Jockey expands women’s innerwear category for Women to experience Seamless Comfort and Effortless Elegance with Revolutionary Bonding Technology

Page Industries Ltd., the exclusive licensee of JOCKEY International Inc. (USA), introduces their new women’s innerwear collection crafted with cutting-edge bonding technology to deliver a next to skin fit and unrivalled comfort of luxury and seamlessness.

As part of the ‘Designed to Disappear’ campaign, the new collection is more than just innerwear as it becomes a seamless extension of every woman; crafted to support, empower, and disappear beneath clothing, letting her take center stage.

Engineered with advanced bonding technology, this collection of bras and shapewear delivers invisible comfort for all-day wear. The range features versatile styles such as T-shirt bra, strapless bra, and lounge bras, crafted to meet the needs of today’s women for every occasion.

Each piece combines subtle shaping with supportive fits in new age neutral color palette. The shapewear collection features targeted compression with a sleek, smooth finish that eliminates lines and ride-ups.

This collection of bonded bras and shapewear are perfect for everyday confidence and festive celebrations alike.

“Designed for the modern woman who refuses to compromise on comfort or style, this collection brings together innovation, precision, and ease like never before,” said Nihal Rajan, CMO of Jockey India.

“We believe that true luxury is defined by how a garment makes the wearer feel, beyond its visual appeal. Each piece in the collection is crafted with precision right from selection of fabric to fit and designed with bonding technology at its core”.

“The products are made to feel effortless, so that it disappears into the day as naturally as it fits.

Bonded Bras – Designed to disappear – Jockey woman

As part of the ‘Designed to Disappear’ campaign, Jockey is enhancing the retail experience with “Size Check” an in-store bra fitting service that helps women find their perfect size.

This activation ensures every piece fit exactly as it should, delivering on Jockey India’s promise of making comfort effortless and innerwear truly personal.

The new collection is now available across Jockey Exclusive Brand Stores, leading multi-brand retail stores, and on www.jockey.in, with a focused rollout across key metro cities.

To amplify the launch, Jockey India is activating a multi-platform campaign featuring high-impact films and stills, brought to life across digital, outdoor and in-store media.

The campaign will also see widespread engagement through influencer collaborations, targeted content across various digital platforms, reinforcing the message of seamless comfort and empowering elegance under the ‘Designed to Disappear’ narrative.

About Page Industries Limited

Page Industries is the exclusive licensee of JOCKEY International Inc. (USA) for the manufacture, distribution and marketing of the JOCKEY® brand in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Maldives, Bhutan and UAE.

Page Industries is also the exclusive licensee of Speedo International Ltd. for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of the Speedo brand in India.

Jockey is the company’s flagship brand and a market leader in the premium innerwear and leisure wear category.

The brand is distributed in 2,852+ cities & towns and available in 113,715+ Multi Brand Outlets, 1,144+ Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBO) with extensive presence in 3,026+ Large Format Stores, as also online.

Speedo brand is available in 1,074+ stores, 28+ EBOs and 10+ Large Format Stores, spread across 90+ cities.

Introduction: Music Beyond the Stage

The best albums of 2020? Music is no longer just about the person singing and the person listening. It’s about topping charts, selling merchandise, and filling stadiums. But when the world closed its shutters in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, that rhythm came to a halt.

Tours were canceled, projects delayed, and carefully crafted album “eras” put on hold. Audiences and artists alike were disappointed. Yet, some musicians found a silver lining – time, space, and creativity. The result? Some of the most poignant and powerful albums of recent years.

Here are must-add albums to your collection, born out of resilience and artistry during uncertain times.

Evermore – Taylor Swift’s Storytelling Gem

Evermore highlights Swift’s best skill – storytelling

In July 2020, Taylor Swift surprised fans with Folklore, a narrative-driven album that won Grammy Album of the Year. Just months later, she dropped its “sister” record – Evermore.

While Folklore will go down in history, Evermore remains an underrated masterpiece. It explores love, longing, infidelity, reflections on the past, and even murder, wrapped in lyrical finesse by Swift, Aaron Dessner, and Joe Alwyn (under a pseudonym).

Album highlights:

• Gold Rush – a dreamy Jack Antonoff production about the thrill of crushes.

• Champagne Problems – a gut-wrenching narrative of heartbreak.

3.15.20 – Childish Gambino’s Minimalist Masterpiece

No frills, no fuss, no labels – the cover art of 3.15.20

Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, defied norms with 3.15.20. No artwork, no promotion, no labels – just raw music. Its plain white cover and timestamp track titles made a bold statement.

Though some critics noted disjointed flow, the album was praised for its songwriting, guest features, and bold commentary. Glover touches on deeply personal themes and societal issues, including 42.26 (originally released as Feels Like Summer).

Why Listen: It’s bold, experimental, and deeply relevant to our times.

Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa’s Pop Powerhouse

Future Nostalgia cements Dua Lipa’s status as the Pop Alpha

The clubs might have been shut down, but Dua Lipa kept the dance floor alive with Future Nostalgia. This Grammy-winning album is a vibrant celebration of love, heartbreak, and empowerment.

Retro beats, disco-inspired synths, and Lipa’s magnetic voice cemented her as a pop alpha. While some critics called the lyrics simplistic, the album delivered exactly what fans needed – unapologetic fun.

Album highlights:

• Don’t Start Now – an anthem of resilience.

