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‘Feels Like Home’ is real, funny, tender and relatable

A brand-new take on bromance features Preet Kammani as Lakshay Kochhar, who is raised by a single mother and believes in adding some levity to every situation to make it fun and bearable…reports Asian Lite News

(Streaming on Lionsgate Play). Duration: Six episodes (42-43 minutes each). Director: Sahir Raza. Cast: Preet Kammani, Anshuman Malhotra, Vishnu Kaushal, Mihir Ahuja, Himika Bose and Inayat Sood. (Rating: ***1/2)

Real and relatable characters with coming-of-age experiences is the crux of this show. ‘

‘ is a series about four boys who move into their first house away from their families. Each one has his fair share of reasons for doing so and they find themselves dealing with life without any support except from each other.

Lionsgate Play comes with its third original series, which is completely different from the last two. Each episode of this show is rooted in reality with certain premises built upon elements of farce. Parties with crazy settings, a pet iguana, a lesbian wedding, girlfriend and daddy issues, and a finale that celebrates friendship. The series stars Prit Kamani (Preet Kammani), Vishnu Kaushal, Anshuman Malhotra, Mihir Ahuja, Inayat Sood and Himika Bose.

A brand-new take on bromance features Preet Kammani as Lakshay Kochhar, who is raised by a single mother and believes in adding some levity to every situation to make it fun and bearable. He is someone who is the centre of every party, mess-up, break-up and hook-up. On the surface, he is quite a thick-skinned Delhi boy, but deep down he’s caring and sensitive. Preet brings emotions to the forefront and tackles his character well.

Anshuman Malhotra as Sameer is the reasonable voice of the group. He is calm and collected, writes poetry but his personal life is in shambles; he hates his father, can’t admit to his girlfriend / friend that he is scared to perform in front of a crowd, and has an imaginary person with whom he talks and interacts. A complicated character portrayed well by Anshuman.

Vishnu Kaushal as Avinash, he wants everything to be perfect. He is hyper, confused and doesn’t know anything until it is too late. He has been thrown out of the hostel and ends up with the boys in their home. Vishnu debuts with ‘Feels Like Home’, but those who know this influencer would love to see this side of him on the show.

Mihir Ahuja plays Akhil Gandhi, an import from Ghana, who wishes to be the best cricketer of India. He is a sweet and sensible boy, who slowly turns into the pet of the house. As he finds his place not just in Delhi but among the boys, we get to know him as the kind, loyal and extremely unfiltered person that he is. Mihir is a promising actor and showcases his character to the tee.

Each episode will be standalone, with moments of growth for the characters, etched into the themes that the makers have set out to tackle. The overall story arc of growth is well mapped out. Four different personalities living under one roof find themselves dealing with love, life, parents, education, relationships and learning some of the important lessons in life.

The dysfunctional boys gang might be a little loud and crazy, but there are some tender moments that take you by surprise, and the situations are very relatable. Despite having different opinions and takes on life, the boys walk through parties, emotions, fights, drama, family issues and personal journeys, standing by each other. ‘Feels Like Home’ is a real, funny, tender and relatable show that will connect with the audience.

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An incredible and inspiring true ‘Jungle Cry’

Director Sagar Ballary took the sports biopic genre, laced it with patriotism and made a film that is substantial in terms of content. And of course, seeing Abhay Deol back in action and in his element, is something worth anyone’s time…reports Asian Lite News

(Streaming on Lionsgate Play), Duration: 117 minutes. Director: Sagar Ballary. Cast: Abhay Deol, Emily Shah, Atul Kumar, Julian Lewis Jones and Stewart Wright. (Rating: ***1/2)

A proud moment for the entire nation, when tribal children from Odisha, won a Rugby Championship with the help of a local mentor and an ambitious butter-ball coach named Paul, sounds unthinkable, but it is a true story.

