Shows
Talking TalkiesOm Shanti Om: Where Nostalgia Meets Satire in Indian CinemaEpisode 16: Om Shanti OmRelease Date: 2007 This is the second episode of our dual episodic series where we explore films based on Bollywood. Om Shanti Om is a 2007 Hindi romantic fantasy film written and directed by Farah Khan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone (in her Hindi film debut), Shreyas Talpade, Kirron Kher, and Arjun Rampal - with a slew of high-profile cameos from Bollywood.The film was a huge hit, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2007 and the highest-grossing Hindi film ever at...
2025-06-301h 41
Talking TalkiesLuck by Chance: A Cinematic Reflection on Nepotism and Struggle in BollywoodEpisode 15: Luck By ChanceRelease Date: 2009 This is the first episode of our dual episodic series where we explore films based on Bollywood. Luck By Chance is a 2009 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Zoya Akhtar. It is her directorial debut. She also co-wrote the movie with her father, Javed Akhtar. The film stars her brother, Farhan Akhtar, in the lead role along with Konkana Sen Sharma. When it was released, Luck By Chance flopped at the box office and received mixed critical reviews. Ove...
2025-06-231h 27
Crash Landed on KDramasHometown Cha Cha Cha - Deep DiveHost Minal is joined by Vipula and Benny to discuss the 2021 hit Kdrama Hometown Cha Cha Cha. The episode is full of spoilers so we suggest you watch the drama before listening to this episode. Hometown Cha Cha Cha is a 16 episode romance + slice-of-life drama that ran from Aug to Oct 21. The drama is a remake of the movie Mr. Hong starring Uhm Jung Hwa and Kim Joo Hyuk (Argon, Reply 1988 - Cameo Elder Taek)Director: Yoo Je Won - Oh My Ghost, Crash Course in Romance, Love Next DoorWriter: Shin Ha Eu...
2025-03-241h 52
Talking TalkiesFrom Merry Christmas to Aavesham: A Year in ReviewThe central theme of this podcast episode revolves around a discussion of our personal favorite films from the year 2024, specifically focusing on "Merry Christmas" and "Aavesham." We delve into the nuances of these films, sharing our thoughts on their narratives, performances, and the emotions they evoke. "Merry Christmas," directed by Sriram Raghavan, is lauded for its engaging storytelling and strong character dynamics, particularly the chemistry between the lead actors. Meanwhile, "Aavesham," featuring Fahad Fazil, captivates us with its inventive plot and the versatility of its central character, which we explore in depth. This episode reflects our cinematic preferences, inviting...
2025-02-0553 min
Crash Landed on KDramasE8 The Final Countdown - Moving [Special Showcase]This is the finale of our special showcase on Moving Kdrama. Our host Minal is joined with our two wonderful guests Benny and Vipula.
In this episode, we cover the final 4 episodes 17 to 20 which capture the final battle between the superheroes/spies from North Korea and South Korea and the battleground is the school. We discuss what we loved about the finale , what we would like Season 2 to cover and what the show could have done better. A big thank you to all of our listeners who tuned in!
Have a wonderful new year and I h...
2024-12-311h 42
Crash Landed on KDramasE7 The Good, The Bad, the Ugly - Moving [Special Showcase]Our host Minal is joined with our guests Benny and Vipula. And for this recording, we have another Moving and fellow K-drama enthusiast, Anna.
Anna’s Top 3 Kdrama recommendations: Happiness, Reply 1988, My Mister
In this podcast episode, we are going to cover Episode 14, 15 and 16 of the Moving Kdrama. These two episodes will work towards bringing us to the present timeline and provide context to the history of our heroes with the government spy organization.
Episode Outline:
Lee Jae-man’s backstory
Jae-man’s promise to his son, Kang-Hoon
Battle of the Hulks...
2024-12-301h 36
Crash Landed on KDramasE6 The Rebels - Moving [Special Showcase]Our host Minal is joined with our guests Benny and Vipula. We are at Episode 12 and 13 of the Moving Kdrama. These two episodes bring us to the present timeline and provide context to the history of our heroes with the government spy organization.
Episode Outline:
Doo-shik & Ju-Won bromance brings comic relief
The Gun In The Pocket - What happened between Mi-Hyun and Dooshik
Doo-shik’s plays the long game
Mi-Hyun & Doo-Shik’s new beginning
Apple Orchard fight sequence
Life moves on for Ju-Won...
