MASABA MASABA (web series)

 #FinalVerdict: TRUE TO LIFE

Rating: 3 stars

Watch Masaba Masaba - a genre-bending series on Netflix India - for director Sonam Nair's striking direction, for Masaba Gupta & Neena Gupta's superlative performances and for its inspiring and enlightening plot!

Films/web series are nothing but reel representations of the real-life. Director Sonam Nair has carved a niche for herself in making realistic yet commercial cinema (Gippi, Khujli). Her penchant for realistic storyline continues with Masaba Masaba. Although Masaba Masaba is a fictional version of events, Sonam Nair along with co-writers Nandini Gupta, Anupama Ramachandran & Punya Arora highlights Masaba Gupta's life after the exposure to fame and success by keeping the narrative engaging throughout. There are many occasions wherein director Sonam Nair could have just lost control and gone over the top but she restrained the storyline convincingly. Kudos to her for coming up with a series that enlightens, motivates and entertains you!

Director Sonam Nair brings alive everything you've read in newspapers or watched on TV as an outsider, to the celluloid. And that works and how! But let's not give the subject material all importance, for Sonam Nair's handling of the subject is exemplary.

But there's a hitch which tones down the impact to some extent. Masaba Masaba starts meandering in the middle and the drama seems forced. But the series gathers steam during the closing stages, with Sonam Nair handling the culmination with adroitness.

The DoP (Aditya Kapur) captures the varied emotions and the glam quotient with dexterity. Eka Lakhani's styling is striking. Panchami Ghavri's casting is spot-on. Shruti Bora's editing and Anasuya Sengupta's production design are perfect.

Masaba Masaba is debutante Masaba Gupta's show all the way. Every emotion, every sentiment is projected with sheer brilliancy. Neena Gupta is incredible. She arrests the viewer's attention whenever she appears on the screen. Neil Bhoopalam leaves a solid impression. The other characters get less screen space, but they are clearly etched nonetheless. Satyadeep Misra, Smaran Sahu, Rytasha Rathore, Sunita Rajwar, Suchitra Pillai and Harpreet Vir Singh are praiseworthy. Nayan Shukla is incredible. Way to go!

To sum up, Masaba Masaba's subject - the behind the scenes working and drama of the fashion industry - is its USP. Watch it for its wholesome entertainment value and the efforts of the complete cast & crew! Netflix India and producer Viniyard Films have a winner on hands!

AASHRAM (web series)

 #FinalVerdict: INSIPID

Rating: 1 star

Aashram - an MX Player original series - is an indescribable boring experience. A thesis on guilty pleasure entertainment! Directed by Prakash Jha, the series lacks the power to keep you glued to the screen.

Given the topic amassed on the plate, one could explore so much. But in Aashram, the story only moves in the penultimate moments. Director Prakash Jha could've explored so much given the choice of the subject but he's letdown terribly by the script. The problem with Aashram begins soon after the characters and their diverse characteristics are introduced. The closing moments are interesting because it's at this juncture that there's some movement. But it's too late by then. The viewer is exasperated by now!

Aashram is shoddy in every possible way! This is a poorly assembled, terrifically tacky and tremendously ill-conceived show. After the disappointing Class Of 83, Bobby Deol is again reduced to a supporting presence in this MX Player original series. Ideally, Bobby Deol should have been given a role befitting his top-billing. Also, the 'sex scenes' are forcefully inserted into the plot and for some bizarre reason, these scenes have been self-censored but the language and the violence aren’t censored at all.

More minuses! Advait Nemlekar's background score is jarring. Also, the length is a problem. In this case, the run time seems never-ending (Editor: Santosh Mandal). The series goes on and on and after a point, you actually want to scream, 'Enough!'. Chandan Kowli's cinematography is passable. Director Prakash Jha has tried to recreate the magic of his earlier hits but failed miserably. Moreover, the series has a huge cast but only Bobby Deol, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Aaditi Pohankar and Darshan Kumaar leave an impact.

