The Awful & Awesome Entertainment Wrap

Reading an email sent by Newslaundry subscriber Siddharth Wagh: Abhinandan: Siddharth writes. “I like the fact that you strive to learn from your diverse set of listeners which is essential to making this podcast as memorable 20-30 years hence.” Rajyasree Sen, 20-30 years hence, when people listen to this podcast, what do you think they will say? Rajyasree: What a well informed woman she was and this fool just kept interrupting her by saying, “Oh, you have watched that also?” Abhinandan: So, you think we’ll be alive in 20-30 years? Rajyasree: Yeah, I think so. Abhinandan: Okay, if you say so. Rajyasree: I’ll look like J Lo then. Abhinandan: I’ll still be SOLO. Get it, ’cause I’m single. Are you understanding my puns... Rajyasree: Yeah, they’re so difficult to get, na! Rajyasree and Abhinandan burst out laughing. This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the films Mrs Serial Killer and Extraction; Netflix series Hollywood; Shah Rukh Khan’s singing; TikTok’s new ad campaign; and the lives and works of Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor.

Talking about The Crooner Sessions: Rajyasree: Gary Barlow of Take That who I used to love absolutely... Abhinandan: Ooh, Take That was that band na, what was it, that song of theirs that was a big hit. Rajyasree: (Singing) Take me back for…I’m not singing it! Abhinandan: I haven’t heard that. At least what you just sang. Rajyasree: (Humming the song) Like you know what I mean. Abhinandan: Rajyasree, it’s not that you are a bad singer. You’re terrible! Rajyasree: No, no, I will sing that song. Come on... Abhinandan: Okay, remain charitable. Don’t torture our listeners. Rajyasree and Abhinandan burst out laughing. This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss films The Platform and Portrait of a Lady on Fire; Netflix series After Life; Apple TV’s Home Before Dark; docuseries The Last Dance; and Aarogya Setu ad film.

Abhinandan: Rajyasree has finally watched Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. Four weeks late as usual, unlike me, who watched it the first week. Rajyasree: I watched it four weeks late because you fought with me and then you went and saw many films without me. So I was left all alone, with no one to watch cinema with. Then I had to wait for Amazon to put it up, got a subscription, and then watched it. It’s very difficult. Abhinandan: (Unable to control his laughter) Unsurprisingly, I’m your only friend. Rajyasree: You are using the word very loosely over here! Rajyasree, Abhinandan and Nidhi burst out laughing. This and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri, Rajyasree Sen, and Newslaundry subscriber Nidhi Raichand discuss the films Sergio and Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan; Amazon Prime series Four More Shots Please; Netflix series Hasmukh; Salman Khan’s Pyar Karona; The Case of The Missing Hit; Usha sewing machine ads.

Talking about Andrea Bocelli’s Easter Sunday performance. Abhinandan: There was this phenomenal performance by Balotelli. Rajyasree: I’m sorry, what’s his name Abhinandan? Abhinandan: Andrio Balotelli. Rajyasree: (Unable to control her laughter) No, Andrea Bocelli! Abhinandan: The Balotellis are football players, you fool. You don’t even know that. Anyway, he gave a free concert. He apparently is a world renowned…umm…singer of…ok now Rajyasree, you never stop talking and now you’ve gone all quiet. Rajyasree: Because I’m waiting to hear what you’re going to say. Rajyasree bursts out laughing. Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the film Angrezi Medium; the Netflix drama Unorthodox; public service announcements by the Mumbai police; 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome.

Talking about Netflix’s Money Heist. Goonj: It is a very entertaining show, theek hai. Bas baat yeh hai ki it’s not tight. So, thodi patience rakhni padti hai. Abhinandan: (Attempting 80s Bollywood drunk man impersonation): Toh beta, thoda tight ho kar ye show dekho. Ek large lagakar tight ho jao, fir yeh show bhi tight lagne lagega. Abhinandan, Goonj, and Rajyasree burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri, Rajyasree Sen, and Newslaundry subscriber Goonj Mohan discuss films Maska and Trance; Netflix drama Money Heist; Amazon Prime series Panchayat, and some public service campaigns by Bollywood celebrities, among other things awful and awesome.

Talking about Tiger King and Joe Exotic’s conviction. Rajyasree: So, I read about Joe Exotic in January, when he was convicted for 22 years. Abhinandan: Couple of things, Rajyasree Sen. He has not been convicted for 22 years. He has been convicted of attempted murder, or whatever. He has been sentenced to 22 years. You are not convicted in the duration of years or months, you are convicted for a crime, and the sentencing is in the unit of time measurement. Rajyasree: What would I do without you, Abhinandan. Abhinandan: Probably a really mediocre podcast. Rajyasree: So funny! Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the movies Contagion and The Expendables 3; Netflix’s documentary series Tiger King, and Badshah’s Genda Phool, among other things awful and awesome. PS: Apologies for the sound quality. We are working on improving it.

Talking about how it is recording The Awful and Awesome from home. Rajyasree: So, we have taken this social distancing thing very seriously and we have put like seven miles between us, instead of six feet. What is it supposed to be? Abhinandan: It depends. Rajyasree: What did Modi ji want us to do? Abhinandan: In your case, it will be two feet. It has to do with how tall you are. It is directly proportional to your height. Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the movie Cold War, Netflix originals She and Bloodride, Narendra Modi, Sonu Nigam, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikanth, among other things awful and awesome. PS: Apologies for the sound quality. We are working on making it better.