2024-12-131h 18
Crash Landed on KDramasE5 Rivers of Blood - Moving [Special Showcase]Our host Minal is back with our guests Benny and Vipula. At halfway mark, we will review Episode 10 and 11 of Moving Kdrama. These two episodes focus on Jang Ju-won’s backstory - the superhero we lovingly call the Hulk.
Episodes 10-11 moves between different timelines as we learn how JuWon goes from a life of crime to a government agent. And we get to experience another great love story as he meets the love of his life, Hwang Ji-Hee.
We have aptly titled this pod review as ‘Rivers of Blood’, because of the sheer Tarantino level vi...
2024-11-291h 39
Crash Landed on KDramasE4 The Chase - Moving [Special Showcase]Your host Minal is back with our guests Benny and Vipula. In this episode we cover Episodes 8 and 9 of Moving Kdrama. These two episodes narrate the story of the ‘parents’ and we are joined by a very special guest - Paroma. Paroma is well known in the KDrama podcast and online circles as she is the co-host of Kdrama podcast Drama Over Followers. You can also follow her on instagram and twitter where she posts about all things KDramas as TheDramanotes.
Episodes 8-9 takes us back to the 90s where we discover how BongSeok’s parents Lee MiHyun...
2024-08-071h 29
Talking TalkiesLaapataa Ladies - Lost and FoundEpisode 14: Laapataa LadiesRelease Date: 2024 This episode is our first listener request. Minal’s cousin Mitali asked us to do a podcast on the recently released movie Laapataa Ladies which is garnering great reviews from critics and audience alike. We are joined by special guest Amit - a marketing professional, an aspiring cricket umpire, and a food lover. You can follow him on Instagram @fooodzilla where he posts about his food, travel, and umpiring adventures. The movie’s greatest strength lies in calling out patriarchy, portraying feminism, and taking every single charac...
2024-05-201h 54
Crash Landed on KDramasE3 Two Lonely Men - Moving [Special Showcase]The Host Minal, is back with our guests Benny and Vipula to take the story of Moving KDrama forward. In this episode we discuss the stories behind 2 lonely men covering episode 6 & 7 of Moving.
Episode 6 is all about Bungeman’s origin story, and in episode 7 we complete Frank’s murderous arc. Again, spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.
Episode Outline:
Bungaeman’s early life
High School’s role in the conspiracy becomes clearer
Bungaeman fixes a bus and changes his life
Teen...
2024-05-031h 19
Talking TalkiesThe Beauty Inside - A unique love storyEpisode 13: Beauty Inside Release Date: 2015In this episode we discuss the romantic film ‘Beauty Inside’ which had the most unique premise among the romantic films we have watched. The movie blends fantasy with real-life situations and makes you think about what you truly value in the person you love.2015 South Korean romantic comedy film starring Han Hyo-joo and a multitude of actors portraying one character WooJin. The film was moderately successful, both commercially and critically. It led to a failed attempt to remake the film in Hollywood, starr...
2024-04-221h 19
Crash Landed on KDramasE2 Tell Me Your Secrets - Moving [Special Showcase]Your host Minal, is back with our guests Benny and Vipula to take the story of Moving KDrama forward discussing Episodes 4 and 5 where more secrets are unraveled about HiSoo, her dad and BongSeok. Frank is on his killing spree and a bigger conspiracy is playing out in the background. It has a lot of spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.
Episode Outline:
HiSoo discovers BongSeok’s secret - Two loners find company.
MiHyun is a top mom
Frank meets his match with Naju in the...
2024-04-181h 10
Crash Landed on KDramasE1 Super Students - Moving [Special Showcase]We kickstart this special series with a deep dive of one of the best dramas of 2023. Joining Minal, our host are Benny and Vipula.
Benny, is a seasoned podcaster currently co-hosting two podcasts - A Cricket Podcast - The Last Wicket and the new movie podcast with Minal as co-host Talking Talkies. He is one of the few guys who loves KDramas.
Vipula loves reviewing books and movies, you can find her writings on Medium.
This episode dives into the first three episodes of the series Moving. It has a lot of spoilers fro...
2024-04-101h 14
Crash Landed on KDramasSpecial Showcase - Moving TrailerThe podcast is breathing again after a long, unplanned hiatus! This time around I, your host Minal, is attempting a new experiment - a special showcase with two wonderful friends and guests - Benny and Vipula
We will be speaking to our heart’s content on a drama that we 3 loved from 2023.
