For the last two consecutive weeks, new film releases have not offered much in terms of content or excitement, across languages. Here is a list of movies that released this week alone in theaters and how they have fared.

• Jail (Tamil): Vasanta Balan's story was aimed at talking about how slum resettlement adversely affects the resettled population but it ends up being an extremely slow movie about how three friends, two of whom are already criminals end up in the path of violence. Most disappointing affair this week. 

• Anti- Indian (Tamil): Partly inspired from 2014 Hindi movie Dekh Tamasha Dekh, Anti-Indian marks the film debut of notorious critic Blue Sattai Maaran aka Elamaaran. A satire on religious discord, the movie has just about fared with the critics while the audience response hasn't been great.  

• Velle (Hindi): An official remake of 2019 Telugu hit film Brochevaruevarura, Velle is a crime comedy starring Abhay Deol, Mouni Roy and debutant Karan Deol among others. The movie follows the story of three school friends and three other characters crossing the paths of criminals. A one time watch.

• Muddy (Malayalam): India’s first 4x4 mud race film with a debut director at the helm, Muddy fails to live up to the hype. The movie involves mud races and transporting forest wood through rocky terrains but does not offer anything else.  

• Lakshya (Telugu): Starring Naga Shaurya in the lead, Lashya is about a prodigal archer achieving his dreams of a gold medal. The sports drama directed by Santhossh Jagarlapudi entertains in bits but ends up falling flat. 
  

• West Side Story (English): A modern day adaptation of 1961 Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins classic (which inspired Indian films like Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Ram Leela), West Side Story directed by Steven Speilberg is the only saving grace of this week. The movie starring Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler is set in the set in the 1950s New York and highlights issues such as race tensions, police overreach, socio-economic conflicts among other things. A fail-proof watch this week. 

Others

Shanthanu Bhagyaraj's adult comedy Murungakkai Chips, Tanisha Mukherjee's espionage thriller Code Name Abdul, Tamil mystery thriller IKK and lesser known Tamil films like Oomai Sennai, Uthra and Unakku Neeye Kaavalan have also hit theaters screens in Tamil Nadu this week. None of these movies have managed to garner decent reviews or response. 

MC Pick: West Side Story