Arts & Entertainment Stories
Why it’s bloom time again for botanical art
The practice of drawing plants in minute, scientific detail is resurging in India, and a growing breed of enthusiasts, on the cusp of art and science, are helping document our flora, deepen observation and support conservation efforts
Among the world's longest-running plays, what made Adrak ke Panje so successful?
With over 10,000 performances across decades in over 60 countries, Adrak Ke Panje rivalled the world’s longest-running plays — even inviting comparisons with Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. Its creator Babban Khan passed away on April 17
- Avijit Ghosh
- TNN
She Sang India’s Hidden Desires, Her Songs Anticipated Change
The best kind of music, like Asha Bhosle’s songs, tells us where society is headed. The best kind of tribute, never mind India’s official idea of itself, is that everyone, at some point, has hummed Dum Maro Dum
Kitsch to coveted, the new rush for Ravi Varma prints
Once brushed off as mass decor, the 19th-century artist’s oleographs now command high prices, even as collectors refuse to part with them
- Sneha Bhura
- TNN
Why Jnanpith for Vairamuthu has sparked a Tamil literary revolt
The controversy has also brought sexual misconduct allegations against him back into focus
- Alka Dhupkar
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Reels, rotis and the rise of the desi tradwives
The western phenomenon is now getting a local twist as bahu influencers turn their chai-and-chulha routines into aspirational and monetised content
- Mohua Das
- TNN
Ghooskhor to Kerala Story, the slippery slope of hurt sentiments
While courts have upheld free speech, the 'Ghooskhor Pandat' case highlights the tension, suggesting box-office success often follows controversy, regardless of bans
- Robin David
- TNN
Not your old superhero saga! Children’s cinema grows up
Boong’s BAFTA win shows how a new wave of Indian filmmakers is looking beyond capes and cartoons to tell layered stories of young lives
- Shruti Sonal
- TNN
Flex to fresco, hand-painted ads are making a comeback
To cut through digital clutter, brands are courting street artists and swapping billboards for murals that invite people to pause and pose
Popstar In MAGAland Who Refuses To Be A Star
That a colossally popular Puerto Rican musician, Bad Bunny, who refuses to sing in English and is disliked by the rightwing, won Grammy’s top prize tells you as much about him as his country
- Mohua Das
- TNN
Why Bollywood’s lazy portrayal of Muslims is misleading
The Hindi film industry is not biased against Muslims, but its depiction of the community is
- Hasan Suroor
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Oscars, A Persecuted Iranian & Freedom Of Thought
Artists, writers, moviemakers & film directors are peaceful warriors against censorship. Their resilience informs their art, despite all the crackdowns, prison time and even exile from their home countries
High spirits: The year ‘desi’ horror came of age
It wasn’t just box-office numbers that made 2025 the year of horror. The genre also evolved as many desi elements, such as local folklore and comedy, helped it move beyond mere jumpscares and tap into new segments of the audience.
- Shruti Sonal
- TNN
Tom Hanks wrote a play. It was harder than he thought
The two-time Oscar-winning actor reflects on years of rewrites, anxious rehearsals and a director who kept stopping him after two minutes
- Tom Hanks
- New York Times
No more blackface and jhinga la la. Adivasi cinema busts stereotypes
From the AI-centred ‘Humans in the Loop’ to grassroots film collectives, Adivasi storytellers are reclaiming the screen and redefining representation
- Sneha Bhura
- TNN
These comics own their Bihari identity. And are loved for it
With assembly elections round the corner, how a tribe of Bihari standups with their sets of scathing social commentary delivered as light-hearted banter is giving millions of Indians deeper insights into the state and its perceptions
Glam sham: Inside India’s booming small-town pageant scene
Behind every tiara is a story of hustle, hope and heartbreak
- Sneha Bhura
- TNN
Shammi songs to Srivalli, Indian cinema has a consent problem
From songs in 'An Evening in Paris' and 'Pushpa' to glorification of a one-sided love affair in the recently re-released 'Raanjhanaa', lines between romance and obsession are blurred
- Shruti Sonal
- TNN
Why AI rewrite of Raanjhanaa has sparked outrage in Bollywood
The Tamil re-release of Raanjhanaa with an AI-generated ending has stirred a storm over artistic consent, with director Aanand L Rai calling it ‘reckless’. Eros Media claims full rights, but filmmakers warn it could set a dangerous industry precedent
- Jairaj Singh
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
How Sidhu Moose Wala will sing 'live' 3 years after his death
Sidhu Moose Wala’s digital comeback signals a shift in live music. When tech revives the artist, does the art stay the same?
- Bansri Shah
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM