English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Entertainment

Game of Thrones Season 7: Five quick questions on trail of an epic story

Published

on

GOT 7

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By: Atul Kisku

Blaze of battle.. Political machinations.. A clash of Kings. With just hours away from the penultimate   season of the epic fantasy, Game of Thrones, we finally seem to have found ourselves in the state of Détente. The closer we get to find the issues awaiting resolution, the more we assess a wide spectrum of emotions resulting from the top character’s policy, to claim a right to The Iron Throne.

Part of the real tension ahead of the first episode is because of the lack of good stuff on the previous outing of show. Threads of the grand story were loose and seemed interminable in the last season. There were, of course, some great moments in the later episodes of the show but at the expense of initial plot of the storyline. Though I am hopeful of blood, fire (of Dragons, of course) and all-around mayhem and betrayal which the trailer has promised (I am not into the prince that was promised thing). Here is a quick 5 question from the trailer we want answers to which has promised us of being compelling and convincing.

Will Samwell Tarley return with some mystical and magical knowledge?

The best role model of parenting in Westeros, as said by Paul MacInnes, is ever to return then what will he bring with him (not Gilly, please) as he is preparing to become a Maester. Some mystical knowledge about how to overpower the white walkers would do for the starters. After all, he also has an experience of killing a white walker.

Will Baelish get into Sansa’s head and become the king of the North?

Till now, it is clear that he wants to sit at the Iron Throne for good long time with Sansa at his side. Even Varys, saw the burning ambition in his eyes at the start of the season 1. “A man with great ambitions and no morals…I wouldn’t bet against you.” Varys acknowledged. He is definitely a strong contender and a dark horse for the Throne but as far the all the seasons have progressed he may also top the soon-to-die list. (Valar Morghulis, Show runners have always got one death up their sleeves).

Will Jon Snow come to know about his ancestry and what effect it will have?

Internet was all flooded with the theory of Jon Snow ancestry as he also might be the prince that was promised. From the short glimpse of trailer, we can make out his visit to her mother’s statue, Lyanna Stark but not the purpose. He is seen strangling Baelish inside the dim-light cave, may be Baelish revealed it to him as one of his dubious scheme to fill the lust for throne in his mind as he is also in the line for the top post in Westeros. Hence, chaos and betrayal as promised.

Will Arya come closer to her ‘prayer’?

Arya’s character was stretched a bit but now as she is ready for the kill (Walder Frey just removed from the list) and set to take vengeance for what they did to her family. Though it seems near impossible, she has now but qualified as faceless man. There is also a hint of her meeting with the hound, the one she left to die.

Will Jon Snow and Dani form an alliance to fight Cersei?

This is the most expected theory as the visual and the voiceovers from the trailer have hinted us of a common enemy. There is of course Tyrion, who would want some parlay before such action. But the tension arises from the fact that the white walkers are on the verge of breaching the wall, and mostly depends on what Jon sees as the immediate threat. And going by the past experience of his, white walkers are sure the top enemy in his priority list.

Game of Thrones Season 7 will commence at 9 pm on HBO on July 16 to be aired for every Sunday for seven weeks. The fantasy drama has received 38 Primetime Emmy Awards and four nominations for the Golden Globe Award for best Television Series-Drama (2012 and 2015-17).  You can watch the premiere on Hotstar, a digital and mobile entertainment platform, owned by Star India. You can also watch it on the next morning, July 17 at 7:30 am on either app or on their website.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Border 2 box office collection day 12 crosses Rs 286 crore, eyes Rs 300 crore milestone

Border 2 box office collection reaches Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days, putting the Sunny Deol-led film close to the Rs 300 crore milestone.

Published

on

Sunny Deol in Border 2

Sunny Deol’s Border 2 continues its impressive run at the domestic box office, edging closer to the Rs 300 crore mark by the end of its second week. The war drama, which hit theatres on January 23, has shown consistent collections since its release.

On its second Tuesday, the film earned an estimated Rs 5.75 crore, taking its total earnings to Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days.

Border 2 box office performance so far

The film matched its Monday earnings on February 3, adding Rs 5.75 crore to its tally. With this, Border 2 has managed to hold firm on weekdays, a sign of sustained audience interest.

The film delivered a robust opening week, collecting Rs 224.25 crore, supported by the extended Republic Day holiday period.

Second weekend boosts collections

The second weekend provided another lift to the film’s box office numbers. Friday saw collections of Rs 10.75 crore, followed by Rs 17.75 crore on Saturday. Sunday emerged as the strongest day of the weekend, contributing Rs 22.5 crore to the total.

