Now You Know
OTTplay Now You Know is one podcast that brings you up to speed with film trivia, anecdotes, lesser-known facts and all the info that you had not known about your favourite films and shows. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho! This is an OTTplay production, brought to you HT Smartcast.
Tue, November 19, 2024
Sisterhood, Spice, and Sardaukar: Untold Stories from Dune: Prophecy
Whether you’re a hardcore Dune fan or just spice-curious, we’ve got some sizzling trivia just for you Today, we’re diving deep into the sands of Arrakis with Dune: Prophecy, the latest prequel streaming now on Jio Cinema with OTTplay. Whether you’re a hardcore Dune fan or just spice-curious, we’ve got some sizzling details about the show’s dramatic production journey, its galaxy-spanning lore, and the hidden gems in its storytelling. Ready to unearth the secrets of Salusa Secundus? Let’s dive right in
Tue, July 30, 2024
Deadpool Vs Wolverine
Today, we’re diving into the highly-anticipated showdown that’s been on every Marvel fan’s radar—Deadpool vs Wolverine, which premiered on the 26th of July. This film has set the comic book world on fire, uniting two of Marvel's most beloved antiheroes the wisecracking mercenary and the gruff mutant – in an epic battle. Buckle up, in today’s episode of Now You Know, we uncover some fascinating trivia and behind-the-scenes stories that make this movie a must-watch!
Mon, May 27, 2024
Bodkin trivia: 6 lesser-known facts about the quirky Netflix thriller series
Netflix's latest series, Bodkin is a quirky series that takes a refreshing spin on the true-crime podcast phenomenon, akin to Only Murders in the Building, but with a distinctive Irish twist. Produced by Higher Ground, the production company founded by none other than Barack and Michelle Obama, Bodkin stars Will Forte as Gilbert Power, an upbeat American podcaster embarking on a quest to unravel a long-standing mystery in the fictional town of Bodkin. Alongside Forte, Siobhán Cullen portrays Dove, a sceptical print journalist with a disdain for podcasts as legitimate journalism, while Robyn Cara shines as Emmy, an eager researcher diving headfirst into her inaugural field assignment. Set against the backdrop of Ireland's captivating yet enigmatic landscapes, Bodkin seamlessly blends comedy and thrills as our trio navigates the eccentricities and hidden truths of Bodkin.
Tue, May 14, 2024
A Mad Max Saga – 6 lesser-known facts about George Miller’s post-apocalyptic action thriller
Legendary Australian filmmaker George Miller is back with his latest entry to the iconic Mad Max franchise – Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The action-thriller stars Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular character, with Chris Hemsworth playing the villain Dementus. Just going by the trailer, one is assured that the film promises groundbreaking action sequences, stunning visuals, and a gripping story. Today’s Now You Know podcast offers six lesser-known facts about Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Thu, May 09, 2024
The Fall Guy: 6 lesser-known facts about the action film starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt
Barbie star Ryan Gosling and Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt unite for David Leictch’s action comedy film The Fall Guy. The plot follows a retired stuntman named Colt Seavers, who returns to work when the lead actor of a film goes missing. Colt decides to investigate the mystery of the disappearance, but soon becomes caught in the web of a dark conspiracy that presents challenges and risks more perilous than any stunt he's faced. The film released in theatres recently to a positive critical reception. Today’s episode of the Now You Know podcast offers six lesser-known facts and trivia about The Fall Guy.
Thu, April 25, 2024
Shōgun: 6 lesser-known facts about the critically-acclaimed TV show
The Shōgun series finale premiered this week. The FX original series garnered universal acclaim for its compelling story, gripping performances, and captivating exploration of Feudal Japan. Fans of the series have called it Game of Thrones meets Ghost of Tsushima and some even feel that it could go on to be the best TV show of 2024! All 10 episodes of the miniseries are available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar in India. If you loved Shōgun or if it’s part of your binge list, we recommend you check out these lesser-known facts about this epic historical fiction in today’s Now You Know podcast.
Wed, April 24, 2024
Baby Reindeer: Lesser-known facts about Richard Gadd’s hit Netflix series
The hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer is an intimate exploration of Scottish comedian, writer, and actor Richard Gadd's real-life experience with a stalker. The revealing show delves into the complexities of obsession, power dynamics, and personal boundaries as Gadd turns to the most unsettling period of his life. The series has garnered praise for its eerie atmosphere and Gadd’s intimate portrayal of various events from his life. Playwright and filmmaker Jon Brittain has helmed the series, who is a recipient of an Olivier Award and is best known for serving as a writer in Netflix’s hit series The Crown. For today’s Now You Know podcast we take a look at some lesser-known facts about Baby Reindeer.
Tue, April 23, 2024
Monkey Man: 6 lesser-known facts about Dev Patel’s action thriller
British-Indian actor Dev Patel makes his directorial debut in the action thriller Monkey Man. Patel, who is best known for films such as Hotel Mumbai, The Green Knight, Lion, and the multiple-Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire, plays the lead in this film, which is being described by some as “John Wick in Mumbai”. The film garnered praise from critics when it premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival, and some even went on to say that it is an ambitious action film with the perfect blend of socio-political commentary. Sharlto Copley, Pitobash Tripathy, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Adithi Kalkunte, Sobhita Dhulipala, and Zakir Hussain among others play important supporting roles in Monkey Man. We have curated six lesser-known facts about Monkey Man for today's Now You Know podcast.
Thu, April 18, 2024
Civil War: 6 lesser-known facts about Alex Garland’s dystopian thriller
Acclaimed British filmmaker and novelist Alex Garland, who is best known for Ex Machina and Annihilation, has returned with his latest passion project – the dystopian thriller Civil War. The film is set in the near future when the United States is grappling with a new civil war. The film has garnered critical acclaim after it premiered in the US on April 12, and is A24’s biggest box office debut in history. The film features a star-studded ensemble that includes Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jesse Plemons, Sonoya Mizuno, and Nick Offerman among others.
Fri, April 12, 2024
Fallout: 6 lesser-known facts about Prime Video’s acclaimed video-game adaptation
Amazon Prime Video’s attempts to release a compelling video game adaptation like Netflix’s Arcane and HBO’s The Last of Us, have been successful with the release of Fallout. The post-apocalyptic series set in a retro-futuristic alternate history Earth has garnered immense praise from critics. It offers a gripping narrative, wrapped in humour, violence, gore, and thought-provoking socio-political themes.
Wed, February 28, 2024
Dune: Part Two: 6 lesser-known facts about the sci-fi blockbuster
Dune: Part Two, the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi space epic is releasing in theatres this week amidst much hype and excitement. Featuring a star-studded ensemble, led by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, the film has garnered significant praise after its World Premiere in London a fortnight ago. Some critics have likened the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed novel to a masterpiece – one that could rival iconic sequels such as Lord of the Rings: The Towers and The Empire Strikes Back. Today’s Now You Know podcast brings you six lesser-known facts about Dune: Part Two.
Fri, February 23, 2024
6 lesser-known facts about Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender
The highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of the acclaimed animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, has been released on Netflix. While fans appear to be divided on some of the creative choices, the series is set to top Netflix’s popularity charts this weekend. So for today’s Now You Know podcast, we take a look at six lesser-known facts about the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Tue, January 30, 2024
Anatomy of a Fall: 6 lesser-known facts about the Oscar-nominated film
The French film Anatomy of a Fall has received several nominations at the Oscars this year, including Best Picture and Best Director. Helmed by Justine Triet, the film tells the story of a woman who is accused of murdering her husband, and their blind son being the only witness. The film has garnered significant praise for its gripping narrative, compelling characters, and riveting performances. For today’s Now You Know Podcast we take a look at lesser-known facts about this critically acclaimed film.
Tue, November 28, 2023
6 lesser-known facts about the Vijay film
Leo: Bloody Sweet, the third installment of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, stars Tamil superstar Vijay -: the titular star Leo. The film revolves around Parthiban, a simplistic cafe owner in Kashmir who has dedicated his life to rescuing injured animals. As the film progresses, the mild-mannered protagonist becomes inexplicably caught between the crosshairs of a murderous drug cartel, who claims that he was once a part of their gang. The fast paced masala thriller has introduced a whole new section of movie-goers to the Tamil film industry.
Fri, November 10, 2023
6 lesser-known facts about the new Marvel film starring Brie Larson
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe enters Phase Five, the recently-released superhero film, a sequel to Captain Marvel and the 33rd film in the MCU has opened to divided reviews. The Marvels features three female superheroes with complementary abilities – Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Ms Marvel. The film stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani in lead roles and also features Zawe Ashton, Gary Lewis, Park Seo-joon, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, and Samuel L. Jackson. We are dedicating today’s Now You Know to fans of the franchise and here are some lesser-known facts about The Marvels.
Tue, November 07, 2023
6 lesser-known facts about Netflix's popular sci-fi anime that's making waves
Acclaimed Japanese Mangaka Naoki Urasawa’s beloved manga series PLUTO received an anime adaptation produced by Genco, which premiered on Netflix on October 26, 2023. The series is inspired by Astro Boy, one of the pioneering works in the history of Japanese manga and anime by Osamu Tezuka. The series follows Gesicht, an AI detective who attempts to uncover the identity of Pluto — a serial killer targeting the most advanced robots in the world, including the iconic Astro Boy Atom himself, in his quest to become the pinnacle of all machine life-forms. Things keep escalating as Gesicht also understands that he himself might be in danger. The show has been created by Naoki Urasawa and directed by Toshio Kawaguchi, with stellar voice-acting performances by Shinshu Fuji, Yoko Hikasa, Minori Suzuki, Hiroki Yasumoto, and Koichi Yamadera among others. So on today's edition of Now You Know, we take a closer look at some lesser-known facts about Pluto.
Tue, October 17, 2023
6 lesser-known facts about the Leonardo DiCaprio & Martin Scorsese film
Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon starring Leonardo DiCaprio is finally releasing in theatres in India on 20th October 2023. The film is based on the book by David Grann and narrates the true story of the murders of the Native American tribe, Osage Nation after oil was discovered on their land in the 1920s. It is among the several artistic works released over the years, focusing on the Osage Murders. Films such as the 1926 production Osage Hills and the 1959 film The FBI Story explore the pain and injustice suffered by the Osage Nation. Scorsese’s chilling account of the atrocious events has already raked in rave reviews at Cannes this year. It features an ensemble cast of Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, and Brendan Fraser along with lead star DiCaprio. So for today’s Now You Know podcast we take a look at lesser-known facts about Killers of the Flower Moon.
Tue, October 10, 2023
6 lesser-known facts about Mike Flanagan’s Netflix horror series
Acclaimed horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan is set to release his latest Netflix series titled, The Fall of the House of Usher. The TV show is adapted from Edgar Allan Poe’s eponymous short story, and stars Bruce Greenwood, Carla Gugino, Mary McDonell, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, and Mark Hamil among others. It tells the story of twins Roderick and Madeline, whose pharmaceutical dynasty begins to unravel when their heirs mysteriously die. The horror series is expected to feature Flanagan’s signature blend of emotional themes and psychological horror, which were instrumental to the success of Flanagan’s previous works such as The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep, and Midnight Mass among others. For today’s Now You Know podcast, we take a look at lesser-known facts about The Fall of the House of Usher.
Mon, September 04, 2023
One Piece: 6 Lesser-known facts about the live-action Netflix adaptation
The live-action adaptation of the hit manga and anime series One Piece premiered on Netflix last week. Much to the delight of its faithful fans the series received plaudits, unlike previous anime adaptations such as Death Note and Cowboy Bebop which received divided reviews. The live-action tale of Luffy and the Straw Hat pirates offers a compelling story, stunning visuals, scintillating action sequences, and the franchise’s trademark humour. For this episode of Now You Know, we take a look at lesser-known facts about the latest adaptation of One Piece.
Tue, August 22, 2023
6 lesser-known facts about the biographical sports drama
The highly anticipated Neill Blomkamp sports drama Gran Turismo is set to release in India this weekend on the 25th of August. The film stars Archie Madekwe in the lead, with David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Geri Halliwell essaying pivotal characters in these high-octane motorsports drama. For this episode of Now You Know, we take a look at six lesser-known facts about Gran Turismo.
Thu, July 20, 2023
Lesser-known facts about the Greta Gerwig film Barbie
As renowned filmmaker Greta Gerwig’s Barbie releases in theatres along with Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus Oppenheimer, we’re in for a box office battle to remember. In fact, the ‘Barbieheiemer’ frenzy has taken over pop culture, with both films garnering rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. So on today’s Now You Know, we take a look at some lesser-known facts about Barbie, the doll who happens to hail from a parallel universe.
Wed, July 19, 2023
Lesser-known facts about the Christopher Nolan film ‘Oppenheimer’
The hype and excitement surrounding the release of Oppenheimer is almost palpable. The Christopher Nolan film is expected to be one of the biggest releases this year as it goes head-to-head with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie on July 21st. On today’s Now You Know, we take a look at lesser-known facts about the film headlined by Cillian Murphy.
Fri, July 14, 2023
6 lesser-known facts about Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
The latest Tom Cruise blockbuster Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One has been released to universal acclaim, with several critics calling it the best entry in the franchise. The film features gripping set pieces, an immersive plot, and Cruise’s trademark death-defying stunts and action sequences that will surely blow your socks off. In today’s Now You Know podcast we compile some lesser-known facts about Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One that you surely didn’t know.