• Levitating (DaBaby Remix) – a global chart-topping hit.

The reissue of the album, titled The Moonlight Edition, has been marked with similar acclaim. This version of the album was released in February 2021 as a deluxe reissue of Future Nostalgia (2020).

It included all the original tracks plus several new additions, such as “We’re Good,” “Fever” (with Angèle), “Prisoner” (with Miley Cyrus), and “Not My Problem” (with JID).

Plastic Hearts – Miley Cyrus’ Rock Rebirth

Miley Cyrus’ interesting turn to rock could be her career marker

After the lukewarm reception of Younger Now (2017) and a turbulent personal life, Miley Cyrus reinvented herself with Plastic Hearts. Originally planned as an EP trilogy, it evolved into a full-length rock-driven album.

The result? A bold, sultry, and powerful collection that showcased Miley’s vocal strength and raw honesty.

Album highlights:

• Midnight Sky – a defiant lead single.

• Heart of Glass (cover) – a fan-favorite performance from iHeart Radio Festival.

With this album, Cyrus may not have made a rock classic – but she proved she’s destined to be one.

Map of the Soul: 7 – BTS’ Global Reflection

Language barrier doesn’t stop BTS from communicating a universal desire for reflection and direction

Named for its 7 members and 7 years in the industry, BTS’ Map of the Soul: 7 is both a personal reckoning and a global statement.

The album blends experimental flows with heartfelt storytelling, all sung in Korean. Despite the language barrier, its themes of reflection, identity, and purpose resonated worldwide. Collaborations with Halsey, Troye Sivan, and Sia expanded its reach without diluting BTS’ authenticity.

Album highlights:

• ON – a powerful anthem of resilience.

• Black Swan – a hauntingly artistic reflection on artistry itself.

Even without English lyrics, BTS proved music’s universal language is emotion.

Conclusion: A Playlist Born of Resilience

The Covid-19 pandemic reshaped the music industry, but from that disruption came brilliance. From Swift’s storytelling to Lipa’s party anthems, Gambino’s social reflection to BTS’ global connection, these albums captured the mood of the moment and beyond.

There has never been a better time to update your playlists. So – what was your pandemic album on repeat? Share it with us!

Sure, the world outside seems to be having its own YA apocalypse moment. But that is just all the more reason for you to wind down and catch a few hours of the television (or laptop). While the movie business may have taken a hit, streaming marches on. Here are some of the best TV shows of 2021 for you to watch –

Marvel’s Loki (out 11th June, 2021; Disney+)

Even those who are not diehard fans would recognize fan-favorite Loki, the tragic figure turned trickster god who gets a second (or is it third?) lease of life due to the events of Avengers: Endgame. 

Unlike the other two big releases – ‘WandaVision’ and ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’, Loki is the most ‘movie-like’ – huge effects, high-stakes plot, and a character that you don’t have to read up the Wiki page about.

In terms of the larger picture too, Loki is the most important of Marvel’s TV shows, as it can open up the MCU to the multiverse and allow the introduction of the characters Marvel has finally brought back home.

Shadow and Bone (Out Now; Netflix)

Combining two of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novel series, Shadow and Bone manages to outgrow its YA roots thanks to a unique setting, excellent casting, and diverse storylines. The show is expected (or rather hoped) to go on for at least a few more seasons, so the first eight episodes do feel like an established setup rather than an adventure.

Nevertheless, the adaptation has been faithful enough to delight fans, and newcomers, especially those who like the fantasy genre, will surely be well-served too. It is the best kind of escapist fantasy, which makes it one of the ideal tv shows.

The Witcher (late 2021, Netflix)

The first season of the fantasy series based on Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski was extremely well received, became one of Netflix’s most watched shows. The first season followed the converging part of the titular Witcher (a grumpy Henry Cavill), a powerful sorceress, and a young princess reckoning with her destiny.

Lauded for its intertwining plotlines, non-linear narrative, and faithfulness to the fantasy genre, the Witcher makes for a very compelling watch. There is plenty of action and gore, but also great characters, intriguing storylines, and a very melodic bard. Catch the first season now or you might miss out.

Foundation (late 2021, Apple TV)

Adapting one of the greatest and most theoretically dense stories of science fiction is no easy feat, but hey, Apple has the resources to pull it off. Foundation follows the aftermath of a brilliant scientists’ discovery of a new branch of studies, one that shows an inevitable collapse of the Galactic Empire, set in humanity’s distant future.

The TV adaptation is likely to have less math and more action, but would still make for a compelling watch. Foundation is perhaps the most ambitious of Apple’s TV shows – if you liked it, Apple might be sitting on a goldmine of content for years to come.

Jupiter’s Legacy, (7th May 2021, Netflix)

Running high on its adaptation-spree success, Netflix is set to release another comic-book turned series. Jupiter’s Legacy follows the trails and tribulations of a superhero unable to overcome its generational gaps, the pressure of public presence, and the questions of love, loyalty, and power.

Helmed by a stellar cast, the show is bound to draw comparison to the other messy superhero franchise of Netflix – Umbrella Academy. Nevertheless, Jupiter’s legacy presents fascinating contrasts to other superhero franchises, especially Marvel, in exploring from the start – the dark side of superheroes.

