Olavina Payana(2.5 / 5)

The film attempts to tackle a complex emotional terrain, but its handling of the narrative feels slightly heavy-handed

A good story about themes such as love, loss, and second chances should resonate with us and show the complexities of moving on after a tragedy. Director Kishan Balnad’s debut film Olavina Payana tries to explore these themes through the journey of Sunil (Sunil Kumar), making it one of those relatable middle-class stories. Sunil falls deeply in love with Vainavi (Kushi), the daughter of Cariappa (Bala Rajawadi), a wealthy coffee planter. In a bid to marry her, Sunil challenges Cariappa, who, as expected in classic narratives, humiliates him and sets an impossible task: Sunil must prove himself worthy by becoming somebody in society. The challenge sends Sunil to Bengaluru, where he not only builds a successful life but also creates opportunities for others before eventually marrying Vainavi.

Direction: Kishan Balnad

Cast: Sunil Kumar, Kushi, Priya Hegde, Padmaja Rao, and Bala Rajawadi

Up until this point, Olavina Payana is a traditional love story laced with ambition, but it takes an unexpected turn when Vainavi dies of a sudden cardiac arrest. From here, the film shifts focus to Sunil’s emotional turmoil as he is compelled to marry Deepika (Priya Hegde), setting the stage for an exploration of grief, second chances, and the lingering shadow of past love.

The central philosophical question that Olavina Payana poses is a heavy one: How does a person cope when the love of their life is lost, and is it possible, or right, to build a new life with someone else? Sunil is caught between his memories of Vainavi and his responsibilities toward his new family. The film attempts to tackle this complex emotional terrain, but the director’s handling of the narrative feels slightly heavy-handed. The slow pacing and overly sentimental moments detract from the otherwise intriguing premise. Instead of drawing us deeper into Sunil’s grief, the film spends too much time on unnecessary details that take away from the core emotional journey. A more focused script would have allowed the audience to connect more deeply with Sunil’s internal struggle, leading to a more satisfying conclusion.

A serial actor who transitioned to films, Sunil’s performance is sincere, portraying a man who grows from a hopeful lover to someone burdened by the weight of his past. Kushi, who plays Vainavi, is graceful in her role, though her screen time is limited due to the early plot twist. Priya Hegde, as Deepika, brings a steady presence, but her character lacks the depth needed to make her stand out.

Visually, the film doesn’t do much with the contrast between the rural and urban settings, missing a chance to reflect Sunil’s changing emotional state through the locations. The music tries to match the emotional tone, helping to set the right mood during key moments.

Olavina Payana is a film with good intentions and meaningful themes, but it struggles to fully deliver. Still, it offers an emotional look at love, loss, and second chances—reminding us that, even in imperfection, there’s always something to learn.

News Credits: Cinema Express

Superboys of Malegaon review: A fitting tribute to the love of cinema

Superboys of Malegaon movie review: This is a heartfelt film capturing the dreams and struggles of a group of boys in Malegaon who are passionate about making movies, reflecting the magic of cinema and the changing face of India.

In Short

• Superboys of Malegaon is set to release on February 28
• Adarsh Gourav and Viineet Kumar Siingh lead the cast
• The film captures India’s changing face from late 90s to early 2000s

Rating: (4 / 5)

Cast & Crew : Vineet Kumar Singh

Based on the real-life story of a group of boys in Malegaon who decided to pursue their dream of making a movie, Reema Kagti’s ‘Superboys of Malegaon’ is easily one of the finest films to be made about the magic of celluloid. Inspired by the original documentary Superman of Malegaon (2012), which is available for streaming on YouTube if you haven’t watched it, the Farhan Akhtar-produced film has its heart in the right place.

With Adarsh Gourav and Viineet Kumar Singh at the forefront of this group of nobodies struggling to make ends meet, the film also chronicles the changing face of India from the late 90s to the early 2000s. Kagti’s approach in making the film is very similar to the essence of the 2012 documentary. Keeping it simple and not meandering too much, she lets the camera focus on the camaraderie between the boys while capturing the rugged and transient landscape of Mumbai.

