A recent issue of The Economist has a solar plexus hitting writeup about advertising and Artificial Intelligence. The whoosh after this sucker punch was the subject of the annual Holy Grail meet at Cannes where adland titans revealed and predicted a doomsday status to creativity. The crystal balls revealed that human intelligence is overwhelmed by AI. But such “bare all” events are significant as Cannes proved. In this cockroaches and computers head on collision who will survive, who will be eliminated? Surprisingly, the legendary cockroach endures to see yet another epoch, because its survival instincts are too strong. TikTok, Meta and Google put on their fiercest Halloween masks to shock and shake the professionals in denial. Sam Altman, the Moses of AI predicted that 95% of marketing as we know may be AI delivered. The 5% is the surviving cockroach that shall still burrow into the $ 1-trillion ad spend annually on “workmanlike campaigns”. AI is definitely going to impact the landscape …some advertisers are shifting their communication onto billboards. Chennai’s iconic Gemini Circle proved this point in more ways than one. A huge billboard shows a very apt, creative copy (though oldies may be shocked) superimposed on the anatomy of unmistakable bums. The copy then fires …“let Elon Musk explore Mars. Our Mission is Uranus”. Discover a whole new world of colorectal care. The name of this clinic is even more creative — Assana Colorectal & Gut Wellness Clinic. A few years back, such an ad may have brought a smirk to the genteels, who do not discuss rectal troubles, pain in the arse including piles in a group. They called it anal fixation and anal retentive to be dealt with behind bathroom doors. AI has not killed the cockroach…yet.

On the death anniversary of “Mahanayak” or Great Hero of Bengali cinema Uttam Kumar, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee issued a strong statement against what she described as “language terror” targeting Bengali speakers in various parts of the country. Speaking at the annual Mahanayak Samman ceremony organised by the state government since 2012 to honour artists and technicians from the world of Bengali cinemas, Didi appealed to the industry stakeholders to defend Bengali language, warning that if necessary, a new language movement must begin to protect mother tongue. Bengali is the fifth most spoken language in the world and second in Asia, with nearly 300 mn speaking it worldwide. Mamata made it categorical asking not to insult the Bengali language. Didi’s remarks followed recent incidents where Bengali-speaking migrant workers were allegedly harassed, detained or even deported from other states after being branded “Bangladeshis.” She had earlier addressed the issue on July 21 at the Martyrs’ Day rally, accusing the BJP of targeting Bengalis. She said that this language which gave birth to Rabindranath Tagore, Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, Kazi Nazrul Islam reminded everybody that the country’s national anthem was written in Bengali.

The trailer for ‘War 2’ has all the ingredients of a quintessential masala potboiler, promising to deliver an exhilarating cinematic experience. As the sixth instalment in the expansive Spy Universe of Yashraj Studios, this film boasts impressive production values, breathtaking action sequences and a palpable energy that is sure to captivate audiences worldwide. Starring Telugu superstar NTR Jr and Bollywood icon Hrithik Roshan, the film is set to release on August 14th. With simultaneous release in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil, War 2 is expected to make a big impact at the box office. Initial projections suggest that the Hindi box office alone could exceed Rs 50 crore on its opening day, with a global total—encompassing all three languages—expected to surpass Rs 100 crore. If the film crosses the Rs 100-crore mark on its first day, it could potentially gross upwards of Rs 300 crore throughout its theatrical run. Audiences can expect breathtaking visuals, including high-speed chases, intense ground battles, and aerial dogfights, all choreographed to perfection. director Ayan Mukerji, known for his work on Brahmastra brings his visionary approach to the project, while writer-producer Aditya Chopra, celebrated for hits like Tiger 3 and the original War ensures a compelling script. War 2 is shaping up to be the quintessential masala entertainer, blending style, substance and sheer excitement—a formula that has historically resonated with audiences, reminiscent of the fervour generated by the Dhoom franchise for Yash Raj Films.

