santoshdogra Reviews

Panga (2020)

Comeback Doesn't need any age

[7/10 · 16 February 2020]

Panga -

"32 Saal Ki umar comback nahin hota kya?" the son asked to the father. life doesn't change, till we challenge or question

the reality. When we refuse to accept, then only change can begin to shape.



Husband Wife Writer Director combination does wonder for the film. Nitesh Tiwari-AshwiniIyer was seen last in Bareili Ki Barfi.



The movie revolves on housewife mother, who was once champion sportsperson, but now she wants to comeback.



#KanganaRanaut has acted well but doesnot fit into sportsperson character. But Director #AshwiniIyer has covered up

with her direction.



Panga shows, how career is lost, when woman decide to prioritise the family.

How dificult the decision can be when limit is self-made?

How dificult is to come out of comfort zone?

How the life changes for the family, without woman in their life?

how the ego/competition comes between captain & ex-captain?



Though Panga is fictional, and not based on any real sports person. but there are already several successful sportsperson mother

viz. MaryKom, serenaWilliams, now Sania Mirza is trying for comeback.



This Content based movie is worth watching

Gully Boy (2019)

Youthful HipHop Movie of Decade

[9/10 · 17 February 2019]

#GullyBoy



Will you change #dream to accept reality or chase down your dream to change reality? The movie has got the answer to it..



The slumdog raps up his dream to become rapstar sensation who declines to surrender to circumstances encompassing his life. #GullyBoy is in inspirational movie and also a path breaker milestone movie of youths.



The movie journey begins in #Mumbai #dharavi slum with life of a ordinary non-directional guy to charged up rapper and #HipHop #YouTube star. The #GullyBoy is multifaceted, he roles up as car thief to driver to sales guy before he realises where his future lies. The center character has all neighborhood surroundings which can make or break the person - grown up in slum, abusive father, unhappy mother, 4x4 room, intimidating possessive girlfriend, petty criminal friend but he got his passion, childhood lover, a role model and mentor, project album angel then there is dream to chase. The story builds up from there to end up as star, as normally globally as any movie plot has. The difference is, the way its being told, presented, edited. The art of story telling gives your altogether different experience. Every Character in movie has a unique dream and has their own chase and struggle, which makes it as a extraordinary. I am sure director and editor has chopped of tons of scenes before the current releaseversion.



@RanveerOfficial performance as #GullyBoy is very contained unlike his other films where his energy overflows the character. He is very cool & mature. One sentence review for his performance is "iske jaisa koi hard ich nahin hai"



People who criticizes @RanveerOfficial for overacting, must watch this movie and notice how much he has been calmed down Which woman should take credit #ZoyaAkhtar or #DeepikaPadukone? :)



If you feel woman empowerment doesnot get place in bollywood, then believe it that writer & directors blue eyed character in movie is @Alia08. Both #ReemaKagti & #ZoyaAkhtar has made #Saifeena witty, bold, fiesty, intelligent and cute all in one. @Alia08 plays it as naturally as if she is portraying herself. The dream character portraitisation.





Debutant @SiddhantChturvD as MJSher gets grand entry where he rips apart with his rap and he is also fabulous as influencer and mentor to #GullyBoy. Somewhere down the storyline, his character may have been shortened, though role weightage is equal to hero and he impresses very well.



Each character has depth and Each character makes their character lively be it #Moen by #VijayVerma, #Sky by #Kalki, #VijayRaaz, #borivali guy #KaamBhari and any other characters be it.



@ZoyaAkhtarOff has just sealed a power packed movie and presented to the audience to experience the #FunVisphot. She doesn't let any character to slow down and keep them bustling, turning movie a fast paced. when GullyBoy Title caption shows up to the screen, people realises.. ohhh.. the movie has ended.. The audience left with needing more to crave for.



#GullyBoy music is first of its kind with full fledged #HipHop album. All Songs are youthful and lovable.



