Khabardaar Podcast

#133 Heated Rivalry: India Edit

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:00:17 -0400

Heated Rivalry has become a global phenomenon. Aparita found some fans in India, who had watched the show before its debut on an Indian streaming platform by Lionsgate. She spoke to Trupti Marolia, aka The Culinary Expert and Jinal Bhatt, who goes by Imagination Junkie.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#131 Dhurandhar

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:17 -0400

Almost two months after its release, Dhurandhar continues to dominate the Bollywood box office. Aparita and Baisakhi could not avoid the hype and watched the film. But more than the movie, it was the memes that left them entertained.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#130 Family Stories

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:17 -0400

After a more or less restful holiday break, Aparita and Baisakhi are back with stories about families. The break over Christmas and New Year’s often has us dealing with our loved – and not-so-loved ones. So there was lots to appreciate in Jar Series’ Perfect Family as well as Anusha Rizvi’s dramedy The Great Shamsuddin Family, available on Jio Hotstar.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#129 TIFF 2025 Homebound

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 129 In making Homebound, based on a NYT opinion piece, director Neeraj Ghaywan was mainly driven by a sense of inquiry and curiosity: How to tell a nuanced story of Dalit lives, and other people living on whatever margins they may have been relegated to. In a (all too short!) conversation with Aparita and Baisakhi, Neeraj talks about his worldview and how he shared that perspective with his leading actors Vishal Jethwa, Ishaan Khatter and Jahnvi Kapoor. We also hear from the rising stars of commercial Hindi cinema about diving into the lives of Chandan, Shoaib and Sudha.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#128 TIFF 2025 Wrap

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 128 It’s almost the final-final episode from TIFF 2025. A quick overview of how the festival went for Aparita and Baisakhi.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#127 TIFF 2025 Aseem Chhabra

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 127 Aparita and Baisakhi were a little out of steam at this festival, and only managed to watch close to 34 films between them. But noted film critic, festival director of New York Indian Film Festival and author Aseem Chhabra kept the pace. In a short window between two film screenings, sitting in the Scotiabank Theatre lounge area, Aseem spoke with Baisakhi and Aparita about the films they watched.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#126 TIFF 2025 Bandar

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 126 Anurag Kashyap would like his latest film to start a conversation. Starring Bobby Deol, Bandar/Monkey in a Cage, looks at a man fighting to prove his innocence when accused of sexual assault. Aparita and Baisakhi got a chance to speak with Kashyap about courting challenging subjects, and Deol about how he learned to become an actor in middle age.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#125 TIFF 2025 Bayaan

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 125 The topic of Huma Qureshi’s latest film Bayaan, directed by Bikas Ranjan Mishra, is serious. However, the duo were in a fun mood, when in conversation with Baisakhi and Aparita about bringing their feature film to TIFF.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#124 TIFF 2025 Gandhi

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 124 Aparita and Baisakhi got a chance to sit down with veteran filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who brought his latest series Gandhi to TIFF. In a conversation about Mehta’s objective to tell the story of Mohan, the average man who became Mahatma Gandhi, the filmmaker also spoke about lessons learnt during his long career as a filmmaker.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#123 TIFF 2025 Roundup

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 123 Coming to you straight from the Toronto International Film Festival, Aparita and Baisakhi bring you an update on the first few days of TIFF, the movies they watched and conversations they had with visiting filmmakers.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#122 TIFF 2025 Teaser

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 122 It’s that time of the year again. When Baisakhi and Aparita submerge themselves in the filmi world at Toronto International Film Festival. A quick look at films we hope to see in 2025.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#121 Nadaaniyan

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 121 Aparita and Baisakhi discuss Naadaaniyaan, Karan Johar’s latest film starring Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#120 TIFF: Deepa Mehta

Sun, 04 May 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 120: As part of its 50 year celebrations, TIFF recently presented a retrospective of iconic Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta’s films. The retrospective included some of her earlier works such as Sam & Me, the Elemental trilogy Fire, Earth and Water, as well as recent works such as Midnight’s Children.

The event gave Baisakhi and Aparita an opportunity to revisit some of Mehta’s earlier works, remember their first impressions of both the filmmaker and her craft, and ruminate on how they now approach Mehta’s films in hindsight.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#119 a Nice Indian Boy

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 119: Directed by Roshan Sethi, A Nice Indian Boy stars Karan Soni as Naveen Gavaskar, an Indian-American doctor looking for love. When he meets Jay Kurundkar (Jonathan Groff), he’s hesitant to introduce him to his parents Megha (Zarna Garg) and Archit (Harsh Patel). Then there’s also his supposedly perfect sister Arundhati (Sunita Mani).

A Nice Indian Boy tries to tell a complicated story in a traditional romcom format. While Baisakhi found it funny in parts, Aparita appreciated a fresh take on representing South Asian identity.

Also check out Roshan Sethi’s essay in finding purpose through writing, while also working full-time as a doctor.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#118 Daddy

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 118: Ashim Ahluwalia’s biopic on Mumbai’s famed gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli features Arjun Rampal as the main character. Set in the 80’s, the film depicts the period and its politics with gritty realism. Aparita and Baisakhi talk about the central role played by Canadian cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagne in visualizing Daddy, and where else you may have seen her work.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#117 TIFF 2024 Santosh

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 117: Sandhya Suri’s debut film Santosh, which screened at TIFF 2024, is now releasing in theatres around the world to critical acclaim. However, the film is facing significant censor board cuts in India, where it has yet to be released. Aparita and Baisakhi discuss their reactions to the film, and why they think this film is worth watching.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#116 TIFF 2024 Malegaon

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 116: Aparita and Baisakhi got a chance to chat with the filmmakers behind Superboys of Malegoan at TIFF 2024. The movie is now available via streaming.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#115 TIFF 2024 Aseem

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 115: Aparita and Baisakhi chat with noted film critic Aseem Chhabra, about the films they caught at TIFF 2024.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#114 TIFF 2024 Boong

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 114: Aparita and Baisakhi in conversation with Laxmipriya Devi, the director of Manipuri film Boong.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#113 TIFF 2024 Wrap

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 113 Aparita and Baisakhi present an overview of the films they saw at TIFF 2024.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#112: Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 112: Since Reema Kagti is bringing Superboys of Malegaon to TIFF 2024, Baisakhi and Aparita take a look at Kagti’s debute feature as part of Pehli Pehel.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#111 TIFF 2024 Teaser

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 111: It’s that time of the year again. When Baisakhi and Aparita submerge themselves in the filmi world at Toronto International Film Festival. A quick look at films we hope to see in 2024.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#110 Asoka Trend

Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 110: When the Asoka trend took over Instagram, Aparita and Baisakhi were more than a little amused. A look at this version of makeup tutorial videos flooding social media.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#109 All India Rank

Sun, 05 May 2024 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 109: Aparita and Baisakhi delve into some personal (high school) traumas after watching All India Rank, Varun Grover’s directorial debut.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#108 Hip Hip Hurray

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 108: Introducing a new series, Pehli Pehel, where we look at the first works of noted filmmakers, composers or actors. We kick off this series with Hip Hip Hurray, veteran filmmaker Prakash Jha’s debut film; with a screenplay by Gulzaar.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#107 Leading Ladies

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 107: Aparita and Baisakhi discuss the not-so-lost ladies of Laapataa Ladies and Crew. Both films put women in the centre of the narratives. Where Laapataa Ladies revelled in revealing their inner lives, Crew cruised along the surface.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#106 TIFF 2023: Anil Kapoor

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 106: Aparita and Baisakhi had a chance to chat with Bollywood veteran Anil Kapoor, who came to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2023 as the co-producer of the film Thank You For Coming.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#105 TIFF 2023: TYFC

