Hindi Movie Reviews

Review: Varun Dhawan’s Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai – Fun in Parts, Falters in Key Moments

by narendhar June 5, 2026

Movie Name : Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai

Release Date : June 5, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde, Maniesh Paul, Chunky Pandey, Jimmy Shergill, Mouni Roy
Director : David Dhawan
Producer : Ramesh Taurani
Music Directors : White Noise Collectives, Tanishk Bagchi, Rony Ajnali, Gill Macchrai (Classy Beats), Javed – Mohsin, Akshay & IP
Cinematographer : Ayananka Bose
Editor : Ritesh Soni

Related Links : Trailer

Varun Dhawan’s latest rom-com entertainer Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, also starring Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur, has hit the big screens. David Dhawan is the director. Let’s see how the film is.

Story:

Jaswinder Ahuja, aka Jass Ahuja (Varun Dhawan), is a wedding photographer who falls in love with Baani (Mrunal Thakur) while working at a wedding. Baani too falls in love with him, and they get married in a cinematic fashion. However, five years after their marriage, Baani applies for divorce because Jass Ahuja wants to have kids, but she refuses, citing her professional career and responsibilities. Later, Jass Ahuja moves to London, where he starts dating Preet (Pooja Hegde). To Jass Ahuja’s shock, Baani re-enters his life, leading to chaos and fun.

Plus Points:

The second half is filled with decent entertainment. After the interval twist, the narrative picks up steam as the protagonist juggles between two women. Varun Dhawan’s antics to keep the truth hidden from the female leads generate good laughs.

The hospital sequences in the second half, involving Rakesh Bedi and Chunky Panday, along with the house sequence featuring Maniesh Paul, have come out well. Varun Dhawan delivers an entertaining performance and looks energetic on screen throughout. The fun dialogues are neatly written. For example, the one referring to Shah Rukh Khan from Jawan elicits smiles.

Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde’s roles are largely meant for glamour, and both do well in their respective parts. The film’s runtime is crisp, and there are no significant dull stretches.

Minus Points:

While the jokes and entertainment largely work in the latter half, the film’s impact and the hero’s character are undermined by the climax. It portrays the male protagonist as someone desperate for women, whereas the proceedings until that point suggest otherwise. Jass Ahuja enters into another relationship only because his wife divorces him, and not out of any bad intentions.

Very few jokes work in the first half, while most of them fail to land as intended, making this portion below par. In particular, the love track in the opening half hour is quite ordinary.

Rom-coms generally need good music to elevate the overall experience, but Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai falls short in this aspect, with only one song (the remix) making an impression. There was good scope for emotions in the climax, but the film fails to capitalize on it.

Technical Aspects:

The music isn’t great, and with better songs, the film would have been more captivating. Raju Singh’s background score is decent. Ayananka Bose’s camera work is vibrant, while the editing and production values are satisfactory.

David Dhawan’s direction is a mixed bag. While the first half isn’t very effective, the second half offers some good humor. However, the impact is taken away by the climax and the cameo that follows it.

Verdict:

On the whole, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is a romantic comedy that works in parts with a better second half. Varun Dhawan’s entertaining performance, the presence of Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur, and some good humor in the latter half are the film’s strengths. However, a below-par first half, the lack of good music, and the climax weaken the overall impact.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

June 5, 2026

OTT Review: Madhur Dixit’s Maa Behen – Hindi Film on Netflix

by narendhar June 4, 2026

Movie Name : Maa Behen
Streaming Date : June 4, 2026
Streaming Platform : Netflix
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5

Starring : Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Dharna Durga, and Ravi Kishan
Director : Suresh Triveni
Producers : Vikram Malhotra, Suresh Triveni
Music Director : Akashdeep Sengupta
Cinematographer : Anuj Rakesh Dhawan
Editor : Dipika Kalra
Related Links : Trailer

Veteran Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit and latest sensation Triptii Dimri played the lead roles in the latest crime dark comedy-drama Maa Behen. The film premiered directly on June 4. Let’s see how it is.

Story

Rekha (Madhuri Dixit) is a lower-middle-class housewife living a simple life with her two daughters, Jaya (Triptii Dimri) and Sushma (Dharna Durga). Their peaceful lives take an unexpected turn when a man from the neighboring house is found dead under suspicious circumstances inside their home.

How did the man die? What do the three women do with the body to avoid police suspicion and keep their neighbors from finding out? The bizarre situations they encounter while trying to cover up the incident form the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

The biggest strength of the film is its lead cast. Madhuri Dixit delivers a solid performance as Rekha, effectively portraying both fear and a mother’s desperation to protect her family.

