sanjubhat Reviews

Bodkin (2024– )

A bit slow but definitely watchable!!

[7/10 · 18 May 2024]

Web Series Review: Bodkin streaming on Netflix!!

The story is set in the idyllic fictional Irish town of Bodkin . Two Podcasters - Gilbert & Emmy who are desperate for a hit, team up with Dove, a journalist on the run, to investigate a cold case involving the disappearance of three locals during the Samhain festival ( somewhat like Halloween!!) 25 years ago!! In the course of their investigation our podcasters find out that the people of Bodkin have secrets to hide. A lot of skeletons from the past ( literally 🙂) will tumble out. Will our heroic trio be able to uncover the truth ?

This series is a mix of genres actually , a well crafted murder mystery coupled with a generous dollop of dark humour !! Not the fast paced adrenaline rush kind of a murder mystery, but fear not amigo , the truth will be revealed to u in due course .

Every episode of the web series reveals more & more of the cold case in bits and pieces with the final episode revealing the true picture and providing answers to questions that the people of Bodkin have been searching for years 😱!!

The protagonists at times themselves are not the most likable characters around , but u will definitely cozy up to them in the end !!

The series has 7 episodes with each episode having a runtime of ard 45 mins. If u have watched and enjoyed the web series "Only Murders in the Building" streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, you will definitely enjoy this one.

A great watch for this weekend!!

Going with 3/5 for this one !! Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #Netflix #netflixindia #netflixseries #webseries2024 #webseriesreview #bodkin.

Murder in Mahim (2024– )

Decent one time watch... Script & editing could have been tighter

[7/10 · 13 May 2024]

Web Series Review: Murder in Mahim streaming on Jio Cinema!!

Based on a book by Jerry Pinto who incidentally was my teacher in school 🙂, Murder in Mahim starts off well with the brutal murder of a gay prostitute in a toilet inside Mahim station. As the body count increases, Inspector Jende ( Vijay Raaz ) is forced to forge an alliance with his estranged friend and retired reporter Peter Fernandes ( Ashutosh Rane) to piece together the clues and solve the mystery. Helping Jende in this case is rookie inspector Rabbani ( Shivani Raghuvanshi).

I have mixed feelings about this web series. The casting is spot on with Ashutosh Rana , Vijay Raaz & Shivani Raghuvanshi getting into the skin of their individual characters and performing well overall.

There are two storylines which run in parallel .The first one is the murder mystery which is very engaging. The second one is about challenges faced by the LGBT community in India. This gets a bit peachy & results in the narrative slowing down intermittently and digressing from the main plot . A tighter script coupled with crisp editing would have definitely made a stronger impact and conveyed both storylines more effectively.

To cut the makers some slack , the narrative which slows down somewhere in the middle quickly picks up pace in the last three episodes resulting in a decently showcased climax!!

Even with its shortcomings.. Murder in Mahim is a decent one time watch!! Had the potential to be much better though ... Some points to ponder for the makers if they plan a sequel in future!!

Going with 3/5 for this one .. Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #JiocinemaPremium #murderinmahim #jerrypinto #webseriesreview #webseries2024.

Shardlake (2024– )

Truely binge-watch worthy!! Brilliant !!

[9/10 · 12 May 2024]

Web Series Review: Shardlake streaming on Disney+ Hotstar

Shardlake is a period murder mystery set in the 16th century when the King of England and the Church were at loggerheads!!

Wanting the dissolution of the churches in order to claim their wealth , King Henry the VIII commands Thomas Cromwell to collect evidence of corruption within the monasteries in order to shut them down.

When one of Cromwell's commissioners to a remote monastery at Scarnsea is found brutally decapitated and murdered, a lawyer in London , Mathew Shardlake along with Cromwell's trusted man Jack Barak are sent off to Scarnsea to investigate the murder and close down the monastery.

In his quest to get to the truth, Shardlake has to battle the sinister forces within the monastery walls as well as the politics at play in London . Will he be able to carry out an unbiased investigation and solve the mystery?

This is a four-part miniseries based on the Shardlake historical mystery novels by C. J. Sansom set in the 16th century.

Arthur Hughes as the hunchbacked detective is brilliant as the protagonist with his calm demeanor and logical approach towards crime solving. Others in the cast lend valuable support to our unlikely hero.

The whole eerie ambience , dull cloudy weather in the remote seaside town of Scarnsea and the monastery has been very well showcased & adds to the aura of mystery & intrigue as the story progresses!!

Loved this period mystery series immensely!!Feels like a breath of fresh air ...Definitely binge-watch worthy!!

Looking forward to seeing many more seasons of this delightful series in future !!

Going with 4/5 for this one .. Adios 🙂👌👍!!

#sanjuzzreviews #Shardlake #shardlakeseries #DisneyPlusHotstar #arthurhughes #DisneyPlus.

Whitechapel (2009–2013)

Dark gripping crime series!! Truly binge-watch worthy!!

[10/10 · 10 May 2024]

Web Series Review : Whitechapel streaming on BBC Player!! A series to die for !!

WhiteChapel is a British Crime Series where Police Detectives in Whitechapel area investigate & solve murders which replicated historical crimes committed by copycat killers. For example, the first season deals with killings perpetrated by the infamous Jack the Ripper in the 1800's. The second season is about the ruthless Kray Twins and so on .

