The Night Manager review: I have to be honest, I am not a fan of remakes because they can never really match up to the original. When one remakes a hit film/series, comparisons are inevitable and it poses a big challenge to keep the audience engaged with an already-known story. So what works for Disney+Hostar's latest show The Night Manager? Its ability to stay true to the original and yet find its own voice, coupled with stellar performances from its lead cast.&nbsp;

Originally based on a book by John le Carre which was later turned into a British miniseries that featured Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman and Elizabeth Debicki, the Indian version, created by Sandeep Modi features Aditya Roy Kapur, Ali Kapoor, Tillotama Shome and Sobhita Dhulipala. Spanned over a few years, The Night Manager takes its time to establish the plot, and breaks the series into two parts but still makes for a compelling watch.&nbsp;

The series has Roy Kapur playing Shaan Sengupta, a former Navy man, who is now serving in the hospitality industry. He is the Night Manager of a five-star hotel in Dhaka. His life takes a dramatic turn when he witnesses the murder of a teenage girl in the hotel, who just a day earlier had sought help from him to flee to India. The death shakes up Shaan and he goes underground (which we later find out was a planned move). Two years later, he comes face to face with businessman Shelly Rungta, a man who Shaan knows was responsible for killing the young girl. Rungta who travels with his entourage everywhere claims to be a tycoon of a shipping business but actually is an arms dealer, and often termed as 'the merchant of death'. Rungta has been on the radar of Indian intelligence for years, who due to lack of evidence have never been able to nab him.&nbsp; 
 
Enter the Intelligence officer Lipika Saikia Rao, who convinces Shaan to spy on Rungta, get into his inner circle, and collect evidence against him. An alibi is created and Shaan soon finds himself in the sprawling estate. 
 
Set in South Asia, the series ably incorporates the local political unrest into the narrative. So there is the mention of the Rohingyas, a mention of the Dhaka protest, and the political relations between India, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. While writers, Shridhar Raghavan (fresh from the success of Pathaan) and Modi get the political background well, they also excel at making The Night Manager a very human story. At the core is a man who agrees to become a spy for RAW, jeopardizing his whole life, to get redemption. Two years down the line, the death of the young girl still haunts him and it is for this reason that he agrees to do the unthinkable.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/exclusive-the-night-manager-makers-on-remaking-a-hit-show-and-a-possibility-of-a-second-season-562662">Exclusive: The Night Manager makers on remaking a hit show and a possibility of a second season</a>

Roy Kapur plays his part well and with conviction. He looks like a man who could have been in the armed forces, he is a loner and minds his business until the fatal incident happens. And even though he gets anxious seeing Rungta, he treads on a dangerous path to get close to him, he remains a softy to his son&nbsp;Taha, who plays a key role in bringing him to Rungta's sprawling estate. Roy Kapur emotes with his eyes, certain shots have him depicting the mental havoc he is going through even though he appears calm and composed on the outside.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6QJQysiUxKc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Anil Kapoor a veteran, breezes through his part. He has played over-the-top characters in his recent screen outings and his portrayal of Rungta is dramatically different. He is cool, calculated and sharp. He only lets Shaan in after he saves his son in a staged (we know, Rungta doesn't) kidnapping incident.&nbsp;

The star of The Night Manager, however, is the supremely talented Tillotama Shome, who brings in her charisma to play the almost mundane but sharp RAW officer Lipika Saikia Rao. Shome, who proved her mettle in so many projects, shines once again in her role as the RAW handler who knows her appearance confuses people for whom she is. In the original, the character was played by Olvia Colman and Shome fits in her big shoes in the remake well making Lipika your regular government officer, who has so much more in her than what the state restricts her from doing.&nbsp;

<img alt="t" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2e4900a4-0c1d-4f9d-bf6f-68d410437529" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Your%20paragraph%20text%20%2864%29.jpg" /> 
 
Sobhita Dhulipala, who is to date remembered for her strong performance in Made In Heaven&nbsp;feels underutilized. So far she has just added glamour to the mundane frames and hasn't been given much scope to show her talent.&nbsp;

The other actor who shines is Saswata Chatterjee as BJ - Rungta's oldest aide and an openly gay man. It's always a delight to watch the actor, who has in his career played myriad characters and The Night Manager is no different. He brings in a fun element to his character even though loyal fans of the original series would know how his character plays a key role in the narrative.&nbsp;

The only problem with The Night Manager is that it breaks the story into two parts. With just four episodes out, of which three were just to establish the plot- the break feels abrupt. The second part of the series is set to be out in June 2023 which may not be a very good move considering the original is still available online and a lot of people are aware of the story.&nbsp;

If one considers The Night Manager as a stand-alone show, ignoring the fact that it's a remake, it is a credible show with good writing and great performances.&nbsp;

The Night Manager is out on Disney+Hotstar.&nbsp;

The Night Manager review: I have to be honest, I am not a fan of remakes because they can never really match up to the original. When one remakes a hit film/series, comparisons are inevitable and it poses a big challenge to keep the audience engaged with an already-known story.

