Anupama Chopra Reviews

Baaghi 3 | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Tiger Shroff | Shraddha Kapoor

5 min 32 sec

Baaghi 3 is an adaptation of the 2012 Tamil film Vettai. Starring the platonic ideal of the Bollywood action hero Tiger Shroff, and Riteish Deshmukh Shraddha Kapoor, more than action, this film needs a story to hang on to.

Kaamyaab | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Sanjay Mishra | Film Companion

5 min 34 sec

Sudheer is played by a wonderfully frayed, fumbling, tragicomic Sanjay Mishra, in writerdirector Hardik Mehtas film Kaamyaab. The film brings back the nostalgia with scene recreations from the 70s and 80s, and actors who lived this life, like Avtar Gill, Lilliput, Birbal, Guddi Maruti, and more.

Angrezi Medium | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Irrfan | Radhika Madan

6 min 11 sec

The heart of this film and this franchise is Irrfan, who renders with singular elegance, the lunatic love and the ache that a parent feels. But honestly, it’s a pretty convoluted story. Heres Anupama Chopras review of Angrezi Medium.

Panchayat | Anupama Chopra's Review | TVF | Amazon Prime Video | Jitendra Kumar

5 min 12 sec

A first on video Anupama Chopra reviews the newly released web series Panchayat streaming on Amazon Prime Video. With great performances by TVFs favourite Jitendra Kumar, and stalwarts like Raghubir Yadav and Neena Gupta, TVF brings a story rooted in rural India.

Four More Shots Please! | Anupama Chopra's Review | Amazon Prime Video

6 min 16 sec

This week, Anupama Chopra reviews Amazon Prime Videos Four More Shots Please Season 2, with Sayani Gupta, Kirti Kulhari, Bani J and Maanvi Gagroo in the lead roles.

Hasmukh | Anupama Chopra's Review | Vir Das | Netflix India

6 min 7 sec

With the release of Netflix Indias new web series Hasmukh, Anupama Chopra reviews the show, with Vir Das and Ranvir Shorey in lead roles. The show takes us on a journey about a standup comic turned murderer. Listen to the review to find out more.

Extraction | Anupama Chopra's Review | Chris Hemsworth | Netflix

5 min 38 sec

Does a white saviour movie become more palatable if the white saviour is Chris Hemsworth That is the critical question that Extraction presents. Anupama Chopra reviews Netflixs latest release Extraction, also starring Randeep Hooda and Pankaj Tripathi, created by Sam Hargrave and the Russo Brothers.

Mrs. Serial Killer | Anupama Chopra's Review | Jacqueline Fernandez | Netflix

5 min 4 sec

Netflix Original film Mrs. Serial Killer, directed by Shirish Kunder, is a thriller set in an unnamed hill station, with Jacqueline Fernandez, Manoj Bajpayee, Darshan Jariwala and Mohit Raina playing pivotal roles. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to find out more.

Paatal Lok | Anupama Chopra's Review | Amazon Prime Video | Film Companion

8 min 21 sec

The first streaming series by Anushka Sharmas Clean Slate Films, Paatal Lok is a nineepisode series, created by Sudip Sharma, who wrote NH10 and Udta Punjab. Its constructed as an investigative thriller following four killers who tried to kill a journalist. The series features Jaideep Ahlawat, Neeraj Kabi, Abhishek Banerjee and Gul Panag in pivotal roles. Listen to Anupama Chopras review for more.

Ghoomketu | Anupama Chopra's Review | Zee 5 | Nawazuddin Siddiqui | Film Companion

5 min 14 sec

The story of an outsider in Bollywood isnt exactly new, but writerdirector Pushpendra Nath Misra attempts to spice it up by being inventive. Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the titular character, with Raghubir Yadav, Ila Arun and Anurag Kashyap in pivotal roles. Listen to Anupama Chopras review of Ghoomketu to find out more.

Chintu Ka Birthday | Anupama Chopra's Review | Vinay Pathak | Tillotama Shome | Zee5

4 min 13 sec

Chintu Ka Birthday is a modest film with an outsized heart. Directed by debutant directors Satyanshu Singh and Devanshu Singh, starring Vinay Pathak, Tillotama Shome, Seema Pahwa and Vedant Chibber in the titular role, this is a film brimming with sweetness and innate human decency.Listen to the review to find out more.

