Latest news with #Rorschach
Straits Times
10-08-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Trump is losing the trade war with China
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox His lack of strategic discipline and transactional statecraft give Beijing the upper hand. US President Donald Trump's lack of strategic discipline gives Beijing the upper hand. US President Donald Trump's approach to China reveals a leader improvising rather than implementing a coherent strategy. It reflects a form of transactional statecraft – prioritising short-term economic wins over long-term strategic alignment. As a result, Mr Trump's second-term China policy has become a Rorschach test for foreign policy analysts. Depending on your vantage point, you might see a master dealmaker softening his approach to secure a grand bargain, a hardball negotiator maintaining maximum pressure, or a leader simply buying time while two global powers dance towards an inevitable confrontation.
Hindustan Times
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
6 Hitchcockian thrillers to watch on OTT ahead of Drop release
Meghann Fahy's latest release Drop is a refreshing thriller, which also stars Brandon Sklenar. Drop follows a widowed mother as her first date takes a dark turn when she receives an anonymous message via a digital drop application, forcing her to follow dangerous instructions. The film is releasing on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) on August 11, 2025. But before its release, let's take a look at some similar Hitchcockian thrillers available on OTTplay Premium. Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar in Drop Mystery thrillers you should not miss! Rorschach The film follows Luke Anthony as he relocates to a village in Kerala after his wife goes missing. The incident sparks suspicion among the locals, even as Luke begins an investigation. The film brilliantly blends psychological themes into the narrative and this along with Mammootty's stellar performance makes Rorschach a gripping watch. A revenge tale at its core, Rorschach also explores other aspects such as family dynamics and the greed for money. Inheritance follows a woman discovering the truth behind her father's mysterious legacy and a man imprisoned in a bunker. The film delves into the complexities of family relationships, exploring the impacts of lies and secrets on their bond. The story focuses on the manipulative nature of the father and the daughter's struggle with her perception. The narrative will keep you guessing till the end about the true nature of the characters and their motives. This film explores the unexpected friendship between two absolutely different women - Staphanie and Emily, and the unsettling events that unfold after Emily mysteriously disappears. The gripping investigation into Emily's disappearance uncovers hidden truths and Stephanie's twisted past is also revealed in the film, with dark humour and gripping suspense. This psychological thriller explores the story of a woman named Billie who finds herself trapped in a series of time loops, experiencing terrible blackouts and visions. She soon discovers that her new relationship with another woman named Alex is the root cause of these incidents and that she's stuck in an abusive relationship. Jagged Mind delves into issues of gaslighting, manipulation and the struggles to break free from a toxic bond. This Hindi drama follows the story of Meesha who returns to her ancestral home after being away for years, only to find that her father is missing and her step mother seemingly manipulating her into questioning her sanity. Soon Meesha uncovers some horrific truths and betrayals of her step mother and dark truths of her family. However, as the story unfolds, twisted truths begin to unravel about Meesha herself and her past as well. This Malayalam thriller follows the story of Priyadarshini who is suspicious about her new neighbour Manuel. She begins her own investigation and unravels some dark truths along the way, culminating in a tense climax. The film explores the lengths to which people can go to uncover a truth. Sookshmadarshini amazingly builds tension throughout its runtime and cleverly makes audiences keep guessing the next stage of the investigation.
