Today, our hosts, Ananya and Aneesa, are recapping all the South Asian films and TV shows they've watched and haven't discussed yet. Join us as we debate the representation of Pakistan and Muslims in Siddarth Anand's Fighter, the controversies revolving around Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal, and our opinions on many more recent releases.

Today we're talking about Love & Robots by discussing the latest Bollywood sci-fi release, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024). [ This story follows a robotics engineer (Shahid Kapoor), who falls for the human-like robot SIFRA (Kriti Sanon), created by his aunt, leading to a rollercoaster of love, deception, and the blurred lines between man and machine.] Our hosts reminisce about past robotic Bollywood films, the challenges of genre hybridity, and why sci-fi has yet to be perfected in Bollywood. Join us this week as Ananya & Aneesa carry out their in-depth discussion of the film with a scene-by-scene analysis, casting breakdown, musical score review, narrative analysis, and cinematographic opinion.

Today we're talking about Murder Mystery through the camera lens by analyzing one cinematographer in particular, K.U. Mohanan. He is responsible for the cinematography in Talaash (2012), and Andhadhun (2018). Two very different films, both capturing Murder Mystery with the same DOP in different ways. Join us this week as our hosts, Ananya and Aneesa carry on an in-depth discussion of these two films, their cinematography, narratives, and impact on the genre today.

Welcome to Season 3 of Desi Talkies! We're back just in time for Valentine's Day to revisit the classic Yash Raj Bollywood film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), directed and written by Aditya Chopra. We're trying an entirely new format this season: lots of hot takes, and debates, and in this episode, we welcome our first guest, Sarah Anwer Khan! Join us this week as our hosts, Ananya and Aneesa carry an in-depth discussion of DDLJ, its nostalgia, its influence in Bollywood, and our love lives. And most importantly, is Raj a f***boy?!

In this episode of Desi Talkies, our hosts Ananya & Aneesa talk about Netflix’s first female-led Saudi Arabian original series, Crashing Eid, now available to stream on Netflix. [This series follows an independent Saudi woman (Summer Shesha) as she attempts to convince her family that her British Pakistani fiancé (Hamza Haq) is her suitable match after he crashes her Family's Eid celebrations.] Ananya & Aneesa discuss the portrayal of South-Asian immigrants in the Middle East from the show's depiction along with our hosts' personal experiences living in the MENA region. Our hosts, carry their in-depth series analysis with a scene-depictionby-scene analysis, casting breakdown, narrative analysis, and cinematographic opinion. Listen to the full episode for more background on Crashing Eid and our Desi Talkies review!

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In this episode of Desi Talkies, our hosts Ananya & Aneesa talk about the Netflix India film Khufiya, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, and now available to stream on Netflix. [Set in 2004, an operative (Tabu) of the Indian spy agency known as R&AW is assigned to track down a mole (Ali Fazal) who is selling defense secrets while grappling with her dual identity as a spy and a lover.] Ananya & Aneesa go through their thoughts on Vishal Bhardwaj's unique filmmaking style along with Shakespeare's significance in his work. Our hosts also express their feelings towards the cast and their individual career choices up until this film's release. Join Ananya & Aneesa as they carry out their in-depth series analysis with a scene-by-scene analysis, casting breakdown, musical score review, and narrative analysis. Listen to the full episode for more background on Khufiya and to hear our Desi Talkies review!

In this episode of Desi Talkies, our hosts Ananya & Aneesa talk about Sarmad Khoosat's Zindagi Tamasha (2019), released publicly on YouTube on August 4, 2023. Despite being approved by the censorship board, the film was unlawfully denied a theatrical release in Pakistan in 2019. Four years later, Sarmad Khoosat released this film for the public and therefore, fueled conversation about how art in Pakistan deserves an audience. With the censorship issues revolving around Zindagi Tamasha, our hosts talk about the flaws and hypocrisy within censorship laws in Pakistan. Ananya & Aneesa carry out their in-depth film discussion with a scene-by-scene analysis, casting breakdown, narrative analysis, and cinematographic opinion. Listen to the full episode for more background on Zindagi Tamasha and to hear our Desi Talkies rating and review!

In this episode of Desi Talkies, our hosts Ananya & Aneesa talk about Atlee’s Jawan, released in theatres on September 7, 2023. [A high-octane action thriller that outlines the emotional journey of a man (Shah Rukh Khan) who is set to rectify the wrongs in Indian society.] Ananya & Aneesa go through their thoughts on Atlee’s directing style along with SRK's new avatar. Our hosts also express their feelings towards some of the film’s surprise cameos and storyline. Ananya & Aneesa carry out their in-depth discussion of the film with a scene-by-scene analysis, casting breakdown, musical score review, narrative analysis, and cinematographic opinion. Listen to the full episode for more background on Jawan and to hear our Desi Talkies rating and review!

In this episode of Desi Talkies, our hosts Ananya & Aneesa talk about the seven-part series Guns & Gulaabs, directed by Raj & DK, and now available to stream on Netflix. [Set in the nineties, in the cartel-run town of Gulaabgunj, an opium deal pulls a big-city police officer (Dulquer Salmaan) and a lovesick mechanic (Rajkummar Rao) into its chaotic clutches.] Our hosts, Ananya & Aneesa, carry their in-depth series analysis with a scene-by-scene analysis, casting breakdown, musical score review, narrative analysis, and cinematographic opinion. Listen to the full episode for more background on Guns & Gulaabs and to hear our Desi Talkies review!

In this episode of Desi Talkies, our hosts Ananya & Aneesa talk about Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, released in theatres on July 28, 2023. [Flamboyant Punjabi Rocky (Ranveer Singh) and intellectual Bengali journalist Rani (Alia Bhatt) fall in love despite their differences. After facing family opposition, they decide to live with each other's families for three months before getting married.] Ananya & Aneesa go through their thoughts on Karan Johar’s directing style along with Ranveer Singh's 'heartthrob status.' Our hosts also express their feelings towards some of the film’s surprise appearances and dialogues. Ananya & Aneesa carry out their in-depth analysis of the film with a scene-by-scene analysis, casting breakdown, musical score review, narrative analysis, and cinematographic opinion. Listen to the full episode for more background on Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani and to hear our Desi Talkies rating and review!