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Wednesday, May 1, 2024

PoV

Bridgerton star Charithra Chandran’s statement just shows desi parents are the same everywhere

The world has changed. But for desi parents, a job means going to a brick-and-mortar office all suited up and getting a paycheque at the end of the month.

Ram Lalla morning Aarti on Doordarshan is the new Krishi Darshan

Doordarshan should be more egalitarian in its Hindu aarti programming. Why stop at Ayodhya? After all, it’s a national election, not Uttar Pradesh assembly election.

‘Missing’ Kate Middleton isn’t just a PR crisis. It has sparked a sinister search party

Innocuous reasons for her reticence aren't good enough because it’s simply not satisfying: it can’t be a long-drawn-out recovery from surgery, it must be something deeper, darker, dangerous.

National Creators Award idea proves Modi is influencer-in-chief

Receiving a National award for posting content, a profession you presumably chanced upon, and then being felicitated by the prime minister himself. What a massive win.

Women’s pleasure not precaution — Indian condom ads have become better over the years

They started with family planning and gradually evolved to show safe sex and now talk about female pleasure. Good to see ads where the woman is not a placeholder or overly sexualised.

Bollywood doesn’t know how to make biopics of ‘bold’ actors. Zeenat Aman right to worry

Movies about Praveen Babi, Silk Smitha have treated them as victims, and emotional trainwrecks. The missing ingredient in both cases was input from the actor or those close to them.

Jay Shetty’s fake origins don’t matter to his Instagram cult. They just want ‘meaning’

Most influencers are modern-day godmen and snake-oil salesmen riding on our insecurity and peddling fake dreams. Jay Shetty is just the latest to be called out.

Online creeps are ‘crushing’ on Aaradhya Bachchan. It’s bordering on paedophilia

The comments on social media show how it’s become normal to sexualise children. Comments like ‘maa se beti crush updated’ to another asking why she didn’t dress like this before.

Laapataa Ladies is gentle feminism but a strong reply to films like Animal

The revolution in Laapataa Ladies isn’t over-the-top. It unfolds in the realm of the ordinary and is even flawed at times.

K-pop industry needs a Taylor Swift revolution—openness on failed romances, mental health

An NYT article on singer Goo Hara’s life cut short by suicide angered K-pop fans. But it has reignited a necessary conversation that otherwise surfaces only when a K-pop star takes the extreme step.

On Camera

Devdas to Heeramandi—Bhansali doesn’t reduce courtesans to performers. They have a voice

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films may be over-the-top, but by shining the spotlight on women who are otherwise forced to work on the edges of acceptable society, he gives them agency.

Asia’s growth outlook remains positive despite external uncertainties, says ADB

The Asian Development Outlook 2024 report suggests that policymakers in the region should monitor a number of risks. These include escalating conflicts and geopolitical tensions.

Conventional military force no more deciding factor, says Army chief. Calls for self-reliance

Army is pursuing 45 niche technologies identified for military application & 120 indigenous projects are underway to develop & absorb these niche technologies, Gen Pande says.

Frontrunner is letting the challenger define this poll campaign. Modi still hasn’t found a big theme

A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.