Your Weekend Planner Jan 21: Pushpa Allu Arjun pushed over for Shehzada, RRR goes for split release dates
RRR makers are so confused about the Covid-19 situation - as are we - that they've announced a split release date. It will either release on March 18 or on April 28, depending on the situation.
Dear Reader,
Last week, we learnt that cashing in on the Allu Arjun-starrer Pushpa's success, the makers had planned to release Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo in Hindi. But, looks like the Shehzada of Bollywood won this bout. The release of Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo has now been cancelled due to rising Covid-19 cases. But more significantly, it was at the request of the makers of Shehzada (Hindi remake of Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo) that this decision was taken. Did Bollywood fear that Allu Arjun would once again emerge as the Shehzada of the box office? Well, it wouldn't be wrong now, would it?
Meanwhile, RRR makers are so confused about the Covid-19 situation - as are we - that they've announced a split release date. It will either release on March 18 or on April 28, depending on the situation. Grim time for movies, we tell you.
Good thing we have tons of quirky Pushpa videos to make us laugh as this grim time passes. Like this fan-made video of BTS dancing to Samantha's Oo Antava or David Warner doing the Srivalli hook step. So much fun.
Now that you're done scrolling through these videos, how about you make yourself a glass of thick KitKat shake and start bingeing on Unpaused: Naya Safar? For those who are of the belief that Covid khatam ho gaya, a reminder of the deadly second wave is much needed.
Until next week.
WHAT’S TRENDING?
January 23, 2022 marks the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and on this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil a hologram statue of the freedom fighter at the India Gate. Until the granite statue of Netaji is ready to be installed at the India Gate, the hologram statue will take its place. This is a befitting tribute to Subhash Chandra Bose’s legacy and for his contribution to India.
Till the grand statue of Netaji Bose is completed, a hologram statue of his would be present at the same place. I will unveil the hologram statue on 23rd January, Netaji’s birth anniversary. pic.twitter.com/jsxFJwEkSJ — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2022
Meanwhile, #WeMissYouSRK has been trending on Twitter. It has been a while since the actor made an appearance on the silver screen and this has made all his fans a tad bit impatient. His fans trended #WeMissYouSRK on Twitter since Thursday evening and it also booked a spot on the trends list on Friday.
We miss you, Sir! Come Back Soon #WeMissYouSRK pic.twitter.com/YUXxwqsbwu — Rupesh Ki Bestfriend (@nabihahahahah) January 20, 2022
In the meantime, Allu Arjun’s Pushpa has impressed not just fans in India but across the world. Why are we saying this? Well, you should check out these viral videos. From the songs to the dialogues, everything about the film has struck a chord with the audience and if you check social media, you will surely get a hint of it. From lip-syncing to Allu Arjun’s dialogues to dancing on Srivalli and Oo Antava, every other video on Instagram has a Pushpa connection.
In other news, Deepika Padukone has been trending on Twitter, thanks to the trailer of her upcoming film Gehraiyaan. The trailer has been received well by the audience and people can’t wait to watch the film which is releasing on Amazon Prime Video next month.
Also, the weekend curfew in Delhi is here to stay. However, the good news is, a study by The Lancet has said Covid-19 will continue but the end of the pandemic is near, stating that the virus will become another recurrent disease that health systems and societies will have to manage.
SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE
For all those who love watching videos featuring animals and birds, here’s a treat for you. A video of a parrot named Gucci imitating the iPhone ringtone like a pro went viral on social media and we absolutely loved it.
Also, here’s a video of an Indo-French couple singing the Kishore Kumar hit song Samne Yeh Kaun Aaya from the 1972 film Jawani Diwani. It’s heartwarming and we are sure you will end up watching it on loop.
DON’T FORGET TO WORK OUT
Milind Soman doesn’t miss out on his workout sessions for the world, so if you need some fitness-inspo, do turn to his Instagram. In a new post this week, Milind tried a variation of bar pull-ups, and shared a powerful message for his fans and followers. Do check it out.
WHAT’S ON MY PLATE?
Do you like KitKat? Well, then, this recipe is for you. The word KitKat instantly urges us to take a break and relish the chocolate. But instead of munching onto the crunchy chocolate, how about slurping a glass of KitKat shake instead? The super-easy recipe will convince you to prepare one right away.