Triptii Dimri puts glamour aside and delivers a restrained, convincing performance. She particularly shines in an emotional monologue sequence in the second half. Dharna Durga, who plays the younger daughter, provides much of the film’s humor with her witty one-liners and expressive reactions.

The family drama and frequent arguments between the three women feel natural and generate entertaining moments. The first half moves at a brisk pace, with the panic and chaos that follow the discovery of the body leading to some genuinely funny situations.

Director Suresh Triveni’s dark comedy writing works well in some scenes, and few dialogues land effectively. The supporting cast also performs adequately.

Minus Points:

Despite a fair start, the movie loses momentum in the second half. The narrative begins to revolve around the same central point without making significant progress, making portions feel stretched.

A gripping screenplay essential for a dark comedy thriller is largely missing here. The climax twists are fairly predictable, reducing the impact of the mystery reveal.

Although the film is a crime-comedy drama, several scenes feel overly cinematic and also lack logic. The police investigation track is also written rather weakly.

Most supporting characters are underdeveloped and exist merely for convenience. Additionally, neither the songs nor the background score leave a lasting impression.

Technical Aspects:

Director Suresh Triveni chooses an interesting crime-comedy premise but does not fully succeed in sustaining engagement throughout the film’s runtime.

Cinematographer Anuj Rakesh Dhawan does a decent job, particularly in the indoor sequences. The background score elevates a few scenes but remains average overall. The editing could have been sharper, especially in the second half. Production values are decent.

Verdict:

On the whole, Maa Behen is a dark crime comedy that works only in parts. The performances of Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri, along with some dark-comedy moments in the first half, keep the film moderately engaging. However, a weaker second half and a predictable climax prevent it from reaching its full potential. Fans of crime-comedy films may try it, provided they keep their expectations in check.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

June 4, 2026

Review: Return of the Jungle – A Decent Animated Ride for Kids

by narendhar June 3, 2026

Movie Name : Return of the Jungle

Release Date : May 29, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Mihir (Voiced by Jaden Mascarenhas, Izaan Mirza), Thatha (Pichai Rangaswamy), Ali (Rohan Yadav, Aariel Narvekar, Arav Bhatia), Sweety (Jhanvi Patro, Sagarika Chandrakanth), Rahul Malhotra (Devansh Doshi), and Others
Director : Vaibhav Kumaresh
Producers : Vaibhav Kumaresh, Suranjana Kumaresh
Music Directors : Ashish Shah (Roto Shah), Advait Nemlekar

Editor : Saikat Ray, Prakash Kurup

Related Links : Trailer

While AI continues to dominate the cinema industry, some filmmakers still choose to embrace traditional animation, and Return of the Jungle is one such effort. Directed by Emmy nominated animation filmmaker Vaibhav Kumaresh, the Hindi animated film is now playing in cinemas. Here’s our review to find out how it fares.

Story:

Mihir Verma, Ali, Rohan, Harpreet, Sweety, and Dhondoo are a group of school-going children and close friends studying at Kendriya Vidyalaya. Mihir registers for a fancy dress competition but is intimidated by Rahul Malhotra, an older student who constantly bullies him. Frightened and unsure of himself, Mihir seeks help from his grandfather, lovingly called Thatha. To guide him, Thatha narrates Panchatantra fables that teach Mihir and his young friends how to handle difficult situations. How Mihir overcomes his fears, succeeds in the competition, and helps his team take on Rahul’s team in a cricket match forms the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

At a time when technology is increasingly influencing the filmmaking process, Return of the Jungle comes as a refreshing change. The makers deserve appreciation for relying on traditional animation to tell stories that have been thoughtfully modernised for today’s children. This itself stands as one of the film’s biggest strengths.

The story is simple and it is not difficult to predict what comes next. However, that observation applies more to adults who have experienced life and encountered countless stories over the years. The film is clearly aimed at children, and in that regard, it succeeds by presenting rooted Indian tales that encourage youngsters to act wisely rather than foolishly.

The two fables narrated by Thatha, which help Mihir tackle both the fancy dress competition and the cricket match, are presented effectively through neatly crafted animation. While delivering valuable lessons, the filmmakers ensure that the entertainment factor remains intact. The animals featured in these stories are modernised in amusing ways, such as a mouse using a landline phone, a bear enjoying chocolate, and a rabbit wearing glasses. The song featuring lions, tigers, bears, and rabbits singing in praise of a fox disguised as a saint is particularly fun to watch and delightful to listen to.

