The best example a law professor could impart to his students in a lecture regarding ‘abetment’ of crime would be to round off the director and writer of ODJD. Jokes aside, while the director deserves to take flak for some hamming by even talented character actors (Rajesh Sharma, Murli Sharma), writer Alaukik Rahi should be […]
Author: Hoshang K. Katrak
Film Review: SHOPLIFTERS
Winner of the coveted Palme D’or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, and directed by the redoubtable Hirokazu Kore-eda, ‘Shoplifters’ is an affecting and poignant tale of the Shibatas, an impoverished joint family – none of them blood-related – who makes ends meet by indulging in shoplifting in supermarkets. Patriarch Osamu Shibata (Lily Franky) has […]
A Legend Remembers
Former national TT Champion, Farrokh Khodaiji, pays tribute to Former India No. 2 – Shavak Irani, who passed away last week. The year was 1952. A lanky, six-foot tall lad of 19 years keenly watched the 1952 TT World Championship being played in Mumbai. He saw the Japanese sweep the titles. But what his […]
Film Review: ARTICLE 15
Director Anubhav Sinha catches the viewer unawares, opening the film with Bob Dylan’s contemplative ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, as IPS officer Ayan Ranjan (Ayushmann Khurrana) arrives at Lalgaon, in the hinterland of UP, to take up his latest assignment. On the way, amidst the chatter of folklore by his driver, they pass by a group […]
Film Review-Kabir Singh
When you see the hero of the film chasing the housemaid around the neighbourhood block just because she’s broken a glass you know what to expect. When that senior medical student confronts the Dean (Adil Hussain in a forgettable cameo) with illogical arguments and in a challenging tone, you know you’re in for a torrid […]
FILM REVIEW – TOY STORY 4
When the first in the series was released in 1995 – though fairly successful – one barely had the hunch that three more would follow: in 1999, then in 2010 and now, nine years later. Sequels are rarely meant, or expected to be as lucrative as the original. That ‘Toy Story 4’ debunks this popular […]
Film Review – The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir
The major advantage of watching an international production (in this case French/Indian/Belgian) is that it’s shot in a variety of locations – in this regard the film scores. The inherent drawback is that the film tides over a multitude of subplots too briskly for comfort. At a mere 101 minutes, the film packs in a […]
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS – 2
‘Keeping him safe is a full-time job’, says Max (voiced by Patton Oswalt) of his young master, baby Liam (Henry Lynch). This just about sums up the premise of the hour-and-half long sequel to the 2016 fairly successful and enjoyable, ‘The Secret Life of Pets’. Katie (Ellie Kemper) falls in love and marries Chuck. Her […]
Film Review – MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL
Undoubtedly for commercial reasons, Hollywood’s obsession with milking its successful franchises dry is well-known. And this is precisely what MIB:I is – a done-and-dusted plot laced with dry humour. To begin with, the title would seem to be a misnomer: ‘Man and Lady in Black’ would be more appropriate. The film begins with a very […]
TechKNow With Tantra: Picai – Smart AI Camera
Picai is a free camera app that employs screen recognition AI to get you the best possible pictures. With its picture-perfect filter recommendations from analyzing your photos, you can take amazing photos fast and easily. Picai knows cover-worthy filters for your selfie, appetizing filters for food and perfect filters for your shot. Just pick one filter […]
Film Review: X-Men: Dark Phoenix
All superhero and science fiction films should come with a cautionary rider: if any part of the film, especially its premise, comes across as deja vu, the viewer is deemed to have been watching too many of this genre! It’s 1975 and a young girl, Jean Grey’s super powers causes a major crash in which […]