Nepal elects first female president
Nepal’s parliament, on Wednesday, elected communist lawmaker Bidhya Bhandari as the country’s first female president after the adoption of a landmark constitution last month. The former defense minister and the vice-chair of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) defeated her opponent Kul Bahadur Gurung by 327 to 214 votes to become the […]
Gonzo: the legacy of the Doctor of Journalism
If Raoul Duke and yours truly (Rahul Duke?) share one similarity, it is that we have run away from journalism most of our lives. I used to consider journalism a mediocre, sucker-for-money, sensationalist, borderline sociopathic occupation. Now I am a journalist (Talk about becoming what you hate!). Being a film graduate, I considered writing novels, […]
A way for change in blasphemy law of Pakistan
The Supreme Court in Pakistan on Tuesday urged the state to ensure that no one is forced to endure an investigation or trial on the basis of false blasphemy allegations. The court also rejected the appeal against death sentence of Mumtaz Qadri, who has received death sentence for killing the then Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer […]
Social media campaign spreads love between Pakistan and India
With the political relations between Pakistan and India being unstable lately, the common people from sibling countries have taken it upon themselves to improve the relations. An Indian social media user, Ram Subramanian started a campaign on Thursday by posting a picture of himself with the note, “I am an Indian, I am from Mumbai, […]
Busan: Lights of Cinema
A view of the backside, the food court of BIFF Hill, one of venues for 20th Busan International Film Festival. (Photograph by Rahul Aijaz)
86 stranded Indians cross Wagah border on foot
Due to the deteriorating law and order situation in India, the Samjhota Express train which left from Pakistan was refused entry by the Indian railway authorities, causing eighty-six Indian passengers to make their way home by crossing the Wagah border on foot on Monday. According to Pakistan Railways, the Samjhota Express left the Lahore railway […]
Malala documentary premiered at London Festival
A documentary about the youngest-ever Nobel Peace laureate Malala had its European premiere this week at the London Film Festival. “He named me Malala” is an intimate portrait of Malala Yousafzai. Humbled by Malala’s aspirations and efforts, American actress Meryl Streep hailed her as the worthy heiress of the suffragettes who battled for the right […]
Busan Review: A Copy of My Mind
Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar’s latest film, A Copy of My Mind hit the screens as part of the 20th Busan International Film Festival in ‘A Window on Asian Cinema’ section. The film has previously premiered in Venice. The film revolves around the love story of a pirated DVDs subtitles maker and a female cheap salon […]
Bollywood film ‘Zubaan’ wows audience at Busan International Film Fest.
Zubaan, the opening film at the 20th Busan International Film Festival in Korea, is directed by Mozez Singh, an Indian filmmaker from Mumbai. This is the first time that a mainstream Bollywood film has opened the biggest film festival in Asia. The film revolves around a boy, Dilsher (played by Vicky Kaushal) from Gurdaspur town […]
Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap at BIFF: Filmmakers need to find their own voice
Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is currently in Busan, as part of jury for the New Currents at Busan International Film Festival. The Asia N journalist Rahul Aijaz caught up with Mr. Kashyap at the festival. Talking about indie filmmakers in India, Mr. Kashyap said he is happy because new Indian independent films are getting screened across […]