Movies

🍿 Satluj (2026) – ★★★★★

A slow moving gut wrenching story of some of darkest times in Indian history; this is movie that takes its time and does not hurry at nearly 3 hours. Sure some things may feel a bit repetitive but it is by design I think and is anchored by some excellent performances all throughout. Huge kudos to film makers for not bowing down to Indian govt and releasing it uncut. In spite of this huge nationalist turn, every year Indian cinema turns up a few dramas like this that are unafraid to call a spade a spade (last year, Dhadak 2 was the movie for me – when was the last time you saw fight fascism banners in a Bollywood movie?). Satluj is a must watch documenting the worst of police brutality – and shame on Indian govt banning these because they are so insecure that way.

🍿 Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026) – ★★★★☆

I actually kinda enjoyed this more than part 1. Solid 3 and half stars, but an extra half star because I sat through the entire 4 hour movie in one go when I thought it would take us several days to get through. I didn’t find the jingoism in this movie as problematic as the first one though. You can debate plot devices but it at least didn’t feel like forced upon. Superb soundtrack like the first one, and I do think the raw version on Netflix with all the gaali galouch makes it more real lol. All things said, movie really could have been tighter towards the end – there was no reason why this movie stretched to 4 hours.