Vijay 69 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Anupam Kher, Chunky Panday, Mihir Ahuja and others

Director: Akshaya Roy

Streaming On: Netflix

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes

Vijay 69 Review: What’s It About:

If the actors in this industry struggle with something, it is age-specific and age-relevant roles. Everyone is waiting for that age-appropriate role, from Hema Malini to Jaya Bachchan and Dharmendra to Govinda. However, the tragedy is that once in a while, when this opportunity arrives for an actor who is a delight for a director, it gets compromised due to a badly written script.

If there is one man in the industry who has been nailing aged roles since his Jawani, it is Anupam Kher undoubtedly. Now, at an old age, he is finally playing an old man again, but the irony is this time, he does not look like an old man convincing enough to make you move to tears, just like he did the first time in Saaransh! And who is to blame for this tragedy? Not Kher, to begin with!

Yash Raj Films decided to make something about the lonely, retired youth of this country after Sooraj Barjatya attempted Uunchai, another tale about elderly people. However, while the former was also not a masterpiece, the latter is a disaster of another level, despite Anupam Kher trying hard to shoulder this script soaked overnight with some dramatic dialogues to make it heavy!

Vijay 69 Review: Script Analysis:

Vijay 69 is about a man called Vijay (do not remember his surname) who is obviously 69 years of age and is worried about his Eulogy. The film starts on an interesting note about Vijay’s mistaken death and his friend giving him a final tribute with a speech in the church, only to see Vijay arriving at getting appalled at the frivolous speech!

He decides to make his life worthy enough to be remembered with praise and accolades, and this is the only motive for his remaining life – To die famous! The rest of the film is a shoddy accumulation of Vijay trying to achieve a dream he has just seen – to become someone who might be remembered with respect after his death!

As one of the characters in the film tells Anupam Kher – you are 30 years late; when he decides to complete a triathlon as the world’s oldest man to complete a triathlon at 69, I wonder if someone could tell Yash Raj Films the thought is good but the story makes absolutely no sense!

Vijay 69 Review: Star Performance:

When the film was announced, a lot of people confused it with Thalapathy 69, the last film of Thalapathy Vijay, before he finally slips into his new profession as a politician. Thalapathy is a Tamil word that means commander or leader! In the true sense, Anupam Kher tries to turn Thalapathy into his life in this film, and his struggle is relevant. In fact, he even succeeds in parts, but what is a commander or a leader without a mission or an army to command? In Vijay 69’s case, Anupam Kher, despite trying hard to turn Thalapathy into true sense, does not shine since there is no story or emotion that leads to his success!

The bunch of friends played by Guddi Maruti, Chunky Panday and others are not important to the story. So is the daughter, played by Sulagna Panigrahi!

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Vijay 69 Review: Direction:

Akshay, is credited as the director of Meri Pyari Bindu was supposed to create a story that should have only relied on magical moments here. Right from the scene when Anupam Kher’s Vijay decides to write his achievements on his piece of paper but the camera freezes on that blank page with one line – Bronze Medalist in National Swimming Championship.

In the entire film, I cannot figure out anything about Vijay if he is rich or not. After much of the story passed away, I came to know that he is a man who did not have a glorious profession to boast off. He was a swimming coach!

Now, a swimming coach deciding to turn into a triathlon athlete makes sense, but looking at Anupam Kher, cycling, swimming, or running never pumps you enough. He never looks like a former athlete for a fraction of a second at all! Probably, this was the biggest irony that a script such poor could not afford a fit, healthy, and young old man who did not look the part he was supposed to nail! Neither Akshay Roy’s writing impresses nor his treatment of the story!

Vijay 69 Review: What Doesn’t Work:

However, my problem with Vijay 69 is bigger here. My problem is also with a production house like Yash Raj Films, not trying to make any sense and instilling my 65-year-old mother into a barrage of insecurities, making every older person think they haven’t achieved anything in life if they do not have something to be remembered for. I mean, really? Is life and experience that frivolous?

A man who is 69, who has raised a daughter and raised her well despite financial struggles, educated her, got her married, fought with a wife dying of cancer, grieved but never succumbed to the loss, still living life in jest, has friends, can curse, is lively, can even make 18-year-old children is friends, still coaches young kids to swim – a man who has literally lived for everyone does not find his life achievement? While this might be a temporary thought, why cement it in anyone’s life like a verdict? A man who just needed reassurance from his family, peers, and friends that every single day of your life was worth celebrating and it was an achievement!

And suddenly, this man, despite having at least ten people in his life, has to seek inspiration, courage, and motivation from his dead wife, who seems too superficial – not because the thought could not exist, but because it was bizarrely incorporated in the script.

The film in shades is about a man fighting loneliness, who finds a friend in an 18 year old – a rival from the triathlon but even that angle is left unexplored as if the director was totally uninterested to explore this relationship. In fact, it could have been more entertaining if Chunky Panday had played Vijay, and at least one could empathize with his struggle. Anupam Kher’s struggle, which is 100 times more because of an unimpressive script, is so visible that it is hard to ignore. Let us not get started with the bizarre choice of his sportswear costumes and their flashy choice of colors, making him look funny and confusing me enough to understand if I need to laugh at this old man or empathize. After a point, everything in this film stops making sense. There was a boy played by Mihir Ahuja whose dad behaved with him like a d*ck for no reason at all! No father in his sane mind behaves that way with their child, and I am not sure what Akshay Roy was thinking or what his references are, and more importantly, why?!

Vijay 69 Review: Last Words:

Vijay 69 was something that could have been a tale to keep safe in one’s heart. Like a Piku or even 102 Not Out, for that matter. But it means nothing. My only question is, why did we need this film in the first place?

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Citadel Honey Bunny Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon, Saqib Salim, Shivankit Singh Parihar & others

Creator: Russo Brothers

Director: Raj & DK

Streaming On: Prime Video

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 6 episodes of 50 minutes each

Citadel Honey Bunny Review: What’s It About:

It was in 2023 that Priyanka Chopra arrived as Nadia Singh in the Russo Brothers’ Citadel. The story was based in 2023 and was about a spy. However, it was not well-received thanks to its shoddy screenplay, but that did not let the producers hesitate to drop a spin-off – the Italian version, which was based in the year 2030.

Now the Indian chapter arrives as a prequel to the 2023 version that starred Priyanka Chopra, with Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu playing parents to Priyanka Chopra’s Diana and weaving a story that narrates the origin of Citadel. Basically, what it is, and how did the agency weave its Spy world!

Does the story build up an intrigue to hold and captivate one as an audience for six long episodes to find the roots of this Spyverse created by the Russo brothers? TBH, No! But does this version of this Spyverse supersede the other two versions? Definitely Yes! Read on to learn our entire review and why Citadel fails in parts but majorly works in its entirety!

Citadel Honey Bunny Review: Script Analysis:

The world of Citadel: Honey Bunny presents Varun Dhawan as a spy working for an agency run by Kay Kay Menon. He incorporates Samantha in this mission that aims to fight against another Mission run by another agency, and after a very long wait, you discover who is working on the right side and who is on the wrong side!

There comes a point when Samantha asks, ‘Tum log karte kya ho? Tum log acche log ho ya bure log?’ and Varun replies, “It’s not that simple.” Citadel, honestly, summarizes the entire episode in this one dialogue. It needs your patience and trust. You need to give it time while it builds its world, one scene at a time. It introduces all its characters very lethargically – from Kay Kay Menon to Sikandar Kher to Saqib Salim!

Citadel Honey Bunny Review: Star Performance:

Samantha Ruth Prabhu is the sun of this entire web series. She shines bright, giving life to each and every character in this Universe. Her act and transformation from a coy, wannabe, struggling actress into a fierce, courageous, and strong spy kicking her way out of a mess with more fierce punches is a treat to watch on-screen. She gets better with each act sequence and surprises with her finesse and how easily she shifts gears. Raj & DK do a brilliant job characterizing Honey as a South Indian, justifying that accent to every bit!

Varun Dhawan is the moon of this series, the one bringing warmth and calmness amidst all the chaos. His act as the young Bunny working as a suave spy in the 90s impresses, while his transformation as a mature independent officer, searching for his daughter and lost soulmate (Honey) in the 2000s, forms the entire crux of this web series. Varun’s maturity as an intelligent father on a search mission is impressive and applaudable.

However, the core of this Universe is little Kashvi Majmundar, who plays Nadia, the young Priyanka Chopra in this web series. The child is a miracle on screen. She is convincing as the sharp child who knows it all while she is on an escape mission with her mother to maintain distance from the violent world as much as possible!

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Citadel Honey Bunny Review: What Works:

Main Cassatta Ice Cream Nahi Khaata…Citadel: Honey Bunny actually starts at this point and grabs you in after waiting for a whole long episode as Raj & DK wear their Superman gloves and weave the visual magic they usually weave. A Cassatta ice cream is lying on the ground with splashes of blood over it, and Varun Dhawan narrates his entire back story in a very rapid form to Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

And Citadel begins right at this point. Before that, it is literally a snoozefest for an entire episode; however, while I was literally asleep through the first episode, I woke up with Samantha kicking her first legit kick in such a kickass manner that something kicked, and I was all in for this story rooting for this woman who plays Bunny – a South Indian struggling actress who is dragged by Honey into his spy world for a mission, a mission that might actually unveil what Citadel is and how did it began!

The action sequences work brilliantly in favor of this web series for being as real as they could have been minus any grandeur, any exploding cars, flying people, flying cars, dilapidating buildings, and more. Varun, Samantha and even the little Kashvi, who just slip into these action sequences moonwalking!

Citadel Honey Bunny Review: What Doesn’t Work:

Citadel: Honey Bunny works despite a shoddy screenplay by Sita Menon along with Raj & DK. The major shortcoming of this web series comes when it becomes a slurry of a lot of Indian spyverse, including Salman Khan’s Tigerverse in parts and Raj & DK’s own The Family Man. What could have been a brilliant spy story entirely focused on the roots and existence of Citadel, and its backstory starts oscillating between the love story of a spy – Samantha, in this case.

Another drawback comes with the oscillating timeline between 1992 and 2000. While the distinction between the two timelines is very specific, linear storytelling could have complemented this premise more. Somewhere the entire story keeps losing its charm every single time it oscillates between 1992 and 2000! Even after 4 episodes, you cannot figure out who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. Who is the enemy in this whole Universe? Everyone is fighting to stop Project Talwar, but why and how is a question no one is willing to answer. There is always a conversation between the good and the bad, right and wrong, but we never see the two sides very distinctly at any point. There is a mission, but we never get to see what it is!

Samantha’s Honey in a scene tells Varun Dhawan, “Mere liye good and bad bahut simple hai,” to which he replies, “Sikka yahi, sakki palat, kisi ka sahi, kisi ka galat! Aap apne hisaab se sahi kaam kar rahe ho, aapko bus yahi dekhna hota hai.” However, the writers, take this mantra too seriously since every writer or creator is working ‘apne hisaab se’ with none of the thoughts connecting or the dots joining for the longest time!

Citadel Honey Bunny Review: Last Words:

Wo Hero Hi Kya Jo Heroine Ko Bachaye Bina Mar Jaaye, claims Varun Dhawan in a scene from the web series. The climax should have promised heroic hype, but everything just fizzles with nothing happening in the climax, turning the story again into a snoozefest.

Life mein direction bahut powerful cheez hoti hai, says Varun Dhawan’s character at one point. But Raj & DK forgot that web series mein story bahut powerful cheez hoti hai and Citadel falls flat on that front. But still, it is the best that has been offered out of the three web series and definitely deserves a watch for Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu & Kashvi Majmundar, who are holding the fort very strongly despite a shaky storyline!

3.5 stars!

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Call Me Bae Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Ananya Panday, Gurfateh Pirzada, Vihaan Samat, Niharika Dutt, Muskkaan Jaferi, Varun Sood, Vir Das, Lisa Mishra & ensemble

Creator: Ishita Moitra

Director: Collin D’Cunha

Streaming On: Prime Video

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 8 episodes of 30 minutes each

Call Me Bae Review: What’s It About:

Bae is a Gen Z code for Before Anyone Else. But Ananya Panday’s Bae in Call Me Bae is a cutely edited version of her already cute name – Bella! Yes, that is the level of cute this web series is gonna get! Directed by Collin D’Cunha and produced by Dharmatic Entertainment, a child of Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, this web series will give you lots to think about.

