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Director Shoojit Sircar, in this exclusive interview, talks with Subhash K Jha about his 2013 drama Madras Café, starring John Abraham.

Madras Café is your most political film?

Madras Café was a very personal film, as it was very shocking for me when that incident happened where Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. I was in Delhi and it shook me. Before Rajiv Gandhi, even Indira Gandhi was also assassinated. So, you know, I was in Delhi during both the tragic events. This happened and, you know, it completely shook me, especially Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. Since then, it was always reading newspapers and articles about and following what was happening in this...

Subhash K Jha turns to focus on Shoojit Sircar’s Madras Café starting John Abraham as it celebrates 12 years, in this new edition of This Day That Year.

There is so much history to reclaim from our past. Madras Café does it with enrapturing elan. This is cinema signifying a coming of age with unforgettable visuals and drama and a rousing mature career-defining performance by its leading man.

If only history could be changed by art. Cinema is a powerful medium for socio-political expression and revolution. Alas, in this country entertainment engages all other aspects of life on celluloid.

But seriously, it’s time now to get off the Chennai...

Pooja Hegde has created a storm yet again with her fiery moves in the recently released song Monica from the upcoming film Coolie, starring Rajinikanth. More than just a catchy track, Monica is also a tribute to the iconic Italian actress and model Monica Bellucci. Titled after her first name, the song showcases Pooja taking over the screen with her addictive dance steps and spot-on expressions.

For the unversed, Monica Bellucci visited India in 2015 to promote the James Bond film Spectre, where she made headlines as the first leading lady to match 007’s age. At 51, she redefined the “Bond girl” archetype as a true “Bond woman,” continuing to captivate audiences with her glamour and powerful presence.

In the European cinema circuit, Monica Bellucci is a celebrated name, known for acclaimed films such as Malèna (2000), Irréversible (2002), The Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions (2003), and The Passion of the Christ (2004). At one point, she was...

Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case does a commendable job in gathering all the facts and presents a complete documentation of the events that transpired after the assassination of the ex-prime minister. But that said, I felt that the series suffered from a lack of characterization, and it seemed more like a collection of data and facts put together. It felt as if the series somewhat abstained from giving us that unique insight from the perspective of somebody who was involved in the entire investigation process. Yes, I do believe that through the character of Amit Verma, the filmmaker did seek to achieve that, but that entire aspect was still downplayed to a great extent. So let’s find out what happened in the series and the kind of challenges the special investigation team had to face to find the perpetrators.

Spoiler Alert

How...

The brutal assassination of Rajiv Gandhi on 21 May, 1991 is a national wound that never healed. Recreating the entire timeline from the assassination to the investigation to the closure(for whatever it may have been worth) is not an easy task.

Applause Entertainment, never known to stay in the comfort zone, has achieved the near-impossible. In The Hunt—The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, authenticity is quintessential but not stifling. That the series succeeds in being much more than a political thriller is a measure of its architects’ ability to adhere to the truth without losing a firm grip over the narrative.

Seldom, if ever, has a political thriller projected such propulsive energy without missing a single beat of the heat of that moment in the past when a nationwide hunt for Mr Gandhi’s killers was the most talked about real-life crime since Rajiv Gandhi’s mother’s assassination .

The nervousness...

Dive into this week’s Ott lineup—an eclectic mix of thrillers, fantasy epics, action comedies, and heartfelt dramas streaming across platforms. Here’s what’s premiering from June 30 to July 6:

Kaalidhar Laapata (ZEE5 – July 4)

Abhishek Bachchan headlines a poignant drama about an ageing man who runs away after learning of his family’s betrayal. Lost at the Kumbh Mela, he crosses paths with Ballu, an 8‑year‑old orphan. Their unexpected friendship and bucket‑list road trip deliver an emotional journey about hope and rediscovery. Directed by Madhumita, this remake of the Tamil hit Kd promises heartwarming depth and rich performances.

The Sandman – Season 2 Volume 1 (Netflix – July 3)

Neil Gaiman’s celebrated comic comes alive again as Dream returns in the first part of the final season. Expect six episodes filled with philosophical musings, mythic siblings, and surreal dreamscape: hell, dragons, and divine reckonings. A must‑watch for fantasy lovers and series fans.

Here’s What You Can Watch On Ott This Week! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

This week’s watchlist may be light on quantity, but Netflix is still leading with three notable releases: the second season of a beloved comic book adaptation, the action-packed continuation of a supernatural film, and a comedy talk show. Prime Video follows with two titles, including a big-budget action film starring John Cena, Idris Elba, and Priyanka Chopra. Scroll down to discover the full list, watch trailers, and read the synopses.

Prime Video Heads of State (English) – July 2, 2025

Heads of State is an action comedy about two world leaders who get lost on foreign soil after their plane is shot down by enemies. It shows their struggle for survival and stars John Cena, Idris Elba, and Priyanka Chopra.

