Entertainment

5 TV SHOWS THAT GEN Z IS BUZZING ABOUT

Every TV show, from FRIENDS to 4 More Shots Please, has captivated audiences by inspiring a sense of belonging. Today’s youngsters are glued to television shows, often known as series. Every friend circle has a happy-go-lucky demeanour like Joey, persistent and industrious like Damini Roy, someone who was born with a silver spoon like Veronica Lodge, and so on. Despite being a means of killing time, these shows provide a broad exposure to many genres while also making them ingenious and inquisitive. Mahati Salike compiles a list of the five most intriguing television series you shouldn’t miss.

Stranger Things:

With a new season released recently, audiences are going crazy about this series. The series is nestled in the 1980s in Indiana, the story originally centres on the exploration of a little boy’s inexplicable and unexpected disappearance. However, the inhabitants of a tiny town soon discover mysteries of a research facility, portals to another realm, and deadly monsters.

Why you should watch this series?

It has a wide range of emotions, mystery, and intrigue. It’s filled with action, comedy, and pathos, as well as a dash of sci-fi and demons for good measure. It exemplifies traditional multidimensional nature by integrating aspects such as horror and sci-fi. The graphics are outstanding, and the plot with its twists and turns is worth the watch.

Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Cara Buono, Matthew Modine, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Dacre Montgomery, Sean Astin, Paul Reiser, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman

No. of seasons: 4

Director: The Duffer Brothers

Streaming on: Netflix

Modern Love: Mumbai

When pressed to define love, each one of us has a distinct interpretation. But what exactly is love? Striking chords with the modernity in love that should be perceived by everyone, this series is a personally treasured choice. Modern Love Mumbai is a six-part compilation that examines, as the title says, Modern love stories based on Mumbai personalities. The compilation is an adaptation of the Amazon Original ‘Modern Love,’ which is based in New York and showcases comparable 21st-century romance from the city.

Why you should watch this series?

Besides the narrative, the aesthetics of the narratives make Modern Love Mumbai appear alive. The series investigates the most unforeseen aspects of everyday living, whether it’s a narrative about post-marriage doldrums, struggling for a sense of individuality in a partnership, or battling family for acceptance. All of the six stories, oriented by six different directors, have their originality and a trace of these directors. Whether it was shot in a modest city dwelling or near Mumbai’s famed Bandra–Worli sea connection, the makers portrayed the city of dreams from various perspectives.

The series, on the other hand, examines this city of dreams in every manner conceivable to bring out love, joy, and turmoil.

Cast: Fatima Sana Shaikh, Bhupendra Jadawat, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Tanuja, Pratik Gandhi, Ranveer Brar, Yeo Yann Yann, Meiyang Chang, Wamiqa Gabbi, Naseeruddin Shah, Sarika, Danesh Razvi, Ahsaas Channa, Tanvi Azmi, Masaba Gupta, Ritwik Bhowmik, Prateik Babbar, Aadar Malik, Dolly Singh, Chitrangda Singh, Arshad Warsi

No. of seasons: 1

Directors: Shonali Bose, Hansal Mehta, Vishal Bhardwaj, Alankrita Shrivastava, Dhruv Sehgal, Nupur Asthana

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

Bridgerton:

Bridgerton is a romantic saga inspired by the writings of Julia Quinn. Put into the context of the Regency era, the eight close-knit siblings of the prestigious and rich Bridgerton clan explore London socialites in pursuit of love and happiness, accompanied by friends and foes equally.

Why you should watch this series?

Bridgerton is one of many entertaining series that has a lot of such episodes. This opulent period play stimulates absurdly pompous terminology. The sexual affairs, the bright outfits, and the incredibly wealthy mansions, estates, and castles hug and soothe you. If you’re looking for a romantic break, this series is ideal.

