So you wanna watch something…
Squid Game: This new Korean series, has been in making for more than a decade—and is being billed a dark, blood-splattered survival drama. Think 456 contestants who have to play a series of children’s games. If they win, they get a share of 45.6 billion won; if they fail, well… Pitchfork says there is a key distinction from other such movies: “This isn’t a story in which humanity is doomed because of its inherent greed or selfishness… it is a reality where people do desperate things because they are in desperate situations, and the system preys on that vulnerability for profit.” NME promises that you will be hooked. This thriller drama streams on Netflix.
Schumacher: This is for all F1 fans—old and new. The documentary on F1 legend Michael Schumacher offers never before seen footage along with interviews with family members to trace his life journey. The racing ace is missing, of course, thanks to the tragic skiing accident in 2013—from which he remains in recovery. But his wife Corinna’s insight and honesty make up for his absence. The Guardian says the film is good at revealing the human, softer side of him “with reasonable skill if without the flair and pacing.” It is still a must-see for fans of a great man. Streaming on Netflix.
You vs Wild: Out Cold: Yes, this is your chance to watch Bear Grylls in a movie, using all the same survival skills he does on his Discovery channel series—except he has been in a plane crash, has amnesia and is stuck on a mountain. The plot twist: this is one of those interactive movies so you make those life-and-death decisions! Decider calls it an enjoyable and novel experience. Leisurebyte says you should definitely be a part of the cold and wild journey. Streaming on Netflix.
Annabelle Sethupathi: Taapsee Pannu chews up the scenery in this horror comedy, also starring Vijay Sethupathi. A palace built by a grieving king in 1948 is a haunted house in 2021—when Taapsee the small-time burglar arrives, and all hell (and hilarity) breaks loose. Since there are no reviews, it is hard to say if this will be a hit or a miss. But the movie is being billed as a blockbuster, and being released in five languages. So it is definitely worth taking a look. Stream this horror comedy on Disney+Hotstar.
A list of good reads
- Vice looks at why so many South Asians aren’t excited about Priyanka Chopra’s success in America—or her turn as a judge on a show called ‘The Activist’.
- BBC Culture offers a long read on how talent shows have become more high concept and chaotic—and way more popular.
- BBC News has two great pieces on fascinating bits of Indian history: One looks at the time Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler led a team to Lhasa in search of the origins of the ‘Aryan’ race. The other unearths the story of the 300 Indian soldiers who died on the beaches of Dunkirk during World War II.
- Vox explains all the hype of the ‘exercise dress’.
- Speaking of clothes, Wired makes a case for bringing back cargo pants.
- The Guardian reports on “labia liberation”—the movement to end anxiety over the size, shape or colour of our vulvas.
- Aeon has a mind-blowing essay on why there is no such thing as the mind.
- New Yorker offers a brief history of the ultimate protection for male equipment—the codpiece! Need we say more?
- Pallavi Aiyar offers a thought-provoking take on being Indian in English—i.e. are we really Indian if our first language is not even Indian?
- The Stylist tests the effectiveness of the newly popular workout routine, the 12-3-30—which requires you to walk on a treadmill for 30 minutes, at a steep 12% incline, with your speed fixed at 3 miles per hour.
- Twitter and Facebook are doing their best to deal with racist content—but how will they get rid of racist emojis? Bloomberg News looks at the struggle to train AI on pictographic content.
- The Cut has an excerpt from Amia Srinivasan’s excellent new book ‘The Right to Sex’.
- The New Republic makes a case for eating meat just one day a week.