Jackie Thakkar, Author at Arré

10 Years of Dirty Picture: They Don’t Make ‘Em Like Vidya Balan Anymore

Vidya Balan is an anomaly. In an industry rife with svelte figures and saccharine personas, her body of work is an aging but fresh breath of air. From playing a sex symbol to a ferocious agent, Balan made offbeat cool before it became mainstream.

Jackie Thakkar July 28, 2016

Bollywood

15 Years of Baghban: It’s All About Guilting Your Children

Baghban might have been a superhit when it released, but the film has aged very badly. The most damning part about the film is the reinforcement of the mistaken notion that all adults choosing to live their lives away from their parents, must certainly hate their elders and treat them like trash.

Jackie Thakkar July 27, 2016

Pop Culture

Checking on Bitoo and Shruti, Nine Years After Band Baaja Baaraat

We managed to get hold of Bitoo Sharma and Shruti Kakkar’s marriage counsellor, who, on the condition of anonymity, agreed to spill the beans on the couple’s life post the end-credits of Band Baaja Baaraat.

Jackie Thakkar July 23, 2016

POV

No Laughing Matter: Why is the Indian Comedy Scene So Morose?

Why does the laughter seem to be dying in the comedy scene in the metros? Are stand-up comedians not as funny as they once used to be? Are audiences weary of supporting a scene that seems to be getting more toxic by the week? Or is there a problem of plenty?

Jackie Thakkar July 22, 2016

POV

Ab Ki Baar, BJP Se No Pyaar

No one was happier than my vyapaar-savvy uncles when the BJP came to power in 2014. In the last 18 months, though, given the overall sense of helplessness in the market post demonetisation, their faith has been tested.

Jackie Thakkar July 22, 2016

People

Dandiya Nights With Falguni Pathak: Every Gujjus First-Ever “Live” Concert

Falguni Pathak’s live performances in the ’90s catapulted her into the league of larger-than-life superstars. She will always remain one of the great unifiers of Gujaratis from Andheri to America. A little less than Modi ji. But just a smidge above dhoklas.

Jackie Thakkar July 22, 2016

Pop Culture

Farewell CID: We’ve Lost our Last Link to ’90s Indian TV

Testament to just how much CID has been consumed by my generation over the years is the fact that Shivaji Satam’s face is the first thing that pops up in my mind when I hear anyone say “ACP”. And though I watch it ironically today because “it’s so bad it’s good”, it reminds me of the time where you didn’t have to pretend to like a show just to fit in.

Jackie Thakkar July 16, 2016

Culture

Raksha Bandhan in Co-Ed Schools: An Enforced Ritual for Involuntary Bro-Zoning

Raksha Bandhan remains a painful memory for many of us because of the involuntary “bro zoning” that went on in co-ed schools. Teachers would ensure that girls tied rakhis on the wrists of their male classmates, rendering any other relationship between them illicit.

Jackie Thakkar July 15, 2016

Pop Culture

Why The Office’s Dwight Schrute is Our Favourite Fool

You can’t have enough of Rainn Wilson’s dorky megalomaniac in The Office. Dwight Kurt Schrute III is the most sharp-witted portrayal of a socially awkward anti-hero that I’ve seen. Imagining the sitcom without Dwight is near impossible.

Jackie Thakkar July 14, 2016

First Person

My Life as a Juvenile Graffiti Vandal

The first time my friend desecrated Juhu’s pristine footpaths with his vile aerosol can, I was overwhelmed at the prospect of finally getting to live out my childhood fantasy of being a graffiti vandal, like the ones I’d read about in Europe.

Jackie Thakkar July 14, 2016