Lakshana N Palat

Lakshana N Palat covers pop-culture, ranging from Bollywood, Hollywood, and K-Pop across mediums. You can write to her at lakshana.palat@indianexpress.com or you can find her on Twitter at @lakshanapalat.

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More From Lakshana N Palat

BTS’ Suga and the raw power of Agust D: How the rapper’s alter-egos shone a light into the layered world of Min YoongiSubscriber Only

March 09, 2023 13:29 IST

On BTS' Suga's birthday, here's looking at his darker and far more raw alter-ego, Agust D.

Thu, Mar 09, 2023

Twenty Five-Twenty One, Crash Course in Romance, how K-dramas are showcasing the power of female friendships and sisterhoodSubscriber Only

March 08, 2023 13:34 IST

On Women's Day, here's looking at how K-dramas are gradually breaking away from the old tropes of bitter and catty women ready to pull another down for their own benefit.

Wed, Mar 08, 2023

Crash Course in Romance review: Jung Kyung-ho and Jeon Do-yeon’s sweet love story really didn’t need a serial killer to drive its point homeSubscriber Only

March 07, 2023 14:02 IST

Crash Course in Romance is mostly a fun and sweet watch—-despite the contrived killer storyline and hastily done last two episodes that had numerous plot holes.

Tue, Mar 07, 2023

J-Hope, Jung Hoseok and everything in between: BTS’ rapper-choreographer was always complex, but we held on to the ‘sunshine’Subscriber Only

February 18, 2023 08:03 IST

On BTS' J-Hope's birthday, here's looking back at his album, Jack in the Box and 2018 mix-tape and debut mix-tape Hope World, where he showed the complex sides to himself.

Sun, Feb 19, 2023

The Interest of Love review: Yoo Seon-seok and Moon Ga-Young twist the knife as they dissect romance in this heavy tale of broken soulsSubscriber Only

February 15, 2023 16:29 IST

The Interest of Love is a brilliantly layered and mature show, dealing with the story of four individuals at a bank trying to understand the complete mess that is love.

Wed, Feb 15, 2023

True Beauty and My ID is Gangnam Beauty: Cha Eun-woo’s heartwarming romances are all about finding pure connections in a cruel worldSubscriber Only

February 14, 2023 10:25 IST

On Valentine's Day, here's a look at two of the cheesiest, yet loveable shows starring Cha Eun-woo: True Beauty and My ID is Gangnam Beauty.

Tue, Feb 14, 2023

Shreya Ghoshal on working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Sukoon, says he has a ‘revolutionary’ mind: ‘There is never a creative lull’Subscriber Only

February 13, 2023 14:41 IST

Singer Shreya Ghoshal talks about working with filmmaker-music composer Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the album Sukoon.

Mon, Feb 13, 2023

BTS Yet to Come In Cinemas: A bittersweet love letter to ARMY; the film brings back the pulsing emotion of their last scheduled concertSubscriber Only

February 03, 2023 17:34 IST

BTS Yet to Come in Cinema was so important for the desi fans who have been yearning to see the band perform once in their life and had been heartbroken when the band’s plans to India had to be cancelled.

Fri, Feb 03, 2023

Pathaan: Shah Rukh Khan fills the widening cracks in battered Bollywood with gold, Siddharth Anand’s film is a tribute to his stardomSubscriber Only

January 28, 2023 08:35 IST

Pathaan is a glowing tribute to Shah Rukh Khan—-it also serves as a reminder to all those who use the term ‘comeback’ for him. He never left.

Sat, Jan 28, 2023

Netflix’s Trial by Fire: Inferno of grief and legal hell, Abhay Deol-Rajshri Deshpande’s searing series captures the multiple layers of the Uphaar tragedySubscriber Only

January 25, 2023 08:07 IST

Trial by Fire brings alive the Uphaar Cinema tragedy and is even more visceral with performances by Abhay Deol and Rajshri Deshpande.

Wed, Jan 25, 2023

Alchemy of Souls, Hotel Del Luna: Bittersweet and magical, these Korean fantasy-dramas by Hong Sisters set new standards in the supernatural realmSubscriber Only

January 11, 2023 15:47 IST

The Hong sisters—Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran—have created their own footprint in the realm of Korean fantasy, with shows like Hotel Del Luna, Master’s Sun and most recently, The Alchemy of Souls.

Wed, Jan 11, 2023

Son Ye-jin, and her raw portrayal of love and heartbreak: From Something in the Rain with Jung Hae-in, to Crash Landing on You with Hyun BinSubscriber Only

January 11, 2023 08:03 IST

Much before she rose to international fame with Crash Landing on You, Son Ye-Jin made waves with her saccharine drama Something in the Rain with Jung Hae-in.

