Jallikattu – An entertaining, high energy sound and light spectacle

Official Trailer: I was impressed by the uniqueness of the sound design that accompanied the visuals when I watched the trailer. I loved Lijo Jose Pelllissery’s earlier movies Angamaly Diaries and Ee.Ma.Yau. So, naturally I was looking forward to Jallikattu. This director has a special talent with directing crowds. If you have watched Angamaly Diaries and Ee.Ma.Yau, you know what I am talking about. Even with so many characters, and

 

Unbelievable – a compelling series that takes you through anger & frustration to uncomfortable peace towards the end

Official Trailer: What if your behavior doesn’t conform to society’s norms? How you will be perceived if you insist on a specific brand and color of bedsheet the next day after a traumatic event, say rape? What if no one believes your story because your behavior doesn’t conform? That is the situation Marie Adler, the teenager, faces in the latest Netflix’s mini-series Unbelievable. When Marie reports about her rape to

 

Fast Cuts – Aadai, and Game Over

When it rains, it pours. Lately there have been series of Kollywood movies with woman protagonists. A change for the positive. Less of toxic masculinity. Game Over –  After a long time, got to see an original genre-hopping supernatural-revenge-horror-serial killer-videogame movie. Movie maintains the mood throughout, lighting, cuts, and music. Like Apoorva Sagodharargal movie sets up the bait with a serial killing, where the killer beheads the woman, kicks the

 

90ml – an unapologetic, funny female bonding movie

Official Trailer: Based on the trailer, I expected yet another run-of-the-mill 27th adult comedy. I sat up and realized this movie is going to be different when Rita says My bungalow, my rules, only entry and exit. Movie is bold and has that FU attitude till the end. Don’t get misled by the trailer. Yes, you do get those scenes and dialogues, but they don’t stand out as sleazy when

 

Short Takes – Monsters, Virus, Kavaludaari, Uriyadi 2

Virus – From Mollywood, a highly engaging and moving film, based on incidents around Nipah virus. Similar to HBO series Chernobyl, story focuses on how doctors, nurses, Collector, health minister, rise to the occasion to control the spread of virus taking risks. While the movie progresses like a procedural investigation, the director does a brilliant job of giving us back stories of few characters, their personal struggles, that makes us

 

Fast Cuts – I am Mother, and Kumbalangi Nights

I am Mother – post apocalypse, continuation of humanity is in the hands of a robot. Movie setups the premise very nicely where we get to see a shielded shelter managed by a robot. Out of the embryos, one embryo gets picked by the robot to restart the humanity. Baby girl grows up to be an adult, named only as daughter. A robotic mother concept is used effectively to explore

 

When They See Us – Horrors of Injustice

Official Trailer: When They See Us Netflix series explores the human side of wrong conviction by justice system, suffering through jail term, not able to get a job and have a life after the release, and how the stigma continues to haunt them. Series is based on famous Central Park Five event that rocked USA in 1989. While the event happened in US, functioning of justice system, and social prejudices

 

Chernobyl – the Cost of Lies, Deception, and Suppression of Dissent

Official Trailer: What is the cost of lies is the central question Chernobyl asks in HBO miniseries (5 episodes). What sets this series apart is that it keeps the narration to human-centric, how the scientists, firemen, miners, soldiers, and physicians sacrificed their life, not all of them knew what they are getting in to, to contain the damage and saved lives. Director does show and nail how the political establishment