Choked | Anupama Chopra's Review | Anurag Kashyap, Saiyami Kher, Roshan Mathew | Netflix India

5 min 29 sec

The title Choked applies to many things in this film – a pipe, a marriage, a woman’s voice, her life, a society, a country. In the latest Netflix Original film, starring Saiyami Kher and Roshan Mathew, director Anurag Kashyap rolls political critique into a suspense drama about a middleclass woman who discovers that a pipe in her kitchen is spewing cash. Listen to the review to find out more.

Gulabo Sitabo | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Amitabh Bachchan | Ayushmann Khurrana

6 min 32 sec

The name Gulabo Sitabo comes from traditional puppet art, in which the two characters quarrel incessantly. Like Gulabo and Sitabo, Mirza and Baankey are always at loggerheads. Directed by Shoojit Sircar and written by Juhi Chaturvedi, the film is a bittersweet study of greed and its consequences. You can watch this film on Amazon Prime Video.

Chaman Bahaar | Anupama Chopra's Review | Jitendra Kumar | Netflix

5 min 41 sec

Chaman Bahaar, starring Jitendra Kumar and Ritika Badiani, has been written and directed by debutant director Apurva Dhar Badgaiyann. Set in Lormi, a district in Chhattisgarh, this is a story about Billu, a paan seller, who along with some other men in the village, is yearning for Rinkus love. You can watch the film on Netflix.

Bulbbul | Anupama Chopra's Review | Tripti Dimri, Avinash Tiwary | Netflix | Film Companion

6 min 9 sec

Presented by siblings Anushka SharmaKarnesh Sharmas Clean Slate Films, Bulbbul is the story of a chudail with Tripti Dimri, Avinash Tiwary, Rahul Bose, Paoli Dam and Parambrata Chattopadhyay in key roles. The directorial debut of Anvita Dutt, this film is about the cruelties of men and the compromises that society forces women to make. You can watch the film on Netflix.Bulbbul Netflix AnushkaSharma

Raat Akeli Hai | Anupama Chopra's Review | Radhika Apte | Nawazuddin Siddiqui

6 min 5 sec

Raat Akeli Hai on Netflix India begins as the classic whodunnit – one murder, many suspects. With Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Shweta Tripathi in pivotal roles, debutant director Honey Trehan and writer Smita Singh use the genre conventions to create a horrifying portrait of patriarchy. Listen to this review to find out more.

Shakuntala Devi | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Vidya Balan | Sanya Malhotra

5 min 44 sec

Shakuntala Devi on Amazon Prime Video is the biopic of a woman without limits. The real life Shakuntala was a math wizard, who was famously known as the human computer. Directed by Anu Menon, this film features Vidya Balan playing Shakuntala Devi, Sanya Malhotra and Amit Sadh playing her daughter and soninlaw. Listen to this review to find out more.

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Janhvi Kapoor

6 min 2 sec

The film Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl shows Gunjan age from a schoolgirl to a young woman. With Janhvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Manav Vij, Viineet Kumar Singh and Angad Bedi in pivotal roles, and directed by debutant director Sharan Sharma, this is an incredible story that seamlessly blends emancipation, valor, duty and patriotism. You can watch this film on Netflix India from August 12.

Khuda Haafiz | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Vidyut Jammwal | Disney+Hotstar

5 min 43 sec

In Khuda Haafiz, writerdirector Faruk Kabir ambitiously tries to expand the Vidyut Jammwal repertoire. With great action in place, the film has been inspired by a true incident. Also starring Shivaleeka Oberoi, Aahana Kumra, Shiv Panditt and Annu Kapoor, you can watch this film on DisneyPlus Hotstar https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0PTktRYpZXb6On0zFKWIg .

Class of '83 | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Bobby Deol

6 min 55 sec

Directed by Atul Sabharwal produced by Shah Rukh Khans Red Chillies Entertainment, Class of 83 is a gritty drama about a batch of police officers who become famed encounter specialists. Set in Mumbai Bombay in the 80s, the film is inspired by a book named The Class of 83: The Punishers of Mumbai Police by S. Hussain Zaidi. You can watch this film on Netflix.

