Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and his spouse Saira Banu have parted ways after 29 years of marriage. The announcement was made on social media together with the separate statements of their lawyers blaming the emotional stress on the couple’s decision. No word has been given to explain this decision.
Despite the use of a hashtag by A.R. Rahman to publicise this personal event, which has sparked some controversy. The fact remains the couple’s decision to part ways.
In the early hours of November 20, A.R. Rahman broke his silence on their separation after his wife Saira’s lawyers issued a public statement.
A.R. Rahman wrote on X.com that-
“We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts. Yet, in this shattering, we seek meaning, though the pieces may not find their place again. To our friends, thank you for your kindness and for respecting our privacy as we walk through this fragile chapter.”
The news of nearly three decades of marriage between A.R. Rahman and Saira Banu coming to an end came as a shock to the fans and the industry as well. Along with this development, it also brings to the forefront an event which happened in 2023 where AR Rahman came out to the defence of his wife after actress Kasturi Shankar made a remark about her.
At the Vikatan Awards in 2023, actress Kasturi Shankar posted a clip of the ceremony that she attended and raised doubts about Saira Banu’s understanding and knowledge of Tamil. She even went as far as to ask why Saira was not proficient in the language, what her native language was and the language they used in their household.
The statements triggered protests and many fans took offence and condemned the actress for making inappropriate and invasive comments about the family life of Rahman.
This week’s top new streaming movies include some of the most popular films today, the newest originals from leading streaming networks, as well as other less hyped-up films that many noticed came out in cinemas. There’s a variety of films spanning many genres up in Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Peacock, and Paramount+, many of which are just off their cinematic run. Some recently featured titles are also getting some recognition in the award season buzz.
This week still showcases some Christmas cheer to those impatient viewers who just cannot wait for the festive season. There are several Netflix productions such as Emilia Pérez that are starting to generate some anticipation due to the awards season. This is however the best week of the year for several people as it’s the release week for some of the most smashing blockbusters of the year: Transformers One, Twisters, and Deadpool & Wolverine.
#10 The Last Breath (2024)
Ever since Jaws showed us how interesting a shark movie can be, there has not really been a ‘good’ shark-related film after it which is universally appreciated and leaves a gap or potential like we saw in Under Paris’s recent effort. The Last Breath is an entertaining movie that makes viewers think thrice before entering the water but includes an interesting twist in how it tells its shark attack story. The Last Breath follows a group of college friends on a scuba diving trip in the Caribbean. All goes well until the group decides to investigate a WWII wrecked ship and unbeknownst to them, they are trapped and being stalked by sharks.
It is interesting to note that in The Last Breath, the ocean becomes as much a villain as the sharks in this narrative. The main characters have to make the horrible decision of either drowning in the sunken maze of the ship or getting eaten by the sharks in the confrontation. However, it does make for a suspenseful underwater thriller though still not able to match the Jaws.
#9 Hot Frosty (2024)
When it comes to the Christmas period, Netflix’s catalogue has several good and cozy options that I feel will find their way to people as the familiar annual collection of Christmas rom-coms has already begun in the year 2024. But no other film will probably ever beating the outrageous concept of Hot Frosty. One of the stars Lacey Chabert portrays a widow called Cathy who is not so much of a fan of Christmas and her problems are consistently solved by turning a magic snowman into a hot nice guy.
The movie goes headfirst in this merry premise with Dustin Milligan portraying Jack Snowman providing both humor and charm in the role. Some other comedic actors who feature in the film are also very notable; for example, Craig Robinson plays the sheriff who is trying to get to the root of Jack’s mysterious activities. This creates a wonderful and amusing approach to the festivities.
#8 Return Of The King: The Fall And Rise Of Elvis Presley (2024)
There are many amazing music documentaries in the world today, but there is something special about Elvis Presley that has lasted for several decades and therefore any film of him is worth watching. Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley is an account of an interesting and unique phase in Elvis’ career which transformed him into one of the biggest icons of world music.
