Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar could have well been named Pyaar Ka Punchnama 3. It's the story of three friends sharing a flat; the only difference here is that two of them are guys and one is a girl. The trailer promised that it's about their adventures during their school reunion. However, the film offers much more than that. A cameo by a prominent actor sets the mood, while the funny dialogues, distinct background score for the three love stories and the songs keep the interest going. The song 'Kamaal' is superb; watch out for its choreography. The film takes a surprise turn in the third act, and the makers deserve a big thank you for not revealing it in the trailer. On the flipside, a few sequences are illogical and even problematic. In fact, don't expect logic after a point in the film. Some developments and character traits are difficult to comprehend and should have been simplified. A few jokes don't work as intended. All six newcomers – Sparsh Walia, Kunal Vaid, Sargun Kaur Luthra, Alisha Chopra, Sakshi Vaidya and Tushar Chhibber – perform ably as per the requirements of their respective roles. They are also presented stylishly and in an appealing manner. All in all, Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar is a surprise of the season, and here's hoping it gets love and appreciation from the audiences in cinemas.

My rating - *** out of 5!

Tu Hai Meri Kiran's trailer gives the impression that the film is about a woman being stalked by an obsessive lover. However, the film turns out to be much more than that. A major development takes place within the first 15 minutes, which is novel and rarely seen in films. This immediately gets the audience interested. Moreover, one can't predict where the story will go next. Sadly, the narrative gets complicated in the second half, and certain developments are difficult to digest. A feature phone plays an important role in the story, but the makers don't delve into its backstory, thereby denting the impact. Sonakshi Sinha is presented in a manner that makes the stalker's intense obsession with her seem believable. Performance-wise, she's first-rate. Zaheer Iqbal is impressive as a stalker who can also pass off as an innocent chap. Ankit Gupta (Riyaan) is fair. Purnendu Bhattacharya does well, but his track is the weakest part of the film. All in all, Tu Hai Meri Kiran exceeds expectations.

My rating - *** out of 5!

Clayface belongs to the DC universe but unlike any of their previous films. It is A-rated and has lots of violence and gore. But it's used innovatively, and moreover, the character arc is superbly handled. One roots for the protagonist when his face is disfigured and his equation with the doctor is lovely. The best part of the film is when he starts using his powers and a few scenes are whistle and hoot-worthy. However, after a point, the plot gets complicated and moreover, there's lack of consistency in how his powers are depicted. The final scene is a bit confusing. Tom Rhys Harries is terrific; his expressions and body language are spot-on, especially in scenes where he's struggling. Naomi Ackie (Dr Caitlyn Corr) leaves a huge mark. Joshua James' (Corey Bowery) awkward smile adds to his performance. David Dencik (Markos Szabo) is absent for a substantial portion of the film but makes up for it with his apt performance. Max Minghella (John Borrelli; Gotham City detective) has a crucial part and makes his presence felt. Corey Johnson (Cadillac Sal) leaves a mark, especially towards the end. All in all, Clayface is a one-of-a-kind DC film.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Udta Teer's biggest strength is its humour. It's something we don't often get to see in our films as it's wild and has a geopolitical touch. In fact, the humour also derives from the clever use of old songs (watch out for how 'Julie I Love You' is used in the movie). The basic premise of a Pakistani spy losing his memory and turning into a true Indian patriot itself deserves brownie points. Sadly, the film turns serious in the second half, which is where it falters a lot. There are too many twists and double-crosses and instead of impressing viewers, it makes them lost interest into the film. A scene and a song post-interval seem forcefully added and look completely out of place. Ayushmann Khurrana is great as a spy gone rogue due to memory issues. Sara Ali Khan performs ably but her character hardly has anything to do. Rahul Bose delivers the funniest performance of his career. Even the late Mukul Dev is too good. Ram Kapoor, Gulshan Grover and Suhail Nayyar (Dhruv Kumar Singh) are entertaining. Sandeep Anand (Shambhu; Vikrant's househelp) and Smita Tambe (I S Holkar; Vikrant's boss) raise laughs. Kavya Kumar (Sharif) is funny. All in all, Udta Teer is a timepass spy comedy.

My rating - *** out of 5!

At a time when violent and 'A'-rated films are in vogue, Little Thomas attempts to offer a refreshing change with its innocent, family-friendly narrative. However, it has its share of shortcomings.

The story of the movie: Set in the early 1990s, the film revolves around Thomas Miranda (Hridansh Parekh), who lives in Goa with his father Desmond (Gulshan Devaiah) and mother Jessie (Rasika Dugal). Desmond runs a bakery established by his father. However, the business is struggling, especially with new players entering the market following the liberalization of the economy. Their family friend Reuben (Aseem Hattangadi) is getting married but hesitates to place an order for his wedding cake with Desmond. Reuben persuades Jessie to sell the bakery to a large company that has expressed interest in acquiring it. However, Desmond is adamant about not selling his family business. Meanwhile, Thomas desperately wants a baby brother. Curious to know where babies come from, he asks his parents, who hesitate and refuse to give him a proper answer. This only fuels Thomas' curiosity, and he sets out on a mission to discover the truth.

