinema, and it adds to the realism. The intercuts are smart, and the makers cleverly take the narrative in an unexpected direction in the second half, contrary to the audience’s assumptions about what might have transpired. However, the second half is stretched. The biggest grouse with the film is that the ending is abrupt and sudden. I couldn't believe my eyes when the credits started to roll. It impacts the film heavily. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays a cop, but unlike the trend nowadays, she is neither depressed nor an alcoholic. Her performance is supreme. Prithviraj Sukumaran is terrific. His dialogue delivery is superb, but watch how he communicates merely through his eyes. Kshitee Jog (Ragini's mother), Jitendra Joshi (Inspector Karad) and Kanwaljit Singh (Judge Kohli) are dependable as always. Brij Bhushan Shukla (Inspector Bala; who refuses to file an FIR), Upendra Chauhan (Vishal Mishra; team Ajooni), Ipshita Singh (Aarti; team Ajooni), Trupti Khamkar (SI Jyoti; team DCP), Ram Diwakar (Raju), Ashutosh Kumar Gupta (Bablu), Abdul Mani (Mani), Aditya Kumar (Mastan) and the actor playing Gopal and also do well. All in all, Daayra could have been another Talwar from Meghana Gulzar but ends up being an average flick.

My rating - ** ½ out of 5!

Resident Evil is directed by Zach Cregger, who made the incredible Weapons last year. With this film, he brings his own touch, which is different from the rest of the films in the series. Yet, he ensures it stays in the same zone. He also uses a video-game-style approach, which would be loved by the OG fans, since Resident Evil originated as a video game. The first half is flawless, with no reason to complain; the jumpscares are just right. The gore is not added for the heck of it, as is often the case nowadays with both Indian and foreign filmmakers. However, things start to get repetitive. A few scenes, intended to add fear, fail to make a mark. Thankfully, the film picks up in the climax. The other issue with the film is the anti-smoking ticker on the bottom right-hand side. It’s too distracting and the studio should have opted for a smaller font. Austin Abrams dominates most of the screen time and plays an average Joe. He's vulnerable and not heroic, and that's what makes him relatable. Zach Cherry (Carl), Kali Reis (Maxine), Paul Walter Hauser (Paul; scientist) and Johnno Wilson (Wilson; sheriff) are superb in supporting roles. Andrea Miltnerová (the first zombie Bryan encounters) rocks the show with her performance and expressions. All in all, Resident Evil makes for a great, fun watch.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Ghamasaan, which has released today on Zee5, is inspired by real-life incidents. It tells the story of an honest cop and his quest to eliminate a dreaded gangster of Bundelkhand. What strikes viewers at the very onset is that director Tigmanshu Dhulia, who had faltered lately, is back with a bang with a film that reminds one of his past memorable films like Haasil, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster and Paan Singh Tomar. The villain has been fleshed out perfectly. Viewers will feel terrified when he appears on screen or commits atrocities and will root for the protagonist to eliminate him. The film stagnates in some places and a few sub-plots don't connect properly to the principal plot. The final scene doesn’t pack a punch as intended. However, the portion before that is very nail biting and also clapworthy. Arshad Warsi is known for comic roles, but here he’s seen in a never-before-seen avatar and he rocks the show. Easily, one of his best performances. Rajpal Yadav also switches gears and he, too, comes out with flying colours. Pratik Gandhi gets a bit overshadowed but nevertheless, he impresses with his performance. Ishita Dutta has limited screen time and does a fine job. Jatin Goswami (Angad) yet again proves that he’s a powerhouse of talent. Deepraj Rana (Inspector Harsh), Seema Azmi (Kumari Sarojini), Pankaj Saraswat (S K Dubey), Mrityunjay Pandey (Rizwan), Paritosh Sand (Madhura Prasad), Anurag Thakur (Balram Yadav) and Hemant Dandotiya (Lakhua) lend able support. All in all, Ghamasaan is worth watching for its subject, nail-biting moments and the never-before-seen performance by Arshad Warsi.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Last Man In Tower has been released in cinemas today and is based on Aravind Adiga's book of the same name. The topic is very relatable - it is set in a dilapidated society where a greedy builder gives an offer to the residents they can't refuse. But one resident stands his ground. The film comes at a right time as the redevelopment boom is at an all-time high. The characters are straight out of life and so are their dreams, aspirations and dilemmas. However, while the film starts on a simplistic note, it becomes a bit abstract at one point. The finale is shocking but also slightly unconvincing. A plot involving a journalist is underdeveloped. It is also strange and rather disappointing that certain shots, presented in the trailer, are missing from the film; those scenes would have added a lot to the film. Manoj Bajpayee delivers a very heartfelt and heroic performance. Boman Irani's builder act is flawless. Divya Dutta, as always, comes out with flying colours. Chandan Roy Sanyal (Ramesh Ajwani), Uday Chandra (Mr Pinto), Madhuri Bhatia (Mrs Pinto), Swaroopa Ghosh (Mrs Rego; single mother) and Sukant Goel (Gaurav Mishra; Yogesh's son) also do well. All in all, Last Man In Tower is worth watching for the performances and relatability.