The music-focused documentary looks at the era when Elvis’ music stopped resonating with the masses and he was slowly becoming well known as a family entertainer. But Elvis made an unforgettable comeback with an equally memorable television show which earned him the title ‘The King’. The interviews are interspersed with great footage of other legendary artists speaking about their love for Elvis, including Bruce Springsteen, and fans like Conan O’Brien.
#7 Close To You (2024)
After six years of absence from the big screen, Elliott Page comes back with a film called Close to You. Additionally, he made this film after transitioning into the character that he is today. Page returns home to celebrate his father’s birthday in Close to You. During the celebration, he encounters both his relatives and friends and learns how they feel about his decision to become a trans person.
The style of the film is intimate and very loose as if the viewer simply happens to be around the characters as they engage in highly spontaneous and unscripted chats. The page clearly portrays the private side of the ordeal in the film, answering many questions, criticisms or supportive comments which inevitably come in circumstances such as these.
#6 An Almost Christmas Story (2024)
For those still not prepared to settle down with the hour-and-a-half-long Christmas special can check out the shorter festive Christmas film which comes in the shape of An Almost Christmas Story. The animated movie depicts a young owl called Moon who is accidentally caught up in a tree chosen as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree for the year. While finding his way around the big city, Moon meets and starts talking to a girl named Luna.
Although it is only a short film available on Disney+, there are some big names in the cast of An Almost Christmas Story. An and Two have co-written and directed the short film, David Lowery (The Green Knight) directed the film which was written in part by Alfonso Cuarón. It also features an incredible voice cast that includes Natasha Lyonne, John C. Reilly and Jim Gaffigan. It serves as a nice warm family Christmas collectible for viewers of all ages.
#5 Thelma (2024)
Thelma might be the most underappreciated film of the year; however, with it now streaming at home, new audiences should enjoy this delightful surprise. Oscar nominee June Squibb portrays Thelma, a widow who is swindled out of some money because of her goodness. Determined to show that she can function independently, she sets out to reclaim what was lost.
Although the movie may precisely be described as a revenge flick, it’s really about a woman who cherishes her life and aims to do all it takes to prove that she is not a liability. Squibb is wonderful in the lead role, and she manages to be funny, charming, and sweet all at the same time. Another great performance is given by the late Richard Roundtree as Thelma’s friend who is coerced into participating in the mission.
#4 Emilia Pérez (2024)
Every year, Netflix tries its level best to market one of its original films as an award-winning film during the award season. The film which seems to catch attention this time, and chances to sweep many nominations with it is the hyped musical titled Emilia Pérez. The main cast of the film Zoe Saldaña plays an unappreciated attorney bored of being at a dead-end and is approached by a powerful and dangerous drug kingpin named Emilia. The drug lord wants assistance in staging her death so that she can escape and fulfil her dreams.
The Emilia Pérez movie received a lot of positive reactions after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival where it also took home the Jury Prize award and Best Actress award which was awarded to the four main actors of the film; Saldana, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz. Mixing music with crimes has never been done before and Emilia Pérez will undoubtedly not only be one of the most talked-about films of the Fall season but will also grab a lot of attention.
#3 Transformers One (2024)
Transformers has had its fair share of highs and lows over the decades as a franchise, but one thing that stood out about Transformers One was the fact that it catered to older fans and was animated. It is a prequel depicting the events behind Optimus Prime and Megatron in their prime friendship, on a planet named Cybertron, yet again, something goes haywire and the friends get all angry at each other and split up because they have got a ‘calling’.
Transformers movie fans have waited a long time for the action to be set in Cybertron and for the Transformers characters rather than the humans taking centre stage. Transformers One feels like accomplishing both and, oddly enough, seems like a good tale about two close friends growing apart. The voice cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry and Scarlett Johansson.
