Movie Review of Jadu Kadai, a ZEE5 Bengali Original

We all get fascinated by tales of magic and wonder. Therefore, when I saw the trailer of Jadu Kadai (magical wok) on ZEE5, I was tempted to watch it right away. Jadu Kadai is a Comedy drama starring popular Bengali actors such as Rahul, Sayani Dutta, Joydip Kundu, and Dipanwita Nath in the lead roles. The 132 minutes long movie has a fresh and refreshing concept.

Plot and Characters

Jadu Kadai tells the story of an ordinary man, Bikram whose life changes magically after he gets a wok endowed with special powers. When the movie starts, we can see Bikram daydreaming about the girl he loves. A timid and under confident man, Bikram has made peace with his mundane 9 to 5 job instead of pursuing his passion for cooking.

One day, Bikram buys an old vintage wok from a mysterious man who claims to be from Bikram’s village, Palashpur. Before leaving, the man warns Bikram not to say about the wok to anyone. It creates suspicions in Bikram’s mind but he soon dismisses it.

We get to see Bikram’s monotonous life from close quarters. A descendant of the zamindars of Palashpur, Bikram stays in a modest apartment with his friend, Timir. He is in love with a PhD scholar, Rupsha who doesn’t reciprocate his feelings. According to Rupsha, Bikram is not smart and confident enough to win her heart. Bikram is passionate about cooking and aspires to be a chef. However, he does not have the courage to take a loan for starting his restaurant. Despite being a talented and good person, Bikram lives like a loser and we feel sympathy towards him.

However, Bikram’s life magically changes when he starts cooking in the magical wok. Rupsha falls in love with him and he gets a great offer to start his restaurant from business tycoon, Maganlal. A baffled Bikram embarks on a journey to find out the truth of the wok. He also has to protect the wok from greedy Maganlal who is the main antagonist of the movie.

Pace and Climax

Jadu Kadai picks momentum post interval. The first hour has a few dull moments and can test your patience. However, once Bikram understands the power of the wok, the movie becomes fast-paced and interesting. The last 30 minutes of the movie is filled with nail-biting moments. The climax is gripping and does justice to the plot.

Performance

Rahul who essayed the role of Bikram has done complete justice to his role. He effortlessly displayed a wide range of emotions such as fear, confusion, anger, and wonder. Sayani Dutta was pleasant as the confident and well-read Rupsha. Joydip Kundu as Maganlal was pretty good.

Screenplay, Direction and Background Score

The screenplay could have been better especially in the first half of the movie. The direction justified the script. I really enjoyed the background score associated with the wok. It was both funny and mysterious. It reminded me of the fantasy adventure film, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne.

Final Words

Jadu Kadai revolves around the magical wok and the miracles and problems that occur in Bikram’s life due to the wok. If you enjoy watching fantasy adventure films with dollops of humour, you must watch Jadu Kadai on ZEE5 right away. The innovative and fresh concept will definitely leave a smile on your face.

Richa Chadha shines in ZEE5 Original Film, Cabaret

Yesterday, I watched a captivating movie, Cabaret on ZEE5. The movie, starring Richa Chadha, Gulshan Devaiah, S.Sreesanth and Gulshan Grover in pivotal roles has been directed by Kaustav Narayan Niyogi and produced by Pooja Bhatt. The movie revolves around the life of a successful dancer whose journey begins from a small village called Gumla in Jharkhand.

Plot

The movie begins with a book launch. The author narrates the story of the protagonist who wanted nothing more than love in her life. The flashback takes us to Jharkhand where we see police ruthlessly killing a man, rendering his wife helpless. As the policeman tries to molest the woman (Richa Chadha), she kills him brutally.

6 years later, the woman has become Rosa, a successful dancer. Gaurav (Gulshan Devaiah), an investigative journalist who has lately become an alcoholic due to some unfortunate events is given the task of taking an in-depth interview of Rosa.

It’s through this interview that we learn Rosa’s painful and shocking story. From her escape to Mumbai, her career as a dancer and the dark twists that eventually follow, the narrative leaves the audience gasping for breath.

As time passes, Gaurav and Rosa fall deeply in love with each other. The responsibility of protecting Rosa from constant death threats from the underworld gives a purpose to Gaurav’s life. However, will he be able to save her life? Will he be able to tell the story of her life to everyone? To know that, you have to watch the movie.

Performances

Few minutes into the movie and Richa Chadha’s acting left me speechless. She effortlessly changes from a helpless woman to a confident dancer in the movie. Her dance performance especially in the song “Ghoongroo toot Gaye” is praiseworthy. Her moves are graceful, yet her eyes depict a profound pain.

Gulshan Devaiah’s acting is brilliant. I loved the scenes where he quietly observes Rosa with clammy eyes. He is equally good in the scenes where he is dealing with the villain.

S.Sreesanth who played one of the most interesting characters in the movie did complete justice to his role. It was a treat watching him perform with such panache. Gulshan Grover was impressive in a villainous role with a menacing performance.