Mee Raqsam | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Shabana Azmi

5 min 1 sec

Mee Raqsam on Zee5 is presented by Shabana Azmi and directed by her brother, the acclaimed cinematographer Baba Azmi. Mee Raqsam is an ode to their father Kaifi Azmi. The film is about a girl Mariam obsessed with Bharatnatyam, played by Aditi Subedi, and her father Salim, played by Danish Hussain. The film also stars Naseeruddin Shah Rakesh Chaturvedi Om.

Ram Singh Charlie | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Kumud Mishra | Divya Dutta | Film Companion

5 min 16 sec

Ram Singh Charlie, directed by Nitin Kakkar, and written by Kakkar and Sharib Hashmi, is a celebration of the artist. Kumud Mishra, playing the titular role, is a circus performer whose specialty is playing Charlie Chaplin. The film also stars Divya Dutta, Lilliput.

Sadak 2 | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Sanjay Dutt | Alia Bhatt | Film Companion

5 min 55 sec

Sadak 2 doesn’t just mirror the original in terms of narrative beats. The storytelling, performances, dialogue, cinematography, songs, background music – all seem to belong to the 90s, which was the last time Mahesh Bhatt directed a film before this. The film stars Sanjay Dutt, Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur, Jisshu Sengupta, among others.

Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion

5 min 29 sec

The best thing about Dolly and Kitty is that they are a mess. They can lie and steal. Both do really dumb things but because they are played by two keenly intelligent actors – Konkona Sensharma and Bhumi Pednekar – they don’t come off as silly or capricious.

Serious Men | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Nawazuddin Siddiqui | Film Companion

6 min 47 sec

Director Sudhir Mishras film Serious Men on Netflix India https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCZSNzBgFubWWil6TOTYwAg , based on Manu Josephs award winning novel, veers between sharp and sagging but ultimately Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the terrific child actor Aakshath Das steer the story to a satisfying close. Listen to the review to know more.

Khaali Peeli | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Ananya Panday, Ishaan Khatter | Film Companion

6 min 7 sec

Director Magbool Khan’s Khaali Peeli on ZEEPLEX https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCX3PcMUjayaB9ovRjoZacXQ , starring Ananya Panday Ishaan Khatter, tries to blend uncomfortable elements with Fast Furious style car chases romance. Listen to the review to know more.

Ginny Weds Sunny | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Vikrant Massey, Yami Gautam

5 min 8 sec

Debutant director Puneet Khanna is not a fan of nuance. So his film has the straightforward title Ginny Weds Sunny. Boy and girl Vikrant Massey Yami Gautam meetcute at a big, fat Punjabi wedding and their relationship culminates at a big, fat destination wedding. Listen to Anupama Chopra’s review to find out more.

A Suitable Boy | Anupama Chopra's Review | Mira Nair | Tabu, Ishaan Khatter

7 min 7 sec

Every episode of A Suitable Boy is stuffed with plot, passion, conflict, faith and the endless push and pull between tradition and modernity, love and duty and above all, family. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to find out more.

Kaali Khuhi | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Shabana Azmi | Satyadeep Misra

5 min 6 sec

Terrie Samundras film Kaali Khuhi is a horror film with a message. The idea is to scare you but also to make you think beyond the horror onscreen and consider the horror in life. Listen to the full review of Kaali Khuhi, starring Shabana Azmi, Satyadeep Misra, Sanjeeda Shaikh and Riva Arora.

Laxmii | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Akshay Kumar, Kiara Advani | Film Companion

4 min 6 sec

Laxmii is the remake of a Tamil film called Kanchana, written and directed by Raghava Lawrence. Watch the review of the film, starring Akshay Kumar Kiara Advani.

Ludo | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Anurag Basu | Film Companion

6 min 41 sec

Using the game of Ludo as metaphor and structural skeleton, writerdirector DoP Anurag Basu constructs four interlocking stories, starring Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Pearle Maaney Inayat Verma.

Chhalaang | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Rajkummar Rao, Nushrratt Bharuccha

5 min 44 sec

In Chhalaang, director Hansal Mehta and Rajkummar Rao, alongwith Nushrratt Bharuccha and Zeeshan Ayyub attempt to tell the uplifting story of a PT teacher in smalltown Haryana, who finds his purpose in life through coaching the weakest kids in the school into a winning team.

Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Diljit Dosanjh, Manoj Bajpayee

4 min 48 sec

Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, directed by Abhishek Sharma, saddles its solid cast, Diljit Dosanjh, Manoj Bajpayee, Fatima Sana Sheikh among others, with lame jokes, inane plot twists and dull storytelling.