‘Jungle Cry’ is based on the as-yet untold story about two coaches and 12 boys mentored by the Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, who had no clue about rugby, taking on the world’s toughest team on their home ground and beating them in the 2007 Under-14 Rugby World Cup, pulling off a historic win for the Jungle Cats from India.

Director Sagar Ballary took the sports biopic genre, laced it with patriotism and made a film that is substantial in terms of content. And of course, seeing Abhay Deol back in action and in his element, is something worth anyone’s time.

An incredible and inspiring true story about 12 tribal children, who enrolled for football coaching for different reasons. For shoes, food, shelter, safety, or just to stay out of trouble, they are enrolled by Rudra (Abhay Deol) for a local football training programme. But Paul, a rugby coach from Wales, wants to train them for the world rugby championship.

After some deliberation, Rudra and Paul align their goals, but these underprivileged boys are still without shoes, equipment, and have no clue about rugby. The two coaches, fired by a lot of determination and putting in a lot of hard work, train the children in just just four months and the Jungle Cats take on the world, literally, and go on to become the Under-14 Rugby World Cup champions in Wales for 2007.

During their visit to Wales, the entire team is introduced to Roshni Thakkar, the team physiotherapist and a constant source of inspiration for the boys and Rudra. She’s played by Indian American actress and Dharma Dry Gin maker Emily Shah, a stellar discovery for Indian audiences.

The movie is not just about underdogs. It is a reassuring statement of the fact that sports can help a child overcome all odds and make a mark in life. The director did not waste time on patriotic speeches or shows of emotion, but kept the narrative simple, but the undertone is remarkably clear.

During their first tussle on the ground with beefy, athletically built Welsh youngsters, the Jungle Cats almost bailed out on the coach, but their comeback, using their abilities to the fullest, is inspiring and will definitely make the viewers misty-eyed.

It is a well-balanced, well-crafted and multi-layered emotional sports drama with a happy ending. Who wouldn’t love such a movie.

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‘The IPCRESS File’: A hard-boiled British espionage thriller

The narrative revolves around Harry Palmer, a Korean War veteran now serving the British as an intelligence officer in West Berlin. He gets arrested for developing an illicit network and selling contrabands to the Russians in East Berlin and gets deported to a bleak military prison in Colchester…reviewed by Troy Rebeiro

(Streaming on Lionsgate Play), Duration: Average 47 mins per episode (Total 6 episodes), Director: James Watkins, Cast: Joe Cole, Lucy Boynton, Tom Hollander, Joshua James, Anastasia Hille, Ashley Thomas, David Dencik, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Paul Higgins, Matthew Steer, Tamla Kari, Anna Geislerova, Corey Johnson, Mark Quartley, Chris Lew Kum Hoi, Nora-Jane Noone (Rating: ***)



Set during the Cold War period, this series is a very loose adaptation of Len Deighton’s first spy novel ‘The IPCRESS File’ which was published in 1962. The novel was also the source material for the 1965 released film of the same name, which was directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Michael Caine.

While the basic framework of the story is the same, screenwriter John Hodge and director James Watkins have radically altered the plot and some characters making this series significantly different from the original novel or the film.

The series begins on a similar note to that of Furie’s film. Set in West Berlin in 1963, the opening frame focuses on a pair of thick-black-framed glasses lying on a nightstand our hero, Harry Palmer, drowsily turns in bed to notice the woman who has been teaching him German, waving to him saucily from the bathtub. This opening scene, a direct lift from the film, tries to capture the spirit of the film, but the series has its own soul.

The narrative revolves around Harry Palmer, a Korean War veteran now serving the British as an intelligence officer in West Berlin. He gets arrested for developing an illicit network and selling contrabands to the Russians in East Berlin and gets deported to a bleak military prison in Colchester.

But when Professor Dawson (Matthew Steer), one of the leading British nuclear scientists goes missing from Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, William Dalby (Tom Hollander), director of an enigmatic undercover outfit, recruits Palmer to rescue Dawson. That is because he has been kidnapped by one of Palmer’s contacts. How Palmer, against all odds, makes it his mission to track down his contact and save Dawson forms the crux of the narrative.