Moving released in Aug23 on Disney+ and became an instant rage. It boasts of a great ensemble cast, is based on the Webtoon by KangFull and directed by Park In Je (Director of Kingdom S2).
In order to do justice to this...
2024-04-0304 min
Talking Talkies12th Fail - Restart!Episode 12: 12th FailRelease Date: 2023In this episode, we discuss the success of the movie '12th Fail’. This is a 2023 Hindi film which is a biographical drama film directed, produced, and written by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It is based on the 2019 non-fiction book Twelfth Fail - Har Vahi Jo Lada Nahi by Anurag Pathak about Manoj Kumar Sharma, who overcame extreme poverty to become an Indian Police Service officer.The film stars Vikrant Massey as Sharma, alongside Medha Shankar, Anant V Jos...
2024-03-251h 26
Talking TalkiesOur Favorites of 2023Episode 11: The Year End Wrap - 2023Happy New Year to all our listeners! This is our first episode of 2024 and co-hosts Benny and Minal summarise their 2023 in movies, the notable mentions, and their respective Top 5. Rest assured you will get many movie recommendations from us since we don’t have many overlaps in our lists! These movies were not necessarily the best of the year but the ones we enjoyed watching!If you have any common movies with either of the hosts, tag us on Twitter/Instagram, and if you have any re...
2024-01-291h 26
Talking TalkiesInglorious Basterds - Tarantino's Masterpiece?Episode 10: Inglorious BasterdsRelease Date: 2009In this episode, we discuss the ‘Glory’ of the movie ‘Inglorious Basterds’.This is a 2009 alt-history war film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger and Mélanie Laurent.Inglourious Basterds is a firm favorite with both the hosts and Christopher Waltz's Hans Landa remains one of their favorite villains. Waltz’s Handa has gone down in movie history as one of the most iconic characters, sweeping all...
2023-12-261h 49
Talking TalkiesAndhadun - Murder Who Wrote?Episode 9: AndhadhunRelease Date: 2018Bollywood doesn’t often venture into the black comedy thriller genre but the rare times it does, it comes up with gems like Andhadhun. Today we have our second guest on this pod - Vipula, an avid book reader and culture blogger who chronicles her book reviews and travel logs. You can follow her features on Medium https://shadesofwords.medium.com/Together we three discuss why Andhadhun has the makings of becoming a cult classic, and how it keeps the viewer engaged with ev...
2023-12-111h 52
Talking TalkiesMy Sassy Girl - Sassy or Violent?Episode 8: My Sassy Girl Release Date: 2001In this episode, we head over to South Korea for a film that was released more than two decades ago. ‘My Sassy Girl’ is a romantic comedy film directed by Kwak Jae-yong, starring Jun Ji-hyun and Cha Tae-hyun. The film is based on a true story told in a series of blog posts written by Kim Ho-sik, who later adapted them into a fictional novel.This film became one of the highest-grossing South Korean comedies of all time. It’s said t...
2023-10-301h 29
Talking TalkiesHera Pheri - woh meri machli ka kya hua?Episode 7: Hera PheriRelease date: 2000In this week’s episode, we go back two decades in time to discuss one of Bollywood’s top comedy films ‘Hera Pheri’. This movie is a remake of the 1989 Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking which was inspired by the 1971 film See the Man Run. The cast had Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar, Suneil Shetty, Tabu, Om Puri, Mukesh Khanna, Khulbhushan Kharbanda, and Gulshan Grover. The film was directed by Priyadarshan who is a renowned filmmaker in Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi film industries. Hera Pher...
2023-10-161h 32
Talking TalkiesThe Departed - Cops or Robbers?Episode 6: The DepartedRelease Date: 2006In this week’s episode, we discuss one of our favorite Martin Scorsese films - the only film that won him his first and to date only Oscar - The 2006 multi-starrer, the mobster crime drama - The Departed. The Departed is a remake of the HK film Infernal Affairs with an all-star cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, and Alec Baldwin; Vera Farmiga plays the love interest of both Damon and DiCaprio’s characters. The Departed was a...
2023-10-021h 47
Talking TalkiesTrain to Busan - Are the Zombies Even the Worst Thing in the Apocalypse?Episode 5: Train To BusanRelease Date: 2016In this week’s episode, we head over to South Korea to discuss one of our all-time favorite films - Train to Busan. This movie was released in 2016 - the first live-action film of director Yeon Sang Ho. It stars Gong Yoo, Ma Dong Seok, and Jung Yu Mi - all well-known stars - and was commercially successful as well as critically acclaimed. Train to Busan is hailed as one of the best zombie apocalypse movies of all time. Whilst the main theme is survival, it ma...
