Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 6

Rachel Rising Volume 7 Review: A Violent Demon-Slaying Finale

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Ah, Terry Moore’s ‘Rachel Rising’ finally comes to an end with this volume. And even though the journey was bumpy, the climactic pages were violent, tragic, almost emotional, before throwing in one last dark comical twist.

To be honest, after the extensive build up on how ancient and powerful Malus, the primary antagonist is, the way he is defeated was rather underwhelming. But Moore’s detailed artwork and the dark comedy makes the ending of ‘Rachel Rising’ quite satisfactory.

“How do you get rid of a demon who can’t die?”

Titled ‘Dust to Dust’, the volume is all about Lilith growing a new wild garden as she tries to figure out how to vanquish Malus. Yes, gardening and demon-slaying can go hand in hand. Zoey comes up with a ridiculous idea, which Lilith starts to consider seriously since she doesn’t have many other options.

Meanwhile, Rachel finally figures out who murdered her the first time she rose from the dead, with lacerations on her neck. Aunt Johnny stumbles upon new clues to find the killer, discovering there were other female victims that died in a similar manner: strangled to death with a rope and buried face down. Does Rachel get her vengeance after all the dying? Of course!

This volume of ‘Rachel Rising’ features several beautifully drawn, wordless pages where the art alone carries the story forward. One page, for instance, has just five panels showing Lilith walking through the forest, serious and determined to track down Malus’ latest human vessel. Another standout moment is a pair of back-to-back pages split into three horizontal panels each, quietly depicting Earl and Jet asleep together, smiling, images that perfectly convey the warmth of their growing relationship. Seriously, read this horror comic-book series simply for the art (although you need to be a fan of the genre too).

In the last issue of the volume, Lilith defeats Malus with relative ease, but the real impact comes in the closing pages as Rachel’s killer is finally revealed. The revelation is both disturbing and chilling, and Terry Moore crafts a darkly satisfying ending, despite leaving several subplots hanging.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. ‘Rachel Rising‘ is also on Kindle Unlimited.

Read Next: The Village of Eight Graves Review: Wickedly Rich (Audio Version Below)

‘Unknown Number: The High School Catfish’: Disturbing

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

Netflix documentary ‘Unknown Number: The High School Catfish’ dives into the bizarre case of American teenager Lauryn Licari, who was deluged with thousands of nasty messages from an anonymous stalker shockingly well-aware of her every move. The cyber-bullying was relentless through various randomly generated numbers, and even the Lauryn’s then boyfriend Owen McKenny was targeted. It seemed like the stalker wanted the young couple to break up, but investigation into the case revealed a far more disgustingly disturbing, twisted, and hard-to-grasp truth.

“All of the text messages in this film are real,” says a disclaimer at the beginning of the documentary. The next 90 minutes are interspersed with the awful messages Lauryn was deluged with. They were either sexually charged, explicit, spiteful, threatening, hurtful, going as far as asking the teen to kill herself. And Lauryn was only 14 when this torrid saga began. The texts are shown over both old and new footage of those involved in the case.

If you don’t know anything about the Lauryn Licari cyber-bullying case, then its best to go into ‘Unknown Number: The High School Catfish’ blind. Directed by Skye Borgma, “Unknown Number: The High School Catfish” features interviews from all parties involved: victims Lauryn Licari, Owen McKenny, their families, their classmates, the teens who became suspects, their parents, school authorities, the investigators, and even the FBI official who worked on the case, and the kicker: the real culprit’s interview too.

To keep this spoiler-free, I am obviously not going to write about who the culprit is, but the revelation is truly shocking. And the biggest problem with this documentary is the fact that is gives too much space to the perpetrator to present their side of the story. The creators sadly shy away from posing tough questions to the culprit, who seems to have little remorse over their actions. The perpetrator practically smirks at the camera and says something along the lines of: everybody commits some sort of crime, many people drink and drive, the only difference is, I got caught.

‘Unknown Number: The High School Catfish’ almost plays out like a thriller, where the events are narrated chronologically and multiple suspects emerge. What is does best is highlight how ill-equipped schools and local authorities are when it comes to protecting students from cyber-bullying. It only took a few days for the FBI to find out the IP addresses of the Catfish and nab the accused, something that could’ve been done by the police months ago.

Stream ‘Unknown Number: The High School Catfish’ on Netflix.

