Your Weekend Planner Jan 8: Yash gifts fans KGF 2 teaser, to the US with Hillary
Yash's KGF: Chapter 2 teaser just dropped, and then we have Curtis Sittenfeld's Rodham. Wondering what else happened this week? Check out our Weekend Planner.
Dead Reader,
So you've successfully said goodbye to the first week of 2021. Is time moving a little too fast this year? Science says yes. The Earth indeed is rotating a little too fast these days. But even that isn't quite enough to explain what's happening on the other end of the earth, across the Pacific. The US this week saw a few scenes straight out of Apocalypse Now.
'Protesters', 'rioters', 'terrorists', whatever you call them, laid siege to Capitol Hill Building, the temple of democracy as the world recoiled in horror at the images pouring out of the US. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter all reacted by banning Donald Trump from their platforms, but Zuckerberg got quite a dressing down from the Twitterati for what reeked of opportunism.
Back home in India, down South, birthday boy Yash treated his fans to the first teaser of KGF Chapter 2. The film looks made on a grander scale than its first instalment. There's much action and drama in KGF 2, and there's Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon too. On OTT there's Madhavan's Maara, and Pankaj Tripathi's Kaagaz this weekend. On TV, you have Bhai and the second round of evictions this year from Bigg Boss 14. KBC 12, meanwhile, got its fourth crorepati. No points for guessing: a woman, this crorepati too.
From the bookshelf our pick this week is Curtis Sittenfeld's Rodham, a fictional take on Hillary Rodham Clinton's life - without Bill Clinton's surname. If you're stepping into the kitchen, there's a recipe of red sauce pasta - quite easy - to ruffle up.
That's all for this week, folks. Have a fantastic weekend. Keep that mask on. The vaccine isn't here yet.
Here's your Weekend Planner.
WHAT’S TRENDING?
2021 literally commenced with a big scare. Sourav Ganguly complained of chest discomfort on January 2 and was hospitalised immediately. What a start to the new year, fans sighed as Dada was diagnosed with three blocked coronary arteries. Doctors suggested angioplasty. Good news is that Sourav Ganguly is recovering well and was discharged on Wednesday. Phew!
The spotlight, though, is still on the Maldives as several celebrities including Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra, Ananya Panday and Disha Patani (yes, again) celebrated New Year’s Eve in the South Asian country. Is Maldives Bollywood’s nani ghar, inquisitive social media users asked. There were other jokes as well.
A rather distressing incident irritated Mumbaikars as a person covered a snake’s head with a used condom as the reptile struggled to breathe. The snake was spotted in a dire state at a housing society in Kandivali (east) and was rescued soon after.
Ratan Tata, but, is the viral star of the week. The 83-year-old industrialist travelled to Pune from Mumbai to meet an ailing ex-employee after he was informed about his health condition. So much respect for Ratan Tata, netizens said. We couldn’t agree more.
Now, coronavirus apart, also be mindful of Bird Flu. Doctors advised people to take caution since the infection can spread to humans as well. Bird flu or Avian Influenza has spread across several states including Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Before we conclude, there’s some good news on the vaccine front. To begin with, Bharat Biotech's anti-coronavirus vaccine Covaxin has been approved for children above the age of 12. Also, Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine Covishield, manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), has been approved for those above the age of 18.
2021 also marked new beginnings as the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech ended their row over coronavirus vaccines and pledged to work jointly on the vaccine rollout project. Light at the end of the tunnel, as we call it.
SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE
The vaccine news has delighted you already but here’s a video of Ahmad Shah, the viral Peeche Dekho kid, who wished his fans on New Year.
Two days later, Pakistani director Yasir Nawaz recreated Ahmad Shah’s New Year video and it instantly went viral.
We also loved this super adorable video of Dwayne Johnson and his daughter Tiana’s conversation in a viral clip that he shared.
KHANE MEIN KYA HAI
This week pasta trended online for the most bizarre reasons. While one notorious Facebook user disgusted half of the internet with their Energy Drink Pasta recipe (yes, it is made with energy drink), few other netizens left us in splits with their screaming pasta memes. So dear reader, we thought to cleanse your timeline and palette with a delicious recipe of Red Sauce Pasta.
To make this dish you will first need to make the sauce. In a pan, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil. In the oil, sauté 1/4 cup of chopped onion and 1 tbsp of garlic paste for a minute. Add 1 cup of fresh tomato purée and 1 cup canned tomato purée. To this add, 1 tbsp red chilli powder, few basil leaves, 1 tsp sugar, and salt, oregano and red chilli flakes as per taste. Cook the sauce till some oil is released.
