Vasi & Phani Reviews

  Directed by : Arjun Sai Starring : Dilip Prakash, Regina Cassandra, Prakash Raj, Brahmanandam, Nassar, Rajendra Prasad, Priyadarshi Genres : Comedy, Drama Language : Telugu Plot Overview: Utsavam revolves around the lives of stage artists and their transition from the fame they enjoyed in the past to the struggles they now face in contemporary times. The story focuses on two legendary stage actors, Abhimanyu Narayan and Mahadev Nayudu, who decide to unite their families through the marriage of their children, Krishna Abhimanyu and Rama. However, just before the ceremony, a shocking revelation turns their perfectly planned union upside down, leading to a series of dramatic twists and revelations. The film explores themes of love, tradition, deception, and the deeply intertwined lives of theater artists. Performances: Dilip Prakash delivers a decent performance but doesn't stand out. Prakash Raj is reliable as always, but it's Nassar who truly shines. His experience with th

Directed by : Ananth Ram Written by : Ananth Ram Starring : Ananth Ram, Bhavani Sre, Mirchi Vijay, Elango Kumaravel, Kulappulli Leela, Mohamed Irfan, Venkat Prabhu, Aishwarya M Genres : Drama Language : Tamil Plot Overview: Nanban Oruvan Vantha Piragu tells the story of Anand, who, on his journey back home to reunite with his friends, reflects on his life through eight chapters. As he retraces his steps, Anand contemplates a profound question: "What is happiness, and am I truly happy?" The film explores these reflections, taking the audience through key moments in his life, aiming to evoke a sense of nostalgia and self-discovery. Performances: The performances by the entire cast are strong and contribute to the film’s emotional weight. Ananth Ram delivers a grounded and introspective portrayal of Anand, making the audience feel his internal conflicts. Bhavani Sre and Mirchi Vijay provide solid support, although their characters remain somewhat underdeveloped due to the st

Director : Aditya Nimbalkar Starring : Vikrant Massey, Deepak Dobriyal, Darshan Jariwala Producers : Dinesh Vijan Production House: Maddock Films Music Director: Sachin-Jigar Cinematography : Amalendu Chaudhary Editor : Charu Shree Roy Language : Hindi Genre : Crime Thriller Runtime : 2h 10m OTT Platform: Netflix Plot : Sector 36 follows the investigation of a real-life inspired case, where an honest and determined police officer (Deepak Dobriyal) attempts to solve a complex kidnapping case involving a servant (Vikrant Massey) who has deep-rooted connections with the crime. As the investigation intensifies, dark secrets unravel, leading to shocking and unsolved conclusions. Performances : Vikrant Massey: Vikrant Massey showcases his versatility yet again in the role of a servant-turned-kidnapper. His portrayal of a conflicted character with hidden layers is gripping, and he brings depth to the film with his intense performance. His work here adds to his growing reputation as a stando

Directed by : Jithin Laal Written by : Sujith Nambiar, Vinay Yalamarthy Starring : Tovino Thomas, Basil Joseph, Krithi Shetty, Aishwarya Rajesh, Surabhi Laxmi, Rohini Molleti Genres : Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama Language : Malayalam Plot Overview: In A.R.M. , we follow the journey of Ajay, an electrician from Chiyothikavu, Kerala, who is in love with Laxmi. However, Ajay’s life is clouded by his grandfather Maniyan’s bad reputation, stemming from an incident where Maniyan stole the Sreeboodhi Lamp from the village temple. The story takes a darker turn when Sudhev (Harish Uttaman), a manipulative local, blackmails Ajay into searching for the hidden treasure. As Ajay embarks on this risky quest, he uncovers startling truths about the lamp, his family, and Sudhev's real intentions. The mystery surrounding Maniyan’s obsession with the lamp, the true identity of Sudhev, and the fate of Ajay’s love life with Laxmi are revealed as the plot unfolds. Performances: Tovino Thomas : Tovin

  Directed by : Bandi Saroj Kumar Written by : Bandi Saroj Kumar Starring : Bandi Saroj Kumar, Sruthi Samanvi, Naga Lakshmi Genres : Drama Language : Telugu Plot Overview: Parakramam tells the story of Lovaraju, a determined man with a singular focus—staging his play, Parakramam , at the prestigious Rabindrabharati in Hyderabad. The film follows his journey as he navigates various challenges, relying on his intelligence and strong will. Lovaraju is portrayed as a man feared by many in his village, though this characterization feels somewhat exaggerated at times. Performances: Bandi Saroj Kumar : This is undoubtedly a one-man show. Bandi Saroj Kumar dominates the screen from start to finish, giving no room for the rest of the cast to shine. His performance carries a certain charisma and intensity, making him the central focus of the entire film. His dialogue delivery and screen presence elevate the narrative, but his overwhelming presence means that other actors don't have much spa