Wed, July 05, 2023
Lesser-known facts about The Witcher Season 3 on Netflix
Geralt of Rivia is back again in the third season of the popular Netflix series The Witcher. Henry Cavill reprises his role as Geralt for one last time before Liam Hemsworth takes over the role from the next season. Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, and Joey Batey also reprise their roles for the new season as the main characters. For today’s Now You Know we take a look at lesser-known facts about season three of the fantasy series, which is based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels.
Tue, June 27, 2023
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 2023: 6 lesser-known facts about the Harrison Ford film
OTTplay Now You Know - Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 2023: 6 lesser-known facts about the Harrison Ford film - Episode 107 Hollywood legend Harrison Ford returns as the iconic swashbuckling adventurer Indiana Jones or Indy in the fifth instalment of the franchise. An archaeologist, professor and full-time explorer, Indy is often dubbed a grave-digger who inevitably finds himself in near-death situations as he takes on fierce adversaries to retrieve objects of immense cultural and historical significance. Directed by James Mangold, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is set to release in theatres on the 29th of June in India. So for today’s Now You Know, we take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about the film. The film’s first script reportedly featured several jokes aimed at Indiana’s age. However, lead star Harrison Ford asked them to be removed as he felt that it would distract the audience from the film’s immersive experience. Well, we feel the jabs would've also been a tad ageist if not entirely insensitive and it was a good call to nip them in the bud. As many fans of the franchise would already know, this film was scheduled to release in 2021 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a few injuries Ford suffered during production, delayed the film – eventually pushing it back by two years. Steven Spielberg was vehemently opposed to the idea of using digital de-aging technology on Harrison Ford for the film, all the way back in 2012, when the plans for a fifth film were being discussed. However, the technology has significantly improved since 2012, and it appears new director James Mangold does not feel as strongly about de-ageing technology as Speilberg did. Ford confirmed that de-ageing technology is used in the film for flashback sequences, in an interview with late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert. In the trailer, Indiana appears to be wearing a gold wedding band. It could be a hint that he is still married to Karen Allen’s character Marion. Even though Allen did not feature in any of the trailers, she is listed as a cast member. The film’s primary antagonist, Jürgen Voller, is played by Mads Mikkelsen. His character is reportedly modelled after Wernher von Braun, a former Nazi who was among the 1600 ex-Nazi scientists who were brought to the United States to work on the top secret government program called Operation Paperclip. Wernher von Braun served as director of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and was instrumental in the US winning the ‘space race’ during the Cold War. There are even theories as to whether the German scientists, including von Braun, were truly ‘former Nazis’ and if they ever truly stopped believing in the principles of the Third Reich. Ironically, it is a Disney TV show that showcased von Braun as an America
Mon, June 26, 2023
Jack Ryan Season 4: Lesser-known Facts about the Hit Prime Video Series
Now You Know - Jack Ryan Season 4: Lesser-known Facts about the Hit Prime Video Series - Episode 106 The Office star John Krasinski is set to return as the titular super spy Jack Ryan in the fourth season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. The new season will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on June 30th, and it will focus on Jack as he steps into the role of Acting Deputy Director of the CIA trying to root out the corruption within the organisation. So for today’s Now You Know, we take a look at lesser-known facts about the series that even ardent fans of the show may not know. Lead star John Krasinski revealed that the CIA Headquarters in Langley granted the TV show’s production unit access to locations inside the complex that were never used for filming previous films and TV shows. Talk about keeping it real! The series is based on Tom Clancy’s series of novels, but unlike the previous adaptations, including film and TV shows, the Prime Video series is not based on any of Clancy’s novels. Instead, the series has borrowed the characters and setting from the franchise and created original stories set around contemporary geopolitics. Such creative liberties can sometimes enhance the source material and even result in compelling adaptations. For the first season, the scenes involving the antagonist Sulamein and his residence were filmed at a 13th-century kasbah, or a fortified citadel, on the outskirts of the Moroccan city Marrakesh. Australian actress Abbie Cornish plays the role of Jack’s love interest, Cathy Mueller, in season one. In the show, she is depicted as an epidemiologist, and her profession is pivotal to the first season’s plot. However, in the books, she is an eye surgeon. Robert Pine essays the role of Gerald Halpert in the sitcom The Office. His character is the father of Jim Halpert, who is played by Jack Ryan lead star John Krasinski. In real life, however, Pine is the father of actor Chris Pine, who played the role of Jack Ryan in the 2014 film Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Now that’s just a beautiful coincidence. In the film Clear and Present Danger, starring Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan, Jack is ambushed in the streets of Colombia, similar to the ambush scene in Venezuela in the second season of the TV series. Coincidentally, scenes set in Venezuela were filmed in the Colombian city of Bogota. German actress Nina Hoss essays the role of the fictional President of the Czech Republic, Alena Kovac. She is depicted on the show as the centre of power in the country, similar to the role of an American President. However, in real life, the Prime Minister in the Czech Republic is considered the ultimate leader of the government, similar to India and other European nations, and is more powerful than the President. Well that's the Now You Know for today's episode , until the next it's your host Nikhil signing out. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho
Thu, June 08, 2023
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: 5 Lesser-known facts
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel to the Academy Award-winning 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is swinging towards a monumental success. In fact, the film has managed the biggest opening weekend for an animated feature in India so far. The superhero film has been lauded by both fans and critics and is already one of the favourites to win an Oscar next year for Best Animated Feature. For today’s Now You Know we take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about the film.
Tue, May 09, 2023
Lesser-known facts about the Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
James Gunn’s third film in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise premiered last week to universal acclaim. The film was praised for its emotionally-charged narrative, the franchise’s trademark humour, and riveting action sequences. So for today’s Now You Know we take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 featuring our favourite motley crew of intergalactic heroes.
Tue, April 11, 2023
Lesser known facts about Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Zachary Levi and the ‘Shazam’ family feature in the sequel to David F Sandberg’s 2019 hit Shazam!. The new film Shazam! Fury of the Gods revolves around Billy Batson aka Shazam and his foster siblings as they try to thwart the evil plans of new adversaries who call themselves the Daughters of Atlas. For today’s Now You Know we take a look at lesser-known facts about Shazam! Fury of the Gods which will be available to stream on OTT in India from the 18th of April, 2023.
Thu, April 06, 2023
Lesser known facts about Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
From hidden messages to an American actor pulling off a British accent that even fooled Hugh Grant, here’s what you didn’t know about Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Tue, March 28, 2023
Lesser known facts about John Wick: Chapter 4
Keanu Reeves is back as the deadly John Wick for the fourth instalment of the John Wick franchise. John Wick: Chapter 4 has been lauded as one of the best action films in recent years, and the best of the franchise. So for today’s Now You Know, here are some lesser-known facts about John Wick: Chapter 4, directed by Chad Stahelski.
Mon, February 20, 2023
Lesser known facts about Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Marvel’s Phase 5 has commenced with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the third film of the Ant-Man franchise. The film also serves as the feature film debut of the villain, Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors. Despite lukewarm reception by the critics, the film has shattered a few box-office records in its opening weekend. So for today’s Now You Know we take a look at lesser-known facts about the Marvel film starring Paul Rudd, Michelle Pfeiffer, Evangeline Lilly, Kathryn Newton, and Michael Douglas.
Fri, February 10, 2023
Lesser-known facts about the Steven Spielberg film The Fablemans
The Fablemans is a semi-autobiographical film based on the life of acclaimed filmmaker Steven Speilberg. Helmed by Speilberg himself, the film narrates the story of a young Sammy Fableman, who uses films as a means to navigate the challenges in his life in post-World War II Arizona. The film received seven Academy Award nominations this year, and it is our pick for today’s Now You Know. Here’s exploring some of its lesser-known facts about The Fablemans.
Mon, February 06, 2023
Lesser-known facts about the Viola Davis’ Oscar-nominated The Woman King
The period drama The Woman King is a fictionalised retelling of the events that led to the formation of Agojie, the all-female warrior unit of the Kingdom of Dahomey. Viola Davis stars in the lead role as the leader of Agojie and the future Woman King of Dahomey. The film received several nominations this awards season, with Davis in particular singled out for several accolades. So if you loved the film and Viola Davis’ promising portrayal as the badass female warrior, you’ll surely want to know lesser-known facts related to the action film. So for today’s Now You Know, here’s all that you possibly didn’t know about The Woman King.
Mon, January 16, 2023
The Last of Us
The highly anticipated adaptation of the critically acclaimed video game The Last of Us has finally released its first episode. The series based on a post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland currently has an astounding 99% critics’ approval on Rotten Tomatoes and is expected to be one of the most revered shows of 2023. So for today’s Now You Know podcast we take a look at lesser-known facts about The Last of Us.
Tue, March 29, 2022
Facts you didn't know about the Oscars ceremony
This year’s Oscars would go down in history for several reasons, none more so than Will Smith’s altercation with an unsuspecting Chris Rock. On today’s Now You Know podcast we take a look at lesser-known facts and anecdotes about what goes on behind the scenes at the Oscars. Seat fillers The first one is about seat fillers. While Amy Schumer did bring this to everyone’s attention this year at the Oscars with a poorly placed joke at the expense of Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons, there is quite a bit that people may not know about regarding seat fillers. Seat fillers are essentially people who fill in for actors, filmmakers, and anyone invited to the ceremony if they are required to leave their seats for a washroom break. Nearly 300 people are hired and they have to join a waiting list by submitting a CV along with a picture of the attire they would wear for the function. Seat fillers are usually friends or relatives of people who work for the ceremony or people invited to the event. Food is banned The most uncomfortable part of the Oscars ceremony for those attending is probably the fact that guests are not allowed to bring in food, nor is food served during the long ceremony. Guests are required to wait till the function concludes to grab a bite. However, when Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Oscars in 2017 he gave each guest a food box with a personal message from Kimmel himself, with him donating money for each box to the local food bank. Two red carpets Here’s another one you probably didn't know. There are two red carpets for the ceremony. One for the Hollywood A-listers closer to the cameras and reporters, and one for the other invitees closer to the fans and security personnel. Win and press conference Oscar winners are immediately taken backstage to face the media. These press conferences are mandatory and they are required to answer all sorts of questions from media personnel from across the globe. 45-second time-limit There are strict rules about the acceptance speech duration. All winners are required to adhe re to a 45 second time limit. If a speech goes beyond the 45-second mark, the orchestra will begin to play music to indicate that the time is up. Julia Roberts famously spoke for four minutes and asked the music to stop even before they began playing. Humor to cover up on-stage errors If a host of an award-winner makes a glaring error on stage, like when La La Land was mistakenly declared the winner instead of Moonlight in 2017, they are usually covered up with humor and jokes to disguise the awkwardness. Similar to how Chris Rock steadied himself and joked after the infamous slap by Will Smith, in order to ease himself and the viewers. However, it is almost ironic that it was a joke that triggered the whole ‘slap gate’ incident. Well that's the OTTplay Now You Know for today’s episode, until the next podc
Thu, March 24, 2022
RRR
