“Asare mahina maa, paani paryo rujhaaune… Eklo yo mero mann kasari bujhaaune?”

(Translation: In the month of Asar (July), the rain keeps soaking me through. Alone is this heart of mine, how do I make it understand?)

For many, this was a feeling. And for an entire generation across Nepal, Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Northeast India, that feeling had a voice: Prashant Tamang.

Today, that voice feels suddenly quiet. The rain was already falling in audiences’ memories when the news came. Prashant Tamang is no more.

West Bengal CM #MamataBanerjee expressed grief over the demise of Indian Idol fame singer #PrashantTamang. The soft-spoken constable-turned-singing star, who changed Indian Idol history, passed away at his New Delhi home at the age of 43. He was recently seen in #PaatalLok Season… pic.twitter.com/ZdcVNmRgzF

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) January 11, 2026

How ‘Asare Mahina Maa’ became a season

“Asare Mahina Maa” was originally composed by the legendary CK Rasaili, with lyrics and music by Tulsi Gajmer. It was already an iconic Nepali folk melody loved across hills and homes.

But when Prashant Tamang sang it, something changed.

His version gave the song a modern soul without losing its old heart. The rain of Asar felt closer. The loneliness felt personal. The tune became a go-to song for monsoon evenings, for longing for homesick hearts living far away.

It didn’t just play on radios. It lived in people.

From a uniform to a dream stage

Prashant Tamang did not grow up planning to be a reality TV star. He auditioned for Indian Idol Season 3 in 2007 only because his friends and seniors kept telling him one thing: “Your voice is very good.”

He auditioned in Kolkata, quietly stepped into the competition, and slowly started winning hearts. The judges sometimes gave him mixed comments. But the people? They were already sure.

He became something rare in the show’s history, the only contestant who was never in the bottom three or four during the gala rounds.

And looking back, it makes sense. How could he be?

When voting for Prashant Tamang became a movement

For people growing up in Nepal and Northeast India, those Indian Idol nights are unforgettable. Voting for Prashant Tamang was not casual entertainment. It was serious business.

Money was collected. Phone calls were planned. Families gathered. Neighbours reminded neighbours. It became a movement, not just a TV show.

When Prashant reached the finals, cities from Siliguri to Kathmandu were ready. And when he won, fireworks lit up the night sky. Streets celebrated. Homes celebrated. A community felt seen.

He reached the top two alongside Amit Paul, another strong voice. But the final numbers told a stunning story.

A record-breaking win

In the grand finale, Prashant Tamang received around 70 million votes, nearly 10 times more than Amit Paul. It was not just a win. It was history.

He walked away as the winner of Indian Idol 3, taking home ₹10 million in cash and a Maruti Suzuki SX4.

A quiet man with a folk heart had just shaken the biggest music stage in the country.

Years later, Amit Paul, who rarely posts on social media, would break his silence to share his disbelief at Prashant’s death. Some bonds do not need daily updates. They stay real.

Prashant Tamang in acting

Prashant did not stop at music. In 2009, he stepped into acting, choosing to work in Nepali cinema.

His first film, “Gorkha Paltan,” released in 2010, and it did well at the box office. Audiences accepted him not just as a singer, but as a screen presence.

He followed it up with “Angalo Yo Maya Ko” (2011), “Kina Maya Ma” (2011), “Nishani” (2014).

Cut to 2025. We saw him in the character of Daniel Acho alongside Jaideep Ahlawat, Tillotama Shome, Ishwak Singh in ‘Paatal Lok’ season 2. He played a sniper.

When music met politics

Prashant Tamang’s Indian Idol journey also had an unexpected political impact.

Bimal Gurung, then a councillor of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, led a massive campaign urging people to vote for Prashant. The campaign gained overwhelming support in Darjeeling.

Riding on this wave of public unity and emotion, the movement slowly shifted into politics. Bimal Gurung eventually overthrew Subhash Ghisingh, the GNLF leader and caretaker of the DGHC.

Later, Gurung founded the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, renewing the long-standing demand for a separate Gorkhaland state in India.

A singing contest had stirred something much bigger.

Back to ‘Asare Mahina Maa’ again…

Prashant Tamang was never flashy. He did not chase noise. His voice felt like rain on tin roofs, like hills wrapped in mist, like longing without drama.

And now, when “Asare Mahina Maa” plays, it sounds different. The rain still falls. The heart still feels alone. And we understand it a little less.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance on Sunday unveiled its manifesto for the 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, promising a corruption-free Mumbai and the use of AI to make the governance more effective.

The manifesto was released by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. His deputy and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde was also present during the manifesto launch event.

“The city has seen 25 years of inefficiency in civic governance,” Fadnavis said, referring to the rule of the undivided Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray and his family between 1997 and 2022.

