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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Is Dulquer Salmaan doing something astonishingly right in Telugu that he can't seem to replicate in Malayalam?
There was a time when Dulquer Salmaan soared higher than any of his contemporaries in Malayalam. Almost anything and everything he touched turned into gold. Even when he stumbled once in a while, Dulquer bounced back with stellar force, repositioning himself at one of the top spots pretty soon. However, that hasn't been the case for the past few years. I am not insinuating that he has completely lost his fan base, clout or even suggesting that he has lost his touch. But a series of poor decisions and misjudgments have indeed taken a toll on his base in Malayalam, which, once lost, is not easy to regain, considering that the audiences are quite fastidious and pernickety. As he's the son of Mammootty, one of the biggest stars in Malayalam cinema history, there's nothing wrong with describing Dulquer Salmaan as 'one of the biggest nepo kids in the industry'. While outsiders with no godfathers or any prior connection to the show business have to toil endlessly to even land roles that get their faces registered in the minds of audiences, Dulquer undoubtedly benefited from his father's legacy to receive a debut film. And much like most other nepo babies, he received the lead role in his first film. However, what set him apart was the kind of movie and role he chose to commence his journey with. Director Srinath Rajendran's Second Show (2012) was not just a unique noir gangster film, but it leaned significantly towards the emerging aesthetics and narrative style of that era, characterised by the unfiltered portrayal of grey in both people and society at large. Revolving around a group of young perpetual-troublemakers who eventually get involved in organised crimes, Dulquer played a character, Lalu, who wasn't noble and pure-hearted, nor instantly likeable in the movie. In a way, Lalu can be called the anti-hero of Second Show. But since the film did not feature any virtuous characters and it was a story of raw, unpolished people, among them, Lalu was the lesser evil. Although the movie became a hit and Dulquer's performance opened to widespread acclaim, the risk he took here cannot be overlooked. Take the case of Bollywood nepo kids like Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Aaman Devgan, Rasha Thadani or even the latest sensation Ahaan Panday of Saiyaara, who made their debut in recent years. Not just that they were projected as stars or sure-shot stars even before their debuts, through massive PR stunts, they all played in their respective first outings characters that were carefully sutured to make people instantly develop an affinity towards them. Whether these efforts yielded positive results for all of them or if these actors' performances matched the monstrous levels of hype they received is a different topic altogether. But a closer look at the characters they all played would lay bare the master plan. The same can be said about the major nepo kids of Dulquer's generation in Malayalam as well. From Fahadh Faasil and Prithviraj Sukumaran to Pranav Mohanlal, Kalidas Jayaram, Kalyani Priyadarshan and Vineeth Sreenivisan, most of them made their acting debuts playing good-natured characters, with the only exceptions being Indrajith Sukumaran and, to some extent, Keerthy Suresh. But Dulquer took on a character, if not executed properly, could make people loathe him completely. And considering that Second Show was Srinath Rajendran's directorial debut as well, the risk was even greater. Nonetheless, all of them emerged with flying colours. Subsequently, Dulquer kept delivering bangers after bangers, mostly playing characters that were tailor-made for him in movies like Ustad Hotel, ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi, 5 Sundarikal and Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi. When he attempted to break out of his comfort zone and try his hand at something new in Theevram, it didn't get much reception from people, although his efforts didn't go unnoticed. Despite facing setbacks with movies like Pattam Pole, Salalah Mobiles, Samsaaram Arogyathinu Haanikaram/Vaayai Moodi Pesavum and Njaan, he took no time in making a comeback with Bangalore Days, Vikramadithyan, 100 Days of Love, Charlie and Kammatipaadam. Meanwhile, he also won over the hearts of Tamil audiences with his striking performance in Mani Ratnam's OK Kanmani, where his breathtaking chemistry with Nithya Menen received the most appreciation. With Jomonte Suvisheshangal, Comrade in America, Parava (where he played an extended cameo) turning out to be massive box-office successes, Dulquer cemented his position in the industry. But that was 2017. Since then, Dulquer's Malayalam career has been a rollercoaster ride. While most of his films failed to impress audiences, their frequency also declined significantly due to various factors, including more lucrative offers from other industries. After the underperformance of Solo, he returned to Malayalam cinema only a year and a half later with Oru Yamandan Premakadha, which became a critical and commercial disaster. Soon, he began working on the biographical period crime thriller Kurup, helmed by Second Show's Srinath Rajendran. Made on a massive scale, it was unlike anything DQ had done till then, and he