With his thick-framed glasses and nerdy boy-next-door-look, Joe Cole- makes an intriguing spy. With his offbeat demeanour, he takes us on an exciting journey that keeps you hooked to the very end. His prompt knee-jerking action sequences definitely take you by surprise.

He is aptly supported by Lucy Boynton, who plays his colleague Jean Courtney to perfection. With her exquisitely styled blond tuft, she is no bimbette. She has her journey that gives the series a feminine heart. Courtney in the series is a prominent character compared to the one in the film.

The rest of the supporting cast, including Tom Hollander, is all-natural and sincere in their performances and are all affable.

On the production front, the series is painstakingly mounted. The era is lavishly portrayed and the sepia-toned frames capture the brilliant period effortlessly.

Somewhere towards the end of the series, there is one minor but glaring error, wherein a day shot, the character on screen profusely apologises over the phone for calling so late at night. Else, the series is blemish-free.

Overall, this series is a hard-boiled British espionage thriller that will appeal to those who love the genre.

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Bhool Bhulaiya 2: An absolute entertainer with well shot horror sequences

(Running in Theatres), Duration: 143 minutes, Director: Anees Bazmee,   Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Tabu, Kiara Advani, Rajpal Yadav, Amar Upadhyay, Sanjay Mishra, Karmveer Choudhary, Rajesh Sharma, Govind Namdeo (Rating: ***)

Meant to be steeped in mystery, with the usual ingredients of a ghost-centric film, replete with evil spirits and tantra-mantra, Anees Bazmee’s ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’, a sequel of the 2007 film of the same name, is an absolute entertainer, its exaggerated horror elements and slapstick humour, notwithstanding.

Manjulika, envious of her twin sister Anjulika, who is always the recipient of lavish praise from their father and gets the better deal in life, including the Kunwar (Amar Upadhayay), whom she secretly loves, kills Anjulika and takes her place.

Thence she impersonates her sister for 18 years, till Ruhan Randhawa (Kartik Aryan), who upon a chance meeting with a Medical student, Reet Thakur (Kiara Advani ), accompanies her (Reet) to the family haveli in Rajasthan to help cover up a lie. How they unravel the truth and present it to the world forms the crux of the 143 minutes narrative.

Kartik Aaryan shines as the fun-loving and confident Ruhan Randhawa, aka ‘Rooh baba’ in his comic avatar, and exudes charm aplenty. He is every inch the character and gets a massive platform to emote, dance, and display his acting prowess. The only scene where he is a let-down is owing to his poor Bengali accent in the Manjulika avatar.

Kiara Advani, as Reet, looks gorgeous and is competent, essaying her part with conviction.

Tabu, with her ace histrionics and get-up, does justice to her meaty role as the much-loved Bhabhi in the haveli, and her character, with its myriad shades, are full of intrigue.

Rajpal Yadav as Chota Pandit and Sanjay Mishra as Panditji are their usual self with their impeccable comic timing.

The dance sequences in this sequel, unfortunately, are not a patch on Vidya Balan’s ones, in the original. These lack the finesse and appear to be a tad tacky.

The song ‘Aami je tomar’ by Shreya Ghoshal is as soulful as ever and evokes nostalgia. The background score has been used aptly.

The intended jump scares and squeaky sound effects to create horror are a bit over-the-top in some scenes and ineffective- too.

Although the one-liners and punches are filmy and trite, they are well-delivered and situational and thus, evoke laughter. Especially, the scene, where everyone in the haveli sets out to search for Reet, who has been spotted by Chota Pandit.

The screenplay is complex but astutely handled. The plot appears to be a wee bit convoluted, and at times, confusing.

Well-shot, the cinematography, especially in the dark, horror sequences, deserves a mention.

Overall, one naturally, goes with a lot of expectations to watch ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’, comparing it to its prequel, but this one too sparkles in its 2.0 avatar.

