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Originally produced for a theatrical release in 2019, the Sanjay Dutt-starrer “Torbaaz” had a couple of postponements before it was finally released on Netflix on December 11. It was only natural for a film with the charismatic Dutt as the main lead to draw the attention of this reviewer, who was otherwise already halfway through a recently released Indian series.

So Bollywood’s badass Dutt plays Naseer Khan, a doctor who’s revisiting Afghanistan to volunteer in an NGO that helps displaced children in refugee camps. From the start of the movie, we’re told that Dr Khan has some really bad memories of the place from his previous stay there as an employee at the Indian Embassy.

Khan is traumatized with the memories of Afghanistan, to the point he even dislikes the children there. We later learn that Khan’s wife and son had died in a suicide bombing carried out by a local Afghani boy he knew. But still, being the good Samaritan that he is and with respect for his wife’s humanitarian works, Khan makes peace with his fear and hatred to support the children of a rural Afghan community.

At the camp, he meets some young Afghani and Pakistani boys who have a huge interest in cricket. As an ode to his late son who was a cricket enthusiast and an aspiring player, Dutt decides to become a coach to the children and start a cricket team.

But it’s not as easy a task as he assumes, especially with the entry of the notorious warlord Qazar (Rahul Dev) in the region. Qazar is a Taliban leader who uses children to conduct suicide bombings across the country and is in search of escaped children from Pakistan, who coincidentally are a part of Khan’s cricket team.

Torbaaz’s story and screenplay—although originally written for a Bollywood-level production—seem more to meet the criteria of independent films made for OTT releases. With evidently more budget than these independent films and subjects like cricket and children as suicide bombers that could evoke audience passion, there seems nothing that can go wrong.

Unfortunately, the film’s biggest asset turns out to be one of its pressing liabilities. At the risk of arousing the wrath of Sanjay Dutt’s longtime fans, there’s no better way to say what I am going to: he is a total disaster in the film. This has to be one of his laziest performances where he does not even attempt to get into character. In this film, Dutt is not a distraught father and husband, much less a convincing doctor or a cricket coach. Instead, he’s just the actor Sanjay Dutt reading out a script without bothering to understand his character. Wonder what director/producer/writer Girish Malik was doing through the shooting.

Dutt’s inclusion in the movie also gives it too much Bollywoodish aura—which is not ideal for OTT audiences. Any other actor who doesn’t come with such a large baggage of Bollywood would have fared better, making the entire production seem more mature.

So the child actors who seem to be cast from among the locals in the area perform better under the guidance of acting coach/acting workshop director Mayank Dixit.

Also commendable is Hiroo Keswani’s cinematography. Keswani shows Afghanistan in a different light than what we’re used to seeing. Portrayed in most Bollywood and Hollywood movies as a violent region full of deathly deserts, Afghanistan in Torbaaz gets a more humane, scenic, picturesque touch, almost to the point of it appearing like an attractive tourist destination.

Who should watch it?

Although the film stars Sanjay Dutt, we humbly request his fans to avoid it in order to avoid a big disappointment. Versatility has never been his forte and Torbaaz is definitely not his cup of Afghani tea.

For the rest of the audience, you can at least watch the movie for the children’s efforts and to see an entirely different side of the ‘war-torn’ Afghanistan.

Rating: 2.5 stars

Genre: Action thriller

Actors: Sanjay Dutt, Rahul Dev

Director: Girish Malik

Run time: 2hr 12mins

“Matilda” and “The BFG” by Roald Dahl are two of my all-time favorite books. They make me happy. They also make me laugh till my belly hurts. But then so do “The Twits”, “James and the Giant Peach”, and “The Witches”. Dahl’s writing weaves a spell and takes you into unique, captivating worlds from where you never want to leave.

Fun fact: almost every book by Dahl has a song or verse. Not counting nursery rhymes, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Dahl’s books are where I first got introduced to poetry. These aren’t regular poems. Laced with humor and lessons, they are little stories in their own right. So, you can imagine my delight when I stumbled upon a copy of “Songs and Verse” at Ekta Bookstore in Thapathali, Kathmandu, when I was browsing through their children’s section recently.

[Disclaimer: I don’t have children but I can often be found at bookstores hunting for a fun children’s book or two. There’s a certain charm in rediscovering children’s books as an adult. Surprisingly, it can give you new perspective on things. Children’s books are filled with important life lessons and they can be quite comforting too.]

Songs and Verse has seven sections—with rhymes about magical creatures, monsters, and dreadful children as well as adults. If you have read and loved Dahl books, you will be familiar with many of the poems in this collection but there are also some previously unpublished works that are delightful. There’s a verse that Dahl didn’t include in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” because he felt he had created just too many ghastly children and that there was simply no room for one more.

The book has a foreword and opening illustrations by Quentin Blake, who has previously illustrated 18 of Dahl’s books. The publisher has also roped in many talented young illustrators as well as award-winning artists such as Babette Cole, Lauren Child, Chris Riddell, Alel Scheffler and Tony Ross, to name a few, to work on the book. The end result is a fascinating hodgepodge of stories that jump out of the pages.

I have taken to reading a verse or two at bedtime and I love it. It’s how I unwind. No matter how difficult things have been, Dahl’s verses reassert life’s beauty and remind me of the importance of finding joy in the little things. It helps end the day on a positive, merry note, and I go to sleep smiling.

