Rajyasree: I read multiple news reports claiming that Saif’s alleged attacker came into Bengal, but had to move to Bombay because there were no job opportunities in the state. Why is a dig being made at Bengal even when…
Abhinandan: Even when you’re discussing the attack on Saif? Yes. The Aadhaar card he used also apparently was from Bengal.
Rajyasree: I read he had no Aadhaar card! See, at the moment, the best fiction writing is being carried on in these newsrooms.
This and a whole lot of awful and awesome as Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen discuss the series Paatal Lok S2 and Black Warrant.
Have something to say? Write to us at newslaundry.com/podcast-letters.
Timecodes
00:00:00 - Introductions
00:01:00 - Headlines
00:05:12 - Announcements
00:06:42 - Topics
00:09:08 - Black Warrant
00:29:31 - Letters
00:34:16 - Paatal Lok S2
00:46:03 - Interview with the cast of Black Warrant
01:10:04 - Closing thoughts
References and recommendations
Subscribe to NL-TNM
NL Sena - Delhi Polls
Abhinandan’s interview with Sunil Gupta and Sunetra Choudhary
Click here to download the Newslaundry app on Android. And here for iOS.
Produced and recorded by Ashish Anand and Prashant Kumar; edited by Priyali Dhingra.
This episode is outside of the paywall, just for the week and just for you. Before it goes back behind the paywall, why not subscribe? Get brand-new episodes of all our podcasts every week, while also doing your bit to support independent media. Click here to subscribe.
[00:00:00] This is a News Laundry Podcast and you're listening to Awful and Awesome.
Hello, hello. This is the Awful and Awesome Entertainment Wrap, Episode 378. This is Rajesh Hassan. This is Abhinandan Sekhri, uh, and we're bringing you Awful and Awesome, recording this on Tuesday the 21st of January. Why are you sounding sad about it? I'm not sounding sad, I'm just trying to modulate now to not be high pitched.
Have you been told you're high pitched or are you trying to give me a message that I'm high pitched? I'm just trying new things. Like that. That's my newest designation. Even I can, I'm going to try not to be nasal. Okay. That's sound less like Mr. Modi and say things about, but before we get into the meat of the episode, we have the headlines.
I didn't know I've sort of had any meat, but yes, I'm learning [00:01:00] something new every day. I personal does just fluff. I don't think I'm not going to subscribe to our episode is full of meat always, but meaty headlines. Yes. Yes. So in bad news. Actor, I'm smiling, but I actually was very sad. Actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed multiple times by an intruder at his Bandra home last week.
In worse news, TV news channels, which have been dying for some drama to report on, pulled out their worst graphics, which makes even the Kerala files seem like fine art. Here are some examples. The visuals are there on YouTube for those of you who are only listening to audio. And in good news, For any other prospective robbers to the residence of Mr.
Khan, you just have to turn on a news channel because they're telling you exactly where the new CCTV cameras are being installed, uh, which was the agency that had provided the guards, what [00:02:00] is the, the layout of the house. So now you can just switch to the news channels and any for the robbers, you will have the full blueprint of CCTV, everything ready.
So thank you to our news channels always giving us news you can use. And the good news is that Ranbir Kapoor will begin shooting for Dhoom 4 in a quote unquote brand new avatar because that's the standard. Uh, from next year, from 2026. But the bad news is that there's going to be yet another Dhoom film.
I'm blown away that. It's happening, but Will probably, oh, that means EK will be in it. I don't know all the whom films have them. So it'll be only npo. Only Naples. Only Naples who are not talented other than rugby, rugby, rugby is talented other than him. These two are, this is their lifetime, uh, warranty.
They've got in good news, emergency, which has been written by, directed by, and acted by. Kga was released. In [00:03:00] bad news, it was only watched by Kangana. It has pretty much no audiences. In more bad news, Punjab saw protests asking for its ban, but in good news, the joke was on the protesters because no one was watching it anyway.
There was no point banning it. So the The jokes on you protesters, not on Kangana. Then, uh, in good news, which is a bit repetitive, Pushpa 2 has been one of the biggest blockbusters, collecting some gazillion crore, depending on which source you choose to believe, but it's huge. 1000, above 1000 crores. So that's the good news.
In bad news, the office of my three movie makers, which are the producers of Pushpa 2, were raided by the income tax department a few days ago. So, and also the homes of Dil Raju's family members, uh, and filmmaker Dil Raju on tax evasion. So yeah, so make sure film doesn't do too well. It should be what they call a sleeper hit.
[00:04:00] And or be modest while announcing how well it's doing. Yeah, but sleeper hit has different meaning in different places. What is a sleeper hit, Trin? In, uh, most of the country, a sleeper hit is something that doesn't start off like blockbuster, but slowly does well, you know. In Bengal, a sleeper hit is basically A slipper hit.
Don't act smart. Don't make fun of Bengalis. It is a very successful ad of relaxo hawai chapal. So if that ad does well, it's sleeper hit. We don't have, we have khadim slippers over there. But speaking of this Bengal thing I was reading these news reports of this supposed burglar assaulter. He might not even be the person for we know, but alleged Bangladeshi, Bangladeshi immigrant is, but part of the news report says at least three news reports said this, that he actually came into Bengal, but because there are no job opportunities in Bengal, therefore he came to Bombay.
Why is a dig being [00:05:00] made at this time? Bengal, even when you are discussing attack and shocking. And Aadhaar card or whatever he used to get a SIM card was from Bengal. Ah, he had no Aadhaar card I was, I read. See this is, it depends on at the moment the best fiction writing is carrying on in these newsrooms.
Very good. So Rajshri Sen. Yes. Now there are the headlines out of the way. Also want to get one very important announcement out of the way. Those of you who contributed last week, um, we saw a slight uptick. It's a sleeper hit, and I'll say enough for the Delhi election. The Delhi election is I think two or three weeks away.
We don't take any ads. And if you've been watching. What has been happening on television and on radio and FM, the kind of ads, the kind of money that media makes thanks to ads ensures that they are heavily dependent on political parties and governments to get their revenue. And in my view, that cannot serve public interest when journalism is concerned.[00:06:00]
So we only take money from you. Our journalism survives on public money. contributions. Here's a QR code. Power our NLCNR project for daily elections. We have another project. And if you've already already a contributor, if you're already a subscriber, get your friends, relatives, family members, et cetera, et cetera.
You know the drill. So I'd appreciate it if you do that. It's important. It's important for democracy to survive. Uh, we have Avdesh, Anmol Pritam, Basant Kumar, Dhrishti Chaudhary, Pratyush Deep. Shiv Narayan, uh, Raj Purohit, Sumedha, uh, Srinivasan Jain is partnering with us on this. Manisha is hitting the ground.
