Jailer 2- Rajnikanth Film Review

 Saw this action and comedy-packed film yesterday (Oct 20th) in Pune. It continues the story of retired Jailer Tiger Muthuvel Pandian in and around Coimbatore and Kerala. Ends in Goa. The outdoor locations are nice, and the story, though predictable, has some good twists. The cast is competent, though dominated by Rajini's screen presence, as expected. His fans (me included) find something magical about him- he lights up the screen.

Enjoyable on the whole, though the songs and dances are a bit over-the-top. 4.5 on 5 from me. The special effects are good, in particular. Special appearances by Shivaraj kumar, Mohanlal, Hrithik Roshan and Jackie Shroff add to the charm.

Main Vapas Aunga- Film Review

I like Naseeruddin Shah. In film and theatre. He does not let you down, in this engaging look at love blooming between a Sikh boy and a Muslim girl in what will be Pakistan, before 1947. 

Partition and what precedes it changes the equation for the young lovers. He promises not to leave her side, and to come back for her, if he is forced to separate.

How things pan out is what the movie is about.  Diljit Dosanjh, and the young couple- Sharvari and Vedang (I think) play their roles to perfection. The direction is good, though I feel about 10 minutes could have been cut to reduce the length of the film.

Overall, worth a watch.

Film Review- Baby Do-Die-Do

 This is a Huma Qureshi film, out and out. She does a good job as a twin sister, who grows up to be a contract killer. Yes, that's not the suspense, but there are enough twists to keep you twisted till the end.

It's tough to make a thrilling suspense film with a female protagonist. The usual temptations like unwanted songs are kept at bay, and the direction is crisp and focused. The 2 hour length is just right.

The actors-all of them-are good. The plot keeps you interested from the first minute.

We used to call Karmarkar Do-die-do as a joke when we were kids. That is used in the title. Great film in its genre.

Kabir Bedi's Autobiography

 One thing that strikes you about his stories, is their honesty. He does not shy away from his failures.. like the stock investments in Netscape. Or his failure to stop his son from committing suicide. Or his multiple attempts to make his marriages work. Not everyone is as honest, when writing about themselves.

His spectacular success in Italy when he played Sandokan is quite unique to an Indian actor, because this was not Hollywood. He did play a few roles in Hollywood movies and TV series, and rubbed shoulders with the best. Some of those anecdotes are very interesting, like when he had to walk out of a dinner that Gina Lollobrigida was hosting, because Parveen Babi was offended. Her mental illness is also handled sympathetically.

Many unknown facets emerge, like his acting in Theatre due to Alyque Padamsee, or his learning Vipassana at a young age, or his meeting the Dalai Lama, because his mother turned into a Buddhist nun, or that he is a direct descendant of Guru Nanak through his father.

Interesting read, and something new for everyone, I am sure.

Apne Ghar Jaisa- Play

 A play with a play on Expectation versus Reality.

An old lady is imagining what a new tenant will be like, while coming to terms with the loss of her son. Her husband has agreed to let out the son's room to a stranger called "Shaukeen" (she thinks). 

It is a solo performance, almost, with her imagining the caste, religion, and habits of the tenant before he appears. She vacillates between a nice picture of him to replace her lost son, and depicting him as a complete outsider with strange habits, eating as well as lifestyle-related.

An unexpected twist at the end makes the one hour play watchable- suspense of a kind.

Padmavati Rao performed the old lady's role very well, with a variety of emotions showing while she sets up the room. Produced by Ranga Shankara, Karnataka. A part of the Shreeram Lagoo Theatre Festival.

Film Review- The Sheep Detectives

 A fascinating film about some talking sheep, who solve a murder mystery.

Creatively written and directed, The sheep are the real sleuths in this whodunit involving their shepherd, Hugh Jackman. The usual suspects are lined up, and a twist in the tail nails the perpetrator, just in time.

Enjoyable for its novelty of plot, it is actually based on a novel. Great photography, dialogues and sheep! With a few messages for humans too, about prejudice, casting people out of the flock, exploring new frontiers and so on.

Michael - Film Review

 Saw the film about Michael Jackson recently (April 2026). I was in the U.S. when he was a phenomenon, in the late 80s, and we saw a lot of his numbers on MTV then. Liked most of them. Some of them are reprised here, and quite well too- must have been tough for the choreographer and the actor who looks a lot like him.

The prejudice against Black singers coming on MTV is well depicted. So are his love for kids and animals, and cartoons. Of course, this is a positive film, so the only negative is his dominant father who tries to push him into things he does not want, after it is clear that he is a star creator and performer on his own. His social sensitivities are also brought out well.

The music selection is good, and is the highlight- as it should be, for a film about a musician. The signature moves are captured well.

I like Prabhu Deva, the Indian equivalent too. And I still remember the performance of I'm Bad! by Katarina Witt, chamion ice skater, at the Calgary Winter Olympics. It was Good!

