Category - Bollywood

Shah Rukh Khan’s Jab Harry Met Sejal has received poor reviews from critics. The average rating is only slightly better than films like ‘Commando’, ‘Half Girlfriend’, ‘Sarkar 3’ and ‘Raabta’. [mks_button size=”medium” title=”Average Rating of All ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal ‘ Review – 2.3 stars” style=”rounded” bg_color=”#1e73be” txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=””] Jab Harry Met Sejal Review by Indicine Rating: the film fails to move with its storyline and the plot related to the ‘lost ring’ is stretched beyond its elasticity. The second hour begins on a very average note and it is through these portions that the film begins to drag. The writing lets the film down big-time, which is surprising because most Imtiaz Ali films – Tamasha, Highway and Rockstar in particular – have improved in the latter half. The climax is the weakest link of the film, which also ends pretty abruptly. Jab Harry Met Sejal Review by Bollywood Hungama Rating: JAB HARRY MET SEJAL begins on a swift pace. No time is wasted in explaining Harry’s life – his enthusiasm as a guide, his moments of loneliness when no one is watching and his troubled relations with women are well explained in a few minutes in the song ‘Safar’. Sejal is also introduced in no time and the fun begins as they try to find the misplaced ring. The humour comes out very well and the first half moves at a breezy pace. The sequence where Sejal gets into trouble in a Prague bar and the scene thereafter stands out as the best and most exciting portion of the first half. The song ‘Hawayein’ is also played at a poignant and sweet point of the film minutes before the intermission. Post-intermission, the film becomes a drag. The makers seem confused as the narrative gets chaotic. The twist in the tale, related to the ring, might come across as stupid or unfair by a section of audience. At one point, one wonders where exactly the film is heading to. The finale also has a twist but this one is better than the first. The film ends on a predictable, clichéd note. Jab Harry Met Sejal Review by Manjusha Radhakrishnan on Gulfnews Rating: While it’s delightful to watch Khan in the first half, his intense love-lorn turn in the second half weigh the film down. Khan looks haggard too, making it difficult for us to buy into their love story. The climax isn’t ground-breaking and is studded with corny, saccharine dialogues between two lovers. However, the cinematography that highlights the beauty of a handful European countries is pleasing to watch. But we wish that all that energy and love was devoted to developing a cracking love story. Watch this film if you are strictly a Shah Rukh Khan or Anushka Sharma fan. Others will hesitate to put a ring on this romantic comedy. Jab Harry Met Sejal Review by Manju Ramanan on Masala Rating: The scene just before the interval, where the duo challenges each other that they won’t fall in love, raises hope of an Imtiaz Ali twist. Alas, there is none! Similarly, 20 minutes before the film ends, is a scene when the duo separates and you feel there will be an aha! moment, only to watch it slide into a predictable abyss. Jab Harry Met Sejal is a film you want to like but when you see the ‘Babe becoming Babita’ formula repeated yet again, you wonder why a filmmaker, known for his progressive, unusual films succumbs to clichés like this one. Review by Saibal Chatterjee on NDTVMovies Rating: The beautiful locations are obviously eye-catching, but surely surface gloss, star power, lively music and sparkling cinematography can never turn a patchy and whimsical film into a convincing romantic drama about a pair of strangers thirsting for more than what their lives have offered them thus far. Harry is in search of true love. Sejal, too, is on a voyage of discovery. Do they get what they are looking for? Not a chance in hell. So flabby is this flighty film that it moves only in hops and skips. It never really gets off the ground. Jab Harry Met Sejal is cinema’s equivalent of a shiny bauble that glitters wholly in vain. Watch it only if you fancy a vicarious romp through Europe with a megastar trying hard to get going. Review by Meena Iyer on The Times Of India Rating: The script is wafer-thin and it’s been done to death by none other than Imtiaz Ali in each of his earlier films—be it Jab We Met, Cocktail or the recent Tamasha. It’s the routine girl is engaged elsewhere story but she discovers half-way through the film that she is actually attracted to someone else. In this case, Sejal is engaged to Rupen but actually ends up falling for Harry. What makes this film watchable though is the presence of Shah Rukh and Anushka both of who are in top-form in their Punjabi and Gujarati avatars. In fact, SRK is like old wine, the more he matures, the better he loves. But the chemistry between Anushka and him is not crackling for sure.   Review by Rohit Vats on Hindustan Times Rating: Jab Harry Met Sejal is absolutely banal with some hummable tunes. It’s a big disappointment to see Shah Rukh Khan returning to his comfort zone and yet not performing at the top of his powers. Pritam’s songs can do some patchwork, but nothing can rescue this 143-minute of lethargic storytelling. I haven’t found what I was seeking, looks like you won’t either. Review by Manisha Lakhe on Nowrunning Rating: Shah Rukh is still droolworthy. And he can still make you sigh. But then the bigger sighs are of despair. After the brilliant Raees, this looks like a pathetic excuse to holiday in Europe and ‘Chalo, let’s make some movie while we’re there!’ Review by Rohit Bhatnagar on Deccan Chronicle Rating: Undoubtedly, Imtiaz is a brilliant storyteller, but he seems to be detached with his characters in this one. Travel and self-discovery are the core issues of his films. Even his repetition of the storytelling has been ignored each time, but his latest offering has nothing to offer. Still you will be reminded of all his previous films. Being a Shah Rukh Khan film, you will also be reminded of Chalte Chalte. Review by Sarita A Tanwar on DNA India Rating: The film is devoid of a story or structure. Even the screenplay is amateurish. After a point, you want the film to engross you and not just the characters. But Imtiaz never manages to take that leap and after a point, the film just starts going downhill and fails to recover. The elements he adds to the screenplay have no relevance to the plot. Like the whole Bangladeshi immigrant angle and a gangster called Gas angle — totally unnecessary. Imtiaz has always risen over commercial film norms, without getting bound by success