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Joker: Folie à Deux review: A Masterpiece of Tragedy and Theatrics

It masterfully turns fantasy into reality, refusing to indulge the audience’s desire for escape.

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By Inderjit Badhwar

For those seeking the heart-pounding chaos of Gotham—the car chases, explosions, and violent mayhem that punctuated Joker: Folie à Deux’s 2019 predecessor—you’re bound to feel cheated. This film shuns the devilish spectacle, the apocalyptic laughter, and numbing bloodletting that made audiences reel last time. Instead, Joker takes a different path—one that draws you into a theatrical allegory, where sorrow lurks behind every scene like the unspoken melancholy of Busby Berkeley’s gals, whose smiles mask tears behind the brass and drums. It’s a film that will break your heart if you’re willing to look beneath the surface.

Most critics who have panned this work have utterly missed its genius. They’ve approached it as another instalment of the Batman universe or a Marvel spin-off, never realising they should have been viewing it through a Bergmanesque or Kafkaesque lens.

This is not a superhero movie; it is a meditation on despair. In fact, even with its colour palette, the film strikes the mind in grainy black and white, resonating with the heavy weight of reality and the tragedy that lies at its core.

Tragedy reigns in every frame. From the grimy, passionless prison where Joker awaits trial for his previous murders, to his imploding visage as he engages in cramped and joyless lovemaking with Harley Quinn in a dingy cell, the mood is one of relentless gloom. As the film unfolds, we understand one central truth: Joker is already dead. Joaquin Phoenix’s face in the opening shots tells us this immediately—the rest of the movie exists to prove why this is so. It’s not a question of fate; it’s an exploration of inevitability.

This film becomes a tug-of-war—not just between Joker and the world around him—but between director Todd Phillips, Joaquin Phoenix, and the audience. Phillips and Phoenix push a painful reality down the throats of viewers and characters alike, while the world around them begs for fantasy. It’s as though the cast itself, along with the audience, yearns for the Joker of old—the virile, immanent figure who once offered Gotham’s downtrodden an escape, a chance at vengeance, a wild ride through the storm. But that Joker is gone.

Fantasy, it turns out, is what many wanted—and critics, too, missed the film’s central theme of “fantasy as entertainment.” The repeated number, “That’s Entertainment,” becomes the leitmotif, a sardonic nod to an audience desperate to maintain illusion. The powerful Joker of the previous film offered this fantasy. He was an avenging angel, the ultimate escape hatch for Gotham’s wretched—their abused and neglected, whose collective pain he embodied. He thrilled the wealthy, the beautiful people, the theatre-going elite, who saw in him a Marvel comic made flesh.

Even Harley was captivated by this illusion, but unwittingly, she played the role of femme fatale. In love, Joker became Fleck once again, irreversibly human. And this was his fatal flaw. Joker could never survive as a human. His love for Harley shattered the very fantasy he had created, and in doing so, he signed his own death warrant. The human Fleck had to die, tried and convicted not only for his crimes but for betraying those who longed for him to remain the Joker—the untouchable, the fantastical. Even Harley, in the end, turns her back, revealing that she, too, was just another devotee of the illusion.

This film is an extraordinary piece of art, driven by Joaquin Phoenix’s near-flawless artistry and supported by brilliant character performances from an impassioned cast. It masterfully turns fantasy into reality, refusing to indulge the audience’s desire for escape.

Go see it. Joker is not entertainment for entertainment’s sake—it is art, designed to rip away our comforting illusions and force us into deeper reflection. This is not a film that indulges the tooth fairy; it crushes her underfoot, daring us to see the world as it truly is.

Entertainment

Kiara Advani exits Don 3 after pregnancy announcement, says report

Kiara Advani has reportedly exited Don 3 following her pregnancy announcement. However, an official confirmation is still awaited.

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Kiara Advani exits Don 3 after pregnancy news

Bollywood actress Kiara Advani has reportedly stepped away from Ranveer Singh-starrer Don 3 following her pregnancy announcement with husband Sidharth Malhotra. The actress was earlier confirmed as the female lead in Farhan Akhtar’s much-anticipated film.

No official confirmation from the makers yet

As per a report, Kiara Advani has chosen to prioritize her personal life over Don 3. However, there has been no official confirmation from either the actress or the makers of the film regarding her exit. Last year, Excel Entertainment welcomed Kiara to the Don universe through a social media announcement, but no details about her role were disclosed.

Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra’s pregnancy announcement

Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra shared the joyful news of their pregnancy last week with a heartwarming post on social media. The couple posted an image featuring a pair of tiny socks, captioning it, “The greatest gift of our lives. Coming soon.” Fans and industry colleagues showered the couple with congratulatory messages.

