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2024: A Challenging Year for Global Cinema
Entertainment Desk
30 Dec 2024, 12:37
Photo: ComicBook
The year 2024 has been a challenging one for Hollywood, particularly for superhero films. Despite high expectations, major releases like Madame Web, Joker 2, and Venom: The Last Dance failed to resonate with audiences or achieve significant box office success.
Even Deadpool and Wolverine, a collaboration of iconic characters, fell short of industry buzz. The consistent underperformance highlights a growing audience fatigue with repetitive superhero narratives, signaling an urgent need for fresh ideas and creative storytelling.
Hollywood’s struggles extended beyond superheroes, as summer blockbusters such as Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, Hellboy: The Crooked Man, and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga also disappointed. However, animated films became the industry's saving grace. Movies like Inside Out 2, Moana 2, and Despicable Me 4 performed remarkably well, especially in South and Southeast Asian markets, where they grossed significant revenue.
On the other hand, global cinema flourished. Sean Baker’s Anora earned the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes, breaking a 13-year streak of European dominance in the category. The film, centered on the life of a sex worker, also propelled actress Mikey Madison to stardom.
French-Mexican crime comedy Emilia Perez dominated award circuits, receiving the most Golden Globe nominations. Indian cinema shone brightly with All You Imagine As Light, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes, while Korea’s Exhuma became the highest-grossing Korean film of the year.
Hollywood’s Top Grossers of 2024:
- Inside Out 2
- Deadpool and Wolverine
- Wicked
- Moana 2
- Despicable Me 4
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- Dune 2
- Twisters
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
- Kung Fu Panda 4
Top Global Non-English Films:
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig
- The Count of Monte Cristo
- Emilia Perez
- Varmingleo
- All You Imagine As Light
- Exhuma
- 182 Beyond Youthful Days*
- A Part of You
- I Am Still Here
- The Girl with the Needle
While Hollywood faced a creativity crisis in 2024, global cinema demonstrated its vitality, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and earning acclaim worldwide. This year highlighted the shifting balance in the entertainment industry, where diversity and innovation are the new keys to success.
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K-pop Girl Group SIGNATURE Disbands After Four Years
In a surprising turn of events, K-pop girl group SIGNATURE has officially disbanded after four years of activity. The group’s agency, C9 Entertainment, confirmed the news yesterday.
According to an official statement, after extensive discussions, the decision was made to disband the group. All seven members of SIGNATURE have had their contracts terminated, and the group’s activities ceased as of last Saturday.
Over the course of their four-year journey, SIGNATURE released five EPs and two singles, with their latest album Sweet but Salty hitting the shelves in June this year. Member Jeon also earned praise for her performance at the Waterbomb Festival in July.
C9 Entertainment expressed regret over the abrupt nature of the announcement, requesting fans' understanding and support during this difficult time.
The seven members of SIGNATURE were Chesle, Jeon, Celine, Chloe, Bell, Semi, and Dohee. Though their time as a group has come to an end, their contributions to the K-pop scene will not be forgotten.
Aishwarya Abhishek's Photo Went Viral Amid Divorce Rumors
Amid divorce rumors about actor-couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, new pictures of the duo have emerged on social media platforms. Taking to their respective Instagram accounts, entrepreneur Anu Ranjan and actor Ayesha Jhulka posted photos featuring Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan.
Aishwarya and Abhishek attend a party together
In a photo shared by Anu, Aishwarya was seen clicking a selfie as she stood in front of her mother, Brindya Rai. Anu held Brindya's hand while Abhishek stood behind them. All of them smiled and posed for the camera. For the event, Aishwarya and Abhishek twinned in black outfits. She wore a suit, while Abhishek was seen in a bandhgala and trousers.
Fans react to pics
Anu captioned the post, "So much love warmth (pink heart emojis)." Reacting to the post, a fan said, "Love this, Anu...you really changed everyone's mindset." A comment read, "Shutting off all false rumors." A person wrote, "Strong women don't just divorce to avoid the problem. They look for solutions. Aishwarya Rai with her mother and husband Abhishek Bachchan last evening at a party."