Wed, Jan 11, 2023

Glass Onion Knives Out: Rian Johnson disrupts murder mystery conventions in this bigger, flashier sequelSubscriber Only

January 04, 2023 08:05 IST

Glass Onion is a joyride, and is hugely entertaining. It’s the perfect blend of mystery, comedy and scathing satire. It is a testament to Rian Johnson’s ability to craft his own brand of murder mystery, with just a dash of the right ingredients from Agatha Christie’s novels.

Wed, Jan 04, 2023

The Glory review: Brilliant Song Hye-kyo plunges into the abyss and takes you down with her in this disturbing revenge dramaSubscriber Only

January 02, 2023 13:34 IST

The Glory, starring Song Hye-kyo, is a brutal, gory revenge drama through and through and the first part that comprises eight episodes shows that there is no space for redemption, forgiveness or peace

Mon, Jan 02, 2023

BTS’ V, and his inimitable style: How the global star and fashion icon steers through unnecessary controversy and hateSubscriber Only

December 30, 2022 08:05 IST

On BTS' V's birthday, here's looking back at the career of the global star and his ever-growing army of devoted fans.

Fri, Dec 30, 2022

BTS: Top 10 heartwarming moments that helped ARMY through bittersweet 2022; from Jin crashing Jungkook’s birthday to rain-dance at Seoul concertSubscriber Only

December 27, 2022 16:23 IST

2022 was a tough year for BTS and BTS ARMY, but fans have gathered some of their favourite moments that helped get them through this rollercoaster of a year.

Tue, Dec 27, 2022

How hope, redemption and a bit of magic remain ‘Christmas film’ staplesSubscriber Only

December 25, 2022 13:39 IST

A Christmas film is an umbrella term that can include the tough action thriller Die Hard, slapstick comedies like Home Alone, and the feel-good Love Actually. So what makes for quintessential Christmas watching?

Sun, Dec 25, 2022

Avatar The Way of Water: James Cameron’s sequel feels like badly written fan fiction filled with the worst Hollywood clichésSubscriber Only

December 22, 2022 08:13 IST

Avatar: The Way of Water feels like a mammoth disappointment and it feels more like a stinging betrayal as it comes from an acclaimed filmmaker like James Cameron. It’s beautiful to look at, but ridden with shoddy plotlines, half-baked dialogues, uni-dimensional characters and a barrage of agonising clichés. He could have spent another 13 years to write a better story.

Tue, Mar 14, 2023

Twenty Five Twenty One, Alchemy of Souls, Little Women: Experimental and dark, the best K-dramas of 2022 aren’t what you were expectingSubscriber Only

December 21, 2022 17:19 IST

The Korean shows of 2022 played with ambiguity, heartbreak, open-ended conclusions, leading to much debate online. Of course, there were still a few K-dramas that soothed the scars left behind by the rest. Here are some of the best shows of 2022.

Wed, Dec 21, 2022

Revisiting Park Seo-joon’s Itaewon Class and Fight For My Way on his birthday: How he shone in the underdog talesSubscriber Only

December 16, 2022 17:34 IST

On Park Seo-joon's birthday, revisiting his best underdog tales, Itaewon Class and Fight For My Way.

Sun, Dec 18, 2022

Money Heist Korea Joint Economic Area Part 2 review: The Korean adaptation has an identity crisisSubscriber Only

December 10, 2022 12:12 IST

Money Heist Korea Joint Economic Area Part 2 struggles to find its identity in this messy caper, but manages to end on a high.

Sat, Dec 10, 2022

RM’s Indigo is a raw, profound insight into the real Kim Nam-joon and the struggle to maintain his identitySubscriber Only

December 08, 2022 17:19 IST

Indigo is RM’s canvas where he has bared the colours of his soul---it sees many things, the loneliness of an artist, the cost of fulfilling dreams, the struggle to keep one’s identity in the face of monumental fame.

Thu, Dec 08, 2022

The unique appeal of James Cameron’s AvatarSubscriber Only

December 07, 2022 19:49 IST

Avatar did not give memorable punchlines or inspire a craze of collectables and theme parks, but it remains one of the highest-grossing Hollywood films. With Avatar: Way of Water set for release, here's a look at the beauty of Cameron's world.

Fri, Dec 09, 2022

How BTS’ Jin in HYYH era makes any K-drama lead’s suffering look pale in comparisonSubscriber Only

December 04, 2022 08:30 IST

Jin was the emotional crux of BTS' perplexing HYYH era, which spawned many theories and interpretations. Even without becoming an actor, it was one of his most complicated roles yet.

Sun, Dec 04, 2022

Wednesday, where adolescence is the scariest part: Tim Burton’s brilliantly macabre show cuts through teen drama clutterSubscriber Only

November 30, 2022 10:56 IST

Tim Burton’s Wednesday sets the bar high for teenage dramas, with several taut storylines, fleshed out characters, packed with biting and scathing dialogues. There’s not a single dull moment in the show, it packs all the punches, and yet has its subtle messaging that can be gleaned from the show.

Wed, Nov 30, 2022