Now, in another pan add oil and cook your favourite veggies and give it a toss. Add in the pasta sauce along with boiled pasta in the pan. Mix everything well and give it a toss. Now, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese. And serve with garlic bread on the side.
DON'T FORGET TO WORK OUT
This week, Malaika Arora gave us workout motivation by posting a picture of herself nailing a yoga pose inside the pool. And it will surely motivate you to work out as we go deeper into 2021. Malaika pulled off the Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana or Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose in the swimming pool.
Another celebrity fitness enthusiast who inspired us this week was Mandira Bedi. Sharing a video on the gram, Mandira did several leg exercises, planks, push-ups and other routines to maintain her abs. So, what are you waiting for?
FROM OUR BOOKSHELF
What if Hillary Rodham hadn't married Bill Clinton? Well, if writer Curtis Sittenfeld's Rodham is to be believed, Hillary Rodham goes on to have a spectacular public life; and all of it, without Clinton, that surname we have so come to associate her with. Sittenfeld draws up a fictional life for Hillary Rodham before she went on to marry Bill Clinton; a life without marrying Bill Clinton. In Rodham, Sittenfeld weaves fact and fiction splendidly, making the book a pseudo-biography of sorts. Most of the events in Rodham are straight out of Hillary's life. But then, there's the entire no-Bill angle which the author makes you believe in. Rodham is a fast read. It provides a deeper insight into American politics, as it does into Hillary's life from Wellesley to (psst) the Oval Office. Rodham will also tell you why it's all okay if you're 'awfully opinionated for a girl'. You'll do just fine.
FASHION KA JALWA
In our Fashion Friday section this week, we celebrate Nusrat Jahan and her love for ethnic outfits. From zardozi to chiffon and floral prints, Nusrat has a fantastic collection of traditional outfits and often posts pictures on Instagram to inspire her fans and followers. Just in case you are planning to attend an event in the near future at your traditional best, take a look at Nusrat's style. Read more here.
AT THE MOVIES
This week saw no releases in the theatres, but filmo ki charcha jaari hai. Down South, Yash's KGF: Chapter 2, one of the most-anticipated films in India, just dropped its teaser. The film, which has been in the making for the past two years, is nearing completion and the team is eyeing to release it in early 2021. And the expectations around the film are skyrocketing. The film is a multilingual venture and will be released in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi. It also features Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon in lead roles. Exciting, right? And do you think it will be the next Baahubali? Maybe read this first.
In terms of release, we have Pankaj Tripathi's Kaagaz and R Madhavan's Maara, both on OTT. More on that in the next segment.
Then, there's the usual. Monday Masala went to Rajeev Khandelwal's Table No 21, and how it was basically Sacch Ka Saamna 2.0. On Tuesday Trivia, we told you about Yash's bodyguard who played the role of Garuda in KGF Chapter 1. On Wahiyat Wednesday we took on Players. Don't ask us why. And For Throwback Thursday, we revisited this anecdote from Irrfan's life, on his birthday.
Now, over to OTT.
THE WORLD OF OTT
ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
What to watch: Maara
You will like it if you like: Charlie
Maara is the official Tamil remake of the critically-acclaimed Malayalam film, Charlie, which starred Dulquer Salmaan and Parvathy in the lead roles. The film, directed by debutant Dhilip Kumar, is about how an independent girl falls in love with a free-spirited man, who thinks life is all about celebration. Maara starring R Madhavan and Shraddha Srinath was completed before the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. The makers have made little changes to the script to suit the Tamil sensibilities. Read our review here.
What to watch: Herself
You will like it if you like: When A Man Loves A Woman
This Amazon Prime film revolves around a single-mother, Sandra (played by Clare Dunne) and how she escapes her abusive partner with her two young children, only to find herself trapped in temporary accommodation. After months of struggling, she stumbles upon the idea of self-building an affordable home. It will be released on January 8.
ON ZEE 5
What to watch: Kaagaz
You will like it if you liked: Chala Mussaddi... Office Office
The ever-charming Pankaj Tripathi finally has a film as a lead. In Kaagaz, Tripathi plays Bharat Lal who has been declared dead on papers. The film follows his struggles to prove himself alive by knocking on every government office possible and forming a political party of all people declared dead on papers to finally taking out his own funeral procession. Kaagaz, Satish Kaushik, is a light family watch with a strong message. If you love Pankaj Tripathi and admire his performances, then you cannot miss Kaagaz. The film is streaming on Zee 5.