Adarsh plays the leader of the group, based on the real-life character Nasir Shaikh. The other members of his tribe – played by Shashank Arora, Manjiri Pupala, and Muskkaan Jaferi – are equally good and complement each other well. Malegaon’s charm and beauty lies in its relentless escapism that it offers not just to the boys making the movie but also to us – the audience. Varun Grover’s writing has an infectious energy that catches early on and stays with you until the very last frame. For anyone wanting a grassroots view of how movies are made, there are multiple scenes and events that will amuse you and leave you stumped at the sheer audacity of these boys trying to pull off all sorts of stunts to make their dream into a reality.

Even though there is an overwhelming sense of helplessness at times, the film has its humour in the right place. If you have watched the 1988 classic Cinema Paradiso, then you will know that this love for movies is a subject that has its own charm. Superboys of Malegaon is a must-watch thanks to its performances and its zest for showcasing and celebrating the undying enthusiasm of the human spirit. If you can dream it, you can make it. Now that’s a message that’s definitely worth applauding

News Credits: India Today

Dragon (3 / 5)

The film is aware of Dragon’s life and its treatment and acts in its favour by giving callbacks that are a laugh-riot

Ashwath Marimuthu’s Dragon sits on the fence in terms of its themes, and it lets the characters who are involved in their own battles fight it out in a system that benefits the smartest. When D Ragavan, an outstanding student in school, stands outside the traditional moral values in college, and is branded as a ‘bad boy’, it is too hard to like him. The director is not interested in making him likeable either, but he crafts an immensely enjoyable and relatable coming-of-age story of an extremely flawed individual who suffers with the repercussions of his shortcuts as he attempts to turn the tides to chart a triumphant story.

In many ways, Dragon is a reformed version of Uthaman Pradeep from Pradeep Ranganathan’s own Love Today. He makes mistakes, understands them and chooses to make amends. He shows maturity as he grows professionally, takes the path of righteousness and exhibits honesty that he hasn’t shown all these years. If SJ Suryah’s Bhoominathan in Sivakarthikeyan’s Don made students shiver with fear, Mysskin’s Mayilvahanan seems like Bhoominathan’s long-lost twin brother. Mayilvahanan is the emotional heart of the film. It would have been an easy choice to write Mayilvahanan as a villain whose name would terrorise students, but Ashwath chooses not to. Dragon subverts many of these tropes to present an extremely convincing story that youth can relate to. For instance, the introduction of a second female character in the second half would ideally, in many films, yield a love triangle. Dragon barely teases you with such a prospect.

This doesn’t mean Ashwath never indulges in cinematic highs. A scene that should be registered in the books of ‘mass’ moments in cinema, Dragon’s so-called ardent junior follower, named ‘Kutty’ Dragon (Harshath Khan), is asked to narrate an algorithm for him to study while he bashes up some goons. Another classic trick is to make a cigarette stub create an inciting incident that would go on to change the entire course of his life. An interesting cameo with a Midas touch reminds you of Oh My Kadavule and makes you question the magic of its timing. But these don’t overshadow the film or make it larger than life than necessary, making you suspend disbelief about his motives. It is rooted in realism and provides a peek into the oft-forgotten ugly world of ‘pokkiris’ and ‘dons’ who walk around the campus with dishevelled hair and swirl ID cards around their fingers. The film is aware of Dragon’s life and its treatment and acts in its favour by giving callbacks that are a laugh-riot.

One of the major considerations in Dragon is whether it glorifies Raghavan’s idea of morality and ethics. The film treads dangerously close to glorification, but it changes course and chooses to emphasise the importance of education and its effect on an individual’s life. There are a few questionable choices, though, like Raghavan transforming from what the internet calls a ‘walking red flag’ to becoming a ‘green forest’ in one song to the point where he ticks all the checkboxes of being a gentleman. A proof of loyalty for Pallavi (Kayadu Lohar) is Dragon admitting that he is an RCB fan. When Keerthi (Anupama) has a heated conversation with Dragon, the verbal abuse goes a bit far with Dragon choking her. During a later part of the film, he goes on to almost hit her when Anupama merely asks him to converse with her. They don’t sit well with the film’s tonality even when it depicts Dragon as a complete mess in both moments. Kayadu Lohar is charming as Pallavi, but little is known about her life and character. The same goes for Anupama Parameswaran’s Keerthi. As Dragon’s father Dhanapal, George Maryan stands out with his earnest performance in emotionally weighted scenes, but it might be too saccharine. If you are a fan of Surya Vamsam, there are several ‘Natchathira Jannalil’ moments where Dragon is working towards building a life of his dreams, but the film merely touches upon his darker moments of vulnerability and low moments. But they are enough to portray the graph that he goes through within a few years.

