
'Thug Life' controversy: Kamal Haasan's Kannada remark sparks protest, posters torn and defaced in Karnataka

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Hans India
6 minutes ago
- Hans India
Rajinikanth makes surprise visit to Ramakrishna Ashrama
Bengaluru: Even as his latest film continues to draw packed houses and enjoy box-office success, superstar Rajinikanth made an unannounced visit to Bengaluru, surprising his admirers once again. Without any publicity or prior information, the veteran actor travelled quietly to Basavanagudi and paid respects at the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama. He offered prayers before Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Sharada Mata, spending some time in devotion before leaving. Rajinikanth's fondness for Karnataka and the Kannada language is well known. Having begun his career as a bus conductor in Bengaluru before becoming a cinema icon, the actor maintains a special bond with the state. His unexpected appearance at the Ashrama has drawn admiration from devotees and fans alike. This is not the first time the superstar has paid a sudden visit to the city. In mid-2023, he had surprised many by dropping in at the BMTC bus depot in Jayanagar, where he once worked. The visit created excitement among staff members, with Rajinikanth warmly interacting with them and posing for photographs before leaving. His latest stopover in Bengaluru once again reflects his simplicity and attachment to the city that shaped his early years. Soon after returning to Chennai, photographs of his Ashrama visit went viral on social media, drawing affectionate responses from his legion of followers.


Hindustan Times
6 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
'She got it all wrong': Kannadigas slam stand-up comic Aiyyo Shraddha over ‘Mile Sur' satire on Hindi imposition
Stand-up comedian Shraddha Jain, widely known by her online persona Aiyyo Shraddha, has found herself at the centre of an online storm after her recent satirical performance touched a nerve with many Kannadigas. The controversy erupted after she released a video from her So Mini Things series ahead of India's 79th Independence Day,(Aiyyo Shraddha/YouTube) The controversy erupted after she released a video from her So Mini Things series ahead of India's 79th Independence Day, in which she reflects on national unity through the lens of the iconic patriotic song Mile Sur Mera Tumhara. The video, meant to be a light-hearted tribute titled 'A Wish for India,' opens with Shraddha crediting the 1988 national integration anthem for helping her learn several Indian languages. But as the act progresses, she mimics an imagined backlash the song might face if released today, joking about states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu resisting Hindi. Her quip,'Why is there so much Hindi in this song?', triggered sharp reactions online, particularly among those opposing Hindi imposition in southern states. Many felt the satire missed the mark and instead mocked those resisting linguistic dominance. Reactions online Kannada writer Guruprasad DN, in a post originally shared in Kannada, called the skit misplaced and urged comedians to deeply reflect on what, and whom, their satire targets. "As society gradually gains some discernment, questions must arise on various issues; the matter of what humor or satire should be directed against or about should be of utmost importance to any artist," he wrote. 'Today, Hindi imposition is a very serious issue. The central government is pursuing a policy of making Hindi dominate over other languages. This is having a detrimental impact on the lives of ordinary people,' he noted. In such times, he said, humor must serve as a critique of power, not of the people resisting it. Watch her full video here: Other users echoed this sentiment, saying Shraddha, who hails from Mangaluru and now lives in Bengaluru, failed to grasp the depth of Kannada linguistic pride. 'As an outsider, Kannada pride is a foreign concept to you,' one post read. Another user said, "That song was a testimony that India respects all languages and its people. But she got it wrong, indirectly attacking those who oppose the imposition of one language over others. Poisonous!" Some, however, defended the comedian. A well-known cartoonist Satish Acharya called the piece 'hilarious and intelligent,' while others urged viewers to revisit the video with a more critical lens. (Also Read: Bengaluru's ELCITA launches free feeder bus service to connect Yellow Line metro with Electronic City offices)


Hindustan Times
6 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Coolie worldwide box office collection day 4: Rajinikanth-starrer is #1 film in the world; beats Weapons, Nobody 2
Coolie worldwide box office collection: Rajinikanth's Coolie is going from strength to strength at the box office. The action thriller directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj opened to record-breaking numbers and has kept the momentum going through its extended opening weekend, despite some lukewarm reviews. Now, Coolie has done the unthinkable by becoming the number one movie at the worldwide box office in its opening weekend. Coolie worldwide box office collection: Rajinikanth's film has topped the global box office this weekend. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo)(Raju Shinde) Coolie worldwide box office report Coolie earned ₹194.25 crore net ( ₹233 crore gross) in its four-day extended opening weekend in India. It is the fastest Tamil film to ₹100 crore, and will likely become the fastest to ₹200 crore on Monday. But Coolie's overseas earnings are just as impressive. The film set new benchmarks for Tamil films with record-breaking openings in North America, the UK, and Australia. By Sunday, the film has earned over $18 million ( ₹160 crore) in the international market. Its total worldwide haul stands at ₹393 crore ($45 million) after four days. How Coolie became the #1 film in the world Coolie's $45 million haul is impressive for any Indian film in its first four days. But the end of the Hollywood summer and the absence of a big tentpole film in the US this weekend have meant that it is enough to top the charts globally as well. Coolie managed to beat the horror film, Weapons, which earned an estimated $44 million over the last four days (Thursday-Sunday). The Zach Cregger film earned $29 million in the US, according to Box Office Mojo, in addition to $15 million overseas. In the third spot during this extended weekend is Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR's War 2, which has earned an estimated $30 million in its first four days. The YRF Spy Universe is level with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan's Freakier Friday, which brought home the same amount. The only new Hollywood release this weekend - Nobody 2 starring Bob Odenkirk - opened at just $14 million worldwide, far behind Coolie. All about Coolie Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie stars Rajinikanth as the titular retired coolie, who ends up embroiled in a gangster's world (Simon, played by Nagarjuna) after the death of his friend. The film also stars Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj, with a cameo from Aamir Khan.