Categories
Bollywood Films Lite Blogs

Weekend Movie Bonanza

Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, Article 370 revolves around the escalation of terrorism in Kashmir and the government’s resolve to abolish Article 370…reports Asian Lite News

Cinemas this week are offering cinephiles a movie bonanza with many titles released across various genres. From action to comedy, to an Oscar-nominated movie, the lineup of titles being played at cinemas this week has something to offer for everyone.

Titles like Article 370 and The Teachers’ Lounge are the talk of the town. So, buckle up, put on your movie glasses, grab that bucket of popcorn, and check out the movies to watch this week. The complete list is below:

Article 370

Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, Article 370 revolves around the escalation of terrorism in Kashmir and the government’s resolve to abolish Article 370. Yami Gautam takes on the lead role in the film as an agent from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), supported by a talented cast including Priyamani, Arun Govil, Vaibhav Tatwawadi, Skand Thakur, Ashwini Koul, and Kiran Karmarkar, among others.

The Teachers’ Lounge

The Teachers’ Lounge is a German drama film directed by İlker Çatak, who co-wrote the screenplay with Johannes Duncker. The film stars Leonie Benesch, Michael Klammer, Rafael Stachowiak, and Anne-Kathrin Gummich, among others. The movie centers around Teacher Carla Nowak, who decides to intervene when one of her students is suspected of theft. Caught between her ideals and the school system, the consequences of her actions threaten to overwhelm her.

All India Rank

Written and directed by Varun Grover, All India Rank is a slice-of-life dramedy set in the late 1990s. It follows the story of Vivek, a 17-year-old teenager who is sent away from home to a prep school to prepare for the highly competitive IIT entrance examination. Bodhisattva Sharma portrays the titular role, supported by a talented cast of veterans including Sheeba Chaddha, Kailash Gowthaman, and Saadat Khan, among others.

Mean Girls

Mean Girls is an American musical teen comedy film helmed by directors Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., with a screenplay by Tina Fey. The ensemble cast features Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auliʻi Cravalho, and Christopher Briney, with Fey and Tim Meadows reprising their roles from the original film. The story revolves around new student Cady Heron, who finds herself catapulted to the top of the social hierarchy when she joins the elite group of popular girls known as the Plastics, led by the manipulative Regina George. However, Cady’s world takes a tumultuous turn when she falls for Regina’s former flame, leading to a series of confrontations and conflicts within their clique.

Crakk: Jeetegaa Toh Jiyegaa

Crakk: Jeetega Toh Jiyegaa is a high-octane action thriller starring Vidyut Jammwal in the lead role. It showcases the journey of a man from the slums of Mumbai to the world of underground extreme sports. Directed by Aditya Datt, the film also features Arjun Rampal, Nora Fatehi, and Amy Jackson.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training is a captivating anime film adaptation of the immensely popular manga series by Koyoharu Gotoge, published under Shueisha’s Jump Comics. The story follows Tanjiro, a young boy whose life is shattered when his family is brutally slaughtered by demons. His sister, Nezuko, miraculously survives but is transformed into a demon. Despite her monstrous form, Nezuko retains her humanity, spurring Tanjiro on a quest to become a Demon Slayer. The film combines breathtaking animation with intense action sequences and heartfelt moments to deliver an unforgettable cinematic experience.

ALSO READ-Raastha : A movie leads from desert to beautiful locales of Oman

Categories
Interview Lite Blogs

‘Idea is always to do something new each time’

Believing that making movies is an art, and not just about money, the actor feels it is about putting the right people together, marketing, and creative packaging…writes Sukant Deepak

One of the few mainstream Hindi film actors of his generation to constantly plunge himself into uncharted territory, and opt for unconventional roles — like in ‘Omkara’, ‘Go Goa Gone’, ‘Parineeta’, ‘Sacred Games’ and ‘Laal Kaptaan’ among others, Saif Ali Khan says while at one point, he wanted to play it safe and survive, but soon realised the importance of trying new things and offering something novel to the audience.

