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!

The India Story presents viewers with shocking information about food contamination, rampant pesticide use, and the production of fake milk. As an educational video or documentary, it works best. But a film, especially a courtroom drama, needs high-voltage moments, clapworthy dialogues etc. Sadly, the film is devoid of these crucial aspects. The opposition party is strong, but their lawyer is merely defending the accusations. It doesn't bring forth any evidence or witness to prove its point. Any other corporation would have gone all out to save its face. Moreover, the film gets too depressing in the second half. The finale is predictable and very convenient. Shreyas Talpade hardly has anything to do in the first half but makes his presence felt in the post-interval scenes. Meanwhile, Kajal Aggarwal Kitchlu is the soul of the first half. Murli Sharma and Manish Wadhwa are dependable. Child actor Trisha Sharda plays a difficult role with panache. All in all, The India Story had the potential to be like Damini or Pink, but sadly turns out to be a poorly made courtroom flick.

My rating - * ½ out of 5!

Jana Nayagan is the last film of Thalapathy Vijay, one of the greatest superstars of not just Tamil but also Indian cinema, and now the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In terms of story, it offers nothing new. The villain's backstory is silly and the scene involving some kind of robots is laughable. On the positive side, the 183-minute-long film doesn’t bore even for a second. The mass-appealing scenes are exhilarating. Moreover, it touches upon corruption in politics, patriotism, a character on a hunger strike and the government using unfair means to cause trouble. Hence, it’s a very relevant film. Sadly, the film got leaked but it doesn’t seem to have had much of an impact looking at the craze. In fact, a few dialogues, celebrating Vijay, work even better since he won the elections. Performance-wise, he’s electrifying to say the least and it's sad that this is his last film. Mamitha Baiju has a crucial role and delivers an impactful performance. The beautiful Pooja Hegde lends able support. Bobby Deol is superb as the antagonist, even though the writing lets him down. Prakash Raj goes back to his Singham and Wanted avatar and is impressive. Gautham Vasudev Menon (Viji's father), Priyamani, Revathy (Thalapathy’s mother), Nassar (Arivudai Nambi; CM), Sunil (Velu; corrupt cop) and the actor playing Porkodi deliver memorable performances. All in all, Jana Nayagan is a timepass mass-appealing flick and a must for Vijay’s fans and admirers. A star of the masses who'll always be remembered for generating historic craze in theatres and of course, for his envious track record.

The Invite, which was recently released in cinemas, is set entirely inside one house and revolves around just four characters. What begins as a simple get-together soon spirals into something far more chaotic. There have been films of this kind in the past like Carnage, Bheja Fry etc. The Invite follows the same template but the material is different and that adds to the fun and madness. The second half is unexpected. Moreover, the film is shot on 35mm, and it gives the film a distinct look. On the flipside, the emotional turn in the pre-climax, though lovely, seems forced. There's a sudden shift in the tonality, which is unsettling. Another major issue lies with the film’s Indian distributor, PVR INOX Pictures, which has released it without subtitles. Moreover, the ‘smoking, drinking and drug consumption are injurious to health’ ticker remains on the screen from start to finish, even though the characters indulge in these activities during only around 40% of the runtime. Believe it or not, the warning appears during the production-house logos and continues even through the end credits! Seth Rogen is aptly cast and speaks a lot through his silences as well. Penélope Cruz is a powerhouse performer, as expected, and is superb in the third act, especially. Edward Norton is dependable. Olivia Wilde impresses as the director but as an actor, she goes overboard in some scenes. All in all, The Invite is worth watching for its crazy concept.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Incognito is a recently released short film presented by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. The film's name gives some idea of what it touches upon. The subject is unique and very gripping, and director Ravi Muppa captivates audiences despite minimal dialogue. The film is 25 minutes long, but the viewer doesn't feel bored, and the interest level doesn't drop even for a second. The film gets tense in the climax and even though one might predict the outcome, it still makes for a gripping watch. However, the very final scene is abrupt, and one wishes something more had happened.

Speaking of performances, Vikram Singh is superb and conveys a lot through his eyes. Dev Chauhan and Ayushi Nema also make their presence felt.

The work of the crew is exemplary, and special mention should go to Azim Moollan's cinematography. Certain frames are fixed, yet they manage to capture a lot. Mathew Job's background score enhances the tension.