More pics of Aishwarya, Abhishek
Ayesha Jhulka shared a bunch of pictures from the event on her Instagram Stories. In the photos, Aishwarya clicked selfies. Ayesha, Abhishek, and Aishwarya also posed for the camera. For the event, Ayesha wore a red saree. The party was also attended by Tusshar Kapoor and Sachin Tendulkar among others. The venue and other details of the party aren't known yet.
About Abhishek, Aishwarya divorce rumors
The rumors about discord between Aishwarya Rai and the Bachchan family began in July 2024 during Anant Ambani’s wedding. It started when Aishwarya and her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan arrived separately at the venue. The rest of the Bachchan family, including Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya Bachchan, son Abhishek Bachchan, daughter Shweta, grandson Agastya Nanda, and granddaughter Navya Naveli, made an appearance together.
The rumors gathered momentum after Abhishek or his family didn't wish Aishwarya on her birthday earlier this month. Aishwarya and Abhishek tied the knot in 2007. They share a daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, who was born on November 16, 2011.
Farooki's Political Satire '840' Trailer Released
Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, advisor on cultural affairs and a renowned filmmaker is bringing back his popular series 420 with a sequel titled '840' after a long hiatus. The original series, released in 2007, depicted the rise and fall of Bangladeshi politicians. The much-awaited sequel was recently announced by Farooki himself on social media, accompanied by the trailer's release on Friday, December 6.
A Glimpse of 840
The trailer offers a satirical take on the political landscape of a city. In one gripping scene, a frustrated politician cries over the phone, saying,
"Milon, I'm doing so much development work, yet no one loves me. Why, Milon?"
To which the response comes,
"Sir, people wants democracy; they have poor taste, sir."
This dialogue highlighting the satire, has already stirred conversations on social media.
Highlights of the Trailer
The three-minute-long trailer brims with comedy and twists. It narrates the story of a city mayor, showcasing his activities during his tenure — from election campaigning and soliciting votes to staging sympathy for public tragedies. It even touches on the outrageous tactics a politician might employ to garner empathy before an election. The trailer hints at unveiling the hypocrisy of a political leader, giving viewers a taste of what's to come.
Farooki's Personal Note
Sharing the trailer on social media, Farooki wrote, "When we were shooting this last winter, we weren't sure if it would ever see the light of day. And today, I'm sharing the trailer with you. I couldn't even write a proper caption due to being overwhelmed with emotion. Please watch the trailer."
Interestingly, the story resonates with the recent scenarios of ousted political leaders in the country, sparking even more buzz on social media. Particularly, the phone call scene has reminded many of a real-life leaked call, leading to humorous comparisons among netizens.
Cast and Production
In the series, the role of the mayor and politician is powerfully portrayed by the popular actor Nasiruddin Khan. The cast also includes Fazlur Rahman Babu, Bijori Barkatullah, Nader Chowdhury, Shahriar Nazim Joy, Marzuk Russell, Zakia Bari Momo, and Prantar Dastidar.
Produced under the banner of Chabial Production by Nusrat Imrose Tisha, with Faridur Reza Sagar as co-producer, 840 is set to premiere soon across theaters, OTT platforms, and television.
The excitement for 840 is palpable, promising a humorous yet thought-provoking exploration of politics and leadership.
Actress Detained at Airport with Gold Worth Tk 6.9 Million
Gold weighing 733 grams, valued at approximately Tk 6.9 million was recovered from two passengers including an actress at Chattogram's Shah Amanat International Airport.
The two passengers were detained on Saturday (December 7) at around 9:50 am by the NSI Chattogram Airport team and customs intelligence officers.
The detained individuals are Anamika Juthi, a drama actress from Mirpur, Dhaka, and Mohammad Raihan Iqbal from Raozan, Chattogram. The information was confirmed by Shah Amanat International Airport's Public Relations Officer, Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil.
