Thank you all for signing up to join me on this ride, as I recap my recent watches and give you a glimpse of what’s coming soon. There’s lots to cover today, so let’s get to it!
Out This Week
Yesterday, the series “Ravi Patel’s Pursuit of Happiness” hit HBO Max. (If you were a fan of “Meet the Patels,” this looks like a fun one!) And if you read last week’s dispatch, you know “Masaba Masaba” (Netflix), “Sadak 2” (Hotstar), and “Aashram” (MX Player) are all out today. But so is “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” starring Dev Patel!!!
With a limited theatrical release in America, this movie is already getting rave reviews, as is our boy Dev. I can’t wait to see this one!
Things I’ve Watched Recently
“Bandish Bandits” (Amazon Prime)
You know, when we talk about the evolution of streaming out of India, this show really reminds us that there’s so much innovation waiting for its chance. With two newcomers in the lead, Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhary, this show takes on a new premise as well: Indian music, and the tussle between pop and classical. Radhe (Bhowmik) is the grandson of a prolific singer (Naseeruddin Shah) and the future face of his gharana, while Tamanna (Chaudhary) is a pop sensation who’s known for auto-tuning her voice and making viral music videos. The two meet and end up making music together, even as Radhe goes into disguise so as not to upset his family.
While the performances of Bhowmik and Chaudhary aren’t anything to write home about, and despite a few unneccessary plot points (was there an extra Krrish mask lying around for “Masked Man”? Who and what is Queen Elli?), the premise itself is a catchy one. Some familiar faces in supporting roles (Sheeba Chadha, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Atul Kulkarni) also buoy the show long enough for the plot (and the music) to snag you in.
Going into it, you may think the star is going to be Naseeruddin Shah, another legend who is new to streaming, but in fact the music, crafted by master trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy, is what takes the cake. It’s an old Bollywood formula, having a soundtrack and background score that drive a film’s marketability, but here it works for the first time in a streaming context — so many who’ve seen the show have told me how they’ve been listening to the music long after they watched it. This is a true mark of its success, beyond the plot and acting, and is itself a reason to check out this series, if you haven’t already!
Khuda Hafiz (Hotstar)
I have so many questions about this film. The first is, why?
Set in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, this film attempts to tackle a troubling premise: human trafficking. What ensues, however, is a messy story with barely bearable acting and dialogues. Shortly after their marriage, Sameer (Vidyut Jammwal) and Nargis (Shivaleeka Oberoi) are separated under troubling circumstances. He spends the rest of the film hunting her down in an oddly fictional country (Noman???) with the help of some Indian-looking people who with terrible Arabic accents (Annu Kapoor??? Are you okay!!!)
I’m sorry that I took my wife along on this ride… we kept waiting for something better to happen, but between unbelievable plot twists, absolutely puzzling choices by the hero and a terrible fake blood budget, it was far too late by the time we realized this movie is more than skippable. (This is also confirmed by Hotstar’s lengthy, convoluted attempts to market this movie, including bringing in Hrithik Roshan. Huh??)
Shakuntala Devi (Amazon Prime Video)
I just want to say, I am a HUGE Vidya Balan fan. She’s a remarkable actress, and she was one of the first women to take on roles that broke the barriers of what Bollywood actresses were doing in the ‘90s and early ‘00s. Her 2005 debut, “Parineeta” set the tone for this, and has stood as a strong example for what she has been able to carve out for herself since (“The Dirty Picture,” “Kahaani”).
That being said, if there’s one reason to watch this movie, it’s her. Starring in and as Shakuntala Devi, Balan portrays the life behind the larger-than-life mathematical genius. It’s an interesting life, that’s for sure- what’s confusing to me is the premise of the film. Told from the perspective of Devi’s daughter (who was also involved in the making of it), the story is less about Devi and her feats (or even her own thoughts and aspirations) and more about the mother-daughter relationship. Even this feels fine, to an extent, except that the entire first half really sets up Devi as an antagonist in her own story.
I was left wondering if I should be rooting for her at all, while remaining curious for more about her mathematical prowess and eager to witness feats of her genius. This is not that story — and with its alleged straight-washing of her husband, who may or may not have been gay?!, while painting Devi as a liar and a terrible mother, the plot was just not my cup of tea. Balan leaves a mark, though, performing the anguish, humor and messiness with ease and force. She’s a delight to watch in absolutely anything.
What I’ve Been Reading
I think we could all use a little more Dev Patel in our lives, no? Thanks to David Copperfield, he’s been on a massive press junket, and some fun interviews have been had! For example, he told Sarah Khan that his sister used to call him Dobby (as in, the elf!) as a kid. I’m dead.
Have we laughed enough about “Indian Matchmaking”? Maybe not yet — Nisha Ganatra, who directed “Late Night,” will be bringing us a new scripted comedy with a similar premise. And speaking of IM, if you’re curious about how single mom Rupam has been since the show, she talked to Vogue India with a wonderful life update.
The veteran actor Saif Ali Khan announced he is writing his autobiography, due to be released next year. I could think of worse ways to spend quarantine, I suppose. As someone who bought his sister’s poorly named memoir and has yet to read it, I’m totally down for this one.
This week I also saw a smattering of reviews of Sujata Day’s “Defintion Please.” Currently on the festival circuit, the film follows the former winner of a spelling bee as she navigates adulthood, and boasts of a stellar cast (Ritesh Rajan and Sendhil Ramamurthy, for example). I can’t wait to see this one!
Coming Soon to a Couch Near You
“Bebaakee” | Zee 5, August 30
If you ever thought to yourself that Hindi shows have evolved past the dramatic love triangle or the hero who closed himself off to love only to fall in love, boy do I have a surprise for you!!
“C U Soon” | Amazon Prime Video, September 1
As you can probably guess from the trailer, this Malayalam film was made entirely during the coronavirus lockdown. Starring Fahadh Faasil and Roshan Mathew, this crime thriller looks intriguing nonetheless!
Bad Boy Billionaires: India | Netflix, September 2
Oh man, the closer this gets, the more excited I get… this docuseries follows the rise and falls of some of India’s richest men: Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Subrata Roy, and Ramalinga Raju. I’ve never wanted to hate-watch something more.
“Mirzapur,” Season 2 | Amazon Prime Video, October 23
If you saw the first season of this show in 2018 (yes, it’s been that long) you’re probably as eager as I am for this next chapter. As one of India’s first crime series, this show follows the impeccable Pankaj Tripathi as a fearless mob boss. And if you haven’t seen it yet, maybe I’ll do a rewatch and recap it for you before the second season drops!
And for now, just a tease: “Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare” starring Konkona Sen Sharma and Bhumi Pednekar will be hitting Netflix in September as well, exact date TBA. We can still get excited though!!
That’s all for this week. Have a show or film you’d like to see featured? Curious about how good some of these new shows and movies are? Drop me a line and let me know…. and I promise to dive in and share some insight on the newbies next week!