The Inconceivable! Desis Podcast

Episode 032: Dunkirk

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 12:11:35 -0400

Show published: Aug 3, 2017

Our take on Christopher Nolan’s latest war epic, ‘Dunkirk’. Everything we loved (a lot), things we hated (very little), and things we were trying to work out (in progress).

The unsung Indian troops at Dunkirk and the missing faces
Fact & fiction at Dunkirk
The Dunkirk tracking shot from ‘Atonement’
The Little Ships of Dunkirk (actually used in the movie)
Nolan’s cinematic obsession with time

Episode 031: Inconceivably Marveling Groot

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Wed, 31 May 2017 19:25:45 -0400

Show published: May 31, 2017

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We restart podcasting with the big spectacular that started the summer: ‘Baahubali 2’.

And a small movie called ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2′.

That could be the other way around.

Adam Warlock
The insanity of Baahubali 2 box office collections.

Episode 030: A Rogue One Episode

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 13:34:37 -0500

Show published: Jan 18, 2017

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We have a slightly belated discussion about ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’, aka the One True Prequel movie in the Star Wars Universe.

CGI actors in Rogue One: how they did it + video
Previous Star Wars episodes by the Inconceivable! Desis
Carrie Fisher passed away
Carrie Fisher’s memoir ‘Wishful Drinking’

Episode 029: Khel Khiladiyon Ka - Bollywood Sports Movies

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 21:03:58 -0500

Show published: Dec 22, 2016

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In honor of ‘Dangal’ releasing, we talk about sports movies in Bollywood with a very special guest - author Diptakirti Chaudari.

There’s actually been a crazy variety of sports featured in Indian cinema, including everything from wrestling and boxing, to track and cricket (duh), and even rooster fighting and kabaddi.

Wrestling: Dangal, Sultan

Dara Singh

Cricket: Iqbal, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Lagaan, Patiala House, Victory, Azhar, Awwal Number

Special appearances by cricketers: Salim Durrani in Charitra (opp Parveen Babi), Sandip Patil in Kabhi Ajnabi They (villain Syed Kirmani), Sunil Gavaskar in Malaamaal, Ajay Jadeja in Khel
Love Marriage starring Dev Anand as a cricketer

Hockey: Chak De India
Boxing: Mary Kom, Boxer, Apne, Ghulam, Brothers
Track: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Paan Singh Tomar
Cycling: Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
Football: De Dhana Dhan Goal, Saheb
Honorable Mentions: Aadukalam, Virumaandi, Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (Badlapur Boys)
What are NOT sports movies: Any Khiladi movie, Chamatkar, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Karan Johar movies (esp Student of the Year)

Episode 028: Written By Salim-Javed

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 19:39:54 -0500

Show published: Dec 02, 2016

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We take the excuse of reviewing Diptakirti Chaudhari’s excellent book ‘Written By Salim-Javed’ to reminisce about one of great writing couples of Indian cinema.

Also worth reading: Anupama Chopra’s book on ‘Sholay’.

Bonus: The Youtube channel on Lessons from the Screenplay.

And yes: Inconceivable Desis khush huey. Woh ek book likhega, hum chaubees phillum ki baat karenge.

Episode 027: Hatching Twitter

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 14:51:25 -0400

Show published: Oct 07, 2016

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We review Nick Bilton’s tale of Twitter: Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal, and try to understand why it is the way it is, and where it might go next.

Bilton’s follow up piece in Vanity Fair
Bilton on Twitter’s potential sale
Twitter investor Chris Sacca on What Twitter Can Be

Episode 026: How We Learned to Love the Superstar

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 13:36:29 -0400

Show published: Aug 26, 2016

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We talk about what we loved or hated about the Superstar’s latest release ‘Kabali’.. plus of course why we love Rajni at all - his classic performances and so much more.

Featuring a special guest!

Kabali’s Quiet Feminism
Baba Kichchu Tha vs Swades Dekho Na
Our first Rajni movies: Murattu Kalai, Mullum Malarum, Annamalai

Episode 025: As Marvel and DC Superheros Fight, So Do We

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 09:05:32 -0400

Show published: Aug 01, 2016

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Taking a cue from this year’s superhero spectaculars, we try to not to fight about whether Batman V Superman sucked or whether Civil War was over-hyped. Plus of course, all the movies we have to look forward to based on Comic Con trailers.

The fundamental flaw in Batman v Superman
All the Comic Con 2016 trailers
What Civil War gets right compared to Batman v Superman

Episode 024: Go Fourth and Debate Star Wars

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Wed, 04 May 2016 07:33:20 -0400

Show published: May 04, 2016

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In honor of Star Wars Day, we revisit the “classic” debate about the prequels (Episodes 1-3). Why they should be reviled. And why they may be better than people say they are.

Could it be?

Classic take downs of the Star Wars prequels: Episode I, II, III.
Deadpool VFX breakdown.
Brilliant integration of mechanical and CGI models in Jurassic Park.
A great deconstruction of Episodes 1-3 vis a vis Episodes 4-6.

Episode 023: Masters of Doom

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 20:47:12 -0400

Show published: Apr 07, 2016

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For our (roughly) one-year anniversary, we finally got back to podcasting to review ‘Masters of Doom’

Doom still gets modded, even in 2016
Watch Romero talk about level design in Doom
The infamous (and sad) Columbine massacre
The infamous (and insane) Hot Coffee mod for GTA

Episode 022: The (Bollywood) Martian AKA Mangal Pandey Ki Mangal Katha

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 14:24:08 -0500

Show published: Jan 22, 2016

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Ever wonder how Bollywood would remake ‘The Martian’?