Read Next: The Thursday Murder Club Review (Audio Version Below)

Sakamoto Days Episode 19 Review: Deadly Team Battles

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

Akira stitching shirts mid-air after their flight crashes in ‘Sakamoto Days’ had us in stitches! Only in anime can a character start sewing in the air, although, well, you never know with over the top live-action action movies. It would be fun to see Ethan Hunt in the ‘Mission Impossible’ movies stitching a parachute amid clouds after being kicked off an aircraft by villains.

Also Read: Sakamoto Days Episode 18 Review: Murder Films and More Mayhem

Titled ‘Exam, Stage Three‘, episode 19 opens with the few survivors of the crash as the JCC academy announces the next stage of the exams. With most candidates already dead, the evaluators assign a surprisingly simple team mission to keep the casualty count low. But in a twist, three “special candidates” arrive by boat to join the third stage, shaking things up.

What makes this edition of ‘Sakamoto Days’ interesting is the fact that Taro Sakamoto and Shin are not on the same team, so they will have to fight as rivals. If you remember, Shin is very serious about passing the JCC exam without any help, so he assertively tells Sakamoto not to go easy on him. In some convenient turns, clean freak Mafuyu is on Shin’s team, while Akira ends up in Taro’s group along with the comedic character “Kill Baby.”

Except for a brief scene featuring antagonist Slur and his lackeys, the episode completely focuses on the stage three team competitions. And despite the invigilators hoping for fewer deaths, participants are allowed to use whatever weapons and means they want to win the exams. Since it’s clearly been established that most participating students are psychos who’d kill their rivals in a heartbeat to seal their spot in the assassin academy, some deadly team battles unfold.

The pacing drags at times, but the episode stays engaging thanks to an intriguing reveal about Akira’s link to Sakamoto’s past. With any luck, upcoming episodes will dive deeper into flashbacks from Sakamoto’s JCC days.

Watch Sakamoto Days on Netflix.

Read Next: Lord of Mysteries Review: Beyonders & a ‘Beyond-My-Brain’ Pace (Audio Version Below)

The Proper Way to Write Love – Renai Rubi no Tadashii Furikata Review

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Japanese series ‘The Proper Way to Write Love’ (Renai Rubi no Tadashii Furikata) probably has the fastest progression of ‘enemies to lovers’. The leads start dating by episode one. And it’s not even a cliffhanger twist.

Based on the manga “Renai Rubi no Tadashii Furikata” (恋愛ルビの正しいふりかた) by Ogeretsu Tanakam, this live action adaptation spans eight episodes. The plot follows protagonist Suzuki Hiroshi (Iwahashi Genki), a charming hair-stylist, who is runs into his high-school bully Washizawa Natsuo (Soma Satoru) at the salon where he works. To his surprise, not only does Natsuo not recognize Hiroshi, he even asks him to date. Hiroshi agrees, hoping to extract revenge from his former bully. The plan is simple: date for a bit and dump him hard. But we all know how ‘Revenged Love’ stories go, right?

‘The Proper Way to Write Love’ is a great example of how background music changes everything. Flashbacks show Hiroshi’s interactions with Natsuo at school, while broody, dark music plays in the background, adding a lot of tension to their exchanges. Although, in a comical twist, Natsuo was only trying to get closer to Hiroshi and is grossly misunderstood. If the same scenes were played over with upbeat sounds, the interactions wouldn’t look like Hiroshi was being bullied.

Iwahashi Genki as Suzuki Hiroshi is quite convincing in the nerdy high-school flashbacks but isn’t as suave as the older stylist version is supposed to be. Soma Satoru is a lot more entertaining as the straightforward, cheery, impulsive Washizawa Natsuo. Nakai Dai who shot to fame from dating reality show ‘The Boyfriend’, has a small cameo as Hiroshi’s colleague Takumi. Intially, it felt like Takumi might have a significant part in the tale, but the character could’ve been deleted and it wouldn’t make a lot of different to the show.

The onscreen chemistry between Iwahashi Genki and Soma Satoru flits between cute and awkward. Their characters go on lots of dates through the episodes, encounter a few difficulties, and it’s almost bizarre how Natsuo doesn’t recognize Hiroshi until the very end. Natsuo’s character is so naive, he is almost stupid. Meanwhile, Hiroshi’s character development in ‘The Proper Way to Write Love’ is simply frustrating to watch. Even though he wants revenge, he indulges in zero scheming, and is possibly the laziest revenge-seeking protagonist in a drama.

