Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Claire Dunne One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Curried Belle I am amazed by one detail in this movie, and thats the sensuality with which Aparna Sen has picturized her daughter in Mr and Mrs Iyer. Its not new in Indian cinema what with Raj and Rishi Kapoor, Mahesh and Pooja Bhatt, the relentless Amitabh and Jaya and Abhishek Bachchan and many more.I was going to say outright that the acting sucked. But it works only where affection is meant to ignite between Meenakshi Iyer (Konkona Sen) and Raja/Jehangir Chaudhary (Rahul Bose), which is forced upon us. The music kills you, especially what is supposed to be Hindustani music has a vocalist (Ustad Zakhir Hussain ? ) singing in English ! The body language cannot be translated to English vocabulary. When there are scenes of fanatic mob attacks or a young woman cajoling her husband, as an Indian I understand the stiffness as a result of excessive hand movement for example where language is not expressing enough.The only Indian-English movie I've seen which works is Monsoon Wedding, but of course the difference being that movie deals with characters whose first language is English. Pretty Rahul Bose has a scene where he is roped into pretend as the conductor of a broken down bus and lie about 5 star accommodation in the middle of a war-ravaged area (seems like it could be near the border of West Bengal-Bangladesh). And he speaks in his native public-school accent.Unless you're an Indian, there is little to relate to in this movie. Thumbs down anyway.

BahnStormer This is the most heartfelt and amazingly complete film I have ever seen come out of Bollywood and to think of they never sent it to the Oscars. I also ended up winning the best picture in the Berlin Film Festival. The Indian Film board sucks !! Anyway all grouches apart it is really and truly a wonderful film. The small scenes that so delicately portray the coming out of a very orthodox brahmin girl who is forced by circumstances she faces on her bus journey are really awe inspiring.Kudos to aparna sen for creating this landmark of a movie. No one else could have depicted the scene in the bus where konkona sen protects Raja (Rahul Bose) from the extremists. They characters have been portrayed beautifully. And to think of Konkona Sen is not even A Tamil. The accent she pulled of the movie was beyond authentic ...Rahul Bose has always been one of my favorite actors. I loved him in Jhankar Beats. He is one actor who can effortlessly glide into a psyche of a character and make you believe as if you never knew Rahul Bose as anything else other than Raja the photographer...The poignant scenes of Raja photographing the landscape the morning after the attack on the bus is really well scripted and photographed. Also the scene with the Jew on the bus is so much reality packed into iotas of seconds ... no unreal heroism here .. just pure human psyche .. !!Hats off Aparna Sen !! You Rule !! Rahul .. never ever leave acting ...

staralam This is among the best of movies Indian cinema has produced. The plot/ storyline is powerful which is augmented by splendid performance by lead actors. It also exhibits the communal undercurrents going on in Indian society. It was a bold step to address these issues. Another aspect is the soft feelings produced among the lead actor and actress. As a contrast from the prevalent trend in Indian cinema wherein there is the notion of "love at first sight" in almost all movies, in this movie the feelings of love evolves from simple caring to a very strong one. It also exhibits the true picture of oriental society where common people just don't go on singing love songs or fighting antagonists of their love life. My best wishes to the whole crew of the movie.

muthuswamy-1 First, let me congratulate the director for making an wonderful movie. The actors had done an excellent job and the story is really gripping. The scenes are real (as I have personally experienced the tensed bus journey during cast riots in Tamil nadu). Rahul Bose as Raja (modern Muslim) is superb while the mannerisms of konkana Sen as Meenakshi Iyer is perfect with a typical Tamil brahmin lingo. As a movie it is 9/10 (Few glitches with over acting of some supporting actors and exceptional privilege extended by the police officer to Raja and Meenakshi by giving a resort is not explained well).Let me come to the characterization of the caste. I came to know through directors interview that she choose to highlight Iyer caste as a model of the most conservative society every existed in the world. In democracy it is very much allowed. But what pained me was the explanation given to that. She feels that the society is not to open for modernization. What do you mean by modernization. When konkana sen in real life puffs cigarette and drinks alcohol, is that what she wants every Indian to do? In that case I believe that Iyer community being closed is worthy as science says smoking and drinking is not good. Every Hindu knows that compassion is the core aspect of life. At the same time he also knows the highest aspect of compassion is obtained by extending it even to animals. Now-a-days meat eating is considered as a modern way of life. If such is the compassion (partial and selfish) which aparanji expects in the modern world, then better I am ready to be enclosed in to the Iyer community as it gives an opportunity to be more compassionate even to animals. In democratic society every one has their own way of life. Vedanta (Hindu holy text) emphasis that excellent personality can be achieved by practicing strict spiritual discipline including focusing the food and hygiene. Drinking water from a bottle with out touching the mouth is more hygienic that sipping it. Why do you portray it as a cast issue? If Raja does it, it shows his ignorance but it has nothing to do with his Muslim life. To my knowledge brahmins prefer the orthodoxy in their home only. Certainly none of its members does it in the modern life like regretting drinking water from the bottle of Muslim. I am sorry to say that how primitive and selfish the motive of the director to sell the picture she ridiculed the homely observations (spiritual development) of Tamil iyers. Being a Tamil Iyer, even my own mom will not drink water from me during her spiritual practice. Let me clarify that it has nothing to do with caste but it has to do with spiritual and religious reasons. I know many Muslims and Christians will not eat food offered to Hindu god. I understand that it may not be acceptable to their spiritual practice. But i don't criticize it.Some times I wonder why people of India is not making good cinema focusing on positive points (like Guide of R.K.Narayan) of Indian thoughts. Why people stoop so low to sell useless qualities of Indian life like violence and en cashing the human sentiments like portraying a Jew in a bad light. Aparnaji can concentrate little bit on Swami Vivekananda's teaching little bit (by visiting belur math) and make a movie with full of positive thoughts like "Come lions Cheer up, Shed away the delusion that you are a sheep")