bvnisarga Reviews

Sita Ramam (2022)

A love story for the ages.

[9/10 · 14 September 2022]

Dulquer Salman captures your heart as Ram and refuses to let it go, Mrunal Thakur is lovely as Sita and intrigues you with her eyes.

Ram and Sita's romance is lively and lovely with an innocence and charm which is hard to find. Ram and Sita are just magic together.

The screenplay hooks you in with it's non-linear narrative,The songs are beautiful, the cinematography stunning and the dialogues are charming.

The story will take you on an emotional roller-coaster (cliche I know).

My heart is full after watching this movie, it made me happy and yet feel wretched at the same time.

It truly is a love story for the ages.

Brahmastra Part One: Shiva (2022)

Massively frustrating

[5/10 · 11 September 2022]

This is classic case of 'What I Expected vs What I got'. The massive difference between the two led to a frustrating experience.

I was promised a new universe, Fantasy, 'Astras' and great VFX. What I actually got was a Teenage romance ( written by and for a love struck teenager), cringe dialogues and a clunky screenplay. There is little to no world-building and numerous plotholes.

The screenplay is heavily dominated by this 'Pink tinted romance' so much so that the 'Astras' or the 'Astraverse' gets sidelined.

The fate of the world depends on Shiva but the director doesn't give us anything to root for, we don't get any relevant information to actually care about Shiva or the others. Basically the stakes were so 'meh' that I actually didn't care if the world had actually ended ( We would have been spared part 2) It was a disappointment and I feel so frustrated as I kept an open mind and gave this movie a fair chance only to get trolled massively.

K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022)

All hail the MONSTER, ROCKY!!!!!

[10/10 · 21 April 2022]

What a roller-coaster of a movie, with emotional highs and lows interspersed with amazing action pieces. What holds this mix of emotion and action is Rocky, his madness and determination drive the story and hats off to Yash who pulls it off with such flair. A blockbuster in every sense of the word, A monster which will only grow bigger.

Game Over (I) (2019)

An 'A' for Originality and Effort!

[7/10 · 20 June 2019]

Game Over is one of the most original films of 2019, with a lot of interesting concepts which the story explores. The first half is truly chilling with real phenomena such as anniversary reactions and memory tattoos, and it sets up the premise nicely for 'The real Game' but the second half needs a lot of effort to understand, as the themes are so beyond the realm of reality. It takes a lot of effort from the viewer to believe the vision of the director. Tapsee Pannu is fantastic as always and her performance really powers the movie, as the vulnerable protagonist 'Sapna' her fear is real and it is truly affecting. Despite the far-fetchedness of the plot, the sheer vision of the writer and its originality makes it an interesting and entertaining watch.

Shaitaan Haveli (2018)

Hilarious and bingeworthy.

[8/10 · 4 April 2019]

The show parodies the horror movies of the 80's and does such a good job at it. It is cheesy and outrageous and a lot of fun. I watched it twice and enjoyed it immensely both times. It is an easy show to watch, perfect for binge-ing. I want a season 2.

Delhi Crime (2019– )

Harrowing and A renewed sense of respect.

[10/10 · 3 April 2019]

The show is a procedural drama and yet it feels like a documentary on the Delhi Police Force. The cops are real and the narrative style reflects that. There is no major drama, no high action chase sequences. They are just people who are trying their best in dire conditions. Although there is no gore or violence, the show is harrowing to watch. The crime in focus is inhuman and watching it being narrated by the perpetrators and the victim herself was unbearable. The makers treat it with the utmost honesty. After watching this show, I have a renewed sense of respect for the police officers.

Sex Education (2019–2023)

A must watch for all.

[9/10 · 3 April 2019]

A witty delightful show and oh so binge-able. It is funny and heartfelt and delivers completely on the 'education' part of sex education.

Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)

Intriguing characters let down by mundane plot

[6/10 · 19 March 2019]

A set of paintings which carry the vengeance and madness of the artist inflict the same upon those who are drawn to it. I love the premise, I love the world this movie is set in, I really liked these characters, they are pretentious and that is exactly what this movie needed. Now, coming to the 'Horror' part, the rules are unclear, there is no clear reason as to why a particular person gets killed, What is the motivation of the evil entity?? Therefore the 'horror' does not feel 'horrifying'. Which was a letdown as I was completely invested in the plot?

