Queen is Dead - A Film, TV and Culture Podcast

Hello, Hello, Hello,

A more than usually embittered Varun Bhakay "moderates" this episode in which everything from his recent inability to acquire a visa to visit Paris, his unconditional "love" for Canadians & Americans, and his even more obsessive love for absent host Dhruv Krishna Goyal are discussed as fellow vampire Hemant Ganti participates, sane Amartya Acharya exasperates, and insane Cris both participates and exasperates.

Mission Impossible I, 2 & III are also discussed. Briefly.

Spoilers included, of course.

TIMECODES

Nonsense (+ Introduction) - [00:00 – 16:56]

Nonsense (+ "Mission Impossible") - [16:56 – 58:46]

Nonsense (+ "Mission Impossible II") - [58:46 – 01:17:09]

Nonsense (+ "Mission Impossible III") - [01:17:09 – 01:42:15]

Nonsense (+ Outro) - [01:42:15 – 01:44:42]

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

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⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram at:

Hemant: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemantganti/⁠

Varun: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/varunonfilm/⁠

Amartya: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/⁠⁠⁠

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

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Varun: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/⁠

Hemant: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠

Amartya: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/amartya/⁠⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠⁠

Dhruv and Cris take a minor detour from the endlessly mysterious world(s) of David Lynch to a somewhat more familiar one in their second (of they don't know how many) eps on David Lynch. And joining them is a returning guest, Arijit Paul, who is thankful to Lynch (especially his work in "Eraserhead") for not only inspiring him to pursue a career in (film) sound but also for validating his love for cigarettes.

We listen to Arijit's wonderfully strange stories of discovering Lynch and the strange memories his films inspire in him before talking in detail about one of Lynch's more "conventional" movies -- "The Elephant Man" (1980), which both Dhruv and Cris are decidedly more mixed on than Arijit.

Listen to the full episode to hear them talk about why they love half the movie and not the entirety of it and why David Lynch -- even minus all the bursts of surrealism -- is an incredible filmmaker.

Major spoilers for “The Elephant Man”!

TIME CODES

The Irresistible Allure of Lynch's Films: [00:00 - 20:37]

"The Elephant Man": [20:37 - 01:04:56]

Cris doesn't like "Pather Panchali"?!: [01:04:56 - 01:11:53]

The Biopic Template: [01:11:53 - 01:14:18]

Outro (a.k.a Bullshit): [01:14:18 - 01:27:43]

TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY

"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).

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.⁠⁠

You can follow us on Instagram at:

ARIJIT: https://www.instagram.com/_tentinquarantino_/.

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

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

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

ARIJIT: https://letterboxd.com/nostradamus/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/prdscris/.

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

Dhruv and Cris are entering the endlessly mysterious world(s) of David Lynch for the first time (of many!) this year. And joining them, in his very first (QID) outing, is Devarsi Ghosh (@devarsighosh), a film journalist doubling as their Lynch guide for this trip to Lynch's nightmarish evocation of Philadelphia in his feature-length debut film, "Eraserhead" (1977).

Before reaching there, however, they all describe their introductions to Lynch Land, what it feels like being there, and why nobody can even come close to creating a similar feeling of that today. (They do question if they themselves are “grumpy cynics," but that's only to conclude that that's the only appropriate response to have given the drek they're served up today).

Listen to the full episode to hear them then talk about their experience of "Eraserhead" - intended very much NOT as an “ending explained” breakdown of it; the objective - throughout all our episodes on Lynch's films - will be to preserve the mystery of his works, not undermine it!

Regardless, major spoilers for “Eraserhead”!

TIME CODES

Introductions to David Lynch: [00:00 - 31:51]

The "Dune" Caveat: [31:51 - 34:05]

Impossibility of "Intuitive" Filmmaking Today: [34:05 - 56:06]

"Eraserhead" (1977): [56:06 - 01:46:18]

Outro: [01:46:18 - 01:50:47]

TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY

"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).

AUDIO/VIDEO EXCERPTS REFERENCED EXTENSIVELY

1. David Lynch at BAFTA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5BfoOrmCX0&ab_channel=BAFTA.

2. Eraserhead - Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0Eq5GtCYdA&ab_channel=CRITERION.

3. Eraserhead Chicken Scene - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JamnCWXNsPs&ab_channel=BananasAboutMovies.

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

You can follow us on Instagram at:

DEVARSI: https://www.instagram.com/devarsighosh/.

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

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

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

DEVARSI: https://letterboxd.com/d2dag/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/prdscris/.

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

It's here (again) - The type of episode we don't necessarily like to produce but really had to, just to convert the time wasted watching Dharmatic Entertainment's "Nadaaniyan" into something (hopefully) productive and cathartic!