“Our goal is a corruption-free municipal corporation,” Fadnavis said.

He announced the use of AI to identify illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants with the help of the Indian Institute of Technology.

BJP-Congress tie-up against Shinde Sena in Ambernath Council triggers row; Maha CM Fadnavis directs local unit to end alliance

“We will free Mumbai of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas,” Fadnavis said. “With the help of IIT, we will develop an AI tool to identify Bangladeshi migrants.”

The Maharashtra CM said that the Mahayuti will ensure the supply of clean drinking water and the creation of employment opportunities for the youth.

He also announced a Rs 17,000 crore Climate Action Plan for an environmentally friendly Mumbai.

For the education sector, Fadnavis said municipal schools will be modernised and made skill-oriented.

He also promised greater transparency in the administration of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Revolutionary changes will be made to Mumbai’s transportation system to make travel comfortable and faster for the city’s residents.

For women, the CM announced a 50 per cent concession in bus ticket fares. The Mahayuti alliance will also ensure the implementation of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme in Mumbai.

He also promised to develop the memorials of great personalities in Mumbai.

The hills were unusually quiet on Sunday. The voice that once made an entire region pick up their phones and vote again and again had gone silent. Prashant Tamang, the soft-spoken constable-turned-singing star who changed Indian Idol history, passed away at his New Delhi home. He was just 43. Doctors confirmed he suffered a stroke.

Also Read: Bob Weir, longtime Grateful Dead guitarist and voice of a generation, dies surrounded by family at 78

From Darjeeling’s lanes to national fame

Prashant Tamang was born on January 4, 1983, in Darjeeling. Life did not start easy for him. He lost his father at a young age, and responsibility came early. To support his family, Tamang joined the Kolkata Police as a constable.

But music never left his heart. Even while wearing a uniform, he found ways to sing. He became part of the police orchestra quietly polishing his voice while doing his duty.

Few could have guessed then that this young constable from small town would soon become one of the most talked-about faces on Indian television.

Indian Idol Season 3: A movement, not just a win

Everything changed in 2007. This was when Tamang entered Indian Idol Season 3. From the moment he appeared on screen, something special happened. Viewers saw one of their own chasing a dream.

What followed was extraordinary.

Tamang became a superstar in West Bengal, Sikkim, and especially the Darjeeling hills. Voting turned into a massive emotional movement. People from Kolkata, Sikkim, and Nepali communities across the world voted for him in huge numbers.

Support poured in from Brunei, the UK, Hong Kong, the UAE, and many other countries. Nepali-origin workers abroad even sent money to India just so votes could be cast in his name.

SMS votes, sacrifices, unmatched support

The scale of support was unheard of at the time. The mayor of Mirik publicly promised to spend ₹10,000 on SMS voting. His staff went a step further and pledged a full month’s salary to support Tamang.

In Howrah and Kolkata, special travel arrangements were made so people could campaign for him. Some of these events were attended by his sister, mother, and grandmother.

Across the border in Pokhara, Nepal, Radio Annapurna ran donation drives. Around NPR 70,000 was collected and sent to Darjeeling to help with voting. A signature campaign was organised by the Nepali newspaper ‘Himalaya Darpan’ in Kolkata.

Schools, clubs, and local groups urged people to vote, calling him ‘Pride of the Hills’.

Even political leaders joined in. Two Sikkim cabinet ministers planted saplings in Singtam to show unity and support. The state’s Sports and Youth Affairs Minister also backed statewide voting.

By the time Tamang lifted the Indian Idol trophy, it felt like an entire community had won.

Life after the Indian Idol trophy

Winning Indian Idol opened many doors. Tamang released his album ‘Dhanyavad’ and began performing overseas building a strong reputation as both a playback and live singer across South Asia.

Songs like ‘Bir Gorkhali’ and ‘Asare Mahinama’ became cultural anthems and are still played with pride today.

But Tamang didn’t stop at music.

When Prashant Tamang turned into acting

In 2009, he stepped into acting. His first Nepali film, ‘Gorkha Paltan’, released in 2010 and turned out to be a box-office hit. Audiences welcomed him warmly on the big screen.

He followed it up with ‘Angalo Yo Maya Ko’ in 2011, produced in Sikkim, and then ‘Kina Maya Ma’ the same year. In 2014, Tamang starred in ‘Nishani’, a film based on the bravery of Gorkha soldiers during the Kargil War.

Prashant Tamang in ‘Paatal Lok’

On television, Tamang appeared as a guest on ‘Amber Dhara’. Years later, he surprised viewers with a strong performance in ‘Paatal Lok Season 2’ where he played the pivotal role of Daniel Lecho.

