Latest news with #Indra
Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘The Legend of Meneka': A fun and feminist retelling of a mythological heroine's story
The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H Rao is a tale of a celestial seduction artist, an apsara who finds herself torn between the chains of duty and the pull of love as she must seduce a sage, Kaushika, who threatens the influence of Indra over common people. Meneka answers to Indra (a Hindu deity who presides over the heavenly city of Amaravati and wields a vajra) and must conquer the heart of this prince-turned-maharishi, who is on a mission to make Indra right all his wrongs and mend his ways. Meneka must not only win his heart but also render him apathetic to his tapasya and mission, leaving him obsessed and seduced by her ethereal beauty. This sage, if you happen to have picked up one or two Amar Chitra Katha or Nandan in your childhood, is none other than Vishwamitra. Meneka's story Years ago, I pored over countless Hindi storybooks during summer vacations (and the rest of the year as well), and the story of Meneka and Vishwamitra always featured in a slightly patriarchal way, subtly degrading Meneka for being an instrument of lust. Her seduction of a rishi is also shown with a comedic tint in skits and movies. The sage is made to bow to his 'base instinct' and thereby jeopardise his tapasya. Of course, when I was a kid, I had no inkling there could be another side to this mythic legend. Rao, with a swooping flourish, rights these wrongs, restoring the grace of Meneka and the respect of the rishi. Meneka is quite reluctant to this seduction mission. The more time she spends in the mortal world, the more she finds fault with her demeanour. Her devotion to Indra (he is described as 'the first of all devas, ancient and impenetrable. He is a power that formed and became sentient at the dawn of creation') begins to dwindle. Rao writes: 'My sari belt constricts around my waist. The necklaces tighten, and my hand rises to skim against my collarbone, trying to loosen their leash. What will Rambha say if I tell her this is how the jewels have felt for so long? That wearing them has been no blessing but a prison sentence? The boon I intend to ask of the lord today will surely catch her unaware-but the lord himself will see that it comes from a desire to be more pious. The jewels are wondrous, but they take me away from him each time I leave Amaravati. All I want is to be untainted in my devotion, close to him, worshipping him.' In addition to being quite racy, this is also a 'queernormative' (found this quote in a Goodreads review) world where a man can love a man and a woman can have affection for another woman without having to explain the whys behind their nature or behaviour. In the ashram of Kaushika, there are such pairs who freely express their love. It was brief but a refreshing change nonetheless. Meneka, too, is smitten with Rambha, who is her mentor and handler. A headstrong woman Rao's Meneka is headstrong and doesn't shy away from arguing with an angry sage. Rambha says about her, 'She is unique. She prides herself on never becoming involved with a mark, a failing I have tried to stamp out, yet it has only made her more creative with her missions. Her wits and resourcefulness cannot be denied, and it is because of those that she accomplishes her missions so successfully. While her illusions are rawer than other apsaras, she has been successful so far because she has learnt not to rely only on her magic and beauty. Instead, she studies her enemy deeply, carving her illusions based on who they are and what they fear. In a few years, I would have her seduce more challenging marks, and with more training, she could one day become heaven's greatest weapon.' The profuse use of Hindi words is delightful, but I felt some words (adrenaline, handler) were alien to the story. 'Adrenaline' is a common word in the novel's vocabulary but 'vagina' is alluded to as an 'opening'. It was a bit frustrating to see the author skirting around it. But these are minor issues and who am I to object to a woman writing about a woman? Rao has normalised what is described as 'amorous behaviour' in Hindi storybooks. I have read countless stories where humans or celestial beings are cursed with shraap because they were either indulging in lovemaking or going skinny-dipping in the lake. Meneka says, 'One time I arrive at the small pool near the hut to bathe, and Kaushika is already there. He is submerged to the waist, his dark skin glistening, performing prayers while in the water. I hesitate, then remove my clothes to enter the same pool. So what if he is praying? The pool is mine as much as his.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mahesh Babu's Khaleja beats Chiranjeevi's Indra to become highest-grossing Indian re-release in USA
