Timecodes

00:01- Introduction

03:18 - Amruta Fadnavis

10:57 - Subscriber letters

13:34 - Old

24:14 - Subscriber letters

32:04 - Promising Young Woman

39:18 - International Emmy Awards 

43:57 - Dhamaka

56:04 - Subscriber letters

1:05:16 - Atmanirbhar

Abhinandan explaining a conversation Rajyasree had with the podcast’s producer:

Abhinandan: She told our producer, “Uff, so and so has texted and mailed me. He’s a stalker!” I said if he was a stalker, he’d be the stocking... 

Rajyasree: And then I bought a ticket with my own money for Switzerland and said, “I’ll just leave. My visa is still there, I'll just leave.”

Abhinandan: And you didn’t let me finish the joke. He’d be a stocking and that would be a sock in the face of those who called him a stalker. Get it? Like a stocking sock.

Rajyasree: I apologise to our listeners.

Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing.

This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen review the films Dhamaka, Old and Promising Young Woman; the short film Atmanirbhar; Amruta Fadnavis’s version of the song Manike Mage Hithe; and the International Emmy Awards.

Song: 8 Raflaan

Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timecodes

00:01 - Introduction

00:33 - Nomadland

12:57 - Call My Agent

17:55 - Ei Raat Tomar Amar 

22:23 - Faraar by Gurinder Gill

24:58 - Kehnde Rehnde by Neha Bhasin

Check out our previous Best of 2020-21 lists here, here and here.

This week, Awful and Awesome producer Jude Weston looks back at his favourite moments from the podcast over the past year. From the Academy award winner Nomadland to songs recommended by subscribers, here are some of his top picks.

Awful and Awesome will return with a new episode next week.

Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timecodes

00:01- Introduction

04:38 - Dune

19:44 - Subscriber letters  

23:06 - Jai Bhim

39:26 - Subscriber letters

42:35 - Mad Angles ad

44:46 - Tip Tip song

49:15 - The Closer

Before reviewing the film Dune:

Abhinandan: What do you want to start with?

Rajyasree: No, let’s ask our esteemed guest/co-host.

Abhinandan: We have an esteemed guest? We only have A-bus. 

Abbas: (laughs)

Rajyasree: There’s no need to laugh, Abbas. No need to laugh at bad jokes, okay?

Abbas: No, it’s okay. I have to say my favourite part of all Newslaundry podcasts is when Abhinandan cracks a joke and laughs at himself and you can hear all the panelists looking at each other like, “Were we supposed to laugh at that?”

Abhinandan, Rajyasree, and Abbas burst out laughing.

This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen are joined by Abbas Momin, a stand-up comedian from Mumbai, to discuss the Netflix special Dave Chappelle: The Closer; films Dune and Jai Bhim; the recreation of the song Tip Tip Barsa Paani in the film Sooryavanshi; and a Mad Angles commercial featuring Ranveer Singh.

PS. Don’t miss what the hosts discuss about The Closer. 

Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Awful and Awesome producer Jude Weston looks back at his favourite moments from the podcast over the past year. From Abhinandan’s pronunciation of Charlie Puth to our two hosts striking a bet, here are some of his top picks.

Awful and Awesome will return with a new episode next week.

Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timecodes

00:01 - Introduction

03:13 - Subscriber letters

05:17 - Rashmi Rocket

14:38 - Subscriber letters

18:13 - Sardar Udham with Ronnie Lahiri

43:51 - Subscriber letters

46:28 - Fem Dabur ad

52:21 - CEAT ad ft. Aamir Khan

54:14 - Cadbury ad ft. Shahrukh Khan

57:25 - Subscriber letters

While talking about the film Sardar Udham, a chair caught Abhinandan’s eye:

Rajyasree: It’s so gripping, the way they shot it. But then...

Abhinandan: Who broke that chair? Why is that chair bent? Who sat on it?

Rajyasree: Not me!

Abhinandan: Sorry! So, a chair caught my eye which is bent and I was just worried we have to buy another chair. But, there’s another chair there, so there are three nice chairs. So, three chairs for Newslaundry!!! Hip hip...

Rajyasree: If y’all don’t support Newslaundry by the end of all the lawsuits, they’ll only be three chairs.

Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing.

This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen are joined by Ronnie Lahiri, producer of the film Sardar Udham, to discuss the film. Abhinandan and Rajyasree also review the film Rashmi Rocket; Dabur’s Karwa Chauth ad controversy; the CEAT ad controversy; and the death of Halyna Hutchins.

Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timecodes

00:01 - Introduction

08:18 - Break Point

24:37 - Subscriber letters

28:33 - House of Secrets

41:59 - Cred ad ft. Kapil Dev

44:22 - Subscriber letters

50:15 - Fabindia controversy

52:38 - Batman Trailer

54:20 - Squid Game

1:02:11 - Subscriber letters

While talking about the documentary series Break Point:

Rajyasree: The two people who had directed it are the same people who directed Panga and Dangal.

Abhinandan: If you mix the two movies, if you watch the first part of Panga and the second part of Dangal, it will become Pangal.

Rajyasree: (sarcastically) It’s a good joke.

Abhinandan: I think it’s better than yours. It’s at least 5.5/10.

Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing.

This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen review Netflix's Korean drama web series Squid Game; and documentary series Break Point and House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths. They also discuss the new trailer of Batman; the Cred ad featuring Kapil Dev; and the Fabindia controversy.