Welcome to another episode of OTTplay Now You Know, one podcast that talks about trivia, lesser-known facts and even anecdotes of popular films and shows. I'm your host Nikhil. Bahubali director S.S. Rajamouli’s next major release is the period drama RRR. The highly anticipated film starring, Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt, and Ajay Devgn, is set to hit theaters on the 25th of March and will be available in several major regional languages. So here are some lesser-known facts and anecdotes on RRR. Lets begin The film’s title, RRR, has different abbreviations for each language - Roudram Ranam Rudhiram in Telugu, Roudra Rana Rudhira in Kannada, Raththam Ranam Rowthiram in Tamil, Rudhiram Ranam Roudhram in Malayalam, and Rise Roar Revolt in both English and Hindi. All of which loosely translates to Rage, War, Blood. Actor Ram Charan was initially cast in a minor role as a supporting character in the film. It was later changed to a leading role alongside Jr NTR as production commenced. In an interview ,director S.S. Rajamouli, and actor Ram Charan said that Jr NTR would burst out laughing at times before a shoot and it would become uncontrollable to a point where the production would be halted for up to 15 minutes. The production spanned for nearly 300 days in various locations including Hyderabad, Pune, and Ukraine. Special sets were constructed on more than 100 acres of land with most of the shooting taking place in an Aluminum factory. A lavish bungalow was also constructed within the set premises for Rajamouli and his family with state of the art facilities. Rajamouli, known for his obsession for getting the right sync in certain shots, demanded up to 15-18 shots for a song where Ram Charan and Jr NTR had to match steps and be in sync. According to film industry tracker Manobala Vijayabalan, the lead stars Jr NTR and Ram Charan will earn up to ₹ 45 crores each, Alia Bhatt will earn ₹ 9 crores, and the director SS Rajamouli will take home 30% of the film’s profits. RRR is all set to hit the theaters on 25th March . Well that's the OTTplay Now You Know for today’s episode, until the next podcast it's your host Nikhil signing out. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho
Wed, March 23, 2022
The Godfather
Welcome to another episode of OTTplay Now You Know , one podcast that talks about lesser-known facts, trivia and even anecdotes from popular films and shows. I'm your host Nikhil. Revered as one of the greatest films ever made, The Godfather, turns 50 on the 24th of March. Starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, and Diane Keaton, the film redefined the crime genre and revolutionized conventional filmmaking. Director Francis Ford Coppola collaborated with Mario Puzo, the author of the original book, to create this iconic masterpiece. In a particular scene involving actor John Marley, a fake horse’s head was used in rehearsals, but director Francis Ford Coppola replaced it with a real head without informing Marley. Marley’s screams in this gruesome scene were in fact real. Sofia Coppola, the acclaimed director and daughter of Francis Ford Cappola has appeared in all three Godfather movies. While it is common knowledge that she replaced Winona Ryder and appeared in the third film in a prominent role as Michael Corleone’s daughter, she has, in fact, appeared in the first and second films as well - as a baby in the baptism scene in the first film, and as an immigrant child on board the ship that brought a young Vito Corleone to the United States. It was widely believed that Marlon Brando stuffed cotton in his mouth to essay the role of Vito Corleone. However, Brando had adopted this method only for the screen test, for the film a custom made mouthpiece was used for Vito’s unique sagging jawline. The word, Don, which has now become widely popular and often used in pop culture to associate mafia or mob bosses across the world is actually a fictionally created usage. The word was used by Mario Puzo in his novel The Godfather. It actually means ‘respected uncle’. The famous cat in the arms of Marlon Brando was not originally part of the script. The cat was a stray Coppola found near the sets at Paramount Studios. In one scene involving Brando’s Vito Corleone and Al Martino’s Johnny Fontane, Vito slaps Johnny across the face. This was in fact improvised by Brando and not part of the script, the reaction by Martino was real, and according to James Cann, who played Sonny Corleone, Martino was visibly confused and did not know whether to laugh or cry. If you haven't watched this classic flick yet then do so streaming on AppleTV+, Google Play, Jio cinema and YouTube. Well that's the OTTplay Now You Know for today’s episode , until the next podcast it's your host Nikhil signing out. Aaj ka dekhoge OTTplay se poocho
Thu, March 03, 2022
The Batman
Welcome to OTTplay Now You Know, one podcast that talks about lesser-known trivia, facts and even anecdotes from popular shows and films. I'm your host Nikhil The world’s most popular superhero, Batman, is set for a new iteration. The new film, titled The Batman, is directed by Matt Reeves with Robert Pattinson playing the titular character as the ‘Caped Crusader’. The film also stars Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farell, Paul Dano, Jeffery Wright, and Andy Serkis. The story will focus on a younger version of the dark knight and will be a gritty noir detective film. The movie is set to hit theatres this weekend. While auditioning for The Batman Robert Pattinson was filming for Christopher Nolan’s Tenet. Pattinson decided to keep the fact that he was auditioning to play Batman a secret, including Nolan, a former Batman director. So Pattinson lied to Nolan to get a day off from work. But Nolan was already aware of the fact and even congratulated Pattinson on getting the role even before Pattinson had informed the news to anyone. Robert Pattinson was a massive fan of Batman growing up. He admitted that he has been to every Batman movie on its opening weekend. The one advice both Zoë Kravitz and Robert Pattinson received from iconic actors who previously played Catwoman and Batman were identical. Michelle Pfeiffer who played Catwoman in Tim Burton’s Batman films, and Christian Bale who played Batman in Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy told the new stars to make sure their new suits had zippers so that it was easier to go to the bathroom in their suits. The real-life serial killer the Zodiac killer was the inspiration behind Matt Reeves’ version of the Riddler. The serial killer in fact featured in the 2007 David Fincher film Zodiac starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. Moreover, Jake Gyllenhaal was rumored to play Batman before Ben Affleck was cast to replace Christian Bale. Robert Pattinson auditioned for the role using two different Batman suits, the main body was Val Kilmer’s suit while the cowl was George Clooney’s. This was because Pattinson's head couldn’t fit into Kilmer’s cowl. Both Robert Pattinson and his character Bruce Wayne/Batman share the same middle name, which is Thomas. For his role as the Penguin, Colin Farrell wore makeup and a fat suit that contained six pieces of facial prosthetics. The crew used strong flashlights to check if there were any uneven seams. To test the costume Farrell even went into a local Starbucks and no one recognised him. Robert Pattinson listened to symphonies or heavy metal while preparing himself on set before a scene to play Batman. He mainly listened to Bach and Wagner. The Batman is slated to release in theaters this weekend. Well that's the OTTplay Now You Know for today, Until the next podcast it's your host Nikhil signing out. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho
Fri, February 25, 2022
Inventing Anna
Welcome to another episode of OTTplay Now You Know, one podcast that talks about lesser-known trivia, facts about your favorite shows and films. I'm your host Nikhil Created by Shonda Rhimes, Inventing Anna is a Netflix drama series based on the fraudster, Anna Sorokin, who swindled money from banks and investors posing as a wealthy heiress. The show stars Julia Garner and Anna Chlumsky in lead roles and is currently one of the most popular shows on Netflix. Lucy Mangan of The Guardian stated in her review of the series, quote-unquote, “It may have more heft than it initially appears, but it is played essentially as a modern soap opera – and God, is it fun”. Let's dig into some trivia now. Star of the TV series Ozark, Julia Garner, had an unconventional auditioning process for Inventing Anna. She just had a meeting with creator Shonda Rhimes instead of an actual audition. According to Julia Garner, who plays the lead as Anna ‘Delvey’ Sorokin, she found the real Anna very likeable and charming when Garner visited her in prison to research the character for the series. To perfect Anna Delvey’s accent, Julia Garner spent time learning the German and Russian accents and mixed them together. She also added a few elements of the American accent as well because Anna Delvey lived in New York for several years. The actors who played the roles of the Scriberia journalist group, comprising of Jeff Perry, Anna Deavere Smith, Terry Kinney, and Anna Chlumsky, used their spare time in between scenes to play various theatre games. The Scriberia journalist group was the centre of comedic relief through the series, and actor Anna Chlumsky said that it was endearing that the series focused on her character Vivian Kent’s love for journalism. The real name of journalist Vivian Kent, who broke the story about Anna Sorokin, the character played by Anna Chlumsky, is Jessica Pressler. Pressler is also portrayed in the 2019 film Hustlers starring Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu. In the film, her character was renamed Elizabeth for the film, and she is played by Julia Stiles, and the film is based on her article. If you haven't watched this series yet then do so streaming exclusively on Netflix. Well, that's OTTplay Now You Know for today's podcast I shall be back again with a brand new episode pretty soon until then it's your host Nikhil signing out. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho
Tue, February 22, 2022
The Book of Boba Fett
Welcome to OTTplay Now You Know, one podcast that gives you all the trivia, lesser-known facts and even anecdotes of popular films and shows. I'm your host Nikhil. The new Star Wars spin-off to The Mandalorian, despite its slow start, concluded its first season with strong viewership ratings. Created by Jon Favreau, the series focuses on the bounty hunter, Boba Fett and is set after the events of the 1983 film Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. Temuera Morrison, who plays the titular character Boba Fett, in the new 2021 TV series, also played the role of Boba’s father Jango Fett in the film Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones released in 2002 The notorious bounty hunter and Boba’s mentor, Cad Bane, is modeled after The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly character, called ‘Bad’, played by Lee Van Cleef in the 1966 film. There are also very obvious similarities to Snake Walker, aka Frog Killer, from the 1979 film The Muppet Movie. The Mandalorian and its spin-off, The Book of Boba did not use green screen or real locations. Instead, LED walls that are 20 feet tall are used as background projections. This technology is reportedly more convenient as it helps actors visualize the locations better than green or blue screens, and it also saves the hassle of moving the entire production crew to different locations Temuera Morrison has incorporated his Māori heritage and warrior spirit into the series through the Tusken Raiders, settled in the ‘sands of Tatooine’, depicted in the show. The New Zealander who is accustomed to the haka warrior dance is said to have paid homage to it as well in the series. The dog droids shown in the first episode of the series are neither CGI rendered nor props created for the series. These are real robotic dogs created by Boston Dynamics called ‘Spot’ robots. Similarly, the character Mayor Mok Shaiz, voiced by one of the show’s lead directors Robert Rodriguez, is not a CGI rendered character. Mok Shaiz is an animatronic creation similar to how Steven Speilberg created the Tyrannosaurus Rex in Jurassic Park, which remains the largest animatronic ever built. Temuera Morrison's stand-in, referred to as Jimmy, performed several voices in the series, especially during the scenes involving the cousins of Jabba the Hutt called the Twins. If you haven't watched this series yet, then do so streaming new episodes on Disney + Hotstar Well that's the OTTplay Now You Know for today's episode, until the next podcast it's your host Nikhil signing out. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho
Fri, February 11, 2022
Dune (pegged to most Oscar nominations)
Welcome to OTTplay Now you Know, one podcast that gives you all the trivia, lesser-known facts and anecdotes of popular films and shows, I'm your host Nikhil. Denis Villeneuve’s blockbuster sci-fi space odyssey, Dune, received a whopping 10 nominations for the Oscars including Best Picture. Based on the trilogy of novels by Frank Herbert, Villeneuve has crafted a film with stunning visuals, vibrant music, and engrossing screenplay. The film’s star-studded ensemble adds to the overall quality of the film. Let's check out some trivia. Director Denis Villeneuve declined the opportunity to direct the 2021 Bond film No Time to Die so that he can work on Dune - a project that has always been his dream. Similarly, music composer Hans Zimmer turned down the chance to reunite with Christopher Nolan for Tenet so that he can work on Dune as he has always been a fan of the novels by Frank Herbert. Denis Villeneuve told the Empire Magazine that it almost took a year to finalize the design for the giant Dune sandworm creatures. Every detail from skin texture, to how it opens its mouth, how it consumes food, and how it moves through the sand were all meticulously designed to give it a prehistoric look. Pink Floyd’s iconic number Elipse, composed by Hans Zimmer, prominently features in the first full-length trailer of the film. This was a hat-tip to filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's attempt at adapting Frank Herbert’s novel into a feature film in the 1970s, because the filmmaker intended to use the band for the film’s musical score. The movie does not highlight the genesis of the Great Houses. However, their names are hints to their origin on Earth. For example, Bene Gesserit, the matriarchal order with superhuman abilities, get their name from the Latin term which means “well done.” Similarly, the Atreides family has its roots in the Minoan civilization from Greece. The civilization's intrinsic association with the bull-type mythical creature Minotaurus is explained through the frequent callback to the bull imagery and the suggestions that Paul Atreides’ ancestor was killed in a bullfight. The helmets that were used by the Harkonnen soldiers were adapted from the head of insects. The Police’s lead singer Sting was asked to come on board for a cameo/minor role in the 1984 Dune (directed by David Lynch). But in the new 2021 version, the character met with an unfortunate fate with it being completely omitted. If you haven't watched Dune yet ,catch it streaming on Apple TV+, Google Play , Youtube. Well that's the OTTplay Now You Know for today's episode, I shall be back again with a brand new podcast pretty soon, until then it's your host Nikhil signing out. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho.