#GullyBoy is add up to maturing of Bollywood. Just like content driven and focused approach, this movie focuses on entertainment and stick to core. one more noteworthy point is, The movie has score of songs, but you will realise that not a single one for movie heroine. This is the way each character is deep dived and unnecessary things are cut-off. One more instance is, In one of the post break up scenes, just to make sky understand value of saifeena, gully boy tells, without her, his life will become very lonely between childhood and youth. This is how relationship is valued, you give weightage to past, just not leave them for opportunity of future.





#GullyBoy is Youthful movie of this Decade.

(Check yourself out which one was yours when you were in 20s)

Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019)

Strategic War on Terrorism

[9/10 · 19 January 2019]

Howz the JOSH? Its on Peak, Sir...

This how a patriotic movie should be.. make your blood boil and keep tempo on and on till the end....

There would be hardly anybody who has not heard about surgical strike which India did, but stunning game like videography, editing makes it at par with any Hollywood or classic war movie.

The movie begins with myanmar terrorist base strike and ends with PoK surgical strike and in between not for a single minute movie let you feel, that you are moving away from core theme...

Was very proud to see indian army, govt using technology and being well equipped. In one scene, where 8 year girls does war cry on seeing her father martyr body, that moment, the current of patriotism runs down from head to toe and back of audience along with the soldiers...

@VickyKaushal09 gets into the skin of hair of the character... simply love the devotion and passion he has for. One should salute to his source of inspiration. He carries the movie solely on front and @AdityaDharFilms holds it from behind...rest all characters walk in the flow of the current.



People say its BJP Propaganda movie... they are wrong on many counts (who cares for cold blooded people, and their soul is already been sold to...)...

i will list 2...

People accept the theory in Hollywood movie, if US President is actively involved in the matter of defense and strategical and tactful decisions..,.. why can't Indian PM be involved? We should feel proud that NaMo, the PM gets into skin of everything, and he had balls to do so...

2ndly, this movie celebrates the passion, love, enthusiasm for & of country... You may say.. post watching this movie.

Tau (2018)

AI Outsmarted

[8/10 · 19 January 2019]

#TAU -The Killer Alexa

The NetFlix Original Series Movie #Tau is based on AI and how a woman outsmarts AI Robot to escape the Lab Prison. This is generation shift movie, where pickpocket #MaikaMonroe is kidnapped for AI Lab testing and as test object by CXO or AI Scientist #EdSkrein, which needs to be monitored by Tau (Voiced by #GaryOldman), the NonEI AI Robo

This movie has combination of torture, to move to suspense to science-fiction to BehindDoor mystery.

Husband Material (2018)

The bold mutual favor modern-day triangle love story

[8/10 · 21 October 2018]

#Manmarziyan - A modern day Selfish, Mutual Favour Love triangle story. The Bold, the reckless with hyper androgen harmone active Rumi is in #Fyaar with irresponsible, opportunist Vicky. Just like #Woh7Din or #HumDilDeChukeSanam, their love is get succumbed to pressure to marry London Banker Robby. Rumi struggles in choice between irresponisbilities Vs Maturity, fast vs slow, Family Vs Yaar, Pyar Vs Fyaar, but love likes to settle, even if it has started in the storm.

This is unconventional mainstream movie directed by @anuragkashyap72, who reminds of #DevD Version 2 probably. He is just fantastic in unconventional imaginative narrator, be it using twin dancers as props @PoonamPriyankaS or be is painful walk down the streets of amritsar in conclusion. He has just made another #masterpiece.

@Tapsee after pink got rebellous strong unreasonable headstrong austere demanding role and she rides it flying colors of complexity. #bollywood doesnot make such gender powered movies frequently, she will need #hollywood platform to keep fire alive, else she will do movies like #Judwaa2 (sometimes short stories like #BaarishAurChowmein)

@VickyKaushal09 the blue eyed boy of director engineers into the carefree reckless role of Vicky. A Directors Delight Actor (#Sanju is still fresh in mind) @JuniorBachchan who is coming out after 2 year exile plays a matured raamji2 type role geriatricly.

only a female writer @KanikaDhillon can write so liberally about woman, and yet she know, where it doesn't become excess and when it has to turn soft,

Unconventional Movies takes time for acceptance by one geneartion, and while other generation is growing into it.

