Movies A-Z # - Filmy Town

Pritam and Pedro – OTT series review

Every once in a while Rajkumar Hirani tends to amaze us with his wizardry. No, it is not with a movie this time but he has chosen a new medium for the surprise and tis the idiot box. For the first time he has conceived a six episodic OTT series - Pritam and Pedro which is now streaming on Jiostar. Though not directed by him he does have two major contributions to it. One, he the producer/presenter and two - he unleashes his son Vir for the first time and he has chosen the small screen to do so. Vir is an alumnus of the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. He plays the crucial eponymous character of Pritam in the title, the ethical hacker, to Arshad Warsi's Pedro the cop.

This cop drama is engaging

This six episode web show about a kidnapping which turns into a chase to identify the perpetrators with a plot about suicide and subsequently revenge then e ....
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The Odyssey – movie review

The Odyssey is an action fantasy film based on Homer's ancient Greek epic poem, rather than being based on historical facts. By depicting Greek mythology, the film serves as a legendary reflection of Bronze Age seafaring, trade, and cultural encounters in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, whereas the film stands out as a visual marvel, it also depicts a deeply poignant exploration of the enduring human spirit. Specifically, the narrative meticulously charts the prolonged, perilous, and hurdle-ridden return journey of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, following his triumph in the Trojan War. Consequently, on his arduous voyage back home, the King is pushed to his absolute limits while facing relentless supernatural challenges and terrifying encounters with mythical beings.

Classic ideals of cleverness against Mythic monsters

Along the way, Odysseus encounters several life-threa ....
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Dhamaal 4 – movie review

Much like a character in the film who makes a promise to God only to break it once their wish is fulfilled, Dhamaal 4 feels like it is tricking and short-changes its audience. Director Indra Kumar’s latest comedy venture, Dhamaal 4 tries to follow the standard blueprint of its predecessors, offering a mixed bag of slapstick nostalgia and chaotic storytelling. Sticking to it's earlier core, this installment is centered once again around an ensemble chase for massive wealth. What doesn't quite work out is that the film leans heavily on familiar franchise elements while adding newer, increasingly absurd situational gags. The latest film continues with the core of greed and selfishness, which began from the 2007 original film where four unlucky friends hunted for treasure buried under a giant ‘W’. In this story, the narrative catalyst this time shifts to the letter ‘M’. The plot ....
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Mardini – Marathi movie review

Mardini, the title has been adapted from the mythical folk lore of Mahishasura Mardini. It is most famously attached to Goddess Durga as Mahishasura Mardini—the slayer of the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Produced by Shreyas Talpade, this thriller stars Abhijeet Khandkekar and Jitendra Joshi, with Prarthana Behere playing the pivotal character. It is directed by Ajay Mayekar. It is an entertainment oriented movie... a ruthless entertainment, keeping in mind the logic. Prarthana Behere plays the woman who has lost her husband and caringly looks after her 8 year old daughter as well as her old mother. And it is about how a single mother fights for her daughter undauntedly.

Mardini – A Tribute to Women

The working mother learns that her daughter requires a particular type of oxygen machine, without which the child's life is short lived. However, she learns that the machine ....
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Alpha – movie review

The YRF Spy Universe expands further with its latest offering, Alpha. It is a high-octane action thriller that delivers on visual gloss but completely misses the mark on emotional gravity. While the film attempts to inject fresh energy with a female-led narrative, it just ends up as a glossy but emotionally hollow addition to the spy genre. The film is rooted heavily in the typical studio template of glamour, exotic locations, and physics-defying stunts. This spy, action, thriller having a runtime of 140 minutes ultimate feels outdated. Firstly, when compared to contemporary benchmarks, particularly to Dhurandhar 1 and 2, that seamlessly blend espionage with deep-rooted patriotism, Alpha stands no match, trading genuine national fervor for forced, over-the-top melodrama.

