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Shanti Theatre: Chennai’s cherished cinema landmark and its enduring legacy
On Anna Salai, Shanti Theatre remains a fond memory for generations of Chennai moviegoers. Its story reflects the city’s evolving cinema culture, public spaces and shared joy—showing how beloved venues can shape urban identity and community pride.
Bengaluru D2C kitchenware startup Curaa raises ₹40 Cr to expand portfolio
Bengaluru-based D2C kitchenware startup Curaa has raised ₹40 Cr in a Series A round led by 3one4 Capital. The fresh capital is expected to help the company broaden its product portfolio and strengthen its growth plans in India.
Raja Deen Dayal’s rare photographs show India’s monuments 150 years ago
Long before smartphones and drone shots, photographer Raja Deen Dayal quietly documented India’s heritage through remarkable images of the Taj Mahal, Sanchi, Ellora and more. His work offers a respectful, time-capsule view of places Indians still cherish today.
Lokeshwar and Deeban power Kovai Kings into TNPL final
A composed, high-impact performance from Lokeshwar and Deeban helped the Kovai Kings surge into the TNPL final, underscoring the side’s depth and clarity under pressure. The result keeps fans set for a confident, competitive title clash.
Christopher Guruswamy and Vignesh Ishwar’s ‘Vayu’ duet lifts Bharatham festival
At Natyarangam’s Bharatham festival, dancer Christopher Guruswamy and musician Vignesh Ishwar shaped a thoughtful dance-music dialogue around ‘Vayu’. Their collaboration blended movement and sound with clarity, offering audiences a fresh, uplifting way to experience Indian classical artistry.
Raja Deen Dayal: The Lens That Preserved India’s Monuments 150 Years Ago
Around 150 years ago, photographer Raja Deen Dayal created rare images of India’s iconic heritage—from the Taj Mahal to Sanchi and Ellora. His work remains a valuable visual record, inspiring today’s efforts in conservation, tourism, and cultural pride.
Wipro Consumer Care enters pet food, plans ₹150 crore investment
Wipro Consumer Care has announced its entry into India’s growing pet food market with a planned investment of ₹150 crore. The company aims to build its Snuggles brand into one of the country’s top three pet food brands, tapping steady double-digit category growth.
Christopher Guruswamy and Vignesh Ishwar craft a graceful ‘Vayu’ dialogue
At Natyarangam’s Bharatham festival, dancer Christopher Guruswamy and musician Vignesh Ishwar presented an engaging dance-music dialogue themed on ‘Vayu’. Their collaboration highlighted attentive listening, refined movement, and a shared commitment to thoughtful contemporary classical performance.
RBI reports fully subscribed State government securities auction across seven States
The Reserve Bank of India has released results of a yield/price-based auction of State Government Securities, with the full ₹20,100 crore notified amount accepted across seven States. The outcome underlines steady demand for State borrowings across varied tenors.
Ten years of UPI: The quiet infrastructure behind India’s digital habits
A decade after launch, UPI has grown from a simple payment rail into everyday digital infrastructure for Indians. It supported commerce during the pandemic, helped small businesses go cash-light, and showcased India’s digital public infrastructure to the world.
AI is reshaping job search and hiring: Why “apply more” is no longer enough
As AI tools speed up both applications and screening, the old advice to “apply to more roles” is losing impact. For India’s job seekers and startups, the opportunity now lies in clearer signals, stronger fit, and smarter, fairer hiring workflows.
From ₹25,000 to farm-fresh: How Organik Truck is reshaping Mumbai’s food
Started in 2020 with one weighing scale and ₹25,000, Amish Mody began delivering fresh produce from his car. His Organik Truck now connects Mumbai neighbourhoods directly with farm harvests from over 1,000 farmers, prioritising transparency and fewer middlemen.
Rithika Sri makes history as Tamil Nadu’s first transgender cricket umpire
From watching the IPL during a call-centre job in Mohali to stepping onto the field with an umpire’s authority, Rithika Sri’s journey reflects perseverance and possibility. She is recognised as Tamil Nadu’s first transgender cricket umpire.
Christopher Guruswamy and Vignesh Ishwar bring ‘Vayu’ alive at Natyarangam
At Natyarangam’s Bharatham festival, dancer Christopher Guruswamy and musician Vignesh Ishwar presented an engaging dance–music dialogue themed on ‘Vayu’. Their collaboration highlighted attentive listening, inventive rhythm and expressive movement, offering audiences a calm, immersive performance experience.