Wed, February 02, 2022
Ice Age
Welcome to OTTplay Now You Know, one podcast that talks about lesser-known facts, trivia and even anecdotes of popular films and shows. I'm your host Nikhil. Ice-Age has been by far one of the most well-loved animated franchises. With as many as five instalments, the films have been successfully drawing the old and young, alike. With The Ice-Age Adventures of Buck Wild releasing recently, here’s a list of trivia about the first 2002 film that charmed audiences worldwide. The animators of the film found it difficult to draw like children for the images for the end credits, so they sought the help of their own children to get the job done. In fact, the picture that Sid draws of himself in the cave is done by three-year-old Will Shefelman, the son of Dan Shefelman the story artist. Actor John Leguizamo decided to give a unique voice to his character Sid after watching a documentary about sloths. On discovering that sloths store food in their mouths, he decided to give Sid a voice that sounded as if someone was speaking with food in their mouth. He had initially come up with nearly 30 different voices for the character. The character Scrat is a fictional creature created just for the film, a mixture of a squirrel and a rat, and is voiced by the first film’s director Chris Wedge even though the character has no dialogue. The decision to have no dialogue for Scrat was made for comedic effect. However, in 2009 in Argentina, scientists unearthed fossils of a creature that largely resembles Scrat. It was eventually named Cronopio Dentiacutus, paying homage to the Ice Age character. Ice Age is the only film in the franchise that does not have the Twentieth Century Fox Animation Presents during its credits. Although the logo was supposed to be made to look like ice, the plan was later scrapped. The bottom part of the ice logo features a trailer for the movie, but the movie itself carries the original 20th Century Fox logo. In order to make the snowboarding sequences in the film appear realistic, animators who have experience with snowboarding were tasked to do the animation for Sid’s scenes with the snowboard. Ray Romano might seem like the perfect casting choice for Manfred, but did you know that a whole list of Hollywood A-listers was considered for the part, that includes the names of Robert De Niro, Johnny Depp, Bruce Willis, Pierce Brosnan, Nicolas Cage, Michael Keaton and Sylvester Stallone, among many others. The makers of the film had considered several actors in the role of ever-happy sloth Sid before they zeroed in on John Leguizamo. Some of the notable names in the list were Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, and Danny DeVito. Denis Leary, who voiced the sabre-tooth cat Diego, confessed to Jay Leno in a 2012 interview that Diego’s character was initially written off from the film since he dies during the climax. But this t
Thu, January 27, 2022
Billions
Welcome to another episode of OTTplay Now you Know, one podcast that gives you all the trivia and lesser-known facts about your favorite shows and films. I'm your host Nikhil An American drama series, Billions has been developed by David Levien, Brian Koppelman and Andrew Ross Sorkin. The series premiered in 2016 and has undergone five successful seasons. The Showtime series is ending with the sixth and final season and narrates the story of hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis). So if you’re a fan of engaging thrillers based on financial frauds, this one’s perfect for you. Let's kickoff some trivia. 1.The characters of Rhoades and Axelrod may be fictional but are based on real-life people. Axe, who is supposed to be a mix of all hedge-fund personalities, started off as a dramatised version of Steven A Cohen (the co-founder of S.A.C. Capital, found guilty of insider trading and slapped with a fine of $1.8 billion). Rhoades, on the other hand, is based on Preet Bharara’s personality, the one who pursued Cohen. 2. Maggie Siff, who plays Wendy Rhoades in the series, consulted noted motivational speaker Tony Robbins. The actress also consulted professional dominatrices who guided her by showing her how to accurately and safely depict BDSM on screen. Talking about Wendy, Siff once said in an interview, “[she] is very unapologetic about who she is, the power she wields, and the influence she has.” 3. Taylor Mason (who is played by Asia Kate Dillon) joins Axe Capital as a nerdy finance analyst who is obsessed with mathematics. Kate Dillon is also the first non-binary character to appear in North America television. 4. Billions has always been praised by critics for its acute eye towards detail. However, imitation can often end up misrepresenting, as was pointed out by a billionaire himself to the show’s creator Brian Koppelman. As per the billionaire, no one with his dispensable income would travel by a G5 aeroplane, which he described as a “sardine can.” 5. In order to inject authenticity into their narrative, the makers of Billions have featured several fine dining restaurants across New York, be it Barney Greengrass, Sparks Steakhouse or Emmy Squared. In fact, in one scene of the show, a character refers to the restaurant’s owner himself as an exceptional chef. 6. Other than restaurants, several noted real-life people have also featured on the show as themselves, from the music band Metallica, to Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and entrepreneur and TV personality Mark Cuban. If you haven't watched this series yet, do so streaming on Hotstar Well that's the OTTplay Now You Know for today, I shall be back soon with another podcast, Until then its your host Nikhil signing out . Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Don't Look Up
Today, we will take a deep dive into a satirical science fiction film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence that has recently dropped on Netflix. I am talking about the 2021 movie Don't Look Up. The movie depicts the story of two astronomers attempting to warn society about an approaching comet that will demolish human civilization. Here are a few trivia about this movie you didn’t know. 1. The movie was filmed with lockdown restrictions in place. Hence, Jennifer Lawrence could not get a broken tooth fixed during the filming of Don’t Look Up, and her missing tooth thus needed to be added during post-production. On the other hand, Timothée Chalamet’s hair in the film was not supposed to belong. The director zeroed in on his long-haired appearance after interacting with him on a zoom call. 2. Leonardo DiCaprio’s facial hair in the movie is also not a wig that the actor wears. The make-up department incorporated real hair extensions into the actor’s beard to make it appear seamless. 3. Because pandemic restrictions inhibited movement, many of the actors could not be physically present on sets for make-up trials. Hence, Cate Blanchett brought her own wig for filming, and Rob Morgan had a stand-in set up for his trials because he was unable to be present for fittings. 4. In one scene, the film references Ogilvy, who was an astronomer in HG Wells' War Of the Worlds. It is Ogilvy who first spotted the launch of the Martian invasion. 5. Another scene where the characters of DiCaprio and Lawrence visit the White House shows a painting of President William Henry Harrison. This is an allusion to the imminent danger that the US faces, with the comet threatening to obliterate all life on earth, because Harrison was famous for being a president for the shortest duration in the US before he passed away. If you haven't watched this movie yet, do so exclusively on Netflix Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about the movie ‘Don't Look Up’, I shall be back soon with a brand new episode until then it's your host Nikhil out of here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
The Matrix – Resurrections
The Matrix franchise redefined the sci-genre with revolutionary filming techniques and action sequences. The fourth film of the franchise, Matrix Resurrections, is releasing worldwide today, with Keanu Reeves and Carrie Ann-Moss returning for this instalment reprising their roles as Neo and Trinity. Let's look into some trivia now! 1. Lana Wachowski said that the narrative choice to get Neo and Trinity back into the sequel was actually triggered by the fact that she lost both her parents (who died five weeks apart) as well as a dear friend. Describing the two characters as the most important, Wachowski said that writing the parts helped her cope with grief. However, Lily Wachowski dealt with her parents’ loss differently and decided not to return to the franchise. 2. On February 4, 2020, the film began its production in San Francisco under the tentative title of “Project Ice Cream.” 3. The shooting schedules in San Francisco caused considerable harassment to city dwellers due to the damage caused to the buildings and street lights. Much like films such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) and Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), these producers also had to shell out $420,000 to the San Francisco Police Department so they could shoot in the city. 4. This was also the first Matrix film that had a planned shooting schedule in Chicago, which happens to be the Wachowskis’ hometown. However, the expanding pre-production budgets for the film did not allow that and it was scrapped from their itinerary. 5. The roles of Tiffany’s (Trinity’s alter ego) kids in the film are essayed by the real-life children of Carrie-Anne Moss. 6. Keanu Reeves confirmed that the tandem leap (which also included Carrie-Anne Moss) from the 44 Montgomery Street building in San Francisco was done mostly without the help of special effects. The duo took over 20 retakes for the scene from the 43-floor building over a two-day schedule, with descender cables attached to them. That's the OTTplay Now You Know, I shall be back again with another episode soon. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
After Life
For today’s Now You Know, we’ll be looking at the British black comedy series After Life, which has been written and directed by Ricky Gervais. The show, streaming on Netflix, sees the comedian play Tony, a journalist trying to grapple with the death of his wife Lisa from cancer. 1. Did you know that James Corden served as an inspiration for one of the characters on the show? Indeed, James the Recorder Kid is based on Corden, who has been a subject of many of Gervais’s jokes earlier. 2. Since Ricky Gervais himself is an animal rights defender, the fish fingers that were featured on the show were of the vegan variant. 3. The premiere episode features a disgruntled Tony deciding to offer his dog a can of baked beans after running out of dog food. He himself opts for vegetable curry in a can. In a later Facebook interaction, Gervais revealed that he had indeed consumed the vegetable curry during the filming of the scene. 4. The character of Lisa on the show has a middle name, Jane, which also happens to be the name of Gervais’ partner of 30 years, Jane Fallon. 5. Ricky Gervais’ views on fatherhood are somewhat captured in the character of Tony. The actor-comedian has earlier admitted to being comfortable with not fathering a child. Similarly, Tony, in the series, reveals he isn’t keen on having a kid because he feels they are annoying. 6. The music of After Life was handpicked by Gervais himself, a creative decision that he hadn’t had before. So when you hear Bill Withers’ Lovely Day or Elton John’s Rocketman, be assured that Gervais has himself selected these tracks to feature on the show. If you haven't watched this series yet, then do so it's streaming on Netflix That's the OTTplay Now You Know, I shall be back again with another episode soon. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
The French Dispatch
Wes Anderson’s latest film, The French Dispatch, is a critically acclaimed anthology film that follows three different storylines about the fictional Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun and its French foreign bureau. The film features a star-studded ensemble for its three storylines. Let's begin some trivia for you. 1. The film was originally intended to be a musical according to an article by Collider. It would have been a departure from the rock music Anderson usually adopts for his films, but the plan was ultimately dropped in favour of creating a signature Anderson film. 2. The movie is set in a fictional town called Ennui-sur-Blase which translates to Boredom-on-Apathy. Ironically it's in contrast with the film’s tone, pacing, aesthetic, and narrative. 3. The fictional town of Enniu-sur-Blase was shot in France itself. IndieWire claims that the quiet town of Angouleme was Anderson’s choice of setting for Enniu-sur-Blase, as it was perfect for filming. 4. New York publication The New Yorker is allegedly Anderson’s inspiration for the publication in the film. The claims were made by none other than The New Yorker. The same article also claims that some of the characters are inspired by Anderson’s favourite journalists from The New Yorker. 5. British actress Kate Winslet was rumoured to play a role in the film according to The Hollywood Reporter, but the actor has refused to confirm which role she was supposed to take on. 6. Bill Murray finished shooting his scenes in just two days despite being one of the main characters in the ensemble, and the actor stayed back in France for a week longer. If you want to watch this flick, it's streaming on Google Play and Youtube. That's the OTTplay Now You Know for today, I shall be back again with another episode soon. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Loki
Loki is an American television series, based on Marvel comics, where Tom Hiddleston portrays the titular God of Mischief. This is the third TV series in the MCU after WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and the series takes place after the events of Avengers: End Game. Loki has won several awards including the People's Choice Award for The Best Show of 2021 and the Favourite Male TV star. The series has been nominated for numerous other awards as well. So, let's begin the trivia for this hit series then. 1. In order to prepare to play Agent Mobius in the show, Owen Wilson did not read the comics. Instead, he roped in Tom Hiddleston to explain the show’s plot and the MCU to him. 2. Marvel Comics writer and editor Mark Gruenwald must surely have had a difficult time in his career, considering he was tasked with maintaining continuity across the Marvel Universe. As a tribute to him, all Time Variance Authority agents in the Loki comics were made to look like Gruenwald. 3. Mr DNA from the iconic Jurassic Park film was the inspiration behind the animated mascot Miss Minutes. 4. The title of the Loki series shuttles between several different forms, which actor Tom Hiddleston explains as "integrating the disparate fragments of the many selves that Loki can be." 5. The costumes of Sophia Di Martino, who plays Sylvie on the show, were altered to include concealed zippers. This was done so that the actress could nurse her newborn between takes. You can watch this series exclusively on Disney + Hotstar That's the OTTplay Now You Know, I shall be back again with another episode soon. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Spider-Man: Far From Home
Tom Holland is returning for a third standalone Spider-Man film titled Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was released in theatres in India today. So here is some trivia on the second film in the trilogy, Spider-Man: Far From Home. Let's begin! 1. Jeffrey Henderson, storyboard artist for the film, claims that Mysterio was originally the intended villain for the cancelled Sam Raimi film Spider-Man 4. Bruce Campbell, the Ash vs Evil Dead star and childhood friend of Raimi was supposed to play the role. In fact, Campbell had made cameo appearances in all three Raimi Spider-Man films. 2. In a particular scene about 21 minutes into the runtime, which is also Tom Holland's favourite action scene from the film, takes place in Venice during the Water Elemental attacks. Peter is shown to run across several poles where a few boats are docked. He later admitted that he regrets not heeding the advice of the stunt coordinator to wear shin guards. 3. August 10th is shown to be his birthday as per the passport. This is a reference to Spider-Man's first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15 which was released on August 10th, 1962. 4. Jake Gyllenhaal is almost never seen wearing anything other than his full supervillain costume. It was recommended to him he wear something more comfortable for certain scenes, but as he genuinely liked wearing that suit he refused to wear anything else. 5. The Dutch village that Peter wakes up in is called 'Broek op Langedijk', which means a low piece of land in a marsh-like area in ancient Dutch. It is in fact a real town in the Netherlands, famous for its historic architecture. However, the marketplace and the tulip field scenes were shot in the Czech Republic. Around two million digital tulips were created to depict the Dutch countryside. Even though not really appear in the movie, the tourist board of Broek was thrilled by the reference, and the place witnessed a sharp rise in American tourists after the film's premiere. 6. Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays the villain Mysterio in the film, was originally cast to replace an injured Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 2. However, Maguire healed in time from the injuries he suffered while filming Seabiscuit and returned for Spider-Man 2. If you haven't watched this spidey flick yet then do so, it's streaming on Netflix, Google Play, Apple TV That's the OTTplay Now You Know for today, I shall be back again with another episode soon.. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Wandavision
