Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 52

Umjolo: My Beginnings, My End! – Review

Rating: 1 out of 5.

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Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku, as lead protagonist Mayi, is the only thing worth watching in the 2025 romantic comedy Umjolo: My Beginnings, My End!, largely because she is quite a stunner. The story, on the other hand, isn’t romantic and doesn’t have a single comedic moment that will make viewers laugh out loud. It’s worsened by the fact that there’s close to zero chemistry between the lead couple.

Plot overview: Third-wheeling on her own birthday despite having a wealthy fiancé, a lonely Mayi (Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku) finds herself attracted to saxophonist Zwelethu (Yonda Thomas). The two start to see each other, but Mayi’s mom and best friend warn her against leaving her rich fiancé, Sizwe, who rarely has time for her. Will Mayi choose wealth and stability, or take a chance with the passionate but broke saxophonist?

I mean, c’mon, we all know who is going to get the girl if the rich, busy guy is pitted against the poor musician in a romantic comedy. So Umjolo: My Beginnings, My End! is extremely predictable, and except for shedding light on some archaic practices still in place in South Africa for foreign viewers, there’s nothing fresh about the script. Pretty much everything is forgettable about this film, and the only silver lining is that its runtime is less than 90 minutes.

Rating: 1 on 5.

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Happyish Book Review – Work, Stress, Travel, Repeat

Rating: 3 out of 5.

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Happyish by Jeanette Escudero starts off with Alex Martinez, the protagonist, in a joyful mood, ready to celebrate her first divorce anniversary with her best friends. But before she can party, she bombs an office presentation, learns she might have a brain tumor, and maybe even lose her job. With both her personal and professional life in jeopardy, Alex goes on an impromptu trip to process everything and reflect on all that’s going wrong in her life.

Alex, the lead protagonist, can often be hard to like, as her dominant trait is overthinking everything and acting like the world revolves around her, even though she is a total people-pleaser. Alex proclaims herself to be the “bra-burning” kind of feminist but is whiny about men in general for no real personal reason. Author Jeanette Escudero often addresses gender discrimination in the book through Alex’s opinions, although, ironically, practically nothing detrimental happens to Alex in the story due to sexist men or gender divides. In one annoying scene, Alex and her friends burn a note from Alex’s ex-husband at a bar, practically setting the table on fire and inviting the manager’s wrath. When Alex tells him he wouldn’t have called a man “crazy,” he snaps back with something along the lines of, “If a man set a table on fire, I would call him crazy too,” to which Alex has no response.

Despite not being very likable, Alex does have moments where she is relatable, especially in not wanting to burden anybody else with her problems or needing some “alone time” to process life-changing developments. She has a fun relationship with her best friends, who always try to have her back. And Alex’s overbearing moms are quite sweet.

Happyish is most fun in the second half, when Alex flies off to Arizona on a whim, embarks on a multi-day trek along the Grand Canyon, and meets some interesting new people. A potential movie-like romance blooms between her and a hunky man, which, despite its clichés, is entertaining to read. She then takes off to Costa Rica, meets two hilarious girl cousins who are travel influencers, and has a riotous time.

Overall, Happyish is an easy read, even though many descriptions are repetitive; tighter editing could have made it sharper. Despite its flaws, the novel is a decent one-time read with a timeless message: love yourself. For someone who had never taken vacations, Alex finally realizes that taking time off can be transformative and that prioritizing her own happiness isn’t selfish but necessary.

Rating: 3 on 5. Happyish is also on Kindle Unlimited.

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Also Read: Nobody Wants This – Netflix Series Review (Short Audio Version below)

Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous – Scattered Look At Rapper’s Life

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In 2014, we went to pick up a cousin from his boarding school, and he was bursting with excitement to talk about his favorite singer and rapper – Yo Yo Honey Singh.

“Didi, he’s the only Indian rapper who has won a Grammy award!”. He then argued defiantly when I said he had his facts wrong. I remember it was 2014 because none of us had smartphones yet. We had to wait until we got home to look up the internet and fact-check. My excited, teenage cousin was disappointed to learn his rap god hadn’t actually won a Grammy. But that’s a testament to how Honey Singh’s young fans put him on a high pedestal, creating their own legends around the singer.

