Latest news with #Tom&Jerry
Express Tribune
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Cruel to be kind
Listen to article As with any old animosity, the 'Tom & Jerry' show between Pakistan and India has continued since independence. Call it competition, identity clash or animosity, it has certainly inflicted severe damage, but often felt like a sibling rivalry in a sitcom. If I wrote something critical about India at a given moment, somebody on the other side would write a rebuttal, have a private laugh with me when we met personally, and be done with the whole episode. It was eleven years ago that it all changed. One oddity was the hate mail's nature. When you write something critical, you can expect a degree of pushback. Still, a part of the new normal was that even when you praised India, you received an inbox full of hate mail trying to put you in your place - a citizen of a badly broken nation, a beggar state, India was out of your league. You should not besmirch its name by getting it out of your filthy mouth. I would have heeded the advice, but you realise, since I have been writing almost my entire adult life, one runs out of things to write. It is not possible to ignore a nation of 1.45 billion. In my defence, every word I write is a product of care. If I talk to you, it's because I value your judgement. While others feel flattered by the attention, this was the first time one encountered people threatening to gouge your eyes out for just looking at them. So, what was behind this weapons-grade hubris? The realisation that India has finally arrived? If yes, why police Pakistani media's online assets then? If you are so powerful, successful and rich, why worry about what a Pakistani says about you? America is so rich and powerful, yet all sorts of things are published about it. Do you think such websites and email addresses are swamped by American trolls? Absolutely not. You attack and police when either you are unconvinced of your own success or want to create an environment of fear with a clear outcome in mind. You can see this from the methods that were employed. Nawaz Sharif was invited to Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Still, India's foreign office quickly clarified: he was just one of six SAARC leaders, and the visit should not be seen as bilateral. They also objected to his meeting with Hurriyat leaders. Let's decode that. Their message was clear: we are somebody, you are nobody. These ceremonial invitations to our "court" are acts of generosity; be grateful, obey protocol, and never presume equality. And what was the expectation? When we berate you, do not fight back. When we stare at you, make a point of being seen as cowering. And when we raise our hand, fall down and pretend to writhe in pain. This will please our people, and as long as we are in power, we will ensure you get some morsels off our table. You guessed it. The we in the above statement is royal we. And this imagery creates a global superstructure echoing India's caste system. Islam, according to this worldview, is synonymous with terrorism, and Pakistan is a Muslim country, so Pakistan gets a station lower than Dalits. This brings to mind the forgotten image of young BR Ambedkar sitting on a sack outside his classroom's door despite his brilliant mind, while his dull-witted classmates sat inside with standard desks and benches. Why? Because he was a Dalit and they were of the upper castes. He was not allowed to drink from the common water pot. Most teachers wouldn't even listen to him. America hasn't been able to shake off the ghost of Jim Crow Laws despite becoming one of the most tolerant societies today. A country which still sustains a fivefold Jim Crow system on acid as the present reality is unlikely to perpetuate anything different. Sadly, I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge that many Pakistanis fell for this scheme. The Indian media needed a certain archetypal Pakistan to represent the country's caricature. Many individuals lined up to volunteer. Those who refused were told that they would have no role among the emerging media elite of the country. Many policymakers and notables showed readiness to pretend to speak from a position of weakness whenever they spoke of India. As Indian politicians publicly tried to paddle Pakistan, there was no dearth of those shouting, stop, their voices, "thank you, sir, may I have another"? An economy has flourished since then. People like me were duped by another phenomenon. Whenever dramatic developments occur, I imagine how it would impact me if I were there. So when I see suffering, I immediately empathise. We looked at Indian seculars and thought they must be going through hell. But we ignored that had it not been for the latent bigotry and active connivance of the secular elite, a party with so much history of bloodsport could not control a nation as diverse and populous for the past eleven years. Scratch an Indian secular, and a Nathuram Godse with a good accent comes out. They all want Akhand Bharat. Only they don't want the blame. Why not deal with the real deal then? Modi then wasn't the problem. He was India's elected leader. One should have put up or shut up. My bad. But a direct consequence of India's carefully manufactured self-image was the demand for incremental aggression towards Pakistan in 2016, 2019, and now. This time, they misjudged the situation and are still licking their wounds. For the first time in eleven years, they have encountered a reset. While I do not condone war or violence, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. Frankly, the mutual hostility of these nations has made them engines of poverty in this neck of the woods. There is no excuse for this to go on indefinitely. If this lesson does not sink in, more shocks may come. While the jury is still out on the future of peace in South Asia, the economy mentioned above, which emerged in the past eleven years in Pakistan, hasn't gone away. From the 2014 sit-in to destabilising the Sharif government in 2017, the reelection of Modi in 2019, and many others, it has left behind indelible fingerprints on every crisis. Sadly, politicians who became its victims blame others for their plight. But I kept all the receipts. About time you knew who did what. I have faced attempts to deplatform and financially ruin me before, like between 2019 and 2022. I didn't enjoy it, but I survived. What is the worst they can do now? Kill me?
