Entertainment

Tensions soared on Sunday evening when protesters vandalized Allu Arjun’s Hyderabad home, demanding compensation for the family of a woman who died in a stampede during the promotion of Pushpa 2: The Rule. The protesters, claiming to be from the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OU JAC), hurled stones and tomatoes at the actor's residence in Jubilee Hills and called for Arjun to pay ₹1 crore to the victim's family. This comes after the tragic incident on December 4, which led to the woman’s death and her son's critical injury, following a visit by Arjun to the Sandhya Theatre.

India’s total forest and tree cover has increased by 1,445 square kilometers since 2021, now covering 25.17% of the country’s geographical area, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023. The report highlights a growth in forest cover from 7,13,789 sq km in 2021 to 7,15,343 sq km in 2023, representing 21.76% of the country’s total area. Additionally, tree cover grew by 1,289 sq km, now constituting 3.41% of India’s geographical area. States like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram have shown notable gains, contributing to the overall increase in green cover.

"Girls Will Be Girls marks a striking debut from director Shuchi Talati. The film, a complex mother-daughter coming-of-age story, explores the delicate balance of sexual awakening and family dynamics. Sixteen-year-old Mira (Preeti Panigrahi), the first female head prefect at her strict boarding school, finds her carefully composed world shaken with the arrival of Sri, a charming new student. As Mira's quiet interest in Sri clashes with her mother's watchful presence, a subtle yet intense emotional battle ensues. Talati handles this delicate shift in tone with sensitivity, capturing the unspoken tension between mother and daughter through powerful silences and fleeting glances. The performances from Panigrahi and Kani Kusruti are exceptional, breathing life into the film’s nuanced exploration of adolescence, identity, and the complexities of growing up."*

In response to Mukesh Khanna's repeated criticism of her for failing to answer a question about the Ramayana on Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) in 2019, Sonakshi Sinha posted a lengthy note on Instagram, addressing the issue. She wrote, "Yes, I may have blanked out that day, a human tendency, but that doesn’t define me." She also called on Khanna to stop bringing up the incident for the sake of publicity, stating, "Please stop bringing up the same incident time and again to stay relevant at the expense of me and my family."Her father, Shatrughan Sinha, also defended her, questioning Khanna's qualifications to speak on matters of the Ramayana and Hinduism. "What qualifies him to be an expert on the Ramayana?" he asked. He emphasized that not answering the question about the Ramayana didn’t make his daughter any less of a Hindu, and expressed pride in her achievements.

Legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, aged 73, passed away on December 15, 2024, in a San Francisco hospital after battling serious health issues. Known for his groundbreaking fusion of Indian classical music with global genres, Hussain’s passing marks the end of an era in rhythm and melody. A recipient of India's highest honors, including the Padma Vibhushan, he was recently awarded three Grammy Awards, solidifying his legacy as one of the most influential percussionists in the world.