Yes, the lockdown still stands. While new active cases COVID-19 are going down in Maharashtra, the numbers are rapidly rising in other states like Karnataka and some northern states. Now, there are even reports of a possible third way of coronavirus.
But hasn’t staying in become the new normal? You may not like the pandemic normal, but the reality is that whether any Indian state has imposed a lockdown or not, people are advised to stay at home to prevent the spread of the disease. And while doing so has been a way of life since 2020, it can get taxing if one does not take breaks every once in a while. Whether working or not, pandemic or not, the weekly break from the stress of excel sheets, writing pads, kitchen, and house chores, remain to be the weekend.
Two days that people look forward to after a hectic week should include a bit of entertainment too. Whether you are at home with family, a happy bachelor or a forced one, we have taken the liberty of curating a list of some new films and series that you can catch on with this weekend.
Shadow and Bone
Released in April on Netflix, Shadow and Bone is the new fantasy drama the online streaming world has to offer. Season 1 of the series is based on young adult author Leigh Bardugo's bestselling ‘Grishaverse’ novels. Sitting in the Top 10 on Netflix, the fans of the Grisha trilogy can certainly give it a go since many Indian, as well as western media, has approved of the adaptation. But irrespective of whether you have read the book or not, the series is self-explanatory and offers a bundle of magic, love and power nicely wrapped with a bow of mystery and war on top. If you are looking to binge-watch a series this weekend, this may be your fix.
IMDb rating: 7.9
Creator: Eric Heisserer
Actors: Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Ben Barnes and Zoë Wanamaker, among others.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
The miniseries is based on Marvel comics and is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) new line up for Disney+. Released in March, the six-episode series is streaming on Disney+ around the world and Disney+ Hotstar in India. If you are a fan of MCU and have been following the Avenger movies, then you must catch up on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, too! It picks up from Avengers: Endgame and does a great job at doing so. If you’ve watched Endgame, you probably have too many questions and may want to know where does Captain America’s shield end-up. Well, your doubts may be cleared after watching the series. It’s a perfect weekend watch.
IMDb rating: 7.5
Creator: Malcolm Spellman
Actors: Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Wyatt Russell, Erin Kellyman, Danny Ramirez, and Georges St-Pierre, among others.
Out of Love (Season 2)
The Indian series is a drama thriller based on Doctor Foster by Mike Bartlett. Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, the series premiered in November 2019. The first season of the series garnered a lot of love and appreciation from the critics. The love-hate story of the character picks up after three years gap. This suggestion is for those who have either watched the first season and are keen to know what happens next, and also for those who’ve not watched the first season and should give it a try.
The episodes are premiered weekly, and three episodes of the new season have been released. So if you are looking to binge watch, we suggest you give Season 1 a run-through too!
IMDb: 7.1 (Season 1)
Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia and Aijaz Khan
Actors: Rasika Dugal, Purab Kohli and Meenakshi Chaudhary, among others.
The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)
We enjoy a good animation movie. The science-fiction comedy is about a dysfunctional family that winds up having to save Earth from a robot uprising while on a road trip. When you are self-aware about being the worst and the weirdest family ever, and the robot apocalypse hits what do you do? But obviously, you try and save the world. According to us, it’s a good afternoon watch and is streaming on Netflix.
IMDb: 7.99
Director: Mike Rianda
Starring: Danny McBride, Abbi Jacobson, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Eric Andre and Olivia Colman, among others.
Finding Ohana (2021)
Premiered in January on Netflix, the movie takes you on a self-discovering family adventure. The movie is about two Brooklyn siblings on a trip to Oahu, Hawaii. On the island, they discover their heritage, a book with a treasure map, a hidden treasure and folklore that ties it all up. Having received good reviews, the movie is a great way to bond with the family and while enjoying a concoction of action, adventure and emotion and a bowl of popcorns.
IMDb: 6.1
Director: Jude Weng
Actors: Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay Watson, Owen Vaccaro, Kelly Hu and Branscombe Richmond, among others.
Tribhanga - Tedhi Medhi Crazy (2021)
Released on Netflix in January, the movie follows the lives of three women of the same family spanning the late 1980s to the present day. The all-woman cast brings attention to the value of family in everyday life. The Netflix original was actually supposed to be a Marathi film. Despite strong leads and an engaging plot, the movie (interestingly) received mixed reviews. While some loved Kajol in the film, one critique (The Hindu, Debasree Purkayastha) found Tanvi Azmi to ‘hold your attention’ in the movie.
IMDb: 6.1
Director: Renuka Shahane
Actors: Kajol, Tanvi Azmi and Mithila Palkar, among others.
