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Kho Kho World Cup: Indian women’s team crowned champion

Indian women’s team wins with a dominant 78-40 victory over Nepal, showcasing speed and skill.

The Indian women’s team emerged as champion in the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup with a dominant 78-40 victory in the summit clash against Nepal here on Sunday (January 19, 2025).

On a memorable night at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here, India produced a masterclass of speed, strategy and skill, dishing out a clinical show.

A brisk start marked Turn 1 as the Indian attackers took charge of the proceedings. Three batches in the Nepal women were out by simple touches on 7 occasions, putting 14 points to India’s kitty.

Skipper Priyanka Ingle was in the best form with multiple touch points to her name, as the hosts started off in an excellent manner. This was enough to take the Women in Blue to 34 points and preventing a single Dream Run for the Nepal team.

Manmati Dhami got Vaishnavi Pawar, and B. Samjhana eliminated Priyanka Ingle, but B. Chaithra took India’s first batch of Turn 2 into the Dream Run.

It wasn’t for long, though, as Dipa completed the ‘All Out’ just moments later. This got the side back into the game, but they only managed to score 24 points at the end of Turn 2, with an 11-point deficit at half time.

India was once again the dominant force in Turn 3, never allowing the Nepal defenders to settle in their stride. B.K. Dipa was a regular for Nepal, but it went in vain throughout, ensuring that the Indians edged closer to the trophy.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Chhattisgarh to develop marine fossil park at 280-million-year-old site

Inspired by the significant findings of marine strata containing fossils, the state government has announced plans to transform the site into a Marine Fossil Park.

Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh district is poised to attract history enthusiasts and geologists with the discovery of a 280-million-year-old marine fossil site along the Hasdeo River. Inspired by the significant findings of marine strata containing fossils, the state government has announced plans to transform the site into a Marine Fossil Park.

The conspicuousness of this fossil site was first identified by structural geologist Professor S K Ghosh in 1954. Years later, in 2015, experts from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleo Sciences, Lucknow, confirmed the importance of the fossils found in this region.

Acknowledging its scientific value, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) designated the site as a National Geological Monument in 1982, recognising its exceptional contribution to understanding the Earth’s ancient history, a state government spokesperson said to TNIE.

“The Chhattisgarh government’s decision to develop this site into a Marine Fossil Park is expected to attract both tourists and scientists from around the world. The Park will serve as a biodiversity heritage site, offering a unique opportunity to explore the story of the Earth’s evolution and the ancient organisms that once lived here”, he added.

The notable park will be of glaring pride not only just for Chhattisgarh state but for the entire Asia, offering a rare glimpse into the Earth’s ancient marine life.

Researchers will have access to the valuable site for scientific studies, while visitors can explore opportunities to learn about the ancient exciting history of marine life. The findings of fossiliferous marine fauna suggest the massive expanse of salt water covering the earth surface in this part of the state.

The Chhattisgarh government, while emphasising the site as meaningful and crucial, is working closely with teams from the Geological Survey of India, Kolkata, and the Birbal Sahni Institute, Lucknow to assess the site’s potential.

Scientists are of the opinion that 280 million years ago, the region where the Hasdeo river is located was covered by a massive glacier.

As geological changes took place, this region became a part of the ‘Tethys Sea’, allowing marine life to enter. While these species eventually became extinct, their preserved fossils continue to provide valuable insights into the history of life on Earth.

The initiative by Chhattisgarh promises to bring the state onto the global map, showcasing the rich natural heritage of the region and offering future generations the occasion to understand the Earth’s ancient past.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

India, U.S. ink pact for cooperation in cybercrime investigations

The signing of the pact comes days before the Biden administration hands over charge to the Trump administration.

India and the U.S. have inked an agreement to enhance cooperation in cybercrime investigations, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The signing of the pact comes days before the Biden administration hands over charge to the Trump administration.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Washington DC on Friday (January 17, 2025) by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristie Canegallo, the MEA said.

It said the agreement allows the respective agencies of the two countries to step up the level of cooperation and training with respect to the use of cyber threat intelligence and digital forensics in criminal investigations.