For the most part, ‘The Proper Way to Write Love’ tends to be light-hearted, but it is also peppered with serious, dramatic scenes that often feel jarring. Basically, this drama doesn’t pick a lane, it’s neither a light romantic comedy nor an intense romantic drama. Sure, some shows are able to walk the tightrope between both genres, but not this one. The comic potential of this series is completely under-explored.

I often complain that Japanese romances can be too chaste, so it’s a surprise when ‘The Proper Way to Write Love’ throws in a decently shot steamy scene towards the end. But guess what? It didn’t need one. It’s executed nicely, but considering the overall tone of the show, it would’ve worked just as well without any intimacy.

For instance, Japanese Romantic Comedy ‘Cherry Magic’ definitely could’ve used a long final kiss between the leads, but viewers were robbed. On the other hand, the high-school RomCom ‘My Love Mix-Up!’ didn’t need any kisses, and doesn’t serve any either. A more recent example of a drama that could’ve benefited from more onscreen intimacy between its leads is ‘Futtara Doshaburi’.

Anyway, ‘The Proper Way to Write Love’ does have its merits, it’s a leisurely paced romance that makes for a decent one time watch. Maybe six episodes would’ve been an ideal length for this show though.

Rating: 6 on 10. You can watch the show on TVer or GagaOolala.

Read Next: The Thursday Murder Club Review (Audio Version Below)

Gachiakuta Episodes 7-8 Review: Jabber Loves the Hurt

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

How do you beat a masochist without making things weird? That is Rudo’s latest conundrum in ‘Gachiakuta’ episode 7 as he fights the Jabber Wonger, a dangerous Raider.

Also Read: Gachiakuta Episodes 5-6 Review: Cleaners vs. Raiders

Titled ‘A Score to Settle’, the episode kicks off with the face-off between Rudo and Jabber. Unfortunately for Rudo, Jabber quickly figures out a way to counter the protagonist’s new vital instrument. Luckily, Rudo’s “trainer” Zanka joins the battle in the nick of time, and the duo fight with surprising synergy against their lethally powerful opponent.

Episode 7 of ‘Gachiakuta’ is fast-paced, violent, and also slightly comical. One of the funniest moments is when Rudo realizes Jabber is a masochist, which is why he hilariously wonders how one “beats a masochist” without making the situation awkward. The episode in-fact opens with Jabber howling as he crashes into a corner, what sounds like pain at first quickly reveals itself to be his twisted idea of pleasure.

“How the hell does stabbing yourself make you stronger?” Rudo blurts out at one point. And that’s when it dawns on him, Jabber isn’t just tough, he’s a full-blown masochist. The animation perfectly captures Jabber’s maniacal personality: his eyes go completely blank, like a demon’s, and his jaws drip with drool, making him look like a possessed beast with murder on his mind. Definitely a very entertaining antagonist for the show!

Thankfully, Jabber isn’t able to kidnap Rudo, but only because he is practically dragged away by a fellow Raider. However, he leaves everybody a little shaken with his powers and abilities, including Rudo, who begins to have an existential crisis over not being strong enough to defend himself or save others. Enjin and the other Cleaners try to cheer him up.

Episode 8 of ‘Gachiakuta’, which is aptly titled ‘Moving Forward’, is a bit of a filler edition, where Rudo officially becomes a part of the ‘Cleaners’. He finally gets to meet the leader of the organization and is even handed his own uniform. Enjin and Riyo show him around the headquarters, and some light moments follow.

But not like nothing of importance happens in the edition, the last few minutes show Enjin, Zanka giving Rudo some fascinating new insights about his power as a ‘Giver’. Not just that, they offer to help him on his mission to find a way back to the ‘Sphere’, so that he can avenge his father’s murder.

The episode ends with an intriguing cliffhanger, which essentially gives us a brief glimpse of Jabber’s boss.

Watch Gachiakuta on Crunchyroll.

