Your Weekend Planner June 25: Netflix gets a Ray for the dark

Netflix's Ray makes staying home easier. And if you're done with that, pick up The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo from the bookshelf.

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New Delhi
June 25, 2021
UPDATED: June 25, 2021 19:38 IST
Ray is currently streaming on Netflix.

Dear Reader,

There's not much good news these days, thanks to the virus, but this weekend, you might have something to look forward to. Ray is out on Netflix. The anthology of four shorts, based on four short stories by genius filmmaker-writer Satyajit Ray, started streaming today. See our review to choose who you want to watch first: Ali Fazal, Manoj Bajpayee, Kay Kay Menon or Harshvardhan Kapoor.

To go with Ray, there's a recipe of Mango Doughnut, or Donut, however you like spelling it. The bookshelf promises a roller-coaster ride with The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. On TV, there's a medley of song and dance, thanks to all the reality shows across various channels. More when you reach that section.

Before we leave you with the Weekend Planner, a nudge: don't skip the workout.

Keep the mask on. Stay home if you can stay home. Please do not step out if you don't need to. Travel later.

That's all. Have a good weekend.

WHAT’S TRENDING?

The Covid numbers are decreasing; India recorded 51,667 new coronavirus cases of Covid-19 and 1,329 deaths in the last 24 hours, as of Friday. But the question is, can you resume ‘normal life?’ Not quite. Here’s why.

The Covid-19 Delta variant, which was identified earlier this month, is significantly more transmissible and dangerous in terms of the severity of illness that it causes, America's Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy said. This variant now makes up for 90 per cent of all new cases.

Owing to the spread of the Delta variant, relaxation of coronavirus restrictions in England will be delayed by four weeks until July 19. In India, meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh reported its first Covid-19 death linked to the Delta Plus variant on Wednesday. Do take note of this and follow the drill: Wear a mask if you step out and wash your hands frequently.

Also, do take the vaccine. On that note, the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte trended over the week after he said that people who are not willing to get vaccinated will be arrested. In quite harsh words, he asked the vaccine decliners to “go to India or America or somewhere."

In other news, a US-based CCTV company has decided to hire people who will monitor stores from remote locations in India. Hold on, there’s more to it. The person has to scream at armed robbers in case of suspicious activities in the stores. You will get Rs 30,000 per month. Interested?

By the way, this week’s meme material is Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s iconic scene from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. The memes are hilarious and you must not miss them.

Several elephant videos also surfaced on social media this week. For example, this clip of an elephant crashing through the kitchen wall of a woman’s home in Thailand went viral. Here’s another video of an elephant family eating together.

SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE

Have you seen this picture of a squirrel and a bird enjoying a picnic? The internet simply cannot stop gushing over it.

By the way, did you know Shoaib Akhtar is a great singer? Here’s a throwback video of the former Pakistan pacer from a party where he sang popular Kishore Kumar tracks.

Watch the video here:

WHAT'S ON MY PLATE?

Mangoes are in season currently and while it lasts, we should definitely make full use of it, no? Therefore, if you are bored of having mangoes the mainstream way - open, peel and eat - you can try making a dessert with it. So, what we have in mind is Mango Doughnut for this weekend. Not just you, but even your kids at home will definitely relish this recipe.

To make mango doughnut, you will be needing 2 cups of mangoes cut into small chunks, 5 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 cup warm milk, 2 tablespoons active dry yeast, 1/2 tablespoon salt, 1/4 cup melted butter, 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup confectioners sugar, 1 or 2 tbsp milk or non-dairy milk (for the icing) and oil for frying.

Doughnut disturb, we're eating.

First, we'll start with the compote. Put a pan on medium heat, add mango chunks, sugar (depending on the sweetness of the mangoes). Then bring it to a boil. Keep stirring the mangoes often till they become mushy and the texture becomes thick. Turn off the heat and let the compote cool completely. Add this to a blender and blend it into a smooth puree.

Now, to the doughnut. In a bowl, add warm milk, sugar and yeast. Cover and leave it undisturbed for 5 minutes. Let the yeast activate. Add salt, melted butter, mango compote (which was made before) and mix until combined using a wooden spoon or spatula. Now add flour in parts and mix until a smooth dough is formed. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and let it sit for an hour or until the size is doubled. Then, transfer it to a floured space and roll out a thick sheet using a rolling pin. After that, you can shape the doughnut with a cookie cutter. Let it rest for an hour. Now, take a deep bottom pan and add a litre of canola oil to fry these doughnuts. Once they are done, let it cool. In a bowl, add mango compote, confectioners sugar, and whisk. Now, dip the fried doughnuts in the glaze and enjoy.