Indian National Congress (INC) is holding protests at multiple locations across the country and observing a fast against the Centre’s decision to replace MGNREGA with Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Act.

The one-day hunger strike will be held near the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar at the district headquarters, as part of the party’s three-phase agitation titled ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ to draw national attention to the “systematic dismantling of pro-poor schemes” through VB–G RAM G Act.

Agartala, Tripura: State Congress stages a hunger strike over MGNREGA. pic.twitter.com/zTERbvDNW5

— IANS (@ians_india) January 11, 2026

Ajay Rai, Congress UP Chief, said that party workers will hold nationwide hunger protests, as he claimed the new rural job employment scheme does not ensure the livelihood security of labourers and marginalised sections. “Today, across the country, our Congress workers will sit in protest under the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Bhimrao Ambedkar and observe a fast. Today, all of us will sit in silent protest, observe a fast, and voice our opposition to these actions.”

The leader levelled allegations against the Central government of damaging the welfare mechanisms that ensured the right to work. Rai said the party will continue to voice the interests of the poor through protests as well as through the democratic process.

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Congress state President Ajay Rai says, “Today, across the country, our Congress workers will sit in protest under the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Bhimrao Ambedkar and observe a fast. They will protest against the government for ending MGNREGA and… pic.twitter.com/63wC3OQNs8

— IANS (@ians_india) January 11, 2026

Yesterday, party general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh also mentioned the nationwide campaign ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ in his press conference. He accused the central government of diluting the flagship rural employment scheme MGNREGA and taking away the right to work from poor people.

“@INCIndia is committed to seeing this struggle through – until we secure the restoration of the right to work, livelihood, and accountability that the Modi Government has snatched with its bulldozer demolition of the MGNREGA,” he added.

In South Asia, cricket occupies a space that extends beyond sport. It reflects public sentiment, national confidence and the quality of regional relationships. For this reason, India’s current approach towards cricketing engagement with Bangladesh warrants closer consideration.

What may be intended as caution or administrative prudence in New Delhi risks being interpreted in Dhaka as a lack of sensitivity. More importantly, it creates the impression that Bangladesh is being viewed through a framework historically applied to Pakistan. Such an interpretation, even if unintended, carries strategic implications.

Bangladesh’s trajectory over the past decade has been distinct. Successive governments in Dhaka have cooperated with India on security, counter-terrorism and regional stability, often in the face of internal political pressures. Against this backdrop, uncertainty or hesitation in sporting exchanges sends an ambiguous signal.

Diplomatic relationships are shaped as much by perception as by policy, and the present ambiguity risks diluting the goodwill painstakingly built over the years.

Cricket in Bangladesh is not simply a popular pastime. It is a significant marker of national identity and social cohesion. The national team enjoys wide public reverence, cutting across political and social divides. When engagement in this sphere appears constrained, it is easily interpreted as disregard, irrespective of the reasons offered. Such perceptions tend to acquire a life of their own, particularly in a charged political environment. This is where caution becomes counterproductive.

Periods of political transition amplify symbolic issues. Bangladesh is approaching an electoral phase marked by heightened public mobilisation. In this context, any narrative suggesting disrespect towards national symbols, including the cricket team, provides political actors with an opportunity to shape public opinion in adversarial terms. Hardline groups, in particular, benefit from such moments, as they allow broader grievances to be framed around a readily understandable cause.

India’s approach, therefore, must be attentive to how actions are received, not merely how they are intended. Allowing sporting engagement to falter risks strengthening voices in Bangladesh that seek to project India as dismissive or unreliable. This, in turn, narrows the space for moderation and complicates the task of those within Bangladesh who argue for balanced and cooperative relations with India.

There is also a social dimension that merits quiet reflection. In periods of heightened nationalism, minority communities often experience increased vulnerability. While sporting decisions should not be over-burdened with social responsibility, it is nonetheless true that strained atmospheres can exacerbate existing communal sensitivities. Avoidable perceptions of affront can indirectly contribute to environments in which minority groups, including Hindus in Bangladesh, face greater social pressure. Maintaining channels of goodwill, including through cricket, can help moderate such tendencies.

India has, in the past, recognised the utility of cricket as a diplomatic instrument. It has been used to signal continuity, reassurance and respect, even when political conversations were difficult. The relative cooling of this channel with Bangladesh; therefore, appears inconsistent with India’s broader neighbourhood engagement principles, which emphasise differentiation and context-specific responses.A mature regional power benefits from sustaining people-to-people engagement, particularly with close neighbours whose public opinion matters for long-term stability. Re-engagement through cricket should be seen not as a concession, but as an affirmation of Bangladesh’s distinct place in India’s neighbourhood policy. Strategic restraint does not require symbolic withdrawal. On the contrary, it calls for careful calibration. In diplomacy, as in sport, avoiding unnecessary disengagement often proves the wiser course.

