There’s no doubt that 2021 is already off to a hot start, both with streaming and, well, just the state of the democracy in America teetering on the edge. While the latter had me tied up in my full-time job, I’m glad to be back at it with the former.
So let’s dive right in!
Recently Released
This week, we have the film “Tribhanga” out on Netflix and the series “Tandav” out on Amazon (I saw both and will review them below!) Also out recently: “Criminal Justice” Season 2 (Hotstar) starring Pankaj Tripathi; “AK vs. AK” (Netflix) starring Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap; “Bullets” (MX Player) starring Sunny Leone and Karishma Tanna; “Bhoomi” (Tamil, Hotstar); and “Maara” (Tamil, Amazon) starring R. Madhavan.
What I’ve Been Watching
Pick of the Week: “Tribhanga” | Netflix
Kajol stars in this wonderful film as Anuradha, a dancer and actress who must face her turbulent past when her estranged mother, the novelist Nayan (Tanvi Azmi), ends up in the hospital. The film also stars Mithila Palkar (“Little Things”) as Masha, Anuradha’s daughter, and Kunaal Roy Kapur as Milan, a fan of Nayan’s who is recording her autobiography.
Having experienced a family loss last week, this film hit especially close to home. The film challenges the way we see our parents, as flawed as they may be, and the irrevocable ways they impact our own lives. Intergenerational trauma is a strong theme, made all the more powerful by the wonderful performances, especially by my childhood fave, Kajol. She seems at home as Anuradha, blunt and unapologetically independent, with plenty of curse words thrown in. Also impactful is Azmi, subtle and effective as an older woman reflecting on the mistakes she made as a mother.
I must also take a moment to applaud the film’s writer and director, the actress Renuka Shahane (whose character’s traumatic death in “Hum Aapke Hain Koun” scarred so many of us). The writing is clear and smart, keeping the depth of emotions in each scene without teetering into the melodramatic. The film is only 93 minutes, and it feels like just the right amount — and I especially enjoyed the succinct way flashbacks were weaved into the narrative.
I’m all for women-led films in Bollywood, and this stands for me as the strongest example to date of a realistic portrayal of complex women. Shahane recently talked in this short roundtable discussion about how there are so many kinds of feminism (and “normal” families), and to me the best kinds of messages in films are the ones that don’t bash you over the head with it. “Tribhanga” truly hits the nail on the head, and is sure to stay with me for a long time to come.
Bingeable But Forgettable: “Tandav” (Amazon)
Billed as India’s answer to “House of Cards,” this political drama stars Saif Ali Khan as Samar Pratap Singh, and Dimple Kapadia as Anuradha Kishore — members of the fictional JLD party who are competing for power. The series is nine episodes, and is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar (“Sultan,” “Bharat”).
I really, really wanted to like this series. But not only is “House of Cards” a high bar to meet, it feels very much like “Tandav” misses the reason that series was so successful — strong writing with compelling characters. With Khan’s Singh as its epicenter, as the supposed antihero, I expected to feel a reason to root for him despite his shades of grey. Instead, we’re rushed through meaningless conversations full of dramatic idioms. I once read a critic who said they don’t trust filmmakers who make characters narrate their backstories and motivations, as if the audience can’t interpret subtle themes, and this rings true here. By being told instead of shown, we end up missing the power plays and intense conversations that should be the hallmark of a political drama like this. Zafar’s writing also takes us through several meandering side stories that end up further weakening an already dull and slow-moving main plot.
The only bright spots for me in this show were Kapadia and Sunil Grover, who acts as an enforcer of sorts for Khan’s character. Kapadia’s streaming debut is a refreshing blast from the past — she hasn’t lost an ounce of her magic, and still commands the screen in every scene despite weak dialogues. Grover is surprisingly impactful in this dramatic avatar, a far departure from the comedic roles for which he is known. He feels like one of the few actors in this ensemble cast with something to prove — and his pursuit feels fruitful here.
(Side note: It was definitely fun to see some familiar faces in this ensemble cast, including Dino Morea, Kritika Kamra and Sandhya Mridul, to name a few.)
What I’ve Been Reading
Iva Dixit’s piece on “The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives” is a fantastic look at everything that was so wrong — and so right — about the buzzy Bombay reality show. (ICYMI, I reviewed it here.)
This is more of listen, but I loved hearing Netflix’s Bela Bajaria talk about her journey in the industry as an Indian woman on a recent episode Kara Swisher’s podcast, Sway.
Amazon India executives talked to Deadline about their strategy for 2021.
And I also loved this heartbreaking look at the tearing down of Cinema Park, one of the last few remaining cinema halls in Kabul.
Coming Soon to a Couch Near You
Spotlight — Jan. 22: “The White Tiger” | Netflix | Starring: Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Rajkummar Rao
This much-anticipated film is based on the best-selling novel by Aravind Adiga.
Jan. 22: “Jeet Ki Zid” | Zee5 | Starring: Amit Sadh
Feb. 12: “The Family Man” Season 2 | Amazon | Starring: Manoj Bajpayee
The second season of this crime drama is sure to be exciting — and if you haven’t seen the first, I highly recommend it… if only for Bajpayee’s stellar (and witty!) performance as an intelligence agent whose family doesn’t know what he does for living.
Feb. 26: “The Girl on the Train” | Netflix | Starring: Parineeti Chopra
Yes, that girl on the train. Parineeti Chopra stars in this Indian adaptation of the critically-acclaimed novel of the same name.
And that’s it for this week, folks! See you again soon (hopefully next week, if democracy prevails!) ~