By this time, Pradeep Ranganathan has established himself as an icon to the youth by playing roles that strike a chord for those who are impacted by social media, the pressures of keeping up with peers and the yearning to be ‘seen’. Just like how Dragon goes through a tremendous transformation and manages to achieve his dreams at the end, Ashwath and Pradeep used a familiar reckless college protagonist but still managed to offer a refreshing and entertaining story.

News Credits: Cinema Express

Synopsis

‘A Complete Unknown’ is a triumph for director James Mangold, who masterfully balances performances, period authenticity, cinematography, and music to create a deeply immersive experience.

A Complete Unknown Movie Review : Timothée Chalamet transforms into Bob Dylan in this stunningly immersive biopic

Critic’s Rating: (4.0 / 5)

Story: In 1962, a young Bob Dylan arrives in New York after reading about Woody Guthrie’s failing health in a newspaper. Visiting Guthrie in the hospital, where he also meets Pete Seeger, he has no idea that the music landscape is about to change.

Review:‘A Complete Unknown’ focuses on a pivotal period in Bob Dylan’s early career as he gradually rises in the music world. Unlike typical musical biopics, this immersive drama transports viewers to the era, exploring his songwriting process, key influences, and their role in shaping him into one of America’s greatest singer-songwriters. The film features several of his songs, many of which are interpreted, offering insight into their creation. In this film, music itself becomes a character, seamlessly woven into the narrative. With stunning art direction, the film vividly recreates the vibrant and tumultuous music scene of the early 1960s and makes for a fantastic watch.

The story follows a young Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) as he travels to New York after reading about Woody Guthrie’s (Scoot McNairy) failing health. At the hospital, he meets Guthrie and Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), performing a song he wrote in Guthrie’s honour. With nowhere to stay, Seeger offers him a place and introduces him to the city’s music scene. Dylan later meets Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning), and after they begin a relationship, he moves into her apartment. As his talent catches the attention of music executives, he lands a record deal but grows frustrated when pushed to perform only cover songs. Encouraged by Sylvie to pursue original music, he finds inspiration in the city’s social scene while she is away. This leads to his work being noticed by singer-activist Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), with whom he begins both a musical collaboration and a romantic affair. As Dylan’s fame rises, his decision to embrace the electric guitar is about to shake everything up.

The film is a captivating watch, bringing musical legends like Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Johnny Cash in and out of Bob Dylan’s life, and you marvel at it. It delves into Dylan’s struggle with creative restrictions, his frustration at being limited to cover songs, and the resistance he faced from the Newport Folk Festival when he considered going electric.

The film also explores his complex relationships with Sylvie Russo and Joan Baez, both of whom deeply influenced his music. What makes this film stand out is its balanced portrayal of every character—each depicted as both talented and flawed. Director James Mangold masterfully captures Dylan’s gradual transformation, making it an unforgettable experience.

Beyond its stunning art direction and expert direction, ‘A Complete Unknown’ becomes an immersive experience thanks to its compelling performances. Timothée Chalamet’s transformation into Bob Dylan is remarkable, delivering a performance that captures both the brilliance and vulnerabilities of the musical icon. He portrays Dylan’s unravelling under fame with striking authenticity. Edward Norton is a revelation as Pete Seeger, embodying a man devoted to folk music and deeply committed to helping others. His scenes with Dylan are among the film’s highlights, showcasing their camaraderie, mutual respect, and underlying tensions. The moment when Seeger pleads with Dylan not to go electric, fearing it will undermine everything he’s worked for, is particularly heartbreaking. Monica Barbaro brings sincerity to her role as Joan Baez, sharing an electric chemistry with Dylan, while Elle Fanning delivers a standout performance as Sylvie Russo.

Ultimately, ‘A Complete Unknown’ is a triumph for director James Mangold, who masterfully balances performances, period authenticity, cinematography, and music to create a deeply immersive experience. The film doesn’t just tell a story—it allows you to step into the vibrant music scene of the 1960s, capturing its energy and atmosphere. More than a biopic, it offers a compelling glimpse into the early years of an enigmatic artist who would go on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. With its fresh perspective on Dylan’s journey, the film remains both captivating and thought-provoking.

News Credits: Times of India