Tag: streaming

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The Last 7 Days #222 (10.06.24 – 16.06.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 222nd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Is personal style dead? Who is stylish when everyone dresses the same? Read more here.
  2. When TV shows end, fans experience grief similar to losing a partner or close friend: Study. Read here.
  3. Apple may finally be getting past its China slump. Check it out here.
  4. 10 health benefits of walking backwards: Improve your physical and mental wellbeing. Read it here.
  5. Dr. Anthony Fauci confesses he ‘made up’ COVID rules including 6 feet social distancing and masking kids. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Sir Richard Branson talks with Adam Grant about what he’s learned about courage and risk-taking in more than half a century of entrepreneurship, unveils his distinctive view of competition, and shares what he thinks great leaders have in common. Listen to it here.
  2. Protein influencers are telling us that we’re probably missing out on the protein we need — Why? They say that eating extra protein helps us build muscle, feel full, and lose weight. So is that true? Science Vs hosts talk to kinesiology professor Stuart Phillips and nutrition professor Faidon Magkos. Check it out here.
  3. On The Streaming Show, Varun Grover and Sumukhi Suresh chat about the do’s and don’ts of running a writers’ room, bringing together the right group of personalities, why writers fighting can be a good thing, what the job of a head writer is, toxic power structures, and more. Listen here.
  4. In this interview with Anupama Chopra, Kartik Aaryan talks about committing to the role of Murlikant Petkar in the Kabir Khan directorial, the process of shaping his body and mind to get into the skin of the character and eventually bringing his best out on screen, about being asocial, the importance of sleep, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Music Composer & Singer Shekhar Ravjiani, on The Karishma Tanna Podcast, gets candid on his journey till this point, starting his label, association with Vishal, his attempt to be a Singer, and his audition at Sa Re Ga Ma, and much more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. 2024 Commencement Address by Roger Federer at Dartmouth. Check it out here.
  2. Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri chats with Colin and Samir about being the head of Instagram and how he got there, how video has changed Instagram, how posts gain more reach, deep diving into the algorithm, creator monetization & revenue sharing, the competition for cultural relevance, and much more. Watch it here.
  3. Rohit Sharma, with Jatin Sapru, shares the triumphs and tribulations of his remarkable journey, offering invaluable insights into the mindset that propels him towards greatness, the fusion of sporting prowess and the indomitable spirit of ‘the backyard mindset’. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Chandu Champion (The film is based on the extraordinary story of an athlete who never gave up.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Maharaja [Tamil] (A barber seeks vengeance after his home is burglarized, cryptically telling police his “lakshmi” has been taken, leaving them uncertain if it’s a person or object. His quest to recover the elusive “lakshmi” unfolds.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #221 (03.06.24 – 09.06.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 221st edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. That urge to photograph your food? Keep that going. Read more here.
  2. It’s not just JLo: Why big musical acts can’t sell out concerts anymore? Check it out here.
  3. Unable to get a good night’s sleep? Ultra-processed food may once again be to blame, a new study suggests. Read it here.
  4. Are you being defensive in your relationships? Read here.
  5. Beat uncertainty, anxiety by being mindful. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Psychology Podcast, Scott is joined by author and neuroscientist, Dr. James Doty. Scott and James discuss whether there is any science behind the law of attraction, the importance of “value tagging”, and the neuroscience behind manifestation. Listen to it here.
  2. In conversation with host Matt Abrahams, Amy Gallo provides useful frameworks and new concepts on how we can approach conflicts at work, the power of workplace friendships, balancing friendships and professional boundaries, and more. Listen here.
  3. Fiber is a dietary superhero. But chances are, you’re not getting enough of it. NPR health correspondent (and fiber fanatic) Maria Godoy shares easy ways to up your fiber intake. Plus, the science of what fiber does in your body and how having more in your diet could help you. Check it out here.
  4. Trevor Noah joins the SmartLess podcast, to delve into his life and career, a glimpse into his journey from South Africa to becoming a globally recognized comedian, his experience with Hollywood’s social dynamics, hosting The Daily Show, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. George Miller joins Josh, on Happy Sad Confused, to chat about his latest film FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA, his storytelling influences and passions, why he keeps returning to the wasteland, and how he came to cast his new Furiosa. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Apple lets YouTuber MKBHD inside its stress-test labs, where machines subject iPhones to water jets and drop tests. Watch here.
  2. Imtiaz Ali, on The Ranveer Show Hindi, talks about the success and the theme of death in Chamkila, the touch of Rumi in Rockstar, how he made his films and commercial success, delving deep into Kun Faya Kun, content creation vs filmmaking, facing the lows and failure, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. On The R Ashwin Podcast, Gautam Gambhir talks about perception, winning mentality, acknowledging small contributions, giving credit, PR, and much more. Watch it here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Hit Man (A professor moonlighting as a hit man of sorts for his city police department, descends into dangerous, dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Star [Tamil] (Follows a youngster Kalai and his aspirations of becoming a ‘Star’ in the Tamil Film Industry. Born in a lower-middle-class family, will Kalai overcome all his struggles to emerge as a Star?)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #220 (27.05.24 – 02.06.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 220th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Sam Altman’s tech villain arc is underway. Read more here.
  2. Google and OpenAI are racing to rewire the internet. Read here.
  3. Money can buy happiness! Just spend it on social experiences and not things, says a psychological study. Read more here.
  4. Yale psychologist: Feeling too busy can damage your brain health—here are 3 easy ways to fix it. Check it out here.
  5. Yogurt vs. Greek yoghurt: exploring the key differences in dairy products. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In this episode of The Luke Coutinho Show, Dr. Bruce Lipton, a pioneer in epigenetics, a stem cell biologist deep dives into stem cells and their role in cellular regeneration, science of how the environment influences genetic activity, impact of subconscious programming, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. On Nudge, Professor Moore talks about the persuasive power of profanity and shares the science behind swearing and reveals if swearing in ads helps or hinders a brand. Check it out here.
  3. What are the different ways in which loneliness can manifest? In this episode, Vir Das joins Ira Khan on her podcast to discuss his journey with loneliness, the importance of reaching out, and the power of community. Listen here.
  4. Host Karishma Tanna talks with Jackie Shroff about everything, from being neighbours, career in Bollywood, Jaggu Dada’s love for plants and nature, to their love for Gujju food and culture, and untold stories. Check it out here.
  5. Way back when forests first evolved on Earth … they might have triggered one of the biggest mass extinctions in the history of the planet. What can we learn from this ancient climate apocalypse? Listen to it on the Unexplainable podcast here.

What To Watch:

  1. Charles Leclerc, on Jay Shetty’s podcast, dives into his journey from karting at a young age, the pivotal moments that shaped his career, his routines and strategies for maintaining peak performance, valuable life lessons from his father and more. Watch it here.
  2. Karan Aujla talks about the vibe of his songs, his early life and his journey up till this point, life-threatening challenges, deep diving into ego, arrogance, money and fame, the bigger responsibilities even in the younger age, and more, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast. Check it out here.
  3. In this episode of Crime Stories, former mob boss Michael Franzese and old-school gangster Bobby Cummines compare violent crime in New York and London, what it’s like to take the Mafia blood oath, work alongside the notorious Kray twins and reveal the brutal regrets that still haunt them. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week: Together: Treble Winners (Following Pep Guardiola, his staff and the squad in the final stages of the season with footage of memorable winning moments and post match celebrations.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week: Abigail (After a group of criminals kidnap the ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, they retreat to an isolated mansion, unaware that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #219 (20.05.24 – 26.05.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 219th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Nvidia’s rivals take aim at its software dominance. Read more here.
  2. Warning: Dietary advice on social media can lead to food anxiety. Check it out here.
  3. Bread, butter, milk-based health drinks, cooking oils classified as ultra-processed food, ICMR advises restriction. Read here.
  4. Why Spotify is launching its own font, Spotify Mix? Read it here.
  5. Why did Hollywood not want to fund “Megalopolis” and “Horizon”? Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Dr Frank Anderson, a leading trauma expert and psychiatrist, on The School of Greatness, the challenges of growing up in a family with conflicting messages of love and acceptance, how enduring difficult childhood experiences can impact one’s self-perception and mental health, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Why do humans have most of our hair on our heads, not our bodies? Why do we have so many varieties of hair colour, thickness, and curliness? Dr. Tina Lasisi, a biological anthropologist, on Origin Stories, shares her research into why humans have scalp hair and her insights on why curly hair is uniquely human. Check it out here.
