The men in blue with a new captain Shreyas Iyer has been beaten hollow in Belfast (Ireland) and at three venues in England. Iyer has led in six matches and lost five in a row. The first dig at Chester-lee-Street, Durham did not deliver a result, and England has held its own in Old Trafford, in Robin Hood country Trent Bridge and Bristol. Iyer must be gutted with back to back series loss – and five has now become a record for an Indian captain. Shikhar Dhawan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have led the men in blue teams that lost four in a row in 2021 and 2009. After looking at the score cards a first question that comes up is “Why is left-hander Tilak Varma batting at No 5 and 6” when his preferred batting number is 3/4 where he has scored 649 runs with 2x100s at 46.36 and a strike rate of 9.12 and 490 runs at 54.44 with a strike rate of 7.72. In the World Cup, Varma batted at No 3 five times, and at No 5/7. He had an overall strike rate of 9.27. India has promoted Ishan Kishan to No 3 from the World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Chennai and since he has scored one half century in 10 innings. Clearly India has not had the best from Varma at No 5 or 6. It’s at No 3 that Varma scored 107* against South Africa at Centurion Park and 120* at the Wanderers in November 2024. His average has dipped batting lower down the order. Tinkering with the batting order has resulted in a downside in the Twenty20 format. India has won 18 matches with Tilak batting at No 3.

In a major political development in West Bengal, three former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs — Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik — formally joined BJP. All three had resigned from the Rajya Sabha and TMC in recent weeks, with Roy stepping down first after the party’s electoral defeat, followed by Dev and Baraik. Bhattacharya. West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya described their induction as a major organisational boost. He recalled the contribution of Roy’s father in Bengal politics, accusing successive governments of neglecting Bengal’s historical legacy. Roy’s induction had been anticipated after his recent meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bhattacharya and other senior BJP leaders. After joining the party, Roy alleged that both the Left Front and Trinamool governments had harmed West Bengal, claiming he was sidelined and harassed, including being summoned by Lalbazaar, iconic Kolkata police headquarters, for raising issues such as the RG Kar case and corruption. Dev said she joined the BJP after concluding that her national aspirations could not be realised in the Trinamool. Citing Assam’s development model, she said she wanted to contribute to the country’s progress under Modi and chose the Bengal BJP on the advice of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Rejecting criticism that the BJP was indiscriminately inducting Trinamool leaders, Bhattacharya said only those with a clean image would be welcomed, while leaders accused of corruption or scams had no place in the party. He also urged the media not to describe the new entrants as turncoats, saying they should now be regarded simply as BJP leaders. Speculation remains that the trio could be renominated to the Rajya Sabha under the BJP banner.

The ongoing 48-team FIFA World Cup in the Americas, for almost a month, has been unprecedented and exhilarating for a number of reasons; notably for the wonderful goal-getting ability of the super stars led by Leo Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. And millions of football fanatics have lapped it up! Each one of them have been able to capture the imagination of the fans with their own ways of beating the last line of defence with their lower limb or head.  Christiano Ronaldo, well past his sunset years, was a far cry from his best and the injury prone Neymar Jr hardly touched a ball, benched by the maverick Italy born Brazilian coach Carlo Ancelloti for a major part of the competition. The versatile Argentine Messi has missed dead-ball situations, but has entertained with his alacrity and direction, Frenchman Mbappe has demonstrated speed, pile drivers and deft touches, Haaland has bulldozed his way into the penalty area and delivered winners and Harry Kane has used his height and found a way to the back of the net. Messi leads the Golden Boot race with 8 goals and one assist, followed by Mbappe (7 +2) Haaland (7) and Kane (6+1). The numbers could dramatically change with Argentina, France, Norway and England reaching the last eight. Ronaldo and Neymar Jr have taken a bow from international football, without the World Cup glory. Messi has kept the retirement card close to his chest; he could do so after his team’s last match. Kane may go out on a high should England win the title after 60 years. Mbappe and Haaland ought to be there when Portugal, Spain and Morocco host the World Cup in 1930; but so far, it’s been damn good across the Atlantic!