Wonder why? Because it is very quick and superficial, so much so that you can multitask while watching it. (And trust me it could be a sane decision). To put things into perspective, Ananya Panday is a girl called Bella, born with a golden spoon, who belongs to a super-rich family and is married to a super-rich guy. But like most rich families, she has everything except love, which she seeks out of her marriage, falling for her gym trainer. This is an informed choice she makes, but only to get caught in the middle of the act!

This is the exact point where Call Me Bae starts! A disloyal wife abandoned by her husband, and her family Bae moves ahead on a journey to find herself, the reason of her existence.

Call Me Bae Review: Script Analysis:

Written by Ishita Moitra, Samina Motlekar, and Rohit Nair, the world of Bae is very familiar. It has shades of Sonam Kapoor’s Aisha but elaborately sets up in a Schitt’s Creek meets Emily In Paris kind of world. Meanwhile, Ananya Panday has shades of Suhana Khan‘s Veronica from The Archies clubbed with Annie Murphy’s Alexis from Schitt’s Creek. And the similarities are uncanny.

However, do all the rich people have the same problems, and do all the rich people talk, walk, eat, sleep, and repeat the same way? Only that we would never know this super-rich world is something you and I will never find out. The script for this show is too shallow to discuss. I mean, considering that it targets the Gen-Z and is a show about them, it still has no depth whatsoever to even point out!

Right from Bae landing in Mumbai to getting a job as a journalist because of a viral social media clip calling out a privileged journo, everything in this series has been taken up in a very frivolous manner. In fact, I have been writing about it all over the place since the web series was all over the place.

There are certain things I could not understand – for example, is this a spoof on the rich and accomplished people, or do they really chat and behave the way everyone, including Ananya Panday, is behaving? The series tries to connect with Gen Z through social media madness, but that just appears and disappears. Ananya’s course in social media journalism seems like an interesting pitch when she says it is difficult to keep everyone engaged in just 140 characters. However, the story never uses social media as a useful or powerful tool. It is just there!

Not that I am expecting Call Me Bae to be a thought-provoking web series, but it is intentionally talking about a girl who is discovering herself professionally and the ethics and sensibilities of her profession are turned into some sort of spoof. (Do the director and writers really think journos are behaving this way? In what world? Take me to that world!)

Call Me Bae Review: Star Performance:

Casting Ananya Panday as Bae seemed like a non-debatable choice but only if she could not have tried looking the part because she very-well looked the part but then she decided to offer some more performance wise and that is where things go insane. Lack of story highlights this acting flaws, despite Bae calling her flawsome. But we ain’t impressed with this version of flawsome.

However, the rest of the star cast works in favor of the show. Niharika Dutt & Muskaan Jaaferi are the best friends, Vir Das is the rival, Gurfateh Pirzada is the knight in shining armor, and Varun Sood is the boy who needs to be there all work for the web series.

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Call Me Bae Review: What Works:

Despite the flaws, this web series works in parts, though I really cannot point out the exact parts. But teens would love the Behen Code bonding of the trio who embark on a journey to seek validation as professionals. Meanwhile, the cast makes sure to not let the series fall flat despite week writing.

Call Me Bae Review: What Doesn’t Work:

In its entirety, the series is too long to work. Nothing concrete happens for 8 episodes, and Enid Blyton’s chapter for The Famous Five makes a much more intriguing plot than this teen flick, which is about living in a bubble. But Delulu is not Solulu, and someone needs to break this to Call Me Bae’s team! Probably, the series could have worked like a mini-version with 5 episodes of shorter length!

Call Me Bae Review: Last Words:

This is a classic: Schitt’s Creek Meets Emily In Paris Meets Aisha World. The only thing worth highlighting is, this one is better than Aisha. That had Abhay Deol give you a reason to keep breathing, and this one has Gurfateh. However, this could have been a brilliant teenage web-series if there would have been some sane and meaningful writing. Currently it just hangs between – Are they really dumb or are they spoofing the ones who are dumb. And I never want to know this answer!

2 stars!

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IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: Star Rating:

Cast:  Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma, Pankaj Kapur, Rajiv Thakur, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa and ensemble

Creator: Anubhav Sinha & Trishant Srivastava

Director: Anubhav Sinha & Trishant Srivastava

Streaming On: Netflix

Language: Hindi, English, Tamil & Telugu with English and Hindi subtitles

Runtime: 6 episodes of 40 minutes each

“Bandook lene ke baad yaad rakhna, jaan lene se pehle hazaar baar sochna lekin jaan bachane se pehle ek baar bhi nahi. Aaiye, chaliye, apne logon ki jaan bachate hain.” IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack gives the most powerful dialogue in its last episode, giving this web series one of the highest points. But this line comes in the last episode, the line by the Indian Government, that comes after 6 days of around 200 Indians held hostage by 5 terrorists.

The web series, as the name suggests, is about a plane hijack by a group of terrorists who capture an Indian flight flying from Kathmandu to New Delhi. Based on the real-life incident of the infamous Kandahar Hijack, the web series further delves into what happened in the next six days that followed the hijack. The demands, the deaths, the threats, the efforts, the struggles, the mistakes, the blame, the scapegoats, the coverage, the protest, the revolts, the psychological warfare, the personal trauma, and the loss of life all from the narrative of the web-series and in my honest opinion a very strong narrative.

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: What’s It About:

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack retells the trauma of the 8 days that were lived by 200 passengers and crew of the flight. The dreadful date of December 24, 1999, still haunts those who were a part of this tragic and horrible event. The trauma still lives with all those who were a part of this mission. Those who were trapped and those who made sure to get everyone released safely.

The web series directed by Anubhav Sinha starts straight with the point – Why did the Indian government take 7 days to negotiate with the terrorists of the Kandahar hijack, and what happened in those seven days? The series gives an insightful take on how the last Christmas Eve of the millennium turned an unfateful clot in the history of Indian intelligence & security.

The story enters directly with the boarding of the passengers and the terrorists disguised as passengers. While there have been direct hints at who was involved, the series takes a brilliant turn as soon as the flight takes off. The series launches the very understandable government vs civilians struggle as soon as the hijack is announced. However, while it takes off smoothly, turbulence arrives as soon as the bunch of officers arrive in this web series.

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: What Works:

This is interestingly the second hijack story we are witnessing from Bollywood after Sonam Kapoor’s Neerja directed by Ram Madhvani. But here’s the most basic difference between the two – while Neerja focussed on what happened inside, IC 814: The Kandahar Attack focusses on what happened outside. The struggle to devise a plan, to negotiate with the terrorists and the blame game all seems real in the story.

There comes a point when the top officers of the government seem divided on what needs to be done and what could be done. Some favor the efforts, others point out the failures, and the fight puts up a strong narrative about another struggle at the bureaucratic level.

There is a parallel track where Dia Mirza and Amrita Puri, as journalists, fight the ethics of what needs to be told and what needs to be concealed. Initially, this might seem an unnecessary deviation, but over the six episodes, it holds the narrative so strongly that it reminds us of the glaring mistakes the media made during the Mumbai Attack! In fact what should one hold and what should one report becomes a chapter one needs to learn!

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: Star Performance:

The team of officers consists of Manoj Pahwa, Arvind Swamy, Aditya Srivastava, Kumud Mishra, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Kanwaljeet, and Yashpal Sharma, led by Pankaj Kapoor & Naseeruddin Shah at the top position. All of them actually nail their parts, making this unfateful event look as real as it could be.

While these politicians and bureaucrats fight another war in Delhi, the web series keeps offering the backstories of all the events linked to the terrorist groups, political unrest in the country, India’s deteriorated International relations at that point, and the historical references about the neighboring countries and the economy of the state. In fact, the narration, despite delving into the key events of the history of the nation, is so simplistically narrated that one could easily know all and not feel burdened at all!

However, I could not take my eyes off Rajiv Thakur, the comedian who is a part of Kapil Sharma’s ensemble, playing the Chief terrorist who heads this hijack! We bet even you would feel a different energy watching him on screen and I so wish he does this more often

Even Ninad Kamat as the narrator holds the story very strongly with his telling the tale like a visual translation!

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IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: What Doesn’t Work:

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack does not fail in any aspect except the psychological part. You don’t feel the trauma of those trapped on the flight for seven days. Their desperation to walk free, their suffocation sitting in the flight, the efforts of the crew, played by Patralekhaa and Additi Gupta, and the pilot, Captain Sharan Dev, played by Vijay Verma, all play underwhelming parts in this grand tale. Probably because the story lost its balance on the emotional and planning parts. Or it was never intended to play on the emotions.

In fact, there is a scene where one of the hostesses tries cleaning a clogged toilet, but the scene goes unnoticed despite being a high point, emphasizing the trauma of the passengers and the crew alike.

The story also plays on the emotional side of the terrorists, which somehow goes way off after a certain point in time. Be it a terrorist, being extra attentive to the air hostess or trying to help the pilot unclog the toilet. There are instances that do not tick the moral dilemmas right!

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: Last Words:

Despite certain shortcomings, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack shines bright. Finding the perfect balance between the real and the fictional is a very tough task, but Anubhav Sinha and his team succeeded. Moreover, using real footage from 1999 is an asset to this web series, which works brilliantly while it retells a dark day in the history of India. A dark week rather!

4 stars!

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Follow Kar Lo Yaar Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Uorfi Javed, Uoroosa Javed, Asfi Javed, Dolly Javed, Sameer Javed, Sahel, and others

Director: Sandeep Kukreja

Streaming On: Prime Video

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 9 episodes of 30 minutes each

Follow Kar Lo Yaar Review: What’s It About:

Many years ago, it was Gauahar Khan & Nigar Khan who literally changed the reality genre with their show Khan sisters. Adapted from ‘Keeping Up With Kardashians’ the two sisters tried to impress with their scripted reality. And now Prime Video has presented Uorfi Javed & her three sisters in a similar zone where they present their almost scripted life in ‘Follow Kar Lo Yaar.’

The show is a scripted reality series where cameras follow Uorfi Javed’s professional and personal life, giving insights into her balanced work and unbalanced emotional relationships with her sisters, brother, and mother.

But is the series as interesting as we have seen in previous scripted reality shows? Be it a Khan Sisters, Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives, or Moving In With Malaika – all of which were inspired by Keeping Up With Kardashians. Well, read our review to find out if Uorfi Javed’s Follow Kar Lo Yaar is worth following or not.

Follow Kar Lo Yaar Review: Script Analysis:

The reality series, scripted in a generic way, is split into 9 episodes, keeping a balance of Uorfi’s events, her work, and her personal life. In fact, her personal has also been segregated into her intra-personal & interpersonal space, where the former is all about her fillers and her therapy session, while the latter is all about her trying to streamline the careers of her three sisters, one brother, and mother.

Over the nine episodes, the reality series talks about Uorfi Javed’s struggle from being a 19-year-old when she ran away from Lucknow to finding work in the industry. The scripted part where she acts is unbearable because, let us be honest, she cannot act. But the confessions and the tears seem to be real and form a solid core to this reality series, which shines in parts but loses its grip most of the time.

The storyline is very linear, but still, it does not provide a sense of completeness when it comes to the story of the social media star. In fact, the arcs of her sisters and mother are much better defined than Uorfi’s all-over-the-place scenario. It seems like some tried to blend Keeping Up With Kardashians and Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives in a mixer grinder but started the knob without putting the lid on the jar. We all know that handling that aftermath spillage while turning on a mixer grinder without the lid is tiring and too much of an effort. So is this web series.

Follow Kar Lo Yaar Review: Star Performance:

Meanwhile, I personally have a favorite Javed sister, who is not Uorfi but the eldest one, Uoroosa. She admits she is not as ambitious as others, but she took the mantle and took care of everyone when they needed that care the most. She explains the dysfunctionality of the family very well without bitching about a single member. Much wiser than the others, I feel the rest could take some behavioral lessons from her on how to handle rejections, failures, and low phases gracefully!

The next favorite is her manager, Sahel, who is also the boyfriend of one of her sisters. Sahel is calm and composed and tries to ease the discomfort in this family and Uorfi’s professional life as well. The best part is that he is a loyal manager and a balanced Uorfi fan, in some sense!

There is a section where Uorfi Javed books herself a business class ticket to Lucknow and sends sisters in the economy. While one is thankful for the tickets at the least, the other one points out the strangeness of this behavior and how she felt.

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Follow Kar Lo Yaar Review: What Works:

The web series works in parts when Uorfi tries to confess some brutal facts. She admits she is not great at fashion, but she does what she does for the shock factor. She is determined to be rich and knows she will be someday (kudos to that.) She makes sure that despite having her PR team, no one tells her what to do. She admits she looks beautiful because of the botox and fillers and does not shy away from going for a breast augmentation surgery as well. (enhancing the breasts since she feels they are small and her flat chest isn’t appealing). There are a lot more confessions she makes very honestly and sincerely, but now let’s get to the next part.