  3. Getting your heart broken sucks — and for some of us, it even feels physically painful. So why does it hurt so bad? And what can science tell us about how to get over it? Science Vs dives into all of this with neuroscientist Prof. Lucy Brown. Listen here.
  4. According to neurobiologist Christi Gendron, what you experience through your senses — sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch — can impact how healthy you are and how long you live. Listen more here.
  5. On Smartless, David Beckham discusses his playing career with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and other top clubs, as well as the abuse he faced from fans and media after England’s 1998 World Cup exit, transition to club ownership with Inter Miami CF, his businesses, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo, on the WHOOP podcast, discusses his first memory of playing football, being motivated by his father, talent vs. work ethic, being at the top for so long, how Cristiano uses WHOOP, his recovery modalities, mindfulness and visualization, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, on Decoder with Nilay Patel, on how it’s building AI into virtually all of its products, AI-powered search, the future of the web, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Su filindeu, or “threads of God,” is the rarest pasta in the world. For a century, it was made by a single family in the Sardinian city of Nuoro for religious celebrations. Business Insider went to Italy to see how the process of making su filindeu is Still Standing. Watch here.
  4. Documentary Recommendation of the Week: Arnold (Follows the life of Arnold Schwarzenegger, from his days of lifting weights to his successes in Hollywood, his time serving as governor of California, and both the joys and volatility of his family life.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (The origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before her encounter and teamup with Mad Max.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #218 (13.05.24 – 19.05.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 218th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. US-China tariff war could benefit several sectors in India while harming a few others. Read more here.
  2. How to unpack anger? Check it out here.
  3. Is Your Ice Cream Really Ice Cream Or Frozen Dessert? Know The Difference here.
  4. The 5 Main Health Benefits of Coconut Water, According to Experts. Read here.
  5. Is a late workout giving you sleepless nights? Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Jay Shetty deep dives into how to set boundaries without offending people, how to say no effectively, how to communicate your boundaries clearly, and mainly, how boundaries are not for others, but for ourselves. Listen to it here.
  2. Can knowing more make you enjoy less? On Nudge, Professor Sarah Moore explains why here.
  3. Walt Mossberg, and Marques Brownlee, on the podcast ‘On with Kara Swisher‘, discuss the art, philosophy and ethics of reviewing tech, as well as the Tesla Cybertruck, Apple Vision Pro, AI-in-a-box and Taylor Swift. Listen here.
  4. Richard Gadd joins the Skip Intro podcast to talk about his show, Baby Reindeer, writing its seven episodes to preparing mentally and physically to play Donny, unpacks the show’s final scene, and shares a few of the surprising reactions he’s received from viewers so far. Check it out here.
  5. Dune’s cinematographer Greig Fraser returns to ReelBlend with editor Joe Walker to discuss the making of Dune: Part Two and their collaborations with Denis Villeneuve, shooting Feyd-Rautha’s introduction on Giedi Prime with infrared lighting, cutting Paul Atreides and Feyd’s final fight, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Imtiaz Ali, A.R. Rahman, Mohit Chauhan & Irshad Kamil deconstruct the gems from the films they have done together, the ideation or the process behind their songs, how those songs made the films what they are, the bonding between them that led to these gems, and more. Watch it here.
  2. The cast of Dune Part Two discuss their character’s arc and how new faces are woven into the story of Dune. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler and more open up about the process to explore themselves in the sands of Arrakis. Check it out here.
  3. Anupam Mittal, on The Ranveer Show Hindi, talks about the truth of fame, visualising success, the biggest fear of life, delving deep into mental health and the lows of life, the correlation of fear and age, and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil [Malayalam] (A young man faces a web of unforeseen bad luck before marrying a woman who hates him, and he suffers her wrath over it.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Dada [Tamil] (A college student embraces fatherhood and provides unconditional care and love to his child while facing the challenges of life as a single parent.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #217 (06.05.24 – 12.05.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 217th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Why a South Indian breakfast is tasty, healthy, and superb for weight loss? Read more here.
  2. Why Spotify is still fighting with Apple in Europe? Check it out here.
  3. FMCG index gains most in nearly two years; What is working for HUL, Marico, Dabur and GCPL. Read here.
  4. Movies go solo as OTTs swipe left on deals before theatrical release. Read it here.
  5. We need to talk about whatever’s happening with Starbucks’ drinks. Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Luke Coutinho Show, Revant Himatsingka (Food Pharmer) talks about his journey to talking about food awareness, the substitution of nutritious food with packaged products due to misleading advertising, identifying misleading labels and ingredients, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. The best rapper in the world is beefing with the biggest rapper in the world. The Ringer’s Charles Holmes, on the Today Explained podcast, explains what their feud says about the state of hip-hop. Check it out here.
  3. On HBR IdeaCast, Ayelet Israeli, professor at Harvard Business School, delves behind the boom in celebrity brands, what works and doesn’t, and outlines lessons for non-famous entrepreneurs and established companies. Listen here.
  4. Steve Martin and Martin Short, on SmartLess, share insights into their illustrious careers in comedy and acting, reminisce about their long-standing partnership, the origins of their live shows and their creative process, the importance of thorough preparation, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, on F1 Beyond the Grid, tells how he’s instilling a winning mentality at McLaren, what Norris’s victory means for his and the team’s future, why he thinks Oscar Piastri is a match for Lando, whether he’d like his close friend Adrian Newey to join the team, and much more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Anupama Chopra engages in an insightful chat with Fahadh Faasil, exploring various facets of his career and personal reflections. They delve into his recent film “Aavesham” and his portrayal of the character Ranga. He reflects on re-defining the “hero” in Malayalam Cinema, discusses his journey as a pan-Indian star, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Celebrity photographer, Dabboo Ratnani shares his unique insights and behind-the-scenes stories from decades of photographing Bollywood’s biggest stars, the process of these celebrity photoshoots, challenges versus the final output, change in trends and AI, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Special of the Week: The Roast of Tom Brady (Sports figures and comics team up to roast former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who will be forced to take the hits in this full-contact comedy special hosted by Kevin Hart.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Exhuma [Korean] (The process of excavating an ominous grave unleashes dreadful consequences buried underneath.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: The Fall Guy (A down-and-out stuntman must find the missing star of his ex-girlfriend’s blockbuster film.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #216 (29.04.24 – 05.05.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 216th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How disinformation works—and how to counter it? Read more here.
  2. Why Plastic Waste Is a C-Suite Issue? Read here.
  3. South Korea cracks down on ‘shrinkflation’. Check it out here.
  4. Why popcorn is expensive? PVR Inox answers as it pulls out all stops to draw in more crowd. Read it here.
  5. Court documents reveal Google’s payments to Apple increased to an eye-watering $20 billion. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, on Stanford GSB: View from the Top podcast, details his experience founding NVIDIA, building the first killer application for NVIDIA’s technology, deciding which markets are worth exploring, steering the company through challenging times, designing the right organization structure, and his views on the AI revolution. Listen to it here.
  2. On A Bit of Optimism, Glucose Goddess (Jessie Inchauspé) shares the fundamental understanding of Glucose, benefits of managing glucose levels, her personal journey and transformation, impact of water and alcohol on glucose spikes, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. In this episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Julia Minson and host Matt Abrahams delve into the intricacies of conflict and disagreement, her expertise on decision-making and conflict negotiation, the need for genuine curiosity and receptiveness in communication to foster productive dialogue. Listen here.
  4. What do Bieber, Lorde, Cézanne, Monet, Nudge Podcast, and Rock Around The Clock have in common? They all became much more popular through exposure. This episode of Nudge shares the irrational psychology behind popularity, and you’ll learn what it takes to create a hit. Listen to it here.
