Culture & Living
Let the 2021 binge fest begin with these brilliant selections
We’re fresh into the new year and there’s already so much content to look forward to in the next seven days. Pankaj Tripathi is ready to entertain with a new satirical narrative in Kaagaz and R. Madhavan’s artistic tale, Maara is also primed for release. Netflix’s library sees the addition of an intense drama and a though-provoking docuseries with Pieces of a Woman and Surviving Death respectively. So, as you recover from hearty celebrations and get ready to face 2021, here’s a list of picks to help you refuel.
Nicholas Cage hosts a unique show which focuses on a detailed study of expletives. It explores the roots, pop culture-references, science and social impact of cuss words which are most relevant in society. With interviews from etymology experts, celebrities, historians, and more, this is a lesson in history nobody knew they needed.
Streaming on Netflix
The concept of an afterlife is a fascinating one and is the focus of this upcoming series, that is based on journalist Leslie Kean’s book of the same name. The narrative dives headfirst into the age-old question—is death the end of human existence, or can our conscience survive beyond the physical plane? It connects groundbreaking research in the field along with personal accounts of individuals who have been close to death, to present an understanding of life in the beyond as we know it.
Streaming on Netflix
This satirical comedy revolves around Bharat Lal (Pankaj Tripathi), who earns an honest living, as part of a wedding band, in rural India. However, fate plays a cruel game when he is declared dead by official government papers despite being very much alive. Thus, begins a battle of identity against a system that believes a piece of paper, more than a human being. The film is based on a true success story of a 'dead' farmer.
Streaming on ZEE5
After the home birth of their daughter ends up in tragedy, Martha and Sean's world comes crashing down. Fighting an uphill battle, Martha has to cope with the loss of her child, while trying to maintain the remains of her relationship with Sean and her overbearing mother. Furthermore, she faces a court battle against the midwife responsible for the delivery. This is a journey of a woman who is on the verge of losing everything yet refuses to let her circumstances dictate her. The film stars Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn, among others.
Streaming on Netflix
For 25 years, Assane Diop believes that his father was a thief, but later realises he was set up by a corrupt wealthy family. To avenge this injustice that befell his family, Assane trains himself in misdirection and deceit by using the fictional work—'Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar' by French writer Maurice Leblanc, to steal a multi-million-dollar necklace from the Louvre.
Streaming on Netflix
Academy Award-winning director, Martin Scorsese sits down with his friend and writer, Fran Lebowitz, for a conversation about New-York City. Heavily opinionated and always blunt, Fran has an observation for everything and is vocal about the 'correct' way of doing things across NYC, which she says she should put in a manifesto titled, Pretend It's a City. The conversation also highlights Fran's personal life, which is filled to the brim with curiosity and independence.
Streaming on Netflix
When her parents force her to get married, Paru (Shraddha Srinath) runs away from home to live a peaceful and uninterrupted life. She rents a room in a small town and finds a sketchbook belonging to the previous occupant. She also discovers a fairy tale which she heard as a child, painted across walls of the town by the same man—Maara (R. Madhavan). With her curiosity peaked, she decides to go on a journey and retraces the mysterious artist's steps to find him.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video