tried to give it his all. In between, he also worked on the small-scale project, Varane Avashyamund (2020). Although the movie was a success, it didn't offer him quite enough to regain what he had lost. Barring a cameo in the disappointing Maniyarayile Ashokan, which he bankrolled too, Dulquer had no other movie that year. Thus, all began waiting for Kurup, and it arrived in November 2021 with a bang. Not just that the movie was a critical and commercial success, DQ also showcased his untapped potential by masterfully playing fugitive Sukumara Kurup without diluting any of the real-life person's vileness. Despite his next, Salute (2022), also earning favourable responses, since it had a direct-to-OTT release owing to the Covid situation, DQ's box office base here was affected once again. Although his non-Malayalam films like Hey Sinamika, Sita Ramam and Chup: Revenge of the Artist were released in Kerala too, the desire for fans to watch a Dulquer movie in theatres kept getting delayed. The biggest blow of all came when his much-anticipated and massively hyped gangster drama King of Kotha (2023) tanked at the box office and became a meme goldmine eventually. It's been almost two years since King of Kotha now, which means he hasn't had a single success in his home ground in about four years. However, amid all these, he found success in Telugu. There too, he received an enviable debut, playing Gemini Ganesan in Nag Ashwin's biographical drama Mahanati. Delivering an extraordinary performance and that too as a yesteryear star, he quickly won over the audience's hearts. Hanu Raghavapudi's period romantic drama Sita Ramam was just what he needed after that to take him to lofty heights. With the movie capitalising fully on both his charm and cuteness, and his mesmerising on-screen chemistry with co-actors, particularly women, it gave him the sort of push that his Malayalam movies weren't offering him. Considering that Dulquer had more arrows in his quiver than most of his Telugu peers — many of whom were also more fixated on larger-than-life mass entertainers — DQ was quickly crowned their heartthrob by Telugu audiences, who had been desperately searching for one. Unlike in Malayalam, where he struggled amid actors who were arguably far more talented, and burdened by his own ambitions fueled by the excessive expectations of his fans, DQ cherry-picked the best of the guy-next-door roles in Telugu and experimented with them whenever possible. In Venky Atluri's Lucky Baskhar (2024), he found the best mix of both, and Dulquer managed to bring out his A-game effortlessly, contributing to the period crime film's massive success. The reception that his cameo appearance in Kalki 2898 AD received in the Telugu market, and the disappointment of the audience over his role being too small, further underscored the space DQ has managed to carve in the hearts of Telugus. A post shared by Dulquer Salmaan (@dqsalmaan) Interestingly, his performance in Lucky Baskhar also earned him the Special Jury Award at the Gaddar Telangana State Film Awards, presented by the state government to recognise excellence in Telugu cinema. Later, he met with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad to express his gratitude for the honour. As a result of all these, despite his next outing, Aakasam Lo Oka Tara, being only in its pre-production stage at the moment, expectations are high among the audience already. For an actor with a massive fan base in his home turf, staying away from it for so long — especially after delivering a major disappointment — is no small move. It remains to be seen whether this has affected his box office pull. For that, we will have to wait for Dulquer's next, RDX director Nahas Hidhayath's I'm Game, to find out. Nonetheless, if he manages to replicate in Malayalam what he's been doing right in Telugu, DQ's journey back to the top may not take long.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Lalu Prasad forms new RJD team ahead of Bihar polls, focuses on caste balance
PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad on Saturday formed a new team, keeping caste and community equations in mind ahead of the upcoming Bihar assembly elections scheduled for October-November this year. Lalu appointed four vice-presidents, including his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi, and former state party president Jagadanand Singh. The team also includes 12 general secretaries and 10 secretaries, with clear attention paid to the traditional support bases of the party. Of the 27-member team, seven are from the Yadav community, including Lalu and Rabri. Significant representation has also been given to castes and communities that have supported Lalu and the RJD since the Janata Dal era. However, there are only three leaders from the general castes—two from the Rajput caste and one from the Bhumihar caste. Notably, no Brahmin leader has been included. Among Dalits, the Ravidas or Chamar communities have been given greater prominence.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Back to the kulhad: Railways swap paper cups for clay at 12 WR stations, but vendors cry foul
