Your Weekend Planner January 24: Naseeruddin's Panga with Anupam, humble poha goes viral

This week was all about Panga - between Kangana Ranaut and Deepika Padukone, between Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah, and of course, in the Bigg Boss house, too.

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Your Weekend Planner January 24: Naseeruddin's Panga with Anupam, humble poha goes viral
Your Weekend Planner January 24: Naseeruddin's Panga with Anupam, humble poha goes viral

Dear Readers,

Iss sheher ko yeh hua kya hai? No, not because of har-taraf-dhuaan-hi-dhuaan (we left that in November, thankfully), but because of the dhuaan on social media. As Naseeruddin Shah calls Anupam Kher a clown and Kher throws a 'nasheele padarth' allegation back, we have reached the end of this flu-year week. There's a coronavirus outbreak up in China and Indians have been warned to not travel to the country. But if travelling is what you're planning this weekend, try a few days away at Bishangarh in Rajasthan.

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Our travel features also take you to Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City this week. Now, that's what Fridays are all about, right? We'll leave the Khers and Shahs of the world to their abuses and fights and take you back to the good things that we saw this week.

Ratan Tata made us grin a wide, foolish grin with that Hollywood-star throwback photo, while our uniformed hero saved three puppies from a snake-infested well. But Twitter was up in arms at Kailash Vijayvargiya's unsolicited opinion on poha, so naturally, we had to put that humble dish on your table this weekend.

If you want to escape this ugly reality, take a trip to a fairyland with Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus. That book is our pick for you. At the movies, we have Kangana Ranaut taking on her critics with Panga instead of taking panga with her critics (frankly, we prefer Panga-the-movie). Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor are in the theatres this weekend, in 3D, with Street Dancer. There's Psycho and Disco Raja too.

And finally, for all of you who just want to binge and chill, there's quite a lot on OTT this weekend, from The Forgotten Army to Never Kiss Your Best Friend. Or do. It's the weekend, after all!

YOUR INTERNET RECAP

What's trending

What's trending, you ask? It's Kailash Vijayvargiya, at the moment. The BJP leader was at the receiving end of much flak on Twitter after he said that some of the construction labourers at his house were likely to be Bangladeshis as they had "strange" eating habits and were consuming poha. Well, that. Twitter came up with hilarious responses after Vijayvargiya's comment, while several quarters slammed him as well.

Climate change is becoming a global concern. After a video of a small Spanish town, Tossa de Mar, engulfed in sea foam went viral on Twitter recently, this alarming issue came to the forefront once again. The video showed seafoam eating up streets of the Spanish town and it will give you the chills.

Something to make you smile

The story of a cop in Amora, Uttar Pradesh climbing down a snake-infested well to save three stray puppies recently left the internet feeling various forms of emotions. From applauding the policeman for his courage to talking about the love between humans and pets, Twitter was full of people that adored the story.

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But nothing could beat Ratan Tata, who recently joined Instagram and has already figured out how to slay the gram game. The industrialist shared quite a headline-creating #ThrowbackThursday photo from his younger days. This was from the time when he was still in Los Angeles. Almost 4 lakh likes flooded the picture, and also led to Ratan Tata trending on Twitter. Not smiling yet? Here, take a look for yourself. Here, take a look for yourself.

YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY

Alila Fort Bishangarh in Rajasthan.

For a short weekend, head to the Alila Fort Bishangarh in Rajasthan to witness some old-world charm and a spectacular 360-degree view of the Aravalli range. The abandoned fort has been converted into a hotel, while the charm of the monument remains intact. Delicious Rajasthani cuisine and folk music and dance are also on your list. Take an artisanal tour of Bishangarh and try your hand at pottery and carpet-weaving. More, here.

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But if domestic travel is not on your mind, and you want that passport stamped as often as possible, we're telling you about Vietnam this week too. If you crave adventure and tranquillity, pack your bags and travel to the country. A visit to the two gems of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi, is a must. Why? Here.