Physical (18th June, Apple TV+)

Helmed by the magnetic Rose Byrne, Physical pulls you back through time to the 1980s. When her controversial husband begins a bid for the state assembly, Sheila supports him on the surface, but spirals into a complex and complicated relationship with herself and her self-image.

Buoyed by the her love for aerobics, Sheila might have the chance to use the upcoming VCR technology to build a new empire – only if she manages to not crash before she gets there.

Cowboy Bebop (Late 2021, Netflix)

Perhaps the most controversial entry on this list, Netflix’s live adaptation of the iconic anime did not receive a very warm response, partly due to the fact that what makes Cowboy Bebop iconic is the art style, themes, and narratives that are firmly tied to the anime genre. Despite this, Netflix had pushed ahead.

The show’s production underwent considerable strain, with first John Cho’s (who plays protagonist Spike) injury, and then with the pandemic. Initially slated for 2020, Cowboy Bebop has a place in the list of TV shows 2021.

Gossip Girl Reboot (July 2021, HBO Max)

While Kristen Bell is back as the iconic narrator of the teen drama series, Gossip Girl isn’t what you remembered. Featuring an all new and more diverse cast, the show takes a skip ahead to the present times and deals with a new slate of characters and their privileged but messy lives.

While some have suggested that many of the plotlines and general teen angst of Gossip Girl may no longer have a place in the Gen Z culture, others were quite excited for the reboot. How do you think the show fared with its new outlook?

Impeachment – American Crime Story (late 2021, FX/Hotstar)

After two installments covering the OJ Simpson trial and the assassination of the founder of Versace, the anthology series had found its next big story – the Bill Clinton – Monica Lewinsky Scandal.

What makes it very interesting is the fact that the show is being co-produced by Lewinsky herself, who has over the years gone from a much-abused and the other woman to a passionate and powerful public speaker.

As such, the installment is likely to have a new perspective and insider information about the scandal, which redefined American politics and women’s relationship with media for years to come.

Lord of the Rings (Late 2021, Amazon Prime) 

Bankrolled by one of the world’s biggest and richest company, this sprawling multi-season series is set to cover the time long before the main books, set in the Second Age of Middle Earth.

The move is kind of a risk, to take a beloved series but then push out the main characters by a massive span of time, but many are nevertheless excited to get back to the magic of the series once again.

The production has been kept very strictly under wraps, but the first season is believed to have cost at least an eye-watering 500 million dollars, meaning whatever came your way was bound to be big.

So mark your calendars, because there are a lot of good things that came your way in 2021!

On the 8th of January, 2021, the President of the world’s most powerful country lost his voice. Or well, the voice he was the most interested in using. In an unprecedented move, Twitter and its founder Jack Dorsey had permanently shut down the personal account of Donald Trump, as well as his presidential campaign account.

The move came in  the aftermath of the violence that took place during the 2021 Capitol attack, where Trump supporters had attempted to prevent the formalization of Joe Biden as the next president. The move was widely lauded as well as criticized at the same time, and brought the question of Twitter censorship to the forefront.

Even though platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp continue to have a greater number of active members, Twitter has been the hub of global minute-to-minute conversations, and is the preferred tool of most to connect with the masses.

So, what are the various opinions on Twitter censorship?

Character Limit, Moral Limit, and Issue of Influence

Like all social media platforms, Twitter has a self-made and self-imposed terms of service, which includes certain things that people are not allowed to Tweet about. This covers everything from terrorism to leaking out private data of ordinary citizens. Contrary to what some may believe, social media isn’t actually public.

They are privately owned companies, and just like a restaurant can kick out people for, say, insulting the waiter, Twitter too, can kick out or censor people who do not agree with its rules. But you can start to understand the problem already. What if the waiter misunderstood your words?

What if the insult you hurled at the waiter was actually justified? How can you even protest your innocence or your point of view to all the people at the restaurant (who now think you are evil) if you are simply kicked out without a chance to explain yourself? Trump’s suspension also indicates some other important dimensions.

The first is the matter of the public sphere. Almost 70% of the US population is on Twitter. For the longest time, Twitter refused to suspend Trump’s account on the argument that as President, his words, no matter how incendiary or problematic, had to reach the people.

As soon as it was known that he was no longer in power, Twitter swiftly suspended his account. Of course, some have argued that this act of Twitter censorship only came when Trump could no longer do harm to Twitter. Even though they are omnipresent Goliaths, social media companies are ultimately at the mercy of the American law.

Perhaps censoring Trump at the height of his power could have spelled legal trouble for Twitter – and possibly physical trouble for its workers.

A Slippery Slope?

A pattern to note has been that most accounts that are suspended from Twitter are usually right-wing in nature. However, many on the left have also criticized Twitter censorship. For them, censorship, no matter who it is of, is nothing to celebrate.

It is not the job of social media companies to select and feed us narratives – it is our job to take in all viewpoints as they come to us and then decide what we want to believe in. In a nutshell, nobody should get to decide what somebody else gets to hear. Then, there have also been suspensions that have irked rather than been celebrated.

One of the most contentious issue in academia today is that of publisher paywalls – authors often pay to publish their researches in reputed journals, and then, students and researchers have to pay to access these papers. Thus, both parties end up facing a monetary burden and a crunch of data.

This system has been widely criticized, as the high costs of these paywalls usually keeps out students from poorer nations as well as unaffiliated, independent researchers.