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 105: Aparita and Baisakhi discuss their takes on Thank You For Coming, a movie about female pleasure and empowerment, which they watched at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2023. The movie starring Bhumi Pednekar, Shibani Bedi and Dolly Singh among others is now playing in select cinemas in Canada.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#104 TIFF 2023: Critics Roundtable

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 104: Noted Indian film critic and director of the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) Aseem Chhabra joins Aparita and Baisakhi to talk about the films they watched at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2023.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#103 TIFF 2023: Days 4,5

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 103: Aparita and Baisakhi bring you an update from the fifth day of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2023.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#102 TIFF 2023: Kiran Rao

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 102: A conversation with Hindi filmmaker Kiran Rao about her sophomore film Laapataa Ladies, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2023.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#101 TIFF 2023: Day 3

Sat, 09 Sep 2023 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 101: Aparita and Baisakhi bring you an update from the third day of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2023.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#100 TIFF 2023: Day 1

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 100: Aparita and Baisakhi bring you an update from the first day of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2023, where they saw three films – In Flames, Thank You For Coming and Fallen Leaves.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#99 TIFF 2022: Kapil Sharma

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 99: Kapil Sharma is known for his comedic appearances as well as his eponymous sketch-comedy and chat TV programme – The Kapil Sharma Show – currently in its fourth season. So it came as a bit of a surprise to learn that Sharma is one of the lead actors ofZwigato a film by Nandita Das, who is well-known for making movies addressing societal issues. In the film, Sharma plays a middle-class food delivery person, trying to make a decent salary for his family, and negotiating a changing world around him. As it turns out, Sharma played his part effortlessly, showcasing the desperation of a man caught in the middle of societal shifts, and his humanity.

Since Sharma attended TIFF 2022, we got a chance to talk to him about his journey to fame and the lessons he learnt from experiences with Zwigato.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#98 TIFF 2022: Vinay Shukla

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 98: Veteran journalist Ravish Kumar’s resignation from NDTV in Dec 2022 became breaking news itself. A well-known veteran in the Indian media landscape, whose evening primetime telecasts were long considered a must-watch for people who appreciated his no-nonsense delivery, a dry sense of humour and a desire to talk about topics relevant to public life, Ravish Kumar announced his departure to YouTube.

A few months prior, during TIFF 2022, we spoke with filmmaker Vinay Shukla about his documentary on Ravish Kumar called While We Watched/Namaskar! Main Ravish Kumar. The work about reporting the news in India and the challenges faced by the likes of Ravish Kumar went on to win the Amplify Voices Award.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#97 TIFF 2022: Critics' Roundtable

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 97: They returned - IRL! Aseem Chhabra, film journalist/festival director of NYIFF, and film critic/writer Namrata Joshi attended TIFF 2022. They decided to grace us with their presence at the critics’ roundtable, where they were joined by writer, critic and podcaster Aditya Shrikrishna. We missed Shubhra Gupta and Suparna Sharma while talking about films we saw at TIFF 2022.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#96 at TIFF 2022

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 96: Aparita and Baisakhi give an update from the initial days of the annual Toronto International Film Festival, which featured a solid slate of films from South Asia.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#95 Indian Sports Films

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 95: Given the box office failure of Liger, Aparita and Baisakhi discuss Indian and other sports films and series that worked.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#94 Darlings

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 94: Aparita and Baisakhi talk about the depiction of domestic violence and black humour in the new-ish Netflix film Darlings.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#93 Kuch Different Hai!

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 93: Aparita and Baisakhi introduce a new version of Khabardaar podcast, with your two favourite khabaris.

Music: Wataboi by ItsWatr

#92 in Memoriam: Lata Didi

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 92: A look at the life of Lata Mangeshkar, whose lilting melodies rang out in Hindi cinema songs for seven decades. Special guest Saleha Salam adds her perspective on how Lata gave voice to the Hindi film heroine’s state of mind.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#91 TIFF 2021

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 91: A coversation with Indian film critics Aseem Chhabra, Namrata Joshi, Shubhra Gupta and Suparna Sharma on TIFF 2021.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#90 Boxing

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 90: A look at Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofan and Pa. Ranjith’s Sarpatta Parambarai.

Which film knocked us out more? Toofan starring Farhan Akhtar saw the Bollywood celebrity trying to play a Mumbai gangster turned boxing star. On the other corner of the ring, Sarpatta Parambarai presented us an intriguing look at the boxing scene in 1970’s North Chennai, through the lens of several fascinating characters including Kabilan, played by Aarya.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#89 Haseen Dillruba

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 89: A look at Haseen Dillruba. Directed by Vinil Mathew, written by Kanika Dhillon, it stars Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey in the lead roles of Rani and Rishu. Set in a fictitious small North Indian town Jwalapur, the movie attempts to play with tropes found in Hindi pulp fiction. Does it work? Listen to find out.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#88 Sherni

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 88: A look at Amit Masurkar’s new film Sherni, starring Vidya Balan.

There was a lot of anticipation around Masurkar’s new film Sherni, especially after the success of Newton (2017) – which was a satirical look at the election process in a small village in India.

The trailer also suggested the return of Vidya Balan in a serious, dramatic role – supported by talented actors such as Brijendra Kala, Vijay Raaz and Sharat Saxena. Was Sherni a roar or a whimper? Listen to find out.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#87 the Disciple

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 87: A look at The Disciple, by Chaitanya Tamhane.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#86 Kabir Khan's 83

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 86: We discuss the upcoming Hindi film 83 with Rahul Desai, whose opinions on Indian cinema and cricket are insightful and a delight to read.

This film about India’s historic win of the Cricket World Cup in 1983 will be the biggest film of 2021, says Desai. A lot of expectations are riding on Kabir Khan’s ability to craft a compelling narrative, and the actors’ ability to bring the dressing room drama to the pitch.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#85 Mismatched

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 85: A look at Mismatched - a Netflix series based on the YA novel When Dimple Met Rishi. Starring Rohit Saraf, Prajakta Kohli, Muskkan Jaferi and Vihaan Samat, and co-directed by Akarsh Khurana and Nipun Dharmadhikari, this show takes a look at young love.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#84 AK vs AK

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 84: A look at AK vs AK - starring Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap, and directed by Vikramaditya Motwane.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#83 Abhay Deol

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 83: A look at the films of Abhay Deol – Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dev.D and Shanghai.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#82 Rangeela Re

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 82: A conversation with Vandana Vishwas and Vishwas Thoke – a Toronto-based musical duo – on the famous SD Burman and Gopaldas Neeraj song Rangeela Re.

Rangeela Re is the first composition by Hindi poet Gopaldas Neeraj. He was commissioned as a lyricist by Dev Anand, who wrote, produced and directed Prem Pujari (1970).

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#81 Catch Up Session

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 81: And we’re back! It’s been a few months since Aparita and Baisakhi spoke to each other about Bollywood films. Physical distancing during the time of a global pandemic and other distractions kept us away from our usual Hindi film gupshup. But we’re back, with a slightly different version of the podcast.

In this episode, we catch up on films and shows we watched during the time of COVID-19.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#80 Female Desire in Bollywood

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 80: A look at female desire in Bollywood, with a special guest - Suparna Sharma.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar and Filmi Khabrein.

Then in Bollywood Behes, a conversation with noted Indian film critic and editor Suparna Sharma about how Bollywood films have failed to depict expressions of female desire. This discussion was partly inspired by Suparna’s 2013 essay on the same subject.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#79 Bulbbul

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 79: A look at the Netflix Original film Bulbbul.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar and Filmi Khabrein.

