one time wanderer

I feel so conflicted about what to feel about this movie- on one hand, I hate that they showed so much abuse and gaslighting by the man while still trying to act as if the marriage was breaking down because of miscommunications on both sides. But on the other, it is sadly a very faithful depiction of actual marriages and even relationships, where a lot is forgiven just because you once had a love, especially a love that you had to fight for. A lot of it hit very directly home, reflecting both my parents' marriage and my first relationship to varying degrees.  Technically, the movie excels at bringing the stream of consciousness trope on screen, that too from two different people. Honestly, every transition felt like an attack on our emotions (I watch-partied with a friend), and we were so overwhelmed by their past wholesome love being cut by their present estrangement that we felt real messed up real quick. On top of it, both Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna are brilliant actors w...

This movie just might have pushed me into my Korean era, and I am so not complaining. Even though it appears very basic from the premise, it is anything but that. Despite having such a tight screenplay, the characters are fleshed out so well that you can't help but be fully invested in their journeys, and there is literally not a wasted moment anywhere in the film. In almost two hours, the movie explores nuances of humanity in such a way that you can't help but think about the possibilities and the choices characters made for days afterwards. It makes for an incredible viewing experience, as well as an introspective one.  Spoilers ahead: It's brilliant the way the only two survivors of the train to Busan were a pregnant lady and a little girl, two people who would normally be considered the "weakest". And how Su-an comes out singing and that's how the two are recognised as humans- it is PERFECTION because IT IS ART THAT MAKES US HUMAN GODDAMNIT. When we litera...

I think this film might have finally converted me into appreciating Rajinikanth and his brand of acting. He kills it in a double role, especially as Raja (yep, Pokkiri Raja himself), and his chemistry with Raadhika is amazing to watch. Speaking of Raadhika though, she was easily my favourite here (tough luck, Sridevi amma, but it is what it is). She was just so damn entertaining, and I can only imagine the kind of riot (sensitive word to use considering at what intersection of history and geography I am living in right now) people would have had watching it in the theatre.  Some parts in the beginning haven't aged all that well, but those fight scenes where Sridevi and Raadhika bashed up villains along with Rajini (they weren't "helping" him, oh no, they were WITH HIM) gave my soul and #feminism a new lease on life. The title track is a bop, and I have been playing it ever since I finished watching the film.  As they say, nothing like a good old masala entertainer for...

Decent enough for a one-time watch- it did feel stretched to me in some places, and I wish that whoever was editing had done a better job. My favourite part of the movie were definitely Saroja Devi and Sivaji Ganesan- they brought in so much energy, and even though I didn't understand what the references meant, they was still fun to watch. Vijay was good too, but his character was annoying max. Very fuckboi vibes. Plus I feel like it was written hastily and thus ended up coming off as confused. Not the character himself, but the characterisation. Simran tried her best with what she was given, but it was just so damn little. It's baffling how in such an over-long movie Simran's character's arc was still under-developed.  In conclusion, I probably would have haaaated this if I wasn't such a 90s lover. Consider yourselves warned. 

If Rajamouli had written a better romantic sub-plot for Anushka and Ravi Teja, this movie could have made it to my list of mass movies that I would rewatch for fun, entertainment and comfort. But that track is so cringey, especially the way it's been shot, that I just can't bring myself to forget it and focus on the good things that this movie has to offer. It's a very good masala movie, not gonna lie- it hits all the emotions spot-on, and you can't help but root for the protagonists and wish death upon the villains. On top of it, the Brahmanandam-Ravi Teja chemistry is sizzling, and just remembering it is making me giggle again. Both of them are such amazing actors and together, they are nothing short of magic. Maybe I WILL rewatch it, just to get a good dose of excellent comedy. Something tells me I'll need it more and more in the times to come. Sorry for getting too real.  I wish Sweety had been better utilised though. I kept on waiting for more, and sadly, it ne...

The first half of this movie was so good that it kept me optimistic throughout the second half- I was hopeful, till the very end, that the latter would resemble the former. No luck, though. It became increasingly difficult to sustain my interest, especially once I accepted that the likelihood of Urvashi ma'am coming back was very less. They really did her dirty in this movie, not gonna lie. Also, Padakaali remains the superior rap battle track, and its music video > the rest of the movie. I don't make the rules.

In a recent video celebrating 36 years of her Bollywood debut Abodh  (1984), Madhuri Dixit mentioned how it was during the shooting of this film that she got bit by the acting bug, and for that alone, I appreciate this movie with my whole heart. Plus, everyone on the set made her feel super comfortable and gave her chocolates every day, which I'm sure must have added to her falling in love with acting. Enough of the narrative that only suffering can produce "good" art. (I'm looking at you, SLB, stop torturing your actors.) Coming to the movie itself- Abodh is a simple story about a young innocent ("Abodh" literally translates to "innocent") girl and how she matures into a grown woman, or rather, a wife. Gauri (Mads) starts off as being completely oblivious of the concepts of emotional and physical intimacy- she doesn't know the significance of the wedding night and would much rather play with her husband's kid brother than spend time with h...