OTTplay Bingelist with RJ Stutee: What to watch in January Week 3

As the virus continues to rage and we remain wholly dependent on OTTs for our entertainment fix here’s a curated list of shows and films you can choose from:

1. Unpaused: Naya Safar – An anthology with 5 stories set against the backdrop of the pandemic it talks about how our lives have been upended by it. Unpaused: Naya Daur is a brave , well crafted anthology with more hits than misses. Vaikunth by Nagraj Manjule about a crematorium worker and War Room by Ayala KM are exceptionally good. The latter set in a covid war room has an interesting premise masterfully steered by Geetanjali Kulkarni;s riveting performance. Nupur Asthana’s The Couple also benefits greatly from Shreya Dhanwanthary and Priyanshu Painyuli’s chemistry. Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

2. Bhaukaal 2 – Mohit Raina, Abhimanyu Singh, Siddhanth Kapoor starrer Bhaukaal released in 2020. Season 1 ended with the encounter of Shaukeen (Abhimanyu Singh), the leader of one of the gangs. Now, the Dedha brothers, Pintu (Pradeep Nagar) and Chintu (Siddhanth Kapoor) want to rule the city. But, SSP Naveen Sikhera (Mohit Raina) wants to eliminate all crime. So, it’s the Dedha brothers vs Sikhera. With Mohit Raina, Siddhanth Kapoor, Pradeep Nagar, Bidita Bag reprising their respective roles, Bhaukaal 2 begins from the point the first season had ended. Expect a lot of action and intense drama considering it’s a face off between the Dedha Brothers who will stop at nothing to spread their reign of terror and our no nonsense SSP. It’s on MX Player.

3. Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee – The title literally translates to “you are the beginning as well as the end”. Written and directed by Darbuka Siva this Tamil film is a trip down memory lane. Reliving the 90’s we follow the story of a bunch of high school students as they try and navigate through life. The dreams and aspirations they nurse, and the love and heart breaks that ultimately shape them. Well intentioned and with some very authentic and heartwarming performances, MNMN can be seen on Zee5.

4. Bhoothakaalam – A brilliantly made psychological horror Bhoothakaalam by Rahul Sadasivan is playing on Sony LIV. Unlike films that spell everything out and spoonfeed the viewers this one warrants our attention. Revathy and Shane Nigam play mother – son who never quite address the dysfunctionality of their relationship. As the title hints, we deal with both the past as well as the ghosts of the past that still seem to trouble the duo. Deliciously paced and masterfully executed we see them slowly slide into depression and wonder at the various possibilities that can help control the situation. The climax in particular is stellar and draws us in completely. The way the supernatural is dealt with makes it a must watch.

5. How I Met Your Father – It’s a standalone sequel to the immensely popular How I Met Your Mother. The year is 2050, and “mom” calls her son to give him an unabridged version of how she met his father! Well that’s how we flashback to 2022 and meet Sophie and her close mates as their try to find love and a happily ever after. The series stars Hilary Duff, Christopher Lowell, Francia Raisa, Suraj Sharma, Tom Ainsley, Tien Tran, and Kim Cattrall. For now only 2 episodes are out and its still tough to say how the narrative shapes out watch it to avoid FOMO. Kim Cattrall enters the first frame as she warns her kinds about how she has been through a whole lot of men before meeting their dad. The fun is in the journey than then destination as they say. It’s on Disney+Hotstar.