Kiara’s upcoming projects

While stepping away from Don 3, Kiara Advani is currently wrapping up War 2, where she will be seen alongside Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. She is also working on Toxic, starring Kannada superstar Yash.

Beyond these confirmed projects, speculation is rife regarding Kiara’s involvement in Shakti Shalini and Dhoom 4, both set for a 2026 release. Whether she will continue with these projects or take a break remains to be seen, with an official announcement awaited.

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Entertainment

TEST: R Madhavan, Nayanthara’s Tamil film set for Netflix release on April 4

Netflix’s first Tamil original feature film of 2025, TEST, starring R. Madhavan, Nayanthara, and Siddharth, releases on April 4.

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TEST Tamil film scene featuring R. Madhavan, Nayanthara, and Siddharth.

Netflix is set to release its first Tamil original feature film of 2025, TEST, on April 4. Starring R. Madhavan, Nayanthara, Siddharth, and Meera Jasmine, the film explores life-altering decisions made against the backdrop of a gripping cricket match.

Directed by S. Sashikanth, TEST marks his directorial debut after years of producing films. The story revolves around three protagonists, each facing intense moral dilemmas that challenge their resilience and ambitions beyond the cricket field.

Sharing his thoughts on the film, Sashikanth said, “Having nurtured stories as a producer for years, stepping into the director’s chair for TEST was both exhilarating and deeply personal. This film is about resilience, the weight of choices, and how life itself is the greatest test of all. Bringing together R. Madhavan, Nayanthara, and Siddharth, three powerhouse performers for the first time, made this journey even more special.”

Test Trailer

Netflix India’s Vice-President of Content, Monika Shergill, highlighted the film’s significance, calling it a “deeply compelling drama thriller that tests the moral thresholds of its three protagonists.”

With high stakes that transcend the game itself, TEST delves into the profound impact of one decision that can change everything.

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Cricket news

Entertainers Cricket League 2025 Season 2: Full schedule, squads, venues & streaming details

The Entertainers Cricket League 2025 Season 2 is set to begin from March 5, featuring 8 teams and top influencers in a T10 format. Check the full schedule, squads, and streaming details here.

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Entertainers Cricket League 2025 Season 2 full schedule and squads

The much-anticipated Entertainers Cricket League (ECL) 2025 Season 2 is set to bring an electrifying mix of cricket and entertainment, featuring popular YouTubers and influencers. With an expanded lineup of eight teams and a T10 format, the tournament promises high-energy clashes. Defending champions Haryanvi Hunters, led by Elvish Yadav, will compete against seven rival teams for the coveted title.

Teams Participating in ECL 2025 Season 2

The second season of Entertainers Cricket League will feature eight teams, increasing from the six teams in the previous edition:

  • Haryanvi Hunters (Elvish Yadav)
  • Bangalore Bashers (Abhishek Malhan)
  • Dynamic Delhi (Gaurav Taneja)
  • Rajasthan Rangers (Zayn Saifi)
  • Lucknow Lions (Anurag Dwivedi)
  • Kolkata Superstars (Pushkar Raj Thakur)
  • Mumbai Disruptors (Munawar Faruqui)
  • Chennai Smashers (Mahesh Nain)

Where and When Will ECL 2025 Season 2 Be Played?

The Indira Gandhi Indoor Cricket Stadium in Delhi will host ECL 2025 Season 2 from March 5 to March 16, 2025.

Where to Watch Entertainers Cricket League 2025 Season 2?

Live Streaming:

  • Available on ECL YouTube Channel
  • Waves OTT Platform
  • JioTV OTT Application

Live TV Broadcast:

  • Sony Sports 5 & Sony Sports 5 HD

ECL 2025 Season 2 Full Schedule

MatchTeamsDateTime (IST)
1Haryanvi Hunters vs Rajasthan RangersMarch 56:00 PM
2Lucknow Lions vs Mumbai DisruptorsMarch 59:00 PM
3Dynamic Delhi vs Chennai SmashersMarch 63:00 PM
4Bangalore Bashers vs Kolkata SuperstarsMarch 66:00 PM
5Haryanvi Hunters vs Mumbai DisruptorsMarch 69:00 PM
6Rajasthan Rangers vs Kolkata SuperstarsMarch 73:00 PM
7Haryanvi Hunters vs Dynamic DelhiMarch 76:00 PM
8Lucknow Lions vs Bangalore BashersMarch 79:00 PM
9Mumbai Disruptors vs Dynamic DelhiMarch 83:00 PM
10Lucknow Lions vs Kolkata SuperstarsMarch 86:00 PM
11Bangalore Bashers vs Rajasthan RangersMarch 89:00 PM
12Kolkata Superstars vs Mumbai DisruptorsMarch 93:00 PM
13Rajasthan Rangers vs Dynamic DelhiMarch 96:00 PM
14Haryanvi Hunters vs Chennai SmashersMarch 99:00 PM
15Bangalore Bashers vs Dynamic DelhiMarch 103:00 PM
16Rajasthan Rangers vs Chennai SmashersMarch 106:00 PM
17Haryanvi Hunters vs Lucknow LionsMarch 109:00 PM
18Kolkata Superstars vs Dynamic DelhiMarch 113:00 PM
19Lucknow Lions vs Rajasthan RangersMarch 116:00 PM
20Bangalore Bashers vs Chennai SmashersMarch 119:00 PM
21Lucknow Lions vs Chennai SmashersMarch 123:00 PM
22Haryanvi Hunters vs Bangalore BashersMarch 126:00 PM
23Rajasthan Rangers vs Mumbai DisruptorsMarch 129:00 PM
24Lucknow Lions vs Dynamic DelhiMarch 133:00 PM
25Mumbai Disruptors vs Chennai SmashersMarch 136:00 PM
26Haryanvi Hunters vs Kolkata SuperstarsMarch 139:00 PM
27Bangalore Bashers vs Mumbai DisruptorsMarch 143:00 PM
28Kolkata Superstars vs Chennai SmashersMarch 146:00 PM
29Qualifier 1March 153:00 PM
30EliminatorMarch 156:00 PM
31Qualifier 2March 159:00 PM
32FinalMarch 169:00 PM

ECL 2025 Season 2 Squads

Bangalore Bashers:

Abhishek Malhan (C), Tanush Sethi, Zala Vanrajsinh, Vivek Arya, Mayur Mehta, Kashish Pundir, Rajat Sharma, Gurnoor Singh, Dhruv Shah, Yuvraj Porwal, Ankit Kumar, Rishabh Yadav, Tomar Saheb, Zala Hardev Singh, Aashirwad Chaudhary, Rashid Salmani, Adarsh, Anuj Khurana, Ketan Patel.

Chennai Smashers:

Mahesh Keshwala, Rahul Bisht, Love Kataria, Shubham Matta, Mahender Tanwar, Ankit Nagar, Taran Singh, Lakshay Kaushik, Aayush Sapra, Shravan Kshirsagar, Pankaj Sharma, Mohit Gupta, Nadeem, Abhishek Goel, Eshaan Duggal, Arun Meshetty, Abhishek Kapur, Shashwat Arvind, Yash, Gulshan Nain, Nishaant Williams.

Dynamic Delhi:

Gaurav Taneja (C), Sonu Sharma, Karan Pandey, Nitin Chandila, Rohit Singhania, Sarthak Sachdeva, Mohd Asif, Anirudh Sharma, Sunny Nagar, Mohd Irfan Naik, Harsh Singh, Rahul Jakhad.

Kolkata Superstars:

Pushkar Raj Thakur (C), Rahul Garg, Nikhil Badeja, Shadab Saeed Khan, Adnan Sheikh, Apoorva Tiwari, Sunny Karla, Lakshay Singh, Anant, Bobby Chourasiya, Rachit Sehrawat, Afzal Hussain, Bikash Chetry, Sunny Chourasiya, Karan Kaushal, Anuj Nagar, Manish Sharma, Faisal Farooq, Nitin Saini, Ankul Yadav.

Lucknow Lions:

Anurag Dwivedi (C), Deepak Meena, Kartik Sharma, Shivam Singh Rajput, Mohd Amir, Alpha Singh, Rachit Rojha, Nazim Ahmed, Ubaid Khan, Om Chouksey, Ashish Meena, Zia Kamal, Anas Siddique, Anubhav Dubey, Bobby Yadav, Harpal Saikia, Vikash Singh, Sitaram Jat, Balram Mandal, Manohar Kumar Bhat, Akash Yadav.

Haryanvi Hunters:

Elvish Yadav (C), Rohit Lamba, Rubal Dhankar, Vishal Choudhary, Ramesh Kumar Katewa, Peeyush Sharma, Jadeja Rajpal, Daksha Jain, Vinay Yadav, Keshav Chaudhary, Mohd Anas, Anoop Chahal, Nayan Shelke, Guruveer Vlogs, Rajat Dalal, Lalit Yadav, Saurav Shishodia, Robin Agrawal, Mokesh Murgai, Rishi KR Agrawal.

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