Lost and Found

Lost and Found - The Place Beyond the Pines - Episode 61

The Place Beyond the Pines (Free on MPlayer, also available on Hungama Play, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and VI Movies)

Welcome to OTTplay Lost and Found, one podcast that talks about critically acclaimed films and shows but lesser-known. I'm your host Nikhil

Filmmaker Derek Cianfrance is probably not one of the biggest names in Hollywood, but he is regarded as one of the best indie filmmakers in recent years. Some of his most notable films include Blue Valentine, starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, and he is also credited with co-writing the story for the acclaimed 2019 film The Sound of Metal by Darius Marder, starring Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke. 

However, Cianfrance’s best film is also one of most lesser-known films of the past decade, The Place Beyond the Pines and it's our Lost and Found film for today. It was released in 2012 and features a star-studded ensemble of Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Emory Cohen, Dane DeHaan, and Ben Mendelsohn. It also features a stacked supporting cast of Mahershala Ali, Bruce Greenwood, Rose Byrne, and Ray Liotta. 

The plot is set in two timelines, the first of which revolves around Ryan Gosling’s character Luke Glanton, a motorcycle stuntman working at a traveling carnival, who hopes to win back his former girlfriend’s affections and to be a good father to his baby boy. However, circumstances force him to commit crimes in order to build a future for his loved ones. This puts him on a collision course with a policeman named Avery Cross, played by Bradley Cooper 

Years later, Luke and Avery’s sons become best friends, unaware of the tragic history surrounding their fathers. Director Cianfrance has constructed the narrative taking inspiration from Shakespearean plays with themes surrounding destiny, revenge, and the complicated relationship between sons and fathers. The film is also a sombre reflection of a rotten society 

destroying the lives of its unsuspecting civilians. 

This slow-burner is undoubtedly one of the best films of the past decade. 

If you haven't watched The Place beyond the Pines yet, do so its streaming on MPlayer, also available on Hungama Play, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and VI Movies.

Well that's the OTTplay Lost and Found for today, until the next episode it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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Lost and Found - Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala - Episode 60

Welcome to OTTplay Lost and Found , one podcast that talks about critically acclaimed films and shows but lesser - known , i'm your host Nikhil

Today’s Lost and Found is an underrated gem from the 90s, the Malayalam film Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala. Released to critical acclaim in 1998, the film stars Sreenivasan and Sangeetha in lead roles, with an excellent supporting cast of Thilakan. Innocent, Nedumudi Venu, Sudheesh, and Siddique. 

Written and directed by Sreenivasan, the plot revolves around Vijayan, played by Sreenivasan, an irresponsible husband who refuses to go to his day job as a teacher. Instead, he is deluded into thinking that he can be successful with minimum effort in more glamorous professions such as a businessman or even a film director. As one would expect he soon becomes debt-ridden, forcing an intervention from his wife, Shyamala, as well as their parents. They convince him to make the pilgrimage to Sabarimala. However, Shyamala’s dreams of a more level headed husband are shattered when Vijayan returns home from the trip a completely different man, but not the one she envisioned. He informs his family that he is devoting his life to prayer and will lead a frugal lifestyle, devoid of any earthly pleasures. He soon abandons his family and leaves for an ashram. A deflated Shyamala decides to take matters into her own hands and decides to work hard for her two children by starting a tailoring business.

The story continues to highlight Shyamala’s struggles as a single mother, and a remorseful Vijayan’s attempts to regain her trust and affection. This satirical comedy-drama critiqued and challenged several socio-economic conventions prevalent in Kerala at the time. 

If you haven't watched this yet then do so streaming exclusively on Manorama Max

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Lost and Found - 3:10 to Yuma - Episode 59

Welcome to OTTplay Lost and Found, one podcast that talks about critically acclaimed films and shows but lesser-known. I'm your host Nikhil.

American Western dramas have always offered a unique viewing experience with their distinctive visual aesthetic, featuring rustic towns, gunslingers, outlaws, bar fights, and money heists. 

James Mangold’s 2007 western drama, 3:10 to Yuma, is probably not the first name that comes to mind when talking about western classics such as Django Unchained, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, High Noon, Unforgiven, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and The Wild Bunch. However, 3:10 to Yuma is undoubtedly one of the finest westerns created after the turn of the century. 

Starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in lead roles, the story follows a struggling rancher named Dan Ewans who agrees to be part of an armed escort to transport the notorious outlaw Ben Wade. Bale essays the role of the desperate rancher Dan, who agrees to the deal in order to save his ranch and provide for his family. A veteran of the civil war, Dan must overcome his physical disability of having lost a leg in the war, whilst also having to fight for his honor. 

Whereas Crowe’s Ben Wade is an outlaw, a murderer, a thief, and a womaniser, but also charming, flamboyant, and charismatic at the same - a sharp contrast to Dan. The two characters, despite their differences, form a mutual respect for one another on their journey to catch the train at 3:10 towards Yuma, where Ben is expected to be imprisoned. In the midst of all the drama, Dan and those helping transport must keep an eye out for Ben’s gang and his sadistic lieutenant Charlie Prince, played by Ben Foster, waiting to ambush the escort. 

Logan Lerman, Gretchen Mol, Peter Fonda, Dallas Roberts, and Alan Tudyk play excellent supporting characters. The engrossing screenplay, the gunfights, and the chemistry between the two leads make 3:10 to Yuma, a compelling watch, and an underrated classic. 

If you haven't watched this flick yet then do so streaming exclusively on Lionsgate Play

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Lost and Found  - Dhunki - episode 58

About a year before Scam 1992 made Pratik Gandhi one of the most sought-after actors in India, he featured in Dhunki, a lesser-known gem that slipped through the cracks. And this slice-of-life Gujarati drama directed by Anish Shah that packs a whole lot of heart is our Lost and Found for today.

The film follows friends and colleagues, Nikunj and Shreya played by Pratik Gandhi and Deeksha Joshi, who decide to forsake their corporate careers to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. The duo venture into the food delivery business and the film eventually runs us through the challenges experienced by most bootstrapped startups coupled with the personal sacrifices one must make to pull through during trying times.  

Dhunki delivers as an inspiring story of rising over all odds and also a remarkable depiction of platonic friendship that sustains through difficult times. Unlike most films, where professions are depicted in a superficial manner, this film actually fleshes out the minor details. For instance, Gandhi who plays a tester with an IT firm here actually demands for additional QA assistance when tasked with a pressing project that needs to be delivered on a short notice.

Dhunki will leave you with a comforting feeling as its character negotiates complex emotions and life-altering situations with the same passion and emotional investment. One must also applaud the writers for weaving a story about friendship that doesn’t evolve into a relationship, as one would expect. And Dhunki is among those rare films where the lead actor and actress are not entangled in a relationship and actually have separate partners. For those unfamiliar with Gujarati cinema may want to add this to their watchlist to get a glimpse into an industry that has matured in storytelling and choice of subjects that don’t always fit into the conventional mould.

If you haven't watched this movie yet then do so its streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video

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Welcome to OTTplay Lost and Found, I'm your host Nikhil.

Films and shows about serial killers tend to take a typical approach. Building up the menacing murders executed with heartless precision, they colour the perpetrator of these heinous crimes as a supervillain-of-sorts whose actions cannot be rationalised. But the treatment in most is essentially the same and every murder can be seen from a mile away, leaving little scope for shock.

And that is where Raman Raghav 2.0, our Lost and Found for today, tends to differ. Anurag Kashyap’s 2017 thriller is loosely based on the serial killer who wreaked havoc in Mumbai in the 1970s eliminating 42 victims over six years, and is packed with hair-raising jolts that leave you stunned to the bone. The film stars Nawazzuddin Siddiqui as the serial killer Raman and Vicky Kaushal as ACP Raghuvendra Singh, who hopes to nab him. 

Raman Raghav 2.0 is a film that deserves special recognition for straying away from tested tropes. While it establishes its character with definitive detail, it also offers a peek into their mind. Even the silent moments featuring Raman encourage you to imagine the dreaded plots being hatched in the killer’s twisted head. But when these horrific murders are committed, there’s little left to the imagination. Hacking and dismembering his victims with mechanical, we’re introduced to a sociopath who just can’t seem to help himself.  

This has to be Nawaz’s most immersive performance and his ability to convey his character’s deceptively volatile manner is exceptional. Kashyap ensures that the sudden turn of events in the film pack a punch and the film keeps you gripped for the large part. Kaushal may not be the highlight here but he’s largely unobjectionable. 