Boston Globe
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Some Mainers think their new license plates come with a one-finger salute
It took Alison Soule a nanosecond to see it. 'Oh, it's a middle finger,' Soule, 46, said when she looked closely at the new plates she'd put on her SUV two weeks earlier. Advertisement Soule, a teacher and restaurant worker who lives in North Yarmouth, said getting flipped off by a treetop doesn't bother her. 'It's actually funny,' she said. 'If it was done intentionally, that's disappointing. If it was accidental, it's more comical.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Was it intentional? Or is the image like a Rorschach test inkblot, where we see what we want to see? It's the latter, says the artist who designed the plate. Mary Catus was working in the Maine Secretary of State's office in 2023 when it was charged with coming up with a design for the new plate, which by Advertisement Secretary of State Shenna Bellows suggested using it for the new plate after the legislature's transportation committee couldn't agree on a design. Bellows took Catus's watercolor to committee members, and they loved it. Catus created a new version on her iPad and donated it to the state. 'Her design was vibrant and lifelike,' Bellows said. 'It was the perfect pine tree plate for the Pine Tree State.' Catus has seen the chatter about the middle finger at the top of her tree and finds it amusing. 'I have been scrolling through Reddit, and I thought that was hilarious,' said Catus, who is now the press secretary in the Maine Senate president's office. 'There are no Easter eggs in this design. There was no intention behind that – definitely not my brand.' An upraised finger? That's what pine tree boughs look like. 'Anyone who suggests it's anything other than a pine tree doesn't know pine trees,' Bellows said. Even so, once you see the Rachel Soucy saw it when she was waiting at a red light behind a car with the new plate. 'I'm looking at the plate and looking at the plate, and I started chuckling,' said Soucy, 55, a help desk specialist who lives in Bangor. 'I couldn't believe it. Then people started posting pictures online. It gave me the opportunity to enlarge the image, and sure enough.' Mary Catus, the artist behind the tree, has seen the chatter about the middle finger and finds it amusing. "Definitely not my brand." Steve Greenlee Pictures and chatter about the plate's supposed one-finger salute are all over social media. Advertisement Gary Craig, 42, posted on Reddit after hearing about the finger in a family text chain. He said his brother-in-law runs an automotive repair shop and started seeing it. Craig said he's surprised the state didn't notice it before approving the design. 'You don't have anyone in your approval process who is slightly jaded like me and says, 'Wait a second, guys. We have a problem'?' said Craig, a chemical and biomedical engineer in Old Town. In fact, there has been a problem with the new plates, but it's not with the tree. The spacing between characters on 3,600 plates that have been printed is too small to be read by toll scanners, so new ones are being issued to those vehicle owners. Tracy Christensen of Tampa, Fla., was driving a Toyota HEV rental with the new plates in Freeport last week. She hadn't looked at the tree until a reporter asked her to take a peek. Then she saw it immediately. 'It looks like it's giving the finger,' Christensen, 52, who is an operations manager for a nonprofit, said with a laugh. Same with Bob Masciarelli, a 67-year-old retiree parking his Jeep at a supermarket in Yarmouth. 'Oh!' he said as soon as he bent down for a look. It's quite obviously a coincidence, like spotting an image of Jesus on a potato chip, and it's too soon to tell whether the plates could put a dent in Mainers' reputation as New England's most courteous drivers. What is apparent to many motorists is that the state may have unintentionally replaced the chickadee with a different sort of bird. Steve Greenlee is a journalism professor at Boston University. Advertisement
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How Mollywood's comedy stars are becoming the strongest pillars in serious storytelling – ‘Siddique-Lal gave me a big break with Appukuttan in 'In Harihar Nagar'
Comedy remains one of the most overlooked yet cherished genres in cinema. It undeniably holds a special place in the hearts of moviegoers. In Malayalam cinema, it's no secret that many comedy films owe their popularity not to the lead actors, but to the supporting artistes who brought the humour alive on screen. Icons like Innocent, Salim Kumar , Cochin Haneefa, Kuthiravattam Pappu, Jagadish , Jagathy Sreekumar, Suraj Venjaramoodu , and Indrans are just a few names who effortlessly carried the weight of comedy in countless films. Meanwhile, mainstream stars like Mammootty and Mohanlal often served as the face of the film to draw audiences to the theatres. As with many other film industries, Mollywood too had a tendency to typecast these actors solely in comic roles, often limiting their opportunities to explore other facets of performance. Several of these actors have even spoken openly about being stereotyped and their desire to take on more serious, performance-driven roles. Interestingly, the current generation of actors shows a deep admiration for these veteran comedy legends. Many aspire to emulate their impeccable comic timing while also seeking out diverse roles. For film lovers who grew up in the late 1990s and early 2000s, these actors are etched in memory for their unforgettable contributions to light-hearted cinema. