gg2021 Reviews

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar (2024– )

Visually stunning, lacking in every other way.

[4 May 2024]

I am at loss of words because I really wanted to like this show. A plethora of issues with the setting, accuracy, story just left me with a what did I just watch feeling.

First, the first two episodes were very confusing to track until the story actually starts in the third with two of the women setting up as vying to fight to be the leader. But then for some reason bhansali decides this is going to be a freedom fight story?

Historically almost everything was wrong. The dresses were not lahori, the Urdu was not lahori, the riches shown were absolutely no longer present in the 1920s. The music while great was also completely wrong. We actually have many singers from heera Mandi on record now. The houses are wrong, and he seems to want to marry mughal e Azam / Mughal era lavishness into 1920s rebellion. Does not work.

This show could have been so much better. It ends up being a nothing show with no story, wrong history. Mediocre at best.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023)

Zero chemistry. Aalia was gorgeous

[23 September 2023]

No story, same rehashed songs, dumb and shallow writing. Did not enjoy this movie at all.

This movie is everything Indian cinema needs to move away from. I really suggest karan produce movies from upcoming directors to understand how the industry needs to move on and grow.

For Ranveer, bro you need to say no to these roles. You are selling yourself short. You have immense talent and the goofy characters you've done so far need to end.

Overall the movie was an attempt to try and make the same thing again which Karan has been doing lately. Please give us better stories and writing, look around, the industry has grown a lot.

Bambai Meri Jaan (2023– )

Absolute waste of so much potential.

[18 September 2023]

First, Kay Kay Menominee absolutely killed it, even though his role is a side role after first couple of episodes.

Note to the team making such pieces. The previous fictionalised events did more justice than this piece of utter garbage.

If you can't even use the real name and fail to establish the relationship of haji and D.

Overall, skip this and save your time. It's a whole lot of effort which falls short in the end because it just doesn't go deep enough nor does it manage to fictionalise it.

An absolute mid effort and I hope the team takes this as positive feedback to do better next time.

Behind Closed Doors (I) (2023)

Plays like a hit piece without any critical thought.

[25 May 2023]

The entire documentary is a one way narrative against a certain party and plays much like a political ad.

While I think there are definitely questions around corruption that should be asked, they completely fail to address the enablers and the circle that controls most of the corruption.

Would have been much better if they had explored the corruption that is deep rooted in institutions that enable these things to happen. The entire thing was a non-stop blame on one family without looking at it critically or inviting some of the other side to explain in detail.

Respect for Arshad Sharif and his family. Hope the killers are brought to light and punished.

The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022)

An epic executed with perfection

[14 October 2022]

This movie is a labor of love and every single thing in it was executed with perfection.

Every single frame, music, the script, acting - everything was amazing. One of the best movies to ever come out of Pakistan.

It was a 2.5 hour movie and it had the audience spell bound for the entirety.

Bilal should take a bow, he had delivered something truly magnificent and current and future movies will be evaluated against this.

The standout performances were from the villains in the movie, Hamza and Humaima absolutely killed it. While I was skeptical of casting Fawad in the main role, he really did come through.

Shamshera (2022)

Horrible obvious movie.

[26 August 2022]

This was an absolute waste of time. It's an extremely obvious plot with way too much graphics.

The only good thing is this way it was filmed.

Ranbir should get a real job, acting is not his strength.

Jersey (2022)

Amazing movie, Shahid is outstanding

[26 May 2022]

This is how you make a cricket movie. Shahid always gives it his all. Haven't seen an Indian movie I can rate 10/10 for some time now. Shahid has a big part in this score, he was superb.

Leila (2019– )

The best depiction of times we live in fast forwarded into future

[11 June 2021]

If you are reading the 1 star reviews, you should watch the show, because this just shows you how much such stories need to be told. This is the very best of Indian story telling.

You do not need to take this novel or show personally because of your beliefs. If you are doing that (and so many 1 star seem to show that), then you are a part of the problem. The show is set around a dystopia which we are seeing the seeds of almost in every country regardless of religion or race. Both the west and east are currently high on populist agendas and minorities in all of these countries suffer.