With the Navaratri and Durga Puja going on, an extended weekend awaits people across the country. Though the
coronavirus pandemic has dampened spirits and taken the wind out of everyone, curbing their enthusiasm in a season that is generally accompanied by a lot of
pomp and revelry, if 2020 has taught us anything, it is how united human beings can be in face of adversities.
Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal and
other states have been marred by the rising number of coronavirus cases and to
beat the holiday blues people across India are improvising on how to celebrate
a puja season ruined by the novel coronavirus. While Puja pandals
across West Bengal are providing unique opportunities by live-streaming their puja
through social media website and home-delivering ‘prasads,’ Gen Z is
connecting with friends over Google Duo, Skype and Whatsapp. Some others are
reliving childhood game ‘Mafia’ by participating in the recently launched
“Among US,” via discord.
Also Read: World is watching: ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ gives out a strong message on police brutality
While many have the obvious call of binge watching shows like Scam 1992: The
Harshad Mehta Story and The Trial of the Chicago 7, a few have dared to step-out of the house and visit friends and relatives.
Here
are of some of the must watch movies to stream this extended holiday season:
“The
Trial of the Chicago 7”: ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7′
is a courtroom drama based on the extraordinary trial that followed the 1968
Chicago riots. Speaking about his movie a month ahead of its release, Aaron Sorkin
had said, “The movie was relevant when we were making it — we didn’t need
it to get more relevant. But it did.”
The
movie comes at a time the US is witnessing a record number of protests over
police brutality, racism and custodial killings.
Detailing
how the judiciary and law enforcement are in cahoots to undermine the
legitimacy of ‘a cultural revolution,’ the show is a scathing indictment of a
system at odds with its citizens.
The
Devil all the Time: Starring Tom Holland,
Sebastian Stan and Robert Pattinson, the Antonio Campos directed psychological
thriller, is a study of trauma that spreads over generations. Violent, dark and
sinister, the movie depicts the journey of Arvin played by Tom Holland is a
must-watch this holiday season.
I’m
thinking of Ending things: Yet another psychological
thriller, the movie has been directed by Charlie Kaufman, whose Being John
Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of a spotless Mind and Synecdoche, New York
hurled into the lime-light. Kaufman’s ‘I’m thinking of Ending things,’ is no exception
as the movie narrates the journey of a woman, ‘Full
of misgivings.” The story is of a young woman (who) travels with her new
boyfriend to his parents’ secluded farm.
On her arrival at the farm ‘she comes to question
everything she thought she knew about him, and herself.’
Chemical
Hearts: A romantic drama to titillate hearts this
festive season, Richard Tanne directed love story narrates the tale of a high
school senior who falls in love with a new transfer student. This holiday
season turn back the clock and relive moments from youth that demonstrated the
sweeping force of love with this sentimental flick.
The 40-year-old Version: The
movie marks the directorial debut of Radha Black and is a comedy flick. Black
reinvents herself as a rapper and gives a honest and brutal take on a ‘cold and
colourless’ world.
If commitment is your thing, then overlook the films and jump right into the fascinating lineup of shows that our beloved streaming platforms have in store. Save your coronavirus-plagued Dussehra celebrations with a cheese-oozing pizza and log onto Amazon Prime Video to share it with Kaleen Bhaiya as he comes back for the second season of Mirzapur on October 23.
Or if fiction doesn’t fit your bill, the audacity of the Indian stock market scam of ’92 will surely make you flinch.
Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (SonyLiv)
Adapted from journalist Sucheta Dalal and Debashish Basu’s book ‘The Scam: Who Won, who Lost, who Got Away’, as the name suggests, the series traces the Indian stock market scam committed by stockbroker Harshad Mehta in ’92. The 10-episode-long show is being lauded for its simplified presentation of a fascinating and complex crime. It’s streaming on SonyLiv.
Emily in Paris (Netflix)
From the creator of the iconic ‘Sex and the City’ Darren Star, the series is a quirky comedy-drama starring Lily Collins as an American woman who has moved to Paris. However, she just quite doesn’t fit into the Parisian culture. With Paris at the core of it, the show is visually charming.
My next guest needs no introduction with David Letterman (Netflix)
When Netflix roped in veteran talk show host David Letterman back in 2018, we already knew what we were in for. A suave, stylised, smooth and engaging conversation with the who’s who of from every walk of life. Returning for season three on October 21, Letterman will get personal with Dave Chappelle, Robert Downey Jr., Lizzo, and Kim Kardashian West.
Read More: Netflix plans to offer free trial of its service for a weekend, starting in India
The Boys Season 2 (Amazon Prime Video)
I once asked a friend of mine to describe this fascinating anti-hero franchise, he said — lots and lots of blood. Based on the comic book series of the same name, the anti-franchise is back for its second season and keeps pushing the envelope of dark comedy further.
Mirzapur Season 2 (Amazon Prime Video)
Mirzapur is back for its second season on Amazon Prime Video with our beloved crime lord Kaleen Bhaiya, played by Pankaj Tripathi. With a fantastic lineup of actors the gritty, dark thriller had captured our imagination with its first run, and we hope Season 2 does the same.
