as our documentary series founders belly, africa, to meet the founders, empowering their continent through digital innovation, a transformer, working and living conditions in their country and inspiring world with their ideas. valley africa started february 13. on d, w. you're watching d. w. news, asia, india marxist national holiday republic day. you take a closer look at it's standing in the world and how the region is responding to a rising india. what will it mean and is it a welcome move across the india pacific? but as india marx, this milestone,

it is also be accused of attacking press freedom as the government bands, a documentary, focusing on the prime minister's role during anti muslim riots in 2002 class. another film is also causing a stir in india. fans of chevrolet con, are out in force as the megastar, and makes his 1st movie in 4 years. but why is it angering certain groups of people? ah, i melissa chan, thanks for joining us. it's republic day in india, celebrating the establishment of the country's constitution, and there is much fanfare with performances and a display of the country's military. it's a day of pride and in the era of time minister and to render moody all the more

important, given his political parties, brand of hindu nationalism. it's been an important year for india, especially on the world stage with western democracies watching how india chooses to engage with russia and watching how it approaches china. there is no question. the country is a key power that can change the geopolitical dynamic in the asia region. we have managed, jo, she distinguished fellow at the observer research foundation with us. thank you so much for joining the program. there was a recent call from the u. s. agency morning, consult that said people in india view. china as the country's greatest military threat and not pakistan. now it's just one poll, but it does indicate quite the shift a can you talk about that i would suggest that that is more

so all the strategic community, really people who write and comment on strategic affairs. but i think that is too deep distrust of boston amongst the average indian. so i won't say that we need a little bit more only if i put it that way, but to get an accurate view of the indian bodily possession. now, why do you think the national security community in india feels that way about china though? well, one reason is a box on it, so is in deep trouble. it has a huge economic problems, political crises, there are all sorts of problems there. on the other hand, we have had a difficult couple of years with china. we had a fairly good relationship, but it all came apart in 2020. and right now, there is

a pretty substantial build up going on on both sides of the line of actual control between india and china box, the border between india and china. and so therefore, there is a perception in india that china is the big trick now. and as part of this, india had also really and did some of its army, which was used to face focused on has now is know, facing a china. now, can you explain how the modi administration fees in his role in the, in their pacific? well, you know, the immune for role in the low pacific is somewhat cautious. one lake for many other countries like australia, japan, we're not part of a u. s. alliance system. also, india has a dual nature in the continental country, as well as in oceanic country. and right now, from the point of view of security,

it is the continental part, which, what is india? not so much the ocean it. now it is a country, though that is growing in confidence, becoming more important for the region, though. in many ways the country has been rather touchy though when it comes to receiving criticism. most recently, a b b c documentary on prime minister movie has been met with a fierce reaction. there have been attempts to ban screenings of the film, which looks at moody's role during anti muslim riots in 2002, you can see some of the pictures of demonstrations people protesting against bands of the film. the film alleges that moody, who at the time was the premier at the state of goudrow, turned a blind eye to violence that left at least a 1000 dead. he, of course, dismisses it as propaganda. but i wanted to share what one student had to say about the ban on the film.

and everybody knew with this happen again. i don't want to put them in a sort of doing that. i believe it does happen again. now i'll talk about the regional impact of this, but 1st of all, what do you think about the governments move to band is still well, you know, mr. moody is very sensitive, personally to criticism and this government is otherwise, it has been fairly open to criticism and in the boss, but more mr. movie all to play the go to what kind of like for go. and he, is there anything like this? as did all the entries to him or his image is affected by

30. first of all, weekend's cream you serious and tragic. and her many people have an age difference between mister body and those events. yeah, this is worth bringing up right now is simply because we're having a conversation about india as a growing regional power. and you know, how critical it is in the world, whether it's with russia, invasion of ukraine and people turning to india to, to see how the country will position itself. but of course, also, india has a very interesting relationship with japan. it's also involved in the quad, which is part of australia, united states, japan. so it's, it's plano, a very important role in all these dynamics. and so in this incident, i guess, i mean india is a democracy yet at times it's certainly not acting that way. well