The critically acclaimed Disney Plus original series WandaVision is Marvel Studios; first foray into original programming of MCU content for television, after severing ties with Netflix. The series is loosely based on the popular X-Men comic series House of M, and it focuses on Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch after the events of Avengers Endgame. The series was praised for its narrative structure and set design. Let’s dive into the trivia now! 1. Agent Jimmy Woo’s flick of the wrist trick to produce his ID like magic is a reference to his awe in Paul Rudd’s character, Scott Lang’s, magic tricks from the film Ant-Man and the Wasp. 2. Up to 47 different modern camera lenses were used to depict the seven-time periods, which were in fact custom-modified to retain characteristics of the lenses from that time period. Lighting was adjusted and Tungsten lights were used to give it more authenticity. 3. Paul Bettany’s character, Vision, who is mainly maroon in colour was painted blue for the black and white scenes because blue worked better in grayscale. 4. There is a faded mural in episode 2 when Wanda walks from the kitchen to the living room on the wall behind the candlesticks that shows a building that Baron Strucker had used in Sokovia. It is the place where the Avengers storm in and first meet Wanda and Pietro. 5. The series eclipsed the budget of The Pacific (2010), of $21.7 million per episode, with $25 million per episode. 6. The final scene of the finale was originally intended to show the townspeople swarming Wanda trying to confront her, but it was later changed to them standing apart and miserable. This change was made as a result of COVID regulations but ended up being the one Jac Shaeffer liked better, as she believed the scene was more compelling on a psychological level. If you haven’t watched this yet then do so, it’s streaming on Disney + Hotstar That’s the OTTplay Now You Know for today, I shall be back again with another episode soon. Until then it’s your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
The Power of the Dog
The Power of the Dog is a western drama film released in 2021 and directed by Jane Campion. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Thomas Savage. It made its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival where the director won the Silver Lion award for Best Direction. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. I shall give you some lesser-known trivia about this film that you probably couldn’t guess. Let's get started! Shall we? 1. Benedict Cumberbatch did a bit of method acting for his role of Phil Burbanks. The actor was known to not have bathed for two weeks and begun chain-smoking. His prior habit of smoking did not help the situation and the actor often used to get ill after each take. His chain-smoking got so intense that he got nicotine poisoning thrice during filming. 2. A scene where Peter is shown walking towards a tree with nesting Australian Magpie chicks is factually incorrect considering the film was set in 1920s Montana, in New Zealand where the bird is not found. 3. Cumberbatch also took up banjo lessons and learnt how to castrate bulls. In an interview with Variety, the actor said, “‘Learned’ is a big word. I did it and I experienced it. I did everything you see in the film.” 4. George Burbank was ultimately played by Jesse Plemons after Paul Dano dropped out from the film due to scheduling conflicts. Dano was working on his character of The Riddler in Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2020). 5. For the role of Rose (played by Kirsten Dunst), the makers had initially zeroed in on Elizabeth Moss, who would’ve collaborated with Campion for the third time. After being compelled to opt-out due to her prior commitments to Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins (2022), Dunst took on that role. Though Dunst convincingly plays Kodi Smit-McPhee's mother, the two are only 14 years apart. If you haven't watched this flick yet, do so now streaming on Netflix. That's the OTTplay Now You Know for today, I shall be back again with another episode soon. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Succession
Succession is an American satirical black comedy-drama television series. The central plot revolves around the Roy family who owns the global media and entertainment conglomerate Waystar RoyCo. This series has won several accolades, including the Golden Globe for Best Television series - Drama, British Television Award for Best International Programme and The Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Drama series. In today's episode, I shall give some trivia about the series that you probably didn't know about. Let's get going then! 1. The beautiful, glossy interiors of the Roy duplex, complete with its white marble floors and ornate decor, is not a real apartment, but a set constructed in Long Island City's Silvercup Studios. 2. Did you know that actor Brian Cox, who plays family patriarch Logan Roy, does not watch his own films and shows? He says that the enterprise is “madly depressing to say the least," 3. Many of the interactions that the characters have on the show are not scripted. Creator Jesse Armstrong revealed that he encourages his actors to improvise around the script, which he said helped the cast to be more comedic. 4. The wedding sequence for Shiv was filmed at a real English castle. The entire cast flew to England and shot the scene at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. If you haven't watched this yet then do so , it's streaming on Disney + Hotstar That's the OTTplay Now You Know for today, I shall be back again with another episode soon.. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai is an American martial-arts comedy-drama series and is one of the most viewed shows on Youtube and Netflix. The series is a sequel to the original Karate Kid trilogy from the 80s and boasts several Primetime Emmy Award nominations amongst others. The story is told from the perspective of Johnny Lawrence, the antagonist in the first film. The fourth season is slated to drop at the end of this month on Netflix. In today’s Now You KNow, we shall look into some lesser-known trivia from the series that you probably didn't know about. I'm your host Nikhil, let's begin! 1. The ribbon Ralph Macchio’s character, Daniel LaRusso, uses in the series when he begins to train Karate again, and the car from season two, are from the iconic first film from 1984, The Karate Kid. Macchio was given both of these items after completing production for the first film. 2. As of season three, only two characters have appeared in all three films of the original trilogy - Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso, and Martin Kove’s John Kreese. 3. During Netflix's official YouTube Channel show Reunited Apart, the creators revealed that the original idea was for a feature film, but the plans were later changed to turn it into a TV series so as to tell the story from each character’s perspective. 4. Whenever members of the Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai come into conflict, they are shown to wear clothing of blue and red respectively. 5. A vast majority of the members of Cobra Kai either have experience in martial arts or are trained dancers. 6. Each season has at least one episode named after a song, one named as a Spanish word, and one named for a phrase or line from the original movie. If you haven't watched this yet then do so, it's streaming on Netflix That's the OTTplay Now You Know podcast for today, I shall be back again with another episode. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers’ atmospheric psychological thriller, has just dropped on Netflix. Featuring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe in the lead, the film follows two lighthouse keepers slowly coming undone after being isolated on a remote island. Today’s Now You Know is about some lesser-known trivia about this black-and-white movie. Lets kickoff! 1. For the movie, Pattinson’s naturally dark moustache had to be dyed black for him to resemble his character. On the other hand, Dafoe’s bad teeth were also achieved with the help of prosthetics. 2. A particular scene where Pattinson was seen walking into the ocean was filmed over 25 times because heightened moisture levels would fog the lens up. In fact, the camera equipment would often malfunction because of how humid Nova Scotia was. 3. The residents of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, tried hard to preserve the lighthouse set constructed for the movie on location. However, the structure, made out of wood, was removed because of safety protocols. 4. The film is inspired by a real-life incident that took place in 1801, in which two Welsh lighthouse keepers suffered a similar fate as the characters in the film. While one of the men, while stranded on the island, lost his life, his death drove the other one to madness. If you haven't watched this yet then do so, it's just dropped on Netflix. That's the OTTplay Now You Know podcast for today, I shall be back again with another episode. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Selling Sunset
The reality TV series that follows the personal and professional lives of real estate agents in Los Angeles has become one of the most popular shows on Netflix. The success of the show has spawned spin-offs that are in pre-production. Today, on Now You Know we are talking about Selling Sunset, let begin the trivia for you. 1. It's revealed that Netflix doesn't compensate any of the cast members for their hair, makeup, or clothes In an interview with Refinery29, Quinn, the more stylish dressers of the group revealed that, "Netflix doesn't pay for anything. I pay for my own hair and makeup and wardrobe and everything like that, and it's worth it. I have fun with it, and I know that people love to watch it and be like, 'What is she going to do next?'" 2. According to wedding planner Lisa Lafferty Quinn and Christian Richard's gothic winter wonderland-themed wedding cost a whopping $1 million. 3. During the season two finale of Selling Sunset, which featured the wedding of Fitzgerald and Bonnet, there was an incident when a camera drone crashed behind Nicole,the person who was officiating their wedding. 4. The bride had a backup plan, other than Amanza to step in, in the event of any drama escalating at the wedding. It was even kept a secret. "I didn't know about all the drama that was going on with the girls. But, I did hire a security guard and told them beforehand that if anything started they were going to be quietly escorted out," she told Screenrant. If you haven't watched the series yet then do so exclusively on Netflix. That's the OTTplay Now You Know podcast for today, I shall be back again with another episode. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings
The 25th film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, is Marvel’s second foray into a martial-arts centric production after the Netflix TV series Iron Fist. The film was a universal success and was praised for its well-choreographed fight sequences and storytelling. It is also one of the highest-grossing films from Hollywood in the pandemic era. 1. One of the Widows on the film Black Widow features in the fight club fight scenes in one of the lower tiers of the club. 2. Shang-Chi fighting shirtless in the arena is a reference to his comic book debut, in which he appears shirtless throughout his initial comic book run. This was in fact a homage to Bruce Lee, who appeared shirtless in several of his films 3. The character who is shown to be filming the fight scene is played by the same actor that asks Peter Parker at the hot dog stand if he's "the spider guy on youtube", in the film Spider-man: Homecoming. 4. Simu Liu was in his underwear and nibbling on shrimp crackers when he got the call from MCU boss Kevin Feige confirming that he has been cast as the lead in the film. Feige also informed Liu that he was expected at Comic-Con in four days' time. 5. The film does not feature an English line until 10 minutes into its runtime. 6. In the bus fight scene, a woman has her laptop cut in half. Interestingly enough, she would be able to recover her data from the hard drive as the laptop is a model that has its storage positioned to one of the sides. If you haven't watched this flick yet, then do so exclusively on Disney + Hotstar That's the OTTplay Now You Know podcast for today, I shall be back again with another episode. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
The comedy-drama set in the 1950s follows the life of Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel as she decides to become more than just an upper-class housewife by trying her hand at standup after her husband leaves her for another woman. Her natural flair in the art is well received, and she soon decides to become a professional comedian. I'm talking about the hit show The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. 1. The first TV show on a streaming platform (Amazon Prime) to win the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. 2. The apartment where Midge and her husband Joel live was created on the same set as the apartment where Midge's parents live, but with a more modern (late-1950s) design, inspired in part by Doris Day movies, according to production designer Bill Groom. 3. The exterior and stairwell of the Gaslight were filmed at Under St. Marks Theatre on St. Marks just off 1st Ave, which is the site of a real open mic that happens every Tuesday from 9 pm to 2 am. 4. Amy Sherman-Palladino was inspired by childhood memories of her father, a standup comedian based in NYC. 5. In a 2018 interview, star Rachel Brosnahan said that gratuitous nudity, in general, frustrates her because it's tired and distracts one storytelling, but she gladly got naked in the pilot because she thought it was funny. She said it wasn't about sex or being sexualized, but to highlight how her character was just hitting rock bottom, a situation she couldn't have imagined. 6. Liza Weil's character, Carole Keen, was inspired by the legendary bassist Carole Kaye. And even though the character is a positive one, Kaye revealed in an interview with the New York Post that she didn't like it at all, arguing it was like "a cartoon - and my life is not a joke [...] Nobody contacted me. I didn't know a thing about it. I thought that was pretty bad - kind of like slander." If you haven't watched this show yet then do so exclusively on Amazon prime Video That's the OTTplay Now You Know podcast for today, I shall be back soon with another episode. Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Mare of Easttown
Welcome to OTTplay Now You Know, the podcast that gives you all the trivia and lesser-known facts about your popular films and shows. I'm your host Nikhil Today, Now You Know is all about trivia from the award-winning American crime drama limited series Mare of Easttown. This series stars Kate Winslet playing the titular character, portraying the role of a detective who investigates a murder in a town near Philadelphia. This series got 16 nominations at the 73rd Emmy awards and won 4. Let's dive into some trivia from the series now. 1. HBO was initially sceptical when they learnt that the lead character of the show, Kate Winslet’s Mare, wouldn't wear any makeup and would flaunt unwashed hair. But Winslet, who’s also among the executive producers of the show, was adamant. In an interview, she said, "We could have still done the film or TV version of that character, made her hair barrel curl-perfect each day, and she could have had her put on some simple makeup before going to work. But I didn't believe for one second that she would, first of all, have time, and secondly, care about looking in the mirror." Now, that’s some commitment in furnishing a character. 2. When the show’s production resumed in September 2020 after being suspended for Covid, Guy Pearce and Kate Winslet had to quarantine together. Winslet, who had a childhood crush on Pearce, found Pearce's obsession with recycling hilarious. "I was like, 'Darling, why am I going through the bins with you? This was not in my fantasy when I was 11 years old and fell in love with you after watching Neighbours (1985). 3. Jean Smart, who plays Mare’s mother Helen Fahey, decided early on that her character would be drinking or eating in a majority of scenes. While they may not have added a layer to her character’s personality, it surely let on a disarming charm. 4. For a show that seems to take accents seriously, the producers of Mare of Easttown initially wanted to stick to a general New York twang. But Kate Winslet felt that her accent had to be authentic to the Philadelphia area since the story is set in the fictionalized version of Easttown in Chester County, Pennsylvania. 5. On the evening of the show’s finale, on May 30, 2021, the HBO Max streaming server crashed for several hours for the first time in its history, just minutes before the episode was slated to drop. The popularity of the show is evident from the fact that the finale episode became the most-watched episode in HBO Max history. 6. During the filming of the scene where Detective Colin Zabel is seen getting drunk at a bar, Evan Peters, who played the character, was sober but drank small cups of apple cider vinegar every half hour to trigger sense memory. The night before the shoot, he improvised the line "let me put my bagel down", which director Craig Zobel loved and retained. Peters' performance received much critical acclaim, with many calling it “the most realistic drunk