Temples are in the news post Ram Mandir donation theft. The latest news is from Odisha. Ahead of the grand nine-day planned mega festival of Lord Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Puri scheduled on July 16, 2026, Puri’s titular King Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb — Chairman of 12th century Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee (SJTMC) has blown the bugle. He has raised serious questions against ISKCON’s international branches and its functioning. He is now seeking the Centre’s intervention to stop Lord Jagannath’s untimely rituals being conducted outside India. While ISKCON India chapter has agreed to abide by SJTMC directives, however, ISKCON centres in Canada, U.S., UK, Europe and parts of Africa continue to host Rath Yatras based on local convenience instead of following the lunar calendar practiced in Puri, thereby deviating from Odisha’s century old tradition. The Puri King says “The sanctity of dates cannot be altered for global convenience because it hurts the sentiments of millions of devotees”. This explains why Puri King has escalated this issue to PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu and Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi seeking their urgent intervention.

The shocking embezzlement of donations offered by the devout to Ram Lalla has shocked the entire nation. It is logical to compare this with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), India’s richest pilgrimage site and the mind boggling logistics implemented …not just for footfalls, but collection of donations, daily counting and how the huge coffers are like a corporate …every rupee accounted, audited and spent. Every single day, 50,000 to 70,000 pilgrims wend their way to see Lord Balaji; on special days it surpasses 100,000. With its budget of RS 5,500 crore, TTD is constantly aiming to get the best from the donations. Even as the Ram Mandir theft was unfolding, TTD was taking security to a higher level, partnering with the Institute of Chartered Accounts, for robust accounts and audit. This temple’s daily counting of cash, gold and silver ornaments is itself a protocol not many places of worship follow. S Gurumurthy, Editor of Tamil magazine Thuglak, and RSS functionary has criticised the hypocrisy of the opposition in the New Indian Express in his signed two-part article. But is this just a condemnation of the Ram Mandir Trust and its lack of control? Hindus have long suffered the partisan HR and CE grip on Hindu places of worship. Time to clean up this Augean stables and free temples from the clutches of the greedy.

The resounding success of Ghabadkund has ignited a new era in Marathi cinema, marking the birth of its first-ever cinematic universe. Produced by Dr Rasik Kadam and directed by Pritam SK Patil, the film masterfully blends suspense, action and ancient folklore set against a mysterious cursed reservoir in Maharashtra’s untamed heartlands. It introduces an overarching lore of hidden treasures, forbidden rituals, and awakening malevolent forces, not as a standalone tale, but as the foundation for interconnected stories that celebrate the region’s rich mythology and cultural soul. With a reported Rs 6 crore budget, Ghabadkund has delivered a strong verdict, amassing approximately Rs 7.57 crore in total collections by around Day 16 (Maharashtra contributing the lion’s share). In the producer’s visionary words, “We are creating a universe that belongs to our soil, our stories, and our people. This is just the beginning.” Ghabadkund has paved the way, drawing audiences into a shared world where legends intertwine across time and terrain. The narrative now expands organically, with everyday elements like bustling dhabas along rural highways becoming pivotal nexuses. Here, ordinary lives collide with extraordinary secrets, weaving emotional conflicts, treasure hunts, and escalating mysteries that bind future chapters into a grand narrative. Encouraged by good response, Dr Kadam has announced a massive Rs 50 crore investment for the second chapter. This technologically advanced instalment is poised to be one of the biggest in Marathi cinema history, targeting global audiences while staying rooted in local ethos. Spanning six interconnected films overall, the franchise promises unprecedented scale in visuals, storytelling, and production values. As Ghabadkund continues its strong box-office journey, the Marathi cinematic universe stands as a testament to bold Marathi ambition.

For over a decade, Hera Pheri 3 has resembled its own chaotic plot which was full of twists, betrayals, and shifting alliances. What began as a dream reunion of the iconic trio (Akshay Kumar as Raju, Suniel Shetty as Shyam and Paresh Rawal as Baburao) under director Priyadarshan quickly descended into a messy legal and personal battlefield. Producer Firoz Nadiadwala (linked to the original franchise) fought prolonged rights battles, including clashes with Eros and later South Indian producer Vijay Kumar over copyright claims tied to the source material. Banners shifted when Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films LLP, stepped in and secured key rights from the original producers. This marked Akshay’s transition from star to controlling force. Drama peaked in 2025 when Paresh Rawal exited amid reported fee or creative disputes. Akshay’s company swiftly slapped a Rs 25 crore legal notice for alleged sabotage and unprofessional conduct. The matter was resolved after interventions; Paresh returned, paid dues with interest, and confirmed his participation, proving Bollywood friendships are transactional. Priyadarshan’s recent exit added fuel. He accused Firoz Nadiadwala of repeated insults over years and claimed Firoz allegedly told Akshay never to work with him. Then came the decisive July 4, 2026, public notice in Complete Cinema magazine by Cape of Good Films LLP. It boldly asserted sole, exclusive, irrevocable worldwide rights to produce, distribute, and commercially exploit Hera Pheri 3 across all platforms. This move effectively hands Akshay Kumar full creative and commercial freedom, seemingly sidelining previous partnerships. With the trio reportedly aligned and Akshay asserting dominance, the long-delayed comedy may finally escape development hell. Whether it delivers the laughs or more hera pheri remains to be seen.