Atul is hitting the ground. So you can imagine like seven reporters hitting the ground and transport and khana peena, et cetera, et cetera. Journalism is not Chalte phirte ho jata hai. So do contribute. Otherwise, the journalism will only be paid for by billionaires and politicians and good luck with that then.
So, R Rshi Sen, uh, what are we discussing? We are discussing black warrants. Okay. [00:07:00] We are discussing only police stuff. So one is Sef's, uh, Thrillers. We're discussing thrillers. Thrillers, yeah. So we are going to discuss Black Warrant, which was released, I think, last week. And, uh, the new season of Patal Lok.
And, uh, I also spoke to the Black Warrant three of the actors, uh, which is Rahul Bhatt, Zahaan Kapoor, and Anurag Thakur. And that we'll have at the end of the episode. So Rajshri Sen, what do you want to start with? What have you watched? I've watched both. No. What have you watched in total? In total, total.
No. I'm feeling like those rare occasions in school when I used to do the homework and the teacher would look at me and ask me, Aaj bhi isko mein thappad marunga mauka hai. So Abhinandan, have you done your homework? And I'd look up and say, Yes. I have. And they'd believe you or they'd think you've copied from someone.[00:08:00]
I do lots of things, but I do not tell lies. I'm not a fake news spreader, unlike some people I know. Who? Who? So, uh. You tell me whether you watched all episodes. I watched three episodes of Black Warrant. And there are only six or seven, so three's not bad. There are like eight episodes. Okay, and I watched all of Paatal Lok.
See, I told you you'll end up watching all of Paatal Lok. You didn't say any such things. Yes, you've forgotten. You're old, so you don't know. For this also take credit. One time I do my work, that's also because of Rajshri Sam. Of course, so shall we discuss Black War in First, the one which you haven't watched the whole thing of.
Sure, let me pull out my notes because like a responsible presenter of a show. I'm very diligent with my homework and I take notes and I make notes at multiple places on my phone also and I've got a word document here also. Tell me. So many notes you have. Notes. It might be longer. These are the only notes.
Uh, you [00:09:00] took notes while watching the premiere? Uh, no, I made later. No, I took some. You remember? In films I put out my phone. That's why I'm asking. I do that often. So everyone must have been thinking of messaging. First of all, I don't otherwise, everyone, everyone . If everyone is there, everyone should just focus on the screen rather than see what I'm doing.
Should have tell them. Right. So a Black Warrant is based on Sun and Sun Gupta's book Black Warrant. And I had interviewed them and the book came out. Yeah. And uh, here's a little clip from the interview. You can watch the whole interview, but it's for subscribers only. Like, you know, most people think that when you go to a place like Aha Jail, your inhumanity will rise in the sense that you get desensitized.
You are confronted with the worst of the worst, so it's very easy to demonize. Whereas through your book, you have that unique ability of looking at everybody as a human with frailties. No matter how horrific the deed they've done. Just take me through that. So we used to [00:10:00] consider Tihar as a family. You will be surprised when you go to jail and you are talking to someone.
You have so much confidence that when I go to jail, well, if I go to jail. No, as a journalist, as a journalist. For us, the jail is like a family. Whosoever is coming to the jail, how inhuman he may be outside, but when he is coming to the prison, he is our family. Someone's birthday happens, we celebrate it, someone's I was telling you about Charles Sobhraj's message, it's not written in this.
Charles Sobhraj was a family for us. It's not written in this. When he said that it was his birthday and he wanted to give sweets to people, we were never suspicious that he may have mixed these sedatives in the sweets. The show has been directed by and Stars, [00:11:00] uh, Zhan Kaur as Sun Gupta, who was the jailer of, who was a jailer, and then the jailer of TE for 35 years.
Right? Which is a really long time to be in any job, according to me. But especially in this job, it's quite impressive and, uh. Rahul Bhatt plays his senior. Uh, Anurag Thakur and, uh, Paramveer Cheema play fictional. These all three are fictional characters. Rahul Bhatt, Anurag Thakur plays a Haryanvi cop. So just to be clear, this is not.
The former sports minister Anurag Thakur. It's another Anurag Thakur. Yeah, because I don't think the former sports minister could have acted this way. Don't worry. So Anurag Thakur plays Vipin Dhaiya. And Jahan Kapoor plays Sunil Gupta and Rahul Bhatt plays DSP Tomar. And Paramveer Cheema plays the Shivraj Singh Mangat.
Yeah, who's very sweet and he plays a Sardarji basically. So [00:12:00] So Neel Kupta, uh, Dahiya and Mangat joined Tihar together and, uh, you would see the book is more about the people who are in Tihar as in the prisoners and their experiences, why they are there and so on. It's a series of interviews and conversations that.
Uh, this one had, right, Sunitha had with these people and it has everyone from Manu Sharma to, uh, Charles Sobhraj. I haven't seen that episode yet. No, so this show doesn't have. So this show is at least the first season. They have season two and three coming up. The first season is the first four years of Sunil Gupta's life and the only you see Ranga Billa.
Who were these, uh, two killers, rapists and killers who were hanged to death at Tihar and it was this great, if you were in Delhi, I mean, if you're, um, if you were conscious in the late seventies, eighties. Everyone in Delhi knew [00:13:00] Rangabilla. So we had just shifted to Delhi. I was one year old. And you were clearly conscious of one.
You were already reciting Rangabilla. I said, what is this? I want to study criminology. No. And my, my brother used to go to school by bus at three, four year old. And my mom is from Bengal. Let's not forget. So she was, her darling son going and all. So Rangabilla we see, Charles Omraj we see. And that's it. We don't see any other well known, uh, cases or criminals and so on.
So what did you think? So Rajshri, um, I thought it was very well done. I think Vikramaditya Motwani has done a fantastic job. The direction is by him, Satyanshu Singh, R. K. Ajay, Rohin, Ravindran Nair and Ambika Pandit. Yeah, there's a bunch of them, huh? So I think this Zhan Kapo is, uh, Shahi Kapoor's grandson and is quite a, he's Punal Kapoor's.
Son. Son. So non dream lover [00:14:00] that not the really hot ka kapo was so good. I remember the ful J. What was it? Every night, I hope and pray, Dream lover will come my way, And take me in his arms, So that I don't have to dream along, Dream lover. Now imagine who Karan Kapoor is. Don't imagine me. Yeah. Imagine Karan Kapoor with his blue eyes, blonde hair, wearing suits and all.
He had come to school once when we guys were there. No, no. We were in school. He had come, I don't know, to deliver a lecture or whatever. He was fucking spectacularly handsome, except that he did a film called Loha. He did two, three films which Loha is the ultimate. So you guys can just Google Loha on YouTube.
