Why the Ranbir-Alia Shaadi is news

On paper, the wedding of Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt should be the sort of stuff that commentators on the state of the country's political economy - including venerable us - will pooh-pooh as fluff, stuff that should stay out of the serious business. And, yet, this Bollywood wedding provides a model not just for happy happenings but also for matters that can make for more and merrier media coverage. For one, the happy union is undoubtedly true - unlike far too many things that seem to be part of a 'spin cycle' and are easily seen for what they are: at best, digressions from awkward facts, and, at worst, hogwash. The wedding coverage is also easy on the eyes. Despite readers and viewers (grumpy commentators included) being familiar with the star kids who happen to be stars by their own right, in shaadi gear, even the nuptial kiss looked wonderfully unfamiliar, non-staged and - dare we say - real. A rarity these days.

Sure, it is no deep dive into the economy, war in eastern Europe, Chanakyan chants on the virtues of neutrality, concerns about MSMEs, NPAs and VIPs. But, in the coverage of this wedding, one came face to face with something true, something vaccinated against whataboutery, and something we need more of, not less. This was not manufactured, cheesy happiness, but as good as public goods can get.