Shruti Sonal

Southern Asia

Features Writer at The Times of India

Poet and features writer for Sunday TOI. Usually seen petting cats, writing fiction, crying over SRK films, and rooting for Nadal & LFC.

Articles

China to Chandni Chowk: Indians now bingeing on Chinese content

1 week ago | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Shruti Sonal

Shruti SonalTNN Apr 12, 2025, 18:31 IST ISTAnimation film ‘Ne Zha 2’ has become a global money-spinner but that’s not Beijing’s only soft power flex. Chinese microdramas and shows have Indians hookedThe tariff war has widened the chasm between the US and China but the popular saying ‘art transcends borders’ has never been truer.
Bollywood’s soft power under-utilised but business-savvy stars took it global: Swapnil Rai

3 weeks ago | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Shruti Sonal

NewsBollywood’s soft power under-utilised but business-savvy stars took it global: Swapnil RaiBollywood's influence as a tool for cultural diplomacy has been significant and largely underutilized by the Indian state. Stars like Raj Kapoor and Aamir Khan have achieved global popularity independently, highlighting cinema's role in fostering international connections. Diplomacy is not always about govts, or even intentional.
VK Shukla, the extraordinary Hindi writer who captures the ordinary

3 weeks ago | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Shruti Sonal

Shruti SonalTNNUpdated: Mar 31, 2025, 14:03 IST ISTShukla, who just won the Jnanpith, wears his awards lightly but the quiet simplicity of his poetry and prose have catapulted him to cult status. So much so that he's also acquired a fair share of millennial and Gen-Z fansShashwat Gopal was on his way to pick up his daughter from an exam when he received the phone call that his father, the celebrated poet-novelist Vinod Kumar Shukla, had been awarded the Jnanpith Award.
When smog meets satire

1 month ago | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Mohua Das |Shruti Sonal

Climate change can be a a depressing topic, but a bunch of creative folks are using pop culture to create awarenessWhat happens when you take AQI charts and particulate matter levels and put it in the hands of stand-ups? You get this... “I never thought I’d afford a 2BHK in Bandra but thanks to all this construction dust that I’m breathing in every day, I now have one growing inside me. I’m calling it... Raheja Broncii,” said one. Another took stock of the city’s perpetual state of excavation.
From viral yoga guru to flourishing apple biz, four people tell us how a lockdown pivot changed their lives

1 month ago | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Sneha Bhura |Shruti Sonal

From viral yoga guru to flourishing apple biz, four people tell us how a lockdown pivot changed their livesHe studied business administration but turned to art. They ran an ecotourism company but switched to selling apples. A mechanical engineer, he became a yoga instructor. Globetrotters, they decided to settle down in a small hill villageFinance to buzzy artist, he fashioned a new careerViraj Khanna | 29
From viral yoga guru to flourishing apple biz, four people tell us how a lockdown pivot changed their lives

1 month ago | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Sneha Bhura |Shruti Sonal

From viral yoga guru to flourishing apple biz, four people tell us how a lockdown pivot changed their lives
Eat, play, rain dance! How the festival of Holi got monetised

1 month ago | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Shruti Sonal

Shruti SonalTNN Mar 10, 2025, 19:35 IST ISTInstead of low-key family celebrations, many are opting for commercially curated events like Tomatina-Holi mashups or travelling to smaller towns for a more cultural experienceClose your eyes and picture this: you’re surrounded by a group of people, each armed with bright red tomatoes in their hands, trying to perfect their aim. It’s a setting that closely resembles a scene made famous by the Hindi film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD).
Face it! Men's makeup is a booming beauty business | India News - The Times of India

1 month ago | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Shruti Sonal

NewsIndia NewsFace it! Men's makeup is a booming beauty businessTrendingThe article highlights the growing acceptance of men's makeup in India, driven by initiatives such as Yaan Man's launch and social media influence. Despite initial skepticism, the market for male grooming products is expanding, with increasing demand for items like concealers and tinted moisturizers.
Boards are where students’ challenges begin, not end

2 months ago | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Sneha Bhura |Shruti Sonal

Now, multiple competitive exams and visa complications for admissions abroad are added worries. Sunday Times talks to three parents about the challenges‘US colleges expect kids to have a diverse resume’Muskaan, my 17-year-old daughter, is applying to universities in the US to pursue public health. There are hardly any good options here. And when you are applying abroad, especially the US, your board results are just one part of the process.
Boards exams are where students’ challenges begin, not end

2 months ago | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Sneha Bhura |Shruti Sonal

Now, multiple competitive exams and visa complications for admissions abroad are added worries. Sunday Times talks to three parents about the challenges‘US colleges expect kids to have a diverse resume’Muskaan, my 17-year-old daughter, is applying to universities in the US to pursue public health. There are hardly any good options here. And when you are applying abroad, especially the US, your board results are just one part of the process.