The Kashmir Pulse

For 10 years, I've waded through the ever-churning ocean of Indian cinema. Big-budget spectacles, intimate indies, heart-wrenching dramas – I've seen it all. Yet, nothing quite prepared me for the sheer audacity of "Kalki 2898 AD".

This sci-fi epic, directed by the visionary Nag Ashwin, isn't just a film; it's an event. It's a gamble that's paid off in box office gold, raking in over ₹1,000 crore worldwide as claimed by the film's producers Vyjayanthi Movies in an Instagram post. But beyond the commercial success, "Kalki 2898 AD" forces us to confront a central question: is it a genuine cinematic achievement or a spectacle fueled by VFX?

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A familiar mythos, a distant future

The film takes a deep dive into Hindu mythology, weaving the narrative around the prophesied 10th avatar of Vishnu – Kalki. Set in a ravaged future of 2898 AD, Earth is a desolate wasteland. Here, director Ashwin paints a believable picture of a dystopian world – crumbling megacities choked by pollution and a desperate struggle for resources.

Enter our heroes – a ragtag group led by the charismatic (and ripped) Prabhas. Their mission: to protect the reincarnation of Kalki, believed to be the key to humanity's salvation. The supporting cast boasts legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan, lending gravitas to the narrative.

Visual spectacle vs storytelling soul

Let's be honest, the film's biggest draw is its visual effects. The action sequences, particularly the spaceship battles, are a sight to behold. The recreation of a desolate future Earth is both awe-inspiring and unsettling. However, spectacular visuals can only take a film so far.

Here's where "Kalki 2898 AD" stumbles a bit. The narrative, while engaging, feels stretched thin at times. The emotional core, particularly the bond between Prabhas and Deepika Padukone's characters, could have been fleshed out further.

A watershed moment for Indian sci-fi?

Despite these shortcomings, "Kalki 2898 AD" is undeniably a landmark film. It proves that Indian cinema can compete with Hollywood on a visual level. The film's success will surely inspire more ambitious sci-fi ventures in the future.

The final verdict

The casting of "Kalki 2898 AD" is a star-studded affair, boasting some of Indian cinema's biggest names. Prabhas, the reigning king of Telugu cinema, brings his signature charisma and action prowess to the role of Bhairava. Amitabh Bachchan, a legend of Indian cinema, lends gravitas and wisdom as the immortal warrior Ashwatthama. Opposite them is Kamal Haasan, another titan of Indian cinema, who portrays the ruthless Supreme Yaskin. Deepika Padukone delivers a powerful performance as SUM-80, the pregnant woman at the center of the prophecy. Disha Patani adds a dash of action heroine flair as Roxie, rounding out this impressive ensemble.

"Kalki 2898 AD" is a visually stunning film with a story that holds promise. While it might not be a flawless masterpiece, it's a sign of exciting things to come for Indian sci-fi. So, is it a celestial spectacle? Not quite. But it's a giant leap forward, and that's something worth celebrating.

NEW DELHI — Pursuant to the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India has notified the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, in supersession of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983. They have been comprehensively overhauled in order to improve and contemporize the entire process of certification of films for public exhibition.

Background

The Indian film industry is one of the biggest and most globalised industries in the world producing more than 3,000 films annually in more than 40 languages.

Prime Minister has envisioned that India truly possesses immense potential to become the content hub of the world with rich heritage and cultural diversity being India’s strengths.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting, carrying forward the vision PM, also recognised the Indian Cinema being a significant contributor to India's soft power, promoting Indian culture, society, and values globally.

The empowerment of the Indian film industry with transparency, ease of doing business and protection from the menace of privacy, would go a long way in the growth of the content creation ecosystem in India, and would also help safeguard the interests of all artists and artisans working in the film sector.

With this vision, the historic amendment of the Cinematograph Act was brought in after 40 years in 2023 and is now being fully empowered with the overhauled Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024.

Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024

These new rules aim to streamline and modernize the film certification process for the digital age, keeping pace with emerging technologies and advancement in the film sector.

Ministry & CBFC have undertaken extensive consultations with filmmakers, cinema owners, disability rights organizations, NGOs, film industry bodies, the general public and other stakeholders, ensuring an all-embracing, all-encompassing and all-inclusive approach.

The key aspects of improvements incorporated in the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 include:

1. Comprehensive revision of the Rules has been done to fully align it with the adoption of online certification processes, which will ensure enhanced transparency, efficiency & ease of doing business for the film industry.

