Rahul Desai reviews
152 reviews of Indian films, average rating 2.2/5.
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Motwane, too, much like his mentor Anurag Kashyap, proves that he is prone to indulgence – not the good kind – at the worst of times.
Read the full reviewDishkiyaoon confounds on a very basic technical level. Baweja sincerely tries, but is undone by scrambled writing that relies more on colorcoding than action or entertainment.
Read the full reviewThe magnitude of brutality and shock is always amplified if preceded by brighter times, but in Children Of War, there is rarely any cause for hope or joy and sadness is only succeeded by further despair.
Read the full reviewWithin the confines of this stumbling genre, director Kirpalani does a decent job with a predictable script. There is only so much originality left to operate with; even the ghosts have begun to look alike.
Read the full reviewMany parallels can be drawn between commercial Indian cinema and conventional superhero sagas.
Read the full reviewYou'd think it's virtually impossible to combine a Gunday-style exaggerated Eastern buddy flick with a fictional sports biopic with a dated 90s gangland drama.
Read the full reviewSpark is a dated political action flick that looks to have been concocted by melancholic film buffs in a smoky room
Read the full reviewBrainless comedies can be fun to watch, what with the infinite characters, goofy plots and toilet humour. But the buck stops with lazy filmmaking—a crime that can ruin the best of punch lines.
Read the full reviewFireflies is a brave effort, natural and languid for most parts. However, it fails to glow through its foreseeable conflicts and layers, and ends up being a statement in craft over storytelling.
Read the full reviewAfter the admirable Dekh Tamasha Dekh, Zed Plus - directed by Dr CP Dwivedi (Chanakya, Pinjar)-is another largely uncompromised and well-crafted example this year.
Read the full reviewUsually, if anyone dares to criticize the craft behind 'well-intentioned tributes', the perpetrator's lack of patriotism and respect is invoked.
Read the full reviewUsually, if anyone dares to criticize the craft behind 'well-intentioned tributes', the perpetrator's lack of patriotism and respect is invoked.
Read the full reviewArrange processions, food banks, blood donation drives, but it is foolhardy to infiltrate an art form beyond one's capabilities.
Read the full reviewI is anything but uninventive car-smashing, doppelganger-farting Bollywood fare.
Read the full reviewThough it combines my favourite cinematic devices—senior citizen, kids, road trip-I'm quite sure most kind-hearted adults would first dump the runaways at the nearest police station.
Read the full reviewOur filmmakers have milked the cross-border eternal romance angle dry.
Read the full reviewOur filmmakers have milked the cross-border eternal romance angle dry.
Read the full reviewI'm usually a sucker for stories about frustrated artists. But this one is presented in a dated and garish manner that makes you wonder if the filmmakers think this is actually a groundbreaking concept.
Read the full reviewKatiyabaaz covers all bases and cause-and-effect repercussions riots and elections, mills, tanneries and hospitals cut with an engaging rhythm that brings to light one of the greatest failures of fifthworld India.
Read the full reviewPurely as a superhero film, Jai Ho works on far greater levels than, say, a Krrish 3. Petty powers like flying, web-spitting palms or acting aren't required, because the man has hands. And they're not the 2.5-kilo version.
Read the full reviewThe Imran-Kareena starrer ‘Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’ is an appropriate benchmark for the slick portrayal of unconventional urban modern-day romances. Though the intent and idea is clear, ‘One By Two’ is only half way there.
Read the full reviewYa Rab is the second film this week trying to achieve an implausible balance between a glorified sermon and an outlandish entertainer.
Read the full reviewThe utter randomness of the title- considering the crux revolves around a bunch of randy youngsters being educated about HIV in the holy hills of Manali- is…
Read the full reviewShekhar Suman’s directorial debut Heartless, starring his son Adhyayan Suman, would have been the butt of his own jokes in the immensely popular ‘Movers and…
Read the full reviewHasee Toh Phasee’ is a bedheady romantic comedy that is a bit long and has two climaxes- both of which could have overlapped, in my opinion.