It was a treat to watch this series overall . The casting is bang-on .Leading the pack is Rupert Penry Jones (D. I. Joseph Chandler ) , ably supported by his deputy Phil Davis (D. S. Ray Miles) & Steve Pemberton as the nerdy, but brilliant historian Edward Buchan who helps provide a correlation between the historical & current crimes. How 3 individuals, vastly different in their approach towards crime solving set aside their differences and come together to work as a team for the greater good is the highlight of this series !!

A pity that this series only has 4 seasons.. wudve loved to see more for sure!!

Truly binge-watch worthy !!

Going with 4.5/5 for this one !! Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #whitechapelwebseries #whitechapel #BBCPlayer #BBCiPlayer #webseriesreview #BBC #crimewebseries #BritishCrimeDrama.

Young Wallander (2020–2022)

Brilliantly conceived and presented!!

[9/10 · 5 May 2024]

Web Series Review (2 Web Series that are truly bingewatch worthy) - Young Wallander streaming on Netflix & Wallander streaming on BBC Player!!

1) Wallander - is a British crime TV series streaming on BBC Player which is based on the life of Kurt Wallander (Kenneth Branagh), a police inspector & his team in the small of Ystad, Sweden. It has 4 seasons with 3 episodes per season. Brilliantly conceived and presented. Highly recommended 👌👌🙂👍

2) Young Wallander- is a prequel to the original Wallander series where we go back in time and see the rookie detective Kurt Wallander solve his first case in the real world that shaped him and made him into a fine detective later on in life!!

Streaming on Netflix, Young Wallander has 2 seasons with 6 episodes per season.

If you do not have a BBC Player subscription you can still watch Young Wallander on Netflix as it has no connection with the original Wallander web series.

Trust me guys , BBC Player subscription is a must've if u crave for strong content that will surely satisfy your creative juices!!

Going with 4/5 for both .. Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #Wallander #youngwallander #kennwthbranagh #BBCPlayer #BBCiPlayer #netflixindia #netflixseries.

Wallander (2008–2016)

Brilliantly conceived and presented!!

[9/10 · 5 May 2024]

Web Series Review (2 Web Series that are truly bingewatch worthy) - Young Wallander streaming on Netflix & Wallander streaming on BBC Player!!

1) Wallander - is a British crime TV series streaming on BBC Player which is based on the life of Kurt Wallander (Kenneth Branagh), a police inspector & his team in the small of Ystad, Sweden. It has 4 seasons with 3 episodes per season. Brilliantly conceived and presented. Highly recommended 👌👌🙂👍

2) Young Wallander- is a prequel to the original Wallander series where we go back in time and see the rookie detective Kurt Wallander solve his first case in the real world that shaped him and made him into a fine detective later on in life!!

Streaming on Netflix, Young Wallander has 2 seasons with 6 episodes per season.

If you do not have a BBC Player subscription you can still watch Young Wallander on Netflix as it has no connection with the original Wallander web series.

Trust me guys , BBC Player subscription is a must've if u crave for strong content that will surely satisfy your creative juices!!

Going with 4/5 for both .. Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #Wallander #youngwallander #kennwthbranagh #BBCPlayer #BBCiPlayer #netflixindia #netflixseries.

Gaami (2024)

An interesting concept with some grt performances!!

[7/10 · 2 May 2024]

Film Review: Gaami ( The Seeker) ... Telugu film streaming on Zee5!!

Gami is a different film with three stories running in parallel

• an amnesiac Aghora Sadhu ( Vishwak Sen) who suffers from a fear of human touch and embarks upon a perilous journey in the Himalayas to find a cure for his condition.

• a young boy who is turned into a lab rat and subjected to inhuman experiments in a remote medical facility.

• Uma , the young daughter of a Devdaasi Durga runs the risk of being made the Devadasi when her mother is diagnosed with a terminal illness.

What do these three stories have in common?

I would recommend this film only to people who like things "zara hatke" which is exactly what Gaami is all about. A non linear narrative, disjointed stories running in parallel along seemingly confusing storyline. If u r game for this kind of experimental stuff, then Gaami is the film for you.

Vishwak Sen gives a restrained performance, playing a person who suppresses his frustration & angst at not being able to find a cure for his debilitating condition. Others members of the cast too deliver their parts well. VFX, BGM & cinematography are good overall.

On the flip side .. the non linear narrative makes you wonder where exactly the film is heading & causing a bit frustration to creep in . The story too slows down intermittently which again doesn't work in its favour.

The end reveal, however is worth the wait & the film winds up well even though things could have been tightened up a bit !! Not bad either!!

A different kind of a film .. not for everyone!!

I'll go with 3/5 for this one .. Adios 🙂!!

#gaamireview #gaami #vishwaksen #sanjuzzreviews #ZEE5.

Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout (2024)

Promising start but pales when compared with its predecessor!!

[7/10 · 18 April 2024]

Film Review: Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout streaming on Zee5!!

A shootout at a Bar in Mumbai resulting in the deaths of 10 people including an influential political party member .. A decomposed body of a young girl found in Jaipur !! Are these 2 cases related? Are things actually the way they are made to seem ? Well... that's a puzzle for ACP Verma ( Manoj Bajpayee) and his team from the SCU ( Special crimes unit) to solve !!

