Tara Sutaria dazzles in black gown with 50s retro glamour

Exactly 19 years ago, there was a battle in the cinema box office between films featuring Imran Hashmi and Sunny Deol, which competed with family drama pictures. At that time, Sunny's film was more successful. However, the situation has changed now, as 'Avaropan 2' faced a new Sunny Deol film, 'Bantwara 1947', which caused a real buzz at the box office.

Before the release of 'Avaropan 2', it already showed confidence, as ticket sales exceeded expectations, making it a strong contender for a successful start. In fact, Imran Hashmi's film collected significantly more tickets than Sunny Deol's 'Bantwara 1947.'

According to a report by Sakanelec, Imran Hashmi's film started with a net revenue of 21 million rupees on the first day, which was the highest opening in the actor's more than twenty-year career. On Sunday, 'Avaropan 2' collected 27.20 million rupees globally with an attendance of 45%, indicating the strong influence of nostalgia among viewers.

Meanwhile, the film 'Bantwara 1947' showed much modest results: its net collection was only 5.75 million rupees. With an attendance of 15%, the film collected 8.34 million rupees globally. After the successful return of 'Gadar 2', 'Bantwara 1947' became Sunny Deol's first film to have the weakest box office start.

The high interest in 'Avaropan 2' is evident from social media activity, where cinemas remain almost full. Viewers are actively enjoying every scene of Imran Hashmi's film, confirmed by the popularity of reels on Instagram, indicating that the excitement around 'Avaropan' is not waning.

Despite this, 'Bantwara 1947' is also receiving some positive feedback on X, where users praise the emotional plot. However, the film is receiving mixed reactions. To compete with 'Avaropan 2' at the box office, Sunny Deol's film needs to demonstrate its potential, otherwise its earnings may begin to decline in the coming days.

Pride for India is being celebrated on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Independence Day. As August 15th, Independence Day, approaches, Bollywood often releases films that tell stories of heroes, soldiers, and the fight for freedom. However, it is known that the genre of patriotic films did not begin after August 15, 1947, but a decade before that, under the direction of a British director.

When the independence movement reached its peak, and India was under the rule of the British Empire, the film 'Janmabhoomi' was released in 1936. This film, directed by German filmmaker Franz Osten, is recognized as the first patriotic film in Hindi cinema. Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani starred in the leading roles.

The film demonstrated the idea that patriotism is shown not only through speeches or slogans but also through serving one's homeland and its people. Below is a story about this historic film, which is already 90 years old.

In 1936, when 'Janmabhoomi' was shown to the general public, issues of self-governance, unity, and social reforms were actively discussed in India. The film was produced by Bombay Talkies. Instead of focusing on military actions or political figures, the film chose a rural setting. Through this backdrop, the creators tried to convey the idea that solving problems and helping ordinary Indians is also a form of service to the country.

The film featured the famous pair of the time—Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani. Ashok Kumar played Dr. Ajay Kumar Ghosh, and Devika Rani portrayed Pratima Devi. Their participation gave the film great popularity. Furthermore, the renowned composer of that period, Saraswati Devi, created magnificent music for the film that won the hearts of the audience.

The plot revolves around Dr. Ajay. After the sudden death of a close friend, Ajay experiences a deep crisis, which radically changes his view of life. He gives up comfortable and luxurious city life and decides to focus on treating and helping the poor and underprivileged residents of his village.

Ajay's decision to go to the village was not easy. He had to distance himself from his beloved, Pratima. Ajay asked her to forget him, but Pratima was unwilling to retreat so easily. She came to the village herself and began assisting Ajay in his work. In the village, Ajay not only provided medical aid but also stood against vices, superstitions, and caste discrimination.

Ajay's attempts to improve society were disliked by the local landlord, his assistant Sanatan, the priest, and the moneylender. They felt that the doctor was challenging their long-standing power and influence. All of them began inciting the villagers against the doctor. The situation escalated when Sanatan conspired with the landlord to poison him with arsenic and blamed Dr. Ajay. Ajay was arrested, but later medical examination and investigation proved that Sanatan had acquired the poison. After this, Ajay was acquitted and released, after which he continued his mission.

A special feature of this film was its immortal song 'Jai Jai Janani Janmabhoomi'. It was written by Yamuna Swarup Kashyap. This anthem is considered the first completely patriotic song in Hindi cinema. During the struggle for independence, this song became known among the populace and filled revolutionaries and common people with new enthusiasm.

The interactive YogAnimals installation, created by designer Mikhail Rinott and the Kadar Design and Technology Center, aims to encourage children to explore the connection between movement, nature, and well-being through guided yoga experiences.

The installation was developed for the Museum of Human and Living World as part of the exhibition 'Yoga and Other Animals.' YogAnimals is based on the ancient origins of yoga, where practitioners observed animals and plants, translating their movements into asanas such as cobra, tree, crow, and downward-facing dog.

The designers meticulously studied each pose, considering not only body posture but also gaze, muscle tension, and specific stretches. These physical characteristics were transformed into interactive projections that guide children while performing the poses.

Inside the installation, children see their image as simple figures before starting a movement. The space features twelve yoga poses that serve as visual cues. When a child successfully performs a pose, the system reacts in real time: their projected body might gain eagle wings or a dog's head and tail, and at other times, an animated animal appears on stage. Animal sounds and background audio add a sensory dimension to this experience.

The team utilized the artificial intelligence MediaPipe to analyze joint angles and body positions, allowing the system to recognize poses as they are performed. Then, TouchDesigner transforms this information into animated responses, dynamically controlling the appearance, movement, and disappearance of each creature. Children can practice at their own pace, and the installation naturally creates opportunities for collaboration and peer learning.