#2 Twisters (2024)
Fresh in the theatres across America, once a blockbuster this summer season is ‘Twisters.’ This movie comes after a long gap of 1996 and this movie was stuck because of the constant change of directors. This movie has a new generation of cast which features Daisy Edgar Jones, and Glen Powell amongst others which definitely excites the audience.
The film is interesting as it nicely ties in with the previous one but brings new levels of destruction as well. Nevertheless, the cast earns the highest praise – actors Edgar-Jones and Powell are among the brightest rising stars of Hollywood including Meryl Streep. They easily make Twisters exceed the expectations of the audience when it comes to storm disasters, which is the whole point of the franchise.
#1 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
After an explosive performance at the box office which followed up with great audience reception, Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most desirable streaming releases this year. This is the third movie in the Deadpool trilogy, but the first that puts the Merc with the Mouth voiced by Ryan Reynolds in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As expected, Deadpool did not come to Disney of his own accord, as the film is a multiverse tale with the perfect narrator, Deadpool, and his co-star Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine pursuing their dual motivations to not get wiped out.
It is amazing to watch Reynolds and Jackman bring their characters to life in such blood-filled and laughter-packed light. There are a lot of great action sequences where Deadpool and Wolverine exchange some truly funny lines. Along with Reynolds and Jackman, the movie features plenty of Wolverine and Deadpool & Wolverine cameos which are always guaranteed to be the best moments in the MCU.
In India, gaming content has gone to fresh new levels and transformed itself into an inseparable part of both entertainment and social networks. This cultural revolution is epitomized by platforms like YouTube, where creators incorporate strategy, fun, and ideas into entertaining content. These people are more than just gamers; they are trendsetters and have millions of fans who rely on them every day.
The year 2024 has been special for gaming creators in India, as new creators became popular with established ones. Let’s delve deeper, and find out the top 10 gaming creators who have revolutionized the gaming experience for Indian audiences and have built a name in YouTube.
Our team at Holaquiz has created a list of 10 gaming creators that are growing the Indian gaming scene rapidly. Let’s check it out!
1. Total Gaming (Ajay)
Ajay, also popularly recognized as Total Gaming or “Ajju Bhai” continues to rule the Indian gaming landscape. Ever since the launch of his channel, which he has dedicated to the game Free Fire, he has acquired a huge fan base throughout the urban and rural areas of India.
What makes Ajay stand out is that he has been able to keep his identity private whilst creating an empire. This includes live streams, tutorials and challenges that never switch focus from fun or sheer expertise. With his charisma and strong work ethic, Ajay is the standard bearer of Indian gaming creators, raising Total Gaming to one of the most popular channels in India.
2. Techno Gamerz (Ujjwal Chaurasia)
Ujjwal Chaurasia aka Techno Gamerz has been inspiring millions of viewers with his stories in the Indian gaming community. His channel stands out because he has a gift for storytelling and tends to cover highly popular games such as GTA V and Minecraft. Being the self-made man Ujjwal is, one of the most inspiring stories in India is being a Youtuber and coming from underscores to the top.
Once again, his projects feel like episodes of some series, thanks to how cinematic he is with the content he creates. Techno Gamerz has also started crossovers with other creators, thus widening the audience even more. As of mid-2024, his channel has been very successful and continues to offer entertainment, creativity, and interaction on every video upload.
3. CarryMinati (Ajey Nagar)
CarryMinati has resurrected the cringe genre and changed the landscape of YouTube in India. It took him little time to acquire the title of the fastest-growing Indian YouTuber after his channel took flight. CarryMinati shifted from getting trolled for his malodorous raunchy thoughts to enjoying a multi-faceted career where his sense of humour is regularly appreciated. Ajey has carved a great community for himself and is a popular Indian YouTuber with his bold personality standing out. Gaming in India was seen as something of an innovation; however, thanks to the likes of CarryMinati, its popularity only continues to grow.