Al Etihad
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Warner Bros. Discovery and Etisalat launch their first global kids' FAST channel
2 July 2025 00:29 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Warner Bros. Discovery, in partnership with Etisalat's StarzOn platform (by e&), has launched its first-ever kids-focused Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) live from July 1, 2025, this exciting milestone marks a new chapter in how children and families around the world enjoy free access to Warner Bros. Discovery's beloved and premium children's new channel will provide 24/7, free-to-access entertainment with a curated lineup of timeless and contemporary animated favourites from the Warner Bros. Discovery channel will debut with the legendary Tom & Jerry, along with other family favourites such as Gumball, Ben 10, Teen Titans Go, Scooby Doo, and will refresh its programming lineup quarterly to ensure a constantly engaging and dynamic viewing Gorman, VP of pay TV networks, Kids, EMEA commented: "This launch marks a major milestone in how we connect with our youngest fans in the MENA region."We're incredibly proud to work with Etisalat on a pioneering FAST channel that not only brings some of our most iconic characters into homes but does so in a format that suits the modern viewing habits of kids and families alike."It's an exciting step in ensuring that our content remains accessible, engaging and inclusive for audiences of all ages."The partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery and Etisalat signals a new era of regional content delivery, leveraging the reach and innovation of the StarzOn platform to bring kids' entertainment to millions of households. This aligns with Warner Bros. Discovery's global mission to make world-class storytelling available to wider audiences and Etisalat's commitment to innovation in digital media and customer experience. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Broadcast Pro
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
WBD and Etisalat launch first free kids FAST channel on StarzOn
Viewers can enjoy a regularly updated selection of family-friendly shows such as 'Tom & Jerry', 'Gumball', 'Ben 10', 'Teen Titans Go' and 'Scooby-Doo'. Warner Bros. Discovery, in collaboration with Etisalat's StarzOn platform, has launched its first-ever Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channel dedicated to children's entertainment. Officially launching on July 1, 2025, the channel will be providing free, around-the-clock access to Warner Bros. Discovery's popular and premium kids programming for audiences worldwide. The new service will feature a curated mix of classic and contemporary animated hits, including Tom & Jerry, Gumball, Ben 10, Teen Titans Go and Scooby-Doo. To keep content fresh and engaging, the lineup will be updated every quarter, offering families a dynamic viewing experience at no cost. Sean Gorman, Vice President of Pay TV Networks, Kids, EMEA, said: 'This launch marks a major milestone in how we connect with our youngest fans in the MENA region. We're incredibly proud to work with Etisalat on a pioneering FAST channel that not only brings some of our most iconic characters into homes but does so in a format that suits the modern viewing habits of kids and families alike. It's an exciting step in ensuring that our content remains accessible, engaging, and inclusive for audiences of all ages.' This initiative underscores Warner Bros. Discovery's global commitment to making high-quality storytelling accessible to broader audiences, while supporting Etisalat's focus on digital innovation and enhancing customer experiences. By leveraging the StarzOn platform, the collaboration aims to bring family-friendly entertainment into millions of homes across the region.
