Queen is Dead - A Film, TV and Culture Podcast

Why pick team Mammootty or team Mohanlal when you can have both?

The first all-Mallu panel of QID—Cris, Ashwin, Arjun, and Devi—discuss Mahesh Narayanan's latest multi-starrer action thriller 'Patriot'. First, they talk about Narayanan's craft as an editor and director. Then they debate his writing skills.

Unavoidable references are made to "L2: Empuraan" and star culture in Malayalam cinema.

Listen to the full episode for some unsavory comments towards online discourse (as usual) and a debate on exactly how homoerotic the film is.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "PATRIOT" (SEE TIMECODES LISTED BELOW TO ONLY LISTEN TO THE NON-SPOILERY STUFF!)

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Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 02:45]

Mahesh Narayanan's Filmography : [02:45 - 10:36]

"Patriot" (Non-Spoiler Talk) : [10:36 - 47:09]

"Patriot" (Spoiler Talk) : [47:09 - 02:08:15]

Discourse around "Patriot" : [02:08:15 - 02:25:04]

Mammootty-Mohanlal Film Recs : [02:25:04 - 02:34:23]

Outro : [02:34:23 - 02:35:28]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Devi's Links -

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/film.trance/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/.

The girls who get it -- Cris, Ashwin, and Vik -- get it ("it" being the girls-and-gays-classic 'The Devil Wears Prada,' and its brand new sequel) and the girls who don't -- the rest of QID -- don't (they're not allowed on this episode).

In this uncharacteristically civil conversation, the "girls who get it" discuss why "The Devil Wears Prada" has had such a hold on the public imagination and whether/how a follow-up (legacy sequel?) of it -- released 20 years after the original -- has any right to work like the original once did.

Listen to the full episode for spoiler-filled thoughts on TDWP2, its fashion (Cris and Vik "get" this; Ashwin doesn't), and its critical reputation relative to the original.

That's all.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "THE DEVIL PRADA 2" (SEE TIMECODES LISTED BELOW TO ONLY LISTEN TO THE NON-SPOILERY STUFF!)

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 01:37]

TDWP : [01:37 - 18:48]

TDWP2 (Non-Spoiler Talk) : [18:48 - 31:13]

TDWP2 (Spoiler Talk) : [31:13 - 01:01:45]

Fashion Talk on a Film Podcast : [01:01:45 - 01:10:16]

TDWP2's Box Office Success: [01:10:16 - 01:14:01]

Films like TDWP & TDWP2: [01:14:01 - 01:18:39]

Outro ("Star Ratings") : [01:18:39 - 01:21:23]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Vik's Links -

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkmelb.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theletstalkseries.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

Dhruv, Cris, Aryan, Srilekha & Varun (correctly pronounced, as per Srilekha, as "Borun") are discussing a(nother) A24 Film that's been the talk of the town since it released in cinemas last month.

Since most of them were relatively cold on the film itself, they've decided to dedicate at least half of this episode to discussing the drama surrounding not only the film but also its director, Kristoffer Borgli -- especially the casually disconcerting essay he wrote about May-December romances. In particular, he cites Woody Allen's "Manhattan" as the key inspiration that helped him justify his relationship with a 16-year-old girl as a 27-year-old man.

The QID members discuss -- in length -- the value (or not) of having this kind of discussion before delving into the particularities of Borgli's films that interested (or irritated) them.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "THE DRAMA" & MINOR SPOILERS FOR "MANHATTAN" THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EPISODE!

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 13:19]

A24's Marketing of "The Drama" : [13:19 - 24:32]

Borgli & The Woody Allen Connection : [24:32 - 01:01:40]

The Drama of "The Drama" : [01:01:40 - 01:44:12]

Films (Recos) like "The Drama" : [01:44:12 - 02:04:37]

Outro (Aryan's "Samay Raina" Tangent) : [02:04:37 - 02:11:49]

You can also follow these mad people on Letterboxd at -

ARYAN: https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/.

SRILEKHA: https://letterboxd.com/srilekha__mitra/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

Dhruv's internet is down (and he despised the film everyone seems to love), so Varun takes over hosting duties of our latest episode. You know what you're in for then.