PS: Abhinandan sings a new version of Aati Kya Khandala. 

Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timecodes

00:01 - Introduction

01:35 - No Time To Die

24:31 - Subscriber letters

31:08 - Scenes from a Marriage

39:23 - Subscriber letters

43:30 - Abhinandan’s song recommendation

49:29 - Who Is The Bad Art Friend? 

While talking about the Bond film No Time To Die: 

Rajyasree: Who did the theme song, Abhinandan?

Abhinandan: Of which one?

Rajyasree: Of this one.

Abhinandan: No Time To Die (sings a different tune). 

Rajyasree: You didn’t even listen to it because you were outside on the phone.

Abhinandan: (continues singing) Hi hi, no time to die...What? I don’t know! Who did it?

Rajyasree: Billie Eilish.

Abhinandan: Oh.

Rajyasree: Is Billie Eilish a girl or a boy?

Abhinandan has no clue and Rajyasree bursts out laughing. 

This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen review Daniel Craig’s last Bond film No Time To Die; Swedish miniseries Scenes from a Marriage; and New York Times article “Who Is The Bad Art Friend?”.

PS: Abhinandan and Rajyasree share their cinema experience and discuss who should be the next Bond.

Producer’s note: Rajyasree and Abhinandan reviewed the song No Time To Die last year; check it out here.

Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.

Song: Insane and Excuses

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timecodes

00:01 - Introduction

06:49 - Subscriber letters

09:39 - Bell Bottom

23:42 - The Morning Show Season 2

30:15 - Subscriber letters

34:35 - Coca-Cola ad

36:42 - Thalaivii

44:51 - Subscriber letters

47:44 - Manyavar ad

50:06 - Only Murders in the Building

58:16 - Closure

1:04:01 - Subscriber letters

While talking about the film Bell Bottom: 

Rajyasree: How do we know that he’s Bell Bottom? Because he’s wearing bell bottoms and he’s riding a bike outside Red Fort so then we know this is him, not the guy who’s wearing the pencil trousers. That’s Pencil. 

Abhinandan: And there’s this other guy Baggy?

Rajyasree: And then his brother is Baggy.

Abhinandan: And there’s a Half Pant? Is there a Chaddi also?

Rajyasree: Chaddi is the one who sells tickets outside that movie theatre y'all used to have in Delhi.

Rajyasree and Abhinandan burst out laughing. 

This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen review the films Bell Bottom and Thalaivii; web series Only Murders in the Building and The Morning Show Season 2; Tinder’s short film Closure; the Manyavar controversy; and the new Coca-Cola ad.

PS: Abhinandan and Rajyasree give themselves code names. 

Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timecodes

00:01 - Introduction

04:09 - Black Widow

10:05 - Loki

19:19 - Subscriber letters

22:49 - Shang-Chi

31:28 - Red Sparrow

36:36 - Cadbury ad

52:34 - Subscriber letters

1:05:03 - WandaVision

Talking about the character Wenwu played by Tony Leung in the film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings:

Mansa: Tony Leung (“luhng”) is a scene stealer, pardon if I’m pronouncing his name incorrectly.

Abhinandan: You are sitting with Abhinandan and you’re apologising for the pronunciation? Like seriously!

Inderpreet: It’s Tony Leung (“loong”).

Mansa: Really? He Wenwu’ed us with his performance.

Abhinandan: In fact when he appeared in that other film...

Mansa: He’s known for his collaborations with Wong Kar-wai.

Abhinandan: No no no. Leung...He did a song ya, with Deepika Padukone. Lungi dance, Lungi dance (sings). 

Inderpreet bursts out laughing. 

Abhinandan: I wish our listeners could see the look on Mansa’s face. She’s like “Kaha baitha diya uncle ke saath, itne bhadde joke.”

This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Newslaundry subscribers Inderpreet and Mansa enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the films Shang-Chi and Black Widow; and web series Loki and WandaVision. They also discuss the thriller Red Sparrow. Abhinandan is also joined by the creators of the 2021 Cadbury cricket ad, which is a remake of the 1993 advertising classic.

PS: Don’t miss Abhinandan’s encounter with Gen Z.

Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timecodes

00:01 - Introduction

02:49 - Bhoot Police

12:25 - Subscriber letters

18:17 - Home 

28:03 - Subscriber letters

34:08 - American Crime Story Season 3

48:25 - Subscriber letters

50:26 - ‘The Activist’ Reality TV Series

Talking about the film Bhoot Police:

Rajyasree: Do you know what a Kichkandi is?

Abhinandan: It's one variety of...

Rajyasree: Of Shak Chunni like that.

Abhinandan: Ya, it’s a Bengali chudail!

Rajyasree: Bengali chudail is Shak Chunni.

Abhinandan: This is Sheikh Chilli.

Rajyasree: No, Kichkandi.

Abhinandan: Kichkandi, okay.

Rajyasree: Is a Hindi chudail.

Abhinandan: All these good things that I learn on Awful and Awesome which will absolutely have no value in my life.

Rajyasree and Abhinandan burst out laughing.

This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the film Bhoot Police; Malayalam film Home; FX series American Crime Story Season 3; and ‘The Activist’ Reality TV Series backlash .

Song: Challa Punjabi MC Mix

Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.