2023-09-181h 58
Talking TalkiesNayakan - Are you a good man or a bad man?Episode 4: NayakanRelease Date: 1987This episode features one of the ‘cult classics’ of Indian cinema from one of the largest regional film industries in the country - the Tamil Film industry called Kollywood - (based out of the Kodambakkam neighborhood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu).Nayakan is a crime drama, written and directed by Mani Ratnam. Mani Ratnam today is heralded as one of the finest film directors in India. The film stars the great Kamal Haasan - one of the biggest superstars and finest actors in Indi...
2023-09-041h 59
Talking TalkiesOppenheimer - Savior or Destroyer of Worlds?Episode 3 : OppenheimerRelease Date: 2023This episode’s movie is not a “classic”, but is well on track to become one. A few years from now, people will look back at this magnum opus and host multiple podcasts dissecting this movie scene by scene, and dialogue by dialogue. So as not to be left behind in the latest summer blockbuster rage - Benny and Minal had to talk about the latest Nolan offering ‘Oppenheimer’. The pod’s first-ever guest David Longenecker - a friend of Benny, videographer by profession, and a huge Christopher Nolan fan - jo...
2023-08-211h 51
Dear SadieCricket is LifeHost Benny speaks with fellow cricket tragic Minal Sangekar about how we got into cricket, memorable games that we can't get out of our system, how following the game has evolved for us, and much more.
2023-08-1451 min
Talking TalkiesDilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge - did the big-hearted take the bride?Episode 2 : Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ)Translation: "The Big-Hearted Will Take the Bride"Release Date: 1995Benny and Minal travel back 3 decades to discuss DDLJ - one of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters that is still the longest-running movie in theaters and is playing at Maratha Mandir Theatre in Mumbai. DDLJ starred Bollywood’s superstars Shahrukh Khan (SRK) and Kajol, and is directed by Aditya Chopra (son of Yash Chopra) under the banner of Yash Raj Films (YRF). Minal watched it as a teenager when it was released, and Benny watched...
2023-08-071h 46
Talking TalkiesLa La Land - A romantic classic for the ages?Episode 1 : LA LA LANDRelease Date: 2016Benny and Minal, the co-hosts kickstart the first episode of this brand-new podcast, where they revisit classic movies from around the globe, that at least one of the hosts has enjoyed, and try to answer the questions - what works, what doesn’t, and how does it hold up today.The episodes are full of spoilers, so we suggest you watch the movie first and then tune in to the episode. That way you will enjoy it more. But if spoilers don’t fuss you, and you are...
2023-07-241h 26
Talking TalkiesTalking Talkies - TrailerHosted by Benny and Minal, please welcome the newest movie podcast in town - Talking Talkies!Tune in for a bi-weekly show on movies from around the world, where we will revisit some of the classics that has stuck with us over the years. New episodes coming soon!Follow us on Twitter: @_talkingtalkies--------------------------------------------------Vacation Beat:Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/vacation-beatLicense code: TTAP32WA7WMGMYAN
2023-07-1101 min
Crash Landed on KDramasKingdom - Korean Zombies and Politics during PandemicThe arrival of global hits such as the Netflix Drama Kingdom & Train to Busan led to the popularity of Zombie based shows amongst viewers especially those who had not watched any zombie shows.
The Kingdom drama is a brilliant plot set in the Joseon era where a kingdom is plagued by the zombie pandemic. The Crown Prince has to not only battle the zombies to safeguard his subjects; but also battle political conspirators who want to eliminate him as the rightful heir to the throne. The taut storyline, unexpected plot twists in every episode and a powerful...
2021-12-081h 02Crash Landed on KDramasThe Men Have Their SayPoonam shared a T-shirt quote she saw:
Real men watch Kdramas but they don’t speak about them!
In this episode we get them to speak and bust the myth that men don’t watch Kdramas! They also enjoy them as much as we gals do. Our guests today have vindicated this.
Do men like the same things as we women in Kdramas?
What got the guys hooked to Kdramas?
Do they enjoy romance and family dramas or are zombies and crime more up their alley?
What are the biases that are holding back men v...
2021-03-3143 min