Maalik Teaser Review: Rajkummar Rao's gangster drama has strong hangover of Ranbir Kapoor's Animal, Read details
When Animal was released in theaters, one of the factors that made it an instant hit among the audience was the way violence was displayed on the big screens. From bloodshed to deadly fight sequences, the movie pushed the boundaries of violence in Indian cinema. And now, Maalik is giving similar vibes! The teaser shows a glimpse of how gritty the Rajkummar Rao starrer will be.
Rao has embraced a ruthless gangster persona and his brutal transformation is worth every penny. From the opening scenes of the teaser to the massy dialogs, Maalik will undoubtedly offer intense action. So, there is no second thought about Rajkummar Rao being as ruthless as Ranbir Kapoor's Rannvijay in the Pulkit directorial.
Also, both Animal and Maalik lead them down paths of aggression and dominance. These flicks cannot be tagged merely as action dramas as they are more complex. Just like Animal, Maalik also aims to show the inner conflict of men. Well, the former was a game changer for the Indian film industry, hence, we expect the latter to deliver similar thrill and madness.
Talking about the Maalik teaser, it features Rajkummar in a never-seen-before avatar. Set in Allahabad, it follows a gangster who rises through the ranks of the criminal underworld and establishes his dominance. His thick beard look has added more reality to his daring role and his transformation has wowed netizens.
Backed by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani, the movie is slated to hit the big screens on 11 July 2025. Besides Rajkummar, it also stars Manushi Chillar and Prosenjit Chatterjee.
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The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Bengali migrant workers and Indian citizenship: In the name of a nation
Nazimuddin Mondal (34) recalls that he was slapped before being asked to sing the national anthem. 'At the police station they told me to sing it and then checked my phone to see if there were any phone numbers from Bangladesh,' he says. Mr. Mondal says life had been going smoothly for about a year and a half in Mumbai's Nalasopara area, where he lived on rent. With a daily wage of ₹1,300, the migrant from Tartipur village in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, had come to Maharashtra to work. On June 9, 2025, there was a knock on his door. Men in uniform had come for him. They took him to the local police station. Mr. Mondal recalls that there were 13 Bengali-speaking men at the police station. Then began a journey of about 2,500 kilometres spanning six days. From the police station in Mumbai, Mr. Mondal says he and a few others were taken for a medical check-up, then driven to Pune the next morning. He recalls that they were put on a flight from Pune to West Bengal, their hands in zip-ties. After landing somewhere in north Bengal, Mr. Mondal says he was driven along the international border in the early hours of one morning and pushed into Bangladesh. 'The men in plainclothes forced me to cross the border. It was the scariest day of my life,' he says. He was handed ₹300 in Bangladeshi currency, a packet of food, and a bottle of water. ''You all are Bangladeshis,' the man told me in Bengali, threatening to shoot me if I tried to return.' On June 14, 2025, a video of him and two others, Minarul Sheikh and Mostafa Kamal Sheikh, both also migrant workers from West Bengal, allegedly picked up by the police in Maharashtra, surfaced on social media. Sitting in an open field, the men cried out to the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for help: 'Mamata (Banerjee) Didi please save us... We have been pushed into Bangladesh.' The next day, the three were repatriated through the India-Bangladesh border close to Mekhliganj town of Cooch Behar district, West Bengal. Across India, thousands of Bengali-speaking migrants are being asked for documentation to prove their Indian citizenship. The crackdown began, say sources in the Home Ministry, after the regime change in Bangladesh in August 2024. The questioning intensified after the Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025. Ms. Banerjee alleges that the intensity of it is felt most in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled States. The Delhi Police has checked documents of over 16,000 Bengali-speakers over the past few months. The Haryana government had set up detention centres in July where they allegedly held people. In Gujarat, over 1,000 were detained in Ahmedabad and Surat. Through June and July, migrant workers have been leaving jobs in other States to return to West Bengal. Almost a month after the incident, Mr. Mondal is back home. He wears the same shirt in which he was seen in the video, and is struggling to find work in his village. 'The contractor (in Mumbai) is calling me regularly, but I have no documents; they were all taken by the police. Here, even if I get work, I don't get even ₹500 a day,' the migrant worker says. The village, located along one of the distributaries of the Ganga, has a standing crop of jute in July, rising to almost five feet. The roads are filled with potholes so deep that ducks swim in them. Most men in the village migrate out of West Bengal for work, though there is no reliable data on how many do. Going back to work Less than a kilometre from his house, is a locality where other migrant workers have been forced to return from their place of work. They were detained for three days in the neighbouring state of Odisha. They were part of a group of about 400 who were detained by the Jharsuguda police in Odisha during the second week of July. On July 9, 2025, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the ruling party in West Bengal, posted a 55-second video of the workers on social media. In the video, Samiul Ansari (31) is describing how they were picked up in the dead of night. At their village in Murshidabad, Mr. Samiul Ansari is joined by four others: Yeasmin Ali Ansari (50), Manaruzzaman Ansari (41), Newton Ansari (33), and Amanat Ansari (31). They sit in a circle and narrate their ordeal during detention for 72 hours. By Indian law, police can detain a person for no longer than 24 hours, before which they must be produced before a magistrate. 