Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu, Dobaara lead OTT releases - Oct 17 weekend

It has been a heavy-duty release season in the theatre circuit across the country. Ponniyin Selvan 1 has been followed by the Kannada pan-Indian hit Kantara. This is certainly good news for the beleaguered film industry in the country that had taken a major blow during the pandemic. On the OTT front, too there have been many interesting offerings. This week we have the Tamil hit Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu leading the pack, There is also Dobaaara from Hindi. The Hindi web series Good Bad Girl is also in the pack. The Malayalam film Palthu Janwar and the Second Season of Mismatched web series complete our weekly list.

Aside from these, we also have the Malayalam flick King Fish (Sun NXT), the Tamil films Trigger (Aha), Buffoon (Netflix) and the Telugu movie Nenu Meeku Baaga Kavalsina Vadini (Aha). 

Dobaara

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Synopsis:  This is sci-fi film with some interesting inversion about time travel. The story is about a woman who is able to communicate with a young boy who lived in the same house 25 years ago. She has the chance to save the boy’s life after he witnesses a murder during a thunderstorm. During its theatrical release, the film got mixed reviews. Some praised the director Anurag Kashyap for pushing the envelope with a brave attempt in a difficult genre. Taapsee Pannu also received plaudits for her committed performance. Apart from her, Pavel Gulati, Saswata Chatterjee, and Nassar are featured in key roles. The film deserves high marks for the attempt. It might have faltered a bit in its delivery though.

Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu

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Synopsis: Films featuring actor Silambarasan and directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon have always kindled huge interest. Acham Enbathu Madamaiyada and Vinnaithandi Varuvaya have been hugely popular. So their coming together for the gangster drama Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu had triggered huge interest. Upon its theatrical release, the film kind of satiated the viewers' interest. The film kind of inverts the gangster theme and comes up with a new narrative. Or so said the critics. The film has been declared a hit. The music of A R Rahman is another of the attractions in the film. Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu is based on one of writer Jeyamohan's short stories. Jeyamohan, it may be recalled, is also one of the the scriptwriters for Ponniyin Selvan 1.

Mismatched Season 2

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Synopsis: Mismatched Season 1, based on Sandhya Menon’s 2017 novel, When Dimple Met Rishi, was  a popular series. This tale based on romantic relationships and fallouts is now returning for the second season. story centres on an old-school romantic kind of guy falling for a young woman, who is a different kind of person -- an ambitious gamer who is not what one would call a typical romantic. This equation between the opposites supplies the story all the warmth, energy and quirks. Season one ended at an intriguing point with the leading pair having a fallout. Two secrets, one professional and other personal, that they alone were privy too come out in the open. The new season takes off from that idea --- not being able to keep a secret. 

Good Bad Girl

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Synopsis: Two years back, SonyLiv platform announced a bunch of web-series. The Good Bad Girl was one of them. It has taken its time to arrive. It is a story centered on an advocate. But it is not an all-out legal drama. According to the network. It is the life of a young girl who is a bubbly blabbermouth and unapologetic hustler in school and college. She grows up to a feisty but manipulative lawyer with a sassy sense of humour and a warped perspective who will stop at nothing to make it big. She invents a life-threatening disease to save her career. And what is the consequence of it? That is an interesting story line. The series mixes legal life with real-life emotions for hardy entertainment.

Palthu Janwar

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Synopsis: Minnal Murali director Basil Joseph is a bankable actor in comic roles. And the quaintly named Palthu Janwar provides him plenty of scope for his typical slice of life comedy. He plays a livestock inspector, and his run-ins with animals and their owners is full of fun. The film’s story is partly inspired by an incident that happened in the life of the scriptwriter’s father, who was also a livestock inspector. the hero of the story is not enamoured of his job at first. But slowly grows into it, and stars taking a liking for it. Directed by debutant Sangeeth P Rajan, who previously worked as an associate to filmmaker Amal Neerad, this is a typical middling comedy drama that Malayalam cinema has made its own.

