Author: Malavika Subramanyan

At the 77th Cannes Film Festival, India made a significant impact with Chidananda S. Naik’s film “Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know…” winning the top prize in the La Cinef section. Naik, originally a doctor from Mysuru who transitioned to filmmaking, created this award-winning film during his year-long course at the Film and Television Institute of India’s television wing in Pune. The winning films will be shown at the Cinéma du Panthéon on June 3 and at the MK2 Quai de Seine on June 4. The Cannes Festival provides grants of €15,000 for the First Prize, €11,250 for the…

Anima Patil-Sabale’s fascination with space exploration, ignited by books on the Apollo-era space program during her childhood in India, led her to dream of becoming an astronaut. Despite initially aiming to pursue a career as a fighter pilot, she redirected her path due to the Indian Air Force’s restrictions on female combat roles until 2015. Opting for degrees in physics and computer applications, she embarked on a journey that saw her transition from a software engineer in Mumbai to a software consultant in San Jose, California, where her proximity to NASA’s Ames Research Center fueled her aspirations further. Driven by…

Nikesh Arora, an India-born CEO of Palo Alto Networks, has been ranked second on The Wall Street Journal’s list of highest-paid US chief executives for 2023. His compensation package, predominantly equity-based, amounted to $151.43 million last year, placing him just behind Hock Tan of Broadcom, who earned $162 million. Palo Alto Networks announced that for the first three quarters of its fiscal 2024 year, it generated almost $5.84 billion in revenue and nearly $2.22 billion in net income. Arora’s ascent to prominence began at the Air Force Public School in Delhi before he moved to the US. He gained international…

In response to Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal’s comments about his father’s doubts about his success as an entrepreneur due to their modest background, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that in India, hard work matters more than one’s family name. Modi praised Goyal’s journey and highlighted that his story inspires many young people to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Modi reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for startups in a message on X, sharing a video posted by Union Minister Hardeep Puri. In the video, Deepinder Goyal recounted how his father, skeptical of his startup ambitions due to their…

In the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, held on Monday, May 20, voter turnout in 49 constituencies across eight states and Union Territories was estimated at 60.48% as of Tuesday, May 21. The final turnout figures are expected to be released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) by Friday, May 25. On Monday night, the ECI reported an approximate turnout of 60.09% following the day’s polling. This figure was expected to rise as reports from all polling stations were verified and added. By Tuesday noon, the ECI’s Voter Turnout app indicated the turnout had increased to…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at an election rally in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, expressed strong confidence that his party, the BJP, will secure a third consecutive term in power. Modi declared, “The Modi government will score a hat-trick,” emphasizing his belief in continued success. During his speech, Modi pledged to prioritize the welfare of the poor, youth, women, and farmers if re-elected. He stated, “In the new government, I have to take many big decisions for the poor, youth, women, and farmers,” highlighting his commitment to these groups. Addressing the ongoing Gaza conflict, Modi mentioned that he had sent an…

As the Lok Sabha elections loomed, over 350 individuals were granted Indian citizenship on Wednesday through the newly enacted Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019, as reported by various news outlets. Initially, a group of 14 individuals received citizenship in the capital city, while the remainder were digitally awarded citizenship across other regions of the nation. Notably, some applications were processed prior to the official notification of the rules in March of the current year, according to officials cited by the Economic Times. Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla personally presented citizenship certificates to the initial 14 recipients in the national…

In the timeless classic “Manthan,” directed by the esteemed Shyam Benegal, Dr. Rao, portrayed by Girish Karnad, ventures into a rural village in Gujarat with the noble intention of establishing a Milk Co-operative society for the betterment of the locals. Despite facing opposition from the affluent Mishraji, played by Amrish Puri, and the village head, Sarpanch, portrayed by Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Dr. Rao, with the assistance of Bindu (Smita Patil) and Bhola (Naseeruddin Shah), ultimately succeeds in empowering the villagers to become self-sufficient. The restored edition of “Manthan,” featuring Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and Girish Karnad, is scheduled for a screening…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially submitted his nomination for the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday morning. This came after an extravagant six-kilometer roadshow the previous evening, accompanied by senior leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. Among those present were BJP President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. Key alliance partners in attendance included Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary, Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan, Apna Dal (Sonelal) head Anupriya Patel, and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party…

The revered Himalayan shrines, including Badrinath Dham, Kedarnath Dham, and Gangotri Dham, are gearing up to welcome pilgrims as the Uttarakhand’s Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage begins. Scheduled openings: Badrinath Dham on May 12, Kedarnath Dham on May 10, and Gangotri Dham on Akshaya Tritiya. Gangotri Temple, perched amidst snow-capped peaks, stands tall with its intricate carvings on white granite. Encircled by the Himalayas, Gangotri experiences heavy snowfall from December to March. The Char Dham Yatra, a significant pilgrimage in Hinduism, covers Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, attracting devotees seeking spiritual solace. It typically occurs from April/May to October/November, contingent on…