Latest news with #Landing
India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Hrithik Roshan calls Vir Das Fool Volume best stand-up, reinstalls app to say it
Actor Hrithik Roshan has showered praise on comedian-actor Vir Das for his latest Netflix special 'Fool Volume', calling it 'the best stand-up show ever.' The 'War 2' star was so moved by the performance that he reinstalled Instagram just to publicly share his admiration for the show, which marks Vir's most personal and boldest work to date.'Had to reinstall Instagram cause I had to say this. Vir Das' 'Fool Volume' has got to be the best stand-up show ever,' Hrithik wrote on his Instagram Story. advertisementThe special, which premiered on Netflix last Friday, has clever humour with introspective moments, exploring themes such as identity, politics, and the quirks of everyday life. This is Vir's sixth stand-up special and follows his Emmy-winning 'Landing', which made him the first Indian comedian to bag the prestigious International Emmy Award in 2024. 'Fool Volume' has since been gaining attention for its fearless commentary and clever writing. In response to Hrithik's heartfelt appreciation, Vir Das expressed his gratitude, saying, 'Day, month, year, life made. Thank you Hrithik for always shining light and for always being amazing. Thank you thank you @hrithikroshan I admire you so much.' On the work front, Hrithik has just wrapped up shooting for 'War 2', directed by Ayan Mukerji. The film also stars Kiara Advani and Jr NTR, who will be making his Bollywood debut. A sequel to the 2019 blockbuster 'War', the film is a key part of the YRF Spy Universe, alongside 'Pathaan' and 'Tiger 3'. Hrithik will reprise his role as Major Kabir Dhaliwal, a character that has become a fan favorite.- EndsMust Watch
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Social media startup Zeen is shutting down after raising $9 million
Making it as a social media startup ain't easy. Zeen, the maker of a social collage platform, confirmed to Business Insider on Monday that it was shutting down operations. "If there was any other way to keep it going, we would've done that," cofounder Miri Buckland told BI. "Ultimately, over the last couple of months, it became clear that it wasn't going to grow to the scale that it needed to as a VC-backed startup." Buckland cofounded the company, which was originally called Landing, with Ellie Buckingham in 2019. The startup raised a total of $9 million in venture capital from firms including Stellation Capital. The company's first product was Landing, a social media app that felt nostalgic for the 2010s days of Polyvore or Pinterest, and was a brief hit with Gen-Z users. The startup shut down the Landing app in September. The company then rebranded to Zeen and pivoted away from building a new social media platform and toward the creator economy. It introduced a shoppable collage feature that creators could use across social media platforms, particularly Substack newsletters. Creators could easily integrate affiliate-marketing links using Zeen's website. "We've had products in many different iterations through Landing and through Zeen, and we hoped that this would be something that we could grow into a much bigger business," Buckland said. Building a long-lasting, profitable social media platform isn't an easy game. That's one reason some investors have backed away from the category. Other social media darlings have faced fates of either dwindling popularity or, in some cases, shutting down entirely. For instance, Poparazzi, a photo-sharing app that was a viral hit in 2021, announced it would shut down in 2023. Meanwhile, some creator economy startups have also had to face shutdowns, like film studio Creator+. "We made the decision that now was the time to shut it down," Buckland said. "Fundraising or becoming profitable, they weren't viable pathways for us at this point. It's a sad decision, honestly."
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Vir Das Fool Volume review: Shah Rukh Khan-approved comedian struggles against contraints in self-deprecating and self-indulgent Netflix stand-up special
Throttled by his government and abandoned by his peers — inanimate objects and abstract ideas get more support than Indian comedians — Vir Das seems to be in conflict with his past. His sixth stand-up special for Netflix, Fool Volume, combines his trademark self-effacing delivery with his signature ambition. Fool Volume was filmed in Mumbai, London, and New York, at venues of different shapes and sizes, in front of crowds with different thresholds of tolerance. But the elaborate production and occasional filmmaking flourish isn't the most impressive thing about the one-hour special. It's the comedian's ability to spin a story, to structure a narrative that serves as yet another reminder of his skill. There isn't a dull moment in the hour-long set, which Das says was rewritten after he lost his voice, literally, six weeks before he was supposed to perform it. He abandoned the material that Netflix had paid him for, and, either by chance or by design, found himself gravitating towards the style of comedy that he does best. In Fool Volume, Das gazes inward; he glances at the world around him, and then, he gets down to business. The show isn't so much about a comedian finding his voice again as it is about a middle-aged Indian man finding a new voice. Also read – Kapil Sharma I'm Not Done Yet review: Indisciplined Netflix standup special is strictly for the comedian's hardcore fans Unwritten restrictions, in a way, are scarier than laws that have been institutionalised over decades. For instance, no one — including a career criminal — would risk running somebody over on the street in broad daylight because the law forbids it. The same person might think twice about posting something rude about the Prime Minister online despite Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita not expounding a word on it. Das doesn't entirely abandon the political humour that got him in trouble a few months before his last Netflix special, the Emmy-winning Landing, but he certainly seems to be distancing himself from that persona. There is, however, a great bit directed at the Indian middle-class for 'worshipping false heroes and celebrating a lack of intelligence' because it is 'obsessed with consumption and a cult of power.' But, having built a career on the back of jokes directed at 'uncles', Das doesn't quite realise that he might be turning into one