FROM THE BOOKSHELF

This week, we recommend The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, a trilogy written by Stieg Larsson. The book begins with Lisbeth Salander, a computer hacker with a dark past, who is enlisted by journalist Mikael Blomkvist to investigate the probable murder of a wealthy businessman, Henrik Vanger’s great-niece, Harriet. As the investigation gains speed, it is impossible to put the book down till you’ve reached the end.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo will take you on a journey where you might find it difficult to tell right from wrong. Lisbeth's character is powerful but it does have its flaws. We should warn you though that the book is filled with misogynistic men as the book's original Swedish title was Men Who Hate Women.

DON’T STOP WORKING OUT

The second wave of Covid-19 may be showing signs of receding, but the pandemic has taught everyone the importance of leading a healthy life in order to fight any disease. As much as maintaining a balanced diet is important for you, a regular dose of exercise too helps you stay fit and healthy. Therefore, on International Yoga Day, once again, Bollywood celebrities took to their social media handles to promote the importance of yoga. From Kareena Kapoor to Malaika Arora, everyone posted photos and videos of them practising yoga.

They say good habits should be instilled from a very young age, Kareena and Saif Ali Khan are doing just that. Along with a picture of herself doing Vrikshasana or the Tree Pose, she also shared a cute photo of Saif and Taimur practising yoga.

Well, talking about instilling good habits, how can we forget little Inaaya, who too appeared on her mother Soha Ali Khan’s International Yoga Day post.

Neetu Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Sara Ali Khan also shared posts on their respective social media handles.

FASHIONABLY YOURS

Karisma Kapoor has been a trendsetter since she made her Bollywood debut 30 years ago. Today, June 25, the actress is celebrating her 47th birthday and she remains as graceful and glamorous as ever. So, our Fashion Friday this week chronicles her classic and chic sense of style, which ruled the 90s and continues to charm us now. From vibrant hues to minimalistic designs, Karisma manages to make a fashionable statement in every outfit. Check out the best of her timeless ensembles through the years, on and off screen.

MOVIES AND MAGIC

There's a ray of hope on OTT this week - for Netflix brings us Ray. Forgive the cliche, but we are truly excited about this one. Growing up on Satyajit Ray's Feluda and Gupi-Bagha series - ask a Bong the thrill of watching these on those cosy Sunday afternoons - graduating to his more serious works - Shakha Proshakha, Ganashatru, Mahanagar, and more - this is just pure bliss. That Netflix provides a platform to stories of this international icon, and in return, he provides it valuable content, the demand for which seems to be rising every day, is great news for audiences like us. Add to that actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Ali Fazal, Kay Kay Menon and more, and... you see, we simply cannot contain ourselves. Childhood memories of those Sunday afternoons rushing back.

And speaking of memories, on 15 years of Krrish, Hrithik Roshan gave us an update about Krrish 4. It's happening guys, brace yourself. And while Hrithik dons the superhero costume again, Kangana Ranaut dons the director's hat - again! This time, Kangana will direct Emergency, a film based on Ex-Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. Because no one can do it better than her. Kangy, we never doubted you.

For cinephiles, two interesting things happened this week. Anurag Kashyap's Gangs Of Wasseypur turned 9, but Faisal did not speak about it on social media. Nagma did with a Covid-twist. Oh, well. However, when Shahid Kapoor's Kabir Singh turned 2, Instagram lit up with posts, stories, lives, you name it. Oh-no, well!

Of course, you cannot overlook Kabir Singh's contribution to Shahid's career. And we didn't, our Monday Masala is proof. On Vijay's birthday, we looked back at the Beast actor's maiden Bollywood cameo in Akshay Kumar's Chinta Ta song in Rowdy Rathore - for Tuesday Trivia. Wahiyat Wednesday was a salute to all the swayamwar shows - especially Arshi Khan's Ayenge Tere Sajna. And Throwback Thursday went to Raman Raghav 2.0.

Now, off to our OTT section for deets on new releases, starting with Ray.

ON YOUR OTT SCREENS

ON NETFLIX

What to watch: Ray

You will like it if you liked: Pather Panchali

If you are someone who has grown up watching Satyajit Ray films or someone who is just a cinema lover, then Netflix's anthology film Ray should be on the top of your weekend watchlist. Ray presents four short stories written by the celebrated filmmaker. The anthology features an ensemble cast including Manoj Bajpayee, Harshvardhan Kapoor, Ali Fazal and Kay Kay Menon, among others. The stories vary in genre and style and promise a thrilling ride, full of twists and turns. Like any Satyajit Ray story, these episodes have a strong emotional core to keep the viewers hooked. The film anthology started streaming today, June 25.

Read our review here.

