Month: March 2026

‘The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond’ has finally opened in theatres after a major controversy which stirred an intense public debate, political reactions, and even legal scrutiny in the weeks leading up to its premiere.

Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, ‘The Kerala Story 2’ resumed screenings in cinema halls on Friday evening, with audiences from Maharashtra, Kerala, and Telangana turning out to catch the shows despite calls for protests in some regions.

As people in Mumbai rushed to theatres to watch the film, the reactions were mixed, with some praising while others appeared disappointed.

One of them told ANI, “I didn’t like the film as I found it to be propaganda-driven and exaggerated. The first Kerala Story film was good, but this was not up to the mark. I didn’t find it convincing. The direction and cinematography looks weak.”

On the contrary, a fan advocated for more such films.

“I think we need more such films to bring out the truth. The way this film has portrayed every religion, people should know the truth about their culture and the society. People should come with their families and watch the film. There is nothing wrong in it,” he said.

An audience member rejected claims of ‘The Kerala Story 2’ being propaganda-driven, and added, “I liked the film. I had zero expectations but it was very good. It creates awareness. I believe more such films should be made.”

Sanjeev Kumar from Hyderabad expressed high expectations from the film, stating that he watched the first film and liked it.

A viewer from Kozhikode, Kerala explained how films like ‘The Kerala Story 2’ will help raise awareness about the social structure and evil misdoings.

“Everyone should come and watch the film. It’s good for the society,” he said.

“This film is based on a social evil. Not just Hindus, but even Muslims and Christians should watch the film. The kids from the Muslim families are also at risk,” a woman said.

Earlier, protests were witnessed across various states, with many groups demanding to ban the screenings of ‘The Kerala Story 2’.

A scheduled screening of the film in Kannur was cancelled on Saturday following a protest by activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). The protest saw the tearing and burning of movie posters outside theatres, leading to clashes and forcing organisers to refund ticket holders.

The Kerala High Court had lifted an earlier stay on the release of ‘The Kerala Story 2’ on Friday, allowing cinemas to resume screenings. (ANI)

“Operation Epic Fury” (US) and “Operation Roaring Lion” (Israel), the joint strike in Iran on Saturday is a rare convergence of interests, reportedly influenced by lobbying efforts from Israel and Saudi Arabia, the Washington Post reported.

As per the Washington Post, Saudi Arabia pushed the United States to carry out joint attacks on Iran along with Israel, which ultimately led to the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to four undisclosed people familiar with the matter.

For years, these two powers operated as “frenemies” in the shadow of Iran’s regional influence. The frame here is “The Enemy of My Enemy.”

As per the four people, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had privately called US President Donald Trump multiple times in recent weeks, even as he publicly called for “diplomatic support” to resolve the issue, said the Washington Post.

At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued his long-standing public campaign for US strikes against what he sees as an existential threat to his country, said the Washington Post.

The combined influence of Saudi Arabia and Israel reportedly helped lead Trump to order a large-scale aerial operation against Iran’s leadership and military, which, in its initial hour, resulted in the deaths of Khamenei and several other senior Iranian officials, the Washington Post said.

Returning to the White House with a mandate of “Strength through Action,” Trump obliterated a 37-year-old threat. The death of 86-year-old Ali Khamenei, along with several top military and political leaders, effectively ends the “Second Revolution.”

The US and Israel launched a massive aerial campaign targeting Iran’s leadership and military, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on US bases, Israel, and other targets in the Middle East.

The situation remains fluid, with Trump’s administration claiming the strike was necessary to prevent an “imminent threat” from Iran.

Iran is observing 40 days of national mourning after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, with widespread grief and protests reported across the country.

The Supreme Leader’s office has declared a period of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast and public gatherings planned to pay respects.

Khamenei, who succeeded the Revolution’s founder, Ruhollah Khomeini, led Iran with unwavering defiance against Western influence since 1989.

Authorities have heightened security across the country, particularly in major cities like Tehran, to prevent unrest and ensure public safety. The focus is now on selecting Khamenei’s successor, with speculation about potential candidates and the impact on Iran’s future leadership. (ANI)

Fans of singer Arijit Singh were left heartbroken when he announced his retirement from playback singing. However, there’s now good news that has already brought smiles back on millions of faces.

It seems the singer is now focusing on independent music, and his latest release shows that his musical journey is entering a new phase.

Arijit Singh recently released a new song titled “Raina”, which has already caught the attention of listeners. The song was composed by Shekhar Ravjiani, with lyrics written by Priya Saraiya.

Arijit and Shekhar took to their Instagram accounts to announce the release. The song is a romantic track that explores themes of love and emotion. Arijit has lent his voice to the song, while Shekhar handled the music composition.

