&w=3840&q=100)
Prada's Sandal & the Kolhapuri Original: How Global Fashion Rebrands Craft
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- Indian Express
In Ayan Mukerji's War 2, science, math and emotions are missing in action
Three hours of War 2 feels much longer— not because of the film's intensity, but as it's a sheer drag. For a film that promised entertainment, patriotism, and slick action, it is low on delivery. Instead, it serves up a reported ₹400-crore spectacle where the laws of science, math and common sense don't apply. As an Independence Day release, one expects goosebumps, or at least a stirring 'India first' moment. Instead, the film reduces patriotism to a hollow slogan, repeated by every character until it loses all meaning. Even the central relationships are sketched so lazily that a single song is expected to convince us that Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) and Kavya (Kiara Advani) are in love. She proposes to him after he chooses his country over her, but the scene evokes no pain or heartbreak. The irony is that the film tries to present itself as modern and tech-driven, with its villains—an organisation called Kali—appearing only as holograms, their faces hidden in shadow. But instead of feeling fresh, it looks borrowed. The masked, faceless rich villains feel inspired straight out of Squid Game, while the rhetoric of Kali's Indian head, played by KC Shankar, recalls Special Ops. 'Wahi purani desh bhakti jinhe nayi duniya ke naye rules nahi pata,' he declares, echoing the cynicism of global-citizen villains like Tahir Raj Bhasin's character in Special Ops. Like in Squid Game or Hunger Games, Kali is portrayed as a collective of ultra-rich, power-addicted individuals who exploit chaos, not for politics or patriotism, but simply because they can. 'Nasha hai', says Gulati to Kabir when he asks them their goal. Members come from across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Russia, Sri Lanka, Japan, and Myanmar. Instead of originality, what we get is a messy cocktail of familiar tropes without the punch of those originals. ALSO READ | War 2 review: Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, Kiara Advani spy saga is so limp, you're left looking for zing If the villainy feels second-hand, the science is outright laughable and stretching suspension of disbelief to the point that it rips and tears. Consider Jr. NTR's grand entry: introduced with a tiger's roar, he clings to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as if it were a city bus, effortlessly flying to his mission. Just before takeoff, one of his teammates warns him that the UAV can't handle his weight. Raghu's solution? He sassily begins throwing away his weapons, then his shirt, then other accessories—until he even gestures at removing his pants. A fellow soldier finally stops him with, 'This won't make a difference, let it be,' and off he happily flies. Perhaps Ayan Mukerji thought audiences would laugh at the pant joke, but not a single giggle echoed in the theater. If anything, the silence proved the audience wasn't as foolish as the filmmakers assumed. Later, Raghu casually dodges a howitzer shell with his bare hands, volleying it away as if it were a beach ball. The absurdity peaks when Raghu and Kabir fight atop a private jet mid-air—wearing ordinary clothes, unaffected by air pressure, wind, or even turbulence. They smash the door open mid-flight, the cabin stays steady, and Raghu even stands at the edge of the plane like he's on his balcony—hair intact, shirt unruffled. And then there's the train sequence, which feels like a deleted Fast & Furious storyboard. Kabir and Raghu chase, jump, and fight across compartments like it's child's play. At one point, Kabir even drives a car on top of the train. Physics takes another leave of absence as both heroes escape without so much as a limp, reducing what could have been a thrilling set piece into cartoonish spectacle. The lapses in logic are as glaring as the lapses in physics. Anil Kapoor, playing RAW chief, addresses a media briefing about a covert mission—something unimaginable in real life. In another stretch, timelines make no sense. Kabir, recruited for soldier training at 14, reunites with Raghu after 20 years, making them both 34. But his love story with Kavya is shown as having happened 15 years ago, which would make him 19 at the time. At 19, she proposes marriage, but somehow this is woven into a timeline that contradicts itself at every turn. Instead of adding depth, this '15-year gap' only makes the film look careless. None of this is the actors' fault. Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR bring charisma, Kiara Advani does what she can with her limited role, and Anil Kapoor tries to lend gravitas. But when the writing lacks emotion, research, and logic, even the best cast can't salvage the wreckage. For ₹400 crore, War 2 gives us swagger without science, style without soul, and patriotism without pride. In the end, it's not the villains but the filmmaking that betrays the nation.
