Some research pieces, some opinions

Chup   Watched the movie Chup on OTT. A movie based on an innovative concept - film about film critics. Someone is killing some film critics. But why? Film stars Dulquer Salmaan, Sunny Deol and Shreya Dhanwanthary. Good to very good plot and very good acting. I'd say 8/10. With a better 2nd half or last 1/3rd could have been a masterpiece.  The positives: Innovative concept - film about film critics.  Great acting from Dulquer -- very convincing in various shades Very good acting from Shreya, Sunny Deol Support cast/villain is pretty good nice chemistry between Dulquer and Shreya BGM is very good Plot very good for like 2/3rd of the movie The negatives or meh parts: Plot very good in first half, but goes down to an extent in the 2nd half. Still decent to good in 2nd half, but if last 1/3rd was better, could have been an absolute masterpiece. Mongolian film copy? Who watches Mongolian films? Was that film famous? I mean could have used some other better known industry? Som...

C/O Kancharpalem  Watched C/O Kancharapalem after seeing the rave reviews and IMDB rankings. Summary :  Beyond disappointed. Movie is at best a one time watch for me and that on OTT.  I'd say 5.5 to 6 out of 10. 2 of the 4 stories are good enough, but the other 2 have serious problems. Just because something is unconventional doesn't mean its good or has to be praised. Its a mediocre film to say the least. And I give it the award of THE most over-rated movie among Telugu film critics/on IMDB. Details: The plus points: 1. The love story of Raju and Radha is good. A mature, if unconventional one. 2. The love story of the kids Sundaram and Sunitha is decent. 3. Showcases some aspect of village life accurately. 4. Acting is decent to good. The minus points  If we take this to be a drama film and not very realistic: 1. Music and songs are meh, bland except for at 1 or 2 places 2. None of the actors have good enough screen presence 3. Drama isn't good 4. Didn't particularl...

12th Fail  Summary:  Watched 12th Fail movie in the theater. Its based on the real life story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma who had failed 12th standard first time and passed on 2nd time. He came from an ordinary background and became an IPS officer facing several obstacles. Good film. Worth a watch. 7.5/10 IMO. Definitely not as good as made out to be in some places. Details: Not much of suspense. So no need to worry about spoiler per se. Details: 1. The real story is pretty inspiring. 2. The character/story of his then girlfriend, now wife, Shraddha Joshi is well sketched out. Especially the scene where works out things with her father ensuring she retains his trust. 3. Acting is good from all the characters, film shows stark moments of reality and there are some good moments of comedy. 4. The first half I found irritating to quite an extent as there are multiple logical flaws and smh moments. Like showing wasting 3 years by working 10+ hours a day and studying lesser wh...

Merry Christmas Watched this in the theater. A thriller and some nice chemistry. Worth one watch, but definitely not as good as made out in some rare reviews or IMDB rating IMO. 6.5 to 7 out of 10. Vijay Sethupathi is good to very good. (what's with him and and his character nighttime walks with ladies !? See 96 movie for reference) Katrina Kaif is decent - good in some scenes, but still not that good in some others. Their chemistry works well in the film. Story is decent - a bit up and down. It is good at couple of places, but a little inconsistent/frustrating at others or leaves gaps. As far as pace is concerned, a little slow in first half, but picks as it nears intermission. The support cast of Sanjay Kapoor, Tinnu Anand, Vinay Pathak etc. have done a good job.

Salaar Watched Salaar (Kannada). Went purely for theatrical experience as I had missed KGF1/KGF2 in theater and only watched those on OTT. Same director for all 3 - Prashant Neel Overall: One time watch. Fans of action genre, fans of Prabhas will probably like it.  6.5/10 I'd say. No spoilers. Positives : 1. Prabhas screen presence and changes from shaant fellow to the action sequences. 2. Friendship between Deva (Prabhas) and Varadha (Prithviraj). 3. Some action sequences and elevations were pretty good. (more so in 2nd half). 4. Good attempt at Khansaar world building. Negatives : 1. Not much acting/emoting per se from Prabhas and even Prithviraj. 2. Too many characters in the world building. 3. Like KGF1 and KGF2, lacks the moral core. 4. BGM is mediocre. 5. Easwari Rao playing the mother was strange/irritating. Chracter of Shruti Hassan was badly written. Other points : 1. Takes inspiration from Mahabharata, Game of Thrones. (from what I heard, haven't watched GoT) 2. I...

The Man Who Knew Infinity - Srinivasa Ramanujan Well made movie that captures the essence of Srinivasa Ramanujan, the genius. Stays true to the essence of his life - his immense work, attributing it to God/Goddess (Goddess Namagiri), the help he got from Prof. G.H Hardy (&others including Littlewood), the conflict between working more via intuition/working for proof when he collaborated with Hardy, his health issues, issues with racism/superstitions etc. The acting in the movie is good overall. Dev Patel as Srinivasa Ramanujan, Jeremy Irons as Prof. Hardy, Devika Bhise as Janaki (his wife), Tobby Jones as Littlewood etc. all have done justice to their roles. Some of Ramanujan's work - work on infinite series, partitions, real analysis, number theory, Ramanujan number, Ramanujan Theta function etc. "An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God."

Movies review links and ratings  For what ratings mean, see below. Have made it a little less generous than previously to get proper separation between the movies. In chronological year order: Manichitrathazhu movie review  (1993) (8.5/10) The Man Who Knew Infinity movie review  (2015) (7.5/10) C/O Kancharpalem movie review  (2018) (5.5 to 6 out of 10)   KGF1 and KGF2 movies review  (2021) (6.5/10) Sita Ramam movie review  (2022) (10/10) Chup movie review  (2022) (8/10) Gangubai Kathiawadi movie review (2022) 4/10 Thiruchitrambalam movie review (2022) 7.75/10 Gadar 2 movie review  (2023) (6.5/10) The Vaccine War movie review  (2023) (8/10) 12th Fail movie review  (2023) (7.5/10) Hi Nanna movie review  (2023) (9.25/10) Salaar movie review  (2023) (6.25/10) Sapta Saagardaache Ello Side A movie review   (2023) (6.25/10) HanuMan movie review  (2024) (8.5 to 9 out of 10) Merry Christmas movie review  (2024) (6....