Zen Katha- Play Review

 Saw this in Pune yesterday (April 26, 2026). Directed by Lillette Dubey, it's the story of Bodhi dharma, a proponent of Buddhism and Dhyana, which became known as Zen. Brilliant in its direction, and acting, and Sets and Lighting. The scenes depicting China are particularly well done. Actors play multiple roles, barring the lead players. A great message too. 

Kantara- The Prequel- Review

 I was really impressed with the first one I saw. This one is worth a watch, and if you haven't seen the first, might interest you more.

The novelty of the theme was better in the first. Now, you are already familiar with the setting. Surprises are fewer.

Natural scenes were more in the first, and special effects came in shorter bursts. More effective.

Fight scenes galore in this one- after a while, they seem repetitive.

Some scenes are really well done, and keep the interest.

There's a twist late in the film, which was good.

Rishabh Shetty needs to be commended. Acting is credible. 

PS: The story reminded me a bit of Sangeet Maanapmaan, a Marathi film based on a play- a musical.

Book Review - Pathway to my Being

 This book is written in a memoir format, and is indeed a collection of snippets from the life of my friend and classmate Sankaran. It touches on his early life in school, REC Trichy, then his years in industry before he got into IIM Bangalore (where we met), and beyond. Also about his marriage and the life after.

Many interesting tidbits are strewn across chapters, and make for interesting reading. For example, Victoria's Secret had a plant near Chennai and Sankaran was working for them. It's not a secret anymore, though..

His experience in sales and advice on how to sell using different techniques may be useful to those starting out in this line.

His Golfing days and Carrom days are well captured, and inspiring. Most inspiring is the part about his encounter with Parkinson's disease a few years ago, and how he has battled it with help from his wife and daughter. 

Very readable.

Play Review- 38 Krushna Villa

 This is a very good Marathi play with two good actors, one of whom is also the writer. Shweta Pendse. Girish Oak is the other.

It starts with a premise that he is the accused in a fairly serious intellectual theft, and tries to wriggle out of the accusation by all possible means.. including laughing off the allegation.

The play suddenly takes an unexpected twist around the halfway point, and ends up being a completely different, engaging story. Can't let out spoilers, but it's well worth a watch, particularly if you are in the creative business like poetry, books, paintings, music. You might appreciate it just a bit more.

Well-directed, just about 2 hours in two acts.

The Greatest Show on Earth- Review of the Play

 A brilliant satire on many subjects- advertising, TV channels, politics, and a lot more.. Vikram Kapadia and team excels at the concept, and execution.

Saw it yesterday in Pune. Enjoyed every moment. Good choreography, acting by all the actors, and sets, sound and lighting. A must-watch, if you get a chance.

Sangeet Manapmaan - Film Review

 A classic being remade into a film. A new trend in Marathi films. Commendable attempt, good to view on the big screen. Though it reminded me of Bahubali, with a fighter leading lady - without over-the-top special effects. 

Subodh Bhave does a good job as the outsider who wins the heart of the Army commander and later, his daughter. Vaidehi Parshurami, as the daughter Bhamini, is equally good. (Balgandharva played her, in the original play, 100 years ago). Sumeet Raghavan as the kaba mein haddi, is competent. Others too.

Music is very good, and a strong point- though it stretches the length of the film. Worth watching is my view.

Jilabi- Marathi film review

Swapnil Joshi and the rest of the cast - Prasad Oak, Parna Pethe .. nails it, in this suspense film, with a super cop and a villain who is tough to figure out. Enjoyed every moment. Has a taut screenplay, with action as its watchword. 

A cop is tasked with solving a murder in a business family, and what he unravels is much more than he bargained for.

Rarely do Indian films do well in this genre. Also, no frills such as songs, so the story is king. A good decision, like in Ittefaq, many years ago.

The twists in the story keep you hooked. A good thing in themes of this type, with intrigue. Jilabi (jalebi) is an apt name too.

Nothing Like Lear- Review of the Play

 Rajat Kapoor has directed Vinay Pathak in this solo act, which was staged at Pune recently. I caught it, and was pleasantly surprised to see the Director greeting us at the exit. Shook hands, and told him it was very good. You may recognise the names as actors from Bheja Fry, a few years ago.

This was delightful, and covered a lot of ground. Interactive, with a few jokes directed at the interactive audience as well. Pathos, comedy, tragedy, and great solo acting, in a clown's costume. Reminded me of Mera Naam Joker. 

Holding people for more than 90 minutes itself is huge, in my view. I have seen Naseeruddin Shah and Arundhati Nag do it, so it's not impossible, but it's tough.

The accent he used is typical Bambaiya, with a touch of the Bandra crowd, which the Mumbai crowd will identify with. But a must-watch for theatre lovers.

Kalki - Film Review

 A Big B- I mean, a big bore.

What a waste of talent. A bad script can spoil anything, and this film is a living example. Prabhas, who was so good in Bahubali, looks forced into amateurish gimmicks that don't work. You are left wondering what's happening, why and when it will end. That hope is dashed, because it goes on for 3 hours, almost a night without end.