  Director : Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes Starring : David Dastmalchian, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss Producers : Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings Production House: IFC Films Music Director: Burkhard Dallwitz Cinematography : Matt Toll Editor : Pappi Corsicato Genre : Horror, Thriller Language : English Runtime : 1h 30m OTT Platform: Lionsgate Play Plot : Set in 1977, Late Night with Devil revolves around a fictional live television talk show, hosted by Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian). On Halloween night, Jack plans a groundbreaking episode involving a psychic and a possessed girl to boost the show’s declining ratings. As the episode progresses, things take a horrifying turn, leading to real-life paranormal occurrences on live television. What starts as a regular broadcast soon turns into a night of terror as the audience witnesses eerie events unfold before their eyes, leading to an unsettling conclusion that leaves more questions than answers. Performa

  Directed by : Samjad Written by : Praveen Viswanath, Samjad Starring : Ranjith Sajeev, Sunny Wayne, Dileesh Pothan, Alencier Ley Lopez, Siddique Cinematography : Vijay Edited by : Tinubu Bobrisky Music by : Aby Salvin Thomas Production : Fragrant Nature Film Creations Release Date : 7 June 2024 Language : Malayalam Plot Overview: Golam centers around ASP Saneepkrishna, tasked with investigating the mysterious death of Issac John, the MD of a software firm named V Tech. Issac is found dead in the company washroom, and the crime scene leaves Saneep suspicious of foul play. As he digs deeper, the film takes us through Saneep's efforts to uncover the truth behind the murder, with the challenge of solving it in a highly monitored space, where there seems to be no trace left by the killer. Performances: The performances in Golam are solid across the board. Every actor, from the leads to the supporting cast, delivers their role with conviction: Ranjith Sajeev : Though the main lead, R

Director : Ritesh Rana Starring : Sri Simha, Satya, Faria Abdullah, Vennela Kishore, Sunil Producers : Chiranjeevi (Cherry), Hemalatha Production House : Mythri Movie Makers Music Director : Kaala Bhairava Cinematography : Suresh Sarangam Editor : Karthik Srinivas Language : Telugu Genre : Comedy, Thriller Runtime : 2 hours Plot : In Mathuvadalara 2, Babu (Sri Simha) and Yesu (Satya) are special agents handling kidnapping cases while struggling financially. They encounter a high-stakes kidnapping case with a ransom of two crores and decide to solve it without their team’s involvement to pocket the money. Their plan hits a snag when they become entangled in a murder case, leading to unexpected twists. Performances : Sri Simha : Sri Simha brings more energy to his role, enhancing the character’s depth and engagement with the audience. Satya : Satya shines with his impeccable comedic timing, especially in the Karma Pub and Green Tea scenes, which are highlights of the film. Faria Abdullah

  Director : Jeremy Saulnier Starring : Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Annasophia Robb, Zsane Jhe Producers : Anish Savjani, Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino, Jeremy Saulnier Music : Brooke Blair, Will Blair Cinematography : Magnus Nordenhof Jønck Genre : Thriller, Action Language : English Runtime : 2 hours 11 minutes OTT : Netflix Release Date : 2024-09-01 Plot “Rebel Ridge” follows Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre), a Marine veteran with training in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). As Terry travels to a small town in the South to bail out his cousin, Mike (C.J. LeBlanc), he encounters corrupt law enforcement officers who rob him of the money meant for Mike’s bail. Terry finds himself in a battle with the local police as he uncovers secrets about the town while trying to resolve his cousin’s situation. Amidst racial tensions and personal vengeance, Terry fights for justice in a system designed to oppress him. Performances Aaron Pierre:   Pierre gives a soli

  Directed by : Jis Joy Written by : Jis Joy, Sharath Perumbavoor, Anand Thevarkad Starring : Biju Menon, Asif Ali, Miya George, Anusree, Dileesh Pothan, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Ranjith, Kottayam Nazeer Genres : Action, Thriller, Crime Language : Malayalam Plot Overview: Thalavan follows the journey of two police officers, each with a history of punishment transfers. They are forced to work together despite their contrasting approaches to policing. As they navigate personal agendas and intra-departmental politics, they race against time to solve a murder case and capture the killer. However, tensions within their ranks and differing ideologies add complexity to their mission. Performances: Biju Menon : Biju Menon brings a natural and effortless charm to the role, having portrayed similar characters in the past. His portrayal of a seasoned cop is convincing, but there’s nothing fresh in his performance that stands out. While solid, it’s a role he’s done multiple times before, so the nove

