Latest news with #InTransit
Mint
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
What to watch this week: ‘Materialists', ‘Ballerina' and more
It's rare now to get proper screen romances with big name stars attached. But Celine Song made a huge splash with Past Lives (2023), and now gets a chance to show what she can do with a more mainstream cast and theme. Her new film is a love triangle between Lucy (Dakota Johnson), her ex John (Chris Evans) and financier Harry (Pedro Pascal). (In theatres) A still from 'In Transit'. This four-part documentary series is about transgender lives in today's India. It follows nine characters ranging from professors to musicians to white-collar workers as they negotiate societal pressure and personal challenges. Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar are creative producers. Ayesha Sood (The Dewarists) is director. (Amazon Prime) A still from 'The Zone of Interest'. Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest (2023) is a uniquely devastating Holocaust film. Unlike so many other films about Nazi Germany, the atrocities are all off-screen. It's set in Auschwitz, but we don't see the internees. We hear them, though, and the sounds of the genocidal factory system at work. (MUBI) A still from 'Ballerina'. After the limited series The Continental, the first John Wick spinoff film is releasing this week. Ana de Armas plays the titular character, whose parents, both assassins, are killed by a rival group. She grows up to become a deadly killer, so effective that Wick himself (Keanu Reeves) is called in to stop her. The cast is a mix of regulars (Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, Lance Reddick) and newcomers to the franchise (Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus). Directed by Len Wiseman (the Underworld films). (In theatres)
Scroll.in
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘In Transit' review: In engaging docuseries, courage tinged with caution
They arrived at an understanding of their true selves at different points and through different routes. The engaging Prime Video documentary series In Transit features interviews with nine individuals from different classes, faiths and cultural backgrounds. They identify as trans men, trans women, binary or gender fluid. A few of them have undergone gender reassignment surgery. For Aryan, a clinical psychologist from Mumbai, the awareness that he is a trans-man came from watching the popular television serial Hum Paanch. Created by Imtiaz Patel, Hum Paanch is about a sales representative's efforts to raise his five daughters, which include the tomboy Kajal. For Aryan, 'Kajal bhai' was the first indication that gender is assigned rather than a biological determined, and that it was possible for a woman to identify as a man. This insightful anecdote is one of many scattered across In Transit. Heartfelt, often heart-rending conversations with Aryan, Rie, Anubhuti, Teena, Madhuri, Patruni, Rumi, Saher and Siddharth provide a comprehensive picture of transgender realities. Created by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti – who also serve as producers – and directed by Ayesha Sood, In Transit is an exercise in myth busting, an education in transness and a battle cry for greater acceptance. Each of the four episodes follows a theme: realisation, survival strategies, the quest for romantic relationships and the importance of nurturing community networks. There is convergence as well as divergence in the stories of individuals who knew from a young age that they were not the son or daughter their parents wanted them be. Rumi, a classical singer who performed as a woman for years, describes being unable to concentrate during concerts while dressed in a sari – it felt like 'cockroaches were running all over my body', she says. Some of the most affecting moments are when the subjects talk about their families. Saher has had a difficult male-to-female transition, which continues to trouble her. Teena, who lives in the town where she was born, speaks movingly of the early support she received from her grandmother, as well as the daily challenges she faces. Rumi's relationship with her mother is a fascinating look at how parents can surprise their children. Patruni's interest in dance, which led to a career as a drag performer, suggests that there is wiggle room even within rigid social conventions. Despite an overall mood that is upbeat and aimed at being inspirational, In Transit does not gloss over the difficulties involved in transitioning. The revelations of ostracism, abandonment, violence, despair and suicidal thoughts indicate the scale of the opposition faced by the LGBTQI community in India. I have lost a lot for this sari, Madhuri says. Although Madhuri found her footing with the transgender troupe Dancing Queens and married her partner, she has been unable to obtain a marriage certificate. Rumi describes the aching loneliness she felt during her transition period. Rie was publicly attacked some years ago, in a hate crime that has not yet been properly investigated. Siddharth was forcibly separated from his partner. Yet, rainbows peep out at the end of long spells of confusion and anguish. By agreeing to be on camera and honestly sharing their stories, the nine characters of In Transit reveal pain but courage too, hope tinged with caution. The show delivers a judicious mix of laughter and tears. It is a chronicle that is both eye-opening and moist-eyed. Play
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Friday OTT release (June 13, 2025): Rana Naidu 2, Kesari 2, and more engaging new content are available for online streaming right now
Whether you're a fan of intense crime dramas, heartwarming sports stories, psychological thrillers, or gripping legal battles, this Friday, June 13, 2025, brings something special for every kind of viewer. The latest lineup features a diverse mix of genres and narratives that showcase powerful performances, intriguing storylines, and high production values. From the streets of Johannesburg to the quiet towns and towns filled with mystery, and from drama-filled boxing rings to intricate family structures, these series and films have you glued to the screen. 'Rana Naidu Season 2' The gritty Hindi crime thriller is back with Venkatesh Daggubati returning as Rana Naidu, a fixer who deals with the underworld and complicated family relationships. Season 2 guarantees increased drama, complex plots, and richer character development. Where to watch: Netflix. 'Alappuzha Gymkhana' This Malayalam sports dramedy by Khalid Rahman tracks Jojo Johnson (Naslen) and his group of friends who pursue boxing to gain entry into college through the sports quota. Initially, it is a calculated decision that turns into an exploration of friendship, determination, and self-awareness. The movie has Lukman Avaran, Ganapathi S. Poduval, and Anagha Ravi playing significant roles. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Where to watch: SonyLIV. 'Kings of Jo'Burg Season 3' 'The South African' crime series is back with its third season, following the Makhubu family in their ruthless struggle to dominate Johannesburg's underworld. More action, suspense, and depth into culture, the new season features Thapelo Mokoena and delves into loyalty and survival in an urban setting. Where to watch: Netflix. 'Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh' Headlined by Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, 'Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh' has made it to OTT. The movie revolves around the Jallianwala massacre, and the legal battle fought for justice for its victims. The movie recently celebrated 50 days of theatrical release, and now can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home. Where to watch: JioHotsar 'Echo Valley' This psychological thriller features Julianne Nicholson as a mother looking for her missing child in a secretive small town. The series traces trauma, trust, and sinister community undertows in taut, emotional storytelling. It promises tense, atmospheric suspense in a gripping story. Where to watch: Apple TV+. 'In Transit' A television drama series that takes place on a global train ride, In Transit weaves together narratives of love, loss, and transformation among passengers and crew. It boasts a multinational ensemble cast and explores human relationships and individual changes on the move. Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video. 'The Prosecutor' This court drama follows a tough female prosecutor taking on top-level cases of corruption and injustice. Blending courtroom action with investigative suspense, the series boasts a strong lead turn and incisive examination of the justice system's flaws. Where to watch: Lionsgate Play.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Zoya Akhtar-Ayesha Sood on 'In Transit': We wanted trans people to tell their own stories
New Delhi, The idea for "In Transit", a four-part docu series about the lives of trans and non-binary individuals, was born out of the many stories filmmakers Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti came across while auditioning for a trans character in the second season of their critically-acclaimed series "Made in Heaven". Directed by Ayesha Sood and produced by Akhtar and Kagti through their Tiger Baby banner, "In Transit" is set to premiere on Prime Video on June 13. "Made in Heaven" has been praised for giving centrestage to LGBTQ individuals, first with a gay lead in Arjun Mathur's wedding planner Karan and then by introducing a trans character with Meher, who was played by Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, in season two. Zoya said they "got crazy feedback from the LGBT community" through the show as the community felt represented in an authentic way. "When we wrote a trans character, we realised we knew very little... So, we started interviewing people and the people that spoke to us were very honest and they shared a lot, including their dreams. Mehar was a specific kind of character, so that story came out of these interviews. "We realised that this is something that we need to expand on in a different format. They need to tell the audience their own story and we pitched that to Amazon Prime who went for it in one call so we are lucky," Akhtar told PTI in a virtual interview. The filmmaker said they decided to rope in Sood to direct the series as they wanted someone who could shepherd the project in an authentic way, without adding any shock value to it. Sood, a filmmaker, photographer and editor who runs the media company Jamun Collective, said when Akhtar and Kagti approached her with the idea, she was a little flummoxed as trans experience is a huge canvas. "I was like, 'How do you tell the story of trans people?' Like women in India, the canvas is huge... There are so many diverse experiences of being a woman in India, likewise, being trans in India is our baseline setting and it is vast, unique and complex. How do we bring that out in the stories? "So, we talk about things that are universally moving to all of us, like identity, our place in the world, our relationships with families and finding love. These are universal things that move everybody," Sood told PTI. The team had a long period of research, and eventually found a way as well as a structure to tell these stories. "The Indian idea of being trans is vast. So we wanted to get a broad range of stories and people from different contexts and we wanted to be uniquely rooted in India. These are real people from different walks of life who are expressing their trans-ness," Sood said. "It was also a matter of who could tell their stories to us. It's not easy for everyone to be on camera... These are tough lives, so it was also about who could actually tell us these stories," she added. "In Transit" is the second project from the documentary slate that Akhtar and Kagti are planning to produce through their banner, following "Angry Young Men", a cinematic exploration of iconic screenwriter duo Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan's filmography. A third, "Turtle Walker" by Taira Malaney, will chronicle the extraordinary journey of conservationist Satish Bhaskar. "There's a lot more exposure and I think people are interested in stories. Certain stories are good as short films, certain things lend themselves to eight hours of narrative. Certain things are good as features, and certain stories need to be told in their most authentic, true self," Akhtar said. Sood credited the OTT platforms for nurturing the format. "We now have a growing audience for documentaries. The platforms are entirely to be praised for this. They have brought documentaries into your living room and everybody is watching them. Along with it, the craft has also elevated." In "In Transit", Sood brings in a lot of pop culture references to describe the trans experience. The documentary explores the lives of nine individuals, including a classical musician from Bengaluru, a school educator from Tripura and a corporate professional in Mumbai. The director said these pop culture references show why representation matters, whether it is a film or a television serial like "Hum Paanch". "That's what people consume and spend their time being inspired, watching and discussing. It wasn't like I needed to get a Bollywood reference out here. It's the world that the characters live in. "And those are the things that struck them when they were growing up, like the first time they saw themselves on screen, or the first time they felt something about a character or love or any such thing," she said.