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‘Kuttavum Shikshayum’: A clean watch realistic exploration of psyche

(Malayalam; released in theatres). Duration: 138 minutes.
Director: Rajeev Ravi. Cast: Asif Ali, Alencier Lopez, Sunny Wein, Sharaf U Dheen and Senthil Krishna (Rating: ***1/2)

The Malayalam movie ‘Kuttavum Shikshyum’, directed by noted filmmaker Rajeev Ravi, explores the psyche of cops working on a criminal investigation. The script by police officer Sibi Thomas and Sreejith Divakaran stands out as it is drawn out from the professional experience of Thomas, who is with the Kerala Police, and is now posted as Circle Inspector at the Adhur police station in Kasaragod.

The movie is based on a real incident that happened in 2015 and begins with a theft in a jewellery shop at Kattappana, Idukki district. Circle Inspector Sajan Philip (Asif Ali) is given charge of the case and he forms a five-member team of police officers played by Alancier Lopez, Sharaf U Dheen, Sunny Wein and Senthil Krishna.

The police team, after closely observing CCTV footage and other material, reach the conclusion that the crime was committed by a four-member gang from Uttar Pradesh. The members of the gang were migrant workers in Kerala.

The police team led by Philip reaches a village on the outskirts of the UP-Haryana border. It gets the assistance of the local police to arrest the criminals, who are from a village in UP with a history of violence against the police.

The director and his team were successful in capturing the underdeveloped villages and the UP landscape.

The movie shows the risks involved in the investigation of the case and in the climax scene, the audience will feel positively for the policemen who risk their lives to solve a case. The patience, adaptation, diplomacy and balance of the police team are portrayed well in the movie with Asif Ali bringing out a brilliant performance as CI Sajan Philip, the head of the investigation team.

The movie, though, is slow and at times even though each actor plays his part beautifully, the chemistry between them seems to be waning at times. Also, the high expectations from a Rajeev Ravi movie invariably leads to a feeling of being let down. It could be because of the intricacies of the investigation and the movie not having many action sequences.

Rajeev Ravi has done justice to the movie even though he may not have risen to the expectations of audiences, who expect a repeat of his earlier movies, such as ‘Kammatti Padam’, all the time.

Cinematographer Suresh Rajan did a brilliant job behind the camera and Sreejith Divakaran has produced a beautiful script with a professional touch. A journalist-turned-scriptwriter, Sreejith has been able to translate the real-life experiences of a policeman onto the screen without anything being lost in translation.

It may be at times slow paced, but the film manages to hold your attention and is a clean watch.

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‘Conversations with Friends’: A shrewd, psychological assessment of power struggles

Narrated mostly through Frances’ point of view, the series is compelling because the plot is focused and unravels at a leisurely pace. It has a healthy balance of internal struggle that juggles reality with consequences…reviewed by Troy Rabeiro

(Streaming on Lionsgate Play), Duration: About 28.5 minutes per episode (Total 12 episodes), Directors: Lenny Abrahamson, Leanne Welham, Cast: Alison Oliver, Sasha Lane, Joe Alwyn, Jemima Kirke (Rating: ***)

This 12-episode series streaming on Lionsgate Play is based on author Sally Rooney’s novel of the same name.

The series is a shrewd, psychological assessment of power struggles amongst young, sophisticated intellectuals who are in a relationship. It tells us about how people behave when they are in one and what happens after.

Frances and Bobbi are smart and talented 21-year-old-students. Frances writes poetry and is studying- English, while Bobbi, her steadfast friend and former lesbian lover, studies – history and politics and identifies as a communitarian anarchist.

They both like to participate in poetry slams where they spar loquaciously and precociously.

Frances suffers from low self-esteem, is unable to express her emotions, and often uses her razor-sharp wit to skirt around uncomfortable topics. She is in awe of Bobbi, whose personality is just opposite to hers. While she is tight-lipped, Bobbi – dazzling and controversial in her demeanour, is open an open book with her emotions and speech.