The film starts off on a promising note with Manoj Bajpayee, Prachi Desai & Co. From the SCU thrown on the thick of things right from the word go. However as the story progresses, flaws in the script begin to appear and if u r a wee bit observant ( like yours truly 😁) u will guess the killer well before the climax !!

Manoj Bajpayee gives it his all to make the character of ACP Verma human and relatable!!

He is the one to watch out for and the guy doesn't let the "common man" down 🙂 Prachi Desai, a great actor is unfortunately reduced to a character artist just like in Silence1.

In this case a weak script lets the film down . The climax ... really makes u feel as if u r watching a Ekta Kapoor serial !! Having said that.. the film has its moments , especially the investigative part where Bajpai & his team try and find a correlation between the cases . That was enjoyable!

When u compare this film to its predecessor, Silence1, it falls short of expectations as the bar had been set high !! As the ending has been left open for a sequel, the writers need to iron out the rough edges and come up with something more innovative!!

A one time watch .. cudve been better though !!

Going with 2.5/5 for this one !! Adios 🙂

#Silence2OnZEE5 #silence2review #sanjuzzreviews #silence2 #manojbajpayee #prachidesai #ZEE5.

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024)

Fast paced action thriller... Predictable.. yet entertaining!!

[7/10 · 17 April 2024]

Film Review: Bade Miyan Chote Miyan screening in cinemas!! ( OTT Partner Netflix)

Full on maar dhaad action film right from the word go !!

A vengeful evil genius ( Prithviraj Sukumaran) wants to extract revenge on our beloved motherland with special treatment to be given to our 2 protagonists Bade Miya ( Akshay Kumar as Freddy) & Chote Miyan ( Tiger Shroff as Rocky ) . Will they be able to foil his plans ? Of course they will .. the film is that predictable 😁!!

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan is where FastX: Hobbes & Shaw (starring Jason Statham, Idris Alba & Dwayne Johnson) meets Universal Soldier ( Starring Van Damne & Dolph Lundgren)

Some positives : great cinematography, awesome locations , well shot & crisply edited action scenes , fast paced narrative. The chemistry between Akshay Kumar & Tiger Shroff is good . The icing on the cake is the antagonist Prithviraj Sukumaran who unfortunately shows his face only in the 2nd half and entertains us with his great screen presence.

Negatives : Music is average ( nothing to boast about) . Action is unrealistic and predictable . For example u have the protagonists bumping off 36 baddies in the first few mins of a mission without so much as a scratch on their bodies. A scene where Akki is shown riding with 2 horses with 3 cars full of terrorists shooting at him.. he's a sitting duck waiting to be hit. And u know what... The prodigal one emerges unscathed once again. The baddies are a real bunch of bad shots ... Ayyo Rama😱😱

Among the cast Ronit Roy is decent . Manushi Chillar & Alaya F aren't bad either . Sonakshi Sinha is unfortunately wasted in the film !!

The mission at the start seems to have been shot in a studio.. thoda fake laga mujhe . The ending along some of the patriotic dialogues seem very cliched... We have heard these a million times before .. some innovation needed from the dialogue writers!!

All in all, not a bad film . Actually the fast pace of the film kept me entertained all throughout!

If u r a fan of action films without searching for logic in them, u will definitely enjoy this one !!

Will go in with 3/5 for this one!! Adios 🙂!

#sanjuzzreviews #BadeMiyanChoteMiyanOnEid2024 #BadeMiyanChoteMiyanReview #tigershroff #akshaykumar #ManushiChhillar #AlayaF #RonitRoy #BadeMiyanChoteMiyan.

Swatantra Veer Savarkar (2024)

A fitting tribute to the great revolutionary!!

[8/10 · 6 April 2024]

Film Review: Swatantrya Veer Savarkar screening in theatres!! ( OTT partner: Zee5)

A late review actually !! Saw it today, nearly 2 weeks post it's theatrical release and was pleasantly happy to see a full house even today!!

A fitting tribute to one of the most underrated & controversial revolutionaries of the Indian freedom struggle!! Never given his due. If it hadn't been for a little miscalculation on his part of entering Britain from France , which led to him being deported back to India and then sent to Kalapani , the demography of India would have been different ( especially with his vision of Akhand Bharat )

Randeep Hooda is brilliant as Savarkar & the amount of effort put in shows on screen!!

Very well made film with great direction and casting too. Amit Sial as his brother Ganesh Savarkar & Ankita Lokhande as Savarkars wife have given memorable performances!!

Some scenes which make it worth ur while are - the scenes where the incarcerated political prisoners at Kalapani are brutalized by the jail authorities!! Heartbreaking!! I think they have toned the violence otherwise it would have been too unbearable to watch!😢😢

Savarkar's camaraderie & friendly banter with Madan Lal Dhingra just before the shooting of Lord Curzon.

Savarkars face-off scenes with Gandhiji where he openly rebukes Bapu and shows contempt for his ahimsa ideology!! His dialogue upon his release from Kalapani " Yeh Gandhi itna bada ho Gaya hai kya " is directly dil se !!🙂

The scenes where he advises Subhas Chandra Bose & the seldom talked about naval mutiny of 1946 are also well showcased!!

