Interesting facts about 2025 Booker Prize - David Szalay's novel "Flesh"

🏆 Booker Prize History

• Second Nomination, First Win: Szalay was previously shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016 for his novel-in-stories, All That Man Is. His win for Flesh marks a successful return to the shortlist and a major literary achievement.

• "Risky" Title: Szalay recalled asking his editor whether she could imagine a novel called "Flesh" winning the Booker Prize, highlighting the blunt, physical nature of the title which he felt was "unliterary" and a creative risk.

•  Unanimous Decision: The 2025 judging panel, chaired by Roddy Doyle (who won the prize in 1993), stated that the decision to award Szalay was unanimous after a five-hour deliberation.

• ✍️ Unique Style and Structure

• The Power of Omission (White Space): The judges praised the novel for its "spareness of the writing" and its brilliant use of "white space on the page." Critical life events—including István's military service in the Iraq war, time in detention, and key emotional turning points—often happen off-page between chapters. This technique forces the reader to fill in the gaps and observe the character through what is not said.

• The "OK" Man: The protagonist, István, is a famously taciturn and emotionally detached character. His most common remark throughout the novel is the simple, noncommittal word "OK," which acts as a shield to avoid emotional expression or lengthy conversations.

• Focus on the Physical: Szalay stated he wanted to write a book about "life as a physical experience" and the "primacy the novel gives to the demands and impulses of the body," arguing that our existence is physical before it is anything else.

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🌍 Author and Theme Context

• First Hungarian-British Winner: Szalay is the first Hungarian-British author to win the Booker Prize. He was born in Canada, grew up in the UK, and has a Hungarian father. This complex background is reflected in the novel, which stretches between Hungary and London.

  Born from Failure: Szalay began writing Flesh only after abandoning another full-length novel he had been working on for four years and had reached over 80,000 words. He admitted the core concept of the previous project was "wrong."
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• Focus on the Working Class: The book was praised for "homing in on a working-class man" (István) who, according to the judges, ordinarily does not get much attention in literary fiction, exploring themes of masculinity, class, migration, and power.

The Cola Wars: How Bollywood Superstars Became the Face of India's Cold Drinks

 

In the highly competitive world of Indian beverages, the battle between global giants and homegrown flavours is fought not just in the marketplace, but on television screens, plastered on billboards, and starring the biggest names in Bollywood. The association between Indian cinema stars and cold drink brands is less of an endorsement and more of a cultural phenomenon, shaping youth slang, dictating summer spending, and creating some of the most memorable advertising in the country's history.

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1. The Big Two: Shah Rukh Khan vs. The World

For decades, the cola wars in India have been inextricably linked to the 'Khans' of Bollywood.

• Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) and the 'Oye Bubbly' Era (Pepsi): SRK's long-standing initial association with Pepsi was legendary. Campaigns like "Yeh Dil Maange More" and the quirky, energetic "Oye Bubbly" firmly established Pepsi as the brand for the young, restless, and ambitious Indian youth. His image as the King of Romance and the ultimate suave performer aligned perfectly with Pepsi's glossy, high-energy marketing.

  The Big Switch: The most dramatic development in the cola wars, however, is the recent celebrity switcheroo. After a decade with Pepsi, SRK became the face of Coca-Cola’s local action-packed brand, Thums Up, in 2022. This move was a statement, positioning the superstar in a toofani (stormy/powerful) avatar and marking one of the biggest endorsement deals in the industry.

2. Aamir Khan: The Method Actor as a Salesman

While SRK brought glamour, Aamir Khan brought cultural depth and authenticity.

• "Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola": As explored previously, Aamir's campaign for Coca-Cola in the early 2000s remains a masterclass in localization. By portraying a series of relatable, regional Indian characters—from a tapori (street tough) to a Hyderabadi Paanwala—he ingeniously inserted the Coca-Cola brand into the common Indian lexicon, equating the generic Hindi term for a cold drink (Thanda) directly with the product.

3. The 'Toofani' Legacy: Thums Up and the Action Heroes

Coca-Cola's local brand, Thums Up, has consistently sought to embody a powerful, adventurous, and distinctly masculine spirit, and its endorsers reflect this:

• Akshay Kumar: His long tenure with Thums Up was characterised by daredevil stunts and high-octane action sequences, perfectly matching the brand's tagline: "Taste the Thunder."

• Salman Khan: The Dabangg star also had a substantial run with the brand, bringing his mass appeal and signature style, before he too eventually moved to endorse Pepsi.

• Ranveer Singh: Known for his boundless energy, Ranveer Singh continued the "Toofani" legacy before eventually switching to Pepsi, underscoring the constant, high-stakes trade-off of star power between the rival companies.

4. Beyond Cola: Fruit Drinks and the Feminine Face

The association isn't limited to fizzy drinks. Indian cinema's leading ladies have dominated the fruit beverage segment:

• Katrina Kaif (Slice): Her long-running campaign for Slice established a strong connection between the brand's thick, rich mango flavour and her glamorous, sensual persona, using the tagline, "Aamsutra."