My rating - *** out of 5!

Haiwaan's first hour is disjointed and random. Too many characters and subplots are introduced and one wonders where the film is heading and what exactly is the point. Three songs are forced into the narrative, which makes the goings-on tedious. The interval block raises some hopes but it all goes downhill in the second half. A few scenes and moments stand out and save the day. The climax is unintentionally funny. The plot is promising; however, since Priyadarshan's direction is shockingly shoddy, the film ultimately fails to entice. Akshay Kumar is great and the way he lets his silence do the talking is impressive. However, his dialogue delivery is a bit over-the-top. Saif Ali Khan has the maximum screen time and entertains with his blind act and also action. Boman Irani and Saiyami Kher are dependable. Shriya Pilgaonkar is fair but is let down by the writing. Sharib Hashmi and Rajpal Yadav do well, but most of their jokes don't land as intended. All in all, Haiwaan is disappointing.

My rating - ** out of 5!

Mirzapur The Movie is nothing short of a risk. Usually, films based on series are continuations of the most recent season. Instead, its story is set between Episodes 6 and 7 of the first season. Hence, it cannot contradict or affect what happens subsequently in the series. Thankfully, the makers take great care of it and, at the same time, deliver an entertaining product. The action is minimal, but the confrontational scenes up the impact. The last 20 minutes are exciting. On the flipside, though the film doesn't bore, it does get stretched. Babban lacks a strong motive to get into the fight arena. Most of the actresses don't have much to do. Also, its timeline makes the film predictable, while the songs fail to entice. Pankaj Tripathi delivers a supreme performance, followed by Ali Fazal, who showcases his massiest avatar to date. Divyenndu is too good and shines in the emotional scenes as well. Jitendra Kumar effortlessly fits into Bablu's role. Ravi Kishan is superb and his fans won't be disappointed as he's projected heroically. Pramod Pathak has limited screen time but is memorable and raises the most laughs. Sheeba Chaddha and Rasika Dugal leave a mark. Sonal Chauhan looks stunning and proves with her performance that she deserves to be seen more. Satendra Soni (Chandu Puncture) is the surprise of the film. Abhishek Banerjee, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Shaji Choudhary (Maqbool), Anangsha Biswas (Zarina), Sushant Singh (Bhairav Singh Karnawat), Rajesh Tailang (Ramakant Pandit) and Mohitt Maalik (Birju Lohar) are decent. Shweta Tripathi (Golu) and Shriya Pilgaonkar (Sweety) are impressive but don’t have much to do. Harshita Gaur (Dimpy) is wasted. All in all, Mirzapur The Movie has some limitations but overall turns out to be an entertaining fare.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Gandhari, which has released today on Netflix, is the story of a woman who loses her daughter (to a kidnapping gang) and her eyesight on the same day. How she takes matters into her own hands forms the crux of the tale. The film is just 116 minutes long and moves at a fast pace. The blindness track is unexpected and unlike anything seen in any other film. The film is set in a mysterious town where a certain Bahrupi community resides, and it adds a novel touch. On the flipside, there are too many cinematic liberties. The villain is weak, while a few characters enter the narrative all of a sudden. However, the biggest issue with the film is its climax. The face-off is very unconvincing and arguably even forced. Taapsee Pannu shines in such author-backed, heroic roles and Gandhari is no exception. Ishwak Singh puts up a sincere act but is let down by the writing. Jatin Sarna (Kabir) and Mita Vashisht (Jhunu Amba) perform ably while Chhaya Kadam (Uma) and Chandan Roy (Somesh) deserved more screen time. Prashant Narayanan (Dada) and Swastika Mukherjee (Churni) are fair. Priti Shroff (ASI Sanjukta) is a great find. All in all, Gandhari is an average fare and worth watching for the concept and Taapsee Pannu.

