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Articles, Critics Corner, Reviews

YOU Season 4: All hope for Joe Goldberg’s redemption dies a cruel death

With season 4 the fascination with the protagonist and probably the show finally ends because it was never about seeing him caught, it was about seeing him absolved. But by declaring him just a madman with dangerous power and no remorse, there aren’t many layers left to explore. Yes, the season was engaging and addictive, but I am not sure a season 5 would be. It would be best to end it here unless Love Quinn resurrects herself to give Joe the end he truly deserves! Continue reading YOU Season 4: All hope for Joe Goldberg’s redemption dies a cruel death

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Articles, Blast From The Past, Reflections, Straight From The Viewer's Heart

The Language of Sex in IPKKND (Part 2)

But with Khushi, we see how a good “virginal” woman is as much susceptible to a sex drive as anyone and does not see desire as an emotion to shun, but instead something important enough to explore.

And if exploration doesn’t form the spine of the language of sex, what else does? Continue reading The Language of Sex in IPKKND (Part 2)

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Articles, Blast From The Past, Reflections, Straight From The Viewer's Heart

The language of sex in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon ( IPKKND)

By Sreejeeta Ghosh Hindi television and sex have had a complicated relationship, with representations ranging from the one-time consummation sequence after a wedding, to the traditional heroine shying away from any sexual insinuation by her husband. There was a brief period of shows in the 90s and a briefer period in the 00s that dealt with sexuality, desire and consent in their lead characters which … Continue reading The language of sex in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon ( IPKKND)

Tulika Dubey6 Comments
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Articles, Straight From The Viewer's Heart

ShiVi : Shiva & Raavi- The pillars of Pandya Store

By Meghna D (twitter@kaagazkatukda) Just about three-quarters of a year ago, I was blissfully distant from Indian TV. It didn’t mean anything to me except a bundle of unwatchable content. And then, Pandya store happened.I happened to stumble upon a random Instagram clip of the show. A specific scene from a kidnapping sequence involving a couple who exuded a certain enigma, jazbaat, tashan, and a … Continue reading ShiVi : Shiva & Raavi- The pillars of Pandya Store

Tulika Dubey3 Comments
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Articles, Reflections, Straight From The Viewer's Heart

Anupamaa : Why tell a story beyond its happy ending?

Wasn’t Anupama  supposed to make a name for herself in the world of  business after walking out of her marriage? Now  she is tied down to domestic problems again. Is it because as an audience, we might like to believe we like to root for professionally successful women, but in our hearts we find more satisfaction in watching women broiled in emotional relationships? Continue reading Anupamaa : Why tell a story beyond its happy ending?

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Articles, Reflections, Straight From The Viewer's Heart

Anuj Kapadia of Anupamaa: When Indian TV finally created the perfect male lead

Anuj Kapadia from Anupamaa is suave, good looking, rich and knows how to navigate the tough course of one-sided love with grace and devotion. He loves, but does not negotiate with self -respect and respects consent. If you thought things could not be better, he writes poetry, has a killing sense of humour and would put Shakespeare to shame with his declaration of love for Anupamaa. Continue reading Anuj Kapadia of Anupamaa: When Indian TV finally created the perfect male lead

Tulika Dubey14 Comments
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Articles, Blast From The Past, Straight From The Viewer's Heart

Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon : The game changer for romance on Indian TV

By Sreejeeta Ghosh (Guest Contributor) The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility states that the more we consume a product, the less it satisfies us over time.  And Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon (IPKKND) is a great contradiction to that law.  It started as a simple romance show but with time turned into a (nearly) cult romance classic. Romance is universal, but no one brought … Continue reading Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon : The game changer for romance on Indian TV

Tulika Dubey26 Comments
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Articles, Reflections, Reviews, Straight From The Viewer's Heart

Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 2 : Reminiscent of Zindagi Gulzar Hai?

By Simran Pavecha (Guest Contributor) The old and the new If there’s one TV show that will always remain super, super close to my heart, it is Bade Achhe Lagte Hain – Ram and Sakshi’s BALH. It was fresh, mature and a great concept – a typical Sony ecosystem show. It created quite the stir back then – for a TV jodi that had fiery … Continue reading Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 2 : Reminiscent of Zindagi Gulzar Hai?