  5. Dr. Subramanian Swamy, on The Ranveer Show, breaks down the workings of the current government and understand the rights and wrongs of politics, his views on PM Modi, his mission in life, what the BJP is doing wrong, the situation of corruption in India, the media and their fearful lies, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. In this episode of Stumble with Roshan Abbas, Zakir Khan shares candid insights into his personal and professional life, success, fame, and the intriguing world of meme culture. He opens up about his unforgettable experience of performing at the Royal Albert Hall to a crowd of thousands and reveals why he prefers not to set finite goals. Watch it here.
  2. Siddharth Roy Kapur delves into his journey from being one of the top management members at UTV Motion Pictures with Ronnie Screwvala, to starting his very own production house, the business of Bollywood, why he thinks we’re prospering as an industry, and the scope of making this larger. He discusses what went through in producing films like Dangal, Rang De Basanti, and Jagga Jasoos. Check it out here.
  3. In this interview with Baradwaj Rangan, director, director Kiran Rao opens up about her film, ‘Laapataa Ladies‘, the evolution of the script, does every film need a message, how they test films before it’s release, and whether she’s a good director of actors. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week: Baby Reindeer (Dealing with a female stalker, a man is forced to face a dark, buried trauma.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week: Philip’s [Malayalam] (Unforeseen events arose in Philip’s joyful family, disrupting their happiness. They must tackle these hiccups and regain their life.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #215 (22.04.24 – 28.04.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 215th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How green is your electric vehicle, really? || EVs are in the middle of an obesity epidemic. Read more here.
  2. How Indian Farmers Are Using AI To Increase Crop Yield? Read here.
  3. Science is closing in on the frailties of old age. Check it out here.
  4. Here’s how to stop caring so much about what other people think, says psychotherapist. Read it here.
  5. The inflation battle enters the hard last mile. Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Decoder with Nilay Patel, Discord CEO Jason Citron makes the case for a smaller, more private internet, how he sees Discord in the landscape of other platforms, Discord’s evolving business model, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. In Part 2 of this School of Greatness episode with Matthew Hussey, they explore what it truly means to change for someone you love, and how to identify if you’re dating a high-value person, the hard-hitting questions you need to ask early in a relationship to set the stage for lasting love, and more. Listen here.
  3. With endocrinologists Dr. Deena Adimoolam and Prof. Anne Cappola, and urologist Prof. Mohit Khera, Science Vs podcast deep dives into hormone hacking, focusing on the internet talk on special supplements, diets, exercises, and prescriptions to tame our cortisol, boost our testosterone, and tackle our estrogen. Check it out here.
  4. On Happy Sad Confused, Zack Snyder talks about his REBEL MOON films, Batman & Superman controversies, casting stories, WATCHMEN, & more. Listen to it here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation of the Week: The Rich Roll Podcast (A master-class in personal and professional development, ultra-athlete, wellness evangelist and bestselling author Rich Roll delves deep with the world’s brightest and most thought provoking thought leaders to educate, inspire and empower you to unleash your best, most authentic self.) Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Galatta Plus, Fahadh Faasil opens up about his recent blockbuster Aavesham, working with director Jithu Madhavan, the phrase “Re-introducing FAFAA”, the recent success streak of Malayalam films, his experience of working with Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and his upcoming films. Watch it here.
  2. On Unfiltered with Samdish, Vidya Balan deep dives into her relationship with money, process of getting into her character, her surprise box-office hit Kahaani, from Gobi Manchurian to gutkha, from international cinema to what troubles her, her journey with her healer, her relationship with religion and much more. Check it out here.
  3. When an asteroid landed on the Yucatan peninsula 66 million years ago, it turned our planet into a debris field of chemicals that, eventually, fostered human life. Sean B. Carroll, author and esteemed biologist, unpacks the consequences of this collision, and claims we, as a species, should feel fortunate that we’re on this planet at all. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Aatmapamphlet (Marathi) (Ten-year-old Ashish falls head-over-heels in love with his classmate, Srushti. While he grows up, the country goes through several socio-economic changes.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Varshangalkku Shesham (Malayalam) (Two young men leave their hometown to chase their dream of becoming big in the world of 1970s and ’80s South Indian cinema.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #214 (15.04.24 – 21.04.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 214th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. The China-Russia trade friendship may not be quite what you think. Read more here.
  2. Meta wants to be the Microsoft of headsets. Read here.
  3. Scientists discover two great techniques to overcome past negative events. Check it out here.
  4. A Mango That Costs Rs 12000 a Piece? The Story Behind India’s Most Expensive Mango Varieties. Read it here.
  5. Shed negativity bias; it’s OK to be OK. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Kara Swisher and Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone discuss his vision for the new Yahoo, what’s going on with search, how he’s integrating AI, and whether there could be another Yahoo merger or IPO on the horizon. Listen to it here.
  2. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Graham Weaver and host Matt Abrahams explore how being true to oneself not only fosters personal fulfillment but also enables us to show up better for others. Authenticity and self-belief lay the foundation for effective communication, leadership, and ultimately, success. Listen here.
  3. Rohit Sharma joins Michael Vaughan, The Prof, Ollie and Adam Gilchrist to discuss the Mumbai Indians, the test series against England, The upcoming T20 World Cup, this coming summer in Australia and what it’s like to be mates with Ed Sheeran. Check it out here.
  4. No matter how old you are, having a happy birthday is one of life’s great pleasures, says birthday enthusiast Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming. You just need to figure out what that means for you and put a plan in motion. Here’s how to transform your birthday into a moment worth celebrating on the Life Kit podcast. Listen here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation of the Week: Business Wars (Netflix vs. HBO. Nike vs. Adidas. Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet or your attention. Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, inventors, investors and executives to new heights — or to ruin.) Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Music Podcast, Salim Merchant takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of the music industry, behind-the-scenes stories of his collaborations with top-notch artists on iconic Bollywood blockbusters like “Band Baaja Baraat” and “Chak de India”, the secrets behind his music composition process, his passion for background scoring in films, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Rohit Sharma sits down with Ed Sheeran as they speak about their interests, talking about cricket and music and their respective fields, and more on Breakfast of Champions. Check it out here.
  3. In this conversation with Anupama Chopra, Imran Khan, in his first interview post his sabbatical, talks about what these years were like, and how he put the focus on himself and his mental health, the reasons that led him to quitting the industry 9 years ago, and all that makes him want to still tell stories, from and to the heart. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Monkey Man (An anonymous young man unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Premalu (The film narrates the love story of Sachin and Reenu, falls in love with her at first sight, become friends through funny incidents, and leads to amusing complications.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #213 (08.04.24 – 14.04.24)

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Here’s the 213th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Living to 120 is becoming an imaginable prospect. Excitingly, those extra years would be healthy—but there would be wide ramifications. Read more here.
  2. Who’s afraid of credit cards? Read here.
  3. Does time-restricted eating increase the risk of cardiovascular death? Check it out here.
  4. A Spike in Heart Disease Deaths Since Covid Is Puzzling Scientists. Read it here.
  5. Subscription traps to hidden charges: Dark patterns are plaguing the UPI boom. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Decoder with Nilay Patel, the host talks to Verge senior reporter Liz Lopatto about Vice, the media company: Where it came from, what it did, and, ultimately, why it collapsed into a much smaller, sadder version of itself. Listen to it here.
  2. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Dana Carney (professor at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business) and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to read the nonverbal communication of others — and how to gain control of the nonverbals we express to the world. Listen here.
  3. This episode of Life Kit focuses on negotiation tactics for everyday life, techniques to help people make decisions with more confidence and get the outcome they want. Check it out here.
  4. The researcher who popularized the idea of the alpha wolf has spent decades trying to take it back. This episode of Unexplainable podcast tries to uncover how science got it wrong. Listen to it here.
  5. John Cena joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he still owns his first car, what motivated him to get into the gym, and why he doesn’t like authority without reason. John and Dax talk about being around alpha male culture, how he got into wrestling by accident, and the evolution of his wrestling character. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Lex Fridman podcast, Dana White talks UFC, the origin, Mike Tyson and the early days of fighting, the aura of Muhammad Ali, what makes great fighters, the era of Conor McGregor, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, talk about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, importance of discipline and benefits of martial arts, the making of action scenes and why modern comedy films are failing, meme culture and Akshay Kumar’s iconic characters, and more. Check it out here.