Peninsula | World Cinema Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Yeon Sang-Ho | Film Companion

4 min 35 sec

Can a zombie movie make you cry Yes, if it’s been directed by Yeon Sangho. Listen to Anupama Chopras review of the South Korean film Peninsula, to know more.

Durgamati The Myth | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Bhumi Pednekar | Film Companion

4 min 49 sec

Durgamati The Myth on Amazon Prime Video India https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC4zWG9LccdWGUlF77LZ8toA starring Bhumi Pednekar, Arshad Warsi, Magie Gill Jisshu Sengupta among others, is a horror/thriller film which is the remake of 2018 Telugu film Bhaagamathie. Listen to the full review to know more.

Unpaused | Anupama Chopra's Review | Amazon Prime Video | Film Companion

5 min 24 sec

Unpaused, an Amazon Prime Video India anthology directed by Raj DK, Nikkhil Advani, Nitya Mehra, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Avinash Arun Dhaware is a snapshot of a time when the world paused. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to find out more.

AK vs AK | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Anil Kapoor, Anurag Kashyap | Film Companion

5 min 54 sec

In AK vs AK on Netflix, director Vikramaditya Motwane and writer Avinash Sampath construct a narrative that consistently crisscrosses the boundaries of artifice and truth. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to know more.

Coolie No. 1 | Bollywood Movie Review | Anupama Chopra | Varun Dhawan, Sara Ali Khan |Film Companion

5 min 46 sec

The earlier Coolie No. 1 had a cheery lunacy and a degree of innocence that allowed the ridiculous plot to play out as an extended joke. But in 2020, the narrative is dated and offensive on so many levels. Heres Anupama Chopras review of the Varun Dhawan and Sara Ali Khan starrer.

Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi | Bollywood Movie Review By Anupama Chopra | Film Companion

5 min 12 sec

Ramprasad ki Tehrvi is a family drama directed by Seema Pahwa bursting with taujis, chachis, bhabhis and nanands. When they all gather after their father – the titular Ramprasad – dies, the gloves come off. But the arguments, old hurts and bitchy asides don’t lead to any earthshattering confrontation. Just the understanding that human beings are flawed, relationships are fragile and yet, we must strive, as best as we can, to be happy.

Tandav | Anupama Chopra's Review | Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia | Film Companion

6 min 26 sec

Ali Abbas Zafars Tandav, starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub among others, has too much Bollywood masala in its DNA. Which makes it intermittently entertaining but also shallow and not very smart.

The White Tiger | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Adarsh Gourav | Film Companion

6 min 56 sec

Don’t go into the film expecting a retread of Slumdog Millionaire. In fact, the film positions itself as antiSlumdog. Heres Anupama Chopras full review of Ramin Bahranis The White Tiger on Netflix India, starring Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas Rajkummar Rao.

Bittu | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Karishma Dube | Film Companion

4 min 22 sec

Debutant director Karishma Dube’s film Bittu is inspired by an infamous poisoning accident that took place in a government school in Bihar in 2013. Watch Anupama Chopra’s review to learn more about the film that has been shortlisted in the top 10 list in the Short Film in Live Action category for the 93rd Academy Awards.

Unfinished Book Review by Anupama Chopra | Priyanka Chopra | Film Companion

6 min 4 sec

The strength of Unfinished is that it’s in Priyanka Chopra’s voice. At one point, she writes: I get to choose what I share and when I share it. Of course she does, but there are several places in which you wish the curation had been less sharp. Heres Anupama Chopras take on the memoir.

Drishyam 2: The Resumption | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Mohanlal | Film Companion

7 min 16 sec

The Mohanlal starrer Drishyam 2: The Resumption on Amazon Prime Video India directed by Jeethu Joseph, is a genuine sequel as opposed to the ones in which characters or worlds continue with minimal connection to the earlier work. Heres Anupama Chopras review of the film.

Bombay Begums | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion

6 min 40 sec

MeToo, menopause, menstruation, motherhood, sex, adultery – it’s all here in Netflix Indias Bombay Begums. These women, played by Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswami, Amruta Subhash, Plabita Borthakur Aadhya Anand, lead fabulously messy lives filled with compromises and regrets. Heres Anupama Chopras review of the series, to know more.

