Search the Community

Ever wondered why they call it a fitness 'journey'? The obvious answer to it may be because we can't get that dream body overnight. But in all honesty, we all know there is more to it than meets the eye. And this journey, is in many ways, testing and teasing like all the others, and it is as much to do with a healthy 'body image' as it is to do with a healthy body. © Getty Images However, it would be a lie to call this journey regular, because it is certainly not and will never be. The journey to fitness is marked by many challenges, which are physical as well as psychological. The very decision to kickstart a fitness journey deserves many accolades in itself, and then comes in the constant battle we fight with ourselves over shedding those extra kilos and squeezing in another hour of sleep instead. From the dietary adjustments, to other long term compromises we are expected to make and a myriad of other miscellaneous things we are expected to abide by, makes this journey a real struggle. © Getty Images But then there exist some people who show us the real face of a fitness journey at their own expense, and it seems so true, every Indian guy would come to relate to it. Using Arjun Kapoor and weight loss in the same sentence may provoke a lot of you to break into laughter. But, can we spare a moment to consider that every “weight loss journey” is different from the last one you came across? That every individual who is on this journey is making a lot of effort to stop making excuses and charge towards a healthier body. © Twitter Well, if you are looking for an example to guide you on your own journey to a fitter you, then that's the man you should look out for. His isn't the most glitzy fat-to-fab story, it definitely doesn't make for a perfect example of a fitness journey either, and that is exactly what that makes Arjun's journey more real, more believable and therefore more inspiring. We witnessed Arjun Kapoor's drastic body transformation for his debut movie 'Ishaqzaade' back in 2012. When, as an aspiring actor, Arjun weighed 140 kgs, the dream of being a Bollywood actor seemed too far-fetched for him. But it was reportedly during his time as an assistant director for Nikkhil Advani's 2007 film 'Salaam-E-Ishq', that Salman Khan inspired him to lose weight, after which Salman allegedly also supervised Arjun's training sessions. Over the next three years, Arjun lost close to 50 kg before his big launch. © Instagram But hours ago, Arjun revealed his fitness journey over the years, and how his struggles with obesity have been a constant in his life since he was a child. Owing to many mental and personal reasons that always came in his way one way or another, Arjun has constantly battled with the weighing scale over the years. But nothing could make him give it all up, not when he knew what he is capable of. Read about his journey here. View this post on Instagram It's been a tough journey for me ever since I was a kid when it comes to my battle with obesity. Everyone has their own struggles I have had and continue to have mine. But the whole point of life is that we fall, we get back up and try again... efforts will pay off eventually if not today then in a week month or even a year... I started training with @shivohamofficial this January and slow and steady we have managed to At least lay a foundation during our prep for Panipat. I vowed never to give up in the 3 years it took me to lose 50kgs when I was 20 years old & I sure as hell won't be giving up and letting go now... keeping the belief is key, u gotta keep at it and one day you will reap the benefits... we all gotta keep the faith and keep at it cause what we do today will echo in time and reflect within us eventually... A post shared by Arjun Kapoor (@arjunkapoor) on Jun 17, 2019 at 11:18pm PDT Arjun's earnest and honest ways of always being candid about his weight issues and how he struggles and deals with it, is something most of us will relate to. Getting those 6-pack-abs and chiselled face comes at a cost, but how many people have been completely honest about their backstories, instead of posting daily gym selfies with sappy 'motivational' one-liners? © Instagram But, this guy here, brings forth the real story, and it will do us good to acknowledge it that while we are trying to get fit, it's okay to chase after it at the cost of your mental peace and happiness in general. The idea is to have a healthy body, that's the goal we are after.

Anything and everything that can be said about 'Game of Thrones' Season eight has been said. Yes, it sucked but everyone has to agree that the scene with Arya Stark killing the Night King was so badass and iconic. It was one of the best scenes of the show, actually even the entire season. Now, we know that great things always act as a source of inspiration but this time, it may have gone too far. Turns out that an Indian show - 'Aladdin - Naam Toh Suna Hoga' - has the same exact scene, literally down to every single detail. This scene looks familiar doesn't it? But the scene from the Indian series Aladdin was aired last year. https://t.co/NgsVEwjRde#GameOfThrones copied this. That's how lazy it was pic.twitter.com/wtvdaumOwH — Radhakrishna Sharma (@MatKarma) June 15, 2019 Imitation may not be the best form of flattery after all. While this narrative - Indian show blatantly copying the biggest show in the entire world - might be expected, turns out that there's a possibility of the exact opposite thing being true. Basically, there's a chance that 'GoT' copied 'Aladdin'. Yep, these are some strange times. Some people are saying the episode aired last year, and some are saying that it aired after the GoT episode, the rest are just laughing at the hilariously weird - and low quality - recreation of the 'GoT' scene. India did it before it was cool. from r/india The Reddit user that brought the scene to light captioned it saying, 'India did it before it was cool', but did India do it first? And even if it did, I'm pretty sure the makers of 'GoT' are not looking for inspiration from an Indian TV show that even we didn't know about until now. Oh, we're also not done with the whole copycat game. Here's a scene from the movie 'Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter'. The movie came out in 2012, just btw. The title tho. Gareebo ka Arya Stark, Copied Scene from Game of Thrones... https://t.co/xtjnSefY4g — Gaurav Mukherjee (@garvsays) June 17, 2019 The best part is instead of arguing about who copied whom, people on Reddit have just come together to find the logic behind how someone can kill a skeleton by stabbing it. What overthinking looks like.

Ranveer Singh was at Old Trafford in Manchester for the India vs Pakistan match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Singh was trending throughout the game due to his crazy appearance and even crazier antics. But it is hard not to relate to Ranveer Singh because he is not behaving differently than any other standard Indian cricket fan. Following the game and a mammoth 89-run (DLS) victory for India, Ranveer went on a tweeting spree and it was the ultimate fanboy moment for anyone who grew up in India. Prince of Calcutta! ð God of the off-side! ðð½ Bengal Tiger! ð¯ @SGanguly99 DADA AMI TOMAKE BHALOBASHI ! ⤠pic.twitter.com/xABeSw6oHT — Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) June 17, 2019 THE MASTER BLASTER !!! ðð@sachin_rt ðâ¤ðð½ pic.twitter.com/I7leLaPqsr — Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) June 17, 2019 BIGGG DAWGGG!!! BOHT HARDDD!!! @klrahul11 ðð¥ð¥ð¥ That's how you step up and make a statement!âð¾ (dat Technique doe ð¥¶ð¥¶ð¥¶ ufffff) pic.twitter.com/PJc8IcRkeh — Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) June 17, 2019 Eat. Sleep. Dominate. Repeat. The name is Hardik. Hardik Pandya. ðâð¾âð¾ @hardikpandya7 ma boi #unstoppable pic.twitter.com/B5oRzedTg3 — Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) June 17, 2019 I've been a die-hard fan of Indian cricket since childhood. Invested so much emotion into our beloved team. Willing and wanting them to be the undisputed best in the world. And then, there was VIRAT KOHLI. pic.twitter.com/tXPNw0le60 — Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) June 18, 2019 COME ON INDIA, COME ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ð®ð³ @StarSportsIndia @ICC @cricketworldcup pic.twitter.com/kupOy8CkCY — Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) June 18, 2019 With 12 tweets in the space of 12 hours, he has won the internet: pic.twitter.com/R1xtFyI5b3 — Mohit Zade (@MohitZade) June 18, 2019 Ranveer ko bhi playing XI mein khila lete, toh ye bhi ek century aur 2-3 wicket le hi letað — Pratham1011 (@PrathamDhoka) June 18, 2019 Ye I don't know itna pyr ki wajh par apki wajh sy India sy pyr hogya ha love you Baba @RanveerOfficial — Fabeha Basharat (@BasharatFabeha) June 17, 2019 Thought Ranveer's clothes were the biggest disaster of the day, but then Pakistan's performance won the Award. pic.twitter.com/X0vroE4lPL — Rabia Anum Obaid (@RabiaAnumm) June 16, 2019 India look like the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy this year and as the anticipation continues to increase after a third win on the trot against Pakistan , the excitement and craze shown by Ranveer is representative of all fans of cricket in India...