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New Launch, Reviews, Running Reviews

Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii on Sony TV – A Review

Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii, Sony TV’s medical drama launched on 6th December 2021, makes for very interesting TV in terms of all things important: the pacing of the story, an impressively authentic hospital setting and top-notch acting. The show has set up a high benchmark for itself after delivering action-packed episodes one after another in its first week. Although a few cracks do seem to appear … Continue reading Dhadkan Zindaggi Kii on Sony TV – A Review

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Face To Face, Interviews, Meet the Stars

“Playing Lord Shiva is a spiritual experience”- An Interview Feature on Siddharth Arora of Baal Shiv

Actor Siddharth Arora has been around for over a decade doing a variety of television shows but he calls playing Mahadev in &TV’s Baal Shiv, a life-changing opportunity. Other than a chance to showcase his craft in a new light, the role also brings with it a soul-satisfying experience. Every time he dons the shiv-attire, an instant meditative phase ensues, which makes acting a spiritual experience. … Continue reading “Playing Lord Shiva is a spiritual experience”- An Interview Feature on Siddharth Arora of Baal Shiv

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Articles, Reflections, Reviews

The Anupamaa Appeal

It’s been more than a year since Starplus launched a seemingly run-of-the-mill show called Anupamaa about a little-educated housewife whose life revolves around her family, with little or no reciprocation. What else is new, you ask? I did too and was mildly tempted to watch just because of the consistently high TRPs. But well, TRPs have hardly been an indication of quality content when it … Continue reading The Anupamaa Appeal

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New Launch, Reviews, Running Reviews

Baal Shiv on &TV (Nov 2021) – Review

The latest mythological offering on Indian Television has arrived on &TV and it is based on a little-known legend of Lord Shiva according to which he took a child’s form. Aptly named Baal Shiv, this show is intriguing for two reasons. Firstly, it is an unknown story in the real sense. The information on the internet is scant which means it holds an element of … Continue reading Baal Shiv on &TV (Nov 2021) – Review

Tulika Dubey6 Comments
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Articles

Current Indian TV shows on Reluctant Romance (2021)

Reluctant Romance has always been one of the most popular sub-genres when it comes to love stories since forever. Not very surprising that Indian TV has utilized this trope over and over again with great success. We have had shows like Kusum ad Kutumb in the nineties that were mega-popular all across the country. Come 2021 and it’s difficult for shows to make a place … Continue reading Current Indian TV shows on Reluctant Romance (2021)

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New Launch, Reviews, Running Reviews

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai – New Season

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai has yet again taken a leap to the next generation. This time the story revolves around the daughters of the insanely popular previous YRKKH pair Naira-Kartik/Sirat-Kartik. The sibling rivalry between Akshara & Aarohi Goenka is all set to explode as they find themselves entangled in a love triangle with the most eligible bachelor in town- the young handsome doctor Abhimanyu … Continue reading Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai – New Season

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Reviews

Guest Review : Sex Education on Netflix

Reviewer : Shaswat Dubey Sex Education is a UK based web series available on Netflix in both English and Hindi (dubbed) although the dubbing will remind you of late night Asian Sky shop ads (so avoid). The story revolves around teenagers in high school – their sex related inquisitiveness and experiences .The central character is a teenage 16 year old boy ‘Otis Milburn’ who is … Continue reading Guest Review : Sex Education on Netflix

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Reviews

Guest Review : PANCHAYAT , An Amazon Prime Original

Reviewer: Shaswat Dubey Panchayat will strike a chord with you if you have lived in central/eastern parts of India or let us say if you have seen rural life at some point of your life or you prefer simplicity and like things natural.No surprise that it’s TVF production who are known for producing simple and natural content since the time when YouTube was the only … Continue reading Guest Review : PANCHAYAT , An Amazon Prime Original

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Reviews, Straight From The Viewer's Heart

FAN REVIEW : LUCIFER – Akanksha

What better way to take mind off your regular job than watching a TV show that makes you forget what transpired in the day and leaves a broad smile on your face till you watch it again next day. This one’s a pleasure you would happily plead guilty of watching because the deliciousness of viewing gives you much needed distraction from every emotion you’re going … Continue reading FAN REVIEW : LUCIFER – Akanksha

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New Launch, Reviews, Running Reviews

Premiere Review : Radha Krishn on Star Bharat – A Total Win-Win

I would like to call this a review but fair warning- this might turn into a love post by the end, because that’s how much I am enjoying this new show on Star Bharat that was launched on 1st October. Six episodes have been telecast as I write this and they have all been delivered with a surprisingly perfect concoction of varied elements that make … Continue reading Premiere Review : Radha Krishn on Star Bharat – A Total Win-Win

Tulika Dubey2 Comments
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Reviews, Running Reviews, Straight From The Viewer's Heart