Roohi | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Janhvi Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Varun Sharma

4 min 16 sec

The film Roohi tries to continue in the tradition of feminist horror forged by films like Pari, Stree and Bulbbul. Director Hardik Mehta and writers Mrighdeep Singh Lamba Gautam Mehra use Roohi’s story to deliver a message of selfacceptance and finding your inner strength.

Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Parineeti Chopra, Arjun Kapoor

5 min 3 sec

Be warned that Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, starring Parineeti Chopra Arjun Kapoor in titular roles, doesn’t have the pacing that you might expect in a chase film. But ultimately, filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee steers it to a climax that is both stinging and satisfying. Listen to Anupama Chopras full review to know more.

Mumbai Saga | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi

5 min 48 sec

Mumbai Saga is apparently inspired by true events. I think there is a compelling story here of how the contours and conscience of the city shifted in 1996 and what was lost when Bombay became Mumbai. But Sanjay isn’t really interested in that. Listen to Anupama Chopras full review to know more.

Saina | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Parineeti Chopra | Film Companion

5 min 42 sec

In the film Saina, starring Parineeti Chopra, writerdirector Amole Gupte hits each of the usual sports film beats but also bungs in woman empowerment. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to know more.

Pagglait | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Sanya Malhotra | Film Companion

2 min 2 sec

The film Pagglait, starring Sanya Malhotra among others, reminds us of the many ways in which society and men control women. The word becomes an aspirational state, suggesting a woman crazy enough to break the rules and take on the world. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to know more.

NOMADLAND | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Frances McDormand | Film Companion

4 min 31 sec

Director Chloé Zhao constructs Nomadland like a mournful, sublime poem. The film stars Oscarwinning actor Frances McDormand who acts alongside reallife nomads who were featured in Bruder’s book, who play themselves. Listen to the full review to know more about this globallyacclaimed film.

The Big Bull | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Abhishek Bachchan | Film Companion

6 min 17 sec

The Big Bull, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Ileana Cruz, Sohum Shah, and directed by Kookie Gulati, is contrived in the oldschool Bollywood way. Props to Abhishek Bachchan for sincerely trying to hold the fractured screenplay together.

Joji | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Fahadh Faasil | Film Companion

5 min 30 sec

Joji is a reworking of Macbeth and while these words might suggest a period setting, Shakespeare’s tragedy has been reimagined in contemporary times, on a sprawling rubber plantation in Kerala. But Joji, the youngest of three brothers, is very much a subject of his father’s kingdom.

Hello Charlie | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Jackie Shroff, Aadar Jain | Film Companion

3 min 10 sec

Hello Charlie on Amazon Prime Video India starring Jackie Shroff, Aadar Jain Shlokka Pandit, is one of those films that defies reviews. Because I’m not sure I can properly explain how excruciating it is to watch.

Jathi Ratnalu | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Naveen Polishetty | Film Companion

5 min 2 sec

Jathi Ratnalu starring Naveen Polishetty, Rahul Ramakrishna Priyadarshi, is the infusion of good cheer you need right now. Writerdirector Anudeep K.V. stitches together a sparkling comedy that is cheerfully silly without being lazy.

Ajeeb Daastaans | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion

5 min 15 sec

The dastaan in Ajeeb Daastaans is plural. There are plenty of ajeebs here, but what stayed with me was the expression in Bharti’s eyes in the last shot of Geeli Pucchi.

Searching For Sheela | Anupama Chopra's Review | Netflix | Film Companion

4 min 7 sec

Sheela might be frail and mellow but she still knows how to deliver a memorable sound byte. Searching for Sheela is a minor companion piece to the mesmerising Wild Wild Country.

Without Remorse | Hollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Michael B. Jordan

4 min 26 sec

Without Remorse is an adaptation of Tom Clancy’s bestselling 1993 novel. The film attempts to speak to the reality of contemporary polarised America but the plot is too formulaic and the commentary too thin to underpin the highoctane thriller with gravitas.

The Disciple | Anupama Chopra's Review | Chaitanya Tamhane | Film Companion

4 min 44 sec

The Disciple is a meditative character study of a Hindustani classical vocalist named Sharad Nerulkar. The film might be set in the esoteric world of Indian classical music but its concerns are universal.

