Dear Reader,
Tick. Tock. Slap!
When Will Smith went up on stage and slapped Chris Rock, up went Oscars this year’s ratings. Real or fake, many argued at first. The live telecast was briefly cut off so most had no clue of what was going on. And then, the Twitter chatter started. Chris’ GI Jane 2 joke on Jada Pinkett did not land well with the Smiths. Twitter pulled out videos of the last time Chris mocked Jada. Chris and Will’s old feud was brought up. Regina Hall was suddenly being talked about because the Smiths seemed fine with her ‘open marriage’ joke on them. The Academy issued a statement and many debated if Will could be asked to return his Best Actor Oscar? Nothing like that has happened yet. Amy Schumer, however, escaped unquestioned about her stolen joke. AGAIN.
And the Oscar for Best Drama goes to… Oscars 2022!
There’s more drama on your big and small screen this week, with John Abraham’s Attack Part 1 releasing in theatres and Rishi Kapoor’s swan song Sharmaji Namkeen streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Do watch. But it may not be as spicy as the Oscar slap.
And while we’re on namkeen films and spicy slaps, here’s a recipe for Jhol Momo. Now, who doesn’t love the humble momo, right? But what if you could amp it up? Try it.
And when you’re done, sit with a bowl and scroll through the rest of our Weekend Planner.
We’ll see you next week. Tata.
WHAT’S TRENDING?
This week, people woke up to an unexpected piece of news, something that has never happened in the history of the Oscars. During the 94th Academy Awards on March 28 (IST), an angry Will Smith smacked comedian Chris Rock who cracked a joke about the actor’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Chris compared Jada’s tightly-cropped hair to Demi Moore’s appearance in the 1997 film GI Jane actress. Of course, what followed next grabbed international attention. While some sided with actor, others reprimanded his violent behaviour.
#badboys3 #gijane2 #willsmith #chrisrock #oscars #besttvever
Can’t believe what I just saw live on screen pic.twitter.com/YiijPRQENt
— Guy Springthorpe (the pistol slug) (@GuySpringthorpe) March 28, 2022
Meanwhile, the moment we had all been eagerly waiting for, has arrived. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it was kind of upsetting to wear the mask as a part of Covid-19 restrictions to all the public places for over two years. All we wanted was to go back in time when things were brighter, much better. While the virus is still lingering somewhere around the corner, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has decided to withdraw a fine for not wearing a mask. Similar measures have been announced by the state governments in Maharashtra and West Bengal. So, now you can choose not to wear one in the public places. Getting back to the old times, are we?
In other news, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is in the midst of a major crisis after his government effectively lost its majority in the the country’s National Assembly ahead of a crucial vote on the no-confidence motion. Amid the escalating tension, Imran Khan’s ex-wife Reham Khan shared a meme featuring Imran Khan and Navjot Singh Sindhu. And, what’s more is that it had a Kapil Sharma Show reference. Here’s the story.
SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE
Had a tiring and mundane week? We just have the perfect video to cheer you up. This video of a little girl dancing to Badshah’s Jugnu will definitely leave a smile on your face, we bet!
Another video shows a grandfather being surprised by his family with a cake on his 85th birthday. The look on his face is enough to tell you how happy he is.
DON’T FORGET TO WORK OUT
We took fitness inspiration from Rashmika Mandanna this week! The Pushpa star delighted her fans with a peek into her workout session, and what a high-inspiration session it was. She performed several leg muscle-strengthening exercises, variations of squats and more. If you have been feeling demotivated to hit the gym lately, just watch Rashmika’s workout video.
WHAT’S ON MY PLATE?
Jhol Momos. (Photo: Getty Images)
A plate of piping hot momos can make any foodie happy, and if you ask us, we can go on and on about it. In fact, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was seen making momos while on a morning walk in Darjeeling earlier this week. So, as an ode to the snack, we have an easy-peasy recipe of jhol momos for you that you can try over the weekend.
HOW TO MAKE JHOL MOMOS?
To make jhol momos, you will need – minced chicken, half cup of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon each of garlic, ginger, salt and oil, half cup of tomato puree, 1 teaspoon each of red chilli powder, turmeric and pepper.
To make the momos, take the minced chicken and season it with the spices, garlic and coriander leaves. Next, prepare a dough with the all-purpose flour, salt and oil. Roll out the dough, add the filling and steam the momos.
