If you are still reeling from post-Diwali blues, here are eight movies releasing in the theatres this Friday to pep you up.
Napoleon (English)
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Matthew Needham
Ridley Scott’s visual saga, Napoleon, chronicles the tumultuous ascent and descent of the legendary French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, played by Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix. The film presents a grand cinematic spectacle portraying Bonaparte’s conquests and battle for dominance. The narrative is framed by his intense and unpredictable connection with his ladylove, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), and showcases his innovative military and political strategies.
Wish (English)
Directed by: Fawn Veerasunthorn, Chris Buck
Cast: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Evan Peters, Angelique Cabral
A Walt Disney musical fantasy film, Wish is set in the mythical kingdom of Rosas. Ruled by King Magnifico (Chris Pine), the residents of Rosas surrender their wishes at age 18, kept sealed until granted. Asha (Ariana DeBose), an aspiring apprentice, discovers Magnifico’s deception — selective wish-granting, erasing memories and ensuring dependence. Asha rebels when Magnifico denies her grandfather’s wish, and with magical aid, exposes his tyranny. As Magnifico turns dark, a rebellion forms to free Rosas.
Farrey (Hindi)
Directed by: Soumendra Padhi
Cast: Alizeh Agnihotri, Prasanna Bisht, Zeyn Shaw and Sahil Mehta
The term ‘farrey’ refers to ingenious methods to outsmart the system and, most importantly, doing so discreetly. In the movie Farrey, helmed by Jamtara director Soumendra Padhi, the protagonist Niyati (played by Salman Khan’s niece Alizeh Agnihotri) enrolls in a prestigious and expensive school to eventually study at an IIT. A pivotal turn in the plot occurs when Niyati, facing financial pressures, resorts to illicit means of making money.
Yaatris (Hindi)
Directed by: Harish Vyas
Cast: Raghubir Yadav, Seema Pahwa, Anuraag Malhan, Jamie Lever and Chahat Khanna
Yaatris revolves around a dysfunctional middle-class family from Banaras, the Sharmas — played by Raghubir Yadav, Seema Pahwa, Anuraag Malhan, Jamie Lever and Chahat Khanna. A family trip to Bangkok unfolds a poignant tale of love, humour, community living and life lessons.
Bogla Mama Jug Jug Jio (Bengali)
Directed by: Dhrubo Banerjee
Cast: Kharaj Mukhopadhyay, Rajatava Dutta, Aparajita Adhya, Koushik Sen, Riddhi Sen, Ditipriya Roy, Ujan Chatterjee, Bishwanath Basu
After winning hearts with his Sonada franchise, filmmaker Dhrubo Banerjee is all set to present an outright comedy. Set in the 1980s, Bogla Mama Jug Jug Jio is based on the literary character created by author Rajkumar Moitra. The film brings together a bunch of powerful actors, with Kharaj Mukhopadhyay in the title role, and tracks the misadventures of Bogla (Kharaj) and his band of followers who have signed up for a drama competition to save their reputation.
Manush: Child of Destiny (Bengali)
Directed by: Sanjoy Somadder
Cast: Jeet, Susmita Chatterjee, Jeetu Kamal, Bidya Sinha Mim
Manush: Child of Destiny is the story of an ordinary man facing extraordinary challenges. In the trailer, Jeet is seen as a narcotics officer and also as a devoted father. Jeetu Kamal is the antagonist, while Sushmita Chatterjee is Jeet’s love interest. Bangladeshi actress Bidya Sinha Mim plays a police officer.
Ektu Sore Boshun (Bengali)
Directed by: Kamaleswar Mukhopadhyay
Cast: Ritwick Chakraborty, Paoli Dam, Ishaa Saha
Kamaleswar Mukhopadhyay’s latest directorial venture, Ektu Sore Boshun, is a social satire. Drawing inspiration from the short story Pashapashi, penned by Banaphool, the film is a witty tale exploring the theme of unemployment.
Kurban (Bengali)
Directed by: Saibal Mukherjee
Cast: Ankush Hazra, Priyanka Sarkar, Kanchan Mullick, Shantilal Mukherjee
Is humanity greater than religion? Director Shaibal Mukhopadhyay seeks answers to this question with a story set in the rural backdrop, focusing on the lives of Hasan (Ankush Hazra) and Hizol (Priyanka Sarkar). Hasan is a family man who finds happiness in the sweet little things of life. In a world divided along communal lines, Hasan’s worldview is inclusive and vastly different. But life throws an unexpected challenge at Hasan, making him question his understanding of life.
