Queen is Dead - A Film, TV and Culture Podcast

Queen Is Dead

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. Hollywood Movie Catch-Up for 2025 (Pt. 3 - Ensemble Edition) #173

    JAN 28

    Hollywood Movie Catch-Up for 2025 (Pt. 3 - Ensemble Edition) #173

    Hello, Hello, Hello! This third and final (for the time being) English-Language Features Round-Up is mainly focused on covering films featuring ensemble casts (look we needed a category for the remaining films we had to cover, okay). This includes fairly in-depth discussions on James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire and Ash," Rian Johnson's "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," Jared Bush and Byron Howard's "Zootopia 2," Kathryn Bigelow's "A House of Dynamite," Luca Guadagnino's "After the Hunt," and Richard Linklater's "Nouvelle Vague." Listen to the full episode to hear more about (only) Ashwin's love for "Avatar," our thoughts on prayer and power in "Wake Up Dead Man," the dynamite of discourse that is "After the Hunt," the (un)remarkable undertaking that is "Nouvelle Vague," and more! TIME CODES Introduction – [00:00 - 06:47] “Avatar: Fire and Ash” – [06:47 - 33:15] “Wake Up Dead Man” – [33:15 - 01:04:20] “Zootopia 2” – [01:04:20 - 01:27:07] “A House of Dynamite” – [01:27:07 - 01:49:55] “After the Hunt” – [01:49:55 - 02:31:14] "Nouvelle Vague" – [02:31:14 - 03:16:02] Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [03:16:02 - 03:24:48] 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 Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/. VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.   Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wake Up Dead Man, Zootopia 2, A House of Dynamite, After the Hunt, and Nouvelle Vague.

    3h 25m
  2. Hollywood Movie Catch-Up for 2025 (Pt. 2 - For the Guys) #172

    JAN 21

    Hollywood Movie Catch-Up for 2025 (Pt. 2 - For the Guys) #172

    Hello, Hello, Hello! This episode is courtesy of PPC (Purush Pradhan Committee), a QID initiative. This second (of three) English-Language Features Round-Up is mainly focused on covering films about men, for(?) men, by* men (except when it is not). This includes fairly in-depth discussions on Clint Bentley's "Train Dreams," Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon," Derek Cianfrance's "Roofman," Kelly Reichardt's "The Mastermind," Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein," and Edgar Wright's "The Running Man." Listen to the full episode to hear more about our bafflement at the popularity of "Train Dreams," surprise at the pleasantness of "Roofman," utter despondence at the quality of "The Running Man," and more! TIME CODES Intro (and Misc Thoughts) – [00:00 - 13:20] “Train Dreams” – [13:20 - 38:50] “Blue Moon” – [38:50 - 01:15:08] “Roofman” – [01:15:08 - 01:38:32] “The Mastermind” – [01:38:32 - 01:53:46] “Frankenstein” – [01:53:46 - 02:13:04] "Jay Kelly" – [02:13:04 - 02:25:02] "The Running Man" – [02:25:02 - 02:44:00] Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [02:44:00 - 02:57:08] 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 Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/ VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/ ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/ DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/   Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of Train Dreams, Blue Moon, Roofman, The Mastermind, Frankenstein, Jay Kelly, and The Running Man.

    2h 57m
  3. Hollywood Movie Catch-Up for 2025 (Pt. 1 - For the Gays and Gals) #171