With a runtime of 2 hrs 56 mins the film seems a tad bit streched !! The narrative slows down intermittently which could have been avoided by some crisp editing!! Apart from this I loved the film !! Highly recommended!! Going with 3.5/5 for this one.. Adios 🙂!!

#SwatantryaVeerSavarkarreview #SwantantryaVeerSavarkar #sanjuzzreviews #randeephooda #AnkitaLokhande #AmitSial #ZEE5.

Anweshippin Kandethum (2024)

Brilliant crime thriller!! Climax is mind-blowing!!

[9/10 · 31 March 2024]

Film Review: Anweshippin Kandethum ( Malyalam film streaming on Netflix!!)

Anweshippin Kandethum (meaning "seek, and you shall find") is a 2024 crime thriller starring Tovino Thomas.

Two murder mysteries for the price of one(1 on 1 free) ... Totally Paisa vasool film 👌🙂!!

Synopsis - An honest police officer SI Anand (Tovino Thomas) and his team are brought out of suspension after being unfairly treated while investigating a murder case. They asked to look into a 6 yr old unsolved murder, file a closure report to officially end the investigation. With nothing to lose, as our protagonists dig deeper, they stumble upon some startling facts that have been overlooked by earlier investigating teams!! In their quest to unravel the truth they have to deal with hostile villagers & politics within the system!! Will they eventually come out victorious?

The film is unique as the first half deals with a past murder case where SI Anand has been disgraced & the second half, set in present day which deals with his investigation after being brought out of suspension!!

Both investigations have been brilliantly showcased with a lot of emphasis on police procedural work, gathering of evidence in order to make the cases watertight!!

An absolute non nonsense film without any over the top action scenes .. as close as it can get to a real life police investigation!! The twist in the end is just mind-blowing.. unguessable!!

Strong content, brilliant performances , crisp editing and direction make it a must watch film !! Gripping right from start to finish!! 😱

Available with Hindi Audio & English Subtitles on Netflix!! An unmissable film for aficionados of this genre .. go for it !!

Going with 4/5 for this one... Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #AnweshippinKandethum #AnweshippinKandethumOnNetflix #netflixindia #tovinothomas.

Crew (2024)

Grt camaraderie between the 3 female leads ! Decent one time watch

[7/10 · 30 March 2024]

Film Review: Crew currently screening in theatres ( watch later when it streams on Netflix, the OTT streaming partner)

3 airhostesses - Tabu , Kareena & Kriti who fall into bad times have to resort to smuggling gold for a dubious person. After nearly getting caught, they turn over a new leaf , plan a heist ,get the stolen gold back and also get the bad guy in the end !!

Saying this in jest ... This film is ABT how India got "Vijay Malya" back in an alternate universe 😁😁!! The ladies make it seem so easy !!

Coming to the Positives : Great cast , the 3 leading ladies rock . Chemistry between the trio is really the USP of the film. Reminds u of the camaraderie between the 4 heroines in "Veere Di Wedding" which also was an out and out woman centric film. Rajesh Sharma is brilliant, Diljeet Dosanjh & Kapil Sharma do well in their small roles.

The film is very easy going with something or the other happening continuously. Not boring at all!! There are some good one-liners which are funny , but definitely less funny than what u saw in Veere Di Wedding!! The two remixes - Choli ke peeche & Sona kitna Sona hai are integrated seamlessly in the narrative and are are presented aesthetically!!

Downer : the script in the second half of the film cudve focussed more on the intricacies involved in planning the heist The robbery looks a bit rushed with no tense moments which definitely wudve provided the viewers with a better sense of fulfillment ( something that we saw in BABY !!)

All in all, a decently made crime comedy film which is also the first woman centric film in this genre !!

Don't try to search for logic and u might actually end up enjoying it !!

Going with 3/5 for this one ... Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #crew #tabu #kritisanon #kareenakapoor #RajeshSharma #diljeetdosanjh #kapilsharma.

Yodha (2024)

Fast paced adrenaline rush thriller!!

[8/10 · 23 March 2024]

Film Review: Yodha screening in cinemas with Prime Video as the Streaming partner!!

I was surprised to see some of the "so called critics" pan this film and hence decided to check it out myself!!

Yodha is a fast paced action thriller right from the word go !! The story is about a commando from an elite special forces unit called Yodha who is disgraced after a failed rescue mission . A few years later he gets a chance to redeem himself when he finds himself on-board a hijacked plane with an invisible adversary and deep rooted conspiracy to unravel !!

Siddharth Malhotra is brilliant as the protagonist!! All action scenes including the one at the start as well as the fight sequences in the plane have been really well choreographed!! Slick editing, direction and cinematography make this film a treat to watch !! Zabardast!! 👍👌

The USP of this film is the vulnerability of the protagonist, his frustration and the scars of his previous failure which makes him human and relatable!! Disha Patani too has performed well in her small but impactful role !! Emotional scenes between Siddharth Malhotra & Rashi Khanna ( his on screen wife ) & the chemistry between them has been very well showcased!! Kritika Bhardwaj who has a small but important role in the film performs well !!

The film is exceptionally good, barring the last 15 mins where it becomes very cliched!! Won't elaborate much as it might come out as a spoiler!! Definitely some scope for improvement there!!