2. Reduction in timelines for the processing of film certification and adopting complete digital processes for eliminating all transactional time.

3. Movies/feature films to have accessibility features for certification to make it inclusive for disabled persons, as stipulated in the guidelines issued in this regard from time to time.

4. Introduction of age-based categories of certification by further sub-dividing the existing UA category into three age-based categories, viz. seven years (UA 7+), thirteen years (UA 13+), and sixteen years (UA 16+), instead of 12 years. These age-based markers would be only recommendatory, meant for the parents or guardians to consider whether their children should view such a film.

The age-based certification system with UA markers is to be implemented to ensure young viewers are exposed to age-appropriate content. It will play a crucial role in balancing the need to protect vulnerable audiences, such as children, with the principles of freedom of expression and consumer choice.

5. Greater representation of women in the CBFC Board & CBFC’s Advisory Panels, where it is stipulated that one-third of the members in the Board shall be women and preferably half shall be women.

6. System for priority screening of films for enhancing transparency and eliminating all discretions. Provision for priority screening for expediting the screening of film screening for certification, in case of any urgency felt by film-maker(s) due to their prior commitments of release of the film in line with ease of doing business.

7. Removal of the restriction on the validity of certificates for only 10 years for perpetual validity of certificates of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

8. Recertification of the edited film for television broadcast, as only Unrestricted Public Exhibition category films can be shown on television.

The principle rules were first notified by the Government in 1983 and have been amended from time to time. However, acknowledging the significant advancement in film technology, audience demographics, and content distribution methods for the last 40 years, the new set of rules with overhaul changes are being introduced to better cater to the ever evolving need of our film industry.

The government had last year amended the Cinematograph Act, 1952 after a period of almost 40 years to comprehensively address the issues relating to film certification. Notifying the new Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 compliments that journey of making the certification process simpler, more contemporary and in line with best global practices.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir continues to be the hotspot for Bollywood and south Indian film industry as 102 films and web series have been shot here during the year 2023.

With this, in the last two years, more than 300 films and web series have been shot in Jammu and Kashmir, which earned applause for featuring the beautiful locations of Kashmir.

As per the figures, a total of 102 Bollywood and Tollywood films and web series have been granted permission to shoot in Jammu and Kashmir in 2023.

To name a few, Shahrukh Khan-starrer Dunki, Yami Gautam's Article 370, and John Abraham’s Vedaa are some of the prominent Bollywood movies that were shot in Kashmir last year.

Earlier in 2022, as many as 200 films and web series were permitted by the government to shoot in Kashmir.

Officials said the valley has succeeded in attracting filmmakers as a lot of them have applied for permission to shoot in Kashmir.

“The film policy proved to be a catalyst to attract filmmakers to choose Kashmir as the destination for shooting their films. A lot of filmmakers have got permission to shoot films and web series in Kashmir during the last two years,” they said.

Officials also said the government has unveiled some of the new destinations in order to promote them as prime film destinations.

In 2021, the government launched its maiden film policy to attract filmmakers to Jammu and Kashmir. The government also created a Film Development Fund (FDF) in the Information Department for the fiscal year 2022-23 for the disbursement of subsidies envisaged in the J&K Film Policy 2021.

A single-window mechanism has been started by the Jammu and Kashmir Film Development Council to facilitate hassle-free shooting. Filmmakers are applying online at jkfilm.jk.gov.in.

Since the unveiling of the film policy, a lot of directors have applied to shoot their films in Jammu and Kashmir. The administration has offered filmmakers a subsidy to shoot in the union territory.

Ibomma is an online streaming platform that has quickly become a fan favorite among Indian audiences. This platform is known for providing its viewers with a vast selection of Indian movies and TV shows, with a particular focus on Telugu-language content. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what makes Ibomma stand out and some of its unique features.

Should you visit Ibomma?

Ibomma is an online streaming platform that offers a vast selection of Indian movies and TV shows, with a particular focus on Telugu-language content. While the platform is user-friendly and offers subtitles in different languages, users should be cautious when accessing content on the platform. It's highly recommended that users access content through legal means to avoid any legal or technical issues.

What makes Ibomma a great place to enjoy movies and TV shows?

