The Awful & Awesome Entertainment Wrap

While discussing Heeramandi :Rajyasree: If you wear velvet and zardozi in the heat of Lahore, you won’t have a nawab around you because you will be stinking.Abhinandan: As if the nawabs themselves were smelling of roses, they were probably piss-drunk. Rajyasree: Chee, chee, chee!Abhinandan:  It’s such a stupid concept, it took me three days to watch 24-odd minutes.This and a whole lot of awful and awesome as Rajyasree Sen and Abhinandan Sekhri discuss the series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar and the films Unfrosted and The Idea of You. Abhinandan recommends Saba Dewan’s documentary, The Other Song.This episode is outside the paywall. Watch it, enjoy it, and subscribe to Newslaundry, so you can tune in every week.Have something to say? Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.Timecodes00:00 - Introductions03:51 - Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar20:09 - The Other Song - Abhinandan’s Recommendation29:44 - Announcements31:45 - Unfrosted38:55 - Letter40:57 - The Idea of You44:24 - May December - Rajyasree’s Recommendation49:18 - Kettan Singh and Met Gala ReferencesSubscribe to NewslaundryNewsAbleHeeramandi: The Diamond BazaarThe Other SongUnfrostedThe Idea of YouMay DecemberClick here to download the Newslaundry app on Android. And here for iOS.Produced and recorded by Shubang Gautam and edited by Umrav Singh.

While discussing Laapataa Ladies:Rajyasree: It was a sweet film. I cried at the end.Abhinandan: Which is so rare. You cry in every film, even in Ram Ratan Dhan Payo. Rajyasree: It’s Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. In fact, you almost cried upon realising what a shit film it was. I cried in Chennai Express.This and a whole lot of awful and awesome as Rajyasree Sen and Abhinandan Sekhri discuss the films Scoop, Laapataa Ladies, and Amar Singh Chamkila. Abhinandan also shares some entertaining pop culture headlines he came across. This episode is outside the paywall. Watch it, enjoy it, and subscribe to Newslaundry, so you can tune in every week.Have something to say? Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.Producer’s note: The films and series reviewed in this episode were reviewed earlier, but Rajyasree and Abhinandan have new perspectives to offer.  Timecodes00:00 - Introductions3:04 - Pop culture headlines by Abhinandan9:05 - Letters and an apology by Rajyasree14:25 - Laapataa Ladies 28:15 - Amar Singh Chamkila35:45 - Scoop41:40 - Some more political ads and songs ReferencesAmar Singh ChamkilaScoopLaapataa Ladies Shivsena UBT Hindi AdvertisementBJP rap songClick here to download the Newslaundry app on Android. And here for iOS.Produced, recorded by Shubang Gautam and edited by Umrav Singh.

While discussing Ferrari:Rajyasree: In House of Gucci, I felt Adam Driver overacted. Abbas: Everyone in that film was given a brief to overact. Rajyasree: Yeah a bit over the top...actually it's their version of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.This and a whole lot of awful and awesome as Rajyasree Sen and Abbas Momin discuss the films Ferrari and Aavesham, and Rajyasree gives her thoughts on the series Ripley.This episode is outside the paywall. Watch it, enjoy it, and subscribe to Newslaundry, so you can tune in every week.Have something to say? Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.General elections are here, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have a series of ambitious coverage planned. To support our journalism, choose an election project and contribute here.Timecodes00:00 - Introductions02:11 - Ferrari16:48 - Letter17:27 - Rajyasree’s take on Ripley27:30 - NL TNM Election Fund28:41 - Aavesham35:32 - Backlash to Chamkila reviewReferencesGeneral Elections 2024 FundFerrariRipleyThe Talented Mr. RipleyAavesham Amar Singh ChamkilaClick here to download the Newslaundry app on Android. And here for iOS.Produced, recorded by Shubang Gautam and edited by Umrav Singh.

While discussing headlines:Jayashree: Does your fandom of Akshay Kumar extend to you watching his movies?Rajyasree: No, that’s too much. I just think he’s a very good-looking man. Jayashree: I think the last Akshay Kumar movie I watched was Garam Masala, 20 years ago.Rajyasree: I have nothing to say to that. This and a whole lot of awful and awesome as Rajyasree Sen and Jayashree Arunachalam discuss the films Amar Singh Chamkila and Aattam, and the series Baby Reindeer.This episode is outside the paywall. Watch it, enjoy it, and subscribe to Newslaundry, so you can tune in every week.Have something to say? Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.General elections are here, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have a series of ambitious coverage planned. To support our journalism, choose an election project and contribute here.Timecodes00:00 - Introductions02:25 - Headlines6:20 - Baby Reindeer20:30 - Amar Singh Chamkila31:48 - NL TNM Election Fund32:35 - AattamReferencesGeneral Elections 2024 FundAmar Singh ChamkilaAattamBaby ReindeerClick here to download the Newslaundry app on Android. And here for iOS.Produced, recorded and edited by Shubang Gautam.

