Rediff

Purely relying on Yash's aura to the point of draining him dry, Toxic doesn't have an smidgen of storytelling in its body rolling in sex, shock and sounds of bullets fired at anyone and everyone.

From timeless classics to modern favourites, these 10 Malayalam songs capture the colour, warmth and togetherness of Onam like few others can.

If Khalifa: The Ruler continues to bleed at the box office, the odds of a big-budget sequel materialising drop to practically zero.The harsh reality of franchise filmmaking is incredibly simple: If the 'ruler' fails to conquer, absolutely no one is going to care about the 'legacy', no matter how many superstars you cram onto a poster.

'Even if it's just a short moment, he creates something that is pure cinema.'

East Bengal FC's women's team defeated Sabah FA 2-0 to secure their place in the AFC Women's Champions League Group Stage for the second consecutive time, a historic first for an Indian club. Goals from Olivia Anokye and Soumya Guguloth sealed their victory, topping Group A with a perfect record.

East Bengal secured a historic 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Mohun Bagan in the Durand Cup final, with Edmund Lalrindika scoring a sensational hat-trick. This triumph marks East Bengal's 17th Durand Cup title, bringing them level with Mohun Bagan's record in Asia's oldest football competition.

Four individuals, including a student, were injured when a sound box system collapsed during the pre-release event for actor Yash's film 'Toxic' at Malla Reddy University in Hyderabad. The incident occurred after attendees climbed the structure, leading to a police case against the event organisers and university management.

Discover the latest star-studded OTT releases this week, featuring Akshay Kumar's Welcome to the Jungle, Vijay's Jana Nayagan, and a diverse selection of regional and international films and series across major streaming platforms.

Mom-to-be Samantha Ruth Prabhu shares glimpses of her Vietnam holiday with husband Raj Nidimoru, where her baby bump is clearly visible.

Vijay Deverakonda shared a heartwarming photograph of him napping with his parents in his favourite childhood spot.

The BJP accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of objecting to the full version of Vande Mataram at an Independence Day event, sparking a political row. The Congress denied the charge, stating Gandhi was only seeking a chair for party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and clarified the historical context of the song's usage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speeches consistently feature specific terms of address like 'Mere pyare deshwasiyon' and 'sathiyon', offering insights into his communication strategy and connection with the Indian populace.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to opposition parties to support the delimitation-linked Women's Reservation Bill, highlighting its 40-year struggle. The bill aims to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and increase Lok Sabha seats, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. Despite previous setbacks and ongoing efforts to secure numbers, the government continues to push for this crucial legislation.

'Chal bhai, uth.' Get up. He said it to the politicians like they worked for him. International press has come, he announced. Rotters, BBC, Newsweek.

'Ultimately, everything has to be shared. That's why you have that talent. To share it. Unless you share, it won't continue.'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cautioned the nation about intellectual Naxals who he claims are embedded in the system, manipulating policies and posing a threat to society. Speaking on Independence Day, Modi urged citizens to identify and isolate these ideological supporters of Naxalism, highlighting their historical influence in power corridors and their role in promoting violence and anarchy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced a 'Sapta Dhara' (seven-stream) reform framework, aiming to propel India into a developed nation by 2047. This comprehensive plan focuses on key sectors including manufacturing, agro-food processing, technology, logistics, defence, green and blue economy, and soft power, leveraging the nation's youth potential.

Opposition leaders have questioned how caste responses will be recorded without state-wise pre-prepared lists.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his fourth shortest Independence Day speech on Saturday, lasting 75 minutes, marking his shortest address in four years. This analysis compares his recent speech lengths to his previous addresses and those of other former prime ministers.

'It is not because of the war in West Asia, which began on February 28.' 'Petroleum product prices are already going through the roof. They are bound to have a serious inflationary impact.' 'A country's leadership is tested in trying times. It is here that the current leadership is failing.'

A parliamentary panel flagged staffing shortages at NCERT and CBSE, inadequate education spending, falling enrolment and poor internet connectivity in government schools.

As India prepares to mark its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, the magnificent Red Fort will once again become the centre of the nation's celebrations.

Torn between loyalty to their comrades and disillusionment towards the cause for which they are fighting, they are beginning to cave in. Morale has been the casualty, points out Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).

On India's 80th Independence Day, a photo feature by Pravin Talan and Rupali Talan offers a compelling look into the challenging lives and rigorous training of India's armed and security forces, from the snow-capped mountains of Kashmir to the dense forests of Gadchiroli.

Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru to Rani Lakshmibai and Subhas Chandra Bose, their journeys began in remarkably different corners of our great homeland.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined a comprehensive plan to empower India's youth, including training one crore youngsters in artificial intelligence skills and providing free online coaching for competitive examinations, aiming to position them at the forefront of the nation's journey to become a developed nation by 2047.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the risks posed by the 'weaponisation' of resources and strategic sea routes, urging India to achieve greater self-reliance in energy to mitigate vulnerabilities to overseas supplies and geopolitical tensions.

