Khabardaar Podcast

Episode 53: In this episode, a look at Luka Chuppi. Starring Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon, this was the latest Hindi film to explore live-in relationships.

Episode 52: In this episode, we pay tribute to veteran playwright, actor, writer and thinker Girish Karnad - who played a starring role both in art house and commercial Hindi/Indian cinema.

Episode 51 Pt. 2: A special short corollary - Toronto filmmaker Gursimran Datla's analysis of Ritesh Batra's new film Photograph, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sanya Malhotra.

Episode 51: In this episode, a look at Ritesh Batra's new film Photograph, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sanya Malhotra.

Episode 50: In this episode, we record live on location at the IFFSA (International Film Festival of South Asia) Toronto. We talk about one of the opening films Bhonsle.

Episode 49: In this episode, we unpack our feelings about Kalank, the multi-starrer film featuring Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sonakshi Sinha, Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt among others.

Episode 48: In this episode, a look at Thiagarajan Kumararaja's sophomore film Super Deluxe, starring an ensemble cast that includes Vijay Sethupathi, Samantha Akkineni, Fahadh Faasil, Mysskin, Ramya Krishan, Gayathrie and Ashwanth Ashok Kumar.

Episode 47: In this episode, a look at Govind Nihalani's cult classic Party, starring an ensemble cast of some of the best Indian theatre and art-house actors such as Deepa Sahi, Manohar Singh and Rohini Hattangadi.

Episode 46: In this encore presentation, a look at Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, directed by Vasan Bala, starring Abhimanyu Dassani, Radhika Madan and Gulshan Devaiah.

Episode 45: Created by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, co-written by Alankrita Shrivastava, and co-directed by Nitya Mehra and Prashant Nair, Made In Heaven is an Amazon Prime Video series that uses the backdrop of the 'Big Fat Indian Wedding' to talk about the social realities of India.

Episode 44: Gully Boy brought the sounds of Mumbai's gullies to the big Bollywood screen. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, the movie featured A-list stars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, and a team of formidable supporting actors. Together, they brought to life a story based on the lives of Indian rap stars Divine and Naezy.

Episode 43: Aparita Bhandari watched Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga with Queer South Asians and Allies of Toronto (QSAALT). A conversation with its members after watching the movie.

Episode 42: A look at the influence of Telugu cinema on Bollywood, and a discussion of the sleeper hit Telugu film Arjun Reddy.

Episode 41: A debate on whether Uri: The Surgical Strike, starring Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam and Paresh Rawal among others, is a jingoistic film - or not.

Episode 40: A conversation with author Moupia Basu on her book The Queen's Last Salute, which is partially inspired by the story of Rani Laxmibai. Basu's book covers much of the same ground as Kangana Ranaut's latest film Manikarnika.

Episode 39: We have lots to talk about when it comes to Rohit Shetty and Ranveer Singh's collaboration in Simbaa. While the movie had many fun elements, tacking on a serious issue like rape to a Shetty style masala movie didn't sit well with us.

Episode 38: We watched Zero, the big budget Anand L. Rai extravaganza starring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, alongside top-billing female leads Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. The movie didn't impress us much; but then neither did Race 3 or Thugs of Hindostan earlier in 2018. So, this episode features our experience of watching Zero, followed by a discussion on the relevance of Bollywood's Khan triumvirate.

Episode 37: In this special episode, a conversation with celebrated Indian documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan about his latest work Vivek/Reason.

Episode 36: In this episode, a look at Stree. This horror-comedy film starring Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Aparshakti Khurrana, Abhishek Banerjee and Pankaj Tripathi was a sleeper hit, telling an unusual story of an evil female spirit who kidnaps men.

Episode 35: In this episode, a look at Badhaai Ho, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Sanya Malhotra, Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao and Surekha Sikri. Although Hindi films typically centre around its younger stars, Badhaai Ho featured stand-out performances by the senior artists, stealing scene after scene, in a film that broached the topic of parental sex with gentle humour and tons of grace.