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Sunday, December 21, 2025

Brandma

Le Sancy, the soap that made Rahul a name to remember way before Shah Rukh Khan

The boat-shaped soap was a case of great advertising that just didn't work.

Fauji: The show that launched a broody, chain-smoking SRK on the path to Bollywood glory

From nearly going to jail to babysitting duty on set, a behind-the-scenes look at the show that catapulted Shah Rukh Khan to stardom.

‘Man’s best friend’ — cult Czech classic bike Jawa is back because the brand never died

After two decades, the sturdy, beautifully designed race-track favourite is back in Indian markets. But its fans say Jawa never really went away.

With Ulta Pulta, Jaspal Bhatti spearheaded a brand of sharp political satire

Long before YouTube gave us AIB and Kunal Kamra, Doordarshan televised the variety sketch show that took on corruption in all its forms.

Mangola, a slurpy, happy feeling that wasn’t cool enough for Frooti & Pepsi generation

Homegrown Parsi company Duke and Sons gave Mumbai its first mango-based drink, but couldn't survive in the post-liberalisation heat.

How Dyanora TV kept its consumers ‘in touch’ with the latest technology

Ruling the television market during the time of the license raj, this TV set became the one to buy.

Rola Cola is back, thanks to the power of nostalgia, social media and a sweet price-point

Parle relaunched Rola Cola this week after 13 years thanks to a social media movement #BringBackRolaCola.

Charminar — the ‘rugged’ cigarettes that promoted toxic masculinity

The brand endorsed an idea of masculinity that involved men inviting you to hold that cigarette as an extension of your hand because that’s what would ‘satisfy’ you.

Target — the kids’ magazine of the ’80s that has spawned fan groups in the new millennium

During the times of Champak and Tinkle, this children’s magazine was ahead of its time in its writing and art. 

Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne: India’s Walter Mitty and a popular political tool

The Doordarshan show about an adventurous daydreamer made Raghubir Yadav a star.

On Camera

Henry George’s Single Tax offers a democratic alternative to communist remedies: DM Kulkarni

The immediate benefit of Single Tax would be to reduce the sale prices of land to nominal ones. Landowners would no longer find it profitable to keep idle lands, wrote DM Kulkarni in 1960.

China is taking India to WTO over subsidies, again. Here’s what it’s arguing before trade body

Dispute will now move to consultative process, which allows the two sides to come to an amicable agreement within 60 days.

Israel has ‘realised who its real friend is’, eyes defence expansion in India amid arms curbs by others

It is argued that India-Israel ties are moving from buyer–seller dynamic to one focused on joint development & manufacturing partnership, a shift 'more durable' than traditional arms sales.

Dhurandhar shows hard cinema is soft power and Pakistan is unapologetically the target

If Pathaan gave both conservatives and liberals room to hide, Dhurandhar extends no such courtesy. Aditya Dhar ripped open that tent of hypocrisy and turned the knife.