Uppu Kappurambu (Telugu) – July 4, 2025

Uppu Kappurambu is a comedy film set in a fictional village in the 90s, where...

The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case Trailer ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case is a new web series that tells the story of the 1991 assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the 90-day investigation that followed. This intense crime drama is set to stream soon on Ott. This television series effectively shows how the Special Investigation Team (Sit) solved the intricate case while maintaining the complexity and fast-paced nature of the investigation. The series cast has Shafeeq Mustafa, Shruthy Jayan, Gouri Menon, etc., who add a great deal of strength to the story.

The Hunt Plot

Nagesh Kukunoor helms the show based on the book Ninety Days by journalist Anirudhya Mitra, who has documented the follow-up to Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. The story kicks off with the fateful day in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, where a suicide bomber came through and assassinated the former Prime Minister of India,...

The assassination of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is well known and yet there are many hidden truths behind this event which shook the world. Putting a spotlight on the immediate aftermath of this heinous crime, Applause Entertainment brings The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case a gripping crime procedural, based on writer Anirudhya Mitra’s book Ninety Days: The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi’s Assassin.

A former journalist, Anirudhya was one of the first to report on the investigation and break several exclusive stories while the hunt for the assassins was on. The series, to be streamed on SonyLiv from July 4, is a blow-by-blow account of how the Cbi’s Special Investigation Team cracked the assassination plot, identified the assassins and chased the mastermind, to his final hideout.

Nagesh Kukunoor, the acclaimed film director and National award recipient whose previous collaboration with Applause Entertainment...

In another terrific installment of This Day That Year, Subhash K Jha takes another look at the smartly-written Youngistaan as it celebrates 11 years.

This is a genre that never really cracked in Hindi cinema. A political drama about a young foreign-educated Nri who is forced to take over his country’s reigns after his father’s sudden death.

Unlike Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti, Youngistaan doesn’t take itself too seriously. There is no attempt here to mythicize or demonize the politicians.

Think Rajiv Gandhi. Think Rahul… Jackky Bhagnani plays an amalgamation of many political dreams. Never mind if some of them turn into nightmares in real life (think Kejriwal). Cinema is about hope and redemption. In a nation hurling towards damnation, the thought of some political wisdom, clarity, and far-sightedness in this season of the elections is eminently welcomed. Young Bhagnani brings a temperance and sensitivity to his character. This...

Turning the focus on Neeraj Pandey’s special Special Chabbis (26), which starred Akshay Kumar and Manoj Bajpayee, as it marks 12 years since the action drama garned rave reviews.

Though set in a world where lakhs were a large fortune, Neeraj Pandey gives us a caper-thriller worth crores. The period detailing of the 1980s—the cars, hotel lobbies, clothes, hairstyles, and most importantly, the attitude to wealth acquisition—all add a lustre of underscored believability to the proceedings.

Morality is a prime casualty in the parable. And if crime should not be allowed to pay in our movies, then this one doesn’t qualify for a pat on the back from the moralists and purists as the con persons walk away from the scene of their outrageous crime richer and, yes, no wiser. They are coming back.

There are two sets of Cbi officers on duty in this deviously plotted tale...

When Amitabh Bachchan Battled An Acute Financial Struggle (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Amitabh Bachchan is a living legend in Indian cinema and has been an acting institution. However, amid all the superstardom, there have also been times when his life was marred by turbulence. One of the most challenging phases of his life was when he suffered a grave financial loss during the late 1990s. This happened after his production company, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (Abcl), went bankrupt. This resulted in a humongous debt of almost 90 crores and several legal cases against him. During the audio launch of the film Vettaiyan, Big B’s co-star from the movie, Rajinikanth, recalled the difficult phase in the actor’s life.

Rajinikanth Recalls Amitabh Bachchan’s Tough Times

According to India Today, Rajinikanth revealed in the audio launch of Vettaiyan, “When Amit ji was producing films, he broke into a big loss. He was...

Did Amitabh Bachchan Shout “Khoon Ka Badla Khoon Se Lenge” As After Indira Gandhi’s Assassination? ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

It was probably one of the darkest days in the history of India when Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her bodyguard on October 31, 1984. What happened next was unbelievable as the entire country was engulfed in Sikh Riots. However, something else happened that involved the Gandhi family’s closest friend Amitabh Bachchan!

When Amitabh Bachchan Was Summoned!

The Coolie superstar was very close to the Nehru-Gandhi family and friends with Indira Gandhi’s sons Sanjay & Rajiv Gandhi. Many years after the former Prime Minister’s killing, Big B, received a summon by a court in the United States!

The summon was allegedly over a controversial statement that was given by Amitabh Bachchan following the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her bodyguard. The petition was filed by a US-based human rights group.

Kangana Ranaut, the Indian actor, filmmaker and member of parliament, is set to release her latest directorial and acting venture “Emergency,” a film that examines one of the most controversial periods in India’s post-independence history.

