Do I Like It?

On this episode of Do I Like It, we review Photo, directed by Utsav Gonwar, which was just premiered at the Bengaluru International Film Festival. This Kannada film is pathbreaking in terms of its  cinematography; the director portrays his story in terms of political consciousness and not political correctness.

The movie starts with the story of a young son, excited to visit his father in Bengaluru, but slowly morphs into the story of a father hoping to return to his village amidst the lockdown and their collective journey home.

The narrative shift is smooth and does not cause any narrative jerks. Overall, photo is a beautiful amalgamation of several representations whether it be gender, class or societal.

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In this episode of Do I Like It, we review Joyland - a film by Saim Sadiq- which has recently become a global symbol of Pakistani cinematography. While the movie pushes the boundaries by depicting a love story between a transgender woman and a cisgender man, it also shows the orthodox reality of the misogyny faced by women in general.

Overall, Joyland is the most joyous cinematic experience of recent times and worthy of all the adulation it’s received. Tune in for the full review!

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In this episode of Do I Like It, I review Anubhav Sinha’s latest - Bheed. Bheed not only packs a powerhouse of talented actors, but a story that directly reflects the reality of many. As always, Sinha takes up real life news incidents and fictionalises them to showcase the depth of the issue surrounding his movie. In this case, he does justice to the horrific reality of workers who were trying to migrate during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Although, I have some reservations about a few artistic decisions, overall, Bheed is definitely a must watch. Tune in for the full review.

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An Indian family moves to Norway for better opportunities and a better life but in a somber turn of events, their children are taken away by Norwegian Child Welfare Services (Barnevernet). 

This forms the crux of Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, based on the true story of Sagarika Chakraborty (and further based on her book 'The Journey of a Mother').

Most of the film's emotional core rests on Mukerji's able shoulders as she emotes and acts with equal promise.The film’s biggest flaw is that most of the themes it touches upon are cursory or anecdotal at best.

Tune in to this episode for the full review!

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In this episode of Do I Like It, we review Zwigato, and no, this is not a new food delivery app; instead a portrayal of the life of a gig worker directed by Nandita Das. Das does an excellent job by using the medium of a food delivery worker to display multiple disparities and prejudices in society regarding gender, caste, and income.

At the same time, it’s refreshing to see Kapil Sharma, a celebrated Indian comic, take on the serious role of a father struggling to make ends meet. Overall, the film moves you and reminds you of the trials and tribulations in the life of a delivery driver, who is more than often overlooked as a rightful member of our society.

Tune in for the full review!

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The Last of Us, is a HBO production, which is adapted from the video game of the same name. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann explore human relationships, their importance and fragility. 

Everything from the colour palette to cinematography to acting performances will keep you gripped to the plot. To find out why Verda Subway describes it as a must-watch, tune in!

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In this episode, we review Thuramukham - a beautiful retelling of labor unions in the 1940’s in Cochin, India. The director does such an excellent job in portraying the daily struggles of labor workers that you feel as though you’re watching a documentary rather than a commercial mainstream movie.

But, as history lessons tend to, the movie seems to lag at certain points with repetitive action and dialogue sequences. Overall, the film is an excellent example of almost hitting the mark.

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In this episode of Do I Like It, I discuss the impact of Aamir Khan on Bollywood, focusing on both the positive and negative aspects of his contributions. While his films like 3 Idiots and Taare Zameen Par received critical acclaim for addressing pressing social issues, his performances in movies like Ghajini and Mela were heavily criticized.

Aamir's perfectionism and control over his films have been both a blessing and a curse, leading to delays in production and increased costs. While there are varying perspectives on whether he is the best or worst thing to happen to Bollywood, there is no denying his influence on Indian cinema. Tune in and listen till the end. 

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On this episode of Do I Like It, I review KR$NA’s latest EP called Time Will Tell. The project is produced by Karachi-based producers Jokhay and Umair and features vocals from Talha Anjum and Talha Yunus, members of the Pakistani duo Young Stunners.

The production is a good attempt at proving how well cross-country collaborations can do for the growth of art. Moreover, KR$NA delivers a well-packaged and neatly wrapped present, but perfection can also be a flaw; ultimately, how are we human without our humanity? To know more, tune in to the episode.

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I am not a Ranbir Kapoor fan. I'm very far from it. So, my motivation to watch Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar, was solely to come on the mic and diss Ranbir Kapoor. But, the film did surprise me a bit. 

Being a signature Luv Ranjan film, it had its faults but also a messaging for a change. To know more about what I liked, disliked and barely sat through, tune into this review. 

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