Two people were killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a village in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Friday, the police said.

In addition to caste details, the Census will, for the first time, collect personal information such as the total number of bank accounts held by individuals, along with their mobile number, Aadhaar number, voter ID number, passport number and driving licence status, according to the 40 questions notified by the Registrar General of India on Friday.

JNU Professor Emerita Zoya Hasan's Independence Day speech at a private school in Delhi was cancelled following a protest by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The school and police cited security concerns, a decision criticised by Sahmat, which alleged pressure from the VHP.

Odisha-based Serendipity Space successfully demonstrated drug crystallisation processes on a satellite prototype in a near-space mission. This breakthrough aims to enable pharmaceutical manufacturing in low Earth orbit, leveraging microgravity to create superior drug crystal structures for enhanced solubility, stability, and effectiveness. The mission tested core technologies, including an autonomous pharmaceutical factory, and was inspired by advancements made on the International Space Station

Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce on Friday said they intend to jointly develop a sovereign combat engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, marking a bid by India's largest private-sector company and Britain's storied aero-engine maker to build indigenous fighter-jet propulsion capability in the country.

Underlining that students are the architects of India's future, President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the government is taking comprehensive steps to reform public examinations to completely curb paper leaks and unfair means, making the system transparent, secure, and trustworthy.

Journalist Kuldip Nayar's autobiography recounts Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah's despairing remark, What have I done?, after witnessing the mass displacement during the 1947 Partition. The article also details Nayar's own grim experiences of the communal violence and human tragedy at the time, highlighting the immense upheaval that accompanied the division of the subcontinent, now commemorated as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.

Delhi's Ridge, encompassing areas like Kamla Nehru Ridge, played a pivotal strategic role during the 1857 Revolt against British rule, with sites like the Flagstaff Tower, Hindu Rao's house, and Pir Ghaib serving as crucial military positions and silent witnesses to the intense fighting.

August 15 was the date of India's Independence, so why did transfer of power happen at the stroke of midnight August 14-15?

Researchers at IIT-Guwahati have developed an inexpensive and efficient catalyst for producing hydrogen from water, a crucial step for the National Green Hydrogen Mission and the transition to sustainable energy. The catalyst uses nickel salt and an anthracene-based organic molecule, offering a cleaner alternative to fossil fuel-derived hydrogen.

A 19-year-old second-year Mechanical Engineering student at IIT Kharagpur, Ankit Sharma, died after allegedly falling from the third floor of a campus building. Police have launched an investigation, examining CCTV footage to determine the circumstances of the fall, which remains unclear whether accidental or otherwise.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully secured the return of fugitive drug kingpin Virender Singh Basoya from the UAE, highlighting the government's zero-tolerance policy against narcotics and its relentless pursuit of traffickers hiding abroad.

A tunnel under construction at a hydroelectric project site in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, collapsed after water and debris entered it, killing six workers and injuring 14. Twenty-two workers were initially trapped, with rescue operations ongoing for the remaining two. Multiple agencies, including NDRF and SDRF, are involved in the extensive rescue efforts.

Two prominent temples in Madhya Pradesh, the Pashupatinath Temple in Mandsaur and the Bade Ganesh Temple in Ujjain, observed India's Independence Day on August 11, four days ahead of the national celebration. This unique tradition stems from their adherence to the Hindu calendar, specifically Shravan Krishna Chaturdashi, which corresponded to August 15, 1947, and fell on August 11 this year. Special rituals, flag hoisting, and a Tiranga Yatra marked the early celebrations.

India's Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded with significantly low productivity, marked by frequent disruptions and protests from the Opposition, primarily the Congress, leading to minimal debate on key legislation.

The White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy has accused over 40 countries, including India, of facilitating Chinese exporters in evading US tariffs through practices like relabelling goods or falsely claiming non-Chinese origin, a phenomenon dubbed the and quot;Great Transhipment Scam. and quot;

A government school teacher in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, has been booked for allegedly caning 10 Class 10 female students, causing severe hand injuries and preventing them from taking exams. The incident led to a police case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Juvenile Justice Act after a parent's complaint.

Major opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, and SP, boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die, while some opposition leaders attended a similar event in the Rajya Sabha.

Kharge, who is also the Congress President, demanded that cases should be registered, under the Untouchability Act, against those who purified the stage in Haldwani, and they should be arrested and sent to jail.

From guns to handlooms. From forest trails to a public runway. Women who had once been associated with that conflict walked into the spotlight wearing Bastar's traditional textiles.

The Maharashtra government has proposed amendments to the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, making 'working knowledge of Marathi language' mandatory for cab drivers, with non-compliance potentially leading to suspension or revocation of driving licences.

A fresh clash erupted between protesters from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in Dhemaji district, leading to police firing in the air, as an indefinite economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh entered its second day over land encroachment issues and an earlier firing incident.

Salman Khan is set to host Bigg Boss 20, introducing a new twist 'Extra Jeevan Daan' that promises to revolutionise the game with higher stakes and unexpected challenges for contestants.