A man who knows how to layer right will never run out of interesting ensembles, because new outfit combinations effortlessly give rise to an ever-expanding wardrobe. To layer right is to understand fashion in its truest sense, and it also makes sure that your wardrobe is super versatile. Here are 5 easy layering hacks that every man should use to upgrade his wardrobe: 1. Plaids & Patchworks Relaxed but well-fitting shirts & jackets in plaid and patchwork patterns will definitely up your style game, when paired with cottons and linens. __ECOMPRODUCT__15__ __ECOMPRODUCT__25__ 2. Pastel Waistcoats A pastel waistcoat can be paired with both button-downs and round neck T-shirts for a sophisticated Indie aesthetic. __ECOMPRODUCT__26__ __ECOMPRODUCT__27__ 3. Oversized Shirts One can completely transform a bland outfit by casually throwing on an oversized shirt on top, and it makes complete sense to utilize that to its fullest potential. __ECOMPRODUCT__17__ 4. Super Relaxed Half-Sleeved Shirts Be it a brunch or a casual get-together with your buddies, wearing a super relaxed half-sleeved shirt on top of a monochrome ensemble will definitely turn heads. __ECOMPRODUCT__28__ __ECOMPRODUCT__16__ 5. Self-Layered Silhouettes Self-layered silhouettes will make you the centre of attention in a room full of fashionable people, without you having to compromise on subtlety or sophistication. __ECOMPRODUCT__21__ __ECOMPRODUCT__23__ __ECOMPRODUCT__24__ Get ready to grab the limelight with your newfound knowledge.

Yesterday's India versus Pakistan World Cup match at Old Trafford in Manchester came with its own shades of hope, expectations, disappointments and cheers. Fans thronged the stadium in huge numbers, and the stands came alive in shades of blue and green. Chants for India and Pakistan erupted sporadically every now and then, and the buzz was almost palpable on our side of the screen. © Twitter But amidst the height of all that craziness and raging levels of adrenaline owning to the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, a couple's thoughtful yet meaningful jersey is going viral on Twitter for the heartwarming social message it delivers. © Twitter The couple in question wore a customised jersey that has been put together by combining half of the Indian jersey along with half of the Pakistani jersey. The end result is quite eye-catching, honestly. Spotted this couple at the #IndiaVsPakistan @cricketworldcup game and was intrigued by their jerseys! Husband is from Pakistan, wife from India so both stitched up India-Pak jerseys & wore them! Both are Canadians, watching the game in England, rooting for peace #SpiritofCricket pic.twitter.com/KrUjtkjFMn — Lakshmi Kaul (@KaulLakshmi) June 16, 2019 Posted by another cricket fan named Lakshmi Kaul, she tweeted this along with the picture, “Husband is from Pakistan, wife from India so both stitched up India-Pak jerseys & wore them! Both are Canadians, watching the game in England, rooting for peace #SpiritofCricket.” The tweet has since caused a buzz online with as many as 18K+ likes! Cricket fans from both the nations came together to praise this thoughtful move. That's exemplary stuff — Nida Khan Yousufzai (@NidaYousufzai) June 16, 2019 Awwwww... ð®ð³ððµð°... in the end, Love wins..#SpiritOfCricket — Tomy Pereira (@tomygilbert2000) June 16, 2019 Very kind gesture, We must never allow politics in the sport of cricket — Mustafa Mahmood (@MeMustefa) June 17, 2019 Just brilliant to see. I want peace too. ð®ð³â¤ï¸ðµð° — Jay Deshpande (@JayDeshpande8) June 17, 2019 At the end of the day, it is just a game and must not come in the way of the peace that both nations are striving to achieve.

When it comes to sartorial finesse, there is something inherently magical about the quintessential Indian aesthetic. Be it the relaxed yet conspicuously elaborate detailing, the innovative cuts, or the comfortable fit, Indian-wear always scores high when it comes to clothes that make you feel good and look fancy. 1. Mix It Up With Relaxed Jodhpuri Joggers You can never go wrong with Athleisure, and adding a bit of rustic yet edgy Indian touch to it will only make your style game stronger. Wear Jodhpuri joggers with graphic or plain T-shirts, and get ready to serve class, with comfort. __ECOMPRODUCT__14__ 2. Go minimal with Indian prints on relaxed shirts Nothing spells effortless style like wearing a relaxed shirt with a comfortable pair of linen pants and open toed sandals to go with it. Go for rich hues painted with charming local Indian prints like 'Ajrak' for a superbly fashionable aesthetic that is unparalleled. __ECOMPRODUCT__16__ 3. Experiment with edgy silhouettes Gone are the days when menswear meant only 'shirts and pants'. Be fearless with cuts and designs, as there is nothing more appealing than a confident man who is not afraid to go beyond his comfort zone and try out innovative silhouettes - just like they used to, back in the days. __ECOMPRODUCT__18__ __ECOMPRODUCT__20__ __ECOMPRODUCT__22__ Try these hacks and get ready to turn heads.

ICC World Cup 2019 has not seen a lot of cricketing action in the past two days thanks to England's heavy rains, but the enthusiastic cricketing fans present at the venue have plenty to get amused. According to a video that surfaced after the Indian cricket team's match against Aaron Finch's Team Australia, an Englishman named Agnus Denoon was located in front of The Oval in London, selling 'Jhal Muri' to the lot that visited the stadium to experience the spectacle that the match was. To quote one of the Bengali writers here at MensXP, "Jhal Muri is a nostalgic delicacy that takes you down memory lane, back to the train rides you used to take as a child in Kolkata, while relishing the spicy delight." Denoon, who runs an Instagram account by the username '@jhalmuriexpress', decided to surprise the Indian fans of the game in front of the stadium on Sunday evening, as he set up his trolly and sold the dish that he has spent years perfecting in Kolkata. “The only dish that I felt confident to cook was Jhal muri because there is no cooking,” Angus Denoon said. Denoon is not only a fan of Indian snacks but also stays true to the street art that beautifully promotes them and attracts people from all over to helplessly give in to the flavours of the various dishes. View this post on Instagram Give festival - the red one the hot one A post shared by Angus Denoon (@jhalmuriexpress) on Jul 17, 2018 at 2:51am PDT With the Indian cricket team looking to register their third consecutive win this World Cup at Trent Bridge against Kane Williamson's New Zealand cricket team, the fans would most definitely be looking forward to meeting Denoon in Nottinghamshire on Thursday.

The World Cup fever has gripped the entire planet at the moment, but ahead of the much-awaited India vs Pakistan match scheduled for 16th June, the fervour and craziness in the air is at its peak, because like always, this is a highly-anticipated match, which will be watched by everyone, irrespective of their loyalties. So, ahead of this match, a Pakistani TV commercial has been going viral for all the wrong reasons. The advertisement shows a look-alike of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was in Pakistani captivity , wearing the colors of the Indian team jersey. This is the our hero's personality, no one can remain untouched. But next time plz use some good actors. Btw #ShikharDhawan exclusion must be a relief for many competitors #CWC19 #abhinandan pic.twitter.com/mrBFLFLh2d — Megha Jainð®ð³ (@i_meghajain) June 11, 2019 While Indians have mocked fans across the border with the 'Mauka Mauka' ad, a lot of angry Indian fans feel this was below the belt and not in good taste at all. This is shameful. Please just let this be a cricket match. This is beyond just simple banter. #CWC19#INDvPAK https://t.co/shsUrYpCHl — Ritayan Basu | à¦à¦¤à¦¾à§à¦¨ বসৠ(@ritayanbasu) June 11, 2019 Abhinandan's Capture Mocked in Racist #Pakistani Ad For World Cup Clash Against #India. This is how #racism, #nationalism and #sports combines to produce toxic outcomes. Entirely unnecessary. #CWC2019 #crickethttps://t.co/7gcMx2CxjI — Swati Parashar (@swatipash) June 11, 2019 Some people from Pakistan are actually quite in support of this advertisement, and feel there is obviously nothing wrong with it. Abhinandan again ð¤£âï¸ That's an interesting idea about Pakistan-India match in @cricketworldcup being played on 16th June ð #PakvsIndia #Abhinandan #CWC19 #IndiavsPak pic.twitter.com/W3EzxJfYdn — Danyal Gilani (@DanyalGilani) June 11, 2019 However, someone was quick enough to state some facts to stomp all over this uncalled celebration of this mockery. The advertisement is an epic fail because Pak hasn't won a single match against us in the World Cup and the whole #Abhinandan incident was a win for us as well, seeing how he was returned to us safely. Think thoroughly before you try to start a banter, Pak. #EpicFail #CWC19 https://t.co/CHgsJOOFLz — Rahul Mishra (@RahulDKMishra) June 11, 2019 The main question is, how far can you go when it comes to national pride? Is dragging a national and a sensitive issue really important when it comes to making a point? These guys have their hearts filled with hate. #Pakistan stooping to a new low#abhinandan https://t.co/X1KpCfKeFO — SnehalRajani (@Snehal_Rajani) June 11, 2019 Our soldiers are way above a mere, crass advertisement and mockery of this kind not only belittles an individual, but is also a joke on the sacrifices made by the brave soldiers of a country.