    JAN 12

    Hollywood Movie Catch-Up for 2025 (Pt. 1 - For the Gays and Gals) #171

    Hello, Hello, Hello! We're back after a month-long hiatus with our podcast episodes -- which will be coming regularly to you from now on, at least until the end of 2025's Awards Season. Rather than doing our annual "Best of" & "Oscar Season Movie Catch-Ups", we've decided to do a series of Year-end Round-ups of some of the most talked about films in 2025. These will cover many of the titles up for awards consideration -- and hopefully many more titles that perhaps didn't make the nominations list but were still relevant (either in public discourse, or, more significantly, personal favorites). We'll be releasing the Round-Up Eps for English Language Features first, since most of the titles we have discussed are now readily available for listeners to watch online. This first (of three) English-Language Features Round-Up is mainly focused on covering films either directed by women -- or, at least, on films entirely centered around them. This includes fairly in-depth discussions on Lynne Ramsay's "Die My Love," Mary Bronstein's "If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You," Nia DaCosta's "Hedda," Yorgos Lanthimos' "Bugonia," Mona Fastvold's "The Testament of Ann Lee," and (briefly) John M Chu's "Wicked (Not) For Good." The last film listed here also prompts our token Queer representative, Cris, to do a quickfire Queer Film Round-Up for 2025, which most extensively covers Ira Sachs's "Peter Hujar's Day." Listen to the full episode to hear more about our apprehension in talking about "women-oriented films," Cris and Ashwin's problems with John M. Chu's direction of the "Wicked" films, THAT "Bugonia" ending & much, much more! TIME CODES QID Ep. Release Plan for Jan/Feb/March – [00:00 - 07:09] Introduction – [07:09 - 08:49] “Die My Love” – [08:49 - 33:41] “If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You” – [33:41 - 53:45] “Hedda” – [53:45 - 01:09:17] “Bugonia” (MAJOR SPOILERS!) – [01:09:17 - 01:35:33] INTERVAL (aka Auteurial Digression) – [01:35:33 - 01:38:22] “The Testament of Ann Lee” – [01:38:22 - 02:03:52] "Wicked (Not) For Good" – [02:03:52 - 02:18:01] "Peter Hujar's Day" – [02:18:01 - 02:37:22] Cris' Rapid Fire Queer Film Round-Up – [02:37:22 - 02:50:31] Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [02:50:31 - 02:59:49] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to helpthe podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page:https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.   Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of Die My Love, If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You, Hedda, Bugonia, The Testament of Ann Lee, Wicked: For Good, and Peter Hujar's Day.

    2h 60m
  4. One Banger (or Not?) After Another | Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another #170

    12/04/2025

    One Banger (or Not?) After Another | Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another #170

    We know we're late to the party, but we had to talk about Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" and all of the discourse surrounding it, or at least try to. Dhruv is joined by (much to his dismay) Varun and his "crime-in-partner" Cris in this endeavour as they tackle one wonder after another (sorry, the title is just unendingly pun-able) that the filmmaking presents, as well as some reservations they have with it. They also try (and mostly succeed at) not being too condescending as they discuss the online buzz around the film since its wide release. Listen to the full episode and join in on (or disagree with us over) this lowkey gush-fest! 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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ QID LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/queenisdead. TIME CODES Intro & Shenanigans: [00:00:00 - 00:05:25] "One Battle After Another": [00:05:25 - 01:31:42] Discourse (from Hell): [01:31:42 - 02:12:50] Follow us on Instagram at: Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠⁠ Varun: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/varunonfilm/⁠⁠ Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠⁠ Follow us on Letterboxd at: Varun: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/⁠⁠ Dhruv: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠ Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠⁠

    2h 13m
  5. One Paul Thomas Anderson Film Afer Another | Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, The Master, Phantom Thread & Licorice Pizza #169

    11/16/2025

    One Paul Thomas Anderson Film Afer Another | Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, The Master, Phantom Thread & Licorice Pizza #169

