Just not cricket

Just not cricket

Cricket as an escapist fantasy is no more palatable than 80s Bollywood cinema. Hero worship of film stars and cricketers is no longer cool for younger audiences. Expressions of nationalism and religious identity may still be strong draws, but they are transient. Cricketers must compete with film stars, politicians, and TikTok celebrities for eyeballs.

Adventure at Lamington Road: Assault and battery

Adventure at Lamington Road: Assault and battery

The brazenness of his response took me aback,’ DISCLAIMER. You are going to be dealing with me and not with HP World. I will get you batteries from the same vendor who supplies to HP. But you will save money since the vendor doesn’t have to pay royalties to HP.’

Citizen K: Oil’s well in Russia

Citizen K: Oil’s well in Russia

It is not without American propaganda value, but the documentary presents a rare window into the enigmatic and ruthless persona that is Vladimir Putin. Khodorkovsky, as typical a rags-to-riches story as you can get, fights and manipulates his way to control Russia’s then-largest oil company Yukos before he turns 35.

Bad Boy Billionaires: reflected glory and guilt

Bad Boy Billionaires: reflected glory and guilt

Mallya got you high with his beer and ‘model’ staffed airline; Modi with his overvalued gems and Roy with his Ponzi patriotism. If Kingfisher and Nirav Modi were about recreating international standard Indian lifestyle brands, Sahara was an insidious cult where Roy presided and patronised over unsuspecting micro-investors.

The Renaissance Unchained: At the heart of Art

The Renaissance Unchained: At the heart of Art

It was not Italy alone that cradled the Renaissance. Belgian, Dutch, and German masters have come up with earlier and even better works. For every Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Botticelli, there is a Van Eyck, Memling, and Van der Wyden.

The Social Dilemma: Needlessly alarmist

The Social Dilemma: Needlessly alarmist

Social media is sought to be portrayed as some Godzilla which has suddenly landed on the scene. I ask, how would the stone age man have reacted to a newspaper or a 19th century woman to the television? It is not that Goebbels was unable to dish out powerful propaganda in the absence of the Internet.