Weekend watchlist: 10 TV shows and movies to check out

Serious Men (Netflix): Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui takes on class and caste divides in India in this Hindi-language satire, out on October 2, directed by Sudhir Mishra. Siddiqui plays a Tamil Dalit man Mani, an overzealous father who wants to position his young boy as a child prodigy. The witty drama is bitingly frank and Siddiqui is studiously sharp and unapologetic about his way of questionable parenting. If you want a crash course on how caste systems play out in a democracy like India, ‘Serious Men’ — based on Manu Joseph’s novel by the same name — is a good starting point.

Mirzapur Season 1 (Amazon Prime Video): Before ‘Mirzapur’s’ highly-anticipated second season premieres on October 23, here’s your chance to revisit (or watch for the first time) the violent crime saga’s eventful first season. Fuelled by superlative performances from acclaimed actors such as Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Vikrant Massey, every character in this series seem to be morally bankrupt and thrilled to kill for money. Often dubbed as a series grappling with a heavy Anurag Kashyap hangover or a cheap imitation of ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, there are enough guns, gore and grime to keep you invested.

Sufiyum Sujatayum (Amazon Prime Video): This visually stunning Malayalam-language romance, starring Aditi Rao Hydari, Dev Mohan and Jayasuriya, this is a stirring story about forbidden romance and a pair of star-crossed lovers who have to fight the world to keep their relationship alive. Hydari plays a speech-impaired young woman from an upper caste Hindu family who falls in love with a Sufi saint (Dev Mohan). But their love story is met with fierce opposition. Watch this for Hydari’s impressive performance.

The War with Grandpa (UAE cinemas): Robert De Niro returns to family comedy in ‘The War with Grandpa. Peter and his grandfather Ed (De Niro) have always been close, but when Ed moves in with the family, Peter has to give up his bedroom to him — and he’s not willing to let it go without a fight. Scheming with friends and entering into a prank war, Peter realises Ed is a worthy opponent.

The Outpost (UAE cinemas): In this war movie, a small group of US soldiers come together against hundreds of Taliban fights in Afghanistan. Starring Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones and Orlando Bloom, this historical drama was acclaimed by critics.

1982 (Cinema Akil): In 1982, an 11-year-old schoolboy, Wissam, tries to find the courage to confess his love to his classmate, Joanna. But an air strike hits Beirut before he can. The 2019 film, which showed at the Toronto International Film Festival, stars the Oscar-nominated director and actress Nadine Labaki.

The Platform (Netflix): Karam (Maxim Khalil) struggles to keep his dysfunctional family from disintegrating in Syria. His father (Salloum Haddad) is imprisoned on terrorism charges, and his brother (Samer Ismail) is a survivor of child abuse. Also abused, Karam goes on to start a website to expose extremist networks, and releases a book while in Los Angeles. When he’s scouted by a mysterious man (Saudi actor Abdul Mohsen Al Nimer) for a high-tech mission, his life is turned upside down. The 12-episode series is Netflix’s first Emirati production.

New Girl (Netflix): Ever go through your Instagram Stories and feel like everyone is watching Zooey Deschanel deal with another crisis in a cutesy A-line dress? There’s a reason for that — this show is just so good. The 2011 series features Jess (Deschanel), a sweet and goofy teacher, who moves into an apartment with three men. It’s still side-splittingly hilarious years later, and there are seven seasons to keep you busy for weeks on end.

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? (Netflix): South Korean heart-throb Park Seo-joon and popular actress Park Min-young get sparks flying in this hit romcom. A narcissistic and ambitious vice-chairman of a company is shocked when his loyal personal assistant decides to quit. Even though he hates to admit it, he can’t do without her. It’s full of cliches but is a funny and cute series to check out.

Made in Heaven (Amazon Prime Video): A star cast and an engaging plot make this series an addictive watch. Actors Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur star as Tara and Karan, Indian wedding planners who cater to the whims and fancies of the rich. However, their own love lives are in turmoil, and the people they plan weddings for can’t seem to get their acts together. This daring show is due for a second season soon.