Follow Kar Lo Yaar Review: What Doesn’t Work:

While she admits she does not have friends, she hangs out with Orry and Munawar Faruqui, which seems like a plot twist by Prime Video, and neither of the meetings seems organic. In fact, Uorfi pressurising so much on being an entrepreneur without any plan or numbers seems so lame and forced that it is irritating after a point of time. Her demeaning ‘influencers’ while bonding with Prajakta Koli and Munawar Faruqui is too double-standard.

The two sides of Uorfi do not balance this series very well. There is a vulnerable side that opens up to the therapist, but it seems like the segment is just about balancing out her unneeded rude behavior with everyone around. She is pompous, self-consumed, arrogant, and borderline sadist at times. At least, that is what is portrayed. In fact, the family seems to have a clear divide between team Uorfi vs others. The youngest one follows her blindly, and she claims her as the favorite sister while belittling the others very evidently.

Follow Kar Lo Yaar Review: Last Words:

In the end, Follow Kar Lo Yaar is a roller coaster ride. It is unapologetic yet flawed. Uorfi Javed’s brief for the show has been very clear – a desi Kardashian family, and at one point, she blatantly calls her brother the Rob Kardashian of the family, who, by the way, is not even farthest from the comparison that has been made! The series is over-the-top scripting at times, but it’s your guilty pleasure as well. The bottom line is that it is cringe, but we bet you’ll still binge!

3 stars!

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Angry Young Men Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Salim Khan, Javed Akhtar ft. Salman Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Helen, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan & others

Creator: Salim-Javed

Director: Namrata Rao

Streaming On: Prime Video

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 3 episodes of 45 minutes each

Angry Young Men Review: What’s It About:

Let me start with an honest confession. I am an ardent Salim-Javed fan. In fact, this fan in me has been alive even at an age when I did not know what dialogues are and what film writers are. I did not know that two men called Salim Khan & Javed Akhtar are writing these stories to be etched in our hearts forever. I used to scare my little sister, saying, ‘Jo Dar Gaya Samjho Mar Gaya.’ I once teased a classmate, “Aaj mere paas Maa Hai’ during one of my mother’s visits to our hostel (and my classmate cried). I even used it last night on Raksha Bandhan, telling my brother – ‘Main Aaj Bhi Phenke Huye Paise Nahi Uthaata,’ and the room erupted with laughter. Such was the power of these little bunch of words placed intricately together. They could make you laugh & they could make you cry!

If we start writing the history of Hindi Cinema, Salim-Javed deserves a chapter. Two men who revolutionized cinema. A documentary on these two men could be a goldmine. The documentary series has been narrated by the stalwarts of the industry – Right from the star who was born because of them, Amitabh Bachchan, to men who grew up watching them – Hrithik Roshan, Yash, Karan Johar, and, of course, the children of Salim Khan & Javed Akhtar.

But why should one be watching a documentary on the lives of Salim Khan & Javed Akhtar? Stay with us till the end, and you might switch to the first episode immediately!

Angry Young Men Review: Script Analysis:

Angry Young Men: The Salim Javed Story starts with a confession by Salman Khan, who confides he is scared to talk about the two most influential men of Indian Cinema. The documentary is divided into three episodes. The first episode talks about the initial lives of the two writers, how they came to Mumbai, their struggles in the industry, how they found each other as partners, and how they found their real partners – Salma Khan & Honey Irani. A lot of unknown and fun anecdotes drop in, and while Salim Khan takes charge of humor, Javed Akhtar makes it anecdotal.

The second episode highlights the career highs and the celebration of Salim-Javed. The duo that turned around the page in cinema to write a new chapter. The chapter of the Angry Young Man giving birth to a superstar – the legendary Amitabh Bachchan. The third episode talks about the downfall, and the climax finally addresses the heartbreaking separation of the duo after working on 24 films together.

Right from the start to the finish, this finely structured series offers a lot of anecdotes to cherish. There is a story about Salim Khan’s first film and a hilarious reason for it to flop. There is a story on how they made sure that the world knows them by hiring a drunk man to write their name on the posters of their film. And there are a lot of anecdotes about the families hanging together – there’s one about how Salman Khan taught Farhan & Zoya to cycle!

Angry Young Men Review: What Works:

The entire series works beautifully for Angry Young Men. Right from the opening credits to the making of Vijay, an iconic screen name is used for Amitabh Bachchan’s characters. Mostly, while documentaries are a celebration of an icon’s success, Salim Khan & Javed Akhtar do not shy away from accepting their failures and talking about them. The more realistic part was that others also highlighted why The Salim-Javed Story failed. They talk, and they talk legitimately. While Jaya Bachchan calls them brats, Honey Irani calls them arrogant. Ramesh Talwar (Yash Chopra’s then-assistant) calls them overconfident.

The newspaper and magazine clippings of those times add authenticity to whatever everyone is talking about, and it is too intriguing to watch. A duo who was declared finished came back with Sholay. The duo highlighted the mistakes in their writing that brought their first flop at the box office.

While Salim Khan usually seems to be at a loss of words while talking, somehow reflecting the emptiness he still holds (probably), and Javed Akhtar seems too much in a hurry to confess, all probably coping with some inner guilt of taking the blame for this relationship to end. From two men who were more than brothers, as Arbaaz Khan calls them, soulmates, as someone else tags them, to literally turning their back to each other and not coming back again to look, is a heartbreaking episode that would tear you apart. (Jaya Bachchan even ends up discussing the separation). I didn’t realize it, but I gasped for breath while crying during the final 20 minutes of the documentary. Meanwhile, Salman Khan’s wisdom while talking about the separation will leave you with a broken smile!

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Angry Young Men Review: What Doesn’t Work:

However, this beautifully done, intricately written, fascinating tale falls short of time. The entire journey of Salim Khan & Javed Akhtar could not be justified in three episodes. At the same time, one would expect professional tales of their collaborations, like how Don happened, what they thought before writing Sholay, and how Deewar developed. But the documentary never offers these insights. It sticks to celebrating Salim Khan & Javed Akhtar but never dives deep to realize what led to those celebrations and all the effort behind reaching that celebration!

While there is a subtle and diplomatic chat around the separation, there is no mention of their final project, Mr India, altogether. Was there any turbulence during that project? Were there inhibitions, fights, disagreements, or creative conflicts? Nothing gets addressed!

Angry Young Men Review: Last Words:

Being a very submissive Salim-Javed fan, I did not have many expectations from this documentary series. I did not believe that there would be much clarity about how they came together and why they parted. The same thing happened with this documentary as well. But is the Salim-Javed fan in me disappointed over this? No! Because everything else that this documentary offers is a tale to treasure. The only disappointment is the series ending too soon! And the way this docu-series has been structured does not give any hope for a comeback! Alas!

4 stars!

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The post Angry Young Men Review: The Salim-Javed Story Is A Legend That Should Be A Film That Makes You Cry Hard At The Climax [& Smile At Salman Khan’s Wisdom!] appeared first on Koimoi.

Brinda Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Trisha Krishnan, Indrajith Sukumaran, Ravindra Vijay, Sai Kumar, Amani, Anand Sami, Sandeep Sahu, Jaya Prakash, Rakendu Mouli

Director: Surya Manoj Vangala

What’s good: The series shines with the powerful performances from Trisha Krishnan and Indrajith Sukumaran. The background score elevates the tension, adding depth to the thrilling narrative. Indrajith Sukumaran’s character is richly developed, with a compelling backstory that draws the audience in. Anand Sami delivers a standout performance as Thakur, whose intellectual challenges are subtly and skillfully conveyed through his appearance and mannerisms from the very beginning.

What’s bad: Some convenient coincidences and somewhat predictable personal connections between the main villain and protagonist are noticeable. Although there are clear misdirections in the plot, they are explained. Additionally, the color grading for the past sequences is extremely washed out.

Watch or Not?: If you enjoy crime investigation thrillers, Brinda is worth a watch. If you liked Sacred Games, you’ll probably appreciate this one as well. It has a slow start, but once it gains momentum, it becomes quite impressive. Highly recommended.

Streaming On: Sony LIV

Release Date: August 02, 2024

Runtime: Around 40 Minutes Per Episode

Brinda delves deeply into the impact of childhood trauma, illustrating how supportive parents can help children overcome traumatic events and grow into upstanding citizens. Conversely, negative reinforcement, neglect, and abuse from caregivers can shape individuals into spiteful personalities lacking remorse. It highlights that even young adults who have suffered trauma can become good citizens with proper guidance from a parental figure, serving as a social commentary.

Brinda also examines the power of religion in shaping lives, demonstrating that blind belief can cause unnecessary harm. It critiques the negative effects of overindulgence in one’s beliefs by turning an innocent child into a villain. It addresses multiple factors, including religion, the juvenile justice system, and the lack of effective child protective services in rural India. The series shows how juvenile prisons can harm young minds when improperly managed.

Additionally, it explores the phenomenon of replacing one belief system with another. The cult in the series, which opposes all religions, engages in mass murder under the guise of having no gods, paralleling the religious mass murders committed in the name of god. The narrative shows how a charismatic cult leader can manipulate weak-willed individuals. The series also touches on other social evils, such as honor killings and untouchability.

Brinda Review: Plot

Brinda opens by immersing us in a world where colors are muted and the setting is a jungle inhabited by tribal people. A mysterious disease and food scarcity plague the population, prompting a priest to claim that the goddess is displeased. To appease the goddess, a young girl must be sacrificed, and young Brinda is chosen. To save her, Brinda’s mother, older brother, and Brinda flee the village at night. However, due to unforeseen events, Brinda is separated from her family and is eventually adopted by a policeman and his family.

As the story progresses, we meet Trisha, playing the grown-up Brinda. Now an introverted sub-inspector, Brinda struggles with strained relationships with her colleagues and is haunted by nightmares from her childhood. Despite this, her colleague Sarathi shows her kindness, while the station house officer holds a grudge against her due to her reserved nature.

The plot thickens when a dead body is discovered, which everyone, except Brinda, believes to be a suicide. The autopsy report validates Brinda’s doubts, setting her on a quest to uncover the truth that no one else has considered. With Sarathi’s support, she is transferred to a special investigation team tasked with solving the case.

Brinda Review: Script Analysis

Overall, the script is strong but experiences some lag in the early sequences. The primary issue is that Brinda’s character doesn’t evolve, and there are no significant redemption arcs for any of the characters. While not every movie or series needs these elements, their absence is felt here. The initial slow pace is largely due to the necessary establishment of characters for the series.

The script skillfully addresses complex social issues like honor killings, untouchability, religious fanaticism, and gender discrimination. Despite mostly avoiding plot holes, some remain unavoidable in a series of this nature. The characters’ personal lives feel authentic, whether it’s a rebellious younger sibling or a spouse desiring a child.

Unlike many protagonists in similar shows, Brinda isn’t portrayed as dysfunctional, alcoholic, or troubled by vices. Instead, she has a prescription pill problem, which is only briefly touched upon, despite her psychological issues stemming from childhood trauma.

Overall, Jay Krishna, Padmavathi Malladi, and Surya Manoj Vangala did an excellent job with the script.

Brinda Review: Star Performance

Trisha Krishnan’s debut in the world of web series marks a significant step in her acting career. Unlike in many commercial films, her acting skills are fully showcased here. In the climax of the 8-episode series, she proves she was the right choice, delivering a convincing performance. While other actresses might have been more suitable, Trisha’s established name in the industry adds value to the marketing strategy for SonyLIV, making her casting a strategic decision.

Indrajith Sukumaran also excels in his role, embodying a cool, calculating, and charming character with intelligence. Jaya Prakash, as Brinda’s adopted father, delivers a strong performance. The actors playing the younger versions of the main characters, especially in the juvenile home scenes, resemble their adult counterparts and perform well.

Overall, none of the casting choices are missteps.

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Brinda Review: Direction & Music

Director Surya Manoj Vangala avoids many of the commercial clichés often seen in Indian web series, such as unnecessary romantic subplots or nudity. However, some scenes suffer from off-putting color grading. While the camera work, placement, and fight choreography may not be standout features, this actually benefits the plot, which doesn’t require such elements. What the series needs is a trimming of certain scenes to achieve a more fluid pacing.

The background score, composed by Shakthikanth Karthick, significantly enhances the viewing experience, with music that complements the emotions of the scenes. Dinesh K. Babu’s cinematography effectively supports the storytelling. Overall, the direction, music, and other aspects of the series are well-executed.