Yeah. And see no matter how good looking you are. This is the nepotism thing. See, you, he got the film, but he was so bad in it. Oh, but that was, he had some [00:15:00] self respect. After two, he said, okay, thank you. And he's a photographer. He's gone abroad. But there are others who will get 13 films. I'm not taking names because I've turned a new leaf.
I've decided to become nice. So, yeah, so I think it's, um, it's very well cast. This is, it's in my notes because like any responsible host of a show, I've taken notes that I've realized one of the reasons that there's so much of new talent and the shows and films that are being made are so good. And this is true for both, is their cast really well, because if a well cast project.
Is half done. Yeah. You know, because then the characters like each of them, other than, you know, one or two exceptions. So I think it is really well cast. I think it is, um, the art direction of, you know, how they've shown everything is very well done. Is very, very well shown. Yeah. Even I don't know whether that episode first two episodes you [00:16:00] saw.
Yeah. Uh, So they show the sanitation and all, like it's gross absolutely, but you get the feel of the prison. I saw the first episode on big screen. I had gone for the screening that they held in Delhi. It was very nice. So, uh, and I think this boy, Zahan Kapoor, he was very charming lad. He's very, also he, when you're having a conversation, he is able to articulate what he Wants to say very easily.
It just comes like, it's very easy the way he articulates, but I also think it's Part of that is because he comes from a full theater background. So do the other Kapoors. Ranbir Kapoor doesn't come from a theater. This one is a theater as in he's a theater actor. This is his first The second film or second show, one film and one this thing.
Otherwise, he has like eight years of Prithvi theater, proper theater. He's Jennifer Kapoor's grandson, very clearly. And he's also Sanjana Noyle's [00:17:00] nephew. So, uh, so yeah, I thought it was really tight. I think it's very compelling. The subject itself is amazing. Uh, I just, the only one weakness I found a little bit, I thought it could be a bit tighter because it is very compelling.
It's not, it's not like it's not tight, but A bit more. I thought it would be, you know, the, the, this thing, but maybe it gets, I've only seen three episodes, like I said, and, uh, net net, I think it's definitely, it's finally already doing really well. I think it'll do well. This, this genre does well, but for me, the guys who really stand out one is young, the young Kapoor and the guy who plays Charles who played Nehru in I thought he's this really suits him.
He's I think that he's just, he's, Captured Charles Sobhraj's, you know, rakish charm really well, because I mean, I've never met Mr. Sobhraj. And I think Sobhraj used to find himself for me, like, Like the joke, he [00:18:00] was in on the joke of that people seem to get taken in by his charm. Yeah, so yeah, so that's my, I know, uh, again, very good sound design as well.
I think that's become better and better with a lot of these series. So that's my view. Rajshri Sen, what is yours? I'm trying to get his name. So I just felt, I don't know if, uh, y'all haven't watched The Serpent, which is Siddhant Gupta plays Charles Sobhraj. So, uh, if y'all haven't watched The Serpent, you should watch it.
I think it's on Amazon Prime. It's on We've reviewed it. Yeah. It's just excellent. So that was, uh, Charles Sobhraj. series on him, which was just fabulous. But I also thought it credit to the casting director to think of Zahaan Kapoor who looks nothing like Sunil Gupta. He's like, but I think when they cast, they don't necessarily have the person look like the protagonist, unless the protagonist is well known.
Like Charles O'Bridge. Yeah, [00:19:00] exactly. Otherwise, Charles O'Bridge can't be a five foot person. But then, according to me, which I had told, Some people who I know who were part of, uh, Freedom at Midnight, that I found it, everything was fine, other than, uh, this chap playing Nehru, because Nehru was five feet eight inches, and this chap is like seven feet, uh, feet almost, yeah, Siddhant Gupta, but, so I felt the buildup of, you know, that there are factions in prison, the kind of things that you have to deal with in prison, and the fact that everyone is grey, To a certain point, or if you're not, like, uh, Sunil Gupta is shown to be very much a straight arrow person, but even he, the system brings you to a point where you have to bend the rule to survive.
And that comes through very You have to realign your ethical compass. Your moral compass, you practice, you have to renegotiate with yourself the ethics that [00:20:00] you stand for. You have to redefine the values that guide you. So as I was saying, as I was saying, so, uh, and that Ranga Billa episode I thought was very good because you really, also you start wondering who.
Who did it because they kept, they have different versions and the other, because I'm like most, uh, women supposedly like true crime a lot, but I also wanted to study that data is from where, yeah, it's from everyone knows from the university of the same university of it's, it's a proven proven fact that women like true crime men don't women like true crime more than the audience, uh, gender breakup, Hmm.
Because you see, there are only two genders as Donald Trump has told us, male and female. Yeah. They've now decided that. Mr. Trump. Among other things that he has decided. Trump [00:21:00] Kiriyadu. That speech was So that in itself would be an episode. But, uh, so Ranga Billa throughout kept putting the blame on each other.
Yeah. But that entire thing that when you have, when a death sentence has been Announce that you are going to be hanged in a week, 10 days, whatever that It's made worse by the fact that they take you and then put you in solitary confinement for the last However many days no however many as it's signed you get put into that And to me that's even say if I was wrongfully convicted or if you don't believe in the giving someone the death sentence.
Why should we be killing people either? That the last few days are spent like that, that you are in solitary. But if you are doing that, then you do believe in giving the death sentence. No, but there should be something done about humanitarian rights in prison. But I think once you're killing someone, that's out of the window anyway.
But sometimes it's wrongful. Yeah, I mean, of course, but then if [00:22:00] that is, then the hanging is the problem, not the solitary confinement. I think you really, not only are you, are you. You are nitpicking on the, on the garnishing on the salad. You are nitpicking on the plant that the garnish came from. I mean, I think, like I remember the Kher Singh and Satwan Singh hanging was described in great detail when they were hanged.
They were the people convicted for Indira Gandhi's murder. And uh, I think the Illustrated Weekly had a very, uh, detailed description of that where Kher, who was at that time in his fifties and he claimed innocent till the end. You know, walk to the gallows. And, uh, he, he did not demonstrate any such sign of fear.
Uh, whereas Satwant Singh, who was the guy who actually shot his legs collapsed. He, you know, soiled himself. He had to be dragged to the gallows. It's just, it was an, I remember pretty, I was in school when I read that. There was no [00:23:00] filter that, you know, our parents didn't say, you can't read that. No, we were encouraged also, read the newspaper, your English will get better.
That along with the English, we are also thinking about, wow, someone has killed. There were less rapes and all reported, but. If there was something and gruesome detail was described. So I just, in this case, um, I think it was Ranga who, you know, walked to the gallows, whereas Billa had to be dragged. And it was, yeah, it was quite a macabre scene.