MUMBAI: In a move aimed at cutting down plastic and paper waste, the Indian Railways has decided to bring back the humble kulhad—the eco-friendly, disposable clay cup—at select stations on the Western Railway (WR) network. But while the decision is rooted in sustainability, it has left many food stall owners steaming. (Shutterstock) The Railway Board recently issued fresh instructions making it mandatory for tea and buttermilk to be served in kulhads instead of paper cups at 12 stations on WR's suburban and mainline routes. These include key stations like Dadar, Bandra, Andheri, Mumbai Central, Palghar and Dahanu Road, along with Bilimora, Valsad, Vapi, Navsari, Surat and Nandurbar. 'Food and juice stalls on platforms and concourses have been informed about the change,' confirmed a WR official. As per the new norms, tea must be served in 170 ml kulhads, and buttermilk in 220 ml ones. A throwback to Lalu's kulhad pitch This isn't the first time the kulhad has made its way into railway policy. The idea was first floated in 2004 by then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav as a way to support rural potters and promote cleanliness. The concept made a brief return in 2019 when Piyush Goyal, then Railways Minister, proposed using kulhads at over 400 stations—touting it as a win-win for the environment and India's pottery industry. But in both instances, the initiative failed to find long-term footing. Higher costs, inconsistent supply, and logistical issues led to a quiet return of cheaper paper and plastic cups. Now, it's official—again This time around, the Railways is pushing for what it calls 'kulhad compliance,' a term that sounds almost as earthy as the cups themselves. But stall owners aren't exactly raising a toast. 'It's just not practical,' said a member of the Western Railway Caterers Association. 'Our margins are already wafer-thin. A kulhad costs anywhere between ₹4 to ₹8, while a paper cup is just 50 paise to ₹1. Serving tea at ₹5 or ₹6 in a ₹6 cup doesn't make business sense.' Pricing, pottery, and practicality There's more. Most of these kulhads are custom-made and not easily available in bulk. In Mumbai, many are sourced from potters in Dharavi, but the supply isn't consistent—and costs can spike based on size and quality. The more polished porcelain versions seen in supermarkets are costlier still. Then there's the matter of logistics. Stall owners say they already lose up to 30% of paper cups in transit due to damage. Losing fragile kulhads in transport could make things worse. Cleanliness is another concern. 'Unlike paper cups that can be easily crushed and disposed of, broken kulhads lying around the station can be hazardous for passengers,' said a stall operator. Interestingly, most stalls don't even stock buttermilk regularly. 'It's time-consuming to prepare and there's low demand,' said another vendor. 'Our customers mostly buy tea, or cold drinks like nimbu paani and kokum.' 'While the Railways' kulhad push checks the right boxes in terms of sustainability and support to traditional potters, it may need a little more groundwork—literally and figuratively—to win over vendors who actually have to serve chai every day. Until then, for many of us, the kulhad might be a nice idea on paper—but far from a cup of tea we can afford,' said one of the vendors at the Western Line.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP accuses Lalu, Mamata of supporting infiltrators
Patna: BJP leader and deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said the same RJD chief Lalu Prasad and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee , who once opposed the illegal immigrants in 1992 and 2005 respectively, are today supporting them. He said the then Bihar CM Lalu and the then TMC MP Mamata had advocated to expel the infiltrators from the country. "But today, for vote bank politics, they want to keep lakhs of infiltrators in the voter list and are opposing the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. Choudhary called it their double standards and anti-national politics of the opposition and said the people of Bihar understand the difference between their words and action. The senior BJP leader said the SIR is a transparent and democratic process. "Its purpose is to identify people included in the voter list illegally, so that the sanctity of the Indian election system is maintained," he said. Citing a news item published on Sept 29,1992, he said Lalu, along with the CMs of Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh among the other states, had attended a high-level meeting called by the then home minister SB Chauhan in Delhi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo "Lalu had prominently raised the issue of infiltration and demanded the central govt to take effective steps to stop illegal entry from Bangladesh. He had said infiltrators were buying immovable property in India and this should be stopped. He had also said identity cards should be issued to Indian citizens in the border states so that infiltrators could be identified and expelled from the country," Choudhary claimed. "Similarly, in 2005, Mamata had also said the Left Front govt was making Bangladeshi infiltrators voters in West Bengal. Mamata, along with George Fernandes and Rajnath Singh, had met the then President, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam and handed over evidence of irregularities in the voter list of West Bengal," he said. "Today, when the SIR is being done in Bihar for this transparency, the same leaders and parties of the opposition are against it. It shows that due to vote bank politics, now even the infiltrators have become their favourites," he alleged.
