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Khufiya (Netflix)

Starring Tabu, Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi, Atul Kulkarni , Azmeri Haque Badhon

Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj

Cutting through the acres of ambiguity and symbolisms that run through his work, Vishal Bhardwaj delivers his most coherent cogent and compelling film in years.

Khufiya is many things at the same time. It is on the topmost layer an espionage thriller about a spy at Raw selling confidential information to the neighbouring country. Ali Fazal plays this character with such straggling imprecision that I thought we would lose focus on the spy’s brazen antics (how did he get away with it for so long?!).

But no. Bhardwaj, fully in charge for once wastes no time in exploring hazy characters played by lazy actors. His focus is the ever-resplendent Tabu who has earlier created enduring magic for Vishal in Maqbool and Haider. In Khufiya, Tabu plays a number of roles, and I...

The incredible London Indian Film Festival, UK and Europe’s largest South Asian Film Festival, continues to screen upbeat movies on the last Sunday of each month. Cary Rajinder Sawhney MBE, Executive & Programming Director of Liff says, “After a challenging few months, we are bringing some much needed uplifting entertainment and as always our quality films offer fresh views of India and South Asia; movies that may even challenge and certainly leave you thinking.”

Featuring, as always, some brilliant films, the 3rd film in the festival’s Spring online programme is the much-loved festival hit and award-winning (32 International Awards) Hotel Salvation. The screening, for UK viewers, will take place on Sunday 25 April on Liff’s hybrid platform, www.loveliffathome.com.

A heart-warming comedy, Hotel Salvation, also known as Mukti Bhavan is a gentle charmer focussing on 77-year-old Dayanand Kumar, played by Lalit Behl, who has an ominous dream convincing him that his end is near.