Little Thomas' biggest strength is its simplicity. The characters, their mischief and their fights – all seem very relatable. Amidst this realism, writer-director Kaushal Oza has neatly woven in the track of Thomas' mission to find out where babies come from. The other crucial track, involving the bakery, also makes for an engaging watch. An interesting aspect of the film is the reference to the 'cooling charge', wherein shopkeepers would charge an extra rupee for serving chilled soft drinks. This was a common practice at one point, and such details evoke a sense of nostalgia.

On the other hand, for a film marketed as a children's entertainer, Little Thomas often gets too heavy, especially during the confrontations between Desmond and Jessie. At 127 minutes, the film feels unnecessarily long, as the makers stretch the premise beyond its potential. Ideally, Little Thomas  should have been shorter, with a runtime of around 90 to 100 minutes. The climax is sweet but also simplistic, as the problems in the characters' lives get resolved rather conveniently and quickly.

Hridansh Parekh is adorable and delivers a natural performance that never seems rehearsed. He is so effective that he even overshadows the seasoned actors in several scenes. Gulshan Devaiah is aptly cast and makes his presence felt through his silences and vulnerability. He is particularly impressive in his introductory scene and the pre-climax. Rasika Dugal, as always, delivers a terrific performance and gets completely into the skin of her character. Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal (Mrs Braganza) leaves a mark in a small role. Sanjay Motilal Gurbaxani (Father Lopez), Aseem Hattangadi, Preeti Sharma (Cynthia), Faezeh Jalali (Confession Lady), Mukund Bhatt (Kaalsao Uncle) and Uday Chandra (Johnson; band member) lend able support. Among the child actors, Hridyaansh Gokani (Nigel) and Ninad Pandith (Murthy) also perform very well.

The film has very few songs, and none of them are particularly memorable. However, the picturization of 'Itna Hai Tumko Batana' is sweet. Mayukh and Mainak's background score is in sync with the film's theme and Goan setting.

Dorian Lucarelli's cinematography is appealing, and the picturesque locales of Goa are beautifully captured. Vikram Singh and Parul Rai's production design and Smiti Kaur's costumes are authentic and effectively recreate the early 1990s. SM Rolling FX's VFX could have been better, particularly in the monkey sequence. Amit Malhotra's editing could have been sharper.

Kaushal Oza's story is simple, innocent and heartwarming. It beautifully captures the curiosity of childhood and puts a smile on one's face. Kaushal Oza's screenplay does justice to the interesting premise, though the narrative loses steam at certain places. Kaushal Oza's dialogues are cute and funny, while the confrontational scenes feature conversations that seem straight out of life. However, certain dialogues are difficult to comprehend, and hence, subtitles should ideally be provided in all prints.

Kaushal Oza's direction is decent. He tells a story rooted in childhood innocence, even though the questions asked by the kids are far from innocent. He balances both these aspects nicely and ensures that Little Thomas remains suitable for family viewing. Although the scenes involving the parents' fights are crucial to the narrative, they also make the film unnecessarily serious. In Hollywood, children's films like Home Alone, Stuart Little, etc. provided entertainment without getting too heavy. Little Thomas had the potential to be an Indian answer to such films, but alas, it falls short.

On the whole, Little Thomas is a simple, heartwarming family entertainer that works due to its innocent premise, adorable performances, nostalgic setting and some genuinely lovely moments.

My rating - *** out of 5!

RECORD RELEASES THIS FRIDAY; WILL UDTA TEER MANAGE TO GET AN AUDIENCE?

2 weeks are left for Diwali and this is a time when several films try their luck at the box office. This often leads to overcrowding, and this Friday, October 23, is no different. Tomorrow, as many as six Hindi films will try their luck at the box office. These movies are as follows:

1. UDTA TEER: It stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan and is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment. The storyline is hilarious – a Pakistani spy infiltrates India and loses his memory, leading to chaos and madness. The trailer has done the trick and has aroused some sort of interest in the film. But the songs haven’t worked and the humour is such that it’ll appeal only to the urban elite. As a result, an opening of Rs. 2.50-3 crores is expected.

2. PEHLA PYAAR DOOSRI BAAR: It is produced by Luv Ranjan and launches six newcomers. The trailer gives the vibe that it would be like a typical Luv Ranjan film, and hence, it’ll find some takers. But the buzz is low and there’s not much excitement for the debutant star cast. The film is expected to open around Rs. 50-60 lakhs and if all goes well, it may cross the Rs. 1 crore mark.

3. TU HAI MERI KIRAN: It stars real-life couple, Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal. Usually, actors who are married or dating for real play conventional lovers on screen. That’s not the case here, as Zaheer plays a stalker who is obsessed with Sonakshi. The trailer is intriguing, but due to limited hype and overcrowding, it’ll open under Rs. 50 lakhs.

4. TUM MERE HO: It stars Gurmeet Choudhary and Isha Malviya, and their casting and extensive promotion have added to the film's awareness. Like Tu Hai Meri Kiran, it should also open under Rs. 50 lakhs.

5. LITTLE THOMAS: It stars Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal and tells an interesting story of a child who wants to know where babies come from! It has very limited shows and hence, it’ll have an opening of less than Rs. 10 lakhs.

6. DOOSRA: It is partly a documentary about Sourav Ganguly and also has a parallel fictional track. Due to its niche nature, this film, like Little Thomas, would also have a low opening.