Month: October 2025

general

Pre-Diwali OTT line-up: From Bhagwat Chapter One to She Walks in Darkness, October 2025’s third weekend offers global variety

admin

The third weekend of October 2025 has brought a flood of diverse content to Indian streaming platforms, offering everything from high-stakes crime thrillers to international espionage and South Korean disaster comedy. With a mix of major Hindi releases, compelling international titles, and strong regional cinema, this week’s line-up-timed perfectly for pre-Diwali celebrations-offers something for every demographic. Leading the charge is a packed slate of new releases that appeal to the core audience for prestige dramas and true crime. BHAGWAT CHAPTER ONE: RAAKSHAS (ZEE5): Headlining the week’s domestic offerings is this Hindi crime thriller, featuring a powerhouse cast including Arshad Warsi and Jitendra Kumar. The series plunges into a police investigation surrounding mysterious disappearances in Uttar Pradesh, promising a gritty and engaging procedural for fans of the genre. HOLLYWOOD HUSTLER: GLITZ, GLAM, SCAM (Amazon Prime Video): For true-crime enthusiasts, this documentary is a must-watch. It uncovers the staggering scale of a major Hollywood Ponzi scheme, peeling back the layers of Tinseltown glamour to expose the financial deceit beneath, providing a cautionary tale of greed and fraud. SHE WALKS IN DARKNESS (Netflix): Catering to the global thriller audience, this international espionage series is set in France. The political drama with a spy twist is expected to be a major draw for viewers who enjoy high-tension, geo-political narratives. Global and Regional Diversity on Full Display This week’s slate underscores the platforms’ commitment to both international and vernacular content, ensuring a well-rounded catalogue for a linguistically diverse audience. GOOD NEWS (Netflix): Adding a touch of dark humour is the South Korean disaster comedy, which blends tension and laughs during a hijacking crisis. This continues the strong trend of global non-English content finding massive success with Indian viewers. KISHKINDHAPURI (ZEE5): The regional horror segment is covered by this Telugu horror thriller. Focused on ghost-hunting and supernatural suspense, the film ensures ZEE5 captures the audience demand for well-produced regional genre content. The breadth of content-covering crime, thriller, horror, comedy, and investigative drama-is a clear reflection of the major trends shaping the OTT landscape in 2025. The timing of these releases around the Diwali festivities is strategic, encouraging friends and families to settle in for a weekend of collective binge-watching. Also Read: Priyanka Chopra Jonas dazzles in ivory Indo-Western look at Anjula Acharia’s pre-Diwali bash in NYC.

general

Shah Rukh Khan REACTS as nationwide film festival announced ahead of his 60th birthday; deets inside!