My rating - ** ½ out of 5!

Hanuman Ansh is about the unbelievable life story of Shri Neeb Karori Baba. The film is like the Laalo of Bollywood. It hardly got any audience for the first 11 days, but then it miraculously picked up and how. The movie begins on a spectacular and dramatic note, setting the mood. The childhood portion is very interesting. It is made on a small budget and the makers have cut corners here and there. At some places, cheap AI is also used. However, the makers have overall done a fine job ensuring the product looks A-grade and classy. On the flipside, the execution could have been better. Also, the second half is not as impactful as the narrative gets a bit repetitive. Shobhinaw Satyaa is a great find and does a fabulous job as the leading actor. Special mention should also go to Vihaan Shedge as the young Laxmi. Bhagvandas Patel (Gopal) have crucial roles and deliver lovely performances. Chandan K Anand (Dr Ram Nandan Bhosale) and Nikhil Dubey (Sudhir) are hardly there and yet, leave a huge mark. Anil Rastogi (Mahant) comes next. Purnima Tiwari (Babaji's wife), Neha Paranjpe (Parvati), Gautam Tripathi (Parvati's husband, Radheshyam), Manish Chaudhary (Babaji's father), Alex Danilov (Sir Francis), Rajiv Mishra (Daroga Nasir Ali) and others also do fairly well. All in all, Hanuman Ansh is worth watching for its subject and to get acquainted with the life and times of Shri Neeb Karori Baba.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is a recently-released Malayalam film which is making waves for its content and box office. The film is directed by Girish A D of Premalu fame and is yet another light-hearted, sweet, family entertainer. Its biggest strength is its simplicity. The characters are extremely relatable and the humour quotient is strong. A few scenes would raise lots of laughs. Meanwhile, the love story is beautifully executed. The conflict that occurs, however, is not fully captivating. But the finale makes up for it. Nivin Pauly is excellent in the lead. He brings out the alpha-male side of his character very well, in a way that feels different from the loud, testosterone-heavy heroes we often see in films nowadays. Mamitha Baiju, as always, delivers a very impressive performance. Sangeeth Prathap (Joel) rocks the show. Shyam Mohan (Hari) is over the top but his special appearance works. Suresh Krishna (Baiju), Vinay Forrt (Alex), Bindu Panicker (Sister Cicily) and Parvathy Ayyappadas (Sayooja) leave a huge mark. All in all, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is one of the best films of the year and shouldn't be missed.

My rating - **** out of 5!

Toxic tells a story which must have sounded very interesting on paper. A few scenes are arresting while the scale is huge. Sadly, the goings-on are bizarre. One wonders where the story is heading. The twist is unexpected, but it doesn’t suit the zone and genre of the film at all. It ended up making the big-budget Toxic into a film festival type of cinema. The other problem with the film is that it was not ready until the last minute. Imagine a film whose shoot commenced in 2024 and wrapped in 2025, yet had its first show cancelled in 2026 because the print failed to arrive on time, as the makers were still putting the final touches on the film just hours before release! This has happened with several South films in the past. For a film of Toxic’s scale, such last-minute chaos reeks of unprofessionalism on the part of Yash and Geetu Mohandas. Speaking of performances, Yash puts in a lot of effort and looks dashing. But he also hams in a few scenes. Kiara Advani is the best performer in the film followed by Nayanthara. Both look stunning and perform ably. Tara Sutaria is a surprise; Huma Qureshi and Akshay Oberoi are dependable as always. Rukmini Vasanth is okay and her track is silly and boring. All in all, Toxic is a plain disappointment.

My rating - * ½ out of 5!

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie, like the previous parts, is just 88 minutes long and packs in a lot. This time, there are also dinosaurs and unlike Jurassic Park and The End Of Oak Street, they are not on a killing spree. Instead, they are adorable and some of them are cuter than the dogs. The climax is thrilling. However, the writing has several loose ends. The content appeals mainly to kids, unlike the animated films from Disney-Pixar or DreamWorks that target the whole family. Moreover, not all the dogs of the Paw Patrol get prominence. This time, the whole focus is on Marshall (Carter Young). The voiceover by Carter is the best, followed by Hayden Chamberlain (Rex), Henry Bolan (Ryder) and Ron Pardo (Humdinger). Others also do well. All in all, Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie is a decent timepass flick and worth watching if you are following the series.

