6 Feel-Good Films And Shows To Help With Some Of That Second Wave Anxiety
The Internet is a nightmarish place right now. And Indian Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are full of heartbreaking reports about how severely the COVID second wave is hitting us. With states like Maharashtra imposing stricter lockdowns, and others, like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh also imposing varying versions of it, we’re all feeling the 2020 déjà vu right now. Maybe it is because we thought we were done, that freedom and ‘normalcy’ was just within our reach, and now we’re thrust back into the difficult stages, but this second wave isn’t just hitting us harder physically, but affecting our mental health too. Might I suggest some escapism via feel-good movies and shows?
We have plenty of options to pick from today, and so many streaming services that I’d probably be here until 2022, listing them down. You could always go back and revisit the favourites, like 3 Idiots, The Lunchbox, Clueless or Schitt’s Creek. There are some old classics too, like Friends, The Office, Khichdi or Sarabhai vs Sarabhai reruns available on OTT platforms. In fact, if you love yourself some nostalgia mixed with fresh fun, might I suggest checking out the Wagle Ki Duniya reboot which brings back Anjan Srivastav and Bharati Achrekar alongside a new cast, including Sumeet Raghavan?
But for those who are in the mood for something new or something old that they might not have checked out just yet, here’s a list of feel-good movies and shows that I think would be perfect to watch through this weekend!
Films
The Intern (Amazon Prime Video)
Okay, sure, this Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro film is from 2015 and you’ve probably seen it. But it is currently hot news because an official Bollywood remake starring Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan is in the works! What’s more, DP is producing this one as well. And if you’ve loved their chemistry in Piku (another excellent film to watch) as daughter and father, then it’s going to be fun to see them as boss and intern!
De Niro plays a an adorable 70-year-old in this film, and the ending is quite calming. You’ll see. If you haven’t checked it out, now’s the time to catch up. And if you have already, come on, is watching De Niro and Anne Hathaway again ever a bad choice?
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Pagglait (Netflix)
You’re wondering what a film about a funeral is doing in a feel-good films list. But hear me out. Pagglait begins with death but is, in fact, full of life, and is actually about rebirth. Sanya Malhotra is excellent as the widowed Sandhya who can’t stop thinking of Pepsi and pain puri and her antics make for a fun watch. When the film ends, you’re left with your heart full! Maybe it’s a sign that whatever it is, this too shall pass?
Also Read: Pagglait Review: Sanya Malhotra Film About Grief Makes A Crazy Good Case For Non-Conformism To Societal Norms
Raya And The Last Dragon (Disney+ Hotstar)
Animated movies are the perfect additions to feel-good watchlists! And Raya And The Last Dragon is quite likely to give you an endorphin rush. Why? Because first, it’s got a kickass heroine who is Disney’s first ever Asian princess. So that’s oodles of Asian pride right there. The film has Awkwafina voicing an awwdorkable dragon, and she is funnier than she was in Crazy Rich Asians! Speaking of crazy rich, the film is rich with colours and spectacular animation that will light up the biggest smile on your face. Oh, and did I say there is a con-artist baby that teams up with monkeys? Aha, yes.
The film has valuable themes of friendship and belonging and cute AF characters, along with an important message about the environment that doesn’t get preachy at all. Please watch?
Also Read: Raya And The Last Dragon Review: Trust Disney’s First Southeast Asian Princess And Awkwafina’s Sisu To Win Your Heart!
Series
City Of Ghosts (Netflix)
If an animated film can make you happy, imagine what an entire series could do? City Of Ghosts is cool, relaxed and cute! You’ve got a bunch of kids forming a club that investigate haunted places all around their city. No, not to drive away ghosts, but to interview them and help assimilate them in to the society! So cute, right? Trust me, it is.
What’s more, you’re going to get a very thorough tour of Los Angeles neighbourhoods through the show, so yay for sightseeing from the comfort of your home! See? Feel-good AF!
Panchayat (Amazon Prime Video)
We’ve got Jeetu Bhaiyya, Raghubir Yadav AND Neena Gupta here. It’s the perfect trinity to make you laugh and make your heart all warm and fuzzy from just how beautifully they capture the essence of Indian bureaucracy and village life. The character, Abhishek Tripathi’s loneliness and claustrophobia on being forced to live in this village are pretty similar to how you and I are being forced to live a boring life, missing our friends and even family. But there’s a way to find happiness in small joys and new relationships too!
This Is Us (Disney+ Hotstar)
Watching This Is Us is like therapy, because it is so cathartic to watch the Pearson family just find a way to love each other and get through it all. It’s not your typical feel-good show, but the reason it makes the cut is that it gives you hope and some of the family moments are downright sweet. It’ll touch your heart in ways you didn’t imagine and make you feel good, in the end.
What’s more, it’s a good cleanse for your eyes. You’ll see.