Brinda Review: Last Words

Brinda is a thought-provoking exploration of childhood trauma, the impact of religion, and the failures of societal systems. Through its complex narrative, it delves into how personal experiences and systemic issues shape individuals, from the innocent to the villainous. With its nuanced portrayal of trauma and belief, the series offers a compelling commentary on the darker aspects of human nature and societal shortcomings.

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Pill Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Riteish Deshmukh, Pavan Malhotra, Anshul Chauhan, Akshat Chauhan, Kunj Anand, Baharul Islam, Neha Saraf

Director: Rajkumar Gupta

Streaming On: Jio Cinema

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 35 Minutes To 45 Minutes

The silent and slow release of Riteish Deshmukh’s OTT release, Pill, has been intriguing, but it leaves you wanting more. Have you ever started watching a show with so much excitement because it ticks all the boxes you enjoy in a story, but then you watch the show, and all you are left with is a lukewarm feeling? Well, that is what watching Jio Cinema’s latest offering, Pill, feels like. The show has all the makings of a great watch when you read about it in the paper: a solid story foundation, an acclaimed director, a versatile actor, and a platform accessible to millions of viewers, but it loses its hook and its edge somewhere down the line.

Pill is an eight-episode series released on Jio Cinema on July 12th. The show’s trailer received a mixed to positive response because it doesn’t reveal it all in the first glimpse. The Jio Cinema story follows the life of Prakash Chauhan, playing the role of an ordinary man trying to go up against people with power, money, and influence, all to fool the common man. It’s a story of how corrupt the big pharmaceutical industry is and how deep the ruin is. As the story unfolds, this medical drama grips you with emotion, intrigues you with the thrilling plot, and leaves you with a question at the end of it.

Pill Review: What’s It About:

Pill is a medical thriller about how powerful and influential industrialists try to manipulate their way in life to get what they want, even if the cost is human life. The series is Riteish Deshmukh’s OTT debut, and it is a bold start. Laced with mystery and an air of malice, Pill is a game of cat and mouse, with no cages or traps in sight.

Jio Cinema’s Pill explores the pharmaceutical industry’s dark side. The story revolves around Prakash, an Indian whistleblower working for the Medicine Authority of India, and his decision to expose a global pharmaceutical business for unethical clinical studies. It is directed by Raid’s Rajkumar Gupta and produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP.

Pill Review: Star Performance & Highlights:

When you add the word debut to anything, it amps up the pressure and the expectations. But Riteish Deshmukh lives up to and delivers a solid salt-of-the-earth performance in his OTT foray. Keep in mind that it also coincides with the release of another digital film, both his first and Pill, which still stands out. His portrayal of this simple yet earnest man trying to do the right thing is beautifully complimented by his trademark but, in this case, elevated humour. Sometimes, Deshmukh’s mere presence in haphazard situations and his blank reaction leads to some comic relief. It is a great break away from the kind of slapstick comedy roles we are used to seeing him in. And after Ved and Pill, one thing is pretty clear: Deshmukh is finally stepping into his own and getting serious, no pun intended.

The other out-of-the-box performances come from Pavan Malhotra, who aces the menacing antagonist. He plays the role of a powerful industrialist who will go to any lengths to do what he wants. Malhotra’s performance is subtle but effective and has an eerie feeling to it, which only adds to the thrill of the show. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to be on his bad side.

But the biggest and most refreshing performance is by Akshat Chauhan, who plays the role of Noor Khan, a naive journalist who just stumbles upon the worst-kept secret of big pharma and sets the chaos in motion. Chauhan is a breath of fresh air in what can otherwise become a very heavy show. His one-liners and little indie quips add comedic flair. But behind the funny exterior, his performance is doused with integrity and sometimes takes the spotlight away.

They are supported by a pretty stout lineup of the cast, with Anshul Chauhan and Neha Saraf serving as the backbone and letting Deshmukh’s character shine.

Pill Review: What Works?:

Even though the show starts off slow in its first episode, it picks up pace in the second episode. The third episode turns out to be the best one, with a quicker pace, just the right twists, and a cliffhanger that keeps you watching the show. There have been a lot of medical dramas, but Pill stands out because of the combination of some performances, the visual production feel, and the directors’ style of crafting and unfolding a layer of mystery through the show.

Director Rajkumar Gupta weaves this thoughtful, personal, and realistically gloomy story, and he stays true to his history of storytelling, wherein one character is committed to doing the right thing. There are a lot of moments that keep you intrigued in the show and some subtle comedy scenes that keep the flow balanced and nice. The shift in Riteish Deshmukh’s character, when reality sets in and he finds the courage to reveal it all, is a moment that is gratifying to watch.

Coupled with sudden moments of near misses and every time the truth is closer to getting out, these add a nice wavelength to the story.

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Pill Review: What Doesn’t Work?:

The sheer and obvious waste of potential is what doesn’t work in the show. Like I said before, even though there are a lot of medical dramas, Pill had the potential to stand out because it has teh subplot of corruption running through it. The show’s story takes a while to get interested in, which is another thing that takes the show down a notch.

The story takes a dip in many moments; there are way too many fillers in moments that feel important, which takes away from the gravity of the scene and even the story at times. It takes such a long time to narrate the story that you eventually start to lose interest in the show. The show has high points, but they are surrounded by more indifferent and bland ones that the actual substance starts to slip out, which makes this a hard pill to swallow.

Pill Review: Concluding Words:

When you watch the show, you don’t want to leave midway, but you are in no rush to finish it. Jio Cinema’s Pill might not be the best medical thriller yet, but it is a well-made effort to tell a story that is rooted in deceit, corruption, and, at the heart of it, how one fights against the system, or at least tries to. Riteish Deshmukh’s performance sails you through some of the rough parts; the other actors do justice to their parts as well, which makes it a show worth watching.

Rajkumar Gupta’s directorial series hooks you in with its plot and does a good job of
narrating the plight of the common man and how the rich and powerful take advantage of the system, no matter the consequences. In fact, it reiterates that through the series, in sometimes subtle and sometimes loud ways. But while the show shoots for the sky, it runs out of rocket fuel mid-way and barely lands the way it was intended to. You have to gulp this Pill down with a glass of lukewarm water, but it still leaves an aftertaste.

Jio Cinema’s Pill gets a three-star rating out of 5.

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Mirzapur Season 3 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma, Isha Talwar, Anjumm Shharma, Priyanshu Painyuli, Harshita Shekhar Gaur

Season Creator: Apurva Dhar Badgaiyan

Series Creator: Puneet Krishna

Director: Gurmmeet Singh and Anand Iyer

Streaming On: Amazon Prime

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 10 episodes of 45 – 50 minutes each!

Mirzapur Season 3 Review: What’s It About:

Have you ever thought of surviving in a city that breathes violence? How would you survive in such a land? Will you take up violence as a defense, or will you rest your trust in the system, which is nothing but a mere puppet in the hands of the powerful? The first season of Mirzapur started with this debate about seeking the help of violence for one’s defense and then being so involved with violence that there is no turning back.

As Guddu Pandit in one of the seasons say, “Jis raste pe hum chal pade hain wahan se koi U turn nahi hai.” Or the helplessness when his brother Bablu Pandit says, “Koi option hota to hum ye rasta chunte kabhi?”

Mirzapur, in the first season, set up the premise for a Desi Game Of Thrones. There is one throne ruled by the Tripathis – Akhandanand and Munna Tripathi. However, every ruler needs a skilled commander, in Tripathi’s case it is the Pandit brothers – Bablu and Guddu! But their paths cross and the urge to chair the throne turns violent, with people dying and people killing!

Mirzapur Season 3 takes forward the tale of who will sit on the throne of Mirzapur, and the story picks up right where it ended in the last season. With Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi) and Munna Bhaiya (Divyenndu) shot by Guddu Pandit (Ali Fazal) seeking revenge for his wife Sweety and brother Bablu’s death. But does Guddu sits on the throne of Mirzapur and finally who rules Mirzapur is what forms the premise of season 3.

Mirzapur Season 3 Review: Script Analysis:

Mirzapur 3, this time, takes a step away from the violence and the fight and indulges more in the planning and plotting to rule, to be powerful, and to keep everyone under a certain unsaid yet established threat. In the absence of any ruler on the throne after Kaleen Bhaiya’s mysterious disappearance and Munna Bhaiya’s demise, Mirzapur is being eyed by the entire ‘Gunda Gang’ ruling the state of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They call themselves the Baahubali of their regions. There are too many men, and segregating each of them is redundant at this point. But the challenge of keeping the story moving forward without creating a mess is something the writing team Apurva Dhar Badgaiyan, Avinash Singh Tomar, and Vijay Narayan Verma constantly deal with.

After a point of time, there are too many stories interlinked with each other, and all of them push their way to the focal point, making the mind burdened with too many leads to follow, so much so that one is perplexed and confused. But do you want to give up as an audience? No, not yet.

Whenever the writers shift your focus to another character and another arc, they make sure that they keep working on the lead characters popping up all of a sudden with another twist to blow your mind. And this loop starts from the very first episode and continues till the end. In fact, the story keeps developing every minute as you enjoy a new twist, and over a period of time, even the backstories come forward and turn heroes, probably to die but then to die a hero rather than just being a sidekick in any other goon meets guns kind of gangster tale!

Mirzapur Season 3 Review: Star Performance:

Each and every character in the series knows how to do their job. Be it a struggling father, Rajesh Tailang, who finally gets his share in season 3, or Sheeba Chadha, the helpless mother who cannot help but care for her gangster son, Guddu Bhaiya, who enjoys a gunshot as much as Diwali cracker!

Pankaj Tripathi, as Kaleen Bhaiya, takes the backseat as everyone else in Mirzapur Season 3 comes forward to take the lead. Be it Vijay Verma’s double role as Chhote and Bade Tyagi or Anjumm Shharma’s Sharad Shukla playing the chameleon who waits for his moment to reveal his true colors.

Ali Fazal‘s Guddu Pandit gets a revival, with the actor maintaining a very sharp balance between being a cold-hearted gangster and a helpless, violent man who hates enjoying violence but doesn’t know anything else to excel at or understand. Shweta Tripathi’s Golu Gupta, acting as a pacifier and guide in Guddu’s world, is something people were not ready for, and it surely comes as a surprise.

But what comes and makes an instant place in your heart is Priyanshu Painyuli’s Robin who is the calmness in this entire disordered and disrupted world. He shines the brightest in the darkest moments of this web series – moments where it starts losing its charm caught between the same loop and events.

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Mirzapur Season 3 Review: Direction:

Gurmeet Singh, this time, has too much on his platter, and there comes a time when he just doesn’t know how to finish this meal. While Mirzapur 3 branches well amidst the various sub-plots and new characters, it all just gets entangled after a point of time, making the story gasp for its breath.

Initially, Mirzapur 3 was Guddu Pandit’s eagerness to sit on the throne of Mirzapur, but when the moment arrives in a very scattered form, probably because it was too much on the plate that was served ahead of Guddu Pandit’s coronation as the King Of Mirzapur. However, while Guddu’s story has its share of bumps, the rest of the story tries to keep the audience intact, and it does, barring a few moments here and there.

Mirzapur Season 3 Review: What Works:

Just when the story shifts in some sort of auto gear, the climax arrives like a hero to hypnotize the audience at the very moment. Mirzapur season 3’s climax comes with a very important lesson – “Saavdhaan rehna chahiye hamein ki kispe bharosa kar rahe hain, kabhi kabhi farishte ke roop mein shaitaan bhi mil jaate hain!” finishing the season like a savior.

The side characters for season 3 work like a charm and get some of the best dialogues. For instance, a local kavi, who gets one of the shortest yet the best arc is someone to watch out for.

The dialogues of Mirzapur are also the winners, giving you the much-required kick whenever there is a little slumberish moment. Be it Guddu Pandit finally getting acceptance from his father who tells him, “Survival ke liye jo zaroori hai wahi usool hai,” or him accepting his fate in a violent and abusive state saying, “Jeevan mein do pehlu hote hain – ek jo hamare bus mein hota hai aur ek jo hamare bus mein nahi hota hain.”

Not to forget, amidst the King Of Mirzapur, it is the Queen of Mirzapur, Rasika Dugal, who rules the entire series single-handedly, despite getting a very basic and minimal share amidst so many characters sprawling from branches, but she comes across the rooted one who holds the grip tight on Beena!