From India, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) of the Home Ministry is responsible for the execution of the MoU.

On the U.S. side, the DHS and its constituent agencies U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crimes Center are tasked with implementing the pact.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

MahaKumbh 2025: Over 7 crore pilgrims bathed at Sangam from Jan 11 to 16

Devotees from various states and around the world have been immersing themselves in the spiritual atmosphere of the holy confluence.

More than seven crore pilgrims have taken a dip at the Sangam — the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers — from January 11 to January 16 on the occasion of the Maha Kumbh Mela, according to an official statement.

According to it, more than 30 lakh devotees bathed in the sacred waters on Thursday alone, seeking virtue and divine blessings.

The state government had anticipated that over 45 crore people will attend the Maha Kumbh this time. The early figure of 7 crore pilgrims in the initial days of the religious congregation strongly indicates this projection to be true, the statement said.

Devotees from various states and around the world have been immersing themselves in the spiritual atmosphere of the holy confluence.

The statement said that before the start of the Maha Kumbh, approximately 45 lakh people bathed in the sangam on January 11 while January 12 saw a record 65 lakh devotees.

On the first day of the Maha Kumbh, a record 1.70 crore pilgrims took the holy dip and on January 14, around 3.50 crore people bathed in the Sangam. In the first two days of Mahakumbh alone, more than 5.20 crore devotees took the holy dip, it said.

On Wednesday, a 21-member delegation from 10 countries arrived at Arail Tent City in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj to take a holy dip at Triveni Sangam.

The delegation, invited by the External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, will take a sacred dip at Triveni Sangam on Thursday.

Speaking to ANI, Denesh Persaud from Guyana, expressed his joy and fulfilment after taking a holy dip in the River Ganges.”It’s a dream come true. I always wanted to come here and take a holy dip in the River Ganges. I have fulfilled that wish,” Persaud said.

Sally El Azab from United Arab Emirates, is among the many international pilgrims who have travelled to Prayagraj, to experience the Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering in the world.

The visiting group included representatives from Fiji, Finland, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This showcases the global interest in this spiritual event.

The statement noted that the Mahakumbh, organised under the leadership of the Yogi government, has drawn global attention this year. Their accommodations were arranged at the Tent City in Arail, an initiative by the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation.

Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, will continue until February 26. The next key bathing dates include January 29 (Mauni Amavasya—Second Shahi Snan), February 3 (Basant Panchami—Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Indigenous Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘Nag Mk 2’ ready for induction: DRDO

“During the three field trials, the missile systems destroyed precisely all the targets”.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday (January 13, 2024) announced that the indigenously-developed third-generation fire-and-forget Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) ‘Nag Mk 2’ and the entire system was ready for induction into the Army following successful field firing trials.

Field evaluation trials of Nag-Mk 2 were successfully conducted recently at Pokhran Field Range in the presence of senior officers of the Army, a statement from the DRDO said. “During the three field trials, the missile systems destroyed precisely all the targets – maximum and minimum range, thus validating its firing range.”

Stating that the Nag Missile Carrier version-2 was also field evaluated, the DRDO announced, “With this, the entire weapon system is now ready for induction into the Indian Army.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to social media to congratulate the Army and the industry on the successful field evaluation trials.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)
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ISRO achieves first space docking with SpaDeX mission, fourth country to reach major milestone

The docking involved two satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, launched aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket on December 30, 2024.

In a landmark achievement, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the nation’s first satellite docking experiment under the SpaDeX mission.

The docking involved two satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, launched aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket on December 30, 2024. After multiple attempts and close manoeuvres on Sunday, the satellites were successfully docked, marking a historic milestone for India’s space program.

ISRO announced the success of the docking experiment on the social media platform X, stating, “Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment.”

The announcement detailed the precise manoeuvring process, which included moving the satellites from a 15-meter distance to a 3-meter hold point, initiating docking, and achieving spacecraft capture. The retraction process was completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation to ensure stability.

Following the successful docking, ISRO’s new chairman, V Narayanan, who was in Delhi at the time, congratulated the entire team for their efforts. In its social media post, ISRO confirmed that the satellites were now operating as a single entity and mentioned that undocking and power transfer checks would follow in the coming days.

