Posted inPop Culture
Dunkirk: Christopher Nolan’s Finest Hour
Dunkirk is the last stand of the traditional blockbuster, trying to save a ship being torpedoed by sequels and superheroes. It’s less film, more event.
Posted inPop Culture
Arré Recommends: The Pandemic’s the Best Time to Watch Official Bhootiyagiri & Other Horror Comedies
Horror comedies work as a terrific balm for our minds, crumbling under a stagnant routine. What’s not to love about watching a confused group of people run around escaping an equally clueless bunch of the undead? Kickstart the weekend with instant classics like What We Do in the Shadows and Official Bhootiyagiri.
Posted inPop Culture
Raag Desh in the Time of Hyper-nationalism
Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Raag Desh is a reminder of a time when deshbhakti was not manipulatively enforced. Today, nationalism is a weapon used to prod everyone toward an “acceptable” way of life.
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How You Were Fooled Into Watching Sanju & Veere Di Wedding by Bollywood’s Hype Machine
Both Sanju and Veere Di Wedding are excellent examples of bad films that were given a positive spin by Bollywood’s hype machinery. They’re a terrific demonstration of the industry’s business sense but a crushing dent to the economy of creativity and storytelling.
Posted inPop Culture
All Hail Jaanbaaz Julia
Karan Johar made the mistake of believing he’d invited Kangana Ranaut of a decade ago to Koffee with Karan. No longer the awkward outlier, the actress dropped several truth bombs.
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How Inside Jokes Helped Me Understand the Crisis in Indian Stand-Up Comedy
The #MeToo allegations that have marred the Indian comedy scene in the last few weeks had convinced me that I was done with stand-up. Then I stumbled upon Inside Jokes. The six-part docu series gets inside the heads of seven amateur comedians and highlights the transient nature of comedy.
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How Game of Thrones Made Me Lose Faith in the Idea of Love
Game of Thrones has painted perhaps the glummest picture of love ever conceived in popular culture. Love does not last or make us better persons. Instead, it corrupts, handicaps, and burdens as much as any other responsibility in the world.
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Cheers To The Man Who Hated Happy Endings
Thank you Mr Hemingway, for reminding us that the human condition is a matter of perspective. Thank you for telling us not to live for happy endings.
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2.0 Review: There’s More to the Rajinikanth Movie and It’s Akshay Kumar
Despite Rajinikanth’s presence, 2.0 ensures it is an equal battleground for its hero and antagonist. It’s the villain Pakshirajan – a fabulous Akshay Kumar – who gets the indulgent backstory; he’s the first character we see in the film and the only one to merit a song.
Posted inPop Culture
Who Won the Game of Thrones?
The latest episode featured Time Travellers, potty-mouthed Greyjoys, and revenge stories. But there can only be one winner.