The Election Commission of India has appointed four additional Special Roll Observers (SROs) for West Bengal to ensure the smooth completion of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The move aims to strengthen public confidence and smooth operations during the SIR process.

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar welcomed the ECI’s decisions and said, “The Election Commission is trying to make a flawless voter list/electoral roll. For that, I think if they need many more officers, they should also do so.”

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government has repeatedly alleged large-scale irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Earlier, they linked the resignation of an Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) in West Bengal as evidence of what it called an “institutional failure” within the Election Commission’s own process.

In a post on X, the TMC wrote, “When @ECISVEEP’s own officers resign, the SIR scam stands exposed! And this is no longer a political charge. This is now an indictment from within the Election Commission itself. An AERO has resigned, stating in black and white that he can no longer participate in the ongoing SIR because the process is logically flawed, administratively dishonest, and morally indefensible.”

The TMC referred to the resignation letter of an AERO from the Bagnan Assembly Constituency in Uluberia, Howrah district, dated January 8, 2026.

In a letter to the Electoral Registration Officer, the officer stated that he could no longer continue in his role following the identification of “Logical Discrepancies” in the AERO login system.

Detailing the reasons, the officer wrote in a letter that “the Logical discrepancies appeared in the BLO apps due to sporadic errors in the conversion of the PDF of the 2002 Electoral Roll (last SIR in West Bengal) data to CSV, as admitted by the Additional Chief Electoral Officer.”

The resignation letter further said that the spelling of names recorded in the 2002 electoral rolls was being treated as “sacrosanct,” even though “many names were corrected through Form 8 afterwards in accordance with the rules of ECI.” According to the officer, this led to widespread father-name mismatches during “Progeny Mapping.”He also pointed out that “in many cases the age and sex of the names of 2002 were flawed,” which had later been corrected through due process, but were not being recognised under the current SIR. In addition, the officer flagged serious data anomalies, stating, “In many cases, names of the voters appeared as ‘Ya’. In India, we can hardly find anybody bearing these kinds of names.”

Over 58.2 lakh names were deleted during the enumeration period of the SIR exercise in the state. The ECI had published the draft voter list for West Bengal on December 16. The claims and objections period will continue till January 15, 2026, and the final electoral roll will be published on February 14, 2026.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will participate in a series of programmes in Kerala on Sunday, including a meeting with newly elected representatives of local bodies in the State, where Assembly elections will be held later this year. He will also attend a conclave aimed at fostering development in the state.

Shah, who arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday night, began his day by offering darshan and performing pooja at the historic Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

Amit Shah will interact with newly elected representatives from local self-government institutions across Kerala, at the Uday Palace Convention Centre in Kowdiar.

In the afternoon, the Home Minister will inaugurate the “New India, New Kerala” conclave organised by Kerala Kaumudi.

Later in the day, Shah is scheduled to attend an NDA leaders’ meeting and the BJP State Core Committee meeting at the party’s state office, providing organisational and political guidance to leaders ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a post on X today, said, “Privileged to join our karyakartas in welcoming @AmitShah ji to Thiruvananthapuram. 6 months ago, in July 2025, Amit Shah ji launched BJP/NDA’s #Mission2025 and Kerala witnessed a political turning point in local body elections. Today, he is here to launch #Mission2026 and guide our karyakartas as we prepare for one of the most consequential Assembly elections in Kerala’s history. Election that will decide the future of our state and the opportunities available to generations of Malayalees.

The music world just lost one of its most quietly brilliant stars. Bob Weir, the legendary guitarist and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, passed away at 78 leaving behind a legacy that stretched far beyond the “Deadhead” culture he helped create.

Fans learned the news through a post on his official Instagram account by his daughter, Chloe Weir, who shared that he died peacefully surrounded by family.

The rock veteran had been battling cancer since July, and his death was complicated by underlying lung issues. “Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music,” Chloe wrote, “There is no final curtain here, not really. Only the sense of someone setting off again.”

 

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A post shared by Bobby Weir (@bobweir)

The boy who became a rock icon

Born Robert Hall Parber on October 16, 1947, Bob’s start was anything but ordinary. Placed for adoption, he grew up in Atherton, California, just south of San Francisco. At age 13, young Bob picked up the guitar and quickly immersed himself in folk clubs playing bluegrass and soaking up every sound he could.

It was at a Palo Alto club called Tangent where he first glimpsed Jerry Garcia strumming a banjo. That meeting would change the course of rock history.

In 1964, Bob and Garcia teamed up as the Warlocks, which soon evolved into the Grateful Dead. Despite being only 16, Bob’s talent earned him a spot in the band earning him the affectionate nickname “the kid” among his older bandmates.

