Queen is Dead - A Film, TV and Culture Podcast

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

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. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Jun 9

    Sci-Fi Spielberg (Pt. 2) - Minority Report, War of the Worlds, & Ready Player One | Countdown to Disclosure Day #184

    Amartya, Varun, and Cris (re)convene in a divergent manel to tackle Steven Spielberg's association with science fiction. This second in a series of three episodes looks at "Minority Report", "War of the Worlds", and "Ready Player One", and how Spielberg (paired here with cinematographer Janusz Kamiński) uses them to tackle real-world politics. References to Bollywood are a must, so Tom Cruise gets compared to John Abraham at some point, do not ask why. The final part will cover "Disclosure Day" and how it exists in conversation (or not) with these texts. Bonus discussion on our recent (terrible and not so much) excursions to the theatre had to be shared, so do enjoy that as well. MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ALL 3 MOVIES TIME CODES Intro (& Recent Theatrical Experiences) - [00:00 - 11:37] "Minority Report" - [11:37 - 41:18] "War of the Worlds" - [41:18 - 01:05:04] "Ready Player One" - [01:05:04 - 01:35:55] Outro - [01:35:55 - 01:37:05] 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/.

    Sci-Fi Spielberg (Pt. 2) - Minority Report, War of the Worlds, & Ready Player One | Countdown to Disclosure Day #184

  6. Jun 1

    Asian Queer Cinema of Alienation | Happy Together | The River | Tropical Malady #183

    In our second ever Pride special series, Cris is joined by fellow Queer Cinema enthusiasts Dhruv and Ashwin to discuss how different filmmakers from different backgrounds and in different eras render queerness on screen. They explore what makes a film "queer" in the first place and how formally, narratively, and stylistically diverse they can be. This first episode (of three) engages with Asian Queer Cinema through Wong Kar Wai's 'Happy Together', Tsai Ming-liang's 'The River', and Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 'Tropical Malady', and how they contemplate (queer) alienation, misery, and repression. Listen to the full episode for some heart-attack-inducing Bollywood comparisons (as usual), unexpected shade towards one of these films, and heartfelt affection and admiration for the other two. Spoilers, if they count. TIME CODES (Pride Special) Intro - [00:00 - 08:08] "Happy Together" (1997) - [08:08 - 38:07] "The River" (1997) - [38:07 - 1:04:31] "Tropical Malady" (2004) - [01:04:31 - 01:33:13] Outro (& Upcoming Episodes) - [1:33:13 - 1:41:46] 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/.

    Asian Queer Cinema of Alienation | Happy Together | The River | Tropical Malady #183

  7. May 27

    Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu — How Can A Cynical Cash Grab be this Cute? #182

    Resident Star Wars Nerd Amartya introduces Resident Star Wars Noob Cris to the wonders(?) of the series as they discuss its latest addition: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'. Insert obligatory lecture on the franchise and how much (if any) of it is relevant here. Much of this (technically spoiler-filled, though there's not much to spoil) conversation revolves around Grogu and how the three-apples-tall alien was synthesised by the creators in a lab to be the cutest thing known to mankind. Attempts are made to talk about the film in general, to questionable degrees of success. Listen to the full episode for (short) tangents about whether Star Wars is like 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' or 'Fast & Furious' and how quickly 'Grogu Plushies' was googled after watching the film. SPOILERS FOR 'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU'. TIME CODES Intro - [00:00 - 05:20] What the Hell is Star Wars? - [05:20 - 17:54] Grogu (and The Mandalorian) - [17:54 - 37:11] What Works? - [37:11 - 47:14] (Nonsense) Discourse Break - [47:14 - 51:03] What Doesn't Work? - [51:03 - 1:04:38] Final Thoughts and Outro - [1:04:38 - 1:14:19] 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/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

    Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu — How Can A Cynical Cash Grab be this Cute? #182

  8. May 21

    Sci-Fi Spielberg (Pt. 1) - Close Encounters with E.T & A.I | Countdown to Disclosure Day #181

    Ashwin, Amartya, Dhruv, Varun, and Cris convene in a divergent manel to tackle Steven Spielberg's association with science fiction. This first in a series of three episodes looks at "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", and "A.I. Artificial Intelligence". Minor digressions to address the cinematic spectacles known as "Jaani Dushman — Ek Anokhi Kahani" and "Koi Mil Gaya" aside, this is one of the saner offerings from the QID studio, all thanks to host and chief Spielberg champion Varun. The second episode will revolve around "Minority Report", "War of the Worlds", and "Ready Player One", and the series will close with "Disclosure Day", the latest film by the Father of the Blockbuster, back in the director's chair after a hiatus of four years, the longest time he has taken between films in fifty-two years of feature filmmaking. MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ALL 3 MOVIES & MINOR ONES FOR "THE FABELMANS" TIME CODES Intros to Spielberg's Sci-Fi Cinema - [00:00 - 17:13] "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" - [17:13 - 01:25:41] "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" - [01:25:41 - 02:13:37] "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" - [02:13:37 - 02:46:04] Outro (Spielberg's Auteurism) - [02:46:04 - 02:58:30] 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/. VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

    Sci-Fi Spielberg (Pt. 1) - Close Encounters with E.T & A.I | Countdown to Disclosure Day #181
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4.7
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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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