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Aged 50-85 With No Life Insurance Could Get This Reassured Get Quote Undo Over the years, the tide has turned. Many of these comedy stalwarts have successfully transitioned into serious, performance-heavy roles. Suraj Venjaramoodu, Jagadish, and Indrans, once synonymous with humour, are now captivating audiences with emotionally intense portrayals. This shift in their careers has been both surprising and thrilling for their fans. Yet, beneath this transformation lies a touch of nostalgia. Audiences who once laughed wholeheartedly at their antics now find themselves missing the light-hearted roles that defined a generation. As we explore the journey of these artists from comedic brilliance to dramatic depth, we also reflect on their experiences — from breaking free of stereotypes to still harbouring a fondness for roles that bring joy and laughter. "I'd like to call it a take-off in In Harihar Nagar as Appukuttan" – Jagadish Actor PV Jagadish Kumar, widely known as Jagadish in the Malayalam industry, is still remembered by many as the humorous Appukuttan from Siddique-Lal's In Harihar Nagar. The actor, who once defined comedy for Mollywood lovers, experienced a dramatic shift in his career with films such as Rorschach, Purusha Pretham, Neru, Marco, Rekhachithram, and many others in recent times. Jagadish joins ETimes to discuss how this career shift came about and how he now approaches his stardom. The actor was asked about his thoughts when reflecting on his comedy roles in films such as In Harihar Nagar and Vellinakshatram. "The thing is, once we are introduced to the film industry, the role we portray in the beginning, in those early days, tends to stay in the audience's mind. For example, in My Dear Kuttichathan, I played a comedic cameo, and in my second film, Odaruthammava Aalariyam, I again played a humorous role. So I was typecast. People thought, 'Okay, Jagadish is someone who does comedy roles,' and I started getting a series of such roles, like in Vellanakalude Naadu, and so on. Watching my performances in those films, Siddique-Lal were impressed with my comedic timing and gave me a big break. I'd like to call it a take-off in In Harihar Nagar as Appukuttan. They believed I was the right person to play that character. Appukuttan was another take-off in my career. The character and the film were both super hits. It was Harihar Nagar that made me a hero. I acted as a hero in 40 films simply because Harihar Nagar was that successful — a major hit. Producers and directors gained confidence in casting me as a hero. But I had never dreamt of becoming a hero. I always thought I'd become a college lecturer or professor, doing two or three roles a year. But destiny had other plans. After Harihar Nagar, I was fortunate enough to play the lead in 40 films. Even in those, about 75% were humorous roles — light-hearted roles that suited me as a hero. Not the kind of roles played by Mammootty, Mohanlal, or Suresh Gopi. It wasn't that I was cast because others weren't available. I got lead roles that fit my persona. For instance, consider actors like Bhagyaraj, Amol Palekar, or Mehmood. The roles they portrayed were suited to them. If those roles were given to Rajinikanth or Kamal Haasan, they wouldn't have been as effective — and vice versa. I wouldn't have been able to pull off the roles Mammootty or Mohanlal did, and I'm quite sure of that. In Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans, Renji Panicker and Shaji Kailas crafted the character of Gopalakrishnan — a newspaper boy turned minister — in such a way that even the character admits, 'My voice may not be harsh or strong.' What they meant was, my voice is not like Mammootty's or Mohanlal's. The character was shaped to suit me. He was an ordinary, middle-class man who becomes a minister — not a fierce fighter. I had strong dialogues, but I was asked to deliver them in my own style, not like Mammootty or Mohanlal. What I mean to say is that the roles offered to me were designed for my comfort zone — in my own Jagadish style. Directors told me not to think of myself as a superstar or hero, but simply as Jagadish playing a central character. Not to let the typical 'hero' image occupy my mind. I managed to do 40 films as a lead. In some, I could also perform emotionally well — like Sthreedhanam, Arya, and Welcome to Kodaikanal. These films had strong emotional elements and were successful too. We celebrated 100-day runs for Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans, Welcome to Kodaikanal, and Sthreedhanam — all were super hits. But I also had many average films, and some flopped financially. I should admit that. Even when I was playing lead roles, I was particular about doing supporting roles as well. From the set of Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans, I went to the set of Jackpot with Mammootty, where I played a comedian. Even while playing the lead, I found time to act as a comedian with Mohanlal in films like Butterflies, Manthrikam, and Nirnayam. I played comic roles with Mammootty in Jackpot, Sangham, Hitler. I knew the hero phase would be short-lived. I never expected to bask in the glory of being a hero for long. I was sure of that. So, I gradually moved to character roles — mostly comic. Back then, I wasn't happy seeing actors like Siddique and Sai Kumar already turning into character artistes, while I faced hesitation from directors to be cast in serious roles. I even complained to Innocent, who told me, 'Don't worry, you're still getting good roles. Forget senior and elderly roles — we're there to handle them. When the time comes, the audience will accept you too.' Directors like Lal Jose used to say, 'Jagadish, we can't imagine you as a hero's father. You don't look that old.' That was my problem. I told them, 'I may not look old, but I am old. I may look young, but I'm not