Cast: Adjoa Andoh, Lorraine Ashbourne, Jonathan Bailey, Ruby Barker, Sabrina Bartlett, Harriet Cains, Bessie Carter, Nicola Coughlan, Hannah Dodd, Phoebe Dynevor, Ruth Gemmell, Florence Hunt, Martins Imhangbe, Claudia Jessie, Ben Miller, Luke Newton, Regé-Jean Page, Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Thompson, Will Tilston, Polly Walker, Julie Andrews, Simone Ashley, Charithra Chandran, Shelley Conn, Calam Lynch, Rupert Young

No. of seasons: 2

Director: Chris Van Dusen

Streaming on: Netflix

Never Have I Ever:

Devi Vishwakumar is a 15-year-old Indian-American Tamil teen dwelling in Los Angeles. Devi tends to lose feeling in her limbs when her father, Mohan, expires unexpectedly. She desires to alter her social standing after a highly disastrous sophomore year, but classmates, family, and sentiments make it difficult for her. Furthermore, her love life suffers when she develops feelings for two boys. What Devi does and who she chooses culminates in some terrible mistakes in her life, which comprise the storyline of this series.

Why you should watch this series?

Never Have I Ever has excellent diversity in terms of colour, sexual preference, culture, and other factors. This show confronts preconceptions, prejudices, and issues regarding gender identity, as well as grief, sadness, and the gloom that comes with it. These protagonists are far from flawless, but they learn through past errors and evolve as a result of them. The show is a stage play, based on Kaling’s personal experiences, and it puts a hilarious perspective on certain clichés concerning Indian society while refuting the others. The makers of the series have recently made an official announcement of Season 3 and fans can’t keep calm!! So, brace yourselves for some adorable love tales, amazing friendships, and just the proper amount of adolescent angst in this hilarious and heart-warming TV drama.

Cast: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, Darren Barnet, Jaren Lewison, John McEnroe, Lee Rodriguez, Ramona Young, Megan Suri

No. of seasons: 2

Director: Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher

Streaming on: Netflix

Kaun Banega Shikarwati:

Kaun Banega Shikharwati is a modern-day regal series that is underrated. It depicts the monarch of Shikharwati, Raja Mrityunjay, and his dominant hand man, Mishraji, as they devise an absurd plot to reunite the emperor’s separated daughters to rescue the royal kingdom from an income tax probe.

Why you should watch this series?

Love, anguish, competitiveness, despair, immeasurable affection, and more, are present in Kaun Banegi Shikharwati. The premise is intriguing, and it’s refreshing to witness a show in which girls compete to be the future king. It contains aspects of astonishment and amusement. It is peculiar, surreal and has a staggering vibe which is a credible source of laughter. It’s not attempting to sell us some meaningful message. The series is a lot of fun and a stress reliever.

Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Raghubir Yadav, Lara Dutta, Soha Ali Khan, Kritika Kamra, Anya Singh

No. of seasons: 1

Director: Gauravv Chawla, Ananya Banerjee

Streaming on: Zee 5

June 18, 2022

Stars Light Up Diwali with Love

Intro: Diwali is more than lamps and fireworks it’s about rituals, relationships, and creating cherished memories. Celebrities, too, embrace this spirit in their own ways, blending cultural traditions with modern celebrations. From heartfelt pujas to guilt-free feasts, here’s how stars like Adivi Sesh, Neha Shetty, and Avika Gor celebrate Diwali and what it truly means to them. Celebrity Quotes: Adivi Sesh: “I love the festive spirit that flows from Navaratri to Dussehra and then Diwali. At home, we perform Lakshmi Puja, and while I avoid crackers because of our pets, I enjoy watching the colourful sky. No festival is complete without sweets and spreading joy.” Neha Shetty: “Diwali is not just about lighting lamps, it’s about illuminating our hearts with hope, kindness, and courage. For me, parties, festive food, and time with close ones make this celebration special every year.” Avika Gor: “For me, Diwali is about spreading love, kindness, and warmth. I celebrate responsibly, visiting family and friends, exchanging hugs, and sharing sweets. The true spirit of Diwali lies in joy and togetherness.”

