For cinephiles, Diwali—the rockstar of Indian festivals, is undoubtedly incomplete without some celluloid indulgence. Along with the traditional rituals of lighting lamps, devouring sweets, exchanging gifts and decorating the house, an outing to cinema halls with family and friends is a must to add to the festive spirit. And the good news is, after a lull of almost two years, there is a bountiful feast in store for movie buffs this festive season. So, gear up, for a crackling and dhamakedar Diwali at the movie halls, here’s what’s in store for you.
Doctor G:
Directed by: Anubhuti Kashyap
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Rakul Preet Singh, Shefali Shah, Sheeba Chaddha
Released prior to the big festivities, this medical campus comedy-drama, featuring a bunch of talented actors, is perfect to add to your festive cheer. Set on a medical school campus, the film revolves around Dr Uday Gupta (Ayushmann), a male chauvinist, who finds himself stuck in the Gynaecology department surrounded only by women. Commenting about Doctor G, the film’s lead actress, Rakul Preet, said, “We are not trying to be preachy. All we are saying is that a profession should not be looked at what your sex is and what your ability is. That, I’m sure a lot of people will agree with. As per stats, some of the best gynecs in the country are men but women may shy away from being open with them. And that’s what we say, your credibility doesn’t depend on your gender. I can guarantee you that you can watch this film with your parents and not feel vulgar.” Now when a film comes with this kind of validation, it is sure to add sparkle to your celebrations.
Thank God
Directed by: Indra Kumar
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra, Rakul Preet Singh, Kiku Sharda, Seema Pahwa
With an A-list line-up of actors like Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra, Rakul Preet Singh, and Seema Pahwa, Thank God is one of the most anticipated festive flicks of the season. A fantasy comedy film written and directed by veteran filmmaker Indra Kumar, Thank God has all the classic tropes of a massy entertainer and revolves around Ajay Devgn as a modern-day 'Chitragupt' and Sidharth Malhotra’s character, who is stuck between life and death. Sidharth Malhotra, who is excited to be a part of the film, said in an interview, “Thank God is a sweet, contemporary film with a lovely message. For me, it is all about the messaging and what the film is trying to say. I assure people that they will be surprised. Thank God talks about gratitude, which is needed today more than ever.” This hilarious slice-of-life film with a message promise to be a grand Diwali release to be enjoyed with your gang and family.
Ram Setu
Directed by: Abhishek Sharma
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nushrratt Bharuccha
Trust the Khiladi of Bollywood aka Akshay Kumar to ensure that we are never short of our festive dose of entertainment. The actor, who is known for delivering more than a couple of films every year, is back with the mega-festive release — Ram Setu. The action-adventure film stars Akshay Kumar as an archaeologist who is investigating the nature of Ram Setu, also known in English as Adam's Bridge, and has just three days to save this important piece of Indian history. The film promises to be a thriller and also stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Nushrratt Bharuccha in pivotal roles. Describing the film as a grand action adventure, film’s producer Vikram Malhotra said, “It is exactly the kind of spectacle that will bring the people back into the theatres.” Expect some dhamaka with this one for sure.
Black Adam
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi
For superhero film buffs, the festive week is all set to bring one of the most intriguing characters from the DC universe — Black Adam, to the screen. Marking Hollywood star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's entry into the superhero genre, Black Adam is a spin-off from Warner Bros and New Line Cinema's Shazam! featuring Zachary Levi. The character first appeared in DC Comics in the 1940s as a villain corrupted by power. He became an anti-hero in the early 2000s. Apart from being high on action and thrill, director Jaume Collet also promises that Black Adam will see a different Dwayne Johnson, “He will be seen in a never-seen-before avatar”, said the director in an interview. He added, “He has such a presence. Black Adam doesn’t speak a lot, which allows him to tap into different resources. He can let his presence permeate in a scene in such a way versus other roles where he has had more interaction with people.” Can’t miss this one now, can we!?!
Ticket To Paradise
Directed by: Ol Parker
Starring: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Kaitlyn Dever
Another Hollywood offering, perfect to add to the festive cheer is the George Clooney-Julia Roberts starrer Ticket To Paradise. The romantic comedy, helmed by Ol Parker and featuring two of the most talented and delightfully actors in Hollywood is sure to warm your heart and leave you with a lasting smile. The film revolves around a divorced couple played by Clooney and Roberts, who decide to team up and sabotage the impending wedding of their daughter (Kaitlyn Dever) so as to stop her from making the same mistake they made twenty-five years ago. Roberts, who had not done a rom-com in a longest time, said in an interview, “If I had read something that I thought was that Notting Hill level of writing or My Best Friend’s Wedding level of madcap fun, I would do it. They didn’t exist until this movie that I just did that Ol Parker wrote and directed.”