YOUR GO-TO WEEKEND FASHION TREND

Revamp your saree

If an elegant saree is a must in your wardrobe, let Sonam Kapoor inspire you to amp up the evergreen six yards in the most unique way. For Jean Paul Gaultier's final couture show in Paris, the fashionista gave saree a remarkable twist. Sonam donned a black tuxedo saree with a beige floor-length blazer. The quirky blazer featured a pretty train, which made it look like a saree. We are in love with this look.

Deepika Padukone, meanwhile, became the first Bollywood actor to star in Louis Vuitton campaign. The star became the face of the iconic brand's Pre-Fall 2020 campaign, along with other global icons like Sophie Turner, Lea Seydoux, Alicia Vikander and Chloe Grace Moretz. Deepika was also awarded the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum 2020 in Davos, Switzerland, and her blue floor-length gown swept us off our feet.

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YOUR READING LIST

Pick up a copy of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus this weekend. The fantasy novel follows a nonlinear narrative and tells the story from various viewpoints. With every chapter ending on a cliffhanger, The Night Circus is a heady page-turner. Magic, romance, and a phantasmagorical story. It will take you to a Cirque-de-Soleil-esque world, where you'd not want to step out of the circus into the real world. The Night Circus was published in 2011. Over the past nine years, it has got the tag of a bestseller several times. But why are we talking of The Night Circus? Morgenstern's second book, The Starless Sea, was published in November last year. So while you wait for that one, not a bad idea to read her first work, right?

The cover of Erin Morgenstern's novel The Night Circus.

ON YOUR PLATTER

Poha, what else? The humble poha was thrown back into our lives last night, thanks to Kailash Vijayvargiya. So if you're not the instant-poha kinds, ruffle up this quick food this weekend. Poha is healthy, light and good for your stomach. And as for 'strange eating habits', we are Indians. Enough said, let's make some poha.

-Put poha on a sieve and pour water on it to dampen it.

-Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves and chopped green chillies in it. Let them temper.

-Add chopped onion and sauté until they turn golden-brown in colour. Sprinkle salt according to your taste

-Add a pinch of turmeric powder.

-Now, add poha and mix it well.

(A plate for Mr Vijayvargiya too.)

AT THE MOVIES

Panga

Starring: Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha

Language: Hindi

Watch Panga trailer here:

Kangana Ranaut took on Deepika Padukone in more ways than one this January. But perhaps the most successful one was at the movies, with Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's Panga. Without getting into the nuances of which was a better film, let's just say good cinema won. Not a bad end to the first month of the decade, we say. So, should you watch it? Our review of Panga will help you decide.

Did you know?

Hey, it's the Republic Day weekend. Where are the desh bhakti wale films? Food for thought, right?

Street Dancer 3D

Starring: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Nora Fatehi

Language: Hindi

If you've followed Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah's Tu Tu Main Main on social media, you'd agree that we're currently living in a reality show, of sorts. Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor starrer Street Dancer 3D will give you exactly that feeling if you haven't already had too much of reality TV, that is. Of course, there's a lot of dancing, which pretty much guarantees entertainment. Story? Performances? Our review of Street Dancer 3D will tell you why you shouldn't be looking for these two.

Psycho

Starring: Udhayanidhi Stalin, Aditi Rao Hydari and Nithya Menen

Language: Tamil

Blood, gore and headless bodies lying around, a psycho killer on the loose - is that what you'd like your Saturday to look like? Then Psycho is your pick. Director Mysskin's Psycho impressed everyone with its trailers. The film, which is based on the story of Angulimaala, features Udhayanidhi Stalin, Aditi Rao Hydari and Nithya Menen in the lead roles. Chills guaranteed, says our review.

Disco Raja

Starring: Ravi Teja, Payal Rajput

Language: Telugu

More action but in the form of science fiction - that's Disco Raja. Go figure! Ravi Teja, who is struggling with his form, is back to films with director Vi Anand's Disco Raja. Disco Raja boasts of an interesting cast including Payal Rajput, Nabha Natesh, Tanya Hope, Vennela Kishore, Satya and Bobby Simhaa in crucial roles. Not a bad bet considering it is Ravi Teja, right?