Captain Marvel (2019)

Apprehensions proved wrong

[8/10 · 18 March 2019]

I had my doubts about this movie from the moment the trailers dropped. It seemed nothing spectacular, which was a shame considering, she is the most powerful superhero in the MCU. But, my apprehensions proved wrong and I really enjoyed the movie. What makes it work despite its many flaws is Captain Marvel herself, she is an interesting protagonist and I sincerely hope they develop her persona more in the future movies of the MCU. I can't wait to see how she deals with Thanos in Endgame. I am all in now.

Aquaman (2018)

Expectations=Reality

[7/10 · 11 March 2019]

'Arthur goes on a journey of self-discovery to claim his rightful place as the true ruler of the seas'. This is what I expected and it is exactly what I got, So, I am not at all disappointed. It is a fun movie although a little pretentious at times.

Bodyguard (2018)

Smart. Slick. Edge of the seat thriller.

[9/10 · 11 March 2019]

Bodyguard is a show which offers exactly what one expected from it. A Smart, Slick, Edge of the seat thriller. There is a lot going on in the show and it is evenly distributed in its 6 episodes, there was not one dull moment and at the end of each episode, I kept wanting for more. PS David Budd is an intriguing protagonist, whose motivations and decisions will forever be a mystery. I couldn't figure him out at all, and that is a good thing.

Gully Boy (2019)

All Hail the Consummate Actor i.e Ranveer Singh!!!

[10/10 · 7 March 2019]

'Gully Boy' is a movie which will last for the ages, it is going to be a cult classic and its impact will be huge in the long run. I could just rave on and on about it, It is that good. Everyone in the movie is spectacular, it is a fantastic cast. Ranveer Singh is just spectacularly versatile, Alia Bhat is Fiery, Siddhant Chaturvedi is pure-awesome, Vijay Verma is brilliant and Vijay Raaz is magnificent. On the surface, it's a musical drama but it has so many layers that are revealed over the length of the movie. An inspiring underdog story, A refreshingly mature love story which is going to establish a lot of relationship goals, A rousing coming of age story, A mentor-student relationship unlike anything else, True friendships which last for life, Music which is fiercely independent (like a volcano which spits fire) and The central theme which resonates throughout the movie 'Apna Time Aayega'. Ranveer Singh is hands-down the soul of this movie, His 'Murad' is a protagonist that works relentlessly hard to beat all odds and achieve his dream. His story is inspiring and it made me root for him throughout the movie. I cannot describe just how moving his performance was. I was in pure awe of his versatility and talent throughout and just wanted to bow down to his talent. 'Murad's' journey aided by the powerful music, his voice, his friends, his family amd his love is so rousing that I was completely charged and was just brimming with a restless energy by the end, The final performance of 'Apna Time Aayega' was the perfect culmination, just perfect. Zoya Akhtar has created a one of a kind masterpiece with 'Gully Boy'. The movie is one indulgent experience, a perfect harmony of craft, execution and heart. The music, The writing, The direction and The cinematography (Mumbai has never been shown like this anywhere, it was just spectacular) just engulfed me. I loved every second of this movie even though it was on the longer side but I wouldn't want to change anything if I had the power to do so.

Barry (2018–2023)

AA dark comedy is the perfect stage for Bill Hader's acting skills.

[8/10 · 7 March 2019]

Let me start off by stating that I just love Bill Hader, I think he has incredible comedic sense and his facial expressions are the icing on the cake. In Barry, he is an assassin who finds his true calling in the theatre, he plays a terrific bad actor. The contrast between his work-self as a ruthless hitman and his personal-self as a good but awkward guy with a moral code is the highlight of the show for me. His conflict between these two modes creates a lot of the laughs and most of the tense moments as well. The makers have created something unique here, The show has a lot of potential that I would love to see explored.

Sharp Objects (2018)

Disturbing and Haunting.

[8/10 · 2 March 2019]

'Sharp Objects' is a haunting story which left me in a disturbed state, It is sinister and cruel with no ray of hope. It is set in a rural setting where prejudice and hierarchy are prominent. It is a murder mystery, a who-dun-it and yet so much more. It is a character study of the three women Camille, Adora and Amma. A look into small-town dynamics and an unflinching look at the damage parental abuse can cause.

Killing Eve (2018–2022)

Villanelle-O-Viillanelle

[9/10 · 2 March 2019]

Two brilliant women on opposite sides have an endless fascination with each other, which borders obsession. One a Spy, The other a master assassin. This fascination takes them on a whirlwind journey which eventually leads them to each other. The plot is a mere backdrop while the two women, Eve and Villanelle take the centre stage.