Since 2011, this system has faced a thought clapback from Alexandra Elbakyan, a Kazakhstani  computer programmer who created Sci-Hub, an online shadow library that allows access to research that is otherwise locked by paywalls.

In January 2021, on the same date as Donald Trump was booted out of Twitter, Sci Hub’s Twitter account was quietly banned, permanently, for violating Twitter’s counterfeiting policy. These are the kind of bans that many find problematic.

The fact that this news was completely overshadowed by the Trump drama was suspicious to many.

Elbakyan said that her account, which had operated for 9 years without any issue, was banned because of the controversial case that was ongoing in India at that time, which is still raging to an extent. Multiple publishing houses had filed a case to block Sci-Hub and Libgen, another shadow library, in the country.

Academicians around the world saw the Twitter censorship as a gross and hurtful attack on the critical case of educational rights and freedom. By pulling out Sci-Hub from its platform, Twitter has left Elbakyan friendless in a fight against some of the most powerful institutions of the academic world.

If It’s Them, It’s You

In conclusion, the question of Twitter censorship is a tough one. Some argue that many are indifferent or supportive of Twitter censorship because it is happening to others – if (or when) Twitter turns its sights to themes that you personally find precious, the other shoe will drop.

The question of Twitter censorship is the same as any form of censorship – do people have the right to prevent others from seeing, hearing, or experiencing something? If you have your own answer to that, you have your answer to this debate.

Fake news – or as it was called in the good old days, peddling lies – is perhaps one of the most significant challenges of the digital age. From innocuous celebrity articles designed to clickbait for views, to massive operations aimed at swaying political and social opinion, fake news has become very difficult to control.

It is undertaken by virtually every second source of information, proliferates across social media channels like wildfire, and simply becomes fact for most people involved. How can you protect yourself from these webs of lies? Here are the 7 strategies to help you distinguish fact from convincing fiction.

Fake news is designed to provoke emotions rather than thinking.

See the Source

Now, this does not mean that some sources of information are infallible. However on the whole, sources such as The Indian Express, New York Times, and Al Jazeera are much less likely to peddle false information as compared to, say, www.dontbesheep.com.

If you come across a new source of information, take some time to assess the source itself. How long has it been around for? What other topics has it covered? Is there an author attached to the article? How is the language of the article in terms of grammar and comprehension. Is the website a well-designed one, or is it riddled with ads?

Newer social media accounts and websites with poorly written, anonymous articles are much more likely to create fake news.

Check the Agenda

Let’s take an example. Say you want to see what kind of home-cooked diet you can give to your pet. You do a simple Google search. Immediately, you are horrified to discover that virtually all websites you come across say that home-cooked food is the worst option you can give to your pet. But did you check who is writing these blogs?

You’d be surprised to discover that most of them are associated with, you guessed it, packaged dog food companies. Though both packaged and home food have their own benefits and disadvantages for dogs, these websites only tell you one angle – the angle that benefits them the most.

So the next time you come across a piece of dubious information, see who stands to benefit from it as a basic fact check.

Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics

97% people believe that climate change is not an issue, says a proud new declaration on the website of an oil company. Stop and think. 97% of what people? The whole world? A country? A block?

Or the employees of the oil company itself, who will lose their jobs if people were to switch to solar? The game of statistics makes it very easy to make compelling arguments, because you can hide a lot of information behind a simple number.

In the above case for example, 15 CEOs of oil companies may have been surveyed and 13 of them may have dismissed climate change. The fat figure of 97% would then be slapped on news pages, but doesn’t this just essentially boil down to fake news?

Emotional Manipulation

Many articles try to disguise their fake news by being emotionally manipulative. They exaggerate hurt or injuries, give a false sense of alarm or urgency, or create continuity and correlation where none exist.

If an article is making you feel angry, depressed or reactive, take a moment and ask yourself – is it your natural reaction, or are you being strong-armed by fake news? You might be surprised to find out that it is the latter rather than the former.

A little fact check goes a long way.

Who is Being Quoted?

Another very critical information that should be used for fact-checking is the source. All pieces get their information from somewhere, and the reliable platforms always make a point to tell you where their news is coming from. Even when they are interviewing anonymously, there is an editor or reporter who takes accountability for the content.

A good news source should be able to get you back to the first person who broke the information to the world. On the other hand, those who peddle fake news will quote random people, or take quotes heavily out of context. They might even invent people and positions to support their claim when none exist.

Social Media 

Social media can often be a great source of first-hand information. This is becoming even more crucial today, when protestors and civil rights activists often use social media to bring out the truth – then state-sponsored media puts censorship in place.

However, sources and narratives can quickly get lost on these platforms, and a few hundred bots working together can make anything seem authentic and reliable online. If you do come across something outrageous on social media, take some time to do a search.

Is there anything being reported on the topic outside the bounds of the platform? You might be surprised at how often social media becomes an echo-chamber of fake news.

Use Aids

If fact-checking seems too hard, don’t worry. There are a number of extensions and websites that you can use to check the stories that you come across. While these may not be completely fool-proof, they are a great way to filter out the nonsense and give you an idea of what responsible fact checking is.

Over time, you should be able to develop a personal repository of reliable source of information that you can count on. Now that you have these strategies in mind, you will no longer be fooled. So go out into the world confidently, and don’t hesitate to fact check and call out fake news peddlers.

When is the best time to start vacation budgeting, you ask? Well, right now!

