Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 70
October 8, 2024
7 Books Featured in Heartstopper Season 3
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In Season 3 of Heartstopper, books make their quiet yet significant appearances throughout. Charlies best-friend Isaac is almost always with a book in the show and his reading adventures give viewers more than just a peek into his personality—they also nod to key themes in the show. If you’re curious about these books and wondering if they’re your next read, we quickly list seven titles that make their way in Heartstopper season 3!
1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe (Isaac reads it at the Beach)What’s It About?
A graphic memoir by Maia Kobabe, Gender Queer chronicles the author’s journey through gender identity and sexuality. Starting from childhood, Kobabe explores the confusion, struggles, and ultimate understanding of their identity as non-binary and asexual. The beautiful illustrations add an intimate layer to the storytelling, making it a relatable and tender exploration of identity.
Key Themes
Identity, gender exploration, self-acceptance, LGBTQ+ experiences.
Positives & Negatives
The book has been lauded for its candid storytelling and gorgeous artwork. However, some may find it a bit introspective, as it delves deep into Kobabe’s personal reflections. But that’s precisely what makes it resonate with readers experiencing similar journeys.
Who Should Read It?
If you’re questioning your identity or seeking more representation and understanding of non-binary and asexual experiences, this book is a comforting and enlightening companion.
What’s It About?
A retelling of the Iliad through the lens of Patroclus and his love for the Greek hero Achilles, Miller’s novel provides a heartfelt and tragic love story. The narrative reimagines the Trojan War, focusing not on battles but on the intimate, often heart-wrenching relationship between the two characters.
Key Themes
Love and loyalty, destiny and fate, Greek mythology, war, and tragedy.
Positives & Negatives
Praised for its poetic prose and emotional depth, The Song of Achilles draws readers in with its romance and character development. Some might find the pacing slow, particularly if they’re expecting more action, but it’s the emotional storytelling that makes this book a standout.
Who Should Read It?
Fans of Greek mythology and those who enjoy slow-burn, emotional love stories with tragic depth. If you’re in for a bittersweet read that leaves an impression, this is for you.
What’s It About?
Queer City delves into the queer history of London from the Roman times to the present day. Peter Ackroyd takes readers on a vibrant journey through the city’s evolving attitudes toward gender and sexuality, shining a light on how queerness has always been part of London’s culture.
Key Themes
Queer history, urban exploration, gender and sexual identity, cultural change.
Positives & Negatives
Ackroyd’s comprehensive research and vivid storytelling make history feel alive, offering intriguing insights into queer life in London. However, at times, the details can be overwhelming for readers unfamiliar with the subject, and the academic tone might be dense for some.
Who Should Read It?
History buffs, fans of queer culture, and those curious about how queerness intersects with city life and development. If you want a mix of history and culture, this book gives a unique perspective on how queerness has shaped London.
4. This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone (Isaac reads it in Episode 3)What’s It About?
A genre-blending sci-fi love story, This Is How You Lose the Time War follows two time-traveling agents, Red and Blue, who are on opposing sides of a time war. Through secret letters, they fall in love across timelines, crafting a poetic and suspenseful love story that defies conventions of time and space.
Key Themes
Love and connection, time travel, rivalry, poetic storytelling.
Positives & Negatives
The novel’s lush, lyrical prose makes it feel like a long, beautiful poem. While this adds to the book’s appeal for many, others might find it too abstract and poetic for their taste, preferring a more straightforward narrative.
Who Should Read It?
Those who appreciate poetic storytelling, imaginative sci-fi, and romance that defies boundaries. If you’re looking for a different take on time travel with a heart, this novel might sweep you off your feet.
What’s It About?
A collection of festive stories paired with wintery recipes, Jeanette Winterson’s Christmas Days captures the warmth and whimsy of the holiday season. Each of the 12 tales explores different moods and settings, from ghostly spookiness to cozy family gatherings, alongside recipes for festive feasts.
Key Themes
Christmas, festive spirit, love, family, winter nostalgia.
Positives & Negatives
Winterson’s charming storytelling is both playful and profound, offering something for every holiday mood. However, the collection may feel uneven, with some stories being stronger or more appealing than others.
Who Should Read It?
Perfect for those who love the magic of Christmas and enjoy curling up with heartwarming, varied stories. If you love a blend of fiction and food, this book will leave you feeling cozy and inspired to cook up a feast.
What’s It About?