ON YOUR TELEVISION SCREENS

What to watch: Indian Idol 11

Where to watch: Sony Entertainment Television, 8 pm

The cast of upcoming film Malang will be gracing the stage of Indian Idol 11 this weekend. Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Disha Patani and Kunal Kemmu will be seen enjoying melodious performances by the top contestants on the singing reality show.

What to watch: Bigg Boss 13 Weekend Ka Vaar

Where to watch: Colors TV, 9 pm

Except for Sidharth and Shehnaaz, all the contestants are nominated for elimination this week. And as the show nears its end, one contestant will sure get evicted this week. Salman Khan will bash the contestants for their aggressive behaviour. Celebrity guests will also appear on the show to promote their upcoming projects.

What to watch: Dance Plus 5

Where to watch: Star Plus, 8 pm

This weekend, Badshah of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan will appear on the popular dance reality show Dance Plus 5. The contestants will pay a grand tribute to the actor. They will dance on some chartbusters of SRK like Main Yahan Hoon, I Am The Best, Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein, Baadshah, etc.

ON YOUR OTT SCREENS

What to watch: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 3

Where to watch: Netflix

Genre: Horror-fiction

You will like it if you liked: Riverdale

Streaming starts: January 24

Season 3 of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina releases on January 24 on Netflix. Starring Kiernan Shipka as the teenage witch Sabrina Spellman, the series is developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. The Netflix original is based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.

What to watch: The Forgotten Army

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Genre: Action

You will like it if you liked: Uri: The Surgical Strike

Streaming starts: January 24

Kabir Khan's The Forgotten Army: Azaadi Ke Liye began streaming on Amazon Prime from January 24. The series starring Sunny Kaushal and Sharvari is the story of the soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj who braved adversities and fought for India's freedom.

What to watch: Never Kiss Your Best Friend

Where to watch: Zee5

Genre: Rom-com

You will like it if you liked: Friends With Benefits, No Strings Attached

Streaming starts: January 24

The series adapted from Sumrit Shahi's book of the same name stars Nakuul Mehta and Anya Singh in the lead roles. The series revolves around two best friends, Tanie and Sumer, who eventually fall in love. The series premiered on Zee5 on January 20. Catch our review here.

What to watch: Avenue 5

Where to watch: Hotstar Premium

Genre: Comedy

You will like it if you liked: The Astronauts

Streaming starts: January 20

Hugh Laurie-starrer space comedy Avenue 5 premiered on Hotstar Premium on January 20. The series revolves around the captain and crew of a luxury space cruise ship as they deal with customer service crisis and unforeseen events after facing technical difficulties on the space ship.

Too much psycho stuff, maardhaar and Bigg Boss-wala jhagra? Netflix has Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Athiya Shetty-starrer Motichoor Chaknachoor as well as the Rajkummar Rao-starrer Made In China, ICYMI. Also, catch Ayushmann Khurrana's Bala on Hotstar and Sunny Singh's Ujda Chaman on Amazon Prime and compare notes.

(Compiled by Ananya Bhattacharya, Nairita Mukherjee, Raya Ghosh, Krishna Priya Pallavi, Vibha Maru, Shweta Keshri, Kristina Das, Medha Chawla, Janani K, Nisha Singh, Jyoti Kanyal, Divyanshi Sharma)

ALSO READ | Panga Movie Review: Kangana Ranaut takes Panga and gets it right

ALSO READ | Sea foam eats up streets of Spanish town due to storm. Climate change is real, says Twitter

ALSO READ | Anupam Kher on Naseeruddin Shah calling him a clown: Aapne poori zindagi frustration mein guzari hai

ALSO WATCH | In conversation with Panga cast Kangana Ranaut, Jassie Gill and Neena Gupta