or failure. In this film, his work is below average as he treads on a confusing path. The film’s writing and direction are its two biggest disappointments. Review by Tushar P Joshi on Bollywood Life Rating: The pace does slacken in the second half and a couple of scenes that involve some immigrant goons and their involvement with finding Sejal’s ring, fall flat. Also a Punjabi track, that involves an engagement, felt forced and unnecessary. From this point onward the graph of the film goes downhill. Harry’s flashbacks to Punjab and his backstory deserved a better explanation. The music of the film is good, but only a few tracks, namely ‘Radha‘ and ‘Hawayein,‘ manage to stay. Jab Harry Met Sejal is all heart and deserves a watch for Shah Rukh and Anushka‘s crackling chemistry that takes the film to another level. Imtiaz Ali’s this journey is definitely worth the price of your ticket. Review by Kunal Guha on Mumbai Mirror Rating: This isn’t an Imtiaz Ali film or doesn’t seem like one at least. The maker who has transformed straight-laced stories into those of self-exploration and consequential epiphany, seems to be napping behind the camera here. With zero thought towards building on his characters, he barely furnishes circumstances or even plot points that would amount to any reflection. Pritam’s numbers are barely hummable but serve as a distraction from the dreary proceedings. As it happens in such films, one yearns for that magical moment when the lead pair ditches their inhibitions to lean over and lock lips — when everything seems perfect. In this one, it’s a happy occasion too, since it marks the end of the film. Review by Ananya Bhattacharya on India Today Rating: The story is peppered with so many songs that you lose count of them after a while. And stop caring. Harry and Sejal break into Main Bani Teri Radha when the sun rises. Before the sun is even visible on the horizon, you have them singing Hawayein. And then we move to yet another song from Pritam Music Manufacturers Pvt Ltd, where you can order in bulk. It wouldn’t have made any difference to Bollywood if Jab Harry Met Sejal wasn’t made. Shah Rukh, Anushka, Imtiaz – all have flop films and bad choices in their filmographies, but Jab Harry Met Sejal beats all of them together and by a huge margin. Maybe Harry should have stuck to his Safar-ka-hi-tha-main-safar-ka-raha stance. Meeting Sejal was not the best thing to have happened to the rest of us. Serendipity? ROFL. Review by Ritika Handoo on Zeenews Rating: The biggest twist towards the climax will make you wonder at how destiny binds two individuals together and it does have a very Paulo Coelho types feeling. SRK and Anushka’s chemistry is electrifying from shot one and their comfort level with each other is evident. Review by Sukanya Verma on Rediff Rating: Jab Harry Met Sejal has the stars, the songs, the scenery and all the trimmings for a riveting romance. Alas, the writing is staggeringly sloppy, unoriginal and deviates from its premise involving a starry-eyed nitwit and skirt-chasing cynic to entangle itself in superficial complexities that made me judge instead of root for its oddball protagonists. Review by Vishal Verma on Glamsham Rating: Imtiaz Ali’s beaten down to death TAMASHA this time is constantly gasping for help but it’s far to be found. It’s a pity that Imtiaz Ali in JAB HARRY MET SEJAL fails to make the chemistry between such attractive peoples like SRK and Anushka tickling, curdling to the viewers giving them a mushy feel. It doesn’t work as the script, situations doesn’t generate the romance. It’s a boring date movie and on top of that it’s not even an Imtiaz Ali film in the end even after possessing all its known traits. Review by Jaidev Hemmady on Movietalkies Rating: As for the film itself, there is no doubt that Jab Harry Met Sejal is quite a pretty film, but it must be said that the love story is not so convincing. Sejal, who misses her flight and comes back to search for her lost ring, seems more interested in hanging out with Harry and prying about his life than looking for the ring. Had the film shown that the two grow close during the course of their adventure, it may have worked, but here, Sejal seems smitten with Harry from day one, even though she is happily engaged. Also, the way the two grow close to each other, doesn’t seem convincing at all and though the narrative is entertaining in places, it lacks conviction. Granted that there are a few beautiful moments in the film, but the overall story is too weak to touch your heart. Review by Rajeev Masand on News18 Rating: Imtiaz, who has been frequently – and let’s face it, prematurely – described as the Yash Chopra of this generation, falters on account of an undercooked script. There is just not enough meat on the bones to keep you invested in the protagonists’ journey, or in their relationship, which feels clumsy and muddled but not in an interesting, honest way. It’s a pity, because Shah Rukh Khan breathes life into a character that could so easily have been a turn-off. His performance is one of the film’s few strengths. Despite the baffling, contradictory nature of Sejal, Anushka Sharma works hard to imbue her with genuine feeling. The two actors deserved a better film, and so did we. Review by Mayank Shekhar on Mid-Day India Rating: This is Imtiaz’s first film with SRK, and that’s the only novelty. SRK, in his 50s—although he doesn’t quite look it—plays Harry, which may be short for Harinder, or some such, since he hails from the pind in Punjab. Sejal is more the quintessential Imtiaz heroine—earthy, feisty—quite finely attempting the Gujju twang. She’s upset over the fact that even a womaniser like Harry isn’t interested in her. That’s funny. Harry can’t handle this woman who’s piled on to him, but he carries on nonetheless. This is bizarre. The on-screen alchemy between the two, no doubt, works in parts. What doesn’t, I suppose, is the movie itself, which lacks the soul, and clever subversion, before it inevitably begins to descend into the climax that you know it will. I’m not humming any track from the movie in my head right now either. Nor can I recall a moment that blew me away. Sure, there were some decent ones. Jab Harry Met Sejal Review by Indiaglitz Rating: Director Imtiaz Ali should have opted for more bolder or daring or enjoyable finale like he did in films like ‘Love Aaj Kal’ or ‘Jab We Met’. His die-hard fans will be highly disappointed. The screenplay should have been more powerful. Chandan Roy Sanyal, Evelyn Sharma and others are wasted. ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’ will be loved by Shah Rukh Khan and will make them meet the romantic hero, again. Review by Meeta on Wogma Rating: Jab Harry Met Sejal is also one of those films that has great music which shouldn’t have made it into the film. They reek of commercial considerations rather than having roots in the story. The wedding song and the lovely duet, both seem so forced that they might as well have just started singing and dancing instead of trying to mask them with excuses to make them a part of the film. Review by IANS on Sify Rating: Jab Harry Met Sejal has a few genuinely ‘cool’ encounters between the lovers. But these are too spaced out and too far in-between to engage us in the couple’s destined marriage. What clutters the corridors of this posh- looking touristic ‘vilaayat-darshan’ are the winking flirty exchanges which lead nowhere. A big disappointment for both the fans of Shah Rukh Khan and Imtiaz Ali. Sachin A Billion Dreams – 3.7 stars Baahubali 2 – 3.5 stars Lipstick Under My Burkha – 3.5 stars Anaarkali of Aarah – 3.4 stars Trapped – 3.4 stars Mom – 3.2 stars Hindi Medium – 3.2 stars Jolly LLB 2 – 3.2 stars Poorna – 3.2 stars Kaabil – 3.2 stars Rangoon – 3.1 stars Badrinath Ki Dulhania – 3 stars Haraamkhor – 3 stars The Ghazi Attack – 2.9 stars Raees – 2.9 stars Mubarakan – 2.9 stars Raag Desh – 2.8 stars Jagga Jasoos – 2.7 stars Dear Maya – 2.5 stars Meri Pyaari Bindu – 2.5 stars Noor – 2.5 stars Ok Jaanu – 2.5 stars Naam Shabana - 2.5 stars Phillauri – 2.4 stars Running Shaadi – 2.4 stars Indu Sarkar – 2.3 stars Tubelight – 2.3 stars Shab – 2.3 stars Mirror Game Ab Khel Shuru – 2.3 stars Maatr – 2.3 stars Behen Hogi Teri – 2.2 stars Dobaara See Your Evil – 2.1 stars Commando 2 – 2 stars Irada – 2 stars Raabta – 2 stars Half Girlfriend – 1.9 stars Sarkar 3 – 1.9 stars Mona Darling – 1.9 stars Kung-Fu Yoga – 1.9 stars Munna Michael – 1.8 stars Bank Chor – 1.7 stars Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana – 1.6 stars Coffee With D – 1.5 stars Guest In London – 1.4 stars Machine – 1 stars Aagaya Hero – 1 stars Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha – 1 stars

Mubarakan has received good reviews from critics for a comedy film. The average rating from 17 reviews that we have compiled so far is 3 stars. [mks_button size=”medium” title=”Average Rating of All ‘Mubarakan ‘ Review – 2.9 stars” style=”rounded” bg_color=”#1e73be” txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=””] Mubarakan Review by Indicine Rating: Mubarakan is one of those films that entertains from start to finish, a ‘paisa vasool’ entertainer of a dysfunctional Punjabi family. It doesn’t get into slapstick zone, the funny scenes haven’t been forced into the screenplay to make the audience laugh. Instead, what we get is a bunch of actors who excel with their comic timing and situations that will have the audience in splits. The first half is excellent, Anees Bazmee is in top-form, as good as he was in films like ‘Welcome’ and ‘No Entry’. Things begin to slow down in the second half and as the drama takes over from the comedy, the film gets more predictable. But ‘Mubarakan’ does end well. Mubarakan Review by Bollywood Hungama Rating: MUBARAKAN doesn’t have a proper commencement. Too much information is fed to the viewers in the first ten minutes. The introduction of characters is done haphazardly and even the jokes at this point aren’t that funny. However, the fun begins in the sequence where Charan goes to Binkle’s mansion for arranged marriage talks and hell breaks loose. From here, the film goes on a high and boasts of several funny and dramatic sequences. The intermission point arrives at a great point. Shockingly, the film goes downhill in second half. The film ceases to be funny and gets stretched. The film picks up in the climax and the film thankfully ends on a good note. Mubarakan Review by Meena Iyer on The Times Of India Rating: Giving away too much will spoil the fun that you’re meant to have watching this. So you just have to go through this garrulous, laugh-out-loud affair with the usual patience and perhaps even some perseverance that you usually reserve for Bollywood comedies such as this one. Anil is the scene-stealer with his half Brit-half Punjabi act lifting the film throughout. Arjun’s double-act allows for some smiles and the girls, Ileana, Athiya and Neha are easy on the eye, though they’re just decorative set-pieces. Ratna and Pavan add weightage with their stellar acts, though Pavan should have kept it down in the dramatic portions, where he is much too loud. Mubarakan Review by Vishal Verma on Glamsham Rating: Adding more will spoil the fun but one thing is sure, MUBARAKAN is a WELCOME clean family entertainer. Anees Bazmee brilliantly rounds this up well into a colorful, happy laughathon showcasing the Chacha Bhatija duo – Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor in ‘jhakaas’ form. The tactics and antics of Anil Kapoor in this film to solve problems by his weird inspirations from things happening around is a cracker. Anees Bazmee is spot on right from the word go in this rib tickler and manages to chip in a ‘family’ message in this entertainer which gives a deja vu of his previous directorial venture READY during the climax. The second half looses the steam in between and drags a bit but nevertheless the superlative performances and enough LOL (Laugh out Loud) moments makes MUBARAKA a fun filled enjoyable shudh desi Indian laughter shot in sadda Punjab and London. Review by Rohit Vats on Hindustan Times Rating: Mubarakan is designed as a family film where comedy is generated through quarrelling relatives. This works initially but goes out of control later. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be entertained. You’ll be occasionally laughing, but probably won’t be leaving the theatre with a big smile on your face. Review by Manju Ramanan on Masala Rating: The second half of the film drags a bit, though it has some lighter moments. If you look for progressive thought in the film such as how families still dominate their children’s choice of a partner, how religion and prejudices in parent’s generation are imposed on their kids’ choices in a partner, then you are barking up the wrong tree. But if you brush that aside and judge it purely as a comedy, you‘ll laugh at izzat ka falooda … Review by Tushar Joshi on DNA India Rating: The humour in Mubarakan does take a bit of time to set in. Don’t go expecting the gags and jokes to come early on. Bazmee takes time to establish the emotional connect between the characters giving us their back stories before beginning the fireworks. The Punjabi songs are many and while they will appeal to