Why would anyone want to live in The Complex? It's inexplicable, and outright laughable. The Supreme - whatever that means- what is he trying to achieve? You don't empathise with any character, perhaps with the couple who lay down their lives trying to protect Deepika. At least the woman does. They are the only ones who show some normal human qualities. The others are too jaded, or artificial, or both. Going through the motions, mostly, and for too long. The sets are colourless, and depressing too. If the future is so bad, I would be happy not to be a part of it.

Outright silly most of the time, the film appears like a video game some kid is playing on a big screen instead of his console/mobile.

Give it a miss if you don't want a massive headache. Well, carry a couple of aspirins if you decide to ignore my advice!

Film Review- Hindustani 2

 I saw a movie in a theatre after a while. It was not bad, but I was left with a feeling it could have been better.

It's about a vigilante who plays cat and mouse with the CBI, and outwits the son of an officer who had earlier failed to catch him. There is obviously a lot of action -some of it unbelievable- and chases across Indian states/towns.

The gripping part of the story is actually what the protagonists (a group of youngsters) discover within their own families- a story of corruption of some kind, at the urging of the main character-the vigilante.

Somewhat predictable in the storyline after the first couple of instances, it may have helped if fewer instances had been covered in some detail rather than so many. Also, the length of the movie could have been shorter by at least 15 minutes, as I always say about a lot of Indian films.

The first in the series was better, in my view. This is not bad, if you like Kamal Haasan. I actually prefer Rajnikanth in roles where there's a lot of action. He is somehow, more believable as an avenger!

Oppenheimer - A Review of the Film

 Nice film. The pluses-

Serious plot about an important invention. 

Good acting, except the guy who played Einstein. Didn't like him, or his hairstyle.

Scenes which were underplayed. The Bomb blast, and a few others.

The persecution of communist suspects! Realistically depicted.

Some great names like Niels Bohr, and a few other greats are seen personified- knew them only from text books before this.

The Minuses-

The length seemed like eternity. Easily reducible by at least 20 minutes without losing anything.

Overdramatic scenes with lots of background music. Felt like a pub for youngsters.. my favourite ones are quiet!

The scientific community is beholden to politicians, is the message I got. Even in the US. Or Germany, or Russia.

Review of Jan-April 2023

 This is a four-monthly review of 2023- the first four months. There was action, reunions, plans made and some fructified. 

Prestige University -my new workplace- saw construction gathering pace, towards start of a new batch of MBA and Integrated Programs. Our new registrar joined, and another couple of team members too, in the non-teaching side. We also had an outing to Jalgaon, where we strategised for the Prestige group-includes the older institutions, and industry - soya bean related. The resort at Jain Agro was a great place, with a Gandhi exhibit, and lots of Mango plantations.

Went to IIM Kozhikode  as a Chief Guest of the Calicut Management Association annual convention. It was a great trip, and I got to meet many new people from different fields. And visit the beautiful campus too, where I taught earlier from 2003-2005.

Also was invited for a keynote speech at NIFT Gandhinagar, and met a few of their students doing Masters too. Made friends with a couple (Mehak, Dhanali, Sneha), who are as bright as any I have encountered anywhere else. Met Manjari Mundanad, my old friend and Ph.D. student at Nirma, now a prof. at Adani. Know her from IMT Nagpur days.

More recently, made a trip to Bangalore for Good Friday, and met Shatakshi, Savitha and Muthu. Had some Burmese food thanks to Savitha, for the first time.. it was awesome. Also met Meghana Khadilkar in Pune for the first ever time.. yet to meet her daughters and hubby. Soon, maybe.

Shafique Gajdhar (ex-IMT N) visited and met up. Also met a few Ph.D. students from IIM Indore, now friends of mine, a couple of times. None of the new ones were from Marketing area, funnily! Also saw a play starring a couple of them in February- called Knives Out! 

Book Review- Police In Blunderland

 This is a brand new book from a retired cop. And he spins quite a tale- actually, there's a sting in every tale. The book comes from his varied experiences of policing, and a few home truths about life in the bylanes of India. Literally, because that's where cops spend much of their life, unless they are in an A.C. office - that's usually a luxury, at least in the first few years of service. This cop is also an MBA from IIMB, and is doing a Ph.D. in Management from IIT Delhi. So, unusual credentials and perspectives in many ways.

Obviously, I can't disclose the plots, since there is intrigue, drama, suspense, reality and lots more. You would have to devour it yourself to be able to enjoy the multidimensional look at the life of a policeman, warts, blunders and all, from the inside! Suffice it to say that it covers a wide range of subjects, from Durga Puja crowd-management in Kolkata to the Purulia Arms drop case, and lots more!

Definitely readable, even if you have read a few of the chapters in the form of blogs. It's rare that you get glimpses up and close into how tough being a tough policeman is!