Queen is Dead - A Film, TV and Culture Podcast

Queen Is Dead
  • 4.7 (3)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Biweekly

क्वीन इज डेड. Movies, the universe and everything. We come to pop culture with an Indian perspective and want to share it with the world. These are the voyages of the podcast Queen is Dead!

  1. 5d ago

    David Lynch's The Straight Story | The Strange Story (Part 6) #192

    Dhruv and Cris convene ten months late (oops) to unusually calmly discuss Lynch's most "experimental" film (which was his only film to be distributed by the Walt Disney Company and get a G rating): "The Straight Story." Listen to the full episode to hear us be normal for once(?) as we talk about the slow pleasures of America's (rotting) rolling pastures and questions of mortality that hit a little too close to home. Spoilers, of course, for "The Straight Story." TIME CODES Introduction : [00:00 - 03:00] "The Straight Story": [03:00 - 50:20] Outro: [50:20 - 55:37] TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE "Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna). Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can also follow us on Instagram at: CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/. DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/. You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

    David Lynch's The Straight Story | The Strange Story (Part 6) #192

  2. Aug 4

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day But Same Old Spidey (Affectionate, Mostly!) #191

    Spider-Man is back! Again! Web-slinging his way to box-office history, as the editor of this episode is writing this description. Two Spidey "paglus" (crazies) -- Amartya & Adithiyan -- try to convince QID's designated Debbie Downer of this year -- Cris -- about the merits of the latest Spider-Man film beyond its effective emotionality -- courtesy of director Destin Daniel Cretton -- & Tom Holland's performance as both Spider-Man & Peter Parker. Does the MCU go too far in its universe-building for what could have just been a great standalone Spider-Man film? Should [REDACTED] have been in the film? Should [REDACTED] have forgiven [REDACTED] in the film? Spoiler-free description and introductory section (see time codes). But listen to the full episode after watching the film (you probably have already watched it!) to hear a spoiler-filled discussion about the past, present, and future of the MCU, Spider-Man & [REDACTED]. Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TIME CODES Introduction : [00:00 - 03:47] Director Destin Daniel Cretton & the MCU: [03:47 - 06:27] Spoiler-Free Review: [06:27 - 21:37] Spoiler-Filled Review: [21:37 - 01:21:22] Spoiler-Filled "Future of MCU" Discussion - [01:21:22 - 01:39:20] You can also follow the Spidey lovers and the Debbie Downer on Letterboxd at - ADITHIYAN: https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/. CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day But Same Old Spidey (Affectionate, Mostly!) #191

  3. Jul 28

    A (Dis)Honorable 2026 for Bollywood So Far? | Assi | Main Vaapas Aaunga | O'Romeo, Tu Yaa Main, Ikkis & many more! #190

    Hello Hello Hello, It's that time of the year when QID does its mid-yearly Bollywood round-up (aka the time when Dhruv and Cris are at their bitchiest). Rather than following our regular format, we've split our episode into 2 parts: the first one, featuring first-time guest & regular writer for The Indian Express, Anas Arif, is (hopefully) the civil one. We discuss two of the more prominent titles of this year—Anubhav Sinha's controversial Assi and Imtiaz Ali's much-revered Main Vaapas Aaunga—extensively to try and understand their appeal (or lack thereof) for a broader audience. The second part of the episode, featuring only Cris and Dhruv, is chaos as usual because we revert to our format of picking notable honorable (or in this case, mostly dishonorable) mentions of the year (so far). We go through these categories by category - discussing performances, direction, writing, music & editing that missed (or, in the rare case, hit) the mark. MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ASSI & MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA MINOR SPOILERS FOR COCKTAIL 2 & O'ROMEO TIMECODES PART 1 (w/ ANAS) - [00:00 - 01:39:01] Introduction - [00:00 - 03:42] Assi - [03:42 - 51:19] Main Vaapas Aaunga - [51:19 - 01:39:01] PART 2 (w/o ANAS) - [01:39:01 - 02:37:13] Introduction - [01:39:01 - 01:41:26] Honorable/Dishonorable Mentions Performance - [01:41:26 - 01:47:46] Direction - [01:47:46 - 01:54:28] Writing - [01:54:28 - 02:00:51] Scene - [02:00:51 - 02:07:13] Cinematography - [02:07:13 - 02:14:52] Editing - [02:14:52 - 02:22:16] Music - [02:22:16 - 02:28:39] Film - [02:28:39 - 02:37:13] OUTRO - [02:37:13 - 02:39:07] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! YOU CAN (AND SHOULD!) FOLLOW ANAS ON HIS SOCIALS. TWITTER INSTAGRAM ANAS' CRITICAL PIECE ON ASSI & MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA 1. "MVA chronicles a country in danger of forgetting itself." 2. "The devastatingly affective tragedy of MVA's climax." 3. "Assi vs. Mardaani 3: The grammar of rage in the era of hypermasculine cinema. Follow us on Instagram at: Dhruv: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠ Cris: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠ Follow us on Letterboxd at: Dhruv - ⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠ Cris: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠

    A (Dis)Honorable 2026 for Bollywood So Far? | Assi | Main Vaapas Aaunga | O'Romeo, Tu Yaa Main, Ikkis & many more! #190

  4. Jul 22

    Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey & The Compromise of Mixing Substance with Spectacle #189

    Hello Hello Hello! QID's manel (crew?) made up of Dhruv, Amartya, Varun, Cris, Arjun, and Hemant embark on an odyssey through Christopher Nolan's filmography, docking on the shores of his latest release: "The Odyssey". The adaptation question is tackled, with notes on translations, interpretations, and their relationship with the very act of storytelling. A diverse set of opinions from disappointment to cautious optimism to reverence are shared, mapping the ups and downs of Nolan's auteurist blockbuster filmmaking. His relationship with writing women, the eroticism (or lack thereof) in his work, and his (over?)use of music are also delved into. This spoiler-filled discussion features plenty of "hot takes", references to Dhoom 3, and generally mandated chaos. P.S. Happy Birthday, Dhruv! SPOILERS FOR "THE ODYSSEY". TIME CODES Intro - [00:00 - 08:45] The Nolan Tier List - [08:45 - 54:03] Contextualising Homer's Odyssey - [54:03 - 01:10:39] "The Odyssey" - [01:10:39 - 02:10:31] Outro - [02:10:39 - 02:23:18] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/. ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/. HEMANT: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠. DHRUV: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠.

    Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey & The Compromise of Mixing Substance with Spectacle #189

  5. Jul 8

    Dhoom to Alpha - From Action to Exhuastion? | The Rapid Demise of YRF's Spyverse #188

    Hello Hello Hello! Overcoming the righteous elitism that plagues the day-to-day operations of Queen is Dead, Amartya, Cris, and Varun convene to discuss the evolution/regression of one of Bombay’s most significant production houses: Yash Raj Films. More precisely, the decline in YRF’s output is examined through their two major franchises – the Dhoom series and the Spy Universe. A broad discussion segues into observations about music and themes and filmmaking and dissing QID’s in-house YRF-esque dramatic hero Dhruv Krishna Goyal before arriving at Production #7 of the Spy Universe – Alpha, helmed by Shiv Rawail and starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, with support from Anil Kapoor and the re-ascendant Vijay Singh aka Bobby Deol. Spoilers for two franchises that no one cares about (as per Dhruv). TIME CODES Intro - [00:00 - 05:31] Bottom of the Barrel ("War 2") - [05:31 - 16:30] The Appeal of the Spyverse (up until "Pathaan") - [16:30 - 24:04] The Appeal of the "Dhoom" Franchise (Minus "Dhoom 3") - [24:04 - 45:30] What Happened to the Music?! - [45:30 - 53:46] The Demise of the Spyverse (post-"Pathaan") - [53:46 - 01:37:00] The Lethal Ladies (and the Three Bored Audience Members) of "Alpha" - [01:37:00 - 02:29:28] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