The Emergency, a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977, saw Prime Minister Indira Gandhi unilaterally declare a state of emergency across the country. The Emergency granted the Prime Minister authority to rule by decree, suspending elections and civil liberties.

This period was marked by widespread press censorship, restrictions on civil rights, and the imprisonment of political opponents. The government justified these extreme measures by citing threats to national security and economic instability. The Emergency ended in March 1977 when Indira Gandhi called for fresh elections and was voted out of power, leading to the first non-Congress national government since independence.

Ranaut, born nearly a decade after these events, explains her motivation for making and starring in the film: “I’m ’86 born,...

Civil War is a fictional war drama film written and directed by Alex Garland. The A24 film is set in the near future in a dystopian future suffering from a civil war. We follow the story of a group of journalists racing against time to get to Washington D.C. so that they can interview the President before the rebel factions take over the White House and kill the President. Civil War stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Nick Offernman, Sonoya Mizuno, Jefferson White, Nelson Lee, Evan Lai, Jesse Plemmons, Karl Glusman, Jin Ha, and Juani Feliz starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the war drama and a story about journalists in Civil War here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Madras Cafe (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Viacom 18 Motion Pictures

Madras Cafe is a political action thriller film directed by Shoojit Sircar.

Sibi Malayil Reveals Reasons for Backing Out Of Kamal Haasan’s Gunaa(Photo Credit –Wikipedia/IMDb)

In a recent interview with the New Indian Express, veteran filmmaker Sibi Malayil opened up about his failed collaboration with Kamal Haasan for his Tamil debut in ‘Gunaa.’ Despite the renewed interest in Kamal’s film, particularly referenced in the recent Malayalam hit ‘Manjummel Boys,’ Sibi shared insights into why he ultimately decided to pass on the opportunity to direct the project.

Sibi discussed their failed collaboration from the 90s, initially planned as a Tamil movie produced by Raj Kamal Films International’s manager Dns. The concept focused on a commercial film about the Indian Peace Keeping Force (Ipkf) in Sri Lanka. Still, Kamal dropped the idea due to its controversial nature, exacerbated by Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination.

Following this, the duo commenced planning for “Gunaa.” However, Sibi Malayil was preoccupied with his film “Bharatham,...

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on Monday that Bengaluru is number one in It and BT exports and has all the potential to be number one in the world. “Our government is committed to achieve it. Overall Bengaluru and Karnataka are ideally positioned to continue to lead the country in innovation and technology,” he stated.

Addressing the event of interaction with the industry leaders ahead of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS), Cm Siddaramaiah stated, “I gladly welcome the industry leaders, founders, investors, technology enthusiasts for breakfast

meeting with It, BT and electronic company CEOs ahead of the Bengaluru Tech Summit.”

Karnataka state is all set to lead the country in terms of digital future. Congress leaders in Karnataka recognised the potential of the It sector in the state. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, we laid the foundation for the state’s It ecosystem, he said.

Based on the...

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday shared a throwback picture of former Prime Minister of India and her father Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary. The picture in question was clicked by veteran Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who had good relations with Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.

Taking to Instagram, Priyanka shared a photo along with a montage video of her father, with a backdrop song of ‘jeena isi ka naam hain’ from the 1959 film ‘Anari’. It was sung by Mukesh. The film starred Raj Kapoor and Nutan.

In the caption, Priyanka quoted the lines of the song: “Kisi ki muskuraahaton pe ho nisaar, kisi ka dard mil sake to le udhaar, kisi ke vaaste ho tere dil me pyaar, jeena isi ka naam hain.”

“These lines always reminds me of you. Whenever I listen to this song my eyes are filled with tears. Photo credit- @amitabhbachchan Ji,” added Priyanka.

Fans of Dhanush are in for a treat as the teaser of his upcoming film Captain Miller will be released on his birthday, July 28. The film, directed by Arun Matheswaran, is a historical action adventure set in the 1930s. The first look poster of the film was unveiled on July 20, showing Dhanush holding a pickaxe over his shoulder. The poster also revealed the name of the production house, Sathya Jyothi Films, and the music composer, G. V. Prakash Kumar.

Captain Miller is said to be a fictional story inspired by the real-life Ltte rebel of the same name, who was involved in the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. However, the director has clarified that the film is not a biopic and has no political or historical references. He said that the film is an original script that he wrote in 2018 and approached Dhanush with it. He...

New Delhi, April 4 (Ians) Democratic Azad Party Chairman and former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad will release his memoirs “Azaad: An Autobiography” on Wednesday.

The book, a chronicle of his journey of 55 years in Congress, will be released by veteran leader Karan Singh.

In the book, Azad, who was then the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has mentioned promptly the issue of abrogation of Article 370 and targeted his former Congress colleague Jairam Ramesh for not joining the protest in the Parliament.