The vibrant color palette and pleasing background score further enhance the viewing experience, adding another strong positive to the film.

Minus Points:

Since the film is primarily aimed at children, adults may not find it equally engaging. Most of the Panchatantra stories and the lessons they convey are already familiar to older viewers, making several portions feel predictable. As a result, the film may not offer enough novelty or surprises to keep adults fully invested throughout.

The language limitation is another drawback. Considering the universal appeal of the stories and the film’s target audience, releasing it in more regional languages could have helped it reach a much wider section of children across the country.

Technical Aspects:

Vaibhav Kumaresh deserves appreciation for bringing this animated feature to life. He successfully adapts timeless Indian fables into a format that feels accessible and entertaining for today’s young audience. Apart from directing the film, he also does a fine job as its producer and screenwriter.

The dubbing is well done and suits the characters perfectly. The score by Ashish Shah and Advait Nemlekar blends smoothly with the narrative, adding a refreshing touch even to a story whose direction can often be predicted. Editors Saikat Ray and Prakash Kurup have ensured a neat flow, while the production values and animation quality remain consistently impressive.

Verdict:

On the whole, Return of the Jungle is a simple and heartwarming animated tale aimed at children. While the story may feel predictable, the life lessons from the Panchatantra conveyed through Thatha’s storytelling never lose their relevance. The animation is colourful and engaging, while the dubbing further enhances the experience. Older viewers may find the narrative somewhat familiar because of the well-known nature of these tales, but children are likely to enjoy both the fun and the valuable messages. If you enjoy animated films, this one is worth a try, especially as a family watch with young kids.

123telugu.com Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

June 3, 2026

Review : Pati Patni Aur Woh Do – More Chaos, Less Comedy

by narendhar May 16, 2026

Movie Name : Pati Patni Aur Woh Do

Release Date : May 15, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.25/5
Starring : Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan, Wamiqa Gabbi, Rakul Preet Singh and Others
Director : Mudassar Aziz
Producers : Bhushan Kumar, Renu Ravi Chopra, Krishan Kumar, Juno Chopra
Music Directors : Rajesh Roshan, Rochak Kohli, Tanishk Bagchi,Neelkamal Singh,Tony Kakkar, Lijo George, Badshah, Devv Sadaana
Cinematographer : Jishnu Bhattacharjee
Editor : Ninad Khanolkar

Related Links : Trailer

Bollywood has now come up with the comedy drama Pati Patni Aur Woh Do. Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, and Wamiqa Gabbi play the leads. Let’s see if the movie actually brings the laughs or leaves the audience disappointed.

Story:

Prajapati Pandey (Ayushmann Khurrana) works as a forest officer in Prayagraj and shares a quiet, peaceful life with his wife, Aparna (Wamiqa Gabbi). Things take a wild turn when two other women (Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh) crash into his routine for entirely different reasons. How does their sudden arrival throw Prajapati’s life off balance? What kind of trouble does he land in, and how does he try to save his marriage? This forms the crux of the story.

Plus Points:

Ayushmann is an expert at playing the everyday middle-class man. He tries his best to carry the film on his shoulders with his signature comic timing. Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh look great on screen and bring a solid dose of glamour to the proceedings. Meanwhile, Wamiqa Gabbi holds her own and delivers an impressive performance.

Minus Points:

Even with three heroines driving the drama, the core plot just feels empty and lacks enough meat. We get a string of scenes that feel completely recycled from older movies.

The first half is somewhat fine, but the screenplay slows down painfully after the interval. Some unnecessary sequences stretch the runtime beyond a point and eventually make things boring.

Director Mudassar Aziz struggles to land the jokes this time around. The dialogues lack the usual punch, and the emotional moments don’t really connect with the audience.

Technical Aspects:

The script is surprisingly flat, and the narrative moves forward without any real engaging twists. Tanishk Bagchi’s soundtrack leans way too heavily on remixes, while the background score is just okay.

Tighter editing could have easily fixed the pacing issues and saved the second half to an extent. On the bright side, the production values match the scale of the cast and look perfectly fine on screen.

