Anupama Chopra Reviews
336 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago -Anupama Chopra, founder & editor of Film Companion, is a film critic, television anchor and book author. She has been writing about Bollywood since 1993. Her work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Hindustan Times, The Los Angeles Times and Vogue (India).
Here you can find all of her reviews for movies from across the globe.
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Episodes
Mumbai Diaries 26/11 | Anupama Chopra's Review | Mohit Raina, Konkona Sensharma | Film Companion
September 13, 2021 07:16 - 6 minutes - 6.11 MBThe word immersive gets tossed around a lot but Mumbai Diaries 26/11 actually achieves it. Over eight episodes, which range in duration from 35 minutes to 48 minutes, the series recreates the horror, beat by beat. Anupama Chopra reviews the Amazon Prime Video series.
Bhoot Police | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Saif, Arjun, Yami, Jacqueline
September 10, 2021 10:27 - 4 minutes - 3.82 MBWatching Bhoot Police on @DisneyPlus Hotstar, I realized that a film which is mediocre is more soul-sucking than one that is actively awful because you see glimpses of what might have been.
Once Upon A Time in Calcutta | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion
September 09, 2021 11:54 - 7 minutes - 6.82 MBWith his third film, Once Upon a Time in Calcutta, filmmaker Aditya Vikram Sengupta is back in Venice, being the only Indian film playing at the festival this year. The film has a lovely, lyrical quality to it. Here's Anupama Chopra's review to know more.
The Father | Hollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion
September 03, 2021 07:15 - 5 minutes - 4.92 MBThe Father is a devastating film. One man’s descent into dementia becomes a gutting reminder of your own mortality. Watch Anupama Chopra's review of The Father.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | Hollywood Movie Review | Anupama Chopra | Film Companion
September 03, 2021 06:28 - 6 minutes - 6.33 MBShang-Chi is the MCU’s first Asian lead, and like Black Panther, this film carries the weight of the departure from the all-white pantheon of Marvel superheroes. The writing doesn’t have the heft or depth of that film. Still, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a strong step forward.
The Interview: Night of 26/11 | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion
August 27, 2021 07:36 - 4 minutes - 4.24 MBThe Interview: Night of 26/11, starring Jackie Shroff & Anjum Nayar, is so bizarrely amateurish that it’s hard to adequately describe it. Watch Anupama Chopra's review to know more, and watch the film on BookMyShow Stream.
Kaali Peeli Tales | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion
August 20, 2021 10:14 - 6 minutes - 6 MBThese stories are about mostly affluent people grappling with affairs of the heart – divorce, infidelity, the idea of an open marriage, coming out of the closet, one-night stands and love in the time of social media. The stories end with the characters in a Mumbai taxi, hence the title Kaali Peeli Tales. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review to know more, and watch the anthology on Amazon Mini TV.
Kuruthi | Malayalam Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Prithviraj Sukumaran | Film Companion
August 13, 2021 11:35 - 6 minutes - 5.91 MBIn Kuruthi, director Manu Warrier and writer Anish Pallyal build a Trojan horse – a home invasion movie that works as a gripping thriller but at the same time asks us to consider religious fanaticism, how faith can create good and evil, how hate persists and how ultimately, violence begets violence. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review, and watch the film on @Amazon Prime Video India .
Shershaah | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani | Film Companion
August 13, 2021 11:32 - 7 minutes - 7.15 MBShershaah, on @Amazon Prime Video India , starring Sidharth Malhotra & Kiara Advani, doesn’t have the daring of its subject. The intentions are laudable but it feels tokenistic because the writing isn’t detailed enough. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review to know more.
Navarasa | Anupama Chopra's Review | Netflix | Film Companion
August 09, 2021 11:07 - 7 minutes - 6.55 MBNavarasa is arguably the mother of Indian anthologies - nine films based on the nine emotional states prescribed by the Natya Shastra. It's bolstered by good intentions, some superb performances and craft but overall, the anthology doesn’t exceed the sum of its parts. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review here.
Mimi | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi | Film Companion
July 27, 2021 16:54 - 4 minutes - 4.62 MBA remake of the National Award-winning 2011 Marathi film Mala Aai Vahhaychy!, buried somewhere inside Mimi is a moving story about parenting and what it means to raise and love a child. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review of the film starring Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Sai Tamhankar, Supriya Pathak & Manoj Pahwa, to know more.
Feels Like Ishq | Anupama Chopra's Review | Netflix India | Film Companion
July 23, 2021 12:41 - 5 minutes - 5.37 MBMost of the films are thirty minutes long but truthfully, little in the three hours "feels like ishq". Much of it feels synthetic, simplistic, straining to be meaningful and, largely, insipid. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review of Feels Like Ishq to know more.
