Latest news with #Vimal
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
MobLand review: Tom Hardy grunts his way through Guy Ritchie's soapy homage to The Godfather
Wholly unoriginal yet embarrassingly addictive, MobLand can best be described as a soap opera for boys. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the gangster drama (briefly) unseated Taylor Sheridan's blockbusters off the viewership charts — Sheridan has built a literal empire on the back of expensive sagas aimed at men, like Yellowstone. MobLand combines his signature brand of family drama with gruff machismo of a Bollywood potboiler; it's an experience so Ajay Devgn-coded that Tom Hardy's protagonist could have just as easily been introduced with a packet of Vimal in his hands, and we'd have been none the wiser. He may as well be chewing 'elaichi' in his scenes, going by his line delivery. Hardy can be magnificently theatrical when he wants — 'let's not stand on ceremony here!' — but he's made a name for himself as one of the great mumblers of his generation. That's exactly what he does as Harry Da Souza in MobLand. Harry is a fixer of sorts, torn between his two families — the real one, with wife Jan and teenage daughter Gina; and the one that he has been adopted into, the Harrigans. Like Tom Hagen from The Godfather, Harry is the brain and brawn behind the Harrigans' criminal empire, led by the psychotic patriarch Conrad, played by Pierce Brosnan. Also read – Havoc movie review: Tom Hardy unleashes a tornado of violence in Netflix's blood-drenched action-thriller But his duties mainly involve cleaning up messes, negotiating deals, and tracking down those who wish to remain hidden. Harry has connections all over the (under)world; he's the sort of guy you deploy when a body needs to be buried or an asset rescued. When Conrad's maniacal grandson, Eddie, murders his sworn enemy Richie Stevenson's grandson, the long-held tensions between the two clans escalate to the brink of war. It's like when Don Corleone's enemies had Sunny murdered. But Conrad isn't the sort of man who'd call for a meeting of the five families to resolve differences; the term 'proportional response' perhaps doesn't exist in his book. Harry, however, does the responsible thing by trying to broker peace between the two families, mainly to save them from themselves. He knows that neither Conrad nor Ritchie is the sort of person who can be talked down from a ledge. To make matters worse, he knows that Conrad's strings are secretly being pulled by his wife, Maeve, played by Helen Mirren in a performance so over-the-top that she might just be auditioning for a Sanjay Gupta movie. This makes for an uneven viewing experience; while some performances are cartoonishly camp, Hardy is objectively catatonic. It's as if he exists in a different world entirely. Written by Ronan Bennett and Jez Butterworth, MobLand opens with a two-episode premiere directed by Guy Ritchie. Neither episode has Ritchie's trademark kinetic camerawork, or even his lyrical lingo. He's a gun for hire here, creatively hands-off to the point that he probably didn't weigh in on the wardrobe. But MobLand works on a very basic level; the characters and storylines are familiar enough for major pacing issues to be overlooked. It isn't exactly ambient TV, but it's certainly not the kind of show that requires undivided attention. The writing is often clumsy; a key moment hinges entirely on a deus ex machina so illogical that you could be forgiven for assuming that the episode was written by Hussain Dalal. Harry has a solution for virtually every problem, including those that haven't yet presented themselves. It makes you wonder why someone with his skillset isn't running his own operation. Even if he can't be a crime kingpin himself — Conrad would kill him for the betrayal — he could, at least, avoid playing the role of a glorified gofer. Midway through the season, Harry is sent all the way to Belgium to rescue Conrad's two grown kids; they're both like Fredo, desperate to impress dad but utterly incapable of it. Read more – Fountain of Youth movie review: We never got a third National Treasure movie, and thanks to Guy Ritchie, we still haven't Much of the action, however, unfolds in London. After an unexpected mid-season plot development, everybody is summoned to hunker down in the Harrigans' summer estate in the Cotswolds. Cooped up under one roof, the family drama takes centerstage. Maeve even cooks up a storm for her beloved Eddie, like Clemenza did in The Godfather. Harry's wife Jan, on the other hand, contemplates leaving him. In one scene, she looks forlornly at her husband flying away on a dangerous mission, and sighs to herself about not finding any of this sexy anymore. Unfortunately, this is the general impression that you're likely to have of the show itself. It's so derivative of past gangster classics that it comes across as positively lazy. It may well be. There isn't a shred of doubt, for instance, that it was birthed as a Yellowstone clone — MobLand isn't fully algorithmic like most of the stuff you'd find on Netflix, but barring the performances, there's little to recommend about it. MobLand Creator – Ronan Bennett Cast – Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, Paddy Considine, Joanne Froggatt, Lara Pulver, Mandeep Dhillon, Janet McTeer Rating – 2.5/5 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
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Lakshya Sen's work ethic not a problem; he needs to be ready for early, tough matches against unknown players: Coach Vimal Kumar
