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Mumbai, Dec 16 (IANS) Reports of the demise of legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, initially confirmed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and various sources, now appear to be false and inaccurate.

As the news spread rapidly, an X user claiming to be Ustad Zakir Hussain’s nephew posted: “I am Zakir Hussain’s nephew and he has not passed away. We ask for prayers for my Uncle’s health. Can you please remove this misinformation? He is in a serious condition and we ask for all his fans around the world to pray for his health.”

Another publication quoted his sister, Khurshid Aalia, who said that Zakir Hussain is alive but in a very critical condition.

Earlier reports claimed that Zakir Hussain passed away at a San Francisco hospital due to heart ailments.

Zakir Hussain’s death news was shared by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as well. Many leaders, including Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi, posted condolence messages for him.

Earlier, it was learned through Hussain’s manager Nirmala Bachani that Zakir Hussain had been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco after experiencing heart-related problems.

Ustad Zakir Hussain, the renowned tabla player, was born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

As the eldest son of the illustrious tabla player Allah Rakha, he was naturally inclined towards music from a very young age. He completed his initial education from St. Michael’s High School in Mahim, Mumbai. Later, he graduated from St. Xavier’s College.

Hussain married Antonia Minnecola, a Kathak dancer and teacher. They have two daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.

Zakir Hussain also acted in a few movies including ‘Saaz’, ‘Heat and Dust’. His most recent film ‘Monkey Man’ released in 2024.

According to a few reports he was offered to play Salim’s role in ‘Mughal-E-Azam’ which later went to Dilip Kumar.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 12 (IANS) The upcoming Marathi film ‘Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears)’, helmed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, has made its way to the Sundance Film Festival 2025 making it India’s only feature film competing at the film festival. It is also the first-ever Marathi language feature to premiere at the prestigious festival.

The film has been selected under the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. The film is an exploration of identity, familial expectations, and unconventional love. It follows Anand, a city-dweller grappling with personal loss and familial pressures, as he embarks on a 10-day mourning ritual in his ancestral village. He finds solace and connection with Balya, a childhood friend facing similar societal expectations.

The film stars Bhushaan Manoj, Suraaj Suman, and Jayshri Jagtap. The film was developed under the Venice Biennale College Cinema 2022-2023 and NFDC Marathi script camp and presented at global platforms like the Film London Production Finance Market, NFDC Marathi Script Camp, Film Bazaar Co-Production Market, Venice Gap Financing Market, and Goes to Cannes.

Talking about the selection, writer-director Rohan Parashuram Kanawade shared, “‘Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears)’ is a highly personal film. It reimagines the grief period I experienced in my ancestral village following my father’s death, during which I felt enormous pressure to comply with cultural expectations, including marriage”.

“This film transforms that moment of loss and confinement into a delicate romance that celebrates my experiences as well as my parents’ love, who accepted my sexuality with grace and wisdom. Bringing this extremely personal narrative to life and receiving recognition at Sundance is a dream come true. I’m excited to share it with global audiences and commemorate Marathi cinema’s historic presence at the festival”, he added.

It is produced by Neeraj Churi (UK), Mohamed Khaki (Canada), Kaushik Ray (UK), Naren Chandavarkar (India), Sidharth Meer (India), and Hareesh Reddypalli (India), with co-producer, acclaimed actor Jim Sarbh and associate producer Rajesh Parwatkar the film is a remarkable achievement for Marathi cinema.

The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organised by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States of America. The festival takes place every January in Park City, Utah.

–IANS

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Chennai, Dec 21 (IANS) Hombale Films, the producers of the iconic K.G.F. and Salaar franchises, announced that they will soon reveal the production schedules for the next chapters of these blockbuster films, both helmed by celebrated director Prashanth Neel.

Hombale films announces next chapters of iconic films, Salaar and K.G.F. directed by Prashanth Neel Chennai, December 21 (IANS) Hombale Films, the producers of the iconic K.G.F. and Salaar franchises, announced that they will soon reveal the production schedules for the next chapters of these blockbuster films, both helmed by celebrated director Prashanth Neel.

The production house stated that the announcements will follow the completion of Prashanth Neel’s ambitious project with Jr. NTR, a highly anticipated film slated for release in 2026. Prashanth Neel, renowned for redefining action cinema with groundbreaking works like K.G.F. Chapter 1 and Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, continues to dominate the cinematic landscape, the statement said.

The movie production house in the statement said that Prashanth Neel was known for delivering massive blockbusters and elevating the action genre, and has once again set the stage for excitement and anticipation. Marking the sixth anniversary of K.G.F. Chapter 1 and the first anniversary of Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, Hombale Films made a monumental announcement about Neel’s first collaboration with Jr. NTR. This film, expected to be a cinematic spectacle, is set to release in 2026.

Taking to their social media, Hombale Films shared the announcement with a caption that read: https://x.com/hombalefilms/status/1870424082568921589?s=46. Hombale Films, the production house behind blockbusters like K.G.F. and Bagheera, has built a reputation for creating larger-than-life cinema. The announcement also highlighted two of their upcoming projects: Kantara: Chapter 1 and Salaar: Part 2 – Shouryaanga Parvam. The statement celebrated six years of K.G.F. Chapter 1, describing the film as the beginning of an epic journey that became a global phenomenon. It praised the performance of Yash, whose passion and dedication brought the character Rocky to life, making it an unforgettable role for generations. Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, according to Hombale Films called is an “adrenaline-pumping ride” that captured imaginations and set the stage for an even grander saga. The production house expressed gratitude to the artists, technicians, and crew whose tireless efforts brought these larger-than-life worlds to the big screen. Hombale Films also credited audiences worldwide for making K.G.F. and Salaar not just successful films but legendary milestones in cinematic history. They promised epic battles and timeless stories in the new chapters of both franchises.

–IANS

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