On the surface the show is a thriller but when goes in deep, it is a study of the psyche of the two women. What makes them the way they are? What is their motivation? What is their fascination? Their relationships and the people around them.

The show is called 'Killing Eve' as Eve is the primary protagonist and Sandra Oh plays Eve to perfection, capturing all of her quirks. The show ultimately belongs to Jodie Comer's 'Villanelle'. 'Villanelle' is a captivating psychopath and she lights up the screen. 'Villanelle' is a character for the ages, It is well written and brilliantly performed.

As the first season ended on a cliff hanger, I can't wait for the second season. I am excited at all the possibilities the story could go into but most importantly, there will be more of 'Villanelle'.

Yes, Prime Minister (1986–1987)

A worthy sequel of the Classic Satire

[8/10 · 2 March 2019]

Jim Hacker, now the PM still can't get things done his way to his absolute dismay. Sir Humphrey, now the Cabinet-Secretary expertly foils all of Jim's attempts. Bernard Wolley, the personal secretary is still stuck between the two, trying his best to be the voice of reason. The three protagonists are in the same deadlock but the problems get bigger as the territory gets bigger with Jim's position as the PM. Perhaps, This is the reason why Jim's plight is not as hilarious as it was when he was the Minister for Administrative Affairs. Despite that 'Yes, Prime Minister' is a worthy sequel of its predecessor. The humour is dry, the dialogues are witty, The three protagonists are charming as ever and the show, an insight into the functioning of a democratic government.

Yes Minister (1980–1984)

Accurate, Hilarious and Witty

[9/10 · 2 March 2019]

'Yes, Minister' is a satire which offers us a hilarious but completely accurate portrayal of the functioning of a democratic government. The show is hilarious and witty with some of the most epic punch-lines. The humour is most definitely British, Polite with just the right amount of sarcasm thrown in.

Jim Hacker is a first time minister, Who is naive and has no idea how the government actually works. Sir Humphrey is his Permanent under-secretary, He is shrewd and knows exactly how the government works. Bernard is the minister's personal secretary who is mostly torn between the two, He is the voice of the audience. The dynamic between Jim and Humphrey as they each attempt to get their own way is what makes this show engaging and quite frankly educational.

The show is relevant even today as the topics are the same. It made me question a lot of things like, Just how democratic is a democratic government? And, Who is actually running the country?.

Love, Simon (2018)

"Why does Straight, have to be the default?"

[10/10 · 25 February 2019]

I Loved, "Love, Simon". It is a refreshingly original sweet love story, an awesome coming-of-age story and a story of self-acceptance. I loved everything about this movie and I mean absolutely everything. It has an awesome cast, a fun soundtrack, a great story and an endearing fantastic performance by Nick Robinson.

Simon has a huge secret. He is burdened by this secret so much so, that he stops being himself. Even though he is surrounded by an amazing family and equally amazing friends. His struggle is more internal and any of us could relate to that. My heart went out to him, every time. When he starts to interact with 'Blue' as 'Jacques' his burden is somewhat relieved. They encourage each other to be free, to be brave and to have the courage to accept oneself. What started as two people with one thing in common transforms into love, which is frankly one of the most refreshingly innocent and endearing love stories I have come across. I was rooting for them all the way.

I loved the adults in this movie, From the teachers to the parents. They are all supportive and kind with no judgement what so ever. The two conversations he has with his parents made me cry. His mother's declaration of him being finally free and his father's heartfelt confession. They give him the courage to finally come out on his terms. How awesome is that??.

Simon's story starts out with a huge secret, he falls in love on the way and finds the courage to be himself. His story ends with him being himself and free, with a pretty sweet boyfriend and an awesome love story. Surrounded by his family and friends. It's a pretty inspiring story, isn't it??.

It is this inspiring story which makes this movie so awesome. Acceptance and love shouldn't have any discrimination. "Love yourself, be yourself and be free".

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

The Complete Cinematic Experience

[9/10 · 25 February 2019]

Where do I even start with this movie? It shattered all my expectations and totally blew my mind with its storytelling, unique background score and immersive visual style. It is not just a spiderman movie, not just an origin story and not just a coming-of-age story. It is all of the above, merged effortlessly to get a refreshingly original unique story. The movie is a true cinematic experience in every sense of the word, it is unlike anything else out there. It has definitely set the bar high, not only for animated movies but for movies in general.