HOW TO MAKE KITKAT SHAKE?
To make KitKat shake, all you need is a glass of milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and four sticks of KitKat. Blend them all together and pour into a glass. Top it up with some whipped cream or KitKat chocolate fingers. Enjoy!
FASHIONABLY YOURS
It is time to fall in love with sarees all over again! To be precise, simplistic monotone sarees! We revisited some of the most iconic looks put forth by Bollywood actresses in simple monotone sarees in our Fashion Friday section this week. It has the ever-so-gorgeous Sridevi, Genelia D'Souza and Deepika Padukone among others in the list. PS: Don’t miss out on stealing all the styling cues.
FROM THE BOOKSHELF
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T J Klune
A breezy and fun contemporary fantasy, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a treat if you’re up for a ride through the wonderland of imagination. Linus Baker, a follower of rules and regulations, finds himself in the strange position of evaluating an orphanage inhabited by “magical youth.” Klune weaves the story through the eyes of Linus and you will love how he sees the children and observes their unique selves.
TJ Klune reinforces the themes of acceptance and non-judgement in a uniquely imaginative way in this wonderful novel. It will make your imagination flow to places you never even thought of.
MOVIES AND MAGIC
Another Friday but same conundrum - what to watch and where? Some really interesting shows drop this week. For starters, there's Unpaused: Naya Safar, bringing you stories born of the Covid-19 trauma. Then there is How I Met Your Father, born of the How I Met Your Mother nostalgia. And then there's Bhaukaal 2, born of Dabangg and Mirzapur. Take your pick.
Now, what about movies? Why are we talking about OTT shows under movies? Well, because, there's nothing new to talk about. Except the fact that film releases are being pushed, and the makers are so unsure about what lies ahead they are now blocking two release dates instead of one - RRR could release on March 18 or April 28. For the first time in the history of Indian cinema! Where are we headed? To OTT, of course.
And OTT sure has loads to offer. We're, for one, looking forward to Gehraiyaan on Amazon Prime Video. Especially after the delicious trailer we just watched. And meanwhile, new stills from Bridgerton Season 2 were also dropped. Desi Girl Kate Sharma enters the regency drama's alternate historical universe. But did she have to be an upper-caste, Brahmin Hindu? We wonder.
Now, off to the OTT section.
ON YOUR OTT SCREENS
ON NETFLIX
What to watch: DOTA: Dragon's Blood
You will like it if you liked: DOTA: Dragon's Blood season 1
The much-awaited series DOTA returns for the second season. The animated and fantasy series is based on the epic Dota video game and features the story of Davion and Mirana. Season 2 is all set to release on January 18, 2022 on Netflix.
What to watch: Too Hot to Handle
You will like it if you liked: Too Hot to Handle season 1 and 2
Netflix series Too Hot To Handle has been renewed for the third season. The show returns with ten more libertine singles who are looking for love.
What to watch: Ozark
You will like it if you liked: Ozark 1,2,3
The fourth season of Ozark will be released in two parts consisting of 7 episodes each. Part 1 will be released on Netflix on January 21. The series explores capitalism, family dynamics, and survival through the eyes of Americans.
ON MX PLAYER
What to watch: Bhaukaal Season 2
You will like it if you liked: Flesh
Mohit Raina-starrer Bhaukaal is back with an action-packed season 2. Loaded with drama, Bhaukaal 2 revolves around the story of two gangs - the Shaukeen and Dedha brothers, and their indifferences. Bhaukaal Season 2 streams from January 20.
ON SONY LIV
What to watch: Bhoothakaalam
You will like it if you liked: Swarajya Saudamini Tararani
Malayalam film Bhoothakaalam is directed by Rahul Sadasivan. The film is about a mother and son, but soon takes a turn when paranormal activities begin. The film stars veteran actors Revathy and Shane Nigam.
ON APPLE TV
What to watch: Servant season 3
You will like it if you liked: Servant season 1, 2
Psychological thriller Servant is back with its third season. Servant season 3 released on Apple TV+ on Friday. The cast reprises their original roles. Lauren Ambrose as Dorothy Turner, Toby Kebbell as Sean Turner, Rupert Grint as Julian Pearce, and Nell Tiger Free as Leanne Grayson will surely impress you.