Phil Lesh, the band’s bass guitarist, later recalled that he and Garcia had to promise Bob’s mother that the teenager would keep up with school while touring.

“We somehow convinced her that we would indeed see that he got to school every day. In San Francisco. At 8:00 am,” Lesh wrote in his autobiography.

Also Read: Bela Tarr dies at 70: ‘Satantango’ director and pioneer of slow cinema leaves behind a timeless legacy

From ponytail teen to rock rhythm master

Bob’s early years in the Dead were a whirlwind of music, communal living, experimentation. He moved into the band’s famous Ashbury Street house in San Francisco. It used to be a hub of creativity where the Grateful Dead’s sound blossomed. Their first album, ‘The Grateful Dead’, arrived in 1967.

Bob specialised in rhythm. His clever riffs, subtle fills, musical intuition gave the band its unmistakable groove.

“I derived a lot of what I do on guitar from listening to piano players,” he told GQ in 2019. His tastes spanned Chuck Berry rock, cowboy songs, R&B, reggae, and more.

By the early 1970s, Bob was not keeping only the rhythm. He was writing some of the Dead’s most enduring songs. Tracks ‘Sugar Magnolia’, ‘Playing in the Band’, ‘Jack Straw’ showcased his songwriting flair. He often appeared in collaboration with his longtime friend, lyricist John Perry Barlow who passed away in 2018.

A solo journey and global influence

After the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995, Bob could have faded quietly. But instead he carved out unique solo path notably with his band RatDog. He went on to explore jazz, folk, other sounds that reflected his musical interests. He also participated in various Grateful Dead reunions.

In 1972, he released ‘Ace’. It was technically solo album but practically Grateful Dead project. Songs like ‘Cassidy’, ‘Black-Throated Wind’, ‘Mexicali Blues’ highlighted his creative voice.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today offered prayers at the Somnath Temple in Gujarat as part of the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’ celebrations commemorating 1000 years of unbroken faith and resilience since Mahmud of Ghazni’s first attack on the Somnath Temple in January 1026.

PM Modi performed ‘Abhishek’ and ‘Aarti’ at the temple and sought the blessings of Lord Somnath.

#WATCH | Gujarat | PM Narendra Modi offers prayers at Somnath Temple.

Source: DD pic.twitter.com/lkFvl7zuar

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2026

After offering prayers at the sacred shrine, PM interacted with the priests and met the children from Gurukuls. He also played drums with one of the artist groups, who had come to participate in the cultural performances at the Parv.

During his visit to the Somnath Temple, the Prime Minister also paid floral tributes to the statues of Veer Hamirji Gohil and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi during the visit.

Modi plays ‘damru’ at Shaurya Yatra

The Prime Minister also took part in a ‘Shaurya Yatra’ at Somnath organised to honour the warriors who sacrificed their lives defending the Somnath Temple during the attack.

During the ceremonial procession, PM Modi played ‘damru’ while standing in an open vehicle decorated with flowers.

As part of the four-day-long national commemoration, the ‘Shaurya Yatra’ saw participation of 108 horses of the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit, including locally bred Kathiawadi and Marwadi breeds, which had undergone eight months of training for the procession.

#WATCH | Gujarat | PM Narendra Modi interacts with artists in attendance, after offering prayers at Somnath Temple.

Source: DD pic.twitter.com/ghEyP0ntzb

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2026

#WATCH | Gujarat | PM Narendra Modi leaves from Somnath Temple after concluding the ‘Shaurya Yatra’ and offering prayers.

Source: DD pic.twitter.com/UIwBDvhNFJ

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2026

Later in the day

PM Modi will be travelling to Rajkot in the afternoon. As per the schedule, he will inaugurate a trade show and exhibition as part of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference at Marwari University.

He will also launch the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for Kutch and Saurashtra. Later, the Phase 2 route of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project from Sector 10A to Mahatma Mandir will also be launched by PM Modi at Mahatma Mandir Metro Station in Gandhinagar.

Rani Mukerji is back in the role fans have loved for years as Shivani Shivaji Roy is ready to hit the screens even sooner than planned. ‘Mardaani 3’, originally slated for February 27, 2026, will now release on January 30, 2026, Yash Raj Films confirmed on Wednesday. And with the announcement comes the first look poster giving fans a glimpse of Rani in full-on cop mode.

Also Read: The Raja Saab leaked online: Prabhas-starrer appears on 5movierulz, 1tamilmv; police hunt mystery operator Naveen

First look: Shivani Shivaji Roy means business

 

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A post shared by Yash Raj Films (@yrf)

The new poster is all about attitude and action. Rani crouches at the edge of what seems like a boxing ring, eyes sharp, grip firm on a weapon. The caption reads: “She won’t stop, until she rescues them all!”

