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Category: Art, Culture and Entertainment

  • Oscars 2025: Honouring the Year’s Finest in Cinema

    Oscars 2025: Honouring the Year’s Finest in Cinema

    The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, lit up on 2nd March 2025, as some of the best in American and global cinema gathered to celebrate the most powerful performances of the year at the 97th Academy Awards. This year, the prestigious annual ceremony was hosted by  Conan O’Brien, and the night’s lineup was compelling, bringing together a dynamic lineup of films spanning genres and cultures.

    Leading the night, Sean Baker’s comedy-drama Anora swept the Oscars, winning five out of the six nominations, for Best Picture, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, Best Director for Sean Baker, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing. This series of wins places Sean Baker alongside Walt Disney for the most Oscars ever won in one night. In his acceptance speech, Baker emphasised the importance of preserving the theatrical experience, urging filmmakers to continue creating stories for the big screen.

    Emilia Pérez, directed by Jacques Audiard, made history as it garnered thirteen nominations, the most ever for a non-English language film. It won two awards, Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song for the song ‘El Mal’.

    Jon M. Chu’s fan favourite musical Wicked, with a total of ten nominations, walked away with two wins – Best Production Design for Paul Tezwall, making him the first African American man to win this award, and Best Costume Design for Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales.

    In the acting categories, Adrien Brody and Kieran Culkin delivered powerhouse performances, earning themselves the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards for The Brutalist and A Real Pain, respectively. The Brutalist won again, with Daniel Blumberg winning Best Original Score and L. Crowley winning Best Cinematography.

    Conclave, directed by Edward Berger, earned the Best Writing on an Adapted Screenplay award for its gripping adaptation of Robert Harris’ mystery thriller novel.  Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here, a Portuguese film set in Brazil, took home the Best International Feature Film award.  Best Documentary Short Film was won by The Only Girl in the Orchestra, directed by Molly O’Brien, and the Best Short Film was I’m Not a Robot, directed by Victoria Warmerdam.

    In the Animation category,  the Best Animated Feature Film award went to Flow, a Latvian adventure film without dialogue directed by Gints Zilbalodis. Best Animated Short Film was taken home by In The Shadow of Cypress, directed by Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi, which beautifully captures the evolving relationship between a father who struggles with PTSD and his daughter.

    Source: X/ @TheAcademy

    The documentary film No Other Land, the directorial debut of a four-Palestinian-Israeli collective of activists, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Ballal, Basel Adra, and Rachel Szor, won the Best Documentary Feature Film award. The documentary, filmed between 2019 and 2023, depicts the destruction caused by war, resistance in the Palestinian West Bank and the growing friendship between Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham and the Palestinian activist Basel Adra.

    Dune: Part Two, directed by Denis Villeneuve, was nominated for five awards and won Best Sound and Best Achievement in Visual Effects. Also nominated for five awards was Coralie Fargeat’s body horror film, The Substance, which won the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

    As the curtains closed on the 97th Academy Awards, the night served as a testament that cinema goes beyond entertainment- it is a medium for bold and conscious storytelling and cultural commentary. This year’s ceremony shone the spotlight on the year’s films that highlighted the human experience and invited the global film community to reflect and yearn for more such stories.

  • From Chic to Cosy: Redefining Style at New York Fashion Week

    From Chic to Cosy: Redefining Style at New York Fashion Week

    New York Fashion Week – the semi-annual event that kicks off the season of fashion. Over the years, we have seen spectacular arrays of outfits ranging from elegance to avant-garde. This year, however, has opened up a different door of fashion for us. Bringing in mixed reviews, New York Fashion Week 2025 (NYFW 25) held from 6-11 February in Manhattan brought about fresh perspectives and collections for this year’s Fall/Winter (FW) edition.

    Arising Trends 
    With this year’s runway, we can see that designers are seeking more of a comfort and cosy vibe, while perfectly tying it in with style and grace. This could be because of the current state of the world, where in times of crisis, people try to seek comfort. Dramatic draping and layering are a common theme. Statement skirts with oversized pillowy silhouettes and circles draping brought in that tone of comfort. Corduroy, lace, velvet and denim were some fabrics used often. Feathers and fringe added movement to gowns, giving a sense of ethereal fluidity, while structured leather pieces brought an edgy contrast. Sheer fabrics and lace were reimagined in fresh, contemporary ways, offering a balance between delicacy and modernity. Leather gloves and jackets were styled to perfection on models representing Coach, Khaite and Tory Burch.

    Hues of warm and rich colours like beige, red, dark green and browns will become more of a staple in people’s closets. Monochrome looks also made a major impact, particularly in all-white and all-black ensembles that exuded effortless elegance. Compared to last year, more smoky makeup and bangs were seen on models. Flowers are huge this season, with organic and 3D ones embellished on dresses.

