Bollywood is finally back in business. Among the week’s new releases are the thriller Wazir, the caste-based drama Chauranga, and the new Chhota Bheem movie Himalayan Adventure.
Wazir Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s latest production, directed by Bejoy Nambiar and written by Chopra and Abhijat Joshi, has had a tortuous journey to the screens. The thriller was meant to be one of Chopra’s Hollywood productions, variously titled The Fifth Move and 64 Squares and starring Dustin Hoffman. The movie has eventually returned to good old Bollywood and now stars Amitabh Bachchan as a wheelchair-bound chess grandmaster who gives Farhan Akhtar’s discredited anti-terrorism squad officer a chance to save his career and nab an arch-terrorist played by Neil Nitin Mukesh. Aditi Rao Hydari plays Akhtar’s wife, and John Abraham pops up in a cameo.
Chauranga Bikas Mishra’s debut is the coming-of-age tale of a young Dalit in a deeply feudal village in Bihar. Santu loves the daughter of the local upper-caste strongman, but his innocent act of sending her love letters predictably has terrible consequences. The cast includes Sanjay Suri and Tannishtha Chatterjee. Mishra’s movie won the top prize in the Indian competition section at the Mumbai Film Festival in 2014.
Our Brand is Crisis An American spin doctor arrives in Bolivia to boost the election campaign of a contentious presidential candidate, only to run into her rival (Billy Bob Thornton), who is working for the opposition. Sandra Bullock stars in a movie that is a remake of the 2005 documentary of the same name by Rachel Boynton. The documentary followed the efforts of American consultants to the 2002 presidential campaign in the South American country, which has had a tense relationship with the United States government.
Chhota Bheem Himalayan Adventure Fans of one of the most popular television cartoon characters have seen two previous attempts to summit the big screen. In the third Chhota Bheem theatrical outing, the brawny and resourceful hero travels with his posse to snow-peaked mountains where skiing, adventure, comedy, and encounters with the bandit Hidimbak follow.
Daddy’s Home The stars of the hilarious 2010 comedy The Other Guys reunite for a family drama whose tagline says it all: “Dad Vs Step-Dad”. Will Ferrell plays the step-father to Linda Cardellini’s son and daughter and he is getting along with his new family just fine until Mark Wahlberg, who is the children’s biological father, visits. The two men compete in often ridiculous ways to win over their kids’ hearts. The cast includes Thomas Haden Church and stand-up comedian Hannibal Buress.
