Best HIMANSHU SHARMA Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 73: Paatal Lok S2 - with Sudip Sharma 53:45

1M ago53:45

53:45

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Showrunner Sudip Sharma joins us for a probing discussion on the excellent second season of Amazon's hit crime thriller, Paatal Lok. And yes, I also got a chance to ask him about Kohrra 2 and why Balbir won't be returning this season. If you enjoy the podcast, do consider supp…

1
Episode 72: Covering Hindi Cinema in 80s and 90s - with Dilip Thakur 1:09:14

2M ago1:09:14

1:09:14

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Senior film journalist and author Dilip Thakur joins us to recount memories of covering Hindi cinema in the 80s and the 90s. The excitement of muhurat shots, the glitz of premiere parties, the charm of single screen cinemas, Bachchan media boycott, access to stars, and Mumbai …

1
Episode 71: Deewaar turns 50 - with Alok, Dipta and Shiva 1:43:13

4M ago1:43:13

1:43:13

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Deewaar (1975) turns 50 this year. The Bachchan Coolies (Alok Sharma, Diptakirti Chaudhuri and Shiva Krishnamurthy) are back to celebrate the film that proved to be a landmark film not just for Bachchan, Salim-Javed and Yash Chopra but Hindi cinema itself. We discussed how Dee…

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Episode 70: Mithun in the 80s - with Avijit Ghosh 57:45

5M ago57:45

57:45

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Mithun is among the actors who have become an integral part of Indian pop culture. Author Avijit Ghosh joins me as we look back on Mithun's career in the 80s, when he broke through as a star, not just in India but across the globe, including countries as far as Russia and Egyp…

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Episode 69: Aditya Sarpotdar - Part 2 1:53:11

8M ago1:53:11

1:53:11

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! The second part of my conversation with Aditya Sarpotdar where we talked about his favorite films and shows, his A R Rahman fandom (including an anecdote which he has never shared publicly until now), and much more! If you enjoy the podcast, do consider supporting the show: ht…

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Episode 68: Aditya Sarpotdar - Part 1 2:02:31

9M ago2:02:31

2:02:31

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Aditya Sarpotdar is here! His horror comedy Munjya is one of the biggest hits of 2024 and his next film Vampires of Vijay Nagar is one of the most eagerly anticipated films of 2025. Before making his Hindi debut with Munjya, Aditya made some of the more interesting and refresh…

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Episode 67: Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) - with Vanita Kohli-Khandekar 54:16

10M ago54:16

54:16

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Zoya Akhtar's Dil Dhadakne Do puts the fun in dysfunctional. Vanita Kohli-Khandekar and I revisit the 2015 comedy drama that happens to be one of our favortie films by Zoya. Join us! If you enjoy the podcast, do consider supporting the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/257788/s…

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Episode 66: Aatish (1994) - with Avneesh, Vikram and Saurabh 1:26:26

11M ago1:26:26

1:26:26

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Aatish: Feel the Fire turns 30 this year. Avneesh Prashar, Saurabh Nair, Vikram Bondal and I celebrate Sanjay Gupta's 1994 action drama, a film that all four of us are fond of. Join us as we look back on — the bromance of Baba and Nawab; Gupta's eye for style, music, action an…

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Episode 65: Sharaabi (1984) - with Alok, Dipta and Shiva 1:40:37

12M ago1:40:37

1:40:37

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Sharaabi (1984) turns 40 this year. Superfans Alok Sharma, Diptakirti Chaudhuri and Shiva Krishnamurthy join me as we celebrate the Prakash Mehra film that gave us one of Amitabh Bachchan's top performances, Bappi-da's ace soundtrack, and some of the most incisive and clear-ey…

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Episode 64: Sapta Sagaradaache Ello, Kavaludaari - with Hemanth M Rao 1:21:50

1y ago1:21:50

1:21:50

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Hemanth M Rao joins us to chat about his gripping, noir-ish investigative thriller Kavaludaari and the stirring Sapta Sagaradaache Ello (Side A and Side B). Hemanth also shared his experiences assisting Girish Kasaravalli and co-writing with Sriram Raghavan. Joins us! If you e…