Vakeel Saab | Anupama Chopra's Review | Pawan Kalyan | Film Companion

4 min 57 sec

How do you repurpose a powerful and gripping story about women into an overthetop star vehicle in which the hero towers above everything else Vakeel Saab provides a masterclass.

Meel Patthar | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion

4 min 48 sec

Meel Patthar, which means milestone, is far from a road movie, which romanticises the journey and the learnings from it.

Godzilla vs. Kong | Hollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion

4 min 21 sec

Godzilla vs Kong is the fourth installment in a franchise called the MonsterVerse. But even if you haven’t seen those films, you won’t have any trouble connecting the dots in this one.

Nayattu | Anupama Chopra's Review | Kunchacko Boban, Joju George, Nimisha Sajayan | Film Companion

4 min 34 sec

Nayattu is a chilling film about the machinations of the system. The title means the hunt in Malayalam. What makes Nayattu brilliant is the way director Martin Prakkat reworks it.

Radhe | Bollywood Movie Review By Anupama Chopra | Salman Khan, Disha Patani | Film Companion

4 min 29 sec

The Salman Khan starrer is so free of craft that it hurts. Prabhu Deva delivers yet another loud, numbing, pointless paean to the cult of Salman Khan. Anupama Chopra reviews the film.

Sardar Ka Grandson | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Arjun Kapoor, Neena Gupta

5 min 53 sec

Sardar Ka Grandson plays neither as a comingofage saga of a man who learns to face challenges and deliver on his commitments nor as a crossborder comedy nor as a moving family drama.

Cinema Bandi | Anupama Chopra's Review | Praveen Kandregula | Film Companion

4 min 33 sec

What happens when an expensive Sony camera is left by mistake on the backseat of an autorickshaw Lives change. Because the camera enables people to become storytellers. It renews hope and ambition. That is the power of cinema and the story of Cinema Bandi, the delightful new Telugu film, directed by Praveen Kandregula, and produced by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK.

Aarkkariyam | Anupama Chopra's Review | Parvathy Thiruvothu, Biju Menon | Film Companion

4 min 32 sec

Wherever you think this narrative might go, it doesn’t. And when the twist arrives, it’s so unexpected that just like the character it’s revealed to, you are also stunned into silence. The beauty is that all of this plays out amidst the humdrum rhythms of daily life. There is no drama or high emotion.

Kala | Anupama Chopra's Review | Tovino Thomas | Rohith V.S. | Film Companion

4 min 58 sec

The primal, animalistic nature of men sits just beneath the veneer of civilization imposed by society. Poke a little and a man, who is a loving father and husband, turns into a creature so savage that he is barely recognizable.

The Family Man Season 2 Review | Anupama Chopra | Manoj Bajpayee | Samantha Akkineni | Film Companion

6 min 37 sec

The Family Man Season 2, on Amazon Prime Video India, doesn’t deal in simplistic heroes and villains. There are enough thrills here but what stays with you eventually is a sense of sadness Anupama Chopra reviews the Manoj Bajpayee, Samantha Akkineni series created by Raj DK.

Skater Girl | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion

3 min 41 sec

After Skater Girl was shot in Khempur, a village near Udaipur in Rajasthan, the skating park that was built as a set for the movie was donated to locals. Which is probably the best thing about this wellintentioned but slight film.

Sherni | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Vidya Balan | Film Companion

6 min 13 sec

Sherni has many stellar actors including Vijay Raaz, Neeraj Kabi and Ila Arun but the film is grounded by the gravitas and understated strength that Vidya Balan brings to Vidya Vincent.

Ray | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion

7 min 1 sec

The idea of contemporary directors interpreting Ray’s writing is instantly magical but this anthology is too uneven to do it justice. The master deserves more sparkling filmmaking.

Haseen Dillruba | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion

5 min 49 sec

Haseen Dillruba, starring Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey Harshvardhan Rane, is genre busting – it’s a murder mystery but also a feverish romance with dollops of comedy bunged in. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to know more.

Malik | Anupama Chopra's Review | Fahadh Faasil, Nimisha Sajayan | Film Companion

6 min 27 sec

A short descriptor of Malik could be – a Malayalam Nayakan. Like Mani Ratnam’s 1987 classic, this film is also a sprawling story of crime and punishment spanning generations and decades – from 1965 to 2018. Here Anupama Chopras review of Malik on Amazon Prime Video India, starring Fahadh Faasil in the titular role.

