Are you someone who just loves watching movies as an audience and now wants to kick-start your critical instincts? Worry not, because we are in this together. Below are answers to some of the most common questions beginners have when stepping into the world of film criticism. And for this, we spoke with Vikas Yadav, who is an experienced film critic reviewing movies at Midgard Times and independently at VI FLICK.
From developing an analytical eye to finding your own reviewing style, they share practical insights on what it really takes to begin your journey as a film critic. Whether you’re planning to write reviews professionally, start a blog, or simply want to engage with films on a deeper level, this interview offers valuable guidance for anyone taking their first steps into film criticism.
Q. How do you usually start writing a review after watching a film?
Ans. After watching a film, I take a half-hour break before sitting down to write the review. If I watch the movie on an OTT platform, I finish it, wash my face, pace around my room while processing it mentally, and then sit down to write. If I watch the movie in a theatre, I think about it on my way home. Once I get there, I eat something and start writing. Things change when I review a web series. If I get a screener, I do what I just mentioned.
But when screeners aren’t available, I usually have to finish the show and review it on the same day. That means I start writing almost immediately after completing all the episodes, or I take, at most, a five-minute break before getting to work. I then finish the review within two to three hours. Those days are too hectic, which, if I’m being honest, is most days.
Q. What do you focus on first in a film: story, acting, direction, or something else?
Ans. I never approach a film with a fixed structure in mind. I let my thoughts emerge spontaneously, driven by emotion. I’ll be sitting in front of my laptop, reflecting on the film, and my mind naturally brings forward the aspect that affected me the most, the thing that stayed with me. I start there and let my thoughts flow organically, connecting the dots in a way that feels coherent and logical. Sometimes my focus is the performances, sometimes the story, sometimes the direction—it can be anything. There is no formula. Nothing is fixed. It all depends on the film.
Q. Do you think personal taste affects film reviews? How do you manage that?
Ans. I don’t think there is any distinction between “personal taste” and a “film review.” A film review is nothing more than a reflection of a critic’s personal taste. So personal taste obviously affects every film review, and it should affect every review.
A reader should know who the critic is, what they like, what they dislike, where they’re coming from, how they see a shot, and what their viewpoint is. The more subjective a critic is, the more imaginative and expressive they tend to be. I don’t believe in the notion of an “objective” film review. No review is truly objective. I would even add that if you find anyone peddling or promoting such “objectivity,” stay away from them. They are not worth listening to or reading.
Discussion around movies—or any form of art—should be enriched by personal taste. There should be space for subjectivity.
Q. How do you handle disagreement from readers or audiences?
Ans. I love disagreeing with readers and audiences. I even love disagreeing with other critics. And I love it when they all disagree with me. Disagreement gives rise to debates, and debates bring with them arguments and perspectives that enhance your experience of a movie. Healthy debates are far better than everyone simply agreeing on a particular set of points. Too much agreement creates an echo chamber, so I tend to seek out as many opinions as possible—from readers, audiences, and critics alike.
Anyway, not everyone is going to have the same opinion about a film. It’s only natural that there will be disagreements between me and my readers or the audience. The only right way to handle them is to listen to what the other person is saying and, if possible, counter with your own perspective. Let there be an intellectual fight.
Q. What changes have you seen in film reviewing in the last few years?
Ans. With the wide reach and widespread use of the Internet, film reviews have truly flourished. You can find them on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, personal blogs, and websites like Medium. It’s nice to see more and more people expressing themselves freely and uninhibitedly. You no longer have to work for a newspaper or a magazine to become a film critic. Just turn on a camera or start writing; you can choose your medium according to your own convenience, your own liking. That has been the most positive development.
If we turn to the negative side, I would say that this “bloom” has also brought with it its fair share of mediocrity. While it’s amazing that so many people are vocal about their opinions on films, there are also reviewers who, I think, have become so comfortable in their, um, “top position” that they are no longer improving, no longer sharpening their insights (some of them remain mediocre from the beginning and never try to improve throughout their lives). They are not adding anything new to the discourse and seem to be simply recycling ideas found in the most viral tweets. They are preaching to the choir; they are not challenging their audiences with unique, original insights.