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Episode 63: Kohrra, Halahal - with Randeep Jha 1:25:44

1y ago1:25:44

1:25:44

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Randeep Jha joins us for a long chat on his excellent debut feature film Halahal, Netflix's Kohrra, his equally uncompromising short film Kartaa, and Trial by Fire which he co-directed. If you enjoy the podcast, do consider supporting the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/25778…

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Episode 62: Box Office Roundup - with Akkshay Rathie 1:11:00

1y ago1:11:00

1:11:00

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! For cinephiles, cinema halls are like places of worship. Following the long and harsh Covid winter, cinema halls had a massive sunny run in 2023 thanks to Pathaan, Gadar 2, Jawan and Animal. Exhibitor and friend of the podcast, Akkshay Rathie joins us for a chat on — the banne…

1
Episode 61: Raakh (1989) - with Aditya Bhattacharya 1:48:40

1+ y ago1:48:40

1:48:40

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Aditya Bhattacharya's Raakh (1989) is a powder keg of a film. The kind of film which you can't stop thinking about for a day or two, every time you watch it. Aditya joins me for almost a 2-hour long chat on his remarkable debut film, the story behind the film, Aamir Khan, and …

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Episode 60: Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part 2 (2003) - with Shashanka Ghosh 1:05:15

1+ y ago1:05:15

1:05:15

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! One of my favorite Arshad Warsi films turns 20 this week. Writer-director Shashanka Ghosh joins me to talk about Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part 2, a film that was an absolute trip and had banger of a soundtrack that included Kailash Kher's chartbuster Allah Ke Bande. Crazy stories ab…

1
Episode 59: Thoovanathumbikal (1987) - with Bejoy Nambiar 1:05:27

1+ y ago1:05:27

1:05:27

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Bejoy Nambiar (Shaitan, David, Solo, Taish) joins us for a deep dive of one of his all-time favorites, Padmarajan's Thoovanathumbikal. We talked about the complex characterizations, Mohanlal's terrific performance, Sumalatha's fascinating Clara and Johnson's timeless backgroun…

1
Episode 58: Hansal Mehta 1:53:41

1+ y ago1:53:41

1:53:41

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Hansal Mehta joins us for a chat on two of his early films, Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar and Chhal. One's a black comedy about end of innocence. The other's a sharp action drama centered around betrayal. Both films had compelling story lines, terrific cast, great music and both attempte…

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Episode 57: Rangeela (1995) - with Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul 1:14:34

2y ago1:14:34

1:14:34

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul, who co-created Scoop and wrote Thappad, joins me for a deep dive of one of her favorite films, Rangeela! We talked about Rangeela's charming old-school writing, the strong lead female character, women in RGV's films, Aamir Khan's method performance, Rah…

1
Episode 56: Ram Gopal Varma 1:46:47

2y ago1:46:47

1:46:47

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Fanboy moment! On the eve of Satya's 25th anniversary, a 2-hour-long chat with RGV on everything from Shiva and Raat, to Satya and Company, to Sarkar and Bhoot, to Nishabd and Mast. Unfiltered and unabashed as always, RGV shared some cool insights, stories and anecdotes. Join …

1
Episode 55: Vikram Bhatt 1:03:31

2y ago1:03:31

1:03:31

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Vikram Bhatt's Ghulam, a key 90s film and one of Aamir Khan's most popular film, turns 25 this year. Vikram joins me for a wide-ranging chat on Ghulam, music in his films, Raaz and the horror genre, his early days assisting Mukul Anand and Mahesh Bhatt, his streaming platform,…

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Episode 54: Zanjeer (1973) - with Diptakirti Chaudhuri 1:05:11

2y ago1:05:11

1:05:11

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Amitabh Bachchan's breakout film was Zanjeer (1973). The film not only proved to be the breakout vehicle for India's biggest superstar and cultural icon, but it also ushered in the Bachchan-Salim-Javed era and the trend of action dramas. Diptakirti Chaudhuri, a lifelong Hindi …