Incidentally, the previous film where these three collaborated was Kashyap’s directorial Gangs of Wasseypur. The film starred Siddiqui in a major part and Kaushal was billed as the assistant director in the film. 

If you haven't watched this flick yet then do so its streaming on Netflix, Zee5, Google Play , Lionsgate Play.

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Welcome to OTTplay Lost and Found podcast, I'm your host Nikhil with you. 

In today’s episode, we take a look at the 2007 neo-noir crime thriller film, Gone Baby Gone. 

Ben Affleck, popular for essaying the role of Batman, co-writing Good Will Hunting, and directing the Oscar-winning film Argo, has most certainly established himself as an accomplished actor and filmmaker. But one of his lesser-known films, is in fact his directorial debut, Gone Baby  Gone. 

Based on a novel by Dennis Lehane, the film follows private investigators from Boston, Patrick Kenzie, played by Casey Affleck, and Angela Gennaro played by Michelle Monaghan. They are hired to investigate the kidnapping of a little girl named Amanda, a case that has become a  media frenzy. They soon discover that Amanda’s mother, Helene, played by Amy Ryan, is a drug addict and mule for a drug lord. To make matters worse, it is revealed that Helene had stolen money from the drug smugglers and that Amanda is used as leverage so that Helene returns the money. But the film’s twists and turns do not end there. The film’s protagonists, Patrick and Angela, stumble on to a larger conspiracy behind the kidnapping. 

The provocative narrative compels the audience to identify the true meaning of justice and also opens a discourse on legality versus morality. The film is grounded in realism and is one of the most thought-provoking films of the 21st century.

Ben Affleck received praise for his writing as well directing, while his brother Casey was also lauded for navigating through the complexities of his lead character. The film also stars Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris in pivotal roles, with John Ashton, Titus Welliver, and Michael Kenneth Williams in supporting roles. 

If you haven't watched this flick yet then do so its streaming on Netflix.

Well that's the OTTplay Lost and Found episode for today, until the next podcast it's your host Nikhil signing out. 

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Written by: Ryan Gomez

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Welcome to another episode of OTTplay Lost and Found, one podcast that talks about critically acclaimed films and shows but lesser-known. I'm your host Nikhil.

Films where a vulnerable person or community is falsely accused of a certain crime or coloured inaccurately often end up as a social commentary, complete with a lot of rona-dhona. But there are those that give it a positive spin by drafting characters who refuse to accept their marginalized position and rise above their circumstances to make their mark. Today’s Lost and Found, the 2017 drama Anaarkali of Aarah is surely one such film.

With a power-packed cast comprising Swara Bhaskar, Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjay Mishra, this one’s a compelling story of injustice set in the hinterland. When a nachnewali played by Bhaskar is violated by a local, we’re sensitized to the vulnerable position of dancers who’re hired to perform at weddings. Routinely attacked by perpetrators who feel entitled, these heinous acts are often overlooked as these dancers are often demonized by society and even denied their basic human rights. And while the film doesn’t attempt to paint them as sheep being sent to the slaughter, it does raise the pertinent issue that their consent is rarely sought by these perpetrators who believe that naachnewalis would invariably also function as sex workers.

An area where this film scores has to be the fact that despite the milieu and subject being tackled, it doesn’t stray into vulgar territory and even while the situations and circumstances may seem unsettling to some, it doesn’t make the audience uncomfortable at any point. What it also manages well is to effectively translate the lead’s debilitating state across the screen. And while it doesn’t deliberately seek empathy, one can’t help but root for her through the film.

This has to be Bhaskar’s most compelling turns and she slips into her Anarkali like a queen with no regrets, packing her acting chops with a punch and owning the character completely.

Surely, a gem that slipped through the cracks.

If you havent watched this film yet then do so streaming on Disney + Hotstar

Well that's the OTTplay Lost and Found for today’s episode, until the next podcast it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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Welcome to another episode of OTTplay Lost and Found, one podcast that talks about critically acclaimed films and shows that are lesser-known. I'm your host Nikhil

Japanese anime have become widely popular across the globe since the late 80s. The anime series, often inspired from Japanese manga comics, have pushed the boundaries of storytelling producing some of the most riveting stories ever created. These stories invariably range from period dramas to dystopian sci-fi with elements of fantasy incorporated into the narrative. Some of the more popular anime such as the Mobile Suit Gundam series, Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Transformers series, and Neon Genesis Evangelion are called mecha anime, featuring large humanoid robots used for battle. 