Behind her, a group of young girls watches with hopeful eyes.

Mardaani 3: Racing against time

Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani 3 takes the franchise in a thrilling new direction.

This time, Shivani is on a mission to save multiple missing girls tackling a pressing societal issue along the way.

The Mardaani films have always blended action with social awareness.

Also Read: ‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’ ft. Chiranjeevi, Nayanthara: Fans cannot post BookMyShow reviews, court orders

If you thought you could rush to BookMyShow after the first-day-first-show of Anil Ravipudi’s ‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’ (MSVPG) and post your review, think again! The megastar Chiranjeevi and Nayanthara starrer, releasing this January 12, has already stirred the online chatter but not for the usual reasons. Thanks to a court order, fans won’t be able to share ratings or reviews on BookMyShow, the most popular ticketing platform.

The BMS page itself carries a blunt warning: “Ratings & Reviews disabled as per court order.”

Also Read: The Raja Saab leaked online: Prabhas-starrer appears on 5movierulz, 1tamilmv; police hunt mystery operator Naveen

Court steps in: Why reviews are blocked

‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’ isn’t the first film to face this unusual precaution. Platforms like BookMyShow had earlier disabled reviews for Kannada films such as ‘The Devil’, ‘Mark’, and ’45’. The reason? Fan wars and online rating manipulations.

Apparently, during those releases, online platforms became battlegrounds. Some fans deliberately posted negative reviews to sabotage films they didn’t like, while others were accused of uploading overly positive ratings in exchange for money.

To stop this digital tug-of-war, film teams turned to the courts for protection. The result: ratings and reviews for MSVPG have been officially blocked safeguarding the film from pre-release online influence.

BookMyShow confirmed the move was in full compliance with the judicial directive. So, whether you loved the first trailer or hated it, your first public opinion on BMS will have to wait.

What’s the film about?

MSVPG comes with a UA 13+ rating and a 2 hours 44 minutes runtime. According to the synopsis, the movie is a family thriller where a peaceful household faces a high-stakes conflict, and loyalties are tested when celebrations turn dangerous.

Social media buzz

Some fans have called the review block an insecure move. They argue that it might reduce the audience’s trust or stir unnecessary skepticism.

Fans say the court order may take away the fun of expressing instant reactions. Film analysts suggest this could become a growing trend especially during festival releases when stakes and fan expectations are high.

Delhi Capitals head coach Jonathan Batty reflected on team’s execution, batting depth and positives despite opening defeat to Mumbai Indians by 50 runs, saying the 190 is a chasable score but the team “did not quite click with the bat.”

Delhi Capitals went down by 50 runs against Mumbai Indians in their opening fixture of the Women’s Premier League at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy on Saturday.

Put in to chase a target of 196, Delhi Capitals were bowled out for 145 in 19 overs, despite a fighting half-century from Chinelle Henry (56 off 33). Earlier, Mumbai Indians posted 195 for 4, powered by half-centuries from Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Reflecting on the contest at the post-match press conference, Delhi Capitals Head Coach Jonathan Batty said, “I thought it was a really good wicket. In the first half, we bowled really well for the first ten overs and were pretty happy. We would have liked another wicket or two, but their two best batters put together a great partnership.”

Assessing the bowling effort overall, he added, “Our plans were very good and about 75 per cent of what we did with the ball was really good. When we missed, we missed quite significantly, which allowed them to get away a little. With a quick outfield and short boundaries, 190 is a chasable score with our batting line-up.”

Speaking about the batting performance, Batty said, “We did not quite click with the bat. One of those days. Nicola Carey bowled really well and probably turned the game in that one powerplay over by getting those two wickets and putting us under pressure.”

Backing the team combination and batting order going forward, he said, “I am really happy with the batting line-up we have got. It is a fantastic top seven or eight, with Sneh Rana coming in at number eight. That line-up should score heavily through the tournament. We always reassess things, but I am really pleased with that group. Players like Laura Wolvaardt and Jemimah Rodrigues have a lot of quality, and they will click.”

Batty also praised debutante Nandni Sharma for her impact on the night, saying, “Nandni has been on our radar for quite some time. She has been to a few trial camps and had a good domestic year. She has been really impressive in training and bowled beautifully in different roles. To finish with figures (2/26) like she did on debut is a really good start to her WPL career.”

Despite the margin of defeat, the DC head coach highlighted positives to take forward from the game. “At one stage, we were 88 for 6 and they were 88 for 2. That shows how the game was positioned at that point. There are lots of good things to come out of that, and we will take those into the debrief,” he said.

