The nearly six-month-long festivities began pre-wedding in January with a galaxy of Bollywood movie stars packed in what looked like a picnic bus. Rihanna performed on stage wearing a parrot-coloured Manish Malhotra (and that wasn't her only faux pas) and Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates wore kurtas. Then a European Cruise party where Katy Perry danced and an Italian village was trashed. And finally, a weekend of festivities where Justin Bieber turned private dancer, Kim Kardashian shot for her reality show and more global leaders showed up than at the United Nations.
The razzle-dazzle of film stars was such that all the awards functions decided to stay put this year, none could outnumber the celebrity attendance. Heck, even Bollywood decided to take a gap year and churned out mediocre film after shoddy film.
This story is from the January 05, 2025 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 05, 2025 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Why Trump covets Greenland
There’s no denying it. Donald Trump is a prince among real estate developers, known for his pushy, winner-takes-all approach.
Bomb man who kept his mouth shut
The best thing about Rajagopala Chidambaram, who passed away recently, was that he “could keep his mouth shut”, as his mentor Raja Ramanna wrote in his memoir, Years of Pilgrimage. No wonder, he tested six atom bombs with no CIA, ISI or satellite spy eyes getting any wiser beforehand.
Extreme to mainstream
With the recent surrender of six Naxals, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declares Karnataka almost “Naxal-free”. The BJP is questioning his “closeness” to the far left
SUMMITS, SURVIVAL AND SERVICE
Mountaineering expeditions play a crucial role in mountain warfare training
EYES ON THE ICE
THE INDIAN ARMY TRAINS ITS MOUNTAIN WARRIORS AT THE MACHOI GLACIER WHERE THEY LEARN ICE AND SNOW CRAFT IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES. THE HIGH ALTITUDE WARFARE SCHOOL IN GULMARG PREPARES THEM FOR WARS THAT ARE DRIVEN BY TECHNOLOGY AND INTELLIGENCE. ON SNOW-COVERED BATTLEFIELDS LIKE THE HIMALAYAS, THE ARMY WANTS ITS JUNIOR LEADERSHIP TO BECOME DECISION-MAKERS AT THE TACTICAL LEVEL
Time to dream big
Every year, January 12 is celebrated as National Youth Day—as homage to the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, honouring his enduring teachings and visionary ideas.
Climbing the power ladder
In his latest book, T.V. Paul explores India's search for its day in the sun as a global power
Howdy, rowdies
The world is already exhausted, and Donald Trump has not even begun his second term.
The going gets rough
It’s been a very macho fortnight
Eastward Ho!
Odisha, which hosted this year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, is emerging as a focal point for India's Act East Policy, given the turmoil in the northeast