June 25, 1975, is recorded as a turning point in the history of Indian democracy. On that day, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of Emergency in the country. The period, which lasted until March 21, 1977, saw severe restrictions on civil liberties, the imprisonment of opposition leaders and the imposition of government censorship on newspapers. Today, during Narendra Modi’s tenure as Prime Minister, a section of the opposition, journalists and civil rights advocates accuse the government of creating an ‘undeclared Emergency’. Comparing the two periods raises an important question: Are the circumstances really similar, or have the methods of putting pressure on political dissent changed?

The song ‘Naina Ye Barse...’, sung by Lata Mangeshkar for the 1985 film 'Mohabbat', captures a state of love in which the heart is immersed in longing for someone, while circumstances prevent two lovers from coming close to each other, no matter how much they wish to.

Two contrasting images of India’s economy have emerged on the same day, forcing us to reflect on the deep divide between economic growth and inequality. The country’s largest-ever IPO, Jio Platforms, made its debut on the stock market, opening with a gain of around 21 per cent over its issue price and climbing to nearly 27 per cent by the end of the trading day, sparking enthusiasm among investors.

In Bollywood films, faith in God is often expressed through prayers, devotional songs and surrender. Yet there are scenes in which heroes do not bow before their deity but instead question him. They want to know the reasons behind their suffering, seek answers for the injustices they have endured, and sometimes even hold God accountable through their reproaches. Two such scenes stand out in Hindi cinema. One is Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic “Aaj Khush To Bahut Hoge Tum…” scene in 'Deewaar', and the other is the song “Hey Shivshankar…” picturised on Girish Karnad in 'Sur Sangam'. The two scenes are presented in entirely different styles, but both convey a sense of grievance against Lord Shiva.

Jio Platforms Ltd, which is preparing to add a new chapter to the history of the Indian stock market, has already attracted investors' attention with its Initial Public Offering. Positioned as the country's largest-ever public issue, the IPO received an overwhelming response from institutional investors. The biggest question now is whether the enthusiasm witnessed during the subscription process will continue when the shares are listed on the stock exchange. Investors are also keen to know how much they could potentially gain from their investments.

Released in 1987 and directed by Raj N Sippy, the film 'Satyamev Jayate' featured the song ‘Dil Mein Ho Tum...’, which earned a special place in listeners’ hearts through Bappi Lahiri’s music, Farooq Qaiser’s lyrics and the voices of two different singers.