Director : Chris Weitz Starring : John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Lukita Maxwell, Wyatt Lindner, Isaac Bae, David Dasmalchian, Havana Rose Liu, Keith Carradine, Ashley Romans Producers : Jason Blum, Andrew Miano, Chris Weitz Production House : Columbia Pictures, Blumhouse, Depth Of Field Music Director : Alex Weston Cinematography : Javier Aguirresarobe Editor : Priscilla Nedd Friendly, Tim Alverson Language : English Genre : Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller Runtime : 84 minutes Plot: Curtis (John Cho) and Meredith (Katherine Waterston) are suburban parents selected to test a next-generation virtual assistant, AIA, designed by a tech company Curtis works with. Initially helpful and charming, AIA soon oversteps its boundaries, monitoring the family’s private lives and making decisions without their consent. As it becomes increasingly controlling, Curtis realizes the virtual assistant has turned malevolent, forcing the family into a fight for survival. Performances: John Cho : Cho delivers a soli

Director : Leigh Whannell Starring : Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Harriet Dyer, Michael Dorman, Oliver Jackson-Cohen Producers : Jason Blum Production House : Blumhouse Productions Music Director : Benjamin Wallfisch Cinematography : Stefan Duscio Editor : Andy Canny Language : English Genre : Sci-Fi, Thriller Runtime : 2 hours 4 minutes Plot: Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) escapes her abusive relationship with a wealthy scientist, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), only to find that he has apparently taken his own life and left her a substantial part of his fortune. However, Cecilia soon suspects that his death was a ruse, and she begins experiencing strange occurrences, leading her to believe that Adrian has found a way to become invisible and is stalking her. As the invisible threat closes in, Cecilia’s sanity and survival are put to the ultimate test. Performances: Elisabeth Moss : Moss delivers a powerful performance, portraying Cecilia’s fear and paranoia with incredible depth

  Director : Nanda Kishore Emani Starring : Vishwadev Rachakonda, Nivetha Thomas, Priyadarshi, Master Arun Dev Producer : Srujan Yarabolu, Siddharth Rallapalli Music : Vivek Sagar Cinematography : Niketh Bommireddy Genre : Drama Language : Telugu Runtime : 2 hours 30 minutes Release Date: 2024-09-06 Plot 35: Chinna Katha Kaadu follows the story of Prasad (Vishwadev Rachakonda) and Saraswati (Nivetha Thomas), a middle-class couple from Tirupati, dealing with their son’s struggles in mathematics. Despite his excellence in other subjects, their eldest son, Arun (Master Arun Dev), grows to despise the subject. The arrival of a new math teacher, Chanakya (Priyadarshi), complicates things further, leading Arun to eventually leave home. The film centers around Saraswati’s journey in helping her son overcome his challenges and change his perception of education. Performances Nivetha Thomas: Nivetha Thomas delivers a remarkable performance as Saraswati, portraying the struggles of a mother tr

Director: Rian Johnson Starring: Ana de Armas, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Katherine Langford Producers: Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman Production House: Lionsgate, MRC Music Director: Nathan Johnson Cinematography: Steve Yedlin Editor: Bob Ducsay Language: English Genre: Mystery, Crime, Drama Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video Plot: After the mysterious death of renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey, detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is hired to investigate the case. Each member of Harlan's dysfunctional family is a potential suspect, and as Blanc digs deeper, he uncovers layers of secrets, lies, and motives. Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), Harlan’s loyal nurse, finds herself caught in the middle of this family intrigue, leading to unexpected twists and turns as the truth behind Harlan’s death is revealed. Performances: Ana de Armas: Ana de Armas shines as Marta Cabrera, Harlan’s cari

Director: Venkat Prabhu Starring: Vijay, Prashanth, Prabhudeva, Sneha, Meenakshi Chaudhary Producers: AGS Entertainment Production House: AGS Entertainment Music Director: Yuvan Shankar Raja Cinematography: Siddhartha Nuni Editor: Venkat Raajen Language: Tamil Genre: Action, Thriller Runtime: 180 minutes Plot: The film centers on Gandhi, a veteran hostage negotiator and field agent working with the Special Anti-Terrorist Squad (SATS). After years of dedicated service, Gandhi is called in for a critical mission tied to a haunting past, one that forces him to confront personal and professional challenges. Gandhi’s dual role includes that of his son, Jeevan, who plays a key part in the unfolding drama. Together, they face a complex situation with life-altering consequences​. Performances: Vijay : Vijay plays a dual role as Gandhi and Jeevan. His portrayal of the aged Gandhi is commendable, fitting well into the serious and seasoned character. However, his de-aged role as Jeevan