Pop Culture Archives

Trevor Noah and the Lazy Art of Mistimed Racial Stereotypes

Reducing India to outdated jokes about Bollywood dancing and funny accents is what American pop culture does best. Even as we see marginally better representations thanks to stars like Mindy Kaling, it’s still rare to see desis outside the context of “funny”. Trevor Noah is no different.

Kahini Iyer July 7, 2016

Pop Culture

Does Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Act Play Into the BJP Narrative of “There is No Alternative”?

The Indian election episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj is a primer on the upcoming polls. Even if Minhaj didn’t intend it, the episode, with its alarmist tone, buys entirely into the “There is No Alternative” theory floated by the BJP.

Poulomi Das July 6, 2016

Pop Culture

Farewell Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, the IPS Officer Who Inspired Udaan… And a Generation of Women

Doordarshan’s Udaan was inspired by Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, India’s first woman DGP, who passed away earlier this week. The show was a first lesson in feminism for a generation of women. And though many of us fondly remember its protagonist Kalyani Singh, it is Bhattacharya we need to doff our hats to.

Chandrima Pal July 6, 2016

Pop Culture

Hush Hush Review: Sensitively Crafted Tale led by Stellar Performances

Hush Hush is a familiar tale of elite crimes, but it is elevated by fantastic performances delivered by a diverse group of formidable actresses.

Pradeep Menon July 6, 2016

Pop Culture

Karan Johar and the Fight Against Femininity

Happy birthday, Karan Johar, the man who was advised to tone down his “female” mannerisms and the man who finally grew up with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

Tanvi Dhulia July 6, 2016

Pop Culture

Why Vinod Kapri’s 1232 KMS is the Most Important Film You Will See This Year

Vinod Kapri’s documentary 1232 KMS follows seven daily wagers as they undertake a brutal journey from Ghaziabad to Bihar, on cycles, in the middle of last year’s nationwide lockdown. It is an honest memory of the year we are all keen to forget. Even the tiredness of their eyes, in the painful clarity of their purpose, these men carry more than just the weight of their own bodies – they carry this country’s shame.

Manik Sharma July 5, 2016

Pop Culture

Ittefaq Movie Review: Refreshing And Clever

Ittefaq is a clever thriller that reveals itself deliciously without shortchanging the intellect of the audience. It stays away from being self-indulgent and is mindful of every moment of its 107-minute runtime.

Poulomi Das July 5, 2016

Pop Culture

Brahmastra Part One Review: A Chaotic Spectacle That Mostly Lives Up To The Hype

There’s much to appreciate in the simple, sometimes wobbly, but relentlessly large-hearted intentions of this first instalment in Ayan Mukerji’s years-in-the-making saga.

Pradeep Menon July 5, 2016

Pop Culture

Jab Saut Kare Karva Chauth

I work in a world where even the saut fasts for the long life of her lover on Karva Chauth, bag, baggage, and cheap stilettos in tow.

The Dire July 5, 2016

Pop Culture

Trolls vs Tandav

What the makers of Tandav presumably set out to do was give audiences a thriller that painted a picture of the underbelly of Indian politics. But the intolerant response to the series by trolls has illuminated the ugly side of Indian society.

Arré Bench July 5, 2016