Jackie Thakkar, Author at Arré

Backstreet Boys: The Shared Embarrassment of Our Childhood

The Backstreet Boys, the best-selling boy band in history, have just dropped a new single, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”. It’s a reminder that no matter how cool we now consider ourselves – working out of hipster cafés, watching subtitle-only films – we are the generation that once adored BSB.

Jackie Thakkar June 1, 2016

POV

Goodbye Dear Maruti Omni, Bollywood’s Favourite Kidnapping Vehicle. You Abducted Our Hearts

Oh Maruti Omni, your stubby snout in the front with the dead-inside headlights has scared countless society kids over the years. But we should’ve known better than to trust Bollywood. They gave you a bad rap as the choice of wheels of all abductors, but I don’t think your intentions were ever fully understood.

Jackie Thakkar May 31, 2016

Bollywood

The World of Rajkumar Hirani: Where All is Well Despite Some Chemical Locha

Over the years, Rajkumar Hirani has created for us a universe full of slice-of-life characters that keep evolving, keep mutating, in small and big ways across his other films. His humour, feel-good narratives, and finger-on-the-pulse messaging blend together to form, what can be called the “Hiraniverse”.

Jackie Thakkar May 30, 2016

Pop Culture

“Hang the DJ”: Directionless Hearts in the Age of Driverless Rickshaws

Barring outliers like “San Junipero”, Black Mirror isn’t renowned for its optimism. But the online dating-focused “Hang The DJ” strikes a hopeful, uplifting chord with lovelorn millennials.

Jackie Thakkar May 29, 2016

Bollywood

21 Years of Hera Pheri: This Priyadarshan Comedy is Greatest Uplifter of All Time

In these dark times, my friends and I turn to Hera Pheri, the heist comedy that informed our childhoods. The Priyadarshan film is a bunch of guffaw-worthy skits, where the narrative is secondary. It has aged perfectly for the meme generation with our ten-second attention spans and voracious appetite for punchlines.

Jackie Thakkar May 28, 2016

Pop Culture

Kaanta Laga and the Glory Days of Our Chadhti Jawaani

Shefali Zariwala makes a wildcard entry into the Bigg Boss House tonight. Back in the 2000s, the "Kaanta Laga" girl helped usher in Indian pop music's Remix Era ⁠— a time when yesteryear classics were revamped with contemporary beats and an over-the-top element of sensuality.

Jackie Thakkar May 28, 2016

Sports

WWE Summerslam 2018: The Undying Desi Appeal of Pro-Wrestling

India and WWE have a lot in common even though jacked white dudes fighting each other theatrically seems to be far from anything remotely Indian.

Jackie Thakkar May 21, 2016

Bollywood

Happy Birthday, Paaji! Dharmendra is Like Your Grandpa on Instagram – Adorable

Garam Dharam’s Lit AF Instagram feed is the most feel-good thing on the internet right now. The Bollywood stalwart’s posts reflect his carefree nature and zeal for life and serve as a stark reminder that there’s nothing quite as adorable as old people on social media.

Jackie Thakkar May 19, 2016

Pop Culture

20 Years of K3G: The Most Bollywood Film Ever

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham hasn’t aged gracefully, but it remains a shining marker of what peak Bollywoodisms look like. Shrill, loud and emoted to within an inch of creative despair this is a film that is iconic for just how excessive it makes the art of filmmaking look. It’s 100 percent Bollywood with add-ons.

Jackie Thakkar May 16, 2016

POV

Is Juul the Smoker’s Latest Fidget Spinner?

Juul, the aspirational new cigarette substitute that looks like a sleek USB stick, is sweeping urban India. But Juul isn’t revolutionary – it is, at best, all smoke and mirrors. One day, we’ll probably look back on this as a passing fad, just like TikTok videos.

Jackie Thakkar May 13, 2016