My rating - *** out of 5!

Batwara 1947's storyline is a winner and it has all the ingredients of a hard-hitting yet emotional film. Director Rajkumar Santoshi's direction is simplistic and his biggest strength is how he sensitively handles the religious aspect. The film speaks about humanity, a message that feels particularly relevant in today's times. The action scenes are superb, while the bond shared by the old woman with the new occupants in the house is heartening. The climax is very moving. On the flipside, the first half is thanda and devoid of enough action scenes. This is disappointing since the trailer promised loads of action. Even the dialogues aren't as hard-hitting as those in Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi's earlier films like Ghayal, Damini and Ghatak. In fact, the play from which the film is adapted is classier than Batwara 1947 and yet has far more clapworthy one-liners. The songs are forgettable while the film is too long. Sunny Deol, like always, is fiery during the action scenes. But watch out for scenes where he breaks down. Shabana Azmi's performance is very endearing, ensuring that one would connect with her from the very first scene. Preity G Zinta puts up a great act and it's a pleasure to see her again on screen. Karan Deol, Khhushi Hajare (Tanno) and Kanikka Kapur (Nishat) are decent. Ali Fazal (Habib Anwar) is too good in a supporting role, while Abhimanyu Singh is apt as the villain. Ira Sandhir (Tabassum) is wasted. All in all, Batwara 1947 could have been more hard-hitting but nevertheless, it is worth watching once.

My rating - *** out of 5!

Awarapan 2 begins on a nostalgic and massy note, immediately exciting the viewers. The makers kept the principal conflict hidden in the trailer and it is laid out neatly in the first 20 minutes. The villain's track is very interesting, especially his equation with his siblings. The action moments keep the interest going while the recreated versions of 'Toh Phir Aao' and 'Tera Mera Rishta' add a nice touch. However, the film is nowhere close to the greatness of Awarapan. The romantic track is weak and a few developments are plain silly. The film has many twists, but one can predict a few of them from a mile away. The rest of the songs are forgettable while the last scene feels forced. Emraan Hashmi makes a return to his much-loved mass avatar. Just seeing him play Shivam again is enough reason to buy a ticket. Disha Patani looks stunning and delivers a first-rate performance. Shabana Azmi is fair and one wishes she had more to do. Puran Gabbi (Zorawar) and Aniruddh Rawal (Sikandar) are great discoveries and surprises of the film. Suvinder Vicky (Jaideep), Vijayant Kohli (Mehmood) and Atul Kumar (Samarth) lend able support while child actor Myrah Shivan gives a confident performance. All in all, Awarapan 2 is a decent flick.

My rating - *** out of 5!

The End Of Oak Street is the story of a family trying to survive when dinosaurs mysteriously appear in their neighbourhood. The plot is a winner and the execution adds to the impact. Director David Robert Mitchell has given the film a retro-style touch and it is evident not just in his treatment but also cinematography, the colour tone and background score. The camerawork is quite novel in certain shots. The jumpscares will lead to screams in cinemas while a few massy scenes will lead to claps. On the flipside, the actions of some characters seem illogical. A few sub-plots are forced. Removing them would have taken nothing away from the principal plot. A few funny scenes work but in some places, the humor feels forced. Lastly, a few questions remain unanswered until the very end. Anne Hathaway, who's on a roll this year, delivers yet another fantastic performance. This time, we see her do action but watch out for her in the emotional scenes. Ewan McGregor (Greg) dominates some key scenes. Maisy Stella (Audrey) and Christian Convery (Brian) lend able support. P J Byrne (Mel) is okay. Jordan Alexa Davis (Jeannette) does well but is let down by the writing. All in all, The End Of Oak Street is a fantastic, nail-biting thriller.

My rating - **** out of 5!