GUEST REVIEW : BEPANNAH ON COLORS – BY UJWALA SRINATH

Bepannah : Limitless possibilities of a good script Color’s recent offering manages to do something impressive in its first innings – tell a story without trappings. Watching Bepannah made me rewind to the last time I watched an Indian TV series with a compelling storyline. It took me a while to think of anything specific. This is not to say that our TV writers don’t … Continue reading GUEST REVIEW : BEPANNAH ON COLORS – BY UJWALA SRINATH

Tulika Dubey4 Comments
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Critics Corner, Reviews, Running Reviews

Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka – Review (Updated 22nd September)

Updated : The Grand Reveal was slow to come but surprisingly realistic in terms of how Mauli took it.  Aditi Dev Sharma has been stellar in the last few episodes in portraying the disbelief, heartbreak, disgust, anger , regret and a wide range of feelings that any woman cheated upon would feel.  The dialogues given to her, her scenes with both Kunal and Nandini are … Continue reading Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka – Review (Updated 22nd September)

Tulika Dubey2 Comments
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Straight From The Viewer's Heart, Uncategorized

#GuestReview: 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897 – Akanksha

121 years since the conflict, the Indian audience have now been introduced to 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897, a fiction show inspired by the real–life story of 21 brave soldiers of 36th Sikh regiment of the British Indian Army who defended an army outpost at Saragarhi in the North-West Frontier Province against an onslaught of over 10,000 Pashtun and Orakzai tribals in September 1897 in what … Continue reading #GuestReview: 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897 – Akanksha

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Critics Corner, Running Reviews

The Originality of The Originals – A review

Despite all my good intentions, I got bitten by this show called The Originals. The pun, as all the fans of the show will understand, is, very obviously intended. After raising a supercilious brow at the crazy fandom for fictional vampires in the western popular culture ( Don’t blame me, I had accidentally watched a movie called Twilight some years ago), I pressed the play … Continue reading The Originality of The Originals – A review

Tulika Dubey2 Comments
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Critics Corner, Reviews

EPIC: An Indian TV Channel with a Difference

Epic, India’s first segmented channel on History & Mythology, seems to me, a product of an epic idea with a potential to bring considerable change in the basic fabric of Indian thought, which at the moment, seems withered & confused because of sheer ignorance when it comes to India’s illustrious & often complex heritage of history, culture & mythology. Gone are the days when children grew up … Continue reading EPIC: An Indian TV Channel with a Difference

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Interviews

Hard Work Never Fails: Gautam Rode

While most people are quick to lust after the glamour the profession of acting ostentatiously showcases, few  choose to look at the hard work and toil demanded continuously and relentlessly from actors. The success stories are enviable and illustrious, but  often, tales of glistening sweat and perseverance are left behind into the shadows cast by the bright shimmering glory of fame and adulation. The moments of thinning hope and … Continue reading Hard Work Never Fails: Gautam Rode

Tulika Dubey34 Comments
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Interviews

Up Close and Personal: Sriti Jha

They say talent comes in surprise packages.They are right. Sriti Jha, one of the most well known faces of Indian TV (and what a beautiful face that is!)  is a living example. You would expect someone who has seven  years  of high -quality work to speak for her,  to be a little intimidating in person but surprisingly Sriti turns out to be the proverbial “girl next … Continue reading Up Close and Personal: Sriti Jha

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Interviews

Up Close and Personal: Nakuul Mehta

If you think “Prince Charming ” is a myth you most obviously haven’t heard of Nakuul Mehta (and in that case you are living under a rock). One of the most recognizable faces in the Indian TV industry today, this flamboyant actor currently plays the hugely popular Aditya in the StarPlus series Pyaar ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha  Pyaraa Pyaara. Nakuul, with his green eyes … Continue reading Up Close and Personal: Nakuul Mehta

Tulika Dubey11 Comments
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Face To Face, Interviews

Up Close and Personal: Mouni Roy

In the 1994 movie by the same name, Forrest Gump compares life to a box of chocolates. “Life is like a boxof chocolates, he says, “you never know what you are going to get.” In these seemingly simple words, Gump has probably given the most comprehensive definition of life ever . For what is life but an assortment of different flavors, thrown in randomly as surprises? … Continue reading Up Close and Personal: Mouni Roy

Tulika Dubey13 Comments
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Reflections

Devon Ke Dev Mahadev: Why It’s Different

While Mythology has come back with a bang on TV with the roaring success of the masterpiece Devon ke Dev Mahadev,  I would not bet   on just a mythological theme to have the same amount of success everywhere. Many new programs of this genre have been introduced, hoping to cash in on the sudden love of fantastical stories among viewers. But is simply joining the … Continue reading Devon Ke Dev Mahadev: Why It’s Different

Tulika Dubey11 Comments