“Post docking, control of two satellites as a single object is successful. Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in coming days,” ISRO said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X greeted the scientists for the achievement.

He said: “Congratulations to our scientists at @isro and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come.”

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also greeted ISRO for achieving the feat.

“We are extremely proud of the exceptional work of the scientists and space engineers at @isro as they successfully achieved the satellite docking as part of the SpaDex Mission,” Kharge said in a post on X.

He said this significant milestone marks a pivotal step for the future of India’s space programme, which has been built over years, and is a collective achievement for the nation.

The docking, initially scheduled for January 7, faced postponements as the distance between the satellites was reduced from 500 meters to 225 meters. On Sunday, after bringing the satellites to a 3-meter distance, the teams conducted a separation to ensure safety before the final docking maneuver.

The SpaDeX docking experiment, executed at a cost of Rs 370 crore, has positioned India as the fourth country in the world to achieve this critical space capability. The accomplishment has brought widespread acclaim among space science enthusiasts and bolstered the nation’s ambitions in space exploration.

The docking technology is vital for upcoming missions like Gaganyaan and the Bharatiya Antariksh Missions. Successful spacecraft docking facilitates the transfer of supplies, equipment, and potentially astronauts, paving the way for advanced human spaceflight and interplanetary missions.

Congratulatory tweets

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, in his congratulatory message said: “This milestone marks a significant leap in India’s capabilities, paving the way for greater space programmes and missions. Your dedication and innovation continue to inspire the world and make every Indian proud.”

Union Minister of State for Science, Technology and Space, Jitendra Singh posted: “Congrats #ISRO. Finally made it. SpaDeX has accomplished the unbelievable’ docking complete’ and it is all indigenous ‘Bharatiya Docking System’.”

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge posted on ‘X’: “We are extremely proud of the exceptional work of the scientists and space engineers at @isro as they successfully achieved the satellite docking as part of the SpaDex Mission.”

A Stepping stone: PM MOdi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to congratulate the ISRO team. “Congratulations to our scientists at

@ISRO. This is a significant stepping stone…” he said

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited0

Dr Aseem Malhotra, British-Indian Trump doctor spills diet secrets that reverse prediabetes, lower BP in days

Dr Aseem Malhotra, British-Indian cardiologist, with close ties to RFK Jr and a Trump admin connection, doubles down on an ingredient-focussed diet plan.

British-Indian Dr Aseem Malhotra has a close rapport with Robert F Kennedy Jr and has appeared on podcasts with Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson. According to the Daily Mail’s insight, the cardiologist could potentially land a key role in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Donald Trump’s new administration.

Unpacking his five-ingredient Metabolic Reset diet, the British doctor has devised a no-calorie counting way to counter health problems that have collectively affected 140 million Americans and Britons. His new diet is expected to tackle diabetes and high blood pressure just within days. Now, his secret is ours.

Trump doctor’s five-ingredient diet plan to counter diabetes and high blood pressure

“If an item comes out of a packet and it contains five or more ingredients then it is not allowed,” said Dr Malhotra. For reasons yet to be explained, the longer an ingredient list is, the more it is believed to have been through processing. In turn, the more processed the diet is, the higher the vulnerability to diabetes and high blood pressure.

His formulation has proved helpful in reversing his patients’ prediabetes and lowering their blood pressure in 28 days. The best part of the diet, which was worked out alongside London -based nutritionist Kim Pearson, is that it is not required to be followed forever. The cardiologist recommended following the diet plan for a month or so. Thereafter, carbs can be gradually introduced to the meal plan on the weekends.

Dr Malhotra graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in medicine in 2001. His areas of expertise include evidence-based medicine, obesity, coronary artery disease, and preventive cardiology. Meanwhile, Pearson is also a clinical director and wellness editor. She specialises in weight loss, metabolic health, and longevity.

Do’s and don’ts prescribed by British-Indian doctor – tapped by Donald Trump

As diets have often been synonymously equated with making one feel hungry, Dr Aseem Malhotra’s plan goes the other way. “We don’t want people to feel hungry,” he pointed out. However, he does ban a certain group of foods. All sugary foods minus fibre, such as white bread, rice and pasta, packaged food with a long list of ingredients, diet sodas and ‘fake sugars’ are completely off the table.