Read Next: Lord of Mysteries Review: Beyonders & a ‘Beyond-My-Brain’ Pace (Audio Version Below)

Andhera Review: Kinda Dark, Barely Scary

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

A young woman is chased by a ghost, spooked to the core, she runs in fear to her hotel, only to be consumed by ‘Andhera’, darkness personified as a malicious demonic entity in this 2025 Prime Series. And that’s the thing, the primary antagonist in this horror series is over-ambitiously abstract for the terrors to truly work. But well, it does have several watchable elements.

Created by Gaurav Desai, ‘Andhera’ follows Mumbai cop Kalpana Kadam (Priya Bapat) investigating into the disappearance of Bani Baruah (Jhanvi Rawat) over the course of eight episodes. The case leads Kalpana to doctor Prithvi (Pranay Pachauri) and brother Jay (Karanvir Malhotra), the latter claims Bani was consumed by the darkness, embarking on his own investigation with paranormal expert Rumi (Prajakta Koli) to prove that darkness has come to life.

The second episode of ‘Andhera’ introduces a new sci-fi element in the story, with Vatsal Sheth playing one of the antagonists, part of a group experimenting on people using electronic headbands. Child actor Mohit Prajapati plays Omar, a child who is kidnapped for these experiments. Surveen Chawla plays Ayesha, a professional who works at a high-end wellness retreat called Atma, where the same headbands are used on people for “therapy.” How these subplots tie into the Andhera haunting and killing people is the primary mystery of the tale. But for a supernatural horror thriller, the “scary” scenes just aren’t spooky enough, at least not for regular horror fans.

The third episode introduces a new comic-book nerd character called Jude (Kavin Dave), which appeared to be very random. Although Kavin Dave, as the nerdy, childlike Jude, brings some much-needed comic relief to ‘Andhera’. His character walks around with a lightsaber and is convinced that a comic book series could hold the key to understanding how to fight off the dark, demonic entity that’s consuming people. The visual effects in the ghostly scenes never rise above clunky, old-fashioned gimmicks that fail to scare.

I’ll give the creators credit for aiming high: they turn human fears, insecurities, and depression into a literal monster, a force that manifests physically to ruin lives. In ‘Andhera’, this darkness becomes more than just a villain, it’s depression itself, chipping away at the human spirit until all that remains is desperation and the shadow of death. Unfortunately, the execution isn’t up to mark. Mandakini Goswami who plays Bani’s mother Ushmi, is a lot creepier than the ghosts who appear in the show. She delivers a spooky performance as a grief-stricken mother suffering from strange hallucinations.

Most of the cast is very entertaining in their parts, but Karanvir Malhotra as Jay is the weakest link of the show. He plays central protagonist in ‘Andhera’, but his acting lacks conviction, is screechy and flails awkwardly in emotional moments. I kept thinking how actor Abhay Verma, who played the protagonist in horror-comedy ‘Munjya’, would’ve fit perfectly as Jay in this series.

Priya Bapat and Prajakta Koli on the other hand deliver strong performances as strong, independent young women with their own personal baggage. Priya Bapat’s Kalpana Kadam is in the closet, with unresolved guilt over a dark past. She gets a romantic sub-plot which moves too quickly and is rather contrived. Anand Ingle plays Kalpana’s junior Kanitkar, a jovial cop, who like Jude, serves some comic relief in the show. Prajakta as Rumi is a refreshing modern take on paranormal experts, who’re usually portrayed as over-the-top cuckoos. Karanavir Malhotra’s performance alongside these actors feels especially jarring.

The last few episodes of the show see cop Kalpana Kadam reluctantly team up with Jay, Rumi, and Jude to figure out how to defeat the ‘Andhera’. Of course, like any ‘good versus evil’ story, the protagonists will first have to overcome their own fears. The finale, episode eight, tips into sheer ridiculousness, dragging the story to a hollow “victory” for the protagonists, before tossing in a last-minute tease that the ‘Andhera’ is far from gone.

Watch ‘Andhera’ on Prime Video.

Read Next: The Thursday Murder Club Review (Audio Version Below)

5 Light Thrillers To Watch if You Liked ‘Thursday Murder Club’

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

If you enjoyed Netflix’s ‘Thursday Murder Club’, a murder mystery that skips the dark twists and heavy gore in favor of a lighter, more playful tone, then this list is for you. Here are five more thrillers that don’t take themselves too seriously, sometimes even leaning into the silly, but above all remain highly entertaining.

All of these films are available on Netflix.