While discussing Riz Ahmed’s The Long Goodbye, Rajyasree recounts her experience at a vet’s where a man had come carrying a gun. Rajyasree: He had a holster. With a gun in it…. Abhinandan: (Laughing) In case they have to shoot the dog? Rajyasree: No! So, I just turned and told the dog’s owner why he had brought a gun there? “Who are you going to shoot?” Then I thought in Gurgaon you shouldn’t. He will just shoot you and say, “Ha Ha Ha…” Abhinandan: Happy spring. Holi Hai! Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the movie Guilty; Amazon Prime original Pushpavalli; ALTBalaji’s Mentalhood; Narendra Chanchal’s Kitho Aaya Corona, Baba Sehgal’s Coronavirus Sey Bachney ka Indian Tareeka.

Talking about XXX: Return of Xander Cage. Abhinandan: I remembered Deepika Padukone had done that, so I knew she would come in at some point. Rajyasree: For 10 seconds. Abhinandan: Dude, no! She has a very major role after that bald guy, what’s his name? Rajyasree: She’s cleaning his house. Abhinandan: Matlab, Asian can only be maids. You know you’re so racist. You’re a misogynist. A racist. You’re like antifeminist. You’re like a bad person. Rajyasree: Unlike other racists who are good people? Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the movie Jojo Rabbit; commercials for Parle G and Facebook; music videos Dilli Wali, Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi and Aika To The Baika; and Woody Allen’s memoir.

Describing Brooke Bond Red Label’s new TV commercial. Rajyasree: It’s raining and they are stuck in traffic, and then... Abhinandan: Suddenly Anu Malik enters and starts singing, Dekho barish ho rahi hai. It’s raining. It’s raining. Mera dil ro raha hai. Rajyasree: And then Alisha Chinai runs by… Abhinandan and Rajyasree: And fir happy Women’s Day. Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the movies Thappad and Devi; Netflix series Taj Mahal 1989; trailer of Rohit Shetty's upcoming film Sooryavanshi; and ads for Brooke Bond Red Label and Slice.

Talking about Flipkart Original, Zindagi inShort. Abhinandan: So they are all women-centric basically... Rajyasree: Yeah! Abhinandan: So, Rajyasree Sen, films made on women are women-centric. So, if you made a film on former lovers, would they be called ex-centric (pun intended). Rajyasree: No, but this is why you have so many former lovers. You crack these shitty jokes and they leave you. Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the films 1917, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdan, Parasite & Hair Love; Amazon Original Series Afsos; Flipkart Original Zindagi inShort; and Tata Trusts' public service commercial #TwoBinsLifeWins.

Abhinandan: This pursuit of fame. The not being able to deal with not having it anymore. The feeling of inadequacy if you are leading a regular life. You know, where you get home and go to sleep, watch TV and play carrom with your child, do something. People I don’t think value that. Rajyasree Sen, zindagi isi ka naam hai. Ye shor sharaba, tamasha, ye sab, it’s fleeting. It’s like sand in the palm. Rajyasree: But what if my palm is a big palm and I can hold the sand. Abhinandan: Bhai, tum toh itni lalchi ho, you’re like the sand mafia of Punjab that kills reporters. Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the movies Shikara and Snowpiercer, Valentine’s Day commercials for Burger King and Netflix, and trailers for upcoming films The French Dispatch and Angrezi Medium.

Talking about the movie Judy. Abhinandan: I don’t think you should be so judgemental, Rajyasree Sen. I’ve seen you’re very harsh on people when you are judging them... Rajyasree: Unlike you? Abhinandan: No, dude I don’t do this. Kya pata kiske kya circumstances hai. Never something something unless you have walked a mile in someone's shoes. Aisa kuch muhavara hai... Rajyasree: But some shoes I don’t want to walk in! Abhinandan: Just as well. Maybe, people don’t want to give you their shoes, they just want to give you a slipper... Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the Oscars, the Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show, Swag Se Solo featuring Pepsi’s new brand ambassador Salman Khan, Rocket Mortgage’s Super Bowl commercial and films like Parasite, Ad Astra, Judy and Uncut Gems, along with a whole lot of stuff, both awful and awesome.

Talking about Gwyneth Paltrow’s product line. Tanvi: It ranges from ashwagandha to vibrator necklaces. So it’s a... Abhinandan: Sorry, what necklaces? Tanvi: Vibrator necklaces. Abhinandan: So, it keeps your throat in shape like cough syrup or what? Tanvi: No, no, no. It’s like a necklace with a vibrator as a pendant. So, you know, just in case you need a vibrator. Abhinandan: Oh, like that! Abhinandan and Tanvi burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri and Newslaundry subscriber Tanvi Shetty discuss the films Parasite and The Gentlemen, Netflix shows What The Love and The Goop Lab, Mumbai police’s new ad campaign, LAVA’s public awareness commercial, and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome.

Replying to Newslaundry subscriber Tariqur’s question about Abhinandan “failing to lambast Deepika Padukone for one of the worst movie promotions”. Rajyasree: Yes, Abhinandan, why? Abhinandan: Because I’d rather die. I’d rather burn in hell than say one nasty word to Deepika. I’d rather cross a bridge on blades and get a wedgie with a razor than say anything nasty to Deepika. Yes, Tariq! Rajyasree: But you are so fair and unbiased, no? Abhinandan: I never said I am unbiased. Rajyasree: Now, we have seen that you are not. Abhinandan: No, one can be unbiased. You must hear my podcast on that. You cannot be objective and unbiased as a human being. Rajyasree: But you can be fair. Abhinandan: ...and lovely? Abhinandan and Rajyasree burst out laughing. This and a lot more as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the films Street Dancer 3D and Bombshell, Netflix series Jamtara, BBC Two’s Giri/Haji, MTV’s Republic Day ad, Vicco Vajradanti’s new commercial, Kobe Bryant, Kangana Ranaut, and a whole lot of other stuff awful and awesome.