the North, the soundtrack could have had more Hindi tracks. The climax of Mubarakan has a speech and while it is imperative to the storyline it did seem a bit gimmicky. Mubarakan is the cleanest entertainer and deserves to be watched for its high entertainment value. Review by Jaidev Hemmady on Movietalkies Rating: As for the film itself, Mubarakan may not be as good as Bazmee’s No Entry or Welcome, but it does manage to provide wholesome entertainment for the entire family. The comedy is clean, the gags are laughable, the characters are crazy and the plot is well written. Bazmee deserves credit for coming up with yet another whacky plot with misunderstandings galore that will have you chuckling in your seats. Though there are parts, which stretch unnecessarily, you are ready to forgive the makers for it as Anil Kapoor compensates for it with his presence. I have been a big fan of Anil’s sense of humour and his comic timing and the Mr. India doesn’t disappoint one bit in this film. Review by Prasanna D Zore on Rediff Rating: Arjun Kapoor, who doubles up as Karan (the smart guy) and Charan (the duffer), proves a point with this madcap. This is Arjun Kapoor’s second double role after Aurangzeb, and he rocks. Anil Kapoor, the bumbling, ideas-generating Kartar Singh Bajwa, who plays Karan’s mamu and Charan’s chachu, adds heft and charm whenever the film’s pace dulls down, which is like the first 10-15 minutes. Ileana D’cruz is coming into her own in comedy films and while Mubarakan gives her a solid platform, she doesn’t let her fans down. As Sweety, the hot-headed Sardarni, D’Cruz looks like a million bucks too. Athiya Shetty’s Binkle is hardly there in the first half of the film and when she does get a chance in the latter half, she too walks into your hearts with ease. Review by Manisha Lakhe on Nowrunning Rating: The great Indian family values, the tradition of engagements and weddings are played to the gilt. Which means you will wince more than a couple of times at the sheer volume of background music and yelling of the dialog. But the director uses everyday things – like Pavan Malhotra gargling loudly in disapproval in a scene – rather well. It annoys me to see that the director has not given up on his penchant for showing ‘white’ people as domestic help in Indian households, and making white actors speak Punjabi for cheap laughs. Anil Kapoor is simply fabulous, and you cannot miss the mad, high energy performance of the man. Watch! Review by Rohit bhatnagar on Deccan Chronicle Rating: Overall, Mubarakan is a happy film which is meant for your entire family. The film will surely get back the era of clean family entertainers. Don’t expect much from the plot, but it is a decent watch this weekend. Review by Kunal Guha on Mumbai Mirror Rating: How many Arjun Kapoors are required to crack a comedy? Based on this film, clearly not enough. While his approach to comedy could be equated to Aftab Shivdasani’s to espionage thrillers, in this double role, he splits the atom and is equally unbearable in both avatars (the unnecessarily giggly and the perennially-hesitant-because-shy). But if you watch this film, it has to be for Anil Kapoor who, despite armed with below-average writing, lends some dignity to his outlandish Kartar Singh. Both Ratna Pathak Shah and Pavan Malhotra deliver the emotionally-charged scenes with the reserve of veterans and deliver on the job. While female cast members in such films are reduced to dispensable props, Ileana D’Cruz holds her ground and dazzles each time she’s on screen. If Athiya Shetty were ever to be included in Madame Tussauds, it is likely that her wax impression would be more animated than her. Furnishing a range of blank stares, Shetty is the least impressive from a cast which also includes Neha Sharma and Arjun Kapoor. Review by Suhani Singh on India Today Rating: Mubarakan only prolongs the inevitable, with the sole source of humour being Kartar Singh generate inane solutions and then see things fall apart repeatedly. The film best works when it is ingeniously silly such as the random mannequin in the back of Kartar Singh’s Hummer or when he spots an angel loitering in his garden as he talks to his brother’s ghost. A mobile hawker named Izzat ka Falooda takes the cake though. Less tone-deaf humour, more quirks, a shorter running time and a more able younger cast and Mubarakan could have been more delightful.   Review by Saibal Chatterjee on NDTVMovies Rating: The rigmarole is enjoyable up to a point but once the idiocy quotient peaks, the overlong Mubarakan goes somewhat haywire. Yet, if it isn’t as insufferable as other average Bollywood romantic comedies, a part of the credit goes to the actors. Anil Kapoor, who is as irrepressible as ever, lends some lustre to the proceedings with his impressive energy levels and funny one-liners. Arjun Kapoor is far less consistent in his double role, but he does strike a few purple patches along the way, demonstrating a comic flair that cries out for a better film than this one. The script gives Athiya Shetty the rough end of the stick. Her character, as Kartar says at one point, is like a tennis ball being lobbed back and forth between Charan’s side of the court and Karan’s without being allowed any agency of her own. Mubarakan, however, gives Ileana D’Cruz far more space and she makes the most of the opportunity. Review by Rashma Shetty Bali on Bollywood Life Rating: The pace does take its time to pick up early on and the humour gets repetitive in some portions. Also, Athiya’s track seems underwhelming. Neha Sharma and Karan Kundra have important roles but little screen time. Bazmee manages to raise the tempo in the second half only to lead us to a seemingly dull climax. Mubarkan also has too many songs that could have done with some better editing. Mubarakan is one of the most entertaining films of 2017. Arjun Kapoor’s double role act and Anees Bazmee’s superb direction make it a total paisa vasool experience. Review by Letty Mariam Abraham on Mid-Day India Rating: The first half of the film keeps the momentum and comic elements to the maximum. Somehow, it dips a little in the second half only to be lifted by Arjun’s final line. The music, while not so outstanding goes hand in hand with the film and will easily work for parties. There is a bit of rona-dhona too, but no family entertainer is complete without that, right? The best part is that Anees doesn’t exploit the ‘twin-angle’ like most twin character films. Playing double role, Arjun has done a fantastic job; he doesn’t leave his loud character as Karan and maintains the sober and calm persona as Charan throughout the