4. GamerFleet (Anshu Bisht)
Anshu Bisht aka GamerFleet in his virtual persona, is the new sensation in the Indian gaming superhero universe. His infectious personality and heartwarming humour have charmed avid gamers into pursuing GamerFleet in recent times and it has not disappointed. Vast terrains of untamed jungles in Minecraft and subscribed networks of danger when he collabs with legends like Techno Gamerz and CarryMinati have catapulted Anshu’s fame to superb levels.
Anshu makes this connection on the account of laughter and smiles. It is the same boredom that allows everyone to connect with modern-day filmmakers. GamerFleet has only expanded and developed his catalogue and in 2024 his audiences keep getting wowed over and over again. It really is commendable to watch as he has established himself as an authentic and lively creator expanding his portfolio and finding himself in an elite circle of India’s finest gaming maestros.
5. Mythpat (Mithilesh Patankar)
The magnificent voice of Mithilesh Patankar also known in the gaming community as Mythpat is one of the best in Indian content creation with comedic roots. In addition to humorous content, his channel features so-called gaming and intersperses gameplay events with parodies, impersonations, as well as amusing contests.
Mythpat manages quite a few game titles like GTA V, Minecraft and Among Us with ease. When you are with him you can never say that it’s a boring time of the day. He also has gained a lot of followers due to his content strategy. In 2024, the desire of `the young man is to still be on the top and reshape his content such that he breaks into new segments of entertainment in the gaming industry in India.
6. Dynamo Gaming (Aditya Sawant)
Dynamo is the name of a YouTuber who is quite popular among the Indian subcontinent and live audio/ video gaming streaming is his forte.
One of the highlights of many people during Sawant’s live performances remained his catchphrase: “Patt se headshot.” His commentary is humorous and boasts sharp, fresh interactions with his fans. In 2024, the gaming platform boasts some of India’s finest graphics as Sawant continues to innovate and create even more amazing content.
7. Mortal (Naman Mathur)
A well-known gamer in esports, and India’s gaming prospect. Mortal is touted to be one of the first Indian gamers who has tackled and conquered the world stage. So in that aspect, Mortal’s reach and influence are not limited to just YouTube.
His beautiful and entertaining gameplay, interesting stories, and collaborative videos are all featured on his YouTube channel. With the constant stress of competing in the gaming scene while creating content of his own, he definitely is one of the most celebrated creators within the gaming community of India. Mortal’s audience has also been learning from his PUBG Mobile streams and vlogs where he tries to be a responsible gamer in this new era of 2024 and beyond.
8. Scout (Tanmay Singh)
Tanmay Singh who is as popular as Scout is one of the best competitive gaming creators in India which is not easy at all. The level of intense knowledge about the gaming aspects of the PUBG Mobile and BBMI games brings him inner Sprout. Scout’s content is dedicated to the dream of raising Indian esports to a better level, leaning towards overpowering their game with impressive commentary.
He also has his fair bridge view on what it is like gaining corporate gaming as a career. With his charismatic personality and technical skills, Scout is one of the few successful creators on YouTube in the gaming industry in India in 2024.
9. Gyan Gaming (Sujan Mistri)
Sujan Mistri aka Gyan Gaming is one of the top players of Free Fire game in today’s date. He streams his gameplay while conducting Q&A and fan impressions during his videos. Currently, many people know him because of the way Gyan Gaming imposes itself: adding fun to gameplay and getting to know the audience.
Why isn’t it enough? So when ‘Gyan’ has any fresh perspectives or a new project coming up, it is a new challenge bus that the people always love boarding. Even in 2024, he remains without any opponents in the territory of FF India and the investments continued. He is a renowned figure for articulating the quality of content and videos amongst aimless players and aspiring creators.
10. LoLzZz Gaming (Lokesh Jain)
With over 8 million don earned by him to date, Lokesh Jain aka LoLzZz Gaming is recognized as one of the best gamers in the BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile streams. His favourite type of play is sniping or utilizing accurate weapons and quick movement. Hardcore First Person Gamers admire him for his skills.
