Your Weekend Planner April 3: Bela Bose charms Calcutta again, Bond takes you to the Himalayas
Kolkata Police brought back memories of Bela Bose, peppered with coronavirus caution this week. To what you can do to get through this weekend at home. Our weekend planner covers it all.
Dear Reader,
We have successfully managed to stay home for nine days since PM Narendra Modi announced the lockdown. If you too have been home except for *really* urgent reasons, pat yourself on the back. We all deserve that for this feat. And as we gear up with our candles and diyas for a mini-Diwali on April 5, a lot of us are beginning to reconcile to the fact that maybe this is the new way of life. Working our life around this new coronavirus. A vaccine is still at least several months away and the situation doesn't look any good what with covidiots flouting all kind of lockdown rules. Anyway. We hope there are better days ahead.
For now there is the weekend at home. Take your pick from the many, many new - old, but new - shows that have made a comeback on Doordarshan. A Ramayan got Doordarshan the kind of TV ratings that no TV channel has since 2015! While our lives increasingly mirror the episodes of Black Mirror, we're increasingly turning to good ol' mythology. The suspension of disbelief for those few hours of watching something online or on your TV screens is necessarily to battle what's out there in the world.
There's no going out any time soon. The lockdown might be lifted, but social distancing is going to be the norm till we've kicked this virus in the butt. Going out to eat seems like a distant dream. So stay home and take your pick from the various recipes from our Soul Kitchen. You can't go travelling. So sit on that couch and get on your phone. And take a virtual trip to the wonders of the world, from the pyramids to the Grand Canyon. This week, we went back to our childhood and brought back some chills for you. A Season Of Ghosts, by master storyteller Ruskin Bond is what you need this weekend. Get that Chingri Bhaja with a cup of tea and lie back with Bond as he takes you to the Himalayas.
The highlight of this week, of course, has been this beautiful rendition of a classic Bangla song, Anjan Dutta's Bela Bose, by the Kolkata Police. Their coronavirus twist to the lyrics made many a person smile. Take that, Spain!
You have got two days to yourself now (if you're working from home over the weekend, sorry). Make the most of them before work from home, or 'WFH' as we're calling it these days, takes over on Monday.
YOUR INTERNET RECAP
WHAT'S TRENDING
Just when you thought it cannot get worse, it just did. It has been an arduous week with a sharp increase in the number of the novel coronavirus cases in India. Courtesy, the Tablighi Jamaat's congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz. Thousands attended the event earlier in March, among which scores of people tested positive, escalating the number of confirmed cases to above 2,000 in the country.
We are in the second week of the lockdown and it no doubt seems endless. But, do not fret because we have good news as well. A 101-year-old Dutch woman recovered from coronavirus, as did Prince Charles. The good part about the lockdown is that we have animals strolling on the streets. From deer in Dehradun to Nilgai in Noida, nature is finally reclaiming what humans snatched from it.
This is unbelievable. Nilgai takes over #Noida streets. Not bad a video to watch during #Lockdown21.
(Video via #WhatsApp) pic.twitter.com/IfHJIQfPgS Ananya Bhattacharya (@ananya116) March 27, 2020
Police officials across India, in the meantime, left no stones unturned to spread awareness about the pandemic. While some crooned to Zindagi Maut Na Ban Jaaye on duty, Chennai cops resorted to wearing Corona helmets. Andhra Pradesh Police took it a notch higher by hiring Yamraj to persuade people to stay home. Kolkata Police was also not far behind - they crooned to Anjan Dutta's iconic song Bela Bose, but gave it a coronavirus twist, much to the pleasure of their audience.
Pleased to see the applause & affection showered by people of Nabha on the sanitation worker. It’s heartening to note how adversity is bringing out the intrinsic goodness in all of us. Let’s keep it up & cheer our frontline warriors in this War Against #Covid19. pic.twitter.com/tV2OwVa86w Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) March 31, 2020
In Punjab’s Nabha, on the other hand, residents showered flowers on a sanitation worker and applauded him for his services. But, it was Shashi Tharoor who ruled the internet on Thursday after he addressed Bengali migrant workers in Kerala in fluent Bangla. The Congress MP asked workers to refrain from stepping out of Kerala and assured them food, water and essential supplies.
We’ll tell you more in the following section but till then, why don’t you whip up some Dalgona Coffee for yourself, will you?
SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE
You need to give it to Chris Mann. The American singer altered the lyrics of Adele's hit track, Hello and we bet you will feel his rendition from the core of your heart. Our coronavirus warriors this week are two kids, aged seven and six. Both donated savings from their piggy banks to help those in need amid the coronavirus crisis.
DON'T FORGET TO WORK OUT
Fitness enthusiast Milind Soman knows how to squeeze in an intense workout during the quarantine. The supermodel recently shared a video of himself climbing down the stairs. He also mentioned that he did so for 85 mins straight. Which means he did about 200 floors, or 4,000 stairs. That was not all, his wife Ankita Konwar and mother Usha Soman also followed the same workout regime. How many stairs did you climb today?
NEVER STOP READING
This week, since bookstores are shut and online delivery is still some time away, and not everyone has an e-reader, we went back to rummaging through our bookshelf. And landed upon A Season Of Ghosts, India's resident words-worth's collection of ghost stories. Ruskin Bond's relationship with the mountains is beautifully told in each story. The book has 10 stories, some of which have appeared in other collections too.
While the first nine stories are spooky in the Bond way, the last story, Who Killed The Rani, is actually a mystery. Within the pages of Bond's book, Mussorie comes alive. His ghosts are mostly friendly. In this collection though, there are some genuine chills. Now get that cup of tea!
ON YOUR PLATTER
If there is one food trend that the world is going gaga over, it is the Dalgona Coffee. The fad is such that every social media platform is flooded with pictures of this delicious-looking coffee. So, this week, we suggest you also give it a try (if you haven’t already). But wait, let us also tell you, Dalgona Coffee is just a TikTok-hyped version of plain old phenti hui coffee that we Indians have been making for years. Here is how to make it:
Put some coffee, sugar and very little hot water in a mug. Whip till it gets frothy: it may take over 20 minutes. Now, add this whipped mix on top of iced milk and your Dalgona Coffee is ready.
This week, we also started a series, Soul Kitchen, wherein we have been getting you yummy recipes from renowned chefs. Right from Rajma and Chingri Bhaja to Birbal ki Khitcheree and Gosht Hari Mirch Qorma - there are ample recipes that you can try during this lockdown.
TRAVELLING? WHAT'S THAT?
Travel! The word itself leaves us gloomy. With the novel coronavirus outbreak and the lockdown, we have to stay inside our homes for the good of society. But for that travel junkie in you, who wants to explore new places and look at new things, there is some good news. A lot of tourist attractions in the world can now be visited virtually. From the Taj Mahal in Agra to Grand Canyon in the USA and the Pyramids at Giza, you can visit them all from the comfort of your home. That is not all, detailed tours of most museums including the Louvre in Paris and Met in New York are also available on your phones.
FASHION INDUSTRY PUTS ITS BEST FOOT FORWARD
With the global uncertainty and panic around the novel coronavirus, people from all walks of life are joining hands to help out those in need. In India too, many fashion designers are coming forward to lend their support towards many causes. Manish Malhotra pledged his support to the PM-CARES Fund and Maharashtra CM’s Relief Fund on his social media account. Whereas Sabyasachi Mukherjee announced that he will be donating Rs 10 million from his personal funds to Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and Rs 5 million to the West Bengal Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Fast-fashion brand H&M also announced that they will provide funds and personal protective equipment to frontline workers fighting Covid-19. Designer Ralph Lauren in a statement said that the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation would set aside USD 10 million for causes related to the novel coronavirus.
LET THE MOVIES COME TO YOU
Stuck at home with nowhere to go, empty streets interrupted with the sound of chirping birds at odd hours - it doesn't get scarier than that. Or does it? We have a list of 10 horror films that won’t let you sleep peacefully at night. Because sleep is overrated, right? Are you scared already?
Alright, alright. Too much scare already. Let's counter that with some comedy films, shall we? Laugh the panic away with these 15 bone-tickling films.
Just so you know, some of us who are stuck home ALONE, are envious of those of you who have your partners next to you. Here's a list of 15 romantic films to enjoy with them, while we're going to simply howl watching these (and missing them). *sobs quietly*
DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF WEB SERIES
Sports lovers, there are no sporting events for you to watch live. There are, however, shows that can give you the same adrenaline rush. Check them out here.