A Fractured Foundation - that's Alpha

The narrative follows a highly trained assassin raised in total ....
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Welcome to the Jungle – movie review

Riding on the huge success of Welcome (2007) and Welcome Back (2015), the third installment of the Welcome franchise - Welcome to the Jungle attempts to revive the slapstick madness of its predecessors but struggles under its own colossal weight. While the original Welcome starring Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal with Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, and Welcome Back which again had Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Paresh Rawal with John Abraham and Shruti Haasan were perfectly in sync with the cinematic sensibilities of their respective eras, this latest chaotic venture feels severely outdated. There is no actual adventure in the jungle as the film's title suggests.

Absurd Economics, Vanishing Humor in Welcome to the Jungle

The core problem lies in its overcrowded canvas and an absolute disregard for narrative logic in a film that has a flawed premise and dated execution. ....
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Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai – movie review

Bidding adieu to direction in Bollywood films, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is director David Dhawan's last film (as announced by him). Instead, this film falls much below expectations compared to David Dhawan's debut film Aankhen (highest grosser of 1993). Similarly it is nowhere near Biwi No 1, Shola Aur Shabnam, Saajan Chale Sasural, Haseena Maan Jaayegi and the long list of his super hit films. Probably planned as a energy booster to his son Varun Dhawan's career, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is about Jass (Varun Dhawan and Bani (Mrunal Thakur) who are a married couple yet have disagreements on family planning. This leads to their marriage falling apart. A professional marriage photographer, Jass moves abroad to start fresh and finds new romance, but things get complicated. Consequently the subject could have explored real relationship issues — but the film keeps things shallow. ....
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Peddi – movie review

Peddi is a pan-India film starring Ram Charan (Chiranjeevi's son) in the lead role. The cast also features Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu and there is Janhvi Kapoor as the romantic lead. Also there is an actor from Mumbai- Divyendu in a supporting role. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, this rural sports drama follows a spirited villager who unites his community through sports and fights for their pride and identity. It seems that after the mega blockbuster Dhurandhar, filmmakers have begun not to bother about the length of their films. Set in the year 1980, Peddi runs for 189 minutes, which feels lengthy, but it showcases superb performances. Thus the central character played by Ram Charan, who immerses himself completely in the character of Peddi, a village youth excelling in sports like football and cricket. His love interest, played by Janhvi Kapoor, is the daughter of a minister, thou ....
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Bandar – movie review

The film Bandar that is released internationally as 'Monkey in a Cage' brings together elements of dark comedy, crime and family drama. Directed by Arora Kashyap and produced by former actor Nikhil Dwivedi, it features Bobby Deol in the title role, marking his first collaboration with Anurag Kashyap. The film having a duration of 136 minutes revolves around an aging television star who gets accused of rape by his ex-girlfriend. The cast includes Saba Pabbi, Sanya Malhotra, Saba Azad, Indrajit Sukumaran from Malayalam cinema, Marathi actor Jitendra Joshi and several others who add spark to the narrative. The film written by Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee is inspired by a real-life event.

Bandar dives deep into themes like crime, punishment, desire and the breakdown of control

The story revolves around a failed singer who is arrested by the police and thrown into lockup. ....
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Baapya – movie review

Marathi cinema has long been celebrated for its sensitivity and rooted storytelling, but Baapya — directed by Sameer Tiwari, ventures into territory rarely explored on screen. The film’s very title refers to individuals who do not fit neatly into the categories of male or female, signaling its bold thematic core. Overall, the film touches your heart and makes you shed tears because the characters resonate deeply. As a viewer, you get so involved that you instantly and impulsively feel like giving the film four stars. We hope audiences embrace it just as warmly, though the problem often is that good films don’t run while weaker ones do. Sameer Tiwari has offered something truly different.

A Brave New Voice in Marathi Cinema - Baapya

The highlight of the film is the aesthetic way in which director Sameer Tiwari has handled such a sensitive subject. Girish’s younger ch ....
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