certainly when it puts on it to bends, i'm thinking of information is blocked. so that's certainly not a democratic approach. and many of us feel that there is that rising autocratic trim in india, and this is often manifested by, by actions like such brands. now we talk about india's national security concerns both continental and also oceanic and it's rising power. of course also means that people look to the country. do you think india is a model of democracy for the region? well being one of the few democracies in the region, i would say it's a modern but i think india needs to also address it's democratic deficit in

a lot of areas you see just being an electoral democracy is not enough just having elections and to select the government is not enough. democracy means much more than that. it means both the liberties, it means freedom of speech. and it means accepting uncomfortable a program. you know, the videos like the one of the b, b, c has made. so i think in india needs to deepen our it's democracy much, much more and certainly, you know, we are already a model and, but we'd be a better model. i think if we did that very last question very quickly. um, what do you think is the most important thing that india can do to, to, to show the region that it is a strong democracy? well, i think certainly it needs to change it the way it deals with

descent within the country. i think there is a tendency to, to have a kind of a we don't take all approach right in a number of areas. i think that is the place where india has a deficit managed cache. and thank you so much for this conversation. ah, well king con is back. bollywood megastar sharon con returns to the big screen after 4 years with his come back, fill baton. the fans are delighted and when review described it as a quote phenomenally entertaining spy thriller that packs a massive punch. but the big budget action movie has angered hindu. right. wingers? oh, for the movie fans queuing up outside cinemas, mom by patton takes

a lot of boxes. bollywood legend king come making a powerful comeback. check hot scenes with heart throb. debit card. how do cone check songs? and special effects galore. check pattern marks a return to form for the badger emperor of hollywood. his last mega release 0 in 2018 was a box office flop. the 57 year old star has also struggled with personal problems. child as the new law and myself and i won't be a lot and he was dizzy. i'm totally confused about to say about that. not because i'm very much excited. i movie wise. i don't know how many games with my family on, so i would say, but on is one of the highest grossing foods. it's a important part of this by universe, which consists of die go as well as void. and you can see though, my, him, oh yeah, it is just do awesome and it is deserving lethal lake people every day for 5 years

. and finally i would say it is one. it's what the weight and you know, just go and watch went on is what all i can say. despite the movies, raucous welcoming mom by baton has proven controversial with right wing hindus as it features a song by powder cone wearing a saffron bikini saffron as a color associated with hinduism can. meanwhile, whereas a green shirt, which can be read as a reference to islam, the actors, religion, the song was enough to trigger calls for a boycott by hindu right. wingers pattern hit cinemas, a day ahead of india's republic day celebrations on immediately smashed box office records. it became the 1st bollywood movie to take in over 100 craw rupees over 11000000 euros on its opening day. it's a welcome success for bollywood which has struggled in recent years to produce the kind of major blockbusters that have made it so successful in india. and an

overseas markets. that's it for thursday. be sure to check out her other stories on d. w dot com for slash asia, or on facebook and twitter. let us know what you think of coverage. my name is melissa chan in berlin. thanks for watching and see you tomorrow with she's up to date. don't miss our highlights. the d w program on line d, w dot com highlights. ah, leonardo da vinci's, mysterious masterpiece. ah,

this perhaps the greatest leonardo masterpiece and the collection of the louvre and no, it is not the mona lisa. it is the virgin of the rocks, 2 versions, multiple copies, and a hidden drawing. was there another symbolic meaning to this beautiful baby that perhaps we just don't understand? a search for answers start to february 10th on d, w o fe for parents, mazda 9th, and they will reinstate the kinds of former us president donald from the after 8 to hear back. the move has talked to some to ask whether social media platforms are shifting gear when it comes to balancing a free speech with the public to offer coming up india cracks and ongoing smuggling

with another proposal as a cause import duties on the pick list ring come on a safe and we'll take it to the u. s. data vada, whether raised to mine, him has a connected legal battle between indigenous people and the federal government. this is dw business. i've had ferguson welcome mazda, the parent company of facebook, and instagram says they will allow former us president donald trump, back on its platforms, following a 2 year ban. the company suspended trump's accounts in the wake of the capital riot in 2021. but now says, quote, the public should be able to hear what the politicians are saying. the move would allow trump to communicate directly with his 34000000 followers and to presume direct fundraising on the site. critics accused the company of pushing profit over people's safety. now.