What character does the U.S. have in the fantastical lands of Bollywood? A handful of recent films have truly absorbed America into their land of dreams. They’ve ditched most of the stereotypes about corrupt, debauched Westerners seen in films from past eras...but they also creatively use American settings for stories that deal with the unique risks and freedoms of the 21st-century world.

"Aalu Anday" or "Potato and Eggs" starts innocently enough but soon launches into a tongue-in-cheek attack on the country's political establishment and its conservative, religious underpinnings. The song has not only made waves in Pakistan, but across the border in India, where the plight of Pakistan's beleaguered liberals has won a lot of sympathy.

Sesame Workshop provides a top-notch creative model...for conducting public diplomacy. But the real significance of this program is that it appropriates the power of citizen diplomacy to the youngest of the youth population. In a country like India, with 160 million children under the age of six, this is no small feat, and it’s a unique means of empowering a new generation of citizen diplomats.

APDS Blogger: Maya Babla

A satirical song that takes a tongue-in-cheek swipe at religious extremism, militancy and contradictions in Pakistani society has become an instant hit , drawing widespread attention as a rare voice of the country’s embattled liberals. The popularity of the song on the Internet has made it a sensation across the border in India as well, surprising the band members.

The much touted soft power of India has once again taken a beating, with even bbc reporting the incident and the Internet buzzing with discussions regarding the cancelled show. Indian musicians and promoters are afraid that this might scare away global artists from coming to India.

UK's international organisation for education and cultural relations, The British Council, is organising one-stop exhibitions for those who aspire to study in the UK. Titled 'Education UK Exhibitions', the trade fair will travel to six cities in the country beginning from New Delhi to Kolkata...

In Morocco, I have come to experience India through two main elements: Bollywood movies and sari fabrics. Looking back at college, I remember borrowing an Indian movie DVD titled, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai from one of my friends... Watching Indian movies was a popular entertainment...