One of the least explored genres in Hindi Cinema is dark comedy. Even though there have been marvellous movies like Kalakandi, Andhadhun and Udta Punjab, such movies seldom receive full stars because of their complexity and the audience’s failure to gauge what to put their bets on. Zee5’s new web series, Sunflower, falls in the same genre and for me, it passes the muster with ease. Back tracing the cause and effect of a murder that takes place in a gated society, the plotting, as well as execution of this series, is well-crafted. The title itself sounds so ironic and can invite multiple perspectives. Sunflower is a flower that’s supposed…

Scriptwriting is an art that involves a lot of expunging of thoughts, ideas and words alike. With the current attention span of people not lasting for more than a few seconds, it is difficult to stick to a concise plot without exploring different shades of all the major characters in a book or a movie. It is a tedious job to tap the mental schema of the audience in a limited time and use word association to intrigue their brain cells and trigger parallel thinking. I never had any doubts about Bollywood’s capability in showcasing the best plots in form of movies and web series but I always doubted the…

The Army of the Dead is another Snyder movie that has become the talk of the town owing to its brave cinematography and experimentation with the digital gears. The movie is about a heist that is set amidst a zombie apocalypse. The premise is not new yet there are certain aspects that successfully capture the attention of the viewers and provide much-needed relief. With a new take on the appearance, behaviour and purpose of the zombies, The Army of the Dead establishes its intention right in the very first scene. Hence, the opening and the closing become statement scenes of the movie and the viewers are not left disoriented amidst…

When Kate Winslet leads the story to the finish line, who can question the credibility of the plot? Starring in Mare of Easttown, Kate Winslet delivers a promising and convincing performance that not only evokes empathy but also sympathy for her character. Well-crafted and well-executed, Mare of Easttown is my new favourite thriller series. The story is set in a small town, Easttown, where everyone knows their neighbour and doesn’t shy away from sharing their apprehensions with others. Mare, a divorced detective, lives with her mother, her grandson and her daughter. Battling with a tumultuous past and deprived of any peace of mind, she devotes her time to solving cases…

Tough times don’t last but tough people do. While Coronavirus is wreaking havoc in every possible way, the only way we all can remain sane is to be indoors and indulge in activities that don’t steal our mental peace and sanity. One of those activities is watching television. The OTT platforms offer an embarrassment of riches and to choose from the given options often becomes a bone of contention. Hence, I shall make this task easier for you. Here are six feel-good series that will warm your heart and provide a momentary escape from all the negativity that’s going on in the world. Aspirants (Web series) (YouTube) This series focuses…

It came as such a relief when I saw the trailer of Out of Love (season 2). With no more interesting series/ movies to watch on any of the OTT platforms, the release of OOL was a balm to my soul. With the lead pair reappearing in the second season, hopes were set high and entertainment was promised. Rasika Duggal as Meera and Purab Kohli as Akarsh are fabulous and their chemistry is something that forms the USP of the show. The second season of OOL follows the story post the divorce of the lead pair. While Meera was busy raising her beloved son singlehandedly, Akarsh paved his way to…

Netflix’s new animated movie ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’ is a futuristic peep into the delicate fabric of family dynamics that is soon inching towards being lost in limbo. With the advent of new technology and the dependence on phones, the machine apocalypse is no longer a hypothetical concept. Hence, this animated movie, through the medium of humour and satire, mocks the current generation for being so ignorant and apathetic about losing connections. The Mitchells vs. the Machines is based on how a normal (read weird) family overcomes their flaws or rather accepts their flaws to turn the tide in their favour when met with an army of robots that…

Since the explosion of Coronavirus spread all around the world, we have been living in terrifying times. Masks and sanitizers have become a part of our life now and we are not sure for how much longer they will stay with us. From the day WHO declared Covid-19 a Pandemic and Coronavirus started flexing its muscles all around the globe, there has been a need for its cure. While the people have been desperately waiting for a permanent cure, the medical facilities have been working day and night to invent a vaccine that can help people fight this deadly virus. Modern medical science has grown in leaps and bounds over…

Very few times Bollywood passes the muster based on the talent of the scriptwriters and the directors. This time, it aces the test. After a long haul and foisted torture of irrelevant movies like A Girl on the Train and Mrs Serial Killer, Netflix has finally found a strong ground on which it can safely claim that talent still resides in this industry. The new trending feature film ‘Ajeeb Daastaans’ sets the standard high because of brilliant storytelling and near-perfect execution of the plot. Cherry-picked cast, on-point dialogues, twisted tales and unexpected climax make this movie a delightful watch. Ajeeb Daastaans is an anthology of four short stories that majorly…

For a suspense story to become a blockbuster, it should comprise certain elements that make it a potboiler. Right from conflict, pacing and atmosphere to red herrings and background music- all these elements play an important role in deciding whether or not the story has the calibre to pass the muster. When Criminal Justice was released in 2019, the hopes were set high with its stirring and dark trailer, impeccable acting skills being demonstrated by Vikrant Massey and others and an exemplary storyline that offered no resolution in sight. Now that the second season of the same show has been released, I cannot deny that the anticipation level was similar.…