For a team that was labelled as one of the top contenders in the tournament, the Indian cricket team has undoubtedly lived up to the billing on the back of clinical performances in their two matches so far at the ICC World Cup. The 'Men in Blue' began their campaign with a six-wicket triumph over South Africa, and then a 36-run victory over Australia highlighted their intent in the coveted tournament. If their consecutive victories weren't enough, the fact that Team India almost ticked all the boxes further bolstered their reputation as a champion side. Whether it was their spin bowling duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav or the seam bowling partners Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India's bowling unit has managed to prove their mettle in the recent matches. © Reuters Similarly, in the batting department, the likes of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan getting their respective hundreds in two matches and KL Rahul consolidating his position at the much-debated no. 4 slot, has made the Indian team a force to be reckoned with. But, cricket is a sport where one cannot take anything for granted - something that India and their fans realised recently. In what appears to be a major blow, Dhawan, who rediscovered his form with a 117-run knock against Australia, has been ruled out for about two to three weeks with an alleged hairline fracture on his left thumb. The Indian opener was hit by Nathan Coulter-Nile's bouncer during the clash against Australia. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce his replacement, the news of Dhawan's injury comes as a major let down for the Indian fans who expressed their views on the social media. While some wished the left-handed batsman a speedy recovery, others deemed Rishabh Pant as his ideal replacement. With Shikhar Dhawan injured, bring in Rishabh Pant. Making him open with Rohit Sharma, with a licence to go beserk!#CWC19 #CWC2019 — Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 11, 2019 I want Rishabh pant in team — •RIYA•â¨ðð» (@chatty_gurl_) June 11, 2019 Wtf. Just Opened Twitter and saw Shikhar ruled out of the World Cup. ð­ It's a huge blow for India. I think they should call Rishabh Pant to play at 4 and let KL Rahul open. — Sharique ð (@ShariqueAghaz) June 11, 2019 We can always open with Rahul and call Rishabh Pant to bat at number 4. — Sanchit Gupta (@SanchitGupta8) June 11, 2019 Well Rishabh pant might get a chance — Dhaval prajapati (@Dhavalfreeman25) June 11, 2019 Rishabh pant be like...@BCCI ð pic.twitter.com/awmRdtuTYa — Ayan (@AyanViratians) June 11, 2019 Rishabh Pant right now.. #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/e3mruSM0gP — Loveyouall_007 (@loveyouall_007) June 11, 2019 Rishabh pant have most probable chances because we don't have lefty's in lineup — Surya (@Surya__Speaks) June 11, 2019