Verdict:

On the whole, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do doesn’t deliver the entertainment you expect from it. Ayushmann Khurrana’s performance and the screen presence of the three heroines are the main positives. However, a flat story, dragged-out screenplay, and weak comedy make the film a disappointing experience. If you’re looking for a solid comedy entertainer this weekend, this one probably won’t work for you.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

May 16, 2026

Review : Raja Shivaji – Grand Visuals Ruined by Slow Pacing

by narendhar May 2, 2026

Movie Name : Raja Shivaji

Release Date : May 1, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Bhagyashree, Vidya Balan
Director : Riteish Deshmukh
Producers : Genelia Deshmukh, Jyoti Deshpande
Music Director : Ajay-Atul
Cinematographer : Santosh Sivan
Editor : Urvashi Saxena

Related Links : Trailer

Riteish Deshmukh’s highly anticipated directorial venture, Raja Shivaji, hit the screens today. Based on the life of the legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the film features a massive star cast. Let’s see how this grand historical action drama holds up.

Story:

The film traces Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s (Riteish Deshmukh) relentless fight to establish Swarajya. It focuses on the guerrilla warfare tactics he used to counter the Mughal Empire and the Adil Shahi forces. Later, the narrative builds toward the legendary battle against Afzal Khan (Sanjay Dutt), which forms the core of the drama.

Plus Points:

Riteish Deshmukh breathes life into the role of Shivaji Maharaj. His commanding screen presence and strong dialogue delivery drive the movie forward. At the same time, Sanjay Dutt brings a terrifying edge to the cruel Afzal Khan. Bhagyashree also leaves a mark with her dignified performance as Jijabai.

Santosh Sivan’s cinematography is a major asset. Every frame looks stunning, elevating the massive scale of the production. Ajay-Atul’s background score hits the right notes, especially during the war scenes, where it gives you goosebumps. The action sequences look incredibly real, and the highly anticipated Afzal Khan episode stands out as the best part of the second half.

Minus Points:

The biggest hurdle for the film is its lengthy runtime. Clocking in at over three hours, the movie feels a bit heavy to sit through.

While the first half moves at a good pace, the second half slows down significantly, breaking the emotional flow.

Since the movie was originally shot in Marathi, the dubbing issues are clearly visible in other languages. Some scenes retain Marathi dialogues, which might disconnect regular viewers who aren’t familiar with the language.

Technical Aspects:

As a director, Riteish Deshmukh completely succeeds in bringing his grand vision to the big screen. He handles the massive scale without making major mistakes.

Genelia’s production values are top-notch, giving the film a premium feel. However, editor Urvashi Saxena could have chopped off several slow scenes in the second half to keep things crisp. Finally, the background music by Ajay-Atul pushes the entire film to another level.

Verdict:

On the whole, Raja Shivaji is a mildly engaging historical action drama backed by grand visuals. Riteish Deshmukh’s performance and Santosh Sivan’s cinematography stand out. However, the slow narration and excessive runtime weigh the film down. There are some good moments, but ultimately it falls short of being an epic, and ends up as a below-par watch.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

May 2, 2026

Review: Bhooth Bangla – Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan’s Film Falls Flat

by narendhar April 17, 2026

Movie Name : Bhoot Bangla

Release Date : April 17, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.25/5
Starring : Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jisshu Sengupta, Manoj Joshi, Mithila Palkar, Asrani Ji, Rajesh Sharma
Director : Priyadarshan
Producers : Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R. Kapoor
Music Director : Pritam
Cinematographer : Divakar Mani
Editor : Aiyappan Nair M.S

Related Links : Trailer

The highly anticipated reunion of Bollywood star Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan is finally here with Bhooth Bangla. Given their legendary track record, expectations were naturally high for this horror comedy. Let’s see if the film manages to live up to the hype.

Story:

The plot kicks off when Akshay Kumar’s character returns to India from London. His plan is simple: host his sister’s wedding at their grand ancestral bungalow. However, things quickly take a turn when he experiences a series of unexpected events on the property. He soon uncovers a shocking secret tied to the house. What exactly is hiding inside the bungalow? Will the wedding still happen there? The rest of the movie answers these questions.

Plus Points:

Akshay Kumar is easily the biggest strength of the film. His signature comic timing is still intact, and he manages to pull off some genuine laughs. Seeing Rajpal Yadav and Paresh Rawal share the screen again brings back great memories from their classic hits, and their performances give the audience some much-needed relief. On the visual side, cinematographer Diwakar Mani does a fine job. The bungalow set design looks grand, and the camera work captures the scale nicely.

