分类: entertainment

  • Odia music composer-singer Abhijit Majumdar dies

    Odia music composer-singer Abhijit Majumdar dies

    The cultural landscape of Odisha suffered a profound loss on January 25, 2026, with the passing of revered music composer and vocalist Abhijit Majumdar. The acclaimed artist, whose career spanned several decades, was celebrated for his soulful contributions to Odia cinema and music albums, establishing himself as an iconic figure within the state’s artistic community.

    Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi formally announced the tragic news through social media, characterizing Majumdar’s death as “an irreparable loss to our music, cinema, and culture.” The Chief Minister extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and offered prayers for eternal peace to the departed soul.

    Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan joined the chorus of tributes, acknowledging how Majumdar’s distinctive musical style had secured a permanent place in the hearts of Odia listeners over many decades. Pradhan emphasized that the artist’s untimely departure represents a significant void in Odia’s artistic heritage.

    The news triggered an outpouring of grief across both political and cultural spheres. Baijayant Jay Panda, Member of Parliament from Odisha, emotionally described the tragedy as marking “the end of an era” for the state’s music industry. Fans and colleagues alike expressed shock and sorrow, flooding social media platforms with personal memories and tributes to Majumdar’s enduring legacy.

    Majumdar’s extensive body of work, comprising numerous compositions for Odia films and independent albums, had earned him a substantial and devoted following throughout eastern India. His artistic contributions played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s contemporary musical identity, blending traditional Odia elements with modern arrangements that resonated across generations.

  • Drake seeks appeal after defamation lawsuit against ‘Not Like Us’ song dismissed

    Drake seeks appeal after defamation lawsuit against ‘Not Like Us’ song dismissed

    Canadian rap superstar Drake has initiated appellate proceedings following the dismissal of his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) concerning Kendrick Lamar’s controversial 2024 track ‘Not Like Us.’ The legal battle stems from lyrical content within the song that labeled Drake a “certified pedophile” and suggested he be “placed on neighbourhood watch.”

    The dispute originated during the peak of a highly publicized musical feud between the two artists in May 2024. Drake’s legal team contended that UMG, his longtime label partner of over a decade, knowingly promoted and distributed material containing defamatory statements that endangered his safety and damaged his global reputation.

    In October 2025, U.S. District Judge Ada E. Vargas dismissed the case, ruling that the lyrics constituted artistic expression within the context of a “heated rap battle” where reasonable listeners would recognize hyperbolic rhetoric rather than factual assertions. The court emphasized the established tradition of exaggerated insults within hip-hop diss tracks.

    Drake’s attorneys now argue this ruling establishes a “dangerous” precedent that effectively creates immunity for defamatory content in musical disputes. Legal representative Michael J. Gottlieb asserted that the decision implies “rap diss tracks cannot contain statements of fact,” thereby insulating them from defamation liability regardless of their damaging nature.

    The appeal documents stress the particular severity of pedophilia accusations and their potential to incite violence against the accused. Drake’s team maintains that many listeners interpreted Lamar’s lyrics as factual claims rather than artistic hyperbole.

    UMG’s legal counsel has until March 27 to formally respond to the appellate filing. This case continues to highlight the complex intersection of artistic expression, defamation law, and the competitive traditions of hip-hop culture.

  • ‘Border 2’ India collection: War drama starring Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan mints Dh12.9 million

    ‘Border 2’ India collection: War drama starring Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan mints Dh12.9 million

    The Bollywood war epic ‘Border 2’ has stormed Indian theaters with unprecedented commercial success, establishing itself as the highest-grossing opening of 2026. Starring Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, and Diljit Dosanjh, the military drama generated approximately Dh12.9 million (₹321 million) in domestic revenue during its inaugural screening day on January 23rd.

    According to prominent trade analyst Taran Adarsh, these remarkable figures position the film just slightly behind 2025’s blockbuster ‘Chhaava,’ which accumulated ₹331 million on its debut. Notably, ‘Border 2’ achieved this milestone despite premiering on a standard working day rather than during a holiday period.

