u/FilmyDiscussion_2024

Watched this 1991 Nana Patekar starrer recently. Nana himself directed this movie along with Subhankar Ghosh.

It is a movie about military training, fighting the external enemies.

Then it turns to fighting internal enemies - goondas, apathy among people.

The first part about military training is realistic and done really well.

What happens when the military officer encounters goondagiri and public apathy in the village of his protege Peter D'Souza?

That is the second part. It is good, but could've been done better.

The climax with the court scene (internal enemies) and the ending is really good though.

Nana as Major Chauhan is excellent in a strict, but somewhat subdued role. Dimple Kapadia as Kiran does well. Madhuri as Shirley, Gautam Joglekar as Peter D' Souza and others have also done a good job. The direction is also pretty good. Watch the movie on Youtube/OTT, if you haven't yet. 8/10 IMO.

Pooja Meri Jaan is a thriller court room drama with social message.

A guy Aniket (Vikram Singh Chauhan) is obsessively in love with his friend Pooja (Mrunal Thakur), but she doesn't love him back. She rejects his proposal and switches off her phone not responding to him that night after the rejection. Aniket gets highly depressed and commits suicide. Is Pooja to blame for Aniket's death? Or is it his own obsession and unable to accept the rejection. What all are the factors involved?

A campaign starts against Pooja who is arrested for abetment to suicide. It upto her lawyer friend Sana (Huma Qureshi) to help defend her in the court.

The movie does explore the topic of some men not being able to handle rejection well, patriarchy, concept of choice legally fairly well.

It showcases that concept of ladki ke na ko haan badlne ka obsession mat rakho and to handle rejection in better way (take help if needed). It deconstructs that wrong Bollywood/India movie cliche of a guy purusing a girl until she says yes (even after being rejected)

Where it does falter is not accounting for the societal aspect of a girl in this case switching partners that regularly. (Same would apply for a guy too btw). India is not some uber-liberal society nor should it be. This makes the film a little less sympathetic towards men that it could have been.

Mrunal as Pooja portrays an essentially decent natured girl, but also shows her flaws with being rude at times, not able to remain committed (by her own admission). Munal is outstanding in the role, portraying the fear, vulnerability, sadness, brattiness, sympathy etc. all very well. Another outstanding performance from her after Love Sonia, Sita Ramam, Hi Nanna, Dacoit. This is her most layered role though not necessarily her best.

Huma as Sana, the lawyer friend, does very well - she is under-rated as an actor. Vikram Singh does very well as the decent natured, but obsessed lover Aniket. Vijay Raaz as Jatin, the opposing lawyer, also does a good job as does the rest of the cast. The music in the movie is below par. Director Navjot Gulati has done a pretty good job.

All in all, a movie definitely worth watching and the topics brought up worth discussing about.

7.75 to 8/10 rating IMO.

Pooja Meri Jaan is a thriller court room drama with social message.

A guy Aniket (Vikram Singh Chauhan) is obsessively in love with his friend Pooja (Mrunal Thakur), but she doesn't love him back. She rejects his proposal and switches off her phone not responding to him that night after the rejection. Aniket gets highly depressed and commits suicide. Is Pooja to blame for Aniket's death? Or is it his own obsession and unable to accept the rejection. What all are the factors involved?

A campaign starts against Pooja who is arrested for abetment to suicide. It upto her lawyer friend Sana (Huma Qureshi) to help defend her in the court.

The movie does explore the topic of some men not being able to handle rejection well, patriarchy, concept of choice legally fairly well.

It showcases that concept of ladki ke na ko haan badlne ka obsession mat rakho and to handle rejection in better way (take help if needed). It deconstructs that wrong Bollywood/India movie cliche of a guy purusing a girl until she says yes (even after being rejected)

Where it does falter is not accounting for the societal aspect of a girl in this case switching partners that regularly. (Same would apply for a guy too btw). India is not some uber-liberal society nor should it be. This makes the film a little less sympathetic towards men that it could have been.

Mrunal as Pooja portrays an essentially decent natured girl, but also shows her flaws with being rude at times, not able to remain committed (by her own admission). Munal is outstanding in the role, portraying the fear, vulnerability, sadness, brattiness, sympathy etc. all very well. Another outstanding performance from her after Love Sonia, Sita Ramam, Hi Nanna, Dacoit. This is her most layered role though not necessarily her best.

Huma as Sana, the lawyer friend, does very well - she is under-rated as an actor. Vikram Singh does very well as the decent natured, but obsessed lover Aniket. Vijay Raaz as Jatin, the opposing lawyer, also does a good job as does the rest of the cast. The music in the movie is below par. Director Navjot Gulati has done a pretty good job.

All in all, a movie definitely worth watching and the topics brought up worth discussing about.

7.75 to 8/10 rating IMO.

For those who don't know Kannada, Premada Oorali means "in the village of love".

Premada Ooralli is coming to the rest of India & overseas, released by KRG Studios - in theatres from 9th October, 2026!!!!

https://x.com/KRG_Studios/status/2106606175756468683

Premada Ooralli releasing in North India by AA Films

https://x.com/KRG_Studios/status/2106609751853539547

Very small budget film that is a big blockbuster in Karnataka already.

Feel good, rooted village and love story film that stays with you.

Very good acting, cinematography, music and direction.

Best Kannada movie of the year IMO

My review:

Premada Oorali movie review - feel good, rooted, super film! : r/IndianCinemaRegional

With Anant Nag deservedly getting the Dadasaheb Phalke award at last, here is a list of some of his brilliant movies and performances:

Godhi Banna Sadharna Mykattu (Anant Nag, Rakshit Shetty and Sruthi Hariharan)

Beladingala bale

Gowri Ganesha

Ganeshina Madave

Accident (has both Anant Nag and Shankar Nag)

Hamsageethe

Naa Ninna Bidalare

Hollywood (Upendra and Anant Nag)

Ankur (Hindi)

Mungaru Male (Ganesh, Anant Nag and Pooja Gandhi)

Hosa Neeru

Narada Vijaya

Swati Tirunal (Malayalam)

Kondura (Hindi/Telugu)

Minchina ota

Sarkari hiriya prathamika shale

Malgudi days (serial)

Shanthi Kranthi

Please feel free to add more.

Love Sonia is a very good, hard-hitting movie about trafficking and hope. Mrunal plays the titular role Sonia and the cast is star-studded with Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Anupam Kher, Richa Chada.

Cast also includes Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionnaire fame), Riya Sisodiya (who plays Mrunal's sister), Adil Hussain.

It also has a guest appearance by Demi Moore

Mrunal is superb in her Hindi debut movie. The rest of the cast have also done really well.

Full movie is available here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q0pkROhGis

Starring Nirup, Shanvi, Pruthvi

Releasing on September 11th

I'm Game is an entertaining movie with a fantasy twist. It involves gambling, cricket, emotional stuff, comedy packaged together well.

Dulquer is in top form as Dan John. He plays the gambler, confused, frustrated guy very well. And first time, he is shown well in a mass avatar. Dulquer is ably supported by Kayadu Lohar, Anthony Varghese Das, Samyukhtha Vishwanathan, Mysskin, Kathir etc. The story and direction by Nahas Hidayanath is good, but could've been better. Movie should have been cut short by about 15 mins or so to make it crisper. I'm glad the movie gets the messages about life and cricket correct by the end.

Definitely an entertaining watch and worth it. 7.25-7.5/10.