What to watch: Too Hot To Handle Season 2

You will like it if you liked: Too Hot To Handle Season 1

Your wait is finally over. All of those who were waiting for the release of the second season of Too Hot To handle can now rejoice. 10 good-looking men and women have once again come on the shores of paradise to meet and flirt with each other for weeks. Only one will go home with the cash prize of $100,000, only if he/she could resist the temptation to touch anyone. They can flirt but cannot kiss or indulge in any sexual activity. If they do, the prize money would decrease. The second season released on June 23.

What to watch: Sex/Life

You will like it if you liked: The Affair

Sex/life is the story of a provocative new look at female desires and identity. The series follows a love triangle between a woman, her husband and her ex-boyfriend. It revolves around Billie Connelly (Sarah Shahi) who married Cooper (Mike Vogel). While Cooper is loving and reliable, Billie is missing something. Before she moved to Connecticut with her husband, she was a free-spirited wild child living in New York City. In order to fill the void and exhaustion from taking care of her two kids, she starts journaling and fantasizing about her passionate sexual escapades with her sexy ex-boyfriend Brad (Adam Demos). One day, her husband finds her journal. What happens after will surely make you watch the entire series without any break.

ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

What to watch: Mary J Blige’s My Life

You will like it if you liked: Amy

Mary J Blige's journey as a singer, producer and actress is documented by Oscar-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth in Mary J. Blige’s My Life. It reveals what inspired the record titled My Life, which propelled Mary to international stardom. She also celebrates the 25th anniversary of her most powerful work by performing the album live for the very first time.

ON DISNEY+HOTSTAR

What to watch: Grahan

You will like it if you liked: Maharani

Hotstar's latest release, Grahan is inspired by Satya Vyas’ popular novel Chaurasi. The web-series stars Pavan Malhotra, Zoya Hussain, Anshuman Pushkar, Wamiqa Gabbi, Teekam Joshi and Sahidur Rahman in lead roles. It premiered on Disney+Hotstar on June 24.

Read our review here.

What to watch: The Mysterious Benedict Society

You will like it if you liked: The Republic of Sarah

The Mysterious Benedict Society is an eight-episode series that debuts June 25 on Disney+Hotstar. The show stars Kristen Schaal and Tony Hale. The Mysterious Benedict Society is based on the series of young adult novels by American author Trenton Lee Stewart. The series revolves around Mr. Benedict (Tony Hale) a scientist living in an alternate universe.

What to watch: Wolfgang

You will like it if you liked: Dark

Wolfgang, directed by David Gelb will be streaming on Disney+ Hotstar from June 25. This film chronicles the inspiring and true story of Wolfgang Puck, who is now a celebrity chef. He not only changed the way we think about chefs but also introduced to the world a radically new American cuisine.

TUNE IN TO TELEVISION

What to watch: Indian Idol 12

Where to watch: Sony TV, 9.30 pm

Indian Idol 12 will welcome Javed Akhtar as a special guest this weekend. The contestants of the singing reality show will be singing songs penned by the legendary lyricist. The episode will have Anu Malik, Sonu Kakkar and Himesh Reshammiya as judges and Aditya Narayan as the host.

What to watch: Dance Deewane 3

Where to watch: Colors TV, 9 pm (Saturday and Sunday)

Raveena Tandon will be seen as a special guest on Dance Deewane 3 this weekend. The actress will dance to her popular song Tip Tip Barsa Paani from the film Mohra. The show's host, Raghav Juyal, will also be seen shaking a leg with her. Raveena will also be seen getting mighty impressed with Dance Deewane 3 contestant Gunjan, who is known as the hip-hop queen on the show. She loved the young dancer's performance so much that she joined her on the stage and danced with her on the song. The dance reality show is judged by Madhuri along with choreographers Dharmesh Yelande and Tushar Kalia.

What to watch: Super Dancer - Chapter 4

Where to watch: Sony TV, 8 pm (Saturday and Sunday)

This weekend, Neetu Kapoor will be seen as a special guest on Super Dancer - Chapter 4. The contestants of the dance reality show will be seen celebrating her journey through some mesmerising performances. The actress will also be seen taking to the stage to groove with the contestants and the judges Shilpa Shetty and Geeta Kapoor. Neetu Kapoor will be seen sharing interesting anecdotes related to her life and her husband, late actor Rishi Kapoor. The yesteryear actress will also praise Esha Mishra and her mentor Sonali's performance and surprise the young dancer with the Kapoor family's special delicacies.

What to watch: Indian Pro Music League

Where to watch: Zee TV, 8 pm (Saturday and Sunday)

Viewers will get to witness the IPML race to finale this weekend. Along with the celebrated singer, Bollywood star Govinda will also be seen on the show. He will be having a good time on the show and will also be seen dancing and having fun with the singers.

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Posted byNairita Mukherjee