That scene has been done really well. I think it shows you the ugliness of the police system, the justice system. And it makes you wonder, are jails for reform or for just. People rotting away. So, I'll give a funny story. On cue, of course. On cue. As we talk about hanging someone, uh, because my grandmom used to work on jail [00:24:00] reform as in, uh, jail reform for female prisoners.
Right. Okay. So once a week she used to go to presidency jail to see what is happening, all that. And the same cab driver, one cab driver used to come to take her to presidency and bring her back. After the first month, every Wednesday she used to go and come back. She'd spend around four hours there. Come back.
He said, if you don't mind, can I just ask you something? So she said, yes. So he said, Mrs. Zen, you seem to have come, you're a known family, come from a decent family. Who of yours is in prison that you're going every week to meet them? And she said, I think she says one day my granddaughter will be, so I'm just hoping that I can describe to her as she gets used to it.
So I'm hoping that the, so I honestly preferred the book to the series because I think just the stories and the people that. who've [00:25:00] been interviewed in the book make it for very compelling reading but supposedly in season two now i don't know season two all these manu like well known and the more recent past basically even the others are well known but yeah recently well and also it's going to be more Of the prisoners and not of building Sunil Gupta's character because this, this first season is more about building his character and how did he become the jailer of the moment like that.
So let's see. I don't know, but, uh, but it's definitely worth a watch. Definitely. But even I who binge watch most things took a break because I think it just gets to you after a point and there's a very funny Affair. Did y'all see it? It's not in the first two episodes. Dhaiya basically has a, there's no great suspense, y'all are partially not, Dhaiya has an affair with the SPG or [00:26:00] whatever, IG of prisons, his wife.
And the IG is played by Tota. Right, Tota? Right, Choudhury, the one who dances in. Right, right, right. And it's a very, it's very funny that whole, uh, segment. I did think that, uh, I still do think that they could have, but I get why maybe they didn't, that Prabha Dutt should have been shown as Prabha Dutt and not as Pratibha Sen.
I think. It's complicated because I get the reasons many producers fictionalize a certain character, uh, logistically, because it's not just about it. Logistically, it can be really difficult. For example, if I were to take the permission of, let's say, you know, Rajshri Sen that I'm going to be putting your grandmother in my film and your grandmother, Prominent name is no more.
So you are many times when I ask you to show me the script, so you will say, what is she saying? Oh, no, she [00:27:00] didn't do that. Oh, no, this dialogue is, oh, she would never smoke like that in the prison. Oh, you're making her too, you know, you're making her look too inappropriate. Oh, she was not so concerned. Then at every stage, I have to get an objection from you.
So if I just sit. Let me just fictionalize it then there's less because it's no one's ever going to be happy with what they see, uh, you know, R. K. Narayan Who was the president? Who was the writer? As in R. K. Narayan was the writer. R. K. Narayan was very unhappy with Guide. How it came out. He said all bad things.
Although Guide I think is such a wonderful movie. I've never watched it. No, I haven't watched it. I've never watched it. Are you correcting my English? No, no. Indians always use never. As a substitute for haven't, it's like, I haven't done it. It's not, I've never done it. If you're using the word never, that's a very good reason.
Like, I have never been abroad. Now that Mr. Brennan Martin has told us. I have never seen the ocean. Oh my god. But I've seen, have you, you know, [00:28:00] worn, I have, I have never, I mean, never is not to be used so loosely. Why don't you tell us about RK Narayanan and KR Narayanan. So then, uh, in the case of, um, uh, which was that one year, because I knew the person who made it.
They had taken a very small bit and they had taken the release form and there was just too much of dissatisfaction with how that character who was based on this person's relative. So that's why I think it's just easier to. No, no, I agree. I get the logistics part, but I just feel because at the. She was a very Yeah, but apparently there were many people who actually interviewed, uh, Ranga the one who She also did, yes, of course, but there were others as well.
So at least from what I hear, it's not It's just I mean, while she It's But a lot of it is, uh, a mishmash of the other people's questions also that were asked. So the other thing, I just felt [00:29:00] only that character was Like, I found it a little odd the way they showed what a female journalist who's going into, she was dressed as if she's going for a deli.
There's a certain stereotype. Yeah. Yeah. I think. Every journalist. Uh, female journalist with a spine is not Bengali, even though Bengalis will tell you. So she did not have to be Pratibha Sen, she could have been Pratibha Gupta or whatever. But you said Guptas are Bengalis? Also they are Banyas, na? Are they Banyas?
Yeah. Yeah. But Guptas are Bengali is an ethnicity, Banyas are caste. They are bongs also, na? You can keep, we can keep arguing this, but it's worth the watch for sure. So on that note, we'll also read the only email that's come. Yeah. Why? I dunno. Only one email has come, guys, we've told you before. Rahi needs validation.
Yeah. So you can mail us at podcasts@newslaundry.com. I repeat [00:30:00] podcasts@newslaundry.com. Uh, you can tell us if we are good or if you're bad. If we are. Shit, what we should do. Tell us a thought. Whatever. Give us a thought, give us some inputs. Uh, if you have like brief abuses, you can leave it on a Twitter.
Timelines. Yeah, that go anyway. Twitter now to Instagram. People have taken Twitters and uh, inputs. I see. So feel free to use our social medias for abuse, but for a little more in depth critique, even if it's criticism, you can mail us at podcasts at newslet. com. We only, you know, take seriously the feedback of subscribers.
The rest of you, your feedback is okay, but we You write it on YouTube.
Link in the show notes below contribute become part of funding media. So, uh, this is from Akanksha. Yes, Abhirandan. Why don't you read it? Because you might have written it also. Tell us. It all starts with an A. It, it talks about my elocution skills. [00:31:00] You don't have to sum it up before you read it. So, I will Do it with full feeling this.
Yeah. Oof, says Akanksha. That was a beautiful essay about lights. Exclamation, exclamation. Also, I'm fucking acting out the exclamation. If you have to say exclamation, then clearly acting is not good enough. If you have to say, what's your name, question mark, then you're clearly not saying the question.
Don't fuck up my histrionics. Starting again. Again? Oof. That was a beautiful essay about lights. Also gave us insight into Nikku's guilt for not being able to contribute as much as he'd really like to. He has all his guilt about it. But what can we say? It's just not the same without him. And I'm sure News Laundry's engagement tracking reflects that.
Where say this message was meant to be about inner DOSCO elocution competition Nikku showing off while reading the essay. Okay, maybe the many years in front of the camera helped too. Cue another news [00:32:00] track story here. Hashtag no complaints here. Thank you Akanksha Yes, I can come with another story of when I used to host shows and I was in front of the camera in my 20s But since you talk about elocution, I can give you a poem from memory because most of my poems are from memory I don't have to, I don't know.
