So you wanna watch something…
Grahan: This eight-episode show—loosely based on Satya Vyas’s novel ‘Chaurasi’—follows a love story set during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The series moves between the past and the present as an honest police officer assigned to an old case of anti-Sikh violence soon finds out that her father is the prime suspect. Can she save him? Indian Express calls it “engaging and will keep you invested through the almost seven hours of content!” Streaming on Disney+Hotstar.
Ray: This anthology is a contemporary adaptation of Satyajit Ray’s stories. The trailer looks incredible with stellar performances by an A-list cast including Manoj Bajpayee, Kay Kay Menon, Ali Fazal, Gajraj Rao… the list goes on. There’s a bit of everything you may be looking for: satire, suspense, betrayal and revenge. Out today on Netflix.
Sex/Life: Inspired by BB Easton's ‘44 Chapters About 4 Men,’ this is a steamy new dramedy series that explores female sexuality and identity. It follows Billie (played by Sarah Shahi), a wife and mother, who—languishing in her suburban married life—starts journaling sexual adventures from her singlehood days. Things go downhill when the diary catches her husband’s eye. TVLine has an engaging interview with Shahi who speaks of her experience in making explicit scenes to suit the female gaze. If you’re looking for something different this weekend, this is our bet. Dropping on Netflix today!
A list of good reads
- The News Minute has the fascinating tale of Jailkumar—the son of communist parents born in a jail in Kerala, who went on to become a successful lawyer.
- New York Times has a thought-provoking piece on how a new generation of thinkers are grappling with the notion of consent.
- Alexandra Schwartz’s essay in the New Yorker is titled ‘Why Dating is Drudgery’—and will offer plenty for you to nod in agreement with.
- Mint has an interesting look at Finland—the happiest country in the world—and its struggle to attract IT talent.
- Ever wondered about those homes in picturesque parts of the world selling for absurdly small amounts of money? CNN tells the story of one man who bought a house in Italy for $16,500.
- Mongabay reports on the Thai sacbrood virus infecting bees in South India—and which could possibly decimate their population.
- Atlas Obscura offers a look at Alaudin Ullah’s project—titled ‘In Search of Bengali Harlem’—which seeks to collect untold or overlooked stories of the earliest South Asian immigrants to New York.
- New York Times interviews a woman pundit-ji whose Purple Pundit Project based in NYC offers religious services to members of the LGBTQ community.
- Also in the New York Times: why working in offices isn’t really all that great for creativity.
- Bhim Bhurtel in Asia Times has an uncomfortable take on India’s aspirations to be a great power.