The Bengalis are boisterous people. We love to talk, and we love to eat. Along with applying copious amounts of “Boroline” and eating tons of fish, we are raised on a steady diet of loving our heritage, our culture; a great part of which is composed of literature and films. © Pinterest So, when we are not busy having our daily quota of “Bhaat Ghum” or debating about politics, we are busy with our cup of “cha” and “Shinghara/Telebhaja” in an “Adda” about movies: past, present, and the future. Or in the contemporary sense, with our trusty bottle of “Old Monk” and delicious Fish Fry. (Enough with the stereotypes! :P ) And it can become a bloodbath if you try to compare recent Hindi mainstream movies with the ones we grew up on. Not only do we have great directors like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, and Ritwik Ghatak among others, whose brilliance the directors of today cannot even begin to grasp, we have compelling stories which make you think and initiate a stimulating discussion. What Makes Bengali Movies Different? Bengali movies show the human side of people, the real face of humanity, the fate of society. It is about those small moments which change a person. Gone is the hullabaloo of the city, the glitz and glamour. Yet, it encompasses parts of the charm. Importance is given to the apparent monotony of life, the day-to-day conversations which seem trivial but constitute our society. The movies are beautifully directed, have superb cinematography and powerful portrayals. Contrary to popular perception, the Indian Film Industry is made of more than just Hindi commercial/mainstream movies; there is Arthouse cinema, Parallel cinema, regional language films which include exceptional Bangla, Kannada, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, Telugu, Assamese movies, et al. And all of these can give mainstream movies a good run for their money. The thing is, people don't watch these movies because the movies do not have the budget for promotion, or the audience is just unaware of them. So, if you, like me, have been crying with rage over the fate of Indian cinema, courtesy of the mediocre and utterly bland movies in the mainstream (Yes, looking at you SOTY 2!), here are 13 Bengali movies that will change your perception of Indian cinema: (Note: There are numerous Bengali movies which are absolutely brilliant, but all cannot feature in a single list.) 1. Mahanagar (The Big City / 1963): © R.D. Bansal & Company Set in the financially strapped Calcutta of the 1950s, one of Satyajit Ray's first women-centric movies, Mahanagar, tells the story of Arati (Madhabi Mukherjee), a middle-class woman who has to step into the corporate world to support her economically crunched family. Though initially supportive of his wife's job, her husband Subrata starts resenting her new-found success and independence, after he loses his job. Subrata is left struggling with his masculinity, guided by societal pressures warning him of the “perils of a working woman”. Arati, now, turns into the sole breadwinner of the family; a feat for which she both begrudged and loved. Arati starts loving her freedom, the liberation the job gives and befriends her modern colleagues which doesn't go down well with her orthodox family. As the story moves forward, Arati realizes her role in society is more than what society teaches her, and she finds a version of herself which had been hidden behind layers of tradition and customs. 2. Meghe Dhaka Tara (The Cloud-Capped Star / 1960): © Chitrakalpa Ritwik Ghatak's masterpiece is a dialogue on society and human nature; the way we take others for granted and leave them the moment tragedy strikes. Neeta (Supriya Chowdhury), Ghatak's heroine, is a beautiful, sweet-natured girl from the suburbs of Calcutta. After the recent upheaval of the Partition, as Neeta and her family, refugees from East Pakistan (Bangladesh), try to make a living in the city, tragedy after tragedy befalls them. In the midst is young Neeta, whose altruistic disposition is exploited to no end by everyone she knows, ultimately putting her on a path of devastation, decorated by problems along the way. Neeta's sacrifices make her a strong woman, but they are also a cause for her despair. Mr Ghatak uses music to elevate the trials and tribulations of Neeta in the viewer's mind. 3. Bhooter Bhabhishyat (2012): © Mojo Productions When ad-director Ayan (Parambrata Chatterjee) visits apparently haunted Chowdhury House to shoot for an advertisement, he gets stranded for the night. A while later, while exploring the manor, he runs into Biplab (Sabyasachi Chakrabarty), a local man who offers to tell him a story to provide him with some perspective upon learning Ayan's desire to become a filmmaker. A funny story about the quirky inhabitants of Chowdhury Baadi who just happen to be ghosts! As the movie unfolds, each character which their unique idiosyncrasies, try to subvert a terrible calamity which befalls them. Being a ghost be damned! No peace even after death! 4. Jatugriha (1964): © Uttam Kumar Films Private Ltd. Directed by the talented Tapan Sinha, this social drama concerning two people who are as alike as they are dissimilar, locked in marital discord, is based on Subodh Ghosh's novel “Jatugriha”. Shatadal (Uttam Kumar) and Madhuri (Arundhati Debi) are on the brink of divorce; a happy marriage that has unwittingly turned into a loveless façade. Ironically, their marriage starts crumbling as the construction of their dream home begins. In the heart of it all, unfulfilled desires and misunderstandings mar the couple's time together, as they slowly drift apart. In the backdrop is their completed home, now standing as an empty house, as Madhuri finally leaves him one day without much ado. Years later, they meet at a railway station, reminiscing about their married life and ruminating over what went wrong. 5. The Apu Trilogy (1955-1959): © Government of West Bengal Satyajit Ray's magnum opus, which cemented his name as one of the greats of cinema universally, is an adaptation of the novels “Pather Panchali” and “Aparajito” by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay, monumental in earning him the much-deserved honorary Oscar. A movie that lies bare the pathos of human life. It follows Apurba Roy (thespian Soumitra Chatterjee's debut as the adult Apu), lovingly called Apu, through three phases of his life: a tragic childhood where he experiences the worst of circumstances but overcomes them (Pather Panchali, Song of the Road, 1955), begins his adolescence (Smaran Ghoshal) with nothing and seems to achieve success (Aparajito, The Unvanquished, 1956), falls in love but then life happens (Apur Sansar, The World of Apu, 1959). © Government of West Bengal Touted as one of the greatest films of all-time, it is an eloquent human story which touches you at the most visceral level. A first of many Soumitra-Satyajit collaborations. © Government of West Bengal 6. Chokher Bali: A Passion Play (A Grain of Sand / 2003): © Shree Venkatesh Films Based on Rabindranath Tagore's eponymous novel, 'Chokher Bali', directed by Rituparno Ghosh, is a story of love, lust, and longing. With themes of adultery, friendship and, societal pressure, focusing on the intertwined lives of Binodini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), Ashalata (Raima Sen), Mahendra (Prosenjit Chatterjee), and Bihari (Tota Roy Chowdhury), the film delves into the dynamics of a complicated friendship between two diametrically different women: the intelligent and shrewd Bindoni and naïve Ashalata, connected by their love for one man, the callous Mahendra (Ashalata's husband). Matters further complicate when Bihari gets entangled in the passion play. When recently-widowed Bindodini arrives as a guest into the Mukherjee house, the newly-wed Asha finds solace in the company of this wise, new-found friend, and strikes up a friendship, unwittingly naming it: Chokher Bali, a constant irritant in the eye. But Binodini has other plans; she aspires to exact revenge from the two suitors who had previously deemed her unworthy of marriage. Will she succeed in her quest of vengeance? Or will it lead to self-destruction? 7. Antarmahal: Views of the Inner Chamber (2005): © Twitter Set in 19th century Bengal, the movie, directed by Rituparno Ghosh and based on the short story “Pratima” by author Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay, tells the story of human desires and ambitions which when left unchecked bring utter ruination. Zamindar Bhubaneswar Chowdhury (Jackie Shroff) has two ambitions in life: sire a male heir and be feted with the honour of “Raibahadur”. The only problem is that he is unable to do both. Tyrannical yet incompetent, horny, and perennially grumpy, he has been married twice; very recently to young, fresh-faced Jashomati (Soha Ali Khan) whom he ravages every night. His first wife, Mahamaya (Roopa Ganguly), whom he has dismissed as barren, has given up on him and takes pleasure in terrorizing her new adversary. To finally win the coveted title and demean the neighbouring village's zamindar, Bhubaneswar along with his estate manager concocts a plan; make a colossal change to the Durga idol for Durga Puja. Enter handsome Brijbhushan, the sculptor who has to complete the task. But the comely youth seems to attract the attention of the ladies, especially one of his wives. On the home front, Bhubaneshwar's desperate desire to have a son makes him take horrendous decisions entangling his wives, which eventually lead to the unravelling of his life in a traumatic way he never envisioned. 8. Ashani Sanket (Distant Thunder): © Balaka Movies Satyajit Ray's Asani Sanket is an adaptation of Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's novel of the same name. It explores the aftermath of the 1943 Bengal Famine, which was solely responsible for the deaths of more than 3 million people. Set in provincial Bengal, Mr Ray uses Gangacharan (Soumitra Chatterjee), a Brahmin doctor/teacher and his wife, Anaga (Bobita), as the chroniclers of the story as their calm, leisurely village life gets upended by starvation and hunger. Not only do the lives of the people change for the worse, ironically, but it also starts the collapse of the rudimentary customs and traditions which were strictly followed in better times of the village. 9. Saptapadi (Seven Steps / 1961): © Alochhaya Productions Pvt. Ltd. The iconic duo of Bengali cinema “Uttam-Suchitra” star as star-crossed lovers who meet under unsavoury circumstances. We are taken back via flashback to the 1940s, pre-independent India where Indian students compete with Anglo-Indians with abandon. That is where young, intelligent Krishnendu from a staunch Hindu family, meets beautiful Rina Brown, a talented Anglo-Indian Christian. Love isn't far away, and with the legendary scene of the lovers seated on a motorcycle singing out to each “Ei Poth Jodi Na Shesh Hoye”, it seems that everything will finally fall in place. That is when tragedy strikes, secrets are revealed which spell doom for the bubbling romance. The question is now, after years, will they still be able to have the happiness that has forever eluded them? (Directed by Ajoy Kar, based on Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay's “Saptapadi”.) 10. Deep Jweley Jai (To Light A Lamp / 1959): © Badal Pictures Suchitra Sen stars as “Nurse Mitra”, in one of the most ingenious roles of her career, a nurse in a psychiatric facility where the doctors are trying to experiment with a new type of therapy for the patients: emotional support for their trauma. The nurses are to remain available to the patient as a friend/lover, help them but not get emotionally attached to them. Radha Mitra starts her journey of caring for a particular patient, Tapash (Basanta Choudhury), and seems successful. But what lies ahead for her as she struggles to keep her feelings at bay: a gruesome reality or love forever? A movie questioning the depth of human emotions and lays bare the fact that love is an emotion not be counterfeited. (Ashutosh Mukherjee's short story adapted to screen by Asit Sen) 11. Devi (The Goddess / 1960): © Pinterest Set in rural 19th century Bengal, Kalinkar Choudhuri (Chabbi Biswas), an ardent devotee of goddess Kali, has a vision that his younger daughter-in-law, Dayamoyee (Sharmila Tagore) is an incarnation of the goddess herself. Dayamoyee, always the docile daughter-in-law, dutifully agrees to humour her father-in-law and begins to “bless people”, until it starts wreaking havoc on her mental state. When her husband Umaprasad (Soumitra Chatterjee), away at Kolkata, learns of the turn of events at home, he rushes to save his wife from her fate but tragedy strikes. Another great movie directed by Satyajit Ray, based on a short story by Provatkumar Mukhopadhyay shows how extreme beliefs can turn into a ghastly reality. 12. Goynar Baksho (2013): © Shree Venkatesh Films A comedy surrounding a jewellery box full of secrets! Directed by Aparna Sen, starring Konkona Sensharma and Moushumi Chatterjee, the story focuses on three generations of a Bengali family, with their connecting factor to be a coveted jewellery box. Widowed matriarch Rashmoni (Moushumi Chatterjee) is as cantankerous as they get; quick to anger and extremely fond of her beloved wedding jewels which she keeps hidden in a box, away from the prying eyes of her greedy, materialistic family. When her nephew marries Somlata (Konkona Sensharma), a naïve young girl who is extremely scared of her new in-laws, Rashmoni strikes up a grudging friendship with her, eventually bequeathing her with the “goynar baksho” to save it from getting pawned off by her family. Somlata, now the secret keeper of the box, endeavours to change the luck of her family with her new acquisition. But to make things difficult and keep her niece-in-law in check, Rashmoni returns to haunt Somlata as a spirit. What follows is a laugh riot where the vulture-like family tries to pry away the box from its rightful owner. 13. Charulata (The Lonely Wife / 1964): © R.D. Bansal & Company Based on Rabindranath Tagore's Nashtanirh (The Broken Nest), Satyajit Ray's Charulata explores the psyche of the human mind through the protagonist Charulata (Madhabi Mukherjee). With themes of forbidden love, alienation and loneliness, Charulata focuses on the namesake heroine, a lonely wife who whiles away her time around the house with nothing specific to engage her. Excitement comes in the form of her worldly brother-in-law, Amal (Soumitra Chatterjee), whose company she starts enjoying until it all starts to unravel as desire comes into play. Critically acclaimed and internationally admired, this is one of Satyajit Ray's finest films. Go, give these a try!

Here's something that may drastically steal focus from the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. While currently in England for the World Cup, Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, is in a wee bit of a soup back home, with the Gurugram Municipal Corporation! Obviously, while the team is working hard to bring home the cup, we hear Kohli isn't doing his bit to play the perfect citizen, who can set examples with some great civic sense, along with showcasing great skills on the field, of course. So, here's what Kohli is in trouble for. The GMC (Gurugram Municipal Corporation) has issued a challan against Kohli for wasting drinking water, while washing his car, outside his house, which is located in DLF Phase 1 of Gurugram. © Pintrest The fine was imposed when Kohli's domestic help was seen washing his car(s) with drinking water and he was fined INR 500 for doing so. According to a news report, it was Kohli's neighbours who actually lodged a complaint against thousands of litres of water going to waste, as Kohli's domestic help would wash half a dozen cars, including two SUVs, with plain drinking water. While the temperatures continue to across all of Northern India, there is an ongoing water crisis in most parts, as water bodies are drying up due to the temperature being close to 45-degrees Celsius. And obviously, Gurugram isn't free of the water crisis, just like most parts around Delhi and NCR. Along with Kohli's residence, ten other houses were fined for wasting water while washing their cars. The Gurugram Corporation Commissioner has now warned people for wasting drinking water further and has said stricter action will be taken if the regulations are violated by any more people around the neighbourhood. © Pintrest As for the ICC World Cup, seems like team India got to a good start by defeating South Africa in its opener. Rohit Sharma bagged a century to set his targets right for the remainder of the campaign. After successfully beating the Proteas, the Indian Cricket team has a solid task ahead of them, with their upcoming match with Australia on Sunday. Here's wishing the team boatloads of luck and Virat some common civic sense!