Overall an edge of the seat thriller with some heart pumping action scenes which will keep you glued to ur seats all throughout!!

Going with 3.5/5 for this one .. definitely worth a watch on the big screen ( or you may catch it on prime video when it streams)... Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #yodha #yodhamovie #yodhamoviereview #siddharthmalhotra #dishapatani #PrimeVideo #PrimeVideoIN #primevideoindia.

Murder Mubarak (2024)

India's Knives Out.. pankaj Tripathi is brilliant!!

[7/10 · 19 March 2024]

Film Review: Murder Mubarak streaming on Netflix!!

In a nutshell this film is India's Knives Out with a strong ensemble cast!!

It is a dark comedy murder mystery set in the Royal Club in Delhi which is home ( literally!!) to the city's snobbish elite crowd. The murder of a sexy gym instructor Leo (Ashim Gulati) disrupts the delicate ecosystem of the crowd and marks the entry of India's Daniel Craig, ACP Bhavani Singh ( Pankaj Tripathi) who needs to use his expert sleuthing skills to solve this mystery. A lot of skeletons of the tumble out of the closet in the course of the investigation. Will Bhavani Singh finally nab the perp ?

Based on Anuja Chauhan's book "Club You to Death" the main USP of this film is the huge ensemble cast who add a lot of fun as well as emotional quotient to this whodunit.

A few members who have given great performances are - Rajaji ( Sanjay Kapoor) who plays a kangal royal who loves to flaunt his royalty.

The horny aunty club Dimple Kapadia ( Cookie Katoch) and Tisca Chopra ( Roshni Batra ) who love to lust after the young men in the club.

Bambi ( Sara Ali Khan) plays a young widow who secretly pines for the love of her life Lawyer Aakash Dogra ( Vijay Varma) Then there is Karishma Kapoor who plays yesteryear actress Shehnaz Noorani.

Others who deserve a mention are Deven Bhojwani as the Club's Manager & Brijendra Kala as waiter Guppi Ram.

All characters have hidden secrets and each one is a potential suspect!!

Be warned .. the narrative is non linear and given the large pool of suspects , the story can get confusing at times and u will need to be attention personified while watching it !

Pankaj Tripathi is just brilliant and carries the film on his strong shoulders with his quirky one-liners and funny demeanor. But fikar not, ACP Bhavani Singh is a man on a mission out to unravel the truth.

If you have enjoyed watching Knives out & Agatha Christie's novels and films .. you will definitely enjoy this one !

Going with 3/5. Worth a watch for sure .. Adios 🙂!!

Shaitaan (2024)

R Madhavan is brilliant in this supernatural thriller!!

[8/10 · 8 March 2024]

Film Review: Shaitaan screening in theatres !!

Shaitaan is a remake of the Gujarati film "Vash" which I am sure most you ( including me ) didn't watch🙂 .

A simple story of a family of 4 going on a weekend trip to their farmhouse. On the way they meet a stranger who seems friendly at first but has sinister intentions. He uses black magic to gain control of the girls mind and uses it to get a consent from the parents to take her away. The question is why does he want the girl & will the parents be able to save her .

R Madhavan as the "Shaitaan" is brilliant as the antagonist and is evil personified . He is the highlight of the film for sure. Ajay Devgan, Jyotika & especially Janki Bodiwala, the girl whose mind is controlled by the antagonist lend strong support to Madhavan in this simple tale of good vs evil supernatural thriller.

The last 15 mins of the film are a bit cliched but the twist in the climax is awesome. Definitely worth the wait!!

Great direction, editing and a stellar cast with great performances will definitely make this an entertaining watch for fans of this genre !! Watch this film on Netflix when it streams, if you aren't able to catch it in theatres!

I enjoyed it .. will go with 3.5/5 for this one .. adios 🙂!!

#SHAITAAN #sanjuzzreviews #Netflix #netflixindia #ajaydevgan #Jyotika #RMadhavan.

The Chelsea Detective (2022– )

Good old-fashioned detective crime series!!

[8/10 · 7 March 2024]

Web Series Review: The Chelsea Detective streaming on BBC Player ( An add-on subscription available with Prime Video)

Set in London's seemingly peaceful Chelsea neighborhood. DI Max Arnold and his merry gang - Connor, Jess, Layla & Priya investigate murder cases which expose the dark side of human nature where greed & deception are rampant !!

The beauty of this show is its focus on old fashioned police work , a sweet detective ( not the brash arrogant, troubled guys battling demons of their past like Luther!!) .

Not the most innovative of plots, though it has its moments and springs up surprises when u least expect it!!

Another thing which stands out is the lack of profanity, sex , smoking which is quite refreshing to see. The focus is more on protagonists , their lives , bonding as a team and a methodical approach to solving crimes which endears viewers. Adrian Scarborough as DI Arnold is brilliant and his chemistry with his ex-wife Astrid & other team members with their witty one-liners and banter has been very well depicted !!

There are 2 seasons currently streaming on BBC Player with 4 episodes in each season. Each episode is around 90 mins ( a movie in itself !!). The USP of this show is that it is easy on the eyes. Definitely bingewatch worthy!! Waiting eagerly for the 3rd season!!

Going with 3.5/5 for this one .. Adios 🙂!!

