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Monday, October 13, 2025

Brandma

Marbels – fruity candies everyone loved in the early 2000s which mysteriously disappeared

The chewy, sweet-sour Marbels were all the rage in the early years of the last decade. But despite its popularity, the candies disappeared from the counters in India.

From frosty reception to now making upma, how Kellogg’s found a place on Indian breakfast table

In 1994, Kellogg's opened a plant in Mumbai & launched its premier cornflakes, as well as products like basmati rice flakes & wheat flakes, but struggled to suit Indian palates.

The fake ‘Rohan Rathore’ rumours around ‘Emptiness’, millennials’ go-to breakup song

It wasn't only the cheesy lyrics of the ballad that struck a chord with listeners. The popular legend of one Rohan Rathore gave the song a human touch, making the video an instant hit. 

Before Bollywood entry, Salman Khan did a Hero Honda ad. But CD100 bike was its star

Launched in 1985, Hero Honda CD100 took India’s two-wheeler market by storm & ruled the roads for at least 2 decades, because of its affordability & mileage. Many remember it as their first bike.

More than cricket, Vodafone ZooZoos are what most Indians remember of the 2009 IPL season

The cute, little, egg-shaped white characters, who spoke a tongue no one understood, were launched in Vodafone commercials of 2009, during the 2nd IPL season, and fast became a popular icon.

Poet Kaka Hathrasi’s music magazine, Sangeet, struggling, not in tune with times

Started in 1935 by poet Prabhu Lal Garg, Sangeet is the first music magazine of its kind in India. But from a monthly print of a few thousand copies, subscriptions are down to 650 today.

Flop Show — Jaspal Bhatti’s 1989 satire spared no one, and the common Indian loved it

The satire in Jaspal Bhatti’s Flop Show, which made a comeback during the lockdown last year, remains relevant three decades later. And its comedy is still (largely) just as funny.

Health food or not? Hippo toasties, the baked snack that died of an identity crisis

Launched in 2009 and discontinued in 2014 by Parle Agro, Hippo munchies attracted a loyal fan following but failed to continue in the market.

Zaika India Ka: Vinod Dua’s iconic food show was a search for Indian flavours, culture & people

In the late 2000s, Dua's hugely popular programme 'Zaika India Ka' gave viewers a feel of street food first-hand — way before food blogging or vlogging took off in India.  

Hatim, a low-budget epic about an Arabian prince, gripped Indian viewers in the early 2000s

The series was only on air for a year, but stood out from saas-bahu staples with its unapologetic fantasy storytelling and novel CGI to become cult classic

On Camera

Resetting Afghanistan ties is geopolitical need. Gandhis are showing their diplomatic ignorance

With two hostile neighbours in the immediate vicinity and one in the greater region, it is imperative that New Delhi forge alliances that can offer some stability.

Niti Aayog recommends fully decriminalising 12 offences under new I-T Act to ‘foster more trust’

Recommendations appear in Niti Aayog’s Tax Policy Working Paper Series–II. It says there is a need to shift away from fear-based enforcement to trust-based governance.

India, UK sign £350 mn deal for Martlet. What are these Lightweight Multirole Missiles

In service with the British military since 2019, it is also known as the Martlet missile. Ukrainians have also deployed these missiles against Russian troops.

CJI, IPS, IAS & Homebound: A wake-up call 75 years in the making

Education, reservations, govt jobs are meant to bring equality and dignity. That we are a long way from that is evident in the shoe thrown at the CJI and the suicide of Haryana IPS officer. The film Homebound has a lesson too.