Odisha’s ambitious metro rail project — Bhubaneswar Metro Rail — has failed to take off. The project launched on January 1,2024 with much fanfare by the then BJD chief minister Naveen Patnaik is still at the drawing board stage. The latest news is that the BJP-run Odisha government has officially scrapped the previous tender and contract awarded to Ceigall India and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for the design and construction of Bhubaneswar Metro project due to protracted delays and coordination setbacks. This move throws the project’s immediate future into uncertainty, even as the Odisha government asserts its commitment to revive the ambitious urban transport initiative with a revised blueprint. Ceigall India has indicated plans to pursue compensation legally for the contract termination. It is learnt that the Odisha government has now questioned the viability of the then BJD government’s fully state-funded project stating that currently no official proposal had been sent to by the state to the Centre. A Detailed Project Report submitted by the BJD government indicated the metro project would be financed internally. Political analysts are asking why Mohan Charan Majhi government did not pursue the financing issue with the Centre since it had one year’s time. State’s housing & urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra clarified that his government will submit a revised plan to the Centre with a request for central assistance.

Probably no other actor, pan India has launched such a plethora of memes as Vadivelu.  Tamil media, be it politics, cinema or just everyday life peppers their narratives with Vadivelu memes and gifs…his pathetic expression, beat up state, costumes and crazy dialogues are memorised and talked about, long after taking the bus home from the cinema. The 64-year old Vaigai Payal Vadivelu (reference to a storm from Vaigai river) has acted in countless comedy roles, a comic timing so perfect that it cannot be replicated. At one point he took on hero roles, his 23 Aam Pulikesi, a comic balloon that burst all myths about classic heroes. Suddenly his career climb took a beating as the Tamil Film Producers Council red carded him. It was a temp ban from 2018-2020. But Vadivelu’s drunken outbursts, run in with late Vijayakant founder of DMDK, his films failing all these led to his break. His master comic dialogue, “Varum aana Varadhu” ad libbed by thousands kept the fan following only clamouring for Vadivelu. But Maamannan brought him back…a film which proved that Vadivelu’s versatility was vintage. Director Sudesh Sankar knew what he wanted in Maareesan, the just released film of Vadivelu (as Velayudhaswami Pillai) and Malayalam artist Fahad Fasil (as Dhayalan) under the Super Good Films banner. Maareesan is a serious comedy with shades of humorous pathos.

PM Narendra Modi who was on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu was apparently under tremendous pressure from DMK leaders to extend “best wishes” for chief minister MK Stalin’s health and his recovery– in his public meetings–this was one thing he had skipped. It is another matter that Stalin was discharged from Apollo Hospital on July 27 evening a week after he was admitted to the hospital. It was probably around the same time that   Modi had left for Delhi. As per protocol DMK MP Kanimozhi was present at Dindigul function of PM Modi so were DMK ministers and state chief secretary present at functions near Trichy. Within the   State BJP, Modi had encouraging words for new chief Nainar Nagendran, in what is being interpreted as a snub to former president K Annamalai. AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) received PM Modi at the Tiruchirappalli airport. The meeting sealed doubts over AIADMK and BJP, particularly after the way the EPS has been asserting that his party is going to get a majority on its own. EPS and PM Modi were meeting for the first time since the AIADMK and BJP renewed their alliance. The meeting came amid the war of words between the allies ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Earlier, EPS ruled out a coalition government with the BJP and said, “Our alliance would achieve a grand success in 2026. AIADMK will be victorious and will form a government on its own.” This statement contradicts Amit Shah’s interview where he said that the NDA led by the AIADMK will form a coalition government in TN.

The big news is the Odisha government is now going beyond temple tourism, Buddhist circuit visits, wild life, MICE etc. Its big focus now is to showcase the natural beauty of Mahanadi river at its 25 km Hirakud dam, supporting sustainability, environment preservation and meeting tourist expectations. Hirakud Dam built across the Mahanadi River is the longest earthen dam in the world. Behind the dam extends a 55 km long lake, Hirakud Reservoir. It is one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India’s independence. The Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary is located here. Several species of migratory birds visit the reservoir during winter. Nearly 20-25 species of birds are seen in the reservoir. The Odisha government has chalked up plans to transform Hirakud Dam. Soon the tourists will see floating hotels, caravan parks, laser shows, hot air balloon rides, recreation plazas, adventure sports making it an absolute happening place all this while protecting the fragile ecosystem. To fund the project, the state government has opted for the Centre’s interest free loans scheme falling under SASCI (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment). The Odisha government officials are confident that their Hirakud tourism hub plan will attract private sector investment.  