Mint
23 minutes ago
- Mint
Coolie Box Office Collection Day 7: Rajinikanth film crosses ₹220 crore on Wednesday, mints THIS amount
Coolie Box Office Collection Day 7: Superstar Rajnikanth starrer performed well during its first six days of release and has already crossed the ₹ 220 mark on the seventh day. Check out Coolie's 7th-day box office collection and occupancy. Coolie earned an estimated ₹ 6.5 crore at the box office in India on Wednesday, August 20, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. Rajnikanth's film saw a massive opening at ₹ 65 crore. On Tuesday, Day 6, the film earned ₹ 9.5 crore. The total collection of Coolie now stands at ₹ 222.5 crore, according to Sacnilk data. The Rajnikanth movie, released on August 14 to celebrate the superstar's 50th year in the industry, had a record-breaking opening at the Indian box office, but has slowed down since then. The film is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures. Apart from Rajinikanth Coolie stars Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, Reba Monica John, Junior MGR, and Monisha Blessy. Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Pooja Hegde also feature in a cameo. The film 'delves into a man's relentless quest for vengeance since youth, driven by righting past wrongs, shaping his very existence. Viewers experience the complexities of his tumultuous vendetta journey,' according to IMDb. The movie has been released in five languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada, appealing to a pan-India audience. Coolie faces tough competition from War 2, which was released on the same day, 14 August, during Independence Day week.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Nick Jonas reveals his 'quirky' bed ritual with Priyanka Chopra Jonas which sparks a hilarious discussion on the internet: 'I just don't like to get it warm'
Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra serve couple goals ever since they tied the knot in 2018. Till date, their PDA displayed online through pictures with each other and comments on each other's post is adorable for fans. As Nick and PC have always opened up about their bonding or rituals together, in a recent chat, Nick made a quirky confession which has sparked an unusual debate online. He revealed a bedtime routine with PC and said that he literally pulls a chair next to Priyanka while she's watching TV in bed as they see something together but doesn't like to be in bed while watching it. The 32-year-old singer appeared on TikTok's 'Are You Okay?' series, where one clip in particular caught everyone's attention. Many fans labeled it his 'beige flag' after he revealed he uses the bed only for one purpose, which is sleep. 'I think beds are for sleeping only,' Nick confessed. 'I don't sit on the bed, I don't eat on the bed, I don't read a book in bed or watch TV. I can't do it.' Explaining further, he added, 'I just don't like it to get warm. I run hot. It's a whole thing.' Nick also shared how he compromises when Priyanka prefers to watch something while tucked in. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Play this for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it. Play Game Undo Instead of joining her under the covers, he admitted, 'I pull a seat up and sit next to the bed.' Host Bri Morales laughed off this revelation, calling it 'crazy,' and social media quickly joined in with mixed reactions. One fan wrote, 'Pulling up a chair while Priyanka is in bed watching TV is insane.' Others admitted they felt personally attacked because lounging, scrolling, or even eating in bed was part of their daily routine. Some found humour in the fact, joking that Nick is 'more Indian than Priyanka' thanks to his strict no-food-on-the-bed stance, a rule many Indian moms famously enforce. Still, several viewers defended him, calling the habit a 'green flag,' insisting a bed should be reserved for rest. Nick is currently on a tour with brothers Joe and Kevi for the Jonas Brothers' 20th anniversary shows. Meanwhile, Priyanka is currently shooting for SS Rajamouli's next with Mahesh Babu . In 2022, they welcomed their daughter Malti Marie via surrogate. Since then, the two have often spoken about balancing family life with work. Priyanka, in past interviews, has emphasized that she chose Nick not just for love but because, as she put it, she wouldn't have married him if he didn't 'tick all the right boxes,' explaining that respect was just as important to her as affection. "Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