Read the full reviewMost landmarks of Hindi cinema have invariably been buddy flicks. Though not always blessed with technical bravado, their hearts have been in the right place.
Read the full reviewIt is impossible not to wonder if the featured authorities would have behaved differently if there were no cameras hovering over them, but I suppose every documentary must cope with this inevitable margin for error.
Read the full reviewIt is impossible not to wonder if the featured authorities would have behaved differently if there were no cameras hovering over them, but I suppose every documentary must cope with this inevitable margin for error.
Read the full reviewIt is a film about nature and travel; about a meandering journey without a definite destination. Highway makes for the kind of cinema we need, perhaps not something we entirely deserve.
Read the full reviewThere is nothing more heartbreaking than watching a promising film dissipate within the acid of its own intentions.
Read the full reviewI: Madam does look menacing but don’t you think€” She: Sometimes, it is necessary to be overdramatic. This is for the masses after all. I: Point. But carrying sickles and hammers?
Read the full reviewDirector Vikas Bahl (Chillar Party) has crafted one of the better coming-of-age tales in recent times.
Read the full reviewThis is the kind of middling film that one doesn’t know what to make of. It looks clean, simple and doesn’t boast of any highs or lows. Everything, including the change of heart(s), is predictable.
Read the full reviewAre you okay with the fact that Divya Dutta is a psychiatrist that specializes in paranormal cases? Or that her initial scenes are preceded by the same stock footage of Marine Drive? It doesn't matter.
Read the full reviewA dramatised story of a 14 year old girl coaxed into prostitution in Hyderabad, this is a difficult and uncomfortable film to watch. Kukunoor achieves what he strives for; his film is brutally honest in its simplicity.
Read the full reviewA dramatised story of a 14 year old girl coaxed into prostitution in Hyderabad, this is a difficult and uncomfortable film to watch. Kukunoor achieves what he strives for; his film is brutally honest in its simplicity.
Read the full reviewDespite its timely intentions and catchy soundtrack, Youngistaan is a skewered immature tale that caters to the lowest common denominator of hope.
Read the full reviewPulkit Samrat ends the film with an impassioned speech about corruption and abuse of power right to the faces of the perpetrators.
Read the full reviewIt is disconcerting to suddenly be told that ghosts don't always result in horror films. In India, they almost never do, because we end up laughing at the screen anyway. Perhaps the term 'horror comedy' generates from here.
Read the full reviewThe admirable part about this cleverly-mounted liberal dialogue is that despite its mid-90s setup, this film refuses to take sides.
Read the full reviewDesigned as an autobiographical tale of North Indian author Chetan Bhagat’s love story with his Tamilian wife, this film is a bafflingly superficial adaptation of a book that should have remained a book.
Read the full reviewAfter a late screening, I hailed a rickshaw while furiously trying to decode Rajeev Khandelwal’s tribute to BenedictCumberbatch. Samrat Tilakdhari aka STD is based on Sherlock Holmes too.
Read the full reviewYou know exactly how it's going to end, you know this is technically a partition story set within the simplistic confines of a low-budget (anti) war drama.
Read the full reviewPurani Jeans is an unfortunate throwback to a non-existent era-a constant struggle to climb down an escalator that is clearly going up.
Read the full reviewGupte works hard to imbibe collections of moments into his storytelling; the love and conviction for his subject is indisputable.
Read the full reviewCold on the heels of Gunday, this is yet another story about the coal mafia without really being about them. Commercialism, greed, murder, chaos, brutality, self-indulgence…the filmmakers are guilty of all these traits.
Read the full reviewBut the story about this miraculous goat heads nowhere. The satire is too consistent, and the same ignorance repeats itself in different ways. Inexplicably, there is no third act.
Read the full reviewI understand the need to market this film as an oldschool launch vehicle, but I have a question for the producers: Is 'Heropanti' the real phrase that comes to your mind when unsuspecting viewers buy tickets to watch your film?
Read the full reviewI understand the need to market this film as an oldschool launch vehicle, but I have a question for the producers: Is 'Heropanti' the real phrase that comes to your mind when unsuspecting viewers buy tickets to watch your film?
