Celebrated singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg tragically passed away in Singapore on Friday following a freak scuba diving accident. The 52-year-old artiste, who was in the island nation to perform at the North East India Festival, was declared dead at Singapore General Hospital around 2:30 PM.

Festival organisers confirmed his passing in a statement, saying the team was unaware that the singer had gone on a private yacht outing with members of the Assamese community before the mishap. “We later learned that a few members of the local Assamese community had taken him on a yacht visit, of which we had no prior knowledge,” the organisers said, adding that the event stands cancelled as a mark of respect.

The statement further noted that the team was engaged in meetings with Singaporean industrialists when they were informed of Garg’s accident by his manager. “On receiving the news, our team rushed immediately to the hospital and has since been working closely with the High Commission to complete the necessary procedures,” it said.

A Monumental Loss For Assam And Beyond

Zubeen Garg was widely regarded as one of Assam’s most influential cultural figures, with a body of work spanning Assamese, Bengali and Hindi music. His soulful track “Ya Ali” from the film Gangster catapulted him to national fame, while songs like “Dil Tu Hi Bataa” from Krrish 3 cemented his popularity across India.

Beyond Bollywood, Garg made invaluable contributions to Assamese cinema as a singer, actor and director, with acclaimed works such as Kanchanjunga, Mission China, Dinabandhu and Mon Jai.

In 2022, Garg had survived a health scare after collapsing at a resort in Dibrugarh, Assam, and was treated for a head injury in Guwahati.

The organisers of the North East India Festival described his passing as an “irreparable loss,” adding, “This is a monumental loss, and words cannot express the depth of our grief. We are devastated and pray for the departed soul of Zubeen Garg. Om Shanti.”

Bollywood comedian Kapil Sharma has come under the radar of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) after the use of the term Bombay instead of Mumbai on his Netflix show The Great Indian Kapil Show. MNS spokesperson Ameya Khopkar issued a warning, stating that the usage of the city’s former name could hurt the sentiments of its residents and demanded that the correct name, Mumbai, be used.

The controversy arose during an episode featuring actress Huma Qureshi, her brother Saqib Saleem, and the Shetty sisters. While talking about her bond with Saqib, Qureshi referred to the city as Bombay, explaining that she felt at home with him despite not being originally from the city. This comment drew criticism from the MNS, who have historically been vocal about protecting the identity and pride of Mumbai.

In a post on X, Khopkar stated in Marathi, that even though 30 years have passed since Bombay was officially renamed Mumbai, the term Bombay is still frequently used by celebrity guests on The Kapil Sharma Show, Delhi-based Rajya Sabha MPs, show anchors, and in many Hindi films. He noted that the name change was officially recognized by the Maharashtra government in 1995 and by the Central Government in 1996, preceding similar renamings in other major cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.

Khopkar further emphasized the seriousness of the matter during a media interaction in Mumbai. He stated that Sharma had been working in Mumbai for many years and described the city as his land of work. He added that the people of Mumbai admire him and watch his shows, and warned that the city and its residents should not be insulted, cautioning Sharma against repeating the mistake.

He added that if the reference had been made unintentionally, the mistake should be corrected immediately. Khopkar stated that all guests on the show, including celebrities and the host, should be informed in advance to refer to the city as Mumbai. He warned that if this is not followed, the MNS would launch a strong agitation.

The Great Indian Kapil Show has recently been renewed for a third season. Its first two seasons, comprising 13 episodes each, premiered in 2024, featuring a mix of Bollywood celebrities and entertainers. The controversy marks one of the few instances where the city’s political groups have publicly intervened over the naming of Mumbai on popular entertainment platforms.

Sivakarthikeyan’s much-awaited collaboration with director AR Murugadoss, Madharaasi, promised a gripping tale on gun culture but ends up being a mixed bag. While power-packed performances and stylish action sequences keep the audience hooked, logical loopholes and inconsistent storytelling make it an average watch.

Story and execution

The film follows Raghuram (Sivakarthikeyan), an orphan haunted by his past and battling delusion syndrome. His life takes a turn when he falls in love with Malathi (Rukmini Vasanth). Parallelly, NIA officer Prem (Biju Menon) is on a mission to stop a weapon smuggling syndicate led by Virat (Vidyut Jammwal) and Chirag (Shabbir Kallarkal). Circumstances bring Raghu and Prem together, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash.

Despite the intriguing setup, the first half is weighed down by glaring logical flaws, undermining the credibility of the NIA’s portrayal. The love story, positioned as a central conflict, lacks depth and emotional connect, making it difficult for viewers to invest in the characters’ journey.

Performances and action

Sivakarthikeyan shoulders the film with ease, delivering both in emotional moments and high-voltage action scenes. Rukmini Vasanth fits her role well, while Biju Menon’s character feels underutilised in a familiar cop mould. Vidyut Jammwal’s stylish screen presence and his face-offs with Sivakarthikeyan add much-needed spark.

The film picks up pace after the interval, offering engaging action blocks and elevating tension. Yet, tonal inconsistencies and predictable templates of gang wars limit its impact.

Verdict

Madharaasi had the potential to stand alongside Murugadoss’s iconic action entertainers like Thuppakki or Kaththi. Instead, it settles for mediocrity, relying more on star power and action than storytelling finesse. For Sivakarthikeyan fans, it’s a decent one-time watch, but for others, the lack of freshness may disappoint.