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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vijay Devarakonda's ‘Kingdom' fails to beat Liger's opening day, but outperforms ‘Khushi and The Family Star'
Vijay Deverakonda's Kingdom had a decent opening, earning approximately Rs 15.50 crore. However, it did not beat Liger's first-day collection. Kingdom surpassed the opening day numbers of Khushi, Dear Comrade and Family Star. The film's reception outside Telugu states is moderate. Initial reviews are mixed. Trade analysts are observing the film's performance over the weekend. Kingdom is Deverakonda's second-biggest opener. Vijay Deverakonda 's much-anticipated film Kingdom opened to strong but slightly underwhelming box office numbers, collecting an estimated Rs 15.50 crore on Day 1 across all languages. Despite the buzz and strong promotional campaign, Kingdom couldn't surpass the Day 1 collections of Deverakonda's biggest pan-India launch, Liger with Ananya Panday , which had opened to Rs 15.95 crore. Released across multiple languages, Liger marked Vijay 's Bollywood debut and generated a massive opening with Rs 13.99 crore from Telugu markets alone, followed by Rs 1.25 crore in Hindi, and smaller contributions from Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada versions. Although Liger eventually fizzled out due to poor word-of-mouth and critical reception, its Day 1 number remains the highest opener in Deverakonda's career to film was able to earn only Rs 41.17 crore by the end of it's theatrical run. Kingdom, while falling short of that benchmark by a narrow margin of Rs 45 lakh , still managed to perform better than several of the actor's recent outings. It eclipsed the first-day numbers of Khushi with Samantha Rut Prabhu (Rs 15.25 crore), Dear Comrade with Rashmika Mandanna (Rs 11.90 crore), and The Family Star with Mrunal Thakur (Rs 5.75 crore) with a clear margin. The performance also marks a significant jump from his breakthrough film Arjun Reddy , which had opened at just Rs 85 lakh back in 2017. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like US$31 trillion in wealth extracted from Indonesia during Dutch colonial rule: President Prabowo CNA Read More Undo The opening signals a mixed response from the audience—while Vijay continues to retain strong pull in Telugu states, Kingdom's reception outside those territories appears moderate. Initial reviews have been a blend of praise for Deverakonda's performance and criticism for the film's pacing and screenplay, which may impact its weekend momentum. Trade is watching closely to see how the film trends over its first weekend. With a decent start and no major competition in the Telugu market, Kingdom has the opportunity to gain ground through word-of-mouth and fan support. However, missing the Liger milestone indicates that Vijay's pan-India appeal may still be a work in progress. For now, Kingdom stands as Vijay Deverakonda's second-biggest opening and a partial recovery from his recent setbacks, but it also raises important questions about the long-term box office viability of star-driven mass entertainers in a post-pandemic era.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
Parks Tau faces scrutiny over IDC board appointments
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says he will reply to specific questions from MPs at the meeting of the portfolio committee in connection with the appointment of the Industrial Development Corporation board members. Image: GCIS Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau is resisting calls for clarity regarding the appointment of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) board members. He informed DA MP Toby Chance and EFF MP Sinawo Thambo that he would address their specific questions during the upcoming Portfolio Committee meeting on Trade, Industry and Competition. He stated that he had been invited to brief the portfolio committee on the appointment of the IDC board on July 22, but the meeting was postponed. 'Upon the rescheduling of the meeting, specific questions will be directly responded to during the meeting or after if there is still a need,' he said in his standard response. Chance on Thursday accused Tau of being evasive and deviating from his usual detailed responses. 'He has provided no information at all; ministers are obligated to respond in writing to written questions, which is unsatisfactory,' said Chance. 'We normally get detailed responses from him. This time, he seems very evasive in not providing answers,' he added. Last month, the Cabinet announced a new eight-member board for the IDC, which included ANC-aligned members such as former ministers Sydney Mufamadi and Ayanda Dlodlo, and former KwaZulu-Natal premier and now Higher Education Deputy Minister Nomusa Dube-Ncube. The Cabinet had also appointed Sam Bhembe, who is reportedly involved in a court battle with the finance institution over a R70 million debt. The IDC board appointments happened at a time when there was a public outcry over the appointment of chairpersons for the boards of Sector and Education Training Authorities, which have since been cancelled. At the time, Thambo requested an urgent committee meeting, and committee chairperson Mzwandile Masina wrote to Tau indicating it was prudent that they receive a briefing on the process followed in the IDC board appointments. Thambo also sent questions to Tau, wanting to know the process followed and the measures his department implemented to safeguard the IDC from undue political influence, among other things. He had expressed concern about a pattern of compromised appointments that was a direct consequence of politically motivated deployments. 'The IDC must not be reduced to a retirement destination for politically connected individuals,' read Thambo's letter to Tau. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Oh My' - Baseball Fans React To Blockbuster Carlos Correa Trade