'The police did not beat us at the detention centre, but kept saying that they had orders from above to detain us,' Mr. Samiul Ansari says. The men, who were detained in Jagatsinghpur district in Odisha, say they have been going to the State for a decade to work; this was the first time they had faced trouble. Odisha's government is run by the BJP that came to power last year. 'There is no work here. Maybe we won't go to where the police had detained us,' they say. The three younger men in the group went back to Odisha 11 days later. Their greatest fear is what identity documents they should carry so that the police does not detain them. In the village, Razzak Sheikh, the father of two migrant workers, has filed a habeas corpus petition before the Calcutta High Court, when his sons were detained elsewhere in Odisha. 'I got a call from the police there, who threatened to push my sons into Bangladesh if we failed to produce birth certificates.' Having an Indian birth certificate is, however, no guarantee say migrant workers, that they will not be harassed. Amir Sheikh, 19, from Malda's Kaliachak area, who was allegedly jailed in Rajasthan for a week before being pushed into Bangladesh in May 2025, had one, say his parents. Up to 1,000 people were identified as suspected Bangladeshi nationals, detained, and sent to six detention centres, in the State. The parents have produced their passports too, but say their son is still stuck in Bangladesh. On August 7, 2025, the father filed a habeas corpus before the Calcutta High Court. On July 30, 2025, the Maharashtra government claimed that 42,000 'fake' birth certificates issued to 'Bangladeshis' had been cancelled, and the number to be further cancelled by August 15 would be far higher. Politics at play In the first week of May 2025, weeks before these stories of migrants alleging detention and pushing into Bangladesh surfaced, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam wrote a letter to Mr. Shah. In it he claimed there was a 'disturbing pattern of targeted hostility' against Bengali workers in BJP-ruled States such as Gujarat. Mr. Islam is the chairperson of West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board. By the second week of July, reports of migrant workers in different parts of India began surfacing almost daily in West Bengal. On July 16, 2025, Ms. Banerjee hit the streets in Kolkata and warned that protests would rage across the country if Bengali migrants continue to be harassed. Two days later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at a public meeting in Durgapur in the southern part of West Bengal and one of India's main steel-producing centres, said that 'Bengali asmita' (identity and culture) was paramount to the BJP, but emphasised that 'whoever has infiltrated into the country will be dealt with as per law'. On July 21, 2025, Ms. Banerjee addressed her party's annual Martyrs' Day rally. This is a commemoration of the day 13 people were killed in 1993, when police fired on the Youth Congress, then led by Ms. Banerjee. Before lakhs of supporters in Kolkata she claimed that the BJP government at the Centre 'was unleashing terror on the Bengali language' and announced that a 'language movement' would continue until the Assembly polls, due in 2026. From the stage of the mega Trinamool event, the party chairperson read excerpts from what she called a secret notification issued by the Union Government in May 2025, and sent only to BJP-ruled States, which stated that if someone was suspected of being Bangladeshi, they should be detained for a month and sent to detention or holding camps. Amidst thousands of migrants returning and the disruption of work, the debate on Bengali language and identity continues to rage. On August 3, 2025, the Delhi Police issued a letter referring to the Bengali language as Bangladeshi, which the Trinamool took up as an insult to the 'Bengali-speaking people of India'. The very next day, while justifying the action of Delhi Police, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said, 'There is, in fact, no language called Bengali.' The West Bengal BJP leadership said that the drive is to identify Bangladeshi infiltrators and not migrants of the State. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and newly appointed State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya speak of 'sanitising the voter list and removing lakhs of Bangladeshi voters'. They insist on a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list on the lines of what is happening in Bihar. Economically speaking The flight of industries and unemployment remain major challenges in West Bengal. The National Statistical Office's (NSO) Annual Survey on Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) made public in 2024 pointed out that West Bengal lost 3 million jobs in unincorporated enterprises from 2015-16 to 2022-23. In 2024, the Union Finance Minister had said that the share of industrial production in West Bengal had declined from 24% at the time of independence to 3.5% in 2021. Economist Abhirup Sarkar, the chairperson of the West Bengal Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation, says, 'There are historical reasons behind the decline of industries in West Bengal. One of the biggest factors is that Kolkata was dominated by British companies, which left after independence. Then, during the Left regime, militant trade unions and strikes played a role in the flight of capital.' He adds that productivity is low in West Bengal, but there is also a perception battle about the State. More than a shared border West Bengal shares a 2,216-km border with Bangladesh, and about 450 km of the border remains unfenced, making it porous in parts. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said this is largely because the West Bengal government is not providing land to do so. However, there are cultural, historical, and geographic ties between the Bengalis on both sides of the border. The partition of Bengal took place on Rakshabandhan day in 1905, when the then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, divided the Bengal Presidency into west (predominantly Hindu, including Bihar and Orissa) and east (predominantly Muslim, including Assam). This was annulled in 1911, when the capital was moved to Delhi. However, there was further turmoil in 1947, when East Pakistan was formed, and people moved across the newly-formed border, on the basis of religion. In 1971, when Bangladesh was formed, another wave of people came to India. Ten years ago, in 2015, a Land Border Agreement was signed between the two countries, where land parcels were exchanged, because there was Indian territory deep within Bangladesh and vice versa. People in these parcels were given the choice to become Bangladeshi nationals or Indian citizens. Shamshul Haque and Rabiul Haque chose India, and migrated to Gurugram, in Haryana, to work. They were arrested on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. 