Toofaan | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur | Film Companion

6 min 21 sec

In Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofaan, Aziz, a street fighter from Dongri, the catalyst in his life is a doctor at the local hospital. To paraphrase Jack Nicholson’s great line in As Good as it Gets, Ananya makes Aziz want to be a better man. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to know more.

14 Phere | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Vikrant M, Kriti K | Film Companion

3 min 53 sec

14 Phere is a bewildering film. It’s set up as a romance but the horror of honor killing looms large. Listen to Anupama Chopras review of the film starring Vikrant Massey, Kriti Kharbanda, Jameel Khan, Gauahar Khan among others.

Feels Like Ishq | Anupama Chopra's Review | Netflix India | Film Companion

4 min 48 sec

Most of the films are thirty minutes long but truthfully, little in the three hours feels like ishq. Much of it feels synthetic, simplistic, straining to be meaningful and, largely, insipid. Listen to Anupama Chopras review of Feels Like Ishq to know more.

Mimi | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi | Film Companion

4 min 26 sec

A remake of the National Awardwinning 2011 Marathi film Mala Aai Vahhaychy, buried somewhere inside Mimi is a moving story about parenting and what it means to raise and love a child. Listen to Anupama Chopras review of the film starring Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Sai Tamhankar, Supriya Pathak Manoj Pahwa, to know more.

Navarasa | Anupama Chopra's Review | Netflix | Film Companion

6 min 7 sec

Navarasa is arguably the mother of Indian anthologies nine films based on the nine emotional states prescribed by the Natya Shastra. Its bolstered by good intentions, some superb performances and craft but overall, the anthology doesn’t exceed the sum of its parts. Listen to Anupama Chopras review here.

Shershaah | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani | Film Companion

6 min 45 sec

Shershaah, on Amazon Prime Video India , starring Sidharth Malhotra Kiara Advani, doesn’t have the daring of its subject. The intentions are laudable but it feels tokenistic because the writing isn’t detailed enough. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to know more.

Kuruthi | Malayalam Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Prithviraj Sukumaran | Film Companion

4 min 25 sec

In Kuruthi, director Manu Warrier and writer Anish Pallyal build a Trojan horse – a home invasion movie that works as a gripping thriller but at the same time asks us to consider religious fanaticism, how faith can create good and evil, how hate persists and how ultimately, violence begets violence. Listen to Anupama Chopras review, and watch the film on Amazon Prime Video India .

Kaali Peeli Tales | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion

5 min

These stories are about mostly affluent people grappling with affairs of the heart – divorce, infidelity, the idea of an open marriage, coming out of the closet, onenight stands and love in the time of social media. The stories end with the characters in a Mumbai taxi, hence the title Kaali Peeli Tales. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to know more, and watch the anthology on Amazon Mini TV.

The Interview: Night of 26/11 | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion

4 min 2 sec

The Interview: Night of 26/11, starring Jackie Shroff Anjum Nayar, is so bizarrely amateurish that it’s hard to adequately describe it. Watch Anupama Chopras review to know more, and watch the film on BookMyShow Stream.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | Hollywood Movie Review | Anupama Chopra | Film Companion

5 min 22 sec

ShangChi is the MCU’s first Asian lead, and like Black Panther, this film carries the weight of the departure from the allwhite pantheon of Marvel superheroes. The writing doesn’t have the heft or depth of that film. Still, ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a strong step forward.

The Father | Hollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion

4 min 20 sec

The Father is a devastating film. One man’s descent into dementia becomes a gutting reminder of your own mortality. Watch Anupama Chopras review of The Father.

Once Upon A Time in Calcutta | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion

5 min 55 sec

With his third film, Once Upon a Time in Calcutta, filmmaker Aditya Vikram Sengupta is back in Venice, being the only Indian film playing at the festival this year. The film has a lovely, lyrical quality to it. Heres Anupama Chopras review to know more.

Bhoot Police | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Saif, Arjun, Yami, Jacqueline

3 min 37 sec

Watching Bhoot Police on DisneyPlus Hotstar, I realized that a film which is mediocre is more soulsucking than one that is actively awful because you see glimpses of what might have been.

