What does it mean when a nation fears a poem? When an actor is boycotted not for what he says, but for who he shares a screen with? We unpack the growing wave of cultural censorship in India from the backlash against Diljit Dosanjh for starring alongside a Pakistani actor, to the banning of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry, to the rise of hyper-nationalist films. We explore how art becomes resistance, how silence becomes complicity, and why, despite the weariness, we must still speak. Because, as Faiz s...
Jun 26, 2025•31 min
TW- Sensitive subject discussed. Gang offers condolences but then does a commentary on how the sad news of the crash is being covered by Indian media and how right before this they were doing Hindu-Muslim on Eid. They talk of the things that happen only in India and the Indian delegation abroad singing. Tune in for the thoughts.
Jun 14, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Talking about how we are slowly cultivating blood lust within us further, how war is hyper propaganda dressed as patriotism and finally what needs to be done to survive this time.
May 30, 2025•34 min
In this episode, the gang talks about a lack of sombreness in discussions around the recent conflict, the liberal readiness to lap up feminist tokenism by the govt. Also, Godi media and the helplessness around the lack of credible sources for news. Clip used by Nidhi Suresh
May 14, 2025•1 hr 28 min
In this emergency episode, we talk of how we have reduced ourselves to become obedient spectators. We talk about modern nationalism and the silent complicity that sustains it. We try to understand why citizens cheer war like sport, and thinking becomes the enemy. Then end on why true love for a country might begin with saying no. Song- Dastoor Habib Jalib by Ammar Rashid in JNU
May 08, 2025•32 min
Gang gets to talk about a movie called G20 where there is a role played by a fictional Indian PM and expands that to India's image in the world. Then they talk about how the PM spoke about the Muslim Youth by calling them Puncture Wala and then there is a bit on what happened in Pahalgam. Episode Art thanks to Neiltee Tune In !
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Another Pop Culture Deep Dive by the women at BhaJa Pod, this time they look at the influencer landscape, how they are shaping our views, selling us things and providing us a peek into their heavily curated lives. We start with Kusha Kapila who’s arguably one of the biggest success stories amongst influencers on Instagram, and we go through male feminists (?), flying beasts, curly tales and the biryani elaichi at every famous party Orry. They are joined enthusiastically by Dr. Medusa, a satirist...
Apr 16, 2025•2 hr 8 min
In this special episode, the hosts of our sister pod, the desi academia pod and the PCCI pod join us namely- Megh, Vatsal, Richa, and MV; they talk about their professional experiences in education and workplaces. We also talk about how we got here: our degree choices and motivations, experiences growing up in different parts of India, exposure, and moving away from home. We discuss the impact of Liberalisation and 2014, creating reliable knowledge sources and reading, visiting India, the though...
Apr 03, 2025•3 hr 42 min
The gang gets to the job of reviewing that interview on that podcast. After which it is one rant after another rant along with intermittent display of gareebi.
Mar 22, 2025•1 hr 21 min
Gang is back and with them is the amazing Sucharita (@su4ita), where she tells them about Super Boys of Malegaon and what made the YRF and Johar movies tick in the 90's and 00's and what happened afterward. What does the audience want now and a lot more.
Mar 14, 2025•1 hr 25 min
BJPod had returning champion Dr. Medusa (@ms_medusssa) and first timer Dr. Ruchika Sharma (@tishasaroyan) on the pod. We talk Sati Pratha, Chaava, the historical revisionism around Muslim invaders obviously India's got latent and Shah Hussaina.
Feb 24, 2025•2 hr 7 min
In this special episodes of BhaJaPod, It is the much demanded ladies crew again, and the women have Shweta on to talk about why Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi bahu emerged and catapulted Smriti Irani into our lives. They also talk about what came before in the 90’s, the aftermath with Balika Vadhu and Gopi Bahu, as well as Anupama today and the impact of all of these serials on society. There’s a deep dive into Nagins which is the explainer you didn’t know you needed! Tune in to hear Richa, Kesar, Amrut...
Feb 16, 2025•1 hr 43 min
Joined by Kunal Purohit (@kunalpurohit) and Abbas Momin (@AbbasMomin), we talk about Indian cinema and popular culture since 1 AD and about what can and cannot be made anymore. Coldplay in India, Vivek Oberoi in Davos. Kunal and Abbas provide their perspective on popular culture, media, music and films and how it is being shaped under the current regime. If you like us please spread the word and leave a rating on the platform you listen us on.
Jan 31, 2025•2 hr 17 min
Nishant (@nishant0511) and Raj are joined by Punit (@Punit_Pania) and Vinamra (@Duneemperorpaul) as they talk about the Kumbh Mela, what it means to be developed, the rising radicalization in youth, Patal Lok and the Kannada movie Super.