film. The only time you see the actor slipping from the character is when they get on the dance floor. Without doubt and as expected, Anil Kapoor steals everyone’s thunder with his performance. He keeps the entertainment quotient going. Ileana D’Cruz tries hard to fit into the ‘Punjab Ki Sikhni’ character, but is not that effective, while Athiya Shetty as the shy and demure bride-to-be is almost non-existent. It would be unfair to not mention Ratna Pathak Shah and Pavan Malhotra, who keep the story running with their talent as experienced actors. Review by Raghav Jaitly on Zeenews Rating: The film is definitely high on humour. But, the comedy spills and bits and pieces. You will surely feel that there is a lack of consistency from the director. However, when the homour strikes, it is powerful enough to make you forget everything and leave you in splits. In the first-half of the movie, Arjun tries to flaunt Punjabi and firangi swag by portraying two different characters. Sadly, somewhere down the line, you will start feeling that the 32-year-old star is trying too hard and failing to yield the results. Review by Rajeev Masand on News18 Rating: In the end the film is the same old comedy of errors that we’ve seen so many times before. Anil Kapoor is the secret sauce of Mubarakan whose incredible timing uplifts many a dull patch. But the film is unmistakably indulgent and over-long and could’ve done with some serious pruning. Right now it works only in fits and starts. You’ll laugh, but not throughout. Let’s just say it falls somewhere in the middle on a scale of Ready to No Entry. Mubarakan Review by Indiaglitz Rating: The finale is decent but should have more funny elements attached to it.The humour dries out in the middle portions, but tries to make it up in the later part of the film. Arjun-Neha-Athiya track starts on the right note, but fails to enhance. It’s a bit cluttered and unconvincing. Due to the weak writing of this part, the track of Arjun Kapoor gets diluted. Some of the characters in the film are super loud. Music has to be fantastic or peppy in such kind of films. It’s just that couple of tracks are not up to the mark and the finale should have been more entertaining. Neha Sharma, Rahul Dev, Karan Kundra are wasted. Review by Subhash K Jha on Bollyspice Rating: The writing is brisk, brusque. and innovative, though the film needed to be at least half an hour shorter. On the plus side, the cinematography (Himman Dhamija) and the background score (Amar Mohile) are super-slick and appealing. Anees keeps the humour completely free of sleaze. And that’s no mean achievement. Review by Meeta on Wogma Rating: The performances were in line with whatever is expected from this genre of Hindi films – loud and over-the-top. I was pleasantly surprised that Ratna Pathak Shah could have some grace because her character wasn’t completely caricatured. Same goes for the actor who plays Pawan Malhotra’s wife. So, except for the slight improvement in story, the genre goes on with the rest. Thankfully, It doesn’t have the slapstick that we have come to expect. The song and dance aren’t that upbeat. I am not sure then why even someone who likes the genre would watch this one. Me? My worries take me into the future. Best Rated Films in 2017 Sachin A Billion Dreams – 3.7 stars Baahubali 2 – 3.5 stars Lipstick Under My Burkha – 3.5 stars Anaarkali of Aarah – 3.4 stars Trapped – 3.4 stars Mom – 3.2 stars Hindi Medium – 3.2 stars Jolly LLB 2 – 3.2 stars Poorna – 3.2 stars Kaabil – 3.2 stars Rangoon – 3.1 stars Badrinath Ki Dulhania – 3 stars Haraamkhor – 3 stars The Ghazi Attack – 2.9 stars Raees – 2.9 stars Jagga Jasoos – 2.7 stars Dear Maya – 2.5 stars Meri Pyaari Bindu – 2.5 stars Noor – 2.5 stars Ok Jaanu – 2.5 stars Naam Shabana - 2.5 stars Phillauri – 2.4 stars Running Shaadi – 2.4 stars Tubelight – 2.3 stars Shab – 2.3 stars Mirror Game Ab Khel Shuru – 2.3 stars Maatr – 2.3 stars Behen Hogi Teri – 2.2 stars Dobaara See Your Evil – 2.1 stars Commando 2 – 2 stars Irada – 2 stars Raabta – 2 stars Half Girlfriend – 1.9 stars Sarkar 3 – 1.9 stars Mona Darling – 1.9 stars Kung-Fu Yoga – 1.9 stars Munna Michael – 1.8 stars Bank Chor – 1.7 stars Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana – 1.6 stars Coffee With D – 1.5 stars Guest In London – 1.4 stars Machine – 1 stars Aagaya Hero – 1 stars Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha – 1 stars

[mks_button size=”medium” title=”Average Rating of All ‘Raag Desh ‘ Review – 2.8 stars” style=”rounded” bg_color=”#1e73be” txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=””] Raag Desh Review by Nihit Bhave on The Times Of India Rating: Writer-Director Tigmanshu Dhulia has chosen to narrate an incredibly interesting anecdote from our freedom struggle. The hard work of his four-member research team and two-member writing team is evident, even if the movie feels similar to 1992’s A Few Good Men in treatment. Whether the story needed to be told in a non-linear fashion is debatable, but it mostly gets the point across. In a lot of ways, it educates you about the socio-political climate of the time. However, its educational quality is its bane. Raag Desh Review by Rohit Vats on Hindustan Times Rating: What matters is Amit Sadh resurfaces as an able actor after a long time. Kunal Kapoor’s matured take on the life of Shah Nawaz Khan is another plus of Raag Desh. Mohit Marwah also holds his ground and infuses seriousness into the film. There is a strange thing about patriotic films. You know what’s going to happen, but your eyes still get moist when it happens. The same will happen to you as well when Kadam Kadam Badhaaye Jaa will play on the screen. This 137-minute soldier versus traitor story is totally worth your time. Review by Shubhra Gupta on Indian Express Rating: When the subject itself is still so charged and propulsive, and the director is Tigmanshu Dhulia who has such an acute sense of place and context, you expect a great tango of both story and substance from Raag Desh. Review by Rohit Bhatnagar on Deccan Chronicle Rating: Raag Desh is an average film with an untold factual story. The film could have been much better plus in the era of commercial films, Raag Desh is a niche in its own genre. If you are still patriotic to watch such a film in 2017, then Raag Desh isn’t a bad watch. Review by Gaurang Chauhan on Bollywood Life Rating: Despite the brilliant performances, detailing and casting, the film suffers due to its slow pacing, especially in the second half and the implementation of few scenes. Also I am a fan of non-linear story-telling but here it often confuses rather than leaving