Delhi Capitals will next face Gujarat Giants on Sunday at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that Venezuela has begun its process of releasing political prisoners.
In a post on Truth Social, he said that the Venezuelan political prisoners got ‘lucky’ as the US intervened and expedited the process.

“Venezuela has started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners. Thank you! I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done. I HOPE THEY NEVER FORGET! If they do, it will not be good for them,” Trump said.
A detailed report by the Wall Street Journal said that the detainees in the “notorious” Venezuelan prison were caught unawares by the news that had made headlines around the world.
Wall Street Journal reported in detail how the detainees began to sing, “Se cayo! He fell,” in joy upon knowing that Nicolas Maduro and his wife were shoved into a US helicopter in the early hours of January 3, and he saw the horizon of Caracas fading into the skyline.
The two have been kept in the high-profile New York prison since and are facing trial.
Venezuela’s National Assembly president Jorge Rodriguez on Thursday said that the government would release an “important number” of political prisoners. Many Venezuelans saw the announcement as the harbinger of potential change in the government, the Wall Street Journal reported.

However, only 11 of the country’s 800 political prisoners have been released so far, according to the human rights organisation Foro Penal. The nail-biting cliffhanger has kept the prisoners’ kin on their toes, with the air crackling with anticipation.
The prisoners are kept in Caracas, and the brunt is borne by the low-income families who have to make arrangements for seeing their dear ones, with trips that cost them dearly, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Cases involving detainees held without formal charges are often snail-paced and ensnared in bureaucracy. Since Thursday, it has also grown more secretive, a shift activists suspect is meant to avoid scenes unfolding in front of the press, the Wall Street Journal reported.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expects to hold talks with Danish officials next week about Greenland, as European governments respond to renewed pressure from the Trump administration over the Arctic island’s future. Greenland is a self-governing territory under Danish sovereignty, reported The New York Times.

Rubio’s remarks to reporters on Wednesday followed a revival of President Donald Trump’s long-standing interest in acquiring Greenland, a push that appears to have gained momentum after a recent U.S. operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro.
Earlier this week, Rubio told members of Congress that Trump’s preference is to purchase Greenland rather than seize it by force. However, Vice President JD Vance declined to dismiss military action during a Fox News interview on Wednesday. When asked how far the United States might go, Vance said the president was “willing to go as far as he has to” to “defend American interests”, as reported by The New York Times.

Vance also repeated Trump’s argument that Greenland is critical to U.S. national security and claimed Denmark is not doing enough to safeguard the territory. In response, European leaders issued a joint statement on Tuesday underscoring that Arctic security must be based on respect for the United Nations Charter, including national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders, as per the New York Times.
Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, said on Facebook that the governments of Greenland and Denmark had requested an urgent meeting with Rubio due to “increasingly outspoken statements regarding Greenland.” She added that an earlier request for talks had received no response and emphasized that “it is important that all parties involved are given the opportunity to express their views directly and openly,”

Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business and natural resources, told DealBook that U.S. pressure had pushed the territory toward what she called “a point of no return.”
Denmark’s foreign ministry said it was unable to immediately confirm whether a meeting with Rubio had been scheduled.

Greenland is lightly populated and governs itself in many areas, but it remains within the Kingdom of Denmark, which is a NATO member.
Trump first floated the idea of buying Greenland publicly in 2019 during his first presidency. After reelection in 2024, he suggested the United States could use force to acquire the island, as per the New York Times.

That rhetoric was followed by visits from senior administration officials. Tensions escalated further last month when Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland; Landry said he would work “to make Greenland a part of the U.S.”

According to the New York Times, the administration’s renewed stance has unsettled not only Danish and Greenlandic leaders but also European leaders in the NATO alliance. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Monday that any U.S. military action against Greenland would effectively dismantle NATO. She also noted that a purchase appears unlikely, as Denmark lacks the legal authority to sell the territory, and Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has consistently rejected the idea, reiterating that their “country is not for sale.”

Although a Cold War-era agreement already allows the United States significant freedom to expand its military presence in Greenland, no formal request to do so has been made, according to Jens Adser Sørensen, a former senior official in Denmark’s parliament.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought a report on the alleged attack on the vehicle of Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, sources in the BJP said on Sunday.

The Union Home Ministry has asked for the report from the LoP’s office, and it has been learned that the office is sending video footage to the MHA.

Meanwhile, BJP workers and supporters staged protests in several districts against the attack on Suvendu Adhikari’s car on Saturday evening.

The convoy of Adhikari was attacked at Chandrakona in West Midnapore district late on Saturday evening while he was on his way back to Kolkata after attending a political programme in Purulia district.

Adhikari claimed that after his convoy crossed the four-point crossing in the Chandrakona Road Market area in West Midnapore district, some activists of the ruling Trinamool Congress suddenly blocked the road. He said they were carrying Trinamool Congress flags.