A guide to navigating open relationships, The Ethical Slut explores polyamory, non-monogamy, and how to cultivate healthy, consensual connections outside traditional monogamous norms. The book offers practical advice on communication, self-awareness, and building trust in a variety of relationship structures.
Key Themes
Open relationships, consent, communication, self-awareness, sexual exploration.
Positives & Negatives
The book has been praised as a seminal work on modern relationships, with its open, non-judgmental approach to intimacy and love. Some readers might find it too radical if they’re not already exploring alternative relationship structures, but its emphasis on communication and self-awareness is universally valuable.
Who Should Read It?
If you’re curious about open relationships or want to understand more about polyamory, this is a great starting point. It’s also a helpful read for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and approach relationships with a broader, more open-minded perspective.
What’s It About?
A dual-narrative YA novel, I’ll Give You the Sun follows twins Jude and Noah, who were once inseparable but are torn apart by tragedy and secrets. The book explores their different perspectives across time, dealing with themes of love, loss, family, and finding oneself amidst chaos.
Key Themes
Family, love, self-discovery, grief, art and expression.
Positives & Negatives
Jandy Nelson’s vivid prose and strong emotional storytelling make this novel a rollercoaster of feelings. While its high emotions and drama can draw readers in, others might find the narrative a bit melodramatic at times.
Who Should Read It?
If you love YA fiction with complex emotions, sibling dynamics, and deep themes of love and loss, this book will tug at your heartstrings and keep you hooked from start to finish.
Heartstopper Season 3’s book choices mirror the series’ themes of self-discovery, love, and identity. From exploring queerness to navigating complicated relationships, there’s a book for everyone to relate to and learn from. So, pick one up, and let the stories begin!
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Also Read: CTRL Review: Ananya Pandey Faces Digital Dystopia
October 7, 2024
Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii Episode 1 Review
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“Cute. I wouldn’t mind letting her mess up my life.”
Based on the manga series by Asuka Konishi, the animated adaptation of Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii starts off on a faithful note to its source material. The series is produced by Studio Deen, who are behind dozens of popular anime titles, including Fate/stay night, Ranma ½, The Seven Deadly Sins, and Fruits Basket.
Plot overview – Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii follows the misadventures of 17-year-old Yoshino Somei (voiced by Hitomi Ueda), who lives in Osaka and is the granddaughter of the most powerful Yakuza family in the region. She is shocked to learn that her grandfather wants her to marry Kirishima Miyama (voiced by Akira Ishida), a boy her age who is also the heir of a powerful Yakuza family based out of Tokyo. After a lot of push from her grandfather, Somei ends up going to Tokyo to meet Miyama and finds him to be handsome, charming, and unlike a typical Yakuza. So she moves to Miyama’s high school, only to learn that Miyama is a twisted, crazy, sadomasochist. To maintain peace between the two Yakuza families, the sheltered Somei decides to stay on in Tokyo and face the future with Miyama.
About 24-minutes long, the first episode of Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii swiftly sets the ground for this dark action-comedy. The animation is on the simpler side, like early 2000s anime titles and the character designs are almost the same as the manga. Except for condensing some of the character conversations, the events in the story unfold in the same manner too. From the dramatic opening scene where Miyama sees Somei’s photo for the first time and declares he wouldn’t mind her messing up his life, to Somei’s hilarious fight with her grandfather about finding out that she is expected to marry Miyama from a magazine, the anime unfolds exactly like the manga.
While both lead voice actors for Yoshino and Miyama sound like they are making an extra effort to sound like teenagers, the clashing characters are so entertaining that you quickly get used to their voices. Akira Ishida brilliantly brings out the dual nature of Miyama – from initially appearing like a good guy, he quickly morphs into a psycho, and the voice matches his personality. Somei, of course, is the more likable character, a teen tricked by her grandfather into living with a dangerous Yakuza family in Tokyo, who must now face a different, harsher big-city life than the protected one she lived in Osaka. Apart from the challenge of a psycho Yakuza fiancé, she must also grapple with bullies at the new school.
Episode one of Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii promises to deliver an exaggerated but entertaining Yakuza-themed action-comedy-romance, where Osaka girl Somei will show Tokyo boy Miyama what strong women are made of. The episode ends with two ridiculously over-the-top, funny twists (though they won’t be funny if you take them too seriously, so don’t), one of which shocks Somei out of her wits as well. I am definitely looking forward to the next episode!
You can watch the series on CrunchyRoll.
