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Recent Reviews by Srivathsan Nadadhur
South First, Friday Wall

Srivathsan Nadadhur is a senior entertainment journalist with over 11 years of media experience who writes about movies, literature, culture, and lifestyle and has contributed to The Hindu, Times of India, Deccan Herald, The News Minute and Film Companion in the past.

Films reviewed on this Page

Ka
Aindhaam Vedham
The Miranda Brothers
The Legend of Hanuman S05
Do Patti
Hellbound S02
Raat Jawaan Hai
Citadel Diana
Janaka Aithe Ganaka
Colourrs of Love

Ka
Kiran Abbavaram’s ‘karmic’ thriller packs a handful of surprises

Overcoming a fluttering second hour, Kiran Abbavaram’s Telugu film ‘KA’ concludes on a high

Comebacks are always interesting, especially when an actor is willing to look back and understand what went wrong in the first place. After a series of misfires, a resurgent Kiran Abbavaram is back with a festive release, mysteriously titled KA, that invests in a solid story over the heroics of the male protagonist. The period thriller offers a rich blend of action and emotions with a karmic twist.

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Aindhaam Vedham
Naga’s Mystical Thriller Is Ridiculously Stale And Dated

Anu heads to Varanasi to immerse her mother’s ashes in Ganga. During the trip, she meets a sage, who hands over an ancient relic to her and dies under mysterious circumstances. Though Anu is instructed to give it to a temple priest in a village, she is reluctant to take the initiative. What connects her to the relic, an ancient temple and the fifth veda?

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The Miranda Brothers
Sanjay Gupta’s Sibling Saga Is An Ultimate Snooze-Fest

Julio, the son of a single parent Susan Miranda, requests his mother to adopt an infant who’s left stranded on the streets. Braving past several financial challenges, Susain raises Julio and Regalo, who are extremely fond of one another. As adults, they hope to make a career in football. However, when a personal setback tests their equation, Regalo has a tough choice to make.

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Read all 2 reviews of The Miranda Brothers here

The Legend of Hanuman S05
A worthy, lively peek into an epic from a new tangent

With Indrajith no longer around and Ravan drowning in sadness, Ahiravan wreaks havoc on the Lankan dynasty. Hanuman is surprised to realise he has a son – Makardhwaja, who opposes him initially but makes amends later. He also finds unexpected support from Ravan’s former aide Harshasringa in his quest to free Ram and Laxman from Ahiravan. Who has the last laugh?

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Do Patti
Kriti Sanon, Kajol Shine In A Deceptive Yet Uneven Thriller

Shailee and Saumya are twin sisters who lose their mom early in life. Ever since, they don’t get on well with one another and Shailee is soon shifted to a boarding school. Many years later, Saumya falls for Dhruv, an adventure sports enthusiast and son of a politician. Shailee, unexpectedly, returns to her home town and tries to be the party pooper in their relationship. Where’s the tale headed?

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Read all 17 reviews of Do Patti here

Hellbound S02
The Hit Korean Thriller Has a Decent Round-Two

The Hit Korean Thriller Has a Decent Round-Two

After his tryst with hell for many years, Jung Jinsu, the brain behind the New Truth, is back and recognises the growing prominence of the Arrowhead in the society. Jinsu realises he may not be the only one to be resurrected back to the land of the living. Does resurrection eventually mean damnation or will it pave the path to true salvation?

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Raat Jawaan Hai
An Entertaining, Bitter-Sweet Ode to Parenthood, Friendship

Three childhood friends and stay-at-home parents Avinash, Radhika and Suman come to terms with adulthood, marriage and parenting in a metropolis, dealing with one blow after the other. While Avinash is in no mood to return to work soon, Radhika is in two minds about taking up a job. Suman, content with motherhood, struggles to take a stance for herself.

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Read all 5 reviews of Raat Jawaan Hai here

Citadel Diana
A Slick Spy Thriller With a Gimmicky, Confounding Narrative

Citadel, an independent spy agency, is wiped out by Manticore, a powerful syndicate that’s desperate to take charge of the world. Diana, an undercover Citadel agent, works as a mole in Manticore. She forges an unexpected rapport with Edo Zani (the heir of Manticore Italy), who is keen on taking the mantle from his father Ettore, grooming himself to be a capable leader.

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Read all 2 reviews of Citadel Diana here

Janaka Aithe Ganaka
The courtroom drama is a missed opportunity

An earnest Suhas cannot salvage ‘Janaka Aithe Ganaka’, which ends up as a messy courtroom comedy

Telugu cinema has consistently portrayed stories where protagonists embody middle-class values — from Needi Naadi Oke Katha and Middle Class Melodies to Middle Class Abbayi (MCA) and The Family Star. Interestingly, Dil Raju, the producer behind two of these films, also backs Janaka Aithe Ganaka this week. The Sandeep Reddy Bandla directorial, starring Suhas, aims to acknowledge and appreciate the bread-winners of middle-class households, in the guise of a courtroom drama.

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Colourrs of Love
This Breezy Urban Romance Works In Parts

Avee Sharma, a sexologist, is traumatised after breaking up with Shruti at the cusp of marriage. While he gradually comes to terms with it, he indulges in a no-strings-attached relationship with a patient – a married woman Rekha. Later, he falls for a neighbour Nikita. However, she hides a secret from her life that could derail their equation. Meanwhile, Rajat, a psychologist, opens him to a new perspective towards love.

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