Soon after the song dropped, fans flooded the comment section with messages of love and excitement. “This legend never stops amazing us. Don’t know what iconic projects he will work on next. So excited,” wrote one fan. “Finally, happy tears hearing his voice again,” wrote another. A third fan added, “The LEGEND is back.”

Earlier this year, Arijit Singh announced that he would stop taking new playback singing assignments. He shared the news through an Instagram post, thanking listeners for their years of support. Arijit called his journey as a playback singer “wonderful” and said he was ready to move on from that chapter. “I want to thank you for giving me so much love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I will not be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on,” the singer wrote.

Fans can listen to the track and watch its official video on the Garuuda Music YouTube channel. (ANI)

Shia cleric Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad on Sunday condemned the US-Israel strikes that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

He described the actions of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as cowardly, saying they had “signed their own death warrants.” Maulana Jawad praised Khamenei as a leader who consistently supported the oppressed and termed his death a “great loss to humanity.”

He announced three days of mourning, urging people to close their shops and businesses, but emphasised that participation should be voluntary. He also stated that a candlelight march would be held at 8 pm to honour the late leader.

“These are all cowards who martyred a leader who always helped the oppressed… Trump and Netanyahu have signed their own death warrants. Allah will punish them. We have announced three days of mourning, and people should close their shops and businesses, but we should not pressure anyone… It is a great loss to humanity… We will hold a candlelight march tonight at 8 pm, said Maulana Jawad.

Meanwhile, Shia Muslims in Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir and Lucknow held protests against the killing, expressing their anger over the strikes.

A protestor in Lucknow said that the US kept on deceiving Iran in the name of peace talks asserting that “if one Khamenei dies, a thousand Khameneis will rise”, adding that the war would continue.

“They (US) kept deceiving with talks and threatened about war, but our leader did not get afraid and did not bow… If one Khamenei is killed, a thousand Khameneis will rise and this war will continue… Trump cannot win easily,” the protestor told ANI.

This comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia following joint missile strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran. Explosions were reported in Tehran and other major cities, with Iranian state media claiming that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes. Reuters cited Iranian state media reporting that 40 days of public mourning was announced in Iran after Khamenei’s death.

Meanwhile, The Times of Israel cited Iran’s state media reporting that Ali Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law were killed in Israeli-US strikes. The Israeli newspaper said that there is no official word on the fate of Khamenei himself.

CNN reported news of celebrations in several cities in Iran. According to the news report, whistling, cheering and slogans of ‘Death to the Islamic Republic’ and ‘Long live the Shah’ were heard on the streets of the cities.

Fox News posted a video and reported that Iranians were celebrating the death of Khamenei on the streets of Besat Town, a suburb of Karaj, Iran.

Former Spokesperson for the state of Israel Eylon A Levy posted another celebration video on X, saying, “Iranian women are dancing in the streets–without hair coverings–after hearing that Israel killed the tyrant Khamenei. So many Western leaders should feel ashamed at their cowardly response this morning. We will all remember.”

Iranian activist and Journalist, Masih Alinejad, posted another video with the message, “A video of Iranian people celebrating inside Iran, Am I dreaming? Hello, new world.”

Earlier, the death of the Ayatollah was claimed by US President Donald Trump, calling it justice for the people of Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS…The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD.” (ANI)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a warning to Iran, after it vowed to give a strong response to US-Israel joint strikes that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said that Iran must not take such a step, otherwise it will result in a strong attack with a “force which they have never seen before.”

“Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. They better not do that, however, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.

According to Press TV, Iran termed the death of its Supreme Leader Khamenei as a “crime of assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution will not go unpunished” and asserted that the “pure blood of the martyred Leader will uproot the criminal regimes of the US and Israel.”

Iran is observing 40 days of public mourning following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Reuters reported, citing Iranian state media. In Shia Islam, the 40th day after death (Arba’een) holds immense spiritual weight.

The death occurred following strikes by the US and Israel (Operation Epic Fury/Lion’s Roar) on Saturday. By announcing exactly 40 days of mourning, the government is leaning into a powerful cultural script, providing the clerical establishment time to manage the transition behind closed doors.

Ayatollah Khamenei was the successor to the Revolution’s founder, Ruhollah Khomeini. Since 1989, his “story” was one of unwavering defiance against Western influence.

Authorities have heightened security across the country, particularly in major cities like Tehran, to prevent unrest and ensure public safety.

Attention is focused on the process of selecting Khamenei’s successor, with speculation about potential candidates and the impact on Iran’s future leadership. However, meeting under wartime conditions is difficult, and the question remains, who “owns” the future of the Republic–the clerics or the Revolutionary Guard– the most urgent cliffhanger.

His death is being portrayed by state media as the Martyrdom of the Guardian, framing his end not as a defeat, but as a final sacrifice for the sovereignty of the nation.

As per Tasnim News, Khamenei was killed while at the workplace in the early hours of Sunday.

