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Economic Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Scripps National Spelling Bee: How to watch, top competitors, rules, and prizes
The Scripps National Spelling Bee, celebrating its 100th anniversary, commences on May 27th, featuring 243 spellers from across the globe. Competitors will vie for the championship through oral spelling, vocabulary rounds, and written tests. The winner will receive over $50,000 in cash and prizes, with coverage available on Scripps-owned platforms and ION. This year marks the 97th edition of the bee Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How to Watch the Spelling Bee Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Who's Competing? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Scripps National Spelling Bee marks its centenary this year, bringing together the finest young spelling talents in the English competition began in 1925 when the Louisville Courier-Journal initiated a collaborative spelling contest amongst newspapers, with champions gathering in Washington. Currently, the event takes place in Oxon Hill, Maryland, at a convention centre beside the Potomac River, running from Tuesday through Thursday marks the 97th competition, with gaps during 1943-1945 due to World War II and in 2020 due to COVID-19. The upcoming winner will be the 110th, accounting for previous two-way ties and the notable eight-way tie in is available via Scripps-owned streaming platforms and broadcast networks:Tuesday, May 27Preliminaries: 8 a.m. – 4:40 p.m. EDT on Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, and May 28Quarterfinals: 8 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. (Streaming)Semifinals: 2:30 – 6:30 p.m. (Streaming), 8–10 p.m. (Tape-delay broadcast on ION)Thursday, May 29Finals: 8–10 p.m. live on IONThe 2024 bee features 243 spellers representing all 50 states, D.C., U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands), and countries including Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Kuwait, and contenders include:Faizan Zaki (13, Texas): Last year's runner-up, known for excelling in top-tier bees like Words of Wisdom and South Asian Spelling Kallakuri (14, North Carolina): 2024 SpellPundit National Prem Anand (14, Ohio): Finished second to Faizan in the Words of Wisdom Raju (12, Colorado): Younger brother of 2022 runner-up Vikram qualify, spellers must win regional bees and meet age and grade criteria (under 15, not past 8th grade). The contest includes:Preliminaries: One oral spelling round and one multiple-choice vocabulary test: Determines who advances to & Semifinals: Oral spelling and vocabulary questions eliminate About a dozen compete until one winner two spellers remain, judges may initiate a 'spell-off' lightning round tiebreaker—though recent rule tweaks make this less receive a custom trophy and over $50,000 in cash and prizes:1st Place: $52,500 + reference works + $1,000 school donation2nd Place: $25,0003rd Place: $15,0004th Place: $10,0005th Place: $5,0006th Place: $2,500All finalists: $2,000 each
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Controversial 'Govinda… Govinda…' song from Santhanam's 'DD Next Level' removed amid protests
The song "Govinda… Govinda…" from the upcoming film ' DD Next Level ,' starring Santhanam, has stirred significant controversy for its alleged disrespect towards the Tirupati Ezhumalaiyan shrine and Hindu religious sentiments . The opposition began in Salem and quickly spread to Tirupati, prompting protests from devotees and political groups. The lyrics and depiction in the song were seen as offensive, especially as it portrayed "Govinda" in a negative light, which many found hurtful to their faith. Film overshadowed by growing controversy Santhanam, who gained fame as a comedian and has now transitioned to lead roles, is the film's star. Directed by Prem Anand, 'DD Next Level' was highly anticipated, but this controversy has overshadowed its release. Two days ago, BJP members filed a formal complaint demanding the removal of the song, citing its disrespect to the deity and religious feelings. The controversy soon extended beyond Tamil Nadu, with the Jana Sena Party in Andhra Pradesh also condemning the song and accusing the filmmakers of hurting Hindu beliefs. Political and legal pressure mounts In response to these protests, the Jana Sena Party's Tirupati division leader filed a complaint at the Tirumala police station, urging action against the production house and Santhanam. The party also sought support from Tamil Nadu opposition leader Edappadi Palaniswami, highlighting the widespread opposition. Additionally, a member of the Tirupati Devasthanam Board, Banu Prakash Reddy, issued a legal notice through an advocate, warning the producers and actor about legal consequences, demanding the immediate removal of the song and threatening a ₹100 crore compensation claim if not complied with. Song removed amidst intense backlash Amid mounting pressure, the film's production company reportedly removed the controversial song from 'DD Next Level' and informed the Devasthanam authorities, as per the report from News 18. The song has also been taken down from social media platforms. The Devasthanam Board is now considering stricter legal protections to prevent misuse of sacred names like those of Ezumalaiyan in future musical works, aiming to safeguard religious sentiments and respect traditions.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Santhanam opens up about the 'Perumal song' controversy in 'DD Next Level'