14 Phere | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Vikrant M, Kriti K | Film Companion
July 23, 2021 12:35 - 3 minutes - 3.62 MB14 Phere is a bewildering film. It’s set up as a romance but the horror of honor killing looms large. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review of the film starring Vikrant Massey, Kriti Kharbanda, Jameel Khan, Gauahar Khan among others.
Toofaan | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur | Film Companion
July 16, 2021 10:48 - 7 minutes - 6.77 MBIn Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofaan, Aziz, a street fighter from Dongri, the catalyst in his life is a doctor at the local hospital. To paraphrase Jack Nicholson’s great line in As Good as it Gets, Ananya makes Aziz want to be a better man. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review to know more.
Malik | Anupama Chopra's Review | Fahadh Faasil, Nimisha Sajayan | Film Companion
July 15, 2021 10:42 - 7 minutes - 6.86 MBA short descriptor of Malik could be – a Malayalam Nayakan. Like Mani Ratnam’s 1987 classic, this film is also a sprawling story of crime and punishment spanning generations and decades – from 1965 to 2018. Here' Anupama Chopra's review of Malik on @Amazon Prime Video India, starring Fahadh Faasil in the titular role.
Haseen Dillruba | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion
July 02, 2021 08:42 - 5 minutes - 5.38 MBHaseen Dillruba, starring Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey & Harshvardhan Rane, is genre busting – it’s a murder mystery but also a feverish romance with dollops of comedy bunged in. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review to know more.
Ray | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion
June 25, 2021 10:49 - 8 minutes - 7.38 MBThe idea of contemporary directors interpreting Ray’s writing is instantly magical but this anthology is too uneven to do it justice. The master deserves more sparkling filmmaking.
Sherni | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Vidya Balan | Film Companion
June 18, 2021 08:38 - 7 minutes - 6.65 MBSherni has many stellar actors including Vijay Raaz, Neeraj Kabi and Ila Arun but the film is grounded by the gravitas and understated strength that Vidya Balan brings to Vidya Vincent.
Skater Girl | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion
June 11, 2021 10:06 - 4 minutes - 4.34 MBAfter Skater Girl was shot in Khempur, a village near Udaipur in Rajasthan, the skating park that was built as a set for the movie was donated to locals. Which is probably the best thing about this well-intentioned but slight film.
The Family Man Season 2 Review | Anupama Chopra | Manoj Bajpayee | Samantha Akkineni | Film Companion
June 07, 2021 07:32 - 7 minutes - 6.62 MBThe Family Man Season 2, on Amazon Prime Video India, doesn’t deal in simplistic heroes and villains. There are enough thrills here but what stays with you eventually is a sense of sadness - Anupama Chopra reviews the Manoj Bajpayee, Samantha Akkineni series created by Raj & DK.
Kala | Anupama Chopra's Review | Tovino Thomas | Rohith V.S. | Film Companion
May 25, 2021 10:12 - 5 minutes - 5.52 MBThe primal, animalistic nature of men sits just beneath the veneer of civilization imposed by society. Poke a little and a man, who is a loving father and husband, turns into a creature so savage that he is barely recognizable.
Aarkkariyam | Anupama Chopra's Review | Parvathy Thiruvothu, Biju Menon | Film Companion
May 25, 2021 10:11 - 5 minutes - 5.11 MBWherever you think this narrative might go, it doesn’t. And when the twist arrives, it’s so unexpected that just like the character it’s revealed to, you are also stunned into silence. The beauty is that all of this plays out amidst the humdrum rhythms of daily life. There is no drama or high emotion.
Cinema Bandi | Anupama Chopra's Review | Praveen Kandregula | Film Companion
May 24, 2021 07:07 - 5 minutes - 5.12 MBWhat happens when an expensive Sony camera is left by mistake on the backseat of an autorickshaw? Lives change. Because the camera enables people to become storytellers. It renews hope and ambition. That is the power of cinema and the story of Cinema Bandi, the delightful new Telugu film, directed by Praveen Kandregula, and produced by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK.
Sardar Ka Grandson | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Arjun Kapoor, Neena Gupta
May 18, 2021 10:18 - 5 minutes - 5.44 MBSardar Ka Grandson plays neither as a coming-of-age saga of a man who learns to face challenges and deliver on his commitments nor as a cross-border comedy nor as a moving family drama.