  3. The cast and crew, including the director of Manjummel Boys, one of the biggest Malayalam hits of 2024, discuss the making of the film, how things came into place, casting, the set production and the authenticity of it, and much more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Aavesham [Malayalam] (Three teens come to Bangalore for their engineering education and get involved in a fight. They find a local gangster to help them.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Amar Singh Chamkila (A humble singer’s brash lyrics ignite fame and fury across Punjab as he grapples with soaring success and brutal criticism before his untimely death.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #212 (01.04.24 – 07.04.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 212th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How India spends: UPI reigns supreme, credit cards see 2nd-highest growth. Read it here.
  2. Reliance and Disney team up to crush Netflix and Prime Video in India. Read more here.
  3. How Ambani’s JioCinema Is Earning Crores When IPL Streaming Is Free? Check it out here.
  4. Jonathan Nolan Explains the Origin of ‘The Dark Knight’s’ Most Famous Line. Read here.
  5. The day Mark Cuban became a millionaire, he took off his watch and threw it away—here’s why.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Charan Ranganath, a psychologist and neuroscientist, and host Adam Grant discuss the science of memory, surprising evidence on why we remember, what we forget, and how learning new ideas happens. Listen to it here.
  2. On Science Vs podcast, nutrition researchers Dr. Krista Varady and Dr. Courtney Peterson, as well as cancer researcher Professor Valter Longo talk about intermittent fasting: the fad and the fears, does it help burn fat, can fasting help you live longer or help fight cancer, and much more. Listen here.
  3. Kara Swisher speaks to co-founder and CEO of Reddit, Steve Huffman about the Reddit IPO, content moderators, subscription economy and advertising, listening to the users, and whether the subreddit r/WallStreetBets could make this one a meme stock. Check it out here.
  4. Triple H joins the Impaulsive podcast to reveal his secret call w/ The Rock before WrestleMania 40, Logan Paul Vs Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes SLAPPING The Rock, Jake Paul Vs Mike Tyson, PRIME logo gracing the WWE ring, $5B Netflix deal, Logan fighting McGregor in UFC & more. Listen to it here.
  5. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Oscar Piastri reflects on his rookie year in F1, his Sprint victory ahead of Max Verstappen, on-track clashes and off-track discussions with Lewis Hamilton, and why at his home race in Melbourne he’ll be fuelled by his Grandma’s baking as well as the Australian crowd. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Diljit Dosanjh, on The Ranveer Show Hindi, talks about his childhood and staying away from family, his Coachella experience, the importance of Yoga, his filmography and Amar Singh Chamkila, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Mrunal Thakur, on Galatta Plus, opens up about her upcoming film, ‘Family Star’, being accepted by the audience, how she chooses her scripts, the kind of roles she wants to play and the films that changed her life. Check it out here.
  3. On The Bombay Journey, Prithviraj Sukumaran talks about donning multiple hats – producing, directing, acting, singing, the growth of Malayalam industry and the increasing reach of the films, favourite foods and stories of Mumbai, tid bits from multiple films and his Bollywood filmography, and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: The Iron Claw (Tells the story of the Von Erich brothers as they make history in the highly competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Anweshippin Kandethum (A police officer returns from suspension and is thrown into a shocking murder case investigation.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #211 (25.03.24 – 31.03.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 211th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How Luckin Coffee overtook Starbucks as the largest coffee chain in China? Read more here.
  2. “The Minions Do the Actual Writing”: The Ugly Truth of How Movie Scores Are Made. Check it out here.
  3. This is why we feel sleepy after breakfast. Read here.
  4. Articulate your needs in your relationship. Read it here.
  5. OTT content spending surges 52% in 2023, driven by sports rights. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In this episode of The School of Greatness, Matthew Hussey shares his invaluable insights on the key elements that constitute successful relationships, the importance of giving up certain types of attention to attract what you truly need, and the crucial role of authenticity in forming genuine connections. Listen to it here.
  2. Comedians Toni & Ryan join the hosts on the Science Vs podcast for a romp through the bizarre science of dreaming, along with neuroscientist Professor Francesca Siclari and dream/sleep researcher Professor Bob Stickgold. Listen here.
  3. Lily Gladstone joins In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast to discuss her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon and the historic Oscar nomination that came with it. She looks back at her acting training and explains the various techniques that make her the performer you see on screen. Check it out here.
  4. Conor McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal join the Armchair Expert to discuss their experience of remaking Roadhouse, what it’s like growing up in hypermasculine environments, how they approach failure, what training for a fight does for your physical health, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. In the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Prem Chopra reflects on his experiences during the partition days and how he ventured into theatre after moving to Shimla. He shares insights into landing his first hit movie and discusses why he gravitated towards villain roles and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Ranveer Show, Kareena Kapoor Khan sheds light on the real Kareena Kapoor Khan and the secret behind her confident personality, her career, the famous Kapoor family, her size zero phase, her ambition towards her work, insecurities, difficulties, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. On Film Companion, the cast of Madgaon Express – Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu, Avinash Tiwary, and Nora Fatehi along with Kunal Kemmu and Ritesh Sidhwani discuss their on-set experiences of sharing the friendliest of bonds, they delve into how each of them prepped for the film, and what made Excel Entertainment invest in a project as off-beat as this. Check it out here.
  3. In this conversation with Anupama Chopra, Prithviraj Sukumaran talks about the experience of working on The Goat Life, working on a film that lasted for almost 16 years, how he prepared for it and the resilience the cast and crew showed to get the output out in public. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Laapataa Ladies (Two newlyweds find themselves inadvertently separated from their husbands moments after their respective weddings.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Manjummel Boys (A group of friends faces a string of unexpected misadventures on a vacation trip to Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #210 (11.03.24 – 24.03.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 210th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Spotify Reveals Joe Rogan’s Podcast Numbers. Check it out here.
  2. Vulnerability found in Apple’s Silicon M-series chips – and it can’t be patched. Read more here.
  3. Avoid these 3 common phrases—they make you look weak and insecure, experts say. Read it here.
  4. Pay attention to your attention span. Read here.
  5. Airbnb banned indoor security cameras. Here’s why.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Zack Snyder, on the Joe Rogan podcast talks about 300, Watchmen, Justice League, TDKR, superhero storytelling as modern mythmaking, and his personal philosophy about art and life. Check it out here.
  2. In this episode of Life Kit, what to know about protein and muscle mass and tips about understanding how much protein you really need. Listen here.
  3. Josh Brolin, on SmartLess, discusses his career, Brolin’s upbringing in the entertainment industry, his passion for surfing, his approach to acting and collaborative projects with directors, and much more. Listen to it here.
  4. Director Denis Villeneuve discusses his new film, Dune: Part Two, with fellow Director Steven Spielberg in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles, the throes of filming in the desert in comparison with Lawrence of Arabia, the comic and painterly inspirations for his imagery, and adjusting his adaptation to closer fit Frank Herbert’s original intentions. Check it out here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation: Science Vs (Science Vs is the show from Gimlet that finds out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. They do the hard work of sifting through all the science so we don’t have to and cover everything from 5G and Pandemics, to Vaping and Fasting Diets.)

What To Watch:

  1. R Madhavan, on The Ranveer Show, talked about his acting journey, the most terrifying time of his career, directing the Rocketry movie, the Shaitaan movie, his son’s accomplishments and the effect of news, how to deal with the fact of aging parents, men’s health after 30, his chocolate boy era, successful marriage, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. On The Bombay Dream, Mukesh Chhabra converses with Farah Khan about the difference in films between now and then, the casting differences between the times, how the actors were cast during Main Hoon Na, memories from snapshots of different films, getting rejected by many known talents and the timing of casting actors for the roles they’re now known for. Check it out here.
  3. TV Show Recommendation of the Week: Maamla Legal Hai (Chaos collides with the letter of the law at the District Court of Patparganj, where quirky employees work to uphold justice. However, their daily escapades are not without a few objections.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Perfect Days (Hirayama feels content with his life as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine, he cherishes music on cassette tapes, reads books and takes photos. Through unexpected encounters, he reflects on finding beauty in the world.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Aattam (After a theatre group’s party, their sole actress is subjected to a crime from one of the men. Stories unravel, suspicions surface and clamour ensues as a meeting is called to reach a consensus.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #209 (04.03.24 – 10.03.24)

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Here’s the 209th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. The myth of the lone writer. Read here.