Cris, Dhruv, and Amartya try to make sense of Bollywood's sheer incompetence today and find (at least Cris does) a potential savior in Himesh Reshammiya, "Badass Ravikumar."

*Apologies for Dhruv's wonky audio in this ep. He stupidly forgot to switch the microphone source from his Airpods to the podcast mic; what you hear here is a substantially dampened version of his anger and frustration.*

TIMECODES

Why are we here? - [00:00 – 09:37]

Artless Trash ("Nadaaniyan") - [09:37 – 59:13]

Artful Trash ("Badass Ravikumar") - [59:13 – 01:20:38]

Mediocre Trash ("Loveyapa") - [01:20:38 – 01:40:54]

B'wood's Triangle of Badness - [01:40:54 – 02:14:10]

What will be there? - [02:14:10 – 02:25:35]

Amartya's Substack & Outro - [02:25:35 – 02:31:07]

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

Follow our Instagram page:

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast⁠⁠.

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

SUBSCRIBE TO AMARTYA'S "GENRE LITERACY" SUBSTACK:

https://amartyaacharya.substack.com/.

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Amartya: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/⁠⁠

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

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

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Amartya: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/amartya/⁠⁠

Dhruv: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠⁠

In this episode, Dhruv, Aryan, and Cris discuss their favorite Non-Indian (English & Foreign Language!) Films of The Year in the same format in which they discussed their Best Indian Films of 2024!

Each of them selects not only their favorite film but also their favorite director, cinematographer, composer/sound designer, scriptwriter, editor, supporting and lead performers of the year!

Two new categories introduced in this episode: Favorite Scene of the Year and Favorite WTF Movie of the Year!

Listen to the episode, note down titles that interest you, and share your favorite films of 2024!

TIME CODES

Film in 2024 - [00:00 – 08:18]

Mini-“Wicked” Review - [08:18 – 12:19]

Back to Film in 2024 - [12:19 – 14:34]

Episode Format - [14:34 – 20:53]

So Many Caveats! – [20:53 – 29:36]

Supporting Performance - [29:36 – 44:02]

Performance (Anora vs. Nosferatu) - [44:02 – 01:03:18]

Performances Cont. - [01:03:18 – 01:14:09]

WTFOTY (Megalopolis vs. The Brutalist) - [01:14:09 – 01:37:22]

WTFOTY Cont. - [01:37:22 – 01:45:53]

Scene - [01:45:53 – 02:00:25]

Editing - [02:00:25 – 02:12:42]

Sound/Music - [02:12:42 – 0 2:24:10]

Cinematography - [02:24:10 – 02:34:44]

Screenplay & Film (I Saw the TV Glow) - [02:34:44 – 02:47:20 ]

Screenplay & Film (A Different Man & The Substance)  - [02:47:20 – 02:55:38]

Screenplay & Film (Janet Planet & Queer)  - [02:55:38 – 03:08:28]

Directors - [03:08:28 – 03:14:18]

Director Cont. (RaMell Ross) & Nickel Boys - [03:14:18 – 03:27:50]

Outro - [03:27:50 - 03:30:55]

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

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

Follow us on Instagram at:

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

Aryan: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/aryantalksfilm/⁠

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

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Dhruv - ⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠

Aryan: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/⁠

Cris: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/

All Audio Excerpts are used under the “Fair Use Provisions” of the Indian Copyright Act.

In what can be described as an episode exclusively inspired by the success of (and the subsequent backlash to) Sean Baker's "Anora" at this year's Academy Awards, Baker-fan Dhruv moderates also-Baker-fan Hemant and new-to-Baker's-films Cris' discussion about his latest film and the reception to it.

Listen to the full episode to hear Hemant and Dhruv first discuss what they love about Baker's approach to representing marginalized characters in his previous films before Cris and Hemant discuss "Anora" and its reception in detail.

(This episode was recorded before Dhruv had watched the film -- he expands on his thoughts on "Anora" in an upcoming ep where he discusses it as part of the "Best Film of 2024, Non-Indian Ed.")

TIME CODES

"Emilia Perez" Slander & "Megalopolis" Appreciation (Again): [00:00 - 12:34]

Introduction: [12:34 - 19:14]

Sean Baker's Cinema: [19:14 - 43:25]

"Anora": [43:25 - 01:30:13]

"Anora" Discourse: [01:30:13 - 02:10:34]

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

YOU CAN (& SHOULD!) FOLLOW CRIS IN ALL THESE PLACES -

Twitter - https://twitter.com/limjaeseven

Letterboxd - https://letterboxd.com/crislim/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/

In what can be described as an episode exclusively inspired as a response to the exclusion of "Queer" and "Challengers" in this year's Academy Awards, Luca Guadagnino-devotee Cris invites spoilsport Dhruv to talk about the director's latest release "Queer" and how wonderfully it complements the director's wonderful "Call Me By Your Name."