He stated that based on confidential information, a search was conducted, leading to the discovery of pure gold items resembling bracelets, chains, and white gold chains. The market value of the seized gold is Tk 6.896 million. Anamika Juthi had concealed the bracelets on her wrists using scotch tape and cleverly hid the chains around her neck. Additionally, the gold jewelry was carried in their handbags.
Airport sources reported that the two passengers arrived at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram at 9:35 am on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines BG-148 flight (Dubai-Chattogram-Dhaka) from Dubai. However, as they were passengers bound for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, aviation regulations required their transfer to the airport team there via the same flight.
Deepika Padukone Shines at Diljit Dosanjh’s Bengaluru Concert
Deepika Padukone, who became a mother for the first time this September, has kept a low profile since the birth of her daughter, Dua. In a recent interview, the actress shared her challenges in adjusting to motherhood and how her time is now devoted to her little one.
However, Deepika made a surprise public appearance at Diljit Dosanjh’s concert in Bengaluru last Friday, leaving fans thrilled. The Punjabi artist performed in Deepika’s hometown, and she not only attended but also joined him on stage, dancing effortlessly to his songs.
Dressed in a casual yet stylish outfit of loose denim pants and a T-shirt, paired with minimal accessories like earrings and a watch, Deepika exuded her signature simplicity and charm. Throughout the evening, she embraced the moment fully—dancing with the crowd at times and at others sharing the stage with Diljit.
Their interaction became the highlight of the night, with Deepika even teaching Diljit a few phrases in Kannada. Videos of her spontaneous dance moves and her joyous presence have since gone viral on social media, with fans praising her for bringing her authentic energy to the event.
Deepika’s surprise appearance not only lit up the concert but also reminded everyone of her magnetic presence, whether on stage or off.
Rashmika Mandanna in Religious Discourse: Amir Hamza's Speech Went Viral
South Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna is enjoying a golden phase in her career. Recently, she has been in the spotlight for back-to-back films.
Many compare Rashmika's beauty to a divine standard. However, her name surfaced unexpectedly in a religious gathering in Bangladesh. Renowned Islamic speaker Amir Hamza referred to Rashmika as one of the world's most beautiful women while explaining the beauty of God's creation, citing references from various media outlets.
In a video from a religious gathering, Amir Hamza is heard saying, "If you look up the most beautiful faces worldwide, Rashmika Mandanna tops the list in terms of facial structure among 157 countries. Have you heard her name? She is currently ranked number one in terms of facial beauty. Look at her with God's name in mind, and see how beautifully Allah has created her. Our ancestral mother Hawwa (Eve) was hundreds of times more beautiful than her."
Rashmika debuted in Telugu cinema with the film 'Chalo'. While her initial projects brought limited success, her stardom skyrocketed after the phenomenal success of 'Pushpa: The Rise'. She has since conquered the Telugu industry and established a strong presence in Bollywood in a short span.
It is reported that Rashmika now charges over 10 crore INR per film.
Renowned Rabindra Sangeet Artist Papia Sarwar Passes Away
Ekushey Padak-winning Rabindra Sangeet artist Papia Sarwar has passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Her husband, Sarwar A. Alam, confirmed that she breathed her last on Thursday morning while undergoing treatment at Impulse Hospital in Dhaka.
It was reported that Papia Sarwar had been suffering from cancer for an extended period. She had been receiving treatment for the past four days at a private hospital in Tejgaon, Dhaka. Prior to this, she was under medical care at another hospital in the Bashundhara Residential Area of the capital.
Born in Barisal, Papia Sarwar studied zoology at University of Dhaka before pursuing a degree in Rabindra Sangeet at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, India, on a scholarship from the Indian government.
She also received training in music from eminent personalities such as Wahidul Haq, Sanjida Khatun, and Zahedur Rahim at Chhayanaut. While her primary focus was on Rabindra Sangeet, she also performed modern songs.
Her rendition of the song "Nai Telephone Nai Re Pion Nai Re Telegram" gained widespread popularity across the country. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Rabindra Award from Bangla Academy in 2013 and the Ekushey Padak, a prestigious state honor, in 2021.