Monday, which coincided with Republic Day, turned out to be the film’s highest single-day performer so far, with earnings touching Rs 59 crore.

With its current pace, Border 2 has already surpassed the opening weekend figures of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.

Border 2 review

In a review, film critic Saibal Chatterjee noted that Border 2 succeeds in highlighting the courage of soldiers while also touching upon their emotional vulnerabilities. The film explores themes of separation, loss, fear, and hope, presenting moments of heroism amid personal struggles.

About the film

Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty. Set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the film is positioned as a spiritual successor to the 1997 classic Border.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Why Dhurandhar on Netflix runs shorter than its original theatrical cut

Dhurandhar’s Netflix release sparked confusion over its shorter runtime. The difference is linked to muted dialogue and an updated theatrical cut.

Published

on

Dhurandhar

Dhurandhar has finally made its much-awaited debut on Netflix, just days after the Ranveer Singh-starrer completed a blockbuster theatrical run across India. While the film crossed Rs 1,000 crore domestically and went past Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, its OTT release has triggered confusion and criticism over its shorter runtime.

Several viewers took to social media early Friday, claiming that a “censored” version of Dhurandhar was streaming on Netflix. The runtime displayed on the platform is 3 hours and 25 minutes, nearly nine minutes shorter than the film’s originally reported duration of 3 hours and 34 minutes.

What caused the runtime difference

The confusion stems from changes made after the film’s initial theatrical release. According to the revised censor certificate, Dhurandhar now has an approved runtime of 3 hours 28 minutes and 56 seconds. This updated version replaced the earlier cut in cinemas starting January 1.

The revision followed directions to mute two specific words and one dialogue referring to the Baloch community. These changes were implemented without removing scenes, resulting in a marginally shorter runtime.

What viewers noticed on Netflix

Audiences streaming the film on Netflix observed muted portions during a scene involving Sanjay Dutt’s character, SP Chaudhary Aslam. In the original version, the dialogue included a direct reference to a former Baloch police partner. In the revised cut now available on Netflix, those references are muted, while English subtitles offer a generalised translation without naming the community.

Some viewers also pointed out that the film appears to play slightly faster on the platform, contributing to the perception that content had been trimmed.

Is Netflix streaming a censored cut

Industry insiders have clarified that Netflix is carrying the final theatrical version approved by the authorities. As an OTT distributor, the platform uploads films exactly as provided by the producers. The version streaming online is the same revised cut that has been screening in theatres since January.

Importantly, the film’s intense and graphic depiction of violence remains unchanged in the OTT version.

In short, Dhurandhar on Netflix is not a specially edited or censored cut for streaming. It is the updated theatrical version, adjusted for muted dialogue and presented with a slightly faster frame rate.

Following its OTT release, audiences can now look ahead to the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Border 2 box office collection day 1 crosses Rs 30 crore

Border 2 opens to Rs 30 crore on day one, becoming the biggest opener for Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh.

Published

on

Sunny Deol in Border 2

Border 2 has made an impressive start at the Indian box office, collecting Rs 30 crore on its opening day. The war drama, headlined by Sunny Deol along with Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh, opened to largely positive audience and critical response.

According to industry tracking data, the film recorded an overall occupancy of 32.1 per cent on day one. Night shows contributed the highest footfall, indicating strong word-of-mouth towards the end of the day.

Strong show count and urban traction

Border 2 was screened in nearly 6,000 shows across the country on its opening day. Major centres reported heavy traction, with over 1,000 shows in Mumbai and more than 1,500 shows across the Delhi-NCR region. Trade sources noted that urban circuits played a key role in pushing the film past the Rs 30 crore mark.

The opening performance places Border 2 ahead of Dhurandhar, which collected Rs 28 crore on its first day despite having a similar nationwide show count. Dhurandhar later saw consistent growth over its opening weekend, a trend that Border 2 is also expected to follow.

Career-best opening for key cast members

Border 2 has emerged as the biggest opening-day film in the careers of Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh. For Varun Dhawan, the film marks his first box office success since Bhediya in 2023. Ahan Shetty, who made his debut with Tadap in 2021, has registered his first theatrical hit with the war drama.

For Sunny Deol, however, Border 2 does not surpass the opening records of Gadar 2, which remains his highest-grossing film with a worldwide collection of Rs 686 crore.

Dhurandhar sees slowdown after Border 2 release

Meanwhile, Dhurandhar’s box office run has slowed following the release of Border 2. The film reportedly earned under Rs 1 crore for the first time in nearly 50 days, reflecting the impact of the new release.

Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 also features Sonam Bajwa and Mona Singh in prominent roles.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com