The main agenda here is to “snap out of” one’s addiction to junk food and “reset” metabolic health. The primary takeaway is to eat three meals a day, leaving four to five hours between each. Moreover, the fasting window overnight should last between 14 to 16 hours. It helps “reset the digestive system.” Intake of at least five vegetables or pieces of fruit is recommended per day. These should be included in at least two meals.

The 47-year-old doctor’s diet is based on the Mediterranean Diet, which emphasises consuming plant-based foods and healthy fats like olive oil and raw nuts. Such options are believed to help remove excess cholesterol from arteries, keeping blood vessels open.

Breakfast-lunch-dinner options

Another good source of fibre is berries, which are nutrient-heavy. The filling antioxidants low in calories help with digestion, slowing down food’s passage through the digestive tract. As a result, a berry smoothie (rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, B vitamins and magnesium) emerges as a viable breakfast option. A vegetable omelette is another one.

For lunch, he and Pearson recommend a protein salad – red meat is allowed. The night options are a stir fry with fibre-rich Japanese noodles or meatballs with vegetable spaghetti.

What about beverage consumption?

Dr Malhotra greenlights only zero calories coffee, water and tea on the drinks side. Although he doesn’t outrightly ban alcohol to ensure the plan’s long term sustainability. Therefore, moderation suggestions amount to three small (175 ml) glasses of dry wine or seven single (25 ml) measures of white spirit.

To “make goals more digestible,” he also introduces a “simple switch”—though not part of his diet plan—eating McDonald’s burgers without the buns. His investigation revealed that the bread itself contains 50 additives. Conversely, the patties alone with toppings are a better option.

80/20 rule leaves room for occasional cheat days

Further making the diet more accessible and easy to follow, he shared the ‘80/20’ rule, which gives people room to cheat occasionally, either on the weekend or at social events where recommended options are nowhere to be found. Sticking to the diet 80% of the time also goes a long way in adopting healthy habits.

The Daily Mail reported that the Metabolic Reset diet, set to launch on February 10, will be available on metabolicreset.co

* The official website clearly establishes that the diet plan is “For educational and informational purposes. Dr Malhotra and Kim are not able to advise you on your individual circumstances.”

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

India-U.S. joint Sonobuoy production line expected to be ready by 2027

India and the U.S. had last week announced the ‘first-of-its-kind partnership on co-production’ of U.S. sonobuoys for Undersea Domain Awareness for the Indian Navy.

The final assembly of sonobuoys from the U.S., meant for detecting submarines underwater, will be done in India and an operational production line is expected to be ready in 2027, according to the U.S. company Ultra Maritime (UM). The systems will be co-produced in India in partnership with defence public sector undertaking Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

In a significant development, India and the U.S. last week announced the “first-of-its-kind partnership on co-production” of U.S. sonobuoys for Undersea Domain Awareness for the Indian Navy, a high-end technology that allows tracking of submarines in the deep seas and oceans. The announcement was made in the fact sheet issued at the end of U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s visit to India last week.

“Workshare will be in line with the principles of Make in India. Final assembly will be done in India. Our goal is to have an operational production line in 2027,” Ultra Maritime said in response to questions from The Hindu sent on email. “These will be U.S.-specification sonobuoys equivalent to those used on the P-8 aircraft.”

Chairman of BDL, Commodore A. Madhavarao (retd.), had stated that they are looking to set up joint production with Ultra Maritime in Vishakhapatnam.

The U.S.-based company, a world-leader in the design and production of undersea warfare capabilities, has already stated that in line with the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) launched in May 2022, they will also pursue new sonobuoy technologies with BDL teams to optimise their acoustic performance in the unique environment of the Indian Ocean, enabling wide area search through bespoke multi-static active solutions. To a question, the company clarified that this was in addition to the initial production already envisaged.

On the future outlook, Ultra Maritime said it was working with BDL to identify opportunities for Indian suppliers to enter its global supply chain.