Ever since the Indian cricket team started out with their ICC World Cup 2019 journey against Team South Africa on 5th June 2019, the development on the controversy revolving around former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his wicket keeping gloves has been escalating thanks to the International Cricket Council (ICC). On Wednesday, when the 2011 World Cup champion marched into the field during the Proteas' batting, the Indian fans of the game noticed something special about Dhoni's gloves. As a way of silently honouring the brave soldiers of the nation, Mahi had the Indian Para Special Forces' 'Balidaan' insignia engraved on them and showed their support towards the cricketer's gesture. This man shows his love for the nation and army. A Regimental Dragger(BALIDAN) of Indian Army Para Special Force on MS Dhoni Gloves. #IndianArmy #Balidan pic.twitter.com/P5haUEyQcy — Sachin Joraviya (@SachinJoraviya) June 5, 2019 Salute & respect to MS Dhoni who printed insignia of 'Balidan' on his wicket keeping gloves.ð That's the regimental dagger insignia which represents the Para SF, Special Operations unit of Indian Army attached to Parachute Regiment.ðð®ð³#INDvSA #Dhoni @majorgauravarya pic.twitter.com/WHnlClBUXO — Mujaid Alam Bakarwalð®ð³ (@alam_mujaid) June 5, 2019 The white emblem represents the kind of sacrifice these Para SF candidates make while giving their blood, sweat and tears in the attempt of becoming a part of one of Indian Army's most celebrated regiments through years and years of training in extremely hostile and dangerous surroundings. However, this gesture did not sit well with the apex organisation of international cricket, the ICC who ordered the Board of Control for Cricket in India or the BCCI to remove the insignia from the wicket keeper's gloves. “We have requested the BCCI to get it removed,” Claire Furlong, the ICC General Manager, strategic communications was quoted as saying by the Times of India. According to the ICC regulations, “The ICC equipment and clothing regulations do not permit the display of messages that relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes during an international match.” Ironically the 'Balidaan' symbol on the gloves does not violate either of the three criteria. MS Dhoni, who is not only holds an honorary rank of lieutenant colonel with the regiment but has also been a part of a two-week training regimen and completed a para jump in 2015. He has time and again shown his regard for the Indian Defence and loved them dearly. © defencelover So when the time came for the Army personnel to show their support for Dhoni's cause, they did not hold back. “We've not crossed the ICC's lines anywhere. The 'Balidaan Badge' doesn't disrespect anyone. Let BCCI take up the case, let's not be bullied by the ICC” Col. Dinesh Nain (Retd.), Defence Expert said in an interview with Republic. “This is neither political or religious. MS Dhoni is actually Lt. Col MS Dhoni. Dhoni's wearing an insignia that is part of his regiment,” Major Gaurav Arya (Retd.), Consulting Editor, Strategic Affairs says. “Asking MS Dhoni to remove the 'Balidaan Badge' will offend Indian soldiers," said Major General GD Bakshi. If there was an entity that had the right to make legitimate objection to Dhoni sporting the 'Balidaan' insignia, it is the Indian National Army, not the ICC, not the Indian cricket board but national heroes who spend the prime of their life protecting us at the borders. Clearly, asking Dhoni to remove the symbol will do nothing other than disrespecting our jawans and the BCCI must take a stand against ICC.

One of the most pragmatic captains and skilful batsmen of his time, Michael Vaughan remains a fan-favourite long after his retirement from international cricket. Not one to shy away from speaking his mind, the former England captain has established himself as one of the most respected voices in the sport. From his informative match analysis to honest reviews, Vaughan continues to garner public interest on social media. With the ICC World Cup currently underway, Vaughan is quite busy expressing his views on players, teams and notable performances in the tournament. During India's six-wicket triumph over South Africa at the Rose Bowl on 5th June, the England veteran labelled Kedar Jadhav as his "new favourite bowler". Kedar Jadhav is my new favourite bowler .... !! — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 5, 2019 Clearly, there was a touch of sarcasm in Vaughan's remark. Jadhav, a batting all-rounder, was used by Virat Kohli as a sixth bowler to get some overs in quickly. And, given his role, Jadhav did alright, conceding 16 runs from four overs without any wicket to his name. Calling Jadhav his new favourite bowler was more of a dig than praise by Vaughan - something that didn't go down well with one particular Indian fan. Typical English ex-player-turned-expert. Even the best of them (Vaughan isn't one of them) only follow non-England players when they play in England, and even if they've played there before, they react like they're watching them for the first time, often with condescension. https://t.co/LEUTVJHpV6 — Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) June 5, 2019 Responding to Vaughan's tweet, an Indian fan called the former England cricketer a “typical ex-player-turned-expert” who wasn't among the best produced by England over the years. "Typical English ex-player-turned-expert. Even the best of them (Vaughan isn't one of them) only follow non-England players when they play in England, and even if they've played there before, they react like they're watching them for the first time, often with condescension," the Indian fan tweeted. Oh shut up you idiot .... https://t.co/G51VgQfdmp — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 5, 2019 Called out for his remarks, Vaughan lashed out at the Indian cricket fan before tweeting: "Oh shut up you idiot". Vaughan's feisty response got mixed reactions on social media. While some slammed his remarks, others lauded him for making the right noise. Don't cry ð — Happyð®ð³ (@Cricketician_) June 5, 2019 Kudos to you Micheal for making the right noises, knowing full well it'd awaken the zombies. Takes guts! Seriously, well done. ð — Lakshmanan (@Suresh_ame) June 5, 2019 Truth hurts!!!! — Saurabh (@SteynGun_) June 5, 2019 They're just attention seekers, don't give your time to them! — Setu Purohit (@SETU30) June 5, 2019 Well done there is a saying Donkey can't understand the smell of camphor... This guy no different — SathyaRam (@sathyaram) June 5, 2019 Good reply!! — Karuna prakash (@Prakash92802815) June 5, 2019

After patiently waiting for seven days in the tournament, the Indian cricket team finally started their campaign at the ICC World Cup against South Africa in Southampton on 5th June. While the Indian fans were forced to wait to see their team in action, the late start for 'Men in Blue' at the ICC spectacle also meant that they had enough time to prepare - something that was in full display at the Rose Bowl stadium. Losing the toss, the Indian team found themselves bowling against the South African batting line-up, focussed on piling up a big score in a bid to record their first win in three games. But, it wasn't meant to be - thanks to a spectacular bowling performance by India. With Jasprit Bumrah getting his angles and seam movement to trouble the South African openers early on, everyone knew that a wicket was around the corner. While many suspected Quinton de Kock to became the first victim, it was Hashim Amla who eventually turned out to be the first scalp for Bumrah. Reuters In the fourth over, Bumrah's good length delivery, pitched just outside off, forced Amla to defend from the crease - a mistake that was eventually going to cost South Africa their first wicket. Deploying his defensive push, Amla couldn't help but edge the ball through towards the second slip where anxious Rohit Sharma got down just in time to grab it cleanly. It was a beautifully set-up dismissal where the bowler's line and length combined perfectly with the field setting, deployed in anticipation of the opposition batsman's shot. If Bumrah's early breakthrough got the Indian fans on the edge of their seats, Rohit's unique celebration after taking the catch doubled the fun on social media. When your team makes a blistering start to #CWC19! pic.twitter.com/jtTSAdissC — Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 5, 2019 The Indian opener, positioned at second slip, completed the catch and was seen unveiling an impromptu 'break dance' celebration to the sheer joy of the fans in the stands and back home. ðððð what kind of celebration is thisðððð — Neha Jhaðð§ (@happiness_msd7) June 5, 2019 He knows how to make me smile ð — Akshαtα ã ð¤ð» (@AkshataTweets) June 5, 2019 One of my favorite players in the world lool — mvuyisi (@MvugoMvuyisi) June 5, 2019 Rohit ððð — Hitman ð®ð³ (@Pa1SAAHO45) June 5, 2019 pic.twitter.com/WZnMR1fjpQ — Mogambo ⪠âï¸ (@UberHandle) June 5, 2019 Okay that was CUTE! ð @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/j9uhtS9cTx — Abhi⨠(@rohitspullshot_) June 5, 2019 pic.twitter.com/GXhtrscI6C — Arun Kumar (@Arunk_2) June 5, 2019