Mon, January 03, 2022
Archer
Today, we take a deep dive into Archer, the Primetime Emmy-winning adult animated sitcom which debuted season 12 on Netflix today. The show follows an array of intelligence agents, and specifically the protagonist Sterling Archer, a self-involved womanizer. Here are some lesser-known facts about the series. 1. The characters are often shown reading magazines on the show, which serve as Easter eggs for upcoming episodes or seasons. 2. Each episode of the show features the sound of ice-cubes clinking against the glass. 3. The name of Amber Nash’s character Pam makes an appearance on graffiti and walls in almost every episode. 4. Jeffrey Tambor and Jessica Walter, who played bickering married couple in Arrested Development, have again been cast in Archer as arch-rivals Len Texler and Malory. 5. The opening title montage shows the blueprint of the helicopter in the 1984 series Airwolf and the rudimentary rocket called The Vulture from the sci-fi show Salvage 1. If you haven't watched the series yet, do so exclusively on Disney + Hotstar. Well that's the OTTplay Now you Know for today’s episode , I shall be back again tomorrow until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Red Notice
Released less than a month ago on Netflix, Red Notice pulled off a casting coup with Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds sharing the screen for the first time. Understandably then, the heist film offers generous doses of action and comedy. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, the film revolves around two con artists and an FBI agent who continuously try to outwit each other and steal three bejewelled eggs. Here are some trivia about the film that you may not have known. 1. Ryan Reynolds' character is seen saying "Well, first off, a positive mental attitude helps," in a particular scene. This line is a reference to a saying of YouTube gamer Seán McLoughlin, who also happens to be the actor’s friend in real life. 2. The painting Lady with a Red Hat is a reference to the primary antagonist of the video game Where in the... is Carmen Sandiego. In the game, one has to pin down an art thief. 3. Dwayne Johnson’s entry and exit into the Porsche had to be stitched in editing because his frame was bigger than the car door, and would invariably lead to the actor getting stuck. 4. Gal Gadot’s infamous Imagine cover also found a reference in the film. The actor faced criticism for her cover of the song during a 2020 event. In Red Notice, Gadot covers Petula Clark’s Downtown while torturing’s The Rock’s character. In response, Reynold remarked that she is a “good singer.” If you haven't watched this flick yet do so exclusively on Netflix. Well, that's the OTTplay Now you Know for today, I shall be back again tomorrow with another episode until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Bridgerton
One of the most-watched series on OTT for its pure tale of fantasy, and is set in the backdrop of Victorian English high society. This series gives the viewers insight into the wealth, lust, and betrayal during a fictionalised Regency Era England, through the lens of the Bridgerton family. This series boasts of an Emmy award-winning and over 50 nominations for various other awards. On today's Now You Know, I shall treat you to some exclusive trivia that you may not have known so far. I'm your host Nikhil, let's kick-off! 1. Season 1 of the series saw some classical covers being used from celebrity artists and their hit tracks like Ariana Grande: Thank U, Next (2018), Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B: Girls Like You (2018), Shawn Mendes: In My Blood (2018), Billie Eilish: Bad Guy (2019), Taylor Swift: Wildest Dreams (2015) and Celeste's ‘Strange’. 2. The series’ costumes could not be hired from external sources or even rented. Most of the costumes had to be customised for the show exclusively as the series director wanted to introduce modern elements and colours into the Bridgerton costumes. Hence a whopping 7500 pieces were tailor-made for the show's first season by the designer Ellen Morijnick. 3. There is an inside musician’s joke when Lady Featherington makes a reference to a piano piece being played by Mozart, but actually it's Beethovan’s piano piece called Sonata. 4. Have you ever noticed in the series that the Bridgerton family always wear pastels in shades of blue and pink, whereas the Featheringtons always wear bright colours with patterned clothes in shades of yellow or green. Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about the popular series Bridgerton for you on OTTplay Now You Know. I shall be back again with another episode pretty soon. Until then it's your host Nikhil out of here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
You
You is an American psychological thriller 30-episode television series based on Caroline Kepnes’ book series of the same name. The series was split into three seasons with different ensemble casts in each season. The plot follows a love-obsessed Joe Goldberg, a book manager in New York and his encounters with his love interests. Here are a few lesser-known trivia about the series. 1. The 10 episodes of season 1 were split equally between male and female directors and the word You has been mentioned 241 times throughout this season. I bet you didn't know this! 2. Love Quinn’s cake shop named A fresh Tart is located in the same place like the coffee shop where Emma Stone’s character worked in La La Land. It is located on Warner Bros.’ studio backlot. 3. It is shown in season 1 that Joe works at a bookstore named Mooney’s, which happens to be next to a store named Nirvana. In season 2, he works at a store named Anavrin — that’s Nirvana spelt backwards. Interesting! 4. The reason behind naming the twins Forty and Love is their father’s passion for tennis. Similarly, actor Penn Badgley said that he was named Penn by his parents because of his small stature when he was an infant just like that of their favourite penn tennis ball brand. If you haven't watched this series yet, do so exclusively on Netflix Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about the hit series “You“, I shall be back again tomorrow with a brand new episode until then it's your host Nikhil out of here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Lucifer
Lucifer is an American urban fantasy television series aired between 2016 and 2021. Based on the DC Comics character, the series revolves around the story of Lucifer Morningstar played by Tom Ellis, the DC Universe's version of the Devil, who is exiled from Hell for being a rebel. He runs his own nightclub named Lux and also works at Los Angeles Police Department as a consultant. Here are a few lesser-known trivia about the series that you probably didn't know. 1. Throughout season 3, Lucifer’s shots were framed so that the background elements formed the shape of wings behind him. 2. The name of every episode in the series is named-dropped by Lucifer, and one character in every episode says the word ‘hell’. 3. The meaning of Lucifer in Latin is ‘light bringer’ and incidentally the club which is run by him is named Lux. As we know, Lux is the SI unit of luminance. 4. The character Ella Lopez makes many references to her ‘spidey senses'. It is a reference to Spiderman from the Marvel Universe, whereas Lucifer is from the DC Universe. If you haven't watched this series yet then do so exclusively on Netflix. Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about the hit series ‘Lucifer’. I shall be back again tomorrow with a brand new episode until then it's your host Nikhil out of here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
How I met your mother
The American sitcom series aired between 2005 and 2014 with a total of nine seasons consisting 208 episodes for CBS. The show stars Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan in the leads. The story follows the main character, Ted Mosby, in the year 2030, narrating to his son and daughter the events he encountered in 2005 which led him to meet their mother. This successful show has managed to create speculations amongst viewers on who the mother is. Here are a few lesser-known trivia about the series, How I met your Mother, let's begin! 1. Neil Patrick Harris, who plays the character Barney, is seen in his customary suit throughout the series except for 18 times where he wears a flight suit or snowsuit. Talk about costume change! 2. Jason Segel, who portrays Marshall, has a real-life smoking habit. His on-screen wife Lily, played by Alyson Hannigan, dislikes the smell of smoke, hence rarely kisses him on the show. The kissing scenes between the both were kept to a minimum. Romance is gone up in smoke ha! 3. Bob Saget (Full House) was the narrator for 206 episodes, however, the last two episodes were narrated by Josh Radnor. 4. Although celebs like Katy Perry and Britney Spears appeared in cameo roles on the show, the cast and crew were more thrilled to welcome fashion designer Tim Gunn on the sets. If you haven't watched this series yet then do so exclusively on Disney + Hotstar Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about the hit series “How I met your mother “, I shall be back again tomorrow with a brand new episode until then it's your host Nikhil out here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Orange is the new Black
Orange is the new Black is an American comedy-drama on Netflix which was released in 2013.The seven-season-long show is based on Piper Kerman's memoir of the same name. The series showcases the hardships of life in prison and spotlights, among other things, taboos associated with being convicted, illegal immigration, racism and harassment. Here are a few interesting facts about this great show that you probably didn't know about. 1. The title sequence consists of close-ups of the faces of real former inmates, including a quick shot of Piper Kerman. You can identify Kerman from her blue eyes. 2. A hacker leaked a few of Season 5 episodes even before its official release. Though the hacker demanded a ransom from Netflix with a threat to leak all the episodes of that season, Netflix did not respond, due to which 10 out of 13 episodes got leaked. 3. Taylor Schilling, who plays Piper Kerman, injured herself during the filming of an intimate scene. While taking her shirt off, the prison name tag caught on the side of her mouth, giving her a small cut. The shoot was halted for an hour to make sure the injury wasn’t severe. 4. This is the only show on TV to receive Emmy nominations for the Best Comedy Series in 2014 and the Best Drama Series in 2015. This was because of a change in the Emmy Awards rule stating that all shows running longer than 30 minutes per episode must be classified as dramas. If you haven't watched this series yet, then catch it streaming exclusively on Netflix Well that's some lesser-known trivia about the hit series “Orange is the new Black”, I shall be back again tomorrow with a brand new episode until then it's your host Nikhil outta here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Two and a Half Men
This American television sitcom aired between 2003 to 2015 for 12 seasons. It is an addictive comedy series that was hugely popular during its run. The original cast of the show consisted of Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones in the lead. But Sheen was replaced by Ashton Kutcher after the eighth season. The original story revolves around the lives of Harper brothers, Charlie and Alan, and Alan's son Jake. Here are a few interesting facts about the series you need to know. 1. Jon Cryer dated a woman in 2004, named Stephanie, he even brought her to the shoot and introduced her to Sheen. Sheen knew who she was, and pretended as if he had never met her before. But later confessed to Jon that she was his ex-girlfriend. 2. The title of every episode in the series is derived from a line from their working script. 3. Jon Cryer, who portrays the character Alan Harper, is the only actor who appears in every single episode of the twelve-year long series. 4. Berta, Charlie’s housekeeper, always goes around saying” I ain’t cleaning that up” even though it’s her job to do so. She appears in 200 episodes; her surname is never revealed. Available - Exclusively on Amazon Prime Video Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about your favourite series Two and a Half Men, I shall be back again tomorrow with a brand new episode until then it's your host Nikhil out of here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Narcos
Netflix’s original, Narcos, is an American crime drama series that aired between 2015 and 2017. The three season series consisting of 30 episodes is by far the best crime drama series ever made. The show follows the life story of Columbia based drug kingpin Pablo Escobar in the 80s. Here are a few interesting facts about the show. 1. Producer Eric Newman stated that initially they came up with Narcos as a big-budget feature film. But when the writing team gathered more information on Pablo, which couldn't fit into a single movie, it was greenlit for a series. 2. Wagner Moura, who portrayed Pablo’s character, not only had to gain 40 lbs for the show but had to wear a fake stomach throughout. 3. Actor Adriana Barraza was looped in to play Pablo’s mother Hermilda Escobar for first four episodes, but was replaced later by Paulina Garcia for reasons unknown. 4. Though the show is based on an 80s lifestyle, modern vehicles are visible in the aerial shot of the city in season 2 episode 9. Available - Exclusively on Netflix Well that's some lesser-known trivia about your favourite series Narcos, I shall be back again tomorrow with a brand new episode until then it's your host Nikhil out of here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Gilmore Girls
An American comedy-drama television series starring Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore) and Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore), Gilmore Girls has always had a special place in all our hearts. Launched in 2000, this Warner Bros series kept audiences hooked throughout its seven seasons and 152 episodes. Though the show went off air in 2007, its popularity hasn’t diminished over the years. Here are a few interesting facts about this show. 1. Alexis Bledel, plays the character Rory, who loves drinking coffee. But in reality, the actress hated the beverage. So, the scenes where you see her drinking coffee was actually Coca-Cola in her cup 2. Kirk Gleason, who is portrayed by Sean Gunn, is always found working at a new job in the series, making him work at 62 different jobs in all seven seasons. 3. Every episode title was always coined by one of the characters in the show. 4. It is said that Lane Kim's father lives with her and her mother, but his character never appears on the show. 5. The role of Rory’s great-grandmother Lorelai ‘Trix’ Gilmore and Trix’s niece Marilyn Gilmore are both played by Marion Ross. Available - Exclusively on Netflix Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about Gilmore Girls, I shall be back again tomorrow with a brand new film or show. Until then it's your host Nikhil out of here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
The Office
Today, we’ll take a deep dive into The Office, an American mockumentary sitcom television series that aired on NBC between 2005 and 2013. Based on the 2001-2003 BBC television series of the same name, the show consists of nine seasons with a total of 201 episodes. Here are a few facts about this brilliant show that you need to know. 1. NBC initially planned on retitling the series, The American Workplace, to differentiate it from the original British version, but later retained the same. However, the show has rechristened The Office: An American Workplace in the UK when it aired on ITV2. Outside of America, it is called "the US office". 2. Actor Ed Helms, who plays Andy in the series, happened to miss seven consecutive episodes in season nine because he was shooting for The Hangover Part III. His absence from those episodes was justified in the show as him taking a three-month-long boat trip with his brother. 3. After the end of season nine, the creators and cast attended ‘The Office wrap party’ at the University of Scranton. There, the executive producer of this show, Greg Daniels, revealed that they have retained the props used in their sets and are planning to open a museum dedicated to the show. 4. The most talked-about moment of the show was undoubtedly that of Jim proposing to Pam. The 52-second scene was reportedly the most elaborate and expensive scene in the series, and shooting it cost approximately $250,000. If you haven't watched this hit series yet, do so on Amazon Prime Video, Voot and Vi Well, that was some lesser-known facts and trivia about The Office, I shall be back again with a new podcast soon with trivia about a new show or film. Until then it's your host Nikhil out of here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Squid Game
