All stories by ARJUN MENON
2024: The Best South Films
Rediff.com11 Dec 2024Arjun Menon looks at the Top 10 South films that made an impact in 2024.
Pushpa 2: The Rule: Giant Misfire!
Rediff.com5 Dec 2024Pushpa 2 is a badly misjudged, doubtful sequel that can't capitalise on the wealth of the story world set up in the first film, observes Arjun Menon.
Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale Review: Empty Calories
Rediff.com19 Nov 2024Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale ends up being a flashy, aspirational celebrity lifestyle doc that is aimed for an evening of popcorn-fueled fan tribute entertainment, observes Arjun Menon.
Matka Review: Bland :(
Rediff.com15 Nov 2024Varun Tej's committed performance somehow rescues Matka from being a pointless venture with stylish flourishes and interesting ideas, observes Arjun Menon.
Review: Suriya Rises Above Kanguva
Rediff.com14 Nov 2024Kanguva is a mishmash of conceptually strong set pieces that feels bloated, as the central scaffolding holding together the core themes of love that heals over time and eternity, feels like an afterthought, observes Arjun Menon.
Amaran Review: A Different Army Movie
Rediff.com1 Nov 2024Amaran is effective as a intimate, well researched piece of storytelling but does not try to break any new ground, observes Arjun Menon.
Bougainvillea Review: All Style, No Substance
Rediff.com18 Oct 2024Casting Fahadh Faasil does not help as his chameleon-like acting credentials is wasted in a mundane cop archetype that passes through Bougainvillea with little or no impact on how things eventually play out, observes Arjun Menon.
Last Action Hero: Vijay's Cinematic Legacy
Rediff.com17 Sep 2024As Thalapathy Vijay embarks on a career in politics, Arjun Menon looks closer at his glorious filmography.
Manorathangal Review: Anatomy of A Visionary Mindscape
Rediff.com15 Aug 2024Through Manorathangal, M T Vasudevan Nair makes himself available to a whole new generation of uninitiated viewers, who can familiarise themselves with his rich body of work and hope to learn a thing or two about life in all its messy grandeur and flawed imperfections, notes Arjun Menon.
Brinda Review: Engaging Crime Series
Rediff.com3 Aug 2024Brinda examines some alarming aspects of religious fanaticism through the narrative engine of a well-oiled serial killer mystery, observes Arjun Menon.
Modern Masters: S S Rajamouli Review: Intimate Portrait of A Visionary
Rediff.com2 Aug 2024Modern Masters aims to showcase Rajamouli's enigmatic career and paints a context of what makes him the singular voice that defined his generation of film-makers, for millions, observes Arjun Menon.
The Failed Promise of Indian 2
Rediff.com24 Jul 2024Kamal Haasan is right where he left off from the first film but there is only so much he can do to salvage an already lost cause, observes Arjun Menon.
Mammootty, Mohanlal, Fahadh Want To Tell Stories
Rediff.com17 Jul 2024Arjun Menon gives us a preview of what the Manorathangal series will offer us.
Indian 2 Review: Kamal Haasan Elevates Overwritten Sequel
Rediff.com12 Jul 2024The saving grace of Shankar's expanded universe is the masterful precision with which Kamal Haasan drops himself into a messy setup, only slightly to elevate the pulpy tendencies of Shankar's vision, observes Arjun Menon.
Malayalee From India Review: Timed Right
Rediff.com8 Jul 2024Malayalee From India is trapped within its self-serving corniness and refuses to break free in the process, observes Arjun Menon.
Maharaja Review: Chilling
Rediff.com15 Jun 2024Maharaja is an audacious attempt that breaks down the tropes of a crime film with a brilliant Vijay Sethupathi in the lead, notes Arjun Menon.
Turbo Packs A Punch In Parts
Rediff.com24 May 2024Turbo finds its footing in the latter half with some well-conceived one-upmanship between hero and villain, yet it's marred by poorly executed action set pieces in the climactic showdown.
Guruvayoorambala Nadayil Review: Prithviraj, Basil Elevate Bromance
Rediff.com17 May 2024Guruvayoorambala Nadayil is a no-holds-barred, silly comedy that will keep you glued to the screen even when the going gets tough towards the end but the smile on your face will not leave, observes Arjun Menon.
Nadikar Review: Tovino Thomas Aces
Rediff.com6 May 2024The film's focus lies in humanising a larger-than-life star and breaking down his celebrity, aimed at a simplistic takedown of the 'superstar' myth, observes Arjun Menon.
Aavesham Review: Fahadh Faasil Is The Picasso Of Malayalam Cinema
Rediff.com12 Apr 2024Aavesham is smooth in its storytelling and leaves a chilling aftertaste, thanks to its one-of-a-kind anti-hero, applauds Arjun Menon.