Now you know.

Episode 021: Divyashakti Ki Lalkaar

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 11:56:58 -0500

Show published: Jan 04, 2016

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We take on the latest Star Wars movie, “The Force Awakens”.. what we loved, what we hated, how it should have been a sequel to Divyashakti (1993).

A guide to Star Wars canon, and where Episode VII fits in with the universe.
Divyashakti
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
The unwritten rules to making Great Star Wars movies.
The Nostalgia Debate Around The Force Awakens

Episode 020: Navratri

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 00:20:02 -0500

Show published: Dec 14, 2015

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In the finale of our trilogy on Indian festival season, we talk about Navratri, Durga Pujo, Vijayadashami.. and everything related.

Everything Navratri: the 9 days, the 5 types, the 3 different gods
Golu: Sample elaborate setup
Durga Pujo
Dandiya: “bastardized” Garba dance
Saraswathi Puja and Ayudha Puja
Vijayadashami and Ravana Dahan
Falguni Pathak aka the “queen” of Navratri/Garba celebrations
And in the movies:

Delhi-6 aka how not to use Ramlila
Swades aka inspirational Ramlila
Navrathri aka the awesomeness of Sivaji Ganesan
Multitude of Garba/Dandiya-related songs: Dhol Baaje, Nagada Sang Dhol, Disco Dandiya

Episode 019: Ganesh Chathurthi

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 21:59:54 -0500

Show published: Nov 21, 2015

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We spoke about Ganesh Chathurthi (when it happened back in September), and made it the 2nd in our trilogy of episodes on Hindu festivals.

Fun (but maybe graphic) myths associated with Ganesha
Amar Chitra Katha aka the best way to introduce graphic novels to kids
How Ganesh Chathurthi is celebrated the world over (+ history!)
Selfie stick Ganesha (#facepalm)
Bollywood uses Ganesh Visarjan
Visarjan dance aka do not judge them
Bal Ganesh

Episode 018: The Diwali Episode

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 22:39:49 -0500

Show published: Nov 11, 2015

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Today is Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The Inconceivables get together to discuss the origin of Diwali, how it shaped their life growing up, it’s influence on Bollywood, and fireworks. Lots of talk about fireworks.

Diwali ELI5ed - PG for a real 5 year old (don’t lol at work)
7 Bollywood Diwali celebrations
10,000 firecrackers in one go - over 50 ft of explosion

Episode 017: Back to the Future

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 11:51:45 -0400

Show published: Oct 22, 2015

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In honor of the well-loved trilogy finally getting its day in the future.. we talk about why its so lovable and why we love it so much. Plus of course, how Indian cinema does not get time travel or how it works.

The origin of time travel is in India!
Love Story 2050: Hey You, Lover Boy
Action Replayy: Chhan Ke Mohalle
Fun 2shh: Dudes in the 10th Century: You Will be M-I-N-E
Indru Netru Naalai
Hoverboards live!
Donald Trump vs Biff Tannen: true enough to be scary
The infamous Javed Miandad six

Episode 016 - Foundation

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 15:04:47 -0400

Show published: Sep 23, 2015

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Foundation - Isaac Asimov

Other Sci-fi masterpieces

Not-so-great Hollywood adaptations

Episode 015: Shakespeare in Bollywood

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 21:53:04 -0400

Show published: Sep 12, 2015

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Romeo and Juliet

The Comedy of Errors

The Taming of the Shrew

Honorable Mentions

Twelfth Night: Dil Bole Hadippa! (in which Rani Mukherjee thinks she can play cricket)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: 10 ml Love
Padayappa (containing a vague twist on The Taming)
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (aka the best of Kishore Kumar)
Judwaa (kinda sorta adapted from The Comedy of Errors)

Good recent Hollywood adaptations

Much Ado About Nothing by Joss Whedon
Coriolanus by Ralph Fiennes

What we shall table for later: Vishal Bharadwaj and Shakespeare

Episode 014: Comic Book Entertainment

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 14:24:44 -0400

Show published: Aug 27, 2015

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Satish and Raghu talk about comic book movies, their recent TV interpretations.. and what has been accomplished with them in the desi sphere.

Oh and that first bit is from the good ol’ Captain America cartoons (circa 1966)

Marvel’s TV shows and movies

Sample the continuity: The First Avenger, The Winter Soldier, Civil War
Marvel’s TV shows

Agents of Shield
Daredevil, and its epic one shot fight scene

Side note

What are Crossovers?
Why do Comic Books come out on Wednesday?

DC TV shows and movies

Smallville (probably way ahead of its time)
Arrow
Superman v Batman : Dawn of Justice: “do your (eyes) bleed (with how grim this movie is?”

The Indian “attempts”

Krrish
Amitabh Bachchan in and as Supremo
Captain Vyom
Mahakumbh : Ek Rahasya, Ek Kahani
Bal Ganesh
Drona or how Priyanka Chopra plays Elektra hiding behind Abhishek Bachchan’s paunch.

Episode 013: A Historical Take on Indian Cricket and IPL

info@inconceivabledesis.in (The Inconceivable! Desis) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 12:22:28 -0400

Show published: Jul 29, 2015

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Examining the history of Indian Cricket (literally!) - all the way back from the 1900s and how today’s IPL parallels it all while taking it forward.

An excellent read on this topic: “A Corner of a Foreign Field”
The pre-WW 2 “Bodyline” series
How to explain cricket to Americans
The Ranji trophy
The underlying topic that started it all: IPL
The latest IPL scandal: suspending teams due to match-fixing