Happy Wednesday! I am remembering why I always do Shahrukh month. It’s because the last month before daylight savings is SUPER depressing. I love fall, I do not love getting up in the dark. Unless I am rewarded for getting up by writing an SRK post.
I’ll start!
Reading: My podcast journey continues! I just listened to Dr. Death, which is quite good and not as scary as I thought (most doctors are decent people, etc. etc.). The best part was the twist ending. The true villain is….Rick Perry! No, for real. And now my American readers are laughing, and then sighing, and then trying not to be depressed. And my other readers are going “who’s Rick Perry?” Don’t worry about it, you don’t want to know.
Watching: I’ve been watching a weird American show called “Escaping Polygamy”. Weird because it is either completely real in which case I can’t believe these people let themselves be filmed. Or complete fake, in which case I’m wondering why they didn’t fake it better. Anyhoo, it’s depressingly similar to Indian culture! Women who’s primary value is in making babies, husbands who are worshipped, police who take abused children back to their parents because Parents Above All, etc. Men suck everywhere, is what I am saying.
Thinking: It’s gonna be a MONTH before my real sofa arrives! And I still have SO MANY boxes! And it’s DARK and Shahrukh’s birthday isn’t for 6 weeks, and I don’t have a good place to do my puzzles and everything SUCKS.
Listening: The mood I am in, I want to be taken away with depressing torch songs!
Okay, question for you! It’s the first official day of fall! Do you love it or hate it or have no opinion?
I looooooooooooove fall! Always have. Only after I turned 30, I started getting seasonal affective disorder really bad, so now I am conflicted. I love the weather, I love the look, I love the feel of the air, I just wish the darn sun was out a little more.
dontcallitbollywood 
I like the Autumn, especially now when I live in Italy. The only thing that spoils the season is the school (and the darkness)
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Yes! Why does it have to be so dark? Why can’t autumn come in July?
On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 8:01 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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As a true Libra, I like the balance of fall: not as hot as summer, as cold as winter, or as tricky as spring. Nor do I mind the shorter days. I can quit writing as soon as it gets dark and enjoy an early dinner.
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Agree with everything! Summer is way too hot, winter is way too cold and dreary, but spring has this strange back and forth uncertain feeling. Fall is perfect. I just need more sunlamps.
On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 8:34 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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There’s a guy called “Lightbulb Kenny” (Facebook and website) who sells a million different kinds of lightbulbs, including reasonably priced ones for SAD. Check him out. You’ll be amazed at how many ways there are to see.
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Thanks!
On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 10:31 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I didn’t feel like watching movies earlier this month but this week I saw 3 movies in 2 days.
First I saw telugu movie Paagal. I read bad things about this movie but deep inside I felt I should give it a chance and I’m so glad I did. The movie is not good and has a lot of problematic scenes, but I enjoyed every minute of it. It’s so over the top and silly. Vishwak Sen looks super hot, Nivetha Pethuraj is beautiful and has great clothes. There are good dances and very good music and the most important for me – it has ridiculousy romantic scenes and twist I needed in my life. I loved it, but I understand why other people didn’t like it.
14 Phere – This one I didn’t like because it’s so confused both in the plot and in the mood. I mean, it wants to be a romantic comedy, but the social problem they want to show is too real and scary to laugh at. Spoilers:
Vikrant and Kriti love each other and want to marry but they belong to different castes and know their families won’t agree for the marriage. They decide to hire actors to play the parents. The plan is very weak in my opinion and it was obvious it won’t work. But the worst part is that Vikrant’s sister eloped with a guy from different caste and his family was talking only about finding and killing her. Vikrant is there dreaming about his wedding while his father prepares guns to kill his daughter. And if you think Vikrant says: “You can’t do this” or “I don’t want to be part of this family anymore” you’re wrong. Kriti’s family isn’t any better. She is a beautiful, succesful woman, but when she meets her brother she shrinks and looks terrified. So when later in the movie, this brother has comedy scenes I don’t feel like laughing.
Kaanekkaane – the newest Tovino Thomas movie. Finally a malayalam movie I enjoyed. Nothing much happens in the film, but the actors are so good (especially Suraj Venjaramoodu) and emotions so strong I was glued to the screen.
Thinking: Can’t stop thinking and waiting for Qismat 2
Listening : I discovered this song today, I love the video and the music
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THANK YOU for the spoilers for 14 Phere. That has been on my list to watch and I am so glad I didn’t watch it yet. I will be staying far FAR away from that. Making a comedy around so called “honor killings” is horrfying! UGH!!! What in the world would make someone think that is funny?!