Read the full reviewPerhaps this film lacked scope from the beginning, but its shortcomings are definitely not a result of less effort.
Read the full reviewRaazi is an excellent film because of how easily it could have not been one. On another day, this might have well been a jingoistic Neeraj Pandey actioner called Naam Sehmat.
Read the full reviewFilmistaan could have worked as an untiring situational comedy without the heavy handedness of borders and antagonists.
Read the full reviewNobody seems to have told the makers that the script is daft enough to ensure that Race 3 wasn't the worst film of Anil Kapoor's year
Read the full reviewThere will come a day when an ambitious filmmaker decides to raise awareness in a focused, entertaining and constructive manner, but that day isn't today. F*ugly is more of a fight for all that is ugly, than against it.
Read the full reviewSoorma doesn't rouse as much as it should. It doesn't stop to feel its own heart beat. It tick-marks all the boxes and explores none.
Read the full reviewIf only this series had revolved around some deliciously convoluted method to eliminate real gangsters – imagine Saheb and Biwi's mind games as a warped brand of social vigilantism.
Read the full reviewThat I can, in any given Hindi language horror film, shut my eyes and use my ears to decipher every impending moment of
Read the full reviewThat I can, in any given Hindi language horror film, shut my eyes and use my ears to decipher every impending moment of
Read the full reviewChal Bhaag may have looked like a screwball crime comedy on paper, but you’d be hard pressed to come across a more
Read the full reviewChal Bhaag may have looked like a screwball crime comedy on paper, but you’d be hard pressed to come across a more
Read the full reviewMulk, though, is a reminder that we are all part of that courtroom. Being surprised is a condescending emotion – and inherently a product of our own preconceived notions.
Read the full reviewHumshakals is a defiant film made by a man who is fast becoming a rebel without a cause.
Read the full reviewThere's a twist at the interval of Satyameva Jayate that left me truly gobsmacked. Mostly because I couldn't really believe that legitimate human beings are given millions of rupees to execute these ideas. With full consent.
Read the full reviewThere is no doubting that Suri's vision is clear in its own space-evident from the usual heady cocktail of lilting tunes and brooding antagonists - but his storytelling leaves much to be desired.
Read the full reviewWhat do you say about a film that contains the most exasperating thirty minutes as well as the most enthralling thirty minutes of the year?
Read the full reviewThere is a germ of an idea in showing how their grand plans fall apart as reality sets in the relationship, and they end up hating each other and return home. But it is shallowly executed.
Read the full reviewNila Madhab Panda's film, a children's version of Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, might have worked as a concise short film, but at some point in a two-hour-long story, the tone gets self-righteous and repetitive, and the politics…
Read the full reviewThere is a germ of an idea in showing how their grand plans fall apart as reality sets in the relationship, and they end up hating each other and return home. But it is shallowly executed.
Read the full reviewAnurag Kashyap's film, essentially a story about people who crush hearts instead of bodies, features terrific performances by Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal
Read the full reviewThis is just shabby filmmaking all around. It goes to show that today's producers don't care for the craft either, as long as there's a "message," a digital revolution (you know how most new-age filmmakers depict the power of the…
Read the full reviewDirector Nandita Das beautifully stitches five of the famous Urdu author's short stories into the narrative of his life's definitive five-year period
Read the full reviewThere are few things to complain about with Bobby Jasoos. It’s a delightful caper with a lot of heart, and you root for both the film and it’s protagonist all…
Read the full reviewDirector Vishal Pandya could have gone all out and crafted a flamboyant saga of love, sex and dhoka.
Read the full reviewFilmmakers that venture into this genre must note that it is about what one doesn't see on screen the anticipation of fear rather than fear itself-that leads to effective results.
Read the full reviewFilmmakers that venture into this genre must note that it is about what one doesn't see on screen the anticipation of fear rather than fear itself-that leads to effective results.
Read the full reviewUnfortunately, Amit Sahni is not a character I’d ever want to see succeed much like that customary rich friend that thrives on self-created drama.
Read the full reviewThe Most Unwatchable Hindi Film Of 2018 Is Here...
