What Makes a Film Watchable?

 This is a million dollar question, and if any predictive analyst, or fortune-teller can tell, the producer will be eternally grateful. I have been a movie-goer for at least 50 years, and I don't know for sure the answer as to why I watch a particular film.

One is, it is situational. Like a friend and you decide to go out, and a film just appears as a viable option. But which one? You may like a hero/heroine/director and decide on that basis. Or, a good review you read or saw on TV may persuade you. Also, your friends saw it and so you want to. 

In the sixties or seventies, there was no TV in India, and we were starved for entertainment. So we ended up watching almost every film - Hindi in my case, and a few Telugu films as I lived in Hyderabad. Many were good, though a bit theatrical, but usually had decent story, acting and production values, though technology was not too advanced, and not digital. They were also long, about 2 and a half to three hours, as they had to deliver value for money.

Anand, Sholay, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Anjaana, Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan, Aadmi aur Insaan (the song Zindagi, ittefaq hai is in this one), Teesri Manzil, Jewel Thief, Tere Mere Sapne, Zanjeer, Chupke Chupke, Rajnigandha, The Train, Roti, Amar Akbar Anthony, Love in Tokyo, Namak Halaal, were some films I remember from the seventies. Aradhana's songs are still popular. So is Gulabi aankhen jo teri dekhi from The Train. Many songs had an impact, and drove people to watch the movie! 

Among recent ones, (eighties and later), Ayushman Khurana films, or Sriram Raghavan-directed films have been usually good. Happy Bhag Jayegi was very good, and I watched it because it was shown in our auditorium at IIM Indore. I liked Finding Fanny also, and a few others on diverse subjects-Vicky Donor, about a sperm donor, or Bareilly ki Barfi, about a small-town girl. Bahubali was great for its special effects, and casting. RRR and KGF were watchable and entertaining as spectacles. 

So I guess there's no formula, really. Lost and found worked for a while, with Yaadon Ki Baraat, but the film was well-made with great music too...Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko is a classic.

Raman Raghav 2.0

There was a real serial killer by this name, without the 2.0 of course. But this film is about another similar character, fictitious.

The film is quite watchable, if you are OK with serial killing in principle-watching them on film, I mean. I must admit I didn't get the opening murder until pretty late in the film, and that's a compliment to the director. The sets are too dark for comfort (mine) at times, but other than that, no major flaws I could find.

Nawazuddin may have found one of his strong points-playing maniacal characters. This is not a giveaway, the director shows him up for what he is pretty early in the film. The police inspector is good for his role, though less effective than Nawazuddin, because he isn't as good an actor. The female friend of is speaking Telugu with her Mom and Dad was a surprise.

As the genre goes, you expect some goriness, and you get it. But there is some stinging dialogue too, which keeps the movie watchable, and the speed is good, so you don't feel it dragging.

Overall, 3 out of 5.