He has also given account of ‘G-23’ or the group of Congress leaders who had written to then interim party chief Sonia Gandhi, seeking visible and effective leadership and a wide-spread reforms in party affairs.

Though Azad had serious difference with the Congress leadership and quit the party last August to form his own political outfit, he had defended Rahul Gandhi, when he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha.

Memories of the decades-long civil war are still haunting Sri Lankan society. Tourists are vacationing on paradise-like beaches and little do they know about the violent conflict between the Sinhalese majority and the Sri Lankan Tamil (Eelam) minority, which has claimed a huge number of victims (United Nations estimated up to 100.000 taken lives). The war has never been properly addressed by the international community. The most common narration is a black-and-white story about the Sri Lankan government fighting the terrorists of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Ltte). The fundaments of conflict, such as long-time discrimination and marginalization of the Tamil minority, are not widely known. And while it is true that Ltte, advocating for a separate independent state for island Tamils, introduced tactics like suicide bombers attacks (including female-led ones) or the use of child soldiers (trained at special camps) and is responsible for assassinations of Indian prime Minister...

It was the grandfather of Ntr Jr, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, the Telugu superstar of his time and the original Ntr, who became the first non-Congress chief minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1983, riding on the powerful slogan of Telugu Vari Atma Gauravam (or Telugu people’s self-respect). He was the supreme leader of the Telugu Desam Party, which is now helmed by his son-in-law, Chandrababu Naidu.

The ‘Naato Naato’ win was a booster dose for this ‘self-respect’, which Ntr (the original) kept drumming home during his historic Chaitanya Ratham marathon mass contact movement across the state, which saw him covering 75,000 km on his remodelled Chevrolet van.

And guess who accompanied him throughout this criss-crossing of the then unified Andhra Pradesh? It was Ntr Jr’s father, Nandamuri Harikrishna, an actor who started his career playing the baby Lord Krishna in Ntr’s 1967 mythological classic drama, ‘Krishnavataram’. Harikrishna eventually got elected as an Mla,...

The year began on a tragic note with the death of actor-producer Ramesh Babu, elder brother of popular actor Mahesh Babu, in January.

Ramesh Babu was known for films such as Bazaar Rowdy, Mugguru Kodukulu and others. After his retirement from acting in 1997, he had become a producer.

April saw the death of three veteran Tollywood personalities. Director Sarath passed away at the age of 74 after battling cancer. Sarath, who made his directorial debut in 1986 with Chadastapu Mogudu, made over 20 films in his career. He predominantly worked with actors Nandamuri Balakrishna and Suman.

While he delivered superhits such as Vamshanikokkadu, Sulthan, Peddannayya, and Vamshoddharakudu, he directed Suman in films Bava Bavamaridi, Peddinti Alludu, and Chinna Alludu.

The same month, veteran actor M. Balayya passed away at the age of 94. He had acted in more than 300 films and was popular for playing the role of elderly and other important roles in several super hit movies.

With the passing away of Tollywood superstar Krishna, an era has come to an end in the Telugu film industry.

One of the last legends of Tollywood, Krishna breathed his last early Tuesday at a private hospital, where he was admitted late on Sunday night following cardiac arrest.

Popularly known as superstar Krishna, he dominated the industry with his ‘daring and dashing hero’ image for five decades. He is known not only for a variety of roles he played on screen but also for being a pioneer in use of the latest technologies for filmmaking.

Born as Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy on May 31, 1942 at Burripalem in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, he featured in more than 350 films. He also directed and produced a few films.

He was the eldest of five children of Veeraraghaviah Chowdary and Nagaratna. While his parents wanted him to become an engineer, Krishna was interested in acting from his childhood.

Veteran Tollywood actor Krishna passed away at a hospital in Hyderabad early Tuesday while undergoing treatment after he suffered cardiac arrest. He was 79.

Superstar Krishna, one of the last legends of Telugu film industry, breathed his last at Continental Hospital, where he was admitted late Sunday night after he suffered cardiac arrest.

According to doctors he was brought to the hospitals in an unconscious state but was revived after 20 minutes of CPR. He was put on a ventilator and his condition was critical.

Krishna’s son and popular actor Mahesh Babu and other family members were present at the hospital.

Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy or Krishna, as he was popularly known, acted in more than 350 films in a career spanning five decades. He also produced and directed a few films.

Born on May 31, 1942 at Burripalem in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, Krishna entered the film industry in early 1960s with small roles.

By Ashis Ray

London, Oct 13 (Ians) Zaiwalla & Co, the first Indian-owned City of London solicitors, marked the 40th anniversary of their formation at a packed and elegant reception at London’s distinguished Victoria and Albert Museum on Wednesday evening.

Established by Mumbai-born Sarosh Zaiwalla, in 1990, the firm shot to fame in India when acting on behalf of filmstar Amitabh Bachchan and his brother Ajitabh in a suit connected with the Bofors arms controversy at the London High Court.

A Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter had reported that the Bachchans, friends of the then prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, received unlawful money in the deal to buy field guns for the Indian Army from Ab Bofors, a Swedish manufacturer. The Bachchans sued the publication for defamation.

After a dramatic hearing, the Bachchans won, thereby not just exonerating themselves, but Gandhi, who on news media had been virtually accused of corruption or at least being aware of wrongdoing.

Popular Malayalam actress Swetha Menon recalls memories of Big B, who turned 80 on Tuesday and shared how as a 10- year-old, she proposed to Amitabh Bachchan.

Speaking to the media, the actress, who is now based in Mumbai, said that the incident happened in Allahabad in her childhood.

“My father was an Air Force officer and one day, he told me that Rajiv Gandhi and Bachchan are coming to Allahabad to immerse the ashes of Indira Gandhi. I said I want to meet Bachchan and my father flatly refused,” she said.

“When the occassion arrived, I remember I had just got up and remembered that it was the day. We were staying in the Air Force area and without even brushing my teeth, I ran out and I reached the venue. There was absolute silence as the function was going on. I reached Bachchan and told him to please ‘marry...

Stars have an innate age like the quizzes that keep appearing on gaming sites like what is your real age? Jaya Bhaduri is ‘Guddi’ at heart, a teenager who never quite grows up, Nirupa Roy has never been young. Shammi is a young man in his early twenties while Raj Kapoor and others are in their late twenties.

Amitabh Bachchan is a man of matured years, a man who is at that age at which he has seen it done it all. There is not only a maturity and insight of years, but his is a face of having absorbed life in no small measure, a holism in thought that is not possible without a distance which the passions of youth cannot attain.

He is a man who may have longed and lost, but we have no data about his youthful follies. He is a man beyond mistakes, a man...

Eddie Redmayne To Be Honored With Zurich’s Golden Eye

British actor Eddie Redmayne will be feted with the Zurich Film Festival’s Golden Eye Award for his career achievements at its upcoming edition running from September 22 to October 2. The actor will receive the honor ahead of the European premiere of Tobias Lindholm’s serial killer thriller The Good Nurse on September 25.

Citing Oscar-winning Redmayne’s diverse credits including Fantastic Beasts, Trial Of The Chicago 7 and Theory Of Everything, Zff artistic director Christian Jungen described the actor as one of “contemporary cinema’s most versatile actors” adding, “he furnishes his characters with a rare human depth and captivates us with his extraordinary powers of expression.”

Redmayne was previously at Zurich in 2007 in the that’s opening film Savage Grace, in which he co-starred opposite Julianne Moore. He will also participate in a Zurich Masters session during this trip to the Swiss festival.

Online Concert Record

A weekend concert by Hong Kong acting and singing superstar Andy Lau Tak-wah attracted a record-breaking 350 million viewers on Douyin, the mainland Chinese sister company of TikTok. The concert ran for two hours and attracted 100 million viewers in the first 30 minutes, with tens of millions more joining by the end. The figures beat Lau’s own previous record on the platform, which he set in July last year at a concert to celebrate his 40 years in the business. The South China Morning Post said the record numbers were swelled by a recent wave of nostalgia for Canto-pop or Cantonese-language contemporary music, though the paper also noted that Lau also performed a couple of Mandarin-language classics.

Arrested Executives

Tokyo prosecutors Tuesday arrested two executives of publisher and film production giant Kadokawa on suspicion of funneling bribes totaling to Takahashi Haruyuki, the former director of the Organizing Committee for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Film Festival‘Yet They Have No Space’, a documentary on the Sri Lankan crisis directed by Kerala-based journalist Prince Pangadan, was screened at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala.CrisAmidst the sound of waves is the voice of a man asking in Tamil, “For 30 years now we have been living here as refugees, should we continue living like that.” The voice fades away as the title of Prince Pangadan’s documentary Ennittum Idam Illathavar /Yet They Have No Space appears on the screen. The film, on the lives of the Sri Lankan refugees scattered across India – particularly those in Kerala – was screened at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (Idsffk). Prince, a journalist, found the need to tell the story when he came across that voice of the Sri Lankan Tamil man, asking how long they should continue living as refugees in India. “What...

New York, Aug 13 (Ians) Author and creative freedom activist Salman Rushdie was on a ventilator fighting for his life on Saturday and his literary agent said: “The news is not good.”

Rushdie, 75, who has a multimillion-dollar bounty, was stabbed several times while getting ready to speak at a discussion on the US as “a home for freedom and creative expression” and was helicoptered from the venue in western New York State to a hospital in neighbouring Pennsylvania on Friday.

“Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed, and his liver was stabbed and damaged,” agent, Andrew Wylie, said in a statement.