The official Farsi account of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged his death and posted a verse from the Quran from Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:23, which translates to “Among the believers are men who have been true to the covenant they made with Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their vow [by death], and some are still waiting, and they have not changed [their commitment] in the least.” (ANI)

Iran is observing 40 days of public mourning following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Reuters reported, citing Iranian state media. In Shia Islam, the 40th day after death (Arba’een) holds immense spiritual weight.

The death occurred following strikes by the US and Israel (Operation Epic Fury/Lion’s Roar) on Saturday. By announcing exactly 40 days of mourning, the government is leaning into a powerful cultural script, providing the clerical establishment time to manage the transition behind closed doors.

The country’s Supreme Leader’s office has declared a period of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast and public gatherings planned to pay respects, marking the closing of a 37-year chapter in the Islamic Republic’s history.

Ayatollah Khamenei was the successor to the Revolution’s founder, Ruhollah Khomeini. Since 1989, his “story” was one of unwavering defiance against Western influence.

Authorities have heightened security across the country, particularly in major cities like Tehran, to prevent unrest and ensure public safety.

Attention is focused on the process of selecting Khamenei’s successor, with speculation about potential candidates and the impact on Iran’s future leadership. However, meeting under wartime conditions is difficult, and the question remains, who “owns” the future of the Republic–the clerics or the Revolutionary Guard– the most urgent cliffhanger.

His death is being portrayed by state media as the Martyrdom of the Guardian, framing his end not as a defeat, but as a final sacrifice for the sovereignty of the nation.

The official Farsi account of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged his death and posted a verse from the Quran on X in the early hours of Sunday. As per Tasnim News, Khamenei was killed while at the workplace in the early hours of Sunday.

The official Farsi page posted on X a verse from Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:23, which translates to “Among the believers are men who have been true to the covenant they made with Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their vow [by death], and some are still waiting, and they have not changed [their commitment] in the least.”

According to Tasnim News, Khamenei was killed in the early hours of Sunday while in office. It said on X, “The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution was martyred at their workplace in the Leader’s Residence. They were engaged in performing their assigned duties and present at their workplace (their office) at the moment of martyrdom, and this cowardly attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning.”

Earlier, the Times of Israel cited Iran’s state media reporting that Ali Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law were killed in Israeli-US strikes. The Israeli newspaper said that there is no official word on the fate of Khamenei himself.

The front page of the Jerusalem Post also carried the news of the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.

Meanwhile, various reports emanating from Iran suggest that crowds have come out on the streets to celebrate.

CNN reported news of celebrations in several cities in Iran. According to the news report, whistling and cheering and slogans of ‘Death to the Islamic Republic’ and ‘Long live the Shah’ were heard on the streets of the cities.

Fox News posted a video and reported that Iranians were celebrating the death of Khamenei on the streets of Besat Town, a suburb of Karaj, Iran.

Former Spokesperson for the state of Israel Eylon A Levy posted another celebration video on X, saying, “Iranian women are dancing in the streets–without hair coverings–after hearing that Israel killed the tyrant Khamenei. So many Western leaders should feel ashamed at their cowardly response this morning. We will all remember.”

Iranian activist and Journalist, Masih Alinejad, posted another video with the message, “A video of Iranian people celebrating inside Iran, Am I dreaming? Hello, new world.”

In another self-made video, Alinejad further said, “Every morning I wake up reading that my people are being killed by Ali Khamenei. But this is the first morning in my life that I get the good news and I want to run. I want to just run and shout, and shout out of joy.”

Reports coming out of London also showed videos of expatriate Iranians and Israelis dancing and celebrating side by side on the streets of London.

Earlier, exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to unite and support a “stable transition to a free and prosperous future” after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, calling any attempt by the regime to appoint a successor “doomed to fail”.

He also warned that efforts to preserve the collapsing regime would not succeed.

In a post on X, Pahlavi wrote, “My fellow compatriots, Ali Khamenei, the bloodthirsty despot of our time, the murderer of tens of thousands of Iran’s bravest sons and daughters, has been erased from the face of history. With his death, the Islamic Republic has in effect reached its end and will very soon be consigned to the dustbin of history. Any attempt by the remnants of the regime to appoint a successor to Khamenei is doomed to fail from the outset. Whoever they place in his stead will have neither legitimacy nor longevity, and will undoubtedly be complicit in the crimes of this regime as well. To the military, law enforcement, and security forces: any effort to preserve a collapsing regime will fail. This is your final opportunity to join the nation, to help ensure Iran’s stable transition to a free and prosperous future, and to take part in building that future.”

Pahlavi said the death of Khamenei could bring comfort to the families of those who lost their lives in Iran’s Lion and Sun National Revolution, urging the people to remain vigilant and united.

Earlier, the death of the Ayatollah was claimed by US President Donald Trump, calling it justice for the people of Iran. (ANI)