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You can definitely skip this movie. I was exhausted, stressed and tired in the end. It wasn’t worth it even for Vikrant.
Maybe you can tell me – is this a big difference between Rajputs and Jats?
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I don’t know the particulars and others can feel free to correct me. But off the top of my head, both really have more similarities than differences. They are both considered to have a warrior/military background.
Rajputs are a part of the Kshatriya clan and go back to Mahabharat (maybe even Ramayan) days. For example, the Pandavas were Rajputs. They are generally the princely warriors. In Hindi movies like Khoobsoorat, and Jodha Akbar, there is a lot of talk about Rajput blood and royal heritage and someone who is also a good warrior/hunter.
Jats from my understanding also have a warrior heritage but I don’t think they come from royal heritage. I think.
I am guessing the point of the movie was to show that they are technically “different” caste/race but both have the “hot blood” running in them.
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I was not sure about watching Paagal but now will give it a chance. My only concern was Vishwak Sen for some reason acts/behaves like Vijay Devarakonda, whom I can’t stand. This teaser though has got my attention – https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vfc45W8fXy8
Also consider watching NET on Aha. It is more of a thriller/drama where not all loose ends are tied but for the subject it deals wit it is good.
Will you watch Maestro (Telugu remake of Andhadun)?
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Yeah there is something in Vishwak that resembles Vijay Devarakonda, you’re right. I was thinking about Vijay while watching Paagal. I hope the fame doesn’t go to Vishwak’s head like it did with Vijay.
I won’t watch Maestro because I don’t like Niithin, but I heard the movie is not as bad as I thought it would be.
I started Thimmarusu. And btw; I saw a beautiful romantic poster when I was reading about Satya Dev’s upcoming projects and was so happy he is doing a romantic drama, but later I saw it’s Love Moctail remake and I’m heartbroken.I hate this movie.
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Vishwak behaves like VD in interviews and movie functions, which is why I said they resemble.
Of late many Kannada movies are getting remade. Thimmarasu is also a remake of a Kannada movie, which was a remake of a Korean movie. Even Dia got remade as Dear Megha.
Btw Love Story is getting all good reviews. I have to check if it released in theatres near me.
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I didn’t remember Dia will be remade. I just saw the trailer and OMG I both hate this remake and die to watch it.
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Dark???!!! But there is a hint of light still at 6 o’clock š I like fall, too…because of this special light the sun has, because of the colours, the temperature…and my birthday.
Give you a bear-hug, Margaret, just to comfort you!
Watching: Humerous crime plays I missed in German TV…
Reading: my favourite book marks (your blog among them)
Listening to radio crime plays…
Thinking…well, okay, yes, if I feel like wanting to think š
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I love radio crime plays!!!!! I just bought the Dick Francis Collection on Audible, 13 hours of mystery and action adventure and horses. Not quite as good as Agatha Christie becuase nothing is.
On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 9:38 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I’ve the books (a legacy from my mom just like the Ngaio Marsh, the Arthur W.Uppfield, the Agatha Christie, the Rex Stout, the Dorothy Sayers etc ones) …and I liked/like them all (adding my own acquisitions of Chandler, Georgette Heyer and the more modern ones of Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly, Elizabeth George, Minette Walters, Val McDermid, Jonathan Kellerman, Donna Leon and Michael Robotham (and others).
It is fun to listen to plays done in my youth…there are a lot of YouTuber who collect plays, so, at the moment, I’m really well served!
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Your mother has EXCELLENT taste — but who is Arthur W. Uppfield? And if he’s in there with Christie/Stout/Sayers, why haven’t I been reading him? I’m going to the library . . .
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Watching – Hometown Cha Cha Cha on Netflix. I have watched Korean comedies but this is my first K-drama. I keep wondering why the episodes so long – always more than an hour? Does anyone know the context to why the K-drama shows have long episodes?
Listening – Nicole Byers (host of Nailed It) has a podcast called Why Won’t You Date Me? It is good. Each week she has a guest and they talk about relationships.
I like fall – unpopular opinion I am sure – I hate all the pumpkin drinking and eating stuff
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Oh no, yet another DCIB reader lost to K-dramas!
I looooooooooooove pumpkins. Can get a little tired of pumpkin spice though, that’s a whole different thing.
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Not lost. I don’t think I will watch another K-drama the episodes are just too long.
I meant pumpkin spice not the veggie itself. I like pumpkin the veggie.
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I thought the same with the first series but I ended up getting booked :). I read somewhere that sometimes the long hour plus episodes are broadcast as two episodes but packaged into one for streaming.