For about an hour of this two-hour spoiler-filled episode on "Project Hail Mary," Varun manages to steer the (space) ship rather competently -- encouraging all our participants, including himself, of course, to share thier adoration (Adithiyan), disdain (Cris), or measured response (Amartya, Hemant, & Varun) to (currently) the biggest hit film of the year.

Then the wheels come off—so expect deviations, including discussions about Hemant's marriage, Varun's UK Passport Office visit pre-watching PHM, etc.

The editor of this episode, who's also writing this description and was slandered around 10-15 times in the episode (Dhruv), wishes all QID listeners the best of luck trying to survive this particular section of the episode.

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Main Discussion on PHM (& Stuff) : [00:00 - 01:31:21]

Closing Thoughts on Stuff (& PHM) : [01:31:21 - 02:04:30]

You can also follow these mad people (& Adithiyan) on Letterboxd at -

ADITHIYAN: https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

HEMANT: https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This final(?) English and International Language Features Round-Up focuses on 7 features — 5 and 2 respectively.

One took a big Academy Award home ("Hamnet"); while two others didn't ("Marty Supreme," and "The Voice of Hind Rajab"); three feature morally complex explorations of abuse ("The Chronology of Water," "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl," and "Predators"); and, one plays(?) with consent ("Pillion").

Listen to the full episode to hear more detailed, spoiler-filled thoughts on these — and watch us try not to get cancelled between our blasphemous hot takes.

TIME CODES

Introduction – [00:00 - 08:05]

“Marty Supreme” – [08:05 - 01:01:15]

“The Chronology of Water” – [01:01:15 - 01:16:51]

“Hamnet” – [01:16:51 - 01:55:29]

“On Becoming of A Guinea Fowl” – [01:55:29 - 02:11:00]

“Predators” – [02:11:00 - 02:43:32]

“Pillion” – [02:43:32 - 03:16:16]

“The Voice of Hind Rajab” – [03:16:16 - 03:56:21]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [03:56:21 - 04:12:09]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

ARYAN: https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/.

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of the seven films listed in the time codes.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This second International Language Features Round-Up focuses on 5 features — 4 from Europe, and 1 from South America.

Three of these are up for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards ("Sentimental Value," "Sirāt," and "The Secret Agent"); one is our performative appreciation for a film made by a woman filmmaker ("Sound of Falling"); and one is a documentary that blew us (and others?) away ("Afternoons of Solitude").

Listen to the full episode to hear more detailed, spoiler-filled thoughts on these — and, well, try not to explode in the minefield of our varied opinions (iykwim).

TIME CODES

Introduction – [00:00 - 09:50]

“The Secret Agent” – [09:50 - 43:10]

“Sound of Falling” – [43:10 - 54:50]

“Sirāt” – [54:50 - 01:30:13]

“Afternoons of Solitude” – [01:30:13 - 01:54:32]

“Sentimental Value” – [01:54:32 - 02:20:27]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [02:20:27 - 02:39:04]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Vik's Links -

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkmelb.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theletstalkseries.

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of the five films listed in the time codes.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This first International Language Features Round-Up focuses on 5 features -- 4 from Asia, and 1 from the Middle East (technically, a European production, but we're counting it as Middle Eastern because of its setting, language spoken, and director).

One of these is up for awards-season consideration ("It Was Just An Accident"); others probably ought to have been ("No Other Choice," "Happyend," "Left-Handed Girl"). And then there's Bi Gan's "Resurrection" -- which we spend an entire hour trying to make sense of...

Listen to the full episode to hear more detailed, spoiler-filled thoughts on these -- and, well, us trying our best to learn (and fail) how to pronounce a number of South Korean and Chinese names.

TIME CODES

Introduction – [00:00 - 11:00]

“No Other Choice” – [11:00 - 48:44]

“Happyend” – [48:44 - 01:03:27]

“It Was Just An Accident” – [01:03:27 - 01:31:14]

“Left-Handed Girl” – [01:31:14 - 01:49:30]

“Resurrection” – [01:49:30 - 02:50:37]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [02:50:37 - 03:10:54]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of the five films listed in the time codes.