The Night Manager review: I have to be honest, I am not a fan of remakes because they can never really match up to the original. When one remakes a hit film/series, comparisons are inevitable and it poses a big challenge to keep the audience engaged with an already-known story. So what works for Disney+Hostar's latest show The Night Manager? Its ability to stay true to the original and yet find its own voice, coupled with stellar performances from its lead cast. Originally based on a book by John le Carre which was later turned into a British miniseries that featured Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman and Elizabeth Debicki, the Indian version, created by Sandeep Modi features Aditya Roy Kapur, Ali Kapoor, Tillotama Shome and Sobhita Dhulipala. Spanned over a few years, The Night Manager takes its time to establish the plot, and breaks the series into two parts but still makes for a compelling watch. The series has Roy Kapur playing Shaan Sengupta, a former Navy man, who is now serving in the hospitality industry. He is the Night Manager of a five-star hotel in Dhaka. His life takes a dramatic turn when he witnesses the murder of a teenage girl in the hotel, who just a day earlier had sought help from him to flee to India. The death shakes up Shaan and he goes underground (which we later find out was a planned move). Two years later, he comes face to face with businessman Shelly Rungta, a man who Shaan knows was responsible for killing the young girl. Rungta who travels with his entourage everywhere claims to be a tycoon of a shipping business but actually is an arms dealer, and often termed as 'the merchant of death'. Rungta has been on the radar of Indian intelligence for years, who due to lack of evidence have never been able to nab him. Enter the Intelligence officer Lipika Saikia Rao, who convinces Shaan to spy on Rungta, get into his inner circle, and collect evidence against him. An alibi is created and Shaan soon finds himself in the sprawling estate. Set in South Asia, the series ably incorporates the local political unrest into the narrative. So there is the mention of the Rohingyas, a mention of the Dhaka protest, and the political relations between India, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. While writers, Shridhar Raghavan (fresh from the success of Pathaan) and Modi get the political background well, they also excel at making The Night Manager a very human story. At the core is a man who agrees to become a spy for RAW, jeopardizing his whole life, to get redemption. Two years down the line, the death of the young girl still haunts him and it is for this reason that he agrees to do the unthinkable. Exclusive: The Night Manager makers on remaking a hit show and a possibility of a second season Roy Kapur plays his part well and with conviction. He looks like a man who could have been in the armed forces, he is a loner and minds his business until the fatal incident happens. And even though he gets anxious seeing Rungta, he treads on a dangerous path to get close to him, he remains a softy to his son Taha, who plays a key role in bringing him to Rungta's sprawling estate. Roy Kapur emotes with his eyes, certain shots have him depicting the mental havoc he is going through even though he appears calm and composed on the outside. Anil Kapoor a veteran, breezes through his part. He has played over-the-top characters in his recent screen outings and his portrayal of Rungta is dramatically different. He is cool, calculated and sharp. He only lets Shaan in after he saves his son in a staged (we know, Rungta doesn't) kidnapping incident. The star of The Night Manager, however, is the supremely talented Tillotama Shome, who brings in her charisma to play the almost mundane but sharp RAW officer Lipika Saikia Rao. Shome, who proved her mettle in so many projects, shines once again in her role as the RAW handler who knows her appearance confuses people for whom she is. In the original, the character was played by Olvia Colman and Shome fits in her big shoes in the remake well making Lipika your regular government officer, who has so much more in her than what the state restricts her from doing. Sobhita Dhulipala, who is to date remembered for her strong performance in Made In Heaven feels underutilized. So far she has just added glamour to the mundane frames and hasn't been given much scope to show her talent. The other actor who shines is Saswata Chatterjee as BJ - Rungta's oldest aide and an openly gay man. It's always a delight to watch the actor, who has in his career played myriad characters and The Night Manager is no different. He brings in a fun element to his character even though loyal fans of the original series would know how his character plays a key role in the narrative. The only problem with The Night Manager is that it breaks the story into two parts. With just four episodes out, of which three were just to establish the plot- the break feels abrupt. The second part of the series is set to be out in June 2023 which may not be a very good move considering the original is still available online and a lot of people are aware of the story. If one considers The Night Manager as a stand-alone show, ignoring the fact that it's a remake, it is a credible show with good writing and great performances. The Night Manager is out on Disney+Hotstar.