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Episode 53: Jubilee - with Atul Sabharwal and Vikramaditya Motwane 52:51

2y ago52:51

52:51

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! I really enjoyed the new period drama Jubilee, set in the 40s and 50s, and centered on the aspiration and ambition of a group of people from the world of Hindi cinema. I got a chance to pick the brains of writer Atul Sabharwal (Powder, Aurangzeb, Class of 83) and director/show…

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Episode 52: Tashan (2008) - with Vijay Krishna Acharya 1:25:47

2y ago1:25:47

1:25:47

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Tashan (2008) turns 15 this year. Writer-director Vijay Krishna Acharya joins me as we look back on the YRF film that tried to break new ground and tried to do it in style. We chatted about writing the film, the terrific soundtrack, the nods, the action, and its reception. An …

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Episode 51: Imtiaz Ali's Socha Na Tha (2005) - with Kanika Katyal 1:40:06

2y ago1:40:06

1:40:06

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Imtiaz Ali's exploration of romance and relationships stands out among his peers. Kanika Katyal, a freelance culture writer and Imtiaz Ali superfan joins me as we try to deconstruct the filmmaker's storytelling, focussing on his debut film, Socha Na Tha (2005). Join us! Now, y…

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Episode 50: Agneepath (1990) - with Amborish Roychoudhury 1:26:14

2+ y ago1:26:14

1:26:14

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! National Film Award-winning author Amborish Roychoudhury joins me for a deep dive of one of my favorite films produced by Dharma Productions, Agneepath (1990). Directed by Mukul Anand, Agneepath was ahead of its time and was never fully appreciated. This episode is our small a…

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TBAAAHI SEASON-3 1:49

2+ y ago1:49

1:49

Small update regarding season-3 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/himanshu-sharma21/message

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Episode 49: Favorite films of 2022 1:50:36

2+ y ago1:50:36

1:50:36

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Listeners join in to chat about some of our favorite films of 2022! Sandeep Padhi, Amey Pandit and Anirudh Somani join me as we reflect on RRR, Gangubai, Me Vasantrao, Kantara, Monica O My Darling, Jhund, Laal Singh Chaddha, Toolsidas Jr., and Jersey. We also chatted about Raj…

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Episode 48: Sholay (1975) - with Sanjay Gadhvi 1:24:08

2+ y ago1:24:08

1:24:08

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Sanjay Gadhvi directed Dhoom and Dhoom 2, two of the biggest action films of last 20 years. Sholay is not just the biggest film but probably the biggest action film of all-time as well. (More than) an hour on Sholay with Sanjay Gadhvi! Feedback/comments/questions: loveofcinema…

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Episode 47: Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008) - with Upendra Sidhaye 1:00:49

2+ y ago1:00:49

1:00:49

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Nishikant Kamat's Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008) is a story of a city, grappling with paranoia and prejudice, that somehow always manages to muster the courage and show good sense in conquering its fears and prejudice. Upendra Sidhaye, who co-wrote (with Yogesh Vinayak Joshi) the fil…

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Episode 46: Sejal Shah (Bombay Fables) 56:13

2+ y ago56:13

56:13

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Bombay Fables is one of the more interesting production houses. Their first two projects, Serious Men and Decoupled, both, have tasted critical acclaim and wide popularity. Their slate looks equally interesting with the recently released second season of Delhi Crime and the se…

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Episode 45: Abhishek Chaubey 1:11:31

2+ y ago1:11:31

1:11:31

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Writer-director Abhishek Chaubey joins us for a chat on his films (Ishqiya, Dedh Ishqiya, Udta Punjab, Sonchiriya) as well as Omkara and Maqbool, films which he co-wrote/assisted on. Abhishek and I chatted about adapting classics, writing good story endings, and prioritizing s…

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Episode 44: Sonchiriya (2019) - with Sudip Sharma 1:02:05

3y ago1:02:05

1:02:05

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Writer Sudip Sharma (NH10, Udta Punjab, Paatal Lok, Laal Kaptaan) joins us for a Sonchiriya deep dive. Sonchiriya is one of my favorite films of last 10 years. It's also my favorite Sushant Singh Rajput film. I believe his performance, much like the film, remains underrated an…