young.' But what matters is appearance — and I didn't look like a father figure, so I wasn't cast in such roles. Then came a turning point. Director Ranjith had the courage to cast me in a very negative father role in Leela. I give full credit to him — he transformed me into a character actor, a senior character actor. I may have done character roles earlier, but in Leela, I played the heroine's father — my first significant elderly role. The film wasn't a box office success, but the role clicked. When it was released on OTT and satellite TV, everyone noticed it and praised my performance — especially the younger generation. That gave me confidence. It also gave directors and writers the confidence to cast me in different roles. The next step came with the role of Constable Ashraf in Rorschach. Since then, I've been lucky to land meaningful, varied roles. About Falimy — you can't really call it a serious or humorous role. It's a character role. I performed it seriously, but the impact was comedic in certain scenes — and that worked. I even turned villain in Abraham Ozler and Marco. So, I broke free from my comedian image. That's how I transitioned into a character actor. I've done many kinds of character roles — in Rorschach, Falimy, Garudan, Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil, Ajayante Randam Moshanam, Kishkindha Kaandam, Officer on Duty, and Mohanlal's film Neru with Jeethu Joseph. All these helped my career significantly. Now, I try to choose roles that are different. I'm not concerned with how many films I do — but I want each role to be distinct. In Purusha Pretham, Constable Dileep was a lovely role — I really enjoyed it. I'm also in Krishand's Sambhava Vivaranam Nalarasangham – The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang, which will stream on Sony LIV soon. I'm playing a writer's role. Right now, I'm working with Krishand on 'Mastishka Maranam: Simon's Memories' — again, a very different role. I'm looking forward to collaborating with these young directors, and I don't mind asking them for good roles. Megastar Mammootty and Dulquer Salmaan offered Namaz on the occasion of Eid Ul Fitr at Kochi When asked whether he misses playing humorous roles now, he said, 'I love to do humorous roles. I love to do comedy roles. I'm fully confident that I'll be able to do comedy — not the comedy of the early stages, but the comedy of the present day. Krishand will tell you how I can adjust to the present situation — present-day films — and how I can transform myself into present-day comedy. I am fully confident. I will be able to. I want to have a role like that. I would like to perform very humorous roles. And I can do it. I can do a role like that. In the present day, I can transform myself into the character. Because if anyone asks me, 'What is your plus point?' — my plus point is my adaptability. Yeah. I can adapt to any type of role. After 10 years… the scenario after 15 years is 'Mastishka Maranam'. You may witness it in 2040. That is what Krishand has to portray in it. Suraj Venjaramoodu starrer 'Madanolsavam' crosses Rs 2 crores in 4 days For example, the roles that Fahadh Faasil is performing now. Whatever. If that character is 50, or 55, or 60 years old — I would like to perform that role. I will not be influenced, or I won't copy Fahadh. I would be very different. What the character of Fahadh is doing — if that character is 50 years of age — then I will definitely be able to do that role. I don't want to do these very young, 30- or 25-year-old characters. I don't. I won't. I won't. The character — elderly, humorous, comedy roles — I would like to perform as a father or as an uncle, as a politician. If it is a comedy role, it doesn't mean that after Marco, people won't accept my comedy roles. Not like that. Even after Marco, I am confident that my comedy roles will click. Because comedy is there in my heart. It is in my blood. It is in my blood. Yeah. And the observation — even now, I'm observing people, observing situations. So the comedy is with me. I love to do comedy. The only thing is — good script. If the script is good, the comedy will be good. Yeah. If not, people would say, 'Jagadish tries his level best to do comedy, but it doesn't work.' Script means everything. Even if it's serious, it's the same. It will be a flop. I'm still confident that the script should be good, and the director should be good. I can do the comedy of Appukuttan in Harihar Nagar. If the director and writer are with me, I am ready to do the comedy of Appukuttan. I would also like to see myself on screen as a person doing comedy roles. I like to play the elderly roles of Amitabh Bachchan and Utpal Dutt.' When asked about the exit of Paresh Rawal from the 'Hera Pheri 3' franchise and how people were shocked and disappointed, Jagadish said: 'If the script is good, people won't be disappointed.' He concluded:'I will be able to excel in comedy roles also. Okay. I want to do all the different genres. Now a director was narrating a story — it was a very serious story. But I will definitely do some comedy roles.' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Bloomberg
05-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
This Earnings Season Is a Rorschach Test for Investors
This earnings season is a bit of a Rorschach test: Bulls will anchor to the fact that corporate profits have solidly beaten expectations, while bears will lean on executives' commentary around the costs of tariffs and heightened recession risks. I'll try to split the difference: This is clearly a wobbly corporate environment that will get worse if President Donald Trump barrels ahead with tariffs around the highest in a century. But the corporate sector could yet find its footing if the president backtracks soon.