On the whole, Aashram has precious little to offer. It has a body, but no soul. It's very high on hype but very low on substance. A moviegoer wants a riveting story more than anything else. This series is definitely worth a miss!

MEE RAQSAM

#FinalVerdict: BRAVO

Rating: 2 stars

Presented by Shabana Azmi and directed by her brother, the acclaimed cinematographer Baba Azmi, Mee Raqsam - which literally translates to "I Dance'' - is an honest attempt at tackling a bold theme. A terrific film that will stay in your heart!

Mee Raqsam is an ode to Kaifi Azmi Sahab. Although an effort like this is sure to find its share of bouquets and brickbats but the message that the film conveys resonates loud and clear, without getting preachy.

Till sometime back, certain themes were kept locked inside the almirah. Delicate and sensitive issues and relationships are slowly stepping out of the closet. On celluloid. Written by Safdar Mir and Husain Mir, Mee Raqsam connects with every segment of moviegoers. Director Baba Azmi has treated the film with utmost sensitivity. There are several scenes that linger in your memory for a long time and prove the director's command over the script and medium. A welcome change from the oft-repeated themes which degrade a woman no end!

But Mee Raqsam isn't a foolproof product. It has its share of flaws. The turn of events isn't captivating at times. The characterisation of certain characters and their track seem incomplete. But the film packs in so much, there's no time to think or analyze.

Mee Raqsam is soaked in reality. It takes the realistic route without bowing to market diktats or over-stretching realities. The film stays true to the material. Besides, the director along with the team of writers stay away from the tried-and-tested tropes. There's a strong emotional connect as the film depicts the delicate relationship shared by a father and his daughter most realistically. The drama is spot-on. The emotional quotient is heartrending. Moreover, the culmination takes the film to an all-time high.

George Joseph-Ripul Sharma's background score is effectual. The DoP (Mohsin Khan Pathan) deserves tremendous praise for doing complete justice to the vision of the director. Dialogue empowers the film wonderfully. Pooraj Kapoor's editing is watertight.

Mee Raqsam is a Danish Husain show all the way. Newcomer Aditi Subedi is truly fantastic. Way to go! Naseeruddin Shah, Shraddha Kaul, Rakesh Chaturvedi Om and Sudeepta Singh are mature performers. Shivangi Gautam, Juhaina Ahsan and Kaustubh Shukla inject freshness to their respective characters.

To sum up, Mee Raqsam is director Baba Azmi most accomplished work so far. He deserves brownie points for narrating the story with flourish. The narrative style is simplistic, yet solid and that's what catches your eye. Watch Mee Raqsam On ZEE5 right away!

CLASS OF 83

#FinalVerdict: RETREAD

Rating: 2 stars

Loosely based on S. Hussain Zaidi's book, The Class Of 83: The Punishers Of Mumbai Police, this Netflix India original film - produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Atul Sabharwal - has an archaic premise that offers no novelty. The film relies on the tried-and-tested recipe from commencement to conclusion. The tough life a cop leads, the politician-underworld nexus, the clash of ideologies... plots and sub-plots like these have been witnessed time and again. It doesn't work at all!

Class Of 83 is Bobby Deol's first tryst with an OTT platform but the screenplay (Abhijeet Deshpande) is far from inventive and everything seems conventional. A few moments do keep you glued and hooked to the proceedings, but the wafer-thin plot and lacklustre screenplay play spoilsport. What takes you by complete surprise is the crude humour (dialogues: Atul Sabharwal) that's integrated into the narrative. I mean, one doesn't mind the toilet humour as long as the situation warrants it, but it seems totally forced in the film.

Bobby Deol flaunts the attitude all through. Vishwajeet Pradhan and Joy Sengupta are simply brilliant. It's a joy watching Anup Soni in a negative role. Bhupendra Jadawat, Ninad Mahajani, Hitesh Bhojraj Malukani, Prithvik Pratap and Sameer Paranjape are absolutely flawless. Way to go!

