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Monday, August 18, 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

Postcards from Hyderabad—stories Europeans told about the city

For all their colonial underpinnings, postcards from Hyderabad also inadvertently preserve a trace of local memory: a glimpse of a street, a face, a forgotten name.

Navigating Trump’s tariffs is no child’s play. Indian toymakers are losing out on orders, enquiries

Indian toymakers are now exploring new markets, but they want govt to negotiate a trade deal with US soon, introduce incentives and subsidies to make the industry more competitive.

What is Project Sudarshan Chakra, announced by Modi from ramparts of Red Fort

The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.

War of IAF, PAF doctrines: As Pakistan obsesses over numbers, India embraces risk, wins

Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?