We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Bodies: This British whodunit drama follows Four detectives in four different time periods of London—who find themselves investigating the same murder. This is a genre-blurring show in an ambitious format—mashing up sci-fi and the police procedural. The lead character in each era is compelling—a closeted gay man in 1890, a Jewish antihero in 1941, a Muslim immigrant in 2010, and a woman crippled by a spine injury in 2053.
Reviews are excellent. The Guardian calls it “a thrilling package deal. You get a smörgåsbord of genres. This is a period drama, a 40s film noir, a tough cop show and an experimental sci-fi. Buy one, get three free.” Our take: A bonafide binge-worthy show that you can take with you into a long weekend. All eight episodes of the series are available on Netflix.
Leo: ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay fans are giddy with joy at the release of this greatly anticipated partnership with renowned director Lokesh Kanagaraj of ‘Vikram’ and ‘Kaithi’ fame. This action thriller film is a re-telling of David Cronenberg’s 2005 drama ‘A History of Violence’. It follows an animal rescuer and cafe owner—Parthiban—who then becomes a local hero after rescuing the town from a hyena attack. A fight with goons at the bakery brings Parthi all sorts of unwelcome attention that unearths his violent past.
Reviews are mixed. The Hindu says that this is Kanagaraj’s “weakest film yet” but appreciates Vijay’s fiery acting. And the Indian Express says that Vijay delivers his “career-best performance.” Our take: Some of us are Vijay fans and will likely head to the theatres to catch the movie, but for the ones who aren’t—Kanagaraj’s intense storytelling and world-building seem to be our driving force. The movie is out in theatres now.
Ganapath: Starring Tiger Shroff, Kriti Sanon and Amitabh Bachan, this film is set in a dystopian future, about a vigilante Ganapath (Tiger Shroff) who is fighting a vast criminal syndicate to protect his people. The setting of the movie shows that a destructive war led to the world being divided in two parts - one with the rich building high-tech Silver City being ruled by their heartless kingpin Dalini. And the other with the poor and the needy being left to rot and struggle for their survival.
Reviews are mixed. The Hindustan Times has said that “the film tries to pack in a lot but fails to say anything concrete” despite having some solid action sequences. Our take: Watch this movie if you want to satiate that hunger for some good beatdowns and action. The movie is out in theatres now.
Kaala Paani: The show is as menacing as its name suggests. It is set in the picturesque Andaman and Nicobar Islands that is home to a fictional tribe the Orakas. The seven episodes unfold in 2027 amid a mysterious epidemic that threatens thousands of lives. Mona Singh—from ‘Made in Heaven’ fame–plays the doctor whose warnings are ignored. Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker also makes an appearance playing the resident Lieutenant Governor. This is a survival drama that follows the race for a cure.
Reviews are good. FilmCompanion says “While Kaala Paani stumbles occasionally, for the most part, the show is an engaging watch that balances the many moving parts of its plot.” The Hindu notes that it is most compelling “when focusing on the small human moments in the fore”. Our take: We like the setting of the series, and it will definitely be on our watchlist this weekend. You can watch it on Netflix.
The Other Zoey: This romantic comedy follows Zoey who is a brilliant college student and has set her mind to challenging the conventional ideas of love and dating. Her life soon gets turned upside down when namesakes and amnesiacs get involved in a love triangle with her.
Reviews are mixed. The Film Companion the “dramatic irony is too delicious” and this one should be your next comfort watch while Variety calls it a “pleasant enough diversion for those who want familiar genre beats sounded by the usual attractive actors in the customary attractive settings.” Our take: We love this pacey and engaging narrative—in a rom-com especially. The movie is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Doona: This is for all the Kdrama fans! From the maker of the mega-hit ‘Crash Landing on You’, the story is adapted from a webtoon ‘The Girl Downstairs (Doona!)’. The premise: a popular K-pop idol Lee Doo Na (Bae Suzy) suddenly quits her career and moves into a shared house with a male college student Lee Won Joon (Yang Se-Jong). The story revolves around their romance and Doo Na adjusting to normal life.
Reviews are mostly good. Decider says that “there are just enough variables here to make ‘Doona!’ a bit more interesting than the average romantic K-drama.” Our take: We loved the director’s previous drama and are in high hopes for this one too.
Here’s a new chapter…
Permanent Roommates Season 3: You may remember Mikesh and Tanya—the adorable and relatable couple—when TVF first launched ‘Permanent Roommates’ in 2013. Their intimate relationship is once again the focus of the latest season. The central conflict between Tanya’s desire to move to Canada and Mikesh’s urge to stay where they are is what we’ll witness this season. We’ll be watching this, for the nostalgic and heartwarming value. The series was released on Prime Video on Tuesday.
Elite Season 7: This Spanish high school drama is back with its trademark stories of heartbreak, romance, and trauma! With its stellar writing and relatable storyline—each season jumps around timelines to reveal a big mystery. Élite will likely pick up right after season 6's big finale, which featured a mysterious shooter who came to the high school—Las Encinas.
Our take: We love the twists, and the underlying issues shown will catch your attention. The series is streaming on Netflix.
