The Producer Council and Theater Owners Association have decided to outdo each other in announcing strikes which could have theaters downing shutters for a a few weeks now. Those of you movie buffs who cant do without one over the weekend, cheer up as we give you some valuable suggestions of different genres in different languages that you can watch and chill out with.

Vandanam ( Malayalam) Romantic Comedy 1989

The Mohan Lal Priyadarshan combo has given innumerable hits and the 1989 'Vandanam' is one of them.  Inspired by the Hollywood hit 'Stakeout' the story revolves around Lal who plays a Kerala cop on a mission to Bangalore to nab a criminal (Nedumudi Venu).  He teams up with Mukesh who is a Karnataka cop and they shadow Girija the daughter of the criminal.  Both men fall for her and put all their energies in wooing her rather than following the investigation.  Who gets the girl forms the rest of the hilarious screenplay that has a totally unpredictable twist at the end.  Must watch entertainer. 

Life is Beautiful (Italian) Comedy-Drama 1997

This masterpiece won many awards including the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award and its story is simple and beautiful.  During World War 2 a young Jew couple Guido(Roberto Benigni) and his son are separated from wife Dora (Nicoletta Braschi)  and locked in concentration camps.  The touching screenplay is about how the father makes his son believe that the entire war is a game and keeps him hidden from the horror of the mindless killing.  The film is laden with comedy throughout that will make you laugh and the end will surely have you in tears not only for the way the human story ends but for witnessing a great movie. 

Black (Hindi) Drama 2005

Long before Sanjay Leela Bansali made 'Padmavat' he won the awestruck admiration for delivering 'Black' in 2005.  The story is about a deaf blind girl (Rani Mukherjee) who is taught basics by a worn out teacher (Amitabh Bachan) who instills confidence in her and years later she has to do the same to him when Alzheimer's disease strikes.  Rani Mukherjee has given one of the best ever performances by a female actor in India and one should say she even surpassed the brilliant Bachan.  The visuals will stun you, story will endear you, the music will soothe you and the writing and directing will move you.

Borat (English) Laugh Riot 2006

If you want to laugh yourself silly, then Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Borat' is your best choice. The political parody written and directed by Cohen himself has him as a reporter from the fictitious Kazakshtan arriving at the U.S and A to make a documentary.  There is not even a single scene without laughs and most of them will give you a stomach ache and even the most offensive crass joke is delivered with absurd brilliance.  Dive into it. 

A Day (Korean) Sci Fi Fantasy thriller ( 2017)

Korean films have seldom failed to fascinate and this one a more recent offering has it all.  A humanitarian doctor played by Kim Myung-min and an Ambulance driver Byun Yo-han team up to save their loved ones from a fatal accident.  They are caught in a time loop and the dreaded day keeps repeating to them and every time they get a little closer to their goal.  The film though gory, is emotionally engaging and many a moral question arises during the fantastic journey of the heroes.  

Confused about what to watch at home this weekend? Stop scratching your heads and check out this space for unique movie (both regional and world cinema) suggestions and recommendations!