Radhe | Bollywood Movie Review By Anupama Chopra | Salman Khan, Disha Patani | Film Companion
May 14, 2021 07:45 - 4 minutes - 4.15 MBThe Salman Khan starrer is so free of craft that it hurts. Prabhu Deva delivers yet another loud, numbing, pointless paean to the cult of Salman Khan. Anupama Chopra reviews the film.
Nayattu | Anupama Chopra's Review | Kunchacko Boban, Joju George, Nimisha Sajayan | Film Companion
May 14, 2021 07:42 - 5 minutes - 4.73 MBNayattu is a chilling film about the machinations of the system. The title means the hunt in Malayalam. What makes Nayattu brilliant is the way director Martin Prakkat reworks it.
Godzilla vs. Kong | Hollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Film Companion
May 07, 2021 14:29 - 4 minutes - 4.54 MBGodzilla vs Kong is the fourth installment in a franchise called the MonsterVerse. But even if you haven’t seen those films, you won’t have any trouble connecting the dots in this one.
Meel Patthar | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion
May 07, 2021 14:27 - 5 minutes - 5.34 MBMeel Patthar, which means milestone, is far from a road movie, which romanticises the journey and the learnings from it.
Vakeel Saab | Anupama Chopra's Review | Pawan Kalyan | Film Companion
May 04, 2021 10:05 - 5 minutes - 5.08 MBHow do you repurpose a powerful and gripping story about women into an over-the-top star vehicle in which the hero towers above everything else? Vakeel Saab provides a masterclass.
The Disciple | Anupama Chopra's Review | Chaitanya Tamhane | Film Companion
April 30, 2021 07:30 - 5 minutes - 4.88 MBThe Disciple is a meditative character study of a Hindustani classical vocalist named Sharad Nerulkar. The film might be set in the esoteric world of Indian classical music but its concerns are universal.
Without Remorse | Hollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Michael B. Jordan
April 30, 2021 01:30 - 5 minutes - 5.03 MBWithout Remorse is an adaptation of Tom Clancy’s bestselling 1993 novel. The film attempts to speak to the reality of contemporary polarised America but the plot is too formulaic and the commentary too thin to underpin the high-octane thriller with gravitas.
Searching For Sheela | Anupama Chopra's Review | Netflix | Film Companion
April 22, 2021 12:51 - 4 minutes - 3.8 MBSheela might be frail and mellow but she still knows how to deliver a memorable sound byte. Searching for Sheela is a minor companion piece to the mesmerising Wild Wild Country.
Ajeeb Daastaans | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion
April 16, 2021 10:24 - 6 minutes - 5.78 MBThe dastaan in Ajeeb Daastaans is plural. There are plenty of ajeebs here, but what stayed with me was the expression in Bharti’s eyes in the last shot of Geeli Pucchi.
Jathi Ratnalu | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Naveen Polishetty | Film Companion
April 14, 2021 06:54 - 6 minutes - 5.57 MBJathi Ratnalu starring Naveen Polishetty, Rahul Ramakrishna & Priyadarshi, is the infusion of good cheer you need right now. Writer-director Anudeep K.V. stitches together a sparkling comedy that is cheerfully silly without being lazy.
Hello Charlie | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Jackie Shroff, Aadar Jain | Film Companion
April 09, 2021 15:30 - 3 minutes - 2.96 MBHello Charlie on Amazon Prime Video India starring Jackie Shroff, Aadar Jain & Shlokka Pandit, is one of those films that defies reviews. Because I’m not sure I can properly explain how excruciating it is to watch.
Joji | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Fahadh Faasil | Film Companion
April 08, 2021 16:16 - 6 minutes - 5.59 MBJoji is a reworking of Macbeth and while these words might suggest a period setting, Shakespeare’s tragedy has been reimagined in contemporary times, on a sprawling rubber plantation in Kerala. But Joji, the youngest of three brothers, is very much a subject of his father’s kingdom.
The Big Bull | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Abhishek Bachchan | Film Companion
April 08, 2021 16:14 - 7 minutes - 6.7 MBThe Big Bull, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Ileana Cruz, Sohum Shah, and directed by Kookie Gulati, is contrived in the old-school Bollywood way. Props to Abhishek Bachchan for sincerely trying to hold the fractured screenplay together.
NOMADLAND | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Frances McDormand | Film Companion
April 02, 2021 05:30 - 5 minutes - 5.09 MBDirector Chloé Zhao constructs Nomadland like a mournful, sublime poem. The film stars Oscar-winning actor Frances McDormand who acts alongside real-life nomads who were featured in Bruder’s book, who play themselves. Listen to the full review to know more about this globally-acclaimed film.