Now, there are plenty of re-runs happening on Doordarshan (we have a full list with time below). But there are still others you can watch FOR FREE. Here's our list.
WHAT'S ON NETFLIX
What to Watch: Money Heist Part 4
You will like it if you liked: Breaking Bad
The popular Spanish show Money Heist is coming up with it's fourth season on April 3. The trailer of the new season was released earlier, and going by it, the show will be a rollercoaster ride. Like the third season, the fourth one will also have eight episodes. Part 4 will pick up from the cliffhanger, where the last episode of Part 3 ended. It's going to be chaos in Part 4: while The Professor (lvaro Morte) thinks Lisbon (Itziar Ituño) is dead, Nairobi (Alba Flores) is somehow hanging in there. Tokyo (šrsula Corber³) and Rio (Miguel Herrán) have invited the army's wrath.
What to Watch: Community (All 6 seasons)
You will like it if you liked: Dr Ken
The release of all the six seasons of Community comes as a respite to people who are struggling to spend time indoors. The show is about a former lawyer, who is now working as a community college professor. It chronicles the memorable encounters of the professor with students of diverse temperaments. The show started streaming on Wednesday (April 1).
What to watch: Sunderland 'Til I Die Season 2
You'll like it if you liked: Formula 1: Drive to Survive
For all the football enthusiasts out there, Sunderland returned to Netflix with its brand-new season on April 1. The first season of the documentary series took us to the inner workings of the English football club Sunderland AFC and showed the ups and downs the players go through, including getting relegated from the Premier League. The second season takes the events of the first season forward and has six episodes.
What to watch: Coffee & Kareem
You'll like it if you liked: 21 Jump Street
It isn’t every day that you see a cop teaming up with his girlfriend’s son (who doesn’t really like him) to track down criminals. Netflix’s new film, Coffee and Kareem, gives us this opportunity. The film is available from April 3 and stars Ed Helms, Taraji P Henson and Terrence Little Gardenhigh in the lead roles.
WHAT'S ON AMAZON PRIME
What to watch: Panchayat
You will like it if you liked: Kota Factory
Panchayat has reunited Jitendra Kumar with his Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan co-star Neena Gupta. The show talks about city boy Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra), who has been posted in a village called Phulera. Though Abhishek has a stable job, he dreams big and wishes to get out of the village. The show releases on Amazon Prime today and, going by its trailer, it shouldn't be missed.
What to watch: Tales From The Loop: Season 1
You will like it if you liked: Doctor Who
This new series is a treat for sci-fi fans. The show talks about a town that is built above a machine called The Loop. The machine has the power to unlock all the secrets of the universe. The show's trailer seems like a mix of two much-talked-about series - Stranger Things and Doctor Who. It starts streaming today (April 3).
Trance (Malayalam) and HIT (Telugu) released on April 1 while Rocketman released on April 2. Catch The Invisible Life of Eurdice Gusm£o (2019) today (April 3) and Shikara tomorrow (April 4).
WHAT'S ON ALT-BALAJI
What to watch: Who's Your Daddy?
You'll like it if you liked: Jawaani Jaaneman
A comedy show, Who's Your Daddy stars Harsh Beniwal, Raul Dev, Nikhil Bhambri and Anvesha Jain. As the name suggests, the show is about the sexual encounters of Prem, Soggy and Tidda. In the show, the characters try to find out who is the daddy of Soggy's son.
WHAT'S ON DISNEY PLUS HOTSTAR
Disney Plus is in India, guys. Starting today (April 3). The OTT platform has collaborated with Hotstar in India. Two kinds of subscriptions will be available Disney+ Hostar VIP and Disney+ Hotstar Premium. On the OTT platform, viewers will get to enjoy over 250 superhero and animated films - which means you can escape into the Marvel Universe, and while you're at it, perhaps think Thanos's theory! Apart from that, there are over 100 series along with the latest Hindi films and Hotstar Specials. They will also provide language-based subscriptions.
ON YOUR TELEVISION SCREENS
Doordarshan is what you want RN. Here's a list of all the classic shows returning to the humble DD Network, and when to watch them.