Then in Bollywood Behes, we look at how Bulbbul takes on patriarchy through the metaphor of a “churail” and other difficult/nasty women.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#78 Gulabo Sitabo

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 78: A look at Gulabo Sitabo, the latest film directed by Shoojit Sircar, and written by Juhi Chaturvedi. This director-writer duo has given us films such as Piku, October and Vicky Donor in the past.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, where we remember veteran Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan. Filmi Khabrein brings us the latest news in Bollywood.

Then in Bollywood Behes, we look at the world created by language and characters in Gulabo Sitabo.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#77 Sushant Singh Rajput

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 77: A look at the films of Sushant Singh Rajput. The talented Bollywood actor was found dead at his Mumbai home in June 2020. His death was ruled a suicide by Mumbai Police. He was 34.

After making his debut in Bollywood with Kai Po Che (2013), Singh went on to play critically acclaimed roles in films such as M. S. Dhoni - The Untold Story (2016) and Chhichhore (2019). He was praised for his disarming charm, an affinity for intellectual comversations and ability to disappear into a character without making it a caricature.

In this episode, we look at three of Singh’s films where he held his own weight alongside an ensemble cast: Shuddh Desi Romance (2013), Detective Byomkesh Bakshy (2015) and Sonchiriya (2019).

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#76 Never Have I Ever

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 76: A look at Mindy Kaling’s Netflix show Never Have I Ever, starring Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.

The show centres around Devi Vishwakumar (Ramaksrishnan), an Indian American teenager growing up in well-heeled California suburb. After a traumatic incident has made her a social pariah, Devi comes back to class with a mission – to recast herself and her two besties Eleanor Wong (Ramona Young) and Fabiola Torres (Lee Rodriguez) from geek to chic, and get with the high school hottie Paxton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Bennet).

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#75 in Memoriam

Sat, 09 May 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 75: Remembering Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor. Although the two actors had very different career paths in the Hindi film industry, they shared a desire to expand their acting repertoire.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#74 Irrfan Khan

Sat, 02 May 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 74: A tribute to Irrfan Khan, celebrated actor who made a mark in both Hindi and international cinema. Khan had been diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine tumor.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#73 Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 73: A look at Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta and Gajrao Rao.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, where we pick songs based on the theme of distances – literal and metaphorical. Filmi Khabrein delves into upcoming releases on streaming services and how some Bollywood stars are reacting to the global pandemic.

For Bollywood Behes, Aparita and Baisakhi talk about Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan and using the rom-com genre to tell a story about a gay couple seeking acceptance from their family.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#72 R. D. Burman

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 72: A look at the music of R. D. Burman, with Ed Hanley, co-artistic director of Toronto band Autorickshaw.

Burman was one of the most popular Bollywood music composers of the 70’s and 80’s. His music is popular to this today. In many ways, he was way ahead of his time.

Hanley and his bandmates reprised an R. D. Burman song called “Aaj Ki Raat,” from the 1973 film Anamika , as part of their 2007 album So The Journey Goes. This conversation looks at that song and Burman’s musical legacy.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Autorickshaw

#71 Bonus: Saloni Gaur

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 71 Bonus (Bonus): For this Filmi Funde segment, a chat with Saloni Gaur - a social media star whose riffs on Kangana Ranaut’s current affairs hot takes have become viral.

Check out her interpretation of ‘Kangana Runout’ reacting to the Kunal Kamra and Arnab Goswami confrontation.

#71 Kangana Ranaut

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 71: A look at Kangana Ranaut, the Bollywood actress who makes news for her antics on and off the screen.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, where we choose two songs from films featuring Kangana Ranaut – an old Asha Bhonsle song, and a travesty from Krrish 3.

For Bollywood Behes, Aparita and Baisakhi talk about Kangana’s ability to channel emotionally vulnerable characters as well as her role as a controversy queen.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#70 Chhapaak

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 70: A look at Chhapaak, Meghna Gulzar’s film inspired by acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal and starring Deepika Padukone.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, where we choose two songs by Gulzar - Meghna’s father, celebrated lyricist and erstwhile filmmaker, who also penned the songs for Chhapaak.

For Bollywood Behes, Aparita and Baisakhi talk about their experiences watching Chhapaak. While Aparita appreciated the female solidarity displayed in the film, Baisakhi talked about the ways in which the film reinterprets notions of beauty.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#69 Occupy Gateway

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 69: A conversation with independent filmmaker and writer Asmit Pathare about his experiences of Occupy Gateway.

Music: Untold Tales by Markus Huber Photo: Deepanjana Pal

#68 NYE Special

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 68: To ring in the New Year, Aparita and Baisakhi each choose a film they’d want to re-watch on their TV screens.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, where we choose two very different songs that we occasionally groove to. In Filmi Khabrein, we look forward to Hindi movies coming out in 2020 - including Chhapaak, Panga and Thappad.

For Bollywood Behes, Aparita and Baisakhi take it easy and pick two films they wouldn’t mind watching again while staying in for NYE. Aparita chooses The Zoya Factor, while Baisakhi talks about War. It helps that both movies offer up plenty of eye-candy.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#67 Article 15

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 67: At a time when many Indians and those in the diaspora have taken to the streets to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), we look at Anubhav Sinha’s Article 15.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, where we remember Bollywood’s version of protest songs. In lieu of Filmi Khabrein, Aparita brings you voices from a Toronto protest against the CAA/NRC legislations.

Many people have been talking about the Constitution of India and holding up copies of its preamble at protests and in panel discussions. We take a look at the recent Bollywood movie Article 15, which also draws inspiration from the document that guarantees fundamental rights to Indian citizens and those living in India.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#66 Mausaji's Musical Memories

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 66: A conversation with Aparita’s mausaji Bhaskar Khulbe, a Hindi film song lover.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#65 TIFF 2019 Wrap Up

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 65: A conversation about some of the other films and documentaries we watched at Toronto International Film Festival 2019, including Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator; Made in Bangladesh and Bombay Rose.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/Image courtesy TIFF

#64 TIFF 2019 Moothon

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 64: A conversation with Geetu Mohandas, Nivin Pauly, Roshan Mathew, Shashank Arora and Shobhita Dhulipala, who brought Moothon to the Toronto International Film Festival 2019.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/Image courtesy TIFF

#63 TIFF 2019 the Sky Is Pink

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 63: A conversation with Shonali Bose, Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar, who brought The Sky Is Pink to the Toronto International Film Festival 2019.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/Image courtesy TIFF

#62 TIFF 2019 Jallikattu

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 62: A conversation with Lijo Jose Pellissery, one of the directors leading the ‘New Generation’ of Malayalam cinema. Pellissery brought his latest film Jallikattu to the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#61 TIFF 2019 Critics Roundtable

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 61: A conversation with India’s leading film critics and writers on the South Asian selection and other remarkable films at 2019 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

We begin with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar and a quick hit of Filmi Khabrein. And then we bring you a spirited discussion between Namrata Joshi, Aseem Chhabra and Suparna Sharma. The talk about the hits and misses at this year’s TIFF, the selection of films from India and other parts of South Asia, and some insight into how they manage festival life. (Shout out to Shubra Gupta, who left this year’s TIFF a few days ahead of the team.)

Namrata Joshi is the cinema editor and film critic for The Hindu, and author of Reel India: Cinema off the Beaten Track; Suparna Sharma is the film critic for The Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle; and Aseem Chhabra is a film journalist and author of Priyanka Chopra: The Incredible Story of a Global Bollywood Star.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#60 TIFF 2019 Teaser

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 60: Aparita and Baisakhi are at TIFF 2019, and give you an update on films they have watched so far.