The 2024 Netflix documentary Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous charts the rise, fall, and comeback of the music star, with Singh granting cameras access to his home, memories, and family. It features numerous clips from packed concerts, familiar hit songs, home videos, and exclusive glimpses into Honey Singh’s Noida studio, home, and upcoming projects.

The documentary is primarily narrated through interviews with Honey Singh and his sister, Sneha Singh, interspersed with the voices of other interviewees, including Singh’s parents, friends, contemporaries, music producers, and a music journalist. With an 80-minute runtime, it best captures the story of how excessive fame, overwork, and drinking took a toll on Singh’s mental and physical health, forcing him to take a break from the music scene. Singh recalls doing back-to-back shows without breaks, which led to severe anxiety and paranoia.

At its best, Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous feels like a polished PR exercise. However, it tries to tackle too many subjects, leaving some woefully underexplored. For instance, it briefly addresses the controversies surrounding Singh’s music- accusations of misogyny, regressive lyrics, and sexism – but doesn’t dive deep. It also touches on his divorce from childhood sweetheart Shalini Talwar, who accused him of domestic abuse. “We signed an MOU, so I cannot talk about it,” Singh says in the documentary. Why bring up an issue if you’re not going to provide any insight?

Regarding criticism of his lyrics, Singh defends himself by saying he only serves what his fans want. “Is he an artist or a supplier?” the music journalist in the documentary sarcastically wonders. Perhaps he’s a bit of both.

This documentary will likely resonate most with fans of the rapper, who, despite the setbacks in his career, remains confident about topping charts and breaking records. A Grammy award? Singh doesn’t mention aiming for awards or accolades, but in the climactic moments of Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous, he talks about a potential collaboration with Dr. Dre – a seven-time Grammy winner.

You can watch Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous on Netflix.

Kabul Disco 2: Graphic Novel Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

French artist Nicolas Wild randomly applies for a job in Kabul when he is unable to pay his bills in Paris and ends up illustrating comics aimed at explaining democracy and the constitution to Afghanistan’s children. That was the focus of his first graphic novel memoir, Kabul Disco. In its sequel, titled Kabul Disco 2 (obviously), Nicolas Wild returns to Kabul with his team to work on a more ambitious project – educating Afghan adults about the dangers of opium consumption and production.

Based on Nicolas Wild’s real-life experiences, the artist makes Kabul Disco 2 an enjoyable and engaging read. The only reason this isn’t a 5-star read for me is that I’m still not the biggest fan of Wild’s simple doodle-style artwork. Compared to some of the more vibrantly illustrated graphic novels out there, the panels in Kabul Disco 2 feel like second drafts.

The sequel begins with a quick recap of Book 1, hilariously captioned as the “incomprehensible summary of Book 1,” followed by Wild’s return to Kabul and his job at the media company Zendagui. He and his team are tasked with a new communications campaign for the American embassy’s war against opium. Supposedly “super secret,” Wild humorously promises to keep the details confidential – and then proceeds to offer readers a front-row look at how the campaign was developed.

From hunting opium fields and partying with rival companies to escaping violent riots against expats, Nicolas Wild recounts an exciting stint in Kabul. Despite the dangers, he portrays the expat experience as cuttingly disconnected from the ground realities of local life. Wild wittily juxtaposes Kabul’s grim transformation with the insulated bubble that expats like him inhabit. One of the most memorable scenes for me in the graphic novel is when Wild and his colleagues are evacuated to an army camp for safety. While the streets of Kabul burn, the expats play cards, drink wine, and essentially enjoy an extended picnic at the camp. The ‘white-privilege’ stands out, but then again, what’s the point of being scared, and miserable, when you can drink and party?

If you’re curious about what life was like for expats in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s fall in the early 2000s, Kabul Disco is a highly entertaining read.