Mirzapur Season 3 Review: What Doesn’t Work:

There are moments when Mirzapur falls flat, be it getting too preachy at times or the agenda of working for a ‘Bhay-Mukt’ Pradesh getting stuck. In fact, I blame it on my moral compass, but the non-violent part doesn’t come out as impressive and heroic as the well-choreographed and over-glorified violent scenes. Do I enjoy violence? No. But do I enjoy violence in Mirzapur? Yes!

Mirzapur Season 3 Review: Last Words:

Mirzapur season 3 ends on a fantastic note. While the climax gives a poetic justice with a brilliant shot of the throne of Mirzapur with its last ruler, the post-credit scene makes you vouch for the next season already.

3.5 stars!

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The Bear Season 3 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Matty Matheson

Creator: Christopher Storer

Director: Christopher Storer, Ayo Edebiri

Streaming On: Disney + Hotstar, Hulu

Language: English

Runtime: 35 Minutes To 45 Minutes

Chaos cooked to perfection, with a dab of trauma, so much good food, and the characters that are going through sh*t, set against the backdrop of a restaurant trying to find its identity, FX’s The Bear returns with a clean slate and so much at stake after it’s award-winning run. Jeremy Allen White’s star-making performance first appeared in a post-pandemic era. The Bear was suddenly all anyone could talk about. Once in every generation in the TV landscape, a show becomes the flag bearer of representation for a particular industry. Christopher Storer’s dramedy does that for the restaurant industry. It takes you through a journey of appreciating the craft of food and viewing the people we sometimes treat so casually in a realistic and empathetic sense. It is more than a kitchen drama; it is a story of loss, grief, and everything. The Bear Season 3 is slow in its approach as if exploring the five stages of grief, and we, for one, are seated.

In Season of The Bear, Carmy is neurotic; the character arc is so evident, and he might become something he hates. Ayo Edebiri Sydney’s struggles flesh out in front of you; she struggles with leadership and her identity as an artist. Ebon Moss Bachrach is as beautiful as Richie as he deals with his flaws and embarks on a new journey. Sugar And Tina are stars the real stars of the season, with more in-depth storylines and more personal achievements. But, as brilliant as the show is, it sometimes is trapped by its beauty, and the hamster wheel of the plot continues. The characters set goals and try to achieve them throughout the season, but what next? That is also your question because we have entered uncharted territory.

The Bear Season 3 Review: What’s It About:

The Bear Season 3 picks up right after the incidents of Season 2’s gripping finale. But it unfolds in its own time. The makers are in no hurry to reveal the story of the show. The first episode is for the show’s fans. The first episode might not make sense if you just tune into the show. But with all-star cameos, it picks up in episode 2, which is just brilliance chaos. In Season 3, we see more stories centered on other characters, Marcus’s grief channeling into food, Tina’s love for Mickey, and even Nat’s new chapter.

Amidst all the beautiful shots of food, the show suffers under the burden of representation and its identity. The struggle to find the balance between trying something new and staying true to the origin takes a hit, and the flavor takes a hit. Season 3 sees The Beef turn into the Bear and navigates the story of Carmen, Sydney, Richie, and Nat to find closure and move on. It signals a new start and the fear that comes with it. But it is an intense season; their expectations from the show are just a lot.

The Bear Season 3 Review: What Works?

In two words- the food and the people. You are invested in these characters after two seasons of exploring life, life, flavor, and grief. Marvelous casting is one thing that The Bear has been able to achieve. The actors have become synonymous with the character, and even though they have become big stars and have done other projects when they step back in, all you see is them. They shine, struggle, and add zest to the show’s glory and flaws. Jeremy Allen White’s star performances take a hit compared to the show’s other performances, namely Liza Colon Zayas, as Tina gets her much-deserved limelight. 

The show is an homage to the art of food and the service industry. Like I said, it is so much more than just pretty food. The Bear stands tall in delivering cinema like you have never seen before. It also did a fantastic job unraveling grief and not shoving it down your throat. There is a lot of anticipation in season 3 that moves beyond just mystery; it’s fear and attachment to these characters. It’s a finding representation of grief and loneliness on the screen for people who might be suffering in silence and get relief when Richie gives a reality check to Carmy or when Sydney takes a stronger position at work. The show thrives on chaos, and it does so beautifully. 

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The Bear Season 3 Review: What Doesn’t Work:

If you are a fan of the show, everything will work for you because it stems from a place of curiosity about the characters. And that is a bittersweet thing; the show gets trapped in its beauty and greatness. It goes from being exciting to sometimes being more preachy than required. The Bear also takes one step forward and three steps back regarding Carmy’s arc. He is quite literally turning into a love-sick puppy who expresses his frustration with his peers and work. All the progress he was starting to make in season 2 washes away because he is turning into the maniacal chef he hated. The kindness is withering away. I would have liked to see more of Marcus and his grief journey. Sydney’s issues with control and leadership are starting to feel a little stuck, and it feels that she deserves better than to worry about Carmy all the time.

Amongst the beautiful cinematography and the cascading music, most plot points feel half-baked, like they amount to something but don’t have that bite. And that brings us to the question- Did all the glory and the fame take the show’s flavor? Or Has The Bear Season 3 run out of the awe factor?

The Bear Season 3 Review: Last Words:

With a few hitches and glitches, The Bear Season 3 still serves a hot and powerful dish. The show operates at a brilliance that is hard to match and so fresh to watch. However, the slow wave of rollercoasters of emotions and plots can lead the show astray; it becomes too philosophical in Season 3. And quoting Chef Terry here, ‘Every Second Counts’, and maybe the show should use some of its quotes and push itself out of the hamster wheel of what’s next with more solid ground. Ever since the release of  The Bear, it has tapped into a niche that is exciting, exhilarating, and stressful. But as much as there are expectations and pressure to deliver, the show delivers an aftertaste that keeps you coming back for more.

All Episodes of The Bear Season 3 are now streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar in India and Hulu in the US.

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Kota Factory Season 3 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Vaibhav More, Ranjan Raj, Alam Khan, Ahsaas Channa, Revathi Pillai, Urvi Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Tilottama Shome

Creator: Arunabh Kumar

Director: Pratish Mehta

Streaming On: Netflix

Language: Hindi, English, Telugu, Tamil

Runtime: 5 Episodes of 40 minutes each

Kota Factory Season 3 Review: What’s It About:

Kota Factory initially started with a bunch of 14 – 15-year-old kids left at what was called the educational capital of India – Kota. These young minds were then prepared to face the toughest examinations in India – IIT, NEET, and more. The show started highlighting the minor flaws in the coaching system as well.

But the focal point of Kota Factory became Jeetu Bhaiya, who brought the whole series together by playing Dronacharya to these kids on the battlefield. But this Dronacharya did not segregate these kids into Kauravas and Pandavas – the studious and the less studious batch.

The second season came with a more scattered storyline, with personal problems of these students taking over and Jeetu Bhaiya shifting his loyalties. He also explained to his students the lesson of growth – be it personal or professional. Setting up his own institute – Aimers.

The third season of Kota Factory has finally shifted equilibrium, maintaining a balance between the struggles of a teacher in Kota the struggles of the students. Jeetu Bhaiya finally feels emotionally eaten up as he copes with the suicide of a student who was not ready to give JEE Advance and wanted to settle with an NIT. Jeetu Bhaiya pushed her to aim higher, but she surrendered to life after a failure.

Does the success and struggle of a students is the same as that of their teachers? Kota Factory season 3 dissects it, failing at times but gaining in high moments.

Kota Factory Season 3 Review: Script Analysis:

The five episodes of this season have been neatly dissected into five generic student issues, with the entire season relying on Jeetu Bhaiya‘s personal war. While Jeetu Bhaiya deals with mental health issues, he fights like a war hero for his students as well – solving their issues of low self-esteem and getting jealous at someone else’s success in the first episode, calling them out when they get attracted to easier money making path forgetting about their real goals, giving them tricks when they are demotivated taking pre-mature chances at the exam and failing.

Kota Factory Season 3 Review: Star Performance:

This time, Kota Factory introduces Rajesh Kumar (Rosesh Sarabhai) and Tilottama Shome as Jeetu Bhaiya’s left and right hands. While Rajesh Kumar’s less act shines, forming the deep and strong footing of the show, Tillotama’s Pooja Didi definitely is the future of this series (if it extends.)

Amongst the students, pressure on Mayur More to lead the story is definitely visible on-screen since he struggles to struggle in some of the most important scenes of the five-episode web series. Ranjan Raj’s Rajmukund Meena probably gets the brightest of the highs this time with his personal struggle, him seeking solutions to his struggle and finally turning into a replica of Jeetu Bhaiya.

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Kota Factory Season 3 Review: Direction & Music:

This season has been directed by Pratish Mehta who has made sure to bring the season to a better and mature conversation about Kota and highlighting the real issues of this education capital, which currently fights capitalism and trapping young minds unnecessarily. However, there have been moments when Pratish lacks to maintain the quality of his own product or he falls short of his own higher set bar.

For instance, the monologue that Vaibhav finally delivers, venting out his anger, frustration, and desperation, looks like a rather animated version of Kartik Aaryan’s Pyaar Ka Punchnama dialogue set on the same beat and rhythm as well. The similarity is so uncanny that it immediately snatches the importance and seriousness of the scene with a blink!

Similarly, while the dampness in the walls of Jitendra Kumar‘s Jeetu Bhaiya’s home getting a paint coating but re-arriving aligning with the lows of Jeetu Bhaiya’s personal struggles should have been magical strongly backed with a good writing. But the moment just builds up but never achieves its goal.

Similarly, the music of Kota Factory this time seems a little bit out of place. Probably at times, because of the script, the music settled, but it was vice-versa for most of the parts in totality. For instance, the song Main Bola Hey arrives at a point in the series that totally left me clueless about Vaibhav’s struggles and the intensity of his emotions.

Kota Factory Season 3 Review: What Works

Jeetu Bhaiya is on a journey to find his ‘Jeevan ka Satya’ this season and it is an interesting take to make this story around Kota more balanced. Jeetu’s struggle to decide whether to play Dronacharya or Krishna in his students’ lives seems very genuine. The struggle between turning Guru or Sir, Sir or Bhaiya keeps taking the lead of the story, and it is interesting to see Jeetu Bhaiya’s flaws and failures put at the table as well while he tries to run a coaching institute.

The debate this time gets bigger with questions about the educational policies for students and Jeetu Bhaiya getting a chance to correct them. He talks about the flaws in the system and struggles to find solutions of millions of problems even if we consider one personal problem one student at a time.

Kota Factory Season 3 Review: What Doesn’t Work

There are moments when the story drops or disconnects. Be it Vartika’s issue of dealing with low self-esteem in front of her boyfriend, or be it Shivangi getting cold feet before the examination. While Jeetu Bhaiya brings a female teacher hinting about the female representation at the IIT and boosting the morale of girls in his institute, there never is a moment when we see that happening. A scene or two putting their stories forward would have been so satisfying.

Every season of Kota Factory has been backed by strong writing and powerful dialogues. From Jeevan ka Satya to Dream nahi Aim karo to giving the Hindi code Awesome – (Aushadhi, Swasthya Aur Mummy) to 21 din ki aadat to If you are the smartest in the class, you are in the wrong class! Kota Factory had many powerful moments in these strongly written deep dialogues which leave an impact.

But the third season, lacks in this area with only one dialogue hitting right – Jeet Ki Taiyyari nahi Taiyyari hi Jeet Hai. However, Kota Factory season 3 touches just the tip of the iceberg, hinting at conversations around Kota turning into a factory, students dealing with suicides, students coping with suicidal thoughts, depression, impacts on their families but never arrives on the front with these issues, disappointing big time.

Kota Factory Season 3 Review: Last Words:

Kota Factory season 3 might have a few flaws, but we have learned from Jeetu Bhaiya—weak students ko chhodte nahi hai. This season might have visible cracks on the wall, but it still has its heart in the right place. Jeetu Bhaiya, in the series, puts up a strong fight for his students when one suggests he segregates them into studious and less studious, which is a winning moment for the show.

3.5 stars!

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House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Tom Glynn Carney, Ewan Mitchell, Steve Toussaint, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans

Creator: Ryan Condal & George RR Martin

Director: Alan Taylor

Streaming On: Max In the US, Jio Cinema In India

Language: English, Hindi

Runtime: 55 Minutes

The Return to Westeros has been brutal and long but oh so wonderful. After a nearly two-year wait, fans get to witness the start of yet another season of Sunday watches with House of the Dragon Season 2. Based on Goerge RR Martin’s Fire And Blood, the series is a prequel to the HBO Mega-hit Game Of Thrones. House Of The Dragon Season 2 returns with a bolder yet somber feeling. The shock of last season’s finale cliffhanger is revealed as we meet a grieving Rhaneyra, who is still struggling to find answers, much like the rest of the realm. An angry and unhinged Daemon wants vengeance, setting the town for the end of the first episode and his relationship with Rhaneyra.