Santhanam is set to shine as the lead hero in the upcoming film ' Devil's Double Next Level ,' directed by Prem Anand . The movie also features an impressive cast, including Geethika Thivari, Selvaraghavan, Gautam Vasudev Menon, Nizhalgal Ravi , Rajendran, Kasthuri, Redin Kingsley , and Yashika Anand. The horror comedy is scheduled to release on May 16, and the makers have been involved in some deep promotions to make the film reach a wider audience. Santhanam reflects on his transition from comedy to hero roles At a recent press meet, Santhanam shared insights into his transition from comedy to leading man in films. Recalling a conversation with Arya, Santhanam revealed that Arya once pointed out that his comedic charm seemed to be missing from his current roles. Santhanam explained that he had shared his struggles in adjusting to the challenges of playing a hero, which prompted Arya to offer his support. Arya encouraged him to fully commit to the role in 'Devil's Double Next Level,' assuring him that his personal challenges would be taken care of. Santhanam praises director Prem Anand's vision Santhanam expressed his admiration for director Prem Anand, comparing him to Christopher Nolan in the Tamil film industry . He highlighted Anand's ability to weave multi-layered stories, a trait that made 'Devil's Double Next Level' stand out. Santhanam credited the film's success to Prem Anand's vision, emphasizing that the movie contains a great blend of story, screenplay, comedy, and acting, all of which come together to make it a truly remarkable experience. Santhanam addresses Perumal song controversy During the press meet, Santhanam was asked about the controversy surrounding a song in which he was accused of mocking Perumal. He clarified that he is a devotee of Perumal and that the intention behind the song was purely devotional, not mocking. Santhanam emphasized that his faith in God remains strong, and he expressed that he had no intention of offending anyone with the song.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Santhanam's 'DD Next Level' lands in controversy days before release
Actor Santhanam's upcoming film ' DD Next Level ' is facing unexpected trouble just days before its scheduled release on May 16. The movie is directed by Prem Anand , who previously collaborated with Santhanam for the successful horror-comedy 'DD Returns'. That film featured a cast including Surbhi, Redin Kingsley, 'Lollu Sabha' Maaran, and Motta Rajendran, and was well-received by audiences. Riding on its success, the sequel 'DD Next Level' was created with heightened expectations. Star-studded cast and viral first single raise buzz This new installment sees Santhanam sharing screen space with several popular actors, including Gautham Vasudev Menon and Selvaraghavan. The film continues the horror-comedy genre and features music composed by Afro. Recently, the first single from the film, titled 'Kissa 47,' was released and quickly garnered attention, collecting over 9 million views. The song, written by Gautami, is designed to reflect Santhanam's role as a film critic, featuring witty and humorous lines. Devotional lyric reference sparks religious backlash However, the track has now stirred controversy. As per a report from News 18, the lyrics of ' Kissa 47 ' include lines from the devotional song 'Govinda Govinda,' associated with Lord Perumal. Some have found this inclusion disrespectful. BJP-backed lawyers filed a complaint at the Salem City Police Commissioner's office, alleging that the song hurts religious sentiments and insults Lord Perumal. They demanded that the film be banned and that action be taken against Santhanam. Complaint filed as release date nears, uncertainty looms With only three days left until release, this issue has created a setback for the film's team. While the makers haven't issued an official response yet, the controversy has drawn significant attention from the public and the media. Whether the film's release will be impacted remains to be seen, but the buzz, both positive and critical, has certainly intensified around 'DD Next Level.'
New Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Director Prem Anand Interview: DD Next Level will bring the pei out of the bungalow
Prem Anand attributes his flair in writing to Santhanam, and the works of late author Indira Soundarajan, whom he calls his mentor. "Indira sir has a huge influence on my writing. His works are a reason for me to make my directorial debut with a horror subject. I consult him on supernatural elements. And I give it my Lollu Sabha twist and derive humour from scary situations. Even for DD Next Level, I took his advice at every step. More than the horror, he would also fine-tune spaces that evoke humour. His demise is a personal loss for me. DD Next Level will be a tribute to him," he remarks while calling Syd Field's Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting his manual for screenplay writing. "When I switched from a comedy track writer to a full-fledged screenwriter and director, his book came in handy. I learnt everything necessary for my transition, right from the basic three-act structure to other screenplay devices. You can come up with an interesting line, but it cannot be used if you aren't aware of the structure," he adds. Discussing the unique set of challenges that come in writing a successful horror comedy, Prem Anand points out that getting stuck in stereotypes can be the biggest issue. "Trying to defy a genre's norms will bring out exciting things. With DD Returns, I wanted to remove the possession, priest and exorcism trope atypical to the genre and create a game-show setup hosted by a ghost family. Despite the innovation, we couldn't resist setting the story against a bungalow backdrop, which is also an overused element. With DD Next Level, we wanted to break free from that as well. So with this film, we are bringing the pei out of the bungalow. Why can't ghosts roam around freely? Why should it be tied to a building? This will give the genre a fresh makeover," says Prem Anand.