We all agree that higher education is a tough ordeal. While you are pursuing an idealistic life and learning as you grow, it really takes a toll on you to spend a lot of time under the pressure of books, examinations, dissertations or daily assignments. That's why it's always healthy to balance student life out, with adequate amount of activity and of course fun. But unfortunately for Kuldeep Mann, it was a different story altogether. An Indian student at the James Cook University in Queesnland, Australia has launched a 3-million dollar lawsuit against the university for rejecting his application for a PhD on the grounds of plagiarism. That's not all. The real reason for him to go ahead with this lawsuit is because he claims the University gave him enough stress for him to loose everything, including his *** drive. © James Cook University Mann, a 52-year-old student working at 7/11, claimed that he had paid $20,000 in 2015, to apply for the social sciences PhD course at the Townville campus. But when he started the course with two subjects, the university rejected his admission on the grounds of plagiarism and told him he wasn't 'up to the mark'. "If the university didn't have this kind of trick on me, had they not destroyed my... ruined my career I should have by now completed my PhD" Mann told an International news publication. His biggest regret though was losing interest in ***, due to the extreme pressure the university put him through. A former PhD student is suing Queensland's James Cook University for $3.125 million, over his 'loss of *** drive', after failing two subjects. #9News pic.twitter.com/uYE9uao2GS — Nine News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) 28 May 2019 © Twitter "Everything was affected including my *** life, "I... I'm no longer... wanting to be on the bed... to share bed with my partner. There is no such desire... no desire for anything. It has stopped my *** life. I have no *** drive. There is no stimulation in my organs. I have never had this problem before. I don't feel any blood down there," he added. He's now taking his fight to the Queensland Supreme Court and the man has actually submitted a 20-page document , which claim damages for his potential lost income "mental torture" along with "prolonged harassment at the JCU that hovered over (his) mind day and night had also adversely affected (his) *** drive and that as a result (his) relationship with (his) partner is on the verge of collapsing.". He is now asking for 3.125 million dollars, after suing the university. The university obviously gave him 'Grade Fail' for his poor performance and that upset Kuldeep Mann to such an extent that he sued the university for its lack of judgement on his performance, in his PhD and of course in bed. "I hope that the honourable Supreme Court will do full justice with me by awarding me the aforementioned full amount of compensation as remedy for all my losses and sufferings," Mann stated. © Pinterest Well, we don't really know the entire truth but if he's really serious about suing the university for losing his *** drive then I am guessing the university didn't recognise his full potential. If Kuldeep Mann ever decides to study again, we really hope he's in a better place to complete his studies and gain his *** drive back.

The International Shooting Sport Federation's Shooting World Cup is currently in action in Munich, Germany and the Indian contingent is burning it up in Deutschland, ahead of the rest of the participating countries, including China, with three gold medals on the fourth day of the tournament. The first medal for Team India in the German city came at the hands of Apurvi Chandela, who outscored Chinese shooters Luyao Wang and Hong Xu in the women's 10m Air Rifle final with a 633.0 points in the qualifiers and 251.0 points in the final. .@apurvichandela, what game & what spirit! You have taken Indian shooting miles ahead by winning Gold in 10m air rifle at the ISSF Shooting World Cup. Congratulations on winning your second gold of the year! To many more! Keep making India proud.ð®ð³ pic.twitter.com/2XOybs2O5X — Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) May 27, 2019 Despite the unfortunate elimination of the national favourite in Manu Bhaker after a double weapon malfunction in the seventh series, it was Rahi Sarnobat who held the fort for the Indian contingent on the third day and went on to score perfect 5s in the eighth and ninth series to end her run with a total of 37 points which got her the gold in the women's 25m pistol event. Rahi Sarnobat wins GOLDð¥ in #ISSFMunichWC in Women's 25m Pistol event. She earned a quota as well for India in #TokyoOlympics. Manu Bhaker will be devastated as her pistol malfunctioned at the wrong time when she was looking good for 2nd quota.@ISSF_Shooting @OfficialNRAI pic.twitter.com/0ihycNVdac — ð®ð³ Soumya Sarkar ð®ð³ (@SarkarSpeaking) May 27, 2019 Everyone present at the event however, was in awe of the 17-year-old Saurabh Chaudhary who in a brilliant performance of precision and focus won the gold in the men's 10m Pistol event while breaking both the junior and senior world records in the process. 17-yr-old Saurabh Chaudhary wins Goldð in 10m Air Pistol Event of Shooting World Cup (Munich). Broke his own world record with 246.3 points in the final (previous record 245 pts). Congrats champ. ðâð pic.twitter.com/V7sUXf9qcO — Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) May 27, 2019 Other than the fact that these young shooters are achieving success at the world level and dominating the shooting sports fraternity worldover, the reason why acknowledging their efforts is a lot more crucial that a lot of people think. While the final moment heroics of Rahi Sarnobat in the World Cup in Munich, got her a spot in the Indian contingent for Tokyo Olympics 2020, other shooters like Bhaker, Chaudhary and Chandela are also extremely likely to join her in the quest for bagging as many medals for their nation at the greatest spectacle on sports on earth. These sportspersons decided to do something different. In a country of cricket craving people, they decided to achieve greatness in something which is not that mainstream and have been doing it on a constant basis. Even though the ICC World Cup 2019 is just around the corner and the entire nation is rooting for the Men in Blue to win their third World Cup title, all we request for is a small amount of your appreciation for these athletes too.

The Indian cricket team is surely one of the leading contenders for the ICC World Cup 2019 with a great roster, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had a tough time limiting to a 15-man squad just because of the kind of talent that was available at their disposal. While the selectors had to drop great players like Rishabh Pant and Ambati Rayudu, who, any other team would give anything to have, here's a list of five key players who would lead to the success of the Men in Blue this World Cup: 1. Virat Kohli © Reuters Even if Virat Kohli was not the leader of the squad, he would have been India's most valuable asset. After having the greatest year cricket in 2018, the batsman in Kohli continues to stay atop ICC World rankings in Test and ODI formats of the game. Having featured in 227 ODIs in the Indian kit, the skipper has already scored 10,843 runs and has a batting average of 54 in England, where the World Cup will take place. 2019 has been kind to the cricketer who notched 3 centuries in 11 matches this year. 2. MS Dhoni © Reuters Considered as the incognito captain of the team, Dhoni's skills as a middle-order batsman and still, a top-notch wicket-keeper give Team India the edge they need to become the world champs. Having played under pressure in and World Cup final and winning the trophy with a bang only adds to his already impressive resume. In 341 ODI matches throughout his career, Dhoni has scored 10,500 runs till date. Despite a nagging back injury, Dhoni took his IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings to the final while scoring 314 runs in 10 matches. In 2019, Dhoni has played 8 innings in which he has put up a total of 327 runs. 3. Jasprit Bumrah © Reuters The bowling attack of Team India will be spearheaded by 25-year-old Jasprit Bumrah who has been in tremendous form for the whole of 2018 and 2019 which not only helped his side restrict their opponents to small totals but also provided the pacer with the top rank in ICC World rankings in ODIs. Bumrah has played in 49 ODI games in his professional cricketing career and collated 85 wickets, 28 of which came in 2018 alone, with an impressive economy rate of 4.51. 4. Hardik Pandya © Reuters Hardik Pandya is a classic example of hard work paying off. Ever since making his ODI debut against New Zealand in 2016, he has quickly become an integral part of the national cricket squad as a talented all-rounder and is extremely useful as a death over bowler and a middle order batsman. In 45 one-dayers played by the all-rounder in the Bleed Blue jersey, Pandya has scored 731 runs with a scary strike rate of 116.59 while also scalping 44 wickets at a 5.54 rate of economy. 5. Kuldeep Yadav © Reuters Kuldeep Yadav just had an abysmal season of the Indian Premier League with Kolkata Knight Riders and was benched midway through the month and a half long event for the same. Nonetheless, the Chinaman has enough tricks up his sleeves to stun opponents with the ball and might as well be that x-factor of the team. In 44 ODIs, Yadav has already dismissed 87 batsmen off the crease at the economy rate of 4.94, which is extraordinary for a spinner. In 2019, while the lefty has been a little more expensive than his career average, he has taken 20 wickets ahead of the World Cup.

