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Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Metro In Dino' fails to understand love and desire among queer people
Written by Anchal Bhatheja In his latest film Metro In Dino, Anurag Basu attempts a delicate balancing act — interweaving tales of urban love and loss, including a subplot about a teenage girl questioning her sexuality. For a film released in 2025, in a post-Section 377 India, the inclusion of queer identity should have been a cause for celebration. But instead, Basu offers a muddled, poorly-researched, and at times, ethically disturbing narrative that does more harm than good. Rather than treating queerness with the care and nuance it demands, the film reduces it to confusion, experimentation, and invasive 'tests'— packaged as quirky coming-of-age comedy. The result is misrepresentation. And worse, it risks reinforcing the very stigmas queer youth are trying to escape. The confused teenager in question is portrayed with visible discomfort and internal conflict. Her friend, worried and unsure how to help, does something many Indian teens do when they feel lost—she calls a trusted adult for advice. That adult is her aunt, played by Sara Ali Khan. What unfolds should have been a moment for positive guidance or affirming support. Instead, the aunt shrugs off the girl's struggle: 'The internet has made you all confused.' Delivered with the smirk of someone trying to sound wise, this line encapsulates how mainstream narratives continue to treat queerness — as a phase, a fad, or a Western import. It implies that sexual fluidity is the by-product of too much screen time, not a valid part of someone's identity. In a country where access to affirming sex education is still rare, the internet has often been the only lifeline for queer youth. To mock that access is not only insensitive — it's reckless. The aunt's solution is equally flippant. 'Just kiss someone,' she says — girl or boy — and 'see if you get butterflies.' That's how you'll know who you love. But love, desire, and sexual orientation are far more complex. For many people, especially adolescents, queerness is not just about physical attraction. It's about emotional resonance, comfort, curiosity, and affinity. I myself came to understand my sexual orientation not through a kiss but through the depth of my emotional attraction to women — how I looked at them, connected with them, and longed to be around them. The 'kiss test' is not only reductive — it reinforces the idea that queer desire must be physically proven to be real. This approach contradicts decades of research in queer theory. Scholars like Eve Sedgwick and Adrienne Rich have argued that queer identity is not always anchored in sex or touch — it often begins with feelings, attachment, and even intellectual admiration. Many young queer people feel different long before they can name it. To reduce this complexity to butterflies from a kiss is not education — it's romanticised misinformation. But Metro In Dino goes further — and darker. Taking her aunt's advice literally, the girl decides to test her feelings by kissing her friend while she is asleep. A minor kissing another minor without consent, even framed as 'curiosity,' crosses a line. The scene is presented without consequences, without remorse, and without any acknowledgement of the violation. It plays directly into dangerous territory, implying that experimenting with someone else's body — without their permission —is a valid way to explore your sexuality. In a country where sex education is weak and consent is rarely discussed at home or school, this is an incredibly harmful message. Queerness, like all forms of love, must be rooted in respect and consent. To suggest otherwise is to risk enabling harmful behaviours in the name of 'self-discovery.' Representation carries weight. Especially when you're dealing with queer teenagers in India, where mental health risks are heightened, bullying is rampant, and acceptance is far from guaranteed. UNESCO (2018) data shows that over 50 per cent of LGBTQ+ youth in South Asia experience bullying, and more than 70 per cent conceal their identities in school and family settings. Many studies indicate that closeted youth are extremely prone to risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide. For these youth, visibility in media is not just representation — it's survival. Cinema has the power to affirm, reflect, and validate. But that requires care, research, and consultation with queer communities. Tokenism without understanding only adds to the problem. If you cannot represent queerness responsibly, you are better off not doing it at all. What Metro In Dino gives us is a caricature of confusion. It reinforces tropes and ignores the responsibility it has toward real lives, watching these stories unfold. Anurag Basu's intent may have been inclusion, but impact matters more than intent. The storyline in Metro In Dino is not just a missed opportunity. It's a disservice. To queer teens. To survivors of consent violations. To anyone who has struggled to name their identity in a world that still refuses to see them. Queer adolescence deserves space, dignity, and care. Not kisses without consent and 'confusion' as punchlines. Tell our stories. But tell them right. The writer is with Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Time of India
‘Law doesn't recognise concept of marital rape': HC quashes Sec 377 case against husband
New Delhi: Saying the law doesn't recognise the concept of marital rape , Delhi High Court has quashed an order directing prosecution of a man for performing "unnatural" sex with his wife. The court noted Section 377 of IPC penalising such acts won't apply in a marital relationship particularly when the allegation of consent was missing. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma was dealing with the man's plea against a trial court order which directed framing of Section 377 (punishment for unnatural offences) charge against him for allegedly performing oral sex with his wife. The verdict said the law did not recognise the concept of marital rape. "There is no basis to assume that a husband would not be protected from prosecution under Section 377 of IPC, in view of exception 2 to Section 375 of IPC since the law (amended Section 375 of IPC) now presumes implied consent for sexual intercourse as well as sexual acts, including anal or oral intercourse within a marital relationship," it said. The high court noted the wife did not specifically allege if the act was performed against her will or without her consent. "The essential ingredient of lack of consent – central to constituting an offence under Section 377 of IPC post-Navtej Singh Johar (case) between any two adults – is clearly missing. Thus, there is not only a lack of prima facie case, but even the threshold of strong suspicion is not met," the court said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sua hidro dos sonhos com entrega em Tatuí Brasil Banheiras Compre já Undo The top court in the Navtej verdict de-criminalised consensual sex among adults, including those from the same sex. "No prima facie case is made out against the petitioner for the offence under Section 377 of IPC. The impugned order directing the framing of charge is, therefore, unsustainable in law and is liable to be set aside," the court added. PTI
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Gold price per tola falls Rs6,700 in Pakistan