Raid (2018)

fearless honest tax officer raid politician haveli

[8/10 · 14 October 2018]

#Raid Movie based on True Inspired fictionalised Story of fearless honest IRS DC IT, who raids Rajaji Politician to uncover BlackMoney from a small village in remote area near to Lucknow. Sincere Officer deflects pressure from CM #FM #PM. It was heard in Movie that PM wants more of Honest Officer for which She is ready to sacrifice few Taujis.

AjayDevgn intensity & #SourabhShukla .Spontaneousity makes movie gripping thriller. This also reminds Past chemistry of #BigB and #AmjadKhan

WIth No author Backed Role and Repeated lines @IleanDcruz impresses even with her simplicity

These Intense Thriller Movie Doesnot need songs, but with Inclusion of Non-Melodious Songs and Exclusion of ItemNumber, its remains ChartsDisaster.

kudos to ScreenPlay #RiteshShah & Editing and DIrection of RajKumarGupta helps in improving the BollyWood Score onGoodMovies.

102 Not Out (2018)

Live your life daily

[8/10 · 14 October 2018]

#102NotOut

At 102 #DattatreyaVakharia wants to live for another 16 years with youthful mind of 26 years or wanted to make his 75 year old son Babulal not to accept retirement but live Life Lively and Practically?

The Movie showcases, two elderly people with contrast lifestyles, where one is younger at heart and accept death as one moment and till then he wants to enjoy life. And somewhere he want his son to come out of all the struggle he did for his son to send him to US & get living out there out of his retirement fund or be it last painful days of his wife in alzheimers, or weakness for grandchildren, only to cherish the good memories and keep moving on the life and keep challenging for new goals.

#CoolBaap tries to fill the colors in the colorless life of #OldSchoolBeta with help of Canvas Dhiru. This 101 minute expedition is full of laughter, humour, emotions and bitter truth rides of life and also how one can adore & embrace the moments of Life and keep living to progressing. The movie is full of learning, various quotes and punchlines.

Based on #GujaratiPlay #102NotOut of #SaumyaJoshi movie is right mix of humour, drama and emotion. #Director @UmeshKShukla has made it interesting with Mumbai as backdrop & artwork and keeping the audience hooked till the end.

@SrBachchan The #BigB keep getting bigger with the age. He as a #CoolBaap is full of Enthusiasm and Tireless #EnergizerBunny with FullHighVolume. He is #GodOfActing

@ChintsKap as OldSchoolBeta and gets 360Degree role. he does it so facilely & fluently and complements BigB with controlled energy.

#JimitTrivedi is not intimidated in midst of two Giants of acting, but his typical gujarati ascent, enthusiasm facelifts the role.

Movie which can be enjoyed with Family, and must for who are already old or who will grow old one day ;)



In the film, Amitabh Bachchan is shown 102 years old and Rishi Kapoor is shown 75 years old, age difference between the two being that of 27 years. 27 years is also the period after which Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor are reuniting on-screen.

"Zinda hai tab tak marna nahi hai" (Dont Die EveryDay, Live Life EveryDay Lively)

"I hope you understand" (Sometimes You Dont have to)

I will break this chinese person record. Only 16 years to Go #Yo (There is no age to challenge oneself for higher goals) (Never Accept the Current Unacceptable Situation, Challenge it)

Helicopter Eela (2018)

SMothering Single Mother-Son Story

[8/10 · 14 October 2018]

#HelicopterEela Abundance of Love and All good intentions of parents can sometimes be sMothering. A Story of Single mother who has dumped her dreams, aspirations & fear on only child, with her desires on back-burner, only to keep upbringing right. The movie revolves around Mother @KajolAtUN from her 90s Singing career days to Current day, where teenage son needs some breathing space. The movie begins with story of struggling artist who has to do petty things before getting break in glamour world. Underworld threat to Producer, ends her album launch dream project. Her marriage ends when superstitious husband leaves alone and without any choices she keeps her dream and career aside to become helicopter parent and keep hovering around 24x7 till her sons teenage days and lands up in College to create nightmares & differences in Mother-Son relationship.