We begin with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar and a quick hit of Filmi Khabrein. In lieu of Bollywood Behes, Aparita and Baisakhi talk about watching films such as Parasite, Jallikattu and The Sky is Pink, as well as Hollywood films such as Hustlers.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#59 on Vidya Sinha

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 59: In this episode, a tribute to Vidya Sinha and the modern Hindi film heroine in Rajnigandha and Chhoti Si Baat.

We begin with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, remembering Salil Chowdhury and his music. In Filmi Khabrein we talk about three leading ladies in Hindi cinema today, and their upcoming projects - Sonam Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu and Jahnvi Kapoor.

In Bollywood Behes we remember 70’s actress Vidya Sinha. The news of her demise last month caught everyone by surprise. Aparita had recently watched Rajnigandha on the big screen in Toronto, and had been reminiscing about Basu Chatterjee’s ‘middle cinema’ with Baisakhi. We look back at the modern heroine as represented by Sinha in movies such as Rajnigandha (1974) and Chhoti Si Baat (1975), whose life seemed to mirror that of the viewer.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#58 on Kashmir

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 58: In this episode, a look at how Kashmir has been portrayed in Bollywood and Hindi films over the years.

We begin with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, paying tribute to older movies set in Kashmir, as well as veteran star Vidya Sinha. Filmi Khabrein returns, in which we talk about Akshay Kumar and other Bollywood celebrities. And then Bollywood Behes takes us into Kashmir, as seen in Hindi cinema.

Given the current political climate, we take a look at the way this disputed territory - one of the world’s most militarized zones - has been portrayed as a honeymoon or holiday destination in older Bollywood movies. With movies like Roja, terrorism became another backdrop to set Hindi films against. More recent films such as Harud and Haider, however, have given us a sense of life under military seige.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#57 Jabariya Jodi

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 57: In this episode, a conversation with Sanjeev K Jha, the writer of Jabariya Jodi.

He talks about growing up in a small town in Bihar, watching films seriously for the first time as a university student in New Delhi, and writing a film to combat Bihari stereotypes in Indian popular culture.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#56 Soni

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 56: In this episode, a look at Ivan Ayr’s debut film Soni. During its debut at Venice International Film Festival, Soni received praise from critics and audiences alike for telling a compelling story about two Indian female police officers, who are trying to maintain a balance between their personal and professional lives. The film has been available to see on Netflix since Jan 2019.

In this conversation, Ivan tells us what led him to filmmaking, influences and approaches, and his desire to understand a “dark reality” about contemporary Indian society.

Music: As I Dream by Moments

#55 Leila

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 55: In this episode, a look at Deepa Mehta’s Netflix series Leila. We talk about its origins as a book by journalist-turned-author Prayaag Akbar, and why a dystopian series set in India doesn’t seem to be too far from present day reality.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar that features two songs starring Ayushmann Khurrana: Pani Da Rang from Vicky Donor and Moh Moh Ke Dhaage from Dum Laga Ke Haisha.

Filmi Khabrein covers Bollywood news. Bollywood Behes includes snippets of a conversation with Deepa Mehta.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#54 Kabir Singh

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 54: In this episode, despite our better judgement, a look at Kabir Singh. The Hindi remake of the Telugu sleeper hit Arjun Reddy is a bonafide Bollywood blockbuster. We try to understand why this misogynist film has struck a chord with viewers.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar remembering two unique Hindi song takes on the idea of love – Dil Chahta Hai’s “Jaane Kyun” and “Man Kyun Behka” from Utsav.

Filmi Khabrein covers the latest in Bollywood news, including an update on Vicky Kaushal’s latest army look.

In Bollywood Behes, we revisit some themes we had already elaborated on while discussing Arjun Reddy. We talk about the difference between self-destructive obsession and love – no matter how intense. However, the movie has broken box-office records. So what do we take away from it all? Tune in to find out!

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#53 Luka Chuppi

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 53: In this episode, a look at Luka Chuppi. Starring Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon, this was the latest Hindi film to explore live-in relationships. It’s now available to watch on Netflix.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar with a Tamil twist, featuring two AR Rahman songs: Thaiyya Thaiyya and Mental Manadhil.

Filmi Khabrein covers the latest in Bollywood news, including keeping tabs on the #MeToo movement as well as the the critical reception and box-office success of Kabir Singh.

In Bollywood Behes, we discuss whether Luka Chuppi adds anything new to a subject that has already been covered recently in films such as Shuddh Desi Romance, OK Kanmani/OK Jaanu and Befikre.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#52 Girish Karnad Legacy

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 52: In this episode, we pay tribute to veteran playwright, actor, writer and thinker Girish Karnad - who played a starring role both in art house and commercial Hindi/Indian cinema

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar featuring two songs to remember Karnad by: a Kannada bhava-geethe Deepavu Ninnade Gaaliyu Ninnade and Mero Gaam Katha Parey. Filmi Khabrein follows, featuring news from the South Indian film industries.

In Bollywood Behes, we look at the important legacy that Karnad has left in Kannada literature and films, as well as his many artistic contributions to Hindi cinema. He worked behind the scenes as a screenwriter for Shyam Benegal films such as Bhumika and Godhuli. He also shone in front of the camera in films such as Nishant, Manthan, Swami as well as Ek Tha Tiger. And then there was his role as the father in the TV series Malgudi Days. Karnad brought an artistic sensitivity that often didn’t need words to be expressed.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#51 Pt. 2 Photograph

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 51 Pt. 2: A special short corollary - Toronto filmmaker Gursimran Datla’s analysis of Ritesh Batra’s new film Photograph, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sanya Malhotra.

For more on French filmmaker and philosopher Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle, see this quick introduction.

#51 Photograph

Wed, 29 May 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 51: In this episode, a look at Ritesh Batra’s new film Photograph, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sanya Malhotra.

Rafi (Siddiqui) is a street photographer who happens to take a photograph of Miloni (Malhotra) in front of the famous Mumbai tourist spot Gateway of India. Tired of his grandmother’s constant refrain to get married, Rafi sends Miloni’s photograph to his grandmother saying he’s found a girl to marry. When the grandmother announces she’s coming to Mumbai to meet the girl, Rafi needs to convince Miloni to play along.

Before we focus on Photograph in Bollywood Behes, we revisit two Mumbai-set songs in Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar and tune into news from the Hindi film industry in Filmi Khabrein.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#50 Bhonsle

Mon, 13 May 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 50: In this episode, we record live on location at IFFSA Toronto. We talk about one of the opening films Bhonsle, and kick off a short series called 50-50.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#49 Kalank

Sun, 05 May 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 49: In this episode, we unpack our feelings about Kalank, the multi-starrer film featuring Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sonakshi Sinha, Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt among others.

Set against the backdrop of the Partition of India and Pakistan, Kalank attempts to tell the story of love, betrayal and loss. The elaborate family saga starts with Satya (Sonakshi Sinha), who in the face of imminent death due to a disease, persuades Roop (Alia Bhatt) to marry her husband Dev (Aditya Roy Kapur). Stuck in a loveless marriage, Roop finds herself drawn to Zafar (Varun Dhawan), a blacksmith, who has his own agenda in charming Roop. Turns out that this love quandary is actually the result of an older love story that went awry. How will Roop, Dev and Zafar fare?

