This is a badass week (year? decade?) for women, I gotta be honest. From the pick of the week to upcoming releases, there’s no doubt that newer content is turning to the portrayal of women- and has been for some time, to be fair… although not well. Let’s get to it!
Out This Week
If you’re missing that Big Deol Energy I began our journey with, never fear: the best Deol of them all, Abhay, has a new show out on Sony LIV: “JL 50”. The show, centered on the mysterious crash of a flight that took off 35 years ago, also stars the Bollywood veterans Pankaj Kapur and Rajesh Sharma.
The Telegu film “V” is also out now on Amazon Prime Video, and stars Nani (as an antagonist for the first time!) and Sudheer Babu. This action thriller looks promising!
And look, I think I jinxed it. I teased the “Bad Boy Billionaires: India” docuseries the last couple weeks, and this week a couple legal cases filed by the subjects sidelined the series until further notice. I will now have to consider paying an additional $30 to drown my sorrows in the new “Mulan” this weekend.
Recently Watched
I watch a LOT of stuff, so I’ll try to streamline this section with new categories! Please hold tight.
Pick of the Week: “Masaba Masaba,” Netflix
If you’re not familiar with the designer Masaba Gupta, a quick Google search will catch you up on all you need to know for this delightfully airy little series. Starring Masaba as a fictionalized version of herself, the show sheds light on some personal and professional ups and downs, including those of her mother, the veteran actress Neena Gupta. (It doesn’t have much background info, though, so I’m serious about the Googling!)
The series manages to achieve what few others have been able to do in portraying thoughtful and realistic versions of badass women. While the dialogues try a little too hard at times, this show encapsulates all that streaming is meant to embody: bingeable, feel-good, engaging content that has a little fun and doesn’t try to put anyone in a box. And, added bonus, there are little nuggets of real tea (and some guest appearances) about designing for Bollywood, which really nailed it for me. Don’t miss this series!
(And if you’re a subscriber, a very special interview about the show may soon be in your inboxes!)
Skippable: “Aashram,” MX Player
I literally cannot believe I watched nine whole episodes of this show!! Bobby Deol stars in this series about Baba Nirala, a spiritual (cult?) leader and the politics that surround him. Nine women in the area of his aashram have gone missing in the past few years, and as the police investigate the most recent case, all signs point to something off about the Baba. (The story is apparently inspired by the real-life Baba Ram Rahim Singh and other, similarly problematic men.)
The director Prakash Jha’s vision and story are enticing, but the show falters in keeping viewers engrossed. Lengthy side stories and extraneous scenes take away from what could’ve been easily trimmed into a well-paced, enthralling 2-hour film. Aside from the problems with Bobby Deol’s stoicism (what’s the opposite of Big Deol Energy?), other performers stand out — especially Aaditi Pohankar (last seen in Imtiaz Ali’s Netflix series, “She”). I could also have done without the repetitive “Baba” background song and prolonged sex scenes. (What’s the complete opposite of steamy?)
I’m not sure if its the medium that trips Jha up here, or just the lackluster writing, but a slow boil of nine episodes does nothing to unravel the mystery teased in the first episode’s opening scenes — and nothing boils my blood more than finding out there’s a “Part 2” of Season 1 planned for the near future (which also looks like it holds most of the answers to the show’s many questions, gah!!!)
(P.S. - If you’re into the premise of this show, maybe check out “Leila” or the second season of “Sacred Games” on Netflix instead.)
Throwback: “Dil Ka Rishta” (2003), Amazon Prime
To cleanse our palettes this week, my wife picked the old Aishwarya Rai-Arjun Rampal starrer, “Dil Ka Rishta.” All these years later, the songs are still delightful, but the story is still problematic: Jai (Rampal) falls in love Tia (Rai), but she doesn’t return his affections, despite his best creepy stalking efforts. After a tragedy damages her memory, Jai gets a second chance — but this time, Tia is the one pursuing him.
Supporting roles by Ishaa Koppikar, Paresh Rawal and Raakhee do nothing to uplift this slow and bizarre story, in which everyone around them tells them the lies, stalking and lack of consent are all okay when it comes to romance: an idea for too outdated for our time.
What I’ve Been Reading
Canada’s Drag Race spoiler ahead! Avert your eyes!
Priyanka took home the crown last night, and is only the fifth queen of color to win in the drag race universe. I revisited this profile of her from June where she talks about being proud of her Guyanese heritage, her early drag beginnings and more.
Speaking of badass women, we really threaten y’all huh? This really blew me away this week: Newly unveiled recordings (tapes strike again!) of President Nixon reveal his racist and misogynistic views of South Asians, and women in particular. A glimpse of the horror:
“Undoubtedly the most unattractive women in the world are the Indian women,” said Mr. Nixon. “Undoubtedly,” he repeated, with a venomous tone.
Okay so this is not entirely entertainment-related, but R.I.P. to Taco Bell’s iconic Mexican Pizza!!! As we mourn, I revisited this great piece on what the restaurant (and its iconic dish) has meant for Indian Americans.
Coming Soon to a Couch Near You
“Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare” | Netflix, Sept. 18
Okay I’m not about that chronological life today — I’ve been waiting for this one! Powerhouse actors Bhumi Pednekar and Konkona Sen Sharma team up as sisters who are exploring what it’s like to come into their own as women. Maybe the premise doesn’t sound new, but with these two in the lead, and with the director Alankritha Srivastava (“Lipstick Under My Burkha”) at the helm, the film seems like it won’t shy away from feminist themes that remain taboo for mainstream Bollywood.
More coming soon:
“Atkan Chatkan” | Zee5, Sept. 5
This film, produced by music maestro A.R. Rahman, stars Lydian Nadhaswaram, a noted child pianist and one of Rahman’s own prodigies, as a 12-year-old tea delivery boy.
“Cargo” | Netflix, Sept. 8
If August was Bobby Deol’s month, September is Vikrant Massey’s month, probs. After successful web series stints in “Made in Heaven” and “Criminal Justice” (India’s version of HBO’s “The Night Of”), Massey headlines in this sci-fi film along with the wonderful actor and (seemingly) streaming veteran Shweta Tripathi (“Laakhon Mein Ek”). He’ll also be in “Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare.”
“Hostages” | Hotstar, Sept. 9
The second season of this crime thriller series, directed by Sudhir Misra, has Ronit Roy in the lead alongside Dino Morea (omg, what?!) and Divya Dutta. I admittedly did not see the first season… but I might be intrigued enough by this cast and premise to dive in!
That’s all for this week! And as always, if you have any South Asian shows or movies you’d like to put on my radar, especially if they’re not from India, please let me know!