Awful and Awesome 415: Vibe, Lust Stories 3 & Rise and Fall Season 2

The Awful & Awesome Entertainment Wrap

Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen review recent entertainment offerings, including the spy comedy Vibe and the Lust Stories 3 anthology. T

Key takeaways

The film Vibe, directed by Kunal Kemu, is described as a spy comedy spoof featuring Preeti Zinta.
The hosts critique Lust Stories 3 for being too 'self-conscious' and afraid of offending audiences, leading to cinematic mediocrity.
A discussion on reality TV highlights the disturbing trend of 'performative indignity' used as an attention grabber in modern media.
Susan Sarandon's reported loss of acting work due to her political stances is noted as a point of comparison between Hollywood and Bollywood.
The hosts promote News Laundry's satirical 'Naxal' themed merchandise collection.

Main topics

Film Reviews
Reality TV Critique
Social Media Trends

Notable quotes

No democracy can be considered civilized until you can choose how you want to be demonized.

Conclusion

A sharp, satirical exploration of how the fear of cancellation and the

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:03) This is a News Laundry Podcast and you're listening to Awful and Awesome. Speaker 2 (0:13) Hello, hello. This is the Awful and Awesome Entertainment Wrap, episode 415. This is Rajesh Hussain. And Speaker 3 (0:20) this is Abhinandan Sekhri bringing you this episode, recording it on the 29th of September, Tuesday through 55 p.m. So anything that happens after this in the world of pop culture may get left out because otherwise we are completely up to date on everything. Speaker 2 (0:35) You especially. Speaker 3 (0:38) I offered to review a film which you said was released one and a half years ago. Speaker 2 (0:42) Five years ago. Then I checked. Speaker 3 (0:44) Okay. Because clearly Rajshri is under the impression that people, I think it's quite sweet in a sense, that people watch this show to get like the latest updates on pop culture. Because who else to give that better than a 52-year-old middle-aged, you know, man with wrinkles coming up and a much younger lady, but still not exactly. the pop culture, up-to-date-ness. So, but it's nice. You trash Speaker 2 (1:11) yourself, na. I've Speaker 3 (1:12) written on pop culture for 20 years now. It's nice that you think that people are watching this to get latest. But Speaker 2 (1:18) they aren't watching it to get the film review from something five years back. Then you do 15 years back. I don't think they give a fuck. They know what Speaker 3 (1:28) to Speaker 2 (1:28) do. Speaker 3 (1:28) Yeah, they are okay even if you review a film from 25 years ago. Because it is just the... take is so bizarre that they say let's see what these two freaks have to say. That is why people watch this show not because we are latest. Speaker 2 (1:41) You want to Speaker 3 (1:42) review Speaker 2 (1:43) the show? Speaker 3 (1:43) Can you please write in to open their eyes? Because every time I have watched something, I've spent two to three to sometimes five hours of my life. She says it's too old. We cannot review it. And I'm trying to tell her it doesn't matter. But anyway, we have something called vibes. On this very Speaker 2 (1:59) pleasant upbeat note now, we can get to the headlines of the week. Speaker 3 (2:06) Yes. Speaker 2 (2:06) In good news, Drishyam, the conclusions. Advanced bookings are finally open. Speaker 3 (2:13) In bad news, Vijay Salgaonkar is still dragging his family to Swami Chidambaran's ashram on October 2nd. Bro, let the kids enjoy Gandhi Jayanti. Or in fact, this October 2nd, let them go to the Dipke's protest in Bombay and the AISA's protest in Delhi. Gandhi Jayanti. Or that Speaker 2 (2:34) other Guruji's ashram they can go to. The one who's been in the news since yesterday. Speaker 3 (2:39) So many have. But anyway, there's other good news also. Speaker 2 (2:41) In good news, the National Film Awards have finally moved out of Delhi to Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. In Speaker 3 (2:49) bad news, the National Film Awards have moved out of Delhi to Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. Speaker 2 (2:54) In bad news, Susan Sarandon says she's losing acting work because of her outspoken support for Palestinians. In Speaker 3 (3:02) good news, this has finally demonstrated that... India is the Vishwaguru and we are ahead of our times because we have been doing this for the last 