Critics are our friends

Critics beware - WKND never ceases to amaze us with its delicious page-turners come Friday morning. This week was no exception. I enjoyed reading Is the writing on the wall for the professional critic? (May 5), which brought to light an alarming fact that, in most fields, critics' 'unbiased reviews' are losing credibility. Earlier, critics had the power and privilege to make or break a performance because their opinions were so well-regarded. However, today, it's a well-known fact that reviews are biased because of the promise of perks and profits for the reviewers.
These days most critics are reluctant to voice their real opinions as they are scared of being alienated by more influential groups of society. Also, pretentious bloggers in their respective fields have taken the place of articulate, impartial critics.
I think the article was a reminder that feedback - whether positive or negative - is actually a good thing. And insincere flattery is a fake friend.
Congratulations on your winning entry, Rashida Adnan. We will be in touch soon.

A real Bollywood beauty
Khalid Mohamed's write-up on  yesteryear's Bollywood diva, Sridevi, made for a great read (Take a bow, Sridevi, May 5). The beautiful actor, endowed with eloquent eyes and expressive countenance, regaled cine-goers for decades. Having started out as a child actor at the tender age of three, she performed in many regional films before ruling the Hindi film industry. In a career spanning four
decades and 280 films, Sridevi carved a niche for herself in Bollywood with her dedication to her art and her commendable acting prowess.
Although she consciously stayed away from Bollywood after marriage, she was able to make a triumphant return to the silver screen with the  smash hit English Vinglish. Always impeccably turned out, dignified and effortlessly stylish, she is an actor par excellence who has shielded her personal life with élan and stayed away from gossip and controversies. Here's wishing her all the very best for her upcoming films.
Jayashree Kulkarni, by email

How I learnt to cook
While reading Live cooking is a psychological battle (May 5), I felt like Hamida Abid was telling the world my story! When I got engaged 17 years ago, I didn't know how to cook a thing. Then there was obviously that fear that new relatives - particularly the in-laws - would watch me like a hawk and expect me to suddenly know everything there is to know about being a good bahu. Those days, there were no blogs where one could get useful food tips. If you wanted a recipe, you referred to books! It took me about a year or two to finally realise what kind of food my husband really liked.
Although I'm a homemaker too, I never thought that I could actually go in for competitions. I'm going to paste this article on my kitchen door so that I can be inspired every time I look at it! It's proof that dreams can actually come true.
Pallavi Kapoor, by email

The social media story
Social media came into existence to make people socialise. But as can be seen in the case of Momina Mustehsan, sometimes it does exactly in the opposite (Social Media Vs Momina Mustehsan, May 5).
A few decades ago, when someone wanted to communicate with a person across the world, they had to go all out and actually put pen to paper. Letters carried actual emotions with them. But, today, it just takes seconds to connect to another person through social media. But rather than bringing us closer together, it has also made it easier for people to spew hateful messages. In the meantime, it takes us further away from the people who are physically closer to us. In my opinion, today, it's far easier for a child not to know that a parent is upset or for a parent to forget a child's hobbies - all because of social media.
Mankesh Walia, by email

Do you want sympathy?
The night the burglar came (May 5) shed light on an important point. I believe that sympathy makes everyone feel better and it's common to vent to close friends and family. But when you post the same on social media, what you're really asking for is attention.   
Burhan Ilyas, by email