• Priyanka Chopra (Mirinda): In the past, Priyanka Chopra was a key face for Mirinda, starring in humorous and vibrant ads that connected with a younger, fun-loving audience.

5. The Celebrity Swap: A Sign of the Times

The most recent trend is the unprecedented frequency of star swapping between brands. Actors like Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, and the two Khans have all endorsed rival colas at various points. This phenomenon suggests.

1. High Stakes: The cola brands are desperate to associate with the few Indian stars who command true pan-India appeal and market visibility.

2. Brand Idea vs. Icon: As some marketing experts argue, with product differentiation being minimal, brands increasingly rely on the face of the celebrity to create differentiation, making the icon more important than the intrinsic brand idea itself.

TRIVIA about the series Night Manager

 Here are 10 interesting TRIVIA about the British TV series, "The Night Manager" which had a gritty plot. Now let us see how many of you can answer these 10 questions !

Question 1 - Who plays the titular 'Night Manager,' Jonathan Pine, and which major hotel is he initially working at when he first encounters Richard Roper's associates?

2. What is the main criminal enterprise of the antagonist, Richard Roper?

3. The character of the British Intelligence operative, Angela Burr, is famously gender-swapped from the original John le Carré novel. Who plays Angela Burr in the series?

Image Source- google images

4. What alias does Jonathan Pine adopt to infiltrate Richard Roper's inner circle?

5. Who is Corky, and what is his relationship to Richard Roper?

6. What is the name of Richard Roper's beautiful mistress, whom Pine develops a relationship with?

7. Jonathan Pine is driven by a desire for revenge stemming from a tragedy in Cairo. What happened, and who was the victim?

8. What is the significance of the "Iron Last" company?

9. Where does the climactic arms deal, which Pine works to sabotage, take place?

10. What happens to Richard Roper at the very end of the series?

11. What is hotel name in Cairo where Jonathan Pine was working as the night manager ?

Answer

1. Tom Hiddleston plays Jonathan Pine. He is working at the Nefertiti Hotel in Cairo, Egypt. 2. He is an international arms dealer, selling massive stockpiles of weapons, including chemical agents. 3. Olivia Colman plays the role of Angela Burr. 4. He initially poses as an ex-military operative and smuggler named Thomas Quince. 5. Corky (Major Lance Corkoran, played by Tom Hollander) is Roper's chief of staff/enforcer and is highly suspicious of Pine from the beginning. 6. Jed Marshall (played by Elizabeth Debicki). 7. The murder of Sophie Alekan, a mistress of a hotel owner, who passed Pine secret documents detailing Roper's arms deals. 8. Iron Cast Ltd. is the name of the shell company that Richard Roper uses to front his illegal arms dealings. 9. The deal is set up to happen in Turkey, near the Syrian border, under the guise of selling agricultural machinery. 10. He is handed over to the same group of disgruntled arms buyers he tried to swindle, and they drive off with him in a van, implying a grim fate. 11. Nefertiti Hotel in Cairo Egypt.

Top 10 Indian Politician with highest number of instagram followers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most-followed politician in India, and one of the most-followed world leaders globally on Instagram, with a significantly higher follower count than any other Indian politician with 98 million followers

The second rank is with the opposition leader Shri Rahul Gandhi with 10.5 million followers., Home Minister Shri Amit Shah has a follower of 7.7 million.

Rank	Politician	Instagram Handle	Approximate Followers (Millions)
1	Narendra Modi	@narendramodi	~97-98M
2	Rahul Gandhi	@rahulgandhi	~10.4M
3	Amit Shah	@amitshahofficial	~7.7M
4	Shivraj Singh Chouhan	(Not explicitly listed in top 3 search, but found with)	~4.7M
5	Ravi Kishan (Actor/Politician)	(Not explicitly listed in top 3 search, but found with)	~3.1M
6	Ravi Gaikwad (Political personality)	@raveegaekwad	~2.4M
7	Piyush Goyal	(Not explicitly listed in top 3 search, but found with)	~1.5M
8	Smriti Irani	@smritiiraniofficial	~1.5M
9	Kiran Bedi (Former IPS/Politician)	(Not explicitly listed in top 3 search, but found with)	~1.2M
10	Dr. Navjot Simi (IPS/Political Personality)	@navjotsimi	~1.2M

The list includes serving politicians, ministers, and other prominent personalities heavily involved in the political and public sphere.

 

Top 10 Indian Individual Youtube Channel on October 2025

 Top 10 Indian Individual Youtube Channel on October 2025 are as follows.

Rank	Channel Name	Creator	Category	Subscribers (Approx.)
1	Anaya Kandhal	Anaya Kandhal	Entertainment / Vlogs	65.1 Million
2	आचार्य प्रशान्त (Acharya Prashant)	Acharya Prashant	Education / Spirituality	59.1 Million
3	Dushyant Kukreja	Dushyant Kukreja	Comedy / Shorts	49.2 Million
4	MR. INDIAN HACKER	Dilraj Singh Rawat	Science / Experiments	47.9 Million
5	Techno Gamerz	Ujjwal Chaurasia	Gaming	48.3 Million
6	Priyal Kukreja	Priyal Kukreja	Entertainment / Vlogs	45.5 Million
7	CarryMinati	Ajey Nagar	Roasting / Comedy / Gaming	45.2 Million
8	Total Gaming	Ajendra Variya (Ajju Bhai)	Gaming	45.1 Million
9	Sourav Joshi Vlogs	Sourav Joshi	Vlogging / Lifestyle	36.9 Million
10	Crazy XYZ	Amit Sharma	Science / Experiments / Challenges	34.6 Million

Top 10 Indian Youtube Channel on October 2025

 

Top 10 Indian Youtube Channel on October 2025 are as follows.

