Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73. The Indian classical music icon died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease. He breathed his last at a hospital in San Francisco. Zakir Hussain is also a four time Grammy award winner and has received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award. 

As the news broke, many personalities from the entertainment industry and politics paid tributes to the Tabla maestro. Calling Zakir Hussain, a genius and an unmatched maestro, Amitabh Bachchan expressed that his passing away is an immeasurable loss. Kamal Hassan also shared an old picture with Zakir Hussain and expressed gratitude for the times he gave them and what he left behind in the form of his art.

AR Rahman said that Zakir Hussain was an inspiration, a towering personality who elevated tabla to global acclaim. He mentioned that his loss is an immeasurable loss, and regretted not being able to collaborate with him as much as he did decades ago. He further prayed that his family and his countless students worldwide find strength to bear this immense loss. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to Zakir Hussain. Taking to X, the Prime Minister wrote that he is deeply saddened by the passing away of the legendary tabla maestro. He added that the Tabla maestro will be remembered as a true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music. PM Modi mentioned that Zakir Hussain brought tabla to a global stage, captivating millions with his unparalleled rhythm. 

He continued that Zakir Hussain seamlessly blended Indian classical traditions with global music, thus becoming an icon of cultural unity. PM Narendra Modi further stated that his iconic performances and soulful compositions will contribute to inspire generations of musicians and music lovers alike. He expressed his heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the global music community. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also expressed that he is deeply saddened at the passing away of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. He added that Hussain was a musical genius and a cultural icon, who popularised Indian classical music on a global stage and left behind an impressive legacy. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute mentioning that a rhythm fell silent today. He expressed that he is pained by the demise of the tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain. He added that blessed with musical genius, Hussain crafted masterpieces that transcended the borders of language and culture by evoking the emotions behind rhythms. He concluded that Zakir Hussain’s music will remain as a thread that unites humanity.

Sukumar’s highly anticipated film Pushpa 2: The Rule, featuring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, remains a force at the box office, even nine days post-release. The action-packed sequel has struck a chord with audiences, achieving remarkable earnings on its second Friday.

According to reports, Pushpa 2: The Rule garnered 32.63 crore on its second Friday in India, bringing its domestic collection to Rs 758.93 crore net within nine days. During its first week, the movie earned a staggering Rs 725.8 crore, with Rs 10.65 crore coming from its premiere and Rs 164.25 crore collected on the opening day.

Despite a slight drop to Rs 93.8 crore on its first Friday, the film rebounded over the weekend, raking in Rs 119.25 crore on Saturday and Rs 141.05 crore on Sunday. Throughout the week, the collection remained steady, adding Rs 64.45 crore on Monday, Rs 51.55 crore on Tuesday, Rs 43.35 crore on Wednesday, and Rs 37.45 crore on Thursday.

Incident at Hyderabad theatre premiere

The excitement surrounding Pushpa 2: The Rule took a tragic turn during its premiere at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad, where Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and the team joined fans to celebrate the release. Overwhelming crowds led to a stampede-like situation, resulting in the death of one fan and critical injuries to another.

Following the incident, police arrested Allu Arjun, alleging negligence for failing to inform authorities about the gathering. However, a leaked document suggested the theatre management had alerted the police beforehand, requesting adequate security measures.

The Telangana High Court granted interim bail to Arjun for four weeks after the Nampally Court had initially ordered a 14-day judicial remand. The incident has sparked outrage across the industry, with several celebrities, including Varun Dhawan, Nani, Rashmika Mandanna, and Vivek Oberoi, voicing their support for the actor.

Steady success despite challenges

While the controversy has added a somber note to the film’s journey, Pushpa 2: The Rule continues to perform exceptionally well, solidifying its place as one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Fans are expected to continue flocking to theatres, keeping the film’s momentum alive in the coming weeks.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at the premises of Raj Kundra, a businessman and husband of actor Shilpa Shetty, as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to the alleged distribution of pornographic and adult films.

According to reports indicate that around 15 locations in Mumbai and some cities in Uttar Pradesh, including Kundra’s home and office, are being investigated.

Kundra is reportedly being questioned by the probe agency at one of the search locations. This money laundering case, which began in May 2022, stems from at least two FIRs and chargesheets filed by the Mumbai police against Kundra and others. He, along with others, was arrested in connection with the case but was subsequently granted bail.

This marks the second money laundering case against Kundra. Earlier this year, the ED seized assets worth Rs 98 crore belonging to Kundra and Shetty in a cryptocurrency investigation. However, the couple received relief from the Bombay High Court regarding this asset attachment.

In 2021, Kundra had told a local court in Mumbai that there was not even an iota of evidence with the prosecution (Mumbai Police) that would connect the app ‘Hotshots’, used in the alleged porn films racket, with an offence under the law.

But, the ED found that the ‘Hotshots’ app was being used by accused persons for uploading and streaming obscene content.

The businessman had refused his involvement in the creation of alleged porn content and he had claimed that he was falsely implicated and was not even named in the FIR and was dragged by the respondent (police) in the case.

Kundra claimed in the plea that he is being made a “scapegoat” for reasons best known to investigators.

The police had filed FIRs on the basis of complaints received from two women, while another woman had submitted a complaint at the Lonavla police station, around 120 km from Mumbai.