We begin the show with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar featuring two ‘kotha’ classic songs: Salaam-E-Ishq from Muqaddar Ka Siqander and Tharhe Rahio from Pakeezah. Then we check in with some Filmi Khabrein, where we talk about the upcoming IFFSA Toronto among other news items, before diving into Bollywood Behes.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#48 Super Deluxe

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 48: In this episode, a look at Thiagarajan Kumararaja’s sophomore film Super Deluxe, starring an ensemble cast that includes Vijay Sethupathi, Samantha Akkineni, Fahadh Faasil, Mysskin, Ramya Krishan, Gayathrie and Ashwanth Ashok Kumar.

Super Deluxe features four separate stories (we mistakenly counted three in our discussion, skipping the story of Leela and Arputham) that come together to form a larger narrative questioning issues such as sexuality, religion, caste and gender - while being both deeply philosophical and irreverent.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#47 Party

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 47: In this episode, a look at Govind Nihalani’s cult classic Party, starring an ensemble cast of some the best Indian theatre and art-house actors such as Deepa Sahi, Manohar Singh and Rohini Hattangadi.

The premise of the film is deceptively simple. A celebrated playwright Diwakar Barve (Manohar Singh) has been awarded a prestigious literary award. Socialite Damayanti Rane (Vijaya Mehta) organizes a party to celebrate Barve. A room full of intellectuals soon assemble together, but their conversations mainly centre around missing poet-turned-activist Amrit (Naseeruddin Shah). Over the evening, the gathering discusses the role of art in society, while pointing out each other’s - or their own - hypocrisy.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#46 Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 46: In this encore presentation, a look at Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, directed by Vasan Bala, starring Abhimanyu Dassani, Radhika Madan and Gulshan Devaiah.

Also introducing a new segment called Filmi Funde. In this inaugural version - a conversation with Karan Kulkarni, the music director for Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, about three songs from the film.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#45 Made in Heaven

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 45: Created by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, co-written by Alankrita Shrivastava, and co-directed by Nitya Mehra and Prashant Nair, Made In Heaven is an Amazon Prime Video series that uses the backdrop of the ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’ to talk about social realities.

First we start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, a shaadi special featuring some unusual shaadi-waali movies - Saathiya and Tanu Weds Manu.

Then Bollywood Behes takes us into the world of modern day Indian weddings. Dreamed up by Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar, this series focuses on the complicated lives of two wedding planners Tara and Karan, and the couples they are planning weddings for. Issues such as dowry, class, tradition, as well as LGBTQ lives are seen through a not-so-rosy lens.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#44 Gully Boy

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 44: Gully Boy brought the sounds of Mumbai’s gullies to the big Bollywood screen. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, the movie featured A-list stars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, and a team of formidable supporting actors. Together, they brought to life a story based on the lives of Indian rap stars Divine and Naezy.

First we start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, which features Bluffmaster’s “Right Here Right Now” (composed by those hip hop fakers - Vishal and Shekhar) and Baba Sehgal’s “Thanda Thanda Pani” (yes, we feel your pain). Filmi Khabrein rounds up the latest Bollywood news.

Then Bollywood Behes takes a deep dive into Gully Boy, where we look at Zoya Akhtar’s masterful direction, which made stars like Ranveer and Alia shine, but also put actors such as Vijay Raaz, Vijay Varma and Amruta Subhash in the spotlight.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#43 Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 43: Aparita Bhandari watched Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga with Queer South Asians and Allies of Toronto (QSAALT). A conversation with its members after watching the movie.

The group talked about queer representation in Bollywood movies of past, and the importance of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga in giving voice to a mis- or under-represented community.

Then a follow up conversation with Lucky, about her experiences growing up as a lesbian in India.

Music: Ek Ladki Ko Dekha by Rochak Kohli/ Wind Marching for Rain by Puddles of Infinity

#42 Arjun Reddy

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 42: A look at the influence of Telugu cinema on Bollywood, and a discussion of the sleeper hit Telugu film Arjun Reddy.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar featuring the hit A. R. Rahman song Urvashi Urvashi, as well as Jumme Ki Raat from Kick. Filmi Khabrein has us talking about Kangana Ranaut and the ensemble cast featured in Total Dhamaal.

In Bollywood Behes, we look at the tradition of Telugu cinema inspiring Bollywood films such as Ek Duje ke Liye, Wanted and Tevar, before discussing Arjun Reddy and its problematic title character.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#41 Uri

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 41: A debate on whether Uri: The Surgical Strike, starring Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam and Paresh Rawal among others, is a jingoistic film - or not.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar featuring two A. R. Rahman songs, and Filmi Khabrein full of new teasers and trailer information. Then in Bollywood Behes, an in-depth discussion of how war is made sexy in Uri, including some audience reactions.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#40 Manikarnika - The Queen's Last Salute

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 40: A conversation with author Moupia Basu on her book The Queen’s Last Salute, which is partially inspired by the story of Rani Laxmibai. Basu’s book covers much of the same ground as Kangana Ranaut’s latest film Manikarnika.

The Queen’s Last Salute is published by Juggernaut Books and available at your local bookstore or online.

To see what some of the old monuments at Orchha look like, visit the World Monument Fund website.

Music: Desert City by Kevin MacLeod, Desert Heartbeat by Ustad Zakir Hussain

#39 Simbaa

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 39: We have lots to talk about when it comes to Rohit Shetty and Ranveer Singh’s collaboration in Simbaa. While the movie had many fun elements, tacking on a serious issue like rape to a Shetty style masala movie didn’t sit well with us.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, followed by Filmi Khabrein - where we talk about the depiction of police in Shetty’s movies and masculinity in Bollywood movies, among other topics.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#38 Zero

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 38: We watched Zero, the big budget Anand L. Rai extravaganza starring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, alongside top-billing female leads Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. The movie didn’t impress us much; but then neither did Race 3 or Thugs of Hindostan earlier in 2018. So, this episode features our experience of watching Zero, followed by a discussion on the relevance of Bollywood’s Khan triumverate.

We start off with Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, followed by Filmi Khabrein - where we note the passing of two Indian cinema greats: veteran art house filmmaker Mrinal Sen, and Bollywood screenwriter and actor Kader Khan.

We also meet two Shah Rukh fans who run SRK Universe Canada, the Canadian chapter of an international fan forum, and pay a short tribute to Kader Khan.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#37 Vivek

Mon, 24 Dec 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 37: In this special episode, a conversation with celebrated Indian documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan about his latest work Vivek/Reason.

Vivek/Reason screened as part of the Toronto International Film Festival (2018). Although many balked at first at its run-time – the 261 minute long documentary is meant to be screened in two sessions – critics noted its importance, especially given the rise of nationalistic rhetoric in India and across the world. The incidents shown in Vivek might not be new, but the way it connects the dots between seemingly disparate incidents gives much needed context to the rise of Hindu extremism.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#36 Stree

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 36: In this episode, a look at Stree. This horror-comedy film starring Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Aparshakti Khurrana, Abhishek Banerjee and Pankaj Tripathi was a sleeper hit, telling an unusual story of an evil female spirit who kidnaps men.

Although the film used the horror-comedy genre to address themes such as patriarchy and consent in an amusing and innovative fashion – stale jokes, lazy writing and a meandering script watered down its central thesis.

This discussion comes after a round of Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar featuring two golden oldies Hindi tunes, and a Filmi Khabrein round-up of the latest Bollywood news.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#35 Badhaai Ho

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 35: In this episode, a look at Badhaai Ho, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Sanya Malhotra, Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao and Surekha Sikri. Although Hindi films typically centre around its younger stars, Badhaai Ho featured stand-out performances by the senior artists, stealing scene after scene, in a film that broached the topic of parental sex with gentle humour and tons of grace.

All of this after a round of Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar featuring two classic Hindi tunes, and a Filmi Khabrein round-up of the latest Bollywood news. (Yes, we’re feeling quite exotic!)