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Also Read: CTRL Review: Ananya Pandey Faces Digital Dystopia (Short Audio version below)
Quick Character Guide to The Boy and The Heron
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The 2023 animated movie The Boy and the Heron by the master of magic, Hayao Miyazaki is now available to stream on Netflix. With his signature blend of dreamlike visuals and multi-layered characters, this Studio Ghibli movie is brimming with captivating personalities that will tug at your heartstrings (and maybe mess with your head a little too). Let’s break down the major players in this enchanting film—both the familiar and the bizarre.
MahitoThe heart of our story is Mahito, a 12-year-old boy who’s dealing with an awful lot—grieving the loss of his mother, moving to the countryside, and trying to make sense of a world that’s much bigger and weirder than he ever thought possible. While Mahito starts off as a lonely and angry kid, struggling with change and family dynamics, his journey takes him to a magical world where he learns to confront his fears, understand the concept of life and death, and rediscover hope. Mahito’s path feels raw and real, and you can’t help but root for this boy as he dives deeper into a world of wonder, danger, and self-discovery.
The HeronAh, the enigmatic Heron. A loud, annoying, seemingly villainous bird who initially seems to be more of a nuisance than a guide. But as you might expect from any Miyazaki film, there’s more to this Heron than meets the eye. Without giving away too much, let’s just say the Heron is full of surprises, and his role is pivotal in Mahito’s journey. He’s that kind of character who you love to hate at first, but gradually you’ll find yourself more intrigued by his mysterious motives and complex personality. Is he a friend? A foe? Or a bit of both?
KirikoKiriko is the bold, strong-willed aunt (and now stepmother) of Mahito, who is grappling with her own set of struggles as she balances being a maternal figure and a sister-in-law. Her relationship with Mahito is complicated—he’s got all sorts of emotions about this new “mom” figure stepping into his life right after his mother’s death. Kiriko is the kind of character who’s tough on the outside but carries a deep vulnerability and warmth that comes out over time. She’s the grounding presence in the film, reflecting the real-world struggles against the fantasy elements swirling around Mahito.
Natsuko (Mahito’s Mother)Though Natsuko isn’t physically present for much of the film, her spirit looms large. She represents the loss that Mahito feels deeply, but also the warmth and comfort of a mother’s love. She’s the guiding light that indirectly helps Mahito navigate his grief. The memories of her are tender and sweet, making her an essential character in understanding why Mahito struggles so much at the beginning.
The Grey Heron Kingdom CreaturesOnce Mahito is pulled into the alternate world, things get weird. Real weird. Meet the creatures of the Grey Heron Kingdom—fantastical beings that range from charmingly quirky to downright unsettling. You’ll come across sentient blobs, peculiar sea creatures, and humanoid beings with their own motives and backstories. This assortment of wild and whimsical characters makes you wonder what’s real and what’s not, but they also play a key role in pushing Mahito further into his quest for understanding himself and the world around him.
Whether it’s a wisecracking bird, a mystical girl in a tower, or just an everyday human dealing with loss, every character in The Boy and the Heron plays a crucial part in Mahito’s journey. From the very real struggles of a boy coping with a new reality to the wild escapades in an alternate world, the characters are complex, multi-faceted, and memorable—each offering a lesson or a challenge in this magical tale of growth, family, and resilience.
Also Read: Nobody Wants This Review – The RomCom We Need (Short Audio Version below)
Live in Love Review: Join Some Other Live-Stream
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One of the best things the creators of Live in Love do is limit the series length to five episodes, as they didn’t have much of a plot to work with. Directed by Ball Kanathorn Tabvilai (Night Dream, Twins), the series is adapted from a novel by Yeonim and stars Hearth Chindanai Dechawaleekul as university heartthrob Kla, who is always turning people down until he meets the cute Cake (Junior Chokkorn Deotrakul) during a live-stream.
The show is very Gen-Z themed, with most of its characters being small social media influencers in their own right. Everyone is always live-streaming—talking to followers, singing, playing games, and chatting. The protagonist, Kla, is a straightforward, no-nonsense kind of guy who is extremely popular with both girls and guys. However, he never accepts gifts, food, or any other tokens people send his way to win him over. He also wastes no time in asking Cake out, being quite sure of his feelings, and luckily for him, Cake is also interested. Khing (Nina Pichayanin Pichayadechakarn), a classmate who has a huge crush on Kla, teams up with her best friend Gina (Mimi Ruethaiphat Phatthananapaphangkorn) to sabotage Cake and Kla’s relationship. At first, the antics of these two BFFs is sort of comedic, but as the show progresses Khing gets unacceptably evil.
