So you want to watch something…
One: Just in time for Halloweekend, Netflix is rolling out ‘Kaali Khuhi’—a creepy ghost story set in a village in Punjab starring Shabana Azmi, Leela Samson and Sanjeeda Sheikh. Here is Azmi talking to Indian Express about the female foeticide theme.
Two: Baby Yoda is baaack! Do we need to say more?
Three: Looking for a cleverly plotted slick thriller? The Spanish film ‘The Invisible Guest’ checks all the boxes. FYI: This was remade as ‘Badla’ starring Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu. We vastly prefer the original, but both are happily available on Netflix. (FYI: here’s an entire list of best thrillers on Netflix.)
A long list of good weekend reads
Culture:
- We loved this Agents of Ishq piece on hot dudes in Indian underwear ads. The title: ‘Chaddi Pehen Ke Dude Khila Hai’.
- Harper’s Bazaar explains the key difference between ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusivity’ in fashion.
- Mint profiles Masood Hussain who is painting the anger and grief of Kashmiris.
- AARP (yes, the magazine run by the organisation for US senior citizens) offers a compelling reported piece on the tragic last days of Stan Lee, the creator of the Marvel Universe. Not even celebs are immune to elder abuse.
- The News Minute has a delightful read on the common words shared by Tamil and Korean.
Four deep dives:
- BBC Future explains why it is harder than ever to mine for gold—and why recycled gold will be king in the future.
- Mint explains why child marriage makes sound economic sense to Indian parents.
- The Guardian has an absolute must read on how a disinformation campaign destroyed the life of the co-founder of White Helmets—the group that shot into international prominence for rescuing victims of the Syrian war.
- Outlook’s cover story turns the spotlight on interfaith couples and their experiences and challenges.
Plain useful reads:
- Well + Good offers a simple guide to dealing with thinning hair as you age.
- Vice has a must-read on decolonising mental health diagnosis and treatment—to make it more effective for Indians.
- The Cut recommends eight of the best teeny tiny workouts (that only take minutes).