12 to 14 years, probably even longer. So congratulations, Modiji, what you were able to accomplish in Bollywood. Finally, Hollywood is catching up. Speaker 2 (3:22) And Susan Siriannon can come and act over here. She can play the British, this thing, character. There will always be one character. Speaker 3 (3:32) Right, so we are going to be reviewing the latest film Vibe because Rajshri saw it. Latest. And I was also made to watch Lust Stories Part 3. We watched Part 1 and 2? Because I remember watching something. Speaker 2 (3:46) Yeah, they were as forgettable as... Speaker 3 (3:47) Actually, this was not that forgettable, the first two. But I will talk about that later. And Rajshri wanted to talk about a reality show called Rise and Fall that she insisted that we must review for whatever reason. But I have a few things to say about that. Not for the show, but what that tells me about be suspicious of people who you're friends with. Speaker 2 (4:09) Because they will lead to your rise and fall. I Speaker 3 (4:12) will tell you why. Speaker 2 (4:13) You will tell me why. Speaker 3 (4:14) But before that, we have a new hamper because this fall collection, let your fashion state your politics. And like in, you know, trendy people don't call this season autumn. They call it fall. So this is what we have for you, this fall collection. Speaker 3 (4:37) Do you know how many different kinds of Naxals exist in the world? Variety kaafi hai. How did all this even begin? What is the history of the word Naxal or the term Naxalite? Now News Laundry has a comic that will tell you all about the history of this word, of this movement and the term itself. This is it. Aamar Bari, Tomar Bari, Naxal Bari. A slogan that set off a trend that carries on till today, 2026. Now, News Laundry has done several pioneering things, like started media critique in India, satirical media critique, an ad-free subscription-only news platform, and it was called Maxillite over a decade ago when it was not as fashionable as it is now. I can see from your beard Speaker 2 (5:25) and Speaker 3 (5:25) your long hair. Just because Speaker 1 (5:26) I have a beard and long hair, Speaker 2 (5:27) that means I'm Maxillite? Speaker 1 (5:28) No, it's Speaker 2 (5:30) a necessary condition, not sufficient condition. Speaker 3 (5:32) So you see? I still have that beard. Thodi si safed hogay ye bas. After this, there was another interpretation. When Naxal became old, so a new phrase was born. Started by a visionary. And that is a fact. Who said facts are facts? Okay bhai, it's not a fact. But he did make the next phase of Naxal popular called Urban Naxal. I'll tell Speaker 1 (5:57) you Speaker 3 (5:57) who's an Urban Naxal. I've spent 10 years researching it. And since the term became so popular, without having a clear meaning of what it really means, we started, you know, a few of our own. You can choose from Urban Naxal, Suburban Naxal, Turban Naxal, or Bourbon Naxal. So this is another product. So you can choose, like any civilized democracy, how you choose to be demonized. And like denim never goes out of style, a Naxal never goes out of style. Now we have a new interpretation started by another visionary. So now you can drink your organic Colombian coffee in a Demagi Naxal mug. Brewed in Colombia, radicalized in Delhi. You know, best of both worlds. Speaker 3 (6:47) Or wear this t-shirt which could be made with cotton from anywhere, Gujarat, Telangana or Texas. Who knows? It's also in a color which is not black because you know, facts are not facts. So now the revolution is available in sizes small to extra large. We're introducing our ultimate Dimagi Naxal fall collection. Speaker 3 (7:12) Now, see, we didn't have a budget for professional models, but I promise you look better than my colleagues. You can order this QR code on link in the show notes from our Demagi Naxal or Naxal Fall Collection. Order today because no democracy can be considered civilized until you can choose how you want to be demonized. Yeah, I know the irony. Speaker 3 (7:42) So here's the QR code. The link is below. Do order because 25 years of Modiji's great governance, 25 % off on this amazing stuff. The t-shirts, this is really cool stuff. Should wear your politics in your sleeve. And you can also get a 14 % discount if you're already a subscriber on the individual items. So here's a QR code for that. And there is a link for that as well. So do yourself a favor. Do your friends a favor. identify yourself or