Entertainment

Rishab Shetty Returns with Kantara Chapter 1

Kannada star Rishab Shetty, who captured nationwide attention with his 2022 blockbuster Kantara, is back with his much-awaited prequel, Kantara Chapter 1. At a recent press meet in Mumbai, he opened up about his journey from working as a driver and office boy in the city to becoming a pan-India actor and filmmaker. Speaking with honesty and gratitude, Rishab reflected on cinema’s power to transform lives and shared insights into the making of his ambitious new film.Your journey from driver in Mumbai to leading the Kantara Chapter 1 is inspiring. How do you look back on it?For me, Mumbai is very special. Back in 2008, I worked as an office assistant in a production house in Andheri West, and also as a producer’s driver. While eating vada pav on the road near that office, I never imagined I would come this far. Cinema has given me so much love, respect, and blessings far beyond what I could dream of. I’m incredibly grateful. Everyone is talking about how your village came together for the Kantara Chapter 1 event. Tell us about that. Everyone in my village, in Kundapura’s Keradi, was part of the filmmaking process. It felt like the entire place had turned into a film village. The whole town became a studio. I’m deeply grateful to my villagers, the crew, my wife Pragathi, professors, cultural dancers, their families, and even the seniors who guided us. This film was built on collective effort. The prequel is set centuries ago. How did you bring that world to life?It was one of the toughest challenges. We had no direct references for the 4th–5th century. Everything production, costumes, sets, was built from reading, listening, and imagining. We were very particular about the look, the backdrop, the characters’ behaviour, and even the language. The goal

Entertainment

The Ultimate Guide To A Family-Friendly Halloween

Halloween is more than just a day for candy and costumes. It’s a celebration of community, creativity and a touch of spooky fun. As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, families everywhere are looking for ways to make this holiday special. If you are searching for ideas, Dhanush Kumar brings you some memorable and family-friendly Halloween ideas. Transforming your home into a haunted haven is a fantastic way to get everyone in the Halloween spirit. Carving pumpkins is a family tradition. Lay out old newspapers, grab some carving tools, and let your family’s creativity shine. For younger children, painting pumpkins is a safer and equally fun alternative. Use warm, orange string lights to create a festive glow. Cast eerie shadows with paper cutouts of bats and spiders on windows. A simple ghost made from a white sheet and a balloon, or a string of paper bats, can add a lot of character without much effort. Choosing a costume is often the highlight of Halloween. Encourage a group of themed costumes for a fantastic family look. Go as a family of superheroes, a collection of farm animals, or characters from your favourite movie. Repurpose old clothes and craft supplies. A cardboard box can become a robot, and a green t-shirt with some design can transform into a friendly frog. The best costumes are often the ones that you make together. While trick-or-treat is a must, there are many activities to enjoy, such as: Monster Movie Marathon: Curl up on the couch with popcorn and a selection of age-appropriate spooky films. Classics like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, or Hocus Pocus are always great choices. Spooky Story Time: Gather around a fire pit or in a dimly lit room and share not-too-scary ghost stories. Themed Treats: Bake and decorate

Entertainment

Beyond Capes and Action: Teja Sajja on the Heart of Mirai

Teja Sajja’s superhero spectacle Mirai has lit up cinemas with an overwhelming response from audiences. The fantasy adventure has been praised for its international-scale stunts and VFX while staying rooted in Telugu storytelling. In a candid telephonic conversation with LIPIKA VARMA, Teja shared his journey, the challenges he faced, and his excitement about the film’s reception. Produced by T. G. Vishwa Prasad, directed by Karthik Gattamneni, and presented in North India by Dharma Productions, Mirai also premiered in the US alongside its global release. The film stars Manchu Manoj, Ritika Nayak, Shriya Saran, and Jagapathi Babu, further adding to its star power. On making a Telugu film with Telugu sensibilities and getting an open armed reception with Hindi film-goers I have never imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that I would be standing in a Hindi cinema. But I am happy from the bottom of my heart that they have welcomed me with their open arms. I feel very responsible for delivering something that gives them an experience in the auditorium yet again, and this is reflected in the choice of films I’ve selected as well. I take other languages very seriously, which encourages me. We are promoting it as a mainstream Hindi film because we see a lot of love and potential in it. However, predominantly, I am not trying to get into the Hindi film industry. I’m making a Telugu film with Telugu sensibilities, and the subject matter is relevant in other languages as well. If audiences are interested in coming to watch it in theatres, as a respect, we put in full effort to make everything needed to make the film look authentic in that language. On discipline and commitment to films Yes, this film was tough to make, and it needed utmost attention. It is my