The Night Manager review: Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur's show is good, OTT platform's strategy is not

Launched in India in January 2023, the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Cabriolet presents an ideal combination of pleasurable open-top motoring and blistering AMG performance. Armed with a 451bhp and 770Nm 3.0-litre inline-six powertrain and fantastic visual appeal, how does it perform in everyday driving conditions? Well, here's our take on it.

Mercedes-AMG E 53 Cabriolet Review: Perfect Everyday Companion?

It is a big day for Shah Rukh Khan fans as the actor returns to the big screen in Siddharth Anand's 'Pathaan' - a spy thriller which has Khan in an action avatar. Giving him company on screen is Deepika Padukone as an ex ISI agent and John Abraham as the antagonist. The film has courted controversy much before its release and hence been in news. But is the film worth your time? Watch Critically Speaking to find out.

Critically Speaking | Shah Rukh Khan is back onscreen with 'Pathaan'

12 years after the first Avatar released in screen and became a cult classic, filmmaker James Cameron is back with its sequel 'Avatar: The Way Of Water'. Considering Cameron took several years to develop the story and the technology to back it, it is being widely touted as one of the most anticipated films of the year. Featuring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana who reprise their role in the sequel, the film is rich in visuals. But is it worth the hype? Watch Critically Speaking to know more.

Critically Speaking: Is Avatar: The Way of Water worth the hype?

Bollywood seemed to have redeemed itself in the fag end of 2022. Three incredibly different films released last week each pushing the envelope with its story and performances. Kartik Aaryan turned creepy killer in Shashanka Ghosh's 'Freddy,' while Ayushmann Khurrana was on the run in 'An Action Hero' and Tripti Dimri fought inner demons and past traumas in Anvita Dutt's 'Qala'. Here is our take on these three films. Which one did you watch?

Critically Speaking- Wion's take on 'Qala,' 'An Action Hero,' and 'Freddy'

Mercedes-Benz has launched its all-new sixth-generation C-Class sedan in India with 1.5-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel options, and both these engines have the 48-volt Hybrid system. What makes the C300d special among all the non-AMG C-Class variants is its performance as it has the highest amount of power and torque available on the tap. Moreover, it is available with an AMG-inspired body kit for a more aggressive look. But how does it actually feels to drive? That's what we are exploring in this drive report.

2022 Mercedes-Benz C300d (C-Class Diesel) review

Japan hosts the "International Fleet Review (IFR)" in Sagami Bay to mark the 70th anniversary of its navy. 13 different countries (including South Korea and India) sent 40 ships and submarines for the occasion.

Japan hosts international fleet review to mark 70th anniversary of its Navy

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ is finally here. Director Ryan Coogler had a Herculean task of making a worthwhile sequel without its biggest star, the late Chadwick Boseman. Did he succeed? Watch Critically Speaking to find out.

Critically speaking: Is 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' a worthy sequel?

Filmmaker Abhishek Pathak's film 'Drishyam 2' remains honest to the origin story. A remake of 2021 Malayalam film by the same name, the film carries forward the story where the first film 'Drishyam' ended. Starring Ajay Devgan, Shriya Saran, Tabu and Akshaye Khanna the film centers around Salgaonkar family and how the family is coping seven years after the murder of Sam Deshmukh, son of top cop Mira Deshmukh. But is the film a worthy remake of the Malayalam film? Watch Critically Speaking to know more.

Critically Speaking: Is 'Drishyam 2' a worthy remake?

French automaker, Citroen, has launched its second product in India, the C3 sub-compact crossover, with a starting price tag of INR 5.88 lakh (ex-showroom). It has the same quirky design language as seen on Citroen’s debut vehicle, the C5 Aircross. The Citroen C3, however, is a sub-four-metre car and gets two petrol engine options. The first is a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder unit that makes about 82 horsepower and comes mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The other is a 1.2-litre, turbocharged mill with a six-speed gearbox, producing 110 horsepower and 190 Newton-metre torque. Some of the C3’s key features include a large 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual airbags and rear parking sensors. But how does it feel on the Indian roads? And is it any better than its arc rival Tata Punch? Let's get behind the wheel and find some suitable answers.

WION Pitstop | 2022 Citroen C3 review: Tata Punch rival?