One of the standout features of Ibomma is its user-friendly interface. The website is incredibly easy to navigate, and users can search for content by genre, year of release, and even by the name of the actors. This makes it incredibly convenient for users to find the content they want to watch without any problems.

Another feature that sets Ibomma apart from other streaming platforms is its subtitles in different languages. This feature is especially useful for non-Telugu speakers who still want to enjoy Telugu movies and TV shows. Subtitles are available in English, Hindi, and several other Indian languages.

However, it's important to note that Ibomma is an unauthorized streaming platform that hosts copyrighted content without permission. This means that the platform is engaging in piracy, which is illegal and can result in severe consequences for the users. Accessing these platforms can also be dangerous for users' devices as they can contain malware or viruses that can harm the device and steal personal information.

Watch the latest Ibomma Telugu movies without any ads.

How to safely access movies and TV shows?

To avoid these risks, it's highly recommended that users access content through legal means. There are several legal online streaming platforms that offer Telugu movies and TV shows, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Hotstar. These platforms are authorized to host copyrighted content and provide users with a safe and legal way to access their favorite Telugu content.

While Ibomma is a fantastic platform that offers a vast selection of Indian movies and TV shows, it's important to remember that it's an unauthorized streaming platform. As such, users should be cautious when accessing content on the platform.

In addition to the legal concerns, there are also some technical issues that users may encounter when using Ibomma. For example, the platform may experience buffering or lagging issues, which can make the viewing experience frustrating. Additionally, some users have reported that the video quality on Ibomma is not as high as on other streaming platforms.

The increasing popularity of Ibomma

Despite these concerns, Ibomma remains a popular platform among Indian audiences. The platform continues to offer a wide selection of Telugu-language content, including movies, TV shows, and web series. Users can also find content in other Indian languages, such as Hindi and Tamil.

Overall, Ibomma is a solid option for users who are looking for a way to access Telugu-language content online. However, it's important to keep in mind that the platform is engaging in piracy, which is illegal and can have severe consequences. Users should also be aware of the technical issues that may arise when using the platform.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, financial or professional advice. We strongly recommend that you seek professional advice for specific situations.

Irfan Pathan has been the core member of the Indian side that won the 2007 T20 World cup as well as the 2011 ODI World Cup. He was one of the premier all-rounders that the Indian team has ever produced, and along with that, he set a new standard for cricket in Kashmir both as a player and a mentor.

He played a pivotal role in nurturing many cricketers in the region by doing talent scouts and helping them achieve greater heights. Pathan, who officially retired from international cricket in 2012, had taken up the role of mentor afterwards and was also seen doing commentary for international games. In 2018, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) hired Irfan Pathan as a player-mentor for the state's senior side.

Cricket and movies are completely contrary: one is genuine, while the second is primarily composed. They are also quite similar in many respects, despite their differences. Both are vital to India since they lead to rebuilding the nation and our national identity.

Cricket and movies get along pretty well as many of the cricketers have dated and married Bollywood stars, including Virat and Anushka. Players like Syed Krimani, Ajay Jadeja and, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth have already given a try at acting, and now ex-Kashmir coach Ifran Pathan has been introduced into Tollywood by director R. Ajay Gnanamuthu with Vikram in the lead role.

Cricket and movies act as major forms of entertainment in India as these are two of the most popular activities for people in the country. There are a great number of people who watch and enjoy both cricket and movies in stadiums and movie theatres.

There are also a vast amount of people who enjoy both televisions as well. With the arrival of numerous apps to bet on cricket in India, more people have started to follow the sport lately. And with cricketers starting to share the screen with superstars in the film industry, these movies are also going to earn a new audience among cricket fans.

Cobra is one of the latest movies released in the Tollywood industry, which stars Vikram as the protagonist. He portrays the role of an intelligent mathematical assassin in the film. The music is made by Oscar-winning legend A R Rahman. But, what really made cricket fans excited is the fact that the role of the antagonist is played by their favourite pace bowler Irfan Pathan.

Despite the film's complex storyline and several average portrayals, Irfan Pathan impresses as an Interpol officer. Pathan, who has captivated fans with his achievements in cricket, doesn't quite mislead in his portrayal and delivers a blow as his role seems to have numerous standout occasions to make an impression on the spectators.

The ex-Kashmir and Indian cricketer should be applauded for his work because even after being a north Indian, he pulled out the character Aslan with ease, in which he had to deliver the phrases in Tamil, and he impressed one and all by doing it all by himself with ease.