Hearth Chindanai Dechawaleekul exudes very little charm as Kla and is miscast in the role. Out of the dozens of male characters in Live in Love, almost 70% have better screen presence. For instance, Haii Sarunsathorn Tanawatcharawat, who was last seen playing the lead in Chains of Heart, has a supporting role as Cake’s classmate and instantly seems more suited for a character like Kla. Junior Chokkorn Deotrakul on the other hand is adorable as Cake, but the character is boringly one-dimensional.
A secondary subplot follows Kla’s best friend Poon (Boat Napat Srinakluan), who is always hanging out with Gam (Tiger Tanawat Hudchaleelaha), hinting at a possible romance between the two. This second pairing is cuter, even though their romantic progression is clichéd. Poon and Gam are ‘shipped’ together online, and while they try to cash in on that, soon, their ship sails for real.
While Live in Love starts as a very social media-centered romantic comedy, the climactic twists in the last episode are ridiculous. One of the antagonists attempts to have Cake drugged and sexually assaulted by a group of thugs. Even though Cake is saved from the ordeal in the nick of time, the schemer gets away with their crime due to their wealthy background. The worst part is that she is eventually forgiven and befriended by the main group.
Overall, Live in Love is a chaotic mess, and you’d be better off watching something else.
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October 6, 2024
Batshit Book Review: More Drama, Mild Horror
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
‘South Delhi meets the Exorcist…,’ reads the text in a bright yellow bubble on the cover of the Indian horror fiction novel ‘Batshit’ by Kritika Kapoor, which safe to say – raises high expectations from horror enthusiasts like me. The South Delhi part is true, the Exorcist bit? Not really.
The story follows Pia Bhandari, a young woman with body issues, mommy issues, and severe mental health issues—all of which are worsened by a demon issue. She is dating a hot guy named Raghav who won’t propose, constantly monitored by her overbearing mom, Neeta; over-medicated by her psychiatrist; and outplayed by her younger sister, who is set to marry her childhood sweetheart, all of which unleashes the dormant monster inside Pia. But whether it’s all in her head or a demon really resides inside Pia’s body—a demon that craves blood and death—is kept under wraps until the last few chapters.
‘Batshit’ is a novella-sized book, so I thought I’d probably be able to binge-read it quickly, but it took me 5 days to finish, because the horror aspect of the story is tame. The first half of the novel focuses on Pia navigating her insecurities, while another voice whispers her to do stuff she shouldn’t. A lot of drama goes down during the wedding celebrations of her sister Khushi, which just cemented my dislike for the protagonist – Pia nearly ruins her sister’s big day. Unfortunately, nobody in the novel is likable, so I don’t know why the author just didn’t go all out with the demonic stuff early on in the story. Much of what Pia does in the first half doesn’t feel “batshit crazy”; rather, they’re just slightly unusual actions that someone with regular issues might take.
This is a slow-burn horror that never feels spooky or eerie; however, it does a great job of painting the dysfunctional relationship between Pia and her mother, Neeta. A flashback chapter describes Pia’s “evil” origin story—an incident that takes place when she is thirteen—which wasn’t an exciting enough revelation. Much of the novel unfolds as if it were envisioned as a Bollywood script, with several movie references finding their way into the book. Honestly, I don’t know if I’d be interested in watching a live-action adaptation of this novel, at least not in its current state—where the scares are thin.
The climactic pages finally deliver some blood, gore, deaths, and wraps up the story in a tragic end. While it’s not the horror novel I was expecting, it’s simple language, largely chronological storytelling, and limited characters make it an easy read for Indian horror fans.
Rating: 3 on 5 stars.
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‘Love Next Door’ Review: Rom-Com That Forgets How to Deliver Either
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Korean drama ‘Love Next Door’ (it’s on Netflix) starts off with four ajummas (aunties) talking about their kids, plastic surgeries, while one of them constantly farts away to glory. It’s an adequately fun start for a romantic-comedy series spanning sixteen episodes about a Tom-and-Jerry like couple. But come episode eight, and the entire tone of the series changes and becomes surprisingly serious… and it will some viewers wonder if they should continue watching ‘Love Next Door’ at all! Not after the unexpected but extremely disappointing twist the creators throw into the story. Let’s discuss plot first.