One can now piece the jigsaw events that led to Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation on July 21 as Vice-President. Yes, he was forced to put in his papers particularly after the kind of politics he had indulged in the last few days. Sources say the government became aware of Dhankhar’s move to accept the Opposition MPs’ notice seeking removal of Justice Yashwant Varma long before he announced it in the House post-lunch. That is because for the first time Dhankhar chose to go home for lunch that day. He had asked Congress leader Jairam Ramesh to carry the notice for impeachment signed by 68 Opposition MPs to be delivered to him at his residence. Later it was the visit of this high-profile Congress leader to Dhankhar’s residence that alerted the government about what the V-P was upto. Normally any actionable notice is submitted to the Rajya Sabha secretariat. So why did Dhankhar take such unusual interest in the Opposition petition when he was aware that in the Lok Sabha the government was already moving a resolution to impeach Justice Varma? BJP leaders said a powerful legal lobby led by Kapil Sibal — Rajya Sabha MP — was out to thwart impeachment proceedings in the Parliament. Sibal had apparently sought Dhankhar’s son in law, advocate Kartik Vajpayee’s help in ensuring that the Opposition’s petition was listed in the RS first. More than the breach of protocol what upset the government was the manner in which Dhankhar had been speaking ill about PM Modi. In private conversations with Opposition leaders, he had been running down the PM and even claiming he was more popular than Modi. An Opposition leader was so shocked when Dhankhar asked him to approach one of the NDA allies — to even withdraw support. Clearly, he felt he had arrived and needed to go up the power ladder.

PM Narendra Modi on his return from the UK and Maldives will be spending two days in Tamil Nadu; he will be directly reaching Tuticorin. On July 26 he will unveil a series of landmark projects worth over Rs4,800 crore across multiple sectors which will significantly enhance regional connectivity, boost logistics efficiency, strengthen clean energy infrastructure, and improve the quality of life for citizens across the state. The PM will inaugurate the New Terminal Building at Tuticorin Airport developed at a cost of around Rs 450 crore, designed to meet the growing aviation demands of the southern region. Spread across 17,340 square meters, the terminal will be equipped to handle 1,350 passengers during peak hours and 20 lakh passengers annually. On July 27, he will participate in the celebration of the birth anniversary of the great Chola Emperor Rajendra Chola I with the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at around 12 noon at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tiruchirappalli. He will release a commemorative coin honouring one of the greatest emperors of India, Rajendra Chola I. This special celebration also commemorates 1,000 years of the legendary maritime expedition of Rajendra Chola I to South East Asia and commencement of the construction of the iconic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a magnificent example of Chola architecture. Further strengthening the state’s power infrastructure, Modi will lay the foundation stone for a major power transmission project — the Inter-State Transmission System for evacuation of electricity from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 (2×1000 MW). This project, developed at a cost of around Rs 550 crore, will include a 400 kV (quad) double-circuit transmission line from Kudankulam to the Tuticorin-II GIS substation and associated terminal equipment. It will play a pivotal role in strengthening the national grid..

This is an annual ritual. Such annual events used to trigger quite an excitement. Well, the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) held its 189th annual general body meeting on the evening of July 25 in Chennai. Vellayan Subbiah, Executive Chairman of Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd., a Murugappa group company, addressed the meeting as the chief guest. His coming was indeed significant. Does it reflect a change ? A trip down memory lane will put things in perspective and help one understand the larger implications of the presence of Vellayan Subbiah at the MCCI annual general body meeting. In mid-90s when the global automobile giants were readying to enter India, especially Chennai, a section of leading industrialists in Chennai wanted L Lakshman of Rane group and MCCI past President to steer industry body ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry ) as its President. Ostensibly, he was preferred because of his stature in the auto component industry. But two leading groups – the MA Chidambaram and Murugappa – were pitching for their not so popular family member, heading a firm to be the president of ASSOCHAM. The move by the other side to work for the election of Lakshman as the president of ASSOCHAM reportedly upset these two groups. Consequently, 8 companies each belonging to these two groups moved out of MCCI. The Madras Chamber of Commerce, being the oldest chamber in the country ,was one of the promoters of ASSOCHAM. Given this backdrop, Vellayan Subbiah as Chief Guest at the MCCI annual meet has set tongues wagging. Well, the MCCI mandarins have reasons to cheer as it may signal the end of the turf war that MCCI saw three decades ago.