Squid Game is the South Korean survival drama web series, released in 2021. The show has gained tremendous popularity becoming the top most viewed series on Netflix. It's evident that the show has had viewers glued to their seats thanks to its mind-blowing twists and turns in each episode. Though it showcases violence and tragedy, it is actually based on Korean Children’s games. Here are a few interesting facts about this show. 1. The show’s writer Hwang Dong-hyuk was ready with the script in 2009 but it was rejected by several studios until Netflix acquired the distribution rights. Hwang would go on to direct and produce the show. 2. Just 28 days after its airing, the show amassed over 111 million viewers, making it the most-watched Netflix original series, toppling Bridgerton of 2020. 3. The most talked about honeycomb challenge was the hardest prop for every actor, they had an individual prop manager to ensure the designs were correct, as a result, the set was congested and stuffy. 4. The game areas which had playground objects like slides, jungle gyms, and robots were oversized to make the players feel smaller, similar to that of children in games. If you haven't watched this series yet, do so exclusively on Netflix. Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about Squid Game for today, I shall be back again tomorrow with a brand new film or show. Until then it's your host Nikhil out of here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Today, the show we bring to you The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the 90s American sitcom TV which kickstarted, Hollywood star Will Smith’s career. This 148 episode family entertainer has over six seasons and is definitely a binge watch! Here are a few facts about the show that you probably didn't know. 1. Jada Pinkett Smith was offered the role of Lisa, but she declined because she felt she lacked chemistry with Will. Quite amusingly, three years later, the actors got married to each other. 2. Former US president Donald Trump, then a businessman, made a cameo appearance in one of the episodes but felt his lines weren’t funny. Eventually, executive producer Gary H Miller had to convince him that they actually were. 3. The show ended after six seasons because Will felt it was beginning to lose its charm. Further, he had also started getting offers from Hollywood movies by then. 4. Actor Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton in the show, sued the makers of Fortnite for stealing his famous dance moves ‘The Carlton Dance’ for a popular video game ‘Fresh’ in 2018, without giving him a credit. However, the US copyrights for Performing Arts rejected his plea. You could watch this series exclusively on Netflix. Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on today's podcast. I shall be back soon with another episode of OTTplay Now You Know. This is your host Nikhil signing off.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Paatal Lok
This neo-noir thriller series was the talk of the town even before its release in May 2020. Paatal Lok, an Amazon Original series has a great plot and thrilling action packed sequences. The storyline draws inspiration from the mythological phenomenon of hell (Paatal). Season 1 of the series saw grand success and the audiences are eagerly waiting for its second season.. Here are a few facts you probably didn't know about the series. 1. The show marks the debut of Anushka Sharma as a producer on the web and popular singer Anup Jalota as an actor. Abhishek Banerjee did a cameo in Rang de Basanti among other films and was the casting director for this series. 2. The 9 episode web series has been shot in 110 different locations across India. It’s also an interesting fact that the original name coined for this show was Jamuna Paar, which was later changed to Paatal Lok 3. The children who played the childhood characters of Cheeni, Dhaka, Kaaliya and Gudiya are not professionals and have no acting experience. But after a crash course, they were ready to face the camera. 4. The dangerous and nerve-racking accident in the finale was shot in a single take. There was pin-drop silence on the sets until the stuntman raised his hand for a victory sign. All that’s well that ends well! If you haven't watched this series yet, its streaming exclusively now on Amazon Prime Video Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about Paatal Lok on today's podcast. I shall be back soon with another episode of OTTplay Now You Know. This is your host Nikhil signing off.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Modern Family
Modern Family is one American sitcom that has all the necessary ingredients to make it a fan favourite. The show focuses on three families and their daily lives. It doesn't need a laugh track to make viewers laugh with this one. In case you too are an ardent fan of the series, here are some facts you might not have known about it. 1. All the actors on the show made an agreement to represent themselves for the awards in supporting roles and not as leads. 2. The 11-season show has won 22 Emmy Awards, making it the most commendable mockumentary in history. 3. Mitchell and Cameron’s kiss in the background of an episode of season 1 was the first time a gay couple was filmed kissing on primetime television. 4. Modern Family is famously the favourite show of even the former US President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama. Catch this hit comedy series on Disney + Hotstar and Amazon Prime video Well, that's some lesser-known trivia about Modern family, I shall be back again with another brand new episode of OTTplay Now You Know. It's your host Nikhil signing off for now.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Full House
Released by ABC Sitcom, Full House is one of the best family comedy shows ever. It is the perfect blend of rib-tickling humour along with a generous dose of heart-warming moments. With a stellar cast, the show was a long-running hit on television. Below are a few facts you never knew about the series. 1. Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier went on a road trip to Las Vegas after the first season to help develop a rapport for their on-screen roles. The three forged an amazing bond that helped them enact their characters so well on the show. 2. John Stamos, who played Uncle Jesse, was initially assigned the surname Cochran. But he changed it to Katsopolis to suit his character’s Greek roots. 3. Initially, the producers did not want their viewers to know that Michelle was played by the twin's Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen, so they credited the name as Mary Kate - Ashley Olsen. 4. The Fuller House series, which aired in 2016, is a Full House spin-off, which has the extended storyline of the characters DJ Tanner, Steffany Tanner and Kimmy Gibbler. Catch this all-time favourite comedy series exclusively on Netflix. That's some lesser-known facts, and trivia about Full House for today, I shall be back with another podcast pretty soon, until then it's your host Nikhil out here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy, the fan favourite medical drama which debuted in 2005, focuses on the professional and personal struggles of a team of doctors. With nearly 384 episodes,Grey’s Anatomy is the longest-running primetime show on ABC. Here are a few facts you need to know about the Golden Globe-winning series. Stay locked. 1. Actor Kate Walsh, who plays Dr Addison Montgomery, stated that the show’s name changed three times before the current one was selected. 2. During the filming of surgeries, the team uses animal organs and fake blood made of red gelatin to make the scenes look realistic. This means, there is always a disgusting smell throughout the shoot when such scenes are filmed. 3. To make the surgical scenes appear more authentic, Kathy C An, a real-life surgical nurse, was cast in the role of Nurse Bokhee. She has been a part of this show for a long time but hasn’t got a speaking part yet. 4. The success of Grey’s Anatomy spawned two spin-offs, Private Practice in 2007 and Station 19 in 2018. Well, that was some trivia and lesser-known facts about your favourite series Grey’s Anatomy, I shall be back again with a brand new podcast of OTTplay Now You Know, until then it's your host Nikhil Signing off.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Money Heist
This Netflix Crime Drama series captivated audiences across the globe by exploring themes of trust, love, hate, teamwork, jealousy, and rage. The multiple Emmy Award-winning TV show had audiences eagerly awaiting each season to be released on Netflix every year. Yes, I am talking about Money Heist. The show created by Alex Pina, is a Spanish drama series originally titled La casa de Papel. Netflix had it renamed as Money Heist, to appeal to a global audience. Here are some amazing facts you need to know about this great show. 1. There were a few translation challenges regarding the title ‘La casa de Papel’ which is literally translated as ‘The House of Paper’, a Spanish pun which roughly translates to ‘Money House’, but the creators chose ‘Money Heist’ which resonates better with the storyline. 2. The famous mask used in the show is a caricature of the face of well-known Spanish artist Salvador Dali, which depicts a symbol of revolution and anti-capitalist sentiment. 3. The show, which is filmed in Madrid, has a fictionalized interior set of the Bank of Spain because the production could not obtain permission to replicate the original. 4. The well-written script’s secret is that the writers never pre-planned their storyline but penned it down as and when needed, keeping in mind the excitement, reaction and perceptions of the audience. If you haven't watched this series yet do so streaming exclusively on Netflix. Well, that's some unknown trivia about your favourite crime drama series Money Heist. . I shall be back with another podcast about another film or show trivia that you had no clue about. Until then it’s your host Nikhil out here
Mon, January 03, 2022
Iron Man
When it comes to ranking a superhero film, Marvel’s Iron Man is right on top, a film that has attracted its fans with some top-notch special effects, pulsating soundtracks and smart futuristic gadgets. Here are some lesser-known trivia about Iron man. 1. The Iron Man first appeared in 1963 through comic books released by Marvel Comics. The Academy Award nominee Robert Downey Jr. ad-libbed the very famous line “I am Iron Man”, using it for the final scene in the 2008 film. 2. The superhero Tony Stark’s Iron Man armoured outfit which is a bright red and gold suit consists of almost 450 separate pieces. 3. During the filming of the final battle, Tony in Iron Man suit is supposed to drive an Audi R8 that would crash on Iron Monger and flip. However, the car refused to flip because of its sturdy built quality, which forced the filmmakers to re-write the entire sequence. 4. Dr Otto Octavious aka Doc Ock from Spider-Man mythology was originally part of the script written for Iron Man in a limited capacity. Tony Stark was supposed to be the creator of Doc Ock’s infamous tentacles, but unfortunately, Marvel Studios did not have rights to the Spider-Man properties, which is owned by Sony, and it was written off from the script. However, Disney and Sony have agreed to share the rights of these characters and Alfred Molina is set to reprise his role as Doc Ock from Spider-Man 2 in the upcoming Spider-Man: No Way Home. Well, that's some unknown trivia about your favourite superhero film Iron Man. I shall be back with another podcast about another film or show trivia that you had no clue about. Until then it's your host Nikhil out here. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho
Mon, January 03, 2022
Seinfeld
Today, we get to know more about Seinfeld, the iconic comedy 90s sitcom ‘about nothing’ created by standup legend Jerry Seinfeld and writer, co-creator Larry David. So let’s get started: 1. Before the show’s first telecast, Jerry Seinfeld asked Jason Alexander, who plays his best friend George on the show, whether he felt Seinfeld could actually be successful. Alexander shot back, saying that they "didn't have a chance" and even reasoned saying, “the audience for this show is me, and I don't watch TV.” Now, that’s classic George! 2. The ridiculous pirate shirt that Jerry was compelled to wear in the episode titled "The Puffy Shirt" was subsequently placed on display at the Smithsonian. Now, that’s a piece of American sartorial history we’d like to get a bite out of. 3. The iconic line ‘these pretzels are making me thirsty, which was assigned to Kramer when he bags a one-line role in a Woody Allen movie, was actually a tribute to Jeff Goldblum who had himself once featured in a one-scene role in another Woody Allen movie. In the six-second blink-and-miss scene from Annie Hall, Goldblum’s one line goes ‘I had lost by the mantra’. 4. The show about nothing was one of only three series in American history to rank number one in the ratings for its entire final network season. And while the show did win 10 Primetime Emmys over the years for various categories, none of them went to the show’s lead star Jerry Seinfeld. Alright, that's some unknown facts and trivia about your favourite show Seinfeld for today, I shall be back again with another podcast soon, until then it's your host Nikhil outta here,
Mon, January 03, 2022
House of Cards
Do you enjoy watching American political dramas and are you a fan of Kevin Spacey? Then, it’s impossible that you’ve missed the multiple-Emmy-winning series House of Cards. Packed with political shenanigans, the show’s compelling narrative style and plot points ensure that it’s counted among the top shows of all time. Here are a few facts about the seven-Emmy-winning show that you probably didn’t know: 1. In the epic ending of Season 2, the sound made by Frank Underwood’s ring as he bangs his fist against the desk is also a part of the sound effect that now plays right before the beginning of Netflix’s Original Series and films. 2. Two weeks prior to its official release, Season 3 was accidentally released on Netflix and later pulled down around 17 minutes later. 3. In Season 4, Claire Underwood uses her maiden name, referring to herself as ‘Claire Hale Underwood’, which is very similar to Hillary Clinton who has referred to herself as ‘Hillary Rodham Clinton’ throughout her career. 4. After working with Robin Wright in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, David Fincher directly offered her the role of Claire Underwood in House of Cards, promising her that she would have great inputs in the creation of the character. These are some lesser-known trivia and facts about House of Cards. I shall be back again with another podcast with a new film or a show. Until then, it's your host Nikhil outta here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Spider-Man
Today, it's going to be Spidey, aka Spider-man. We will talk about this hit film and some facts that you didn't know about. So ready for the ride then? Here we go! 1. Tobey Maguire had to undergo a rigid five-month routine of workout and martial arts six times a week to build a good physique required for his role in the film. He also included a high protein meal, four to six times a day. 2. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US, Sony promptly recalled the movie posters which revealed a close-up of Spider-Man’s face with the New York skyline prominently featuring the World Trade Centre towers reflecting in his eyes. However, not all the posters could be recovered, and the ones at large are now for sale and surely a must-have for any poster collector. 3. In the very famous upside-down kissing scene between Tobey Maguire and Kristen Dunst in the movie, Tobey faced a huge challenge while shooting for the scene, where he was hung upside down and the rain sprinklers turned on. Halfway through the filming, while Maguire and Dunst were kissing, Maguire started coughing as the rainwater filled up his nose and made him suffocate. 4. Steven R Kutcher, the American Entomologist, used the Steatoda spider for filming the genetically modified spider in the movie. The spider was painted red and blue by Jens Schnabel while it was on anaesthesia, which was colour coordinated with Spider-Man's outfit. Well that was some lesser-known facts and trivia about Spider-man for today, I shall be back again with a new film or show in the next podcast, Until then it's your host Nikhil out here
Mon, January 03, 2022
Breaking Bad
In today’s episode, we’re taking you behind AMC’s award-winning crime drama Breaking Bad. Created by Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad is considered by many as one of the most compelling crime series to ever drop on the small screen. Headlined by Bryan Cranston who plays the high school teacher Walter White and Aaron Paul who fills in as a young drug dealer, the show follows the misadventures that follow when White finds him in a life-altering situation and is compelled to take extreme measures. Here are a few facts you probably didn’t know about this show. 1. The two chemical elements bromine and barium, which are used for fire retardants and the manufacture of fireworks are usually abbreviated as Br and Ba respectively.The abbreviations which appear in the title credits of Breaking (Br) Bad (Ba) have nothing to do with the composition or manufacture of “crystal meth”. 2. Producer-director Vince Gilligan personally selected the song Baby Blue by Badfinger to be played during the series' final scene, despite objections from his music team. The song was purchased from iTunes over 5,000 times the night of the finale's initial broadcast and re-entered the Billboard charts after nearly 40 years of its release. 3. Upsetting hard-core fans of the show, Vince Gilligan decided to end Breaking Bad in season 5 as he didn't want to make the audience feel that it was being dragged on for too long. He also feared the quality of the show would deteriorate in subsequent seasons if the show hadn’t folded up when it did. Breaking Bad has a total of 62 episodes. 4. The series was initially decided to be shot at Riverside, California. The decision was then changed to move it to Albuquerque to avail a tax rebate on production. If you haven't watched the series yet, it's streaming exclusively on Netflix. These were some of the lesser-known facts about your favourite Breaking Bad, I shall be back again with a brand new podcast to keep you informed and updated on the best shows or movies across streaming platforms. Until then it's your host Nikhil outta here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Goodfellas