16 episodes long, ‘Love Next Door’ follows the comedic romance between childhood friends and neighbours Choi Seung-hyo (Jung Hae-in) and Bae Seok-ryoo (Jung So-min), who are either having fun together or fighting each other like cats and dogs. Their moms are longtime friends, who are always competing over whose child is more accomplished, so when Seok-ryoo returns to Seoul after quitting her cushy job in the U.S, her mom (Park Ji Young) is infuriated and extremely disappointed. Choi Seung-hyo on the other hand is still Mr Perfect, with his own architecture firm in Seoul that’s been winning awards. But his calm and perfect life gets chaotic when neighbor Seok-ryoo gets back in town. She is always finding ways to hang out with him or annoy him. Little does Seok-ryoo know that her childhood best-friend has a huge crush on her since forever.
Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min are quite cute together as Seung-hyo and Seok-ryoo, a lot of their friendly banter is hilarious, especially when they are bickering over little things, without any awkward tension (mostly) between them. However, their childish antics soon gets repetitive and tiring, and Seok-ryoo’s cluelessness about Seung-hyo’s feelings are ridiculous. Besides, their romance moves at a snail-pace, which is standard for Korean dramas like these, but the chemistry is not crackling, they feel more like friends than lovers. The child actors who play younger Seung-hyo and Seok-ryoo are adorable though and there’s a generous amount of flashback scenes in ‘Love Next Door’ to establish their childhood bond. Kim Ji Eun plays secondary lead Jung Mo Eum, who is also the lead couple’s childhood friend, however, her romantic sub-plot wasn’t interesting at all.
The first few episodes made “Love Next Door” seem like a refreshing ‘friends to lovers’ tale which encompasses a slightly less-explored theme – a seemingly successful expat returning to their country due to work-exhaustion and other disappointments on foreign soil. Bae Seok-ryoo’s character will resonate with anybody who is struggling to adapt themselves to a new country for their job and feel burdened by the growing expectations of their family. Not just that, she also must figure the biggest puzzle of adult life after one is jilted with their career – What Next?
But despite these fresh elements, “Love Next Door” also checks the same old boring boxes –
Leads who childishly cannot see that the other person is romantically interested in themParents who unfairly try to force their own dreams and expectations on their childrenScenes where the leads accidentally fall over each other to facilitate ‘touchy’ momentsA love rival/ex swooping in and interrupting a crucial conversation just when one of them is about to confess their feelings or well, to complicate thingsExcessive reliance on scenes where a character is hitting someone else for laughs“Love Next Door” was cute, breezy, funny, and all that really changes at the end of episode eight, where a serious-dramatic twist is introduced, and the story simply begins to drag from there on. Except for Bae Seok-ryoo’s decision to change careers, which was a great sub-plot, everything else about this series in the second half is just a rehashed and bland version of things we’ve already seen. Most of the characters behave like kids, and even towards the last few episodes, the romance is barely there and even the jokes run completely dry. For a show advertised as ‘romantic comedy’, the humour is way outdated.
While the lead couple’s parents are shown to be friendly neighbours, with their moms hanging out regularly, despite the silly rivalry between them, the last few episodes play up the ‘enmity’ between to moms to act as a hurdle for their love. Bae Seok-ryoo’s mom starts out as comedic in the beginning and slowly becomes a mean mother, who is excessively harsh, and mean towards her daughter. I feel like the secondary couple could’ve been more likable if they weren’t treated as ‘they are just here to be cute’ and given more character depth.
Thanks to the episode eight twist, I was expecting a ridiculous twist towards the end of ‘Love Next Door’ too, but thankfully, it ends on a light, sweet, happy, and childish note. Watch the show if you’re looking for a family themed romantic drama with a cute lead pair.
Rating: 5.5 on 10. ‘Love Next Door’ is on Netflix.
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October 5, 2024
Ghudchadi Review: Like ‘Badhaai Ho,’ But Without the Laughs
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Remember the 2018 Bollywood comedy Badhaai Ho starring Ayushmann Khurrana, which is about a young man getting deeply embarrassed when his parents announce they are expecting another child around the same time he was hoping to get married? The 2024 movie Ghudchadi might remind some viewers of Badhaai Ho because its plot is also about a son getting embarrassed when his 60-year-old father announces he wants to marry an ex-flame on the same day the son was planning on discussing his own wedding. But here’s the kicker — his future step-mom is his girlfriend’s mother!
