August 26, 2023

Good morning. Every Saturday, we publish the results of polls from feature stories that were published the past week. We also give a brief overview of the topics that were discussed.

🗳️ POLL RESULTS – Week 139

🗓️ THE WEEK THAT WAS

Is India’s traditional TV broadcasting business staring at its demise?

Daily | 21 August 2023

In 2022, TV outperformed its competitors, including digital platforms, by having the biggest share of revenue. However, a closer examination of its progress over recent years reveals that things may not always be looking up. Read more on this here.

Can a BRICS currency dethrone the US dollar?

Daily | 22 August 2023

The question posed by some countries is, why not have an alternative to the US dollar? With countries like China and Russia part of BRICS, they have their reasons for wanting an alternative currency, given their relationships with the United States. But is a BRICS currency really feasible? Can it dethrone the dollar? We discuss it here.

Did Made in Heaven rob Yashica Dutt of due credit?

Daily | 23 August 2023

Recently, the makers of Made in Heaven Season 2 have come under fire for not giving due credit to writer Yashica Dutt and for appropriating her life and academic contributions. Dutt has steadfastly commended the show’s portrayal of a strong Dalit woman, but she also feels she should be acknowledged for inspiring the character. Can the show effectively contribute to discussions about Dalit experiences without giving formal credit to those whose stories it’s telling? We unpack this here.

Will the Vishwakarma scheme have a tangible effect?

Daily | 24 August 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Vishwakarma scheme during his recent Independence Day address. With a financial outlay of ₹13,000 crore, it targets traditional weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, etc. There’s a political wrinkle to it, with the Other Backward Class (OBC) community at the crux of the scheme. Will it have a tangible impact on the ground? Find the debate here.

Is the Barbie movie feminist?

Daily | 25 August 2023

Finally, out of the box and in the theatres, the Barbie movie has raked in a staggering $1.18 billion worldwide. Greta Gerwig, the genius behind Barbie, has made history too. She’s the first woman to independently steer a movie to the billion-dollar mark. It has all the glitz and glamour of a Mattel commercial while delivering a tongue-in-cheek critique of the patriarchy. The question is – has it pulled off its feminist statement? More on this story here.