AMD announced a new chipset at Computex in Taipei today which is said to challenge Intel's top of the line Core i9 9920X chipset. It's called the Ryzen 9 3900x chip that has 24 threads and 12 cores making it one of the top gaming processors today. Another impressive feat about the new processor is its price, AMD announced the Ryzen 9 3900x chipset will sell for $499, which is half the price of Intel's offering. © YouTube Currently, Intel's Core i9 9920X chipset costs t $1,189 and upwards. Even when adding import duties for Indian customers, AMD's offering is very much more affordable and may just become the preferred choice amongst gamers. Here's an exclusive #COMPUTEX2019 look at the newest edition to the Ryzen family, the 12 core/24 thread 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen 9 3900X processor. https://t.co/OgLHoqWv9T pic.twitter.com/75FzfpdiKx — AMD Ryzen (@AMDRyzen) May 27, 2019 The 3900x is clocked at 4.6 GHz boost speed and has a total cache of 70 MB. In fact, it even uses less power than Intel's i9 9920 x as it has a 105 watts of thermal design power whereas the i9 uses 165 watts. AMD claims that in a Blender demo the 3900x is 18 per cent faster than Intel's offering. To say the least, AMD has also launched more affordable chips from the same family i.e. a 6-core, 12-thread 3600 for $329 and an 8-core, 16-thread Ryzen 3700x (with 4.4 GHz boost, 36 MB of total cache and a 65-watt TDP); for $329 and an 8-core, 16-thread Ryzen 3800X (4.5 GHz, 32MB cache, 105w) for $399. The pricing on the new AMD processors are not only aggressive but makes it more affordable for PC gaming markets such as India. © AMD AMD also announced the next foundational gaming architecture i.e. RDNA. RDNA will power the upcoming 7nm Radeon RX 5700-series graphics cards, which feature high-speed GDDR6 memory and support for the PCIe 4.0 interface. Currently, the pricing has not been revealed yet but we expect it to be cheaper than Nvidia's offering.

Payal Singhal is a name that needs no introduction. At least not anymore. She is one of the finest fashion designers in South Asia, who has carved a niche for herself in the world of contemporary Indian Wear. Payal, who was once known for her bridal wear, has now forayed into menswear with her first ever clothing line, PS Men. The collection is a versatile mix of sherwani, bandi sets and silk kurta in her signature prints and colours, rendered with minimal embellishments. And to complement the clothing selection, there are men's accessories like ties, pocket squares and safas. MensXP interacted with Payal Singhal on her collection and how it is changing the current scenario of Indian menswear. 1) Three words you'd use to describe your latest menswear line. Contemporary Indian, Quirky and Playful. © Payal Singhal 2) You use history and culture as your starting points while creating a new collection. What is your favourite historical era in terms of menswear, and why? My favourite era is the Mughal era for menswear because I love the rich textiles, elaborate silhouettes and accessories spotted in menswear during that era. © Payal Singhal 3) Do you think traditional Indian menswear is evolving? If yes, in what way? Yes, Indian menswear has evolved over the years. Men are now more experimental and willing to try new things. They are understanding fashion and spending more time and money on shopping even for themselves. There are several trends like prints, accessories and matching outfits with the brides that can be spotted. 4) One celebrity who can teach everyone else a lesson or two on how to pull off the Indian aesthetic elegantly, when it comes to menswear. I think Ranveer Singh pulls off any look under the sun but especially Indian wear. He is the epitome of an Indian metrosexual man who expresses himself through fashion. © Payal Singhal 5) What are your thoughts on Indian-Western fusion in terms of menswear? Indian fusion works great for menswear as it goes easily from day to night or from an Indian occasion to western wear. You can also dress up or down the look. © Payal Singhal 6) One thing men should never do while dressing up in traditional Indian wear. Wear shoes that don't work with the outfit or wear Indian kurtas with pants and chinos. 7) One menswear trend you just don't understand or agree with. I personally don't love the draped kurta look for men. I feel very few men can carry it off without looking ridiculous. © Payal Singhal 8) One traditional Indian menswear item you believe every Indian man should have in his wardrobe, and why. A classic Bandhgala – it's classic, contemporary as well as traditional. © Payal Singhal 9) Opulence and grandeur make up the essence of the Indian aesthetic, but how much is too much? I think keeping the overall aesthetic is very important and editing the look also. So don't overdo any look if you are wearing a heavily embroidered sherwani, keep the accessories simpler or if you are wearing a simple kurta pyjama, you can dress it up with an embroidered broach. On that note, all we can say is that her collection is exactly what you need to wear at your friend's wedding. You can thank us later!

Sony Mobile, the smartphone division of the Japanese company is now going to be pulling out from India and other regions. The move comes when Sony experienced fewer smartphone sales than the previous year and will be stopping its mobile business in India, Australia, Canada, South America, Mexico, Africa and the Middle East. Sony has been trying to cut its losses and the company will now concentrate its mobile business in countries like Japan, Europe, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The Xperia mobile division has also been dismantled and formed into a new division called “Electronics, Products and Solutions” and has been merged with TV, Audio and camera divisions. © Sony The company is also cutting its operational cost by 50% by pulling out of markets that are not deemed profitable for the company. The company has suffered low smartphone sales in key markets due to stiff competition from Chinese companies that offer better smartphones at a considerably low price. According to Counterpoint Research, Sony's smartphone market share was reduced to less than 1% and was probably due to making outdated smartphones. Sony was not able to adopt new technologies, features and even hardware in order to compete with its Chinese counterparts. © Slashhleaks Sony recently announced the Xperia 1, the world's first 4K smartphone at MWC earlier this year. No release date has been confirmed by the company and it is likely that the smartphone will not launch in India and other markets the company has decided to pull out from. Source: GSMArena

It has been over a decade since Kapil Sharma first set foot in our living rooms with the 'Great Indian Laughter Challenge'. All of a sudden, Kapil began changing how we viewed entertainment, one set at a time. The show might have given India its comedy king, but it was what Kapil did with his talent and popularity that deserves appreciation. After participating and winning multiple comedy shows, Kapil brought 'The Kapil Sharma Show' into existence in 2013. © Twitter People lapped up the content Kapil had to offer and kept coming back for more. The comedy star never failed to strike a chord with his audience and tickle their funny bones, and that earned him an insane fan following throughout the country. Recently, Sony channel took to their Twitter account to announce that Kapil Sharma has been named as one of the most viewed stand-up comedians in India, by World Book of Records London. He was also given this recognition for actively promoting animal rights in India, and fans cannot stop congratulating the man for it. It's a proud moment for all of us. We congratulate the King Of Comedy @kapilsharma for being recognised as one of the most viewed stand-up comedians in India and abroad and promoting animal rights by World Book Of Records. #TheKapilSharmaShow @001danishkhan @KapilSharmaK9 pic.twitter.com/shElmVvqih — Sony TV (@SonyTV) May 17, 2019 After a rough patch in his personal and professional life, that lasted over two years, Kapil Sharma finally made a comeback at the end of 2018 with 'The Kapil Sharma Show' on Sony. The show has been topping all the TRP charts on the channel and the reasons are pretty obvious: 1. India Loves Its Celebs & Masala Celebrity Insights © Twitter Apart from the kind of humour Kapil adds to the show, what makes this show all the more popular and interesting week after week, is the influx of big names from the entertainment industry. We Indians take our celebs very seriously and love anything and everything to do with them. And the good news is, Kapil brings out the best and worst scoop on celebs on his show, and people love that! 2. Senseless Humour © Twitter We say 'senseless' because that is what it is. No one is required to pick their brain cells to laugh at Kapil's jokes. Though it's true that most of the jokes ride on stereotypes and sexism has been a running trope on the show, guess what? When it comes to entertainment, people don't really give a shit. 3. The Concept Remains Golden © Twitter What caught people's attention and love in the very first go was the show's fresh mix of sketch comedy and celebrity talk show format, which then became India's own take on American late-night shows. To this day, it remains Kapil's biggest USP that he manages to pull it all off so well. 4. People Get (Un)Really-Real © Twitter However, the best reason why people have come to love the show and, in turn, Kapil, is because how (un)really-real people get on the show and yet, amidst all the fun and laughter, we end up enjoying that hour of entertainment at the end of a busy day.

Those of you who have been on the extremely popular (and super addictive) video-sharing platform YouTube, will agree that the time has come to officially declare 'Power of YouTube' as a legit phenomenon. I mean, who are we even kidding by second-guessing this completely obvious move, especially with regard to the Indian subcontinent? Wasn't it only last year when India overtook the United States of America to become the top country with the most number of YouTube audience in the world? For the uninitiated, yes it was. With over 265 million active monthly users, India broke all records to claim the top spot in 2018. © Instagram So, it is only natural that one of our country's top YouTubers, Ajey Nagar aka 'CarryMinati' would prove it to the entire world that the 'Power of YouTube' can bring people from around the world to converge at a single point on-screen to laugh together. Ajey was just 10-years-old when he put out his first YouTube video, and nine years down the line and aged 19, he has been named amongst the '10 Next Generation Leaders 2019' by famed US publication TIME magazine. © Instagram How this glorious moment came to pass, is a tale that is nothing less than inspiring. Once you get to know about Ajey's journey, you will believe that anything is possible, as long as you keep dreaming and follow your passion. The Backstory Just like any of us, Faridabad resident Ajey was an avid YouTube video consumer and it is during one such viewing that Ajey decided he wants to be on the other side of the screen too. Following the lives of successful YouTubers and partaking the awesome content they put out on the platform, inspired Ajey to create a similar life for himself. © Instagram With a wish to create quality content for his audience, that would entertain and educate people all at once, Ajey started churning out roasts and sketches on his YouTube channel 'CarryMinati', which enjoys close to 7 million subscribers today. The Beginning It was back in 2016 that Ajey finally found his niche in creating “diss tracks” on “weird and cringey” user-generated videos on Facebook and TikTok. Ajey cashed-in on his desi swag and started producing content in Hindi, which reached thousands of viewers who enjoyed the videos so much, that soon 'CarryMinati' became one of India's most followed YouTube channels. The Ultimate Breakthrough © Instagram However, it was in January this year when things changed completely for Ajey. One of Ajey's diss tracks against infamous YouTuber PewDiePie went viral. The video titled 'Bye PewDiePie' where Ajey addresses PewDiePie and tells him that one day India will rule the world, came as a response to one of PewDiePie's videos mocking the broken English of an Indian man, which had offended Ajey. The video garnered a million likes in a jiffy and there was no looking back for Ajey after that. The Bigger Picture © Instagram In his interview with TIME, Ajey shared that his ultimate goal is to inspire people, help them take pride in their culture and embrace their identity, no matter where they are. That's the reason why Ajey chose to create videos in Hindi instead of English. He is reaching out to those who dare to be different and still manage to create a dent with their quality work. © Instagram Ajey takes pride in his roots and wishes to make the best of the desi swag we Indians are known for. 'Be yourself' is Ajey Nagar aka 'CarryMinati's ultimate success mantra. What a proud moment for the young man and our country to have such gems amidst us, who are constantly making India proud globally.

Phase 6 of General Elections 2019 is about to see the light of the day this Sunday on 12th May 2019 with 7 states going to polls. While all is well when it comes to putting our democratic rights to use by choosing to vote, we need to bear in mind some finer details before casting our votes this election season. © Getty Images Whether you are a first-time voter or happen to be an old goose, being aware of some aspects of electing our representatives is always a good idea. Right from the very basic, yet crucial requirement of knowing the candidates from your constituency to finding resonance with their respective ideologies and manifestos, it is important to keep in mind that we make an aware decision that would not only impact our society but the future of our country too. © Getty Images Here are the 5 things Indian youth need to keep in mind before casting their vote this election: 1. Employment The biggest deciding factor for every youngster who is heading out vote, should be this. As of 2018, 18.9 million Indians were unemployed in the country which is by far the highest over the last few decades. Make your decision on the basis of which party you believe is most invested in the matter and would walk the talk when it comes to providing jobs to millions of jobless Indians. © Getty Images 2. Freedom & Security Freedom to exist however we want, love whoever we want, eat whatever we want, wear whatever we want, study what we want, challenge the wrong when we see it, and much more. Look for Lok Sabha representatives who would ensure that we don't feel threatened for enjoying and employing our fundamental rights or live in fear because we know our rights. © Getty Images 3. Secularism Perhaps one of the biggest needs of the hour. Let's take into consideration the candidates who encourage pluralism and secularism in our society. Let's do away with extremities of any kind and people who propagate such ideologies within our society. India draws its strength from diversity and its willingness to welcome one and all to its golden soil. © Twitter 4. Education Education and a strong, fair opinionated disposition should be the right of every Indian citizen. Privatisation and the constant need to manipulate our education system is not to be tolerated under any circumstances. No matter which party comes into power, we must look for such candidates who would continue to keep education away from all political propaganda. © Getty Images 5. Start-Up Economy Given the kind of boom the Indian start-up ecosystem has seen in recent times, and all the promising opportunities it holds for our country and its future, we as young adults should choose someone who is willing to work on the start-up scenario, improve it and help in the growth of a start-up economy which would allow thousands to build their dreams and see them succeed. An aware decision will be the best decision you make this election.

PUBG Mobile, as we all know, has grown to become one of the most popular games around the world. The popular online battle royale title is being played by everyone, including our very own Indian cricketers. That's right, even our busy cricket players take some time off their busy schedule to play the game. We've even seen the players playing PUBG on their smartphones and tablets before departing for Australia for the full-fledged series in November 2018. As we wait for the departure announcement from Mumbai, some of them are playing a very popular multiplayer game. #TeamIndia Any guesses? pic.twitter.com/Y1n8AdHxhn — BCCI (@BCCI) October 30, 2018 While interacting with ESPNCricinfo, Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav revealed the best PUBG players in the Indian cricket team. He named former skipper MS Dhoni, Manish Pandey, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kedar Jadhav as the best players of the game in the Indian team. We haven't really seen the Indian cricket team players all play PUBG together, but maybe that will happen during the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. PUBG has been something of an issue in India, with multiple bans across schools, colleges and sometimes, even cities. From students committing suicide after being told to not play the game to people being run over by trains as they were too distracted while playing the game, PUBG has been swimming in controversy in India for a long, long time. Recently, we even heard news of a married couple filing for divorce over the game. A lot of people feel the game is disruptive and extremely distracting, especially when it comes to students. However, students are of the belief that the game is an outlet for healthy creativity and has massive potential when it comes to the Indian gaming industry. Source: ESPNCricinfo

We all grew up on gully cricket. No summer vacation went by without unlimited sessions of outdoor cricket and when that seemed impossible, we took the game indoors. There were days when our books turned into bats and the crumpled paper was the 'jugaadu' ball. And that, in a nutshell, sums up India's love for cricket. So, it really comes as no surprise that our celebrities share the same passion. And mixing two of our favorite things - entertainment and cricket - is a sure shot win. For all those of you, who haven't discovered the joy of Box Cricket League, let me introduce you to the spectacular idea that takes gully cricket indoors but on a larger scale. Conceptualized by Marinating films, this indoor sports reality show proves to be a high-octane drama where the biggest names of Indian TV stars compete against each other. Whilst our favorite TV personalities are in action, one also gets to see the perfect dose of cricket, spice and masala as a part of the unseen footage exclusively on the ALTBalaji app. Here are 5 photos that prove how our Indian TV celebrities are complete suckers for cricket: Pearl V Puri Box Cricket League Pearl V Puri popularly known as Maahir from Naagin 3 has already won a lot of hearts for the character that he has played in the TV soap! He is part of BCL (Box Cricket League) for the first time and is setting the score high! But we aren't sure if he will help the team win the trophy this year or not! Pearls, who plays for Bangalore Warriors seems to be in his perfect striking form and many feel he has now got actual superpowers from the show Naagin 3. Dipika Singh straight to cricket after her pregnancy Box Cricket League Dipika Singh who was on a maternity break has joined the popular Box Cricket League as a part of the team Chennai Swaggers. She was last seen in Diya aur Baati Hum and has not done anything since one year. Watch her get back to action on the cricket field. Filled with drama and craziness, let's see what Dipika has in store for us! Karan Wahi Box Cricket League Karan Wahi, who has always been very open about his love for cricket, is also someone who has been marred by controversies on the box cricket league. From being accused of ball tampering, to getting into ugly fights on the pitch, this lad has seen it all. How well do you think he will perform this season? 'Ye Hai Mohabbatein' in Box Cricket League Box Cricket League The popular Telly Drama Yeh hai Mohabatein has been in the top 10 TRP charts since long! The lead Karan Patel, who is loved by all as Raman might be a reason for the female fans to watch BCL this year. But looks like he isn't in his best dhape on the field and we wonder if that just might be the reason for AZAMGARH ROYALS to lose the match this time. On the other hand Aditi and Krishna are in KOLKATA BAABU MOSHAYES, while their pals Aly Goni and Abhishek Verma are in AZAMGARH ROYALS. Will they take this game in a competitive spirit? Parth Samthaan & Erica Fernandes – Reel to Real love story? Box Cricket League Sparks seem to be flying between rumoured couple Parth Samthaan and Erica Fernandes despite being in different teams. Rumours are rife, as Erica is seen cheering her opponent teams player Parth whenever he hits a six or takes a wicket. So to catch all of your favourite TV stars live in action on the pitch, don't forget to watch Box Cricket League (BCL) where over 150 television celebrities are seen competing with each other in an indoor cricket game format. witness some dhamakedar matches filled with drama like you've never seen before. Giving you the thrill of cricket, along with the plots of daily soaps all packed in one show, the Box Cricket League is sure to leave everyone entertained! Catch all the action on the ALTBalaji app every Monday- Friday at 8 PM. The BCL was inspired by the popularity of the Celebrity Cricket League, a T10 tournament with franchises in major Indian cities. The series is a unique collaboration of sports, celebrities and entertainment which gets you hooked, trust us. So tune in to your favourite indoor cricket league here