Read the full reviewKick is harebrained, patronizing and regressive at most points, and makes the age-old error of being a live-action Salman-starrer.
Read the full reviewThe film is so incompetently crafted, terribly performed and transparently petty that it isn't even pathetic enough to be panned as a "propaganda" movie
Read the full reviewI yearn to see Rohit Shetty step out of his booby-trapped comfort zone and attempt something different, because his brand of entertainment leaves no scope for evolution. With 'Singham Returns', the wait continues.
Read the full reviewThe Best Part About This Film Is That It Is Not A Sex Comedy...In this diluted adult spin on children's humour, everyone is a Cartoon Network character, making faces at the camera as if it were a two-year-old infant
Read the full reviewThat the trailers of Mardaani were disappointing could be a blessing in disguise.
Read the full reviewThat the trailers of Mardaani were disappointing could be a blessing in disguise.
Read the full reviewRaja Natwarlal-an Ocean’s 12th man of sorts-succeeds where many a desi conedy (con+comedy) dies an unimaginative death.
Read the full reviewWhile Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was a case of an overcooked narrative, Kumar’s Mary Kom suffers from the contrary: an inconsistent narrative that seems too hurried to strike the right balance between her personal life and career, and…
Read the full reviewIn tennis terms, Daawat-e-Ishq, much like its maker, resembles that big-serving player who can boom in aces at will. But as soon as the ball is returned for a rally to be constructed, the player freezes. And the ideas dry up.
Read the full reviewAs a result, Khoobsurat is a film that could have been infinitely worse if not for its supporting cast, cosmetically enhanced mansions and music (Sneha Khanwalkar) that is perhaps too funky and authentic for the candy-flossed…
Read the full reviewCharfutiya Chhokare is an utterly disjointed film parading as a social commentary on the depravities of rural Bihar.
Read the full reviewA more loosely based version might have provided a better structure and unpredictability to Haider's psychological battle.
Read the full reviewBang Bang is one of the breezier Hindi-language action packages of recent times, but that really isn't saying much. The bar, albeit sparkly, still remains at the same desensitized height.
Read the full reviewThis is probably the most entertaining out of the five films this week-with set pieces that crack you up and manipulate you-but invariably has you pulling out your hair in frustration. Such fine actors, but an opportunity lost.
Read the full reviewThe promise ends with the title. Sonali Cable is a superficial representation of a trade that has frustrated Mumbaikars for a decade-a relevant profession it had an opportunity to enlighten viewers about, the way Rocket Singh did…
Read the full reviewSurely, smarter films can be constructed with such resources, thereby opening up a new universe of possibilities for viewers and distributors alike.
Read the full reviewHowever, as I watched Raja fund young Dadasaheb Phalke’s moving-picture dreams, the meta-ness is hard to ignore: I was watching an ordinary cinematic representation of an artist indirectly responsible for us watching films at all.
Read the full reviewKill/Dil is eventually the kind of lightweight effort watchable not for its content, but because you see the makers enjoying themselves. We admire the way they laugh, not the joke they laugh at.
Read the full reviewAverage fare, but an extra half-star for inventive dialogues; for reminding us that his timing is intact, if only just.
Read the full reviewIf you're of the opinion that Luck By Chance is the definitive B-town film of our times, chances are you will appreciate this appropriately low-budgeted, homegrown writer rendition.
Read the full reviewThere's suspension of disbelief, and there's Action Jackson—where suspension climbs to the top of Everest, moonwalks and floats into the stratosphere strapped with eardrum-shattering jetpacks.
Read the full reviewWe’ve lately seen so many shiny self-referential movies about movies, but none as self-aware and poker-faced as this charming little effort.
Read the full reviewWho are these people, and how/where/why do they exist? When incompetent acting marries awful writing (“Go back to being my wife tomorrow morning!”), it makes for a critic’s worst nightmare.
Read the full reviewBadlapur Boys, a remake of Tamil hit Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu, is yet another unfortunate account of a sport that doesn’t deserve to play second fiddle anymore. This film is surreal in its lack of structure, tone and motivation.
