The love story of Shakuntala and Dushyant is so familiar, from textbooks, comics, stage and screen versions, that it has become part of our cultural DNA. If a film-maker thinks he can make it his own by producing a 3D version with excessive CGI, he achieves nothing but overkill, notes Deepa Gahlot.
It is possible that today's kids would find Gutar Gu too vanilla but it might have greater nostalgia-inducing appeal for older viewers, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Kunal Kemmu's default mode performing comedy is overacting. When surrounded by much more competent theatre-trained actors, he falls consistently short. (In the past, this role would have been tailor-made for Govinda), observes Deepa Gahlot.
When the post-pandemic audience wants large-scale entertainers, Anubhav Sinha has the courage to make a film that determinedly veers away from escapism, applauds Deepa Gahlot.
Hunter Tootega Nahi, Todega is bizarre, unintentionally funny, discovers Deepa Gahlot.
The intelligently conceptualized show does more for nationalistic pride than a dozen jingoistic series, applauds Deepa Gahlot.
In What's Love Got To Do With It, Shekhar Kapur makes the simple point that when it comes to love, nothing else matters, observes Deepa Gahlot.
In spite of a selection of fine actors doing their best, and an eye-catching visual quality, Rana Naidu is more disturbing than entertaining, feels Deepa Gahlot.
Ria and Varun seem to live in a bubble where they have hardly any friends and are never seen doing normal young people things like just hanging out with the gang. There is a hell of a lot of snogging, but hardly any real conversation, observes Deepa Gahlot.
The Night Manager has no surprises, feels Deepa Gahlot.
The hour-long episodes lurch from adrenaline-pumping to yawn-inducing, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Shiv Shastri Balboa is a sweet dramedy that makes a case for letting seniors live with dignity, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Jehanabad: Of Love And War authentically captures Bihar's political skullduggery and caste violence, observes Deepa Gahlot.
If Jaanbaaz Hindustan Ke differs from other shows in the crowded genre, it is because the two lead characters are women, observes Deepa Gahlot.
In terms of plot, Season 4 matches Season 1. It is grim, fast-paced and engaging, recommends Deepa Gahlot.
Vasan Bala's Cinema Marte Dum Tak shines the spotlight on Vinod Talwar, Dilip Gulati, Kishan Shah and J Neelam. All of them are articulate, witty, and expressive -- talking of their passion for films, the rise and fall of their cinema, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Lakadbaggha takes up too many issues and does not do justice to them, points out Deepa Gahlot.
There are serious entrepreneurs with some innovative ideas, like the young women from Bangalore who run a business selling packaged flowers for poojas, or the enthusiastic duo who want to popularise Darjeeling tea, the couple who hope to revive traditional sari weaves, or the earnest young man who has created a smart watch for children that allows parents to track their kids and communicate with them, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Stories of rural India, campus capers, realistic family dramas and urban romance that are no longer picked up by film-makers, find their way to the Web, and the viewing experience is richer for the variety available.
It takes a different kind of genius to make a show so full of chirpy good cheer that it's hard to dislike, observes Deepa Gahlot.
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