himself. Any time someone begins a sentence with, 'Here's the problem with your generation,' and ends it with, 'I don't want to patronise you,' you know they've gone over the bend. Or, at least, they've started to. Standing in his two shoes, wearing his perfectly tailored suit, his fade cropped to precision, Das makes the unforgivable mistake of invoking his past struggles. He tells a story about when he used to work as a dishwasher at a restaurant. In Chicago. As a Gully Boy once said, 'Jahan humare sapne poore hote hain, wahan inka struggle shuru hota hai.' In fairness, the point of this story, which is expertly told, isn't to remind audiences across three continents about the power of Brown people with a dream (and money). It is to illustrate the power of kindness. Read more – Ricky Gervais Armageddon review: Provocative comedian dusts off dated material in latest Netflix standup special Midway through the special, Das makes the stylistically inspired choice to turn the house lights off. In darkness, the crowd experiences something that it probably hasn't at a comedy show in a while: freedom. It's like a version of online anonymity, demonstrated with a resolute faith in humanity, not frustration directed at it. Those in power aren't afraid of what comedians say, Das tells the crowds; they're afraid of how the audience reacts. They sent their goons to vandalise venues and threaten artistes not because of what was said, but because of how it was received. Comedy shows are oddly comforting. For about an hour, you feel as if you've finally found your tribe, people who share similar anxieties and fears. You realise that, deep down, everyone wants the same thing. For about an hour, you feel empowered to laugh about stuff that you probably wouldn't laugh about in regular life. Perhaps you're policing yourself, or perhaps you're simply protecting yourself. It's slightly irrational belief, because the moment you walk out into the real world, the illusion breaks. There's some guy barking at you for standing in their way, or not driving as fast as they think you should. This is the world far removed from the cocoon of the Kedarnath Sahni Auditorium; this is where you can get killed for having grown a moustache that doesn't 'belong' to your culture. Read more – Aziz Ansari Nightclub Comedian review: Surprise new Netflix standup special is a minor work from a major talent Fool Volume is a relatively lighthearted special, though. Das does the Bollywood thing of name-dropping Shah Rukh Khan; the 'King' apparently told Das that he's proud of him, although the comedian doesn't specify what for. While you'd assume that it was for speaking truth to power, it could've honestly been for anything else. SRK beaming with pride at Das for having finished the meal that was served to him at Mannat can't entirely be taken off the table, can it? He also takes a pot-shot at Kangana Ranaut, by the way, but she'd probably need to utilise the collective intelligence of every person in her constituency to explain the joke to her. Fool Volume finds India's most gifted comedian — you cannot compare him to the casually misogynistic Zakir Khan or the casually cruel Samay Raina — throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. It's an artistic representation of the stages of panic he went through when he lost his voice — he tried homeopathy, paid for an expensive therapist; he even tried praying. But he'll never know which strategy really worked. His voice just… came back one day. Fool Volume is Das in the throat-clearing phase of his recovery. He'll find his new voice soon enough. Throat-clearing isn't just a sign of hesitation, you see; it is also warning. Vir Das: Fool Volume Director – Vir Das Rating – 3/5 Rohan Naahar is an assistant editor at Indian Express online. He covers pop-culture across formats and mediums. He is a 'Rotten Tomatoes-approved' critic and a member of the Film Critics Guild of India. He previously worked with the Hindustan Times, where he wrote hundreds of film and television reviews, produced videos, and interviewed the biggest names in Indian and international cinema. At the Express, he writes a column titled Post Credits Scene, and has hosted a podcast called Movie Police. You can find him on X at @RohanNaahar, and write to him at He is also on LinkedIn and Instagram. ... Read More
India Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Vir Das Fool Volume review: Most experimental special yet
After winning the International Emmy for 'Landing' in 2022, comedian-actor Vir Das returns to Netflix with 'Fool Volume', his most experimental special yet, and possibly his most personal. Spanning three dramatically different venues, a jam-packed stadium in Mumbai, a quiet church in London, and a moody underground cellar in New York, Das turns his set into a cultural triptych. His act serves as a global echo chamber for sharp wit, social introspection, and comedic risk.'Indian comedy is not global,' Das says at some point in his set, taking a jibe at the stereotype globally, while standing tall in a hall, shooting an act for a global audience. What sets 'Fool Volume' apart isn't just its structure, though that's ambitious in itself. The real difference lies in the tonal shifts and atmosphere. The Mumbai set is high-energy, electric. The London bit is more introspective, reverent almost. And New York, with its intimate, underground feel, delivers the kind of raw punch. Stitching these diverse energies together is no easy feat, and while there are moments that don't quite land, the ones that do hit square in the gut and the still that classic Vir Das DNA at work, clever wordplay, political jabs delivered with a smirk, and the kind of racial and religious commentary that walks the tightrope without losing balance. He continues to keep the audience, both in the room and on the couch, on edge, never quite letting them get too comfortable. It's a skill that has evolved with each special since 'Abroad Understanding' (2017), 'Losing It' (2019), and 'For India' (2020). But here, the evolution feels intentional and mature, not just in content but in the way it's framed and a look at Fool Volume's trailer: The visual identity of 'Fool Volume' also adds texture. Das plays with lighting, crowd energy, and even silence, using each setting to give the same material slightly different shades of meaning. It's a fascinating experiment in not just stand-up, but stand-up as it perfect? No. The experimental nature means most of the set pieces are raw, and a few bits don't land quite as hard. But is it worth your time? Absolutely. With 'Fool Volume', Vir Das isn't just telling jokes, he is reminding us why he's still one of the most relevant, razor-sharp voices in comedy Volume is now streaming on Netflix.- Ends3.5 out of 5 stars to Vir Das: Fool May Also Like