New York State Police said that Hadi Matar, 24, who was arrested at the site of the stabbing is to be produced in court on Saturday to face charges of attempted murder and Assault 2nd degree.

A state police trooper, who was at the event with an explosive detection dog,...

Mollywood‘Cbi 5 The Brain’ is the fifth film in the ‘Cbi’ franchise which began in the year 1988.Tnm StaffScreengrab/ YouTube The release of actor Mammootty’s long-awaited film Cbi 5 was announced on Monday, April 18. The film is set to hit the big screens on May 1. Sharing a new poster from the film, actor Mammootty wrote: “.@CBI5TheBrain Releasing Worldwide on May 1 , 2022.” Malayalam film Cbi 5 The Brain is the fifth film in the Cbi franchise which began in the year 1988. The first film in the franchise was Oru Cbi Diary Kurippu. It was followed by Jagratha, and Sethurama Iyer Cbi. The third installment released in 2004, while the fourth one titled Nerariyan Cbi released in theatres in 2005. Helmed by K Madhu, the ensemble cast also includes Renji Panicker, Sai Kumar, Jagathy Sreekumar, Soubin Shahir, Mukesh, Ramesh Pisharadi, Anoop Menon and Dileesh Pothen. Mammootty will be seen as Sethurama Iyer. The teaser,...

Mollywood ‘Cbi 5 The Brain’ is the fifth film in the franchise, which began in 1988.Tnm StaffScreengrab/ YouTubeThe teaser of Mollywood actor Mammmootty’s upcoming film Cbi 5 The Brain was unveiled on Wednesday, April 6. It will mark Mammmootty’s return as Sethurama Iyer, who is an officer with Cbi. The video hints that Sethurama Iyer (Mammootty) will be investigating the deaths of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Sanjay Gandhi in the film. Helmed by K Madhu, the cast also stars Renji Panicker, Sai Kumar, Jagathy Sreekumar, Soubin Shahir, Mukesh, Ramesh Pisharadi, Anoop Menon and Dileesh Pothen. Cbi 5 The Brain is the fifth film in the Cbi franchise which began in the year 1988. The first film in the franchise was Oru Cbi Diary Kurippu. It was followed by Jagratha, and Sethurama Iyer Cbi. The third instalment released in 2004, while the fourth one titled Nerariyan Cbi released in theatres in 2005. Cbi 5 is also...

EntertainmentIt will be released in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil in 2023.PTIFilmmaker Prakash Jha on Monday announced he is set to direct a multilingual series on former Prime Minister Pv Narasimha Rao titled Half Lion. The biographical drama is based on the book of the same name written by Vinay Sitapati. aha Studio and Applause Entertainment have come together to mount the series, which will be released in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil in 2023. Jha, known to helm acclaimed sociopolitical films like Gangaajal, Apaharan and Rajneeti, said hardly a small percentage of today's generation knows about Rao, the "man who changed India". Rao served as the Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996 and is credited for major economic reforms in the country during his term. His term also saw the destruction of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, which led to Hindu-Muslim riots in December 1992. "He gave India the economic...

Veteran producer and former Disney Utv MD Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP is teaming with Premnath Rajagopalan of Blue Monkey Films for multi-season espionage thriller series “Panthers.”

The series will be directed and showrun by Rensil D’Silva (“24: India”), whose thriller “Dial 100,” starring Manoj Bajpayee, Neena Gupta and Sakshi Tanwar and produced by Sony Pictures Films India and Alchemy Films, is debuting Aug. 6 on streamer ZEE5.

“Panthers” explores the India-Pakistan spy games of the late 1960s and early 1970s and is set amid Indian intelligence agency Raw. A highlight of the series is the conspiracy surrounding the hijack of a plane flown by pilot Rajiv Gandhi, son of the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in 1971. Rajiv Gandhi would later become Prime Minister after the assassination of his mother in 1984.

This is the third time RSVP and Blue Monkey are collaborating after thriller “A Thursday” and hockey biopic “Dhyanchand.

ControversyIn the past few days, discussions have been raging on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Club House about the show.Tnm StaffAmazon Prime Video's The Family Man Season 2, created by Raj & Dk, has been winning rave reviews from critics and viewers alike. However, many Tamils are upset with the makers of the show and the actors. While the first season dealt with Kashmiri separatists, the second revolves around Eelam Tamils and their struggle. Although fictional, the premise, storyline and characterisation have triggered massive outrage among the Tamil community. In the past few days, discussions have been raging on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Club House. Dr Yazhini Pm from Chennai, who has been part of several such discussions says, "The making of Family Man Season 1 was excellent. But even in the first season, Muslims and Kashmiris were stereotyped. There's already an agenda set in...

New Delhi, May 20 (Ians) The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Myas) has invited nominations and applications from eligible athletes, coaches and universities for the annual National Sports Awards for 2021.

The nominations for the awards will be accepted online.