1
Toxic Relationship (हिंदी ) 32:48

3y ago32:48

32:48

#oldPodcast Hi, Guys This episode is based on toxic relationships and was recorded back during lockdown times. I hope u will like this episode. In this episode, Simranpreet Kaur is giving her point of view on modern relationships. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/himanshu-sharma21/message…

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Episode 43: Gupt (1997) - with Abhishek Mukherjee 55:43

3y ago55:43

55:43

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Gupt: The Hidden Truth evokes a wide range of memories for many. The timeless soundtrack by Viju Shah, the smashing reveal, wild dialogue, Rajiv Rai's direction, Ashok Mehta's cinematography, the amusing ensemble of supporting cast and of course, Manisha Koirala, Kajol and Bob…

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Episode 42: Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994) - with Hardik Mehta 1:20:43

3y ago1:20:43

1:20:43

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! A senior film journalist once mentioned that Gauri Khan (SRK's wife) once told her that reel-life Sunil of Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa was very similar to real-life SRK. Hardik Mehta (Trapped, Kaamyaab, Decoupled) joins me to talk about Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994), a film that holds …

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Episode 41: RRR (2022) - with Josh Hurtado 49:58

3y ago49:58

49:58

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Rajamouli's newest movie is more than 3 hours long. Can't recall the last time I watched a film that long and walked out of the cinemas wishing it was longer. Loved it. Film critic Josh Hurtado joins us for a deep dive of RRR as we try to unpack the film's goodness, Rajamouli'…

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Ep 38: Islam and the Army in Colonial India | Nile Green 1:26:58

3y ago1:26:58

1:26:58

Nile Green's Islam and the Army in Colonial India is one of those rare works that inspires both admiration and envy. It is a study that cannot fail to impress its readers with its erudition and innovation, especially when reconciling seemingly incompatible official accounts preserved in the colonial archive with subaltern memories preserved in oral…

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Episode 40: Johnny Gaddaar (2007) - with Sagar Haveli (Paatal Lok) 1:06:28

3y ago1:06:28

1:06:28

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Sagar Haveli, who co-wrote Paatal Lok, joins us for a deep dive of Sriram Raghavan's Johnny Gaddaar (2007). Sagar and I tried to unpack how Raghavan excels at building tension and doing it beautifully, while paying homage to classic films and masters of cinema like Hitchcock, …

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Episode 39: Monsoon Wedding (2001) - with Rakhee Sandilya 1:10:27

3y ago1:10:27

1:10:27

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Rakhee Sandilya co-wrote and directed the engaging 2017 drama Ribbon, starring Kalki Koechlin and Sumeet Vyas. She joins us for the next installment in our series of deep dives with screenwriters/filmmakers on their favorite films. Rakhee chose Mira Nair's celebrated 2001 dram…

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Episode 38: A R Rahman of 90s - with Karthik Srinivasan 1:41:47

3+ y ago1:41:47

1:41:47

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! A look back at A R Rahman of 90s with popular music blogger and Rahman super-fan, Karthik Srinivasan. We revisit 16 songs from 90s, curated with the singular goal of showcasing what made Rahman of 90s so unique and special. The collection includes songs in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu…

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Ep 37: Unsettling Utopia- Guftagu with Dr Jessica Namakkal 1:24:07

3+ y ago1:24:07

1:24:07

In this episode of Guftagu, we've with us Dr Jessica Namakkal, author of the book, "Unsettling Utopia: The Making and Unmaking of French India" In this episode of Guftagu, we've with us Dr Jessica Namakkal, author of the book, "Unsettling Utopia: The Making and Unmaking of French India" Dr Jessica Namakkal is an assistant professor of the practice …

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Episode 37: Ghulami (1985) - with Atul Sabharwal 1:06:03

3+ y ago1:06:03

1:06:03

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! This season, a small series of deep dives with directors/screenwriters on personal favorites, where I asked a small group of directors and screenwriters to talk about a favorite film that they have admired over the years. First up, writer-director Atul Sabharwal (Powder, Auran…