#PrimeVideo #sanjuzzreviews #BBCPlayer #BBCiPlayer #bbcindia #TheChelseaDetective #AdrianScarborough #detectivewebseries #detectivewebseries #britishinvestigativeseries.

The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth (2024)

Gripping truecrime Docuseries!!

[7/10 · 4 March 2024]

True Crime Docuseries Review: The Indrani Mukherjea Story- Buried Truth streaming on Netflix!!

One of the most sensational murder cases of our time and on par with the Arushi Talwar case, the Sheena Bora murder is one of those media hyped cases where the truth might be hiding in plain sight but justice might never be served!!

A truly complicated case with none of the accused or witnesses willing to reveal the complete truth.

This 4 part Netflix docuseries tries to delve deep into the dysfunctional lives of Indrani & her family where everything seems hunky dory on the surface but with a lot of ugliness hiding beneath the pristine exterior.

Out of the 4 accused ( Peter Mukherjea ( ex husband ) , Sanjeev Khanna (2nd husband ) , Shyamvar Rai ( her driver ) & Indrani herself)) only Indrani agreed to participate in this docuseries. This shows that it is a PR cum image re- branding exercise on her part.

It brings about two facets of her character - a highly ambitious , successful & ruthless businesswoman who will go to any length to protect her image even if it means murdering someone OR doing a complete character assassination of all witnesses including her son Mikhail, Rahul ( stepson) among others.

The unflinching gaze with which she looks into the camera and provides u with well rehearsed answers gives an impression of her being a pathological liar & a borderline psychopath devoid of empathy.

A only bit of emotion shown by her is when she discloses that she had been raped by her father and Sheena is the product of this unholy union. This is the only time when she seems human. Otherwise emotionally, she's zilch!!!

She also tries to propagate the ludicrous theory that Sheena is still alive thereby turning the "Sheena Bora murder" into "No one Killed Sheena" case !! The lady is just incorrigible!!

The timing of the release of this docuseries is also suspect as the matter is subjudice!!

Worth a one-time watch if u want to revisit this sensational murder case !! But most likely the "Actual Truth" might never be known and will be buried forever !!

#BuriedTruth #IndraniMukherjea #netflixseries #truecrimedocuseries #TrueCrimeSeries #sanjuzzreviews.

Raktabeej (2023)

Gripping intense political thriller!!

[8/10 · 3 March 2024]

Film Review: Bengali Film Raktabeej streaming on Hoichoi!!

Based on the Burdwan blast in West Bengal, Raktabeej is a gripping political thriller by director duo Nandita Roy - Shiboprasad Mukherjee.

Victor Banerjee , who plays the President of India ( has a strong resemblance to Pranab Mukherjee) who has rejected a mercy petition which leads to hanging of a terrorist ( Afzal Guru ) is due to return to his hometown for Durga Puja .

Meanwhile a blast in an illegal fireworks factory in the remote village of Khoyragarh is more than what it seems and is linked to a sinister & audacious plot to assassinate the President . No one can be trusted as there might be insiders involved in the conspiracy.

It is up to police officers Abir Chatterjee & Mimi Chakraborty to piece together the clues and prevent the tragedy.

The script is tight , narrative-fast paced which makes it an edge of the seat political thriller . The songs too compliment the storyline perfectly.

Special mention for the chemistry between veteran actor Victor Banerjee & Anashua Majumder ( who plays the President's elder sister) . Their bond has been very well portrayed. Abir Chatterjee is brilliant as usual . Mimi Chakraborty has a role on par with Abir. Their banter, nok-jhok throughout the film is pleasing to watch. Grt camaraderie indeed. Kanchan Mallick as the local investigating officer steals the show with his funny one-liners which will make u laugh out loud for sure. There are others in the cast who also lend strong support to the main cast !!

There is an interesting cameo by Ankush Hazra and a male item no. Too !!

The climax has been brilliantly conceived & the final reveal is well worth the wait !!

The sheer deviousness of human nature will surely send a chill down ur spine!!

The ending has been kept open for a sequel !! Waiting eagerly for it !! Shonada ( Abir 😊) we love u !!

Going with 3.5/5 for this one .. Adios 🙂!!

#raktabeej #raktabeejmovie #sanjuzzreviews #AbirChatterjee #mimichakraborty #victorbanerjee #KanchanMullick #hoichoi #HoichoiOriginals.

Article 370 (2024)

Fast paced , engaging with brilliant performances!!

[8/10 · 27 February 2024]

Film Review: Article 370 currently screening in theatres!!

Inspired by true events, this film is about Article 370 in Kashmir, its incorporation, political manipulation & finally its abrogation in August 2019.

Two female protagonists in thick of things are Yami Gautam as a feisty Intelligence Officer Zooni Haksar & Priyamani as Rajeshwari Swaminathan, a determined Deputy Secretary to the PMO.

The abrogation process happens on 2 fronts

• fighting terrorists & separatists on the streets of Kashmir by our army & intelligence agencies
• Diplomatic battles that are fought in Parliament by Politicians.

Both Yami Gautam & Priyamani play characters with totally different personalities with Yami playing an NIA officer with a volatile personality, while Priyamani essays the part of a seasoned bureaucrat with a cool & calm demeanor. Both are brilliant and have aced their parts totally !!