Hello, Hello, Hello,

This is the first episode in our new series -- "First & Final Cut" -- in which we plan to discuss some of our favorite films by microanalyzing their opening and closing sequences (and/or, in some cases, opening and closing shots). The aim is simple: to better express our appreciation (or annoyance) towards a film by honing in on its specifics rather than talking about it in generalities. Overanalysis is very much a feature here: so those particularly annoyed by it are forewarned!

The first film selected for this series—courtesy of host Dhruv and first-time guest Devika, who is largely responsible for the series happening— is Vikramaditya Motwane's modern-day classic "Udaan" (2010). Joining them for this episode is the heartless Cris -- indifferent to the sublimity of a great film.

Listen to the full episode for an extended discussion about the film's opening [00:00:56 - 00:07:36] and closing [02:08:18 - 02:15:02] sequences and how Motwane expertly mirrors them through marked contrasts in shot framing, color palette, and the use (or lack) of background music.

There's an argument or two there too -- we always manage to have at least one! -- about the value (or lack thereof) of its melodramatic contrasts that one certain person here thinks are mellow (they're wrong) and the others think aren't (they're correct).

MAJOR SPOILERS, OF COURSE, FOR UDAAN!

TIME CODES

Introduction to "First & Final Cut" – [00:00 - 17:27]

Context for "Udaan" – [17:27 - 24:17]

The First Sequence – [24:17 - 59:19]

The Final Sequence – [59:19 - 01:41:32]

Outro (potential films to discuss!) - [01:41:32 - 01:44:46]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.

QID LINKTREE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/queenisdead⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on Instagram at:

DEVIKA: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/devika.la/

DHRUV: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

CRIS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Audio excerpts are taken from "Kahaani - Aankhon Ke Pardon Pe" by Amit Trivedi.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This third and final (for the time being) English-Language Features Round-Up is mainly focused on covering films featuring ensemble casts (look we needed a category for the remaining films we had to cover, okay). This includes fairly in-depth discussions on James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire and Ash," Rian Johnson's "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," Jared Bush and Byron Howard's "Zootopia 2," Kathryn Bigelow's "A House of Dynamite," Luca Guadagnino's "After the Hunt," and Richard Linklater's "Nouvelle Vague."

Listen to the full episode to hear more about (only) Ashwin's love for "Avatar," our thoughts on prayer and power in "Wake Up Dead Man," the dynamite of discourse that is "After the Hunt," the (un)remarkable undertaking that is "Nouvelle Vague," and more!

TIME CODES

Introduction – [00:00 - 06:47]

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” – [06:47 - 33:15]

“Wake Up Dead Man” – [33:15 - 01:04:20]

“Zootopia 2” – [01:04:20 - 01:27:07]

“A House of Dynamite” – [01:27:07 - 01:49:55]

“After the Hunt” – [01:49:55 - 02:31:14]

"Nouvelle Vague" – [02:31:14 - 03:16:02]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [03:16:02 - 03:24:48]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wake Up Dead Man, Zootopia 2, A House of Dynamite, After the Hunt, and Nouvelle Vague.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This episode is courtesy of PPC (Purush Pradhan Committee), a QID initiative.

This second (of three) English-Language Features Round-Up is mainly focused on covering films about men, for(?) men, by* men (except when it is not). This includes fairly in-depth discussions on Clint Bentley's "Train Dreams," Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon," Derek Cianfrance's "Roofman," Kelly Reichardt's "The Mastermind," Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein," and Edgar Wright's "The Running Man."

Listen to the full episode to hear more about our bafflement at the popularity of "Train Dreams," surprise at the pleasantness of "Roofman," utter despondence at the quality of "The Running Man," and more!

TIME CODES

Intro (and Misc Thoughts) – [00:00 - 13:20]

“Train Dreams” – [13:20 - 38:50]

“Blue Moon” – [38:50 - 01:15:08]

“Roofman” – [01:15:08 - 01:38:32]

“The Mastermind” – [01:38:32 - 01:53:46]

“Frankenstein” – [01:53:46 - 02:13:04]

"Jay Kelly" – [02:13:04 - 02:25:02]

"The Running Man" – [02:25:02 - 02:44:00]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [02:44:00 - 02:57:08]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/

ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of Train Dreams, Blue Moon, Roofman, The Mastermind, Frankenstein, Jay Kelly, and The Running Man.