Inclusion has never been a straight road and stories from ancient cultures show it has always been a struggle to accord equal status to all genders and species, says Arundhuti Dasgupta.
Manoj Bajpayee confides in Rediff.com's Ronjita Kulkarni about his 'long journey filled with rejection, betrayal, misery, failures and disillusionment.'
'These are cautionary tales, warning you to grow up fast, to be aware of the world around you and make sure that there are no wolves hiding in the shadows.'
'Other designers take empty suitcases and go shopping for the actors's clothes in New York.' 'To me, this is bankruptcy of imagination.'
This was her second term as chief minister and, in keeping with the tradition of voters choosing the Congress and the BJP alternately, the ruling party looks set to lose power.
Filmistaan has a strong plot and well-developed characters, says Paloma Sharma.
Here's a glimpse of all that happened around the world last week, in 14 images.
Unaware of the historical marker outside Bandra railway station, hawkers used it to display their wares, reports Anil Singh.
Besides the five Indian films that are playing at the Toronto International Film Festival this year -- a rather large collection at an international film festival, says Aseem Chhabra -- there are more films with an Indian connect.
'Astad had the courage to plough a lonely furrow. He made a life of his own, on his own, and created a path-breaking dance style.' 'Only a few in the performing arts could do what he did.' 'A classical dancer can fall back on tradition, but Astad created something absolutely new.'
Though General Naravane's visit will not deal with 'impermanent' issues like the changing stands of politicians, it will certainly reinforce the deeper 'permanent' links between the people of Nepal and India. Time will hopefully tackle the present impermanence of the Sino-Nepalese romance, notes Claude Arpi.
A round-up of our favourite photographs from the week gone by
When she told me her story, I realised that one man's meat is another man's poison.
Meet the Ravana makers of Titarpur, courtesy Geetanjali Krishna.
These forts are what fairy tales are made of.
Categorising the original settlements of gaothans and koliwadas as slums, the authorities in Mumbai are keen to develop them into commercial complexes. The residents are unwilling to cede their rights. Ranjita Ganesan reports
'I haven't given up on spreading awareness about toilet and female sanitation, and I won't give up on this either.'
When compared to the 1960 original, The Magnificent Seven thrills only sporadically, says Dhruv Munjal.
The illegal trade in red sanders wood, which sells for up to Rs 80 lakh a tonne in some Asian countries, involves a complex nexus of smugglers and impoverished woodcutters.
The movie presents a version of Modi that the bhakts wants the rest of us to see, feels Utkarsh Mishra.
Here are Aseem Chhabra's picks -- 'films that mattered to me, entertained me and will stay with me through the year.'
India shuttler Saina Nehwal is now looking for an 'even better' outing in the coming year besides getting ready to try her hand in coaching.
'In so many colonies, mohallas, villages across India, your movies have entertained and brightened up community evenings. Thank you Ma'am.'
President Pranab Mukherjee will be among over 90 heads of state and government who will attend an emotional memorial service in South Africa on Tuesday for anti-apartheid legend Nelson Mandela, making it one of the largest such gatherings in generations.
'Marriage is a practical solution in terms of bureaucracy, but it's not a real validation of whether your relationship is successful or not.'
Rare glimpses of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Kind courtesy: Architectural Digest India.
On World Disability Day, in the presence of 150 differently abled soldiers, Lieutenant General P M Hariz, the Southern Army Commander, honoured the late Rediff.com columnist Flying Officer M P Anil Kumar.
Could this reluctance be tied to the family's projection of themselves as the last bastion of the aam-aadmi's interests? Do they fear that a full disclosure of their not-inconsiderable assets would go against their carefully-cultivated pro-poor image, wonders Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
Naomi Mihara reports from Bungamati, which used to be one of the prettiest parts of the Kathmandu valley before the quake.
The Oscar-winning actor of films like Magnolia, The Big Lebowski and The Master was 46.
Tibetan refugees in India face a bleak future, says Greg C Bruno.
You totally should says Lakshmi Sharath.
These photos prove we live in a bizarre world.
Kathak queen Sitara Devi died at a hospital in Mumbai on Tuesday. She was 94. Born in 1920 in Kolkata, Sitara Devi drew from the themes, poetry and choreography collected by her father in her choreographies. She also got inspired from the environment around her -- whether it is a town or a village.
It is quite common for couples to take a break from their daily routine and travel to break the cycle of monotony. However, Shyam Singh and Anna Gapych upped their game by taking selfies around the world in different locales and sealing the happy moments with a kiss. The Indo-Ukrainian couple aim of checking off 40 countries on their bucket list within just a year! Take a look at their journey so far.
While Mussoorie is the nerve point with all the hustle bustle of the tourist activities, Landour lies quietly reminiscent of a 19th century British suburb.
The Hundred-Foot Journey treats its Indian characters with respect, discovers Aseem Chhabra/Rediff.com
You'll see that there's more to the state than just its forts and havelis!
How many of the 354 films Aseem Chhabra watched in 2017 have you seen?
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