Our Previous Weeks' Recommendations

Eesho

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Synopsis: Jayasurya and director Nadirshah delivered a smashing hit withe their previous collaboration Amar Akbar Anthony. Following it success, the duo have come together for the thriller Eesho. Nadirshah is known for his humorous movies. So this is a new area for him. On the other hand, Jayasurya is always at home with these kind of movies. So he can compensate for the director's newness to the territory. The film has been delayed for long, and hence has to chosen to premiere directly on the OTT platform. The film has two layers, one about a confidence trickster, and the other about a more serious crime. The film courted some unwitting controversy before its release. Eesho is the Malayalam name of Jesus, and some petitioners wanted the title to be removed. The Christian Association for Social Action had filed a petition before the High Court wanting a restriction on the film from being released. But the Kerala High Court threw out the plea and refused to stay the film's release.

Maja Ma

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Synopsis: Any film featuring Madhuri Dixit in the leads triggers curiosity and interest. For, she is one performer who can make a film her own with her histrionics and dancing skills. This film, a direct-on-streamer release, provides fodder for both. The story is set around a wedding engagement ceremony in a typical Gujarati family. There is a lot of dance and song routine, and Madhuri typically aces them all. But this is also a family drama, and Madhuri, again, is a past-master in such genres. As a mother and wife, she has come out with a compelling performance. After her Fame Game on Netflix, Madhuri seems to be   very comfortable in the OTT space. 

Karthikeya 2

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Synopsis: Mixing mythology and modern sentiments is Tollywood's specialty. Karthikeya 2 is a good case in point. It received a massive response at the box-office and became a blockbuster with a collection of Rs 120 crore. It is one of the biggest hits of the season in the Telugu speaking states. The film's strength has been its adroit mix of action, mythology and sentiments. The underscoring of ancient belief systems seems to have worked big time with the audience. The performance of the young cast is also worth noting. The presence of veteran Anupam Kher in the proceedings also adds gravitas.

Laal Singh Chaddha

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Synopsis: What is there to write about Laal Singh Chaddha that has not be written about before. the film, when it released in theatres, faced the kind of onslaught that no other movie has seen before. It was protested against by a bunch of right wing activists who were cut up by some statement Aamir Khan had reportedly made in the past. The backlash was so severe that this movie tanked spectacularly at the box-office. Of course, it cannot be said that the film failed solely because of the opposition to it. This remake of the 1994 Tom Hanks Oscar winner Forrest Gump was also panned by critics for being indulgent and smarmy. The makers have tweaked the original and added elements that make it Indian. The Indian version is based on the screenplay of actor Atul Kulkarni. If the film had done well, it would not have made it to the streamers early. But its poor performance has ensured that it has arrived in quicker than anticipated.

Oru Thekkan Thallu Case

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Synopsis: Biju Menon is the newly-minted National Award winner. He won the best supporting award for his last year release Aarkkariyam. Oru Thekkan Thallu case is course a different kind of movie. When it released in theatres last month, it copped a mixed response. It was applauded for its emotional heft and sturdy fights. But it was also criticised for its predictable screenplay. But the equation between the two ladies was kept real and interesting. The film, directed by Sreejith N, is based on Ammini Pilla Vettu Case, a novel written by noted Malayalam writer GR Indugopan. The run-ins between Biju Menon and Roshan Mathew on screen is one of the highlights of the movie. With Oru Thekkan Thallu Case, Netflix seems to be doubling down on its Malayalam content.

Plan A Plan B

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Synopsis: It is a love story that is also battle of the sexes. In that, Tamannah plays a match-maker while Riteish is a divorce lawyer. The opposite poles have to attract each other. But, as the genre would have it, it will see a lot of hurdles before happening.  That is the fun of it all. The whacky coming-of-age romance film is directed by Shashanka Ghosh, who had a commercial success with his previous venture  Veere Di Wedding.

For Tamannah, this is a happening time on the OTT front. Last week, her Hindi movie Babli Bouncer started streaming, and now this. Netflix is doubling down on its Hindi slate of content, and Plan A Plan B is among its top releases in that list.

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