2022 Citroen C3 review: Tata Punch rival?

Moto Morini has entered the Indian market with a couple of mid-capacity motorcycle. We recently got a chance to spend some time with its middleweight adventure motorcycle - the X-Cape 650X. Designed in Italy, the bike is a head-turner, but how it feels to ride? That's what we are trying to find out.

Moto Morini X-Cape 650X review: A fun middleweight ADV

After receiving significant public input and undergoing a third rewrite, China's highest legislature approved a bill on Sunday that will give women stronger protection against sexual harassment and gender discrimination.

The measure was passed at a time when campaigners were alarmed by the government's increased emphasis on the importance of traditional women's roles, as well as what some saw as setbacks for women's rights and more restricted views on abortion.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-warns-protecting-hong-kong-protesters-will-spell-disaster-for-britain-529398">China warns protecting Hong Kong protesters will spell 'disaster' for Britain</a>

The new law may or may not take some of those more conservative viewpoints into account. Beyond its adoption, there were no immediate details about the law.

The law pertaining to women's safety hasn't been altered in nearly 30 years. On Thursday, a measure with the working title "Women's Rights and Interests Protection Law" was delivered to the NPC's Standing Committee. On its website, the NPC declared the legislation to have passed.

According to the NPC's website, tens of thousands of people submitted ideas for changes they wished to see made to the legislation.

The act "strengthens the protection of the rights and interests of disadvantaged groups such as poor women, old women, and disabled women," according to official news agency Xinhua on Thursday.

Employers will be held accountable, claims Xinhua, for any violations of women's labour and social security rights and interests.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghais-disneyland-reduces-operations-to-curb-covid-after-china-reports-1000-cases-for-the-fifth-day-529355">Shanghai's Disneyland reduces operations to curb Covid after China reports over 1,000 cases for the fifth day</a>

According to Xinhua, local officials would also be given guidelines for rescuing trafficking and kidnapped women.

Images of a woman in shackles that were uploaded online at the beginning of this year outraged people and sparked a discussion on how to deal with human trafficking, especially in rural areas where the problem has long been recognised.

(With inputs from agencies)

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After receiving significant public input and undergoing a third rewrite, China's highest legislature approved a bill on Sunday that will give women stronger protection against sexual harassment and gender discrimination.

After receiving significant public input and undergoing a third rewrite, China's highest legislature approved a bill on Sunday that will give women stronger protection against sexual harassment and gender discrimination. The measure was passed at a time when campaigners were alarmed by the government's increased emphasis on the importance of traditional women's roles, as well as what some saw as setbacks for women's rights and more restricted views on abortion. Also read | China warns protecting Hong Kong protesters will spell 'disaster' for Britain The new law may or may not take some of those more conservative viewpoints into account. Beyond its adoption, there were no immediate details about the law. The law pertaining to women's safety hasn't been altered in nearly 30 years. On Thursday, a measure with the working title "Women's Rights and Interests Protection Law" was delivered to the NPC's Standing Committee. On its website, the NPC declared the legislation to have passed. According to the NPC's website, tens of thousands of people submitted ideas for changes they wished to see made to the legislation. The act "strengthens the protection of the rights and interests of disadvantaged groups such as poor women, old women, and disabled women," according to official news agency Xinhua on Thursday. Employers will be held accountable, claims Xinhua, for any violations of women's labour and social security rights and interests. Also read | Shanghai's Disneyland reduces operations to curb Covid after China reports over 1,000 cases for the fifth day According to Xinhua, local officials would also be given guidelines for rescuing trafficking and kidnapped women. Images of a woman in shackles that were uploaded online at the beginning of this year outraged people and sparked a discussion on how to deal with human trafficking, especially in rural areas where the problem has long been recognised. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China adopts new law for women's protection in first revision of statute in decades

For a couple of years now, Dwayne Johnson has been promising to change the hierarchy of the DC universe with 'Black Adam'. The film is finally here. Is this action-packed superhero flick good enough to make Johnson's foray into superhero movies worthwhile? Watch Critically Speaking to know all about it.

Critically speaking: Is Dwayne Johnson's foray into superhero films 'Black Adam' worth a watch?

In R Balki's latest film 'Chup: Revenge of The Artist', a serial killer is killing noted film critics one by one and giving ratings to their dead bodies. Gruesome right? Featuring Dulquer Salmaan, Shreya Dhanwanthary and Sunny Deol, 'Chup' is meta in so many levels. While Deol plays an investigating officer, Salmaan plays a mysterious florist called Danny who falls for entertainment reporter Nila, played by Dhanwanthary. Dulquer's role is complex and he gives his all to play Danny to perfection. Is the role his career's best? Watch Critically speaking to find out more.