While discussing Ripley:Abbas: So, Andrew Scott became famous as the hot priest in Fleabag.Nainika: How can you forget he was Moriarty in Sherlock?Abbas: Ah, right.Nainika: A generation of girls on Tumblr were raised looking at Andrew.Abbas: Tumblr. I can totally fill in the blanks.This and a whole lot of awful and awesome as Nainika Rathore and Abbas Momin discuss the mini-series Ripley, the film Scoop, and election campaign songs. Abbas ends the episode with a summary of the latest WrestleMania.This episode is outside the paywall. Watch it, enjoy it, and subscribe to Newslaundry, so you can tune in every week.Have something to say? Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.General elections are here, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have a series of ambitious coverage planned. To support our journalism, choose an election project and contribute here.Timecodes00:00 - Introductions 02:24 - Headlines3:30 - Ripley15:40 - NL TNM Election Fund16:30 - Election campaign songs29:10 - Scoop35:10 - WrestleManiaReferencesGeneral Elections 2024 FundRipleyBJP - Modi Ka PariwarCongress - Nyay SongTMC Song - Jonogoner Gorjon5 Saal Kejriwal ScoopWrestleManiaThe World of Wrestling by Roland BarthesClick here to download the Newslaundry app on Android. And here for iOS.Produced and recorded by Shubang Gautam, edited by Umrav Singh.

While discussing Crew:Rajyasree: Maybe my expectations were very low.Abhinandan: That's the theme of your life. You find Saif hot, you watch Akshay Kumar films… Rajyasree: Saif is very hot. And by the way, I enjoyed Akshay in Yeh Dillagi. Rahul: Man, those were the days!This and a whole lot of awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri, Rajyasree Sen, and film critic Rahul Desai discuss the series The Regime, the movies Crew and The Zone of Interest, and the latest BJP and Congress ads. This episode is outside the paywall. Watch it, enjoy it, and subscribe to Newslaundry, so you can tune in every week.Have something to say? Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.General elections are around the corner, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have a series of ambitious coverage planned. To support our journalism, choose an election project and contribute here.Timecodes00:00 - Introductions 03:34 - Crew19:27 - BJP Ads22:37 - The Zone of Interest43:24 - The RegimeReferencesGeneral Elections 2024 FundCrewThe Zone of InterestThe Regime BJP Election Advertisement Rahul Desai’s review of CrewLaapata LadiesMerry Christmas Click here to download the Newslaundry app on Android. And here for iOS.Produced and recorded by Priyali Dhingra and Shubang Gautam, edited by Satish Kumar. 

While discussing the headlines:Tanishka: Kangana Ranaut was declared BJP’s candidate from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh…It’s the audition she’s been doing for years now. Nainika: That too on Twitter…which is why you should keep posting on social media. Tanishka: Shitposting is great!Nainika: Doesn’t matter what your mom says. You should always be on your phone. One day it could result in a Lok Sabha seat. This and a whole lot of awful and awesome as Nainika Rathore and Tanishka Sodhi discuss the series Maamla Legal Hai and The Gentlemen, and the movie Irish Wish. This episode is outside the paywall. Watch it, enjoy it, and subscribe to Newslaundry, so you can tune in every week.Have something to say? Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.General elections are around the corner, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have a series of ambitious coverage planned. To support our journalism, choose an election project and contribute here.Timecodes00:00 - Introductions 01:10 - Headlines 04:02 - Maamla Legal Hai 23:42 - NL TNM Election Fund 24:35 - The Gentlemen36:40 - Irish wish47:04 - Letters ReferencesGeneral Elections 2024 FundMaamla Legal Hai Irish WishThe GentlemenClick here to download the Newslaundry app on Android. And here for iOS.Produced and recorded by Priyali Dhingra and Shubang Gautam, edited by Umrav Singh. 

While discussing Kate Middleton’s ‘disappearance’: Rajyasree: It is a little weird that she is nowhere to be seen. But then the royal family has had a bit of a dull phase. Abbas: Exactly. Rajyasree: Too bad that our public figures don’t go missing. Abbas: Or are half as interesting. Kate, if you’re listening to this, please show up. Rajyasree: And subscribe to Newslaundry!This and a whole lot of awful and awesome as Rajyasree Sen and Abbas Momin discuss the movie Murder Mubarak, the series Big Girls Don’t Cry, and Can’t, the new special by stand-up comic Daniel Sloss. This episode is outside the paywall. Watch it, enjoy it, and subscribe to Newslaundry, so you can tune in every week.Have something to say? Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.General elections are around the corner, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have a series of ambitious coverage planned. To support our journalism, choose an election project and contribute here.Timecodes00:00 - Introductions02:21 - Headlines04:41 - Murder Mubarak19:23 - NL-TNM Election Fund 21:19 - Big Girls Don’t Cry 36:34 - Daniel Sloss: Can’t ReferencesGeneral Elections 2024 FundMurder MubarakBig Girls Don’t CryDaniel Sloss: Can’t Click here to download the Newslaundry app on Android. And here for iOS.Produced and recorded by Priyali Dhingra and Shubang Gautam, edited by Umrav Singh. 

While discussing Poor Things:Jayashree: You threw me under the bus. I asked if I should watch American Fiction or Poor Things, and you led me to Poor Things.Rajyasree: Which has won an Oscar.Jayashree: So many terrible movies have. I had to watch Poor Things over dinner. So, I did not get my calorie intake last night, because it was a struggle.This and a whole lot of awful and awesome as Rajyasree Sen and Jayashree Arunachalam discuss the movies Poor Things, American Fiction, Manjummel Boys, and the 96th Academy Awards. Have something to say? Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.General elections are around the corner, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have ambitious plans together. Choose an election project you would like to support and power our journalism. Click here.Timecodes00:00 - Introductions01:29 - Headlines03:45 - Poor things18:40 - American Fiction25:54 - NL-TNM Election Fund 27:28 - Manjummel Boys 34:10 The Oscars ReferencesGeneral Elections 2024 FundPoor Things American FictionManjummel Boys96th Academy AwardsClick here to download the Newslaundry app on Android. And here for iOS.Produced and recorded by Priyali Dhingra and Shubang Gautam, edited by Umrav Singh.