'If you can tell the quality of a movie-watching experience, only and only by referring to set standards, you *aren't really* going to the movies,' argues Sreehari Nair.
The Russians had appealed their exclusion from the Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the doping scandal from the 2014 Sochi Games.
'The working standards on television in our country are really bad. The sad part is that many actors take this deal because it gets them money and recognition.' Telly heartthrob Barun Sobti tells us why he quit TV.
While enjoying long-awaited economic good times - and hoping they will last as long as possible - some caution and some prudence might be the best protection against bad surprises, says Claude Smadja.
'That's the stunning achievement of two-and-a-half years of this government -- a political bait-and-switch, selling a promise of economic development, and delivering a triumphalist machine that sacralises country, nationalism, majoritarianism and tradition, to achieve Hindutva goals,' says Mitali Saran.
'Even though an India-China military conflict scenario seems unlikely, its possibility gets enhanced if our capabilities are seen to be inadequate by the adversary,' warns Vice Admiral Premvir Das (retd).
Barack Obama will still be in the Oval Office till the morning of January 20, but gosh, we are already beginning to miss him.
Happy Friendship Day, folks!
John Lang represented Rani Laxmibai in her legal battle against the East India Company to prevent the British from annexing her kingdom of Jhansi. Rediff.com's Archana Masih on a maverick Aussie who spent 22 years in India and became a friend in its dark days of bondage.
'Amazingly, along with the yellow army, there was still a huge number of desis, who had flown in from various parts of the world. No, we didn't sell our tickets -- we just changed our colours, for the day,' says Swapna Mitter, who was at the World Cup Final.
Hrithik Roshan was just 32 when he played a grandfather in Krrish!
It won't be surprising if Sharad Pawar plunges into the electoral fray if he finds that he has enough numbers to topple N Srinivasan.
A look at the top tweets from your favourite Bollywood celebrities.
'Karna is the greatest warrior in the Mahabharata -- in fact, Arjuna is a nobody in front of Karna.' 'But Arjuna had a better advisor in Krishna than Karna.' 'Karna failed because he listened to the wrong advice given by Salya.' 'It just shows wrong advisors can land even the mighty in trouble.'
From small retailers' experiences with e-wallets to digital transaction numbers post demonetisation, Geetanjali Krishna and Karan Choudhury find out where the truth lies.
On the pricing issue, Eric Trappier said that the present aircraft are cheaper by 9 per cent.
It is too late in the government's term for it to pull its usual trick of blaming the last guys.
If you want to see what life was a few decades ago in the megapolis, visit Mumbai's 92-year-old BDD chawls.
Kangana Ranaut, the fiery movie star, continues to be in the news for all the wrong reasons.
'The court came to a conclusion using one person's case... Based on that one case, the term "rampant misuse" was used as if it is a generalisation.' 'If one in 10 cases turns out to be false, is it possible to call the Act a charter for blackmail or charter for personal vengeance?' 'Is there any Act either in India or anywhere in the world where there are no false cases?'
'It is very hard to get the police to file a report against someone from an upper caste.' 'Things are so bad that sometimes we have to sit on a dharna with the body of a Dalit victim to get the police to file a complaint.'
Tales By Light is devoted to the kind of nature photography that appears on the pages of Nat Geo, but it exposes viewers to fascinating vistas that have only partly to do with photography, says Vikram Johri.
After years of disrepair, R K Narayan's house is inching towards becoming a memorial.
The best way for the railways to become more professional will be to get corporatised.
Ram Sumiran Pal arrested in Delhi; hunt for two others on.
'Amitji called me after he watched the film and spoke for half an hour.' 'He said, "According to me, this is your best performance till date".' '"I feel like seeing the film two-three times just to watch your important scenes".' 'I was really thrilled.'
Alia Bhatt continues to impress while Shah Rukh Khan takes it easy in this lovely, thoughtful little film, applauds Raja Sen.
The PMO should also present an annual report, on the state of politics and society
The vote was tied 7-7 until... Aseem Chhabra/Rediff.com reveals how Court was chosen as India's nominee for the Academy Awards.
After the wedding, Sheena and Mekhail did not meet again. Four or five months later she met her death. Mekhail referred to their last meeting without overt emotion, clear-eyed.
These images from across the globe tell that it is a crazy world out there!
The forthcoming budget is an excellent opportunity for the Government to fulfill its promise of high economic growth.
'The boy has remained so simple. Still wearing that sweater and light pants. He doesn't even have a decent pair of shoes! So much like one of us! How can we not give him another chance?' 'And what is Modi Sir doing? He changes clothes three times a day and wears designer clothes. He isn't the son of a simple chaiwallah we voted for.'
One of the most successful screenplay writers of his time, Salim Khan looks back at his most popular work.
'For Aamir Khan, the producer of Delhi Belly, to shame these boys -- and the celebrities involved -- for swearwords and insults, is the most hypocritical thing in the world. Raja Sen calls out Aamir Khan on his criticism of the controversial AIB Roast.
The 18 year old from a small town of Rajasthan has been signed on by the agency that manages supermodels like Gigi Hadid and Miranda Kerr.
Samuel Stokes made India his home and participated in the freedom struggle. He was the only American to be imprisoned for sedition; the British CID maintained a special file on him.
'This term -- "Nehru-Gandhi" family -- is a misnomer. Nehru was not a dynast; he did not even name his successor... The big mistake she made was to push forward Rahul Gandhi who is a dead loss as a leader,' says Nayantara Sahgal, whom Sonia Gandhi calls 'Tara Masi.'
