2017. The year that began with the nepotism debate and is closing with the unresolved Padmavati issue. We’ve been a part of a lot of important and unimportant discussions online. Add to this web-series, comedy specials and slam poets who went viral while addressing issues in ways mainstream media has never been able to.
Here’s a quick glance at some of the online content that stood out from the rest:
Web-Series
This year, comedians took their engineering jokes to the next level with two web-series talking about the perils of our parents’ favourite (and chosen) profession.
Laakhon Mein Ek
Laakhon Mein Ek, created by Biswa Kalyan Rath, is a dark commentary about the plight of engineering students. It begins with the protagonist being pushed to joining a coaching institute by his parents despite his own reservations.
Honest Campus Placements: Engineering Edition
AIB also released a 3-part series that takes a hilarious look into the life of every engineer, before and after the much sought-after placement.
Check out the first part here:
Bose: Dead/Alive
Alt Balaji’s ambitious new series, Bose: Dead/Alive starring Rajkummar Rao explores the myths surrounding the mysterious disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1945. Even though Rajkummar’s performance was more talked about than the show itself (as usual), the series generated sufficient buzz in the world of web shows. If you haven’t indulged in some Bose-ness yet, you can start here.
Inside Edge
Inside Edge tells the story of what goes on behind the glamorous world of cricket and entertainment. It stars Richa Chadha, Vivek Oberoi and Angad Bedi in lead roles. Inside Edge, which has reportedly became the top watched show on Amazon Prime Video India (also its first desi original series), is totally binge-worthy. Check it out here.
What the Folks
What the Folks (WTF!) revolves around the life of Nikhil, who is forced to live with his in-laws for a few weeks and the drama (and fun) that follows it.
Sarabhai and Bisht, Please!
Another show that released this year was Sarabhai Versus Sarabhai Take 2, which came back for its second season on the web, created buzz but did not deliver in the way you would have come to expect.
After an anonymous blog accusing TVF founder Arunabh Kumar of sexual harassment, it’s been difficult for TVF to revive its popularity. So its original series Bisht, Please! which stars Nidhi Bisht (who’s also its co-writer) didn’t exactly take off, with most reactions calling the content “poor” by TVF’s standards. While many have pointed out to the holes in the plot-line, Bisht, Please! is one of those few shows that talks about sexism and patriarchy through a female voice. Check out the first episode of the series here.
Short Films
Khujli
Neena Gupta and Jackie Shroff star in this light-hearted short film, Khujli by Terribly Tiny Tales which begins with Roopmati (Neena) explaining to Girdharilal (Jackie), in great detail, her understanding of BDSM. The couple takes this understanding into their bedroom and things cannot help but get a bit “kinky”. You can watch the film here:
Juice
National award-winning director Neeraj Ghaywan’s Juice features Shefali Shah, Manish Chowdhary in lead roles. With restrained performances by the lead actors, it questions the existence of deep-rooted misogynistic ideas and practices in our society. You can watch the film here:
Comedy Specials
It was certainly the year of stand-up comedy specials with Vir Das taking his desi jokes abroad. Also, after much of the controversy over the cold shoulder given to female comics on the scene, Aditi Mittal got her own Netflix special. Take a look at some of the most talked about comedians in the digital space:
Kunal Kamra’s Stand-up on Patriotism & the Government
As he quite rightly begins, “India is a democracy until you criticise it...” and goes on to put forth points about the mess that demonetisation was.
His insights drive home the point about the unnecessary anger among Indians when he throws lines like: “Bro, Pakistan nahin hota toh tu patriotic hota kya?”, “Siachen mein humare jawaan ladh rahe hain”.
Vir Das on Trump, the Indian accent, Religion and More
Aditi Mittal on Sex Education
Biswa Kalyan Rath, The Mast Aadmi
All That Went Viral In 2017
RJ Mallishka took on the BMC with Pothole Mix
Hussain Haidary’s heart-rending poem on being a Hindustani Musalmaan
Aranya Johar provided us with a Brown Girl’s Guide to Gender
AIB’s totally on-point sketches with Kangana Ranaut, and Irrfan Khan
...plus A Woman’s Besties
Another sketch by Filter Copy, If Parents Behaved Like Us
How would you react if your parents obsessed over posting the perfect picture of almost everything they did on Snapchat or Instagram, instead of paying attention to us? In a role reversal of sorts, Rajat Kapoor and Sheeba Chaddha behave like millennials as their children moan and complain about their social media obsession in this sketch.
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