The LoP also claimed that some ruling party activists attacked his convoy with bamboo sticks and also hit the bulletproof vehicle. He alleged that although this continued for quite some time, local police did not arrive at the spot.

Adhikari’s convoy managed to leave the spot, after which he went straight to the Chandrakona police outpost and sat on the floor there.

This is not the first time that the convoy of the Leader of the Opposition has been attacked, allegedly by Trinamool Congress activists.

In August 2025, Adhikari’s convoy was attacked at Cooch Behar town in North Bengal. Then, a group of people, allegedly linked to the Trinamool Congress, rushed from the sides and tried to block the vehicles in his convoy.

Adhikari did not suffer any injury because of the bulletproof glass of the vehicle in which he was travelling. The BJP later said the attackers were Trinamool Congress activists.

Reacting to the development, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said, “There was no attack on Suvendu’s car. People were chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ slogans. He couldn’t even handle those slogans.”

Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay is set to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi on Monday in connection with the probe into the Karur campaign stampede that claimed 41 lives last year, party sources said on Sunday.

Vijay is scheduled to depose at around 11 a.m., following a summons issued by the CBI on January 6 under Section 179 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

He has been cited as a witness in the case. After consultations with senior legal counsel and party functionaries, Vijay has decided to cooperate fully with the investigation and comply with the summons.

“Legal experts have advised that if any issues arise during the course of questioning, appropriate remedies can be sought before the court,” a party source said.

“Since TVK had earlier sought the transfer of the probe from the state police to a central agency or judicial supervision, avoiding the summons now would not be in our interest,” the source added.

The CBI is probing the stampede that occurred on September 27, 2025, at Velusamipuram in Karur district during a TVK election campaign event. The tragedy left 41 people dead and at least 110 others injured.

The investigation was handed over to the central agency following directions from the Supreme Court, which ordered a CBI probe into the incident.

As part of the investigation, the agency has already examined several TVK office-bearers, including N. Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, CTR Nirmal Kumar and Mathiyazhagan. Statements were also recorded from the Karur District Collector (IAS) and the Superintendent of Police (IPS). These examinations were conducted over December 29, 30 and 31, with investigators reportedly recording nearly 19.5 hours of testimony.

In a related development, teams from the CBI, the Union Home Ministry and the Central Forensic Science Laboratories under the Directorate of Forensic Science Services on Saturday inspected the campaign bus used by Vijay during the Karur event.

The bus, brought from Chennai and parked at the PWD guest house in Karur, was examined for its CCTV systems and other onboard facilities.

The driver, Bharanidharan (34), was also questioned.

Officials verified the quality and positioning of the cameras on the bus, and the entire inspection process was video recorded. Sources said the checks were prompted by reports suggesting that high-resolution cameras had been installed on the vehicle used during the campaign.

Superman just broke the internet in the collectible world! A rare copy of ‘Action Comics No. 1’, the very comic that introduced the Man of Steel to the world in 1938, has been snapped up by an anonymous collector for a staggering $15 million (135 crore INR). The hero who once sold for just 10 cents has now reached stratospheric heights, financially speaking.

From Nicolas Cage’s collection to comic fame

This isn’t just any comic. It has a Hollywood backstory that reads like a movie plot. The copy once belonged to Nicolas Cage, the ‘Con Air’ and ‘National Treasure’ star.

Cage bought it back in 1996 for $150,000, a jaw-dropping sum at the time for a single comic. But the story gets wild. In 2000, the comic was stolen during a party at Cage’s home.

For more than a decade, this iconic comic vanished until 2011, when it turned up in a California storage unit. By then, its value had soared, thanks in part to the mystery and its silver-screen connection.

“During that 11-year period, it skyrocketed in value. The thief made Nicolas Cage a lot of money by stealing it,” said Stephen Fishler, CEO of Metropolis Collectibles/ComicConnect, the New York-based broker handling the latest sale.

Also Read: ‘Zootopia 2’ review: Adventure, mystery, and heartwarming moments make this Disney sequel shine

Why the comic is a collector’s dream

What makes this comic even more special? Its condition. Graded a 9 out of 10 by the Certified Guaranty Company, a leading authority on collectible authenticity, this copy is one of the highest-scoring versions ever found. Fewer than 100 copies of ‘Action Comics No. 1’ are believed to exist today. This one’s pristine quality paired with its celebrity connection turned it into a collector’s holy grail.

After being reunited with Cage in 2011, the actor sold it at auction for $2.2 million. The amount at that time was already a record-breaking price. But this latest private sale has smashed all previous records including a $9.12 million sale of another pristine Superman No. 1 just last November.

Not bad for a comic that cost a dime, or roughly $2.25 today (203 INR).