    The production has demonstrated exceptional performance across both multiplex venues and traditional single-screen theaters, with particularly strong attendance in urban centers. While inclement weather in Northern regions temporarily affected initial turnout, industry experts anticipate substantial growth during the upcoming weekend and Republic Day holiday (January 26) due to overwhelmingly positive audience reactions.

    Early screenings in Mumbai witnessed capacity crowds, with viewers emerging from theaters visibly impressed. Many attendees have characterized the film as an essential cinematic experience, praising its powerful combination of intense action sequences, emotional depth, and compelling performances.

    Directed by Anurag Singh and produced through a collaboration between Gulshan Kumar’s T-Series and JP Dutta’s JP Films, ‘Border 2’ draws inspiration from actual historical events. The project marks Sunny Deol’s return to military attire, revisiting themes that previously resonated strongly with Indian audiences.

    The film’s immediate commercial triumph reinforces Bollywood’s continuing evolution toward large-scale production values and heightened audience engagement, setting new benchmarks for theatrical performance in the contemporary cinematic landscape.

  • Mouni Roy vents frustration at being harassed by ‘uncles’ at event in north India

    Mouni Roy vents frustration at being harassed by ‘uncles’ at event in north India

    Prominent Bollywood actress Mouni Roy has publicly denounced what she describes as severe harassment during a recent performance in Karnal, Haryana. The actress, celebrated for her roles in ‘Naagin’ and ‘Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev,’ took to Instagram to detail multiple disturbing incidents that occurred throughout the event.

    Roy expressed particular disgust with the behavior of several older male attendees, whom she referred to as ‘uncles.’ The uncomfortable encounters began even before she took the stage, with multiple men allegedly placing their hands on her waist without consent while attempting to take photographs. When she verbally objected to this physical contact, her protests were reportedly ignored.

    The situation escalated during her performance when two specific individuals positioned themselves directly in front of the stage. According to Roy’s account, these men made lewd remarks, employed inappropriate hand gestures, and engaged in name-calling. The harassment intensified when they began throwing roses at her during her performance, creating a hostile environment that nearly caused her to exit the stage prematurely.

    Adding to the distress, Roy highlighted that these individuals recorded videos from low angles despite being asked to stop, responding with verbal abuse when confronted. The actress expressed disappointment that neither event organizers nor family members of the harassers intervened to stop the behavior.

    Roy emphasized the broader implications of such incidents, noting that if an established performer like herself faces such treatment, emerging artists likely encounter even greater challenges. She called for authorities to take action against what she described as ‘intolerable behavior’ while reaffirming her love for her country and its traditions, but condemning the sense of male entitlement that enables such harassment.

  • Aryan Khan gushes over dad Shah Rukh’s ‘King’ release date announcement

    Aryan Khan gushes over dad Shah Rukh’s ‘King’ release date announcement

    Bollywood’s reigning monarch Shah Rukh Khan has officially unveiled the theatrical release date for his highly anticipated cinematic venture ‘King,’ scheduled for December 24, 2026. The announcement has ignited fervent excitement across the global entertainment landscape, with none more visibly enthusiastic than the superstar’s own son, Aryan Khan.

    The emerging director, fresh from his Netflix series ‘The B***ds of Bollywood’ debut, publicly celebrated the revelation through his Instagram platform. Aryan shared the official date announcement video to his Instagram Story, accompanying the visual with the succinct yet powerful Hindi caption ‘Baap’ (father), creating an immediate viral sensation among fans and media outlets alike.

    Director Siddharth Anand and production houses Red Chillies Entertainment alongside Marflix Pictures jointly disclosed the Christmas Eve 2026 release through freshly released visuals that present Khan in a transformative avatar. The imagery depicts the iconic actor sporting silver-haired sophistication, intense facial expressions, and projecting an aura of brooding intensity that suggests a radical departure from his previous screen personas.

