Kedarnath
Director – Abhishek Kapoor 
Cast – Sara Ali Khan, Sushant Singh Rajput, Pooja Gor, Nitish Bhardwaj
Rating – 2/5

Sara Ali Khan, daughter to Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan, makes her debut in Abhishek Kapoor’s Kedarnath. She stars opposite Sushant Singh Rajput — a leading man famous for playing on-screen cricket — who plays a character named Mansoor Khan, rather like her legendary India-captaining grandfather. However will this child escape granddaddy issues?

As first-timers go, Khan is okay. Her character Mandakini is exaggeratedly feisty, the sort often played by Parineeti Chopra and Anushka Sharma, and, in another time, by Khan’s own eternally plucky mother, Amrita Singh. Talking nineteen to the dozen is tricky, and Khan isn’t spontaneous enough. The actors around her are markedly natural — Pooja Gor, playing her stern elder sister, is so damn real — while Khan is playacting. She is fine when silent and sad, and, from time to time, displays an interesting awkwardness. She is certainly atypical, though, and that may hold promise.

This film claims to be about the Kedarnath floods of 2013, but the catastrophe serves as an afterthought, coming in at the very end of a 1980s-type star-crossed romantic melodrama. This is another tired story about disapproving Hindu-Muslim parents tearing lovers apart, the only twist being that the pandit patriarch is played by Nitish Bhardwaj, Lord Aquaguard Krishna himself.

The boy, Mansoor, is played by Sushant Singh Rajput, a reliably solid actor making his most in a badly written film, looking suitably overwhelmed at the possibility of romance. He’s a porter who carts people up and down the mountain on a stool strapped to his back. The film is so slow that we found ourselves asking questions about his apparatus, a wicker chair converted into a rucksack: basically, a palanquin for those who travel solo.

Kapoor’s films feature moments of poetry that seem accidental. Here, the boy who never speaks up for his rights begins to hold court in front of a council of elders, directly after having kissed the talkative girl; as if she literally gave him her tongue.

Then, the rain. For the last twenty minutes, the screen floods and the sound of the torrent is incessant enough to strain the bladder. This visit to the restroom, however, may be the only impact it generates, since the devastation is too dimly lit to be visually impressive or emotionally evocative, while our hero seems to have developed the ability to breathe underwater. Let’s call him Aquamansoor.

Kedarnath is a forgettable film, but some may remember the girl fondly — which might be the film’s only goal. In one scene, Khan rides down the mountain on Rajput’s back, and he calls her the heaviest load he’s lifted. She smiles and tells him to get used to it. Indian Cinema to carry on .

It seems like Ranveer Singh’s charm with audience has worked once again as Zoya Akhtar directorial Gully boy has impressed the audience with its easy-to-connect storyline, performances and impactful rap numbers.

The film garnered Rs 19.40 crore on its opening day and has received good reviews from critics as well as the audience.

Gully boy earned Rs 18.65 crore on the third day of its release, taking the total collection to Rs 51.15 crore.

As per film critics Ranveer Singh brings a restrained swagger to the part: there is a gentleness to his anger. His Murad shows that Singh can tamp down on his characteristic boisterousness to create something of value, even though sometimes you can see the effort show.” Ultimately, this is a film to enjoy. In today’s India, to bring a Murad and Safeena, their Muslim-ness a matter-of-fact statement, into centre-stage, to give traction to those who live on the wrong side of the tracks, is an act of bravery. ‘Inka time aa gaya’. Rap along.”

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt’s Gully Boy opened to great reviews from film critics and audience alike on February 14. The fourth feature film from Zoya Akhtar’s kitty unravels the underground hip-hop scene in India and also stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Kalki Koechlin

Inspired by the story of underground rappers Divine and Naezy, it has Ranveer playing the role of Murad, a young man trying to break free through his street rap. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh revealed on Thursday that the musical drama has released on 3350 screens in India and a total of 4101 screens worldwide.

According to film trade expert Girish Johar, Gully Boy is expected to earn Rs 15 crore on its opening day and will maintain its stronghold with a positive word of mouth.

“The film is releasing on a Thursday, which is neither a holiday nor a festival day. Although it’s Valentines Day, it has no official status. Still, I am expecting the film to do Rs 15 crore business on day one because the youth will definitely go and watch it. They will be attracted to the film very strongly. Rest is definitely based on the word of mouth,” said Johar as he talked about the box office prediction of Gully Boy.”

Zoya Akhtar who is know to give brilliant and blockbuster films like Luck By Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Dhadakne Do, changes gear with Gully Boy. It’s the story of Murad (Ranveer Singh), his aspiration, ambition, his family, his love Safeena (Alia Bhatt), his friendships and the path he takes to fulfil his dream. At the forefront, Gully Boy may seem like a movie about the underground rappers but actually, it is much more than that. 

The movie is mainly about human relations, connections, emotions and dynamics. There is no filmmaker better than Zoya Akhtar who can portray and handle human complexities in such a brilliant way. Gully Boy will surely be counted amongst her best work. 

To know the genius of Zoya Akhtar, there are several scenes in the movie that will hit you right in the feels. Like the scene when Murad’s father (Vijay Raaz) re-marries. The silence in that scene speaks louder than words. Or the scene when his employer, for whom he works as a driver, casually makes him aware of his social status or the bouncer of a pub asking him to move aside. The movie is filled with such gems. 

I loved the friendship dynamics. It all felt so organic and real. A scene featuring Vijay Verma and Ranveer Singh towards the end will choke you up. And Ranveer and Alia’s chemistry is too cute to be true. They are like a house on fire.

If the writing of the movie and Zoya’s direction is of the highest order, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, debutant Sidhant Chaturvedi and other actors complement it with fabulous performances. 

Ranveer Singh is phenomenal. It’s hard to imagine that he is the same guy who just delivered a blockbuster playing an over-the-top cop in Simmba. I don’t think any other actor could’ve pulled off this role the way Ranveer did. He explodes when he raps and gives a restrained performance throughout. He is a pro at rapping.

Alia Bhatt, for me, was the scene stealer. Every scene she appears in is a riot. She is endearing, to say the least. This is one of her best performances and her character is a crash course in women empowerment. I am sure everyone’s going to fall in love with her.

Making his debut on the big screen, Sidhant Chaturvedi makes the character of an experienced rapper his own. He stands tall with Ranveer Singh. His performance is so natural that many might confuse him for a real-life rapper. Watch out for him. He is surely going to go places. 

Vijay Raaz, Sheeba Chaddha, Amruta Subhash, Vijay Maurya and Kalki Koechlin are all good in their parts. Special mention to Vijay Verma. 

The music is also a character here. The meaningful lyrics are icing on the cake.

The dialogues by Vijay Maurya will surely receive a lot of seetis and taalis. The cinematography is perfect. It gives the movie the much-needed authenticity. 

Over all, Gully Boy is one of the best movies to come out of Indian cinema in recent times. Watch it for Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt and Sidhant Chaturvedi’s dazzling performances. And moreover, watch it for the master filmmaker Zoya Akhtar. Hats off to her. The movie is all in all a winner.