you intrigued or amused. If you are an impatient kind, you might lose the track in the first 20 minutes itself. The subplots were mostly uncalled for, especially the one featuring a half baked romance between Prem and Laxmi. Also despite its apt detailing the film lags behind other films in the same genre be it The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Rang De Basanti etc and that’s because it isn’t as engaging as those films were. The film might also feel like a boring history lesson for those who are of an impatient nature. Review by Saibal Chatterjee on NDTVMovies Rating: Raag Desh blends details drawn from extensive research and some amount of fiction to rustle up a narrative that has enough drama to keep the audience engaged through its run time of two and a quarter hours. It isn’t quite your average edge-of-the-seat thriller, but it abounds in scenes that hit home with their inherent intensity and emotional resonance. Given the increasingly fractious times that we live in and the cynical political manipulations that are currently afoot, one has no reservations in recommending Raag Desh as the film to watch ahead of all the other Bollywood releases of the week. Review by Sameeksha on News18 Rating: Raag Desh doesn’t meet the requirements of the historical epic in terms of its production values, pace, and entertainment, but does give the genre’s basic requirement of historical information dipped in nationalist sentiments, from top to bottom. Dhulia initially wanted to show the story as a 6 part TV series, and it would’ve been better if he had followed that plan instead of crystallising everything within 2:30 hours. The facts crumple upon the plot and the unnecessary humanising of the three ‘bravehearts’ just bring the pace and temperament of the film down. Review by Manisha Lakhe on Nowrunning Rating: The actors, Kunal Kapoor, Amit Sadh and Mohit Marwah as the three officers on trial do a great job, and Mrudula Murali as Captain Laxmi of the INA has a small role but deserves a film of her own. The war scenes are very poorly shot, especially with Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk still playing in the theatres, but they serve to show in what difficult situations the INA fought. It is the trial that is close to brilliant, because the casting of the lawyer is. Actor Kenny Desai makes for an uncanny Bhulabhai Desai who fought the case as a defense counsel. The writing is brilliant and even though the scenes between families and the three officers is too much like a TV soap, one supposes that these are stories that need to be told. It is a no frills courtroom drama that keeps your attention. If only Indian films could do away with patriotic songs… Review by Kunal Guha on Mumbai Mirror Rating: Director Tigmanshu Dhulia deserves credit for blending this war-courtroom-thriller with just a smattering of romance, without distracting one from the proceedings. The war sequences could’ve been shot more cinematically and barring a pan or two over motionless remains (which urges one to ponder over the futility of battle), this one barely captures the repercussions of organised conquest. Review by Vishal Verma on Glamsham Rating: Performances are of top orders. Kunal Kapoor is very natural in his angst, torn between love for motherland and object of rejection from his brother who is serving the British army, Kunal gives an absorbing performance. Amit Sadh is a revelation as the Sikh diehard and does leaves a good impact. Mohit Marwah impresses and gives a controlled performance. Kenneth Desai as Bhula Bhai is excellent. Nehru (Rajesh Khera) chips in with adequate support. Judge Sehgal (Kanwaljeet Singh) father of Prem Sehgal is marvelous. Kenny Basumatary as Bose is terrific. Mrudula Murali (Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan) is charming. Review by Jaidev Hemmady on Movietalkies Rating: There is no doubt that Dhulia made this film with noble intentions, but the execution could definitely have been better. The poster and the trailer of the film seemed to suggest that Raag Desh is a thrilling courtroom drama, but the film ends up veering in all possible directions, making it quite taxing to maintain your interest. Review by Mayank Shekhar on Mid-Day India Rating: Must, and will. In fact it makes an even stronger case for similar retellings. Keen observers might recall that it was HBO’s brilliant war-series ‘Band of Brothers’ (2001) that instantly led to the rebirth of American television. Look at where American television is now. ‘Raag Desh’ totally deserved that same kind of stellar, multi-part treatment. It’s got everything going for it. For now, big-screen cinema will do, I guess. Review by Sreehari Nair on Rediff Rating: One goes to the movies to be surprised, to feel something fresh, to sense a new spirit and Raag Desh is infused with that new spirit. Its real daring though is that it never plays up things it is doing new. And when it tries and fails, it still is a noble failure. This is one of the best Hindi films of the year. Raag Desh Review by Indiaglitz Rating: The second half should have been crispier as out here it’s dragging and boring at times. This movie would have been a great short film as out here it’s been stretched to the fullest due to which the impact in the main scenes lacks the required impact. Though, at one point the movie sounds to be preachy as well as full of repetitive scenes. Tigmanshu has a right kind of film but fails to present it right manner. There are few goose bumps type of scenes which manages to keep you highly patriotic while in case of several others the impact gets totally diluted. Zakir Hussain and others are wasted. Review by Meeta on Wogma Rating: Which is why the three actors, Kunal Kapoor, Mohit Marwah, and Amit Sadh don’t have a huge role to play. They are intense in their war scenes and they are intense in their court room scenes. In fact, their entire act reminded me a lot of A Few Good Men The only actor who stands out is Desai playing Desai. The rest of the actors especially the ones in which the politicians gather are theatrical. Yet again, Raag Desh falls in the category of films that I’d much rather be disappointed in than not watch it at all. And Raag Desh is not a complete disappointment because of the core story and the part it plays in our independence. Review by IANS on Zeenews Rating: The film expectedly boasts of good production values and takes you into that period effortlessly. Cinematographer Rishi Punjabi captures the war scenes through his lens with exactness and succeeds in repulsing the viewer with the raw bloodshed and gore. The music