    The project’s development timeline reveals strategic marketing brilliance, with the title initially revealed on November 2nd to coincide with Khan’s birthday. Last year’s 60th birthday celebrations featured the release of a teaser that offered glimpses into the film’s high-octane action sequences and darker narrative tones, showcasing what industry analysts predict could be Khan’s most physically demanding and psychologically complex performance to date.

    This father-son cinematic synergy represents a significant moment in Indian entertainment, blending established superstardom with emerging directorial talent while demonstrating the evolving nature of film promotion in the digital age through strategic social media engagement.

  • This is spinal… brat? Charli xcx stars in mockumentary ‘The Moment’

    This is spinal… brat? Charli xcx stars in mockumentary ‘The Moment’

    British pop phenomenon Charli XCX delivers a razor-sharp satire of music industry mechanics in “The Moment,” a mockumentary premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. The film presents a fictionalized version of the artist wrestling with creative authenticity versus commercial demands following her massively successful “brat” album era.

    Portraying an exaggerated diva version of herself, Charli XCX navigates the pressures of arena tour preparations while clashing with industry figures who seek to perpetuate her profitable “brat” persona. The narrative tension crystallizes through conflicts between her creative director Celeste (Hailey Gates) and a commercially-driven film director Johannes (Alexander Skarsgård), who envisions a sanitized, market-friendly tour production.

    The screenplay, crafted by Bertie Brandes and debut feature director Aidan Zamiri, employs familiar music industry archetypes to critique the machinery of pop stardom. Zamiri acknowledges creative debt to Rob Reiner’s seminal “This Is Spinal Tap,” though the film updates the formula for the streaming era and hyper-commercialized music landscape.

    Charli XCX revealed at the festival that the project reflects her genuine desire to pivot from her current creative identity. “I am really wanting ‘brat’ to stop and actually really pivot as far away from it as possible,” she stated, emphasizing artists’ need to constantly reinvent themselves. The mockumentary represents one of three Sundance features featuring the artist, signaling her strategic expansion into cinematic endeavors.

    When questioned about her prolific output across multiple projects, the singer referenced lyrics from her hit “365”: “Don’t sleep, don’t eat, just do it on repeat.” The film includes celebrity cameos and absurd industry scenarios that amplify its critique while maintaining comedic delivery, creating both entertainment and commentary on contemporary pop culture dynamics.

  • ‘It was brutal’: BTS fans in UAE battle queues, scramble for tickets ahead of World Tour

    ‘It was brutal’: BTS fans in UAE battle queues, scramble for tickets ahead of World Tour

    Dubai witnessed unprecedented fan fervor as BTS announced their monumental world tour, triggering a digital ticket scramble that left thousands of ARMY members empty-handed despite meticulous preparations. The seven-member K-pop phenomenon’s upcoming tour spanning 34 cities with 79 performances represents the largest such undertaking by any K-pop artist in history.

    Ticket presales launched on January 22 at 3 PM UAE time through Weverse, the official artist-fan platform that previously crashed following the tour announcement. The process required advanced ARMY membership verification and identity confirmation, yet within seconds of queue opening, over 141,000 fans were competing for approximately 40,000 available seats at the venue.

    Emirati fan Sara Albalooshi described the experience as ‘totally terrifying, but also ridiculously thrilling,’ comparing her multiple alarms to ‘a countdown to a rocket launch.’ She coordinated across countries with her sister, a doctor who rearranged shifts, and successfully secured tickets for Paris and Belgium performances after the US sale proved ‘brutal.’

    Yan Hinolan, administrator of Bangtan UAE fan club, emphasized the necessity of sleep deprivation for ticket acquisition, stating ‘no sleep or no tickets.’ Her strategic preparation included advance coordination with her bank to ensure payment processing and resulted in securing Los Angeles tickets without facing dynamic pricing thanks to BigHit’s controls.

