Actor Prakash Raj met NASA astronaut Sunita Williams on Thursday at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode. Sharing moments from their interaction on his official X account, the actor expressed delight at meeting and conversing with Williams, calling it a memorable experience and referring to their exchange as “over the moon” moments.

Photos from the post showed a smiling Prakash Raj posing with Williams and animatedly showing her something on his phone. During her session at the festival, Williams highlighted the growing role of technology, noting that imagination is the only real limit as ideas today are rapidly turning into reality. She observed that unlike earlier times, technological barriers no longer slow down innovation but instead accelerate it.

Williams also spoke about her strong cultural connections, saying she felt honoured to be in India and appreciated the influence of both Indian and American cultures on her life. Commenting on India’s space ambitions, she expressed enthusiasm about the country’s expanding space programme and its increasing global engagement, adding that India is well on its way to achieving major milestones in space exploration. The Kerala Literature Festival, held annually in Kozhikode, India’s first UNESCO City of Literature, is among the largest literary events in the world. Its previous edition drew more than 6.5 lakh visitors and featured over 600 speakers.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@prakashraaj.

DMK MP Kanimozhi has expressed her support for music maestro AR Rahman following his controversial remarks about Bollywood. On X, she wrote, "I stand with @arrahman. Targeting a musician whose art transcends religion, language, and identity—and the silence of those in authority—is deeply disturbing." She praised Rahman for popularizing Indian music worldwide, calling him an "ambassador of culture and Indian values."

"Rahman is not only a creator and artist who brought Indian music to the world, but also a key ambassador of our culture. He deserves respect and gratitude, not prejudice and hate. Intolerance has no place in a democratic society," Kanimozhi added. Rahman recently told the BBC Asian Network that work in the Hindi film industry has slowed for him over the past eight years, citing changes in the industry.

Veteran author Shobhaa De criticized Rahman’s remarks as "very dangerous," asserting that Bollywood has always valued talent over religion. Speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2026, she said, "If you have talent, you get a chance. Religion has never been a factor. He is successful and mature; he should not have said this."

Actress and politician Kangana Ranaut also responded, calling Rahman "prejudiced and hateful." On Instagram, she alleged that he refused to meet her or work on the music for her film Emergency, claiming he considered it a "propaganda film." She added that her movie was praised by critics and opposition leaders for its balanced approach, but Rahman’s prejudice blinded him from recognizing its merit.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Stephen Graham has told fans of Adolescence to "stay tuned" regarding a potential second season. The star spoke backstage after the Netflix limited series won four awards at Sunday’s (Jan 11) Golden Globe ceremony and shared an update on what he and co-creator Jack Thorne are considering for the show’s future. When asked about a second season, Stephen told reporters in the Winners’ Room: "I cannot answer that question because it’s somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind and Jack’s mind, and we’ll pull it out in three or four years, so stay tuned."

The series features 16-year-old Owen Cooper as teenage murder suspect Jamie Miller, with Stephen playing his father, Eddie. At the ceremony, Adolescence won Best Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Motion Picture. The cast also earned several individual accolades: Stephen won Best Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Motion Picture, while co-star Erin Doherty, who played Briony Ariston, was named Best Supporting Female Actor. Owen Cooper received Best Supporting Male Actor, making him the youngest winner ever in the supporting TV categories and the second youngest male Golden Globe winner overall, after Ricky Schroder in 1990.

During his acceptance speech, Owen said: "Standing here at the Golden Globe does not feel real, whatsoever. What an incredible journey me and my family have been put through. We are forever grateful… I thought, I might be okay, I might be awful, I never know. So, I took a risk, and I went to drama classes. I was the only boy there. It was embarrassing, but I got through it. I'm still very much an apprentice. I'm still learning every day, I'm still learning from the people that are sat in front of me, that inspired me. It's mad what's going on."
Disclaimer: This image is taken from asiaone.

Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar has rewritten the Hindi box-office records by surpassing Pushpa 2: The Rule to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. According to veteran trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the film has crossed the lifetime collections of the Allu Arjun starrer, reaching a total of ₹831.40 crore in its fifth week.

“This is THE biggest moment in the HISTORY of the #Hindi film industry. Until recently, surpassing the lifetime business of #Pushpa2 #Hindi — previously the highest-grossing Hindi film — seemed impossible. But records exist to be broken, and #Dhurandhar has done exactly that. On its fifth Tuesday [Day 33], #Dhurandhar has overtaken #Pushpa2 #Hindi to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time,” Taran Adarsh wrote on X.

Following this landmark success, Yash Raj Films issued a statement praising the film for setting a new benchmark in Indian cinema. “DHURANDHAR is not just a film — it is a milestone in Indian cinema that will be remembered forever. Congratulations to Aditya Dhar and Jio Studios for creating the highest-grossing Indian film of all time (in a single language). As the captain of this ship, Aditya Dhar’s clear vision, fearless storytelling, and unwavering dedication to excellence have set a new standard. We also congratulate every cast member and technician who contributed to making this film a resounding success. You are the true Dhurandhars who brought this vision to life,” YRF stated.

Fans have been celebrating Dhurandhar’s monumental box-office performance, and lead actor Ranveer Singh shared his pride, responding to YRF’s statement: “My beloved Alma Mater. Only ever wanted to make you proud!” The film also became the first Hindi movie to surpass ₹800 crore in net collections domestically. Since its release, Dhurandhar has garnered widespread acclaim from critics, audiences, and industry insiders alike. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film stars Ranveer Singh in the lead, supported by a stellar ensemble including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R. Madhavan. The film is planned as a two-part franchise, with the sequel set to release during Eid 2026.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Insta/@ranveersingh.

In the episode of ‘Culture Club,’ Melanie Oliveiro chats with Claire Javier, an emerging indie-pop singer-songwriter, about her music, focusing on her latest single, “Easy.” Javier shares the story behind the dreamy and playful track, which captures the surreal feeling of a past romance. The Filipino-Singaporean artist also discusses her other single, “Misbehave,” her experiences performing live, and her evolution from introspective songwriting to a more narrative and confessional style. To explore more Singaporean artists like Claire Javier, visit Hear65.com, an initiative by the National Arts Council, produced by independent music media company Bandwagon.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

The 2025 Emmy Award nominations are out, with Severance leading the pack with 27 nominations. The Penguin follows closely with 24, while The Studio and The White Lotus each earned 23 nods, highlighting the top contenders in television over the past year. Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng discuss the most unexpected omissions and surprise nominations with Dr. Nasya Bahfen, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics, Media, and Philosophy at La Trobe University.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

He’s spent a full day submerged in slime, stayed underground for 48 hours, and given away huge sums of money to fortunate contestants. But are MrBeast’s videos just clever clickbait – or bold experiments in creative innovation?
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian

New Zealand artist Marlon Williams dedicated five years to creating his latest album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka, which is sung entirely in the Māori language. Its release comes at a politically charged time, as the current coalition government in New Zealand restricts the use of Māori in public services and recently suspended three MPs for performing a haka in protest of a bill seen as undermining Indigenous rights. Williams discusses with Reged Ahmad the experience of performing in his first language on a global stage and also shares a live performance of a song from the album at the Guardian Australia studio.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Guardian.