Harini & Mudra talk about Bollywood’s staunch refusal to acknowledge that women work outside the confines of their homes, even in the 21st century. When you erase a significant part of women’s lives on screen, how does one build a connection with characters who are meant to represent women? Why do women on screen only have inconsequential or glamorous careers? And is the lack of representation reflective of a lack of women’s participation in the workforce, in real life? Tune into this episode of Cutting Chai Critics on aawaz for all this and more. Credits - YouTube

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Harini & Mudra talk about Bollywood’s continued romance with love triangles, as a narrative device. Why do stories involving complications with love between multiple characters work so well? Is it the lowest hanging fruit for the writer? Or is there something inherently heart warming and soul stirring about three beautiful people who just can’t seem to make up their minds? And how do women and their desires fare, on screen? Harini & Mudra discuss iconic love triangles, things that bother them, and find things to both love and hate about the latest OTT release Gehraiyaan, on this action-packed episode. Credits - YouTube

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Harini & Mudra talk about the Sanskaar on Indian screens, and ask why celebrations and rituals tend to be so glossy, one note and rely on women to perform their ‘duties’? Whether it’s ‘respecting your elders’, fasting on karwa chauth or portrayal of ‘kanyadaan’, our hosts analyze films from the Yash Raj and Dharma Films school of thinking and ask why these outwardly glamorous, ‘modern’ portrayals of new India, continues to celebrate old fashioned regressive traditions in unimaginative ways. Credits - YouTube

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In this episode, Harini & Mudra channel their fangirl and critic avatars to both praise and analyse Zoya Akhtar’s filmography so far. Is it fair to call her one of India’s finest ‘female’ film directors or is it time we did away with such gendered notions? Our hosts talk about how Zoya Akhtar embodies the female gaze in mainstream Bollywood, their favourite themes in her work and her evolution as an artist. Is the Zoya factor losing its power because the filmmaker plays safe,making the film about the elite and seeking commercial gain over creativity? Or is she the kind of director who continues to rewrite the rules for Hindi cinema? Tune into this episode of Cutting Chai Critics on aawaz as they deep dive into what Zoya's films represent and how her stories work for millennial Indian women. Credits - YouTube

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On this episode, Harini & Mudra talk about the many attempts by Bollywood and OTT platforms to turn beloved books into movies, with what they’d call ‘varying levels of success’. When done right, literary influences bring colour, texture, fleshed out female characters, and complex storylines to the screen. But on the flip side, lazy adaptations feature stilted dialogues, weird accents, or showcase a lack of imagination and depth when it comes to converting written work into visually rich films. Do you feel this way too? Join the Cutting Chai Critics on Aawaz as they talk about their favourites like The Namesake, White Tiger, Maqbool and Haider, to missteps like A Suitable Boy and Aisha, to surprising successes like Kai Po Che and Two States, discuss the forgotten art of book reading, female characters, the foreigner’s gaze, the relationship between authors and filmmakers and much more. Credits - YouTube

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On this episode, Harini & Mudra talk about how our notions and expectations about romance have been shaped by Bollywood - which still endorses, 'love at first sight' and 'happily ever after endings' with heroines who are dutiful, beautiful and patient as they raise man-child heroes to be the men they deserve. Tune in for some analysis of pyaar - Bollywood ishtyle on screen through the ages and a discussion of what more inclusive and realistic portrayals could look like. Credits - YouTube

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On this episode, Harini & Mudra discuss the nuances of the rare ‘cult movie’ for Indian women also known as Queen; and the woman behind all the drama-Kangana Ranaut. Be it her filmography with her offbeat choices in movie roles, the possible formula behind those choices, or the uncomfortable uphill battle of separating art from the artist, it’s safe to say that irrespective of our personal stance on the Rani, one simply can’t ignore her. Tune into this episode of Cutting Chai Critics as they try to explore the character of Kangana Ranaut in all her unfiltered glory. Credits - YouTube

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On this episode, Harini & Mudra talk about the second coming of 90’s heroines on OTT platforms headlining shows with Actresses like Madhuri Dixit in the The Fame Game to Sushmita Sen in Aarya. Tune in as our hosts discuss performances, the problem with ‘aunty’ shaming and the many forms of ageism. Credits - YouTube

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With Koffee With Karan debuting on OTT platforms with a brand new season, Harini & Mudra talk about all the things that make the utmost guilty pleasure. Will Karan continue to tug on flamboyance or are we in for a whole new ride this season? Tune into this episode of Cutting Chai Critics as they try to forecast the upcoming season and relive some of the quirkiest moments of the show. Credits - YouTube.

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On the tenth episode, Harini & Mudra discuss what they think about one of Bollywood's most celebrated directors-Sanjay Leela Bhansali, his backend role as producer in some of leading movies and how his style has evolved over the years right from Devdas to the most recent Bhansali phenomenon- Gangubai Kathiawadi.

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