    While many fans missed out despite hours-long digital waits, hopes remain high for Middle Eastern dates scheduled for 2027. Speculation runs particularly strong in the UAE, where BTS’s 2016 KCON performance in Abu Dhabi marked one of their earliest international appearances. The Korean Deputy Consul General in Dubai previously indicated potential future performances in the UAE, fueling anticipation among local fans who are already planning special fan projects and preparing for another ticket battle when regional dates are announced.

  • Nanjing Hongshan Zoo Delights with adorable edible creations

    Nanjing Hongshan Zoo Delights with adorable edible creations

    Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo has unexpectedly become a culinary destination, captivating visitors with its innovative lineup of animal-inspired treats rather than its living exhibits. The Jiangsu province attraction has introduced an array of whimsical edible creations that are drawing widespread attention for their creative designs and playful themes.

    The zoo’s culinary team has developed several visually striking offerings, including intricately crafted animal-shaped candied hawthorn sticks, boldly designed ‘Cool Guy Gorilla’ cookies, and adorable panda-themed milk tea beverages. These specialty items are priced at approximately 25 yuan ($3.6) for coffee and milk tea drinks, while cakes and more elaborate confections average above 30 yuan.

    Each culinary creation demonstrates remarkable attention to detail, transforming traditional zoo snacks into artistic expressions that complement the animal exhibits. The treats serve as both refreshments and memorable souvenirs, enhancing the overall visitor experience through their thematic connection to the zoo’s inhabitants.

    The innovative approach represents a growing trend among Chinese zoological institutions to expand their visitor engagement strategies beyond animal viewing. By incorporating food artistry into their offerings, Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo has created additional revenue streams while providing unique, shareable content that resonates strongly on social media platforms.

    This culinary initiative follows the zoo’s established reputation for progressive animal care and visitor experiences, demonstrating how recreational facilities can creatively adapt to changing consumer expectations and entertainment preferences in modern tourism.

  • Linyi’s Langya Ancient City unfolds living history

    Linyi’s Langya Ancient City unfolds living history

    Linyi’s Langya Ancient City in Shandong Province has transformed into a groundbreaking cultural destination, merging historical preservation with cutting-edge technology. This innovative site operates as a fully immersive experiential park where visitors don’t merely observe history but actively participate in it.

    The ancient city comprises seven distinct thematic districts interconnected through sophisticated digital technologies, cinematic environments, and interactive spaces. This architectural approach creates a seamless narrative journey that transitions guests from passive observers to integral components of the living historical tapestry. The integration of technology and traditional culture represents a significant evolution in China’s cultural tourism sector, offering an educational yet entertaining experience that bridges past and present.

    Unlike conventional historical sites, Langya Ancient City employs multimedia storytelling techniques that respond to visitor interactions, creating personalized experiences for each guest. The project demonstrates how digital innovation can enhance cultural preservation while making historical education accessible and engaging for modern audiences. This approach has established new standards for cultural tourism destinations nationwide, showcasing how technology can breathe new life into ancient traditions and historical narratives.

  • Liz Hurley and Anna Wintour among mourners at Valentino’s funeral in Rome

    Liz Hurley and Anna Wintour among mourners at Valentino’s funeral in Rome

    The global fashion community converged upon Rome to pay final respects to the legendary Italian couturier Valentino Garavani, who passed away at 93. The solemn funeral service, held in the Italian capital, became a gathering of international luminaries from the worlds of fashion, film, and celebrity culture. Among the distinguished mourners were actress and model Elizabeth Hurley and Vogue’s editorial director Anna Wintour, both emblematic figures whose careers intersected with Valentino’s enduring influence on haute couture. The ceremony reflected the designer’s monumental impact on fashion, drawing both industry insiders and public admirers who gathered to commemorate his life’s work. Valentino’s death marks the conclusion of an extraordinary 70-year career that redefined elegance and established an unmistakable aesthetic of sophistication and luxury. His legacy includes dressing generations of royalty, Hollywood stars, and style icons, cementing his status as one of fashion’s most transformative figures. The gathering in Rome represented not just a farewell to an individual designer, but the closing of a significant chapter in fashion history.