Mahesh Babu's Khaleja has achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the highest-grossing Indian re-release in North America. The 4K remastered version surpassed records previously held by Chiranjeevi's Indra and Pawan Kalyan's Gabbar Singh. The film's success is attributed to Mahesh Babu's enduring popularity, witty dialogues, and Trivikram Srinivas' sharp writing, drawing audiences back to cinemas after 14 years. In what can only be described as a phenomenal feat, Superstar Mahesh Babu 's Khaleja has stormed the North American box office to become the highest-grossing Indian re-release ever in the United States. The cult classic, originally released in 2010, has struck gold with its 4K remastered version, beating long-standing records held by Chiranjeevi's Indra and Pawan Kalyan 's Gabbar Singh . Khaleja directed by Trivikram Srinivas also starred Anushka Shetty and Prakash Raj in leading roles. On its opening day, Khaleja 4K grossed an impressive $57,677 from 105 locations across North America, making it the third-highest opening for an Indian film re-release in the region, just behind Indra ($65K) and Gabbar Singh ($60K). However, what followed on Day 2 was nothing short of sensational. By 9 PM PST, the film had already collected $35,829 from 91 locations, a figure that surpassed many other re-release opening day numbers. The remarkable Day 2 performance has ensured that Khaleja would comfortably cross the coveted $100K mark by Sunday. . This unexpected yet heartwarming box office resurgence reaffirms Mahesh Babu's enduring popularity overseas, especially among the Telugu diaspora. The film's witty dialogues, Mahesh's charismatic performance, Trivikram Srinivas' sharp writing, and the nostalgia factor have all contributed to drawing crowds back to cinemas, even 14 years after its original release. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDs กับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้ | เรียนรู้เพิ่มเติม IC Markets สมัคร Undo In India as well the film has taken an amazing start where just its advance booking for day 1 of Rs 3.5 crore has made it the highest grossing Telugu re-release beating Prabhas' Salaar Part 1- Ceasefire. Mahesh Babu is currently working on his magnum opus film with SS Rajamouli which is supposed to go on floors this year. The film also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukukaran and is considered to be one of the biggest projects out of India. It is Rajamouli's first film since the global success of RRR with Ram Charan and NTR Jr. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Indra, Audi and Qualcomm Join Forces to Demonstrate the Future of Tolling With Connected Vehicle Technology (C-V2X)
Indra, Audi, and Qualcomm have been collaborating for the past two years to develop this tolling technology for connected vehicles, bringing a new model of nationwide interoperability The companies demonstrated this technology during the OmniAir Interoperability Testing at the SunTrax Test Facility in Florida on May 12, 2025 LONDON, May 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Indra, Audi of America and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. are launching a joint project to advance next-generation toll payments using cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology. This initial deployment work will show how vehicles equipped with C-V2X two-way connectivity can ease congestion on toll roads, standardize payments nationwide, and enhance the overall driver experience. This groundbreaking payment method, based on the global Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J3217 C-V2X standard, can also serve as a precursor for secure, standardized, and accurate transactions involving other services, such as parking. Currently, motorists must pay tolls via multi-step mobile apps, bespoke transponders, or license plate identification systems that require validations. The disruptive C-V2X payment system will provide a seamless experience by displaying accurate toll notifications on in-vehicle screens, eliminate transponder incompatibility across the United States, ease congestion caused by toll gantries, and open the possibility for special offers or benefits to drivers of equipped cars. "We have known for some time that cars will eventually become motorists' wallets, used to pay for everything, from tolls and mileage-based road usage, to parking, to drive-through and other consumer services. The advent of the J3217 C-V2X standard puts United States at the forefront of the in-car payments innovation, and Indra is excited to help bring us one step closer to that connected future," said Raul Ripio, Senior Vice President, Mobility & Technology, at Indra. Commuters are not the only beneficiaries of this new approach. Toll operators, who currently rely on traditional electronic transponders and video tolling to collect tolls, face complex processes in managing these transactions and dedicate extensive roadside infrastructure to detect, identify, classify, and post transactions. In addition, agencies and operators are responsible for managing accounts, inventory, and maintaining equipment to ensure efficient toll payments. The C-V2X-based payment technology will enable toll agencies to further reduce operational costs by minimizing exception