Going out in the first round, at four out of six recent tournaments despite being one of the best players to have ever come out of the country, raises eyebrows – something that Lakshya Sen is having to deal with for now. However, ignoring those eyebrows, and all other noise that comes with being someone of his stature, might just be what Lakshya needs to do to turn it around as he prepares to face Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in the first round of Singapore Open which starts on Tuesday. At least that is what coach U Vimal Kumar feels is key for Lakshya to get back to the level he showed during his historic run at the Paris Olympics. Lakshya performed better than any Indian male badminton player before him but the fact remains that he joined the pantheon of unlucky sportspersons from the country who finished fourth in their respective Olympic disciplines. 'Missing a medal does hurt you for a long time but you have to find ways,' Vimal tells the Indian Express. 'It is not like he has been sidelined, he has been provided opportunities in tournaments. It is all in his head, he has to sort it out and only he can do that. No coach, no system, nobody can help him on that front,' the coach adds. Vimal has seen Lakshya rise through the ranks and feels that the 23-year-old's ability to find joy in the grind seems to be missing for now. He recalls seeing Lakshya put older players through the wringer while in his under-15 days and coming out on top. 'At the time he was playing without fear,' says Vimal, who along with the legendary Prakash Padukone could be seen willing Lakshya from the courtside during the Olympics last year. 'But now you are slightly known, he got noticed by everybody at the Olympics. Even though he didn't win a medal he became a big star of Indian badminton, you became one of the top players of the country. That is all part of it. You can't blame anybody, he needs to deal with it,' Vimal adds of the attendant pressure of stardom and heightened expectations. 'He is a little injury prone, that lets him down. But no amount of sob story would help, he has to find a way to address it, be focussed, and enjoy the process. Find ways to deal with the expectations, to enjoy matches,' the coach adds. Vimal said that he has pointed to another key pattern that seems to have emerged recently for Lakshya. 'The mindset I have noticed is that he is ready to play known names. The players he is losing to are not known players, they are youngsters. Lakshya needs to be confident and play,' says Kumar. 'I keep telling him, every round is tough, there are no easy matches. Look forward to playing these long tough matches. It is in his hands, he has a good team working for him, a lot of people helping him.' Vimal says that he has no complaints with Lakshya's work ethic in training. To a certain extent, the 62-year-old feels that Lakshya's current predicament is something common to most Indian sportspersons. 'He is training well. Sometimes he gets tired but that is because of the anxiety which comes from the expectations. That is something typical I see with Indian players. Indian sports in general is evolving. 'When there is no focus on you, you perform and deliver. But when you are expected to deliver, you falter. And that is all because we are evolving. I say it again and again, we are not a big sporting nation yet and the athletes are getting there. That way I am hopeful,' he explains. Lakshya's post-Olympic slump seems to certainly be typical to all Indian badminton players at least since Paris. The likes of PV Sindhu, ace men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and HS Prannoy have all struggled to get their performances up to the levels expected of them. Amid all of this, though, came the rather unexpected sight of a beaming Kidambi Srikanth on the podium at the Malaysia Masters. Vimal hopes that Srikanth's surprise runner-up finish can lead to some positive ripples on the rest of India's badminton protagonists. 'It was required. A player like Srikanth, he was one of the best players in the world 5-6 years back. When these sorts of players do well, the youngsters get inspired. He beat quite a few young players (on the way to the final) which is quite encouraging. Last few tournaments, quite a few of our singles players have not done too well at all, and nobody has been playing consistent badminton,' Vimal lamented.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
₹4,000 for a jhola? Nordstrom's 'designer bag' leaves desis in shock
An everyday Indian jhola, usually sold for ₹100, is now retailing at ₹4,000 in the US-triggering disbelief, memes, and business ideas from desis online Nandini Singh New Delhi What costs ₹100 at a roadside stall in India is now retailing for nearly ₹4,000 abroad—and the internet is not having it. A traditional Indian jhola, the humble cloth shoulder bag known for its simplicity and thriftiness, has gone viral after appearing on the website of luxury US department store Nordstrom for a jaw-dropping $48 (approximately ₹4,000). The viral moment began when X user @wordi25 posted a photo of the listing with the caption: 'What in the name of scam is this!! Jhola being sold at a premium department store Nordstrom for $48! I'm a homesick person but even I haven't reached these levels of nostalgia.' Social media reacts: From memes to marketing plans The post triggered a meme storm, with users expressing everything from disbelief to entrepreneurial curiosity. 'Somebody should tell Chatak Sweet they need to start charging royalty fees from Nordstrom for this brand infringement,' quipped one user. Others poked fun at the irony of globalisation: 'The icing on the cake would be if those jholas turn out to be Made in China!' Then came the business pitches: 'New business idea: Export jholas by the kilo.' 'I should import a ton of Vimal bags from India and sell for £20 a piece.' Some questioned the economics: 'Do these really get sold? Like, have people left reviews and all?' Not the first time: Indian basics, Western prices This isn't the first time everyday Indian staples have popped up overseas with hefty mark-ups. A Times of India report previously highlighted how common snacks like Maggi noodles, which retail in India for ₹15–₹20, are sold for ₹300 in some UK stores. Biscuits like Good Day and Little Hearts, priced locally at ₹10, have been seen tagged at ₹100 abroad. A 400g pack of Bhujia that sells for ₹100 in India has reportedly been listed at ₹1,000 in foreign outlets. The trend doesn't spare fresh produce either—paneer was priced at ₹700 a pack, ladyfinger at ₹650 per kg, and a box of six Alphonso mangoes at an eye-watering ₹2,400. Harsh Goenka weighs in Industrialist Harsh Goenka also chimed in on the trend with a tongue-in-cheek observation: NRIs now pay more for a packet of haldi or hing than for a bottle of wine—and get served overpriced butter chicken by chefs 'with faux Italian accents.'
