From the dark to the dawn

  A few weeks ago, I came across a video post on twitter that left me puzzled, not because of what people were arguing about, but because of how differently they seemed to apply the same standards. In that post, Kangana Ranaut was criticized by many for wearing an off-shoulder gown while receiving a National Award for Tanu Weds Manu Returns . Whether one liked the outfit or not, the criticism was familiar: a National Award ceremony is a prestigious occasion, a formal state event, and therefore deserving of a certain decorum. In the same post, Actress Kriti Sanon was widely praised for wearing a beautiful saree while receiving her own National Award years later. Her choice, seeing it as elegant, graceful, and appropriate for the occasion was widely appreciated. So far, so good. But then came a Raksha Bandhan advertisement in which the same actress celebrated the festival wearing an outfit that revealed far more skin than the gown for which Kangana was criticized in that video post. ...