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*hooked
argh!
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Any thoughts on the Sony-Zee merger?
https://variety.com/2021/biz/asia/sony-pictures-networks-zee-india-merger-1235071000/amp/
Thinking: so much change right now. I too like fall, and one of the things I usually like about it is the feeling of settling into a new routine, a new normal, that will hold for a time. But this year…start of school has gone well but we’re still juggling so many uncertainties, like if the kids will gat vaxxed this fall and if that means we’ll go back to the before times of putting them in full time after school care and commuting to and from the office. Then, at work, our team structure has changed and we have so many new people I feel like a grizzled veteran after staying for six years. And today my direct supervisor told me she’s leaving – tomorrow! It will all be fine eventually, but eventually seems to be always a bit further off.
I’m looking forward to SRK week this year.
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I’m really curious about the Sony-Zee merger. Sony has been around for a long time picking up music rights, at least 20 years. They were the first international entertainment company to really make a success of Indian rights, just buying rights and protecting them and not creating. If the Zee merger is the same thing, that could actually be a good thing! Zee has really sucky rights policies, everything is only available on Zee5 which is a terrible platform. If Sony takes over, hopefully they will start selling rights to different services.
This year at least, I am the opposite of you with fall! This summer was a crazy amount of change, my parents and me and my friends all moving. But now everything is settling down. I’ve spent the summer going “this is a lot of things happening, but by the fall it will all be better”. And now, it is!
On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 12:37 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Your turn to cheer me up. Thank you :).
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I just learned that Venkatesh is Rana Daggubati’s uncle. My mind, she is blown!
I also just discovered this song – it is so sweet and beautiful that I’ve been listening to it every night before going to bed. It just relaxes me.
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OK so I thought from your first Hulu Hotstar post that I could only watch the Hotstar catalog if I had a Disney subscription, but it turns out it’s available with basic Hulu! This is exciting because there are a few movies I’d wanted to see but hadn’t for lack of easy access – A Gentleman (I know!), Badhaai Ho, Phillauri, De De Pyaar De, and Vikram Vedha.
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But SUBTITLES!!! Someday soon hopefully
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Oh no! Didn’t get that far…
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We have settled in so well l that I’ve even been able to watch Fakira – in bits and pieces – throughout the week. Such a great masala movie. I laughed my head off at the line “She must be hungry, that’s why she’s singing”. So meta! Or not? Does that mean people in Hindi films actually are teleported to Switzerland when they fall in love?
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Yaaaaaaaaaaaay! Fakira! And yaaaaaaaaaaaay! 2 kids, no problem!
On Fri, Sep 24, 2021 at 3:16 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I actually got back into reading books this summer and this week I read The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. It was a bit formulaic and fanfiction-y but it was so cute and funny as well! I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in a while so I would highly recommend giving it a look.
I finally saw Karnan last weekend and that was a really intense yet amazing movie. Dhanush was great in it like usual. The only downside is that I felt like the romance was not done well and could have been written much better.
Love Story came out last night and I’m hyped! I’m going to see it with a few friends on saturday morning so I’ll report back what I think. The initial reviews are looking good so I can’t wait to see the movie.
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It’s playing in theaters near me!!!! I didn’t think it would be, but it IS! I am all hyped too š Just have to find a time this weekend to see it.
Also thinking about restarting DCIB book club. It’s fall! It’s reading season!
On Fri, Sep 24, 2021 at 10:33 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Awesome! Hopefully you get time to see it! Have you heard any of the songs? I like them all but I think Aye Pilla and Saranga Dariya are my favorites
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I haven’t! On purpose, because I thought I wouldn’t get to see it. But now I CAN!!!!!
On Fri, Sep 24, 2021 at 10:58 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Maha Samudram trailer. The first scenes are like a dream Angie movie – Sidharth, Sharwanand, Aditi Rao Hydari , dancing and the ocean. But then the gangsters enter and my dream movie is over. Why there must always be violence and gangster stuff? Why we can’t have a movie about beautiful people dancing and staring at the ocean? Will definitely watch it for Sidharth (because OMG he looks even better than 15 years ago, especially in the angry scenes #goosebumps), for Sharwanand (because it looks like he put some emotions in his acting finally) and for very Vikram-Vedha scene with containers and rain.
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I just came across this and wanted to post but you beat me to it. Did you like Rx100? MahaSamudram has the same director.
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I’m a big fan of #RX100. It’s not a perfect movie but definitely a perfect movie experience because it has everything I want in a film: great songs, colours, twists, nice costumes, love and sexy scenes.
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