Songs and Verse

Roald Dahl

Published: 2005

Publisher: Puffin Books

Language: English

Pages: 191, Paperback

Winter weekends are for basking in the sun, all snuggled up on comfy cushions with a soft blanket and a hot cup of tea. It’s also a good time to read some old favorites that you know will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Here, I share with you my winter (re)reading list.

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

This children's classic begins with the main character, a young pig, almost getting slaughtered by a farmer. But Fern, the farmer’s daughter, convinces him not to kill the pig and names him Wilbur. Wilbur goes on to live in a barn that belongs to Fern’s uncle where he befriends a gray spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur finds out he’s on the next Christmas dinner menu, Charlotte comes up with a plan to save him. This powerful book on what it means to be a good friend and love someone wholeheartedly is just the kind of cheer you need on a sunless day. The good thing about this book is that you can read it in one sitting and then you can read it over and over again.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

I read Anne of Green Gables and its seven sequels when I was in school and I remember being fascinated by the protagonist. She was kind and she was funny but she was also like every other rebellious girl her age—falling off roofs and dyeing her hair green. There is a lot the free-spirited 11-year-old Anne Shirley can teach you about love, family, friends and life in general. The novel has sold over 50 million copies and has been translated into at least 36 languages. Anne of Green Gables takes you back a couple of decades but the message is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1908.

My Grandmother Sends Her Regards & Apologizes by Fredrick Backman

Elsa is “almost eight years old” and her best and only friend is her grandmother. Upon her death, she leaves Elsa a series of letters to be delivered to their intended receivers. The main purpose of each letter is to say sorry to the receiver. The book is basically Elsa’s journey and discoveries along the way as she goes about her mission of delivering the letters. Backman’s writing is amazing. Elsa is fascinating. And the story is just the right amount of romp and melancholy. You won’t be able to put this one down.

The Alchemist, A Graphic Novel by Paolo Coelho

I can’t believe I’m recommending The Alchemist. I didn’t find the story engaging even though it became an instant bestseller. But the graphic novel is super fun and makes the story a whole lot more interesting than it actually is. Coelho himself said the graphic novel exceeds his expectations and is a beautiful manifestation of what he originally imagined while crafting the story. If you already know the story, you can just dip in and out of this and watch scenes come alive before you.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

I don’t usually underline sentences or highlight passages when I read. Bird by Bird is the one book where I’ve written on the margins and gone crazy with highlighters in different colors, on almost every page. This is also a book that I pull out when I need some perspective. It’s a treasure trove of contemplations that are timeless. Though essentially a guide on good writing, Bird by Bird is also crucial life advice by one of the finest writers we have today. You don’t have to read this book cover to cover. A chapter here and a page there is enough to get you thinking and looking at things a little differently than before.

Soon as it begins, even before the opening credits start on the screen, “Ava” gives the impression of a fancy Hollywood action-thriller. As our central character Ava Faulkner (Jessica Chastain) cruises the French countryside on a Land Rover, going to make a kill, we are given to believe we are watching a stylistically generic, fast-paced, femme fatale movie.

Ava Faulkner is a ruthless killer who works for an unnamed organization specializing in eliminating ‘targets’ sent to them. And by what we see, Ava is their best employee. Even her immediate boss Duke (John Malkovich) agrees. Stealthily, without blowing her cover, Ava has removed dozens of targets around the world, never getting caught.

But there’s evidently more to Ava than just a hired assassin. The movie tries to build its protagonist’s character and give us behind-the-scenes of a life mired in violence. Briefly, as the film progresses, it tricks us into believing that Ava is not just another femme fatale movie. We start thinking the film could be another female-centric heavyweight action thriller like “Salt” (2010) or “Lucy” (2016).

Unfortunately, the film, in trying to strike balance between action and drama, fails on both fronts. It is neither an out-and-out action film that you watch, enjoy and forget. Nor is it a gritty drama that you watch, enjoy and introspect. Ava swings like a pendulum between the two ends and never strikes the right time.

Writer Matthew Newton spent too much time layering Ava’s character, so much so other important characters like her boss Duke (Malkovich) and her colleague-turned-nemesis Simon (Colin Farrell) do not get nearly enough screen time. Without the backing of a good script and direction, it is disappointing to watch both these talented actors struggle to register their presence. Even Chastain in her lead role does not make much of an impact because of sloppy filmmaking.

To add to the drama, the filmmakers have us meet Ava’s estranged family in Boston, US, where she is confronted by her painful past. We see that Ava’s a recovering addict who had left home after family problems. As she goes back home following her father’s death, she has to try find closure with her sister Judy (Jess Weixler), mother Bobbi (Geena Davis), and ex-fiancé Michael (Common). Complications multiply as she finds out that Michael is now engaged to Judy. So the family drama takes some of the screen time but, again, with a weak script, the execution is sub-par.

The more we look at the cast in the film, the more we are disappointed with “Ava”. Lead actor Chastain makes up for many of the film’s flaws with her convincing portrayal of a disturbed assassin. But the rest of the cast does not even get an opportunity to exert their presence. Any film with Malkovich or Farrell has probably never been this disappointing. Director Tate Taylor, a-last minute replacement following a controversy (look it up!) could probably do no better with the script he got. Or maybe even he’s one of the culprits behind this disaster.

Who should watch it?

Not recommended for action-film connoisseurs. Frankly, we’ve seen better action sequences in low-budget non-Hollywood movies. But with no other interesting new Netflix releases, if you’ve really got nothing to do, you might as well spend around 90 minutes on it.

Genre: Action/Drama

Rating: 2 stars

Run time: 1hr 36mins

Actors: Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell, John Malkovich

Director: Tate Taylor