Even when times feel overwhelming, better days are always ahead. As the seasons shift and routines settle, many are finding new motivation to reconnect with friends, explore new places, and finally take that much-needed break or vacation.

But, there is always the matter of expenses. Travelling was never really that cheap before, and a lot of people’s finances may have recently faced significant challenges.That doesn’t mean you cannot get a dream vacation – it’s all about smart budgeting.

So, here are some top tips for you to help you get the party started.

Start Now

You might not have the exact requirements right now, but you should start saving up some money for a vacation right away if you wish to take one.

You are likely still saving a lot on daily commute, professional clothes and other expenses. If you tweak your ordering-in and other work from home habits a little, you should be able to save enough to have a great vacation at a location of your choice. Remember, budgeting is all about compromise.

Taking away money right now may seem hard, but it will pay you back double in the long run.

No Buying Sprees

The idea of a vacation puts us in a jolly mood, and the next thing you know, you are buying clothes, cameras, hats, sunglasses and whatnot. Pause. As tempting as it can be, especially with the idea of posting photos on social media, do not buy new items just for vacation.

There are a lot of clothes that must have gone unused in the past year, and you’d be surprised at what you’d find. Another great strategy, especially if you are going out with friends, is to swap clothes – new photos everyday, no dent in budget!

Pick Areas to Compromise On

If you wish to have a vacation within your budgeting limits, you have to find areas that you do not mind roughing out on. Is a luxe hotel room important for you, or will a clean and simple motel do? Would you rather take a bus or cut down on your eating budget a little?

The tip to striking the balance is to always focus on ensuring comfort and experience. The rest is just commercialized frills for your vacation, and you can easily do without them. If you want a spa day, for example, no need to take it at an overpriced resort.

Pack Smart 

Think you would not need an umbrella at the sunny beachside? These words might come to bite you when you have to force yourself to buy an expensive but poor quality umbrella while the excellent one that you already possess languishes back at your home. Packing smart is one of the best ways to prevent unforeseen expenses.

Even small items like lighters or matches, a small but warm blanket, hats, and sling bags can help you save money that you can spend on better stuff. If you struggle with packing, there are many lists curated by experts that you can use to help you pack for your vacation.

Research 

At certain intervals, many tourist destinations launch exciting deals and discounts to attract more visitors and boost local tourism. So before you commit to something, take a few hours to research properly. You might find that out-of-budget hotel giving special discounts to groups, or the famous museums providing discounts to students.

And, never hesitate to call up and ask. At the current time, even if there are no offers online, many places would be more than happy to be a little accommodating to potential business, helping you with better budgeting for your vacation.

Cook At Your Place 

One of the most significant expenses people often have to deal with during a vacation is that of food. In traveling around all day, it can be very tempting to sit at an expensive cafe and eat good food. While you should certainly eat out and try the local cuisine, think – do you really need to do it everyday?

Instead, head over to the local market and buy some food to cook at your own hostel or Airbnb. This way, you’ll save some money, and eat healthier too. Bread, butter, milk, eggs, cereals, and even premixed pancake batters are very easily available, filling, and quick to cook.

Create A Common Fund 

If you are traveling with friends, one of the best ways to prevent arguments about money is to create a common fund, to be used for the activities that all of you partake in, such as dinners, paid experiences, traveling, etc.

This will not only make it easier to manage your money, but you will be more considerate of the personal expenses you make outside of the fund, such as that in shopping. Be sure however, that you accurately record all the transactions of the common fund.

Postpone Vacation

This might sound a little disheartening, but it is much better to postpone your vacation a little when your budgeting shows that you cannot afford the trip yet. It can be very tempting to just go YOLO and take your credit card along, but remember that things can be very delicate, and tomorrow has no guarantee.

You do not want to mess up your finances at this juncture. Save more, find a better place, or compromise a little more on your vacation. Either way, you should make sure that your finances do not suffer.

Happy trails!

Work from home seems to be the form these days. While we were all able to enjoy the occasional coffee breaks and lunch time gossip with our colleagues, the work from home setup doesn’t allow for the same type of luxuries.

But that doesn’t mean that you cannot have some fun in between endless Zoom calls and working hours. Here are the 10 best sitcoms that you can watch for a quick break, the next time you get some time away from your home office –

1. Brooklyn 99

Follow along the adventures of the childish but brilliant Jake Peralta and his police precinct who struggle with crime – and each other. Lauded for its positive representation and ‘clean’ humor, Brooklyn 99 is one of the best sitcoms comfort show that you will find yourself coming back to again and again.

Highlights of the show include the annual ‘Halloween heist’ episodes, and the impeccable deadpan comedy style of Andre Braugher, who plays Captain Holt.

On – Netflix

2. Community

A cult favorite, the show follows the misadventures of Jeff Winger, a former lawyer who finds himself at community college after being ousted for faking his degree. A ragtag bunch of individuals from all walks of life become a part of his study group, and what follows is an endless series of ludicrous happenings.

High in meta-humor, the show’s knock-out performances comes from the chemistry between Abed Nadir and Troy Branes.

On – Sony Liv

3. Veep

Veep has already cemented its status as one of the best sitcoms of all time, and is great for a work from home binge as it perhaps has the only workplace more unhinged than yours.