Everybody knows Robert Frost's Lines, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep. But, but they don't know. The poem, which is a very short poem. It's called Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. Many people call it Stopping by The Woods, but it's not The Woods. It's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.
Oh my god, are we gonna? Here you recite. If you insist, Rajshri Sen. Whose woods these are, I think I know. His house. Actually, the poem itself is not deep. It's a very basic describing. But it's what you make of the poem. These two lines have made it, like, as if the whole poem is. It's like Akhla Chalo Re.
Whose woods these are I [00:33:00] think I know, His house is in the village though. He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near, Beside the lake beneath the trees The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sounds The sweep of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep. Now, shall I tell them the truth? Much like when Jackie Shaw says his lines, there's someone standing. Holding placards.
Oh, with a placard on them. But do you know? Marlon Brando used to have a earpiece and have someone with it written on it. Earpiece. See, that would be a piece he wears once a year. Shut up. Earpiece. Earpiece. But tell me, what did Robert Frost say when he was asked, why do you repeat the last two lines? Yeah, I couldn't think of another line.
Actually, actually, that was the reason and we are thinking what not. [00:34:00] See the beauty. But this is like some other, I don't know who it was. The book was being taught in a literature class and like, you know, the protagonists Is seeing this and meaning this and then they cut to the author who said, I actually didn't mean it.
And you know these things, but whatever you take of it, yeah, interpretation is everything. Yes. So now the one show Niku has watched in totality before. An episode of News Laundry in, News Laundry in, uh, Awful and Awesome's history. Don't give me such a bad name also. What have you watched? So many things I've watched.
So many. Films don't count. This is a series. So many things. So Paataal Lok Season 2 is out on Amazon Prime. First of all, I think everyone should watch it. It is just, Really [00:35:00] spectacular. It starts Java, uh, vac Ish's surname is who was also in Rocket Boys Singh ish Singh. Imran Ari, who is so well cast. He's so good.
He and Jdi makes such a fantastic team. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, gold Panag Plays, which is J's wife. Uh, this time there are a few characters who are repeated from, uh, you know, the last this thing, but the real. The cake has been taken by Janu Barua, who plays Uncle Ken. Nagesh Kukunur is pretty good actually.
Nagesh Kukunur is very good. And he is the quintessential bureaucrat. He plays that role so well. Yeah. And I must say, those of you who have been covering the North East, You might find hints of some rumored things which have been reflected well in this film, in the series. Then, Mirella Imsong, as Rose [00:36:00] Lizzo, is phenomenal.
Yeah. Tilottama Shom, who in fact, her first cinema, she was so good. Her first film and my first film were the same film. You made it sound like you were the star in the film. No, I was, I was, This is how Ranbir Kapoor said, Mine and Nargis Fakhri is, No, no, mine was, I was wrangling cable and serving tea on set.
She was acting in Monsoon Wedding. But it was still my first, Correct, correct. I'm sorry, I don't want to take this Bol Hussain as Guddu. Prashant Tamang was amazing as Daniel. He is so, so good. They've acted very, very well. Now, I just, you know, will consult my notes. So I have to say one thing. I didn't realize, uh, the language they speak in Nagaland is I'll get it wrong and then people will get upset is Naga in this.
They call it Naga. Uh, they don't call it Naga. They call it, uh, it is so close to Bengali. No, no, Niku. As in, I would have understood Bengali. It is Bengali. No, it is [00:37:00] Bengali. Bengali is just the mother of the jump off a cliff. No, all I'm saying is who knew that it is so close. I thought Nepali, nobody knew.
Basically it said Nepali basically till came around, nobody fucking knew. No one knew it. Saying Nepali, which is so close to, it's called Mieses. Yes. Yeah. So because ASEs is not. similar to Bengali at all. This is, it's really like speaking in Bengali with a little lilt here and there. But there are huge variations in the tribes, uh, Nagamis also depending on the dialect, where you are, the dialect changes.
So I want to say one thing, which I think is an important input. I think the Did you just say that what you're going to see is an important input? And if I said something like that, you'd say, Oh, you're so full of yourself. But tell us, what is your important input? You'll never say that to me. You know, you never have.
I've never said. So. [00:38:00] I think the art department has come up with this one location which gives its place regularly for film shoots and series shoots because I'm fairly confident the house that they show as this one's house, uh, Chaudhary's house is the same house that is Gajraj and Leena Chopra's house.
Oh, you're saying in Delhi. Yeah. In, uh, Badhai Ho. It's very similar. In Badhai Ho, which is the same house in another Gajraj film. I forget which. It is just. Too similar that, that lane. So I think this one house, which they want to show the eighties, nineties or even any area, it's look suspiciously the same.
I think it's the same. Maybe y'all can move to a, that was my valuable input. That was your valuable input. So the things which work for me, one is I had forgotten. I still don't remember the Paatal Lok season one story fully, but, but you don't need to. You can [00:39:00] still know what is happening here. The, uh, the relationship between Ishwak's character and, uh, Jadeep's character is very beautifully shown.
The friendship that they have and, and the, uh, The respect that Ishwak has for Jaideep, even though Jaideep is junior in rank because this guy has gone ahead and How beautifully they have woven Nagaland and the
Without being patronizing or offensive, I think the biggest, they were walking a tightrope because anyone who has grown up in North India knows how there is a tendency of being racist towards Northeast Delhi University. It was rampant. I don't know if it's still the same. Uh, so there are sensitivities to keep in mind there, yet, there are certain things that are very unique about the Naga culture without, uh, what's the word I'm looking for?
You don't want to exoticize. [00:40:00] Exoticize? Exoticize. I think you just made up your own word. No, exoticize. Exorcise. No, you can exorcise also. Exorcises. You can exorcise also. Exorcises when, when Bengalis are jogging. It's exorcise. You can exorcise, exorcise or exoticize. Which one do you want to do? We are doing exorcise.
Sit up. See, you should not make a show about Bengalis because you would make fun of our very intelligent community. I'll be cancelled immediately. Also, there's another thing. Every woman who has an affair is not Bengali, yeah? Again, in Black Foreign, the one who's having an affair is Bengali. Why? We are very straight laced and very morally upright people.
We are Lok. No, but I just remembered this thing of every time there's a woman having an affair. Rashu, we are in Pataal Lok. I'm just saying I feel like I'm in Pataal Lok. Yes, I feel like I'm in Pataal Lok. And Jadeep Alawar. Is that a myth? No, but first I was saying about the, about that, walking that tightrope, I think [00:41:00] The fact that you won't notice it is the genius of this show.