T-Series retains its numero uno position with 306 million users. while T-series Bhakti sagar channel with devotional sons has a rank of 9.

Sony Entertainment television with its KBC videos in the second rank with 187 Million users.

Zee Music company with some very good music library is at 3rd position with 121 million users

Goldmines with a vast library of  Bollywood movies is at 4th posotion with 108 Million users.

Sony Sab has a user of 104 millions.

Rank	Channel Name	Category	Subscribers (Approx.)
1	T-Series	Music / Entertainment	306 Million
2	SET India (Sony Entertainment Television India)	Entertainment	187 Million
3	Zee Music Company	Music	121 Million
4	Goldmines	Movies / Entertainment	108 Million
5	Sony SAB	Comedy / Entertainment	104 Million
6	ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs	Kids / Education	97.8 Million
7	Zee TV	Entertainment	95.6 Million
8	Colors TV	Entertainment	81.4 Million
9	T-Series Bhakti Sagar	Devotional Music	80.4 Million
10	Tips Official	Music	79.6 Million

                                   Top 10 Indian Youtube Channel on October 2025

Kia Seltos - The badass SUV

 Kia Seltos has always prided itself on being a 'Badass' SUV, and its latest advertising campaign takes that edgy attitude and merges it seamlessly with cutting-edge technology. The newest commercial, often centered around the theme 'Tech is now Badass' (especially in the Indian market featuring Bollywood star Bobby Deol), is a bold statement that redefines what a tech-savvy drive should feel like.

Here’s a deep dive into why this new Seltos ad is turning heads and cementing the SUV's position as a game-changer.

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The 'Badass' Evolution: Tech Meets Attitude

The Seltos has consistently marketed itself to a younger, aspiration-driven demographic that values style, performance, and bold individuality. This new campaign skillfully weaves the 'Badass' persona with its most advanced feature set, specifically its connected car technology, Kia Connect.

Key Highlights of the Ad:

• Star Power and Persona: The ad's impact is significantly amplified by its celebrity endorsement. In India, for instance, the campaign features actor Bobby Deol (often affectionately referred to as 'Lord Bobby'), whose recent resurgence in popularity and association with powerful, mysterious, and effortlessly cool characters perfectly mirrors the 'Badass' image of the Seltos.

• The Tech Showcase: The commercial doesn't just mention technology; it demonstrates it with style. A common theme is the protagonist (like Bobby Deol) effortlessly interacting with the car via the Kia Connect app on a smartwatch. The simple gesture of remotely starting the car, locking the doors, or even activating its features with a tap transforms a utility into a statement of power and control. This makes the technology look not just smart, but genuinely cool.

• Visual Aesthetics: The Seltos is presented in its most commanding form, often showcasing the top-of-the-line X-Line variant. The sharp lines, premium interiors (like the dual-pane panoramic sunroof and connected digital displays), and distinctive lighting signature are all highlighted, ensuring the viewer understands that the tech is packaged in a visually striking vehicle.

• The Core Message: The campaign delivers a clear message: the Seltos is the choice for those who crave an unconventional and tech-driven mobility experience. It's for the discerning customer who wants robust performance combined with elite, seamless connectivity.

Why This Campaign Works

1. Redefining Connectivity: The ad elevates connected car features from being merely functional to being a part of the driver's 'attitude.' It's not just about convenience; it's about making a powerful entrance and having absolute control at your fingertips.

2. Targeting the Modern Driver: Today's audience expects their vehicle to integrate seamlessly with their digital lives. By focusing on smart device integration (like the smartwatch), Kia appeals directly to the tech-savvy, 'always-on' generation.

3. Building on Brand Identity: Kia wisely stuck with the established and successful 'Badass' branding for the Seltos, ensuring continuity while injecting new life into the concept with the technological angle. It’s an evolution of their core message.

Beyond the Screen: What the Ad Promotes

While the 'Badass' attitude is the hook, the ad ultimately drives home the value of the New Seltos' comprehensive feature list, which includes:

• Kia Connect: A suite of over 70 connected features.

• Premium Interiors: Highlighting elements like the panoramic sunroof and dual-screen display.

• Commanding Presence: Reaffirming the SUV's bold design and on-road stance.

In conclusion, the latest Kia Seltos advertisement is a masterclass in modern automotive marketing. It successfully repositions technology not as a complicated extra, but as an essential element of a powerful and stylish lifestyle. The 'Tech is now Badass' tagline perfectly encapsulates the Seltos' dual appeal of raw attitude and smart sophistication, making it an irresistible proposition for anyone looking to make a statement on the road.