I find Outlook as delicious and refined as Hyderabadi biriyani. It has the right blend of gourmet and popular fare. A bit like my own theatre; meaningful with popular appeal. I find the right amount of fine grain of current affairs, the succulent meat of politics, the spice of entertainment, condiments of sports and literature and the pure ghee of analysis, simmered for a week, every week. It comes to your table prettily presented, a treat for the eyes as much as your senses; intellectual, artistic and otherwise. Finely ‘prepared’ for the connoisseur as well as the man on the street. In my opinion, it is balanced. It does not sell out to cheap gimmickry, keeping up the basic values of professional journalism without its ‘favourites’ or a ‘black list’ of sorts. Importantly, it is away from the tempting naivety of unprofessionalism or redolent of editorial egotism, coming across as a mature read.
What I don’t like about it, however, is that it continues to treat Hyderabad as the back of beyond. The focus is consistently on Mumbai and Delhi. How long will this continue?
(Mohammad Ali Baig, theatre personality)
Outlook invites readers to take part in its 20th anniversary celebrations. Send us your bouquets and, more importantly, your brickbats. E-mail your entry to editor [AT] outlookindia [DOT] com