Following the trials and triumphs of Vice President Selina Myers, Veep is a cutting commentary on power, politics, influence, and human desire. Julia Louis-Dreyfus won six consecutive best actress awards at the Emmys for her performance as Myers, so you know you’re strapping in for some serious comedy time.

On – Disney+ Hotstar

4. The Good Place

Following an unremarkable life spent creating misery for others, Eleanor gets the surprise of her life when she ends up at the place meant for the nice people, but soon realizes that there are bigger things afoot. What makes The Good Place one of the best sitcoms is that it never compromises on its philosophical heaviness for the sake of a laugh.

So if you are feeling a little mental block at your work from home gig, try unraveling some Kant and Aristotle with the gang.

On – Netflix

5. Modern Family

Modern family breaks down what it means to be a family in the modern context, in the true Kardashian fashion of cameras following you around, mockumentary style.

Populated by colorful characters with their unique quirks, the show remains great on the feel good factor – and remarkably consistent in its humor content, which is incredible given its 11 season run. If you just want to sit back and relax during a quick work from home break, this is the show to watch.

On – Disney+ Hotstar

6. Mind Your Language

Though many then and now consider it problematic for perpetuating ethnic and cultural stereotypes, Mind Your Language remains one of the best sitcoms in the eyes of many people, including the foreigners it depicted.

Highlighting the trials of learning a language as arbitrary and idiosyncratic as English, the show’s main source of humor comes from hilarious miscommunications, puns, and bickering between the characters, which Anglophiles are sure to love.

On – Sony Liv

7. Fresh Off the Boat

Throwing back to the America of the 1990s, Fresh Off the Boat follows the Hwang family as they struggle to plant their roots in America while maintaining their connection to their Taiwanese heritage after shifting from Chinatown in Washington to Orlando, Florida.

The three boys, each with their unique quirks, try it through school as their parents rebuild their life from scratch. The show has been lauded as one of the best sitcoms to have an Asian lead, and for its consistent performance.

On – Disney+ Hotstar

8. Derry Girls

Five friends from Northern Ireland go through the growing pains of being a teenager during The Troubles, a period of civil discord in Northern Ireland.

The show’s fresh cultural settings, absurdities, and the very relatable experience of being wayward teenagers is appealing to all demographics, and the hilarious comedy that ensues between the adults of Derry is a cherry on top. With an upcoming third season, the show is likely to become one of the best sitcoms from Britain soon.

On – Netflix

9. Schitt’s Creek

If filthy rich but naive people were to suddenly become poor, most of us might be evil enough to laugh. But Schitt’s Creek is different, because it shows not just the fall from grace, but also the redemption and lovable side of the family once rich enough to purchase an entire town as a joke.

The show’s continuously buoyed up by the family dynamics, the stellar side characters, and the general fun in watching rich people get a little (well, a lot in this case) inconvenienced.

On – Netflix

10. Parks and Recreation

Noted as one of the best sitcoms of all time by multiple outlets and individuals Parks and Recreation follows a mockumentary format that focuses on Leslie Knope, a middle level bureaucrat in Indiana.

Following a significant retooling post a lukewarm first season, Parks and Rec was widely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and has cemented most of its cast members as comedy stars. It’s the ideal work from home relaxation needed after a long day minding your own bureaucratic nightmares.

On – Amazon Prime

Now that you have this handy list, you know what to tune into the next time you get a quick thirty minutes to spare!

Love them or hate them, you can’t help but groove to their songs. BTS is one of the biggest boybands in the world right now, and some believe they might even become one of the biggest boyband in history.

Having outsold and outperformed some of the best known western artists, the Kpop phenomenon, comprised of 7 members, continues to reach new critical and commercial heights, buoyed by their ever loving fans, the ARMY. So, what made BTS the standout group in the Kpop world?

Humble Origins, Deep Roots 

The Kpop industry is both lauded and criticized for its trainee model, where any individual hoping to become an entertainer undergoes rigorous training.

The model has been compared to both college and corporate slavery, but it is this model that brings out the impeccable dance and singing routines and the meticulously crafted videos that are attached to Kpop. BTS too, had the benefit of this long and arduous training, however, they had the cards stacked against them.

They did not come from the ‘big 3’ entertainment companies of Korea, and weren’t already known to the public, as many trainees were. Their initial outputs also received moderate response from the Korean fans, which further hurt their blossoming career.

However, it was this very underdog nature that now plays in their favor. Fans all over the world appreciate the hard work and effort that goes into their work, and the themes of struggle, trials, and triumph often features in their work.

Indeed, many today argue that BTS is a ‘genuine’ success in the kpop industry, since most other bands had massive investments made by their entertainment companies.

Making Music Count

BTS works under the label BigHit, whose motto is ‘music and artist for healing’. Most Kpop bands tend to steer shy of the more controversial issues, but not BTS. Having struggled in the past, the band continues to echo and explore darker themes in its body of work.

The band has also been known to tackle issues that are controversial and taboo in South Korea, including mental health, the fearfulness of youth, and class divides. Fans often find depth and connections in their work, with lyrics connecting back to other themes and narratives.

Like all musicians, BTS also had their fair share of naysayers and criticism, but they have continued to display a sort of lyrical and sonic experimentation that few dabble in today. From the feel-good English song Dynamite to the soulful longing of the Korean ballad Spring Day, BTS has something for everyone.