Their friendship goes through a rough patch when they meet Melissa and Nick, a wealthy couple in their thirties, and unexpectedly, yet perhaps inevitably, intimacies between the foursome grow and complicate their existence. Suffice to say the series is a love quadrangle between two friends and a married couple.

But, the heart of the series tends to lie not with the way people in relationships hurt each other but with the way that hurt goes hand in hand with intimacy and with the idea that intimate relationships reshape the self.

Narrated mostly through Frances’ point of view, the series is compelling because the plot is focused and unravels at a leisurely pace. It has a healthy balance of internal struggle that juggles reality with consequences. The series is relatable as it takes Frances’ everyday life, her thoughts, and feelings and interprets them in a poetic way that is unmatched. It makes you realise that everything she does is a part of growing up.

Yes, the characters talk, and their conversation does not adhere to the stereotypical template that we are used to, this makes this series stand out, and probably that’s how it got its title. The dialogues are neither dramatic nor are they camouflaged in the histrionics of the characters, yet they have an emotional impact. The romance and chemistry between Frances and Nick- are tangible.

Alison Oliver as Frances, Sasha Lane as Bobbi, Jemima Kirke as Melissa, Joe Alwyn as Nick, Alex Murphy as Frances’ colleague, and Frances’ parents; are all brilliant, living in the skin of their characters.

Overall, this analytical series on adultery ends not with the affair’s conclusion and the punishment of all those involved but with its conscious, deliberate continuation and the rejection of all analysis.

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‘Gaganyaan showcasing India’s ambitious space expedition

It also educates us on the importance of a spacesuit, the making of the indigenous launch vehicle, and the technologies that the makers have to master in case it needs to succeed in the dangerous or complex mission as Gaganyaan…reports Troy Rebeiro

‘Gaganyaan: Bharat Ki Antariksh Udaan’ (streaming on discovery+), Duration: 47 minutes, Director: Pria Somiah, Cast: Rakesh Sharma, Air Cmdr (Rtd) Ravish Malhotra, Chethan Kumar, Dr K. Radhakrishnan, Dr S. Somanath, Dimitry Loskutor, Sunita Williams, Raj Chengappa, Dr Bridgette Godard (Rating: ***)

This 47-minute documentary, streaming on discovery+, showcases India’s ambitious odyssey of sending Indian astronauts into space in an Indian spacecraft by 2023.

The film begins with narrator Rahul Mulani telling us who was the first person who went into space in 1961 and ever since then over 500 astronauts from 41 countries have gone into space and that today, only USA, Russia, and China can launch crewed spacecraft.

He further tells us that now India is set to join this very exclusive club, thereby ushering in a new era in history, making India a major space superpower.

The documentary dissects the extremely complex and dangerous mission through the viewpoints of three astronauts – Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, Sunita Williams, a NASA astronaut, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov.

With a vast range of talking heads, the narrative elaborates about the qualities required to be an astronaut, the number of astronauts that will be finally selected for the mission, and about Vyommitra, the female-looking spacefaring humanoid robot developed by ISRO who would accompany the human astronauts in space.

It also educates us on the importance of a spacesuit, the making of the indigenous launch vehicle, and the technologies that the makers have to master in case it needs to succeed in the dangerous or complex mission as Gaganyaan.

Narrated in a non-linear manner, the film charts the one-and-a-half-decade-long audacious and challenging journey of India’s human flight programme from developing its state-of-the-art cryogenic engine, testing of flights, and rigorous astronaut training to the final preparations and anticipation before its launch.

The telling is supported with archival footage, modern graphical representations of the complex processes, and bytes from eminent personalities from the space fields, who include Dr K Radhakrishnan – Former Chairman of ISRO, Dr S. Somanath – Former Director of VSSO and current Chairman of ISRO, Retired Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra who was the former Test Pilot of the Indian Air Force, Dimitry Loskutor, Director General of Glavkosmos, and Dr Bridgette Godard, Flight Surgeon from European Astronaut Center.