Pagglait | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Sanya Malhotra | Film Companion
March 26, 2021 16:29 - 2 minutes - 2.38 MBThe film Pagglait, starring Sanya Malhotra among others, reminds us of the many ways in which society and men control women. The word becomes an aspirational state, suggesting a woman crazy enough to break the rules and take on the world. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review to know more.
Saina | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Parineeti Chopra | Film Companion
March 26, 2021 16:27 - 6 minutes - 5.76 MBIn the film Saina, starring Parineeti Chopra, writer-director Amole Gupte hits each of the usual sports film beats but also bungs in woman empowerment. Listen to Anupama Chopra's review to know more.
Mumbai Saga | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi
March 19, 2021 17:07 - 6 minutes - 5.81 MBMumbai Saga is apparently inspired by true events. I think there is a compelling story here of how the contours and conscience of the city shifted in 1996 and what was lost when Bombay became Mumbai. But Sanjay isn’t really interested in that. Listen to Anupama Chopra's full review to know more.
Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Parineeti Chopra, Arjun Kapoor
March 19, 2021 17:04 - 6 minutes - 5.59 MBBe warned that Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, starring Parineeti Chopra & Arjun Kapoor in titular roles, doesn’t have the pacing that you might expect in a chase film. But ultimately, filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee steers it to a climax that is both stinging and satisfying. Listen to Anupama Chopra's full review to know more.
Roohi | Bollywood Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Janhvi Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Varun Sharma
March 12, 2021 07:33 - 5 minutes - 4.87 MBThe film Roohi tries to continue in the tradition of feminist horror forged by films like Pari, Stree and Bulbbul. Director Hardik Mehta and writers Mrighdeep Singh Lamba & Gautam Mehra use Roohi’s story to deliver a message of self-acceptance and finding your inner strength.
Bombay Begums | Anupama Chopra's Review | Film Companion
March 08, 2021 10:30 - 7 minutes - 6.67 MBMeToo, menopause, menstruation, motherhood, sex, adultery – it’s all here in Netflix India's Bombay Begums. These women, played by Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswami, Amruta Subhash, Plabita Borthakur & Aadhya Anand, lead fabulously messy lives filled with compromises and regrets. Here's Anupama Chopra's review of the series, to know more.
148: Drishyam 2: The Resumption | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Mohanlal | Film Companion
February 19, 2021 12:01 - 8 minutes - 7.6 MBThe Mohanlal starrer Drishyam 2: The Resumption on Amazon Prime Video India directed by Jeethu Joseph, is a genuine sequel as opposed to the ones in which characters or worlds continue with minimal connection to the earlier work. Here's Anupama Chopra's review of the film.
148: Unfinished Book Review by Anupama Chopra | Priyanka Chopra | Film Companion
February 19, 2021 12:00 - 7 minutes - 6.49 MBThe strength of Unfinished is that it’s in Priyanka Chopra’s voice. At one point, she writes: "I get to choose what I share and when I share it." Of course she does, but there are several places in which you wish the curation had been less sharp. Here's Anupama Chopra's take on the memoir.
147: Bittu | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Karishma Dube | Film Companion
February 12, 2021 08:34 - 5 minutes - 4.93 MBDebutant director Karishma Dube’s film Bittu is inspired by an infamous poisoning accident that took place in a government school in Bihar in 2013. Watch Anupama Chopra’s review to learn more about the film that has been shortlisted in the top 10 list in the Short Film in Live Action category for the 93rd Academy Awards.
146: The White Tiger | Movie Review by Anupama Chopra | Adarsh Gourav | Film Companion
January 22, 2021 10:30 - 7 minutes - 7.31 MBDon’t go into the film expecting a retread of Slumdog Millionaire. In fact, the film positions itself as anti-Slumdog. Here's Anupama Chopra's full review of Ramin Bahrani's The White Tiger on Netflix India, starring Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas & Rajkummar Rao.
145: Tandav | Anupama Chopra's Review | Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia | Film Companion
January 15, 2021 15:21 - 6 minutes - 6.43 MBAli Abbas Zafar's Tandav, starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub among others, has too much Bollywood masala in its DNA. Which makes it intermittently entertaining but also shallow and not very smart.
144: Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi | Bollywood Movie Review By Anupama Chopra | Film Companion
January 02, 2021 10:59 - 6 minutes - 5.72 MBRamprasad ki Tehrvi is a family drama directed by Seema Pahwa bursting with taujis, chachis, bhabhis and nanands. When they all gather after their father – the titular Ramprasad – dies, the gloves come off. But the arguments, old hurts and bitchy asides don’t lead to any earth-shattering confrontation. Just the understanding that human beings are flawed, relationships are fragile and yet, we must strive, as best as we can, to be happy.