AssessPrep helps schools turn test scores into actionable learning insights
AssessPrep is using AI to create, grade and analyse tests, helping schools move beyond marks to clearer learning insights. By showing where students are struggling, the platform supports more targeted teaching and better-informed academic planning across classrooms.
India’s spacetech startups explore microgravity to speed up drug R&D and manufacturing
India’s growing spacetech ecosystem is beginning to look beyond satellites and launches, exploring microgravity as a platform for drug discovery and advanced manufacturing. The goal is to run targeted experiments in space and bring insights back to Earth-based pharma and biotech.
A ₹25,000 start-up that’s helping Mumbai access chemical-free produce
Starting with one weighing scale and deliveries from his car, Mumbai’s Amish Mody built Organik Truck to bring farm-fresh produce directly to neighbourhoods. By bypassing middlemen and focusing on transparency, the model now connects over 1,000 farmers to city consumers.
Gradiant sees India business doubling on semiconductor and solar demand
US-based water and wastewater solutions firm Gradiant expects its India business to double next year, supported by rising demand from semiconductor and solar projects. India currently contributes about 10% of its $500–$750 million revenue range.
Japan’s rope-pulled 400-tonne castle: a community tradition with modern value
In Japan, an unusual community effort has drawn attention as thousands of people pull a 400-tonne “castle” using ropes. With local authorities estimating around 4,000 participants so far, the tradition highlights teamwork, tourism potential and cultural enterprise.
Stud Poker and Caccini shine in encouraging track outing
Stud Poker and Caccini drew positive attention with confident performances on the Indian racing circuit, signalling promise for their connections. Their showing underlined steady preparation, improving fitness and the depth of talent emerging from current training stables.
Total World Chess Championship Tour set to join global calendar with Budapest pilot
A new Total World Chess Championship Tour is set to make its debut with a pilot event in Budapest from November 10 to 21, featuring leading players including world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, signalling fresh momentum for elite chess on the global calendar.
Chennai Canvas: How cinema became part of Chennai’s everyday life
Madras Week’s Chennai Canvas Episode 4 traces how the city’s love for films grew through landmark theatres, beachside memories and changing technology. From celluloid reels to digital projection, Chennai’s big-screen culture continues to evolve with quiet resilience.
For Indian startups, embracing change is the fastest way to understand it
Change can feel unsettling, but for Indian startups it often brings new clarity. By engaging with shifts in markets, technology and customer needs, founders can uncover fresh opportunities, sharper lessons and greater resilience than resistance ever delivers.
India’s enterprise AI shifts to vertical solutions, opening new startup opportunities
Indian enterprises are increasingly exploring vertical, industry-specific AI applications instead of one-size-fits-all tools. This shift, reminiscent of SaaS evolution, is creating space for startups to build deeper workflows, clearer ROI, and more reliable deployments across regulated sectors.
A ₹25,000 idea that helped Mumbai access chemical-free, farm-fresh food
In 2020, Mumbai entrepreneur Amish Mody began delivering fresh produce with one weighing scale and a modest ₹25,000 start. His Organik Truck now connects city neighbourhoods directly with harvests from over 1,000 farmers—built on transparency and fewer middlemen.
Engineer-turned farmer connects 300+ growers to homes with fresh produce
An engineer who moved into farming is helping 300+ farmers grow and sell fresh produce directly to households through a farm-to-home platform. The model aims to improve farmer earnings, reduce waste, and give families reliable access to fresh food.
Centre issues largest battery storage tender to strengthen solar power integration
The Centre has issued its largest tender for battery energy storage linked to solar power, marking the first tranche of a wider push to add more renewable electricity to India’s grid. The move aims to improve reliability and round-the-clock clean supply.
Anaya Bangar cleared to play domestic cricket in Australia: a brief profile
Anaya Bangar, who trained in Mumbai’s youth system as a top-order batter and all-rounder, has received approval from Cricket Australia to play domestic cricket. Her journey reflects growing pathways for talent shaped by disciplined grassroots development.
Harinie Jeevitha brings ‘Akasa’ alive through Bharatanatyam at Natyarangam
Dancer Harinie Jeevitha explored ‘Akasa’—the element of space—through Bharatanatyam at Natyarangam’s Pancha Bhootha Bharatham festival. Moving from abstract ideas to spiritual reflection, the performance offered audiences a calm, expansive meditation on the sky’s vastness.
AI is reshaping hiring: smarter applications, not more applications
As AI tools spread across recruitment and job applications, simply applying to more roles is proving less effective. For Indian talent and startups, the opportunity is to shift towards targeted storytelling, skills evidence, and human-first hiring processes.