For the jhol, take some butter in a pan and fry some garlic in it. Next, add tomato puree and cook it well. Add the red chilli powder, salt, pepper, turmeric and ginger. Once it starts to thicken, add water and bring to a boil. Pour the prepared jhol over the momos and serve hot.
FASHIONABLY YOURS
Shilpa Shetty in a mustard-yellow bandhani lehenga.
Summers are here and so is the time to give your wardrobe a complete makeover. While we highly recommend adding a hearty dose of florals and whites, there’s another timeless trend that we strongly feel deserves a special space in your summer closets. We are talking about bandhani. In this week’s Fashion Friday, we listed out some of the best bandhani outfits you can steal from the coveted closets of Bollywood divas. Take a look!
FROM THE BOOKSHELF
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Bossypants by Tina Fey
It’s April Fool’s Day so why not indulge in some fun with a hilarious book by one of the best comics in the industry- Tina Fey. In her memoir Bossypants, Tina Fey gives a witty and relatively personal account of her professional and private life. It includes many aspects of Fey’s childhood, such as growing up in a middle-class American family, and being a child with a slight facial deformity.
The most enjoyable parts are centered around the backstage shenanigans and politics of Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. Hearing Tina recount her first day as a writer on SNL will make you laugh hard. A must read!
MOVIES AND MAGIC
The week started with some REAL Oscar drama when Will Smith went up on stage to smack Chris Rock on the face! Chris had cracked a joke on his wife Jada Pinkett, which did not go down well with her. What followed was a cascade of reactions and comments, the Academy’s statement, the cops getting involved, older videos of other jokes cracked being circulated, and what not. Will apologised to Chris, Jada broke silence, and Oscars 2022 trended on social media like never before. A TRP game won.
Closer home, John Abraham’s Attack Part 1 released in theatres today, April 1. As India’s first super-soldier, John is epic. Read our review to know more. But John is no Winter Soldier, and the film is no Marvel movie. Of course, John wants Indian audiences to support filmmakers when they attempt something so out-of-the-box, like they do Hollywood films, but then film bhi toh waisi honi chahiye? If this was John’s April Fool’s prank, we’d get it. But it wasn’t.
Moving on, Rishi Kapoor’s swan song, Sharmaji Namkeen, released on Amazon Prime Video on March 31. The adorable film is a reminder that we lost a talented actor like Rishi. Do watch it with your family, and read our review before that.
At the box office, RRR is making all the right kind of noise – breaking records and setting new ones. The Kashmir Files is also strutting along. But soon, there’s a storm coming to the ticket windows – Yash AKA Rocky Bhai arrives with KGF Chapter 2.
So, while we wait for KGF Chapter 2, here are some shows you can catch on OTT.
ON YOUR OTT SCREENS
ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
What to watch: Sharmaji Namkeen
You will like it if you liked: Do Dooni Chaar
Sharmaji Namkeen is late Rishi Kapoor’s last film. The veteran actor passed away while the shooting was still midway. Hence, Paresh Rawal took the baton to complete the film. The film released on Amazon Prime Video on March 31.
What to watch: Radhe Shyam
You will like if you liked: Hey Sinamika
Prabhas and Pooja Hegde’s Radhe Shyam, directed by Radha Krishna Kumar, released in theatres on March 11. After receiving mixed reviews from audience and critics, the film is all set to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Radhe Shyam is an epic love saga that talks about the war between love and destiny. Read our review here.
ON NETFLIX
What to watch: Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood
You will like it if you liked: Interstellar
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood is an upcoming sci-fi animation film that releases on April 1. The plot of the movie revolves around the Apollo 11 moon landing.
What to watch: Get Organized with The Home Edit Season 2
You will like it if you liked: Hot Mess House
Clea and Joanna are back to tame celebrities and everyday clients’ homes in their signature style! Which celebs will feature in the second season? Find out on April 1. The description on Netflix further reads, “A man narrates stories of his life as a 10-year-old boy in 1969 Houston, weaving tales of nostalgia with a fantastical account of a journey to the moon.”
ON DISCOVERY+
What to watch: Queen of Versailles Reigns Again
You will like it if you liked: Big House, Little House
Jackie Siegel and her family are on a mission to finally finish their 90,000 square-foot palace, often regarded as Versailles. Can they do it? You can find out already! Queen of Versailles Reigns Again has been streaming from March 30.