On the whole, Class Of 83 doesn't give you the feeling of having watched a mazedaar entertainer purely because, besides being conventional and foreseeable, it is also stretched without any solid reason whatsoever (Editor: Manas Mittal). It will be outright rejected!

KHUDA HAAFIZ

#FinalVerdict: FIASCO

Rating: 2 stars

Khuda Haafiz has some engrossing moments in the first hour, that's about it. The post-interval portions are an absolute downer. This one is a golden opportunity lost, a king-sized disappointment!

Khuda Haafiz throws light at issues such as prostitution and human trafficking. Faruk Kabir's story is formula-ridden and moves at snail's pace. The writer/director could have done so much with the content but, sadly, he lets go of this golden opportunity. The screenwriting has some moments in the first hour but the narrative loosens the grip as it progresses. Worse, too many cinematic liberties and a lifeless second hour act as roadblocks. The dialogues between Annu Kapoor and Vidyut Jammwal are superb.

Actor-turned-director Faruk Kabir does manage to make an impact, but with such poor written material on hand, he could not salvage the show either. Also, to his credit, he has extracted top-notch performances from the cast. Mithoon's music is in sync with the narrative. DoP Jitan Harmeet Singh captures the stunning visuals of Uzbekistan with finesse. Amar Mohile's background score is apt. The production design is top-notch. NY Vfxwaala's VFX is A1. Sandeep Francis' editing is uneven. The film could've done with shorter run time.

Khuda Haafiz would've been unbearable had the casting director (Apurva Singh Rathore) entrusted the acting reins in inept hands. Vidyut Jammwal delivers a knockout performance. Shivaleeka Oberoi radiates innocence. An actor to watch! Annu Kapoor is tremendous, as always. Shiv Panditt packs a punch. Aahana Kumra excels. Nawab Shah is effective. Moreover, each character gets the Arabic-Hindi diction spot on and the sole action set-piece is gory.

To sum up, Khuda Haafiz is style over substance. Strictly for Vidyut Jammwal fans!

GUNJAN SAXENA: THE KARGIL GIRL

 #FinalVerdict: INSPIRATIONAL

Rating: 4 stars

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl reinvents the genre with its non-formulaic screenplay and skilled direction. This heartfelt biopic raises a toast to the daunting spirit of India's daughters!

The film captures Gunjan Saxena's effervescence and her professionalism, getting us invested in the character long before we see her take wing and be amazing. Especially in today's time, we should celebrate personalities like her who have been brave females. First-time director Sharan Sharma chooses a subject to send across a message. The larger message is that any woman can triumph over any uncertainty and surmount all apprehensions if she makes an earnest endeavour to overcome it. Also, one needs to applaud the endeavour because films like Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl take the unconventional route, yet enlighten and entertain, both. Sharan Sharma and Nikhil Mehrotra (story) make sure to stay faithful to the essence by not deviating to unwanted tracks.

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl grabs your attention from the commencement and never relents. Nikhil Mehrotra and Sharan Sharma's dialogues (additional dialogues by Hussain Dalal) elevate the overall impact. Moreover, the dialogues never turn too filmy. Nitin Baid's editing is perfect. Manush Nandan's cinematography stunningly captures the various moods of the film. Special mention to Marc Wolff's stunts and aerial coordination. Amit Trivedi's songs are situational. John Stewart Eduri's background score is perfect. Red Chillies' VFX is top-notch. Director Sharan Sharma's handling of dramatic moments is noteworthy.

Jhanvi Kapoor's Gunjan Saxena quietly seals a place in your heart. She lends her character the much-needed intensity and dignity. Not just his body language and expressions, but even Pankaj Tripathi's silence speaks a lot. Superb act! Ditto for Ayesha Raza Mishra. Angad Bedi is very good. Vineet Kumar acts with all the conviction at his command. Manav Vij makes a superb impact. Akash Dhar leaves a mark.

