Let’s Talk Bharat

‘Make in India’ is challenging China’s ‘factory of the world’ status: Dilip Piramal

In the latest episode of Let’s Talk Bharat, Anupam Kher is joined by Dilip Piramal, the chairman of VIP Industries, the world’s second-largest luggage manufacturer. He details the secret sauce behind the homegrown brand which burst onto the scene in 1972 when India’s consumer sector was dominated by Western multinationals during the pre-economic liberalization era. Piramal is an ardent advocate of the free market and hails Bharat’s robust growth in the past decade, buoyed by widespread reforms of the tax code. He singles out the government’s “Make in India” scheme, which was launched in 2014 to take on Asia’s economic powerhouse: China. Piramal is optimistic about India’s emergence on the world stage in 2047 – known as “Amrit Kaal,” or “The Era of Elixir” – in the centenary year of Bharat gaining freedom from colonial British rule.

India’s cultural diversity is one of its biggest strengths: Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar

Renowned filmmaker and five-time National Award winner Madhur Bhandarkar joins host Anupam Kher on this episode of Let’s Talk Bharat. Bhandarkar’s journey from school dropout to celebrated director embodies the spirit of a rising India – a testament to dreaming big and achieving success. His film, Chandni Bar (2001), solidified his position as a masterful storyteller, delving into thought-provoking narratives that expose the underbelly of urban Indian society. A frequent attendee of the Moscow International Film Festival, Bhandarkar holds a special affection for Russia. He celebrates the diverse tapestry of Bharat’s culture and the global acclaim for its delectable cuisine, all set against the backdrop of the nation’s remarkable growth in the past decade.

India’s culture needs to be promoted globally: Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor

In the latest episode of Let’s Talk Bharat, Anupam Kher is joined by India’s most celebrated female producer Guneet Monga Kapoor. In a male-dominated industry, where the young are seldom accepted as equal, Monga Kapoor has overcome biases to “adopt dreams of every director” — several of whom are internationally acclaimed. Her talent is a mix of creative brilliance and networking with the industry’s bigwigs, but on her two Academy Awards she says: “I don’t work for awards, they happen.” In this discussion, Monga Kapoor shares tips on how Indian entries at international film festivals can make a more prominent mark on the world stage and celebrates Bharat’s unity in diversity.

Exploring India’s endurance, tolerance, and IQ with Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravani

In this episode of Let’s Talk Bharat, Anupam Kher is joined by accomplished composer MM Keeravani. His renowned composition “Naatu Naatu” won an Oscar at the 95th Academy Awards for “Best Original Song,” and not only captivated Western audiences but also conveyed a poignant message – as the chart-topping song eloquently defends Bharat’s dignity and self-respect in the face of colonial oppression. Keeravani considers Bharat to be an extended family in a multipolar world and seeks to celebrate the young nation’s endurance, religious tolerance, and high IQ. A lover of short stories, he liberally quotes from Russian writer Leo Tolstoy’s “The Lion and The Dog,” as the mortality tale rekindles him every time he reads it. Keeravani also dispels claims of the imminent threat of artificial intelligence to the global music industry.

India is about universal brotherhood and spirituality - Sonu Nigam

On this episode of Let’s Talk Bharat, Anupam Kher is joined by one of India’s leading playback singers, Sonu Nigam. The singing sensation opens up about handling stardom and fighting the tests of “jealousy, greed, and insecurity.” Nigam lauds India as a great civilization at the fountainhead of spirituality with roots in the melodious ragas of Hindustani classical music. He cherishes India’s core values like universal brotherhood and, unlike in the West, its aversion to colonization and imposition of cultural hegemony. Nigam also believes the world will soon witness Bharat’s moment in the Sun.

India to reap demographic dividends – Ashish Kumar Chauhan

In this episode of Let’s Talk Bharat, Anupam Kher is joined by Ashish Kumar Chauhan, the head of the National Stock Exchange and chancellor of the University of Allahabad. The technocrat is optimistic about Bharat’s growth story over the next 40 years because of its large young population as compared to a graying Europe and the US. He feels confident that for the first time in his lifetime, the nation controls the circumstances and not the other way around. He cites inclusive growth as a case in point as a bulk of the country’s rural population is enjoying the benefits of technological advancements such as the mobile phone revolution that has transformed their daily lives.