thefilmiangle

  Image - Prime Video Aspirants Review: From UPSC Dreams to the Realities of Success Intro:  Aspirants  is a Hindi drama web series produced by The Viral Fever (TVF), created by Arunabh Kumar and Shreyansh Pandey. It follows three friends: Abhilash, Guri and SK, through their UPSC preparation days in Delhi and their lives beyond the examination. The series stars Naveen Kasturia, Shivankit Singh Parihar, Abhilash Thapliyal, Sunny Hinduja and Namita Dubey. Across three seasons and 15 episodes, the story moves from the coaching centres of Old Rajinder Nagar to the challenges of administrative life. Season 1 premiered on YouTube in 2021, while Seasons 2 and 3 stream on Amazon Prime Video. Review (90 Words):  Aspirants   is one of the finest portrayals of the UPSC journey, especially in its first season. The story of Abhilash, Guri and SK captures friendship, ambition, heartbreak and the uncertainty of chasing a difficult goal. Season 2 explores life after success, w...

Image - YouTube Gajab Raat Review: An Average Crime Thriller Despite Manoj Bajpayee Intro:  Gajab Raat  is a 2026 Hindi crime thriller directed by Ritesh Shah and produced by Neeraj Pandey’s Friday Filmworks. Released on Netflix on 23 October 2026, the film stars Manoj Bajpayee as Ajay Nirvit, a corrupt Delhi police officer caught up in a series of unexpected events over a single night. The ensemble cast includes Nushrratt Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Divya Dutta, Akshay Oberoi, Shraddha Das and Kiku Sharda. Review (90 Words):  I like movies that unfold over a single night. With time as a key element, they can be tight and engaging, as  Stolen  and  Ek Chalis Ki Last Local  demonstrate. Unfortunately,  Gajab Raat  is pretty average. If you're expecting something great from the combination of Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Pandey, you may be disappointed. Despite its impressive star cast, the film doesn't leave much of an impression. One thing that cau...

  Image - Prime Video Fall (2022) — Scary in Bits and Pieces Intro:   Fall  is a 2022 survival thriller directed by Scott Mann and co-written with Jonathan Frank. The film stars Grace Caroline Currey and Virginia Gardner as two friends who climb a 2,000-foot abandoned television tower and find themselves trapped at the top. With limited supplies and no easy way down, they must find a way to survive. The film is available on Prime Video. Review (90 Words):  Fall (2022) — A Survival Thriller That Plays on Your Fear of Heights. Fall   is one of those survival thrillers that makes you uncomfortable just by showing how high the characters are. There are moments when it genuinely gets scary, especially when the two friends are stuck at the top of the tower with no easy way down. The height and danger create tension, though the fear comes in bits and pieces rather than throughout the film. The premise is simple and effective, but some parts feel stretched. If heights m...

  Image - YouTube Bakaiti Season 2 — A Casual Watch, Nothing More Intro:  Bakaiti Season 2  is a Hindi comedy-drama produced by Dice Media for ZEE5. Set in Ghaziabad, the series returns to the Kataria family as they deal with financial troubles, family disagreements and changing personal ambitions. Sheeba Chaddha and Rajesh Tailang return as the middle-class parents, alongside Tanya Sharma and Aaditya Shukla. Review (90 Words): My experience with  Bakaiti Season 2  is quite similar to the first season . There isn't much here that makes it a must-watch, and you aren't missing anything great if you skip it. I certainly have higher expectations from Rajesh Tailang and Sheeba Chaddha, though their performances remain a reason to watch. The episode lengths work well for casual viewing, but tighter writing could have made a difference. At times, I wondered whether the writers themselves were clear about what emotions they wanted the audience to feel. For me, an averag...

  Image - Prime Video Meri Jung (1985) — When Revenge Becomes a Courtroom Battle Intro:  Meri Jung  is a 1985 Hindi legal drama directed by Subhash Ghai and written by Javed Akhtar. The film features Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Nutan, Amrish Puri and Javed Jaffrey, who made his film debut with this movie. With music by Laxmikant–Pyarelal, this courtroom drama combines family tragedy, revenge and a battle against a corrupt lawyer. It is currently available on Prime Video. Review (90 Words):  Revisiting   Meri Jung   after 41 years, I found myself noticing details beyond the revenge story. Amrish Puri's G.D. Thakral dominates the film so completely that it almost feels like his story. Why is his full name not mentioned? What explains his recurring finger-in-the-ear gesture? I don't know, but these details make him fascinating. Parikshit Sahani's repeated “What is this?” and Thakral's response are equally memorable. And the line about looking after each ...

  Image - YouTube Unabomber — An Interesting Story That Loses Its Way Intro:   Unabomber  is a 2026 American crime drama directed by Janus Metz Pedersen and written by Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves. Starring Russell Crowe, Jacob Tremblay, Annabelle Wallis and Shailene Woodley, the film explores the story of Ted Kaczynski and the investigation that led to his capture. It premiered on Netflix in September 2026. Review (90 Words):  Unabomber  is an interesting subject for a crime drama, but the film doesn't hold my attention throughout. It moves between Ted Kaczynski's early years at Harvard and the FBI investigation in the 1990s. There are moments when the story gets interesting, only to lose its direction again. The performances are good, particularly Jacob Tremblay and Russell Crowe. Interestingly, the background score also caught my attention, especially given my recent interest in film music. But good acting and a promising subject can only do so much when th...

