Chef’s Kiss
Despite an uneven recipe, Abhishek Chaubey’s Killer Soup has enough strong performances and intrigue to make for a palatable—and entertaining—main course. By Karan Madhok
Black Water and Black Hearts: The Politics of Citizenship in KAALA PAANI
The medical survival thriller Kaala Paani (2023) explores the dehumanization of indigenous communities through the prism of politics, development, and a dangerous pandemic in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. By Anusha Prakash
Garmi: A scorching drama on Indian Campus Politics
Set in a fictional college-town in North India, the SonyLIV thriller Garmi (2023) takes viewers on a nuanced exploration of the nexus of caste, politics, power, and violence. By Chittajit Mitra
PANCHAYAT is a throwback that looks ahead
Rural India takes centre-stage again in Season 2 of Panchayat, a series that follows the thread of comic absurdity to stitch up a progressive lens on village life. By Karan Madhok
The Great Indian Waste of Potential
Despite its ambitions to be a crime drama at the grandest scale, The Great Indian Murder (2022) falls into a trap of stereotypes and cliches, offering only an amalgamation of old ideas wrapped in a shiny new box. By Karan Madhok
A Mature Portrayal of Science and Sensibility
SonyLIV web series Rocket Boys is a rare exception among recent dramas, where an entertaining story of post-Independent India also holds up a mirror of truths. - By Atulya Pathak
The ‘Secrets’ beyond a compelling Indian true-crime series
In House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths, Leena Yadav moulds the story about a tragedy into an active question of self-reflection for the larger society. - By Atulya Pathak
Wendy Doniger, Lagaan, and Dot. - What’s The Chakkar?
What’s The Chakkar? Episode 12: We’re reading books by Wendy Doniger and Sophia Naz; watching Lagaan; and listening to Dot. Featuring Saurabh Sharma, Prateek Santram, and Ady Manral. Hosted by Karan Madhok.
Tinctures, The Disciple, and Suchitra Vijayan - What’s The Chakkar?
What’s The Chakkar? Episode 11: We’re listening to Tinctures; watching The Disciple; and reading books by Suchitra Vijayan and Kiley Reid. Featuring Anurag Tagat, Jamie Alter, and Shaista Vaishnav. Hosted by Karan Madhok.
S. Hareesh, Tejas, and The Family Man - What’s The Chakkar?
What’s The Chakkar? Episode 10: We’re reading books by S. Hareesh and TJ Klune; listening to music by Tejas; watching The Family Man. Featuring Shaista Vaishnav, Ady Manral, and Prateek Santram. Hosted by Karan Madhok.
Ray, Irfana & Taslina, and Albert Camus - What’s The Chakkar?
What’s The Chakkar? Episode 9: We’re watching Ray; listening to Irfana & Taslina; reading Albert Camus and Anthony Doerr. Featuring Prateek Santram, Anurag Tagat, and Shaista Vaishnav. Hosted by Karan Madhok.
Ramya Pothuri, Peter Wohlleben, and Pagglait - What's The Chakkar?
What’s The Chakkar? Episode 8: We’re listening to Ramya Pothuri; reading Peter Wohlleben and Viet Thanh Nguyen; and watching Pagglait. Featuring Ady Manral, Shaista Vaishnav, and Harshita Murarka. Hosted by Karan Madhok.