A Simple Favor (2018)

Two Twisted women, One deliciously twisted movie

[7/10 · 25 February 2019]

Two women with secrets and those secrets create plenty of twists and turns which in turn gives us a deliciously twisted movie. Well paced and acted, I went in with certain expectations and it certainly fulfilled all of them.

Venom (2018)

I want more of this!!!!!!

[8/10 · 25 February 2019]

I had a lot of fun while watching this movie. Sure it's an origin story with the 'Hero' who must save the world and the 'Villain' with a mad quest for power. What makes it unique though is the hero is a down on his luck reporter symbolically bonded with a badass alien life form who just loves to bite people's heads off. What's not to love??? We get a crazy fun duo of Eddie and Venom who have this awesome dynamic, a massively entertaining movie, with plenty of PG-13 beheadings and a romance I am certainly rooting for. I loved it so much that I can't wait for the sequel. I want more!!!!!

Widows (2018)

Heist, this isn't

[7/10 · 23 February 2019]

I want to start off by saying that I had a lot of expectations from this movie. It had so much to root for. A great ensemble cast with three fantastic female protagonists at the helm, attempting a heist which is almost impossible to pull off in order to pay off the debts of their dead husbands. An exciting premise which is completely wasted. 'Widows' calls itself a "Heist" movie but the actual heist was so disappointing. There is no tension, no suspense, no unpredictability what so ever. It tries to be more than a heist movie, there is a lot going on but when it ended it left me more confused than ever. The only redeeming feature in this mess of a movie are the three leads and they deserved better. So do we.

Isle of Dogs (2018)

An Ode to dogs

[9/10 · 23 February 2019]

I love dogs, I love Japan, I love animation. 'Isle of Dogs' does justice to all three. Therefore, I absolutely loved this movie. How could I not?? It is quirky, charming, original and refreshing. And it has a lot of heart. The stop-motion animation is a sight for sore eyes, especially with all the flashy computer-generated animation out there, Sometimes less is more. Each frame, Each scene while stunning is soothing at the same time, which is the trademark of the director. It is one of those rare movies where the technical craft is on par with the emotional craft. While it has great direction, cinematography, music, voice acting (Perfect casting), The story is what struck a deep chord with me. Dogs love their humans unconditionally and it is great to see a story which shows this love and has a human protagonist who reciprocates that love and does everything he can to get his best friend back. Atari Kobayashi talks less but his actions speak volumes, As a protagonist, he is a breath of fresh air. The dogs Rex, Duke, King, Boss and Chief are hilarious (Throughout the movie, I kept wondering just how does Duke know everything?? I am really glad they answered that question, lol). The movie has a lot of themes such as propaganda, conspiracy, animal-cruelty and unjustified hatred but at its heart is the bond between a dog and it's human. I recommend this movie to any dog lover out there. It will make you appreciate your dog and dogs in general, a bit more. P.S: My favourite scene in the entire movie is that of a chef preparing a sushi platter, it is pure perfection. The craft on display here is outstanding.

Incredibles 2 (2018)

The greatest Superhero Family of all time return

[8/10 · 22 February 2019]

I remember being completely obsessed with 'The Incredibles' way back in 2004, watching it any chance I could get. It was unlike anything at the time, The protagonists were a family of superheroes, which was awesome. It was entertaining and a lot of fun. The sequel has virtually the same plot, which is a bit of a letdown but the movie is just as entertaining, just as fun. Jack-Jack is the stand-out, he is an absolute delight and it is exciting to uncover all of his superpowers. There are plenty of superheroes with cool powers. The animation is spectacular. The theme-music made me feel like a child again. The makers take the nostalgia and add something to it. My only issue with it is the villain, Who is underwhelming. Which is a pity, considering Pixar has some of the best villains. Still, I loved this movie because the Incredibles are back and I am ready for more.

Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

Ralph conquers the internet

[8/10 · 22 February 2019]

'Wreck it Ralph' was a charming film. The sequel is equally charming with the same spirit. The movie focuses on the friendship of Ralph and Vanellope and their eventual insecurities from having different expectations of life. It's a nuanced, mature take. Not what I expected, I was delightfully surprised. The animation is visually stunning and far more detailed than the original. The 'Internet' was delightful and completely on point. Although the 'Disney Princesses' sequence added nothing to the movie. There is not much for Vanellope but Ralph certainly conquered the 'Internet' and grew up a little. It's a fun, sweet movie which left me feeling bittersweet.