Ohh My Dog looked interesting from the trailer, but the film turns out even better. Both parallel tracks are gripping and peppered with nail-biting and highly entertaining moments. The way the dog goes all out for the master is very endearing. Some scenes will lead to claps in cinemas for the four-legged hero. Director Amit Rai (who earlier made OMG 2) deserves brownie points for shooting extensively with a dog. It's no cakewalk. Yet, he doesn't compromise on execution or take shortcuts, which is truly a feat. On the flipside, at 150 minutes, the film is too long and should have been shorter by 20 minutes. A few songs are forced into the narrative. Also, until a certain point, the goings-on look believable. But later, both tracks become unrealistic. The human actors put their best foot forward, but it is the dog Bruno, who plays Oscar, who takes the cake with his cuteness and bravery. Child actor Mahi Rai also puts his best foot forward and delivers a confident performance. Pankaj Tripathi is adorable in a supporting part. Nikhil Kumar (Prince), Pavan Malhotra (RTO officer), Geeta Agarwal (Apu's mother), Vijay Mishra (Dibrugarh SHO) and Rajesh Kumar (Patna Daroga) are dependable. Sulakhyana Baruah (Krishna; Apu's teacher) is a great find. All in all, Ohh My Dog is the surprise of the season and a must-watch for kids and dog lovers.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Bhai Tera Star Hai is about madness that unfolds in the course of one night in London. All the takes in the film are 5 or 10 minutes long. For sometime, one does get impressed that the makers managed to pack so much action into scenes filmed in a single take. However, this good impression soon vanishes. There are barely any funny moments in the film. Hence, it becomes a task to sit through the film, even though it's just 105 minutes long. The goings-on get bizarre as it progresses and the film ends rather abruptly. Believe it or not, there are 3 end-credit songs played back-to-back! Raghav Juyal is amusing in a few scenes, but overall, his performance is too loud, possibly due to the script's requirement. Niharika NM (Roshni) and Tina Desai (Chandani) deliver effective performances. Sanjay Kapoor is aptly cast and tries his best to enhance the entertainment quotient. Barkha Singh (Laila), Parvathy Omanakuttan (Natasha) and Vivan Bhatena (Sid) are sincere. Vikalp Mehta (JD) is let down by his character. Niki Walia and Dev Agarwal (Jackie; younger brother) are just okay, while an actor like Chandan Roy Sanyal (Officer Hamid) fails to entice. All in all, Bhai Tera Star Hai is highly avoidable.

My rating - * ½ out of 5!

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is different from the rest of the Spider-Man films and one can feel the difference from the very beginning. A fatigue had set in regarding action scenes in superhero films. In that regard, the film is quite fresh as the fight scenes are quite captivating. The cinematography is stunning; the close-up scenes of the superhero flying across New York make for a great watch. The emotional moments stand out, particularly in the first half. However, the interest level drops in the second half. A few plots are left underdeveloped. At times, the focus seems more on setting up the base for future MCU films than concentrating on the plot and conflict at hand. The previous Spider-Man films achieved a better balance. The entire track involving the Damage Control building is weak and unconvincing. Also, Spider-Man films are usually light-hearted, but this one is comparatively dark. An earlier Spider-Man film featuring a different actor had also ventured into this territory. However, even that film did not alter the tone quite so substantially. Speaking of performances, Tom Holland delivers his best Spider-Man act to date. One is moved by his plight and wants him to emerge victorious. Zendaya is adorable as MJ and shines in some key scenes. Jacob Batalon (Ned) is extremely likeable and one wishes he had more to do. Jon Bernthal (Punisher) delivers an entertaining performance. Mark Ruffalo is dependable as always. Liza Colón-Zayas (Jean DeWolff; detective) leaves a mark. Tramell Tillman (Bill Metzger) is okay and is let down by the script. The cameos are superb. All in all, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is not as fantastic as the previous 3 films of the superhero but it is nevertheless worth watching for its emotional and nail-biting moments, fresh action choreography and terrific performance by Tom Holland.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Tera Yaar Hoon Main has a mass-friendly treatment and the friendship shared by the protagonist and the girl's father is endearing. The two songs in the second half are foot-tapping, with the ‘Apun Bola Tu Meri Laila’-style number, ‘Tanu Ko Manu Chahiye’, standing out. However, the humour doesn't work as intended. The plot looks dated and something like this may have worked 10-15 years ago. Moreover, the exterior scenes look sub-standard. The finale is predictable. Aman Indra Kumar shows some promise in emotional and action scenes but needs to work on his comic timing. Akanksha Sharma has an arresting presence and delivers a first-rate performance. Paresh Rawal is the soul of the film. Supriya Pilgaonkar raises the maximum laughs, followed by Darshan Jariwala. Neha Khan is fair in a supporting role. All in all, Tera Yaar Hoon Main fails to impress.

My rating - ** out of 5!