  2. Bored? It can be a good thing. Read more here.
  3. Young & luxurious: How new buyers are pushing luxe retail growth in India? Check it out here.
  4. This chart shows people who got phones earlier in life report more mental distress as adults. Isn’t that sadly obvious by now? Read it here.
  5. Gucci, Prada and Tiffany’s bet big on property. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Variety Awards Circuit, “Anatomy of a Fall” and “The Zone of Interest” star Sandra Hüller talks about her two current films, getting into the character, the BTS of shooting the scenes and how it was shot differently than the traditional way, and more about the films. Listen to it here.
  2. In this career conversation with Josh, from THE GRIFTERS and BUGSY to AMERICAN BEAUTY and THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, Annette Bening opens up about her creative process, the journey from stage to screen, and her latest performance in NYAD. Listen here.
  3. Colman Domingo, on Variety Awards Circuit, talks about the film, Rustin, the importance of the film, his first reaction to getting his Oscar nomination and thoughts on being the first LGBTQ actor to be nominated alongside Jodie Foster, and some of his next big projects. Check it out here.
  4. Director Martin Scorsese discusses his new film, Killers of the Flower Moon, with fellow Director Ti West, lifting dialogue from real historical accounts when working on the script and its structure, speaking with current Osage tribal members to include their suggestions and accounts, and the fashioning of the title sequence and how a hundred-year-old camera was used in the crafting of it. Listen to it here.
  5. Oscar-nominated director Jonathan Glazer joins the ReelBlend podcast to discuss his new, harrowing film The Zone of Interest, chatting about the impact awards nominations and wins can have on a film, his unique approach to staging and filming scenes, the film’s incredible sound design and its importance to the narrative, and more. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Director of Photography Hoyte van Hoytema takes us behind the scenes of his process of shooting IMAX and custom back 65mm black and white Kodak film for Chris Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer.’ He explains the different points of view in colour and black and white representing Robert Downey Jr.’s character Strauss and Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer. Watch it here.
  2. Robbie Ryan, the cinematographer of Poor Things, explains how he crafted the film’s unique, almost dreamlike look, which was mostly captured in-camera, and on film, without post-production effects, and much more, on the Dolby Creator Talks podcast. Check it out here.
  3. Kunal Kamra‘s new stand-up special – Uncle Logic cleverly talks about the functioning of society and the viewpoint of how the Uncles of our society think. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Nyad (Sixty-four-year-old marathon swimmer Diana Nyad attempts to become the first person ever to swim from Cuba to Florida.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: All of Us Strangers (A screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship with his downstairs neighbor while discovering a mysterious new way to heal from losing his parents 30 years ago.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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Dune Special! The Last 7 Days #208 (26.02.24 – 03.03.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 208th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Sandworms and solar eclipses: 5 things we learned from ‘The Art and Soul of ‘Dune: Part Two”. Check it out here.
  2. Fan who has seen ‘Dune: Part Two’ 10 times breaks his silence. Read more here.
  3. Rebecca Ferguson Is the MVP of Dune: Part 2. Read here.
  4. Space babies and time jumps: How ‘Dune: Part Two’ handles the challenge of Alia Atreides. Read it here.
  5. Why The Harkonnen Planet Is Black & White Explained By Denis Villeneuve? Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve joins the ReelBlend podcast to discuss the making of Dune: Part Two, starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Josh Brolin. Listen here.
  2. Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser, on the ReelBlend podcast, discusses the making of Dune and its sequel, behind the scenes of the now iconic Darth Vader scene in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, he details using The Volume on Matt Reeve’s The Batman and so much more. Listen to it here.
  3. Rebecca Ferguson joins the ReelBlend podcast to discuss all things Dune: Part Two, her collaborations with Denis Villeneuve on bringing Jessica to screen, fine-tuning Jessica’s relationship with her unborn prescient daughter, and even some of the silly NSFW names for objects in the Dune world. Check it out here.
  4. Hans Zimmer joins the Dolby Creator Talks podcast to discuss his work on “Dune: Part Two,” after winning an Oscar for his score to the first installment of the sci-fi franchise. He also talks about how he had been dreaming about working on these films since he was a boy and knowing how he wanted to take them in a less traditional direction, sonically. Listen here.
  5. Denis Villeneuve & Hans Zimmer join the Soundtracking with Edith Bowman podcast to discuss Dune 2, expanding the musical territory of Dune, experimenting with language + sound + collaborating, soundscape + musical influence, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. ‘Dune: Part Two’ director Denis Villeneuve breaks down the glorious scene where Paul Atreides uses the thumper for the first time to draw a sandworm out from beneath the surface as Chani, Stilgar and the Fremen look on. Denis explains how he built the “most important” scene of the film over the course of 44 days, with the use of various sunlight levels and blending of visual effects to make it feel edgy and real. Watch it here.
  2. Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Josh Brolin, and Javier Bardem sat down with FD correspondent Naz Perez to talk about Dune: Part Two. Zendaya and Timothée demonstrated how to ride a sandworm, the cast detailed the intricacies of their characters and so much more. Check it out here.
  3. On Reign with Josh Smith, Rebecca Ferguson talks about everything Dune where she reveals she initially played hard to get, telling the franchise’s director, Denis Villeneuve, that she wasn’t interested in the role and she talks about the valuable lessons she learnt from working with Timothée. She also tells me about the time she stood up for herself in the face of a horrid co-star in another movie. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Dune Part Two (Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Poor Things (Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #207 (19.02.24 – 25.02.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 207th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How the 92-year-old snackmaker behind Biscoff captivated Gen Z? Read more here.
  2. What tennis reveals about AI’s impact on human behaviour? Check it out here.
  3. Tired of performing indifference? Turn your autocaps back on. Read here.
  4. ‘Embarrassing and wrong’: Google admits it lost control of image-generating AI. Read more here.
  5. What’s this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare? Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Morning Brew Daily, Neal and Toby chat with Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to talk about his notorious Apple Vision Pro review video, the future of AI, what’s next for Meta, and of course, cattle raisin’ & meat smokin’. Listen to it here.
  2. Trevor Noah is joined by Mark Cuban, who talks about why he’s selling his majority stake in Dallas Mavericks and leaving Shark Tank US after 15 seasons, his Twitter battle with Elon Musk, and how he’s planning to positively shake up the American healthcare system. Check it out here.
  3. On Life Kit, Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist and reporter Charles Duhigg breaks down the habits of highly communicative people and the power of authentic connection. Listen here.
  4. In this episode of Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Jeffrey Wright discusses his experience making “American Fiction” and how it helped him through the grief of losing his mother, support from the Hollywood community and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Writer-director Richie Mehta, on The Streaming Show, speaks about his unconventional way of getting shows made, why he prefers to engage with platforms only when the shows are shot and ready, the bleak state of the streaming ecosystem at present, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Composer Ludwig Göransson breaks down the song “Can You Hear the Music?” from Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Hear how he created the different elements that combine into an unforgettable soundscape of emotion for J. Robert Oppenheimer and the making of the Atomic Bomb. Watch it here.
  2. Manoj Bajpayee, on Chalchitra Talks, talks about his love for independent cinema and his favourite indie movies, all-time favourite movies, early movie memories and one of his first TV gigs in Swabhiman, Om Puri’s best performance and much more. Check it out here.
  3. On the ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, Smita Thackeray, social activist and daughter-in-law of Bal Thackeray, talks about her personal dynamics with her father-in-law, shedding light on her marriage to Jaidev Thackeray and subsequent divorce. She also talks about the fight over Balasaheb’s legacy and Uddhav Thackeray’s political alliances with the Congress party & NCP. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: The Zone of Interest (The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife, Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Society of the Snow (In 1972, a Uruguayan flight crashes in the remote heart of the Andes, forcing survivors to become each other’s best hope.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #206 (12.02.24 – 18.02.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 206th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Why Tata wants Uber to speed up its super app Tata Neu? Read here.