Directed by Binoy Gandhi, who’s co-written the script with Deepak Kapur Bhardwaj, ‘Ghudchadi’ stars Raveena Tandon and Sanjay Dutt as widowers Menka and Veer Sharma, who used to be in love, but weren’t allowed to marry each other. The couple go their separate ways, live in different cities, but cross paths again after Menka moves to Delhi with her daughter Devika (Khushali Kumar). They re-ignite their romance, unaware that Devika meets Veer’s son Chirag (Parth Samthaan) through work and is dating him. Veer is shamed by his mother (Aruna Irani) for wanting to marry at such a late age, while Menka faces a lot of awful criticism from her daughter too. How will both couples navigate this conundrum?
Directed by Binoy Gandhi, who co-wrote the script with Deepak Kapur Bhardwaj, Ghudchadi stars Raveena Tandon and Sanjay Dutt as widowers Menka and Veer Sharma, who used to be in love but weren’t allowed to marry each other. The couple go their separate ways, live in different cities, but cross paths again after Menka moves to Delhi with her daughter Devika (Khushali Kumar). They re-ignite their romance, unaware that Devika meets Veer’s son Chirag (Parth Samthaan) through work and is dating him. Veer is shamed by his mother (Aruna Irani) for wanting to marry at such a late age, while Menka faces a lot of harsh criticism from her daughter as well. How will both couples navigate this conundrum?
I was watching Ghudchadi with my parents, and halfway through the film, just when the older couple learns their kids are dating each other, my mom asked me what I thought would happen. “Well, from the way they are building up the story, it feels like both couples will end up getting married. I don’t know how they will lead to it, though.” Mum didn’t agree and thought the young couple should simply step aside for their parents — Veer and Menka — to have a happy ending. Dad also joined in and placed his bet on the parents sacrificing their love for their children’s happiness. And well, those are the three most likely endings to the story anyway, right? Unless the writers decide to go dark and not let anybody end up together.
Given its complex conflict, a comedy-drama was a good genre to pick for Ghudchadi; however, it’s barely funny and often too melodramatic. Parth Samthaan is charmingly entertaining as Veer’s son, Khushali Kumar is stiff as Menka, and there’s no chemistry between the leads. The two look glaringly mismatched and give off a sibling energy; this automatically makes one cheer for the older couple to end up together. Raveena Tandon and Sanjay Dutt are endearing as ex-flames dating again, but their cutesy bond isn’t enough to make the movie entertaining. It was delightful to see Aruna Irani in the kind of role she plays best – the acerbic, strict, mean mom who still strikes terror in her adult son’s heart. But a lot of the dialogues in Ghudchadi are gratingly screechy and outdated.
We only managed to stick around until the ending of Ghudchadi because it’s obviously a fresh story (with stale execution), and it makes the viewer curious about the ending. There’s an extremely convenient twist in the tale that easily solves all the dilemmas faced by the characters, followed by more convenient coincidences that facilitate a big, fat wedding and a happy ending for the film. The Deus ex Machina trope comes to the plot’s rescue. Watch the film if you’re a fan of the cast or enjoy 90s-styled Bollywood movies.
Rating: 2 stars on 5. You can watch ‘Ghudchadi’ on JioCinema.
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CTRL Review: AI Courts Ananya Pandey in a ‘Searching’ Meets ‘Red Rose’ Thriller
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
One of the worst things that can happen to an influencer whose romantic life is the biggest USP of their online brand is a breakup. Nella Awasthi (Ananya Pandey), who runs a popular video channel called ‘NJOY’ with her boyfriend Joe Mascarenhas (Vihaan Samat), was hoping for a ‘happily ever after,’ an expectation that’s shattered when she catches him cheating. Devastated over the breakup, Nella hopes she could simply remove all traces of Joe from her digital life. Enter an AI assistant from a new app called CTRL, which offers to take over Nella’s life and starts controlling it in insidious ways.
Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane (‘Sacred Games’/‘Udaan’), CTRL’s screenplay follows the template of the 2014 movie ‘Unfriended,’ one of the first films to popularize ‘screenlife’ storytelling – everything unfolds through screens, be it mobile phones, laptops, cameras, or CCTV footage. However, the plot is like a mash-up between the 2018 film ‘Searching,’ another screenlife movie about a father looking for his daughter, and ‘Red Rose,’ a techno-thriller about an intrusive app that ruins the lives of its users. ‘CTRL’ is about an AI assistant that looks like a rip-off of Ranveer Singh from Gully Boy, with a bad flirty personality, who starts controlling Nella’s life – from her social media identity, brand deals, to tampering with her texts.