The LoLzZz Gaming channel contains thrilling and fun live-stream action and detailed “How To” guides along with entertaining challenges and pranks. As a result, the channel attracts audiences of all age groups. Because of his efforts to improve himself daily and because of his active communication with clients, he has built a loyal client base over time.
The Malayalam movie Sookshmadarshini, featuring Basil Joseph and Nazriya Nazim, was greeted with strong first-day praises on Thursday. The movie is directed by Jithin M.C and is made by Sameer Thahir, Shyju Khalid and A.V Anoop from the Happy Hours Entertainments and AVA Production companies.
To much excitement, the much-awaited mystery thriller movie Sookshmadarshini which features Basil Joseph and Nazriya Fahadh is now on the big screens! Sookshmadarshini is also the Morrocan movie which marked the return of Nazriya to the Mollywood industry after a gap of four years and was directed by MC Jithin.
We at Holaquiz are also excited about the movie and have got some hot take on it. Let’s check it out!
Basil Joseph’s engaging undertone combined with a gripping storyline was liked by many netizens and was a pleasant sight with the serious character he yet played.
In the mystery comedy movie, Sookshmadarshini, the focus is on the finesse with which he can portray a nuanced, grey-shaded character and in fact, this anchors not just his character but the motion picture as a whole.
Sookshma, during her interview with the journalist, is described by her friend as someone who always likes to ask questions. It is not in an intrusive manner but she has this knack of being in the right place at the right time, such that she can unlock the most complicated of problems or even dry the trickiest of issues.
They live with their husband Antony (Deepak Parambol), and their 5-year-old daughter Kani (Hezzah Mehak) in a marginally urban area, this housewife Priya cannot find work so she is looking for work. Mrs and Mr Priya and Antony are very delightful people and have good relations with their neighbours, among them: Sulu (Akhila Bhargavan), Asma (Pooja Mohanraj) and Stephy (Merin Philip), who are her closest friends.
Along with other local ladies, they are even members of a very active WhatsApp group where they share news about themselves and local news. Nevertheless, the quiet and calm conditions in their neighbourhood begin to heat up as soon as Manuel (Basil Joseph) and his mother Gracy (Manohari Joy) come back from years of living away from their previous residence next door.
Given that his mother is characterized as an aged and ill woman who is not very talkative, we mostly see Manuel looking after her. Although he seems to be very relaxed and sociable to everyone else, Priya begins to probe him as she senses he is being somewhat deceptive about his home.
Her suspicions grow when she understands that Gracy is not as sick as Manuel depicts. Out of curiosity, Priya decides to look into Manuel’s movements and his activities to understand what he is up to, only to end up discovering many shocking things about him and the things he has been trying to hide in his house.
There is something uniquely sweet about the movies that do not seek to exceed expectations, and rather, are careful in putting forth their concepts; Sookshmadarshini can be said to live by this rule structurally.
It makes no attempts to please the audience by sensationalising its decor or adding things for effect. With a constant gaze, a delicate understanding of its environment and precise movement, MC’s outing guides its audience onto an enthralling experience. Managing the slants, angles and undulations of the story’s plot, the MC and crew make “perfectly OK” in a kleptomaniac-centered comedy, but not without their shortcomings.
Right from the beginning, the movie Sookshmadarshini keeps comedy and mystery at a perfect equilibrium, thus making sure one doesn’t dwarf the other, thus making an interesting combination that keeps the viewers enthralled. Even in the amusing tussles between Manuel and his scheming cousin Dr. John (Sidharth Bharathan) or Roy (Kottayam Ramesh) the latter’s father, the plot remains under wraps.
MC makes sure that the comic relief never dampens the thrill nor does the drama take away the laughter, creating a beautiful symmetry. The director also does not overdo things and gets everything just right which makes for an enjoyable experience for the viewers.
In the end after the true context of the crime and revealed the reason behind the act is brought to the fore. The movie takes a serious stance with regard to its subject matter and manages to handle it with the seriousness it warrants but still is in line with the theme of the movie.