'Oh My' - Baseball Fans React To Blockbuster Carlos Correa Trade originally appeared on The Spun. The landscape of the American League is about to change. Although it wasn't a lock to happen, Carlos Correa has been traded. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Minnesota Twins are trading Correa to the Houston Astros. The All-Star shortstop will get to play for the team that selected him first overall in the 2012 draft. Just a day ago, this reunion between Correa and Houston seemed unlikely. Clearly, the Astros were willing to get things done before the 6 p.m. deadline. "The Carlos Correa-to-Houston deal looked dead 24 hours ago," Passan said. "They revisited, bridged a significant financial gap and Houston, with Isaac Paredes out for the season, welcomes home Correa, who waived his no-trade clause to approve the deal." Correa played for the Astros from 2015-2021. He left for the Twins in 2022, agreeing to a three-year contract worth $105.3 million. It didn't take long for him to rework his contract and receive a six-year, $200 million deal. Immediately after Passan broke the news that Correa is heading back to Houston, fans sprinted over to social media to share their thoughts. For the most part, fans are ready to once again root against the Astros. "Oh my," one fan said after Passan announced this trade. "Returning to his beloved trash cans and buzzers," a second fan commented. "This is insane," another fan wrote. "Booing is back on the menu," a rival fan said. "I might have to watch the Astros again," another fan tweeted. The Astros are expected to play Correa at third base, per multiple reports. Correa is batting .267 this season with seven home runs and 31 RBI. He's a year removed from earning All-Star honors with the Twins. Will Correa help the Astros win their first World Series since 2017? Only time will tell.'Oh My' - Baseball Fans React To Blockbuster Carlos Correa Trade first appeared on The Spun on Jul 31, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka follows strict procurement process
KUALA LUMPUR: The appointment of all stakeholders involved in developing the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, adhered to official evaluation and selection processes under government procurement rules. Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz clarified this in response to allegations that a private company's design work was used without recognition or payment. MITI has completed an internal investigation into the claims and is engaging the company to resolve the matter amicably. 'This ensures Malaysia's participation in Expo 2025 Osaka remains unaffected, with goals fully achieved,' Tengku Zafrul said in Parliament. The ministry aims to maintain momentum and safeguard the country's international reputation. Addressing concerns raised by Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, Tengku Zafrul emphasized MITI's commitment to transparency and accountability. 'Lessons from this issue will refine internal guidelines, particularly in selecting partners for high-impact projects,' he added. The ministry will strengthen oversight to prevent similar incidents in future government projects. - Bernama
The Sun
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
US slashes tariff on Malaysian goods to 19%
PETALING JAYA: The United States has reduced its reciprocal tariff rate on Malaysian goods to 19%, down from the previously imposed 25% under Executive Order 14257. The revised rate, announced through a new presidential order issued on July 31, reflects improved trade and security engagement between both countries, marking a step forward in bilateral economic ties. The decision follows months of negotiations and diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the United States' concerns over trade imbalances and national security risks posed by certain import dependencies. The order, signed by President Donald Trump, underscores the US administration's continued push for trade partners to better align with its economic and national security priorities. Malaysia was among the trading partners identified in Annex I of the new executive order as having made 'meaningful trade and security commitments' with the US, paving the way for tariff adjustments. The initial 25% ad valorem tariff, imposed in April under the Trump administration's broader effort to rectify persistent trade deficits, had raised alarm among Malaysian exporters, particularly in the electronics, rubber, and palm oil sectors. Industry players had warned that the steep duties would undercut Malaysia's competitiveness and strain longstanding supply chain relationships. The revised 19% rate, while still significant, is seen as a positive signal that Malaysia's proactive diplomatic stance and willingness to cooperate on strategic concerns have paid off. However, the order cautions that the U.S. will continue monitoring compliance through its Commerce Department and Trade