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#34 AndhaDhun

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 34: A look at Sriram Raghavan’s body of work that leads up to his latest film, AndhaDhun - starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu and Radhika Apte.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#33 Bollywood Romcoms

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 33: We are back to our regular programming! In this episode, inspired by the Netflix hit To All The Boys I Loved Before, Aparita and Baisakhi pick their favourite contemporary Bollywood romcom aimed at young people.

While romance is always an ingredient in popular Hindi films, Bollywood romcoms are a genre unto themselves. Contemporary Hindi cinema has given us plenty of movies to choose from, even if the gender politics remain somewhat problematic. While we now see more self-assured female leads, will Bollywood give us a sensitive male character like Peter Kavinsky? These are all points we consider, after a round of Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar featuring two remix songs and the latest news from the Hindi film industry in Filmi Khabrein.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#32 Bollywood #MeToo

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 32: In this special episode, a conversation with Janice Sequeira, a former broadcast journalist and entertainment reporter, about Bollywood’s leading role in India’s #MeToo movement.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#31 TIFF Manto

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 31: A conversation with Nandita Das, who brought her second feature film Manto to TIFF 2018.

After Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar and Filmi Khabrein, we also talk to Urdu-Hindi writer Faiyaz Ahmad Wajeeh as part of Bollywood Behes about his take on Das’ bio-pic Manto. Well-versed with Manto’s prolific writings, Wajeeh was disappointed with what he saw as the film’s mischaracterization of the celebrated Urdu writer Manto. If you want to know more about Manto, says Wajeeh, just read his many stories and essays.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#30 TIFF Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 30: Our second TIFF-related episode features a conversation with Vasan Bala and Abhimanyu Dassani, the director and star respectively of Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, aka The Man Who Feels No Pain.

After Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, inspired by Bollywood’s take on karate and the festive season, and Filmi Khabrein, where we talk about Rima Das’s film Village Rockstars being submitted as India’s entry to the Oscars among other news, we feature Vasan’s sophomore feature in Bollywood Behes.

Vasan tells us about diving into his own childhood memories of watching all manner of films, in order to write a story that felt true; and Abhimanyu talks about wanting to find honesty in whatever role he does after such a dramatic debut.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#29 TIFF Critics Roundtable

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 29: We kick off our TIFF-related episodes with a critics rountable. One of the world’s best known film festivals, Toronto International Film Festival has long been a friend to Hindi and other Indian films. This year, along with the films, came a contingent of Indian film critics. We had a chance to speak with four of them about their thoughts on TIFF 2018.

The rountable was made up of: Shubhra Gupta, film critic for The Indian Express, and author of 50 Films That Changed Bollywood; Namrata Joshi, cinema editor and film critic for The Hindu; Suparna Sharma, film critic for The Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle; and Aseem Chhabra, film journalist and author of Priyanka Chopra: The Incredible Story of a Global Bollywood Star.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#28 TIFF 2018 Teaser

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 28: In this special episode, a teaser from TIFF 2018. One of the world’s best known film festivals, Toronto International Film Festival has long been a friend to Hindi and other Indian films. This year was no different, with films such as Manto, Manmarziyaan and Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota headlining the roster.

We present a short report from the festival grounds that looks forward to coming episodes featuring interviews with filmmakers, our reactions to the films and a critics roundtable.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#27 Bhavesh Joshi Superhero

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 27: Bhavesh Joshi Superhero is Vikramaditya Motwane’s latest feature film, and stars Harshvardhan Kapoor among an ensemble cast of stellar character actors. Inspired by the superhero/vigilante figures from graphic novels, Motwane tells a contemporary tale that also serves as an origin story of a homegrown Indian superhero/vigilante.

It starts off innocently enough. Three friends - Bhavesh, Sikander or Sikku and Rajat - flirt with India’s protest culture. But Sikku soon gets disenchanted, and Rajat busy with his job. When Bhavesh’s pursuit for ‘insaaf’ gets him killed, Sikku slowly finds himself taking on a new persona.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#26 Soorma + Gold

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 26: A look at hockey as depicted in recent Bollywood films such as Soorma and Gold, which also reminded audiences of the 2007 Shah Rukh Khan starrer Chak De India.

After remembering some Rahat Fateh Ali Khan tunes in Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar and checking in with Filmi Khabrein, including the trailer for Mani Ratnam’s latest work Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, a discussion in Bollywood Behes about Soorma, Gold and Chak De India, and themes such as nationalism in Bollywood sports films and female characters on the sidelines.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#25 Karwaan

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 25: Karwaan is an offbeat addition to Bollywood’s genre of road trip movies. Starring Dulquer Salmaan, Irrfan Khan and Mithila Palkar, it follows the unusual friendship that evolves between three seemingly disconnected people.

To please his father, Avinash (Dulquer) keeps working a soulless job, although he’d much rather pursue his passion for photography. An unexpected phone call informs him of his father’s death in a bus accident and sets the road trip in motion. Avinash enlists his friend Shaukat (Irrfan), who owns a van, to collect his father’s body, and discovers a case of mistaken dead bodies. A series of strange circumstances, full of dark humour, requires them to pick up a third passenger Tanya (Mithila) enroute their final destinations.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#24 Dhadak

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 24: A look at Dhadak, a Hindi film adaptation which launched Bollywood progeny Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khattar, but downplayed the issue of caste raised in the original Marathi film Sairat.

While discussing how Hindi films have depicted caste in the past, we revisit films such as Sujata, the 1960 Bimal Roy classic which also went to Cannes; Ankur, a debut for Shyam Benegal as director and Shabana Azmi and Anant Nag as actors; and Newton, starring Rajkummar Rao, this film by Amit Masurkar explores the state of Indian democracy today.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#23 Varun Grover

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 23: A conversation with Varun Grover, the Indian National Award winning lyricist, writer and stand-up comedian.

After penning songs such as Moh Moh Ke Dhaage in the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), for which he won the Indian National Award for best lyrics, and writing Masaan (2015), which won the FIPRESCI award at Cannes Film Festival among other accolades, Varun has been recently fielding interview requests from across the world for his role as lead writer in Netflix India’s first original series Sacred Games.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#22 Sacred Games

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 22: Netflix India original series Sacred Games has been getting lots of acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Saif Ali Khan in main roles, alongside a stellar supporting cast, it is directed by Hindi cinema heavyweights Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap.

Sacred Games is adapted from Vikram Chandra’s 2006 novel, a 900-page tome. The series stays true to the spirit of the novel, which takes us into the labyrinthine depths of Mumbai, where religion and politics are bigger games than drugs and guns. The central plot revolves around an honest cop Sartaj Singh (Khan) trying to do his bit despite a corrupt system, a fearsome gangster Ganesh Gaitonde (Siddiqui) with something of a God complex, and a sinister plot that threatens to destroy Mumbai.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#21 Gopal Das Neeraj Songs

Fri, 27 Jul 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 21: In this special episode, a conversation with documentary filmmaker, writer and critic Paromita Vohra on the Hindi film songs legacy of renowned poet Gopal Das Neeraj. Often simply referred to as Neeraj, he died on 19 July 2018. He was 93.

Using the songs Neeraj wrote for the Navketan Films’ production Prem Pujari, Paromita tells us what made Neeraj’s songs stand apart from his contemporaries.

Music: Prem Pujari (OST)

#20 Film Critics: Shubhra Gupta and Aseem Chhabra

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:17 -0400

Episode 20: In this special episode, a conversation with Indian Express film critic Shubhra Gupta and Bollywood biographer Aseem Chhabra.