helps in creating the mood and ‘Hawaaon mein woh aag hai’ is soulful, and of course ‘Kadam kadam badhaye ja’ is skilfully used to stir patriotism. Overall, this film although well-made, fails to evoke patriotism and obviously does not even attempt to entertain. Best Rated Films in 2017 Sachin A Billion Dreams – 3.7 stars Baahubali 2 – 3.5 stars Lipstick Under My Burkha – 3.5 stars Anaarkali of Aarah – 3.4 stars Trapped – 3.4 stars Mom – 3.2 stars Hindi Medium – 3.2 stars Jolly LLB 2 – 3.2 stars Poorna – 3.2 stars Kaabil – 3.2 stars Rangoon – 3.1 stars Badrinath Ki Dulhania – 3 stars Haraamkhor – 3 stars The Ghazi Attack – 2.9 stars Raees – 2.9 stars Jagga Jasoos – 2.7 stars Dear Maya – 2.5 stars Meri Pyaari Bindu – 2.5 stars Noor – 2.5 stars Ok Jaanu – 2.5 stars Naam Shabana - 2.5 stars Phillauri – 2.4 stars Running Shaadi – 2.4 stars Tubelight – 2.3 stars Shab – 2.3 stars Mirror Game Ab Khel Shuru – 2.3 stars Maatr – 2.3 stars Behen Hogi Teri – 2.2 stars Dobaara See Your Evil – 2.1 stars Commando 2 – 2 stars Irada – 2 stars Raabta – 2 stars Half Girlfriend – 1.9 stars Sarkar 3 – 1.9 stars Mona Darling – 1.9 stars Kung-Fu Yoga – 1.9 stars Munna Michael – 1.8 stars Bank Chor – 1.7 stars Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana – 1.6 stars Coffee With D – 1.5 stars Guest In London – 1.4 stars Machine – 1 stars Aagaya Hero – 1 stars Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha – 1 stars

Madhur Bhandarkar’s Indu Sarkar has received mixed reviews from critics, which was expected due to the political nature of the film. The film has scored 2.3 stars from the 10 reviews that we have compiled so far. [mks_button size=”medium” title=”Average Rating of All ‘Indu Sarkar ‘ Review – 2.3 stars” style=”rounded” bg_color=”#1e73be” txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=””] Indu Sarkar Review by Bollywood Hungama Rating: Anil Pandey and Madhur Bhandarkar’s story packs in too much in the film and at times one loses track of the ongoings. There are references to Jaiprakash and a sequence about RSS members’ arrests but it doesn’t add much to the story. Screenplay (Anil Pandey, Madhur Bhandarkar) should have been crisper and also braver for a better impact. Sanjay Chhel’s dialogues are sharp and the poems mouthed by Indu are well worded. Indu Sarkar Review by Shubhra Gupta on Indian Express Rating: A better film could have unpacked the horrors better. Indu Sarkar doesn’t break fresh ground, even as it does bring alive some of the most disturbing aspects of the time. And we relive it, even as we cringe at the heavy melodrama, and the over-simplification of many of the issues the film raises. Indu Sarkar Review by Saibal Chatterjee on NDTVMovies Rating: Bollywood has never been great with political cinema. Even by those lax standards, Indu Sarkar is the pits. It is high on dramatic flourish, low on impact. So insipid is the 139-minute film, it leaves you wondering why on earth it has seen the light of day unless you deign to consider the political purpose that it serves in the current political scenario. It’s hard to find a purely cinematic reason for its existence. Indu Sarkar Review by Nihit Bhave on The Times Of India Rating: Indu Sarkar is at its best when it focuses on its protagonist’s emotional struggles and dilemmas, leaving the politics behind. Indu and Navin’s story by itself is far more palatable than the elaborate political schemes surrounding them. Kirti Kulhari shoulders the responsibility of the central role with a lot of earnestness and keeps you interested. Tota Roy Chowdhury makes for a good foil to Indu. Review by Sweta Kaushal on Hindustan Times Rating: Despite having gathered a group of critically appreciated actors, Madhur Bhandarkar fails to make the best use of them. Neil Nitin Mukesh is one of the most wasted talents in the movie. He has given some of his best performances as a mean, high-on-power person but his act as “chief” in Indu Sarkar appears too superficial. Anupam Kher and Kriti Kulhari take the lead in acting department and stay true to their characters for most of the part. The supporting casts including Sheeba Chaddha, Ankur Vikal and Zakir Hussain, among others appear genuine in their roles. Review by Ankita Chaurasia on Bollywood Life Rating: Indu Sarkar is an account of, what was touted in the film to be, India’s second freedom struggle. After a steady dose of pre-independence stories, it is indeed refreshing to see the struggles that plagued a recently free India. Madhur Bhandarkar is back to doing what he does best – sketch immensely powerful female characters. If you have a taste for political dramas, Indu Sarkar will surely engage you. But even if you are not a fan of the genre, you must watch it for Kirti’s stupendous performance, if nothing else. Review by Manisha Lakhe on Nowrunning Rating: The Intelligence Bureau monitoring rebels, the police atrocities on citizens is done so badly, you wonder if the director is a newbie. It is very obvious that the research was superfluous and the the film was made in order to earn brownie points with the current government. Just creating a documentary of the evil that was emergency would have been a thousand times more powerful than this disappointing drama. Review by Pallabi Dey Purkayastha on Deccan Chronicle Rating: Neil Nitin Mukesh, as the cold-hearted political tyrant, fits right in and brownie points for his mannerisms. The flip of the hair, those aptly timed hand gestures, the deathly stares; it all heightens the drama, making you simmer with anger. Purpose served! If you are not a hyper-nationalist or an ardent fan of pressure groups, if you cannot tolerate apartheid in the name of politics, regardless of which party you support, this Madhur Bhandarkar scrapbook straight from the 1970s is for you. Review by Ananya Bhattacharya on India Today Rating: It doesn’t take long for the viewer to lose interest in Indu Sarkar. If the person making the film and the ones acting in it are so lazily doing their jobs, there’s not much you can expect from the viewer, right? Indu Sarkar is filled to the brim with dialogues that are straight out of a 70s’ potboiler, flat characters that are straight out of a bad 70s’ potboiler, and a story that is anything but befitting of India’s darkest hour post Independence. Madhur Bhandarkar makes his Indu Sarkar less tolerable than even the Indu Sarkar of 1975-77, probably. What Bhandarkar promised was a ‘gritty Emergency drama’. Sadly, it can only serve as a jar of Valium for the sleep-deprived. We need a lot more films on the Emergency. But not at the cost of content and execution, please. Review by Sreehari Nair on