They have taken some aspects, certain cultural traditions, which could easily be seen as offensive, the way they are treated by Bollywood and done it so well shown the uniqueness of it. Exactly. And also when you go there and, and this, I can tell you from my, uh, I spent a whole lot of time there shooting several shows.
There is a general thing there that dude, if You know, someone from that tribe kills my tribe, cops will stay out of it. We will settle it. Yeah. And that is, I mean, it could be seen as lawlessness. It could be seen as tribal culture. It's a very difficult one to kind of negotiate. So I think that that was done expertly and I will not give any spoilers, but there's certain little aspects which are reveals, which without being preachy, without showing that, Oh, we are so inclusive.
So this, yeah. It's, I think that [00:42:00] is the real genius of this show. Other than everything else, being aware, making political statements, Dosti Bani Rahe was a very interesting one, uh, certain, um, references, very subtly done, but without being preachy or activist y, that was the genius of this show for me. Also, they've clearly taken the time to get on board one or however many People to give them accurate inputs on Nagaland because a lot of the time when you know, it's not like either of us is experts.
No, no, I think by now it would have come about if something was so jarring. Like sometimes when you watch something which has Bengalis in it, you're like, this is not the way Bengal is because some fool has any Bengali will say that about anything made by non Bengali. That's when this one says Jackie Shroff, no one speaks like.
So the other thing is they did cast a lot of Northeastern [00:43:00] actors, they haven't used someone from the Hindi industry to play a Northeastern character, which I think that in itself is a big step because the casting is absolutely spot on. And which shows the kind of talent that there is. Yeah. Such amazing talent.
It's excellently acted. Now to Jaidi Balawat. He is just spectacular as an actor, I have to say. Because, I, there's something else I saw. Oh, the film that he did with Kareena. He and Vijay Verma are in it and I've seen many interviews of him first physically though he seems to if it's a prosthetic belly it's a very good prosthetic I must say but most probably is because he's really big in this but in the scenes where he hardly has any dialogue when he's Like you can make out he's processing some information.
It's just fabulous. The one I also felt the little boy Guddu acts very well. Also, I [00:44:00] think a, not just him, everyone's been cast just really amazingly. The plot is not too complicated. I remember in the part one, it became too complicated in this one. They've kept it relatively simple, but there are a few things which are too convenient.
Um, that was just one small shortcoming. I think the sound design is insanely good. They have used, you know. traditional music of the area. They have used it so well. And this is one of those shows where the sound design isn't overly done. There's a dang, dang, dang happening everywhere. It is authentic. It seems just right, right amount, not too much, not too little.
And finally, I think the pacing of it is. Perfect. It never drags. Yeah, it never drags. It's all like they're trying to tie it up at the end. It's very, very well. It's an excellently made show, I have to say. And sometimes the season twos are not as good as [00:45:00] season one. But this was, I did find it a little complicated.
I didn't think it was one of those shows you can be looking at your phone and looking up. Part one. Part one to confuse me. Part one is so complicated. After a while, it was a bit too much, although that was very good. But I think this is just amazing. But so watch this for sure. I would say watch both. I mean, it's one of those weeks of two weeks where At least I didn't feel my time was wasted.
It was both. The shows are amazing. I'm definitely going to finish, uh, Black Warrant also because it's one of those that has hooked me enough. So, and I'm excited to note that Severance 2 is out. So there's a lot of good viewing happening. So next time we will discuss Severance 2. It's out only two episodes out.
They're going to do that appointment viewing. Apple loves doing this. But, uh, so watch, uh, these two and, uh, watch my conversation with these three, uh, Actors from Black Warrant and subscribe, pay to keep news free. Here is the QR code [00:46:00] again. Help us power our election coverage. Be a part of a movement which will truly set news and journalism free from corporate and political control.
So Rajshri, let's first cut. to your interview and then we will come back and say bye to our audience. Hello. Hello. This is a special interview episode for the Awful and Awesome Entertainment Wrap. I am of course Rajatri Sen, but we are speaking to three of the main characters from Black Warrant. So in order of seniority, we can do this.
We have Rahul Bhatt who plays, uh, do you play DCP? What is the exact? DSP Kumar, then we have, and the other two are contemporaries. So there's Zahaan, who plays Sunil Gupta, who worked at Tihar for 35 years. And there's Anurag Thakur, who plays Dhaya, who is one of Who is just awesome. Who [00:47:00] is just awesome, of course, and very modest.
which is always a good thing, I feel. And, uh, He doesn't smoke, he doesn't drink, he doesn't do anything, he doesn't lie. Very good, good boy. He's the best. He's the best, absolutely. We both are his, right? We keep saying what he doesn't do. And there was, of course, Paramveer Chima, right? Who plays Mangat who was excellent as well.
So the, just for people who have not, if you have not watched the series, I would say, please watch it because it is honestly one of the finest series. I think that Netflix has, uh, Produced in a long time, so good for Netflix, but, uh, it also is on the same, uh, I would say the level as a Shawshank Redemption or, uh, Orange is the New Black in the way it shows prisons.
I felt that, you know, the reality of, because otherwise we had, which [00:48:00] by the way, is one of my favorite films though, Ek Haseena Thi and all, which is not like, sadly, that's not the way a prison, uh, operate all the time, how people look. So I have read the book when it came out and I just loved it. The book purely because of the kind of people that Suneetra was also given access to, and their stories and what happened.
So you got a mix of these very hardened criminals, some of them, some people who you aren't really sure why they are still in prison and also prison life and what Tihar is like. Being in Tihar is like right. So I'm just going to go to each of you. One is to ask, uh, had you read the book before you said yes to the role?
So I don't know whoever wants to go first. So I, um, I read the book as soon as I found out about the [00:49:00] audition. That was the first thing I did to kind of prepare myself, equip myself rather with. Some kind of deeper knowledge, because I really didn't know much about it. Um, but thankfully I knew the title of the book was Black Warrant and, and that was the first stepping point.
So, yeah, it was, it was a. It's such a lovely, um, it's, it's such a thrilling thing to have rich source material when you're going to even just do a blind audition, you know, it really does help you. And, um, this was again, such a unique kind of source material. Yeah. Yeah. And Rahul, did you, had you read the book or heard of it before?
Uh, yeah, I had heard about the, because, uh, you know, this term jail kind of, you know, it, it evokes a certain kind of an, um, what we call, uh, Some sort of a mystery in something that, so, you know, you remind [00:50:00] this word. So I, I, I, uh, I remember that I had heard about black warranties and maybe I had seen some interview of Sunil Gupta or Ra and something, it was in back of my mind because there was also a talk, a lot talk about it that may Yeah.
When it came out, you know, some people are going to, you know, someone is, there are a lot of people who want to take the rights of this book and all that. It was, it was quite kind of, uh, I think the book was quite popular. And I had heard about, I had not read the book, but yes, I had heard about it. And Anurag?
