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An Ode to Ab
Amitabh Bachchan is charisma and dignity personified. Add to that dollops of talent, enriched with a baritone voice that can reach into the deepest recesses of your soul, blend in humility and generous chivalry, and you have the 'Superstar of the Millennium' (according to a BBC online poll in 1999).
It was a great pleasure to read your take on India's first 'angry young man', (AB, Now A Lot More AB-le, Nov 6), who could easily blur the lines between reel and real life with his powerful presence and performances. With just a gesture, or a few words delivered with conviction, AB could make you believe in the unbelievable. That was the magic he wielded over the audience who considered him the demi-god of Bollywood.
His movies were loved and appreciated by the common man who felt that AB stood for him, and did on screen what he, the helpless and the victimised, could only dream of. AB made people feel that no matter how dark and dreary the tunnel, there would be light at the end of it.
What sets him apart from many other iconic figures in the world of cinema, and even outside it, is the strength of character and integrity that he showed in the face of adversity - not on screen, but in reality. He scripted his own story and arose from the ashes of bankruptcy, like the legendary phoenix, only more purposeful, and repaid every debt he owed, proving himself a role model in every sense of the word.
The countless adulations, awards and accolades that Big B has received over the past five decades in which he has reigned over filmdom, sit lightly on his shoulders.
Yet, AB remains the ever-humble, chivalrous, genial gentleman - a hero of the masses.
Congratulations on your winning entry, kevin m! We will contact you shortly.
Lighting up Traditions
The Diwali issue of wknd. (Nov 6), with its colourful portrayal of festival traditions, Indian cuisine and cinema, truly captured the genuine diversity of India. and its consciousness. With much pride, I was once again reminded of Keith Bellows' (of National Geographic) words about his first visit to India: "I was stunned by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colours, smells, tastes, and sounds. It was as if all my life, I had been seeing the world in black and white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant technicolour."
Among the variety of reads in the festive issue, I was particularly touched by the interview with chef Kunal Kapur (Breaking the Mould with Kunal, Nov 6) as it served as a strong reminder that "privilege is often invisible to those who have it". Like Kunal, most of us had the privilege of growing up in a joint family that provided valuable opportunities to learn, parents who gave us plenty of space and largely let us be, teachers who served as a guiding light in our lives, the legacy of growing our own food and bonding over cooking; however, we took it all for granted. As rightly pointed out by Kunal, we often need an outsider to remind us about our rich past and privileges.
It's time we recognise and appreciate our legacy and pass it on to the next generation, and the festive season gives us a great opportunity to get started.
Beena Jose, by email
Being a traditional temple-going, saree-loving girl from India, I have always believed that you don't define culture. It defines you. It makes you who you are.
To an outsider, India may come across as a land of Bollywood and colourful festivals. When you zoom in, she is more. Much, much more.
In the UAE, where life is also defined by tradition and roots, it is deeply heartwarming to see different cultures coming together in marriage and love (Diwali 101: Introduction to couples celebrations, Oct 30). With the happy onset of Diwali and the pretty blue fairy lights dangling from the balconies of many Indian homes in the UAE, this renaissance of love, bringing together different cultures and shrinking the globe at the speed of euphoric fireworks in the sky, is a milestone for the global Indian.
Apoorva Parimal, by email
A Mindset to Master
The 5 Mindset Qualities of All Successful Entrepreneurs (Nov 6) is a must read whether you are a start-up visionary or an ambitious aspirant. For that matter, it would be apt for anyone looking to take control of their entrepreneurial careers  and get themselves back in the driver's seat of their own life.
The simple guidelines and critical factors spelt out in the feature also state the unwritten rules of entrepreneurship, if true entrepreneurial growth is what the individual seeks. It is not just relevant to those in business. I would go so far as to recommend it to schools and colleges in the UAE, because such easy-to-understand lessons on entrepreneurial success will enable  students to chart their way forward and work towards their goals in a methodical way. The piece is a fast track, reader-friendly gist of Carnegie Mellon, LSE or Harvard Business School in about 1,000 words, providing the magic of motivation in less than five minutes. If you are chasing your dream, this article is for you.
Reuben Smile, by email