Rediff Rating: Indu Sarkar opens with the declaration of Emergency but its true beginning-point is a disclaimer proclaiming it as a work of fiction bearing nothing more than a chance resemblance to people, places, and events. I found that disclaimer to be less of a mandatory insert and more an apology for the film’s artlessness. Review by Rajeev Masand on News18 Rating: To be honest, there is very little in this film that anyone with even a cursory knowledge of Indian history might be unfamiliar with. From the mass sterilization campaign implemented at the time, to the Turkman Gate massacre, down to the muzzling of the press, everything has been extensively documented over the years. Which is not to say that Bhandarkar shouldn’t make a film about the Emergency. The problem is, the film’s uneven tone makes it hard to take any of it too seriously. The caricaturish portrayal of key figures, especially Neil Nitin Mukesh’s all-out-villain approach to playing Sanjay Gandhi makes this feel like an old-school Bollywood movie instead of a sharp political drama. Doesn’t help that he’s made to deliver punchlines instead of dialogue. “Sarkaren challenge se nahin, chabuk se chalti hain.” Cringe. Review by Mayank Shekhar on Mid-Day India Rating: While high on obvious propaganda, low on aesthetics, where Bhandarkar does well is to show the deep disdain the Indian state has for activists, its excessive censorship, the complete lack of an opposition in politics, and a relentless public campaign through events to suggest all’s well, when it’s really not. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? We’ve clearly been through this before. Could we go through it again? Who knows? Ha, going through this movie is but another matter, my friend. Review by Kunal Guha on Mumbai Mirror Rating: That Bhandarkar excels in the single-minded ‘reality bites’ genre of cinema but has failed to impress with rom-coms (Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji) or crime thrillers (Aan: Men at Work), made this political drama a rather risky proposition. Apart from his myopic and shallow take on the blotch in Indian history when the world’s largest democracy resembled a dictatorship, his propaganda treatment to the material is objectionable. But what is more deplorable is his audacity to underestimate the audiences’ intellect. To paint a country’s leader by decisions taken is one thing, but to go ahead and draw a parallel with Hitler leaves little to the imagination. Indu Sarkar Review by Indiaglitz Rating: The second half of the film goes on a dragging mode with repetitive scenes and less detailing of political happenings related to Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi. There should have been more detailing in these parts of the film. Sadly, the censorship and political issues dilute the intensity of the film due to which the movie ends up being an above average type of film. If only this ace director would have got his free hand, the impact of ‘Indu Sarkar’ would have been mind-blowing. Tota Roy Chowdhury is good in some scenes while in others overacts. Review by Vishal Verma on Glamsham Rating: INDU SARKAR has its share of highs. The title that serves as a perfect metaphor, Kirti Kulhari performs amazingly as Indu. Neil Nitin Mukesh comes strong as the dominant Sanjay Gandhi and his styling of the late controversial leader is pitched perfect. Review by Subhash K Jha on Bollyspice Rating: Indu Sarkar is not to be missed for Kirti’s superlative performance. And also because it serves as ravishing reminder of the mistakes from the past that threaten to impinge on the present. Review by IANS on Zeenews Rating: The film, mounted as a realistic drama, offers the grit and effervescence of the period. The sepia tone frames and the crabby background score all add to the aura. The qawalli, though unwarranted, breaks the momentum of the seriousness of the subject, thus making you realise that this is only fiction. Kirti Kulhari is a natural performer and as the eponymous character Indu, she is excellent. She effortlessly renders her character of a stammering young lady who is soft at heart yet hard during tough moments. Review by Meeta on Wogma Rating: Thankfully, dialogue does interrupt the long pauses. But the relief is only brief because the lines are either too filmy, repetitive or are to spoon-feed the audience. For instance, showing an elderly man and a little boy being taken in for sterilization is not enough, their ages are actually called out. Or the comparison of a goddess with the reigning lady prime minister in a poem is actually explained. In that sense, the writers are smart. But they don’t want to risk it going unnoticed thus making their effort counter-productive. As for the repetition, I never understand it when films show the planning of an event and its execution in great detail or when it shows the event and then a character recall the entire thing. Just in case you are wondering, Indu Sarkar is guilty of both. Review by Joginder Tuteja on Movietalkies Rating: The film too is meaty especially when it gets into the details of the emergency. Though one does get a feeling that at places Madhur Bhandarkar has held himself a bit from going all the way in terms of exposing the depth of the emergency era, you are still excited enough to see some of the key chapters of the times gone by. Best Rated Films in 2017 Sachin A Billion Dreams – 3.7 stars Baahubali 2 – 3.5 stars Lipstick Under My Burkha – 3.5 stars Anaarkali of Aarah – 3.4 stars Trapped – 3.4 stars Mom – 3.2 stars Hindi Medium – 3.2 stars Jolly LLB 2 – 3.2 stars Poorna – 3.2 stars Kaabil – 3.2 stars Rangoon – 3.1 stars Badrinath Ki Dulhania – 3 stars Haraamkhor – 3 stars The Ghazi Attack – 2.9 stars Raees – 2.9 stars Jagga Jasoos – 2.7 stars Dear Maya – 2.5 stars Meri Pyaari Bindu – 2.5 stars Noor – 2.5 stars Ok Jaanu – 2.5 stars Naam Shabana - 2.5 stars Phillauri – 2.4 stars Running Shaadi – 2.4 stars Tubelight – 2.3 stars Shab – 2.3 stars Mirror Game Ab Khel Shuru – 2.3 stars Maatr – 2.3 stars Behen Hogi Teri – 2.2 stars Dobaara See Your Evil – 2.1 stars Commando 2 – 2 stars Irada – 2 stars Raabta – 2 stars Half Girlfriend – 1.9 stars Sarkar 3 – 1.9 stars Mona Darling – 1.9 stars Kung-Fu Yoga – 1.9 stars Munna Michael – 1.8 stars Bank Chor – 1.7 stars Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana – 1.6 stars Coffee With D – 1.5 stars Guest In London – 1.4 stars Machine – 1 stars Aagaya Hero – 1 stars Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha – 1 stars

There’s nothing like a good comedy film, something the Hindi audience hasn’t been treated to in a very long...