Documentary Film 'Eyewitness to a Nation': 50 Years in Journalism, Risks, and the Transformation of India

Actor Yash, known from the film KGF, is preparing to return to the big screen after about four years. After several postponements, the film Toxic is now scheduled for release on August 26. A long-awaited trailer for the film was recently presented, in which Yash appears in two roles. It contains many beautiful scenes, but some moments look dull due to problems with visual effects (VFX).

VFX shortcomings spoiled the impression

The Toxic trailer showed numerous instances of poor VFX quality, which was noted in many photos and videos taken from the trailer and shared on social media. In one scene, Yash is depicted without clothes, only in lungi, while muscles are visible on his abdomen, which many considered to be hand-drawn. Others believed that the VFX in this scene was incomplete, causing the shot to look unfinished.

Another viral moment from the trailer shows Yash against Yash. In this scene, Yash in the role of 'ticket' jumps across walls, dressed in a Santa Claus costume. His face looks as if a photograph has been superimposed on it, as Yash's facial features do not match the body of the double, which looks quite strange. Furthermore, the car shots in the trailer also look not very good, demonstrating deficiencies in VFX, such as during car explosions or in background elements.

There are only 17 days left until the film's release, and hopes for improving the VFX quality in such a short time are slim.

DNEG handled the VFX work for Toxic, the same company working on the film Ramayana. The company Nimith Malhotra is known for its high-class visual effects. While everyone praised the company's VFX in the Ramayana trailer, many flaws were noticed in Toxic. This raises the question: was Yash's film delayed because of Ramayana, or is there still hope for VFX improvement?

Nevertheless, the film Ramayana is also closely linked to Yash, as he plays the role of Ravana and simultaneously acts as a producer. This year will be special for him in 2026. It remains to be seen what success both his films—Toxic and Ramayana—will achieve at the box office.

Modj Bafi is a unique tradition of hand weaving deeply rooted in the lifestyle of nomadic and rural communities in western Iran. This tradition demonstrates the pastoral economy, local textile knowledge, and artistic heritage of the region.

Modj textiles are made primarily from hand-spun wool. They are characterized by bright geometric patterns, rich colors, and ancient weaving methods passed down through generations. Modj, sometimes called Jajim, is a woolen item with large checkered and geometric motifs. Its foundation consists of threads entirely made from wool obtained from sheep kept by nomadic and rural residents. The weaving is done on a simple traditional loom known as Chahar Verdi, which closely links the craft to the self-sufficient way of life of communities in the Zagros region.

According to Farzad Sharifi, CEO of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Crafts of Ilam, Modj Bafi is one of the authentic crafts of the Kurdish regions of western Iran and has long accompanied the daily life of nomadic and rural communities. The traditional color palette of Modj includes dark blue, blue, yellow, and red. The combination of these shades with geometric ornaments gives the textile a unique visual character, reflecting the aesthetic preferences of Iranian weaving traditions.

From Daily Necessity to Craft

Historically, Modj weaving was closely tied to household chores and was not viewed solely as an artistic activity. In predominantly self-sufficient nomadic and rural families, making coverings was an important pastime that gradually evolved into a traditional domestic craft. The availability of wool became one of the key reasons for the flourishing of this craft in pastoral communities, as sheep provided the main raw material, and the loom itself was relatively simple and could be used at home.

Although weaving can occur throughout the year, production traditionally ramps up from late spring to early winter. The complexity of the item directly affects the time and effort required. Traditionally, Modj weavers produce two main types of items. The first is Sajade, or prayer rug, which is usually about 100 by 150 centimeters. The second is the Modj blanket, which is often made to order.

A traditional blanket consists of four woven sections, each typically reaching two meters in length. The width of each section varies approximately from 45 to 75 centimeters, largely depending on the thickness of the yarn used.

Measure of Skill in Every Shuttle

One of the distinguishing features of Modj Bafi is the relationship between the complexity of the patterns and the number of shuttles used during weaving. Among traditional weavers, the quality and skill of Modj textiles are partially assessed by the number of shuttles used simultaneously. Each color used in the pattern requires a separate shuttle, and the intersection points of different colors can also increase the number of shuttles involved. Consequently, items with more colors and more intricate motifs generally require greater precision, time, and effort. Thus, the number of shuttles serves not only as a technical feature of the weaving process but also as an unofficial indicator of the mastery, complexity, and value of the finished work.

For communities that have preserved this tradition, Modj is more than just fabric. It is a chronicle of traditional skills and rural life, transformed thread by thread into a textile that continues to connect the cultural heritage of the Zagros with contemporary viewers. The Zagros Mountains, stretching across Iran, northern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey, have a total length of 1600 kilometers.

The wait for the film 'Mirzapur: The Movie' is drawing to a close as creators have released four new impressive posters. These posters feature the most recognizable characters from this franchise: Kalin Bhaiyya (Panchab Tripathi), Munna Bhaiyya (Divyendu), Guddu Pandit (Ali Fazal), and Bablu Pandit (Jitendra Kumar).

These new posters have intensified the buzz surrounding the return of the world of 'Mirzapur' to the big screen ahead of the highly anticipated trailer release on August 11, 2026. The posters demonstrate that the King, Prince, and Lion of the franchise are ready for action once again, returning with the characters that have become the signature of the series.

Judging by the released posters, viewers can expect another display of power, revenge, violence, and intense dramatic tension. Of particular note is that popular figures such as Kalin Bhaiyya, Munna Bhaiyya, and Guddu Pandit will once again be pitted against each other, raising hopes among fans for spectacular confrontations between them.

'Mirzapur: The Movie' brings the audience back to the world of the first season, uniting the most iconic heroes of the franchise—Guddu Pandit, Munna Bhaiyya, and Kalin Bhaiyya. The film also features Jitendra Kumar, Ravi Kishan, Abhishek Banerjee, Rasiki Duggal, Mohit Malik, Shibu Chaddha, Rajesh Tailang, Pramod Pataka, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Harshita Shekhar Gaur, Shweta Tripathi, Sonal S. Chauhan, Anangsha Biswas, Shaji Chaudhary, Satendra Soni, Kulbhushan Harbandy, and Sushanta Singh.

The teaser for 'Mirzapur: The Movie' has already received rave reviews. According to available information, Ali Fazal's character, Guddu Bhaiyya, will become even more dangerous in this story. It is said that Guddu Bhaiyya's portrayal in the film will be shown in a more brutal style than in the web series.

The creators revealed the film's release date immediately after releasing the posters. According to the caption, the trailer will appear on August 11, and the film itself will be released in theaters on September 4. The film will be presented in both Hindi and Telugu.