Gold prices in Pakistan continued to fall in line with their decrease in the international market. In the local market on Thursday, gold price per tola reached Rs335,200 after it shed Rs6,700 during the day. As per the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA),10-gram gold was sold at Rs287,379, after it decreased Rs5,745. On Wednesday, gold price per tola reached Rs341,900 after it shed Rs2,300 during the day. The international rate of gold also decreased on Thursday. The rate was at $3,168 per ounce (with a premium of $20), a decline of $67, as per APGJSA. Meanwhile, silver price per tola also decreased by Rs105 to settle at Rs3,377.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unpacking Q4 Earnings: Paycor (NASDAQ:PYCR) In The Context Of Other HR Software Stocks
As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here's a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q4. Today, we are looking at hr software stocks, starting with Paycor (NASDAQ:PYCR). Modern HR software has two powerful benefits: cost savings and ease of use. For cost savings, businesses large and small much prefer the flexibility of cloud-based, web-browser-delivered software paid for on a subscription basis rather than the hassle and complexity of purchasing and managing on-premise enterprise software. On the usability side, the consumerization of business software creates seamless experiences whereby multiple standalone processes like payroll processing and compliance are aggregated into a single, easy-to-use platform. The 6 HR software stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts' consensus estimates by 1.5% while next quarter's revenue guidance was 4% below. While some hr software stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 3.6% since the latest earnings results. Founded in 1990 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Paycor (NASDAQ: PYCR) provides software for small businesses to manage their payroll and HR needs in one place. Paycor reported revenues of $180.4 million, up 13.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts' expectations by 1.9%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts' EBITDA estimates. Interestingly, the stock is up 1.6% since reporting and currently trades at $22.49. Read our full report on Paycor here, it's free. Founded by payroll software veteran Steve Sarowitz in 1997, Paylocity (NASDAQ:PCTY) is a provider of payroll and HR software for small and medium-sized enterprises. Paylocity reported revenues of $377 million, up 15.5% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 2.7%. The business had a strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates and full-year EBITDA guidance beating analysts' expectations. Paylocity scored the biggest analyst estimates beat and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 10.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $189.82. Is now the time to buy Paylocity? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. Founded in 1992 as Ceridian, an outsourced payroll processor and transformed after the 2012 acquisition of Dayforce, Dayforce (NYSE:DAY) is a provider of cloud based payroll and HR software targeted at mid-sized businesses. Dayforce reported revenues of $465.2 million, up 16.4% year on year, exceeding analysts' expectations by 2%. Still, it was a weaker quarter as it posted full-year guidance of slowing revenue growth and revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts' expectations significantly. Dayforce delivered the weakest full-year guidance update in the group. As expected, the stock is down 20.5% since the results and currently trades at $57.04. Read our full analysis of Dayforce's results here. One of the oldest service providers in the industry, Paychex (NASDAQ:PAYX) offers its customers payroll and HR software solutions. Paychex reported revenues of $1.51 billion, up 4.8% year on year. This number was in line with analysts' expectations. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as its performance in some other areas of the business was disappointing. Paychex had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $144.73. Read our full, actionable report on Paychex here, it's free. Created from the merger of two small workforce management companies in 2007, Asure (NASDAQ:ASUR) provides cloud based payroll and HR software for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Asure reported revenues of $30.79 million, up 17.2% year on year. This print met analysts' expectations. However, it was a slower quarter as it logged EBITDA guidance for next quarter missing analysts' expectations significantly and a slight miss of analysts' EBITDA estimates. Asure delivered the fastest revenue growth but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is down 2.8% since reporting and currently trades at $9.42. Read our full, actionable report on Asure here, it's free. The Fed's interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty for 2025. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Join Paid Stock Investor Research Help us make StockStory more helpful to investors like yourself. Join our paid user research session and receive a $50 Amazon gift card for your opinions. Sign up here. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
Score a cheap flight: These destinations drop the most in airfare
With airfare prices constantly fluctuating, scoring the best flight deal can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. According to travel platform Skyscanner, 85% of people want confirmation that a flight is a good deal before hitting that purchase button, and to help travelers decipher that is its newly launched in-app Drops feature. Analyzing data from over 80 billion flights a day, Drops highlights airfare from your chosen airport that's fallen by at least 20% from its cheapest price over the last seven days, based on search popularity. The drops refresh every hour to show the most up-to-date deals for flights on multiple dates, so you can browse last-minute flights and those with more planning time. "Supply and demand are the main factors influencing price drops," said Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner's global travel trends expert. However, airline ticket costs can also fall based on route popularity, seasonality, competition with other airlines, fuel costs, aircraft type, ancillary fees and booking class. Here's some insight into cheap airfare in 2025, according to Skyscanner Drops. According to Skyscanner, the most popular days for airfare drops are Wednesdays – on average. Lindsay said there's no straightforward reason for this and that different routes will see better deals on various days. "Prices are dynamic and ever-changing, so while this is the best day on average to get a Drops deal, it's certainly not the only day," she said. What day should I book airfare? Major travel platforms debunk the myth about Tuesdays. San Juan Orlando Las Vegas Miami New York Tokyo Denver Los Angeles New Orleans Fort Lauderdale These popular destinations had the biggest drops in airfare from the U.S. over a seven-day period, according to Skyscanner data from Jan. 2025. Amsterdam - $435 average savings Tokyo - $377 average savings Paris - $341 average savings London - $325 average savings Dublin - $310 average savings This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This is day to book airfare: How to find cheap flights
