'Today, if you get the budget right, your film finds an audience'

Actor-director Farhan Akhtar has won popular acclaim - and Filmfare awards - for his movies. The German embassy in Delhi recently showcased Akhtar's film Don - The King Is Back, about to be screened at the ongoing 62nd Berlinale International Film Festival featuring cinema from 115 countries. Akhtar spoke with Srijana Mitra Das about the rationale behind Bollywood cinema happening in the Hindi film industry, vital local improvements required - and the importance of World War II history:

Interview - Q&A

-The Times of India, February 10, 2012

Flying Into Rough Weather

New Delhi has shown a lack of strategic vision by choosing the Rafale fighter aircraft

Flying Into Rough Weather

-The Times of India, February 10, 2012

Home alone

There are other life forms in the universe - but they don't want to know us

Home alone

-The Times of India, February 10, 2012

Modi Rapped

High court reminds Gujarat CM of his mandate

Modi Rapped

-The Times of India, February 10, 2012

Delivery's The Key

If the goal is food security, then get the logistics right

Delivery's The Key

-The Times of India, February 10, 2012

Economic view of India from Davos

Recently, the world economic forum meet, which is an annual event held at Davos, a hilltop on the Swiss Alps, was concluded...

With the eurozone crisis loomin large in the west, India opens up as a potential market for investors and this was the focus in the recently concluded meet...

Harini Calamur has a lot more to say about the same...

View from Davos: West remains upbeat about India

Inflation

The UPA government has come out with various methods to curb inflation but they are not able to do so... Infact, though many may disagree, the issue of inflation is of far greater importance to the general public than the issue of corruption and is something that will haunt the government which is in troubled waters to a far greater degree...

Ashok Malik, is of the opinion that it is more important to enhance our innovation than just monetary control to tackle this issue...

Only inflation, not money control can combat food inflation

Political parties' poll manifestos talk about distributing free laptops to students

Times View - Superficial promises on education
Counter View - Students need this boost


-The Times of India, February 9, 2012

When Aspirations Count

Muslim political choices could turn out to be an electoral game-changer in UP

When Aspirations Count

"Muslims are keen to fight socio-economic backwardness and hence are focussed on issues of education and employment, criticising ruling parties at the Centre and the state for their neglect and deprivation."

-The Times of India, February 9, 2012 

State of the Reunion

Catching up with a century-ful of 'old girls' can be a rejuvenating experience

State of the Reunion

An experience of a special reunion.

-The Times of India, February 9, 2012

Maldives Turmoil

New Delhi should play a quiet hand

Maldives Turmoil

The stepping-down of Mohammed Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives, from his presidency calls for New Delhi to play an active yet quiet role in its own interests as well as Maldives's.

-The Times of India, February 9, 2012

For a fair, free trade pact with Europe

"Several difficult issues need to be resolved if India is not to be short-changed in the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement with the EU."

India and EU have been negotiating a comprehensive free trade agreement - Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), covering trade in goods and services besides rules pertaining to cross-border investments, competition policy, government procurement and state aid. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : For a fair, free trade pact with Europe

India and the EU have agreed to eliminate tariffs on over 90% of all tradeable goods during the next 10-year period. If not carefully managed, this could lead to a decline in domestic output, massive job losses, significant tariff revenue loss and negative implications for the trade balance. The implications on agricultural and dairy products could have a serious and long-lasting impact on the bulk of our rural population. Most of them have don't even have social security to take care if they lose their jobs.

If European banks are given greater market access, will they serve 500-million Indians citizens who do not have access to basic banking services? Unlikely, since their business model tends to 'cherry-pick' only the most profitable businesses. Moreover, the global financial crisis has put a big question mark over their efficiency. We should seriously rethink the benefits of opening up banking and financial services.

The deal also proposes a lopsided negotiating mandate which puts investors' rights above those of democratically-elected governments which should not be accepted by India.

It is of grave concern that the India-EU BTIA negotiations have been marked by a gross absence of transparency and public consultation in India. It is also a matter of shame that there is no system of parliamentary ratification or supervision of such agreements in India!

Ugly Antics

Karnataka's Porngate exposes political hypocrisy

Ugly Antics

The BJP and its hardcore Hindutva ally, Sri Ram Sene, have repeatedly exercised moral-policing over men and women who, in the cosmopolitan environs of Bangalore, have embraced the modern culture. But the recent event must surely highlight the hypocrisy of politicians who assume "the right to paint medieval morality onto normal social behaviour while failing to control their own proclivities."

-The Times of India, February 9, 2012 

In U.P. polls, local dalit histories vie with BSP's grand storyline

"All social communities have a history that is experienced, or perceived, or both. When political forces try to mobilise these communities, they usually do so by exploring their history and then giving it a political meaning that suits their agenda. "

When Kanshiram, founder BSP, realised that U.P. people are more influenced by cultural, mythical and identity issues, he started using the local histories of different castes to mobilise each dalit caste individually. These small histories were then put together to form a grand history of oppression and exploitation by the upper castes, which was then used in the image-making of Mayawati. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : In U.P. polls, local dalit histories vie with BSP's grand storyline. In the process, it marginalised the micro-histories of the small dalit castes.

In this U.P. Assembly elections, although development and hi-tech modernity appear to be the chief agenda of most political parties, a closer look at the political mobilisations by the various political parties shows that micro-histories of different dalit castes are once again being used for mobilising these castes individually.

The hidden histories of the various dalit castes are providing space for different political parties to mobilise them. While the BSP's effort to create a grand history and memory has served to suppress the micro identities of the small Dalit castes, other political parties are gleefully digging them out and celebrating these hidden histories for their political purposes.

Hollywood likes tree-hugging Dr. Seuss character

The Lorax, perhaps the most famous anti-industrial crusader from children's literature, is about to become a big-time corporate spokesman. The animated movie is about a creature who 'speaks for the trees' and fights rampant industrialism in a retelling of the Dr. Seuss children's book first published in 1971.

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Hollywood likes tree-hugging Dr. Seuss character: The studio is being selective about its partnerships, with a focus on planet-saving activities, like planting trees, that aren't usually the focus of children's movie campaigns.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hopes the movie will help children understand the link between saving energy and saving the environment.