Dialogues and Direction

There are some beautiful dialogues in the movie between Rosa and Gaurav. I loved the scene where Rosa, after narrating her life story tells Gaurav: “Dil kyu kisi par aitbaar karta hai ye bas dil hi janta hai.”

The scene where Gaurav takes her interview and asks some general questions was also amazing.

Gaurav: Bhagwan mein yakeen karti hai?

Rosa: Haan. Kyuki mujhe pyar mein yakeen hai.

The direction is clever and good. I loved the way the director chose to oscillate between the past and present to keep the audience engaged. As the editing is crisp, the movie is fast-paced. Once you start watching the movie, you won’t be able to leave it in between. I also enjoyed the way the director pushed the audience towards the climax. The mystery was intact and I could not guess the ending.

Soundtrack

Songs form an integral part of the movie. They are not a mere embellishment and take the story forward. I liked the songs “Do jaane anjaan”, “Tum ko jo paya ab”, and “Ghunghroo toot gaye”. The haunting and sombre background score added to the mood of the movie.

Final words

If you are a movie buff looking for an intriguing thriller, you should watch Cabaret on ZEE5. The acting, direction, and soundtrack will surely impress you. The movie is about 90 minutes long, so you can easily finish it at one sitting. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a bowl of popcorn and enjoy the movie this weekend.

10 Hindi Movies from 2018 you must watch on ZEE5

The year 2018 has been a golden year for Bollywood. There have been many movies that have done great not only critically but also commercially. Surprisingly, the high-budget Khan movies have not been able to perform and win the hearts of the audience. If you enjoy watching Hindi movies online, you can watch or rewatch some of the best Hindi movies from 2018 on ZEE5.

1. Mulk

Mulk is one of the best movies of this year. The captivating social drama film, starring Rishi Kapoor and Tapsee Pannu gives out the message that there is no religion for terrorism. The powerful performances, flawless direction, and hard-hitting dialogues make it a compelling watch.

2. Parmanu

Next on the list is Parmanu, the story of Pokhran. The patriotic movie starring John Abraham and Diana Penty is based on the 1998 Pokhran Nuclear Test conducted with the joint collaboration of BARC, DRDO, ISRO and the Indian Army. The way director Abhishek Sharma has presented the real incidents in a thrilling way make the movie a must watch.

3. Padman

Padman is a social drama film that has high rewatch value for the message it conveys and for the brilliant performance of Akshay Kumar. It tells the story of a courageous man who faces social stigma and other challenges in his well-intentioned pursuit to develop affordable sanitary pads.

4. Veere Di Wedding

Veere Di Wedding celebrates female friendship in a way that few Bollywood movies have done. The movie is filled with fun-filled and heart-touching moments that you would love to relive with your girl gang. With spectacular performances from Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar, and Shikha Talsania, the movie shines as a movie that showcases a more realistic yet fun side of friendship.

5. Laila Majnu

Laila Majnu is a beautiful romantic drama movie directed by Sajid Ali. Written by Imtiaz Ali, the Sufi poetic aura of his style of romance is evident in the movie. While there have been past adaptations of the Laila-Majnu tale, this version provides a fresh perspective by setting the story in present-day Kashmir.

6. Batti Gul Meter Chalu

Batti Gul Meter Chalu highlights the problems that people face due to power cuts. Set in Tehri, Uttarakhand, the local dialect, locations and characterizations feel incredibly fresh to watch on-screen. But the biggest highlight is how all the previously mentioned elements come together to address a relevant social issue. Among performances, watch out for Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor and Divyendu Sharma.

7. Paltan

If you enjoy war movies, you should definitely watch Paltan on ZEE5. The movie starring Arjun Rampal and Sonu Sood is based on the clashes between the Indian and Chinese Military (Nathu La and Cho La) on 1967. Many are not aware of this battle and that is exactly what makes the movie an insightful watch.

8. Genius

Genius is an action thriller movie starring Mithun Chakraborty, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Utkarsh Sharma. Directed by Anil Sharma (known for directing Gadar), the movie features some spectacular action sequences and a thrilling plot that you shall definitely enjoy.

9. Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se

After tickling our funny bone with the previous two instalments of Yamla Pagla Deewana 1 and 2, the Deol trio is back with Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se. It has always been a fun, emotional-filled experience watching Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol act on-screen together and YPD Phir Se is no exception.

10. Tigers

Tigers starring Emraan Hashmi is a ZEE5 Original Film released in 2018 that you cannot afford to miss. Directed by Oscar-winner Danis Tanovic, The drama is inspired by true events in Pakistan. Watch it for the engaging storyline, great direction, and pitch-perfect performance by Emraan Hashmi.

In short, 2018 was the year of content-driven Hindi movies that had unique stories and fabulous performances. Grab a bucket of popcorn and binge-watch the amazing Hindi movies online on ZEE5.

Watch Dobaara on ZEE5 to make the best out of second chances

Dhadkan sansein nahi banti

Agar dhadke nahi dobaara

Boond barsaat nahi banti

Agar barse nahi dobaara

Last night, I watched one of the movies from the collection of the ZEE5 film festival. These couplets from the movie Dobaara made me contemplate the importance of second chances. The movie starring the very talented Manav Kaul and Parvathy Omanakuttan is about a married couple, Paro and Mohan whose relationship goes through several ups and downs. This1-hour 7 minutes Hindi feature film is directed by Bejoy Nambiar.