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mutton on the menu, JD(U)'s Lalan Singh faces Opposition ire: ‘Classic double standards'
While Bihar politics continues to simmer over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the law-and-order situation because of multiple cases of killings in recent weeks, the latest incident to cause an uproar is a lunch hosted by Union Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh, where mutton was served. This has stirred a debate around food, religion and politics, with Opposition parties terming it a case of 'double standards' during the Hindu holy month of Sawan. On Wednesday, after laying the foundation stone for various government projects in Surajgarha in Lakhisarai district, the Union Minister, popularly known as Lalan Singh, and Bihar Rural Development Minister Ashok Chaudhary arranged a multi-course lunch for those who attended the event. The menu included both vegetarian options and meat dishes, including mutton. In a video filmed at the event, Lalan Singh is heard announcing from the stage, 'Bhojan bana hua hai, badhiya bhojan hai, Sawan ka bhi intezam hai … Sawan wala bhi bhojan hai aur jo Sawan mah ko nahi mante hain unke liye bhi bhojan hai (Food has been prepared for everyone, there is excellent food. There are special arrangements for the month of Sawan; Sawan-specific food is available. Those who don't observe dietary restrictions during this month, there's food for them too).' Targeting the Union Minister and the ruling NDA, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said, 'This is a classic case of double standards. The same people who questioned Lalu and Rahul Gandhi on dietary choices during Sawan are now hosting mutton parties. When Tejashwi Yadav's fish photo or Rahul's meal with Lalu Ji went viral, there was a hue and cry. Now the Prime Minister and NDA leaders should explain.' Tiwari was referring to the political row that erupted two years ago when RJD chief Lalu Prasad cooked Champaran mutton and served it to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. It was filmed in August 2023, during Sawan, at the Delhi residence of Lalu's daughter Misa Bharti, and the video was shared on Gandhi's social media channels. Last year, a video of RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav having fish during Navratri also caused a storm, with BJP leaders targeting him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP leaders subsequently accused the Opposition leaders of 'offending religious sentiments by eating non-vegetarian food during Savan and Navratri'. Though the JD(U) was in alliance with the RJD and part of the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties nationally when the controversy over the Lalu-Rahul video occurred, one of its MLAs said the former Bihar CM had gone a 'little crazy' after undergoing a kidney transplant. 'We made those remarks back then keeping Lalu ji's health in mind. He had undergone a kidney transplant, so we advised avoiding oily and fatty foods, as his people weren't taking proper care of his diet. We spoke as well-wishers, but they turned it into a political issue. Similarly, Tejashwi Ji was eating fish in a helicopter, and since helicopters vibrate, there was a risk the bones could get stuck, so our comment was for his well-being. At Lalan ji's party, there was no onion or garlic, and people had options of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes,' said JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar. Hitting out at the NDA, Lalu's another daughter Rohini Acharya wrote on X, 'Those who keep staging pretences and spreading falsehoods, who criticise others' food habits, are deceitful and cunning schemers. Their words and actions never match, they whisper poisonous incantations. They hide the true meaning of religion, and end up swallowing their own words. In reality, they are people of double standards.' Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta said, 'People like Lalan Singh win elections by any means necessary, including serving mutton, chicken and liquor to mislead people. They have no concrete plans for Bihar, and they have been resorting to such tactics to win votes. With rising crime and unemployment in Bihar, it shows their indifference to the people's real issues.'
