List of pop culture references

The following is a **list of references to pop culture that are made in *Simple Samosa***.

## The list

### In general

* The characters are occasionally seen using a search engine called Gargle, a reference to the real-life Google.
* Similarly, the characters sometimes watch videos on a website called GheeTube, names after YouTube.

### Specific episodes

* "Sumo Momo": While it's unknown if this is intentional, the episode has a similar plot to the 2013 *Mickey Mouse* cartoon episode "Tapped Out". Both are about the main character being made to fight a wrestler by a friend who though they were being truthful when they bragged that they could defeat one, and both involve a character (Samosa in "Sumo Momo", Donald in "Tapped Out") beating up the wrestler out of anger near the end of the episode.
* "Chutney Dam": Samosa does what looks like Michael Jackson's iconic moonwalk dance when he dives into the chutney lake.
* "Dadi Ke Saath": Vada plays a guitar with an X-eyed smiley face decoration on it. This face is the logo of the American musical band Nirvana.
* "Franky Dayaloo":
	+ The movies that star Franky are parodies of famous Indian films. *Kabhi Franky Kabhi Gham* is meant to be the 2001 film *Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham*, and *Dilwale Franky Le Jayenge* is the 1995 film *Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge*.
	+ Franky being assaulted by someone with a ketchup bottle while taking a shower is parodying a famous scene from the 1960 American film *Psycho*. Much like the work it's referencing, this scene is presented in black and white.
* "Cultural Programme": Throughout the episode, Vada plays an off-key version of the children's nursery rhyme "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on his violin.
* "Anda Bhatija": Samosa's gang and Yolky are sent flying into the air while on a bicycle, and their silhouettes appear superimposed over the full moon. There is a scene in the movie *E.T. the Extraterrestrial* where Elliot and E.T. do the same thing.
* "Cricket Match": The Ghee-20 cricket league is named for an actual cricket league called T20.
* "Tufaan": At the end of the episode, Jalebi can be seen reading *The Animator's Survival Kit*, a book that exists in real life.
* "Hair Today Gone Tomorrow": Dhokla is seen on the covers for a magazine called *Bhogue*, a pun on the American magazine *Vogue*.
* "Dhakkad Race": The Dakkad Rally is named after the real-life Dakar Rally.
* "Samosa Mama": The courthouse's wi-fi password is "D-I-S-N-E-Y", a reference to Disney Channel who produce and air *Simple Samosa*.
* "Banana Fontana"
	+ Banana Fontana's name is likely taken from the American Disney Channel show *Hannah Montana*.
	+ The guitar with Nirvana's logo reappears in this episode.
* "Sauce Awakens": The episode's title is a reference to the seventh *Star Wars* film, *The Force Awakens*.
* "Aampur Ke Choley": The episode's premise of Samosa, Dhokla, and Vada chasing after *dacoit* Jalebi is patterned after that of the 1975 Bollywood film *Sholay*.
* "Simple Hitchki": The password to unlock the door to the hospital room with the uncured hiccup patients is "DISNEY".
* "Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Shalgam": The episode title is referencing the film *Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham*.
* "Freddy Uranus": The name of the episode is a pun on Freddy Mercury, who was famous as the frontman of Queen.
* "Space Snax":
	+ Melon Musk, with his passion for space travel and electric car, is a spoof on Elon Musk. The episode title is a pun on Elon Musk's space travel program SpaceX.
	+ NASHTA is a reference to NASA.
* "Mission 925": The show Dhokla watches, *Yeh Nashta Kya Kehlata Hai*, gets its name from the 2009 Indian soap opera *Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai*.
* "Toast Malone":
	+ The episode's namesake character is a rapping piece of toast with noticeable body tattoos, a reference to American rapper Post Malone.
	+ Suga, who officiates the rap battle between Samosa and Toast Malone, is supposed to be Suga from the K-pop group BTS. The character is said to be from a group called "Ghee-TS" and perform at the "Bhelboard Awards" (the Billboard Awards).
* "Khelo Samosa": The episode is about an arcade game, so it contains many references to real-life video games.
	+ The first level of the arcade game casts Doctor Goti Sodawala as an enemy in *Space Invaders*.
	+ The second level is an homage to the original *Donkey Kong* game, casting Mr. Fried Fritter as the eponymous gorilla and putting Dahi Puri Mausi in the role of Pauline.
	+ The third level is one of the famous castle stages from the 1985 game *Super Mario Bros.*, with Cham Cham in a princess costume and trapped in a cage dangling from the ceiling, likely to represent Princess Toadstool/Peach.
* "Hum Aapke Hai Corn": The episode title is a spoof on the 1994 Indian movie *Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!*.

## Gallery

*Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham**Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge**Psycho**E.T. the Extraterrestrial**Vogue*Nirvana logoElon Musk portrayed as the character Melon Musk*Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai*Post Malone as Toast MaloneSuga from Ghee-TS, referencing BTS*Space Invaders**Donkey Kong**Donkey Kong**Super Mario Bros.*