Image - YouTube Reporting Live — A Good Topic, Poor Execution Intro:  Reporting Live  is a 2026 Hindi thriller directed by Dhruv Tripathi, who also co-wrote the film with Mihir Jadhav. Featuring Parineeti Chopra, Deven Bhojani, Adil Hussain, Amol Palekar and Shekhar Suman, the film explores investigative journalism and the challenges of exposing powerful interests. It premiered on Netflix on 9 October 2026. Review (90 Words): After  Pooja Meri Jaan ,  Reporting Live  is another film with a good subject that doesn't quite deliver. This time, the focus is on journalism and an investigation into a bridge collapse. There is enough material here for an engaging thriller, but the execution falls short. The storytelling doesn't create the tension or excitement I expected. For me, the only saving grace was watching Adil Hussain. Having reviewed  Scoop ,  Crime Beat  and  Despatch  earlier, I couldn't help comparing it with those shows and films...

  Image - YouTube Pooja Meri Jaan — Movie Review Intro:   Pooja Meri Jaan  is a 2026 Hindi crime thriller directed by Navjot Gulati and co-directed by Vipasha Arvind. The film stars Mrunal Thakur, Huma Qureshi, Vikram Singh Chauhan and Vijay Raaz. It is currently streaming on ZEE5. Review (90 Words):  I picked up   Pooja Meri Jaan   for Mrunal Thakur, but its premise also caught my attention. How do men handle rejection? One may choose revenge, while another may take the extreme step of suicide. I liked the fact that the film attempts to explore this uncomfortable question. Unfortunately, the execution didn't keep me engaged. Knowing that the film was completed in 2022 also made me wonder if its treatment now feels dated. The subject is still relevant, but the storytelling didn't feel fresh enough for me.   Interesting premise, average execution. #PoojaMeriJaan #MrunalThakur #HumaQureshi #VijayRaaz #ZEE5 #HindiMovies #CrimeThriller #MovieReview #OTTMov...

  Image - Prime Video Dupahiya Season 2 — Back to Dhadakpur Intro:  Dupahiya Season 2  returns to the fictional village of Dhadakpur with its familiar mix of small-town characters, comedy and everyday chaos. The second season brings back Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Sparsh Shrivastava, Bhuvan Arora and Shivani Raghuvanshi, and premiered on Amazon Prime Video in October 2026. Review (90 Words):  If you are looking for something that doesn't require much attention and can make you smile here and there,   Dupahiya Season 2   can be a handy watch. I found it to be a mix of several stories moving around at the same time, so it doesn't always feel very focused. But if you have seen Season 1 and are curious about where these characters go, Season 2 makes sense. And somewhere along the way, they bring the   dupahiya   back into the business. Also, my curiosity about character names is growing — this time we have   Bhugol and Amavas ! #DupahiyaSeason2...

  Image - YouTube Ohh My Dog Review — Two Journeys, One Beautiful Bond Intro:  Ohh My Dog  is a 2026 Hindi drama written and directed by Amit Rai, who also directed  OMG 2 . The film stars Pankaj Tripathi, Rajesh Kumar, Pawan Malhotra and Geeta Agarwal Sharma, with dogs playing an important part in the story. It is currently streaming on Netflix. Review (90 Words):  Amit Rai, who wrote and directed   OMG 2 , could easily have made   Ohh My Dog   as OMG 3! The film follows two parallel stories — Oscar trying to rescue Prince in Patna and Appu trying to rescue Momo in Assam. You will smile, you may cry, but you will be happy by the end. I particularly liked how the background score changes with both journeys. Appu's mother tying a knot in her saree is another lovely emotional touch. A little stretched, yes, but still a   must watch . It also reminded me of   777 Charlie . Full Review:  Amit Rai wrote and directed   OMG 2 . And af...

  Image - YouTube OMG 2 — More Serious, Still Entertaining Intro:  OMG 2  is a 2023 Hindi comedy-drama written and directed by Amit Rai. A spiritual sequel to  OMG – Oh My God! (2012), the film takes up the subject of sex education in India, with Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautam in the lead roles. The film is currently streaming on Netflix. Review (90 Words):  OMG 2   is little different from the first film. While   OMG – Oh My God!   had more comedy and a breezier approach, this one is heavier on dialogue and takes its subject more seriously. But that doesn't mean the humour disappears. There are enough funny moments to keep the film engaging while it talks about sex education, something we still don't discuss openly enough. Pankaj Tripathi is excellent, and Akshay Kumar fits well into the film's unusual setup. It may feel preachy at times, but the subject makes   OMG 2   worth watching. #OMG2 #OMG2Review #AkshayKumar #Pank...