1. Murder Mystery: This is a totally silly but fun one! A globe-trotting, yacht‑based whodunit featuring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston as a mismatched married duo who after a chance flight encounter, find themselves solving a billionaire’s murder in glamorous Riviera style.

2. 7 Women and a Murder: In this Italian crime-comedy, seven women are locked in a mansion with a dead patriarch. Now they must sift through secrets, motives, and hidden agendas to uncover who killed the man of the house.

3. Knives Out: Probably a bit of ‘duh’ suggestion, but if you still haven’t seen this high-budget murder mystery that boasts a solid ensemble cast, go ahead and stream it! But we wouldn’t recommend the sequel (Glass Onion).

4. Monica O My Darling: This Indian neo-noir dark comedy is a zany, corporate murder mystery packed with plenty of twists and some good Bollywood songs. A secretary’s affair spirals into a murder plot, with plenty of retro flair, sharp dialogue, and office politics gone wild.

5. Murder Mubarak: When a trainer is murdered at Delhi’s elite club, a sharp detective (played by Pankaj Tripathi) dives into a comically twisted mystery involving the city’s ultra-rich, with some social satire on the side.

That’s a wrap on the list. Check our YouTube podcast out and subscribe to it. It’s embedded below.

Read Next: Fall for Me Review: Sun, Sand, and Shady Scammers

My Girlfriend Is The Man! Review: A ‘Demure’ Yoo Jung-hoo Is the Heart of Comedy

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Imagine a dude coming up to you out of the blue, claiming he is your girlfriend? What would you do? Well, in Park Yun Jae’s case, he gives the ‘dude’ a punch. And that’s how Korean romantic-comedy ‘My Girlfriend is the Man’ takes off!

Directed by Yoo Kwan Mo, the 2025 romantic comedy ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man‘ (Korean title: 내 여자친구는 상남자) is based on the webtoon ‘My Girlfriend Is a Real Man‘ by Massstar. Singer-actor Yoon San-Ha plays the primary protagonist Park Yun Jae, a university student happily dating his first love, Kim Ji-Eun (Arin). However, things take a crazy turn for the couple when the pretty Ji-Eun wakes up one day as a handsome man (played by actor Yoo Jung-hoo), with no idea how to become a woman again.

Also Read: 6 Ways ‘My Girlfriend Is the Man!’ is Different From The Webtoon

Spanning 12 episodes, ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man’ follows Ji-Eun’s chaotic, comedic journey as Ji-Hoon, the name she adopts for her unexpected male form. Naturally, her boyfriend Park Yun Jae completely freaks out, and even after accepting the bizarre transformation, he struggles with what it means for their relationship. The two agree to remain friends until Ji-Hoon turns back into Ji-Eun… but no one knows when, or if, that will ever happen. Unfortunately, this series isn’t as consistently funny as it should’ve been, failing to maximize its own comic potential. But well, it does deliver some hilarious moments.

Adding to the comedy, Ji-Eun’s writer best friend Yu-Ri (Park Joo-won) develops an awkward crush on Ji-Hoon, while her own sister Kim Ji-Hye (Choi Yoon-ra) can’t help but blush over how her sibling is suddenly taller, stronger, and undeniably hotter as a man. Luckily, Yu-Ri soon gets distracted by the charming Min Hyeon (Hur Hyun-jun), who works part-time at the cafe with Yun-Jae and is also a big fan of Yu-Ri’s books.

Singer-actor Chhu joins in episode three as Min-Ju, a lovestruck girl determined to steal Yun-Jae despite knowing he has a girlfriend. Her presence fuels Ji-Hoon’s jealousy and plenty of love-triangle chaos. Though Chhu is undeniably cute in the role, Min-Ju becomes increasingly grating and annoying as the series goes on. It would’ve been funnier if Min-Ju would’ve shifted her crush on the gorgeous Ji-Hoon, since everybody is also swooning over him in ‘My Girlfriend is the Man’, and rightfully so.

Lead actors Yoon San-Ha, Arin, and Yoo Jung-hoo shoulder their parts with aplomb. But Jung-hoo is the star of ‘My Girlfriend is the Man’, playing a woman trapped in a man’s body with grace, poise, and quiet charm. Jung-hoo’s Ji-Hoon is self-aware, and uncomfortable in a man’s body, so he makes extra effort to blend in, not stand out, or embarrass Yun-Jae, which is in line with the character’s considerate personality. San-Ha’s character Yun-Jae, on the other hand, is also quite likable; however, he can often be irritatingly spineless, especially around the flirtatious Min-Ju. Througout the show, there’s more of a platonic buddy chemistry between San-Ha and Jung-hoo, instead of chucklesome romantic tension.

