Was ancient India more open about pleasure than we are today? How did Bollywood songs keep Kāmaśāstra alive? And why is patriarchy obsessed with the idea that sex is bad?

Welcome to Episode 4 of The Durex Podcast. The only podcast that explores the intersection of culture, literature, and the stories that shape our understanding of sexuality. And our guests this time?

Varun Grover, a lyricist, writer, director, and stand-up comic who’s made critically acclaimed films like Masaan and All India Rank, and has written national award-winning songs like Moh Moh Ke Dhaage.

Devdutt Pattanaik, a celebrated mythologist, lecturer, and author known for his compelling insights into cultural truths and the relevance of Indian and Western myths in modern life.

The conversation dives deep into how ancient Indian texts like the Kāma-shastra have shaped modern attitudes towards sex and intimacy. Varun Grover offers his perspective on how storytelling can be a powerful tool in challenging societal norms about sexuality, while Devdutt Pattanaik unpacks the deep-seated cultural and mythological truths that influence our understanding of gender and pleasure.

Watch this episode till the end as we unveil the cultural layers that have shaped our ideas of intimacy and identity. From erotic poetry to patriarchy and Western influence, this episode sheds light on the cultural conversations that shape modern sexuality.

And as always, subscribe to the channel for more raw, real, and fun conversations.

Chapters:

0:00 - Highlights

2:09 - Podcast starts

4:48 - What inspired Varun Grover to become a writer?

6:56 - What changed in the film industry in the 1980s?

8:55 - Devdutt Pattanaik’s discovery of being gay

12:10 - What is the portrayal of gender and identity in literature?

15:49 - Stigma on embracing pleasure and societal pressure

19:15 - Does India's attitude toward sex & pleasure influence the West?

22:19 - How can literature make good sex, great sex?

28:11 - Say It, Without Saying It Begins!

32:24 - The Durex Pleasure Wall

34:53 - Conclusion

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Our host:

https://www.instagram.com/abhaydeol/

Our guests:

https://www.instagram.com/vidushak/

https://www.instagram.com/devduttmyth/

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About:

In a country where pleasure is whispered about, Let’s End Good Sex by Durex is here to startthe conversation. No shame, no awkwardness—just real, open talks about intimacy, desire, and everything we should have been discussing all along. It’s time to speak up, listen in, and rethink pleasure.