The tension between historical accuracy and cinematic storytelling is a constant struggle. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Indian cinema is at a crossroads. Beyond the dazzling song-and-dance routines, a powerful new force is emerging: the historical biopic. These films plunge into India’s rich, often turbulent past, resurrecting iconic figures. This isn’t just a trend; it’s … Read more
The element of unexpectedness lies at the core of a surprise — delighting or depressing one. | Photo Credit: Getty Images There’s nothing like a genuine surprise to spice up our sometimes humdrum lives. It could be the totally unexpected arrival of a loved one from afar or a happy and exciting development in the … Read more
The young and old like to get on the swing. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto During my childhood, some 50 years ago, a coir rope, about an inch in diameter, used to lie curled in our attic. Every summer, we would take it down and tie it to one of the horizontal branches of a … Read more
With uncontrolled anger, relations break, and lives are lost. | Photo Credit: Getty Images For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness.— Ralph Waldo Emerson There is enough literature on anger, the most abused human emotion. Even an infant betrays anger. Anger is an unwelcome attribute. Wars occur and empires crumble … Read more
‘Harassment against men also includes physical abuse, emotional torment, and even domestic violence’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images When we talk about sexual harassment, the image we generally think of is that of a woman fighting for justice in a system that is hostile towards her. Now, imagine a man walking into a police station … Read more
‘One of the most significant challenges facing India is in securing funding for adaptation’ | Photo Credit: THE HINDU/RITU RAJ KONWAR Countries around the globe, including India, are facing the repercussions of climate change. The physical risks from this can be classified as acute and chronic. Acute risks result from sudden and severe events such … Read more
‘The most obvious corporate support for sustainable development is the conviction that being socially and environmentally responsible does not necessarily mean that you have to sacrifice the bottom line’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images Sustainable development requires a balanced approach to economic, social and environmental ends. And this is what we require business corporations to … Read more
In the Union Budget 2025-26, allocations to the defence sector stand at ₹6.81 lakh crore, which means a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 9.53%. While defence revenue expenditure is set to increase by 24.25%, the capital outlay is 4.65% higher than the Budget estimates of the preceding fiscal year (FY). Since the last FY, the total … Read more
‘The draft rules adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, not taking into account the hierarchy of risks across digital platforms’ | Photo Credit: Getty Images Personal data is central to digital economies, enabling access to a range of services while also creating vulnerabilities. Data protection laws have been seen as safeguards against misuse. However, recent regulations are … Read more
(This is the latest edition of the Political Line newsletter curated by Varghese K. George. The Political Line newsletter is India’s political landscape explained every week. You can subscribe here to get the newsletter in your inbox every Friday.) The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill advances the political interests of the BJP in two significant ways. First, … Read more