Ankita continues to expand her thoughts/feelings on Dhurandhar, but this time with two of her favorite people–Vignesh Burugupalli and Mihika Gottimukkala. The three forged a cinephilic friendship after Ankita's Global Bollywood class last year. Continuing the discourse, the three chat about their reactions, complex feelings, and criticisms of Dhurandhar. Ankita ends the episode by arguing that Dhurandhar marks the era of Cold War 2.0 in India. We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to write to us at thedesigazepodcast@proton.me

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Happy New Year! Ankita introduces season two "Before the Collapse" as she recovers from acute bronchitis (welp!)

But there's more...she shares her thoughts on Dhurandhar, arguably, India's biggest blockbuster film. This film has genearted a lot of interest, debate, and chaos. As Ankita tries to make sense of her messy experience of watching the film, she invites Jason Christian, who is the co-host of Cold War Cinema podcast (and Ankita's husband!).

For season 2, TDG will unpack the cold war era in the Indian film context along with some wonderful guests on the way! Stay tuned. As always, please subscribe to the podcast, and don't forget to leave us a review!

For October, Ankita and Azhar delve deep into the phenomenon, the legend, and the alleged last star of Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan, also known as SRK. Why not a film? Because both have discussed their fascination and critique of the megastar on and off. This is a labor of love and a gaze back from SRK's two ardent fans.

What makes SRK great?

Why does SRK still rule?

How has the far-right attack on the star affected SRK's fandom?

Do artists have a social responsibility?

The hosts unpack, celebrate, criticize SRK, and, in extension, a film industry that seems to be losing its foundational ethos of socialist, revolutionary filmmaking. As always, please subscribe to the podcast, and don't forget to leave us a review!

We will be taking a break until the end of this year! From January 2026, we will bring you seasons dedicated to a particular theme, along with some brilliant guests!

Reading recommendations: When the Hindu Right Came for Bollywood

Image credit: Creative Commons

Ankita and Azhar take you to Bihar this time–the richest Indian region before colonialism–plundered by many invading forces, including the British Raj and East India Company. Damul is a film about bonded labor and casteism. It is based on the story "Kaalsootra" by Shaiwal, a native writer of Gaya, Bihar. Ankita and Azhar dive deeper into the political economy of caste and gender while critically analysing the possibilities of resistance in a land notorious for violence. A native of Bihar herself, Ankita weaves experience and insight to discuss one of the most realistic portrayals of Bihar's socio-political culture.

Note: The co-hosts use words like Chamaar, Ahir, etc., in connection to labor explicitly. They acknowledge how these words are often used as slurs by Savarnas and vehemently reject the negative connotations associated with them.

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They say, save the best for last! We end our special series with an episode on myriad meanings and observations on Bollywood with Ankita's former students: Kandarp Vadia, Parth Parikh, Sai Lalith Kanumuri, and Vignesh Burugupalli. Our guests begin the discussion with the importance of Hindi films for the desi diaspora along with presenting crucial insights into the problems of (mis) representation, the use of CGI, issues of adapting/borrowing/stealing stories etc. Though difference in opinions arise here and there, all the participants do agree on the postcolonial power of Hindi film and the spirit of storytelling the contemporary Hindi filmmakers must return to.

Azhar miscalculated the time difference and could not make it. Though, Ankita and he have decided to be back for an episode before taking a much-needed summer break.

Show these youngsters some love, please like and subscribe!

May is special! Beyond celebrating May Day, Azhar and Ankita decided to crank it up a notch. As educators, cinephiles, Marxists, and postcolonial scholars, they believe in breaking hierarchies. So they bring you "Diasporic Gazes," a series of special episodes featuring Ankita's film students from her classes on Global Bollywood and Global Other Cinema.

In this short episode, Cierra Ferguson and Laksh Makhija reflect on their experience taking Global Bollywood with Dr. Ankita Rathour at Georgia Tech. Together, they discuss how the class shaped their understanding of Bollywood as both an art form and a cultural force. What does it mean to study Bollywood in an academic setting? How does your background shape what you take away from it? Along the way, they share unexpected insights and work through a tier list of the films they watched throughout the semester. Whether you're a lifelong fan or completely new to Bollywood, this episode invites you to join us in thinking about how cinema, culture, and personal perspective come together in the classroom. Show these young learners some love and cheer.

Speaker Bios:

Cierra Ferguson is a Taiwanese-American psychology student focusing on computation and cognition. Dr. Rathour's ENGL 1102 class on decolonial film and literature sparked in them a deeper commitment to continue education grounded in historical understanding and liberation. Now, after taking Global Bollywood, they're more passionate than ever, and SRK has officially gained another lifelong fan.

May is special! Beyond celebrating May Day, Azhar and Ankita decided to crank it up a notch. As educators, cinephiles, Marxists, and postcolonial scholars, they believe in breaking hierarchies. So they bring you "Diasporic Gazes," a series of special episodes featuring Ankita's film students from her classes on Global Bollywood and Global Other Cinema. In this episode, Lasya Malladi and Adi Krish unpack masculinity in Hindi and other Indian language films. They rate them over a "rizzometer." It turns out that SRK is a clear winner in portraying positive masculinity. But for more insight, listen to Lasya and Adi. Show these young learners some love and cheer.

Speaker Bios:

My name is Lasya Malladi, and I just recently took Dr. Ankita Rathour's Global Bollywood class this past semester. I'm obsessed with everything Tolly/Bollywood, especially all things Nani and old SRK ! (We don't speak of Pathaan)". Thank you so much for featuring us!

I'm Adi Krish, but my friends call me Adi Krizz. I am a Computer Science major at Georgia Tech, and a huge Bollywood fan! I'm a terrible dancer, but I love dancing. I'm tone deaf, but I love singing!

Bougies, colonial hangover, hunting, party, and an unusual dinner! Ankita and Azhar bring you the criminally underrated and one of the most haunting Hindi films, Aranyak (1994), directed by the legendary Odiya cinematographer and screenwriter Apurba Kishore Bir. This film is a testament to Hindi cinema's versatility and uniqueness. It asks you to question the thin line between control and cannibalism, appreciation and objectification, and so much more. It is one of the earliest Hindi films to examine the subject of cannibalism and the objectification of the Indigenous people of Odisha, India. Hailing from Odisha, there can be no better storyteller than Bir himself, who carefully braids patriarchy, native elitism, and the rise of postcolonial capitalist machinery through the theme of cannibalistic consumption.

As always, please subscribe to the podcast if you like what you hear, and don't forget to leave us a review!