Listen to the full episode to hear Cris express his love towards Guadagnino's films as Dhruv tries to explain his ambivalence towards them. This is before both of them join forces to lambast the online discourse that consistently lambasts these (and other) films about morally troubling topics and relationships.

Major Spoilers for both "CMBYN" and "Queer"!

TIME CODES

Pre-Introduction: [00:00 - 05:40]

Introduction: [05:40 - 08:52]

Luca Guadagnino's Cinema: [08:52 - 30:38]

"Call Me By Your Name": [30:38 - 01:00:06]

"Queer": [01:00:06 - 01:33:18]

Queerness as a "Curse": [01:33:18 - 01:39:28]

Discourse on Discourse: [01:39:28 - 02:11:02]

Outro: [02:11:02 - 02:14:22]

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

YOU CAN (& SHOULD!) FOLLOW CRIS IN ALL THESE PLACES -

Twitter - https://twitter.com/limjaeseven

Letterboxd - https://letterboxd.com/crislim/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/

In this episode, Dhruv and Amartya invite Devi (@film.trance) and Adithiyan (@curioseradithiyan) to discuss their favorite Indian films of the year in the same format in which they discussed their Best of 2024 (So Far)!

Each of them selects not only their favorite Indian film but also their favorite director, cinematographer, composer/sound designer, script writer, editor, supporting, and lead performers of the year!

Listen to the episode, note down titles that interest you, and share your favorite Indian films of 2024!

TIME CODES

Introduction & Discussion Format - [00:00 - 12:40]

Best Supporting Actor - [12:40 - 28:57]

Best Supporting Actress - [28:57 - 48:46]

Best Editing - [48:46 - 01:09:59]

Best Sound/Music - [01:09:59 - 01:27:44]

Best Cinematography - [01:27:44 - 01:40:38]

Best Screenplay - [01:40:38 - 01:55:55]

Best Actor - [01:55:55 - 02:15:03]

Best Actress - [02:15:03 - 02:33:15]

Best Director - [02:33:15 - 02:52:37]

Best Film - [02:52:37 - 03:22:00]

Obligatory Industry Slander - [03:22:00 - 03:30:08]

Onto 2025 & Outro - [03:30:08 - 03:33:57]

Follow our Instagram page:

https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.

You can also follow us on Instagram at:

Adithiyan: https://www.instagram.com/curioseradithiyan/.

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

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

Amartya: https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/.

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

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Adithiyan: https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/.

Devi: https://letterboxd.com/cinemamadhuram/.

Dhruv: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Amartya: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

All Audio Excerpts are used under the “Fair Use Provisions” of the Indian Copyright Act.

Hello, Hello, Hello,

In this bite-sized episode (relative to the episodes we have already released and will release in the coming month), Amartya and Varun discuss Vikramaditya Motwane's latest Netflix series, "Black Warrant," and why you should not only watch it but "savor it."

Spoilers Galore!

Follow our Instagram page:

https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

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

You can also follow us on Instagram at:

Amartya: https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/

Varun: https://www.instagram.com/cinephilestock/

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Varun: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/

Amartya: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/

Hello, Hello, Hello,

This is the second part of the discussion we had on Robert Eggers!

Here, Dhruv – joined by the brain-melting and blood-sucking vampire, Varun, and his “spirited animal” friend, Hemant – tries to talk about Eggers’ latest horror film, “Nosferatu,” in relation to F. W. Murnau’s 1922 German Expressionist classic, and Werner Herzog’s existentially despairing 1979 remake of it. But little does he know the digressions this deadly duo has in store for him…

Listen to the full episode to hear him respond to the absurdity of Varun referencing Zoya Akhtar’s “Dil Dhadakne Do” when talking about Murnau’s classic, or, worse still, the Sridevi-and-Anil-Kapoor-starrer “Judaai” when he’s talking about the Eggers’ version. There’s plenty of discussion about how these films, despite tackling the same story, have such drastically different treatments. But that’s if you can look past those comparisons…

Best of luck to all!

TIMECODES

Introduction (+ Nonsense) - [00:00 – 07:42]

The Convoluted Legacy of “Nosferatu” - [07:42 – 26:01]

Murnau’s “Nosferatu” (+ Nonsense) - [26:01 – 01:00:40]

Herzog’s “Nosferatu, the Vampyre” - [01:00:40 – 01:23:58]

Eggers’ “Nosferatu" (+ Nonsense) - [01:23:58 – 01:56:40]

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

Follow us on Instagram at:

Hemant: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemantganti/

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

Varun: https://www.instagram.com/varunonfilm/

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Varun: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/

Dhruv: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠

Hemant: https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/

Audio Excerpts are taken from the promotional material for Nosferatu (1922), Nosferatu (1979), Nosferatu (2024), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1981), and Grizzly Man (2005).