  2. How Las Vegas Became Sports Town, USA? Check it out here.
  3. Why Data Breaches Spiked in 2023? Read more here.
  4. Mission: Impossible’s Theme Song Has a Secret Message. Read it here.
  5. Skip the platitudes, offer non-judgmental supportive presence. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Psychologist and author Ty Tashiro, in conversation with Simon Sinek, talks about the advantages of being awkward, what the socially fluent can learn from awkward people, and the best way to navigate conversations in loud clubs. Listen to it here.
  2. The Verge’s David Pierce chats with 1Password’s Anna Pobletts about good password hygiene, passkeys, and the upsides of a third-party password manager. Later, Victoria Song joins the show to discuss the state of wearables and why this may be the year for the smart ring. Check it out here.
  3. The Hidden World of Stadium Deals || In this episode of Good Sport, the host talks to David Samson, the former president of the Miami Marlins, who was in charge of one of the “worst stadium deals in history” about what really happens in a negotiation room. Listen here.
  4. Cillian Murphy, on Awards Chatter, reflects on his unexpected shift from making music to acting, what led him to the beloved drama series ‘Peaky Blinders’ and what is at the center of his special six-film, 20-year collaboration with Christopher Nolan. Listen to it here.
  5. In this ep of “SmartLess“, Mark Ruffalo shares a treasure trove of anecdotes, ranging from his early acting days with Ken Marino, facing a challenging yet transformative career setback, to the persistence that landed him a pivotal role in “You Can Count On Me”, the surreal experience of dreaming about his brain tumour diagnosis just before his wife’s delivery. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Vikrant Massey delve into the creative process behind “12th Fail,” sharing insights into the making of the film, memorable moments from the set shared by the cast crew of the film, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Johnny Lever opens up about his early life, living in Dharavi and his down-to-earth nature, alcoholism, how Bollywood was back then and the famous parties of the time, shedding light on his life learnings and the fear of God, and much more, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast. Check it out here.
  3. Emily Blunt, on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, shares how Christopher Nolan developed her complex and highly nuanced character, stories from behind the scenes of Oppenheimer, the experience of reading that script for the first time and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Rustin (Activist Bayard Rustin faces racism and homophobia as he helps change the course of Civil Rights history by orchestrating the 1963 March on Washington.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Bhakshak (Revolves around the journey of an unwavering woman’s quest to seek justice and her perseverance in getting a heinous crime to light.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #205 (05.02.24 – 11.02.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 205th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Which countries get the best night’s sleep? Read it here.
  2. The power of friendships across age groups. Read more here.
  3. Spotify is still missing the high notes on profitability. Check it out here.
  4. Google Maps is getting ‘supercharged’ with generative AI. Read here.
  5. Apple domination: Seven out of top 10 smartphones sold worldwide are iPhones. Read about it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Chef David Chang joins Guy Raz to talk about opening his first restaurant after his epiphany about ramen on a trip to Japan; the panic and anxiety he felt in those early days; and how he’s learned to become a better leader and reject the toxic elements of “kitchen culture”. Listen to it here.
  2. Business Wars deep dives into the Smartwatch Industry domination battle between Samsung vs Apple, how it came out to be, the events that occurred and how it all panned out. Check out the series here.
  3. “The World’s Coolest Dictator” That’s how El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele describes himself. Silvia Viñas from the news podcast El hilo explains how his victory is a blueprint for authoritarians looking to get reelected in a democracy. Listen here.
  4. On The Dolby Institute podcast, Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema discusses how he got his start in the film business, working with Christopher Nolan, shooting “Oppenheimer” on film, how they did all those in-camera practical effects, and his fears about creating a dynamically visual film… with so much dialogue. Listen to it here.
  5. Lisa Joy, the co-creator of Westworld, spoke about the Hollywood model for creating series and what we can learn from it here, what the heck a showrunner is considering we still seem to have different definitions of it, how to navigate a writers room as a young writer and a whole lot more. Listen to it on The Streaming Show here.

What To Watch:

  1. Dr. Raghuram Rajan, former governor of the RBI and an Indian Economist, break down the positives and negatives of the Indian Economy, talks about the role of the RBI governor and how he works towards the betterment of the country, the negatives of demonetization, the Indian education system, and employment in India, on The Ranveer Show. Check it out here.
  2. Rajeev Shukla, Member of Rajya Sabha, Vice President of BCCI, spills the beans on politics, cricket, and everything in between on Unfiltered with Samdish. From what goes into running BCCI and managing the Indian cricket team, England Vs India at Lord’s in 2002, to stories with P.V. Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh & Clinton, and much more. Watch it here.
  3. On Film Companion, Sushmita Sen and director Ram Madhvani delve deep into the world of the crime show, Aarya. They talk about striking the right balance between the western and eastern way of storytelling, how one stirs through life during its lows and what they really give a damn about. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: American Fiction (A novelist who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of the hypocrisy and madness he claims to disdain.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Baaplyok [Marathi] (Sagar and his father set out to invite their far-off relatives to Sagar’s wedding. Sagar and his father are always at odds against each other for no particular reason. This father-son tension characterises their journey, their relationship in the hands of the dust and the soil of the road.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #204 (29.01.24 – 04.02.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 204th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. India is a leading world economy but what makes it stand out among other emerging markets? Read here.
  2. Streaming Pirates Are Hollywood’s New Villains. Read more here.
  3. Are we all narcissists now? Read it here.
  4. Spotify’s exclusivity era nears its end. Check it out here.
  5. Cost pressures get studios to eye wins in regional cinema. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Trevor Noah sits down with Kevin Hart, chatting about life behind-the-scenes as professional comedians, their different preferences for theaters versus big arenas, and the benefits and downfalls of constantly working. Kevin also discusses rising up the ranks on the call sheet and the single table read that changed everything. Listen to it here.
  2. Some of the most important truths in life are found in paradoxes. Paradoxes seem like opposites on the surface, but once you look deeper beneath what are seeming contradictions, there are real grains of wisdom that emerge. Mark Manson shares 7 Paradoxes that will change how we see everything. Check it out here.
  3. Is it OK to exercise before you hit the hay? Sleep for less than 5 hours a night? On Life Kit, Sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins sets the record straight to help you get better sleep. Listen here.
  4. Rio Ferdinand joins the Obi One podcast, discusses his battles with Chelsea, his run-ins with Sir Alex, the brilliance of Paul Scholes and Erik ten Hag’s immediate future. Listen to it here.
  5. Hrithik Roshan, in an interview with Anupama Chopra talks about all things Fighter. He breaks down a couple of scenes from the film, talks about his apprehensions on being a STAR before being an ACTOR, and his love for the packaging process of a film i.e direction, camera work and screenplay. Check it out here or on YouTube here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Flip The Script With Shubra, Rohan Bopanna reflects on his tennis journey and shares valuable insights, discusses the impact of yoga on his physical and mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of discipline and perseverance. He reflects on the sacrifices he made in pursuit of his tennis career and the support he received from his wife, Supriya, and more. Watch it here.
  2. In this episode of “Lights Camera Analysis,” Director Siddharth Anand and Baradwaj Rangan delve into the world of Fighter and talk about the writing, staging and other technical aspects of the film. Check it out here.
  3. In this video of WTF, Bilal and Meghana explore Bangalore through the lens of Nikhil Kamath, revisiting the spots that shaped his early years, the houses he lived in, his school, and all the places he used to hang out at. From talking about childhood crushes to how he ended up as a trader, they cover it all. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: The Boys in the Boat (During the height of the Great Depression, members of the rowing team at the University of Washington get thrust into the spotlight as they compete for gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Keedaa Cola [Telugu] (A hapless group takes on the challenge of a lifetime when they try to make some quick money and plant a cockroach in a soft drink bottle.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #203 (22.01.24 – 28.01.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 203rd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Congrats, and Goodbye, to Peak TV. Read more here.
  2. Netflix Is the King of Streaming. Is It a Benevolent Dictator? Read here.
  3. BarbieGate: Why All Oscars Snubs Are Not Created Equal? Check it out here.
  4. ‘Suits’ Beats ‘The Office’ Streaming Record in 2023; Nielsen Reveals Original Streaming Shows Shut Out of Yearly Top 10. Check out the list here.
