bu Abhi Parasher
In cinemas June 29
Carry on Jatta 3 | Forum Films | Punjabi
You’re likely come across familiar faces in the relatively small Punjabi film industry, making them seem like new versions of the same story. What’s more, the film industry tends to meld with the music industry, with many of Punjab’s most in-demand musical artists also the region’s leading actors.
Nothing too unique about Punjab’s latest tent-pole Carry On Jatta 3, which harks back to the saucy British films of the ’60s in title and commercial aspirations.
The film stars golden girl Sonam Bajwa, along with superstar singer/actor/producer Gippy Grewal, who has starred in all three Carry on Jatta films.
Carry on Jatta 3 follows Advocate Dhillon`s son, Jass, who is in love with Meet. However, her brothers get in a tussle with Adv. Dhillon, and as a result, he rejects Meet`s hand in marriage.
One particular actor’s appearance to look out for in the film is Gurpreet Ghuggi, who has been a pillar of the Punjab industry since its inception.
SatyaPrem Ki Katha | Mindblowing Films | Hindi
SatyaPrem Ki Katha tells the story of an aimless man pursuing the unattainable daughter of a wealthy businessman.
Even the logline is admirably on the nose: Satyaprem aka Sattu is a goofy, good-hearted, good-for-nothing boy in his early to mid-thirties who is eager to marry Katha but is also aware that the girl is way out of his league.
With a slight twist, in that the parents agree to the marriage, SatyaPrem Ki Katha seems like a straightforward cookie-cutter Bollywood movie.
That isn’t all bad, considering you’ll get your fair share of big musical set pieces. However, if you happen to miss this one, there will probably be something similar coming around the corner,
Maamannan | MKS Talkies | Tamil
When Tamil cinema’s superstar Danush claimed that “theatres are going to erupt” when the public sees Maamannan, it immediately made this one of the most anticipated South Indian films of the year.
The director, Mari Selvaraj, only has two previous films under his belt, both of which were commercial hits and critically acclaimed.
Maamannan tells the underdog story of a community exploited by the town’s most influential man, who also has the backing of the authorities.
A.R Rahman, the Oscar-winning composer of Slumdog Millionaire, provides the stirring soundtrack.
In cinemas June 30
Madhura Manohara Moham | Dream Screens International | Malayalam
Costume designer Stephy Zaviour (Lord Livingstone 7000 Kandi) makes her directing debut with Madhura Manohara Moham, a simple family drama laced with moments of humour.
In the town of Kumbazha, the lives of Manu and Meera’s family are forever altered by an unexpected truth. As the unshakeable foundation crumbles, they embark on a tumultuous journey, challenging societal norms.
Although there are enough intriguing story elements in the film (namely the exploration of the caste system in Kerala), this one would probably be worth a watch simply due to Zaviour’s potential (she’s only 31!) as a storyteller.