Ma'am, I heard about the book when there was a video by MCCC company, the Collaborative Applause and Andoland, so I saw a video, I got to know about the book and I read it after I got blocked. After? But you read the book after? Of course. Because sometimes I don't know what your process is as actors that sometimes some actors say that when you read [00:51:00] the book that something is based on, you feel like it colors your, your way of approaching.
Not really, right? It depends, man. You need to know the world now because mine is a character. He said, but to understand the world, the atmosphere, you have, yeah. Although the show I would say is very different, at least this first season is very different from the book, right? From, in the sense that the book is very clearly chapter by chapter, you're going into each of these people's, uh, experiences.
And the, the first season is about the first four years of Sunil Gupta's time in, uh, at Tihar. Right. And the second, I'm assuming second and third season will go more into the various characters that are there. Um, this was again, this is a better, better answer by Vikram sir and Satyanshi sir. It's their decision to try and go this route of slowing that book down.
It's a 200 [00:52:00] pager that documents 35 years. Yeah. Season one, collectively, our script must be I don't know, 300 and something pages more, more, more will be like, yeah, I don't know anyway. Um, yeah, at least 350, 60 pages. Um, so the imaginative leap to understand the deeper humanity and kind of fictionalized characters and things is, is the approach.
And, um, I think the fact that the source material is the, um, the, the foundation or stone or the, or the pillars. And then the walls are being built upon by the writers. I think it's a great combination of having all of the, all of the things in your arsenal. So, I mean, that was my ticket. It just kind of gives you, it is the more, I mean, I went to the extent of finding more source material, more and more interviews, more documentation and journalism about the hard about prisoners, about jailers, about, [00:53:00] uh, Uh, any kind of avenue, that's just, it depends, you know, it's, it's such a subjective thing.
Yeah. So I just want to, because y'all have spoken a lot, I've seen quite a few of the interviews that all of you have given, but I just wanted to get into a little bit about what is your, each of your acting background as in. Do you, so, uh, maybe Anurag, you can start. I've been told we have five minutes, even though we started 15 minutes late, but sure.
But, uh, you can just, if you give me an idea, tell our viewers, what is your acting background? Where do you come from into this acting world? I'll keep it very short. So I'm from Purnia, Bihar. theater. And I started in 2011 with Dasmita theater group and Renaissance under Bharti Sharma and Mohit Pratisar.
Oh, so I've been in theater for the past 13, 14 years now. Luckily I have people like Zahaan who let [00:54:00] me perform in the Prithvi festival this year and they've been really kind to us. So we have our own theater group now. So we're performing in different festivals all across India, national festivals and theater is your main, uh, background, right?
This is great, but theater is what I really want to do and I enjoy doing it. Okay. Rahul, your, Rahul, you, uh, I watched Ugly and it was just, I remember you from there so clearly also, but your background is cinema and TV or it's been, uh, theater as well? Uh, yeah, so, um, I, uh, I did my schooling in Kashmir. Hmm.
Yeah, I'm going to take it up. Well, [00:55:00] I could eat it. I could eat banana. Well, I do know that I am about to know that. I was made. I am not out of that. Must have been, um, I was better, but I didn't have a.
But that's a big share of the company that they have. It's there's something very interesting about this city. Yeah. Very interesting thing about this city [00:56:00] called Mumbai. And this city is Also is like a mother teaches you all over again. Yeah. It is also a teacher. The city is, I owe everything to this Mumbai because this is the place where you learn, this is the place where you grow.
I owe everything to the city. So he teacher here, he's been a great teacher for you. Yes. Going by the, I must say, roles that you've done. I'm in depth to the city, totally. To the Marta, to the Martis, and to this. Incredible place called Mumbai. I want to thank them all because you see I'm a Kash pdi. Yeah.
Migrant migration. Migration.[00:57:00]
then that even when I came as a that even when I came as a that even when I came as a Bengali in college, it's Bengali in college, it's Bengali in college, it's amazing. This is amazing.
Acting. I, director. Director. So I've been just grateful, like all of us, you know, great city has been the teacher. Yep. And, uh, Zaha, I have to say, when we were, when I was in college, I went in phi, so I, our break used to be to go all the way to Tby. Oh, really? And Irish. Yeah.[00:58:00]
What a trek. What a rek. No, it was a real trek. Yeah. And see with stars, we could see and is walking in and all, and then what a play and feel so happy that we were part of Bombay at that time. But you background is basically, uh, theater, right? Primarily. Yeah. So, um, I. I wanted my first interest actually was in filmmaking.
I wanted to be a store. I mean, I think I always had a creative urge in a large kind of way. And I discovered and was taught about filmmaking. And I found that extremely exciting and exciting. I started working in production soon after that, though, um, this is again a good 12 years ago, but I did a workshop where I was assisting the director, Sunil Shanbhag, [00:59:00] and He put, he was doing an acting workshop and it was just another facet.
It was my aunt actually who recommended and said, you should, you know, assessed. He's very good. And if you're even vaguely interested, but it's just great to understand this. He's a great director. So, um, and Neeraj Kabhi was also doing another workshop at the time. So both of them, I assisted and they both allowed me to participate in the exercises, the theater games and things.
Yeah. And that was the, the biting of the bug as it were. Um, of the, of the desire to want to pursue performance. And I, as the person I am, I'm, I kind of, I, I like deeply understanding things and immersing myself in things and taking the time to feel confident about it. I'm, I'm very reluctant otherwise. So.
I, that kind of began my journey of trying to learn as much as I could about performance. And yes, then I had the ability to kind of access a lot of interesting people through theater. And I started acting [01:00:00] properly in 2019 with, uh, a play. And then I did my first film. Then I did, uh, another play. I mean, I did another, uh, web series and then I did another play.
And then, uh, Black Wallet happened. Okay. So, it's been a, so this is my, technically my fifth outing as an actor. Okay. There a short film in between also. Yeah. Anyway, but yeah. So I did want to, are there two questions Only before the Netflix team explodes? Their brains explode. Very good. Very good.
Right thing. Next show also is yours. You better let me say the right things. Okay. No, I did want to ask this and I want each of you keep it short. It's on y'all now, if y'all are giving me long answers, okay. That, uh, Anurag, you tell me first that how easy has it been to reach this point where you have this big.
[01:01:00] Netflix show black warrant, because there's all this talk always about how difficult it is to break in right of getting your chance in, uh, Bollywood and, uh, entertainment. So how has, how difficult has that journey been? Do you think it's been difficult? Easy or difficult? What should I answer? You tell me.
You tell me how difficult it's been. Has it been difficult? It's not about easy or difficult, and again, I'll keep it very short. Short. I think.