News18
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Akshay Kumar Dodges Tom Cruise Comparisons: ‘My Stunts Are Inspired By Tom & Jerry'
Last Updated: Akshay, who has long performed his own stunts, laughed when asked about his viral aeroplane sequence from Khiladi 420, which resurfaced around the release of Dead Reckoning. Akshay Kumar, known as Bollywood's original action star, recently credited an unexpected source for inspiring some of his most daring stunts – Tom & Jerry! In a new interview with Pinkvilla, the Housefull 5 actor opened up about drawing action ideas from the classic cartoon duo and also reacted to comparisons with Hollywood icon Tom Cruise. Akshay, who has long performed his own stunts, laughed when asked about his viral aeroplane sequence from Khiladi 420, which resurfaced around the release of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning. While fans noted similarities between the two plane stunts, Akshay humbly dodged the comparison and instead credited his love for Tom & Jerry as his true influence. 'You know where I draw all this inspiration from? You will not believe it from Tom & Jerry," he said with a smile. Calling it 'the most violent thing," Akshay added, 'It is apparently made for children, but actually, if you look, there is so much action." Recalling how the cartoon influenced specific scenes in his films, Akshay shared, 'I remember Tom coming from the helicopter, hanging and picking up Jerry – I did that in Sabse Bada Khiladi. Then, Tom is hanging on a plane, which is there in Khiladi 420." He even noted a Khatron Ke Khiladi stunt was inspired by a moment where Tom and Jerry enjoy wine mid-air while lying in a hammock beneath a plane. 'It is so violent. Please try to understand — it is a violent film you are showing your children," he quipped. First Published:
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Akshay Kumar REACTS to similar stunt scenes in Khiladi franchise and Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible: 'I am inspired by Tom and Jerry'
Akshay Kumar, Bollywood's action star, revealed that his stunt inspiration comes from the cartoon Tom & Jerry, not Hollywood. He humorously pointed out the cartoon's relentless action and chaos, recalling recreating scenes like hanging from a helicopter and clinging to a plane in his films. Kumar's daring 20-year-old plane stunt recently resurfaced, drawing comparisons to Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible. Before Tom Cruise stunned the world by hanging off airplanes in Mission: Impossible, Bollywood's own daredevil Akshay Kumar had already done it—and with signature flair. In a recent interview, the Khiladi star reflected on his viral stunt legacy, surprising everyone by crediting Tom & Jerry—not Hollywood—as his true action inspiration. In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Housefull 5 star addressed the buzz around his viral 'aeroplane' stunt, which many compared to Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible action scenes. Surprisingly, the actor revealed that his real inspiration often comes from classic Tom & Jerry cartoons, not Hollywood thrillers. The actor amusingly credited Tom & Jerry as a surprising source of inspiration for his stunts. He pointed out that while the cartoon is meant for children, it's packed with relentless action and chaos—calling it one of the most violent shows he's seen. He further went on to reveal how several of his stunts were directly inspired by Tom & Jerry. He recalled scenes like Tom hanging from a helicopter to grab Jerry—something he recreated in Sabse Bada Khiladi—and clinging to a plane, which he pulled off in Khiladi 420. He even remembered doing a version of the cartoon's quirky mid-air wine scene in Khatron Ke Khiladi. Akshay joked that Tom & Jerry is actually one of the most violent shows kids watch, laughing as he pointed out how much chaos and destruction is packed into each episode. Akshay Kumar's daring 20-year-old stunt—where he hangs off a flying plane and confidently stands atop it—recently resurfaced and went viral amid the buzz around Mission: Impossible 8. Fans pointed out that Akshay pulled off the high-risk move long before Hollywood's Tom Cruise made it iconic, proving once again why he's called the Khiladi of Bollywood.