‘CTRL’ opens with a fun montage of Nella and Joe’s relationship, with lots of travel photos and videos featuring the couple having fun, which instantly reminded me of Ananya’s movie “Kho Gaye Hum Kaha,” which starts off in a similar manner – with happy photos of the protagonists set to music. And in what might be an Easter egg or just me over-reading things, the very first few minutes drop a reference to Ananya’s series ‘Call Me Bae,’ where Vihaan Samat played her love interest too. In ‘CTRL,’ you’ll find the ‘Call Me Bae’ reference in a photo Nella posts on social media with Joe, captioned “My bae rocks, his bae… fishes?” In fact, there are quite a few pop culture references in the movie, including a direct reference to the 1993 hit ‘Darr.’ As soon as Joe exists Nella’s life, she chooses an AI assistant, names him Allen, and asks him to remove all digital traces of Joe from her online life.
The first half of ‘CTRL’ is entertaining, well-paced, and very Gen-Z toned, with Nella’s ‘life so far’ summarized through a bunch of social media posts and videos. A whole bunch of online influencers and comedians make witty cameos through ‘CTRL’ for an accurate representation of influencer culture. YouTuber Yashraj Mukhate, who went viral in 2020 for his ‘Rasode Main Kaun Tha’ video, features in the movie with his own hilarious composition called ‘Mera Boyfriend,’ which trolls Nella after she finds herself in her own embarrassing viral fiasco.
While the first half is mostly humorous in nature, the core mystery in ‘CTRL’ is about Joe going missing days after Nella asked her AI app to remove him from her life (digitally). The last hour focuses on Nella digging into Joe’s disappearance, and the pace begins to dip. The truth behind Joe’s activities comes across as a bit far-fetched and exaggerated. Vikramaditya Motwane and team try to depict the perils of our increasing online presence and the need for data privacy, but they go over the top with the twists. How Nella’s life intersects with the sinister AI app isn’t convincing, even though Ananya Pandey as Nella delivers a gripping performance. Her reliance on AI Allen is relatable to anyone who’s sought comfort in an AI chat when they had no one else to turn to. Ultimately, the film’s strongest theme is the evolving bond between humans and AI, highlighting how easy it is to become dependent on systems designed to mimic human connection. Even though that was clearly not CTRL’s primary intention.
Additionally, there were some factual inconsistencies in the script. For instance, Joe tells Nella he has only been with her since he was 17 (they meet in their first year of college, when most kids are 18 or 19, though 17-year-olds wouldn’t be too surprising either). However, there’s a lot of fuss at the start of ‘CTRL’ over their 5th relationship anniversary, which would ideally make Joe a maximum of 22 years old in the present timeline, but towards a climactic scene, a news report states he was 25 years old.
Regardless of its flaws, ‘CTRL’ lands a solid, dystopian ending that mirrors real-world fears of tech giants taking over our lives. For those who haven’t seen ‘screenlife’ movies, ‘CTRL’ is an engaging thriller, even though some of the scenes that involve Nella simply typing lots of stuff on her laptop could’ve been chopped from the final edit.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10. Watch ‘CTRL’ on Netflix.
Also Read: Nobody Wants This Review – The RomCom We Need (Short Audio Version below)
October 4, 2024
Heartstopper Season 3 Review – Rainbows Topped With Anxieties
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring spend so much time together, it’s easy to forget they are not in the same year at school! But, well, Nick is in his final year of school in Heartstopper season 3, so he must make some big decisions about his future, including what university he’d like to attend. Charlie, meanwhile, must confront some tough truths about the mental health problems he is grappling with.
The first episode of Heartstopper season 3 starts with a cute sequence of Charlie (Joe Locke) practicing how he would say “I love you” to Nick (Kit Connor) for the first time. “Honestly, I am surprised you haven’t said it already,” his sister Tori (Jenny Walser) exclaims, echoing what the rest of us are thinking. And over Charlie’s worries that Nick might not say it back, his sister reminds him how Nick is literally “obsessed” with him. Charlie and his friends have over three weeks before the new school term starts, so they all gather for a fun day at the beach, where he plans to say the “L” word to his boyfriend.
Just like the previous season, Heartstopper continues to focus on not just Nick and Charlie but also the personal lives of their close friends. Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney) is off to her dream art school, so boyfriend Tao Xu (William Gao) ensures their vacation together is the most romantic ever. Darcy (Kizzy Edgel) and Tara Jones (Corinna Brown) are living together since Darcy ran away from home, but Tara feels the need for space and is also extremely stressed about going to university. Among all the loved-up couples, bibliophile Isaac (Tobie Donovan) begins to feel like a third wheel instead of a valued friend, and struggles with his own asexual-aromantic identity.