Apart from the protagonists above , Raj Zutshi as the separatist leader Jalal breezes through his role with diabolical zeal . Divya Seth as Mehbooba Mufti , a quiet manipulative politician, Arun Govil as PM Modi, Kiran Karmakar as Amit Shah & Vaibhav Tatwawadi's performances too deserve appreciation.

Direction by Aditya Suhas Jambhale is great, narrative is fast paced and will keep u engrossed all throughout. The first half sets the precedence for the adrenaline rush action that happens in the 2nd half. Some creative liberties have been taken in the end which are justified.

Saw a lot of happy faces while coming out of the cinema hall 🙂. Great watch .. go for it!!

Going with 3.5/5 for this one .. Adios🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #Article370 #YamiGautam #Priyamani #article370movie #rajzutshi #ArunGovil #DivyaSethShah #VaibhavTatwawadi.

Bramayugam (2024)

A cinematic masterpiece!! Mamooty rocks!!

[10/10 · 27 February 2024]

Film Review: Brahmayugam (Malyalam film )screening in theatres!! A treat for my Mallu friends and Mamooty fans 👌👌👍👍🙂

Imagine a film shot entirely in monochrome ( B&W) , has only 3 characters and yet manages to hold u in rapt attention from start to finish . What wud u call such a film .. a brilliant cinematic masterpiece!! This is exactly what Brahmayugam is !!

A period fantasy , horror & suspense film directed by Rahul Sadasivan is something that u don't get to watch often !!

It is a cross between Tumbbad & Bram Stokers Dracula ( the first part where Jonathan Harker is trapped in The Count's castle in Transylvania).

It starts off with 2 men who have lost their way in a dense forest getting waylaid by a Yakshi ( a beautiful, bewitching demon ) who kills one of them. The other man( Arjun Ashokan) escapes & finds himself inside an eerie dilapidated mansion inhabited by a weird landlord ( Mamooty) & his despondent cook ( Siddharth). He is initially welcomed and made to feel at home but soon finds out that there is more to the mansion and its inhabitants than what meets the eye!! With each passing day he starts losing track of time and is unable to leave !! Will he be able to finally make a getaway or be trapped there forever!!

Mamooty is brilliant as usual with the performances of Arjun & Siddharth matching him shoulder to shoulder!!

Awesome storyline , well etched out characters, mind-blowing cinematography coupled with the eerie ambience compliment the narrative perfectly .

If Drishyam 2 was a milestone in Mohanlal's career.. Brahmayugam surely does the same for Mamooty!! Unmissable!!

Highly recommended!! Watch it on OTT at least ( whenever it streams) u aren't able to catch it in cinemas!!

Going with 4.5/5 for this one!! Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #Bramayugam #bramayugammovie #mammootty #arjunashokan #siddharthbharathan.

Unforgotten (2015– )

Dark ominous and suspenseful!! Brilliant investigative suspense series

[10/10 · 17 February 2024]

Web Series Review: Unforgotten streaming on BBC Player ( an add-on subscription available with Prime Video)

This series deals with a team of police officers lead by DCI Cassy Stuart ( Nicola Walker) & DI Sunil Khan ( Sanjeev Bhaskar) who specialise in solving cold cases involving historic disappearances & gruesome murders.

Dark, unsettling , gripping and suspenseful are some of the things that immediately come to mind when I think of this one. Brilliantly scripted, flawless execution along with a great cast who give it their all speaks volumes of the content provided by the makers.

Slow to start off with , this one is for those who like a slow feeling of unease creep in as the series progresses. The backstories of the protagonists are well etched out and realistically portrayed along with their inner demons , dysfunctional personal lives which can be somewhat attributed to the tough jobs they perform day in and day out .

This series has 5 seasons- each season having 6 episodes with each episode having a runtime of around 45 mins. Each season starts off with a cold case and a set of characters who seem unrelated. The storyline is non linear which is really the USP of this series . How the protagonists piece together the jigsaw puzzle , one piece at a time and how these seemingly unrelated characters suddenly make sense once the final reveal happens in the end is the beauty of it all !!

Highly recommended!! Once again I would urge people who love strong content to go in for an add-on subscription of BBC Player. Will be definitely worth the money spent !!

PS: I have watched 3 seasons till date and the 3rd season has been the best !! Unnerving to say the least.. go for it 🙂

Going with 4.5/5 for this one.. adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #unforgotten #sanjeevbhaskar #NicolaWalker #BBCPlayer #BBCiPlayer #PrimeVideo.

DCI Banks (2010–2016)

Well crafted gripping investigative thriller!!

[9/10 · 6 February 2024]

Web Series Review: DCI Banks streaming on BBC Player ( an add-on subscription available with Prime Video)

Synopsis: Veteran Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Alan Banks, along with his assistants DS Annie Cabbot and DI Helen Morton, investigates murders committed in Yorkshire- UK.

Of late I've become a big fan of British & European web series and this one doesn't disappoint u !! If you've watched Shetland , Hinterland and the likes ,U will surely enjoy this one.

The way in which crimes are investigated and solved by a diverse team of individuals with different working styles and personalities has been showcased very well!! How they put aside their personal differences and work as a team, their bonding at a personal as well as professional level is a treat to watch.

