A podcast is a digital video or audio (or both) content distributed over the internet. In layman’s language, it is a medium through which people express their opinions and feelings about a particular issue. Some podcasts also include a one-to-one conversation with a host and a guest.
The popularity of podcasts has increased over the years. In India itself, we can get hold of various unique and engaging podcasts. While people can have different reasons to listen to podcasts, I have been hooked by the conversations that these podcasts offer. This made me listen to quite several Indian podcasts. While my preferences were ambivalent, these were a few that stayed with me.
1. “#Be A MAN YAAR WITH NIKHIL TANEJA“(EPISODE NO 1, Ft. VICKY KAUSHAL):
The host of “#BE A MAN YAAR“, Nikhil Taneja, defines the podcast as a forum for men to discuss ‘positive masculinity and self-expression’. Produced by We Are Yuvaa, the crux of this podcast is to unveil an array of aspects associated with masculinity and what it takes to be a man. While the podcast airs every Tuesday, there’s one episode I truly love. It is with Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal or as the episode christened him, “Beeba Munda” (a decent guy). I am a huge fan of Vicky Kaushal and after watching his episode, my love for him has only grown more.
The podcast started with reminiscing about his childhood memories and his dynamics with his family. They then discussed his struggling days, his way of dealing with fame, and his married life, which created a frenzy all over the internet. I loved when he articulately addressed the societal expectations of being an alpha male and how the notion is extremely toxic. Another great part of the podcast was the segment where we touched upon his relationship with his wife, Bollywood superstar Katrina Kaif. It was so heartwarming to hear how he respects Katrina’s work ethic. He never fails to acknowledge that his wife is a much bigger star than he is. He concluded by saying that while he is just one of her many fans, the only difference between him and her many fans is that he can call Katrina his own.
2. “WHAT WOMEN WANT BY KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN ” (EPISODE NO 1, SEASON 2, Ft. SHARMILA TAGORE):
“What Women Want” is a podcast produced by Mirchi Plus, a popular FM brand. Initially established as an audio podcast, it soon ventured into a full-fledged video podcast by its second season. As the name suggests, the podcast is based on the surfeit of roles a woman plays throughout her life, their contribution, and the value they bring to the lives of men they are associated with. It also addresses how women balance their personal and professional lives. The show is hosted by Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, who herself is the epitome of women empowerment. If I had to pick an episode that I truly enjoyed, it would be the one featuring the veteran and legendary actress Sharmila Tagore.
The entire conversation between both Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sharmila Tagore was special. Apart from being two of the most successful actresses of their respective eras, both the ladies are members of the same family as Kareena Kapoor is married to Sharmila Tagore’s son, Saif Ali Khan. What hooked me till the end was Sharmila Tagore’s determination to never let go of her identity as an actress despite being the granddaughter of the legendary Rabindranath Tagore and wife of the star Indian cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. From becoming the first Bollywood actress to wear a bikini in her movie An Evening in Paris (1967) to becoming a recipient of two National Film Awards, she spilled all the beans and made this podcast a memorable one.
3. “THE RANVEER SHOW ” (EPISODE NO. 123 Ft. ZAKIR KHAN):
The Ranveer Show is one of the most popular podcasts in India. The host, Ranveer Allahbadia, famously known as BeerBiceps, has managed to invite the likes of distinguished personalities such as Arvind Kejriwal (an Indian Politician), Amitabh Kant (India’s G20 Sherpa), Shikhar Dhawan (an Indian cricketer) and many more. I’m etched to the episode featuring India’s most successful stand-up comedian and poet, Zakir Khan. I have revisited it innumerable times. I haven’t heard such a beautiful and engaging podcast as this till now. I have always admired Zakir Khan, not only as a comedian but also for his thought-provoking expressions. This podcast was indeed a melody to my ears.
If there is one takeaway from this episode then it would be Zakir’s idea of friendship and his regard for the friends in his life. He expressed he wants to become a person who is trusted by his friends and someone who they can fall back on when they need support. He also gave several insights into the journey of being a stand-up comedian and how cracking jokes and gigs is a tried and tested process. While it may look easy, making other people laugh is quite a tough nut to crack.
4. “UMMEED WITH ZAKIR KHAN ” (EPISODE NO.3, ISHQ AND SELF RESPECT Ft. TANMAY BHAT):
Speaking of Zakir Khan, I had to mention his podcast “Ummeed“, first aired in 2020 on his YouTube channel Zakir Khan Offstage. With three successful seasons, “Ummeed” is a podcast that deals with many facets of an individual’s life. The episodes cover topics such as dealing with rejections, the importance of physical appearance, addressing inferiority complexes in humans, and a lot more. Even though I have loved every episode of his podcast, there is one episode that has stuck with me. It was his podcast with acclaimed Indian YouTuber and Comedian Tanmay Bhat. In the episode, they touched on love and self-respect. It centered around the notion of how humans often try to trade their self-respect to gain someone’s love or acceptance. Tanmay Bhat also beautifully indicated that vulnerability is rare and precious, and if we have it, we should not share it with anyone and everyone we come across. What I loved about the conversation was how both men, irrespective of their profession and identities, genuinely shared their feelings like any common man, making others relate to their exchange.
The internet is full of extraordinary podcasts but these are my personal favorites. I agree that podcasts are long and people may not want to invest all of their time into them. But I believe podcasts can be heard anytime anywhere, be it amidst any work or activity. A good podcast can uplift your mood, and make you learn and question pertinent or unexplored subjects. Many podcasts also give you the much-needed motivation and confidence to make certain tough decisions in life. Overall, it’s a package that keeps me going! Hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I did.