Due to the pandemic last year, the sports ministry had allowed individual candidates to self-nominate and this year too the ministry will follow the same procedure due to the second wave of Covid-19 in India.

The National Sports Federations (NSFs) will also nominate athletes for top honours.

In 2020, the selection panel nominated by the sports ministry awarded a whopping 74 athletes.

There were unprecedented five for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna while 27 were recipients of Arjuna Award.

The sports ministry had also increased prize money for the awards last year. The recipients of the Khel Ratna were given Rs 25 lakh. In 2019, they were given Rs 7.5 lakh.

Arjuna awardees were given Rs 15 lakh...

Lal Bihari 'Mritak', 65, a resident of Azamgarh district, remained "dead" in revenue records for 19 years and had to battle all this time before he could be declared "alive".

The story of this "dead" man is coming alive on the big screen.

The biopic on his life is titled "Kaagaz" and has written and directed by Satish Kaushik. The film is scheduled release on January 7, 2021 in cinemas and also on the Ott platform simultaneously.

Actor Pankaj Tripathi has portrayed the character of Mritak while other actors in it include Monal Gajjar, Mita Vashisht, Amar Upadhyay and Satish Kaushik.

The film highlights corruption and flaws in the system also.

"I am very happy that my struggle is being chronicled on celluloid. I hope my story will reach out to people and make the system better in the future. I am eagerly waiting to see the film," Mritak told reporters.

Talking about his journey,...

Social MediaMuttiah in the past has been a vocal supporter of the Sri Lankan government, which wiped out the Ltte.Tnm StaffThe first look and motion poster of Vijay Sethupathi's upcoming sports biopic 800, based on the life of Sri Lankan spin bowler Muttiah Muralithiran was released on Tuesday. However, within a few hours, the hashtag #ShameonVijaySethupathi started trending on Twitter. Several users have slammed the actor for taking up the film, alleging that Muttiah is a supporter of the Sri Lankan government which crushed the Ltte (Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam) and is accused of committing the genocide of Tamil people. Many of the handles have tweets in support of Tamil nationalism. @VijaySethuOffl உங்களின் நடிப்பு இனப்படுகொலை செய்த சிங்கள பேரினவாதத்திற்கு வலு சேர்க்கும்...சிங்கள ,பௌத்த ப...

KollywoodAmidst the 'loosu ponnu' heroines, there are some Tamil films which have given us memorable intro scenes for the lead women actors Tnm StaffThe 'intro' scene for the hero in our films is carefully constructed to generate maximum cheers from the audience. The camera pans across his different body parts before finally settling on his eyes and then face. Needless to say, the scene is amplified with a thumping background score. A-list heroines also get dedicated intro scenes but they are far too predictable. Most times, the woman actor is shown swinging her hair around or playing with random children. There are a few films, however, where the entry of the heroine has taken us by surprise and left a lasting impression. In Alphonse Puthren's Malayalam film Premam, Sai Pallavi has one of the best introduction scenes for a heroine. She is summoned by George (Nivin Pauly) and his...

Web seriesDidn’t the creator-and-director Raj Anantha get the memo that Krish’s two-part biopic arrived and disappeared like flashes last year? Karthik KeramaluIf you’ve been following Telugu cinema for a while, you’ve already been introduced to the rise and fall of Ntr’s political career – no, not the Young Tiger Ntr – through numerous films, books, and articles. And if you’ve grown up on a steady diet of the same, then you’re also acutely aware of the ever-changing political weather in the two Telugu states in the south. Why then would you need an entirely new series to describe how idealistic and autocratic he was? Zee5’s Chadarangam is a hapless exercise that tries to deify an actor-turned-politician. Didn’t the creator-and-director Raj Anantha get the memo that Krish’s two-part biopic arrived and disappeared like flashes last year? While Deva Katta painted his story of...

Web seriesDidn’t the creator-and-director Raj Anantha get the memo that Krish’s two-part biopic arrived and disappeared like flashes last year? Karthik KeramaluIf you’ve been following Telugu cinema for a while, you’ve already been introduced to the rise and fall of Ntr’s political career – no, not the Young Tiger Ntr – through numerous films, books, and articles. And if you’ve grown up on a steady diet of the same, then you’re also acutely aware of the ever-changing political weather in the two Telugu states in the south. Why then would you need an entirely new series to describe how idealistic and autocratic he was? Zee5’s Chadarangam is a hapless exercise that tries to deify an actor-turned-politician. Didn’t the creator-and-director Raj Anantha get the memo that Krish’s two-part biopic arrived and disappeared like flashes last year? While Deva Katta painted his story of...

Leading platforms such as Netflix, Disney's Hotstar, SonyLiv and Indian player Zee5, among others, have been holding discussions with the Indian government to hammer out a self-regulation code for streaming content.