Read the full reviewI can think of nobody but Aamir Khan as PK, and nobody but Rajkumar Hirani as our teacher. Take in what they say. Enjoy the way they say it. Make this mandatory for impressionable children waiting to hope.
Read the full reviewThis isn’t an easy film to watch, and not each of its 127 minutes is entirely purposeful. Everyone is an antagonist; there’s not a moment when they are not driven by oppression and greed.
Read the full reviewI is anything but uninventive car-smashing, doppelganger-farting Bollywood fare.
Read the full reviewI is anything but uninventive car-smashing, doppelganger-farting Bollywood fare.
Read the full reviewPrithvi’s girlfriend (Tina), not entirely relevant throughout, wears a perpetually aggressive expression, like she’s trying to figure out the mechanics of this screenplay.
Read the full reviewIf anything, Roy absolutely merits an ambiguous ending, but again, maybe the time has not come to over-decorate a risky concept. The presentation is fine and for now, an idea, in Don Cobb's words, is the most resilient parasite.
Read the full reviewThis sequel will only dilute memories of the original. Unless you're looking for 56 shades of dull, dated and contrived grey.
Read the full reviewI feel sorry for the crew that works hard on these goodwill efforts, for they're at the mercy of unprogressive creative minds.
Read the full reviewI wish it had resulted in something substantial, instead of yet another typically kitschy homage to a formula I’m quite sick of.
Read the full reviewNH10 is atmospheric, well acted, moody and crafted with a definite vision. A little more writing and less 'inspiration' would have made this its own distinct film.
Read the full reviewHere, he appears in yet another confused adaptation of the Khosla Ka Ghosla template. Instead of a plot of land, his loan-funded car is stolen. Mere Dad Ki Maruti? Of course not.
Read the full reviewInvariably, Hindi cinema's depiction of bar dancers is straightforward: trash-talking roadies by night, virginal white-salwaar angels by day.
Read the full reviewBarkhaa has the opportunity to take such form twice, but instead sticks to ‘aesthetically shot’ s** scenes that stop short of showing two flowers colliding. Lest we forget, we are reminded repeatedly that bargirls are humans too.
Read the full reviewOther than a memorable villain and franchise possibilities, this film-much like Shanghai-leaves me with a vague awareness of its quality.
Read the full reviewEk Paheli Leela is just an insincere, lavish and titillating compilation of every item song ever made.
Read the full reviewMr. X is a tremendously unimaginative film about a wronged ATT Cop who uses his accidentally acquired invisibility to
Read the full reviewThis loud movie predictably offers kindergarten representations of Indian corruption, and even the execution is awful.
Read the full reviewThis is the kind of seedy effort that makes me wonder if director Dholakia wrapped up shooting every night, met friends at a bar and cackled at lewd jokes about which body part got maximum screen time.
Read the full reviewHad this universe existed in a film not directed by Kashyap, I suspect it would have been appreciated more. But his voice precedes him, for he represents a fearless brand of Indian cinema.
Read the full reviewOmerta, a biographical drama on British-Pakistani terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh directed by Hansal Mehta, opens with unidentified wails flooding a pitch-black screen.
Read the full review...we've seen it impersonating so many Indian properties on screen over the years that it now feels more like a party plot in Thane.
Read the full reviewThugs of Hindostan is the Bollywood manifestation of Halloween – an amusing, self-gratifying but altogether pointless fancy-dress ball designed to trick audiences under the guise of treating them
Read the full reviewHere's the movie review of Angry Indian Goddesses, starring Anushka Manchanda, Sandhya Mridul, Pavleen Gujral, Sarah-Jane, Rajshri Deshpande, Amrit Maghera.
Read the full reviewThe most disheartening part about Simmba is its bipolar pursuit of relevance. The setup was the film; there was no need to embrace the guileless-sermon path.
Read the full reviewA Second-Hand History Lesson In Third-Rate Politics...
Read the full reviewThe makers show considerable restraint with their film. It may be a story about hypocrisy, sexuality, intolerance, "coming out" and various relevant causes.
Read the full reviewCatch all the bollywood action, latest bollywood news, bollywood news headlines, entertainment news at Catchnews.com .