    We recorded an episode about our favorite Paul Thomas Anderson films before the theatrical release of his new film, "One Battle After Another," but are only now releasing it post its online release as a "pre-game" discussion to our episode on OBAA. We track his auteurist trajectory — from the bombastic and tightly constructed "Magnolia" to a more loose-limbed work like "Licorice Pizza" — and discuss why the shift towards a seemingly freer form appeals to us more than the early days of his (incredibly) impressive but demonstratively flashy filmmaking. Listen to the full, spoiler-filled episode to hear Sanjeet, Cris, Dhruv, and the ⁠Cinematic Liberties⁠ Podcast Guys -- Arjun & Ashwin -- discuss their favorite PTA films and (correctly) speculate OBAA's box office fate! You can (and should!) follow - ⁠⁠CINEMATIC LIBERTIES PODCAST⁠⁠ 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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ QID LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/queenisdead. TIME CODES OBAA Speculation: [00:00 - 03:06] Introduction: [03:06 - 05:49] "Magnolia" (& Early PTA): [05:49 - 30:36] "Punch-Drunk Love" (The Breaking Point): [30:36 - 48:21] "There Will Be Blood": [48:21 - 01:04:52] "The Master": [01:04:52 - 01:17:27] The Thomas Pynchon Connection: [01:17:27 - 01:21:44] "Phantom Thread": [01:21:44 - 01:41:47] "Licorice Pizza" (& Late PTA): [01:41:47 - 02:07:08] Outro & OBAA Speculation (again!): [02:07:08 - 02:13:35] You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - SANJEET: https://letterboxd.com/sanjeet_singh/. CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/. ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

    2h 14m
  6. BEST of 2025 (SO FAR) - Part 2 | Badass Ravi Kumar & everything else! #168

    11/11/2025

    BEST of 2025 (SO FAR) - Part 2 | Badass Ravi Kumar & everything else! #168

    We're [now] 4 months late to the BEST OF (SO FAR) party because, well, just. The format we've been using for the past two years is as follows: rather than simply listing our favorite films of the year, we categorize them in the same way [insert any Award show name] categorizes them. Part 2, which was meant to be an hour long but also ended up being over 2 hours, will include discussions on our choices for "Best Director," "Best Film," "WTF (Affectionate) Film of the Year," and "Best Screenplay." Do listen and let us know -- amicably, of course -- how much you (dis)agree with us! TIME CODES Introduction - [00:00:00 - 00:07:48] Best Screenplay - [00:07:48 - 00:49:00] Best Director - [00:49:00 - 01:39:05] WTF (Affectionate) Film of the Year - [01:39:05 - 02:30:17] Best Film - [02:30:17 - 02:47:25] Outro - [02:47:25 - 02:51:56] Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast. QID LINKTREE: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/queenisdead⁠⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram at: Adithiyan:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/curioseradithiyan/.⁠⁠ Amartya:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/.⁠⁠ Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Aryan: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/aryantalksfilm/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Letterboxd at: Adithiyan: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/⁠⁠. Amartya: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/amartya/⁠⁠. Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Aryan: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠⁠⁠ All Audio Excerpts may not have been used under the “Fair Use Provisions” of the Indian Copyright Act because Cris loves "Badass Ravi Kumar" that much.

    2h 52m
  7. David Lynch's Lost Highway | The Strange Story (Part 5) #166

    10/21/2025

    David Lynch's Lost Highway | The Strange Story (Part 5) #166

    Dhruv and Cris meet Devarsi again outside the industrial hellscape of "Eraserhead" -- this time travelling alongside two new (hopefully recurring!) podcast guests, Rushnan and Vani -- on Lynch's "Lost Highway" to psychosexual hell. Listen to the full episode to hear us not only discuss Lynch's film in detail but also explore the myriad of seemingly oppositional ways -- from deeply subjective to almost clinically objective -- the film appeals to us. Major spoilers, of course, for "Lost Highway." TIME CODES Introduction : [00:00 - 09:42] "Lost Highway": [09:42 - 01:18:20] Outro: [01:18:20 - 01:19:27] TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE "Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna). "Premonitions Following an Evil Deed" (David Lynch, 1995). "The Eye of the Duck" (Mark Cousins' David Lynch Interview). 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 watch Rushnan's 17-minute experimental short film, "The Angel of Forms" (2023) on Vimeo for free. You can also follow us on Instagram at: VANI: https://www.instagram.com/uwu_vani/. DEVARSI: https://www.instagram.com/devarsighosh/. RUSHNAN: https://www.instagram.com/rushnanjaleel/. CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/. DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/. You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - DEVARSI: https://letterboxd.com/d2dag/. CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

    1h 19m
4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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!