Apr 27, 2015, at 06:06 pm
Do you feel low and out while surrounded by a particular colour but feel uplifted by the cheerful yellow? Why does white denote peace and black oppression and evil? Colours have deeper meanings than just being a part of the décor or apparel, Anju Munshi discovers
Apr 19, 2015, at 05:18 pm
The buzz around the film Margarita with a Straw on a disabled teenager's jest for life and desire also brings into focus the less talked about subject of sexuality relating to the differently able people, writes Ranjita Biswas
Apr 01, 2015, at 05:11 pm
Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, the 'Mitwa' man, is back with his third solo album, Muh Dikhai, a melange of various genres and styles. The Lahore-based singer-composer spoke on Bollywood, music piracy and Indo-Pak cultural relations to TWF correspondent Madhumita Mookerjee
My music is straight from heart: Ricky Kej
Mar 20, 2015, at 05:51 pm
A self-taught musician, Ricky Kej made India proud by bagging the Grammy awards with his "Winds of Samsara" this year. TWF correspondent Supriyo Hazra catches up with the composer based in Bengaluru
Mar 06, 2015, at 10:38 pm
Is the bindi a fashion statement, a caste mark or a marriage symbol? It is all three. Placed within contemporary perspectives, it is debatable whether it is popular television that has resurrected the bindi as a cosmetic to enhance the feminine image of woman. Shoma A. Chatterji examines
Feb 28, 2015, at 07:36 pm
Piddly si baatein is the latest entrant into a world of mainstream Hindi cinema where the toilet as a physical presence has stepped in almost as a character. The melodious number is belted out by Amitabh Bachchan in Shamitabh. Why was the song shot inside a toilet when it could have been shot anywhere? Some directors obviously have a different take on 'entertainment.' What do viewers feel? Shoma A. Chatterji finds out
Feb 15, 2015, at 07:02 pm
India is the largest producer of films in the world but many classics that are milestones in the history of Indian cinema are in danger of extinction. The newly established Film Heritage Foundation in Mumbai strives to reverse the trend. Shoma A. Chatterji reports
Feb 08, 2015, at 06:38 pm
Life without water is unimaginable. But its availability, taken for granted, is in a crisis. The looming shortage has the potential to create conflicts among regions and communities in the near future. The recent UN International Conference on Water and Sustainability in Zaragoza, Spain, was a wake-up call to the problem. Ranjita Biswas reports
Feb 06, 2015, at 06:38 pm
There are roughly 500 Parsis in Kolkata. But sadly, even this small community finds it difficult to maintain their age-old death ritual owing to a drop in the number of vultures and other problems. Anusua Banerjee reports
Can India benefit from Kentucky coal?
Jan 30, 2015, at 07:19 pm
India has the sixth largest coal reserves in the world, but with a booming population and not enough coal mined within its own borders, it's not enough. A potential relationship between India and Kentucky in USA promises mutual benefit though such a tie-up is uncertain . While the visit of Barack Obama evokes a lot of positivism, Ashley Scoby reports from Kentucky on the possibilities
Jan 30, 2015, at 04:45 pm
TV commercials today showcase characters that could be an extension of our own family. They are not the target segment of the product they push for but the consumers like their tales enough to stop and talk about. Is Indian advertising riding a new wave? TWF correspondent Madhumita M probes
Jan 08, 2015, at 06:47 pm
Unsustainable developmental policies and rising insensitivity towards nature threaten important bird and biodiversity areas in India with possibility of them disappearing forever . Uttara Gangopadhyay reports
Letter Box: Caught in a time warp
Jan 02, 2015, at 08:03 pm
The 'Letter Box', which once was an integral part of our daily life, is no longer the box of wonder in this age of electronic messaging. Lensman Bijoy Chowdhury captures the forlorn letter boxes across the city of Kolkata and made them the theme of his 2015 calendar. Text by Sujoy Dhar
Dec 31, 2014, at 07:34 pm
When Ebola ravaged humanity in Africa, the Asian nations witnessed severe blows of terrorism. Amid the chaos and disasters and killings, two child right activists belonging to two conflicting nations jointly won the Nobel Peace prize, making 2014 one memorable year in the history of the world. TWF correspondent Supriyo Hazra looks back
The World That Was: Flashback 2014
Dec 26, 2014, at 09:56 pm
From a deadly disease spreading panic across the globe to a plane disappearing mysteriously and never been found, 2014 witnessed some of the major events. TWF correspondent Supriyo Hazra looks back
Dec 15, 2014, at 12:59 am
Designers and fashionistas today are getting inspired by fashions from the past and fusing them into retrofashion, finds Avra Biswas
Dec 09, 2014, at 08:57 pm
Who would have ever thought that a group of music-minded youngsters would borrow a universally famous Indian decoction for the name of its music band? But Filter Coffee does exactly that, Shoma A. Chatterji reports
Dec 01, 2014, at 05:59 pm
The tragic death of comedian Robin Williams and Oscar winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman this year shocked the world and raised questions about why celebrities take their own lives though enjoying success beyond an average man's dream. Shoma A. Chatterji probes
Director like Mainak, is a gift to an actor: Samrat
Nov 24, 2014, at 06:18 pm
Actor Samrat Chakrabarti's inner calling brought him to Kolkata from the USA to work in Tollywood. He had worked in blockbusters like 'The Bong Connection', 'Dwando', 'Shada Kaalo Abcha' earlier. His recent tryst with acting involves Mainak Bhaumik’s 'Kolkata Calling'. IBNS correspondent Torsha Banerjee spoke with the actor on various issues ranging from his movies to his pairing with actress Raima Sen in the latest film.