Read the full reviewI've seen worse, but to put things into perspective: The director's earliest Hindi film was the delightful 'Mumbai Meri Jaan'. This was before he discovered that making movies is a very lucrative business.
Read the full reviewEventually, 'Waiting' serves a calm and dignified reminder of how the act itself is anything but. It is a fine little film about love, and a kind of anguish that has its own little quirks and half-smiles.
Read the full reviewThe words "Love never hurts, love heals," shine bright in the final frame, thereby proving that this film is like that mysterious facebook friend (you don't remember why and when you added this creature) who keeps sharing emo…
Read the full reviewTe3n is far more competent than the similarly themed Wazir this year, but is nowhere near as smart as it pretends to be.
Read the full reviewYou can sense the makers' hearts breaking, as they dig deeper and harder into a world none of us wish we knew about.
Read the full reviewRough Book fails to be an affecting and timely film. Its lack of relevance lies in its first-bencher, textbook interpretation of India's most legal epidemic.
Read the full reviewEven Yashraj Films went through a phase of lazy, derivative wink-wink self-referential rom-coms when they ran out of ideas. Rohit Shetty's entire career is built on this.
Read the full reviewAn Enjoyable, Well-Scripted Look At The Contrasts Of Social Stigma...
Read the full reviewAn immersive rural tragicomedy built on loops of oppression...
Read the full reviewThis isn't the first time Rai has left us gasping for more at interval point, only to overindulge with his treasure trove of actors.
Read the full reviewUnlike its cagey titular character, Piku is a film that's hard to dislike. It is structured as a journey that relies, at times forcibly, on the relatable nature of its protagonists.
Read the full reviewThis is a film that attempts to make us comfortable with the viewing and experience of disability, by exposing us to its protagonist's most monotonous and private moments.
Read the full reviewUnsurprisingly, the studio's last-gasp stamp—in the form of an against-all-odds race that somehow becomes relevant and holds the contrived key to the fortunes of our mismatched couple—is visible in the dying minutes of Dum Laga…
Read the full reviewNeerja isn't a movie I want to look back on and think about. I suspect it's meant to be felt - and reacted to - in real time. It doesn't matter if I discover tiny mistakes later. I feel shaken, and moved, and inspired right now.
Read the full review‘Maaran’ movie review explores gender violence, patriarchy and trafficking in modern Gujarat, blending social suspense with psychological depth and complex characters.
Read the full reviewAamir Khan and R.S. Prasanna’s Sitaare Zameen Par aims for emotion but turns overly preachy, falling short of being a truly inspiring underdog tale.
Read the full review‘Raid 2’ offers more action and drama but lacks depth. Ajay Devgn returns as the taxman in a sequel that’s overstuffed and only slightly above average.
Read the full reviewWelcome to the Jungle review: Akshay Kumar leads a meta Bollywood spoof that turns a chaotic jungle shoot into a self-referential comedy of errors.
Read the full reviewMirzapur: The Movie review – a 197-minute, big-screen reset that revives Kaleen Bhaiya, Munna and Guddu with pulpy fan service, nostalgia and fail-safe entertainment.
Read the full review‘Cocktail 2’ movie review – a glossy but hollow rom-com where Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Kriti Sanon navigate a toxic, misogynistic love test.
Read the full review'Dhurandhar' Movie Review: Aditya Dhar’s second film after 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' stars Ranveer Singh as a patriotic spy trapped in an inert and distracted action thriller.
Read the full reviewStarring Vicky Kaushal as a 17th-century Maratha king, Chhaava has the personality of a deer in headlights
Read the full reviewThe Xpose: a throwback to 60s B-Town. Solely as a parody of nostalgia, this qualifies as a masterpiece.Intentional or not, this film gets away with it the same way Om Shanti Om does-not designed as biopics (Heroine) but as…
Read the full reviewGang Of Ghosts is a remake of Bhooter Bhabishyat, one of the most acclaimed Bengali films in recent times. I haven’t seen this social satire, but I could immediately understand its contextual significance.
Read the full review