The film’s emotional power does not come from the visuals that document the subject but from the spoken words of Raj Chengappa, the Group Editorial Director of a publishing house, and Chethan Kumar, Assistant Editor – Space, Science & Defence of another publication. Glowing with grandiose pronouncements and uplifting sentiments, they speak with so much conviction and authority that you feel proud and motivated with patriotic fervour.

Overall, the film achieves its goal of edutainment.

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‘Jayeshbhai Jhordaar’ : An endearingly light-hearted film packed with messages

Narrated linearly and in a light vein, the story is simple, and uncomplicated. For a while, the plot appears like a road film, especially when Jayesh escapes from his home and the clutches of his parents, with his feisty 9-year-old daughter Siddhi and wife…reports Troy Rebeiro

Duration: 125 minutes, Director: Divyang Thakkar; Cast: Shalini Pandey, Ranveer Singh, Deeksha Joshi, Ananya Nagaalla, Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah, Ragi Jani, Jia Vaidya, Sanjeev Samay Raj Thakkar (Rating: ***)

Debutant Director Divyang Thakkar’s ‘Jayeshbhai Jhordaar’, in which Ranveer Singh plays the eponymous character, is an endearingly light-hearted film packed with ample social messages.

While the film’s underlying premise is about Jayeshbhai seeking affection, especially a kiss, from his wife Mudraben (Shalini Pandey), whom he loves immensely, the narrative deals with the obsession of the male child in the Indian society, female foeticide, and the skewed male-female ratio in certain parts of the country.

(For the uninitiated, ‘bhai’ and ‘ben’, literally meaning brother and sister, are used as suffixes to names in Gujarat as terms of endearment)

Set in a fictitious small town called Pravingadh in Gujarat, the film revolves around Jayesh and his feudal family. Unlike his regressive folks, Jayesh is a progressive, kind-hearted father and husband. Being the only son, his parents — essayed by Boman Irani and Ratna Pathak Shah — are now expecting a male heir from him.

Unfortunately, Mudraben is once again pregnant after six abortions, and her doctor informs her husband and in-laws that her health is delicate and she may not be able to undergo another pregnancy.

To save his wife from any further trauma, Jayesh decides to let the baby survive, and he takes the reins of their lives into his hands by planning an escape from Gujarat to Haryana, a state starved of the female population. His plan is half-baked, and how he manages to save his unborn child and protect his wife forms the crux of the narrative.

Narrated linearly and in a light vein, the story is simple, and uncomplicated. For a while, the plot appears like a road film, especially when Jayesh escapes from his home and the clutches of his parents, with his feisty 9-year-old daughter Siddhi and wife.

But the excitement of the escapade is cut short too soon, and by the mid-point the plot gets jerky, and the narrative loses steam with farcical drama. Nevertheless, the film has many humourous moments that keep you glued to your seat.

With an innocuous visage and excellent comic timing, Ranveer Singh is as usual brilliant with his histrionics. He emulates the Gujarati accent and delivers a subdued Jayeshbhai to near perfection. He is aptly supported by Shalini Pandey as his wife, Mudra. The only actor who steals the show from Ranveer is Jia Vaidya, who plays his vivacious daughter Siddhi.

Boman Irani and Ratna Patak Shah as Jayesh’s parents are stereotypical and staid. The rest of the supporting casts are there to fill the frames.

Visually, the film boasts of some excellent frames, some of which generate a chuckle or two; the one that instantly comes to mind is when Jayeshbhai is restlessly tossing in bed between his parents.

On the production front, the film delivers what is expected from a Yashraj Film. The music is nothing to write about, and the last song, though well-choreographed, appears forced and unwarranted.

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Heropanti: A smart digital heist action drama on this ambitious scale

Tiger Shroff and Nawazuddin Siddiqui hold the film on their shoulders and deliver superbly…reviewed by Troy Rebeiro

Produced and Written by Sajid Nadiadwala, Director: Ahmed Khan. Cast: Tiger Shroff, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tara Sutaria, Amrita Singh and Zakir Hussain.(Rating: ****)

Tiger Shroff made his debut with ‘Heropanti’ and he has come a long way from the bylanes of Haryana and gone global with the second instalment of the film.