Actor Park Joo-won emerges as the most entertaining supporting character in the show as Ji-Eun’s nerdy-cute BFF Yu-Ri. Her onscreen buddy chemistry with both Arin and Yoo Jung-hoo is fun to watch. Choi Yoon-ra too is delightful as Ji-Eun’s older sister Kim Ji-Hye, their sibling relationship is humorous, relatable. However, a significant sub-plot about Kim Ji-Hye being caught in a romantic love triangle with former classmate Hong Yeong-seok (Kim Jong-hoon) and the wealthy Jeong Ha (Jeon Soo-jin), was quite unnecessary.

The cinematography for ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man’ is bright, soft, and very summer-romance themed, although a significant chunk of the story takes place in the winter months. As with any Korean drama with a significant budget these days, there really isn’t much to complain about visually, it has a stunning lead cast, and even the supporting characters are mostly likable.

The climactic episodes pack in a bunch of twists, some of which are predictably formulaic, although one major revelation is quite surprising. And the show remains loyal to its “gender bender” conflict until the very end. Overall, this is a decent one-time watch, with its beautiful cast working in its favor.

If you’re looking for something beyond surface plot and visuals, try something else. The only show I can think of recommending right now is the Japanese drama ‘Kamisama no Ekohiiki’, which isn’t a gender-bender comedy but is a poignant, underrated series about a teenage boy waking up in a girl’s body, hoping to win over his boy crush.

Rating for ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man’: 6 on 10. The show is on Viki.

Find the writer on Twitter and Instagram.

Read Next: The Thursday Murder Club: Contrived but Delightful (Audio Version Below)

Songs of Paradise Review: Saba Azad Brings ‘Noor’ to Mellow Musical

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

‘Songs of Paradise’ opens with a beautiful black-and-white scene of Saba Azad singing a Kashmiri song about inviting a beloved for a spring feast. The song is haunting, soulful, nostalgically retro and sets the tone for the rest of the tale.

Directed by Danish Renzu, ‘Songs of Paradise’ is inspired by the life of Raj Begum, the pioneering folk singer who became the first woman to perform live on Radio Kashmir, opening doors for future generations of women in the valley. In the film, Soni Razdan and Saba Azad (‘Rocket Boys’, ‘Who’s Your Gynac’) play protagonist Noor Begum at different ages, a character loosely based on the folk legend.

Soni Razdan is electric in the opening minutes of ‘Songs of Paradise’, embodying the older, seasoned Noor, a doting grandmother, yet a world-weary singer who distrusts journalists and demands uncompromising standards from her peers. Taaruk Raina plays a music scholar who persuades Noor to share her story. She recounts her journey from being Zeba Akhtar (Saba Azad), the daughter of a humble tailor who worked part-time doing chores for a famous local musician (Shishir Sharma), to becoming Noor Begum, the golden voice of Kashmir.

‘Songs of Paradise’ is a straightforward tale of Zeba’s rise from anonymity to radio star in the 1960s, a journey fraught with obstacles, the biggest being her strict, religious mother (played by the brilliant Sheeba Chaddha), who only wants Zeba to get married as soon as possible. Then, of course, there’s the classic ‘log kya kahenge’ conundrum, since at the time it was unheard of for women to sing in public in Kashmir. Interestingly, it’s the several men in her life who encourage, push, and support Zeba through her musical journey, which includes her father (played by Bashir Lone). Zain Khan Durrani plays Azaad Maqbool Shah, a poet, and eventual romantic interest for Noor.

You won’t find the fiery, frenzied energy of ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, or the glitzy Bollywood glamour of ‘Qala’ in ‘Songs of Paradise’. Instead, there’s a steady tempo to this film, which starts to feel a little humdrum in the second half. Regardless, the lack of theatrical embellishments in the film has its own charm, it often feels like you are watching an art film from the 1980s or 90s.