Critically Speaking: Has Dulquer Salmaan delivered his career best in 'Chup'?

Filmmaker duo Pushkar-Gayatri bring their 2017 Tamil hit film 'Vikram Vedha' to Bollywood in 2022. Starring Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan in the lead, the film is a stylised, glossier version of the original which showcases Roshan in a glamorous avatar even though he plays a gangster from the heartland. Is 'Vikram Vedha' a worthy remake of the Tamil hit? Watch Critically Speaking to know more

Critically Speaking: Is Hrithik-Saif starrer 'Vikram Vedha' true to the original?

Actress turned filmmaker Olivia Wilde's latest 'Don't Worry Darling' has been in news more for its internal fights than the film itself. But the film turns out to be interesting watch with Florence Pugh and Chris Pine shining in their respective roles. But is the film worth the hype? Watch Critically Speaking to know more!

Critically Speaking: Does 'Don't Worry Darling' live up to the hype?

Filmmaker Ayan Mukerji's film 'Brahmastra' finally releases in theatres. The film has created a lot of buzz in the past few weeks, courted controversy and has been touted as the most expensive film ever made in Bollywood. The film has Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt pairing up onscreen for the first time. It also has some very prominent faces making cameo appearances. Is 'Brahamastra' worth your time? Does it live up to the hype? Watch Critically Speaking to find out.

Critically Speaking: Is 'Brahmastra' worth the hype?

The first-generation international model of the Yamaha MT-15 was a well-rounded package. But, the critical reason for disappointment with the Indian version was cost-cutting. And thankfully, in its first cycle of evolution, the MT-15 Version 2.0 has not been watered down for India. When it comes to aesthetic changes, things are largely limited to new and sporty-looking colour schemes like this combination of grey and turquoise we are riding. It also gets coloured alloy wheels that further enhance the sporty feel, but the chassis department has carried out two crucial changes. So, let's find out how it actually behaves on some real roads.

WION Pitstop | Yamaha MT-15 Version 2.0 review

If you think that the smartphone market has reached a saturation point, we say, think again. Foldable phones will be the next big thing in the smartphone space. Samsung has gotten off to a good start with the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip series. In this video, we will about the fourth generation of the Galaxy Z Flip. We spent some time on the phone and here's what we think about it.

Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 | Tech It Out

Filmmaker Puri Jagannadh's new film 'Liger' was much hyped before its release. After all, it marks the Bollywood debut of Telugu film star Vijay Deverakonda. The film also features Ananya Panday, Ronit Roy, and Ramya Krishnan in prominent roles.

Critically Speaking: Vijay Deverakonda's 'Liger' misses the mark by a mile

Rising motorcycling culture has made the premium segment quite interesting. We are witnessing some very compelling new bikes come to life, and it becomes even more exciting when a manufacturer does something very different from its usual products. A bit like that happened recently when we reached Thailand to ride a new Royal Enfield motorcycle, named Hunter 350. We were told that it's quite a different product from other Royal Enfield motorcycles, and we can confirm that it looks somewhat different as well. At 177 kilograms, the Hunter weighs about 15 kilograms less than a standard Classic 350 -- and that has been achieved by replacing some metal components, like the side panels and fenders, with plastic ones. But how does it actually feels on the road? Let's find out.

WION Pitstop | Royal Enfield Hunter 350 review

Czech automaker, Skoda, has introduced a new mid-size premium sedan - the Slavia. It is a sporty looking car with a low and wide stance, sharp character lines and some design cues from the Kushaq. But the overall design bears resemblance to the larger Octavia sedan and it offers a generous amount of space inside. The Skoda Slavia is being offered with two turbocharged petrol engine options -- a 1.0L TSI with an output of 115 horsepower and a 1.5L TSI with 150 horsepower. We recently got to drive both the options and here's all about our experience with the Slavia.

WION Pitstop | Skoda Slavia review: The enthusiasts' mid-sized sedan

Mercedes-Benz has introduced its new entry-level AMG car in India - the A 35 4Matic. Based on the new A-Class sedan, this performance model is not a full-blown AMG model. However, it features several performance upgrades and AMG specific cosmetic changes. But how this new performance model behaves on the Indian roads? That's what we are going to find out in this video.

WION Pitstop | Mercedes-AMG A 35 4Matic review: The entry-level AMG car

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