Goyal suggests India-Japan startup pitch series to deepen investment ties
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has proposed an India-Japan ‘Shark Tank’ style startup pitching series that could run virtually, using digital connectivity to help Indian and Japanese startups interact more closely and unlock new investment opportunities.
Honasa pauses ₹135 Cr Fluence Pharma deal, refocuses on core growth plans
Honasa Consumer, the parent company of Mamaearth, has called off its proposed ₹135 crore acquisition of a 58% stake in Fluence Pharma. The move signals a measured approach to capital allocation while the company continues to pursue long-term growth opportunities.
Enterprise AI in India Shifts Towards Vertical, Industry-Ready Solutions
Indian enterprises are increasingly looking beyond generic LLM pilots towards vertical AI products built for specific industries. This shift is opening room for startups to deliver faster ROI, stronger compliance, and deeper workflows—mirroring how SaaS in India matured through sector-focused playbooks.
How smart water meters spot hidden leaks and save water, drop by drop
Invisible leaks inside walls or toilet tanks can quietly waste thousands of litres over time. Smart water meters use sensitive sensors, microcontrollers and wireless connectivity to track flow patterns continuously and flag unusual usage early, helping homes and cities reduce wastage.
Instamart sees 20x jump in premium Rakhi demand ahead of Raksha Bandhan 2026
Instamart says demand for premium Rakhis has surged 20x this Raksha Bandhan 2026 season, signalling stronger interest in curated festive gifting. The quick-commerce platform is offering Rakhis priced from ₹9 to ₹999 across styles and formats.
Dolly Parton’s reminder for modern work: build a life, not just a living
Dolly Parton’s quote—“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life”—offers a timely nudge for professionals and founders. It encourages balanced ambition, healthier routines, and stronger relationships alongside career growth and financial stability.
Syndrela Das and Payas Jain named in TOPS development list ahead of Asian Games
India’s table tennis youngsters Syndrela Das and Payas Jain have been included in the TOPS Development category, a boost as they prepare for the Asian Games. The move reflects their steady progress and recent performances on the youth circuit.
Kumar Gandharva’s many musical worlds, revisited with care and insight
Musician-scholar and archivist Srijan Deshpande blended narration with live musical exploration to trace Kumar Gandharva’s creative journey. The presentation offered audiences a gentle, informed way to appreciate the legendary vocalist’s curiosity, experimentation and enduring Hindustani legacy.
Niti Aayog’s skilling rethink: From certificates to real jobs by 2047
Niti Aayog has proposed a unified, outcome-driven skilling system that integrates education and training, aiming to align learning with emerging job roles by 2047. The shift prioritises employability and measurable work outcomes over standalone certifications.
AI is reshaping hiring: Why applying more is no longer the solution
As AI tools transform both recruiters’ workflows and candidates’ applications, the old advice to “apply everywhere” is losing impact. A more focused, skills-forward approach can help job seekers and startups make hiring faster, fairer, and more meaningful.
Chef returns to Konkan roots and builds a 4.5-acre farmstay near Guhagar
Returning to her ancestral land along Maharashtra’s Konkan coast, a chef has created a 4.5-acre farmstay that blends local hospitality with nature-led living. The initiative spotlights sustainable rural tourism and new possibilities for community-linked livelihoods.
Kakinada Gateway Port targets early 2027 commissioning as key works finish
Kakinada Gateway Port in Andhra Pradesh is expected to be commissioned by early 2027, with the first berth planned by early next year. Completed breakwater works and railway consent for a port link signal steady progress for regional logistics.
Onam 2026: A practical guide to the Kerala sadya banana-leaf order
Kerala’s Onam sadya is a vegetarian banquet, traditionally served on a banana leaf with a precise placement and flow. Here’s a calm, practical guide to what goes where—and why this culinary craft is also an opportunity for local food businesses.
Chennai Canvas Episode 3: Food, films and memories that shape the city
Episode 3 of Chennai Canvas: Madras Week traces the city’s character through beachside flavours, a cinema landmark in the western suburbs, and heartfelt food memories shared by actors Nalini Nair, Nassar and Pasupathy—linking nostalgia with a changing, living food culture.
Chennai Canvas Episode 2: Nights, Beaches and Cinema Memories
Episode 2 of Chennai Canvas for Madras Week spotlights a city in gentle transition—later nights, beaches as shared public spaces, and enduring cinema memories around Udhayam Theatre. Together, these stories celebrate Chennai’s evolving urban rhythm and cultural continuity.