like the teacher that we have, you're asking others, are you an urban Naxal or are you the Maghi Naxal? Ask other people, question everything. Yes, Rajshri Sam. Now, tell me about this film called Vibe, which you watched because Mr. Khemu is in it. Speaker 2 (8:29) No, he's directed it. Speaker 3 (8:31) Oh, who's in it then? He's Speaker 2 (8:33) also in it. Speaker 1 (8:35) Why do you have to say no? Speaker 2 (8:36) Because I start every sentence with a no. And Speaker 3 (8:39) when I pointed this out to me, I had pointed this out to you, which was a negative mindset. And what did you say? Speaker 2 (8:44) This before you, my brother had pointed it out when I was like 10 years old. Speaker 3 (8:47) So clearly you take feedback very seriously and try to change. Speaker 2 (8:52) What did I say? I said, don't always criticize me, Abhinandan Sekhri. That's what I said. No. No, but I thought that. You very Speaker 3 (8:59) ironically said, why are you so negative? Because I pointed out that you start every sentence with no. And Speaker 2 (9:05) I'm negative. No. Speaker 2 (9:07) No. So, Vibe, the reason why I wanted to watch Vibe is because I watch Go, Go, Agon. What film did you watch? Speaker 2 (9:16) V-I-B-E. Speaker 3 (9:19) Vibe. Vibe. Whatever Speaker 2 (9:20) I said, don't make fun of my disability also. It's Speaker 3 (9:24) not. It's vibe. It's not vibe. Speaker 2 (9:27) Vibe. Speaker 3 (9:28) Correct. Nine on ten. Speaker 2 (9:30) Nine on ten. So Vibe is directed by Kunar Kemu. And I had really liked Go Go A Gaon, which you had liked also. I Speaker 3 (9:39) did, Speaker 2 (9:39) yeah. It Speaker 3 (9:40) was a good film. Speaker 2 (9:40) And I don't think he directed that though. But Speaker 3 (9:43) he was in it. But Speaker 2 (9:44) he directed Madgaon Express, which was not bad, which was also like a zombie flick. But this was, this has him, this has Parsh Srivastava. Who's the guy from? Speaker 2 (9:59) Homebound, I think. Is he the guy from Homebound? Will you just check? Speaker 3 (10:02) I mean, you watch the film, do your homework and come. But in the film, they Speaker 2 (10:05) don't say that he's from Homebound. You have Google in front Speaker 3 (10:08) of you, you have a laptop. No, Speaker 2 (10:10) he's not from Homebound, but he's a very good actor. So the film is, it's supposed to be a comedy, but I, like I have high expectations of Kunal Kemu. I don't know why. Because he's Speaker 3 (10:22) Saif's brother-in-law. And you assume that he has the same sophisticated wit. of Saif whose favourite author is Ayn Rand and favourite book is Taubman. He Speaker 2 (10:32) never said that his favourite. Don't trash him just because he's not here to defend himself. Okay. I don't know. I'm not going to just take this. Saif, please come and defend Speaker 1 (10:41) yourself. Speaker 2 (10:41) I'm not going to take this sitting over here. I just wanted to know. But the film I felt is what the government should promote because it makes the government's security agencies and intelligence agencies look way better than Durandhar Mehta agencies look. And I mean it seriously. So basically the story is, it's an absurd story in the sense that there are these two guys. There's Kunal Kemu, who's a recovering drug addict, recovered drug addict. or recovered addict. I think it was drugs only. And his friends, played by Sparsh Srivastav, is this very hardworking Siddharth chap who works in IT, in tech, Speaker 1 (11:30) and Speaker 2 (11:30) in this company. And he's the one who sponsored his rehab and all. And he gets him a job. Now that he's come out, he gets him a job in the same company. And it all looks pretty staid, but... Something happens where they are both finally the girl. There's a girl who works with them. She turns out to be one of the main terrorists in the world. In the world. In the world. His daughter. Like it's like Osama Bin Laden's daughter. Speaker 1 (12:01) And Speaker 2 (12:02) these two don't know that. And Preeti Zinta plays the head of... Speaker 3 (12:08) Raw. Speaker 2 (12:09) Like it's not raw. It's an adjacent to raw. That kind of... this thing and Speaker 3 (12:13) medium well done medium Speaker 2 (12:15) well done she plays this character which has been played by do you know Dina Scully from X-Files yeah Speaker 3 (12:23) so Speaker 2 (12:24) she plays this character in one of those spoof spy shows that's there also and she hires these two guys to Speaker 1 (12:34) Sort of save Speaker 2 (12:35) India. I see.