There’s a delicate balance between teen romance and all the different kinds of anxieties each protagonist faces in Heartstopper. Kit Connor is still very much the golden-retriever heartthrob of the show as Nick Nelson, the tough rugby lad with the kindest heart. Nick attempts to help Charlie face his eating problem and gets the adults to intervene so that they can provide Charlie with the right kind of tools to cope with his problems. Joe Locke, of course, makes you root for Charlie’s well-being, and his on-screen chemistry with Kit Connor is as endearing as ever, deserving of the little heart and firework animations that fill the screen whenever sparks fly between the two.
“Sometimes, people need more support than one person can give,” Nick’s aunt Diane (Hayley Atwell) tells him when he expresses helplessness over not being able to do much for Charlie. And that’s the biggest theme of Heartstopper season 3 – it takes a strong supportive community for individuals to thrive, and one cannot just place the burden of “healing” or “fixing” them on one person. Charlie and his friends learn that their platonic love for each other is just as important as the bond they share with their romantic partners.
This season also spotlights Charlie and Tori’s close sibling relationship and how much his sister looks out for him. Unlike the first season of Heartstopper, where Tori was a comical, weird wallflower who didn’t speak much, she is a lot more visible and likable this season as the protective older sister. From serious, emotional episodes that will make you cry, to light-hearted celebratory events, the season is a easy roller-coaster ride.
If you’ve already seen the first two seasons of Heartstopper, then I don’t think I need to write about how joyous, fun, and visually engaging the screenplay is. Elle’s wardrobe stood out this season; most of her outfits are very cute and stylish, and Yasmin Finney pulls them off like a model. The background music and songs featured throughout the eight episodes are either familiar hits or the kind of tracks you’d want to look up on the internet.
Overall, Heartstopper season 3 is yet another binge-worthy edition of the rainbow romance show that celebrates love, friendship, and queer identities.
Watch the show on Netflix.
Also Read: Nobody Wants This Review – The RomCom We Need (Short Audio Version below)
October 3, 2024
Daughters Documentary Review: A Dance To Heal
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‘Date with Dad’ is a unique program in the U.S. that allows incarcerated fathers to have a “dad-daughter dance” in jail, giving them a chance to bond with their daughters. Directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, the documentary Daughters follows four different girls as they prepare for the rare opportunity to meet their fathers in a Washington, D.C. jail and share a special day of dancing, chatting, eating, and bonding.
The event may be called “Date with Dad,” but as the documentary title suggests, it is all about the daughters. The program was created to empower young Black girls and provide them with an opportunity to build a relationship with their fathers. In the days leading up to the dance, trained professionals host healing circles with the daughters and their mothers or guardians, helping them navigate their emotions and understand the significance of the special meeting. Similarly, the fathers in prison participate in counseling sessions, where they discuss and open up about their relationships with their children. These sessions prepare them emotionally and mentally for the dance and the eventual parting.
Daughters explores the complex emotions young girls experience when their father is incarcerated—hurt, abandonment, betrayal, resentment, and other strong feelings. Filmed over several years, the documentary shows the impact the “Date with Dad” program has on its participants, which is cathartic and life-changing for many. Interestingly, the filmmakers never reveal the nature of the crimes the fathers are imprisoned for; however, as a viewer, it feels secondary – this is not about the dads. The brief afternoon of dancing and bonding is meant for the girls to have a chance to express their feelings and connect with their fathers. It’s for the girls who wish to have a relationship with their dad, and it also gives the incarcerated men a glimpse of how giving up a life of crime to focus on providing a stable home could transform their family’s world.
“Take three breaths, and then we will say ‘I will see you later.’ If you say ‘bye,’ it means you’re never seeing them again,” says five-year-old Aubrey to her father when it’s time to leave. She is one of the youngest participants the documentary focuses on. Initially, she is extremely excited to meet her father—asking him to lift her multiple times, dancing with joy, and weeping when it’s time to part. The filmmakers revisit her a few years later, when she is eight, as she gets to meet her father for the first time in three years. This time, she shows little interest in the reunion and even asks to leave early. Though there is no commentary in the documentary, it’s clear how, as children grow older, they can lose interest in maintaining a bond with an absent parent.
Daughters is a poignant documentary that highlights the beautiful bond between fathers and daughters and how much parents mean to their children.
Watch the documentary on Netflix.
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