'We chose to come to India leaving our place of birth behind because we always thought of ourselves as Indians. I had never thought, even in my dreams, that I would be held on suspicion of being Bangladeshi,' Shamshul says, showing a citizenship certificate issued by West Bengal's Cooch Behar district administration. While the majority of migrant workers detained or pushed into Bangladesh are Muslims, there are some from the Matua community, a sect of Hindu Namashudras, Dalits who migrated from Bangladesh, who are also facing detention. In Nadia district, two migrant workers from a Matua family, who had openly announced their allegiance to the BJP, were arrested by the Maharashtra police several months ago. Manishankar Biswas (23) and Nirmal Biswas (22) had left their home to work as carpenters in Akola district.Their father, Nishikanta, is an agricultural labourer. He and his wife, Pushpa, do not have the money to travel to Maharashtra. They live in a house put together with tin sheets. 'We have had several cases of people of the Matua community being held by the police in Maharashtra. When the police pick up people on the basis of language, both Hindus and Muslims will be arrested,' says Nikhilesh Adhikari, a Nagpur-based lawyer who is trying to arrange bail for the two men. On June 28, 2025, Ms. Banerjee urged migrant workers to return to West Bengal and assured them of work. Just a little over a month on, there are serpentine queues of migrant labourers at Howrah Station, booking tickets to leave again. Rakesh Alam, 27, is boarding the Howrah Ahmedabad Superfast Express, leaving his four-month-old daughter behind. He says, 'I cannot stay in Bengal when I have a family to feed.' shivsahay.s@ Edited by Sunalini Mathew
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Irish Foreign Minister to meet Indian community members amid attacks
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris will meet representatives of the Indian community in Ireland on Monday (August 11, 2025) to assure them of safety and security, the Embassy of Ireland said on Friday (August 8, 2025), as attacks against Indian community members soared in recent weeks. In a statement, the Embassy here expressed 'shock' about the indiscriminate attacks against the members of the Indian community. 'I want to be so clear — the Indian community in Ireland have made and do make an excellent contribution to Irish society. They are welcome. They are appreciated. Next week, I look forward to meeting the Ireland India Council. Ireland will never ever tolerate racism. Thank you to members of the Indian community in our country for their contributions to our country in so many ways,' said Mr. Harris in a social media post on Friday. The violent incidents against Indians have been increasing in recent weeks with the latest victims being a six-year-old child and a hotel chef. The Embassy of India in Dublin has been meeting Irish officials over the past month when the attacks suddenly increased. 'The Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi is deeply shockedand saddened by the recent violent attacks against Indian citizens in Ireland. We condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms. They are an assault on the values of equality and human dignitythat Ireland holds dear,' said the Embassy in the statement. 'Racism and xenophobia have no place in Irish society. The actions of the few do not reflect the spirit of the Irish people.' Indian authorities have been highlighting the need for quick police action against the perpetrators. On August 1, the Indian Embassy in Dublin issued an advisory urging nationals to take 'reasonable precautions'.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Bigg Boss Malayalam 7: Sariga opens up to Adhila, says, 'I thought I would never accept two girls in love, but now I adore you both'
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7 made history with Adhila and Noora, the first lesbian couple in the Indian franchise. Their participation sparked conversations and changed hearts, exemplified by housemate Sariga's emotional confession about her evolving views on same-sex love after witnessing their relationship. Adhila and Noora, cybersecurity analysts and social media content creators, faced mixed reactions upon entering the house. Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7 has already carved its place in history by featuring Adhila and Noora, the first-ever lesbian couple to participate in any Indian Bigg Boss franchise. While their entry sparked nationwide conversations, it's not just the headlines they're changing; it's hearts, too. In a recent emotional episode, housemate Sariga shared a heartwarming moment with Adhila, expressing how her views on same-sex love have changed after spending time with the couple inside the house. 'I adore you both. Because of your love for each other, you are both truly blessed. I thought I would never be able to accept you both. I come from a background where girl-and-girl love could never be taken seriously. But now that I see you both together, you're just like a normal couple. Your love is adorable. I'm going emotional,' Sariga told Adhila. Sariga's honesty visibly moved Adhila, and fans praised the emotional exchange for its sincerity and impact. Adhila and Noora, who gained attention through their legal battle for the right to live together as a couple, are both professionals working as cybersecurity analysts. Outside their careers, they've also built a strong presence as social media content creators, frequently sharing candid vlogs about their relationship and daily life. Their entry into the Bigg Boss house was met with a wave of mixed reactions online, from overwhelming support and admiration to criticism and trolling.