Minus Points:

The biggest problem with Bhoot Bangla is the core story. It feels like a recycled script from decades ago, offering absolutely nothing fresh in the screenplay. A good horror comedy needs to either scare you or make you laugh out loud, but the spooky scenes here fall completely flat.

Instead of feeling thrilling, they just drag on. The comedy in the second half feels forced and awkward. To make matters worse, the climax is incredibly predictable and ends on a dull note.

Technical Aspects:

Director Priyadarshan unfortunately fails to recreate the magic of his earlier blockbusters. Because the core story lacks depth, even his vast directing experience isn’t enough to save the film. Pritam’s music is okay, but the songs pop up at the wrong times and interrupt the flow of the narrative. The editing by Aiyappan Nair also needed tighter work, as trimming down the second half would have made a big difference.

Verdict:

On the whole, Bhooth Bangla is a horror comedy that fails to impress. Aside from Akshay Kumar’s comedy and very few fun moments, there isn’t much to keep you hooked. The outdated narrative and boring horror sequences heavily weigh the movie down significantly. Hence, it ends up as a disappointing watch.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

April 17, 2026

OTT Review: Rajkummar Rao’s Toaster – Hindi film on Netflix

by narendhar April 15, 2026

Movie Name : Toaster
Streaming Date : April 15, 2026
Streaming Platform : Netflix
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5

Starring : Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, Archana Puran Singh, Upendra Limaye and Others
Director : Vivek Daschaudary
Producers : Rajkummar Rao, Patralekhaa, Tarun Bali
Music Director : Aman Pant
Cinematographer : Jishnu Bhattacharjee
Editor : Chandrashekhar Prajapati

Related Links : Trailer

Netflix has now come up with the comedy-drama Toaster starring Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra in the key roles. Let’s see how this direct-to-digital OTT release fares.

Story:

Ramakant (Rajkummar Rao) is a miser through and through, who owns a perfume shop. He lives with his wife, Shilpa (Sanya Malhotra), in a society filled with elderly people. One day, the couple attends the wedding of Shilpa’s guru’s daughter. Though Ramakant isn’t pleased, Shilpa gifts the newlyweds a brand-new toaster worth Rs. 5,000. However, the marriage falls apart, and Ramakant decides to retrieve the toaster, leading to a series of chaotic events.

Plus Points:

Rajkummar Rao is the show-stealer of Toaster without an iota of doubt. Known for his impeccable comic timing, the actor amuses with his rib-tickling performance. As an extreme miser, he does a phenomenal job, and his character’s miserliness lands him in multiple troublesome situations, generating laughs.

The backdrop of the film is effective, and it lays the path for some genuinely enjoyable moments. The protagonist going all out for a simple toaster draws us into his stingy nature, which remains consistent throughout. Even after all the chaos, he doesn’t change a bit, which makes the character more likable.

As a woman who is addicted to crime stories on television and tries to solve a murder mystery, Sanya Malhotra does a brilliant job. She attempts to be a private detective, and in doing so, unintentionally generates fun. The rest of the supporting cast does a fine job. Archana Puran Singh takes us by surprise with a bizarre character.

Minus Points:

A few years back, Rajkummar Rao came up with a quirky and unconventional comedy thriller, Monica O My Darling. It stands as one of the best examples of how a crazy concept can gain strength from a well-written and engaging screenplay. Toaster gets it right when it comes to the premise and quirkiness, but the screenplay doesn’t always catch up.

When a film with such a solid premise doesn’t realize its full promise, disappointment is inevitable. It’s not that Toaster is bad, as such. There are some genuinely funny moments, but the movie doesn’t rise beyond them.

The second half, in particular, is filled with repetitive episodes, which bring down the overall impact of Toaster. Had the narrative been stronger here, the film could have turned out to be a much more compelling watch. In the end, we will just wish the storytelling were as wacky as Rajkummar Rao.

Technical Aspects:

Aman Pant’s background score matches the film’s tone, and cinematography by Jishnu Bhattacharjee is effective. The editing and production values are satisfactory, too.

Vivek Daschaudary’s direction works only in parts. The screenplay needed more spice and substance to keep things consistently crazy, just the way the film’s premise promises a quirky ride.

Verdict:

On the whole, Toaster is a partly engaging comedy drama with some genuinely funny moments. The premise is solid, but the screenplay doesn’t help the film live up to its promise. Rajkummar Rao is hilarious and is well supported by Sanya Malhotra and the rest of the cast. What could have been a crazy, eccentric ride is reduced to just an okay watch, with the narrative not quite hitting the mark.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team

April 15, 2026