Mumbai Diaries 26/11 | Anupama Chopra's Review | Mohit Raina, Konkona Sensharma | Film Companion

5 min 38 sec

The word immersive gets tossed around a lot but Mumbai Diaries 26/11 actually achieves it. Over eight episodes, which range in duration from 35 minutes to 48 minutes, the series recreates the horror, beat by beat. Anupama Chopra reviews the Amazon Prime Video series.

BellBottom | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta | Film Companion

4 min 59 sec

BellBottom, inspired by true events, is set in the 1980s, described as a time when hijacking had become rampant. The films propels itself forward on a certain caperstyle energy, slickness and scale. Watch Anupama Chopras review of BellBottom on Amazon Prime Video India , starring Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta among others.

Ankahi Kahaniya | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion

5 min 46 sec

The overarching theme of Ankahi Kahaniya is love and longing in Mumbai. Watch Anupama Chopras review of the anthology Ankahi Kahaniya, directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Abhishek Chaubey Saket Chaudhary.

Kota Factory S2 | Anupama Chopra's Review | Jitendra Kumar, Ahsaas Channa | Film Companion

6 min 38 sec

Anupama Chopra reviews Kota Factory season 2 streaming on Netflix India. What continues to propel the series is the seeming ordinariness of the leads. These kids are the polar opposite of the buffed and polished teenagers we see in Bollywood films like the Student of the Year franchise.

Rashmi Rocket | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Taapsee Pannu | Film Companion

5 min 25 sec

Rashmi Rocket begins as a soaring sports saga but pivots into a courtroom drama. Director Akarsh Khurana, his team of writers and leading lady Taapsee Pannu are trying to translate a complex, littleknown subject into accessible and entertaining cinema. Watch Anupama Chopras review of the film, streaming on ZEE5.

Sanak | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Vidyut Jammwal | Film Companion

3 min 34 sec

Sanak is a Bollywoodised Die Hard. The load rests on the impressive shoulders of Vidyut Jammwal. Director Kanishk Varma and writer Ashish P. Verma deviate slightly from the Jammwal actionmovie template. You can watch the film on Disney Hotstar.

Sardar Udham | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Vicky Kaushal | Film Companion

5 min 34 sec

Sardar Udham is the slowest of slow burns. Which isn’t unusual for Shoojit. The role of Sardar Udham comes with big demands and Vicky Kaushal delivers. Listen to the review for more, and watch the film on Amazon Prime Video.

Eternals | Hollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Chloe Zhao | Film Companion

5 min 53 sec

The film Eternals is part of the MCU’s Phase Four. The story throbs with ache in a way that MCU films rarely do. Director Chloe Zhao has an uncanny talent for locating the poetry in loss. Listen to Anupama Chopras review to know more.

Sooryavanshi | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion

5 min 36 sec

The character of Sooryavanshi doesn’t have the flamboyance or fun of either Singham or Simmba. Watch Anupama Chopra’s full review to knoe more about Akshay KumarKatrina KaifAjay DevgnRanveer Singh starrer, directed by Rohit Shetty.

Shiddat | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Radhika Madan, Sunny Kaushal | Film Companion

4 min 20 sec

Radhika Madan and Sunny Kaushal are eminently watchable actors, who cant save Shiddat, a bewilderingly logicfree film about a man obsessed with a woman. Heres Anupama Chopra’s review of Shiddat, streaming on DisneyPlus Hotstar.

Dybbuk | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Emraan Hashmi, Nikita Dutta, Manav Kaul | Film Companion

4 min 11 sec

Of course, horror films are, by design, unrealistic. But the best ones are constructed so tightly that the viewer doesn’t have the breathing room to ask: How is this possible Dybbuk misses this goal by miles. Listen to Anupama Chopra’s full review to know more about this film, streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Hum Do Hamare Do Anu | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Rajkummar Rao, Kriti Sanon

4 min 2 sec

If Hum Do Hamare Do had focused more on the senior couple, it might have located the authenticity and emotion that the story hints at but never develops. Watch Anupama Chopras review of the film starring Rajkummar Rao, Kriti Sanon, Paresh Rawal, Ratna Pathak Shah, streaming on Disney Hotstar.

Meenakshi Sundareshwar | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion

5 min 32 sec

Meenakshi Sundareshwar, starring Sanya Malhotra Abhimanyu Dassani in titular roles, doesn’t realise its full potential but the film is sweet and undemanding enough. Listen to Anupama Chopra’s review to know more.