Let’s talk Bigg Boss Tamil!

After not writing an article/ opinion piece for over a year, I am finally going to write one! On a topic which is considered ‘cringe’ by most of the watching population yet the numbers state otherwise. I am going to write on Bigg Boss Tamil .

This is the cue for those who don’t like it to quietly close the link and walk away. This is not going to be a piece where I defend the merits of the show. By this time you either like it or hate it. I don’t consider it scripted but I do feel that the content is manipulated by the production team wherein they give tasks to either bond the housemates or cause problems – depending on what they feel is necessary for the show’s viewership.

Where do I rate this current season?

Well, Season 1 was in hindsight the most genuine one as the  contestants came in with little or no clue as to what to expect. They came in because Kamal was hosting the show , they played the tasks well, didn’t know much about how they would be portrayed on TV and most of them (Gayathri, Julie, namitha etc.) paid the price with their reputations being maligned temporarily. It also gave unprecedented fame to Oviya who at one point was getting crowd pull like mass film stars who have acted over 50 films. While, it can be argued that she hasn’t utilized this fame to its full potential – Oviya still makes cameos and news by her mere presence thanks to Bigg Boss. This season also throws light on the fact that while there is a temporary spike in fame and glory, your career still depends on the choices you make thereafter. Harish Kalyan and Raiza have made the right career choices and the results are there for all to see. A highlight of this season post oviya was the spirit of game upheld in tasks wherein the games were played with a high level of commitment and involvement by contestants like Arav , Snehan , Ganesh Venkatraman and even wildcard & returning contestants like Suja Varunee and Harathi.

Season 2 was a misfire for many. The season went wrong in the casting itself where a lot of dominant, ‘angry’ contestants were selected. The result of which most tasks ended in chaos and mayhem and negative energy. This was the season where the ‘Hindi’ biggboss model of doing tasks were frowned upon by the viewing public here.

Personally, I felt this season had the best tasks and my favorite contestant – Yashika who killed all her tasks with elan and the strategies and mind games were a treat to watch. In the end, the angry bird season ended with the calmest amongst them all – Rithvika running away with the title- for simply making the right points at the right time.

Season 3 was the worst in terms of tasks. There is literally no memorable task I can think of in hindsight. However, the contestants won the heart of the public! Sandy and his ‘gang’ (which was a good word back then) provided wholesome entertainment.

There were 3 separate love tracks ,a house filled with ‘youngsters’ , lots of emotional drama ( RIP Losliya’s dad) , Parrys Corner fights thanks to Vanitha 😛 and overall it was very compelling to watch and I think it’s gonna be very hard to beat this season in terms of sheer viewability!

Coming to the current season, it seems to be mixed bag of sorts. We are approaching 50 days and still there are 16 contestants crowding the house. The placement of the show in the festival season has made evictions redundant and ‘celebration’ omnipresent. However, the contestants seems to be at loggerheads from day 1. There seems to be 2 gangs and 3 ppl who don’t belong anywhere. Everyone seems to have their flaws and strengths. Aari , Ramya, Rio , Bala , Som/Gaby/Ramesh seem set for the finals unless some big twist happens. The show should be blamed for introducing 3 wildcards in the first 5 weeks! Idk how they are going to have only 5 finalists in the last week unless there is a double elimination ASAP. This season can at most trump season 2 to become 3^rd rank unless something drastically changes. There is no clear winner which is a great thing as it won’t burden the ‘favorites’ ( Let’s call it the Darshan’s curse)

However, this season does have the most diverse set of 16 people, which is probably why they are finding it hard to gel. You don’t know who is going to fight who in the coming weeks and let’s face it – the viewing public don’t want a ‘safe’ season 1 now. They want a fight every 3 minutes and yet blame the contestants when they fight. They call the episodes where things are quiet and comedic as boring. By the way they includes me too 😛 This season only works if a red card situation arises every 2 minutes. Let’s grab the popcorn and enjoy shall we!

I’m ready to write on BB topics in a more full fledged manner if I get a good response or else I’ll just stick to twitter 😛

Which was your favorite season of BB tamil so far? Share your thoughts in comments below

8 shows to tide you over the lockdown

With a plethora of options on what you can watch to simply pass time during the lockdown , we have decided to intervene and make your job of doing nothing easy. Simply watch the shows we recommend!

And who else to give us these recommendations than our favourite Misalsaab, who you can find under the handle name @millennial_review on instagram.

1. Fleabag (Amazon Prime) 

Probably the best show of 2018, Fleabag has a top tier writer/actress at the top of her game and goes so effortlessly from funny to sad to funny again it’s a wonder it even works. Season 1 is great but S2 is where it really shines so be patient . Available on Prime.