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Ep 36: The Mosques of Colonial South Asia- Guftagu with Dr Sana Haroon 1:26:08

3+ y ago1:26:08

1:26:08

In this episode of Guftagu, we've with us Dr Sana Haroon, author of the book, "The Mosques of Colonial South Asia: A Social and Legal History of Muslim Worship" Dr Sana Haroon is Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She is a social historian with a particular interest in Muslim religious organi…

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Ep 35: The Ruler's Gaze- Guftagu with Dr Arvind Sharma 1:01:07

3+ y ago1:01:07

1:01:07

In this episode of Guftagu, we've with us Dr Arvind Sharma, author of the book, "The Ruler's Gaze: A Study of British Rule Over India from a Saidian Perspective" Dr Arvind Sharma, longstanding professor of comparative religion at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, now takes up the Palestinian academic's groundbreaking ideas - originally put for…

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Ep 34: Capturing Institutional Change- Guftagu with Dr Himanshu Jha 1:05:20

3+ y ago1:05:20

1:05:20

In this episode of Guftagu, we've with us Dr Himanshu Jha, author of the book, "Capturing Institutional Change: the Case of the Right to Information Act in India". Dr Himanshu Jha is a faculty in the Department of Political Science at the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany. His major interests could be located in the areas of poli…

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Ep 33: The Indian Contingent: The Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of Dunkirk- Guftagu with Ghee Bowman 1:15:00

3+ y ago1:15:00

1:15:00

In this episode of Guftagu, we've with us Dr Ghee Bowman, author of the book, "The Indian Contingent: The Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of Dunkirk". Dr Ghee Bowman is a historian, teacher and storyteller based in Exeter, England. He has also worked in the theatre, for NGOs and in education in the UK and around the world. This book, his very first, spra…

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Episode 36: Gautham Vasudev Menon 53:38

3+ y ago53:38

53:38

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Writer-director Gautham Vasudev Menon joins us on the season's last episode to talk about his writing, straddling the genres of action and romance, his process behind picturizing songs, and RHTDM at 20! He shared cool stories behind Thalli Pogathey and Aaromale, the prominent …

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Ep 32: Mapping the Great Game: Explorers, Spies & Maps in 19th Century Asia- Guftagu with Riaz Dean 48:49

3+ y ago48:49

48:49

Riaz Dean is an Engineer by profession and an independent scholar. He is also a member of the NZ Society of Authors and the NZ Cartographical Society. As the title suggests, the book is about the extraordinary explorers, spies and mapmakers who explored the vast region’s of Asia against the backdrop of imperial ambitions of powerful players like Ru…

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Ep 31: The (Un)governable City: Productive Failure in the Making of Colonial Delhi- Guftagu with Dr Raghav Kishore 1:14:39

3+ y ago1:14:39

1:14:39

Dr Raghav Kishore is a historian of Modern South Asia and his research has primarily focused on the transformation of urban governance under colonial rule in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The (Un)governable City: Productive Failure in the Making of Colonial Delhi, 1857-1911, examines the production of urban space and its relation to colon…

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Episode 35: Shakti (1982) - with Gautam Chintamani 1:17:44

3+ y ago1:17:44

1:17:44

Hi everyone, thanks for listening. Drop a line or two about the episode! Film historian and writer Gautam Chintamani joins us for a deep dive into Ramesh Sippy's Shakti (1982). A film that Sippy is most proud of, by some accounts. A film that's Salim Khan's personal favorite among the films he co-wrote with Javed Akhtar. A film that pits together t…

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Ep 30: VP Menon The Unsung Architect of Modern Indian- Guftagu with Narayani Basu 1:34:05

3+ y ago1:34:05

1:34:05

With his initial plans for an independent India in tatters, the desperate viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, turned to his senior-most Indian civil servant, Vappala Pangunni Menon—or VP—giving him a single night to devise an alternative, coherent and workable plan for independence. Menon met his stringent deadline, presenting the Menon Plan, which would ch…

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HIMANSHU SHARMA Podcasts

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