Qala

Dimri's acting was way better than the story pace but needed Babil's character to grow more to let Qala's feelings be justified. The Cinematography was too beautiful. The movie was a musical and it's music justifies it's genre all the music scores in the movie were soulful and heartwarming. Cinematography and music were the two things I loved about the movie. There were some things which needed research like himachali people wearing black on funeral was not good but yeah it looked beautiful in the snow. The story pace was slow but it added beauty to the tragedy but sometimes it was just too slow. Overall movie was a slow painful but beautiful and melodic death.

It explores an unexpected theme bounded by metaphors and symbolisms pointing to the vulnerability of women to make a career in showbiz. Envy, guilt, trauma are some of the key motifs. Dichotomy of fame is portrayed with flashes and blinding lights. With earnest acting performances and art direction. The anatomy of Qala is enthralling. We often stage sadness rather than madness as the cornerstone of female heartache. Qala rectifies that with the freedom to lose control. With an unsettling aftertaste it left me with a story that felt familiar with a syntax of arthouse and unconventional horrors.

Qala is one of those films which makes you feel books are better than films. It is just so difficult to tune everything to the same frequency the cinematography, acting, pacing, storytelling, music(which is top-notch in this one btw.) etc. It could have been one fine mystery short story, but of course, how would we have gotten the great album then?

I don't have much problem with its slow pacing because it picks up in 2nd half, and I am used to slow-paced films. What bothered me the most was the monotonicity.

Playing the role of a child who has a disturbing childhood and is continuously deprived of her mother's attention and love despite being a single child is not easy, even for someone who has done a dozen films, let alone a new actor. And it did prove a bit too much for Tripti Dimri(Qala). She's cute, but her expressions in the film are primarily scared (that too in a weird way) or terrified. Very sorry to say, but Babil Khan(Jagan) was not up to the mark either. I absolutely loved the bits with Sunil Grover(he's an absolute gem) and his thoughtful dialogue:

". . . Par daur badlega. Daur ki ye puraani aadat hai."

Apart from music, the colour grading is very beautiful, which complements the dark aspects of the film industry. The shooting locations and photography are great too.

Loved it. Such films are rarely made or attempted. All cast are brilliant. 9/10.

Clean Slate Filmz has given #Pataal Lok, Bulbul, Mai , and now Qala. All were great success. This film is even better.

Triptii Dimri is a versatile actor who has great future.

This movie relates to all generation. Mother -Daughter relationship, art, female artistes survival in Bollywood , can be watched with family. No abuses, no gali. Watch it with family.

It's songs will linger for long time. Babil has done great work in limited space shows he has potential and will have great future.

Anvita Dutt knows how to portray dark, female side and hidden world with great aesthetic.

A must watch.

The story is beautiful & so are the songs in the movie. It tugged at some mother issues I have as well, so it connected with me. How your mother labels you remains with you forever. The plot is unraveled very beautifully for the audience, Anvita Dutt is a brilliant director. And the aesthetics is just - chef's kiss.

Amit Trivedi has done a beautiful job with the music. The entire soundtrack is a banger. Hands down, best album in a Bollywood movie in 2022. Brahmastra's album is a close second, but not ALL the songs in that album are as amazing as the songs in Qala.

Tripti Dimri, Swastika Mukherjee & Babil Khan have done a fine job. Especially Tripti, showing all the emotions a mentally disturbed person might feel with her expressions, body language & tone of voice so effortlessly. I'm excited to see more of her future works.