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vertical Aerospace Announces Closing of $60M Underwritten Public Offering
LONDON & NEW YORK, July 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) (NYSE: EVTL) ("Vertical" or the "Company"), a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today announces the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering (the "Offering") for total gross proceeds of $60 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. In the Offering, Vertical sold 12,000,000 ordinary shares at $5.00 per ordinary share. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,800,000 ordinary shares at the public offering price, which has not yet been exercised. Vertical intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund its research and development expenses as Vertical continues to develop its aircraft and its expenditures in the expansion of its testing and certification capacities, as well as for general working capital and other general corporate purposes. Specifically, the net proceeds from this offering extends the Company's cash runway towards the middle of 2026. Deutsche Bank Securities and William Blair acted as joint bookrunners for the Offering and D. Boral Capital acted as co-manager. The Offering was made only by means of a prospectus supplement to the Company's registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-287207) previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 13, 2025 and declared effective by the SEC on May 16, 2025. Copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from the SEC's website located at or by contacting: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 1 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019, by telephone at (800) 503-4611, or by email at or William Blair & Company, L.L.C., Attention: Prospectus Department, 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606, by telephone at (800) 621-0687, or by email at prospectus@ This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Vertical Aerospace Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner and quieter way to travel. Vertical's VX4 is a piloted, four passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical will also be launching a hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility market. Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace companies, including GKN, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world's most advanced and safest eVTOL. Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered in Bristol, the epicentre of the UK's aerospace industry, Vertical's experienced leadership team comes from top tier automotive and aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Offering, the potential purchase of additional shares by the underwriters during the 30-day option, our future results of operations and financial position, our plans for capital expenditures, the design and manufacture of the VX4, our business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on timelines projected, certification and the commercialization of the VX4 and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, expectations surrounding pre-orders and commitments, the features and capabilities of the VX4, the transition towards a net-zero emissions economy, as well as statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "forecast," "estimate," "may," "should," "anticipate," "will," "aim," "potential," "continue," "are likely to" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation: our limited operating history without manufactured non-prototype aircraft or completed eVTOL aircraft customer order; our history of losses and the expectation to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; the market for eVTOL aircraft being in a relatively early stage; our potential inability to test, produce, certify or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines projected, including achieving the targets set out in Flightpath 2030; the potential inability to obtain the necessary certifications for production and operation within any projected timeline, or at all; any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft could harm our business; our dependence on partners and suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for operational needs; the potential that certain strategic partnerships may not materialize into long-term partnership arrangements; all of the pre-orders received are conditional and may be terminated at any time and any pre-delivery payments may be fully refundable upon certain specified dates; the inability for our aircraft to perform at the level we expect and may have potential defects; any potential failure to effectively manage our growth; our inability to recruit and retain senior management and other highly skilled personnel, our ability to raise additional funds when we need or want them, or at all, to fund our operations; our limited cash and cash equivalents and recurring losses from our operations raise significant doubt (or raise substantial doubt as contemplated by PCAOB standards) regarding our ability to continue as a going concern; the fact that we have previously identified material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting which if we fail to properly remediate, could adversely affect our results of operations, investor confidence in us and the market price of our ordinary shares; the fact that our preliminary cash position and predicted cash runway toward the middle of 2026 as a result of the Offering represent management's current estimates and are subject to change; the fact that as a foreign private issuer, we follow certain home country corporate governance rules, are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S. domestic public company; and the other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 11, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law. View source version on Contacts Enquiries please contact: Vertical Aerospace Media Justin Bates, Head of +44 7878 357 463 Investor Relations Samuel Emden, Head of Investor +44 7816 459 904 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