While theatrical film and television are heavily regulated in India, the country currently does not have any official guidelines for the streaming space. Last year, Netflix was hit with a lawsuit, still ongoing, over its first Indian original Sacred Games. One of India's political parties alleged the hit crime thriller disrespected the country's late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with an unflattering depiction.

In January, leading platforms had ...

KollywoodWhile there is no official word on the title yet, veteran actor Sathyaraj has been roped in to play an important role in this flick.Digital NativeSasi Kumar and director Ponram are teaming up for a film and the prep work for it is currently on with the shooting expected to begin soon. On the title chosen for this film, we hear that it is Mgr Magan. However, there is no official word on it yet. Veteran actor Sathyaraj has been roped in to play an important role in this flick. Director Ponram had made his directorial debut with the Siva Karthikeyan starrer Varuthapadatha Vaalibar Sangam which also had Sathyaraj in a pivotal role. On the other hand, Sasi Kumar has Naa Naa under production. The first look of the actor-filmmaker Sasi Kumar’s upcoming film Naa Naa was released a couple of months ago and looks intriguing. The first...

KollywoodActor Sarath Kumar also plays an important role in this flick.Digital NativeThe first look of the actor-filmmaker Sasi Kumar’s upcoming film Naa Naa has been released and looks to be intriguing. The first look shows Sasi Kumar peeling off a mask and makes one wonder what the story is all about. Naa Naa, which is the abbreviated form of Naan Naarayanan, is touted to be an action adventure with the city background. Veteran actor Sarath Kumar also plays an important role in this flick. On working with Sarath Kumar, Sasi Kumar had tweeted: “Happy to work with strong n energetic @realsarathkumar sir.” Happy to work with the strong n energetic man #Sarathkumar sir @realsarathkumar @KalpataruPictrs #Nirmalkumar #mumbai pic.twitter.com/8bsc01ibuH — M.Sasikumar (@SasikumarDir) June 8, 2019 On the release of the first look, Sarath Kumar had tweeted: “The entire team is excited #KalpataruPicturesNo3.” The entire team is excited #KalpataruPicturesNo3 pic.

Actor-politician Rajinikanth on Tuesday termed the Lok Sabha election outcome a victory for one individual: Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rajinikanth also said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi need not resign from his post owning responsibility for the party's defeat.

Speaking to reporters here, Rajinikanth said the victory in the 2019 general election was for Modi the individual.

After Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, "it is Modi who is a charismatic leader attracting people", he said.

Rajinikanth said there was an anti-Modi wave in Tamil Nadu and the Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp) lost in the state due to the campaign against various industrial projects that are being planned to be implemented.

According to him, Rahul Gandhi should not resign from his post.

The senior leaders of Congress did not function in a coordinated manner during the elections, Rajinikanth said.

The actor said he will attend the swearing...

From former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination to Harshad Mehta's stock scam, an upcoming multi-season web series titled "Case Files" will revisit the investigation of such cases of national interest.

While the first season is touted to be based on Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, the second season will focus on Mehta's rise and fall.

The inputs will be shared by retired Ips officer Amod Kanth, the makers said.

"We were always intrigued by cases that changed the face of crime in India. Once we heard the details from Kanth, we were sure the real stories should be brought out and reach the Indian and global audiences," producers Sameer Dixit, Jatish Varma and Girish Johar said in a joint statement.

Each season will cover one case.

Kanth said, "There are so many hurdles one has to go through in these high-profile cases. These cases helped India as a nation to frame new policies,...

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, and Arun Jaitley have been the three political leaders of the different generation. Apart from being politicians, there is another similarity between them and that is actor Sanjay Gurbaxani.? Gurbaxani has played the role of these politicians on the screen perfectly. After acting in films like 'Madras Cafe', 'Abcd', 'Gabbar is Back', 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', 'Raees' and 'Raazi' and recently released web series ?Criminal Justice?, Gurbaxani will be seen on the stage once again in Inayatullah Kantroo?s ?DoRaha?.

A well-known face of TVCs, daily serials, films and web series, Gurubxani?s attraction for stage is intact. He says, ?There is no actor without theatre. The theatre is the foundation for any actor and with each performance, it makes you better.? About the increasing number of streaming platforms, he feels, ?Of course the choices are more but that doesn?...

There's a thin line that divides patriotism from jingoism. But as Bollywood is riding on a high tide of films with nationalistic themes, actor John Abraham, who plays a spy in thriller "Raw", says it's totally worth it to have a stream of movies on what people need to see in the current socio-political environment. "Patriotism is something that you must feel in your heart, and you project it in a certain sensitive, credible, sensible and responsible way in your storytelling. Jingoism is when you wear that on your sleeve. I think there may be some films that may go over the top in trying to be opportunistic, but if there is a wave of films that do address what the country needs to see at this point of time, I feel it's absolutely worth it," John told Ians over phone from London.

Uri: The Surgical Strike, Raazi, Manikarnika: The...