What to watch: White Water Summer
You will like it if you liked: Dark Tourist
If you want a dose of adrenaline rush punched in a travel show, you should definitely watch White Water Summer. The Discovery+ show will take you to the tiny river town of Maupin, Oregon, where tourists bond over adventurous activities, love triangles and endless party scenes. The show has been streaming since March 30.
What to watch: Inventions That Changed History
You will like it if you liked: Home Before Dark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2LXEvYDgVU
Historians, scientists, pop culture experts and Hollywood celebrities host informative rides with incredible stories! Fasten your seatbelts for some invention stories can actually blow your mind!
ON HOTSTAR
What to watch: Moon Knight
You will like it if you liked: Supernatural
Moon Knight, which released on March 30, features Oscar Isaac playing the role of Marc Spector. The Marvel web series is based on a superhero who has an identity disorder. The first season will have Moon Knight grappling with a mystery involving Egyptian Gods.
What to watch: Kaun Pravin Tambe
You will like it if you liked: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Starring Shreyas Talpade, Ashish Vidyarthi, Parambrata Chatterjee and Anjali Patil, Kaun Pravin Tambe releases on April 1. It is a sports biopic which chronicles the extraordinary journey of cricketer Pravin Tambe, a right-armed leg spinner.
ON YOUR TV SCREENS
What to watch: The Kapil Sharma Show
Where to watch: Sony TV, 9.30 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
The Kapil Sharma Show’s Villain Special episode on Saturday will welcome actors Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukesh Rishi, Yashpal Sharma and Abhimanyu Singh. On Sunday, Satish Kaushik along with his dear friends Annu Kapoor and Rumi Jaffery will be special guests on TKSS. The trio will share interesting anecdotes on the show.
What to watch: India’s Got Talent 9
Where to watch: Sony TV, 8 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
India’s Got Talent 9 will welcome the cast of Dasvi Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam, and Nimrit Kaur this Saturday, followed by the cast of Jersey Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur on Sunday. The Bollywood stars will be amazed seeing the performances of the contestants on the show. IGT9’s judges panel includes Kirron Kher, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Badshah and Manoj Muntashir.
What to watch: Hunarbaaz Desh Ki Shaan
Where to watch: Colors TV, 9 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
This weekend, singer Neha Bhasin, Priyank Sharma and Sanam Johar will be seen performing on the Hunarbaaz stage. Ustad Taufiq Qureshi will be seen performing with contestant Anirban on the show, while Priyank will join the dance group Yo Highness and Sanam Johar with the talented dancing duo Sanchita and Subrata.
What to watch: DID Li’l Masters 5
Where to watch: Zee TV, 9 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
In the upcoming season of DID Li’l Masters 5, DID trio Geeta Kapur, Remo D’Souza and Terrence Lewis will reunite on the show. It will an episode filled with nostalgia and lots of dance. Some memories of their stint on the early days of the show will also be featured.
Also watch: Sanak
Where to watch: Zee Cinema, 12 noon (Sunday, April 3)
Aatankiyon se ladkar bachayega hostages ki jaan yeh one man army!
Watch Sanak on Sunday, 3rd April at noon 12 PM, on #ZeeCinema.#VipulAmrutlalShah @Kanishk_v @VidyutJammwal @IamRoySanyal @RukminiMaitra @NehaDhupia @Aashin_A_Shah @sunshinepicture @ZeeStudios_ @ZeeMusicCompany pic.twitter.com/3rhmycxPN8— ZeeCinema (@zeecinema) March 29, 2022
Vidyut Jammwal starrer Sanak: Hope Under Siege released on Disney+ Hotstar on October 15. The film, which marked the Bollywood debut of Bengali actress Rukmini Maitra, also stars Neha Dhupia in the role of a cop and Chandan Roy Sanyal as the antagonist.
(Compiled by Nairita Mukherjee, Raya Ghosh, Tiasa Bhowal, Janani K, Shweta Keshri, Srimoyee Chowdhury, Rishita Roy Chowdhury, Grace Cyril, Shubhi Mishra, Samriddhi Srivastava, Tanushree Roy, Anindita Mukherjee, Medha Chawla)