“If you are having fun playing such roles, chances are the audience will enjoy watching you too. In the case of ‘Omkara’ and ‘Go Goa Gone’, I agreed to essay the roles which many people did not want to. For me, the idea is always to do something new each time,” he tells.

Stressing that the OTT allows for much space to experiment, Khan opines that when it comes to making content for the digital medium, it is important to be completely honest about contemporary realities and human conditions, and then dramatise the situations. “Only then will you be able to move people. Let us not forget that whatever we make for this medium is immediately compared to international work.”

Even as he agrees with the evolution of content and treatment with the advent of OTT, the actor maintains that it would not really have an impact on how mainstream cinema in terms of storytelling. “Though mindsets are bound to change, I am unsure of the actual impact as it depends on how much of a chance mainstream is willing to take in terms of evolving scripts and not playing it very safe.”

He may have worked with a diverse set of directors, but now he does not really think on terms of script or the person behind the camera. “I now approach work as a producer. My thought process is — what kind of movies I would like to make?”

When it comes to signing the dotted line, it is about how he feels at that moment in time. “It has to be instinctive. Your gut tells you if it is worth the time and energy. Now, I prefer the comfort of home, so, if the project is going to take me away to a hotel room for weeks, it has to be worthwhile in every way, otherwise, I might not want to do it. It has to be something that I would want to be part of my history.”

Believing that making movies is an art, and not just about money, the actor feels it is about putting the right people together, marketing, and creative packaging.

The actor, who is the first-ever brand ambassador for Lay’s Gourmet and was associated with the brand for several years, says he is thrilled to rejoin the Lay’s family. “I am a firm believer in freedom of choice and believe all things in moderation are fine. And if it’s legal and I am fond of it too, I will endorse it,” says the actor who is currently working on a romantic comedy titled ‘No Kids’.

“I am also shooting for a big action-packed South Indian movie. Besides that, a film for Siddharth Anand’s production which is a Netflix original. So, there are a lot of things in the pipeline,” he concludes.

ALSO READ-Kareena has many adorable qualities: Saif Ali Khan

Categories
Films Lite Blogs

Movies inspired by Indian authors

‘A Suitable Boy’ web series is based on Vikram Seth’s popular novel of the same title which was published in 1993…reports Olivia Sarkar

It is not surprising that screen adaptations of Indian authors’ works are in high demand because they have always been an integral component of world literature.

To say the least, every film has a narrative to tell and something we can learn and apply in our daily lives, so grab some snacks, curl up under a blanket, and enjoy this film based on the works of Indian writers:

‘3 idiots’

The movie ‘3 idiots’ starring Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R. Madhavan, and Kareena Kapoor Khan is based on Chetan Bhagat’s debut novel ‘Five Point Someone’. The movie demonstrates to us that a certificate is just a bit of paper. Getting educated means learning. The main lead Aamir Khan (Rancho) gives his diploma away to someone else after graduating, and with the aid of his newfound knowledge, he goes on to become a famous scientist.

‘A Suitable Boy’


‘A Suitable Boy’ web series is based on Vikram Seth’s popular novel of the same title which was published in 1993.

‘Raazi’

The Bollywood spy movie ‘Raazi’ starring Alia Bhat is the lead is based on Harinder Sikka’s debut novel ‘Calling Sehmat’. Raazi is that triumphant film that leaves you with some serious misgivings. The story, as we all know by now, is based on the real events during the eve of the 1971 Indo-Pak war when a valorous young Muslim Indian girl Sehmat decided to cross the border to become a wife in a Pakistani family of army men to gather information for the Indian government. A true spirit of patriotism.

‘Sacred Games’

The popular web series, ‘Sacred Games’ featuring Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, is based on author Vikram Chandra’s 2006 novel of the same title. Sacred Games is an Indian neo-noir crime thriller that streamed on Netflix.

‘The White Tiger’

‘The White Tiger’ film starring Adarsh Gourav, Rajkumar Rao, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas is based on Aravind Adiga’s Man Booker 2008-winning debut novel of the same title. The movie surrounds an ambitious Indian driver who uses his wit and cunning to escape from poverty and rise to the top

‘The Zoya Factor’


‘The Zoya Factor’ film featuring Sonam Kapoor and Dulquer Salman in the lead roles is based on Anuja Chauhan’s book of the same title. In this movie, all players of a cricket team start to believe that their captain’s new girlfriend is their lucky charm.

Chetan Bhagat.(photo:wikipedia)

‘2 States’

‘2 States’ featuring Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt is based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel of the same title. The movie portrays the hurdles of a love marriage where a Punjabi boy and a Tamilian girl discover love on their college campus. However, their diverse cultures make its culmination a challenge.

‘Kai Po Che!’

The Bollywood movie ‘Kai Po Che!’ is based on the book ‘The 3 mistakes of my life’ by Chetan Bhagat. Three close friends — Govind, Ishaan, and Omi — seem inseparable. But can they overcome the odds to stay together for life? That’s what the story is all about.

ALSO READ-Badshah to be really convinced before putting a song out

Categories
Films Lite Blogs

What to watch on this Valentine’s Day online?

The film is directed by Park Hyun-jin and starring Lee Jun-young, Seohyun and Seo Hyun-woo, and is a must watch to understand the depth of emotions through ups and downs relationships…reports Asian Lite News

If you seek to make your Valentine’s Day special and are celebrating indoors, a movie night would be just perfect to bring in the mushiness.

While you prepare for the scrumptious meals and enticing beverages, OTT platforms and television have got your binge-list sorted. Here’s the list of movies that can be watched on Valentine’s Day.

Gehraiyaan

‘Gehraiyaan’ is a kind of romantic movie in which the director Shakun Batra brings out the complex world of relationship dramas. Featuring Deepika Padukone, Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Dhairya Karwa, ‘Gehraiyaan’ is about a woman finding herself at a crossroads in life. Her six-year relationship has grown monotonous, and her career seems to have hit a roadblock. However things change in her life with the coming of her cousin that forces her to face the troubled past.

‘Gehraiyaan’ is streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Hot Mess Holiday

Bringing in the leading cast of two Indian origin women, Melanie Chandra and Surina Jindal in American cinema, ‘Hot Mess Holiday’ showcases the tale of a girl who gets dumped by her cheating boyfriend during the festival of Diwali, her best friend comes to the rescue and takes her on a girls trip to Chicago where all hell breaks loose in a comic turn of events.

The movie also has appearances by some other Indian actors including Kal Penn and Lilly Singh. The movie airs on February 14 at 1pm and 10pm on Comedy Central India.

Love and Leashes


‘Love and Leashes’ is a South Korean rom-com film that follows two co-workers who enter a purely contractual relationship but soon realize everything is not going according to plan.

The film is directed by Park Hyun-jin and starring Lee Jun-young, Seohyun and Seo Hyun-woo, and is a must watch to understand the depth of emotions through ups and downs relationships.

The movie was released on Netflix on February 11.

MaNan– Kaisi Hai Yaariyaan

This is a special movie based on the three seasons of the series ‘Kaisi Hai Yaariyaan’. The main leads of the series Parth Samthaan and Niti Taylor playing the character of Manik and Nandini, is coming back in the movie. It is a slice-of-life piece that illustrates the bitter-sweet relationship between the couple, evokes nostalgia and gives a major flashback of unforgettable college memories.

The special edit-based film will be streaming from February 18 on Voot.

I Want You Back

Directed by Jason Orley, ‘I Want You Back’ is a American rom-com movie starring Jenny Slate and Charlie Day in the lead roles. It is the story of newly dumped thirty-somethings Peter and Emma who team up to sabotage their exes’ new relationships and win them back for good. It also stars Scott Eastwood, Gina Rodriguez, Manny Jacinto, and Clark Backo in vital roles.

The movie is released on February 11 on Amazon Prime Video.

ALSO READ-‘Aaraattu’ to hit screens on Feb 18