Ten years of UPI: the quiet infrastructure that reshaped everyday India
A decade after launch, UPI has grown beyond a payments tool into everyday digital infrastructure. It helped keep commerce moving during the pandemic, enabled millions of small transactions seamlessly, and strengthened India’s digital public infrastructure story globally.
Jaipur siblings turn a Rs 5,000 candle hobby into a thoughtful gifting venture
This Raksha Bandhan, Jaipur siblings Unnati and Udit Khandelwal are lighting up celebrations with GiftwithTwist. What began in 2023 as a small, Rs 5,000-at-home candle hobby now delivers personalised gifts across India, including a recent bulk order for Dubai.
Madras built the engine; Chennai shifts gears as a global business destination
From a colonial trading centre to a manufacturing powerhouse and now a diversified global business destination, Chennai continues to reinvent itself. Built on Madras’s industrial foundation, the city is attracting leading global firms and widening opportunity across sectors.
Prarthana Theatre and Chennai’s enduring love for shared cinema nights
Prarthana Theatre remains a fond chapter in Chennai’s cultural memory—where big-screen magic met open-sky wonder. Recalled during Madras Day conversations, it highlights how neighbourhood theatres shaped community life, film appreciation and the city’s evolving public spaces.
French visitor applauds India’s UPI ease: ‘₹20 chai? Just scan and pay’
A French woman’s viral video praising India’s UPI ‘scan and pay’ habit has spotlighted how seamlessly small-value payments work across street-food stalls, cafés and neighbourhood vendors—making everyday transactions faster, simpler and more inclusive for customers and small businesses alike.
KCL: Vathsal’s fluent knock guides Sailors to a composed chase win
Vathsal produced a brisk, assured innings to steer the Sailors home in a Kerala Cricket League fixture, keeping the chase calm under pressure. The knock underlined the value of smart shot selection and steady partnerships in T20 cricket.
Federer returns to U.S. Open stage for feel-good exhibition with Roddick
Five-time U.S. Open champion Roger Federer received a warm welcome back at Arthur Ashe Stadium, returning for a celebratory exhibition match against longtime rival and friend Andy Roddick. The evening highlighted sport’s ability to reunite legends and fans alike.
Duleep Trophy Day 4: West Zone 220/7, 67 needed for win over North Zone
West Zone moved to 220/7 on Day 4 of the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, leaving 67 more runs to beat North Zone. The chase remains finely poised, with a strong finish in sight.
Prarthana Theatre: Chennai’s open-sky movie magic and a city’s shared memories
Prarthana Theatre remains a cherished chapter in Chennai’s entertainment history—where film stars lit up the screen and, in an open-air setting, the night sky became part of the experience. Its story reflects the city’s evolving, community-led cinema culture.
Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ spirit: a songwriting legacy that keeps growing
Dolly Parton’s career continues to feel present-tense because it is rooted in songwriting that travels across generations. As she puts it, the songs are her legacy—an enduring reminder that craft, warmth and clarity can outlast any era.
Xiaomi brings Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6 and 4 Compact to India
Xiaomi has launched the Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6 and Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact in India, expanding its connected home lineup. The new models will be available via Blinkit, with servicing supported through Xiaomi premium service outlets nationwide.
Nothing OS 5.0 debuts with smarter customisation and split notifications controls
Nothing has unveiled Nothing OS 5.0, focusing on fresh customisation and personalisation for its smartphones. A key change is the split layout for Notifications and Quick Settings, aiming to make everyday controls quicker and more intuitive.
RBI reports fully subscribed State government bond auction worth ₹20,100 crore
The RBI’s latest yield/price-based auction of State Government Securities saw full acceptance of the notified ₹20,100 crore across seven states. Cut-off yields broadly ranged from about 7.09% to 7.70%, supporting planned borrowing with transparent price discovery.
After office hours, a Bengal woman recreates tram tickets and chai stalls in miniatures
A government employee in West Bengal spends her evenings crafting miniature scenes inspired by everyday Bengal nostalgia—tram tickets, chai stalls and books. Her careful, hand-made art celebrates local memory, patience and creativity, showing how hobbies can become meaningful cultural storytelling.
AI-ready phones gain buyer interest, while strong performance stays essential: Report
A new report suggests smartphone buyers are increasingly looking for AI features, such as phones that can understand requests and recommend actions. At the same time, everyday performance remains a core expectation, underlining demand for practical, reliable upgrades.