NYU Fulbright Reception

Such a wonderful and reenergizing time at the New York University Fulbright Reception today meeting international Fulbright students from around the world and US faculty like me, sharing stories about our experiences and the ongoing impact they’re having on our personal and professional growth. Thank you, NYU Changemaker Center and NYU Office of Global Awards for the experience and the new friendships (and the delicious meal).

The Jeff & Ishan Show #11 – Single Salma

We ring in 2026 with Single Salma, a 2025 Hindi-language romantic-comedy starring Huma Qureshi, Shreyas Talpade and Sunny Singh, directed by Nachiket Samant, written by Mudassar Aziz, Amina Khan and Ravi Kumar, streaming now on Netflix. Rated PG. Our original theme music by Ano Malee.

It started strong as a rom-com. I was fully on board with Salma and loving the movie for the first hour. Then it went off the rails…It was very fast-paced, very energetic. It was almost too happy and too much like, you know, sunshine.

News From the Noquisiyi Mound

My peeps are back in the national news! Ownership of the largest unexcavated mound in the Southeastern US, the Noquisiyi Mound, is going home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee. The culturally significant site in North Carolina is being returned after the local city council voted unanimously to transfer ownership.

Franklin, North Carolina was once part of a Cherokee mother town long before the US existed and remains a site of spiritual importance to the Cherokee people.

Read all about it here and here.

Humans in the Loop NYC Screening

For my NYC peeps, an invitation to a screening of the 2024 film Humans in the Loop, which was in contention for the Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars (see Variety article). Writer-director Aranya Sahay will be in conversation with Ritesh Batra on Tuesday Jan 13, 6PM at Village East Angelika. The film is listed by the New York Times as one of the “Top 5 Films on Streaming”. It is the recipient of a Film Independent Sloan Grant and a Grand Prix for Best Film (India) by the International Federation of Film Critics.

Please RSVP here.

30,000 Mozzies

We extend our deepest thanks to our 30,000+ Youtube subscribers in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, the US, Kazkhstan and the UK for your support. It reminds us of cinema’s power to cross borders and to unite. We’re glad you’re still having fun watching us have fun. More to come.
– Jeff & Ishan