  5. Adulting sucks… but it does get easier. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Veteran journalist Sheela Bhatt unveils the details of interviewing Dawood Ibrahim and how he was as a person, the details around the meetings, the story of the Mumbai Mafia, stories about Haji Mastan, Abu Salem, Karim Lala, Arun Gawli, and Vardhabhai, and more, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast. Listen to it here.
  2. Harvard Medical School psychologist Susan David and host Adam Grant discuss the risks of judging and suppressing unwanted emotions — and effective techniques for managing them. They explore why optimism is not essential to well-being and how to overcome the pressure to be positive. Check it out here.
  3. The feeling of discomfort has an important role to play. On one hand, it can be a helpful warning sign. On the other hand, too much of it can lead to distress. Dr Kali Cyrus, on the Life Kit podcast, explains how to identify these emotions – and take action if it starts to affect your physical and mental health. Listen here.
  4. John Cena joins the Impaulsive podcast to discuss his random posts on Instagram, friendship w/ Dua Lipa & Margot Robbie, getting annoyed by ‘you can’t see me’ jokes, coming clean on a botched move Vs Batista at the 2005 Royal Rumble, why he hates when people film him in public, retirement, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Jason, Will & Sean on Smartless are joined by Selena Gomez, who shares her journey from a child star on “Barney & Friends” to a pop sensation and acclaimed actress. She recounts her early beginnings, her rise to fame with Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” and the blossoming of her music career paralleling her acting pursuits. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. In a spoiler-filled discussion with Rohini Ramnathan, Sriram Raghavan talks about the response to the film, Merry Christmas, his love for Classical Cinema transcending into the Easter Eggs and Music we see on-screen, and the praise he has for his lead actors. He delves deep into a few scenes from Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi and breaks the same down for us. Watch it here.
  2. In this conversation with Baradwaj Rangan, Ananya Pandey talks about the success of her recent film, ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’, her previous films, being a part of Gen-Z, the impact of social media in our lives, her previous works and her definition of success. Check it out here.
  3. On this ep of ‘Kahaniyo ki Kahaniya‘ with Laksh Maheshwari, along with the cast and crew of CID, Dayanand Shetty (Daya), Shivaji Satam (ACP Pradyuman), Chritabella D’souza (Creative Director), Ansha Sayyed (Inspector Purvi), Aditya Shrivastav (Inspector Abhijeet), and Narendra Gupta (Dr. Salunkhe), delve into the camaraderie, anecdotes, and memorable experiences from their 21-year journey on the small screen. Watch it here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Neru [Malayalam] (Sara, a blind sculptor, seeks justice after suffering trauma. She contends with the legal system and her own resilience to find resolution.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye [Kannada] (A hospice counsellor, Prerana, finds a new meaning in her life when she befriends Aniketh, a terminally ill patient. Their bond challenges the conventional notions of love, life and humanity.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #202 (15.01.24 – 21.01.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 202nd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. A Few Words About Netflix’s Success: Vivid. Snappy. Tags. Read it here.
  2. Health concerns soar as new research exposes high levels of nano plastics in bottled water. Read more here.
  3. Goodbye, nolen gur? Read here.
  4. Margot Robbie & LuckyChap’s Entertainment Empire: How They’re Thriving Off ‘Barbie,’ ‘Saltburn’ Shocks and ‘Being Original Every Time’. Check it out here.
  5. Watch out for these 9 ‘hidden’ signs that someone is lying to you, say psychology experts. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Dan Buettner, behind the Netflix docu-series, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zone, on the On Purpose podcast, offers profound insights into how these lessons from the Blue Zones can be applied to our own lives, what role your genes play in the length of your life, what you can add to your diet daily that will add 4 years to your life, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Trevor Noah is joined by tennis player Nick Kyrgios, to discuss how Nick feels about that “bad boy” label, the challenges he’s faced on the road, and finding a kindred spirit in Naomi Osaka. Trevor and Nick also nerd out on gaming, and talk about what Nick’s girlfriend thinks of his new OnlyFans account. Check it out here.
  3. Caffeine is a drug that tons of us take every day. But is that a bad thing? And if we get it as energy drinks, is that super dangerous? On the Science Vs podcast, they talk to Dr Astrid Nehlig, Prof. Gregory Marcus, and Prof. Sachin Shah. Listen here.
  4. Martin Scorsese, on Awards Chatter, reflects on the tug of war that he has always felt between his faith and the reality of his life, and how that has shaped the films that he has made; the origins and evolution of his special relationships with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio; and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Composer and Singer Amit Trivedi talks about music for films, the story behind working with Anurag Kashyap and hit songs like Udta Punjab, Lutera, Qaafirana, the knowledge of music, and much more, at The Lallantop. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. In this interview with Baradwaj Rangan, director Vidhu Vinod Chopra discusses his film, 12th Fail, how the filmmaking process and the writing process of the film was, scenes that worked, making films for himself, film-making culture and more. Watch it here.
  2. In the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Konkona Sen Sharma delves into the role of her mother shaping her life as an actor, emphasizing her journey as an accidental actor, and highlighting the crucial role of a director’s intention, and more. Check it out here.
  3. In a conversation with Lallantop, composer Manan Bharadwaj shared the back story of making the song, Arjan Vailly. He also talked about the criticism this film is receiving and also shared the insights of Sandeep’s Personality. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Baipan Bhaari Deva (Six estranged sisters decide to take part in a Mangalgauri competition, and reunite at their childhood home to practice. They must overcome their past and face their struggles head-on.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Merry Christmas (Two strangers meet on a fateful Christmas Eve, but a night of romance soon becomes a nightmare.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #201 (08.01.24 – 14.01.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 201st edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Billionaires Wanted to Save the News Industry. They’re Losing a Fortune. Read more here.
  2. As Flames Surged, Order Prevailed Inside a Japan Airlines Jet. Read here.
  3. Shoe Imports Ban, Fiscal Sops, Design Centres To Help Footwear Industry Hit $90 Billion Mark: Report. Check it out here.
  4. Apple beats Samsung for the first time since 2010, tops global smartphone shipments. Read more here.
  5. It’s Not Just You, Google Search Really Has Gotten Worse. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On this episode of NoSugarCoat, Riyaaz Amlani (Mocha, Salt Water Cafe, Smoke House Deli and Social) and Pooja Dhingra chat about the importance of being adaptable to the ever-evolving social culture and how delivery apps are not the enemy of in-house dining, but a completely different experience in themselves. Listen to it here.
  2. On A Bit of Optimism, James Clear (Atomic Habits) and Simon Sinek explain his powerful approach to forming better habits, breaking the bad ones, and living the life we desire. Check it out here.
  3. Seth Godin deep dives into the hype cycle of something/ anything, the early adopters and how it then spreads to the masses, on his Akimbo podcast. Listen here.
  4. On THE MUSIC PODCAST by Tarsame Mittal, Javed Ali (behind Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein, Kun Faya Kun, Srivalli) talks about his journey to Bollywood, the difficult moments, his bond with A. R. Rahman, industry insights, the legend Ghulam Ali Khan Sahab’s advice to him and much more. Listen to it here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation of the Week: What Now? with Trevor Noah (A show wherein each episode Trevor will go deep with a special guest, including entertainers, CEOs, actors, athletes, and thought leaders. These are the kind of conversations that happen behind the scenes, full of radical candor, authentic back-and-forths, and honest reactions.) Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On the On Purpose podcast, Michelle Obama opens up about her thoughts on marriage, fame, public service, relationships, why we put so much pressure on our marriage, how to choose the right person for you and make the relationship work even when it isn’t perfect, the toxicity of social media and technology, and more. Watch it here.
  2. On The Bombay Journey, Vishal Bhardwaj, filmmaker, composer, and screenwriter, takes us through his journey right from the start, and how with different places, different events took place, the stories behind the films and songs he has done and much more. Watch here.
  3. Documentary Recommendation of the Week: Curry and Cyanide – The Jolly Joseph Case (The real life case of Jolly Joseph, a lady suspected of planning the cyanide poisoning of six family members over more than ten years, including a two-year-old kid.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Anatomy of a Fall (A woman is suspected of her husband’s murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the sole witness.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Maestro (On the verge of securing a golden opportunity, American conductor Leonard Bernstein begins a tumultuous relationship with actress Felicia Montealegre, upturning their lives.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

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The Last 7 Days #200 (01.01.24 – 07.01.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 200th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. The luxury markets spotlighted in 2023, and what that tells us about the year ahead. Check it out here.