ON NETFLIX
What to watch: History of Swear Words
You will like it if you liked: 100 Humans
Presented by Nicholas Cage, History of Swear Words is a six-episode series that explores the origins, pop culture-usage, science and cultural impact of curse words. Apart from Cage taking us on a crazy abusive treasure hunt, the show brings together experts in etymology, pop culture, historians and entertainers to weigh on the origins of curse words in a really entertaining way. The show started streaming on Netflix on January 5.
What to watch: Lupin
You will like it if you liked: Killing Eve
Lupin is the story of gentleman thief Assane Diop, who sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, a fictional criminal mastermind. Assane is a Senegalese immigrant living in Paris who uses white folks’ racial blind spots as cover to carry out his brazen robberies. Created by George Kay (Killing Eve) in collaboration with François Uzan (Family Business), Lupin is an addictive, clever puzzle that combines elements from all your favourite crime thrillers including Luther, Sherlock Holmes, and Inside Man. The show started streaming on Netflix on January 8.
What to watch: Pieces Of A Woman
You will like it if you liked: Beautiful Boy
Pieces of a Woman chronicles the life of a woman who loses her child and faces her vilified midwife in the court. This deeply emotional film is directed by Kornél Mundrucz³ and produced by Martin Scorsese.
What to watch: Pretend It's A City
You will like it if you liked: Beautiful Boy
Pretend It’s a City follows American author and true blood New Yorker, Fran Lebowitz as she talks about her observations about the city. The film is directed by Martin Scorsese and we also see him making an appearance in the trailer of the film. It will be released on January 8.
ON DISNEY+HOTSTAR
What to watch: Marvel Studio: Legends S01
You will like it if you liked: The Avengers series
Marvel Studios: Legends premieres on Disney+Hotstar Premium on January 8. It will showcase individual characters; which viewers have come to know and love over the years. The series will also revisit some of their most iconic moments. The series will begin by highlighting Wanda Maximoff and Vision, the two stars of WandaVision.
TV PE KYA HAI
What to watch: Bigg Boss 14 Weekend Ka Vaar
Where to watch: Colors TV, 9 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Bigg Boss 14 will witness its second eviction of the year this weekend. Host Salman Khan, who was seen schooling the housemates last week, will be back to correct the contestants. This week the nominated contestants are Abinav Shukla, Aly Goni, Rubina Dilaik and Jasmin Bhasin.
What to watch: Indian Idol 12
Where to watch: Sony TV, 8 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Jab #IdolAnjali aur #IdolNachiket ke avatar the itne khaas, toh mausam toh awesome hona hi tha! Dekhte rahiye #IndianIdol2020 Sat-Sun raat 8 baje, sirf Sony par @iAmNehaKakkar @VishalDadlani #HimeshReshammiya #AdityaNarayan @FremantleIndia @Nachiketlele1 pic.twitter.com/7ORk36bMcF — sonytv (@SonyTV) January 4, 2021
This weekend, Indian Idol 12 will hold a family special episode in which host Aditya Narayan’s wife Shweta Agarwal will be joining him on the stage for a performance. She will be accompanied by Udit Narayan and his wife Deepa Narayan. The couple will even do a romantic dance performance on the song Pehla Nasha and it will be sung by Udit Narayan and his wife. Meanwhile, contestant Nachiket Lele will be singing in male and female voice. He will be performing on the song Aake Seedhi while dressed as half man and half woman. Himesh Reshammiya will call him 'entertainment ki dukaan'.
What to watch: The Kapil Sharma Show
Where to watch: Sony TV, 9:30 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Hogi dhamakedaar weekend ki raat, jab aayenge Bollywood ke 2 bade Superstars Ajay Devgn aur Abhishek Bachchan ek saath #TheKapilSharmaShow mein iss Sat-Sun raat 9:30 baje. @KapilSharmaK9 @kikusharda @Krushna_KAS @sumona24 @banijayasia @haanjichandan pic.twitter.com/SXvbxsRbbh — sonytv (@SonyTV) January 6, 2021
This weekend, The Kapil Sharma show is going to be very exciting. Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan will be the guests on the comedy show. Comedian Kapil Sharma will be teasing them with questions from fans. Apart from that, Punjabi stars Badshah and Sukhbir will also be visiting the sets of TKSS. Kapil will be making fun of Badshah's shoes and Sukhbir's black shades.
(Compiled by Ananya Bhattacharya, Nairita Mukherjee, Raya Ghosh, Krishna Priya Pallavi, Vibha Maru, Jyoti Kanyal, Janani K, Divyanshi Sharma, Shweta Keshri, Logesh Balachandran, Grace Cyril, Rishita Roy Chowdhury, Tiasa Bhowal)
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