admin

Bollywood King Shah Rukh Khan will soon be ringing in his Birthday on November 2. And this time there is all the more reason to have a grand celebration in the Khan household, his National Award win for Jawan. And now we hear that PVR INOX, one of the largest and premium cinema exhibitors in India will be celebrating Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday with a special film festival that will showcase the actors’ blockbuster films till date starting from October 13, 2025. This will be a two-week-long film festival that will run across 30+ cities and 75+ cinemas, offering audiences a unique opportunity to relive the best of Shah Rukh Khan’s cinematic journey on the big screen. Talking about the film festival curated by PVR INOX, Shah Rukh Khan said, “Cinema has always been my home, and seeing these films find their way back to the big screen feels like a beautiful reunion. These movies are not just my stories, they belong to the audience that have lovingly embraced them over the last 33 years. I am grateful to PVR INOX for celebrating this journey with such love, and to Red Chillies Entertainment, my creative home, for always believing in stories that connect us all. I hope everyone who comes to watch relives the joy, the music, the emotions, and the magic of cinema that we’ve shared together.”The film festival will feature titles like Chennai Express, a delightful action-comedy that blends high-octane adventure with Shah Rukh Khan’s unmatched comic timing; Devdas, a timeless epic of unfulfilled love and grandeur; Dil Se, a hauntingly poetic exploration of love and rebellion set against a turbulent political backdrop; Jawan, a powerful action spectacle that showcases SRK in a dual role embodying both rage and redemption; Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na, one of SRK’s most endearing performances as a flawed yet loveable dreamer; Main Hoon Na, a perfect blend of emotions, patriotic duty and Bollywood flair that made him both relatable and larger-than-life, setting a new benchmark for mainstream entertainers; and Om Shanti Om, a dazzling reincarnation saga that pays tribute to Hindi cinema’s golden era with wit, nostalgia, and style. Niharika Bijli, Lead Strategist, PVR INOX Ltd., said, “Shah Rukh Khan is more than a global icon, he’s an emotion. We’re thrilled to celebrate his extraordinary journey through a line-up of films that capture his magic, versatility, and enduring influence on Indian cinema. He is loved by people across age groups, genders, and geographies. This festival is a tribute to his artistry and to the joy and hope he continues to bring to audiences around the world.”On the professional front, Shah Rukh Khan will next be seen in the much-anticipated film King, which is expected to hit the screens in 2026. The film has an ensemble of cast including Shah Rukh Khan in the lead along with Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan and Suhana Khan, among others. Also Read: MrBeast drops photo with Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan & Aamir Khan; sparks frenzy by teasing a collab with trio.

general

Bolton indictment adds to web of Trump foe prosecutions

admin

Morning Report is The Hill’s a.m. newsletter. Subscribe here. In today’s issue: ▪ Inside the John Bolton indictment ▪ Zelensky returns to Washington ▪ Top admiral resigns amid US strikes ▪ ‘No Kings’ protests: What to watch The indictment of John Bolton, a former national security adviser to President Trump during his first term who…

general

Thamma Creates Diwali Frenzy: Thamma advance tickets selling fast after historic fan screening in Delhi

admin

Delhi witnessed a legendary night as thousands of fans became part of a new Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU) tradition the first public screening of Thamma. For the first time in Indian cinema, fans got to experience the first 20 minutes of the film before anyone else, creating a historic moment. Hosted by comedians Biswa Kalyan Rath and Divay Agarwal, the night was electric with Biswa’s razor-sharp humor, special appearances from MHCU’s Bhediya and Stree, and Delhi’s roaring crowd setting the perfect tone. At the event, producer Dinesh Vijan addressed the audience, “This is the beginning of a fan ritual. From now on, fans will see a glimpse of the film before the world. We’re building a universe that belongs to its fans.”The first 20 minutes left fans laughing, cheering, and on the edge of their seats, with the loudest applause reserved for Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s on-screen appearance. The event also saw cinematic icons Paresh Rawal, Rashmika Mandanna, Ayushmann Khurrana, director Aditya Sarpotdar, and the Thamma team take the centre stage. Adding to the excitement, advance bookings for Thamma opened this morning, and the response has been phenomenal. Tickets are already selling rapidly across major cities, with morning shows filling fast and strong traction visible across both metros and tier-2 markets. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, “Thamma has all the makings of a festive winner. The advance booking response is solid, and the buzz is translating into footfalls. With the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe brand and the Diwali advantage, this one’s positioned very strongly at the box office.”Ashish Saksena, COO Cinemas, BookMyShow, adds, “Advance bookings opened this morning and picked up quickly. We’re seeing strong demand across regions, and morning and evening shows are already filling fast. Audiences are clearly excited for a big-screen Diwali entertainer.”Starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, Thamma blends horror, comedy, and romance in a way that’s already connecting with audiences. With festive timing, high recall for its music, and growing social chatter, the film is poised for a powerful Diwali opening weekend. Produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik, Thamma releases in cinemas worldwide on October 21. Also Read: Dinesh Vijan’s Thamma becomes the MOST EXPENSIVE film of Maddock’s Horror Comedy Universe; Rs. 145 crores bet on Ayushmann & Rashmika!.