processing. Furthermore, this technology improves accuracy by precisely identifying and positioning vehicles at the lane level. During the planned demonstration, in the OmniAir Interoperability Testing at the SunTrax Test Facility in Florida on May 12, 2025, the partners showcased how motorists approaching a toll area in connected vehicles will receive in-vehicle notifications with real-time tolling information, allowing drivers to review the toll rates and other details and confirm payments effortlessly. Additionally, Indra demonstrated how toll operators can accurately identify connected vehicles using C-V2X technology, distinguishing them from non-connected vehicles that use alternative toll payment methods. This initial deployment project taps into the strengths of Indra, Qualcomm Technologies, and the development teams at Audi / Volkswagen Group, to align with regulatory initiatives aimed at propelling the U.S. as the global leader in C-V2X connectivity for transformative, safe, secure, and efficient mobility. About Indra Indra, one of the most foremost global technology companies, is a world leader in smart mobility, having completed over 2,500 projects in more than 100 cities and 50 countries on the five continents. Over the last twenty years, Indra has provided tolling systems to more than 20+ countries, with over 3,300 lanes in operation and over 50 Back Office Systems for toll motorways in 13 countries, Indra most recent delivery, I-66 Express Outside the Beltway, of an integrated all-overhead tolling, video-occupancy detection, ATMS, and ITS for managed lanes, with C-V2X infrastructure and Connected vehicle platform, is considered one-of-a-kind in the United States today. Indra has been awarded with the IBTTA Toll Excellence Award in the Private Sector Innovation in 2024 for this project in Virginia. Indra is part of the Indra Group, a holding company with more than 60,000 employees, local presence in 49 countries and commercial operations in more than 140 countries. View source version on Contacts Communications Dept. Contact Toñi García Carballal magcarballal@ +34 648 10 29 48 Sign in to access your portfolio
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Spanish satellite operator Sateliot in talks to offer 5G to European armies
MADRID: Spanish satellite startup Sateliot is in talks with several European defence ministries to offer 5G connection for their militaries, its co-founders said on Wednesday. The company, which recently raised 70 million euros ($79 million) in debt and equity, expects to offer narrow 5G band connection to small devices in areas without mobile phone coverage through satellites. Co-founder and CEO Jaume Sanpera said the European company was attracting interest from countries in the region that want to reduce their reliance on non-European companies such as Elon Musk's Starlink. "Our service is applicable to battlefield logistics, so we have been contacted for that technology," said Marco Guadalupi, Sateliot's co-founder and chief technology officer, without disclosing which countries or how many. The company has signed an exclusivity agreement with defence contractor Indra , which owns a 4% in Sateliot, to sell its services to the military. Aside from the defence sector, other potential customers include logistics companies, farmers, oil platforms, or environmental applications, which do not need real time broadband connections. The company intends to start commercial service within two months by supplying local mobile telephone operators across the world. Final customers would pay about 2.50 euros ($2.83) a month to connect a device for a few moments a day. The company intends to deploy about 100 satellites by 2028 and hit 1 billion euros in revenue by 2030. It will gradually improve the quality of connection, making it possible to transmit voice messages once its constellation gets denser. After the most recent financing round, the Spanish state owns a 20% stake in Sateliot, Sanpera said. Sateliot currently operates five low-orbit nano satellites, each about the size of a microwave oven, and services 12 test clients.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- The Hindu
Special bus flagged off in Vizag for ‘Saraswati Pushkaralu' in Telangana
A special AC bus (Indra) for the 'Saraswati Pushkaralu' was flagged off by District Public Transportation Officer B. Appalanaidu at the Dwaraka Bus Station, here, on Thursday. The bus will ferry the devotees to the Saraswathi Pushkarams in Telangana. Mr. Appalanaidu said that 'Super Luxury' special buses would be operated on May 23 and 24. Passengers in a group of 34 can book an entire bus for the day of their choice. Individuals can book tickets for the services scheduled to ply on May 23 and 24. The special bus packages would include Vijayawada and Yadadri darshan. For more details, interested people can dial the phone numbers 8309265666, 9959225602 or 9100109731. APSRTC Deputy Chief Traffic Manager G. Satyanarayana, Depot Manager K. Gangadhara Rao, Assistant Engineer Ramakrishna and Assistant Manager Ujwala were among those present.