2. Sex Education (Netflix)

The second season had a weird off tone opening but if you stick with it, it gets way better and is as satisfying as the first one. SE has a talented young cast, some good writing and is definitely one of Netflix’s most charming shows.

 

3.  Succession (Hotstar) 

One of the best shows about the obscenely rich, Succession has tight dialogue, solid camera work and a twisty script and feels like watching a good play with great actors. It’s a bit heavy with corporate lingo and is a silent show overall so be careful watching when you’re sleepy. Available on Hotstar.

 

4. The Mandalorian (Hotstar/Disney+)

If you’ve never seen Star Wars and want to get what the memes are about you actually can watch this show anyway but it won’t pack the same punch. If you’re a Star Wars fan this is a no brainer you have to see it. It’s not the best show around but it’s still very watchable and very short. Available on Hotstar/Disney+.

5.  The Boys (Amazon Prime)

It’s violent, sweary, horrible, fun and feels a lot like a Tarantino piece. Most of the lead actors are great and you can’t really predict too much of the plot so overall definitely worth watching. Not gonna lie I’d forgotten about Amazon Prime for a while until this released.

 

6.  The Witcher (Netflix) 

It’s not Game of Thrones if that’s what you’re expecting but it’s surprisingly decent and enjoyable when the confusing timeline makes sense. Also has a LOT of unnecessary nudity.

7. The Morning Show ( Apple TV / Popcorn Time) 

Despite being a bit cliché this has a surprisingly tight script and never became overly melodramatic when it easily could have. Subject matter is handled decently enough plus supporting cast is really strong. Also kinda sad how not enough people are watching this despite the big name actors. Available on Apple TV.

 

8.  Mindhunter (Netflix) 

Easily in the top 5 shows on Netflix, both seasons are tense, well acted, well directed and walk a balance that most cop shows can’t do without becoming too cheesy or too boring. I don’t binge but this show made me want to.

 

So what shows do you like? You can share them in the comments below. More the merrier right!

 

 

 

 

 

The Chiefs of Seattle Grace – Grey Sloan Memorial over the years

Is greys Anatomy still going on? 

This show isn’t cancelled yet? 

If you’re saying these things , this post isn’t probably for you. So BYE! Also if you haven’t caught up with all the 16 seasons there will definitely be a few spoilers. So carry on at your own risk.

Grey’s Anatomy for fans is not just a show but a way of life. We watch and re watch till we shout “SOMEONE SEDATE ME!” like Poor Ol’ Yang.

So I put up a post on this famous Grey’s Anatomy facebook page “Grey’s anatomy Humor”, asking who according to them were the best and worst chiefs (of surgery..duh) to grace the halls of Seattle Grace , Seattle Grace Mercy West and Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital over the years. After reading over 141 comments I found it fit to make a listicle out of the same 😀 So I am not going to make a rankings list of the chief ( I  an not looking for controversy here :P) but instead make a chronological list of all the chiefs ever and list their pros and cons so here we go.

1. Chief Richard Webber –    Seasons 1-6 +7                                                                                                        Always the best man for the job. First black male chief of the hospital, his reign took the hospital to glorious heights . The man hasn’t been Chief since Season 8 and people still call him the Chief.

   

   cz  he the chief!

Pros – His calm and inspiring mentorship. He is the prime mentor of Derek Sheperd , Addison Montgomery , Preston Burke , Meredith Grey , Miranda Bailey and the list goes on and on. Every doctor on the show has been mentored or been motivated by him at some point. Will never forget him giving confidence to Amelia in Season 11 when she freaked out about the Hermann tumor and told her she was as good as her brother and motivated her to pull off the impossible. Another particular incident which stuck with me was during the infamous LVAD inquiries of Season 2 , when Yang asks him how to separate the personal from the professional and give up her friends – he would not let her. That to me defined the man. He doesn’t see doctors as robots but as caring humans with a heart. Which is what sets him apart. This is further proved in the infamous Season 13 Minnick storyline.

Cons – Well once Seattle Grace falls to 12th rank in Season 5 he goes a bit nuts and starts drinking. This makes him take many questionable decisions like firing Callie and Izzie ( the one time she could have been let go unpunished) , clipping a man’s bile duct and the merger.  He also tends to give slap on the wrist punishments for grave errors like cutting LVAD wires , operating with  tremor in the hand and messing with clinical trials.

 

2. Derek Sheperd –                                                                                                                                      The brilliant neurosurgeon with a god complex moved all the way from New York for the chief position only to realize that he was totally unsuited for the job and that he would rather operate  than administrate.

Pros – Not many. Him introducing conferences where surgeons discuss their complex cases was interesting and very Derek. Looked very good in chief’s formals

Cons – The whole Gary Clark saga. Also if you really hate the job does it even matter if you’re good at it?