An Ultra Maritime statement issued last week had stated that the UM sonobuoys co-produced in India are interchangeable and interoperable between the U.S. Navy, Indian Navy and allied P-8, MH-60R and the MQ-9B Sea Guardian aircraft.

The development is of particular significance as India has over the years acquired a series of military platforms from the U.S. that are also operated by other countries in the region, especially Australia and Japan, which too are part of the Quad grouping and also hold the Malabar naval exercise. These sonobuoys are dropped from aircraft and helicopters. India is also pursuing another technology – sensors embedded on the ocean bed – and recently some progress has been made as a few Indian start-ups showcased the technology that is now undergoing trials.

As China undertakes massive expansion of its navy and also its presence in the Indian Ocean, undersea domain awareness has become critical and Indian Navy has been collaborating with countries on the region, especially the Quad group.

Indian Navy operates the P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft, is inducting the MH-60R multi-role helicopters and has two MQ-9A armed High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems on lease. It signed a $3.5 billion contract in October 2024 for 31 MQ-9B–15 Sea Guardians for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians, eight each for the Army and Air Force, with deliveries to begin from January 2029.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Oscars 2025: Payal Kapadia’s seat at the big table

A lack of budget certainly didn’t stop the filmmaker. Her big win at Cannes, along with rave reviews, special screenings and strong distributors with festival know-how have given her an edge.

In the spring of 2022, S.S. Rajamouli’s historical action drama RRR was a huge hit in India and in the global Indian diaspora market when two American distributors floated the idea of releasing it once again — to reach an audience not usually drawn to Indian films.

With great word of mouth and reviews, the film pulled more American audiences. It was quite unlike anything Americans had seen. RRR ended up winning a few critics’ association awards and a Golden Globe for the song ‘Nattu Nattu’. One day before the final Oscars voting began, the distributors, Variance Films and Potentate Films, organised a sold-out screening in the 1,647-seat Ace Hotel Theatre in Los Angeles. A couple of weeks later, ‘Nattu Nattu’ won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures.

Indian films rarely make such an impact in the U.S. during the awards seasons. I have been observing this for over four decades, first as a journalism student, then an entertainment writer and the festival director of the oldest Indian film festival in North America. Unless it is a work of the magnitude of Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi — a British-Indian co-production that won eight Oscars in 1983, beating Steven Spielberg’s most loved film E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial. Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire also won eight Oscars, but unlike Gandhi it was a British production with no Indian producer attached to it.

Grand Prix sets the ball rolling

Marketing, promotion, and celebrity endorsements are often a big part of the awards campaign. In the fall of 2001, British filmmaker Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields) called a few of his friends in Hollywood — all members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Joffé had seen Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Lagaan, which was India’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film. He had liked the film — about a farmer during the British Raj who challenges its officers to a game of cricket to get tax exemption — and wanted to make sure his friends would attend the Academy’s screening.

But in all these years I had not seen an Indian film reach American shores with a stamp of having won an award at a major film festival — not until May 2024, when Payal Kapadia’s second feature All We Imagine as Light won the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. It was the first Indian film in 30 years to play in the main competition section of the festival.

Suddenly, it seemed everyone was talking about All We Imagine as Light, a Malayalam language drama on three working women and the transformative power of friendship and sisterhood. IndieWire gave it an A rating; they are usually very conservative in their reviews. And senior critic Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film a five-star rating, comparing it to Satyajit Ray’s Mahanagar and Aranyer Din Ratri.

his followed screenings at the top three fall season festivals in North America: Telluride, Toronto and New York. There were more awards, including from several American critics’ associations. And even though India did not submit All We Imagine as Light for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, the buzz about it remained strong.

According to filmmaker and film preservationist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur the reason for the success of All We Imagine as Light is the new film language that Kapadia has developed. “She blends fiction with documentary style of filmmaking giving her narrative an almost hypnotic quality,” he says. “You can’t tell where the fiction begins and when it is pure documentary.” Mumbai-based Kapadia worked as an assistant with Dungarpur before she joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). Her journey since has been one of resilience — overcoming wrongful charges of rioting at FTII (where her scholarship was suspended), to persisting with her vision even when her films never found a local audience. Until now.