Saba Azad brings an endearing vulnerability to the timid, self-doubting young Zeba, who remains consistently likable through the runtime. Zeba isn’t ambitious, fame-hungry, but possess an earnest love for music, and a natural desire to be more than just somebody’s wife. Singing on the radio offers her a way out of an otherwise stifling future. The playback singing for Saba’s character is done by Masrat Un Nisa, whose rich, resonant voice feels as though it’s been plucked from a forgotten era.

What stands out in ‘Songs of Paradise’ are the songs and the quiet evolution of its protagonist, shown through the contrast between the bashful, unconfident Zeba of her youth and the assertive, world-wise Noor brought to life by Soni Razdan. The shift is not just about age but about growth, from a young woman silenced by circumstances to a singer who knows her worth and guards her legacy with strength. Brownie points to the casting directors for choosing Saba and Soni for the roles, as they actually manage to come across as convincing versions of the same person.

The romance in the film is completely lackluster, but well, this isn’t a love story. The last 20 minutes do begin to feel tedious, but thankfully ‘Songs of Paradise’ doesn’t drag on, ending on a heart-warming tribute to Noor. If you’re in the mood for a no frills, simple, music-themed film featuring the sounds of Kashmir, check this film out.

Rating: 7 on 10. Watch ‘Songs of Paradise’ on Prime Video.

Read Next: The Thursday Murder Club Review (Audio Version Below)

The Thursday Murder Club Review: Contrived but Delightful (Bring on TMC 2!)

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram) Click here for audio version

Some might think 4 out of 5 stars is too generous for ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, but others might find it thoroughly entertaining despite its contrived and convenient twists. So… bite me. Or relax a little and dream about biting into all the delicious cakes, which get bigger cameos in the film than some of the secondary characters.

Based on the bestselling book of the same name by Richard Osman, ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ is set in a luxurious retirement society called ‘Cooper’s Chase’, where pensioners Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), and Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) gather every Thursday to solve cold cases. They make new resident Joyce (Celia Imrie) a honorary member, since she is a former nurse and would bring them some much needed medical expertise. And when Tony Curran (Geoff Bell) the co-owner of ‘Cooper’s Chase’ is found murdered in his home, the club gets excited to crack an active case.

The sheer excitement with which Joyce rushes to call an emergency meeting of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, to inform them of Tony’s murder is hilariously delightful. The gang cleverly ropes in the help of Donna de Freitas (Naomi Ackie), a new cop in town, bored of menial duties. Elizabeth and Joyce promise to get Donna on the investigating team, if she provides them with updates on the Tony Curran case in exchange. Ron and Ibrahim set in motion a comical scheme to convince DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) Chris Hudson played by Daniel Mays, to get Donna onboard his team.

Of course, like any good murder mystery, ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ offers up multiple suspects, chief among them Ian Ventham (David Tennant), the co-owner of Cooper’s Chase, who was locked in a dispute with the now dead Tony Curran over turning the retirement village into a more commercial venture. Ron’s celebrity son Jason Ritchie (Tom Ellis) and Ian’s employee Bodgan (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) seem a little suspicious too.

A significant sub-plot thus is about the fate of Cooper’s Chase, the beautiful sprawling property, that’s home to the club and many other pensioners, who absolutely love the place – it’s scenic, ornate, with all kinds of comforts, including swimming pools, art classes, and emotional support llamas (yes, those cute camel-like creatures). Still, the greatest comfort Cooper’s Chase offers isn’t the pools or classes, but the bonds and community spirit its residents share.

Helen Mirren is fantastic as the unsaid leader of the pack, always on her feet, assertive, calculative, and almost Sherlock like in her deduction skills. However, it’s Celia Imrie as newcomer Joyce who quickly became my favorite character. It might have something to do with the sumptuous cakes she is always baking or the fact that she goes to a ‘protest’ rally with coffee. I mean if I could apply to be Joyce’s best-friend, I would. Who doesn’t want a friend that’s always baking cakes and getting you coffee?!

Think of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ as part of the new “cozy murder mystery” wave: safe, soft, fun, and maybe too polite for die-hard true-crime nutters (like me). But it’s easy on the eyes, full of charm, and if you can forgive a few wild coincidences that magically solves a decades-old cold case, it’s a pretty convincing package.

Rating: 8 on 10. Watch ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ on Netflix.

Read Next: The Village of Eight Graves Review: Wickedly Rich (Audio Version Below)