  2. The Rise of the Forgotten Grains: How Millets are Reclaiming the Plate in India. Read here.
  3. Here are 2024’s public domain works, and how you can use them. Read it here.
  4. Box Office Report Card 2023: Hindi Film Industry Collects Rs 4418 crore with 54 releases. Check it out here.
  5. Harvard psychologist: If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these 9 questions, you’re ‘more emotionally secure than most’. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Ankit Garg, co-founder of Wakefit, on the Neon Show, talks about why do Indians sleep so poorly, why Is Quality Of Sleep going down but focus on health going up, how has the Indian Consumer changed over the years, Ankit’s backstory & its influence on creating Wakefit, misconceptions about sleep and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Rohan Bopanna, on Cyrus Says, chats about how the tennis journey began for Rohan, what it was like winning the Grand Slam, playing against Roger Federer, how the ‘Indo-Pak Express’ duo formed with Pakistani tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, and what the future holds for tennis in India. Listen to it here.
  3. Doctor and journalist Chris van Tulleken wanted to know how ultra-processed foods affect us, so for a month he ate almost nothing but UPFs. His book Ultra-Processed People examines how the food we eat today is dramatically changing our bodies and minds. This episode of Today Explained deep dives into this more. Check it out here.
  4. Julianne Moore, on the Awards Chatter podcast, reflects on how a nomadic childhood led her to acting; the most important roles of her career, ranging from ‘The Big Lebowski’ to ‘Still Alice’; and her special relationship with Todd Haynes, which has yielded five films up till now with the release of May December with Natalie Portman. Listen here.
  5. On The Ranveer Show Hindi, Rajpal Yadav shares about his early life and film career, comedy and meme culture, how the best comedy is filmed, working with Akshay Kumar, Johnny Lever, Priyadarshan, his jail experience, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. At The Galatta Plus Mega Pan India Roundtable 2023, Rani Mukerji, Karan Johar, Taapsee Pannu, Prithvi Konanur, Jude Anthany Joseph, Rima Das, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga delve into discussions about their respective works, the evolving dynamics of audience preferences across different industries and reflect on the diverse cinematic landscape that our country has to offer. Watch it here.
  2. In this episode of “Lights Camera Analysis,” Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Baradwaj Rangan delve into the world of Animal and talk about the writing, staging and other technical aspects of the film, going behind the scenes of the film and breaking down the scenes. Check it out here.
  3. On The Film Companion Content Creators Adda 2023, Sneha Menon Desai has Bhuvan Bam, Prajakta Koli, Niharika NM, Raghav Juyal, and Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju talking about how their careers have grown in the creator economy, staying true and relevant in the ever-changing digital world, balancing content and their own projects. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Kaathal – The Core (Mathew, a retired bank secretary, reluctantly enters politics for a by-election. The movie delves into their marriage dynamics, justice, and personal fulfillment amidst a tight-knit village community.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Hi Nanna (A single father begins to narrate the story of the missing mother to his child and nothing remains the same.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #199 (25.12.23 – 31.12.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 199th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How ‘Barbenheimer,’ Taylor Swift and ‘Sound of Freedom’ Rewrote All the Box Office Rules in 2023? Read more here.
  2. End of dominance? US dollar to keep falling against G10 currencies in 2024. Read here.
  3. The Making of ‘Maestro’: Bradley Cooper Studied Conducting for Six Years to Portray Leonard Bernstein. Check it out here.
  4. 2024 may be the hottest year in recorded history. Read it here.
  5. Photos that defined tech and business in 2023. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Awards Chatter, Emerald Fennell reflects on the roots of her interest in dark material, being handed the reins to ‘Killing Eve’ by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and what inspired her sophomore feature, Saltburn, which was just nominated for the best picture Critics Choice Award. Listen to it here.
  2. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a good time to check in with yourself and take stock of the year. On Life Kit, Reporter Kyle Norris talks with Buddhist Lama Rod Owens about how to get reflective during this time. Plus, a creative exercise to help you look back from cartoonist Nicole J. Georges. Listen here.
  3. On Variety Awards Circuit, “Past Lives” writer and director Celine Song shares her experience with making her love story; later, “Past Lives” star Greta Lee also discusses what is arguably one of the best performances on film in 2023. Check it out here.
  4. In this ep of the “SmartLess” podcast, the hosts engage with Arnold Schwarzenegger talking about his diverse career in bodybuilding, acting, and politics, his fitness routine, and his experiences in the United States. They also discuss the importance of having a clear vision, pursuing goals relentlessly, and giving back to the community. Listen to it here.
  5. On The Awardist, Killers of the Flower Moon stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone reflect on their experience making Martin Scorsese’s epic about the Osage Reign of Terror in 1920 Oklahoma. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. 2023, in 7 minutes. Check it out here.
  2. MKBHD’s Smartphone Awards 2023 – Best Phone/ Best Battery/ Best Value/ Best Camera/ Bust and more. Watch it here.
  3. On The Film Companion Music Adda 2023, Sunidhi Chauhan, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Shilpa Rao, Sachin-Jigar, and Achint Thakkar delve into the songs that have surprised them over the past year, highlighting the unpredictable nature of music reception and the joy of seeing regional music gain mainstream success, evolving ways people consume and interact with music, and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Three of Us (When a woman with early onset dementia visits her hometown with her husband, buried memories and a former love pave a poignant path through her past.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Dream Scenario (Hapless family man Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #198 (18.12.23 – 24.12.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 198th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Live events became a status symbol in 2023. Read more here.
  2. Year in Search 2023: Check Most Googled Person, Events, Movies, Shows and Memes Here.
  3. Why gold price surged 13% in 2023? Experts list out these 5 reasons. Check it out here.
  4. From RRR winning Oscar to Diljit Dosanjh performing at Coachella, it was the year of many ‘firsts’. Read it here.
  5. Is social media killing your IRL friendships? Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Director Bradley Cooper discusses his new film, Maestro, with fellow Director Todd Phillips, working with Bernstein’s children and how he was given the project, the practice that went into major performance scenes, and capturing the thought process of Leonard Bernstein while in the dual roles of lead Actor and Director of the film. Listen to it here.
  2. Carey Mulligan, on the Smartless podcast, discusses her career in theater and film, her film industry experiences, her nervousness meeting Bradley Cooper and her film Maestro, and her love for Marcus Mumford’s music. Listen here.
  3. Director Kristoffer Borgli discusses his new film, Dream Scenario, with fellow Director Tim Heidecker, working with Actor Nicolas Cage to create the character he envisioned, his writing process and the influences that went into the story, and how he borrowed from multiple genres in an effort to transcend categorization. Check it out here.
  4. Michael Fassbender, on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, talks about returning on the big screen with Next Goal Wins and The Killer, the process and the journey, tid-bits regarding those films, his passion for race car driving and quoting movies. Listen to it here.
  5. Jose Mourinho, on the Obi One Podcast, talks about being the Special One, reminisces about his days at Chelsea, what happened with Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah and the player that gave him more grey hairs than any other, why beating Liverpool at Anfield in 2014 was so special, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Film Companion Actors’ Adda 2023, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vikrant Massey, Tillotama Shome, Jyothika, Siddharth, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Bobby Deol speak about the challenges and joys of acting, sharing personal stories and insights, the impact of industry stereotypes, and explore the therapeutic aspects of their craft. Watch it here.
  2. On The Music Podcast, Arijit Singh opens up about the inner workings of the music industry, his independent label Oriyon Music, his passion for films, the profound influence of his mother and mentors, and shares surprising yet captivating stories from his live shows and life, the intricacies of his creative process, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Salaar: Part One – Ceasefire (A gang leader makes a promise to a dying friend by taking on other criminal gangs.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Saltburn (A student at Oxford University finds himself drawn into the world of a charming and aristocratic classmate, who invites him to his eccentric family’s sprawling estate for a summer never to be forgotten.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 3 of the Week: Toby (Toby, an estranged man deemed to be a beast, vows to break free from the evil world and transform himself for Jenny.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.