Cinema, Karam, Kapi

Long-haul flights within India are my personal screening rooms.  The Dubai to Boston sector on Emirates last week, all 15-odd hours of it, could have practically been a film festival in the sky for me, though I managed to catch just one movie “Up in the Air”. That is how I finally watched Michael , the long-awaited biopic on the King of Pop. I had consciously avoided reviews. Films about legends carry the weight of expectation. I went in curious, but cautious. I was not prepared for what followed. The film opens into the world of Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo) — cold, controlling, and convinced that talent is something you beat into a child. Literally.  There is a scene where young Michael gets thrashed with a belt, and I found myself gripping the armrest. It is not dramatised for shock. It is quiet, ugly, and real. I had to look away. Katherine Jackson (Nia Long) is the silent counterweight — loving, helpless, and heartbroken in equal measure. She holds the family together ...

For someone who knows very little about the struggles of the mighty king, Raja Shivaji is less of a history lesson and more of a grand, immersive tapestry.  Released in Marathi language on 1st May 2026, to coincide with Maharashtra Day , the film attempts to resurrect the Maratha legacy with unprecedented ambition. The narrative traces the monarch's formative years, balanced by the guidance of his mother, Jijabai (Bhagyashree), and the watchful presence of his father, Shahaji Bhosale (Sachin Khedekar).  We witness his bond with his brother, Sambhaji (Abhishek Bachchan), and the quiet strength of his wife, Saibai (Genelia Deshmukh). The story delves into the geopolitical tensions of the era: Shah Jahan , ensconced in his opulent court in Agra, required skilled artisans and stone-cutters from the Deccan heartland to fuel his architectural vanity. This systemic exploitation of the periphery by the center became a catalyst for regional resentment, ultimately contributing to...

After missing its theatrical run back in 2016, I finally caught War Dogs  on streaming this weekend. Given that director Todd Phillips was famous for the sheer debauchery of The Hangover trilogy, I went in expecting a brainless bro-comedy.  Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised.  The film is merely a cynical dive into how the Pentagon treats international conflict like an open-mic bidding war reminding the viewers of a hard truth: war is an economy, and someone is always cashing the checks. Gets as fictional as it could get. The story tracks David Packouz (Miles Teller), a struggling Miami massage therapist who gets reacquainted with his childhood best friend, Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill).  Efraim is a slick, cutthroat hustle-bro exploiting a loophole that allows small businesses to bid on US military contracts. Jonah Hill is absolutely magnetic here.  Dressed in oversized linen shirts, slicked-back hair, and sporting a deeply unnerving, high-pitched fake laug...

After the buzz around this Jennifer Lopez film, I finally found time to watch Office Romance on Netflix. I had consciously avoided reading reviews so I could save the suspense factor to myself. I went with limited hope, given the rom-com genre has been struggling lately.  And thankfully, I was not at all disappointed. The movie is about Jackie Cruz (Jennifer Lopez), a meticulous airline CEO whose company AirCruz, founded by her father, is now profitable but the board wants to replace her.  Daniel Blanchflower (Brett Goldstein from Ted Lasso), a British lawyer joining AirCruz's legal department, instantly falls for Jackie.  The meet-cute? Awkward. Daniel gets a boner during their first meeting in her office—creepy, yes, but the script tries to laugh it off. The company's strict no-fraternization policy sets up the central tension. Jennifer Lopez  is wonderful as always. Aptly styled with glamorous power-dressing ensembles and a radiant glow, she convinces us of Jackie...

In a hard-hitting dialogue, one of the characters in the movie says outside the Court premises, “ People come to Courts assuming the guilty would be punished; little do they know that coming to the Court itself is a punishment ”.  Very strong words there by Director RJ Balaji, whose much awaited film  Karuppu  released in theatres on 15 May 2026, a few days after Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay took oath. The movie was ready for release several months ago and was mired in various controversies.   The Director has taken the Indian legal system head-on, showcasing the unholy nexus of certain lawyers and judges outside the Courtroom and Chambers, much to the chagrin of the stakeholders. He could have also done well with including recent real life instances, such as stashes of cash that was found at a Supreme Court Judge’s home in the national capital. Nevertheless, glad that someone had the guts to showcase the glut in the system. Kudos to his bravery. The fi...