Anupama Chopra Reviews

The Archies presents a Zoya Akhtar-lite experience, offering a less rich and satisfying rendition of the themes that Zoya and her creative partner, Reema Kagti, have woven into their impressive careers. These themes include coming-of-age, class and cultural conflicts, the significance of inclusion and ambition, the power of storytelling, the transformative nature of art, and, consistently, the spl...

When I interviewed Sandeep following the release of Kabir Singh, our conversation concluded with him stating that "if people thought this was a violent film, he would show them what a violent film actually is." Sandeep has indeed kept his promise. Animal showcases various forms of violence, including emotional, psychological, sexual, and physical. The film features Ranbir Kapoor, Bobby D...

Vicky Kaushal's acting talent shines as he effortlessly switches between diverse roles. Earlier, he successfully portrayed an average, clumsy man in Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. Now, he transforms into the formidable hero in his latest film, Sam Bahadur. Vicky embodies the character with light eyes, a distinct posture, and a powerful speaking style, marked by dramatic pauses. However, the film'...

Director Soumendra Padhi, previously known for his notable work on the Netflix hit series Jamtara - Sabka Number Ayega and the National Award-winning film Budhia Singh - Born to Run, demonstrates his exceptional suitability for this film. His direction is especially commendable with the debutant cast, prominently featuring Alizeh. For those who haven't experienced Bad Genius, Farrey provides a...

The first 20 minutes of Apurva are intense. Director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat plunges us into the world of four ruthless modern-day dakus in the Chambal. They're sadistic psychopaths who revel in violence, and when they kidnap a young girl, it's chilling to watch. It's so gripping that I almost didn't want to continue watching, and that's a compliment. #moviereview #filmcompanion #ta...

Be aware that the law of diminishing returns applies to Tiger 3. It's the weakest installment in both the trilogy and the entire franchise. These films should function like a giant slot machine, consistently delivering dopamine hits at regular intervals, yet this one falls short. However, what does work effectively is the relationship between Tiger and Zoya, portrayed by Salman Khan and Katrin...

Pippa has a scale. Some of the battle scenes, shot with vigour by DOP Priya Seth, who also did terrific work on Raja’s 2016 film Airlift, showcase her skill. Despite the roster of fine actors – Ishaan Khatter, Priyanshu Painyuli, and Mrunal Thakur – they aren’t able to fully breathe life into their characters, as they seem more like ideas on paper rather than fleshed-out people. Visit us at http:/...

In Ganapath: A Hero is Born, director Vikas Bahl introduces a new hero. For 10 years, Tiger Shroff has been famous in Bollywood for action, dance, and his fit body. But why can't directors find good stories for him? Many focus on his physical skills and forget to create strong characters and stories. Visit us at www.filmcompanion.in Have you subscribed to Film Companion yet? Join us here - htt...

Leo, co-written by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Rathna Kumar, and Deeraj Vaidy, is loosely inspired by David Cronenberg’s 2005 classic A History of Violence. The epithet Thalapathy usually precedes his name – it means leader or commander. However, Leo co-writer and director Lokesh Kanagaraj, who previously made Master with Vijay, aims to broaden the scope of mythic heroism in a mass movie. Have you subscribe...

Vishal Bhardwaj's film, Khufiya, starring Tabu, Ali Fazal, and Wamiqa Gabbi, is inspired by the 2012 novel Escape to Nowhere by former intelligence officer Amar Bhushan. Loosely based on a true incident involving a missing suspected spy, the title Khufiya hints at both the mysterious world of espionage and the profound secrets harbored by its main characters, especially the women. Visit us at...

Thank You for Coming, starring Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill, Dolly Singh, Kusha Kapila, and Shibani Bedi, carries a double meaning in its title. The film relies heavily on the unbridled energy, strong comic timing, and complete lack of vanity of its lead, Bhumi Pednekar. Thank You for Coming juggles many themes – it's not only about female pleasure but also touches upon acceptance, self-love,...

What happens when a popular bhajan singer discovers that he might be Muslim by birth? That is the question posed by Vijay Krishna Acharya’s The Great Indian Family. The film stars Vicky Kaushal, Manushi Chhillar, Manoj Pahwa, and Kumud Mishra. Have you subscribed to Reviews & More yet? Follow us on: https://www.facebook.com/filmcompanion https://www.twitter.com/filmcompanion http://instagram.c...