What to watch: Ramayan
When to watch: 9 am and 9 pm every day
King Dasharatha has left for the heavenly abode after Lord Ram went on a exile. How a grieving Lord Rama cope up with the loss of his father's life? Watch in this episode of #Ramayan tonight at 9 pm on @DDNational pic.twitter.com/QkhwO9qOsO Doordarshan National (@DDNational) April 2, 2020
Ramanand Sagar's mythological show starring Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia and Sunil Lahri is back on TV from March 28. Two episodes are aired every day, one in the morning and the other at night.
What to watch: Mahabharat (this one is on DD Bharati)
When to watch: 12 pm and 7 pm every day
BR Chopra's popular epic show made a comeback on the small screen on March 28. The show starring Mukesh Khanna, Rupa Ganguly, Puneet Issar and Nitish Bharadwaj among others, originally aired from 1988 to 1990.
What to watch: Byomkesh Bakshi
When to watch: 11 am every day
This detective series directed by Basu Chatterjee was one of the first TV shows on Saradindu Bandyopadhyay's bhadrolok sleuth, Satyanweshi - or Truth Seeker - Byomkesh Bakshi. The series starred Rajit Kapur in the lead.
What to watch: Shaktimaan
When to watch: 8 pm
The Mukesh Khanna-starrer superhero series Shaktimaan is back on the small screen. Shaktimaan is one of India's first superheroes.
What to watch: Dekh Bhai Dekh
When to watch: 6 pm
Cult comedy show Dekh Bhai Dekh is back on DD from April 1. The show revolves around the three generations of the quirky Diwan family. It starred seasoned actors Sushma Seth, Farida Jalal, Navin Nischol, Shekhar Suman, and Deven Bhojani among others.
The Diwan family is all set to give you the laugh riot with their stupendous comic act at 6 pm on @DDNational in our show #DekhBhaiDekh. pic.twitter.com/CuWarqHAlL Doordarshan National (@DDNational) April 2, 2020
What to watch: Chanakya
When to watch: 10 pm
MUST WATCH -
An all-time favourite with our viewers - the master strategist #Chanakya TONIGHT at 10 pm on @DDNational pic.twitter.com/5XG9zQId5a Doordarshan National (@DDNational) April 2, 2020
Chandraprakash Dwivedi's critically acclaimed show that aired from 1991 to 1992, is being re-telecast on TV. The show is based on Chanakya, who was a renowned strategist, political theorist and chief advisor to Chandragupta and his son Bindusara.
What to watch: Shrimaan Shrimati
When to watch: 4 pm
The popular sitcom of the 90s starring late actors Reema Lagoo and Jatin Kanakia and Archana Puran Singh and Rakesh Bedi is back to tickle your funny bone.
What to watch: Buniyaad
When to watch: 5 pm
The series starring Alok Nath, Kanwaljeet Singh, Anita Kanwar, Soni Razdan, dealt with the Partition of India and how it affected the people. The 105-episode series revolved around the family of Master Haveliram, and was written by Manohar Shyam Joshi and directed by Ramesh Sippy of Sholay fame.
An exhaustive list, isn't it? There are still others we'd like to be brought back. Here's our list, do you want to add any more?
And then the usual...
What to watch: The Kapil Sharma Show
Where to watch: Sony TV, 9.30 pm to 11 pm
No new episodes of The Kapil Sharma Show have been shot. But, if you love his comedy, you will surely enjoy the reruns, which will be aired at the same time.
What to watch: Khatron Ke Khiladi 10
Where to watch: Colors TV, 9 pm to 10.30 pm
Finally, there’s some hope!
For the first time, @BalrajSyal ko task ke baad Fear Funda milna hua stop in #KKK10.
Don’t miss out on the fun, tune in to #Colors, every Sat-Sun at 9 PM.
Anytime on @justvoot pic.twitter.com/siM3la2Wtc COLORS (@ColorsTV) April 1, 2020
Rohit Shetty's show will air fresh episodes on Saturday and Sunday, as KKK10 was shot last year in Bulgaria. Three contestants Rani Chatterjee, RJ Malishka and Amruta Khanvilkar are out of the show. This week, Balraj Syal, who always gets Fear Funda, will be safe from elimination.
Enjoy your weekend!
(Compiled by Ananya Bhattacharya, Nairita Mukherjee, Raya Ghosh, Krishna Priya Pallavi, Vibha Maru, Jyoti Kanyal, Medha Chawla, Janani K, Divyanshi Sharma, Nishtha Grover, Nisha Singh, Logesh Balachandran.)
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