Author: Sweetlena Mandal

Beyond Awards: How Abhishek Bachchan and Shoojit Sircar Immortalized a Winner’s Story It was one of those nights when Bollywood sparkled a little brighter. Flashbulbs flickered, black tuxedos gleamed, and the chatter at the 70th Filmfare Awards buzzed with predictions. Then, as the golden envelope was torn open, came the words that sent a murmur through the crowd: (Image courtesy: ytimg) “And the Filmfare Award for Best Actor goes to… Abhishek Bachchan for I Want To Talk!” In that single moment, something shifted, not just for Bachchan, but for every storyteller who believes in films that speak from the heart,…

Lights, Bass, Action: 7 Blasting World Famous Musicians & Artists Performing Across India 2025–26 Imagine this. A filled stadium. The vibration of thousands of voices swelling like electricity in the air. The earth shakes beneath your feet, not because an earthquake hit but because bass lines pounding through walls. One spotlight pierces the night. This is not a fantasy, this is India in 2025 and 2026, where the world’s most dynamic artists are waiting to make our cities music heavens. (Image courtesy: tripzilla) We are talking rap fire, Latin charm, R&B nostalgia, K-Pop theatrics, rock rebellion, and genre-bending anthems. This…

Bold Voices Bright Futures Indian Female Authors Leading with Stories If you ever had a book land in your lap at just the right moment, you know the magic I speak of. Books don’t simply fill pages, they change lives. They crack open doors to possibilities when you’re trapped, offer you courage when yours is gone, and remind you that you are not alone. And in a world that still far too often instructs women to be silent, it’s revolutionary to read words from women who won’t tone down their voices. These female authors don’t just inspire, nay, they provoke,…

India’s Pop-Rap King Drops 51 Tracks and Breaks the Internet When the clock strikes comeback o’clock in Indian music, only one name has the audacity to drop something as outrageous, as over-the-top, and as unapologetically loud as Yo Yo Honey Singh. This isn’t just a return to form, it’s an explosion, a firework show set to beats, and a reminder that India’s original pop-rap king never really left the building. (Image courtesy: lifestyleasia) Honey Singh’s new project, “51 Glorious Days,” is exactly what the title promises, fifty-one tracks that stretch across moods, genres, and memories. It’s not just an album,…

Nine Nights, Infinite Beats: India’s Garba Icons You Can’t Miss Each festival in India has its own magic, but Navratri? Navratri has its madness. It’s that one time a year when cities change overnight, roads lit up with fairy lights, areas abuzz with excitement, and giant azure grounds anticipating they would turn into colour whirlpools. For nine nights, the air itself vibrates, thick with incense, laughter, and the thumping of the dhol. (Image courtesy: things2do) Garba is the essence of these nights. It’s not a dance; it’s a prayer. A circle of faith that somehow miraculously transforms into a circle…

Anand Neelakantan’s Villains Reveal Complexity and Contrarian Paths Forward: From Mythology to Life Lessons Imagine sitting next to a crackling lamp, notebook in front of you, willing to listen to the stories of heroes, of triumph, of battles inscribed in gold on the scrolls of history. But the storyteller leans in and says, “Let’s hear it from the other side.” And suddenly, Ravana, Duryodhana, and all the other Indian mythological villains are not just background music, they are the show. That is the kind of aura that Anand Neelakantan weaves in his story. Anand Neelakantan is not merely a narrator;…

Butter in Bandra? What HYBE’s Mumbai Office Means for Indian K-Pop Fans If you felt the K-wave wash over India in fits and starts for the past decade, the arrival of HYBE’s Mumbai office this September 2025 feels like the dam finally opening. This isn’t a PR stunt or a one-off concert booking. HYBE, the South Korean entertainment giant behind BTS, SEVENTEEN, TXT and a roster of global acts, has established an Indian subsidiary with a clear brief: hold local auditions, set up a training system tailored to Indian culture, and build artists who can live on both local playlists…

Snake on the Beats, Enrique on the Streets: India’s Concert Fever 2025 What’s louder than a Mumbai traffic jam, flashier than a Bollywood award show, and wilder than an IPL after-party? The answer this year is India’s live music scene. (Image courtesy: moneycontrol) And leading the charge? Our very own French DJ with desi swagger, DJ Snake. The man who made the world scream Turn Down for What is gearing up to bring his six-city arena tour to India. Picture it: a stadium full of fans, phones lit up like a galaxy, and the bass drop of Magenta Riddim shaking…

When Ya Ali Played, We Dreamed: Remembering Zubeen Garg Some voices sing not just to be heard, but to live inside you. They find their way into your first crush, your puberty breakup, your after-midnight drives. Zubeen Garg was such a voice for our generation of 90s children. He passed away on September 19, 2025, and with him, a part of our childhood. A scuba diving accident in Singapore cut short the life of a singer whose melodies seemed to be endless; but even in sorrow, we recall, we rejoice, and we play his songs on repeat. (Image courtesy: livemint)…

These Indian Roast Comedians serve burns hotter than your mom’s ‘beta job kab milega?’ If you are the type who laughs hardest when the joke is on you, welcome to your spiritual home. India’s roast comedy scene isn’t just alive, it’s thriving, flaming, and flambéing egos with style. These comedians aren’t here to tell you dad jokes or heartwarming anecdotes. They are here to drag you through the mud, wrap it up in punchlines, and serve it with a side of mic-drop swagger. Let’s be honest. We are a nation of uncles with opinions, aunties with unsolicited advice, and cousins…