Incognito is available on the brand-new, shorts-exclusive YouTube channel ‘Oh Short Flips’, backed by producer Ranjan Singh and curated by Kashyap. LINK BELOW

The Odyssey has an unconventional start. For someone who last read about Greek mythology more than two decades ago, coincidentally after watching a film (Troy), it takes around 20 minutes to understand the setting, the characters and their relationships with one another. The story goes back-and-forth and yet, it is seamless. A few scenes of the voyage and what happens on the way are very memorable (and scary), while the emotional scenes touches heart. But it's the climax which takes the film to dizzying heights; see it to believe it! On the flipside, the interest levels dip at some places and a major plot point in the beginning is convenient. Matt Damon delivers one of the finest performances of his career. Whether its emotional scenes or indulging in action, he performs like a pro. A performance that deserves an Oscar! Tom Holland also makes his presence felt and delivers a sincere performance. Anne Hathaway delivers yet another remarkable performance. How she manages to slip into diverse characters effortlessly is a feat. Robert Pattinson gets under the skin of his character and is aptly cast. John Leguizamo (Eumaeus; blind man), Samantha Morton (Circe) and Charlize Theron (Calypso) leave a huge mark in small roles. Lupita Nyong'o is okay. Zendaya (Athena) is memorable in a cameo. The music score is also Oscar-worthy. The Sirens theme is haunting and one of the best pieces in a long time. All in all, The Odyssey is layered yet mass-appealing and a rare Christopher Nolan film that doesn't go bouncer. Don't miss!

My rating - **** ½ out of 5!

Ikka, which has been released today on Netflix, starts on a very promising note. The way things unfold and bring the characters together makes for an interesting watch. A few courtroom scenes are riveting. However, the film falters as the legal proceedings shown in the film appear juvenile in places. It is set in a world where CCTV cameras don't exist. A few interesting plot points are raised, but for some reason, they are never explored in the court. The last scene thankfully saves the film to some extent. The other strong point of the film is the casting. Sunny Deol doesn't indulge in fights or Damini-style dialoguebaazi. Yet, it's an impressive performance. Akshaye Khanna looks like he walked out of Dhurandhar and came on to the sets of this film. But no complaints, as it's just so much fun to see him on screen and in his element. Dia Mirza has a crucial part and does very well. Tillotama Shome is let down by the writing, but as always, she delivers a terrific performance. Daria Bedi (Samaira; Arjun's daughter) puts up a confident act. Sanjeeda Shaikh (Gauri) leaves a mark. Vijay Vikram Singh (Judge) is too good as the judge. All in all, Ikka is an average fare and worth watching only for the coming together of Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna.

My rating - ** ½ out of 5!

Dhamaal 4 is a film which is easy to comprehend. Director Indra Kumar is a good, old commercial filmmaker and hence, the film has mainstream appeal. It is also a clean entertainer, making it suitable for the whole family. A few jokes here and there are hilarious. However, the biggest issue is that most jokes don't land as intended. The film stagnates in the middle of the first half, with the horror angle failing to work. An emotional scene at the end results in unintentional humour. Ajay Devgn is in good form and raises laughs with his antics. Arshad Warsi and Jaaved Jaaferi generate the most laughs. Riteish Deshmukh is dependable, as always. Ravi Kishan is aptly cast while Sanjay Mishra, Upendra Limaye and Vijay Patkar lend able support. Esha Gupta and Sanjeeda Shaikh are just okay, while Anjali Anand makes her presence felt. All in all, Dhamaal 4 is an average flick.

My rating - ** ½ out of 5!

Moana is visually spectacular. Director Thomas Kail has made sure the characters look convincing and are as similar as possible to the animated Moana. A few dialogues are newly added and were not there in the original version. But the biggest issue with the film is that, more or less, it's the same film. The 2026 version is 'ahead of its time' as it comes too soon. The original animated film is still fresh in the minds of viewers. In fact, Moana 2 released less than 2 years ago, while Moana 3 is in the works. In the midst of this, the need for a live-action remake makes little sense. Moreover, the original gave the makers scope to add lot of humour and cuteness. The remake falls short in that regard. Even the songs were better in the animated flick. In terms of look and personality, Catherine Laga'aia is aptly cast. However, her performance is inconsistent. Dwayne Johnson is highly entertaining and, in many ways, the saving grace of the film. Rena Owen tries her best but fails to convincingly play the part of the crazy village lady. All in all, Moana should be watched only by those who have not seen the original animated film.

My rating - ** out of 5!

Evil Dead Burn starts on a thrilling note. The dysfunctional family angle makes for an interesting watch and a few scenes at the beginning are quite eerie. However, the gore goes to another level this time. Even though audiences are now used to excessive violence, they may still be put off by the amount of bloodshed. Agreed, this is what the series has always been known for. But it also balanced that with significant tension and nail-biting moments. That balance is missing in Evil Dead Burn. Souheila Yacoub (Alice) is great in the lead role. George Pullar (William) leaves a mark in a small part. Hunter Doohan (Joseph) and Luciane Buchanan (Thya) do well, while Tandi Wright (Susan; mother) and Erroll Shand (Edgar; father) are much better. Maude Davey (Polly) delivers the best performance in the film. All in all, Evil Dead Burn is too gory and too disappointing.

My rating - ** out of 5!