Netflix Movie Review: Khufiya

You won’t always find the newest movie or series reviews here. My watchlist is long, and what I finally pick to watch could have been released years ago. That’s how I ended up with Khufiya. In fact, I didn’t even choose it myself, AI did. I simply shared my watchlist because I couldn’t decide what to watch next, and all the options looked interesting. The AI randomly picked Khufiya for me, and I’d say it did a pretty good job.

What’s It About?

An Indian R&AW agent loses a teammate during a failed mission. When the agency discovers there’s a mole in their ranks, they set a trap to catch him, but the plan takes an unexpected turn.

Thoughts

I really enjoyed this movie. It keeps you engaged throughout. Wamiqa Gabbi is the real standout here. Tabu delivers a solid performance, though I wouldn’t call it one of her finest. Wamiqa’s role is the most layered, and she plays it convincingly. There’s also a guruji-like character, seemingly inspired by Sadhguru, who is amusing to watch, though some viewers may find him offensive.

What struck me most was how the film portrays the mindset of traitors. Moles often justify their betrayal by claiming they are “saving the country from conflicts” or “working for peace,” even as they leak sensitive information. In real life, too, Indian spies caught selling secrets often give similar excuses, trying to project themselves as heroes rather than wrongdoers. Khufiya captures this psyche well, showing how enemies exploit such individuals by convincing them they are doing the right thing.

Overall, Khufiya is definitely worth a watch. It is streaming on Netflix.

An Ode to Zarna Garg & Family

I recently started watching Zarna Garg’s stand-up videos. Until then, I had only seen snippets of her interviews on Instagram reels. At that time, I assumed she was yet another comic who makes a living by criticizing India, as many Indian comedians do. Negative takes on India tend to get more attention, and I, honestly, had grown a bit tired of that negativity. So I stayed away from watching Zarna’s videos for the longest time.

Eventually, I decided to watch her special Practical People Win on JioHotstar (originally on Hulu). That special led me to the Zarna Garg Family podcast on YouTube, where I found Zarna, her husband, Shalabh, and their three children having honest, open conversations. Something every Indian family could learn from.

In my opinion, it’s a brilliant marketing tactic on her part to build that curiosity around her family in her specials. She says, “My son… so handsome,” “My daughter… so nerdy,” so you naturally want to know more about this family, what they look like, and witness their quirks in real life. This is the intention of the podcast – to get you more involved in the Garg family brand.

People like me crave a more personal connection with celebrities, influencers, and comedians. I want to hear their real thoughts, personal likes and dislikes, without sugarcoating or political correctness. The Garg family brings exactly that authenticity, which keeps you hooked. Bollywood, on the other hand, lacks this today. Most interviews feel overly scripted, with celebrities giving dull, promotional takes right before a movie release.

Zarna calls herself the quintessential “Indian aunty.” As someone in my 40s, I relate to many of her traditional views. Opinions that I did not hold in my 20s. Her daughter Zoya, on the other hand, reminds me of my younger self: idealistic and confident that hard work and determination can achieve anything. But life eventually teaches you that not everything goes your way. However, this is a lesson only experience teaches you. It cannot be taught by others.

I would like to take this chance to point out how much I admire Zoya. She is articulate and strikingly pretty, with the most gorgeous eyes, even though the Garg family often jokes about the eldest son being the most attractive. Zoya is never dismissive or disrespectful to her parents, even when they go against her views. I find this refreshing, especially today when many youngsters tend to be more casual, even rude, with their parents. As an old-school millennial who values parental respect, this stands out to me.

The podcast drew me into Zarna’s world. I ended up binge-watching episodes where the family openly discusses topics like dating, marriage, interracial relationships, and finances. All of them, including the children, are articulate and express themselves clearly and thoughtfully. As someone unmarried and child-free, I couldn’t help but compare their conversations to those my cousins and siblings have with their children. One of my nieces is dating a white man (and she has a history of dating only white men), so Zarna and her husband’s confusion and concerns felt very relatable. The podcast not only helps you reflect on your own feelings but also offers a fresh perspective from the younger generation. This is something new-gen parents can highly benefit from.

