Pop Culture Archives

Let’s Call It Spooktober: Why October is the Best Time to Binge on Horror

October is a twilit month, suspended between bright summers and shadowy winters. For a fan of horror, there’s no better time in the year. This year, it’s The Terror, a gripping survival horror series, and the new Stephen King adaptation, In the Tall Grass, with which I’m greeting the season of spookiness.

Dushyant Shekhawat March 14, 2016

Pop Culture

Finding Comfort in Star Wars after a Week of Distressing News

The thought of watching another Jedi vs Sith battle while protests raged across the country was enough to cause a little guilt. But at the demonstration against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan, I realised that even here, there were people resisting the Dark Side of the Force.

Dushyant Shekhawat March 14, 2016

Pop Culture

Why Ranveer Singh is the Deadpool Dubbed Hollywood Movies Deserve

Ranveer Singh, voicing the title character of Deadpool 2, is a step in the right direction for Hollywood movies dubbed in Hindi. Hopefully, we’re done with the days when James Bond would walk into a bar and order a Patiala Chivas.

Damian D'souza March 13, 2016

Pop Culture

What A Star is Born Gets Right About Toxic Masculinity

Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut starring Lady Gaga is a modern-day update on an old story. Unlike past iterations that glorify toxic behaviours, this version, in the age of #MeToo, makes all the politically correct statements.

Amal Singh March 13, 2016

Pop Culture

What Jack Ryan Gets Right About the War on Terror

Jack Ryan tracks an unassuming but troubled desk-bound analyst’s heroic turn into a duty agent heeding the call of duty. But its strength lies in its awareness that the war on terror is after all, a terror too.

Poulomi Das March 13, 2016

Pop Culture

The Story of Anandi Gopal, Our First Woman Doctor, is the Story of Every Indian Woman

Anandi Gopal is the retelling of Dr Anandi Joshi’s struggles, her fight for the right to dissent and for gender justice. Hundred and forty years on, her trials strike a chord. Her story is still relevant as we grapple to declare marital rape a crime and debate over women’s entry into places of worship.

Aparna joshi March 13, 2016

Pop Culture

Keeping Up With (and Losing Count of) the Kardashians

Kylie Jenner didn’t just have a baby, she launched a new vertical in the sprawling Kardashian media empire. At this rate, there’s going to be too many Kardashians to keep up with by the end of 2018.

Dushyant Shekhawat March 12, 2016

Pop Culture

The Flawed Retribution of MOM

MOM, 2017’s third rape-revenge drama borrows heavily from the Zakhmi Aurats and Insaaf Ka Taraazus of the ’80s.

Poulomi Das March 12, 2016

Pop Culture

Welcome to the Bolly Patriots’ Club, Kangana Ranaut

Ahead of the release of her film Manikarnika, Kangana Ranaut has discovered how much she loves India. She has joined the growing tribe of nationalist-actors who make movies about how much they love India in between talking about how much they love India.

Arré Bench March 12, 2016

Pop Culture

Sympathy for the Devil: Creed II’s Most Compelling Character is the Villain

The latest film in the Rocky franchise brings back Ivan Drago, its most imposing, intimidating villain, only to show a softer, more human side to his character. Had this movie been titled Drago instead of Creed, he would have made a natural protagonist.

Dushyant Shekhawat March 12, 2016