Read Next: Shubeik Lubeik Review: Fantastic Blend of Magical Quirks & Realities

Also Read: Nobody Wants This – Netflix Series Review (Short Audio Version below)

Kinda Pregnant Trailer: Amy Schuler Film Looks Kinda Funny

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Pregnancy comes with its fair share of complications, emotions, and struggles – but also a few perks. People tend to be extra nice, give up their seat on public transport, or let you have the last cookie. Amy Schumer’s 2025 Netflix comedy Kinda Pregnant explores what happens when a woman straps on a fake belly and pretends to be pregnant – maybe for the perks, or perhaps to avoid feeling left out as her friends all seem to be expecting babies at the same time.

Directed by Tyler Spindel and written by Amy Schumer and Julie Paiva, the trailer for Kinda Pregnant opens with a shopkeeper complimenting Lainy Newton (Amy Schumer) and handing her a free apple, saying, “Looking good, Mommy.” Lainy revels in the compliments about her glow and energy, but how long can she keep up the act?

The comedy also stars Jillian Bell, Brianne Howey, Lizze Broadway, and Urzila Carlson as Lainy’s friends – most of whom are genuinely pregnant. Only one of them knows she’s lying. From attending prenatal classes and yoga sessions to even going on dates, Lainy fully commits to her fake pregnancy, but the lies soon begin to catch up with her.

Based on the trailer, Kinda Pregnant doesn’t appear to be riotously funny, but it does pack a few laughs. If the creators haven’t crammed all the best bits into the trailer, it might make for a fun weekend watch with friends.

Kinda Pregnant premieres on Netflix on February 5th. You can check out the trailer on YouTube, or watch it embedded below.

Sorgavaasal Review: A Riot of Missed Opportunities

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Parthi is a regular lower-middle class working man running a food stall with his mother, while they aspire to open a small hotel in the market. However, he is falsely arrested for murdering an IAS officer, and finds himself deeper in trouble when he becomes involved in a deadly prison riot that leads to the death of over 40 men.

Directed by Sidharth Vishwanath, the 2024 Tamil prison drama ‘Sorgavaasal’ stars RJ Balaji as protagonist Parthi, while Natty Subramaniam plays Retired Justice Ismail, who leads the inquiry commission into the prison riots. Kattabomman (Karunas), a prison officer gives the first testimony, recalling the events that led to the violence, beginning the tale with the reign of Sigamanni AKA Siga (Selvaraghavan), a powerful gang leader who held power within the prison walls despite being a prisoner. How Parthi’s fate is entwined with Siga’s activities, and who really triggers the prison riot, forms the crux of the tale.

For the first fifteen-twenty minutes of ‘Sorgavaasal’, it’s hard to establish who the hero or the primary protagonist of the movie is, because nobody in the cast has the star power or screen presence to hold viewer’s attention. Selvaraghavan as Siga, the big bad wolf of the prison, only looks the part of a ghastly villain, however, his acting prowess is limited to a two-toned expression. Sharaf U Dheen as SP Sunil Kumar, who transfers to the Chennai Jail from Tihar, is one of the few people in the cast who deliver their parts with conviction.

Except for the ‘poor man trapped in a false case’, the film follows the usual beaten path of prison dramas, dwelling into theatrical representation of two criminal gangs running the shits in the prison. Parthi is accused of being Siga’s henchman, so he tries to clear his name in the murder case, but only finds himself sinking further into the crime cesspool during his imprisonment. RJ Balaji’s performance as Parthi, whose character transforms from a helpless bystander to a frustrated, shrewd prisoner, is adequate in terms of acting, but doesn’t elevate the role to an emotional sucker punch. The lack of punch in Parthi’s character is also due to the weak script, it teeters awkwardly between realistic and theatrics – it’s not realistic enough to be poignant, neither over-the-top enough to woo action fans who’d whistle as films like Rajinikant’s “Jailer” or Shah Rukh Khan’s “Jawan”.

Four of us started watching the movie, only two of us survived until the end, and that’s all you really need to know about how entertaining this is.

Rating: 1.5 on 5. Watch ‘Sorgavaasal’ on Netflix.

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Dream Productions Season 1 Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

If you’ve seen the popular animated movie Inside Out, you know it imagines emotions as tiny beings living in the human brain and controlling our actions. The protagonist is Riley, a fun, sporty little girl who has trouble adjusting to her new home and school but soon finds her feet.