Behind the Scenes

Another factor that has made BTS a big success is its ability to foster connection with its massive fanbase. The members of the Kpop band are regularly active on social media, reply to comments, and produce content such as Run BTS, an online variety show that has them participate in goofy activities.

Most interactions between fans and artists, be it in the east or west, are driven by the marketing angel but this band at the same time also maintains artistic aesthetics. By letting their hair down, BTS has been able to keep the loyalty of fans for years.

More importantly, the members of the band have been very open in their personal feelings and struggles. Back in 2018, rapper Suga of the Kpop band openly discussed the social stigma that surrounds mental health in Asia, including his home country Korea, and talked about his experience of depression.

He and RM also talked frankly of their pain following the death of Kim Jong-Hyun, a member of the hit band Shinee who died by suicide in 2017. South Korea struggles with very high levels of mental health issues, which are often compounded for trainees.

Expected to work long hours, they forgo friendships and family, and are often tied up in long contracts that they may be pressured to pay off as soon as possible. By hinting, even indirectly, at the problems of the industry, BTS broke the silent barrier around the issue and hopefully paved the way for change.

The Army

Of course, any discussion of BTS and its enduring mega-fame would be incomplete without a mention of its fanbase, called ARMY. Comprised of individuals from all demographics across the world, the ARMY is known for a kind of dedication to BTS few can compare to.

Before their break into the western sphere, the media was already paying attention to BTS thanks to the many social media and popularity contests the band was winning. So massive has been their impact, especially online, that even media juggernauts such as Time magazine have taken note.

Not only do these fans support the boyband, but also each other. They translate content from Korean to English, provide links to streams and shows, meticulously detail the schedule of the band, and also organize the fans whenever required, be it for voting or for cracking new records on YouTube or streaming.

For many fans, BTS is not just about the music, it is also about the community that comes with the kpop phenomenon, one that allows them to explore their own feelings, interests, and passions without the fear of judgement.

Following the footsteps of their idols, ARMY has also regularly organized and contributed to charitable events. There is no one thing that makes BTS what it is. Rather, it is a mix of many hard-earned favorable factors, from forging connections with fans to the ability to be vulnerable in front of millions. And by far, its working splendidly.

Just four months after her last album, Taylor Swift released new music in April 2021. However, unlike her indie-bent folklore and evermore, this album isn’t really new.

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) is the first of the six albums that the American singer plans to rerecord and release to the world, starting from her debut self-titled album and up to her iconic comeback album reputation. But, why?

Here is a breakdown of one of the most significant moments of pop culture that has played out, and what it means for the music industry.

The Background

Taylor Swift may be the popstar today, but when she started out in the industry, she was just another struggling artist. When she signed on to her label Big Machine, she was given a more or less standard contract, part of which stipulated that all her master recordings will be owned not by Swift, but by her label.

A ‘master’ recording essentially refers to the original record from which all other versions of the song are produced. It is thus an intellectual property, and the one who owns it gets paid for album sales and streaming.

Flash forward to 2018. After her 13 year contract with Big Machine expired, Swift chose to sign with a new label, Republic Records. As a part of her deal, she was given ownership of all masters that she would make with Republic.

Swift also stipulated that any sales of share that Republic had in Spotify would result in equity for all artists under the label. As a result, Taylor’s 2019 album Lover became the first that she had full ownership to.

But in the weeks leading up to the release of Lover, Taylor made public a shocking news for her fans. Her old label Big Machine was being sold by its owner Scott Borchetta – to Scooter Braun. Swift hated the transaction because of her intense dislike for Braun, a talent manager who was associated with both Kanye West and Justin Bieber.

As some would remember, Swift had a very public feud with Kanye in 2016 that resulted in her cancellation, and later, vindication.

Kanye West

For the musician, the sale of Big Machine – and thus the masters of her first 6 albums – was the ultimate betrayal. In a Tumblr post on the day of the announcement of the sale, Swift stated that she had begged for a chance to buy back her work, but had always been told no.

As a last resort, she was given the option to ‘earn’ back her albums by turning in new ones. Swift refused, stating that she knew Big Machine would be sold the minute she signed back, and chose to leave her masters instead.

However, she had never expected her music to be owned by a man who she alleges she has suffered ‘incessant manipulative bullying from.’

The Legal Angle 

Soon after the sale was finalized, Swift went on record multiple times to say that she would rerecord all of her old music to gain ownership of it. She is legally in the clear of the same for several reasons.

Firstly, Swift writes her own music, which means that the intellectual property belongs to her, even if the recording of the songs are not under her control. Secondly, the contractual barrier that prevented her from rerecording her music ended in 2020 for her first five albums (reputation can only be recorded in 2022).

While Swift will have to take the fine line between making sure her music is new enough to not invite copyright claims and yet similar enough to her originals, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) shows that the singer is more than ready for the challenge.

A few months before Fearless (TV), Scooter Braun had sold Taylor’s masters to Shamrock Holdings, but on the condition that ensures Braun continues to benefit financially. Swift again criticized the move, but continued to focus on her rerecordings.

But Why?

Apart from the issue of pride, Taylor Swift has several reasons to make the effort to rerecord her old music. As one of the most successful and popular contemporary artists, her music continues to be in high demand for both streaming and advertisements.

By offering her own versions, Swift plans to move both public and producers away from her original work, and thus prevent Braun from benefitting.

