Blog Full - Ashok Karania

18 Nov 2022

‘Rorschach’ Movie Review: Deeply Intriguing Psychological Neo Noir Thriller

A bewildering movie that justifies its title – Rorschach means a projective psychological test that uses a subject’s interpretation of 10 standard black or colored inkblot designs to assess personality traits and emotional tendencies.

The movie tests your perception of the film? Your feelings, your characteristics and you! The movie also tests the key characters in the outstanding drama – all of who showcase numerous shades of grey.

A rich businessman for Dubai arrives in a tranquil village and sets a chain of interesting events. Gradually, the pieces of puzzle unearth and we get a sense of protagonist’s true intentions arising from a mental state. I am resisting the temptation to leak the big story!

The revenge drama keep you on the edge of the seat. One is attracted to the maze and gets deeper and deeper! Though the pace gets little slow after half time when the real plot is revealed!

Mammootty shines and does full justice to the movie! What a layered and smooth performance where he surrenders to the script – you become part of his insidiousness! Acting masterclass! Hats off! But it is Bindu Panicker who outshines seething Mammootty for me – her menacing matriarch act of self-preservation is outstanding!

The movie is technically superb with music, car, house and village as impeccable components. Loved the English tracks of the movie – enhanced the mood of the film. Full marks to the director!

Watch it – A very unique slow burn!

11 Nov 2022

Kantara Review: “wooooooaaaav” Insanely WOW!

Kantara is a must watch movie! A true cinematic experience that deserves a big screen immersion!

Kantara is an outstanding mesh of visual extravaganza, creative storytelling and mind blowing performances! Full credit to actor director writer Rishabh Shetty for staying true to local milieu & rustic taste while avoiding the temptation to masculinize the movie like the recent southern potboilers.

Kantara brings together diverse threads to create a unique fabric:

– Human being’s search for peace and sukoon

– Local beliefs and culture

– Human greed and nature’s bounty

– Human rights and rule of law

Technically world-class, sensitive treatment, awesome cinematography and powerful vivid music take us straight to the coastal Karnataka life – the Bhoot Kala festival, the Kambala event, wild boar hunting etc. Daiva’s scream guarantees goosebumps!

The last fifteen minutes have taken the movie to next level with Rishabh’s performance – the climax will keep people talking for a long time!

Kantra – Watch it – The power of cinema that will stay on….

And yes, if you love Kantara, do not forget to watch Tumbadd – one of India’s finest movie! And the one I rate one notch higher than Kantara!

8 Oct 2022

Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard – A Gripping Crime Docu-Thriller!

German FinTech’s Unicorn
Silicon Valley Innovation From The Land Of Automobiles
Black Turtleneck Wearing Witty CEO
Death Threats, Thugs & Spies
Funding Of Militia & Influencing European Elections
Suave COO Features In Europol’s Most Wanted Fugitives
Yet Another Financial Fraud

All of the above and much more!

Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard, is a Netflix Documentary that unfolds one of the biggest corporate corruption and financial fraud case of the recent times! Wirecard went bust after its dubious malpractices were discovered and a staggering $1.9 billion was found missing from its books. Skandal! is based on Financial Times’ Dan McCrum’s book ‘Money Men: A Hot Startup, A Billion Dollar Fraud, A Fight for the Truth’. Dan was the person who unravelled the Wirecard fraud.

Skandal! explains the entire Wirecard drama and its intricacies in a lucid and engaging manner – through a mixture of graphical story telling, rich interviews and brilliant insights. The journalists where followed and spied by Wirecard’s investigators. They were suspended due to smart counter-allegations by Wirecard and a short trader was threatened by thugs. Lots of interesting histrionics!

How did Wirecard execute the scam? Who were responsible? While Skandal! answers such questions about the Wirecard saga, its raises important queries as well:

How did the Wirecard fraud go unnoticed for so long?
What loopholes were exploited? Are they fixed?
Did German politicians and media turn a Nelson’s Eye to Wirecard?

Lots of truth is still not unknown. The former Wirecard COO Jan Marsalek disappeared shortly and is currently wanted by the German police. He is listed on Europol’s list of Europe’s most wanted fugitives. CEO Braun resigned and was arrested on suspicion of false accounting and market manipulation.

Watch it!

A few thoughts do emerge….

As always, it was the Wirecard employees, customers and common investors who had to pay the price!

Wirecard had some of the best and extremely talented technologists and business experts, who brought great ideas to life. Many innovative ideas came to an abrupt end and many employees suffered for no fault of theirs.

Wirecard was a darling of investors. The whole financial world watched how Wirecard surpassed CommerzBank and Deutsche Bank, the traditional Financial heavyweights. There was a move to buy Deutsche Bank as well. All investments turned sour!

And biggest casualty was the image of Germany and Germans – extremely hard working, honest, focussed, passionate and determined champions!

#netflix #wirecard #financialtimes #scam #fintech

4 Oct 2022

herStart – The Making Of Womenpreneur Unicorns

Women are natural entrepreneurs – powerhouse of talent, leadership and collaborative approach who can get things done! Their unique ideas and caring perspective can unleash a new era of sustainable success – and not to forget – the next big Indian unicorns!

Happy to be part of the launch of ‘herStart’’s digital startup platform for women entrepreneurs by Gujarat University’s GujSec and UNICEF India. It was befitting that Honorable President of India Shrimati Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the platform during Navratri – the festival that celebrates the women power! Honorable Governor of Gujarat Shri Acharya Devrat and Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupen Patel were also present with other dignitaries.