The animated mini-series Dream Productions acts as a bridge between the first film and Inside Out 2, focusing on Riley’s dreams and the beings inside her head that direct them – hence the title, Dream Productions. Riley’s head is home to a bustling crew of directors and elaborate teams working to create all kinds of dreams, from spooky nightmares to glitter-filled fantasies with unicorns.

Spanning just four episodes, the mini-series kicks off with a funny little dream about toddler Riley saying goodbye to her pacifier. It’s a “hit” dream by Paula (voiced by Paula Pell), a chatty, self-centered, not-too-imaginative director who relies heavily on her assistant Janelle (Ally Maki). But Riley is no longer a toddler, and Paula’s Dream Productions are getting repetitive and outdated for an ever-growing Riley who is hurtling toward teenage-dom. When Janelle is promoted to director, Paula must come up with a new big-hit dream if she wants to stay relevant.

For viewers hoping to see more of Riley, Dream Productions doesn’t have much to offer. The focus is largely on new dream realm characters – chiefly Paula, Janelle, and an artsy aspiring director named Xeni (Richard Ayoade), Paula’s new assistant. Most of the comedic moments in the series stem from Paula’s creative clashes with Xeni. While Paula is old-school and traditional, Xeni is avant-garde and experimental.

Dream Productions offers an interesting perspective on how dreams can influence a person’s mood – or, in rare cases, even help them make behavioral decisions. Paula and the other directors function as facets of Riley’s conscience, projecting dreams they believe will help her sleep better. With Riley going through puberty, one of the primary themes of the series is the challenge of navigating change. For instance, Riley is unsure about what to wear to a school dance and who to ask as her date.

As with Inside Out, the animation in the series is colorful and cute, but the new character designs are underwhelming. Paula and some of the other characters resemble blobs of colored clay. Janelle, depicted as a young, hard-working, and imaginative creator, looks like a blue M&M candy with bad purple hair.

While the series has its fun bits, its uninspired visual design and limited focus on Riley leave it feeling more like an interlude than an essential addition to the Inside Out universe. Overall, this mini-series a fun one-time-watch for fans of the movies.

Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions Season 2 Review

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Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions Season 2 remains an easygoing, comfort-watch for fans who enjoyed the first season of this detective series.

Plot overview: Genius detective Ron Kamonohashi loves solving mysteries, but his license was revoked years ago. To continue his passion, he teams up with rookie cop Totomaru Isshiki (Toto) to tackle complex murder cases. While Toto uses his police badge to front the investigations, Ron is the true mastermind, solving cases with remarkable speed. The anime is based on the manga Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective by Akira Amano, and Ron is portrayed as a descendant of the legendary Sherlock Holmes.

Season one concluded with the revelation that a nefarious criminal organization called The House of M, led by the Moriarty family, was responsible for framing Ron and stripping him of his detective credentials. Season two opens with Ron and Toto racing against time to catch a killer linked to the Moriarty family in a series of murders.

“For a long time now, our M. Family’s perfect crime has been hindered by Sherlock Holmes and his descendants… And since Ron Kamonohashi has inherited his blood, we absolutely cannot allow him to live his life as a detective… Therefore, we will give him despair.” – Mylo Moriarty.

Spanning thirteen episodes, season two reveals surprising details about Ron’s past, including a shocking connection to the Moriarty family. For the first time, Ron briefly communicates with his adversaries. Early episodes hint that the entire season might focus on the detective duo’s battle against The House of M, but the narrative also includes standalone murder cases unrelated to the Moriartys.

The dynamic between Ron and Toto remains the highlight of the show, even as the murder mysteries oscillate between thrilling and lackluster. Familiar faces make entertaining cameos, such as the eccentric neurosurgeon Mofu Usaki and the spirited Spitz Feier, who appears whenever it suits him.

Diomedéa’s animation is vibrant and engaging. While the backgrounds lack intricate detail, the characters’ expressions are exceptionally well-rendered. Even without dialogue, viewers can discern emotions, especially Ron’s, who endures significant emotional turmoil in the season’s latter half. Revelations about his parents leave him deeply traumatized, and Toto struggles to support him through these challenges.