India.com
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actor was once India's most expensive model, challenged Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, failed in acting, his name is…, he is now...
The glittering fame in Bollywood is as attractive from the outside as it is full of uncertainty from the inside. The changing faces of the stars are proof of the fact that nothing is permanent. In this sequence of changes, many diamonds were sold for a pittance, and many were more expensive than diamonds. Today, we will tell you the story of one such diamond of the modeling world who was once considered India's most expensive model. Not only this, this model used to compete with Salman, Shah Rukh and Saif Ali Khan. But for this model, who was a failure in acting, the wheel of time turned in such a way that all the fame became a thing of the past. We are talking about Deepak Malhotra, who has been a superstar model since the 90s. When the film 'Lamhe' was released in 1991, people started recognising its lead actor. When they came to know, they found out that he was Deepak Malhotra, the star of the modeling world. Deepak Malhotra, who did his first film with Sridevi, was considered the most expensive model in the country at that time. Before films in 1991, Deepak ruled the modeling world throughout the 80s. If media reports are to be believed, Deepak was the first model who do the branding of 'Vimal'. In 1987, Deepak was counted among the most expensive models of the country and used to charge Rs 1.50 lakh for every advertisement. After earning a name in the modeling world, Deepak was launched by Yash Chopra in his film 'Lamhe' with 90s superstar Sridevi. Media reports even claim that Deepak was cast in the film 'Chamatkar' before Shah Rukh Khan. But after seeing Deepak's acting, the makers changed their decision. Deepak's name also came up in place of Salman Khan in Suryavanshi. Deepak was also cast in Saif Ali Khan's film 'Bekhudi'. But when the makers saw Deepak's acting in Lamhe, they changed their decision. Deepak lost his fame due to his failure in acting. After this, Deepak got married and settled in America. Now Deepak lives in America with his family.
India Today
18-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Lakshya Sen: What has gone wrong with the promising badminton star?
There's no hiding from the fact that the metallic wand which once worked like a charm for Lakshya Sen is no longer producing the same magic. In recent months, Sen has experienced more setbacks than successes. From coming agonisingly close to Olympic glory to faltering in the early rounds of tournaments, the shuttler has seen a significant dip in the Paris Games, where he finished fourth, Sen struggled to string together wins. Back-to-back early exits at the Kumamoto Masters, Denmark Open, and Arctic Open raised concerns. A striking pattern in his defeats was his tendency to lose from advantageous positions—he let two matches slip away despite being a game Sen briefly redeemed himself by clinching his first Syed Modi International title. The comeback was short-lived, as he delivered underwhelming performances in the All England Open, Asia Championships, and Thailand Open. His rough patch has lasted longer than anyone anticipated. When an athlete endures a prolonged slump, the conversation typically centres around two possibilities: is it a technical flaw or a mental block? In Sen's case, it appears to be more of a mental challenge—at least according to his coach, Vimal Kumar. Vimal believes that Sen needs to change his mindset on court, which could be the key to unlocking the consistent results that have eluded him of late."He needs to overcome how to deal with a particular situation. I have talked to him enough on that. He also knows but has to apply himself and get that thing done. Nobody else can. It's only his hands, how the thought process happens and how he deals with it,' Vimal told Hindustan Padukone had earlier stated that it was in fact on the players to introspect, and find a way to win.'The players need to introspect, and not just keep asking for more from the federations. They need to ask themselves whether they are working hard enough. Ultimately the responsibility is on the players to go and deliver when it matters the most," Padukone had expressed after Sen's loss in the bronze medal match at the Paris the Paris Olympics, Sen emerged as India's best-performing badminton player, defeating several higher-ranked opponents during an impressive run. Hailed as a future champion by none other than Viktor Axelsen, Sen now faces a formidable challenge—not just to overcome his mental block, but to do what champions are known for: win by Sidharth GulatiMust Watch