The movie avoids bigger complexities of relationships and keep it conventional superficial emotional nostalgic dramatainment.

@KajolAtUn had probably burden of carrying movie solo in mind, while hyperacting as SuperMoM. She ages, but remain glamorous. @RiddhiSen896 as a son is very natural, calm and mature and easily correlateable. @PradeepSrkar & @AjayDevgn has chosen universal appealing Mother-Son Coming out of Age Story but commercial aspect has got more weightage

Andhadhun (2018)

Highly Engaging Thriller

[9/10 · 14 October 2018]

#AndhaDhun Highly engaging thriller of the year, where it keeps getting twisted on every reel. A Blind piano artist who is not blind but becomes blind only to outsmart all non-blind over smart people around him. The best part of the movie is that it makes you think that you know what coming next only to make your predicament wrong.

@ayushmannk fine performance as smart blind piano is very canny and few may contemplate his artistic skills with that of Legend #SanjeevKumar. @Tabuism is getting wiser and crisp actor as she is ageing. Her performance adds lots of fan following that what she had 2Decades back. @Radhika_Apte a #ManavVij as a Cop, #AnilDhawan as yesteryear superstar and husband of Tabu, #AshwiniKalsekar as intimidating cop wife or any other co-artists support & contribute power in creation of this thriller.

These kinds of movie needs soulful music but lesser songs, Songs are the only brakes in this perfect flawless movie.

#SriramRaghavan has successful exposition and presentation of movie in such a manner that one will keep confabulating. His pre-visualisation of thriller also as a cowriter adds feathers to direction. #PoojaLadhaSurti has mastered the thriller movie editing. Soon a Directorial Debut can be expected.

At the end, The Open ending of the movie will make people to think, dissect and discuss this fictitious thriller story

Stree (2018)

hooked & spooked in this horror comedy blended entertaining original potboiler.

[9/10 · 14 October 2018]

#Stree Based on ridiculous phenomenon, where men in town are told by mother sister & wife to not to roam on road at night, as witch of modern india is on hunt on 4 festival nights.

The experimental horror comedy genre movie is witty, scary, hilarious & entertaining.

@RajkummarRao has the ability to get into the skin of character and make it lively & real, whether its chanderi ka manishMalhotra or RakshakRaja... He reminds us of #ShahrukhKhan in his early days, where he used to play character with such intensity. #RajkumarYadav is surely #EverymanCharacter @TripathiiPankaj excellent timing & witty delivery makes his presence felt strongly. @Aparshakti & @NowItsAbhi as friend of Vicky shines and makes up for other 2 pillar of movie. @ShraddhaKapoor in mysterious role of #Stree remains conundrum riddle. @AmarKaushik keeps the thriller running in pace & keeps people glued till madhyantar. He mixes background sound well & timely to overcome shortcomings of ordinary visualeffectless ghost. He smartly keeps unanswered questions for the sequel.



Tucked away beneath the scares and the laughs - but never buried out of sight completely - is the film's feminist subtext. In some instances the case is made expressly, like Tripathi's character pointing out that the spirit in question is a "naye Bharat ki chudail", who, unlike men, doesn't believe in "zabardasti" and understands the concept of consent. After all she calls out the man's name first, waits till he turns and looks into her eyes before claiming her victim. Mostly though the message about how our society treats women is cleverly subverted through scenes like the one in which men across town are terrified to go out at night.

The movie also points out unless you change to think for woman & respect them, things wont change in daily life. There is an old proverb, "If you treat woman like dog, she will make your life Hell". Woman when worshipped & respected, she becomes #MaaDurga, but when she is disrespected or humiliated, she becomes #MaaKali Movie which begins with "Oo stree kal aana " Ends with " Oo stree raksha kana "

Get hooked & spooked in this horror comedy blended entertaining original potboiler.