Apart from that difficult
struggle,[01:02:00]
that's how I've come here. And what a break. Uh, Han I, um, okay. Again, the short answer is I don't, I think. Yeah, it's subjective. And it is difficult for everyone in some way or the other. Um, you may find yourself getting an opportunity in a break within your one of you deciding or you may find it at your 10.
I mean, it can, and I don't know which person has it better or worse. Um, I decided I wanted to act 12 years ago, my film released. Uh, I mean, I signed my first film in 2019. Mm-hmm . Uh, I, my film released in 2023. Yeah. So it's, so, and I'm now in 2025. I've got a film that, I mean, a series that has been really well received.
I still think [01:03:00] that's lucky. Yeah. Um, but it has been difficult. So it's a bit of both and. Everyone has different challenges. Everyone has different advantages. Um, and a lot of people maybe never get to see this. And I'm very acutely, acutely aware of that. We are very blessed. Um, you know, of course we all have worked hard, but we are blessed.
Um, and that is, there's no two ways about it. Rahul, you have seen the film industry and this entertainment industry for longer than, uh, Anurag and Zahaan have seen. Do you feel that it is tougher now for people to get that toehold in if they, uh, See, even from, I get that Zahaan is from the Kapoor family, but he has a theater background.
To say that, you know, from theater, can he act in a TV series and all that [01:04:00] also takes a leap of faith. Do you think that it's become more difficult or it's become a little easier because of different avenues? I think now, uh, when, when I came into this industry, then that time there were only, there was a Doordarshan and there was a Zee TV and, uh, and they were like six, seven producers.
That's it, who were regularly making, uh, content and uh, so the competition was like, oh, but I feel today, if you are a decent actor, Hmm, decent. I'm not even saying you are like, you know, oh my God, you're an actor. I'm saying if you're a decent actor, you'll find a job. Yeah. Today if you are at, there are too many opportunities.
Yeah. But still we have to kind of, uh, you know, I think there's a long way to go from here, but people are realizing that [01:05:00] there is something called acting. There's something called a craft
Ojo Break Acting.
You know, because people are realizing worth of an actor and when you have platforms like Netflix, they are not going to compromise on their quality or on their Uh, content. They want best. They want to hire best actors. They want to show the best content at the same time. I, when you [01:06:00] asked me about Han, it's not, you see
Dr. Businessman.
industrialist. So this is an argument which I also buy into that. you know also buy into that. you know also buy into that. you know that because you're an actor, that because you're an actor, you can't do it succeed. And there is no problem, in future our children will become actors, in future someone else will become an actor, everyone has the right.
But this is the place where
Yeah,
but I am saying.[01:07:00]
Cleaning system,
residue bar, it's, it's a self-cleaning kind of cleansing. Kind of a place. Jaha aapko pata chal jata hai doh saal ki baad ki aap retire ho chuki hoon, magar aap retire kar diya gaya hai, bhai sahab. Industry retired you three, four years earlier, but you are, you come to know later. Yeah, still in that. Yeah.
So I have one last question, because now your wonderful Netflix is saying wrap it up. So I just have to ask this that, uh, the media is portrayed in, uh, black warrant as even when they are goes on the lockdown or when the during the Ranga Billa case and all, uh, when they show, uh, Prabha that basically Pratibha's and the character coming to [01:08:00] interview, is there a view you have of, uh, how the media reports on anything that seems Seems a little sensationalist, is there, or do you want to play it very correct and not say anything about the media?
I think blanket statements are dangerous. Correct. This is true. Anurag? I'll pass. I'll pass.
That's the way the media is shown, you know, the media's role in black warrant also, when during the Ranga Billa case, or even when Tihar is going under lockdown or this whole thing about Charles Sobhraj, how it became such a big thing, then it dies down. Do you have a view on how the media has been shown or the media's role in bringing light Any of these, what, what happens in Tihar is of national importance, I think, because it is the largest prison in Asia [01:09:00] at the end of the day, do you think the media tends to be fair about it or not?
I don't know. I'm an actor.
I tell you what, I'm happy to talk to you, and I hope people, whoever talks, I mean, has the openness and the curiosity. I would like to see that in any individual. Yeah, the professional industry. Yeah, that they are in. But anyway, I just want to say congratulations. It's a fabulous series and what a series to be part of.
And each of you has essayed the characters so well, even, uh, uh, Charles Sobhraj's character. And I thought Parambir was excellent, how he portrayed what he was going through as a Sardar, what was happening in his family. So, uh, hats off to all of you. [01:10:00] And we are really looking forward to season two, which is a great thing.
Thank you for your wishes and thank you for being so kind. And thank you for saying the roles. Well, it could have been horrible, but it wasn't. It was lovely. Thank you. Well, she's done great interview. Although who spoke more, you were them. They were in conversation with you, with me, not the other. It could be either.
Which way? You never know which side you're looking at it from. Are they interviewing me? That's the, or am I interviewing them? That's the beauty. Oh, are, are you like Modi giving a speech and they're just observing and they are like, okay. Right. Now we've done our duty. Mata tako bye bye. Now, Rajshri, before we say goodbye, you know, I had promised a Punjabi song a few episodes ago and the episode ended.
And then you remember. And the Punjabi song. No, I didn't even remember then. And someone messaged me. Who are these people? You jackass. You already said Punjabi song and you did not even play the Punjabi song. And I said, Oh, I forgot. So it is, uh, from a [01:11:00] Uh, film called Judd and Juliet, and it is a lovely song.
Jasleen Royale has sung it. Daljit Dosan just sung it. Oh, he's nice. So it's called Hi Juliet. It's a very good song. I highly recommend you watch, you listen to it. It is these days my favorite Punjabi song. So I just thought I'd give that valuable input. Also KRK has a theory. About? About Saif Ali Khan. I'm not making any jokes on that.
I kept a completely straight face. No, I'm not making a joke. I'm just saying he has a theory. And it's on his YouTube channel. So that's what we've come to promoting KRK's fake news conspiracy theories. I just feel that he has something to say about everything and he has great insights like that. Well guys this is where we say goodbye but first you have to thank a wonderful sound recordist Naresh, our wonderful producers Prashant and Ashish, and of course my co host Rajshri Sen.
Thank you Miss Sen. Well see it's color coded your shawl and my thing. Thank you Mr. [01:12:00] Sekhri. And it's a wrap. Thank
you for your subscription. You're changing the world by changing the way news is funded. For the smoothest News Laundry experience, download the News Laundry app. It is the best way to listen to our paywall podcasts. And you'll also get access to all free News Laundry shows. Keep us ad free and subscriber funded.
Help us grow. Tell people who listen to you to pay to keep news free. Subscribe to News Laundry. Keep journalism independent.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