 

3.  Owen Hunt –                                                                                                                                               An unlikely candidate for the job , Owen Hunt really stepped it up and was responsible and unassuming chief who got the job done. However , his tenure coincided with the time when he was being terrible to Cristina for having an abortion . So that didn’t help in making him likable

Pros – Carried his power lightly. The softball episode was a good team building exercise. His sincerity shines through in his handling of the rape victim case as the chief and when the hospital was going through bankruptcy. Bringing April back and mentoring her.

Cons- Well he did sign the papers to hire a cheaper helicopter which led to THAT plane crash 😥

 

4. Mark Sloan                                                                                                                                                       He was only chief for a day , as expected he threw his weight around but finally learnt enough to end the day with positive outcomes.

Pros – Beef with the chief lunch sessions , annoying Derek and finally listening to Webber

Cons – Disrespecting Bailey and Richard initially and throwing of the power.

RIP Mark ❤

 

5.  Miranda Bailey –                                                                                                                                                             Poor Webber was always holding his spot for Bailey to take over and now she has made him regret it multiple times.  She took charge as the Chief in Season 12 and proved immediately that she was something of a … dictator. However , she is someone who always has a vast vision -what with all the genome labs , hyperbaric chambers , mood rooms and remodelling of the hospital. If only she loosened the reins a little.

Pros – Investments in technology . Being Bailey at the end of the day – She knows everything. Sh cares deeply about the hospital. Realised her mistake about the Minnick method at the end of season 13 . Hosted the cool research competition and is generally very competent. I also liked she suspended Ben for cutting open a women’s stomach

Cons- Dictator at her worst. She tries to not listen to Webber a bit too much and lets Catherine Avery play her Eg. Minnick saga. Her firing of Alex , Webber and Grey is just dumbfounding. I mean who fires 3 departmental heads at the same find? especially when 2 of them only abetted. Her jealousy towards Alex Karev who did a better job than her.

 

6. Alex Karev –

                                                                                                                                        Who would have thought that evil spawn from season 1 would turn out to be chief one day? :’) After the initial roadblocks he turned out to be an awesome chief!

Pros – Totally rocked it by delegating effectively to the interns and apparently showed a good net margin.

Cons – Spending the quarter’s budget in the 1st day 😛

 

Who is your fave and least fave? Please comment below and join the discussion.

 

 

Things to do this weekend

Here is my weekly recommendations on how to live life 😛 Thank me later.

Which Movie to watch?

I am not going to say Black Panther. While it is good , what is excellent is “Three billboards outside ebbing missouri ” . A low on the radar movie , a black comedy cum drama which gives us a fun yet deeep insight on people process pain and how violence begets violence. Frances McDormand , Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson give the performances of their lives and the screenplay is one of the most atrociously delicious things I’ve lived through. If I am not convincing enough maybe the multiple Golden Globes and BAFTAs will convince you.

Activity to do

Ride a Zoom Cycle. Zoomcars has launched an amazing initiative in Pune where you can rent cycles online for Re 1 per hour! It is located in several locations around the city and is a must go for nostalgic-health-environmental-and whattheheckitsjustfun reasons!

Which show to Binge?

The Flash. Hear me out. The first season is one of the most intriguing and fun superhero creations out there. While season 2 was imaginative it took a turn for the dour like Arrow and season 3 was just … let’s pretend like it never happened. However , Season 4 has promised a return to form. Critics have christened it  to be the “Flash Lite” and the Thinker proves to be a better villain than the evil speedsters who just make people moan “Run Barry Run” . Now with an ensemble of Flash , Killer Frost , The Elongated Man and The Vibe ( let’s forget Iris) Team Flash sports one of the most charismatic casts out there. And the makers have given a much needed personality makeover to our Dear Barry Allen. So watch reader watch!

 

Where to eat?

Pandora Gastronomy & Bar , Yerawada , Pune.

I will quietly drop the pictures here , thank you .

1. Citrus Bhel
2. Malabar Chicken tarts
3. Egyptian Fish (Basa)
4. Truffle fries
5. Ghee Roasted Chicken with Malabar Parotta
6. Textures of Chocolate
7. Kaffir Lime Chicken Tikka

And what to read I might ask?

Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie

A mixture of Mughal empire and Florence is what you didn’t know you needed in your life till it came along!

“Rushdie weaves magic with his word. A hedonistic mixture of fable and history , I loved Akbar’s mind workings. Was annoyed by the Florence bit and soon fell in love with it and started hating the Mughal bit 😛 It keeps you in with feverish excitement and fantasy till the spell is broken because the enchanter himself got tired by the book’s end. Would have loved to know more about the Mughal dell amore. Still a thundering work from Rushdie which is a history lover’s delight.”