Rohit Khilnani

Jason Statham is back with Mutiny, another action film that gives him exactly the kind of role his fans expect from him. Statham plays Cole Reed, a former Special Forces operative who is now working in private security. His billionaire boss is murdered and Cole is quickly made the prime suspect. He knows he has been framed and sets out to find the people responsible. His search eventually takes him to a massive ship, where he discovers that the murder is connected to a much bigger conspiracy. The story is familiar, and the film doesn’t really try to reinvent the action genre. There is a lot of chasing, fighting and shooting, with Statham moving from one dangerous situation to another.

There is something about watching Emraan Hashmi on the big screen. Whether he has short hair or long hair, the camera seems to love him, and he has that rare intensity that makes you want to keep watching. Awarapan 2 works largely because of him. The film begins with Shivam (Emraan Hashmi) finding an abandoned little girl in a graveyard. This leads him to fight a child trafficking racket in Bangkok. It’s a fairly straightforward action drama, and strangely, it feels like a film from the era when Awarapan originally released in 2007. But somehow, it works.

War dramas can be tricky. They can either become overly jingoistic or simply tell the story with honesty. Operation Safed Sagar belongs firmly in the second category. The six-part Netflix series takes us back to the late 1990s, when India and Pakistan had just held peace talks, but tensions between the two nuclear neighbours were simmering beneath the surface. The makers cleverly use archival footage to establish the political atmosphere of the time and remind us how quickly hope turned into conflict. The series is slick and stylish, yet never loses its rawness or authenticity. It stays focused on one story, the crucial role played by the Indian Air Force’s Golden Arrows Squadron during the Kargil War. Thankfully, it doesn’t get distracted by unnecessary subplots or melodrama.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the fourth Spider-Man film starring Tom Holland picks up after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. The world no longer remembers Peter Parker, who is now living a lonely life, dedicating himself entirely to being Spider-Man. But as he faces a mysterious new threat, he also undergoes a strange transformation that puts both his identity and the city at risk. The film also stars Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Sadie Sink, Michael Mando, Tramell Tillman, and Mark Ruffalo.

Kay Kay Menon is outstanding as the unconventional school principal, bringing warmth, wit and effortless charm to the role. He anchors the series with a performance that is both hilarious and deeply humane. Kay Kay once again shows why he is one of India’s best actors. Equally impressive is young actor Prasanna Bisht, who leaves a lasting impact with a natural and endearing performance. Prasanna has moved on quite swiftly from playing a student in Farrey just 2 years ago to playing a teacher here. One of the series’ biggest strengths is its writing. The humour never feels forced, and the emotional moments never become melodramatic. The show makes its point in subtle ways, allowing the characters and situations to speak for themselves rather than delivering sermons. It celebrates teachers, students and the spirit of never giving up, all while keeping the laughs coming.

Before you sit down to watch Musafir Cafe, do yourself a favour. Make sure you’re actually free. Don’t press play while waiting for a phone call, replying to messages or trying to fit in one more episode after a hectic day. Musafir Cafe needs your attention because it takes its own time. It lets its characters, conversations and emotions breathe, something we’re honestly not used to anymore. We’ve become so used to rushing through everything, even watching shows at 2x speed, that slowing down almost feels unfamiliar. This is the kind of series you watch at the end of the day, when you’re done with everything else and can simply let it unfold.