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Series: Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein (2022-) Season 2 Genre: Pulp, Romance, Thriller No Spoiler

Overview: Directed by Siddharth Sengupta, Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein is a pulp romantic thriller that returns to Netflix nearly two years after its first season. While opinions may differ, I found the first season absolutely gripping. It masterfully combined high-stakes tension with a unique love story where every character is flawed, driven by personal motives, and strives to justify themselves. This makes the viewer question who is right or wrong, a hallmark of an exceptional screenplay in my opinion.

Season 1 left us with several unresolved questions:

Will Vikrant get caught?

Will Purva return?

Will Dolly get married?

Will Purva's brother kill Dolly?

Season 2: While not as event-packed as the first season, the second season is still sufficiently thrilling, albeit shorter. The tension remains palpable from start to finish. The actors, as usual, deliver strong performances. A new addition, Gurmeet Choudhary, joins the cast. Though he's visually striking, his acting remains average. However, he manages to portray the layered character he's assigned effectively, particularly in the action sequences, which seem to be his primary purpose in the series.

The background score (BGM) and cinematography are outstanding, giving the series a "premium vibe." The finale's unexpected twist builds excitement for the next season.

Final Thoughts: Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein stands out as one of the best works in the pulp genre. To enjoy this series, you must suspend logic, as it creates a fictional world that doesn't align with reality. Trying to find realism in such a genre is bound to disappoint.

Personal Rating: 7/10 (This season should have used more events and logically refined scenes.)

🎬 Movie Review: Bahurupi (2024) Genre: Period-Heist-Thriller Semi-Spoiler

Story: Bikram, an officer at a jute mill, is falsely accused in a murder case, ruining his personal and social life. How he takes his revenge unfolds in this 2.5-hour-long film.

Shiboprosad Mukherjee takes on the triple roles of writer, director, and actor in this movie. Typically, managing multiple roles can affect a film's quality. So, how well does this movie perform?

✅ Positives:

Core Story: The narrative is strong, delivering a relevant social message tied to the era it portrays.

Performances: Both Abir Chatterjee and Shiboprosad give solid performances. Although the supporting cast had limited screen time, they did justice to their roles.

Cultural Representation: The film makes a commendable effort to depict the cultural and traditional aspects of the era.

Climactic Twist: The climax delivers an enjoyable twist.

📛 Negatives:

Boring Narrative Progression: As the story progresses, it becomes less engaging due to the ineffective depiction of the 90s and the lack of unexpected turns in the screenplay, except for the climax.

Miscasting: While Shiboprosad acted well, he seemed miscast in this role. Opposite Abir, Shiboprosad's portrayal of a "grey-shaded" character lacked impact. The rivalry between the two fails to engage, as the imbalance between a star and a non-star feels noticeable.

Weak Action Sequences: The action scenes were poorly executed.

Unimpressive Heist Sequence: The bank robbery scene lacked excitement and felt unrealistic due to the addition of unnecessary comedic elements.

Excessive Runtime: The movie could have been trimmed by 20 minutes for a more concise and engaging experience.

Final Thoughts:

Bahurupi is an average film. Managing writing, directing, and acting simultaneously was a challenging feat for Shiboprosad, which affected the overall output. While it has potential, it falls short of delivering the level of thrill and engagement that movies like Roktabeej achieved. If you have time to spare, it's worth a one-time watch.

Personal Rating: 6/10 (Decent, but Unremarkable)