Of course, that might be the main reason they have so many followers: their subscribers love it when the critic they admire continues to validate their thoughts instead of sending shivers down their spine with an argument so bold—and arrived at logically—that it leaves them stupefied. I mean, if you call yourself a reviewer or a critic and, say, praise a movie like 120 Bahadur by claiming that it’s the most technically accomplished film you have ever seen in your life, then that statement tells us less about the film and more about the reviewer.
Indians, anyway, seek security in education, in jobs, in movies—in almost every aspect of their lives. They are conditioned to look for safety, security, and their “own kind of crowd” from the time they are little kids. No wonder they bring the same attitude to both movies and critics. They flock to the theatre for a big-budget mainstream movie even when they know it isn’t worth watching. But they won’t buy tickets for a lesser-known indie or festival film, even though it’s entirely possible they would end up liking it.
Similarly, they will read critics who, rather than challenging them, assure them that their opinions are right, instead of seeking voices that might challenge them and make them think more deeply and differently. Everybody wants to be part of the crowd. Sadly, very few people are willing to take risks.
Q. What advice would you give to someone starting in film reviewing?
Ans. Trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid if your opinions differ from those of other critics or the general audience. Be free, fearless, curious, and investigative. Embrace your voice while sharpening it by reading great critics and exposing yourself to great films, music, books, plays, and paintings. Cultivate an appetite for greatness in your life. Don’t waste your intellect defending mediocrity.
Q. What mistakes should beginners avoid?
Ans. Keep making mistakes, and keep learning from them. Nobody’s perfect. The only “mistake” worth avoiding is losing the distinct sound of your own voice.
Q. How do you distinguish your personal opinions from genuine criticism while writing a film review?
Ans. I think I already answered this in your earlier question about personal taste affecting film reviews. Personal opinion can be genuine criticism, provided it comes from a place of knowledge, love, and deep inquiry. There is no need to distinguish between the two.
Q. Do you watch films differently now compared to before you started reviewing?
Ans. Yes! Before getting into criticism, I was more of a “casual viewer.” Now, after so many years of writing reviews, my mind automatically starts looking at every film with a scalpel, even if I don’t have to review it. To be honest, that critical mind has only elevated my enjoyment of movies.
But I think even as a kid, I enjoyed trying to predict the story of a film, so in a way, I guess I was always engaging with this art form—if not “critically,” then at least consciously. This is why Shakun Batra’s Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu had such a great impact on 13-year-old me. Here was a film that, from the very beginning, sent me signals that Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor would eventually end up together, and then Batra just sent me into a daze with that unpredictable, shocking, yet very beautiful ending.
Batra might perhaps be the first filmmaker in my life who encouraged me to seek out unformulaic movies. This might be why I usually feel annoyed by clichés, especially when a movie has absolutely nothing going for it.
Q. Do you rewatch films before writing a review, or is one viewing enough?
Ans. I have always watched a film only once before reviewing it. Earlier, I used to watch a movie two, three, or even five times—not for review, but purely for pleasure. However, I stopped rewatching films a long time ago. With so much access to both world cinema and regional films, I find it a waste of time to revisit something I’ve already seen.
For instance, among the movies I have loved recently are Jugnuma: The Fable, Masthishka Maranam, Assi, The Mastermind, and Bandar (to name a few). I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED these films. Yet I still wouldn’t want to watch them again, because there is so much out there waiting to be discovered and cherished.
I am very attentive and give a movie my complete attention during the first viewing. And yes, when it comes to reviews, I have always watched a film only once before writing about it.
There is no single formula for becoming a film critic. It is a skill that develops with time, practice, and a genuine curiosity about cinema. As our interviewee points out, the key is not to watch more films alone, but to watch them more attentively—paying attention to storytelling, performances, and the emotions a film creates.
For beginners, the journey may seem overwhelming at first, but every review written and every film analysed contributes to a stronger critical voice. So, if you’ve been thinking about stepping beyond the role of a viewer and into the world of film criticism, there is no better time to start. Watch, observe, write, and most importantly, keep learning.
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