The start of the season rewards fans with introducing Creagon Stark and the world in the north, as well as the iconic line that will be etched in cinematic history—‘Winter Is Coming.’ The foreshadowing happens multiple times in the episode, with Helena’s prophecy coming true. While House Of The Dragon Season 1 felt like diving into new uncharted territory, Season 2 feels more like coming home to the known thrill of Game Of Thrones level of plotting and deceit. But the pace starts slow and continues to build up, reaching a pinnacle towards the end of the episode with a brutal death and something that will set off the chaotic side of war. If, at the beginning of the episode, you were uncertain about the looming war, the end solidifies your concern that war is inevitable.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode 1 Review: What’s It About:

Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series tells the story of House Targaryen. It follows the noble family’s tumultuous power struggles as they navigate political intrigue, familial rivalries, and the looming threat of civil war in their quest to reclaim the Iron Throne. Set in a world of dragons and dynasties, the series explores the complex dynamics of ambition, loyalty, and betrayal as key figures vie for control over the Seven Kingdoms.

House Of the Dragon Season 2 picks up after the shocking slaying of Prince Lucerys and the Aegon taking control of the seven kingdoms. The first episode, ‘A Son For A Son,’ is based on a line that Dameon says to Rhaenyra in the books. A devised Rhaneyra is trying to find proof of Lucy’s death, as Alicent and Otto try to keep their heir & spare in control. King Aegon is a lost prince, grappling with power and greed and being the entitled brat he is. Lord Larys is trying his best hand to get the King under his thumb as he loses Alicent. We see a sense of fear in Alicent’s eyes, as she still sticks by her words and wants peace, but her actions prove otherwise.

Slow, scathing, and then eventually pretty brilliant; that is what the episode is. The episode says goodbye to the plotline of Season 1, as the war wages on and what to expect.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode 1 Review: What Works?:

The performances through and through. Emma D’Arcy is brilliant as Rhaneyra, and as if you needed more proof, without having more than two dialogues, they make you weep. Matt Smith is perfect as Dameon. But the real stars of the first episode have to be Harry Collet as Prince Jace and Phia Saban as Helena. The two most heartbreaking performances with just a fraction of screentime hold you back. The sadness that looms after Luke’s death haunts Dragonstone and Alicent. Because this is the straw that broke the camel’s back, we are introduced to a new character, Aly Of Hall, and Blood & Cheese; more on that later.

The pace of the episode, as we said before, is slow in the beginning, resembling stages of grief. But the funeral scene sets it off. We also have a contender for the most hated man from House Of the Dragon, with Criston Cole taking the lead over Jeoffery. The duality of Alicent, coupled with Aemond’s astute observation, also adds stars. As many viewers and fans said, this emotional return is very reminiscent of Season 2 of Game Of Thrones. And if it follows that Trajectory, we will be in for quite a ride.

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House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode 1 Review: What Doesn’t Work?:

Let’s address the spoiler and the elephant in the room. That Blood & Cheese arc just doesn’t feel right because it was completely changed from the books. It was one of the most anticipated scenes that book fans wanted to see. But if the deviation isn’t justified, fans are going to be miffed. There is a lot of mention of other houses, and quite consistently, and to a point where it feels repetitive. We get it that you are looking for support and you want to win the war, but maybe ease up on the word vomit a bit.

The other aspect that feels very forced is the mention that the war is inevitable because you hear that at least seven times in the episode. It feels as if you want us to be team Alicent and believe that she is a good person, while your whole arc says otherwise. Also, we saw so few Dragons in the first episode, which feels unfair to the title of the show. But other than that, the episode has received good reviews from the fans.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Last Words:

An episode with a 55-minute runtime sometimes feels longer. But keeping the nitpicking aside, the episode does a good job of recalling old incidents and raising new questions. New plot points, new characters, and so much more Dragon drama to come in. This is where House Of the Dragon Season 2 could soar or perish. But we will be tuning in every Sunday anyway.

So, in our opinion, this good start is worthy of 4 Stars!

House Of The Dragon Season 2 streams every Sunday on Max and Monday mornings on Jio Cinema.

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Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Claudia Jessie, Adjoa Andoh, Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashely, Luke Thompson, Hannah Dodd, Ruth Gemmell, Golda Rosheuvel

Creator: Shonda Rhimes, Jess Brownell

Director: Tom Verica, Tricia Brock

Streaming On: Netflix

Language: English

Runtime: 48 Minutes- 1 Hour 20 Minutes

The Wallflower has finally bloomed, and we are crying mascara tears of ha[piness and confusion. Dearest Gentle Reader of the esteemed ton, much like the rest of the world, we have been waiting with bated breath to see Bridgerton Season 3’s Part 2. And the show arrived today with its glory and so many twists and turns. But most importantly, with so much heart and emotional maturity, it almost feels like the end. With Penelope’s identity as Whisteldown at risk, a love with Colin blossoming under the dark, the threats of losing Eloise, Violet’s Second Act, and Francecsa’s first, this season’s part 1 finale left us with many questions. But Part 2 comes bearing gifts, trouble, and maybe a bittersweet feeling with it all. Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton deliver a performance worthy of praise, with each cast member adding their part of sparkle.

But as this spoiler-filled review will delve into it, Bridgerton Season 3 is more layered than we ever planned for. Bridgerton Season 3 could very well be the end of the hit series as it simmers down and takes away the cages of gleam the steams and tries to tell a story about women, their friendship and their identity, and how lost souls can find love if they find each other.

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 Review: What’s It About:

From the very start of Bridgerton Season 3, the theme has been stepping out of the shadows, and Part 2 fulfills its foreshadowing. Part 2 delivers when it comes to pacing the storyline; the first complaint that many viewers and fans had was that Part 1 felt rushed in terms of the storyline. 

Starting after the steamy rendezvous in the carriage scenes, Part 2 focuses on Colin & Penelope’s romance and everything that comes with it. It deals with the real love story- Elosie and Penelope’s friendship’s redemption arc. Violet’s dreams and Portia Feathrington come to senses about her daughter. These four episodes focus on the heart and make the underdogs in the story shine. From Portia Feathrington’s motherly side taking center stage, we see more of Prudence and Philipa; their insecurities and love play out. We see vulnerabilities sprinkle across all storylines, from Benedict Cressida to our Dear Queen Charlotte. We find out about the origin story of Lady Whistledown and, most notably, the stories of women, ambition, and everything they will sacrifice for love.

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 plays out in real-time, with increased suspense and delving into unchartered territory. What surprises you about these four ending episodes is that the show takes a slow emotional rise and unravels the slow story knots that it weaves at the beginning of the season, ending in the big reveal of Lady Whistledown. But as the excruciating wait for Part 2 ends, does it feel all worth it all? Is it the beginning of the end of what was  Netflix’s beloved romance series? It isn’t, but it feels like it.

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 Review: What Works?:

Right off the bat, the pace is much better, you don’t feel rushed, and you get to understand the sudden emotional shift of the show. Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 takes the time to give you a look into the character arc of every character, from Penelope & Portia’s developing a mother-daughter relationship to even Francecsa feeling jealous of Penelope; the table has turned, and it’s a beautiful view. The last four episodes might feel longer because, in between the steamy scenes, there is just so much stress and vulnerability; with the heavy weight of identity and lost souls finding a purpose, the season soars in not being too preachy with change. Penelope’s confidence comes from Colin and vice versa. The show also stresses that ambitions don’t have to take a back seat regarding love. Brdgeryon Season 3 also has enough of its shocking moments with another surprise wedding and a surprise end to the season. Lady Whistledown and The Queen finally meet under the most unusual circumstances, and the overall win of a wallflower feels personal. 

This season feels more complete and results with Bridgerton as a series taking a more sincere look under the gossip and the pomp. It truly is the story of people living in the shadows; Anthony and Kate serve as great boosters trying to figure out life after their happily ever after. But it’s Nicola Coughlan and Claudia Jessie who shine through and through. Cressida Cowper has the most surprising arc we’ve seen, but who’s complaining? Luke Newton is adorable as the love-sick Colin, who worships the ground Penelope walks on. Taking second place are our dear friends Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury; it’s the season where friendship triumphs over everything, and what an emotional but whistle-worthy end the last 3 minutes are.

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 Review: What Doesn’t Work?:

We love the shift, but it can get a bit draggy. The show shined because it balances raunch and desire with love and emotional complications. Bridgerton Season 3 edges towards cringe sometimes, and you want to know who the villain is. This story works but could easily fall flat, which is a considerable risk. Taking an emotional swing towards the end leaves no room for it to return. The show’s end feels concrete; for example, if this were the last episode of the series, you would not mind. And for the makers keen on bringing the show back, the least they could have done is introduce the next lead in a hint or give us a cliffhanger. But it ends in a classic happily ever after and with no intrigue in the lives of the rest of the Bridgertons. 

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If the following season features Benedict or Eloise, you would never guess that from the show. Both of them are placed in such a similar lost soul predicament that it reeks of privilege and insufficient forethought. So, while we love the conclusion to Polin’s story, this could very well be the end of Bridgerton, and we wouldn’t mind it.

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 Review: Concluding Words:

Members of the Ton can still relish this show. Lady Whistledown’s identity might be out, but this seems like an opportunity for a new beginning. The show is stepping into uncharted timelines and territories here. With no cliffhangers to answer to, they could switch it up or tone it down. But for the fans’ sake, we hope they switch it up. While I love Benedict, I think it’s time to see Eloise finally get her happy ending. In parting words, as we diligently wait for any official announcement. Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, and the rest of the cast have delivered another hit, with certain damps, but what a run it has been. Until next time, Dear Readers! 

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The Boys Season 4 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Colby Minifie, Claudia Doumit, And Cameron Crovetti

Creator: Eric Kripke

Director: Frederick E.O. Toye, Shana Stein, Catriona McKenzie, Philip Sgriccia, And Eric Kripke

Streaming On: Amazon Prime

Language: English

Runtime: 3 episodes of 1 hour each

The Boys Season 4 Review: What’s It About:

Amazon Prime Video has dropped the first three episodes of the superhero satire The Boys: Season 4, and we are not sure how to sum this up. As Eric Kripke‘s men set out on a journey to deliver the darkest season of this show, it seems to be getting trapped in its own blueprint. The third season of the show was undoubtedly the best and the closest to the superhero comics.

Over the three seasons, The Boys carved a bloody, violent, and hilarious path through the superhero genre, gleefully skewering its tropes while holding a distorted mirror to our own sociopolitical landscape.

The Boys Season 4 Review: Script Analysis

Season one was a brutal intro to this highly conceptualized Superhero satire where we met The Boys, a ragtag bunch fueled by righteous anger against the corrupt, celebrity-worshipped Supes. The other important aspect of the show is Vought, the evil corporation that manufactures and controls these superheroes, exposed for its greed and manipulation. Hughie, enters this deranged world after a Supe literally runs through his girlfriend. Season one questioned the true meaning of heroism.

Season 2 presented The Boys as organized rogues who are devoted to taking on the world’s well-known but typically psychotic superheroes who have begun working for the government. The satire hit new heights, with Stan Edgar, the Machiavellian head of Vought, pulling the strings behind the scenes in season 3 with a gut-punching finale, shocking character reveals, and a cliffhanger that left everyone desperate for season four.

Finally, The Boys are here with the darkest season probably and this wild, satirical ride that doesn’t shy away from pushing boundaries. It is asking all the uncomfortable questions about power, corruption, and the dark side of celebrity worship as Homelander (Antony Starr) stands his public trial for murder.

His Captain American spoof is now heading towards a Donald Trumpish way and while this character arc is a pretty interesting addition that comes at such a time when American Politics itself is taking a major makeshift.

The Boys Season 4 Review: What Works?:

Season 4 of The Boys comes with heightened stakes as Victoria Neuman potentially becomes the Vice President and Homelander’s influence grows; the danger feels more real than ever. This could keep viewers engaged and on the edge of their seats.

The lines between good and bad are further blurred with this season while The Boys are fractured, the political landscape is more volatile than ever, and Homelander, drunk on his celebrity status, is a terrifying loose cannon.

Using social media as a weapon of mass manipulation reflects the very real dangers of disinformation in today’s world. And the satirical take on superheroes, starts serving as a stark reminder of the very real consequences of unchecked power, media manipulation, and societal disillusionment.

