News and Views

Chhapaak opens with protests against the barbaric Nirbhaya rape case in 2012. As tear gas and police lathis meet the spirited protestors , there’s an eerie similarity to what is happening in the country today. Among the protestors is a father carrying a passport- size photo of his daughter’s disfigured face, and that is trying to catch the attention of a TV journalist. Women and the crimes against them are still vying for attention from mainstream media!

Tune in to this podcast for the full review!

Host: RJ Stutee

For now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put the brakes on his government’s plans for a pan-India National Register of Citizens or NRC. But, it is not a complete rollback.

In May 2019, PM Modi took a key step towards a nationwide NRC by amending the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order of 1964 – making it applicable throughout India, effectively allowing the government to set up foreigners tribunals in every Indian state.

But why does the government want to set up foreigners tribunals in all the states? And more importantly, what does a foreigners tribunal do?

We bring you this investigation from The Quint.

Host: Poonam Agarwal, Head of Investigations, The Quint

For now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put the brakes on his government’s plans for a pan-India National Register of Citizens or NRC. But, it is not a complete rollback.

In May 2019, PM Modi took a key step towards a nationwide NRC by amending the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order of 1964 – making it applicable throughout India, effectively allowing the government to set up foreigners tribunals in every Indian state.

But why does the government want to set up foreigners tribunals in all the states? And more importantly, what does a foreigners tribunal do?

We bring you this investigation from The Quint.

Host: Poonam Agarwal, Head of Investigations, The Quint

From the Pulwama terror attack to nationwide protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 saw a barrage of misinformation/disinformation along with the regular news cycle.

The Quint spoke to some of the people who became the target of fake news and how these events impacted their lives.

Read the story here.

Host: Divya Chandra

Editor: Vishnu Gopinath

From the Pulwama terror attack to nationwide protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 saw a barrage of misinformation/disinformation along with the regular news cycle.

The Quint spoke to some of the people who became the target of fake news and how these events impacted their lives.

Read the story here.

Host: Divya Chandra

Editor: Vishnu Gopinath

Swara Bhasker, Varun Grover, Anubhav Sinha, Renuka Shahane, and Neeraj Ghaywan join us for a discussion on Bollywood's role in contemporary Indian politics, at a time when massive protests against CAA and NRC continue across the country, as does violent police repression in places such as Uttar Pradesh.

Do film industry professionals have a responsibility to speak up at such times of political turmoil, or is that an unfair expectation to burden them with?

Tune in to this podcast!

Host: Meghnad Bose

Swara Bhaskar, Actor

Varun Grover, Comedian & Lyricist

Anubhav Sinha, Director

Renuka Shahane, Actor

Neeraj Ghaywan, Director

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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Swara Bhasker, Varun Grover, Anubhav Sinha, Renuka Shahane, and Neeraj Ghaywan join us for a discussion on Bollywood's role in contemporary Indian politics, at a time when massive protests against CAA and NRC continue across the country, as does violent police repression in places such as Uttar Pradesh.

Do film industry professionals have a responsibility to speak up at such times of political turmoil, or is that an unfair expectation to burden them with?

Tune in to this podcast!

Host: Meghnad Bose

Swara Bhaskar, Actor

Varun Grover, Comedian & Lyricist

Anubhav Sinha, Director

Renuka Shahane, Actor

Neeraj Ghaywan, Director

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

It’s that time of the year when listicles descend on us from everywhere .

‘Top 5’ this to ‘10 Best’ that and so, we decided to go ahead and make our own list of films and cinematic moments from the last two decades that have become so much a part of our popular culture that we can’t imagine our lives without them anymore .

These might not be the best films of the year, cinematically talking, but they sure are ‘sticky’ enough to resonate with us and to be a part of our collective consciousness forever.

Here are the best of the last two decades, in no particular order!

Host: Stutee Ghosh

Editor & Producer: Zijah Sherwani

It’s that time of the year when listicles descend on us from everywhere .

‘Top 5’ this to ‘10 Best’ that and so, we decided to go ahead and make our own list of films and cinematic moments from the last two decades that have become so much a part of our popular culture that we can’t imagine our lives without them anymore .

These might not be the best films of the year, cinematically talking, but they sure are ‘sticky’ enough to resonate with us and to be a part of our collective consciousness forever.

Here are the best of the last two decades, in no particular order!

Host: Stutee Ghosh

Editor & Producer: Zijah Sherwani

Directed by Raj Mehta , Good Newwz is a smartly made film that knows its strengths and plays to them. For one, it’s an extremely good looking film with people with blessed genes inhabiting almost every frame. A special mention for Kareena Kapoor who looks absolutely stunning. From the sets to the clothes, the beauty is everywhere. Also, the pace compliments the proceedings, so even if there are a couple of average scenes or a few flat jokes here and there, we don’t linger on to complain.

Of the two couples in the film Good Newwz - one of them calls it a “sperm- mix-up” and the other a “spam-mixer” and that should give us an idea about how different their worlds are. Deepti and Varun (Kareena Kapoor Khan and Akshay Kumar), a Mumbai based posh couple versus Honey and Monika (Diljit Dosanjh, Kiara Advani), the loud, jovial Punjabi husband and wife. The only thing common between them is their surname - Batra, which is also the main reason for all the confusion and chaos that ensues.

Listen to the podcast for the rest of the review!

Host: Stutee Ghosh

Producer: Zijah Sherwani