Image - YouTube Verity — When the Book Has More to Say Intro:  Verity  is a 2026 American psychological thriller directed by Michael Showalter and adapted from Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel of the same name. The film stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, and was released on 2 October 2026. Review (90 Words):  I picked up  Verity  after watching the movie trailer, which led me to read the book first. You can read my book review here:  Verity by Colleen Hoover . And perhaps this is why books exist. The story is interesting, but there is simply too much detail to fit comfortably into a two-hour movie. Anne Hathaway does a great job, while Dakota Johnson is okay, though her character feels less powerful here. Maybe  Verity  would have worked better as a 7–8 episode series. If you haven't read the book, you may enjoy the movie. For me, it's an OTT watch. Full Review:  My  Verity  journey actually started with the m...

Image - YouTube Daayra — When Justice Has More Than One Meaning Intro:  Daayra  is a 2026 Hindi crime thriller written and directed by Meghna Gulzar. Inspired by real events, the film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran as two police officers who find themselves on different sides of a difficult question about law, justice and police action. The film released in theatres on 18 September 2026. Review (90 Words):  Another Meghna Gulzar film and another real-life story after   Talvar ,   Raazi   and   Sam Bahadur .   Daayra   takes me closest to   Talvar , with the same case seen through two different perspectives. I liked the slow police-procedural approach, though the background music felt too loud for the mood. Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Sukumaran are good, but I expected more from their final scene together. If someone asks me whether to watch it, I would say   wait for OTT . There is enough here to hold your atte...

Image - YouTube Sam Bahadur — Vicky Kaushal Becomes Sam Manekshaw Intro:  Sam Bahadur  is a 2023 Hindi biographical war drama directed by Meghna Gulzar. The film follows the life and military career of Sam Manekshaw, India's first Field Marshal, with Vicky Kaushal playing the lead role. Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Neeraj Kabi and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub are also part of the cast. Review (90 Words):  What a transformation for Vicky Kaushal from   Raazi ! And perhaps that is also a great observation about Meghna Gulzar's work. In   Raazi , he plays someone on the other side of Sehmat's mission; here, he becomes Sam Manekshaw, a completely different personality. I liked how Vicky changes his body language, voice and mannerisms for the role. The film also gives you a sense of the man behind the military uniform. After watching   Talvar ,   Raazi   and now   Sam Bahadur , I can see Meghna's different approaches to real stories. For me, this...

Image - YouTube Raazi — When a Spy Story Becomes Personal Intro:  Raazi  is a 2018 Hindi spy thriller directed by Meghna Gulzar and starring Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal and Jaideep Ahlawat. The film is adapted from Harinder Sikka’s book  Calling Sehmat  and is based on the story of an Indian woman who is sent into Pakistan as a spy during the 1971 war. Review (90 Words):  Coming from Meghna Gulzar after   Talvar ,   Raazi   was certainly a must-watch for me.   A daughter. A wife. A spy.   Three identities, but which one comes first when you are put in a situation like this? I kept wondering — are we human first, or does the nation come before being human? Alia Bhatt carries this conflict beautifully, while Jaideep Ahlawat leaves a strong impression. The detailing may be a little less sharp than   Talvar , but Meghna still creates tension through people, relationships and small moments. The supporting cast adds to the experience. A gri...

  Image - Netflix The President's Cake Review – A Cake, A Child and a Difficult Journey Intro:  The President's Cake  is a 2025 Arabic drama written and directed by Hasan Hadi. Set in rural Iraq during the Gulf War, the film follows nine-year-old Lamia, who lives with her grandmother and is given the responsibility of making a cake for the President's birthday. The film is currently streaming on Netflix. Review (90 Words): And what a premise! Nine-year-old Lamia lives with her grandmother Bibi and her cockerel, Hindi — still wondering why this name! At school, Lamia is selected to bake a cake for the President's birthday, while her friend Saeed has to bring fresh fruit. With basic things difficult to find, their journey to arrange everything becomes the story. What looks like a simple school responsibility slowly shows you the world these children are living in. I particularly enjoyed Lamia and Saeed's friendship, especially their staring contest. A simple, unusual ...

Image - YouTube Hunkkaar: The Roar Review – A Detailed Social Thriller Intro:  Hunkkaar: The Roar  is a 2026 Hindi socio-thriller and courtroom drama directed by Karan D. Kapadia, Heeraz Marfatia and Nitya Mehra. The series stars Aneet Padda, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Raghubir Yadav, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Arjun Mathur. It follows a 17-year-old survivor seeking justice against a powerful godman. The series premiered on JioHotstar on 25 September 2026. Review (90 Words):  I like it when a series takes me somewhere I haven't seen often, and  Hunkkaar  does that with Orchha. It also starts right from the word go, with the first episode being the strongest for me. The direction is detailed, and the background score does a great job with both tension and silence. The courtroom portions are handled well, and the performances are consistently good. Raghubir Yadav deserves a special mention for a completely different avatar. The episodes are long and pacing becomes an iss...