Shubhra Gupta has been covering Hindi films and other movies for decades. She’s the author of 50 Films That Changed Bollywood. Besides authoring two biographies - Shashi Kapoor: The Householder, the Star and Priyanka Chopra: The Incredible Story of a Global Bollywood Star - Aseem Chhabra also curates several film festivals. While Shubhra talks about her earliest movie-going experiences that saw 16 young women stuffing themselves in an Ambassador car to watch an Amitabh Bachchan film, Aseem tells us how Shyam Benegal films awakened his political sensibilities, among other topics.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#19 on Sanjay Dutt

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 19: In this special episode, Yasser Usman talks about his unauthorized biography of Sanjay Dutt, and we meet one of the star’s biggest fans in Toronto.

Yasser Usman grew up watching Hindi films and admiring Sanjay Dutt’s sense of style in movies such as Naam and Saajan. After writing the unauthorized biographies of Rajesh Khanna and Rekha, he wrote his third book on Sanjay Dutt. Listen to a conversation with Yasser about the star and the biopic inspired by his life. Then meet one of Sanjay Dutt’s biggest fans in Toronto, Asadullah Popla.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#18 Sanju

Wed, 04 Jul 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 18: Sanju purports to give audiences the true story of Sanjay Dutt, told straight by Sanju baba himself, warts and all – no intermediaries or anonymous sources. Why is the film so superficial then?

In fact, Sanju takes far more cinematic liberties than the disclaimer at the beginning of the movie outlines. It glamourizes his questionable behaviour and glosses over major chunks of his troubled life. So is this a true biopic or wishful thinking on both Sanjay Dutt and Rajkumar Hirani’s part?

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#17 Lust Stories

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 17: After Bombay Talkies (2013), four famous Bollywood or Hindi cinema directors - Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee and Karan Johar - come together to make a Netflix special, a four film anthology called Lust Stories.

Anurag Kashyap presents a female questioning of monogamy; Zoya Akhtar puts a spin on two tropes: “friends with benefits” as well as the shaadi-ka-rishta scene; Dibakar Banerjee unpacks an extramarital affair between college-friends; Karan Johar gives new meanings to eating ice-cream.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#16 Veere Di Wedding

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 16: In what is likely a Bollywood first, Veere Di Wedding brings the story of four childhood female friends to screen. Yes! Girls can have fun, and make a box-office hit too! The film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam K. Ahuja, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania.

While bromances have long been depicted in Bollywood, ranging from an adult friendship in Sholay to childhood friends in Dil Chahta Hai or Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, it is unusual to see meaningful female friendships in Hindi cinema. Which is why Veere Di Wedding is a worthwhile film - featuring women who drink, swear and love with abandon - even if it isn’t particularly deep.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#15 7 Din Mohabbat In

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 15: In this special episode, a conversation with celebrated Pakistani actors Mahira Khan and Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui about their latest film 7 Din Mohabbat In, which releases on 15 June 2018, in time for Eid celebrations.

This romantic comedy tells the story of a young man Tipu (Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui) who in unable to stand up for himself, and his cousin and confidante Neeli (Mahira Khan), who is also in love with him. When a not-so-friendly djinn (Javed Sheikh) offers Tipu an opportunity to transform from zero se hero, Tipu finds himself in many unpredictable situations.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#14 Raazi

Wed, 23 May 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 14: Based on a true story, Raazi brings an unlikely female spy to the big screen. When Bangladesh sought to secede from Pakistan, India got involved in a military confrontation that came to be known as the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. At the time, a young Kashmiri woman Sehmat Khan married into a Pakistani general’s family at the request of her father, who himself was a Kashmiri businessman and spy. Sehmat’s role was to provide intelligence to Indian spy agencies. When former Indian Navy officer Harinder S. Sikka found out about the story and tracked down Sehmat Khan, he wrote the book Calling Sehmat. The book became the basis of Raazi, which has been co-written and directed by Meghna Gulzar.

In Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar, Aparita and Baisakhi talk about being inspired by Raazi’s soundtrack to remember songs such as the Lata Mangeshkar classic Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon, Bombay Velvet’s Jaata Kahaan Hai Deewane – which in turn was a reprisal of an O. P. Nayyar tune from CID, sung by Geeta Dutt.

Filmi Khabrein has information about Dulquer Salmaan’s Bollywood debut and Vaani Kapoor joining the Shamshera cast among other news.

In Bollywood Behes, a discussion of Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi, starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, and how the Bollywood starlet is helped by an ensemble cast to pull off a complicated role.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#13 Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety

Wed, 16 May 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 13: Are Luv Ranjan films such as Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety misogynistic? Aparita and Baisakhi debate in two episodes. In #13, a look at Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. This movie marks the return of Kartik Aaryan and Nushrat Bharucha along with Sunny Singh Nijjar in yet another Luv Ranjan bromance, this time set against a shaadi ka backdrop.

In Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar listen to Lehmber Hussainpuri’s popping track Sadi Gali from Tanu Weds Manu (2011), and the gentle duet from Abhimaan (1973) Teri Bindiya Re, sung by Mohd. Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar.

Filmi Khabrein has information about the upcoming John Abraham starrer Parmanu, along with news about Manto and Sir impressing critics at Cannes festival.

In Bollywood Behes, Aparita and Baisakhi discuss their own interpretations of Luv Ranjan’s third feature Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, which became one of Bollywood’s highest grossing films in early 2018. Although a much more polished affair than his debut film, critics pointed out that elements of misogyny continued in Luv Ranjan’s latest work.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#12 Pyaar Ka Punchnama

Wed, 09 May 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 12: Are Luv Ranjan films such as Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety misogynistic? Aparita and Baisakhi debate – in two episodes. In #12, a look at Pyaar Ka Punchnama. This movie has been described as a battle of the sexes comedy, which made director Luv Ranjan, and actors Kartik Aaryan and Nushrat Bharucha into household names in India.

In Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar we take a cue from the start of shaadi ka season and listen to AR Rahman’s track Mehndi Hai Rachne Wali from Zubeidaa (2001), and another ladies sangeet hit Sheila Ki Jawani, a Vishal-Shekhar composition from Tees Maar Khan (2010).

Filmi Khabrein has information about upcoming dacoit movies Shamshera and Son Chiriya, Madhuri Dixit starring in a Marathi film Bucket List and whether Bollywood can also have its #MeToo moment.

In Bollywood Behes, Aparita and Baisakhi discuss their own interpretations of Luv Ranjan’s debut feature film Pyaar Ka Punchnama, which turned out to be a sleeper hit and made the director and leading pair into celebrities. While many in the audience, and some critics, praised the film for showcasing the reality of relationships from a male perspective, others have characterized it as a misogynistic film.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#11 Shakespeare Wallah

Wed, 02 May 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 11: A look at Tungrus, a contemporary Indian documentary, and Shakespeare Wallah, the Merchant-Ivory classic starring Shashi Kapoor, Felicity Kendal and Madhur Jaffray.

In Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar we listen once again to some golden oldies starring Shashi Kapoor: Khilte Hain Gul Yahan from Sharmilee (1971) and Raat Baaki from Namak Halaal (1982).

Filmi Khabrein has a discussion of the upcoming Bollywood shaadi/wedding extravangza movie Veere Di Wedding, another quick take on Vikramaditya Motwane’s new film Bhavesh Joshi and Javed Akhtar calling out ‘creative vandalism.’

In Bollywood Behes, we first talk to Rishi Chandna, the director of Tungrus, which played at the Hot Docs Festival. He talks about finding his passion for films after a short soul-selling stint in the advertising world, finding his voice by editing wedding videos for his friends, and the chance conversation that led to the making of Tungrus.

