Raja Sen is a film critic. He reviews Hindi films for Hindustan Times
Articles by Raja Sen
Batla House movie review: John Abraham tries hard but this police drama isn’t arresting enough
Batla House movie review: John Abraham plays an encounter specialist cop in director Nikkhil Advani’s latest film, about the controversial Batla House encounter case of 2008. Rating: 2/5.
Mission Mangal movie review: Vidya Balan and Akshay Kumar carry off an oversimplified film
Mission Mangal movie review: Akshay Kumar leads an all-star cast that includes Vidya Balan, Nithya Menen, Sonakshi Sinha and Kirti Kulhari in this inspiration fact-based story. Rating: 2/5.
Khandaani Shafakhana movie review: In case you’d forgotten, Sonakshi Sinha is no Ayushmann Khurrana
Khandaani Shafakhana movie review: Sonakshi Sinha and Badshah’s film has its heart in the place but suffers for playing sexual problems for jokes and unnecessary melodrama.
Judgementall Hai Kya movie review: Kangana Ranaut shines on like a crazy diamond in this sharp satire
Judgementall Hai Kya movie review: Kangana Ranaut and Rajkummar Rao star in a madcap murder mystery, directed by Prakash Kovelamudi. Rating: 4/5.
Jhootha Kahin Ka movie review: Rishi Kapoor is wasted in a flat farce
Jhootha Kahin Ka movie review: In director Smeep Kang’s comedy of errors starring Rishi Kapoor, Omkar Kapoor and Sunny Singh, the treatment and the performances somehow feel dirty.
Super 30 movie review: Hrithik Roshan tries hard in this ordinary film about an extraordinary man
Super 30 movie review: Emotional manipulation gets in the way of inspiration in Vikas Bahl’s latest film starring Hrithik Roshan as maths genius Anand Kumar.
Verstappen-Leclerc duel promises F1 surge
Leclerc, who set a lap record to qualify his Ferrari at the front, looked set at the head of the field and controlled the race beautifully, the Monégasque driver keeping the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas comfortably out of challenging range, never looking at risk.
Article 15 movie review: Ayushmann Khurrana hunts for inconvenient truths in an essential film
Article 15 movie review: Anubhav Sinha and Ayushmann Khurrana’s film has the stench of honesty. It as asks you questions you already know but don’t ask yourselves enough. Rating: 4.5 stars.
France proves Formula One needs to be fixed
Raja Sen concedes that during Sunday’s French Grand Prix, he yawned into my espresso, wondering why on earth he’s watching. ‘Here is a sport that needs fixing,’ he writes.
Kabir Singh movie review: This Shahid Kapoor film is injurious to health
Kabir Singh movie review: This Shahid Kapoor film is perhaps the most misogynistic Indian film in a long time -- the hero is a bully, an abuser of women, an insensitive lout, an alcoholic surgeon, and a foulmouthed hothead.
Game Over movie review: Taapsee Pannu tries her best in this slasher film with three climaxes
Game Over movie review: Taapsee Pannu’s Black Mirror-inspired new film had a solid concept but devolves into a witless muddle in the final act. Rating: 2.5/5
Vettel shows spirit in Canada
It’s been a while since Ferrari gave Mercedes a proper fight, and Vettel had led Hamilton throughout this race. With the Mercedes on his heels, Vettel went off the track into the grass on Turn 3 and, wrestling for control, heroically averted a crash and continued leading the race. The last ten laps should have been nail-biting.
Monaco GP truly belonged to Niki Lauda
The three-time world champion passed away on Monday, and while he was a regular fixture in modern-day Formula One and visibly missed, the Monaco Grand Prix felt like a celebration instead of a wake.
PM Narendra Modi movie review: Vivek Oberoi film deifies the PM
PM Narendra Modi movie review: Vivek Oberoi stars in Omung Kumar’s latest biopic. The film, PM Narendra Modi, isn’t mere tribute but actual deification.
India’s Most Wanted movie review: This Arjun Kapoor film about intelligence isn’t particularly bright
India’s Most Wanted movie review: Arjun Kapoor plays it subtle in a well-meaning thriller too restrained to be memorable. The idea at its heart is good but there’s little that leaves an impact.
De De Pyaar De movie review: Ajay Devgn delivers his sincerest performance, Tabu steals the show
De De Pyaar De movie review: The usual alpha male, Ajay Devgn, plays it uncharacteristically calm in the film as most of the good stuff comes from Tabu, who wields the word ‘dal’ like a loaded gun.
How do you solve a problem like Ferrari?
Every race weekend this year has started with Ferrari proclaiming their own promise, and ended with them miles behind Mercedes, unable to mount a realistic challenge.
Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka movie review: No originality for this Kung Fu Pandav
Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka movie review: The glossy new movie has barely an original bone in its well-animated body. It needed spirit, some vim, some animated flair.
Student Of The Year 2 movie review: In Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday’s film, textbooks are props and props are stars
Student of the Year 2 movie review: Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria star as a new batch of students/professionally bred actors in sequel to Karan Johar’s 2012 film.
Blank movie review: Sunny Deol plays it cool in a silly thriller
Blank movie review: Sunny Deol keeps things watchable, though it is a bit odd to see those legendary, larger-than-life hands pulling coloured string across an FBI-style board of suspects. It gives the sense of a majestic jungle cat forced to play with yarn.
Kalank movie review: Varun Dhawan and Madhuri Dixit can’t salvage this beautiful, hollow film
Kalank movie review: Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and especially Madhuri Dixit shine in director Abhishek Varman’s stunning but soulless film. Rating: 2.5/5.
Opinion| The best driver isn’t always the fastest
Lewis Hamilton, who won the race in unchallenged fashion, was rarely the fastest man on the track.
Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai movie review: A pointless, witless remake
Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai movie review: Manav Kaul and Nandita Das’ remake of 1980’s cult classic settles for a mediocre thriller which can’t keep up with its characters — or their indignation. 1.5 stars.
RAW - Romeo Akbar Walter movie review: John Abraham stars in a dumb movie about intelligence
RAW - Romeo Akbar Walter review: A stiff John Abraham threatens to blend into the traditionally wood-panelled walls. Rating: 1.5/5.
Kesari movie review: This Battle of Saragarhi film pins all its hopes on Akshay Kumar
Kesari movie review: Akshay Kumar brings yet another tale of bravery to Bollywood. He plays Havildar Ishar Singh in this film based on the Battle of Saragarhi.
Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota movie review: Hilarious Hindi action movie scores a flawless victory
Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota movie review: Vasan Bala’s action film is about fights and villains and the importance of pain. It is an ode to joy. Rating: 4/5.
Photograph movie review: Sanya Malhotra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui star in a poetic film about a dreamy city. 4.5 stars
Photograph movie review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sanya Malhotra star Ritesh Batra’s new film, a homecoming for the filmmaker, who has worked with Robert Redford and Julia Roberts. Rating: 4.5 stars
Mere Pyare Prime Minister movie review: A film featuring kids but not a film for kids
Mere Pyare Prime Minister review: This is Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra getting his groove back, a fun and filthy fairy tale about sex, drugs and Katrina Kaif.
Badla movie review: Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu keep audiences guessing
Badla movie review: Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu’s efficiently assembled film keeps tension at a boil through twist and counter-twist, but the finalé is easy to see coming.
Sonchiriya movie review: Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpai, Ranvir Shorey storm the Chambal
Sonchiriya movie review: Sushant Singh Rajput and Ranvir Shorey’s bandit drama gets a lot right but the slow pace keep it from being a great film.