ON DISCOVERY PLUS
What to watch: Selling the Hamptons
You will like it if you liked: Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Selling the Hamptons is a Discovery Plus series showing real estate drama and real world competition. The show features super exclusive luxury properties, which a team of six Hamptons-based real estate agents battle to sell.
ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
What to watch: Unpaused: Naya Safar
You will like it if you liked: Unpaused
Unpaused, which released in 2020, received much love. Now, Unpaused: Naya Safar is here to bring new stories of friendship, love and hope. The new anthology has been helmed by filmmakers Nupur Asthana, Ayappa KM, Ruchir Arun, Shikha Makan and Nagraj Manjule. Ready for stories that celebrate the human spirit?
ON ZEE5
What to watch: 36 Farmhouse
You will like it if you liked: Khosla Ka Ghosla
Directed by Subhash Ghai, 36 Farmhouse is a comedy of errors starring Vijay Raaz, Sanjay Mishra, Amol Parashar, Barkha Singh, Ashwini Kalsekar and Flora Saini. There’s a family trying to inherit a 300-acre lavish farmhouse, but things go haywire.
ON DISNEY + HOTSTAR
What to watch: This Is Us Season 6
You will like it if you liked: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The sixth season of This Is Us finally released this week. The Pearsons, once again, take us on a heartfelt journey through their lives and encourage us to keep our loved ones close. The storyline of the show follows three siblings - Kevin, Kate and Randall - who go through personal struggles as they try to find happiness and get over a tragedy in life.
What to watch: How I Met Your Father
You will like it if you liked: How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Father is a spin-off of the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Starring Hilary Duff in the lead role, the show also stars Suraj Sharma, Christopher Lowell, Francia Raisa, Tom Ainsley and Tien Tran. The storyline of How I Met Your Father follows Sophie (Hilary) telling her son the story of how she met his father.
ON VOOT
What to watch: Walker
You will like it if you like: Yellowstone
The second season of Walker picks up three months after the dramatic conclusion to Season 1. Texas Ranger Cordell Walker had reintegrated into his role in family life on the ranch. However, just as life seems to be getting back to normal, there's a new twist.
ON YOUR TV SCREENS
What to watch: The Kapil Sharma Show
Where to watch: Sony TV, 9.30 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
The Kapil Sharma Show will welcome cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw this Sunday, January 23. The duo will be seen talking about their ‘googlies’ of life and also some interesting anecdotes from their professional lives, which will make the episode an interesting watch.
What to watch: India's Got Talent 9
Where to watch: Sony TV, 8 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Hosted by Arjun Bijlani, IGT9 recently premiered on Sony TV. This week, judges Shilpa Shetty, Kirron Kher, Badshah and Manoj Muntashir will be witnessing some interesting and bizarre performances by contestants on stage. You will also witness Vispy and Group trying to break a world record on the show.
What to watch: Hunarbaaz Desh Ki Shaan
Where to watch: Colors TV, 9 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Hunarbaaz Desh Ki Shaan will premiere this week. The show will see Mithun Chakraborty, Karan Johar and Parineeti Chopra as judges and Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbchiyaa as the hosts. The live audience will become Super Judge on the show and decide the fate of the contestants.
What to watch: Bigg Boss 15
Where to watch: Colors TV, 8 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Bigg Boss 15 is just a week away from the finale. This weekend, host Salman Khan will be returning on the BB stage to interact with the housemates. It remains to be seen if Salman Khan announces any evictions or not.
What to watch: SaReGaMaPa
Where to watch: Zee TV, 9 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
This weekend, SaReGaMaPa contestants will be mesmerising the judges and the audiences with their performances. Snigdhajit Bhowmik will especially win everyone's heart with his performance on Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin from Taare Zameen Par. Judges Himesh Reshammiya, Vishal Dadlani and Shankar Mahadevan will also give a standing ovation to him.
(Compiled by Nairita Mukherjee, Raya Ghosh, Tiasa Bhowal, Janani K, Shweta Keshri, Grace Cyril, Rishita Roy Chowdhury, Srimoyee Chowdhury, Samriddhi Srivastava, Tanushree Roy, Shubhi Mishra, Anindita Mukherjee, Medha Chawla)
ALSO READ: Covid will continue, but end of pandemic is near, says Lancet study