Jan 21, 2025•2 hr 9 min
The first half of the pod is Aditya and Raj talking about the legacy of Manmohan Singh and the way people in India have reacted to his passing, they also talk about H1B fiasco and in the second part the gang gets on to shoot shit from Quora and latest trailers.
Jan 09, 2025•2 hr 24 min
Just three guys chatting away while Modi Ji plays.
Dec 27, 2024•5 hr 41 min
In this the BhaJaPod ladies talk the fascinating evolution of the self-destructive man's portrayal in pop culture. Through an analysis of Devdas’s, subversive reimagining in DevD, and then some Kabir Singh carcass thrown in, they explore how this archetype has been reinterpreted and recontextualized over the years. Plus, they throw in some men like 'Animal' for good measure! Tune in to hear Richa, Nidhi and Amrutha Episode Editor- Nidhi
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 40 min
Gang gets to talk about the slowly falling apart Hindi film industry and ask all of us ki kyu nahi ban sakti India me ab phir se a movie like Dil To Pagal Hai. Then they talk about the Maharashtra elections, Sambhal violence and Bangladesh.
Nov 30, 2024•1 hr 29 min
Gang is together and perhaps this will be the episode that will mean that most of the pod listener abandon the pod. The gang talk American elections from the lens of the Indian liberal twitter reaction to the elections and then of course some other newsein from India.
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 3 min
The BJPod wimmins look at weddings and their depiction starting with Monsoon Wedding, Mira Nair’s groundbreaking depiction of an intimate Punjabi wedding. To Made in Heaven’s toe-dipping into every possible wedding related societal ill (with smug voiceovers) and Neeraj Ghaywan’s Dalit Wedding episode. Hosts- Amrutha, Nidhi and Richa Editing- Nidhi
Nov 05, 2024•2 hr
The three get together to talk about how things have been and some news stuff, sexy jaishankar and the other ministers, Aditya's cousins book collection and Raj's cinema watching comes into discussion which also gets them into talking a comparative discussion of the slow death of Hindi cinema via Stree 2, Singham via Mithun da in 90's along with a monkey among other random things.
Oct 20, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Gang is gangier today with many folks on the pod from our discord community, we talk laddo ke peeche kya hai and other Modi Ji things. Guests- Kalim, kki, Ajay, Arbaz, Amruthaidhi, MV
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr 38 min
To celebrate this great time of both the Narendra Day and 5 years of BJPod, as we prepare something for you, we thought we would share some of our best work till then. Enjoy and share with friends.
Sep 19, 2024•3 hr 53 min
The BJPod Discord Community got together to discuss the Mood of the Nation, Poland Visit, Tipping in USA & Ola being the largest EV company in the world except China amongst other things.
Sep 08, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Trigger warning: Episode discusses sexual violence, listener discretion is advised. In this episode, we have new hosts to discuss the Kolkata case and their perspectives as women. They delve into the grim state of women's safety in this country that was brought to light since this heinous crime. They discuss how Indian men have yet again managed to make this about themselves and explore the broader subject of how sexual violence against women is perceived and discussed. Hosts for the episode- Ri...
Aug 28, 2024•44 min
Trigger Warning- The episode contains mention of sexual violence and worse, strong listener discretion advised. Gang talks about Indian men obviously and then dive into other areas like Ambani family being 10% of India's GDP, some crazy people talking crazy stuff and then in the same vein Kangana and her new movie.
Aug 21, 2024•1 hr 41 min
The gang gets together to have a lengthy chat around the post world cup celebration, the Ambani shadi and pyar kya hai? Also, liberalism kya hai and Bhagwan kya hai are discussed.
Jul 13, 2024•1 hr 46 min
Gang is missing Nishant, it is just Aditya and Raj and obviously the holy ghost of Guruji. They start by trying to dissect how to procure a chappal in Banaras and what will the Mumbai Jains will be for the next comic con. Then the discussion moves to why is power context important in deciding where your empathy should fall and then they look at some RW influencers who on paper seem smart enough to know better but do not (Ranga Uncle) and try to dissect why they are the way they are.
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 27 min
Gang goes over the various exit polls and their interpretation of what it all means.
Jun 02, 2024•1 hr 27 min
We deep dive into how our cinema has always reflected our leading political thought of the time, how Dileep Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor were fundamentally different type of heroes than the modern Indian hero. We then analyze the masculine anxieties of the Indian society diving into how the theory of martial races might have impacted it and then finally talk about the men who should have been our ideals of positive masculinity compared to who in reality are.
Jun 01, 2024•54 min
