Amrita Ghosh and Bhakti Shringarpure wonder if we have stopped reading actual, physical books these days. Books are certainly being published in large numbers but a majority of our reading seems to happen on phones, computers and tablets. Not only do we get our hobby fixes from podcasts, TV binging and social media scrolling, but important cultural conversations are also happening there. Arguing passionately against this theory is publisher and poet Naveen Kishore, who is celebrating 40 years of Seagull Books, a press that has brought us translated literature from everywhere in the world. Going against our perception that people only read pulp fiction, Kishore says that book publishing is thriving and local readerships are more robust than ever. He also weighs in on our difficult cultural moment and touches upon questions of censorship, cancellation of writers and the role of publishers themselves in what he calls "cannibal times."

Amrita Ghosh and Bhakti Shringarpure discuss new films and television shows that have decided to tackle casteism and caste violence in India today. Films like Sairat, Article 15, Fandry or shows such as Dahaad have paved the way for mainstream conversations and debates about the pernicious and enduring caste system. While such social justice-oriented productions are indeed a welcome change, they raise important questions about precisely how caste is represented, narrated, depicted and visualised. Dalit writer and activist Yashica Dutt joins the podcast to speak about the ways in which the television series Made in Heaven recently plagiarised her work. Dutt speaks about the terrible backlash she has been undergoing after calling out the show’s makers. She explains that producing a progressive and complex episode on caste cannot hinge on a good script and star cast but requires a commitment to Dalit voices, representation and activism.

Amrita Ghosh and Bhakti Shringarpure ask if Bollywood these days can be seen as mindless entertainment or if it is peddling political agendas. The world’s biggest film industry has seen some massively successful blockbusters sprinkle their plots with allusions to Kashmir, British colonialism, terrorism, geopolitics, espionage and religion all heavily laced with an over the top patriotism. Lyricist, poet and Bollywood insider Husan Haidry joins the podcast to speak about a changing film industry. Haidry shot to fame after a performance of his poem “Hindustani Mussalman” and discusses the complex and contradictory nature of Bollywood which tends to negatively depict Muslim characters while having so many big Muslim superstars that carry the industry. The three also recommend many exciting, independent film coming out of India and that subvert the messaging of Bollywood blockbusters.