As the year draws to a close, Rediff's Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya takes a look at the hits and misses, the highs and lows, the newsmakers and the dealbreakers in alphabetical order.
The veteran actor passed into the ages in the early hours of Friday, April 4, 2025. Sukanya Verma looks back at his most memorable performances.
Manoj Kumar's musical imprints are as deep as his cinematic ones.
Shaheed was Manoj Kumar's first patriotic success. This small-budget black-and-white film had enormous impact, besides laying the foundation for Manoj's famous flag-waving Mr Bharat image that was strengthened by a string of subsequent films like Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim and Kranti.
Vinay Pathak, Divyenndu Sharma and Kusha Kapila are comfortable enough in their comic skins to play their parts with ease, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Sukanya Verma quizzes you to find out just how much you know about the movies.
'The visit of the honourable PM with the workable strategy towards conflict resolution will help greatly.' 'But visiting the state without concrete proposals may not bring the desired outcome at this stage.'
Writer, director, actor, singer, producer, Farhan Akhtar dons many, MANY hats and makes the world, well Hindi cinema for sure, a cooler place.
'The unfolding events indicate a dangerous internal security situation in Manipur and the region. It can have external ramifications also.'
'...through the will of the people and commitment of leaders.' 'It may not happen today or tomorrow, but it will happen.'
A team of women daredevils from the Border Security Force on Wednesday got the adrenaline rushing as they performed gravity-defying motorcycle stunts on Rajpath during the Republic Day parade.
'The adversary will always exploit India's anti-national elements.'
'We shouldn't allow it to become a rallying point for others in the region against the army.'
'Individuals who have participated in violence and arson should be identified and not be recruited.'
'Our defence services are in a position to checkmate any Chinese adventurism.'
'...It was because Lataji sang for us.'
Reader Himalay sends us a photograph.
'Military is too serious a matter to be taken as a tour for a few years.'
'By killing innocent people, they are using Sun Tzu's tactics of 'kill one, terrify thousands.'
'In one instance of the Pakistani army's violation of the Ceasefire, I ordered a far tougher response designed to deter the enemy.' 'I warned that 'unexpected damage' to their forces will be inflicted if they continued with such ceasefire violations.' A fascinating excerpt from Lieutenant General K Himalay Singh's Making of a General: A Himalayan Echo.
'China is likely to help Pakistan in keeping the fire burning in J&K to bleed India for its own interests.' A fascinating excerpt from Lieutenant General K Himalay Singh's Making of a General: A Himalayan Echo.
'If the jihadi infiltration attempts are assisted by the Pakistan army, the Indian Army will retaliate strongly.'
Himalay Oza who deleted his Facebook account a few months ago, tells us how he fought the addiction.
Defending champions Karnataka also remained in the hunt for the last-eight berth, securing a five-wicket win over Uttar Pradesh that took their net run-rate to 0.292.
A look at the grand party pictures.
A round-up of Ranji matches played on Sunday
Love is in the air... and on social media!
Hiten Dalal scored a brisk 79 on debut before Himachal Pradesh fought back to reduce Delhi to 305 for eight at stumps on day one of a Group B Ranji Trophy match, in New Delhi, on Monday.
A round-up of the fourth and final day's play in the Ranji Trophy matches across the country.
Bengal batsmen cut a sorry figure on home turf to be bowled out for 147, giving Kerala an upperhand in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, Tuesday.
A round-up of Ranji matches played on Wednesday
Film music flourished in the 1970s. Some old masters did some great work, but it was also the decade of new composers.
Vidarbha piled up a mammoth 511 in their first essay and then reduced Mumbai to 169 for six on the second day of their Elite Group A Ranji Trophy Game in Nagpur on Monday.
Former champions Mumbai claimed three points against Baroda after their four-day Elite Group A Ranji Trophy game ended in a draw at the Wankhede Stadium.
However, Beijing expresses readiness for talks to reopen the Nathu La pass for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.
Railways caused the biggest upset in this Ranji Trophy season so far, after they defeated domestic giants Mumbai by 10 wickets within three days in their Elite Group B match, in Mumbai, on Friday. Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan (5-60) took five wickets, as Mumbai were bundled out for 198 in their second essay at the Wankhede Stadium, after India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane failed miserably in the second innings as well.
China said that it had put off the visit of Indian pilgrims who enter Tibet via the Nathu La pass "for safety reasons" in view of the border issue.
Having ensured three points by virtue of 104-run first innings lead by the end of the third day, Mumbai decided against sporting declaration reaching 321 for 5 when captains decided to call time.
Veteran Wasim Jaffer became the first batsman to reach the landmark of 11,000 runs in Ranji Trophy during Day 2 of Nagpur's Group A match against Baroda on Wednesday.
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