SYED FIRDAUS ASHRAF, DIVYA NAIR

Stories by SYED FIRDAUS ASHRAF, DIVYA NAIR

'Nothing Can Replace A Guru Or Lived Experiences That Shape An Artist's Soul'

'Nothing Can Replace A Guru Or Lived Experiences That Shape An Artist's Soul'

Rediff.com   1 days ago

'Social media and AI are tools; they can amplify, archive, and connect, but they cannot replace emotion, discipline, or the years of riyaaz that go into becoming a musician.'

'Make A Hindu Kashmir And Declare It Union Territory'

'Make A Hindu Kashmir And Declare It Union Territory'

Rediff.com   1 days ago

'Kashmir needs to be divided and we need the land of Panun Kashmir in Kashmir.'

Recipes: 5 Easy Vegetable Doshas

Recipes: 5 Easy Vegetable Doshas

Rediff.com   7 days ago

Divya Nair suggests five versatile ways to put your dosa batter to good use.

Is Your Cough Serious? A Doctor Answers

Is Your Cough Serious? A Doctor Answers

Rediff.com   7 days ago

Pulmonologist Dr Harish Chafle highlights when and why you must not ignore a common cough.

Shifting My House Erased My Voter Record!

Shifting My House Erased My Voter Record!

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2026

'I don't want to be called a new Indian voter when I am an old Indian voter.'

'Husband Can't Force Wife To Look After Parents'

'Husband Can't Force Wife To Look After Parents'

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2026

'Caring for one's parents is the husband's responsibility, especially if he is the earning member of the family.' 'The wife may be financially dependent on him but that does not create a legal obligation for her to serve or care for her in-laws.'

Dating During Divorce: Is It Legal?

Dating During Divorce: Is It Legal?

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2026

'Dating someone during divorce proceedings is legally permissible as long as it does not involve provable physical intimacy,' says lawyer Navaneet Kumar.

'Venezuela's Current Leaders Gave Maduro As A Trophy To Trump'

'Venezuela's Current Leaders Gave Maduro As A Trophy To Trump'

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2026

'Trump had done a deal with the current regime minus Maduro. The current regime is giving Trump entry into Venezuelan oil. They are obeying him and doing whatever he says.' 'They are happy because they have saved their heads by sacrificing only two, Maduro and his wife. Thousands of Venezuelan military leaders would have been jailed or killed in American action had Maduro stayed in power.'

'Democracy Is On Sale In Maharashtra'

'Democracy Is On Sale In Maharashtra'

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2026

'This daylight robbery of elections is happening in the commercial capital of India, Mumbai city, so you can imagine what they will do to win elections in the interiors of India.'

'Dehradun Police Wanted To Protect The Killers'

'Dehradun Police Wanted To Protect The Killers'

Rediff.com   1 Jan 2026

'The worst part is that after the attack on December 9, the Dehradun police refused to register an FIR for the murder.'

The Man Challenging 18% GST On Air Purifiers

The Man Challenging 18% GST On Air Purifiers

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2025

'If a common man wants to buy an air purifier for Rs 10,000, then he will have to shell out Rs 11,800 with 18 percent GST.' 'If he is charged GST at 5 percent the same air purifier will cost Rs 10,500.' 'This saves a one time amount of Rs 1,300 -- and that too just to breathe clean air.'

'Yunus Government Has Given Space To Pakistanis'

'Yunus Government Has Given Space To Pakistanis'

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2025

'There is no substantive basis for Bangladesh-Pakistan relations. The only real link they can have is mischief, with Pakistan's intelligence agency using Bangladesh to create trouble along our eastern borders.'

Avatar: Fire And Ash Review: Predictable

Avatar: Fire And Ash Review: Predictable

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2025

Avatar: Fire And Ash is visually stunning and emotionally engaging, offering strong performances and thrilling action, notes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Emily in Paris 5 Review: Same Old, Same Old

Emily in Paris 5 Review: Same Old, Same Old

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2025

There is nothing new or original about the storyline but loyalists may continue to be swept away by Emily's high-fashion escapades against the sun-drenched backdrops of Rome and postcard-perfect Venice, notes Divya Nair.

'G RAM G Isn't A National Employment Guarantee Law'

'G RAM G Isn't A National Employment Guarantee Law'

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2025

'MGNREGA was about a guaranteed right to work.' 'The new law does not guarantee employment at all.' 'It removes everything that made MGNREGA a legal guarantee.'

The Blasphemous Idea Dhurandhar Promotes

The Blasphemous Idea Dhurandhar Promotes

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2025

Dhurandhar's most dangerous idea is that Director Aditya Dhar envisions an Indian state run by a deep state -- an intelligence machinery not accountable to Parliament, courts, or voters. A future political system where unelected officials decide when Indian democracy is 'fit' to function, observes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

The Ultimate Rajinikanth Playlist

The Ultimate Rajinikanth Playlist

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2025

We continue to celebrate the Thalaiva's 75th birthday with Divya Nair's premiere playlist that celebrates his magnetic swag, emotion and larger-than-life persona.

'My Life Has Been Paused Without My Consent'

'My Life Has Been Paused Without My Consent'

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2025

Thousands of Indian H-1B workers are stranded in India after sudden visa appointment cancellations at US consulates.

Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2: Delightful Comedy!

Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2: Delightful Comedy!

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2025

Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 may be a comedy filled with chaos, but in its indirect way, it speaks about a time when the Constitution mattered more than one's religion and when the idea of India was larger than personal hate, observes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

'Thar Desert Will Reach Delhi Soon'

'Thar Desert Will Reach Delhi Soon'

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2025

'The natural barrier that is Aravalli, you are demolishing it, then who will stop the desert?' 'In future, I predict that people will roam around with oxygen cylinders in Delhi because they won't be able to breathe.'