    Accessories took centre stage this season, elevating all the looks to new heights. Oversized earrings, chunky chains, and dramatic headpieces were seen across multiple runways.

    Anticipated Runways
    Veronica Leoni debuted her first collection with Calvin Klein as the new creative director, who last had their runway on NYFW six years ago. Her approach to the collection was to blend minimalism with luxury. She mixed in different drapes, layers and volumes. Tory Burch brought in sportswear, calling it ‘twisted American sportswear.’ There was knitwear, crewneck sweaters and slashed cardigans. Michael Kors wanted to appeal to an older audience and brought in fashion from the 70s and 80s. Monochromatic looks in shades of deep purple and greys reminded people of evening looks. Kaithe and Brandon Maxwell brought back leather-styled looks, with leather jackets, gloves and maxi skirts. Thom Browne closed the curtains with notions of fantasy. Birds were repeated symbols, and he explained it by saying they were symbols of freedom.

    Mixed Opinions
    This season, the reception from the critics was pretty mixed. While some thought that certain shows lacked coherence or played it too safe, others applauded the designers for their bold decisions and dedication to defying fashion conventions. Vogue interviewed a few people, including designers, critics and publicists, to get a more comprehensive idea. The week’s exuberant spirit was commended by publicist Lucien Pagès, who suggested a lively and dynamic atmosphere. Given Paris’s historical sway on New York, critic Alexander Fury suggested that the city has to improve its fashion sector even more. The success of Thom Browne’s collection and the emergence of up-and-coming designers like Luar suggested that there was room for fresh perspectives in the fashion industry. In addition, several well-known designers came under fire for failing to advance sustainability initiatives in spite of the rising demand for environmentally friendly clothing.

    The designers of this season pushed the limits of conventional fashion while embracing drama and refinement. One thing is certain as another incredible fashion week comes to an end: the upcoming year will be characterised by elegance and daring.

  • Beyond the Myth: The Living Power of the Maha Kumbh

    Beyond the Myth: The Living Power of the Maha Kumbh

    Life is filled with curves and circles, looping through birth, death, and rebirth. Each soul is affected by karma and longs for release, Moksha. In this journey for liberation, only once every 144 years comes a moment when the heavens align. This moment is the Maha Kumbh Mela, a spiritual phenomenon where millions gather to cleanse their sins, dissolve their egos, and connect with something far greater than themselves.

    At the heart of this divine convergence is Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, the sacred convergence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. According to ancient scriptures, this Sangam is not just a sacred place where these rivers meet, but it is a doorway to spiritual awakening. A dip in these holy waters during the Maha Kumbh is said to wash away lifetimes of accumulated karma, breaking away from the very cycle of life and death.

    When the Sun, Moon and Jupiter align, it is believed the rivers become charged with Amrit, the divine nectar of immortality. There existed a time when the universe itself was in a state of instability. The Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons) joined forces to churn the cosmic ocean in pursuit of Amrit. As the pot of Amrit emerged, chaos unfolded. To protect it from falling into the wrong hands, Lord Vishnu, in the form of Mohini, whisked it away. In the celestial fight that followed, four drops of Amrit fell on Earth, Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. These four cities became sites of sacred convergence. And thus, the Kumbh Mela was born.

    “In the eternal churn of the cosmos, gods and demons wrestled not for gold or land, but for a drop of immortality.”

    But the Maha Kumbh is not just about myths. It is also a breathtaking display of humanity. Over 400 million people visited from all corners of the world, rich and poor, saints and sceptics, to participate in this unfathomably vast gathering. Temporary cities rise on the riverbanks, complete with roads, clinics, tents, and sanitation, all for a few sacred weeks. The air hums with chants, conch shells, and the scent of incense, forming a sensory experience unlike any other.

    Leading the way into the waters are the Naga Sadhus, warriors devoted to Lord Shiva. Covered in ash, with matted hair and tridents in hand, they march nude and unbothered, a living challenge to the materialistic world. For many pilgrims, witnessing the Nagas is as transformative as the dip itself.

    And then there is the spirit of seva, selfless service. Bhandaras, or community kitchens, are set up on every lane of the city. Here, everyone eats for free. Volunteers, often anonymous and unpaid, serve hot meals from sunrise to nightfall. There is no caste, no status, only humanity sharing a meal together. It is extraordinary kindness on a massive scale, showing that devotion does not just lie in prayer, but in action.

    The Maha Kumbh Mela might appear, at first glance, like overwhelming chaos – crowds of people surging into muddy rivers, noise echoing in every direction, giving one no space to breathe. Yet, for those who stand on the riverbank, it becomes something else entirely. It feels like everything has a purpose, as if there is a deeper meaning beneath the surface.

    When you step into those cold waters, you are not just taking a bath. You’re letting go of stress, guilt, regret, or even ego. You’re washing off layers of your past. And in that moment, as the river flows around you, you don’t just feel clean, you feel light, open, and somehow… free.