Helmed by choreographer-turned-filmmaker Ahmed Khan, who has successfully taken the movie to a whole new level from the previous one, the film from Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment has an international vibe with massive sets, impressive locations and stellar music composed by A.R. Rahman.

An ambitious hacker, Babloo Ranawat (Tiger Shroff), doesn’t really care much about the consequences when he tricks people online with his digital scams. And he finds himself romancing Inaaya (Tara Sutaria), who is the sister of international digital fraudster Laila (Nawazuddin).

Laila is a genius, who develops an app (Pulse), which steals the bank details of its users, but he needs someone who can help him pull off the biggest heist in history. Babloo comes in handy and the duo soon come to an understanding that dating Inaaya comes with certain conditions, namely, working for Laila and helping him pull off the heist with his app on March 31, last day of the financial year, when everyone has bank accounts loaded with cash.

Everything was going as planned until Babloo finds himself developing a conscience as he encounters a helpless victim of his own crime, played by Amrita Singh. She takes to Babloo and the duo develop this mother-son bond. The consequence is that Laila tries to kill Babloo, who promises to redeem himself and what happens next is the crux of the narrative.

With an impressive ensemble cast, decent budget and amazing performances, the film holds your attention and the issue of digital fraud is addressed subtly. Though the story is about cyber scams, the issue is not in your face throughout the movie.

Tiger Shroff and Nawazuddin Siddiqui hold the film on their shoulders and deliver superbly.

Bollywood is known for making heist movies, but never before has anyone attempted to make a smart digital heist action drama on this ambitious scale. The film, despite a few holes in the storyline, is a rock-solid family entertainer.

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Heart-wrenching and insightful ‘Flee’

The narrative not only delves into the first-hand experiences of Amin but also explores how the media treats refugees, doing nothing except broadcast their struggles for the world to watch…reviewed by Troy Rebeiro

 (Streaming on ZEE5), Duration: 85 minutes, Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen; Voice Cast: Riz Ahme (Rating: ****)

‘Flee’ is a true and heart-wrenching story that gives an insight into the life of Amin Nawabi, an academic refugee in Denmark.

Narrated in a non-linear manner the documentary tells us how in the mid-1980s, as a minor, Amin escaped from war-torn Afghanistan to Russia and then, after a few attempts to Europe, ultimately succeeded in settling in Denmark.

His journey details his extraordinary tale of endurance as a child refugee forced to flee violent conflict. It also encapsulates how, now on the cusp of marriage, he must confront his internal struggles as he tries to find his place in the world and his journey to a new life. He tells us how his hidden past threatened to ruin the life he created and why his family is very- important to him.

Using a mixture of archival footage and animation- this documentary has- all the tropes of a human-interest story: From personal details of having to mature way too fast while also having to come to terms with his sexuality in a culture that is not supportive, to the general scenario of corruption in Russia, to human trafficking and inhumane conditions the refugees are forced to suffer for a chance of a better life, the film does not skimp on the intense details of Amin’s journey.

The narrative not only delves into the first-hand experiences of Amin but also explores how the media treats refugees, doing nothing except broadcast their struggles for the world to watch. Thus, it gives those who may not be familiar with the issues and struggles that surround refugees a chance to see just how difficult it can be in order to be safe. It paints a portrait of life many of us will never experience.

Keeping with the subject the visuals boast of a sober palette of earthy colours. The 2 D animation is simple yet effective. The few archival images break the monotony of the computer-generated images as they seamlessly integrate into the telling.

Using a moderate tone, Riz Ahmed, the British actor and rapper of Pakistani origin lends his voice to the English version of this film. It elevates the sensitivity and genuineness of the subject.

Overall, with its unique presentation, this docudrama is powerfully evocative and is worth a watch.

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