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Beyond The Reel

Farzi to Scam 2003, Indian OTT loves fraud & fraudsters. They make for good TRPs

In just a week of its release, Hansal Mehta’s Scam 2003 has already raked in 5.7 million views to become one of India’s most-watched web series.

Can Shah Rukh Khan deliver with Jawan what Rajinikanth couldn’t with Jailer? Pan-India success

The new trend of delivering pan-India success has been a one-way street, from south to north. And even that has come undone this year with Rajinikanth-starrer Jailer.

Drag isn’t gag but Bollywood will keep dressing up Ayushmann Khurranas as women just for laughs

Govinda to Ayushmann Khurrana, Bollywood's filmy cross-dressers are just a laughing matter.

Guns & Gulaabs to Kathal, the comedy genre has found its perfect partner – in crime

Comedy refines and defines the heaviness of thrillers, and crime comedy is turning out to be a reliable and entertaining genre in itself.

OMG 2 doesn’t tread the tricky path of God & atheism. Marries tradition with education

Unlike Mehta, Kanti of OMG 2 relies on Hindu scriptures to argue his point. He steers clear of religious debates and instead emphasises the significance of Sanatana Dharma.

Elephant Whisperers’ fight shows Indian documentaries need better contracts, IP regulations

Bomman and Bellie, the mahout couple from the Oscar-winning documentary, are seeking a ‘goodwill gesture’ of Rs 2 crore from filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves.

Kohrra subverts tropes of Punjabi romance & nostalgia. Mustard fields, NRI weddings

Randeep Jha’s Netflix show Kohrra is a police procedural exploring complex human psyche, and the many problems that plague Punjab’s society.

Indian family is back in Bollywood. But Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani just made it imperfect

Johar uses stereotypes to address patriarchy, cancel culture, elitism, and even the disdain that had accumulated about larger-than-life Bollywood films.

Oppenheimer joins the ranks of Wolf of Wall Street. A biopic that lionises the hero, no warts

Just the way Scorsese showed Jordan Belfort, and Luhrmann depicted Elvis, Oppenheimer comes out a hero. Convenient narratives trump uncomfortable truths.

Barbie movie disappoints just like the doll. Needs radical makeover, not trendy updates

Over the decades, Barbie has tried to convince us she's changing. But tweaking isn't transforming. Greta Gerwig's movie is one more modification, not a radical 21st century makeover.

On Camera

Bodoland poll loss a wake-up call for Assam BJP. Zubeen’s death puts CM Sarma in a tight spot

Assam CM can’t celebrate that the Congress drew a blank in the Bodoland Territorial Council polls in 2010 as well as 2015, and bagged only one in 2020.

Market regulator SEBI clears Adani Group of impropriety alleged by Hindenburg Research

SEBI probe concluded that purported loans and fund transfers were paid back in full and did not amount to deceptive market practices or unreported related party transactions.

Aerial warfare analyst Tom Cooper faults India’s military PR, says Pakistan does it better

In post on social media, Cooper narrated experience of MiG-21 researcher from Germany who wanted to attend aircraft’s farewell ceremony in India, and the roadblocks he faced. 

Something’s hidden in the Oval Office photo of Trump, Munir, Sharif. India must look closely

What Munir has achieved with Trump is a return to normal, ironing out the post-Abbottabad crease. The White House picture gives us insight into how Pakistan survives, occasionally thrives and thinks.