This web series has 5 seasons, each season comprising 6 episodes with each episode having a runtime of around 45 mins.

Highly recommended!! Taking an add-on subscription of BBC Player will be well worth ur time if u like British content on OTT.

Going with 4/5 for this one.. Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #DCIBanks #PrimeVideo #BBCPlayer #BBCiPlayer.

Karmma Calling (2024– )

Average web Series!! Raveena Tandon is the only saving grace!!

[6/10 · 29 January 2024]

Web Series Review: Karmma Calling streaming on Disney+ Hotstar!!

A simple plot where a mysterious woman Karma Talvar ( Namrata Seth) comes to Alibaug, gains the trust of the elite who are based out of the place with the motive of extracting revenge for the wrongs done to her and her family!!

Nothing new in the plot , even though it has been adapted from the American Series "Revenge". Been there & seen it a million times !! It is basically Bazigar with a female protagonist. The Madan Chopra in this case being Indrani Kothari ( Raveena Tandon) .

Casting isn't too good with beefy block faced hunks mascarading as actors !! Eye candy for women but not good for the series unfortunately!! Basic casting mistakes cost this series dearly!!

Raveena Tandon is the only saving grace in this average web series with a little help from the protagonist Namrata Seth. Everyone else is average!!

The ending too has been left open 😡. Is it the supreme optimism & belief of the makers, that the series is going to be renewed for a second season that makes them do this time and again !! For heaven's sake look around.. there are better ways to end the web series on a logical note & yet keep the story open for a sequel !! Not done guys .

This series spanning 7 episodes with each episode around 40 odd mins and an inconclusive climax isn't the best of what we see on OTT nowadays. The bar has been set too high nowadays!!

Overall it isn't a total washout but lagta hai kuch toh Kami reh gayi kahani main !!

Going with 2/5 for this one .. Adios 🙂!!

#karmmacalling #DisneyPlusHotstar #raveenatandon #sanjuzzreviews #NamrataSheth.

Kooman (2022)

Brilliant investigative suspense thriller by Jeethu Joseph!!

[8/10 · 24 January 2024]

Film Review: Kooman (The Night Rider) Streaming on Prime Video!!

(English subtitles available)

This is a 2022 Malayalam language suspense film directed by Jethu Joseph!!

The story is about a young police officer in a small village in Kerala who suffers from a mental disorder in which he feels a compulsive urge to respond to any dare or humiliation thrown across to him and will go to any length to come up on top. In this foolhardy quest he unwittingly enlists the help of a retired thief and carries out a series of daring thefts in order to discredit his boss !!

The twist in the tale comes when a series of suicides start happening in the village and our protagonist is captured fleeing the scene of the crime !! Are these simple suicide cases or is there something else behind these occurrences! What is our hero's connection to all this ?

All I can say about this film is ' Brilliant Jeethu sir.. absolutely brilliant!! . The twists in the story have been so intricately woven that you can't just help but feel amazed at the director's ingenuity!! The plot moves from a spate of simple robberies, sometimes shown in humorous light in the first half to something totally different & sinister in the second . The investigation and the final reveal are truly mind-blowing !!

Asif Ali as police officer Giri , the protagonist has given a restrained performance. Others like Renji Panikar, Giri's empathetic ex boss and Jaffer Idukki as Giri's mentor who teaches Giri the expert art of robbing houses have both essayed their part very well !!

All in all , a very different investigative suspense thriller!! Highly recommended.. don't miss it !!

Going with 3.5/5 for this one ... Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #kooman #AsifAli #PrimeVideo #JeethuJoseph #JeethuJospehFilm.

Junglemahal: The Awakening (2023)

Brilliant period horror film!! Highly underated!!

[8/10 · 19 January 2024]

Film Review: Jungle Mahal : The Awakening Streaming free on YouTube!!

I happened to stumble upon this one ( literally 🙂) during one my YouTube searches. This film is a brilliantly made horror film directed by Arunava Choudhary.

Loosely based on true events & set in the 80's during the peak of the Naxalite uprising , a group of 5 travellers find themselves stranded in the dense jungles somewhere in Bihar & are forced to take refuge in an abandoned forest guest house in the middle of nowhere. As time passes, strange things start happening and it becomes a matter of survival for our protagonists.

The film has been shot with a retro theme which adds to the charm of this period flick. Dense eerie jungles, a dilapidated bungalow, oil lit lamps, old black and white photographs go a long way in showcasing the nostalgic look of a bygone era and at the same time beautifully create a feeling of horror and unease as the film progresses. Doesn't rely on blood & gore at all and yet manages to send a shiver down ur spine !!

Cast of the film ( mostly unknown !! ) Deserve a special mention - Masoomeh Ab · Aditya Baliyan · Farhad Khairy · Suraiya Parvin · Amit Raina · Prashant Shinde.

Somehow such brilliantly made films that r on par with Cult Classics like " The Blair Witch Project" or " Paranormal Activity" never seem to do well or find an audience here in India .. a travesty indeed!! Probably absence of big names in the starcast also ends up pulling the film down 😔

If you r a true horror film buff then u will definitely find this enjoyable!!

Going with 3.5/5 for this... Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #junglemahaltheawakening #Junglemahal #arunavachoudhary #youtube #horrorfilm.