The best thing about this season is that it brings someone who might turn more evil than Homelander – his son Ryan. However, as the series delves into the familial setup as well, it would be interesting to see if Ryan feeds on the gory world his father rules or if his mother’s upbringing wins over.

The Fractured Heroes In A Flawed Humanitarian World
The characters of The Boys, particularly the members of the Seven, are complex and morally ambiguous. While Homelander, the supposed leader, is a terrifying reflection of unchecked power and narcissistic rage, Erin Elair Moriarty’s Starlight’s struggle to navigate a corrupt system as the sole decent member of the Seven resonates with themes of fighting for what’s right even when the odds are stacked against you. The character arcs in The Boys are a central driving force, forcing us to question who the real heroes are and the price of maintaining a facade of goodness.

The Family
The Boys, who might be chaotic and as problematic as the Seven, nonetheless keep you hooked as they serve as a family. A family, these men have chosen for themselves, which makes it an endearing tale to root for. Hughie (Jack Quaid) and Billy Butcher’s (Karl Urban) camaraderie put up for a very good watch even though the latter will fight his mortality in this season.

The Boys Season 4 Review: What Doesn’t Work?:

What does not work for The Boys this season is probably the monotony it is entering. Within the three episodes, the storyline already feels jaded and repeated. With the star cast getting bigger, it is becoming difficult to follow the individual arcs. It is too messy and scattered. The line between dark humor and desensitizing has been crossed, and it makes us question if sensitivity has actually become passé for society.

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The Boys Season 4 Review: Last Words:

Thankfully, despite the flaws, The Boys still has it. And as Jensen Ackles is taking over as the Soldier Boy, it would be interesting to see the progression route to the season 4 finale. Hopefully, this ticking bomb explodes right, unleashing more havoc, or will it diffuse? Only upcoming episodes will tell.

3.5 stars!

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Gullak 4 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Jameel Khan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Harsh Mayar, Sunita Rajwar

Creator: Shreyansh Pandey

Director: Shreyansh Pandey

Streaming On: Sony Liv

Language: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bangla, and Marathi with English subtitles

Runtime: 5 episodes of 30 minutes each

Gullak 4 Review: What’s It About:

“Dar aur tanaav aisa zeher hai jise thoda thoda lene se middle class ki immunity bahut badh gayi hai.” The fourth season of Gullak arrives with another set of middle-class struggles. The TVF drama that has been closest to the real life of an ordinary working-class family has been feeding on nostalgia for the past three seasons.

However it takes a major shift with the fourth season where the Mishra Family is coming-of-age, leaving the nostalgia and entering the present world problems. But the five episodes, are scattered more than necessary so much so that they fail to follow a linear setup.

The trailer of Gullak 4 clearly hinted at being a tale of adulting vs parenting. But the essence comes only with the last episode with major conversations happening in the last 20 minutes of the show. The rest of the episodes get saved by endearing performances by the Mishra family that peep through the loopholes of the storyline.

Gullak 4 Review: Script Analysis:

Shreyansh Pandey has been creating the past three seasons of Gullak but takes over as the director, writer, and creator of the show. Over the five episodes, this time, Gullak 4 does not dive deep, touching the chords it used to in the previous seasons. And thus, it arrives with the weak season, where the emotions are not backed by strong writing. Earlier, winning a kitty party by Mrs Mishra felt like a personal achievement. Or Annu Mishra’s struggle for a career was intriguing enough for the audiences to root for the Mishras.

But this time, Gullak does not make you happy to cry. It just passes away with the five episodes scattered over day-to-day mundane things that are not appealing enough. Even the recalls like Tehri being called disappointed feel stale despite the punch being the winner of the first season, where an entire episode on Tehri could have won the audiences.

Gullak arrives only in the last 20 minutes in an underwhelming tone that leaves a disappointment and a sigh since you keep disconnecting with the story.

Gullak 4 Review: Star Performance:

By now, the Mishra Family, played by Jameel Khan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, and Harsh Mayar, who play Santosh Mishra, Shanti Mishra, Annu Mishra, and Aman Mishra, know their characters well and enter the skin to perfection. In fact, it is their endearing performance that saves the day for the weakest season of Gullak.

But Sunita Rajvar‘s Bittu Ki Mummy, arriving at the climax for 5 minutes, acts as the show stealer, breaking the mundanity of the show since the first episode.

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Gullak 4 Review: What Works:

Of course, the story of Mishra family is something everyone is interested into and it works for the show. There are moments when you look forward to the feeling of where would this go. Right from buying curtains for an old wall to selling off the old kabaad. The woman of the family feels finished after a chain-snatching event to the parents questioning their parenting when the child goes wrong. Gullak has its elements in place.

Gullak 4 Review: What Doesn’t Work:

The best part of Gullak was the narrator – a piggy bank (Gullak) who used to narrate the entire happenings of the Mishra Family in beautifully written dialogues that were the essence of this show. The Gullak was half empty, probably because the rattle of the coins turned into melody when they were translated into beautiful monologues that concluded the episodes. That essence in season 4 went missing since none of the dialogues by Gullak will make you smile except for one or two.

In the past seasons, the hero of Gullak has been the narration by the Gullak in the opening and closing scenes, but it falls very weak on that narration this season.

Apart from the weak writing, Gullak suffers from too much mundanity, which makes it look scattered. The tale of adulting that should have been the basic premise for the five episodes arrives only with the last episode.

Gullak 4 Review: Last Words:

Gullak Season 4 leaves you in a dilemma. It is that show which I have loved and endeared. I have laughed and cried with the Mishra Family, rooting for their struggles and being proud of their achievements as if they were mine. But it feels like the family has now created a distance, and despite trying hard, I am not feeling the same way they made me feel. I want to love and adore them; it’s just that the warmth is missing, and when I see them from this distance, I see the loopholes as well.

2.5 stars!

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The Legend Of Hanuman Season 4 Review: Star Rating:

Cast:  Daman Baggan, Sharad Kelkar, Sanket Mhatre

Creator:  Sharad Devarajan, Jeevan J. Kang, Charuvi Agrawal

Director:  Navin John, Jeevan J. Kang

Streaming On: Disney+Hotstar

Language: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Bengali, Kannada.

Runtime: 7 episodes of 20 minutes each

The Legend Of Hanuman Season 4 Review: What’s It About:

The Legend Of Hanuman started in the year 2021 with a phenomenal season that started with the childhood of Lord HanuMan and quickly shifted gears in the first 20 minutes with HanuMan meeting Lord Ram and Lakshman in the jungle while the Ayodhya prince was looking out for the King of the ‘Vanar’ Sugreeva.

The second season of the show escalated quality and content-wise to a much better tone and followed HanuMan’s first meeting with his lost powers and discovering Devi Sita. The third season played along the same lines, with Lord Hanuman taking charge at the battlefield during the Ram-Ravana war.

The fourth season has now started with Kumbhkaran’s entry in the Ram-Ravana battle, and while you get to watch only the first two episodes, we have already binged the entire season and will let you know all the good, bad, yayys, and nayss before you decide to watch it.

The Legend Of Hanuman Season 4 Review: Script Analysis:

The fourth season of The Legend Of Hanuman starts with the arrival of Kumbhakarna, and the story has been maintaining its linear progression since the start of the show. This season, focusses on the battles of the equals, Kumbhakarna, Ravana’s brother, fighting with Lakshmana, Ram’s brother, Lakshmana and Hanuman devising a plan together to tackle Meghnaad, and Ahiravana’s (Ravana’s son) parallel plot taking the limelight.

The Legend Of Hanuman Season 4 Review: Star Performance:

The star of The Legend Of Hanuman is the powerful writing by the team that delves into the depth of Indian religion and mythology, combining the facts into fiction and making it a wholesome watch for the audiences.

However, Sharad Kelkar’s narration as Ravana in this season is so strong, powerful, and enigmatic that you suddenly are so interested in knowing Ravana as a common man that it becomes uncomfortable after a point, making you doubt if it is good to see Ravana as a hero, rather than looking at him as the anti-hero.

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The Legend Of Hanuman Season 4 Review: Direction:

The Legend Of Hanuman is undoubtedly one of the best mythological series to come out of India. The way this team has been successful in keeping the story of Ram and Ravana alive from Hanuman driving the entire episode of Ramayana is surprising. In fact, Bollywood should take how to make Ramayana lessons from this team, whose research and development go beyond the word phenomenal.

The Legend Of Hanuman Season 4 Review: What Works

Apart from incorporating stories and backstories, they have told you the contribution of each and every character in such detail that they deserve all the accolades. There are heroic moments in the series, like making Nal and Neel the hero. In fact, it makes an endearing watch for the kids when we see Hanuman having a conversation with a deserted mountain dying because of not a single plant alive on it, and some humans uprooted it all, promising to plant more but not fulfilling it. Such a great geography lesson incorporated for the kids with a beautiful connection to the mythological stories, making them believe that this might have happened is a winner.

The Legend Of Hanuman Season 4 Review: What Doesn’t Work

The problem arises when one sees Ravana’s perspective and his story taking such a powerful domination that Hanuman and his story start diminishing. Every single episode of The Legend Of Hanuman starts with Ravana’s narration, his opinions, views, domination, humane side, doubting his strengths, and mourning the loss of his peers. After a point, this becomes the story of Ravana rather than Hanuman, and while we do not complain, it does not serve the purpose of a story that is titled The Legend Of Hanuman.

The Legend Of Hanuman Season 4 Review: Last Words:

Sharad Kelkar‘s Ravana dominates the entire narration so strongly that after a point, it puts me in a dilemma about whether it is morally right to like Ravana. In fact, after a point, Ravana and Ahiravana become the central point of this web series, making the whole story run around themselves, and one gets so interested in knowing these anti-heroes that The Legends About Hanuman go missing!

3 stars.

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Gunaah Episode 01 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Surbhi Jyoti, Gashmeer Mahajani, Zayn Ibad Khan

Creator: Ay Yapim (Creator Of Ezel)

Showrunner: Anirudh Pathak

Director: Anil Senior

Streaming On: Disney+Hotstar

Language: Hindi with English subtitles

Runtime: 2 episodes of 30 minutes each

Gunaah Episode 1 & 2 Review: What’s It About:

What’s a given in a revenge drama – there’s one who has been wronged, and there’s the other who has been wronged. Everything else – love, lies, lust, longing roams in between. The instigating point is a betrayal, and the end result is a climax; in between, there might be a lot of bloodshed, negotiations, and blurring of lines.

Gunaah’s first two episodes hint at all of the above without even settling down. Only the eye contact speaks volumes about the aftermath. This web series is ready to offer!

Gunaah Episode 1 & 2 Review: What Works:

Gunaah, in the settling down phase of the first two episodes, works in parts. There are two men who clearly dissect the past and the present. The intrigue does a good job of connecting the audience with the story. The transitions have been smooth so that you follow the opening episode to memorize all the important aspects before the story changes gear.

Gunaah Episode 1 & 2 Review: Star Performance:

While Surbhi Jyoti is the begum of this game, the two Baadshaahs, Gashmeer Mahajani, and Zayn Ibad Khan, seem to pull the attention. Pulling that attention from the former Naagin of the television is a tedious job to nail. So, the men deserve applause for holding the story and attention around them. It would be interesting to see how they manage to share this attention between the transitions.

Darshan Pandya’s grey shades will also steal attention in parts and his character arc might be the underdog in this web series created by Anirudh Pathak.

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Gunaah Episode 1 & 2 Review: What Doesn’t Work:

It would be unfair to dissect a show and pinpoint its shortcomings with only 2 episodes of its entire work. So, while there are many misses despite the smooth transitions, we guess the show deserves a fair chance before we discuss what clearly isn’t working for this revenge thriller.

Gunaah Episode 1 & 2 Review: Last Words:

The web series is based on a Turkish drama Ezel, and hopefully, it retains the essence of a good revenge drama cum thriller. While episode 1 established love and friendship, episode 2 quickly shifted gears from loyalty to betrayal in love and friendship. From here, the story takes off while we see the age-old plastic surgery helping Zayn Ibad Khan turn Gashmeer Mahajani to revenge a betrayal. Looking forward to the next episode!

2.5 stars!

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Bujji & Bhairava Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Prabhas as Bhairava, Keerthy Suresh as Bujji & Others

Director: Nag Ashwin

Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video

Language: Telugu/Hindi with English Subtitles

Runtime: 2 episodes of 15 minutes each

Bujji & Bhairava Review: What’s It About:

Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD is all set for a worldwide release, and before the film arrives, the director has come up with a phenomenal animated series that sets the tone right for the film. Bujji & Bhairava is an introduction of sorts to the world of the main film.

