August has had quite a few releases -- some that resonated and lifted my mood, while a few that should not have seen the light of the day. But I am here only to tell you what you should watch. So, here are mid-day’s OTT recommendations for the month
Posters courtesy: PR
Ever since I made it my mission to discover interesting content, language stopped being a barrier. While I am yet to catch some good Bangla, Gujarati, and maybe Konkani web shows, the diversity has been enlightening. August has had quite a few releases — some that resonated and lifted my mood, while a few that should not have seen the light of the day. But I am here only to tell you what you should watch. So, here are mid-day's OTT recommendations for the month.
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Aani Kay Hava? - MXPlayer
Are you bored of the constant husband-wife bashing jokes in movies, shows, and even in stand-up comedy? Well, I am. The context is either about subjugation or extramarital affairs or the lack of chemistry between couples. Despite being a country where someone is always getting married, going by my social media feed, we rarely see content that showcases the good side of this relationship. At a time like this, I chanced on the Marathi series, Aani Kay Hava? It's a light-hearted comedy that explores the life of a newly married couple, and no, it is not a love marriage. Real-life couple, Priya Bapat and Umesh Bapat bring forth their cutesy banter on-screen through three seasons. The first season became an instant favourite. Season three went on air on August 6. While it has been a hit among Marathi content viewing audiences, it was a treat to discover this easy-breezy chemistry, a tad similar to Mithila Palkar and Dhruv Sehgal's Little Things.
Navarasa - Netflix
This collaboration was kickstarted to support the daily wage workers in the Tamil film industry during the pandemic and also happens to mark Mani Ratnam's debut on the web, but that's hardly a reason to watch this series. Navarasa is an anthology of nine stories that boast spellbinding performances, kudos to the stellar casting as they capture nine emotions/rasa in each episode — anger, compassion, laughter, wonder, courage, disgust, fear, love, and peace. Among the nine stories, a few that stuck with me were Priyadarshan's Summer of '92, which is borrowed from Malayalam actor, Innocent Vareed Thekkethala's life. Project Agni featuring Arvind Swami felt like someone overheard a conversation I often had with close friends when we sit to wonder about the universe. Parvathy Thiruvothu and Sidharth's Inmai showcased how fear makes you do the unimaginable, even if you are the most rational person out there. And lastly, the feeling of love through Suriya's Guitar Kambi Mele Nindru. However, one thing that ran common through all the nine stories was the music. So, after watching the series, log on to any music app and listen to each song and see the magic unfold.
Shershaah - Amazon Prime Video
It's independence month and filmmakers often plan a few patriotic movies around August 15. But don't ignore this one assuming it is like any random patriotic film. Shershaah is a story of true valour and commitment to the country. Let's be honest, how often do you hear someone opting to join the army when they are making career decisions? The number by far is quite low and we are indebted to those who make that choice. One such man, who contributed to subverting the 1999 Kargil War was Param Vir Chakra awardee and Indian Army Captain Vikram Batra. Shershaah traces his journey and ideology with this biopic that took almost five years to finally hit the screen. While I am not a big fan of Sidharth Malhotra, he resonated the spirit of Captain Vikram Batra with his performance, whose life in itself lends to ample drama and romance. So, don't miss this one and do sit with a few tissues, because this one will get you teary-eyed.
The Kissing Booth 3 - Netflix
This teen romantic-comedy franchise has been a feel-good venture from the get-go. The first two instalments were loved and appreciated, and the third part followed suit. While the first film revolved around the main character Elle Evans played by Joey King, who falls in love with her best friend's brother, Noah Flynn (played by Jacob Elordi), the second part had her navigating her emotions when she meets another eligible bachelor, all the while juggling her friendship with Joel Courtney's character Lee Flynn. The Kissing Booth 3 is finally a more mature outlook at doing something for yourself while keeping your loved ones closer. What stuck with me most is Elle's idea of loving two people so much that she somewhere forgets to choose herself. It teaches you about self-love, sometimes putting your own dreams before everyone else is important. This easy-breezy outing is definitely a fun watch.
What If…? - Disney+ Hotstar
This animation series is for those who cannot have enough of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and are disheartened by the end of Avengers. We've all at least one time in our life wondered, What If… we had made a different choice. And that's exactly what the series discovers. The series explores alternate timelines in the multiverse that show what would happen if major moments from the MCU films occurred differently. The first episode is What If Agent Peggy Carter was the first Avenger instead of Steve Rogers. The interesting bit, the creators roped in some of the original actors to lend voice to their characters. We will also hear late Chadwick Boseman voice the character of T'Challa and Star-Lord, but that episode will come much later. The first 23-minute episode is quick, covers all the crucial points, intertwined with brilliant action and MCU's trademark humour. So if you are a curious soul, this one is definitely worth the watch.
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