Mammootty's greatness lies not in hiding his flaws, but in turning them into his most powerful acting tools, observes Sreehari Nair.
In about a fortnight, Vistara - known for its premium service - will take off on its final flight before merging into the legacy of Air India. Set for November 12, the merger has sparked discussions on how these two distinct brands will blend.
Take the Rediff Biz Quiz and find out how much you know about India's national flag carrier.
It records 4,000 transfer passengers daily at Delhi hub.
'All they need is proper leadership.'
They say better late than never. For the Tatas, the original owners of Air India, bringing back the airline to its fold is worth the wait even if the attempt to privatise the bleeding national carrier by successive governments has taken over two decades. While many airlines have come and gone from the Indian skies since the time when the first move was made to privatise Air India to date, the salt-to-software conglomerate has never let the love affair with aviation, more so with Air India that its former chairman Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (JRD) had, to go off the radar. It is said that Tata group executives used to complain in private that JRD -- the pioneer of the Indian aviation industry -- spent more time worrying about Air India than the Tata group when he was heading both the entities.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha emphasised that the brand name has both sentimental and economical value.
"The strategic divestment transaction of Air India successfully concluded today with transfer of 100 per cent shares of Air India to M/s Talace Pvt Ltd along with management control," DIPAM secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey said in a tweet. A new board, led by the strategic partner, takes charge of Air India, he added.
In the case of Air India, even competition could not compete with the government.
INS Tamal is the eighth Krivak class frigates to be inducted from Russia over the past two decades.
But how often has a brand mascot been able to single-handedly define the entire brand value proposition? And also help create a separate identity for the brand?
Thirteen of these crew members have 'tendered an unconditional apology and blamed the union for misleading them', the airline said in a statement in New Delhi.
Regional connectivity will bring development to tier-2 and tier-3 cities which are becoming "growth engines", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while inaugurating the first flight under UDAN.
Questions that the state had come to recognise over time but consistently delayed treating seriously because doing so requires an overhaul of perspective and lifestyle, notes Shyam G Menon.
Born as Ajay Singh, the diminutive shaven headed politician is known for his provocative speeches and mass following across Uttar Pradesh.
India has a history of successful mascots. The adorable Amul Girl has been gracing hoardings with topical punch lines. And Maharaja, launched way back in the 1940s, continues to represent the Air India with a new look since 2015.
It was national carrier Air-India's 71st birthday and its mascot 'Maharajah' decided to celebrate in style with a gift for 340 'special children' on board an Air-India Boeing 747-400.
The issues of brand name, mascot and logo of the merged entity would also be finalised "in two weeks".
'A microcosm of India, inclusive and welcoming'. For years, Pragati Maidan was the centre of Delhi's social life.
This is the fourth of the six submarines the Indian Navy is to induct under the Kalvari-class submarine Project-75.
Sasha Chhetri, the Airtel 4G girl, is a better known face across India than most Bollywood starlets, says ad guru Sandeep Goyal.
For the Congress to be taken seriously, it has to convince those around it that it could actually double its Lok Sabha seat share from the existing 52, and vote-share by a third more from the stagnating 20 per cent in 2014 and 2019, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.
'The BJP's solo aim in Mumbai and Maharashtra is to finish off the Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar's NCP.'
One of the most charismatic figures of Tamil Nadu politics and the most enduring mascot of the Dravidian movement breathed his last at 6.10 pm.
Urjit Patel, Binny Bansal, Nirav Modi and Rahul Gandhi personify the big trends that defined 2018. Well, almost...
All of these companies are present in India.
'Yogi Adityanath will prove to be the most popular and effective chief minister, overseeing a regime of peace and justice, harsh on wrongdoers and rabble rousers, encouraging those who work for India,' says Tarun Vijay.
The priest-turned-politician is not someone who minces his words.
In private, AIADMK spokespersons say that the raid on Chief Secretary P Ramamohana Rao might be aimed at weakening the AIADMK, and demotivating the party from selecting/electing Jayalalithaa's confidante, Sasikala Natarajan, as her successor -- first as party head then possibly in the government, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
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