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The seven-episode web series Black Warrant, created by Vikram Motwane and Satyanshu Singh, is based on the book Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer. It captures true events through the perspective of Sunil Gupta, a rookie jailer at Tihar Jail in the 1980s. From the very beginning, the show immerses viewers in the gritty world of Tihar through its evocative cinematography and meticulous production design. The episodic integration of real-life incidents keeps the narrative engaging and adds to the intrigue. Complemented by a compelling background score, close-up shots, and the depiction of jail politics, the series effectively builds tension and scale, making it an engrossing watch.

What truly stands out are the four principal characters, whose individual arcs, differences, and conflicts form the heart of the story. Zahaan Kapoor, Rahul Bhatt, Pramvir Singh, and Anurag Thakur deliver exceptional performances, while Sidhant Gupta, portraying Charles Sobhraj, is particularly captivating and leaves a lasting impression. The raw portrayal of hang-up shots, fights, and jail commentary adds an unsettling authenticity to the narrative. While the series' heavy tone and occasional pacing issues make it less binge-worthy, it becomes more impactful when consumed at a slower pace. Overall, Black Warrant is raw, compelling, and informative, making it a unique web series well worth your time!

OVERALL -9/10.

MC Jithin's Sookshmadarshini is a Hitchcockian suspense thriller revolving around newly moved neighbors and the suspicious activities that follow. The film sets things up remarkably well in the first half, with subtle detailing placed evenly throughout. The second half follows with nail-biting sequences, twists, and turns. Christo Xavier's background score creates the perfect tension required for the environment. The camera work, sound design, and editing also effectively support the thriller in building suspense. Humour is organically placed.

Nazriya performs well as the "overthinking detective" neighbor. She gets her moments in the second half and pulls them off convincingly. Basil is, once again, a knockout in the film. His expressions are just too good. The rest of the supporting cast performs well, with the neighbors and Ammachi complementing the leads effectively. However, the primary issue with the movie is its lack of emotional connection. It struggles to evoke the depth of emotion needed, and the climax feels slightly off-pitch compared to the rest of the film. Despite these flaws, the movie keeps you hooked and guessing until the last moment. It offers enough nail-biting scenes and twists to stand out as another excellent thriller from Mollywood this year.

OVERALL - 8/10.

There are movies that are ahead of their time, and then there are films stuck in the past. Shankar's Game Changer falls into the latter category. The film features cringe- worthy comedy, random characters, poorly choreographed songs, a weak romantic subplot, and outdated drama. It relies heavily on the familiar tropes seen in Shankar's earlier films like Sivaji: The Boss and Nayak, but it lacks the impact those films once had. However, the flashback sequence involving the character Appanna is perfectly executed, with emotions at its core, serving as a reminder that Shankar still has the skill but is lost in distractions. The production value is great and deserves special mention. The camerawork leans too heavily on overused mocobot shots, which becomes repetitive.

Ram Charan delivers a commendable performance, particularly excelling as Appanna. Kiara Advani, however, has little of substance to contribute. Talented actors like Sunil, Jayaram, and Vennela Kishore are unfortunately wasted. Anjali, Srikanth, and SJ Suryah, on the other hand, deliver good performances. Overall, the film engages you in its political drama and flashback sequences but the writing often descends into mediocrity and falters offering little new or innovative. Game Changer ends up being an outdated drama with a few redeeming moments.

OVERALL - 3/10.