    Dhoom to Alpha - From Action to Exhuastion? | The Rapid Demise of YRF's Spyverse #188

  6. Jul 1

    English Language Queer Cinema of Trash, Class & Classy Trash | Pink Flamingos | Benediction | Bound #187

    In our final episode of this year's Pride series, Cris, Dhruv & Ashwin talk about English-language queer films as outsider "trash" art (John Waters' "Pink Flamingos"), genre-subversive art (The Wachowski Sisters' "Bound") & poetic melodramas (Terence Davies' "Benediction"). Much like the previous two eps, this final episode is another attempt to explore the varied aesthetics of queer expression, with form being intrinsically tied to content in shaping what a filmmaker wants to say about queerness in (and through) their film. Listen to the full episode to hear us discuss John Waters & Divine's infamous "politics of filth" in "Pink Flamingoes," the Wachowskis' play on noir's femme fatale in "Bound," and Terence Davies' personalization (and poeticism) of the otherwise rote historical biopic in "Benediction." Spoilers, if they count. TIME CODES Intro - [00:00 - 03:04] "Pink Flamingos" (1972) - [03:04 - 36:28] "Bound" (1996) - [36:28 - 1:02:07] "Benediction" (2021) - [01:02:07 - 01:46:53] Outro - [01:46:53 - 01:53:57] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

    English Language Queer Cinema of Trash, Class & Classy Trash | Pink Flamingos | Benediction | Bound #187

  7. Jun 24

    European Queer Cinema of Lack and Excess | The Meetings of Anna | Querelle | Stranger by the Lake #186

    In this second episode (of three) of this year's Pride special series, Cris, Dhruv, Ashwin, and returning guest Prakhar engage with European Queer Cinema through Chantal Akerman's 'The Meetings of Anna', Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 'Querelle', and Alain Guiraudie's 'Stranger by the Lake' and how they navigate asceticism and excess in the landscape of queer misery. Listen to the full episode for a lot of innuendo (we're blaming Fassbinder for this), academic references (we're blaming Cris for this), and inevitable Bollywood comparisons (we're surprisingly blaming Prakhar for this). Spoilers, if they count. TIME CODES Intro - [00:00 - 03:04] "The Meetings of Anna" (1978) - [03:04 - 37:45] "Querelle" (1982) - [37:45 - 1:18:09] "Stranger by the Lake" (2013) - [01:18:09 - 01:59:13] Outro - [01:59:13 - 02:05:39] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leo Bersani's "Is the Rectum a Grave?" (1987): https://web.english.upenn.edu/~cavitch/pdf-library/Bersani_Rectum.pdf You can (and should!) follow Prakhar at - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/she_isatthemovies⁠. You can follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

    European Queer Cinema of Lack and Excess | The Meetings of Anna | Querelle | Stranger by the Lake #186

  8. Jun 16

    Sci-Fi Spielberg (Pt. 3) - Disclosure Day & (Naïve) Optimism #185

    Amartya, Varun, Cris, and Arjun conclude the Spielberg Sci-Fi series with the release of "Disclosure Day". This final (spoiler-filled) episode looks at how the film exists in conversation with his filmography, whether expectations were met, and how honest the message at its heart is. Divergent opinions are shared, along with equal parts of admiration and frustration. One of them (sorry, Arjun) is left to fend for themselves, necessary comparisons are made to Francis Ford Coppola's "Megalopolis", and a genuine discussion on the existence of the 'third kind' is had. MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "DISCLOSURE DAY". TIME CODES Intro (& Alien Talk) - [00:00 - 13:34] Initial Thoughts - [13:34 - 29:23] "Disclosure Day" - [29:23 - 01:26:34] Outro - [01:26:34 - 01:28:29] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/. ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/.

    Sci-Fi Spielberg (Pt. 3) - Disclosure Day & (Naïve) Optimism #185
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क्वीन इज डेड. Movies, the universe and everything. We come to pop culture with an Indian perspective and want to share it with the world. These are the voyages of the podcast Queen is Dead!

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