But you will be totally wrong if you believe that this introduction is only an underwhelming effort for a promotional technique. It is as good as it could get while Prabhas and Keerthy Suresh present their crackling chemistry.

Bujji & Bhairava Review: Script Analysis:

The animated series has two episodes that are 15 minutes each, and they offer a glimpse into the world of Kalki 2898 AD. The animated series also introduces you to Bujji, the vehicle controller, and Bhairava, Prabhas’s character. The prelude completely offers the back story of the two lead characters of the film in a very crisp and swift manner, sticking to the short story of the animated series and telling everyone – how it all began!

Bujji & Bhairava Review: Star Performance:

Bujji & Bhairava work in entirety. The voice of Prabhas introduces his character and its nits and gits, while Keerthy Suresh’s quirky voice keeps you hooked on this tiny little thing that is innocent, smart, and intelligent. The simplistic script of how they met and their first adventure together forms the narrative of season 1 of this animated series. This simplicity and innocence work in favor of the world of Kalki 2898 AD!

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Bujji & Bhairava Review: What Works:

The series has been written by Sahen Upadhyay, who followed the brief and kept the story basic and grounded. Prabhas gets a stylized Baahubali entry in Kashi, his hometown. Meanwhile, Bujji gets a technical introduction. The story of how they met is an endearing tale that will leave you with a smile. The animation has also been kept very basic, keeping in mind the target audience.

Bujji & Bhairava Review: What Doesn’t Work:

What doesn’t work for Bujji & Bhairava is only the entry of Prabhas as Bhairava. The basics of his character might not suit to the morales and principles that should be learnt by children. But kids love such characters, and they will love Bhairava as well.

Bujji & Bhairava Review: Last Words:

The animated series has comedy and action and presents the perfect glimpse into the world of Kalki 2898 AD. The animated series has set a beautiful tone for the film, leaving everyone excited for the OG live-action film. Kudos to the team for bringing out such a brilliant promotional strategy.

4 stars!

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Panchayat Season 3 Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa & ensemble

Creator:  Deepak Kumar Mishra, Chandan Kumar, Arunabh Kumar

Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra

Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 8 episodes of 40 minutes each

Panchayat Season 3 Review: What’s It About:

“Samay se pehle koi kahin nahi jaana chahiye!” That is how this season of Panchayat begins, and it hits you hard. It strikes a note somewhere deep down, and it just tears you apart. That is how intense the show begins. Just like how it ended on the highest emotional quotient when a whole village came together as a family after Up-pradhan, Prahlad, loses his son on the battlefield. A son who becomes the pride of Phulera village. When slogans of Prahlad’s son are heard, followed by ‘Amar Rahe,’ Panchayat doesn’t make you cry, but it does make you feel numb. 

But grief is more personal than sorrow. Grief makes a home in your heart, while sorrow helps you ease down, probably after a stressful moment. Panchayat season 3 starts by dealing with grief and makes you learn how a community is helpful and how the needs of society are so basic and essential.

Panchayat Season 3 Review: Script Analysis:

The P in Panchayat, starts with P-hulera village and ends with P-olitics. Everything that happens in between is so simplistic yet endearing that you would regret missing a dialogue, a moment, a scene, or simply a background note! This season starts with Sachiv Ji’s transfer order being issued and canceled. While this takes up to 15 – 20 minutes to set the premise, the story kickstarts as soon as he re-enters Phulera. But what happens in those first 20 minutes is also a whistle-worthy performance, and the setup just grabs you in.  

The entire season is a makeshift season, taking the simple rooted community’s progress and entering into the complexities of politics. And while Jitendra Kumar’s Abhishek Tripathi, a CAT aspirant dreaming of IIMs and corporates, is getting entangled in these complexities, he has started loving them, owning them as if he is a part of Phulera. This is what love does to you. Not the ‘Ishq Wala Love’ but the ‘Parivaar Wala Pyaar’ that makes you go to any length, even if it means gathering courage and facing a bunch of goons for your people! 

The Politics of Panchayat Season 3 comes much later into the series, despite hinting at a political gear in the last season itself. The third season can be simply divided into two parts. The first part focuses more on the emotional front, while the second part speeds up, accelerating and taking a leap of faith from emotions to planning, plotting, and fighting. But do they win? Do they lose? Does the political shift change the dynamics of the show? You’ll have to watch the season to decode that, and we promise you will not regret any minute of it! Kudos to director Deepak Kumar Mishra for pulling such a tight script with so many elements and holding it together for eight long episodes! 

Panchayat Season 3 Review: Star Performance:

The star of Panchayat is definitely the script of the show, beautifully written by Chandan Kumar. When it comes to the performances of the actors it would be truly unfair to credit only a few. The entire ensemble of Panchayat needs a standing ovation for pulling their parts so effortlessly that in your mind you are already roaming into a village called Phulera while you see their daily mundane lives.

Jitendra Kumar is an actor par excellence, and in some parallel worlds, he definitely is a secretary of some gram Panchayat. Neena Gupta doesn’t need applause; she is a legend, and so is Raghubir Yadav. Sanvikaa and Chandan Roy are nailing their act a little better than the last time you saw them, and they deserve accolades for this leap. Durgesh Kumar as Bhushan and Sunita Rajwar as Kranti Devi are the perfect antagonists.

 However, this appraisal talk cannot be completed without mentioning the gem of this season – Faisal Malik. And not because he lost his son. It is a common perception that grief generally hits hard, but Faisal Malik’s Prahlad doesn’t invoke any sympathy or empathy. You just want to be around him, give him a tight hug, and probably tell him – I know how it feels. His eyes perform more than anything else. 

There is so much more about the characters of Panchayat but we will talk about them in detail some other time. 

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Panchayat Season 3 Review: What Works

If someone asks me what I love in Panchayat, it would be the most difficult question to answer. Was it the arcs of these characters, beautifully written by Chandan Kumar and so brilliantly put together by director Deepak Kumar Mishra, that all of them look like a part of a family? Everyone is a hero in their world, and none of them is the main lead, despite Jitendra Kumar leading the clan. Was it the background score by Ishan Das? Or the entire sound team is making Phulera more lively. Even the slightest whistle while Sachiv Ji and Rinki try to sit beside each other in a car or Amma is trying to get a home in Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna with the naughtiest BGM ever! 

The details in Panchayat Season 3 are so endearing that you might not want to but still fall for it. Be it the characters wearing the oldest shirts and T shirts. In fact, one of them is wearing a T-shirt where the R of HILFIGER has worn off, and the little holes in the T-shirt are visible with bare eyes as well. Karishma Vyas’s costume design definitely needs a thunderous round of cheers! 

Panchayat Season 3 Review: What Doesn’t Work

Ideally there is nothing that would turn a sore moment. However, there are times when the show starts to lag and one would wish Amit Kulkarni’s editing could help pick pace but still there are so many moments the next very second that you will forget about the complaints!

Panchayat Season 3 Review: Last Words:

While Panchayat Season 3 starts on an emotional note, it ends with a surprise cameo of Saansad Ji, who gives the biggest lesson on Politics – “Rajneeti Pahalwaani ki tarah nahi Shatranj ki tarah khela jaata hai.” And with this, the show enters the game of chess, which doesn’t offer a hint about who has finally called for checkmate!

Deepak Kumar Mishra, Chandan Kumar, Arunabh Kumar have created a masterpiece in Panchayat and by the time you reach the grand finale of this season, it will make you forget the most iconic cinematic question ever – Katappa Ne Baahubali Ko Kyun Maara!? Watch it for yourself, and you’ll be eager to decode the mystery in the end.

4.5 stars!

For updates, stay tuned to Koimoi.

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Baahubali: Crown of Blood Review: Star Rating:

Cast (Voice Over): Sharad Kelkar, Manoj Pande, Rajesh Khatar, Mausam, Deepak Sinha, Samay Thakkar & others

Creator: Sharad Devarajan, SS Rajamouli

Director: Jeevan J. Kang

Streaming On: Disney+ Hotstar

Language: Hindi (Original), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Kannada

Runtime: 9 episodes/20 minutes each

Baahubali: Crown of Blood Review: What’s It About:

Remember the school days of your life? The month-long summer vacation was loaded with Holiday homework for each subject. But you, being you (in case you were not the diligent sort), completed that Holiday homework just a day before submission in a hurried manner. It was probably not the best of your work, but it was doable and manageable. 

And this hurried and lazy attempt often used to work, and you have had a good reputation at school. So, this story might be the ‘behind-the-scene‘ premise for the making of Baahubali: Crown Of Blood – the animation series created by SS Rajamouli. 

Helmed by Jeevan J Kang and written by a bunch of people, this is a very familiar world, and full points to SS Rajamouli and Sharad Devarajan for utilizing the brand that is Baahubali and not letting it get blurred or diminish over a period of time. But Baahubali as a brand and Baahubali as a franchise are two distinct concepts, and this web series is more of a brand-driven concept. But does it work in Rajamouli’s favor? Let us find out in this review. 

Baahubali: Crown of Blood Review: Script Analysis:

Baahubali: Crown of Blood offers a fresh chapter in the history of Mahishmati. This is a standalone tale with little to no connection from the two massive Baahubali films that changed the course of Indian Cinema and how it was perceived globally. There is a fresh enemy and fresh backstories as well on the old palette of planning, plotting, hustling to be the best kingdom in the world, and the power struggle for the throne of Mahishmati. 

Because of this, the web series works in part to bring a new development from the old tales of Mahishmati. But is it enough for a 9-episode long web series whose target audiences are primarily kids aged 5 – 10? For starters, for kids that age, that is way too low-quality animation. 

The kids of a world who are Disney fans are growing up watching Avenger superheroes. For them, Baahubali: Crown of Blood is way too underwhelming. However, the story, which is simplistic from a kid’s point of view, still offers an apt intrigue to keep an adult like me glued, which deserves mention.

Baahubali: Crown of Blood Review: Star Performance:

The star of this web series is definitely the story when you put it to the standards of an animated film. Or let us put it this way: the star of this web series might have been the idea of bringing tales from Mahishmati and making a whole world around that tale. If this idea had been executed properly, it could have been the next Tenaliraman or Akbar Birbal. But the idea of an animated Baahubali story probably works better on paper. As such, there is no star in this web series, apart from the idea of another story from Mahishmati, which definitely gives that kick and excitement to watch it! 

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Baahubali: Crown of Blood Review: What Works

If Disney has set up this mini-series as a tester or sampler, then I am definitely in for a web series like Tales from Mahishmati or Adventures of Baahubali and Bhallaladeva that could be such a vast and interesting world to take this brand along. The idea, definitely works. Even Baahubali: Crown of Blood could have worked in such a better way if a little could have been spent on the animation. 

Baahubali: Crown of Blood Review: What Doesn’t Work

The animation in this series takes us 30 years back. It is what a 90s kid would have enjoyed, or probably the early 2000s as well. It is Ducktales, Chhota Bheem, Doraemon, and Shin Chan kind-a-world, which the kids might or might not enjoy. (They have definitely seen better, but you just never know with kids and their mood swings). Even on the storytelling level, it could have been an upgrade, taking major inspiration from The Legend Of Hanuman, another animated web series brilliantly conceptualized and delivered. 

In a nine-part episodic series, the grand team of Baahubali: Crown of Blood could not deliver a single hook line that stays with the kids and becomes a synonym for the web series. Right from Shin Chan’s Hindi song to Okey Dokey Doraemon or too many that I might not know. Even Shaktimaan in the 90s could come up with Sorry Shaktimaan. A short and simple song/catchphrase, something could have been projected this web series better. Just like Baahubali came up with ‘Katappa ne Baahubali ko kyun maara?’

The sketches in this animation are ironically way apart from the actual characters in the film. Only Bhallaldeva and Bijjaladeva resemble their closest self. In fact, Baahubali in this series is very different from what Prabhas looks like. That probably works the best in favor of the star since he would love to associate with the franchise and not the brand. 

Baahubali: Crown of Blood Review: Last Words:

Commercialization of a hit franchise and turning it into a brand could be a very interesting and successful attempt, but we guess it needs the right budget, time, an interested team, and definitely the right animators. Till then, no more lazy summer holiday assignments, please! 

2.5 stars.

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The post Baahubali: Crown Of Blood Review: SS Rajamouli’s Hurried Summer Holiday Homework On Chhota Bheem Meets Doraemon Palette Works The Best In Prabhas’s Favor! appeared first on Koimoi.