Under a Golden spotlight

One of the advantages All We Imagine as Light could have had is its European producers. “I don’t know [if there’s a specific] benefit in having a producer from a different part of the world… but if you are keen to premiere at a film festival in Europe, then European producers know the process,” says Kapadia. “Now, many Indian producers are learning about it, along with the American festival system. Look at Reema Das. She is her own producer and has always premiered her movies at top-level festivals. Her films are very local and yet the themes resonate across the world.”

Late last year, several critics and major publications — from The New York Times to Sight and Sound magazine ranked All We Imagine as Light as the number one film of the year. In its recent Instagram post, Sight and Sound described the film as “a delicate, dreamlike tale of loneliness and fellowship” and added that the film recalled works of Ray and Wong Kar-wai. One day after Christmas, Variety named Kapadia as one of the international breakouts of the year.

So, no one seemed surprised when All We Imagine as Light received two Golden Globes nominations, including one in the Best Director category. Variety wrote this reflected “Kapadia’s growing influence in world cinema”. This was the first such nomination for an Indian filmmaker for a film made in India. In 1999, Shekhar Kapur received a Best Director nomination for Elizabeth, but that was a British production.

All We Imagine as Light also received a Golden Globes nomination for Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences only accepts one international film submitted by each individual country, but the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — the body that awards the Golden Globes — accepts submissions by producers of foreign language films. And so the filmcould compete.

For a while now, commentators have said that the Golden Globes have lost their significance. But one cannot deny that Academy members and studios seriously follow the Globes — the nominations and the awards. (And since any film that runs for a week in any of the U.S.’s six metropolitan areas is eligible to be nominated for the Oscars, All We Imagine as Light is a contender.)

Kapadia attended the Globes dressed in a black silk outfit designed by Payal Khandwala and she wore earrings gifted to her by her mother, the painter Nalini Malani. She was accompanied by her two French producers, Thomas Hakim and Julien Graff, and cinematographer Ranabir Das. “It was such a huge honour to be nominated,” Kapadia shares the day after the Golden Globes ceremony. “The nominations really put our film back in people’s attention. And of course, talking to stars you have admired is always a thrill. I met Jodie Foster as well as director Walter Salles who had both seen our movie, and they liked it!”

Kapadia’s chance of winning a Globe was never definite, given the competitive field she was in, but her name has already registered in the minds of many Academy members. Meanwhile, last week, the film was longlisted in three categories for the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), including best director.

Celebrity support for Indian films 

The torch of All We Imagine as Light has been kept burning by the film’s two distributors, Janus Films and Sideshow. The former had two other foreign language films nominated for the Golden Globes: Vermiglio (Italy), a drama set during World War II, and Flow (Lithuania), a fantasy adventure about a solitary cat’s survival. Flow won the Globe for the Best Motion Picture, Animated.

“We are lucky to work with Janus and Sideshow who really take care of the films they distribute,” Kapadia says. “They understand this system well and make sure that the campaign effort is streamlined and specific. We don’t have a major studio funding backing this effort so it’s sheer hard work from everyone involved.” A stark contrast to money-backed films such as RRR or even a Gandhi, which had the support of a big studio for its Oscar campaign.

But in a crowded field with Hollywood and foreign language films competing for the short attention span of Academy members, celebrity support for films can be really helpful. Late last year before the Oscar shortlists were announced, Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón hosted a screening of Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies in London. British film director of Indian origin Gurinder Chadha, who is a member of the Academy along with Cuarón, also attended the screening.

In mid-November, Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair moderated a post-screening Q&A of All We Imagine as Light with Kapadia at NeueHouse, a small theatre in Manhattan with just 86 seats. The screening was organised by Janus Films and Sideshow to generate interest before the limited release of the film on November 15 in New York City. But it was also intended to start the buzz among Academy members based in the city. The NeueHouse screening was attended by a few Indian-American Academy members, including publicist Gitesh Pandya and producer Shrihari Sathe. Nair is also an influential member of the Academy.