Overall, season two is worth watching for anime fans, though a comedic scene in the climactic episode pokes fun at viewers hoping for a romantic connection between Ron and Toto.

You can stream the series (Kamonohashi Ron no Kindan Suiri) on Netflix or CrunchyRoll.

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Reunion Movie Review: Who Killed The Jock?

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

When the host of their high school reunion is discovered murdered, suspicion falls on five classmates and their professor – the only ones who stayed overnight and were present at the time of the crime.

Created by Chris Nelson (director), Willie Block (writer), and Jake Emanuel (writer), the 2024 comedy-thriller starts off by introducing childhood best friends Ray Hammond (Lil Rel Howery), a middling part-timer, and Evan West (Billy Magnussen), an average cop. The two of them are headed to a party, and they encounter their old classmate Jasmine Park (Jamie Chung), a journalist who is also on her way to the reunion at Mathew Danbury’s (Chace Crawford) mansion. Mathew, a popular jock, is now a wealthy hedge-fund manager.

The ensemble cast of Reunion is completed by Nina Dobrev, who plays former class president Amanda Tanner, now a successful politician running for Congress. Jillian Bell plays Vivian Chase, a weirdo who nobody can seem to remember, though she seems to have a grudge against most of her class. Michael Hitchcock plays their history teacher Theodore Buckley, who is the only non-classmate staying over at Mathew’s home after the party. Mathew’s body is found by Jasmine Park in the morning, shot dead, and they are all snowed in at his mansion, with no means to contact the outside world.

With a crisp 90-minute runtime, Reunion is a mildly funny thriller, where the jokes are relatively weak, but it’s the talented cast that carries the script with their fun performances. It’s definitely not a nail-biting murder mystery, even though, to the writers’ credit, there is indeed significant suspense over who might’ve murdered Mathew, especially since quite a few people have some motive to kill him.

Overall, Reunion is the kind of murder mystery you can enjoy when a few friends are over and you want to kill some time by watching something that does not demand too much of your attention.

Rating: 2.5 on 5. Watch Reunion on Netflix.

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The Forest of Enchantments: Book Review

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

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When I read Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni several years ago, experiencing the Mahabharata through Draupadi’s eyes was truly exciting. It was a five-star read, both for its novelty and captivating storytelling. However, the author’s 2019 title, The Forest of Enchantments, which presents Sita’s perspective of the Ramayan, offers very little in terms of new material or deeper exploration of the Queen’s personality and relationships. It almost feels as though any author with time, resources, and basic research could have written this version.

The first half of the novel felt like a drudgery to read. Sita comes across more like a teenager from the 1980s than a revered young royal born of the earth during the glorious age of Gods, Demi-Gods, Demons, and Monkey-men. Perhaps the author deliberately gave Sita a more modern voice to connect with younger readers. However, this choice robs her Sita of a truly unique identity. The royal aura, grace, and divine mystique that should define her character are notably absent.

There’s little magic in The Forest of Enchantments, which recounts Sita’s life journey – from growing up as a princess in Mithila to marrying Ram, winning over her in-laws, choosing to accompany her husband into a fourteen-year forest exile, and ultimately being abducted by the powerful King of Lanka, Raavana.

The author misses the opportunity to delve deeper into Sita’s relationships with those closest to her – her adoptive parents, King Janak and Queen Sunayana; her sister, Urmila; her husband, Ram; and her dear brother-in-law, Lakshman. Instead, readers are presented with lengthy, repetitive philosophical musings by Sita on the nature of love. Sita repeatedly observes that every action, whether driven by selflessness or selfishness, ultimately stems from love, highlighting how feelings often shape people’s decisions.

Even the forests, where Sita and Ram spend over a decade in exile, lack vivid descriptions. While I am not typically a reader who enjoys overly descriptive texts, I expected more from this retelling of such an epic tale. The story remains almost identical to the original, and the language and prose lack the timeless quality one would hope for in a reimagining of this scale.

For anyone looking for a light revision of the Ramayan, this is a decent one-time read.

Rating: 2.5 on 5 stars.