Then we consider Shakespeare Wallah (1965), which is playing at NYIFF as part of a Merchant-Ivory retrospective and a tribute to celebrated Indian actor Shashi Kapoor. NYIFF runs from May 7 to 12 in New York. Although now a classic, the story of Shakespeare Wallah revolving around a British theatre troupe that performs Shakespeare plays across India in a post-Independence setting, has renewed relevance today.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#10 October

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 10: Shoojit Sircar’s latest film October contemplates the journey of Dan (Varun Dhawan) as he comes to appreciate his life while facing his colleague Shiuli’s (Banita Sandhu) brush with death.

A quick round of Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar considers Manmarziyan from Lootera (2013) and Manwa from October. Filmi Khabrein has a quick discussion of the upcoming Sanjay Dutt bio-pic Sanju, Vikramaditya Motwane’s new film Bhavesh Joshi and the reuniting of a popular Bollywood on-screen pair.

In Bollywood Behes, the conversation centres on October as a reflective film. Aparita Bhandari and Baisakhi Roy debate whether Varun Dhawan, one of Bollywood’s hot new stars, is truly able to get under the skin of the main character Dan; and how writer Juhi Chaturvedi and Shoojit Sircar are crafting a new language in Bollywood films.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#9 Cake

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 9: Starring Sanam Saeed and Aamina Sheikh in leading roles, Asim Abbasi’s debut film Cake steps away from the traditional formula of Pakistani films.

Cake tells us the layered story of the Jamali family. Zareen (Aamina Sheikh), the middle child, has had to abandon her baking dreams and take care of aging parents Siraj (Moahmmed Ahmed) and Habiba (Beo Raana Zafar), while younger sister Zara (Sanam Saeed) and older brother Zain (Faris Khalid) pursue their lives in London and New York City respectively.

In this episode, after a round of Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar featuring a song from Cake and a golden oldie, and some Filmi Khabrein, our Bollywood Behes features a conversation with Asim Abbasi, Sanam Saeed and Aamina Sheikh – along with a discussion on what sets Cake apart from other Pakistani films.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#8 Blackmail

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 8: Irrfan Khan’s latest film Blackmail has been billed as a dark comedy. Early reviews also called it a satire on marriage. Aparita and Baisakhi discuss whether the movie truly lives up to the potential of its premise.

Blackmail revolves around the story of Dev (Irrfan Khan) who discovers his wife Reena (Kirti Kulhari) is having an affair and decides to blackmail her lover Ranjit (Arunoday Singh). While Bollywood and other Hindi films often hold up marriage as a sacred institution, the topic of marital infidelity has been explored in movies such as Silsila, Ijaazat and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.

Blackmail’s concept held a lot of promise and – of course – features the inimitable Irrfan Khan. But does it deliver? Listen to find out!

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#7 Farooq Sheikh

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 7: A special episode on Farooq Sheikh. With Baisakhi Roy away on vacation, Aparita Bhandari looks at the work of the veteran Bollywood actor, beloved by his fans, who died of a heart attack on 28 December 2013.

Chashme Badoor is likely the most well-known of Farooq Sheikh’s movies. The cult romantic comedy was known for its simple and charming story, which was brilliantly acted by the ensemble cast. But he also starred in many other films including Saath Saath, Katha, and Kissi Se Na Kehna, to name a few.

More recently he was seen in movies such as Shanghai, Listen Amaya and Club 60.

Born on 25 March, Farooq Sheikh would have turned 70 this year. On this anniversary, a reflection on his films and what made him such a memorable actor, including a conversation with Indian Express film critic Shubhra Gupta on his rare talent.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq

#6 Hichki

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 6: Hichki marks the return of Rani Mukherji in the role of a teacher with Tourette Syndrome. After a round of Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar and Filmi Khabrein, we discuss how disability has been portrayed in Bollywood films in our main segment Bollywood Behes.

Inspired by the book Front of the Class, and based on the real life story of an American teacher Brad Cohen, Hichki tells the story of a woman passionate about teaching despite the challenges presented by her neurological disorder. This film gives us an opportunity to look at some previous Bollywood movies such as Sparsh, Koshish and [Margarita, With A Straw] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zy3F0WVDK0) that similarly centre around characters with disabilities, and question how their stories have been told.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#5 Pyaasa

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 5: In our fifth episode, we look at Pyaasa, a cult classic Bollywood film. After a round of Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar (The Pyaasa Edition) and Filmi Khabrein, we discuss what makes Pyaasa such an iconic Hindi film as part of our main segment Bollywood Behes.

Pyaasa is widely considered one of Hindi cinema’s path-breaking films. Made in 1957, the film was made in the vein of art-house films but was also commercially successful. Even today, it’s taught in film schools across India, and studied by an international audience as well. The film techniques used in Pyaasa also continue to inspire contemporary filmmakers and its songs entrall us.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#4 Pari

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 4: In our fourth episode, we look at Pari and Bollywood’s latest take on the horror film genre. After a round of Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar (The Horror Edition) and Filmi Khabrein, we discuss how Pari fits into the Bollywood horror films tradition as part of our main segment Bollywood Behes.

Prosit Roy’s debut film Pari, starring Anushka Sharma, is Bollywood’s latest foray into horror films. However, where previous Bollywood horror movies produced by the likes of the Ramsay Brothers and Ram Gopal Verma depended on sex and jump cut scares, Roy wanted to tread down the same atmospheric horror path as the classic horror film The Shining. Other films mentioned in the podcast include Junoon and Ek Thi Daayan.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#3 Remembering Sridevi

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 3: In our third episode, we pay tribute to Bollywood icon Sridevi. After a round of Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar dedicated to famous songs featuring Sridevi and Filmi Khabrein, we discuss the Bollywood star’s legacy as part of our main segment Bollywood Behes.

The news of Sridevi’s death on 24 Feb 2018 left her fans shocked. The Bollywood veteran actress had recently returned to the big screen after a 15 year break, starring in movies such as English Vinglish and Mom.

In this special episode, we pay tribute to Sridevi, charting her legacy as a child star in Tamil films, her work in Telugu and other languages, before she reigned over Bollywood in the late 80’s and 90’s. Our friends Sharada Eswar, Suman Gollamudi and Harish Iyer share their memories of the actress.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#2 Aiyyary

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 04:10:07 -0500

Episode 2: In our second episode, after a round of Geeton Ka Ghanchakkar (where we discuss Bollywood songs stuck in our heads) and Filmi Khabrein, we discuss Bollywood’s spy films in our main segment Bollywood Behes.

Following the release of Aiyyary, Neeraj Pandey’s riff on the famous Adarsh Housing Society scam, we look at the legacy of spy movies in Hindi cinema – looking at CID (1956), Farz (1967), Ankhen (1968), Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Baby (2015) and Tiger Zinda Hai (2017).

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

#1 Pad Man

Tue, 20 Feb 2018 04:10:07 -0500

In the debut episode, Aparita and Baisakhi introduce Khabardaar podcast, play a minute-long round of antaakshari, brief you on some Bollywood news, and then move on to the main segment – Bollywood Behes.

Aparita and Baisakhi discuss the recently released Bollywood movie Pad Man, featuring Akshay Kumar, along with Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor; it’s based on the real life story of Arunachalam Murugunantham. They talk about Pad Man as a PSA (public service announcement movie), and the types of questions it raises (or not) while trying to create awareness about menstruation and sanitary napkins.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune

Introducing Khabardaar!

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 04:10:04 -0500

In this teaser, Aparita and Baisakhi discuss the first time they watched a Bollywood movie. Just so you know that they know their filmi stuff.

Music: Bollywood Blades by Professor Kliq/ Material Breakthrough by Peritune