The YRF Spy Universe’s latest outing Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, has failed to emerge as the massive crowd-puller many anticipated. Despite pre-release hype positioning the two actresses as dynamic, cool young leads ready to anchor a female-driven spy thriller, the film’s opening weekend collections hovered around a modest Rs 34 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 60 crore worldwide; underwhelming figures for a big-budget franchise entry. What began as a seemingly seamless partnership between two young female protagonists quickly soured after release. Word of mouth turned dull, with critics and audiences pointing out that Sharvari’s role felt like little more than a glamorous showpiece with limited depth. Marketing missteps, including a controversial appearance on India’s Got Latent 2, comparisons of the film’s first look to Hollywood’s Nikita, and the perceived forced, superficial cameo by Hrithik Roshan, further dented momentum. The absence of any memorable chart-topping songs, which is a YRF trademark, only compounded the issues. Now, fresh videos of Alia and Sharvari meeting theatre audiences have surfaced, revealing a noticeable shift in their dynamic. While Sharvari appears energetic and engaging, Alia looks visibly upset, subdued, and far from her usual positive, dynamic self. In several clips, she maintains an uncomfortable posture, her expressions hinting at possible jealousy or quiet resentment. The easy camaraderie and playful chemistry showcased during promotions have seemingly evaporated. What was once marketed as a powerful female buddy pairing appears strained in the face of Alpha’s mixed reception. With collections not living up to expectations and personal awkwardness on display, it remains to be seen if Alia and Sharvari can salvage both their professional rapport and the film’s long-term prospects. The early signs, however, suggest everything may not be as picture-perfect as it once seemed.

At a time when Odisha lost some big projects to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, this huge investment from Adani Enterprises and UAE’s International Holding Company has given a big boost to the BJP-run Odisha government. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has every reason to feel happy particularly as there are many of his own partymen trying to show him in a bad light…and would ideally like him to go. Though the mining initiative is denuding into the rich forest reserves of Odisha, the state needs developments too. Adani’s JV with UAE proposes to invest $ 11.5 billion in Odisha to set up an integrated aluminium project which includes green energy plant, ship building and steel plant. These projects are expected to create 53,000 new jobs. It is considered one of the largest FDI projects so far in Odisha. Now political commentators are giving all kudos to CM Majhi’s core team. However, Opposition Biju Janata Dal has labelled the big MOU investment figure as exaggerated political propaganda rather than realized capital.

Even as KVN Productions announced their Big Bang extravagant film, Toxic lead role by KGF fame Yash, the expectations hit the sky. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, herself an actress and artist known for her Malayalam hits, Moothon and Liar’s Dice, she is now firmly in the saddle with her talent to direct. Toxic, a drug mafia gangster film set in Goa from the 1950’s to 1970’s is an action, gore and thriller for aficionados, building up sky high excitement to see Yash in this killer avatar. Toxic is set to hit cinemas on August 26. The team had guarded a big secret till its recent glimpse video…it was all about Yash, but not a word leaked out about the sirens sizzling, spying and socking the male lead. Even as this mystery built up, the producers released the glimpse video. And a treat …the film has four leading ladies…Nayanthara, the Queen of sophistication; Kiara Advani, the artist who electrifies the screen with her appearance; Huma Qureshi, the artist who performs with much dedication; and Rukmini Vasanth, she of Kantara fame, trained at the Royal Academy of Arts. These ladies were not just gangster molls and props, parading in outrageous outfits…each one has a solid role that moves the story and generates twists ….Yash fans are in for a thrilling treat.