Few actors share Kareena's fearlessness for closeups in their 40s. A still force in a high-strung thriller, her marvellously opaque portrayal of a woman hiding skeletons in her closet turns a crafty police procedural into a wistful story of survival, observes Sukanya Verma.

'Especially at the hands of men.'

It would be unfair to accommodate Gauri's incredible journey in six episodes, but the makers have done justice by casting Sushmita Sen. She adds a touch of elegance and reform in some of the most challenging scenes, applauds Divya Nair.

Clubbing in multiple weddings in one go dilutes some of the conversation. Conflicts are resolved too neatly and grey areas of complicated equations are left on a note of ambiguity, observes Sukanya Verma after watching the second season of Made in Heaven.

With a solid Vijay Varma at its centre, Kaalkoot is a riveting watch, raves Mayur Sanap.

'Whatever I have directed has been so far from my world.'

The first half of 2023 has been good to Bollywood, as we saw big blockbusters like Pathaan and The Kerala Story. But there have been flops as well.

There is nothing of the level of Yes Minister, House Of Cards, Madam Secretary or Veep but there are at least 10 Hindi series and an OTT-released film or two, to whet the viewer's appetite for power-mongering, corruption and intrigue.

These films, even at their saddest, darkest and grossest, retain their sense of humour, their sense of proportion, which again is something you associate with a Malayali.

With some variations, all regional political formations, whether in power presently or out of it, share some common features: Tight family control of the political apparatus, key members in elected or appointed positions, obvious wealth but not quite known sources of income, and family factionalism, sometimes open and bitter, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

Salman Khan is so neck deep in his formulaic rut that the only way he knows out is to dole out some more of the bunk. Except now, the swagger has traded places with desperation, notes Sukanya Verma.

The series has many flashbacks, detailed and pointless backstories, too much information and needless characters so the unlikely romance is lost underneath the frenzy, observes Deepa Gahlot.

'The Iranians are very resilient people. So even when they are throttled, they try their best to survive.'

Crime, climate change and cool Oscar winners dominate the OTT menu this week.

From panthers to crocodiles, Sukanya Verma gives you a wild menu on OTT this week.

A movie that seeks to explore an 'alternate history' cannot be so superficial, sighs Utkarsh Mishra.

Shah Rukh Khan's weathered intensity, grizzly charisma and trademark wit lends Pathaan's all-out, devil-may-care antics a sense of purpose that evades mindless acts of mayhem, cheers Sukanya Verma.

'If Godse's last wish was to let everyone know his views, what's wrong in that?'

I binged on various shows this year -- some for work, some for pleasure, few I couldn't spare time for, others I didn't have access to while some started out fabulously only to fizzle towards the end.

Lovingly made, heartfelt stories that speak the truths about our lives.

Sukanya Verma shows you everything you can expect from the Rohit Shetty brand of film-making.

Khakee: The Bihar Chapter: The picture is as ugly as it is grim, observes Deepa Gahlot.

'This world shows humanity in a fraudulent light.'

Just how hard was it for Janhvi Kapoor to play a girl trapped in a freezer?

Mili establishes Janhvi Kapoor as an actor striving to be taken seriously, observes Sukanya Verma.

Quite a few big movies are coming your way in theatres this November.

Does the "story" of a Mani Ratnam film come first or does its "spirit" asks Sreehari Nair.

On his 90th birth anniversary, Sukanya Verma lists 20 of her favourite scenes that reiterate his extraordinary grasp on the language of cinema and connect with the viewer.

'I never thought the European audience will love this film, but we had over 2,000 people at the screening.'

Yes, there's going to be a lot of tears, laughs and thrills coming your way.

Malayankunju is a coming-of-age survival drama that has its heart in the right place, notes Divya Nair.

'I was very scared as I was a first-time director. 'Janhvi is a star and a star kid. But the moment she asked me if she was capable of playing the role, we became equals.'

Sukanya Verma had multiple migraines making sense of the utterly daft, warped and awful Ek Villain Returns.

Ghar Waapsi is strewn in pithy wit. And believable scenes of pyaar and takraar, observes Sukanya Verma.

Aditi Pohankar steals the show in She Season 2, applauds Namrata Thakker.

'Both of us are not politicians. We were forced to enter politics to counter corruption that is looting the country.'

A beautiful documentary from Delhi. A shocking satire that spares no one. A thriller about a serial killer in Iran. A Pakistan film about family secrets... Aseem Chhabra lists the best films he saw in Cannes.

Stranger Things Season 4 is dedicatedly macabre and menacing, its deadly ambitions and volatile tempo keeps the mood edge-of-the-seat, applauds Sukanya Verma.

'My main ambition is to be on the sets everyday for the rest of my life.'

'The politics of Goa is moving around a sole entity, which is land.'