Swift has also been a champion of artist rights from the start. Soon after the release of 1989, she  pulled off all her music from Spotify alleging poor artist payback. Unlike many others, the 10-time Grammy winner had enough power to pull off the move, despite being only four albums old at that time.

It worked, and both Spotify and Apple Music have changed their policies in line with the singer’s vision.

There have been numerous artists, including icons like Prince and The Beatles, who have attempted to take ownership of their work. However, Taylor Swift was the only one to go public with her struggle, trusting that the millions who love her music will also understand and support the business behind it.

The move has paid off, and numerous publications believe that Taylor’s move could be a gamechanger for the artists. And, it’s already showing. Swift’s fan and fellow musician Olivia Rodrigo has already negotiated for control of her masters after watching her idol’s public struggle.

Fan outpouring has been more than enthusiastic for Fearless (TV), but the battle is not yet won. Swift still has aces up her sleeve with both 1989 and Red waiting to be rereleased.

But, while the hardcore fans would lap it all up, Swift might have to dig deeper into her vaults to attract the general public for Speak Now, reputation and her self-titled debut, which weren’t as well known.

No matter where she goes however, the 3-time album of the year Grammy singer is winning, and the lack of legal or public protests by her opponents shows this.

Why are celebrities bad role models? Is your fav problematic? Celebrities breaking the hearts of their fans is nothing new, but the mode of heartbreak has certainly changed. Earlier, celebrities used to devastate people by marrying their sweethearts, get drafted for war, retire, or break up the band.

Today, fans lament their favorites when their perfectly constructed façade cracks through old Tweets, controversial statements, or insider scoops. Maybe there is a lesson in there somewhere.

Stand on My Ground

When the long-drawn Israeli-Palestine conflict remerged, millions around the world flooded the social media with outrage and condolences for Palestine, which has been seen at the receiving end of brutality by an advanced nuclear nation, though it was the aggressor and perpetrator of terrorist attacks.

Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot, arguably the most famous Israeli artist right now, posted on Twitter calling for peace on both sides and an end to this war. Several people took offence to her statement immediately, stating that her words denied the culpability of Israel.

Some even pulled up her stint as a fitness instructor in the Israeli Defense Forces to further back their claims.

The thing is, you cannot expect a celebrity to go against their country. Gadot may face censure from powerful politicians, and it may become difficult for the actress to manage her Hollywood career if she stops getting support from her country.

As for her IDF stint – military service is compulsory for everyone in Israel, men and women. So it wasn’t so much as Gal Gadot showing a nationalist streak as it was her doing what is legally required of her. So this explains it.

Kpop star Jackson Wang has been accused of abandoning his homeland

A similar situation was seen in the East with kpop star Jackson Wang, who belongs to Hong Kong. Due to his strong business interests (and possible concerns for safety), Wang has repeatedly sided with China, despite the country’s brutal crackdown and oppression in Wang’s native state.

His lack of empathy with Hong Kong has devastated his fans, but others have pointed out that Wang simply made a calculated business decision, as brutal as it may sound. To expect celebrities to simply do what is right is to ignore the fact that they are, like other people, bound to their interests, their communities, and their ideals and agendas.

Idolizing celebrities as political and moral strongholds will never pay well, because there will be one thing or another that you and them will not see eye to eye on – and suddenly, you feel that they have betrayed you, when in reality, they have just stuck to their own ideals.

Imagine – A World Without Their Nonsense 

Gal Gadot has ignited media fire in more ways than one

Unfortunately, this is not the first time Gal Gadot came into negative media since the start of the pandemic. Way back in the early days of the lockdown, many celebrities including Gadot had created a rendition of John Lennon’s song Imagine as a message of hope. It was completely tone-deaf, in more ways than one.

The poorly sung song felt more like a slap to the general public, as celebrities sang from their mansions and yachts and ranches, still fully manicured and polished even as people lost lives, jobs, and their ways of life.

Nothing has made it more apparent than the Covid-19 pandemic that celebrities live in their own little bubble, where travel restrictions don’t matter because of private jets, and their access to private little vacations, public healthcare be damned.

There is a wide chasm between how the rich live and how the rest of the world live, and it was so very visible in the the aftermath of the pandemic.

Live and Let Go 

When people as kind and seemingly relatable as Ellen DeGeneres turn out to be secretively horrible, there is a clear lesson to be learnt, especially on social media where star culture seems to be the norm. Idolizing people as role models, especially celebrities – who are by design out of touch with reality – will only lead to eventual heartbreak.

The issue is not just of celebrities being tone-deaf or problematic. It is also an issue of the unrealistic expectations that are placed on the celebrities.

Sure, celebrities should lend their voice to important causes. But we should learn science from the scientists, politics from politicians, i.e. we should learn something from people who are leading that life or are living in those situations, and rather we should learn kindness and compassion from each other and not from these celebrities.

To look for all these things in a millionaire who is used to being fawned over is just going to lead to problems, because outside of massive platforms, most celebrities do not have the knowledge or expertise to comment on most matters.

So instead of relying on celebrities to speak up, do it yourself. Sure, you may have a small impact – but will you really? When was the last time you changed your opinion because a celebrity pushed a narrative?

And when was the last time you changed your mind because you came across a compelling piece of information shared by a close friend or a family member? You might be surprised at what really shapes you.

It’s time for us now to stop celebrities influence us so much. They are already plugging both entertainment and products. Maybe it is best to let their musical renditions just echo in the silence.