Nov 18, 2014, at 07:17 pm
Cruising for pleasure has not lost its appeal even in this high-speed air travel age. What has changed is how the sea-bound like to experience it today. The high-tech ship 'Quantum of the Seas' is a revelation to Ranjita Biswas
Nov 10, 2014, at 06:05 pm
India has been rather slow in preserving the inherited wealth of audiovisual material. Despite the lack of overall support, a few concerned institutions as well as individuals are determined to protect the legacy. TWF correspondent Uttara Ganguly reports
'I want to create playfront singers'
Nov 07, 2014, at 08:15 pm
Vocalist Prasant A Samadhar trained talented singers like Shreya Ghoshal and Arijit Singh, but never himself ran for a pure Bollywood playback career. He is now teaming up with maestros Girija Devi and Hariharan for a live stage performance. TWF correspondent Shabarni Basu caught up with the singer on music, stage shows and more...
Oct 28, 2014, at 06:16 pm
The birth centenary of great ghazal exponent Begum Akhtar is being celebrated through different events beginning this year. One is scheduled for the Nehru Centre in London, conceived by Rita Ganguly, her well-known disciple. She reveals many facets of her guru to Shoma A. Chatterji on a recent visit to Kolkata
Industrial animation is growing big: Mayabious Art founder
Oct 27, 2014, at 06:11 pm
Mayabious Art has been making a mark with its performance in the paradigm of digital media. Winning several awards, including the Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival award 2014 for its contribution to Indian cinema, has added new feathers to the company's cap. IBNS correspondent Supriyo Hazra caught up with co-founder and CEO of the company Akhil Bandhu Paul for a brief chat over his future plans and the animation sector recently. Excerpts:
India soaks in Diwali celebration, WB observes Kali Puja
Oct 23, 2014, at 05:03 pm
New Delhi/Mumbai/Kolkata, Oct 23 (IBNS): Putting an end to restless wait, Indians on Thursday indulged in the grand celebration of Diwali amid bursting of crackers, fireworks and chains of dazzling lights adorning perhaps every corner of the country, which leaves almost no individual immune from the festive fever.
Oct 22, 2014, at 09:07 pm
Little magazines, often called 'small magazines', publish experimental and non-conformist writings by relatively unknown but dedicated writers. West Bengal is known for its great volume of little magazines. Two filmmakers, Abhijoy Karlekar and Utpal Basu examine the phenomenon through a documentary called 'Little Magaziner Katha'. Shoma A. Chatterji reports
Wine and cheese party for Rang Rasiya team
Oct 11, 2014, at 05:19 am
Mumbai, Oct 10 (IBNS) Fashion designer Sangita Kathiwada recently hosted a wine and cheese party along with producer Deepa Sahi at her trendy South Mumbai studio, Melange, for the cast and crew of director Ketan Mehta's upcoming release 'Rang Rasiya'.
Bengalis welcome Goddess Lakshmi today
Oct 07, 2014, at 05:40 pm
Kolkata, Oct 7 (IBNS): With the sound of 'dhak' silently fading in the air with a mood of gloominess prevailing in the air with the end of the grand festival of the Bengali community-the Durga Puja- people of Kolkata and the rest of West Bengal once again geared up to taste the flavour of festivity by welcoming the Goddess of wealth, Ma Lakshmi, with customary rituals on Tuesday.
Revellers bid adieu to Goddess Durga on Maha Dashami
Oct 03, 2014, at 03:56 pm
Kolkata, Oct 3 (IBNS): It's time again to bid adieu to the Hindu Goddess Durga and her four children (Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh) as Maha Dashami puja commenced on Friday amid a mood of gloominess in Kolkata and the rest of Bengal.
Festive fever reaches peak on Maha Ashtami-Maha Navami
Oct 02, 2014, at 05:06 pm
Kolkata, Oct 2 (IBNS): The festive spirit in Kolkata reached its peak on Thursday as the Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami celebrations of the Durga Puja commenced on the same day.