What endears me most to Zarna is her unapologetic Indianness. Many Indians abroad change their attire, avoid Indian clothes or bindis, culture, and even end up cooking less traditional food so that the masala smell doesn’t linger on their clothes. They have to compromise on their Indianness, just to blend in, be accepted, and respected. Despite these compromises, racism still continues. So, how much of this “blending in” has proven effective?

I’m of the belief that to enjoy Indian culture fully and unabashedly, one needs to stay back in India. Other countries, unfamiliar with the Indian, especially Hindu, way of life, may not be as accepting or comfortable with it. Living abroad often means diluting many aspects of your culture just to make others feel at ease. Zarna, however, proudly wears her Indian identity on her sleeve. She wears Indian outfits and a bindi on stage, despite admitting she constantly faces racist remarks in the USA over it. Her refusal to shed her identity to fit in is admirable. It takes courage and conviction to stay true to oneself in a foreign land, and Zarna has that in abundance. As racism against Indians has reached new heights globally, Zarna’s pride in her identity is truly inspiring. She shows that we should not cower before hate but instead embrace and celebrate our culture and traditions without fear.

***

Picture Source: Instagram/ZarnaGarg

Hindi Movie Review: Aap Jaisa Koi

A socially awkward 42-year-old Sanskrit professor from Jamshedpur meets a free-spirited 32-year-old Bengali French teacher through an arranged marriage setup. He’s orthodox, she’s liberal. This description may feel like the movie is based on a war of languages (keeping up with the trend). But it’s not. At its core, Aap Jaisa Koi delves into the multifaceted nature of relationships. It brings a fresh and nuanced take on modern love, tradition, and society’s double standards.

I’ve often wondered why our romantic cinema sticks to the same old formulas when dynamics within relationships and individuals involved are far more complex. Our movie industry usually focuses on the stereotypical boy-meets-girl story, where the characters fall in love, and then external forces play the villain. There are no other angles to the story. In real life, the friction often lies within the relationship itself – compatibility issues, cultural/morality issues, and more. Such issues are often subtle at first but end up being harder to fix. They aren’t dramatic but quietly playing in the background and are dismissed as unimportant. But each day, it chips away at a part of your soul. Some deal with it openly, whereas others act ignorant to maintain harmony in the household.

There are a lot of relationship angles left unexplored in Indian cinema. Someday, I’d love to see a romantic story about two divorcees giving love a second chance. That dynamic carries a quiet vulnerability: the fear of repeating past pain, the hesitation of stepping into something that once broke you. It’s raw, real, and deeply human. However, just like how society stigmatizes divorcees, I think our Indian cinema stigmatizes them too. India is not a country devoid of divorcees, yet they are rarely shown in cinema.

Unlike many Indian films, K-dramas explore these internal dynamics with depth and nuance. That’s why Aap Jaisa Koi felt refreshing. It brings a romance that’s familiar in setting but different in treatment. It spends extra time focusing on emotions and character development. The dialogues are so warm and real, they might just bring tears to your eyes. A few lines had that effect on me. Not because they were sad, but because they were crafted with such thoughtfulness. It felt like poetry. If you’re a non-Indian reader who enjoys K-dramas for their focus on emotions, give this one a shot. I think you’ll genuinely enjoy it.

Aside from the crackling chemistry, the movie has some dreamy music. Mila Tujhe is my favourite of the lot. In a romantic drama, music plays a crucial role. It should be tender, laced with hope, longing, and desire, not melancholy, to heighten emotions and pull you in completely. That’s exactly what the Aap Jaisa Koi soundtrack does. The couple’s chemistry draws you in, and the music wraps around it, making the experience all the more immersive.

Fatima Sana Shaikh is an actress I’d love to see more of. Whether she’s playing a traditional hijabi in Modern Love: Mumbai or a fiery Bengali in Aap Jaisa Koi, she brings authenticity to every role. There’s so much untapped potential in her, and it’s time filmmakers gave her the space she truly deserves. Her character in Aap Jaisa Koi is a feminist, yet deeply rooted in tradition. She looks ethereal in beautiful, traditional sarees. In Bollywood, modern women are often stereotyped as party-goers in Western clothes, but this film takes a different route. It reminds us that modernity is a mindset, not a dress code. You can be progressive and still stay connected to your culture. Meanwhile, many who dress trendy are found to be regressive in their thoughts. Clothes are not a true indicator of someone’s personality. To know a person, you need to know their thoughts.

Madhavan, as always, does full justice to a role that’s equal parts comical and endearing. His comic timing is spot on, and he effortlessly switches expressions, reminding us once again of his natural screen presence.

Aap Jaisa Koi is a feel-good romance that stays with you. I enjoyed it. The movie is streaming on Netflix.

Empuraan and Its Controversial Take on Gujarat Riots

Empuraan is facing criticism from the right wing for allegedly promoting a biased narrative. Many are calling it a political propaganda film with a pro-Congress stance. How true is the allegation?

Spoilers Ahead

I haven’t watched the movie yet, but I’ve heard that the first 30 minutes focus on the Gujarat Riots. It depicts some of the most horrific incidents from that time. Reportedly, the film includes a rape scene that’s highly debatable. This particular rape story has been circulating since the time of the Gujarat Riots but remains unverified, with no solid evidence to support it. Additionally, the Godhra train burning in the movie is reportedly depicted as something that happened by accident. This portrayal gives the impression that the film is based on the findings of the Banerjee Committee Report, a report that was later ruled invalid, unconstitutional, and politically manipulated by the court. The Nanavati-Mehta Commission Report is the report that was officially accepted as the authoritative account of events due to its presentation of evidence. This information was also covered in the recent film The Sabarmati Report.

The Banerjee Committee was set up in 2004 by the UPA government, led by the Congress party. The committee’s report was released just before the Bihar Assembly elections, apparently to influence the election results and weaken the BJP’s position. The report concluded that the Godhra train fire was accidental, contradicting the BJP’s stance that it was a pre-planned attack.

However, the Nanavati-Mehta Commission later confirmed that the train burning was a premeditated communal act, not an accident.

The investigation found that large quantities of petrol were purchased a day before the incident from a nearby petrol pump.
The forensic report confirmed the presence of petrol residues inside Coach S-6, where the fire broke out.
Eyewitnesses and forensic evidence suggested that petrol was thrown into the coach and set on fire, indicating a pre-planned attack rather than an accidental fire.

For Malayalees who prefer not to watch The Sabarmati Report, I recommend a documentary on YouTube by the Sanchari channel. It’s in Malayalam and provides a detailed account of the Godhra train burning. I am attaching a screenshot of the video below.

The documentary is likely one of the first of its kind in Malayalam. It offers a detailed look at the various angles of the Godhra train burning, the different reports that emerged, the political maneuvering involved, and the final conclusions drawn. If you are a Malayalee interested in research and fact-checking, I highly recommend watching this video.

Naturally, Congress is supporting Empuraan, just as the BJP backs right-wing films when they are released. Even if Empuraan turns out to be entirely pro-Congress, I support the creator’s right to make and release such a film. Several right-wing movies have been produced in India recently, so a left-leaning perspective is equally valid in a democratic space. However, as viewers, we must avoid taking any movie as absolute truth. Instead, we should conduct independent research, considering both left-leaning and right-leaning sources to develop a balanced understanding of the subject.

An Ode to The Mehta Boys

Wholesome movies are rare these days in Indian cinema, making them feel like an oasis in a desert when they do appear. The demand for feel-good movies is higher than ever, as seen in the success of re-releases like Laila Majnu and Sanam Teri Kasam, which prove that Indian audiences are eager for romance and uplifting cinema. It is during such a time that The Mehta Boys has arrived on OTT (Amazon Prime).

