2019, HIndi, Voot.com, IMDB 6.3, Directed by Vikas Chandra https://www.voot.com/shows/shortcuts/1/100255/maya/753131 A fine take on the mother-daughter relationship that leaves you wishing well for them both. The film opens with Maya realizing that her mom is missing. The film scrolls to the happenings of a week ahead and reveals that Maya is dating a potential groom … Read moreMaya
2013, vimeo.com, Hindi, Directed by Kislay A tight slap on the affluent, who viciously entraps the full-time house helper’s families for generations, in a disguise of providing a livelihood for the under privileged. A 30 odd minute film, that firmly talks about the innate qualities of the middle income family’s mindset that exploits sub consciously … Read moreHamare Ghar
1979, YouTube, Malayalam, 7.6/10 IMDB, Directed by G. Aravindan A striking interpretation of Ramayana’s Uthara Kandam- endorsing the humanness of the mythological characters and disintegrating our conditioned imaginations of the epic that disturbingly leaves us contemplating. Director G. Aravindan’s adaptation of C.N. Sreekanthan Nair’ play, stands tall for its personification of ‘Nature’ as Sita, its … Read moreKanchana Sita
1956, French Short Film, 8.2/10, YouTube, Directed by Albert Lamorisse An endearing story of a little boy and a red balloon that leaves you in complete wonderment, of the technique and narrative in personifying the red balloon The film starting with the deep focus shot with sun shining through and a little boy (Pascal), it … Read moreThe Red Balloon
1979 Polish, 7.5/10 IMDB, Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski A drama of an individual’s new found passion of motion camera that slowly consumes him, until it costs him his dear family and overrides his meaning of happiness. The film in turn consumes the viewers with its illustrative making as the character unearths his passion that he … Read moreCamera Buff
1948 Italian, 8.3 /10, YouTube, Directed by Vittorio De Sica Italian Neo-realism of unemployment and the hardships of the working class people after the world wars, catches your attention and leaves a void in the viewer’s mind, through realistic depictions of the mammoth ordeals of people after the man made wars. The film opens to … Read moreBicycle Thieves
1990 Persian, 8.3 /10 IMDB, YouTube, Directed by Abbas Kiarostami ‘Based on a true story or a true’- we are familiar with that title credit. Interestingly ‘Close-up’ features real people of a true story, playing their original parts and it stays close to your heart when Abbas Kiarostami distinctively captures the events in an investigative … Read moreClose-Up
1981, Hindi, Television Film, YouTube, IMBD 8/10, Directed By Satyajit Ray https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRpaPV3QayY Categorical depiction of untouchability, distinct from the abstract versions we are familiar in the 21st century mediums, that ends with a tone of a sharp cynicism. Sadgati, meaning deliverance or salvation, based on a short story by Munshi Premchand, is a story of … Read moreSadgati
1959, Hindi, YouTube, 7.3/10 IMBD The cruelty of untouchability seen through a rare lens of an orphaned lower-class girl baby who is chanced to grow up in a Brahmin household. Based on a Bengali short story by Subodh Ghosh, its Bimal Roy’s directorial touch that brings the best in his artists, especially the female lead, … Read moreSujata
2020, Malayalam, Amazon Prime, 8.3/10 IMDB, Directed by Mahesh Narayanan A peek in to the virtual world of a handful of characters, resonating our own during the pandemic, that fortunately leaves us gratified, just when it was getting too tedious. The film opens to a Tinder chat of a random couple Jimmy (Roshan Mathew) and … Read morec u soon
2020, Malayalam, Netflix , 7.7/10 IMDB, Directed by Musthafa A simple movie with an outstanding story telling and some scintillating performances. The opening shot with the rain pouring down from above with the opening credits rolling behind, the cameras are set in a such beautiful angles, that you feel as if you are in the … Read moreKappela
2020, Tamil, Amazon Prime, 6.8 /10 IMDB, Directed by J.J. Fredrick A direct OTT release, potential thriller, packaged in social awareness wrap and spiced up with a little women empowerment – completely derails with its sitcom characterisation and soapy direction. To start with, Jothika and Suriya, needs to be lauded for their initiative in constantly … Read morePonmagal Vandhal
Hindi, Amazon prime 7.2 /10 IMDB, Directed by Anubhav Sinha A strong content, told from a weak person’s perspective. Somewhere the powerful message fails to touch the audience, the way it ought to. The movie starts with Amrita, pampering her husband in his everyday involuntary chores, right from waking him up with a drink as … Read moreThappad
2019, Malayalam, YouTube, 7.5/10 IMDB, Directed by Arun Bose The movie opens to a suspicious death of the hero Tovino who plays this sweet artist Luca and few frames later the death of the female lead Niharika played by the beautiful Ahaana krishna . Haven’t seen any movie with such an opening scene, that I … Read moreLuca
2018, Malayalam, Netflix, 8.2 /10 IMDB, Direcged by Zakariya Mohammed A weird title with a high rating – it ought to be yet another classic Malayalam film that you will end up falling in love the people of Kerala. It sure is a feel good movie that celebrates the nativity and the simplicity of people. … Read moreSudani From Nigeria
2017, Malayalam, Disney Hotstar, 8.2/10 IMDB, Directed by Soubin Shahir A Soubin Shahir’s debut directorial with some interesting names, Dulquer Salman, Shane nigam, Sreenath Bashi with such a IMDB score, it’s bound to be cracking film and it sure was an entertainer. Teens Amal shah and Govind pal bring the childhood memories of many on … Read more‘Parava
2019, Kannada, Amazon Prime, 8.1 /10 IMDB, Directed by M.G. Srinivas An investigative thriller that’s fairly engaging and at times makes you wonder how good the screenplay is. The major drawback being, the endless unwanted punch lines throughout the movie, it puts you off and it doesn’t do justice to the authenticity of a true … Read moreBirbal
2017, Marathi, Netflix, 7.1/10 IMDB, Directed by Sameer Vidwans A relationship drama, of a young couple who rush in to marriage without their families consent. They both end up growing apart as they are engulfed in their jobs, that leaves no quality family time. The moment they decide to separate, some unexpected events happen and … Read moreMala Kahich Problem Nahi
2018, Marathi, Amazon Prime, 7.7/10 IMDB, Directed by Lokesh Gupte Four friends from distorted family backgrounds attend a dance party for the first time, drinking and smoking, but there’s no drugs involved. Police gets a tip and raids the building. The policeman leading the raid is in for a surprise that makes him rage with … Read moreEk Sangaychay
2019, Malayalam, Amazon prime, 7.7/10 IMDB, Directed by Mathukutty Xavier A survival drama spun over sentiments, wins you over with its making and screenplay. Father daughter relationship, a Hindu boy in relationship with a Christian girl, the female lead, a nursing graduate, focused and persistent to go abroad to clear her father’s debt, working in … Read moreHelen