On the whole, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is relevant, amusing, emotional and insightful. A truly inspiring story that will grip you from the first frame till the last. A tender salute to woman's valour! Strongly recommended!

PAREEKSHA

#FinalVerdict: MUDDLED

Rating: 2 stars

To be fair, director Prakash Jha's Pareeksha is a well-intentioned film that has its heart in the right place. But the film has a combination of an outdated script and shrill TV-soap treatment that you'd seen in the 80s.

Prakash Jha's cinema has always illustrated harsh realism in a transfixing and riveting manner. Pareeksha has a lot to say, but the predicament is, what translates on the screen is not razor-sharp. But, of course, there are few defining moments in the movie.

A Prakash Jha film is talked about for more reasons than one. It provides food for thought and sets you thinking. But Pareeksha merely touches the tip of the iceberg. The writer creates a non-believable situation. Moreover, the screenplay is repetitive. Pareeksha moves along at snail's pace. It tackles an interesting topic but doesn't make much of an impact. It's a shame because some things in the film do work. The biggest drawback is that the climax tries too hard to throw a hard punch, but fails miserably.

Although Pareeksha has noble intentions, it could have been a gripping fare had director Prakash Jha tackled the subject more realistically. Barring a few sequences, it lacks the power to keep you glued. On the brighter side, the acting is distinguished. Pareeksha gets very real at times, but gets ludicrous as well. Adil Hussain gives a completely new dimension to this character. The role is tailor-made for him. Priyanka Bose has an equally challenging part and she handles her scenes with complete understanding. Sanjay Suri is a complete natural, as always. Pareeksha offers Shubham Jha several difficult sequences, which the child actor carries off with flourish.

To sum up, Pareeksha runs out of steam midway. Its noble intentions notwithstanding, the film is a real slog. This could well turn out to be one of the year’s most forgettable films.

BANDISH BANDITS (web series)

#FinalVerdict: BLAND

Rating: 2 stars

Created by Anand Tiwari and Amritpal Singh Bindra, Bandish Bandits is a genuinely hatke fare, which will appeal to those who believe in this kind of story. The web series has nothing to offer to the common man. A non-starter!

There's mainstream web series that caters to the masses, the junta. There's parallel web series that caters to the youth living in big metro cities. There's art-house cinema/series that caters to a niche audience. Bandish Bandits belongs to the third category.

Bandish Bandits has a simple plot well told. But the problem with web series of this genre is that they cater to a very tiny segment of moviegoers. Those appreciating this kind of cinema are hard to find in today's times! They exist in the Festival circuit.

Bandish Bandits rests on a simple plot and the setting is beautiful. Visually striking (DoP: Sriram Ganapathy), laced with competent performances and chartbuster music, this web series falters only because it takes its own sweet time to drive home the point. There's no denying that Bandish Bandits does boast of brilliantly executed sequences. Even the sequence towards the climax is exceptional. Swapnali Das' production design is magnificently unique. Music (Shankar-Ehsan-Loy ) suits the demands of the script.

Director Anand Tiwari deserves credit for handling Bandish Bandits with utmost sensitivity, but the subject and the screenplay (Lara Ahsan Chandni, Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari) could meet with diverse reactions. Ajay Sharma's editing is sluggish.

Bandish Bandits' casting (Casting Bay) is top-notch! Ritwik Bhowmik is a revelation. Ditto for Shreya Chaudhry. Amit Mistry, Sheeba Chaddha, Rajesh Tailang, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Meghna Malik, Naseeruddin Shah and Rituraj K Singh are highly competent.

To sum up, Bandish Bandits, directed deftly by Anand Tiwari, has a one-line premise that's reluctantly stretched into an unconvincing screenplay. Despite its plot of convenience, the actors somehow rise above the mediocre writing. And that is it!