The same evening, Netflix hosted a screening of Laapataa Ladies in New York City. At the time, the film was in consideration for the Best International Feature Film award. Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan were present as was Nair, who did a Q&A with the director and producer. Nair then rushed to moderate the NeueHouse Q&A of All We Imagine as Light. She had seen Kapadia’s film earlier.

Is another nomination likely?

These special screenings by well-known filmmakers are held throughout the awards seasons. In December, Kapadia was interviewed by director Shuchi Talati (Girls Will Be Girls) after the film’s screening at Film Forum, a prime art-house theatre in New York City. Again, the Q&A was meant to create a buzz about All We Imagine as Light as the Academy members were getting set to watch the films in consideration. The film is now in its eighth week of theatrical run at Film Forum.

And earlier at the end of October, Kapadia was in Japan for the Tokyo International Film Festival when she had an in-depth conversation with the Japanese master Hirokazu Kore-eda. (Kore-eda received a Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018 for Shoplifters. The next year Shoplifters received an Academy Award nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film.)

During the conversation, Kore-eda asked Kapadia her thoughts on All We Imagine as Light not being sent to the Academy Awards. Her response was measured and diplomatic. “I think with this film, it got a lot already. I’m very satisfied with how the journey of the film has gone. And it’s been really more than I expected. So everything that comes its way, it’s like a bonus for me.”

All We Imagine as Light has had a huge success in finding distribution deals in 85 countries. And according to Zico Maitra, one of the film’s producers, it has already opened in 43 countries, including just recently in the U.K., Germany and Spain. After a limited release in India, the film is also streaming on Disney+Hotstar. Kapadia wanted her film to be seen by people across the country. Hence, the screenings took place in major cities, but also those that could be described as Tier-II cities: Guwahati, Chandigarh and Kanpur. The OTT release is a part of the extra bonus Kapadia mentioned.

Voting for the Academy Awards is on from January 8 to 12, and the nominations will be announced on January 19. While no one can predict whether All We Imagine as Light will receive any nominations, this much is clear: Kapadia and her film already have a seat at the main dinner table. She will be there even after the award season has ended.

The writer is a film festival programmer and author.

content/source: thehindu.com (headline edited)

India secures rank as third-largest start-up hub: Defence Minister

He emphasised that India has made remarkable progress towards becoming a strong, secure, and self-reliant nation by manufacturing cutting-edge defence equipment domestically and exporting to other countries.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday celebrated India’s success as a global start-up leader and urged the youth to align their aspirations with the nation’s journey towards becoming a developed country by 2047, under the “Viksit Bharat” initiative.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony of a university in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Rajnath Singh said, “India has emerged as the third-largest start-up hub, with over 100 unicorns shaping the future of innovation and entrepreneurship.”

He emphasised that India has made remarkable progress towards becoming a strong, secure, and self-reliant nation by manufacturing cutting-edge defence equipment domestically and exporting to other countries.

The “Viksit Bharat by 2047” initiative envisions India as a developed nation by the centenary of its independence in 2047.

Highlighting the importance of innovation and ideas, Singh said, “India is establishing itself as one of the strongest nations today. Our youth, armed with new confidence and energy, can represent the country on the global stage. If you have an idea, a skill set, and the determination to work hard, opportunities and resources will never be in short supply.”

Singh underscored the decisive role of young ignited minds in achieving this vision. He added that the youth’s dreams, commitment, and innovative thinking would define India’s identity on the global stage. “The strength of a nation lies in the knowledge, skills, and determination of its young minds,” he said.

Quoting the adage, “Every age has its own heroes,” Singh described the youth as the heroes of India’s future. He encouraged the students to draw strength from their optimism, which he identified as the key to finding opportunities in challenges.

The Defence Minister also urged the youth to remain connected to India’s history, culture, and values, as these provide valuable lessons during times of challenge and doubt. “When you look beyond individual achievements and work towards social betterment, you accomplish something that ensures you are remembered for a lifetime,” he said.

Paying tribute to Swami Vivekananda on the occasion of his birth anniversary, which is celebrated as National Youth Day on January 12, Singh described him as India’s first “Global Youth.” He encouraged the youth to draw inspiration from Swami Vivekananda’s teachings and vision.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)