However, despite being revered as one of the greatest  mecha anime of all time, Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion is often overlooked. Created by Gorō Taniguchi, the series is set in an alternative timeline in a world similar to George Orwell’s 1984 where a dystopian world is split into three large countries, the Holy Britannian Empire, the Chinese Federation, and the Europa United. In this dystopian world Japan is ruled by Britannia where its citizens are stripped of fundamental rights. An exiled prince of Britannia, Lelouch Lamperouge, launches a rebellion against the regime with the help of fighter robots. 

The series received praise for its complex characters and exploration of Orwellian themes and imperialism. The riveting storyline and animation design elevates the series to one of the finest Japan has produced. The series ran for two seasons and has inspired animated film adaptations and manga comics. 

You can watch this series on Netflix. 

Well that's the OTTplay Lost and Found episode for today, until the next podcast it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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Welcome to another episode of OTTplay Lost and Found, one podcast that talks about critically acclaimed films and shows, but less popular. I'm your host Nikhil.

If you’re one for thrillers that burn slowly and yet keep you hooked through the proceedings, today’s Lost and Found will surely interest you. 

We’re talking about Kevin Macdonald’s State of Play. Adapted from the British TV show of the same name, the 2009 political thriller stars Russel Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren among others. Crowe plays Cal McAffrey, an investigative reporter with a Washington daily who’s tasked with getting to the bottom of a rather tricky affair. A congressman and friend (played by Affleck) calls upon him to confess that he had been having an affair with a colleague who had recently been found dead in mysterious circumstances that point to suicide. How McAffrey turns over facts and tests theories based on the information provided makes for a thrilling watch. But State of Play offers a lot more. For one, it’s one of the most compelling portraits of the fading state of journalism and what it once took to actually make a story stick with conviction. It delves into the precarious position of journalists in an unfiltered manner and conveys the challenges and dangers of being privy to confidential information about people of power. It also covers the pressure of surviving in a newsroom where a breaking story must be delivered with speed, accuracy and facts and failing on even a single count would make the entire exercise futile. This has to be one of Crowe’s most path-breaking performances and he laces his brooding, unflinching character with a tinge of sarcasm. If you’re in the mood for a ‘I-didn’t-see-that-coming’ kinda film, add State of Play to your watchlist right away. 

You can watch State of Play on…  Netflix, Apple TV+ and Google Play

Well that's the OTTplay Lost and found for today's episode, until the next podcast it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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Transcript

Welcome to another episode of OTTplay Lost and Found, one podcast that talks about critically acclaimed films and shows but lesser-known. I'm your host Nikhil.

There are shows that survive the test of time and there are those that transport us to a time and there are those that qualify on both counts.

Today’s Lost and Found, the 1985 Doordarshan sitcom Idhar Udhar is surely one such show. Starring sisters Ratna Pathak Shah and Supriya Pathak Shah along with Ravi Baswani and Lilliput, this comedy of errors is a hat-tip to Three’s Company, the wildly popular American sitcom about two single women and a man who cohabit while sharing a platonic relationship and the series of hilarious misadventures that follow.

And the desi version, Idhar Udhar is only a bit localized.

The tone and exchanges may seem a bit over the top today but do consider that this show was produced in 1985 and before dismissing it altogether. The situational comedy, however, is on point and Baswani’s one-liners and silly shenanigans are a riot. But what really stands out is the remarkable chemistry the Shah sisters share onscreen as close friends Sunita and Poonam. The former plays an air hostess and a bimbo and the latter’s a copywriter with an advertising firm, complete with thoughtful eyes peeping out of heavy-set glasses. Injecting stereotypes in television writing was not the exception but the norm at the time and was often even exaggerated for comic relief. But if you’re willing to look beyond this, Idhar Udhar offers a peek into the simple turns and thwacks that will encourage you to break into a chuckle or three.

You can watch Idhar Udhar on YouTube.

Well, that's the OTTplay Lost and Found episode for today, until the next podcast it's  your host Nikhil signing out.

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