The Mehta Boys is a poignant, understated father-son drama centered on their dysfunctional relationship. Open communication and emotional expression are not their strengths, often leaving them struggling for words. Boman Irani portrays a grieving husband learning to cope with his loss, while Avinash Tiwary plays his talented yet self-doubting son. The heart of the story lies in their journey toward accepting each other’s imperfections.

We often see such father-son dynamics play out in real life. In many Indian families, open displays of affection are rare, making the relationship feel more formal than familial. Conversations typically revolve around daily chores and future plans, with emotions deliberately left out. The Mehta Boys captures this dynamic perfectly, portraying characters who have much to say but choose to hide behind silence.

Boman Irani has done an exceptional job as a first-time director, leaving me eager to see what he creates next. Avinash Tiwary, as always, excels, effortlessly bringing out the angst, anxiety, and awkwardness of a character who gradually finds his voice. He shines, leaving you wondering why you don’t get to see him on-screen more frequently. Instead, audiences are repeatedly offered star kids given endless chances to prove themselves, while talented actors like Avinash, who have already showcased their brilliance in just a film or two, are left waiting. It’s unfair, but all one can do is wait for movies like The Mehta Boys to arrive, offering a well-deserved cinematic experience.

Dear Indian Filmmakers: It’s Time to Bring Back Superficiality in Cinema

When was the last time you really switched off and relaxed while watching an Indian movie? I remember getting lost in a make-believe world whenever I watched Yash Raj or Karan Johar films. But sadly, over time, these filmmakers were pushed to make more realistic movies, at the cost of “superficial” ones.

Right now, I can’t seem to switch off completely while watching an Indian movie and drift into a world completely different from mine. I don’t watch movies for reality; I watch to escape it. If I wanted reality, I’d just take a walk outside, not sit down for a movie. But times have changed, and I don’t think we can expect Indian filmmakers to go back to creating movies with grand sets, stunning scenery, and actors with natural beauty and amazing chemistry. The current trend is all about violence, gore (often to the point of regression), and hyper-realism (and plastic surgeries).

Nowadays, if by chance a superficial movie gets released, we have to endure actors with little to no acting skills or the kind of magical chemistry we used to see with iconic pairs like Shahrukh Khan-Kajol, Shahrukh Khan-Juhi, basically Shahrukh with any actress, or Aamir-Juhi.

It’s a very dull era for the Indian film industry when it comes to making feel-good movies. Movie-watchers like myself, who want to escape into a world that isn’t focused on realism, end up turning to Korean or Pakistani dramas. The fact that so many Indian viewers are enjoying these shows proves there’s still an audience for feel-good romantic movies. The demand is there, but unfortunately, the quality supply is missing in the Indian film industry.

Part of the blame also lies with the audience, who now look for realism even in make-believe movies. If many of the romantic Korean or Pakistani dramas were released in India, they’d probably face intense criticism, with thousands of critics dissecting every single scene and evaluating it based on reality. This is why feel-good movies from the past (except maybe Wake Up Sid) are heavily criticized in today’s India. Such criticism discourages filmmakers from making more feel-good movies. Movie watchers like me, who yearn for superficial, romantic cinema, end up feeling dejected in the process.

I hope we get to see some romantic films, but since filmmakers are minting more money and fame from realistic and violent movies, I don’t expect the trend to change anytime soon.

We have good-looking actors like Ibrahim Ali Khan making their debut probably this year. Let’s hope he gets cast in some feel-good movies and his acting skills are as impressive as his looks. However, the current crop of actresses seems too focused on plastic surgeries, leading to a lack of diversity in looks. In the 90s and early 2000s, actresses like Kajol, Juhi, Sonali Bendre, Madhuri Dixit, and Raveena Tandon had distinct appearances. Sadly, that can’t be said now. So, the question arises—who will pair well with Ibrahim Ali Khan in a romantic movie? No one really comes to mind, except maybe Pratibha Ranta.