Ashli Varghese, Vishal Menon

Stories by Ashli Varghese, Vishal Menon

Time Aamir Stopped Acting!

Time Aamir Stopped Acting!

Rediff.com   7 Jul 2025

Audiences will hope that Rajinikanth's Coolie, Lokesh Kanagaraj's action film and Rajkumar Hirani's Dadasaheb Phalke biopic are not marred by Aamir Khan's disconcerting, repetitive performances. Aamir's real strength lies in championing stories that challenge conventions and are considered risky by mainstream filmmakers.

Can Gambhir Turn Boys Into Men?

Can Gambhir Turn Boys Into Men?

Rediff.com   26 May 2025

Gill, Rahul, Pant and the irrepressible Yashasvi Jaiswal will now have a chance to script the next glorious chapter in Indian cricket.

'Pakistan Has Come A Long Way Since March 3, 2009'

'Pakistan Has Come A Long Way Since March 3, 2009'

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2025

'International cricket is incomplete without Pakistan.'

Can Ranji Match IPL's Star Power?

Can Ranji Match IPL's Star Power?

Rediff.com   1 Feb 2025

'The IPL provides a different ladder in terms of recognition.' 'If you do well, you will obviously get noticed and it enhances your selection into white-ball formats.'

Why Wasn't Arshdeep Picked For Australia?

Why Wasn't Arshdeep Picked For Australia?

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2024

Having a left-arm quick of Singh's calibre gives the bowling attack the much-needed heft and variety. It's like having another bow in Team India's quiver, notes Vishal Menon.

Why Do Bowlers Rarely Become Captains?

Why Do Bowlers Rarely Become Captains?

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2024

One of the reasons why bowlers are rarely considered captains is because they are more susceptible to injuries than batters, argues Vishal Menon.

Malayalam Cinema In No Mood To Slow Down

Malayalam Cinema In No Mood To Slow Down

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2024

'The film-literate public in Kerala are not happy watching run-of-the-mill movies.'

Unspent CSR funds hit five-year high in FY23

Unspent CSR funds hit five-year high in FY23

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2024

Not all listed companies above a threshold have spent on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the way they were required to do. The aggregate unspent amount in 2022-23 (FY23) stood at a five-year high of Rs 1,475 crore. In FY23 listed companies spent Rs 15,602 crore while the amount to be expended was Rs 15,787 crore, according to the data from corporate tracker primeinfobase.com.

Workplaces Unsafe For Women? 400+ Cases Registered

Workplaces Unsafe For Women? 400+ Cases Registered

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2024

On average, 49 sexual harassment cases were reported every day in 2022.

Is Gambhir The Coach Team India Needs?

Is Gambhir The Coach Team India Needs?

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2024

Like the billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Gautam Gambhir, the tenacious former opener-turned-coach, also seems to be governed by instincts while picking unheralded players and turning them into match-winners, points out Vishal Menon.

Wimbledon's Costliest Ever Final Ticket

Wimbledon's Costliest Ever Final Ticket

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2024

The rematch between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic was one of the most expensive get-in-final tickets in the history of the sport.

Saurabh Netravalkar And The H-1B Dream

Saurabh Netravalkar And The H-1B Dream

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2024

The US needs to understand that it could potentially lose out on attracting several Netravalkars in the future if it curbs the influx of such industrious Indian immigrants, argues Vishal Menon.

Are Foreign Investors Wary Of Indian Markets?

Are Foreign Investors Wary Of Indian Markets?

Rediff.com   24 May 2024

The share of foreign investors was lower than domestic institutions across key sectors, including commodities, consumer discretionary, financial services and industrials.

Should IPL Get Rid of Impact Player Rule?

Should IPL Get Rid of Impact Player Rule?

Rediff.com   24 May 2024

Batters are mauling bowlers this IPL like never before, as the impact player rule effectively gives every team 12 players. Where is it taking the game?

38,100 Hectares Of Tree Cover Lost To Forest Fires

38,100 Hectares Of Tree Cover Lost To Forest Fires

Rediff.com   13 May 2024

Between April 25 and May 2, India received 38,885 fire alerts.

IMD Predicts Highest Rainfall This Year

IMD Predicts Highest Rainfall This Year

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2024

It expects rainfall to be about 106 per cent of the long period average, aided by La Nia conditions anticipated to play a role in the second half of the monsoon season.

Israel outweighs Iran in trade with India since 2019, shows data

Israel outweighs Iran in trade with India since 2019, shows data

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2024

Trade links with Israel have strengthened in the past few years, even as the value of goods exchanged with Iran has diminished. Iran accounted for $3.9 billion worth of India's exports in the four quarters ending December 2019, compared to $3.6 billion to Israel. However, India's exports to Iran dropped to $1.2 billion as of December 2023, on a rolling four-quarter basis, while exports to Israel grew to $6.1 billion in the same period.

Why No Score Is Safe In IPL 2024

Why No Score Is Safe In IPL 2024

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2024

'The impact player rule has skewed the game heavily in favour of the batters.' 'The second factor is that all venues have BCCI-appointed curators as opposed to local curators.' 'This has essentially taken the home advantage out of the equation.'

Rs 4000 cr missing link in electoral bonds data

Rs 4000 cr missing link in electoral bonds data

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2024

The ECI data covers 20,421 bonds worth Rs 12,769 crore. The ADR data, however, collated information on 27,811 bonds worth Rs 16,492 crore. The gap is nearly Rs 4,000 crore and involves over 7,000 bonds.

Mega Infrastructure Push In Ayodhya

Mega Infrastructure Push In Ayodhya

Rediff.com   1 Feb 2024

The push to develop Ayodhya as a tourism centre, accompanied by large-scale infrastructure projects, comes on the back of years of limited income growth and tourist inflows.