For the love of movies by Snehith Kumbla
Thug Life is Mani Ratnam pulling off a passable drama, made lesser, especially in the first half, in servicing Kamal Hassan’s mega star status. Also, the predictable tone of the lead character’s invincibility brings down Thug Life several notches. Despite the mass audience compulsions, Mani Ratnam still delivers a decent humane gangster drama. The degree of…
Mani Ratnam is one among two Indian movie directors to have stayed relevant and healthy (both aspects are important) over four decades. The other is Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Mani Ratnam’s 29th directorial, Thug Life, released on June 5, 2025, across India. Ratnam reunited with the mercurial Kamal Hassan for Thug Life, 38 years since their…
Aila! Oui Maa! Andaz Apna Apna was re-released on April 2025 across select Indian theatres, 31 years after it flopped at the box office. Now hailed as a comedy cult classic, why do we still ROFL on Andaz Apna Apna? Why do we keep discovering new jokes at every viewing? I watched Andaz Apna Apna…
The 97th Academy Awards AKA The Oscars 2025 as it unfolded, went at a decent pace, with no hosting highs, largely muted or no political vocalizing, some cry baby acceptance speeches, one uncomfortably long speech, decent artist tributes, and three genuine heartwarming moments. The envelopes looked neatly folded for easy reading, the stage production design…
Kalki 2898 AD movie review: Two and half stars out for five Director Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD is a jumbled mix of sci-fi mythology action drama. It does conclude with a satisfying if not surprising reveal that an alert audience will see coming. But at the three-hour runtime end, I was left fuming at…
The Jimmy Kimmel opening monologue at the 96th Academy Awards 2024 (alias Oscars 2024) was a good culmination of the ghosts of previous Oscar hosting monologues. The blokes at 9PMMovies did wonder if AI had two automated hands, two invisible feet and big, bulging pair of big data buttocks in its writing. If yes, that’s…
A hundred and three years since he was born, and almost 44 years since his demise, the poetry and Hindi film song lyrics of Sahir Ludhianvi do not merely survive. Sahir’s works continue to inspire and resonate with readers, music lovers and foremost – The poets and songwriters of today. Sahir’s songwriting for Hindi movies…
Mammootty, the great Malayalam actor, seemed at the sunset of his illustrious acting journey by year 2021. Many of the actor’s recent movie releases had been indifferent, one-man army, invincible hero takes, but for Khalid Rahman’s police drama Unda (2019). But something was drastically changing in Mammootty’s choices, unknown to cine goers. The 1951-born actor…
Ameen Sayani passed on to radio heaven on February 20, 2024. He was 91. At the end of all things, we at 9 PM Movies recount how Geetmala made Ameen Sayani an Indian radio icon. Ameen Sayani dawned on the consciousness of millions of radio listeners on December 3, 1952 – The first episode of the…
Sapta Sagaradaache Ello (Side B) movie review rating: Three and half stars out of five Can movie love stories steer clear of stereotypes and consistently engage? Director Hemanth M. Rao’s sequel to his poetic love saga Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side A does that and a little more. Manu (Rakshit Shetty) after having asked Priya…