The thought-provoking film made me philosophical. I thought about all the times when I felt sad about failing at something. Be it relationships or dreams, how easily we give up! Don’t we? We tend to think that if it is not working out, there is no point in trying another time. I thought about all the manuscripts that I abandoned when they failed to get accepted by publishers. I thought about all the friendships that I left behind because of some minor misunderstandings.

Would my life be different if I had decided to take a second chance at that time?

Could the connection in those lost friendships be restored?

Would the abandoned manuscripts ever see the light of the day?

Maybe. Maybe not. At least, there would be no regrets in trying one more time.

Letting go is easier; holding on is difficult. We all know that letting go is extremely important for our mental peace. But when something is truly precious to us, doesn’t it deserve a second chance?

The most important thing is to figure out how important and valuable it is for us. If the person or project holds immense value, we must try to give the relationship a fresh start. In the movie, Paro gets tired of her married life and leaves her home. She feels that there is no connection between her and her husband. There is no point in staying back. Her husband, Mohan who was quite indifferent to Paro’s feelings for years realizes the importance of his wife. As the realization dawns on him, he accepts that he cannot live without Paro, he decides to find her and bring her back. But will Paro give him a second chance?

The best thing about the movie is that anyone can relate to the circumstances. When I was watching the movie, I tried to put myself in the shoes of both Paro and Mohan. Both the characters were equally responsible for making their married life suffer. As humans, we tend to take things for granted until it goes away from us. But the most important thing is to realize the other person’s value and holding onto them. When Mohan realizes Paro has left him, he reminds himself that he has not left her yet. He embarks on a long journey to bring back his wife.

The importance of second chances is so beautifully depicted in Dobaara that it will surely resonate with you. To get a glimpse of the movie, watch the trailer here

Maana zindagi ki shuruwat

Mumkin nahi dobaara,

Magar mumkin hai har mod se

Ek nayi shuruwat dobaara.

The ZEE5 film festival brings 12 beautiful films directed by 12 top directors, 6 from India and 6 from Pakistan. If you are a movie buff like me, you will be having a great time watching the films on ZEE5. So, what are you waiting for? Download the App and subscribe to it to have an amazing movie night on the weekend. Keep a bowl of popcorn ready.

La La Land is for the crazy, dedicated dreamers!

“There are certain emotions in your body that not even your best friend can sympathize with, but you will find the right film and the right book, and it will understand you.”~ Bjork

That was exactly how I felt about the movie “La La Land.” There are some movies that draw you so deep within that you can’t come out of that hangover ever. I watched La La Land on 31^st December and even after one full week, I find myself thinking about the movie. 

La La Land is a movie about the crazy and dedicated dreamers, the people who don’t give up on their dreams, no matter how much they have to bear for it. It is about the scar of struggles that people have to undergo while fulfilling their dreams. It is about the power of love that can inspire you to make your dreams come true.

 It tells the story of Mia (played by Emma Stone) who is a struggling actress. She works in a café and goes every day from one harrowing audition to the other. It also tells the story of Sebastian (played by Ryan Gosling) who is a struggling jazz musician. He plays jingles in a restaurant and is not allowed to play jazz as the owner of the restaurant hates it. When he gets carried away and plays jazz one day, he is immediately fired.

 When Mia and Sebastian meet, it is pure magic. They listen and understand each other’s journey. They can empathize with the passion both of them have towards their chosen art form. They inspire each other to rise above the circumstances. Sebastian, who dreams of running his own club, suggests Mia to write a play and perform it. It was extremely heartening to see how these two individuals play such a significant role in each other’s life and lift each other higher. It was soulful to see how Mia and Sebastian’s dreams come true.

La La land is a romantic musical with exceptional cinematography. The music, the dance, the camera work…everything was pitch-perfect. Each and every frame of the movie was poetry in motion. I don’t remember the last time I watched a movie that impressed me so much.

The scars of struggles that were shown in the movie were so relatable, that I guess, anyone who is struggling to fulfill a dream will surely relate to it. There was one scene where Mia breaks down and tells Sebastian that she thinks that perhaps she is not good enough after going through a series of unsuccessful auditions. I could certainly recognize that emotion. I felt the same way when my manuscript got rejected so many times for a wide range of reasons. We all feel that way when we face repeated rejections and the life of every artist has its fair share of rejections.

La La Land also makes you believe in the magic of love. It makes you believe that dreams definitely come true if you don’t abandon them. 

Have you ever felt angry when someone has not shown respect to your favorite art form? 

Do you wake up every morning with the desire to work towards your dreams? 

Have you ever faced a breakdown moment at night due to repeated rejections/failures and yet did not abandon your dream? 

Do you feel there is perhaps someone like you in this world who can understand your journey?

If you have answered yes to even one of the questions, you must watch La La Land. It is cinema and storytelling at its best.