Talents like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Vijay Varma shine, yet Jaane Jaan falls short of its potential. Sujoy and DOP Avik Mukhopadhyay, known for Sardar Udham, brilliantly craft an atmospheric mood with rolling fog and stylized lighting. While close-up shots of the leads and Anirban Sengupta's suspenseful sound design stand out, the script and character depth lag behind. Click...

Debutant director Akshat Ajay Sharma's Haddi, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Anurag Kashyap, and Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, drew inspiration from Hamlet, but its impact falls short of the Shakespearean masterpiece. Visit us at http://filmcompanion.in Have you subscribed to Film Companion yet? Join us here - http://bit.ly/FCsubscribe Follow Us On: https://www.facebook.com/filmcompanion https://www.twi...

Jawan, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara, Sanya Malhotra, Priyamani, Sunil Grover, and Sanjay Dutt, is a bold cinematic venture by blockbuster director Atlee. Embracing his 'More is More' mantra, Atlee's fifth film, Jawan, showcases heroic protagonists, themes of justice, intense action, grand song sequences, and his signature lavish scale. With plotlines so dense,...

When you hear the word Ghoomer, you probably think of Deepika Padukone, resplendent in red, performing the traditional Rajasthani folk dance in Padmavat. But writer-director R. Balki’s new film refers to a bowling delivery that the one-armed Anina specializes in. Listen to the full review by Anupama Chopra.

The first film was called Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. This one should have been titled Gadar 2: A Screaming Match. Because there’s a lot of shouting in this film. Here's Anupama Chopra's review of Gadar 2. To watch this review, click here: https://youtu.be/W13ZWqnb4X4 Have you subscribed to  Film Companion  yet? Follow Us On: https://www.facebook.com/filmcompanion   https://www.twitter.com/filmc...

Watching strong, smart, sexy women kicking butt onscreen is one of my keenest pleasures. Add to that the thrill of seeing one of our finest, Alia Bhatt, go up against Wonder Woman Gal Gadot. I love that director Tom Harper cast a Bollywood A-lister as the baddie in a big Hollywood spy movie. All of which made Heart of Stone seem like a slam dunk. But the film’s vast potential is sabotaged by gener...

Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is delicious eye-candy with a rebellious core. Despite the flabby portions, I exited with a smile, wishing that Rocky was real and wanting to give my family a japphi. There can be no downside to that. You can also watch the review here , only on Reviews & More by Film Companion.

Twice in Bawaal, featuring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, Varun, who plays a Lucknow school teacher named Ajay, tells other characters, "The idea is a bit revolutionary, please listen with an open mind." I suspect he's a stand-in for director Nitesh Tiwari instructing his viewers. Because this film, based on a story by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and written by Nitesh, Piyush Gupta, Nikhil Mehrotra, and...

At 61, Tom Cruise is so determined to make us happy that he’s willing to risk his life for it. And here’s the thing – he delivers. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1, the seventh instalment in the Mission Impossible series, is a dazzling, consistently pleasurable ride. To know more about the film, listen to the full review by Anupama Chopra.

Neeyat starring Vidya Balan with an ensemble cast including Ram Kapoor, Rahul Bose, Dipannita Sharma, Shashank Arora, Shahana Goswami, Neeraj Kabi and Amrita Puri is a film brimming with possibilities. The end twist, though far-fetched, is wicked. And the set-up for a sequel is even more delicious. I can’t wait to see what these characters do next. The problem is the material before we get to this...

Tarla’s story is fascinating because this stratospheric culinary stardom wasn’t planned. To know more about the movie, watch the full review by Anupama Chopra on Reviews and More by Film Companion. It stars Huma Qureshi, Sharib Hashmi, and Purnendu Bhattacharya.

To get to the meat and emotion of Satyaprem ki Katha starring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani, you have to plow through a first half brimming with sparkly dance sequences, jokes that don’t land, and that stereotypical portrayal of the Gujarati community that Hindi cinema dishes out often. To know more about the film, listen to the full review by Anupama Chopra here.

The second edition of the Lust Stories anthology isn’t, strictly speaking, just about lust. To know more about the anthology, listen to the full review by Anupama Chopra here.