Today, we’re talking about Martin Scorcese’s Oscar-winning crime drama Goodfellas. 1. Robert De Niro, who plays the mob boss James Convay in the film, wasn't content with the fake money that the prop coordinator had arranged for the shoot. And in the scene where De Niro’s character walks into a bar and hands out crisp dollar bills to almost everyone he passes, he prefers using real currency notes. To film this scene, the prop coordinator had to fish out 5000 dollars of his own money to pull it off. Once each take was shot, the money was collected and counted and no one was allowed to leave the set. 2. Few would know this but the first scene shot for Goodfellas was actually not directed by Martin Scorcese, but by Stephen R. Pacca, who had filmed several low budget commercials. Pacca was pulled in to shoot the intentionally low-budget commercial for Morrie’s wigs in the film. 3. De Niro’s sartorial choices in the movie may be typical of Italian mobsters in Hollywood classics -- tailored suits and slicked-back hair. But as it turns out, De Niro was also fastidious about pairing each suit he wore in the film with a watch and pinkie ring. The prop master Robert Griffon would actually shut down his speciality shop for customers to allow De Niro some privacy while he picked suitable accessories for his character. 4. Ray Liotta, who won an Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of the young mobster Henry Hill actually turned down the part of Harvey Dent in Batman (1989) to shoot for this film. And given the overwhelming response Goodfellas received and turned the actor’s career around, it was the best professional decision he ever took. These were some of the lesser-known facts about Goodfellas. I shall be back with another new podcast pretty soon, Until then it's your host Nikhil signing out.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Dexter
Television’s favourite serial killer is set to return after an eight-year hiatus. The new series titled, Dexter: New Blood is set to premiere in November this year. The critically acclaimed show was arguably the most popular on television at the time but was let down by its underwhelming finale. The new limited series hopes to give Dexter Morgan a fitting farewell. So, here are some interesting trivia about Dexter, aka The Bay Harbour Butcher. 1. Jennifer Carpenter and John Lithgow will reprise their roles as Deborah Morgan and The Trinity Killer respectively for the upcoming limited series Dexter: New Blood, despite their characters being killed off in the original series. 2. For the final season of Dexter, actor David Zayas, who played series regular Angel Batista, was replaced by his son David Zayas Jr as a stand-in for a few shots because of how similar they looked. 3. In season one of Dexter, he uses an alias to steal tranquillizer drugs. The alias he used was Patrick Bateman, which is Christian Bale’s character from the film American Psycho 4. The character Arthur Mitchel aka the Trinity Killer, played by John Lithgow has parallels to real-life serial killer, BTK Killer. They both led normal lives with families, and both were well-respected members of society. The BTK killer also features heavily in David Fincher’s Netflix show, Mindhunter. That's some lesser-known trivia about Dexter for you on OTTplay Now You Know, I shall be back with another film or show soon, until then it's Nikhil outta here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is one of the most popular TV shows on streaming platforms in recent years. The Netflix Original show, created by the Duffer brothers, pays homage to several novels and films from the ‘80s. The show’s aesthetic, its amiable characters and compelling narrative appeal to viewers across demographics. So, here's a list of interesting facts about the mysterious world of Stranger Things. 1. Actress Millie Bobby Brown wears a pink dress and a blonde wig in one of the episodes as Eleven as a tribute to ET’s disguise from Steven Spielberg’s film E.T. the Extra-terrestrial. 2. The Spotify album cover of the show’s soundtrack turns upside down when listening and the time bar turns into a flashlight aimed at the album cover. 3. References to Stephen King novels are scattered throughout the series. In fact, the title logo of the series is taken from King’s original editions of the 1980s novels such as Christine and Cujo. 4. Joe Keery’s character Steve Harrington was originally intended to be a bonafide bully. In fact, he was written to sexually assault Natalia Dyer’s character, Nancy Wheeler. However, the Duffer Brothers reworked the pilot after Keery turned out to be genuinely charming and likable. If you haven't watched Stranger Things yet, do so now on Netflix. That's some lesser-known trivia about Stranger things for you on OTTplay Now You Know, I shall be back with another film or show soon, until then it's Nikhil outta here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Zack Snyder’s sequel to Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, is arguably the most divisive superhero movie of the previous decade. However, it remains one of the most talked-about films even after 5 years since its release. Even the re-released three-hour cut of the film, called the Ultimate Edition, has received praise even from those who were critical of its theatrical release. Regardless of one’s opinion about the film’s narrative, it has undeniable quality in terms of cinematography, action sequences and pure cinematic thrill. 1. Several aspects of Frank Miller’s graphic novel, The Dark Knight Returns, have inspired Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Batman. In fact, Jeremy Irons’ character Alfred’s comment about the empty wine cellar, is taken directly from the graphic novel. 2. Tao Okamoto, the actress who played Lex Luther’s assistant Mercy Graves, claims that Jesse Eisenberg, who played Luther, altered many of his lines, which garnered genuine reactions from his co-stars. 3. In a particular scene, Clark Kent tells his boss Perry White, “When the Daily Planet was founded, it used to stand for something.” To this, White responds, saying, “Yeah, and if it were 1938, you could too.” This is a homage to the first-ever Superman comic book, titled Action Comics, which was published in 1938. 4. The newspaper cuttings on Wallace Keefe’s wall in the film are from various events featured in Christopher Reeve’s Superman films directed by the late Richard Donner who passed away in July this year. Alright, that's all we got about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. I shall be back again with another podcast about another popular film or show. Until next time it's your host Nikhil outta here.
Mon, January 03, 2022
Game of Thrones
HBO’s smash hit fantasy series Game of Thrones wrapped up its eight-season run in 2019. The series based on George R R Martin’s popular fantasy novels from A Song of Ice and Fire saga has become one of the most popular TV shows ever produced. In the spirit of its popularity even two years after its finale, and its first prequel series House of The Dragon releasing its teaser trailer, here’s a bunch of trivia you may have not known about the series. 1. Writer George RR Martin, on whose novel the show is based, was supposed to have a cameo in the initial pilot. He was expected to play a noble from Pentos who attends Daenerys Targaryen’s wedding. But during the reshoot of the pilot, his appearance was mercilessly axed. Now that is an apt start to a deliciously violent show. 2. It seems that masks have been obscuring identities much before the pandemic made them a necessity. The character of The Mountain, who is always shown covering his face with a metal face shield, was recast twice during the show’s run. While Conan Stevens played The Mountain aka George Clegane in the first season, he was replaced by Ian Whyte in the following instalment. Hafþór Björnsson soon took over from Whyte. 3. It seems Peter Dinklage was destined to play Tyrion Lannister. Writer George RR Martin revealed while writing A Song of Ice and Fire, he could not imagine any other actor in the role other than Dinklage. Promptly, while casting for the show, the makers did not blink an eyelid before getting Dinklage on board for the part. 4. The props department of Game of Thrones have, among other things, given a new lease of life to Ikea rugs - by transforming them into coats. As implausible as it may sound, the coats of the Night Watch were not made of fur. Instead, Ikea rugs were shaved, waxed and frosted to make them resemble actual fur. You can watch the series on Disney + Hotstar That's some lesser-known trivia about the series Game Of Thrones on Now You Know. I shall be back with another new podcast giving you info about your favourite film or OTT series. Until the next time, it's your host Nikhil signing out. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho
Mon, January 03, 2022
Psycho
The podcast brings you up to speed with lesser-known facts, anecdotes, trivia and a whole lot more about your favourite movies and shows. This is OTTplay Now You Know and I am your host Nikhil Today, we’ll tell you about Psycho, the Alfred Hitchcock thriller which was nominated for four Oscars and is considered by some as Hitchcock’s most compelling cinematic works. 1. Psycho may be considered a pioneer in various aspects of filmmaking but it also happens to be the first American film to actually show a toilet on screen. In fact, Psycho is the first Hollywood film to have inserted the sound of a toilet flushing. And this is a film that was released in 1960! 2. Ardent Hitchcock fans may already know this one about the iconic shower stabbing scene that’s considered the most memorable scene in the film. As it turns out, the auteur used Bosco chocolate syrup to depict blood in the scene as it seemed appropriate. Now, that’s what we call killer sauce! 3. Incidentally, speaking of the legendary shower scene, Hitchcock had initially planned to shoot the entire sequence as completely silent. But when he heard the bone-chilling track composed by Bernard Herrmann, he felt it actually complimented the mood and elevated the tension in the scene and decided to include it instead. 4. Known today among Hitchcock’s most chilling works, Psycho is actually an adaptation of Robert Bloch’s novel of the same name. Incidentally, Hitchcock was so impressed by the book’s review in the New York Times that he acquired the right to adapt it into a film for 9000 Dollars. Alright, we hope you enjoyed getting to know more about your favourite Hitchcock thriller. I shall be back again with another podcast on lesser-known facts about a popular film or show. Until next time it's your host Nikhil out here. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho!
Mon, January 03, 2022
Downton Abbey
Welcome to OTTplay Now You Know, one podcast that keeps you updated on all the trivia, lesser-known facts and even anecdotes of popular films or shows. I'm your host Nikhil, stay with me. The classic series is an in-depth look into the lives of the Crawleys, a British aristocratic family. Downton Abbey’s long-running popularity with its loyal fanbase is a testament to the fact that it’s the perfect blend of fun and fiction, with a generous dollop of period drama. 1. The cast has often mentioned that the costumes they don during the show are genuine antiques and date back to the 1910s and 1920s. As a result, they’re difficult to launder and often have a damp smell. 2. Queen Elizabeth II is an avid follower of the show. So much so that she has identified flaws in some scenes. She once pointed out that a World War I soldier was depicted on the show wearing medals that were actually awarded in World War II. 3. As per The World of Downton Abbey, the 2011 book by Jessica Fellowes, the show cost a whopping average of £1 million per episode to produce. 4. Anna Robbins, the costume designer on the show, said that her main source for clothes were from her trips to native Scotland where she’d often go to thrift stores and second-hand outlets for outfits. The jazzier costumes Robbins said she got from Paris. Alright, that's all we got about Downton Abbey. I shall be back again with another podcast about another popular film or show. Until next time it's your host Nikhil outta here. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho!
Mon, January 03, 2022
The Crown
Welcome to OTTplay Now You Know, one podcast that keeps you updated on all the trivia, lesser-known facts and even anecdotes of popular films or shows. I'm your host Nikhil, stay with me. Peter Morgan’s Netflix saga on British royalty, The Crown took the world by storm. The series took an incisive look into the heavily guarded lives of the most-talked-about family in the UK. As millions debated on the fact-not-fiction setup of the show, the show made for a compelling watch and even ranked in the top 10 shows on Netflix in several countries. Here’s a list of lesser-known facts and trivia about The Crown that you probably didn’t know. 1. Producers of the show confessed during a panel discussion that Claire Foy (who played Queen Elizabeth for seasons 1 and 2) was paid less than Matt Smith (Prince Philip). They promised that going forward, they would equally compensate actors and actresses playing the first couple. In fact, in an interview, producer Andrew Mackie even quipped, saying, “going forward, no one gets paid more than the Queen.” 2. The signature black door of 10 Downing Street had to be elongated in size to make it look proportionate for John Lithgow, who stands at 6' 4'' just so that he does not appear too tall as compared to the real-life Winston Churchill, who as a matter of fact was only 5' 6'' tall. 3. One of the most expensive series made on Netflix, each episode of the show had a budget of £5 million. After all, recreating the royals and their world would naturally be an expensive affair. 4. The Crown may have garnered accolades for managing to pull off a compelling drama and for giving audiences a peek into the world of royals. But did you know that Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter, Princess Eugenie admitted that she not only watched The Crown but also considers herself to be a ‘fan’ of the show? Those were some trivia and facts of the show The Crown for today on OTTplay Now You Know, time now for me to sign off, until the next time, it's your host Nikhil out here. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho
Mon, January 03, 2022
The Big Bang Theory
Welcome to OTTplay Now You Know, one podcast that keeps you updated on all the trivia, lesser-known facts and even anecdotes of popular films or shows. I'm your host Nikhil, stay with me. If you love nerd sitcoms like The IT Crowd and The Office, then The Big Bang Theory (also dubbed TBBT) has to be in your list of top ten shows of all time. The nerd attack inflicted by a group of four young scientists that made 'being a geek, kinda cool' has, over 12 seasons, become a cult classic. And if you consider yourself to be a hardcore fan of the show, you’ll love these interesting facts about the series that you possibly didn’t know 1. Much like her on-screen character Amy Fowler, Mayim Bialik happens to have a doctorate in neuroscience. In fact, the actress who graduated from University of California has also written a parenting book that examines the role that hormones play in the parent-child bond. Now you know where she gets those insights into her character. 2. Did you know that TBBT is one of the few shows that showcase their actors eating actual food during shots. In fact, the show’s prop manager once aspired to be a chef, and would always whip up a storm whenever a scene demanded consumption of edibles. As they say, the cast that eats together, stays together. 3. If you’re fans of Sheldon and Leonard, you’ll be surprised to know that these character names were actually derived from the late television producer Sheldon Leonard. But then again, what’s in a name. 4. Johnny Galecki had been originally asked to come on board to play Sheldon but felt he was better suited for Leonard's role. And given the chemistry they share on screen, we know that this decision actually paid off. You can catch TBBT on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video Alright, that's all we got about The Big Bang Theory. I shall be back again with another podcast about another popular film or show. Until next time it's your host Nikhil outta here. Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho!
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